New Blu: Last Song, Nanny McPhee, Hamlet

One of the all-time funniest and one of biggest recent comedies top the list of new Blu-ray releases this week, along with two other notable movies:

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• 1.) “The Last Song“ (Disney, 39.99) is nothing more and nothing less than anyone should expect from a romance based on a Nicholas Sparks novel — he even wrote this screenplay. It’s a little too identical in many parts to the most recent cinematic adaptation of a Sparks novel, “Dear John”), with the summer beach romance of a headstrong young girl with a hot young guy who must endure some challenges to their love caused by family issues and resolved through hand-written letters (who does that anymore?). Here are the notable elements:

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  — Predictable but still sweet and touching story involving the girl’s father who has cancer and an uncomfortable secret.

  — Girl’s father played well by Greg Kinnear

  — Girl play adequately but not completely convincingly by Miley Cyrus

  — Co-star Liam Hemsworth solid.

  — Bobby Coleman amusing as precocious kid brother and comic relief; also hosts fun set tour on bonus features, catching Cyrus and producer Adam Shankman near their trailers.

  — Other extras include making-of Cyrus music video “When I Look at You,” alternate opening that reveals more of church fire, filmmaker audio commentary interesting about choice to alter opening and other anecdotes, and deleted scenes.

• 2.) “Hamlet” (Warner, $34.99) is most noted for being the only unabridged cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s play about the tortured young Prince of Denmark. This new Blu-ray “Book” edition offers even more:

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  — An immaculate HiDef transfer of the visually stunning four-hour 70mm production that may seem a little austere and militaristic in the brightly lit ornate palace setting.

  — A stellar cast led by director Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Jack Lemmon, Charlton Heston, Gerard Depardieu, and the unlikely casting of Billy Crystal and Robin Williams.

  — Fascinating audio commentary by Branagh and his university professor/mentor if you can sit through another four hours of the movie — they defend the casting of Lemmon who was criticized.

  — Superficial featurette on previous cinematic Hamlet productions but better with discussion of this one.

  — Lovely 40-page color booklet of bios, trivia, and essays.

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• 3.) “Nanny McPhee” (Universal, $26.98) initially seems as if it will be way too much of everything but winds up being a pleasant enough family comedy in the mold of “Mary Poppins,” though light years away from that Disney classic. Among the notable elements of the Blu-ray version of this 2006 theatrical film being released in time for the opening of the sequel in theaters Friday:

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  — Unintentionally hilarious audio commentary with director Kirk Jones unable to control all the child actors who keep saying they have to go to the bathroom and asking how much longer they have to sit there.

  — Emma Thompson’s overly unattractive governess warms on viewers as she does her many rambunctuous charges.

  — Thompson’s explanation of the origin of her screenplay is fascinating — composite of multiple Nurse Matilda stories, but word “nurse” not universally recognized as governess.

  — Amusing gag reel among other extras.

— By Scott Hettrick