A weekly round-up of the latest DVD releases.

By Damon Smith

New to rent on DVD/Blu-Ray

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Cert 12, 169 mins, Warner Home Video, Action/Adventure/Fantasy, also available to buy DVD £22.99/Blu-ray £26.99/3D Blu-ray £29.99) Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, Dean O'Gorman, Aidan Turner, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Jeffrey Thomas, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Barry Humphries, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood.

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives in the Shire, where he encounters Gandalf The Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) and a 13-strong company of dwarves, who intend to reclaim their lost gold from the dragon Smaug in his mountain lair. After a sleepless night, Bilbo agrees to accompany dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his troops on their perilous mission. "Axe or sword - what is your weapon of choice?" Thorin asks Bilbo. "Well, I do have some skills with conkers," meekly replies the hobbit. En route, the brave souls encounter elvish allies including Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), as well as wretched Gollum (Andy Serkis) and the corpulent Goblin King (Barry Humphries). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which should perhaps be subtitled The Return Of The Fellowship Of A King, reunites director Peter Jackson with cast and crew of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, including cinematographer Andrew Leslie. The writer-director employs the same visual lexicon: sweeping aerial shots of characters traipsing over New Zealand landscapes, close-ups of ethereal figures in deep contemplation. Nerve-racking scenes with Gollum are undoubtedly the highlight of this opening salvo. Jackson and co-writers Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro embellish JRR Tolkien's novel to the point of creative obesity. Visually stunning flashbacks, which fail to advance the plot, are roughly hewn into a sprawling narrative that doesn't kick into second gear for a good 45 minutes. Freeman brings a touch of humour to his pint-sized weakling, while McKellen and co ease back into familiar supporting roles. The 3D version of the film is available exclusively on Blu-ray.

Rating: *** Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings (Cert U, 72 mins, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Animation/Drama, also available to buy DVD £15.99/Blu-ray £21.99) Featuring the voices of: Mae Whitman, Anjelica Huston, Timothy Dalton, Lucy Hale, Megan Hilty, Matt Lanter, Jesse McCartney, Lucy Liu, Raven-Symone, Debby Ryan, Pamela Adlon, Angela Bartys, Jane Horrocks, Jeff Bennett.

In the magical realm of Pixie Hollow, which is ruled by Queen Clarion (voiced by Anjelica Huston), fairies complete the final shipments of baskets to the Winter Woods. When the time comes for the animals to cross the rubicon, Tinker Bell (Mae Whitman) helps Fawn (Angela Bartys) to lead the critters to the checkpoint and watches with envy as the four-legged charges magically sprout winter fur. "There's a whole other world over there," coos Tink, all too aware that she and pals Fawn, Iridessa (Raven-Symone), Rosetta (Megan Hilty) and Silvermist (Lucy Liu) are forbidden from crossing the divide into the kingdom ruled by Lord Milori (Timothy Dalton). Curiosity gets the better of the mischievous fairy and Tink hitches a ride inside the last basket to the Winter Woods, where she discovers she has a sister called Periwinkle (Lucy Hale). Tinker Bell And The Secret Of The Wings is the fourth computer-animated feature based on JM Barrie's scantily-clad fairy, co-directed by Peggy Holmes and Bobs Gannaway. It is lightweight enchantment, contrasting the colourful flora of Pixie Hollow with the snow-laden landscapes of the Winter Woods, which should provide the animators with myriad opportunities for visual invention. Unfortunately, imaginative flourishes are in short supply and the level of detail of the animation on both characters and backgrounds is merely adequate. It is especially noticeable during major set pieces. The plot is as flimsy as one of Tink's wings. Vocal performances are solid. Whitman is suitably chirpy and Huston and Dalton bring gravitas to their roles as the guardians of neighbouring fairy realms.

