New on DVD this week: 'Olympus Has Fallen'

There's good news for those of us who, for whatever reason, are opting out of seeing any movies in the theater right now. I've got a nasty summer cold: What's your reason for staying home? Whatever it is, take heart: You've got several notable new DVD releases to check out.

First up: Olympus Has Fallen is finally out on DVD and Blu-ray. It seems like forever since we saw this one in the theater, but I remember distinctly thinking that it was a lot more entertaining than the movie critics' reviews led me to believe. No, it's far from perfect, but so what? Olympus Has Fallen has a lot going for it, including some nifty action scenes. Here is my lengthy review of the film, if you're interested.

I didn't hate Olympus Has Fallen at all, but I also think you should see it with resonable expectations. And if the plot (The White House under attack, tough guy helps the President save the day) sounds familiar, it should. This one was quite similar to White House Down, but I thought it was a way better movie.

Onward and upward: Other new DVDs out this week include the Robert Redford-directed political drama The Company You Keep, which features a stellar cast (including Richard Jenkins, Sam Elliott Shia LeBeouf and Susan Sarandon). Oh, and Redford also stars in the movie as a former Weather Underground member who is trying to clear his name. The film is based on the 2003 Neil Gordon Novel The Company You Keep, just FYI. Reviews for this movie were just so-so, but with a cast like this one, I'm in.

And finally, another notable DVD release this week is definitely a film that's probably not on your radar: The drama What Maisie Knew. And yes, if the title sounds familiar, this movie is a contemporary version of Henry James' novel. This one got rave reviews from most major critics, and it looks like a solid choice if you love great drama. Julianne Moore and Scott Coogan star as the parents of six-year-old Maisie. The couple is in the throes of a particularly nasty divorce, and little Maisie is smack in the middle of it. This one is going in my queue as well.

What looks best to you? Have you seen anything else new on DVD that's worth talking about? If so, I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

Photo courtesy of IGN.com