New on DVD

Heroes and villains top this week's new DVD offerings:

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, GRADE: A-MINUS: The origin of the web-slinging superhero is retold. Director Marc Webb and screen writers James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves found a way to spin the story of the comic-book hero with enough originality to appease fans while not straying too far from the well-known Spidey mythology created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko a half-century ago.

BRAVE, GRADE C-PLUS: A young Scottish girl rebels against family traditions.

With a string of well-written and dazzling-looking movies, it seemed like Pixar could do no animation wrong. But the company's latest effort shows it isn't perfect. The animation is still amazing, but an ill-conceived story leaves this production as appealing as a two-leaf clover.

SAVAGES, GRADE B-MINUS: This is Oliver Stone's film that's based on Don Winslow's best-selling crime novel. Most of Stone's latest film is a gritty and gruesome look at the lives of two entrepreneurs who end up forced to work with a Mexican cartel. The film is diminished by a contrived ending and Blake Lively's weak narration.

Also new on DVD:

2 DAYS IN NEW YORK: Julie Delpy's sequel to 2 Days in Paris.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING: 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION: Stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett.

THE ASTONISHING X-MEN: Latest in the Marvel Knights Animation series.

DARK HORSE: Lonely guy takes a shot at love.