Rating: *** Also released 10 Years (Cert 12, 100 mins, High Fliers Video Distribution, Comedy/Romance, also available to buy DVD £15.99 - see below) The Expatriate (Cert 15, 100 mins, Koch Media, Action/Thriller, also available to buy DVD £15.99/Blu-ray £24.99 - see below) Table 21 (Cert 12, 112 mins, Eros International, Action/Thriller, also available to buy DVD £12.99 - see below) New to buy on DVD/Blu-Ray Being Human - The Complete Fifth Series (Cert 15, 343 mins, BBC DVD, DVD £19.99/Complete Collection DVD Box Set £44.99/Blu-ray £24.99/Complete Collection Blu-ray Box Set £49.99, Sci-Fi/Drama/Comedy) Three-disc set of the final six episodes of the acclaimed BBC Three supernatural drama comedy which chronicles the misadventures of otherworldly friends who live together in suburbia. This series, the mysterious Mr Rook (Steven Robertson) and demonic pensioner Captain Hatch (Phil Davis) torment aristocratic vampire Hal (Damien Molony), werewolf Tom (Michael Socha) and ghost Alex (Kate Bracken). The series culminates in a titanic battle between good and evil that decides the fate of mankind. A 14-disc box set comprising all five series is also available.

The Expatriate (Cert 15, 100 mins, Koch Media, DVD £15.99/Blu-ray £24.99, Action/Thriller) Former CIA agent Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) takes on a new challenge and a new job working with spy technology in Belgium. He leaves behind his old life in America and relocates to Europe, closely followed by his estranged daughter Amy (Liana Liberato), who struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. Ben and Amy head into the office to collect an important delivery but the building is completely empty, as if no one works there. Thus begins a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between the Logans and the CIA, which is a stern warning to Ben that you can never truly leave the past behind.

10 Years (Cert 12, 100 mins, High Fliers Video Distribution, DVD £15.99, Comedy/Romance) Channing Tatum stars opposite his wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum in this romantic comedy about laying the past to rest, written and directed by Jamie Linden. Jake (Tatum) heads to his high school reunion with current girlfriend Jess (Dewan-Tatum) in tow. He meets old flame Mary (Rosario Dawson), stirring dormant feelings that spark palpable tension. Married couple Cully (Chris Pratt) and Sam (Ari Graynor) lay bare their feelings, as do AJ (Max Minghella), Marty (Justin Long) and Scott (Scott Porter). Meanwhile, successful music artist Reeves (Oscar Isaac) confides the truth about his career with former crush Elise (Kate Mara).

Heading Out - Series 1 (Cert 15, 172 mins, BBC DVD, DVD £19.99, Comedy/Romance) Life begins at 40 in this effervescent comedy written by and starring Sue Perkins. Skilled vet Sara (Perkins) has a career she loves and an inner circle of friends - Daniel (Steve Oram), Jamie (Dominic Coleman) and Justine (Nicola Walker) - who adore her. So much so, that as Sara's 40th birthday approaches, they issue an ultimatum: she must tell her elderly parents that she is gay or they will. To help her muster the courage to be honest with her folks, Sara attends sessions with eccentric life coach Toria (Joanna Scanlan), whose methods are rather offbeat. Romance unexpectedly blossoms with Eve (Shelley Conn) and Sara suddenly has a compelling reason to open her heart to her parents.

Mayday (Cert 15, 300 mins, BBC DVD, DVD £19.99, Drama/Thriller) Broadcast over five successive night, this BBC drama centres on the disappearance of a young woman in a small town and the dark secrets which subsequently percolate to the surface of a usually polite community. Every summer, the townsfolk come together for a pagan festival, which culminates in the crowning of the May Queen. Local teenager Hattie Sutton (Leila Mimmack) has been chosen for this prestigious honour but goes missing before she can fulfil her duties. Hattie's twin Caitlin (Mimmack again) can finally emerge from the shadow of her sibling, to the delight of Linus Newcombe (Max Fowler), who has always held a torch for her. Policeman Alan (Peter Macdonald) tries to make sense of the contradictory testimonies as the truth about Hattie's fate is revealed.

