“Challengers” and “Civil War” among the new DVD and Blu-ray releases

Zendaya stars in “Challengers,” where love has a double meaning. (Photo courtesy of MGM)

Two new DVD and Blu-ray releases focus on fights – one on city streets and the other on tennis courts.

“Challengers” Grade C: Sports or romance films need someone the audience wants to root for. It could be a washed-up boxer making one last shot at the title, or a typical boy-meets-girl saga. But without someone emerging from pain and suffering, the film is boring.

“Challengers” is as flat as a 50 cent can of tennis balls.

Director Luca Guadagnino’s production (“Bones and All”) has all the elements to be considered a contribution to the sports film genre. There is also a boy meets girl and girl meets another boy storyline, which could qualify the film as a love story. It all depends on the audience’s perspective.

At the center of this romantic meltdown is Zendaya. There’s nothing wrong with her acting skills, as she maintains a certain level of confidence and control in every situation. The problem is that her character never seems to connect with the two men in her life in any way other than in a vicious way.

“Civil War” Grade B: Don’t waste too much time trying to understand the political complexities of “Civil War.” Writer-director Alex Garland’s release is less about taking sides and more about the fact that in war, there is no getting around the truth that there are enormous casualties on both sides of the conflict.

Feeling eerily like the stuff of a documentary, “Civil War” depicts a dystopian future America in which a handful of states have seceded from the Union. Military forces from those states are marching toward the capital to overthrow the current president (Nick Offerman).

There are plenty of fight scenes, but the heart of the film is the perilous journey four journalists make from New York to Washington DC to get an interview with the embattled president. They must face the dangers of a war zone that isn’t just bullets and bombs, but also involves life-changing emotional struggles.

There’s nothing really wrong with the film’s action elements. But Civil War works best when viewed as a road movie rather than a war film.

Also available on DVD and Blu-ray from 9 July

“Abigail”: A mysterious broker hires a team of robbers to kidnap the daughter of a powerful underworld figure. They must guard the 12-year-old for one night in order to collect a ransom of 50 million dollars. The job is far more dangerous than expected.

“True Detective: Night Country”: Detectives Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) investigate the disappearance of eight scientists.

“Secret Hero”: Helen and her husband David Smallbone move their family from Down Under to the States with nothing more than their seven children, suitcases and their love of music.

“Tarot”: When a group of friends carelessly violate the sacred rules of tarot reading, they unwittingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards.

“Food, Inc. 2”: Filmmakers Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo delve deeper into the efficient but fragile food industry.

“The Boy and the Heron”: Mahito moves to his family’s estate, where a series of mysterious events lead him to a remote, old tower that is home to a malicious grey heron.

“The Plate and the Spoon”: Rose’s life changes after she discovers her husband’s affair. Devastated and stunned, she crosses paths with a stranded British teenager in a Delaware beach town, and the two begin an odd friendship.

“Relationship”: Two documentary filmmakers tell of their emotional search for love and belonging, offering a deeply personal journey into their isolation and identity.

Available via digital platforms

“Planet of the Apes: Kingdom of the Apes”:A monkey named Noa and a human named Mae determine the future of the coexistence of monkeys and humans. The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray from August 27th.

“The Bikers”: Strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) feels attracted to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of the Midwestern motorcycle club “Vandals”.

“Garfield”: Garfield and Odie are forced into a hilarious, high-risk robbery after an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father.

“A man of reason”: Hitman wants a chance at a normal life, but his boss has other ideas.