Table 21 (Cert 12, 112 mins, Eros International, DVD £12.99, Action/Thriller) Honesty is not always the best policy in Aditya Datt's action thriller. Vivaan (Rajeev Khandelwal) and Siya Agasthi (Tena Desae) are a young couple whose loyalty and devotion have helped them to navigate the occasional speed bump on the path to true love. The Agasthis are delighted when they win a dream holiday to Fiji, all expenses paid, to mark their wedding anniversary. In this tropical paradise, they meet the quixotic Mr Khan (Paresh Rawal), who offers them a small fortune if they will agree to play a simple truth game. All Vivaan and Siya have to do is answer eight questions honestly or complete simple tasks to significantly swell their bank balance. Vivaan and Siya agree and they sail through the early questions but as the quizzing continues, the game becomes increasingly personal and uncomfortable, forcing the couple to reveal dark secrets that have remained hidden for years.

The Echo (Cert 15, 92 mins, Metrodome Distribution, DVD £15.99, Horror/Thriller) Bobby (Jesse Bradford) is sentenced to time behind bars for the murder of the man who raped his girlfriend Alyssa (Amelia Warner). He emerges from prison a changed man, determined to put the horrors of the past behind him. Bobby goes to live with his mother in New York, but when he arrives at her apartment, he finds the property vacant and drops of blood in the corner. A ferocious argument in the neighbouring apartment, apparently between an abusive husband and his wife and daughter, disturbs Bobby and he calls the police. Curiously, they report that the apartment next door is vacant and the ex-con begins to question his sanity.

Made in Chelsea - Series 4 (Cert 15, 470 mins, 4DVD, DVD £19.99, Drama/Documentary) The privileged twenty-somethings from the wealthy London borough discover that money can't buy you happiness or love in another 10 incident-packed episodes of the E4 reality show. This series, Millie's friend Sophia returns from New York and stirs romantic feelings with both Francis and Proudlock, while Spencer and Louise rekindle their relationship, but the sparks were extinguished the first time around for a good reason.

Acoustic Routes (Cert E, 102 mins, Absolute Marketing, DVD £12.99, Documentary/Musical) Legendary guitarist Bert Jansch hails from humble roots in Edinburgh, where he nurtured his love of music before travelling to London to spearhead a new movement along with Davy Graham. Lifelong fan Billy Connolly charts Jansch's story in this documentary directed by Jan Leman, which examines the giddy highs of the early years and the changing landscape of the music industry through interviews with a stellar cast of folk and blues artists.

The Servant (Cert 15, 116 mins, Studio Canal, DVD £17.99/Blu-ray £24.99, Drama/Thriller) A 50th anniversary re-release of Joseph Losey's meticulously study of class war and influence, based on the novel by Robin Maugham. Hugo Barrett (Dirk Bogarde) takes up a position as manservant to rich, spoiled aristocrat Tony (James Fox) in a gorgeous Georgian townhouse. Initially, peace reigns through the household as Tony orders his lackey to do his bidding. Gradually, however, the servant begins to exert control over his master and he manages to secure work for his sister Vera (Sarah Miles) in the same townhouse. Tony's fiancee Susan (Wendy Craig) is horrified by the steady shift in power but she is helpless to prevent Hugo from achieving total domination.

DVD retail top 10 1 (1) Skyfall 2 (2) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 3 (3) Game Of Thrones - Season 2 4 (5) Argo 5 (-) Downton Abbey: A Journey To The Highlands (Christmas Special 2012) 6 (10) Death In Paradise - Series 1 7 (-) Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 3 8 (-) Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted 9 (6) Jillian Michaels: 30 Day Shred 10 (-) The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Chart supplied by Amazon.co.uk DVD rental top 10 1 (-) End Of Watch 2 (3) The Bourne Legacy 3 (1) The Watch 4 (2) Ted 5 (8) Looper 6 (7) Killing Them Softly 7 (-) Sightseers 8 (5) Gambit 9 (-) Amour 10 (10) Lawless (2012) Chart supplied by www.LOVEFiLM.com Film streaming top10 1 (4) Despicable Me 2 (2) Paul 3 (1) Just Go With It 4 (3) How Do You Know 5 (-) Cockneys Vs Zombies 6 (5) Battle: Los Angeles 7 (7) Black Swan 8 (-) Fast Girls 9 (8) Due Date 10 (9) X: Night Of Vengeance Chart supplied by www.LOVEFiLM.com :: Please note: Here are the latest charts from Amazon and LOVEFiLM. The DVD DVD Reviews column was transmitted on Thursday, March 28