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‘Miss Sunshine’ in different lights

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Times Staff Writer

“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox, $30) began the year as one of the hits of the Sundance Film Festival and is concluding 2006 as a high-profile awards contender.

Abigail Breslin plays Olive, a little girl who dreams of winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest in California. Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Steve Carell and Paul Dano also star. Extras include four alternate endings with commentary from directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris -- the best of the four is based on an idea from young Breslin.

“When the Levees Broke” (HBO, $30) is Spike Lee’s lauded and politically charged “Requiem in Four Acts” on the devastation Hurricane Katrina left in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The three-disc set includes exceptional, moving commentary with Lee as well as a 105-minute epilogue and a photo gallery.

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Mark Wahlberg is well cast in the above-average sports drama “Invincible” (Disney, $30). The underdog tale is inspired by the true story of Vince Papale, who was a 30-year-old down-on-his luck substitute teacher and bartender in Philadelphia when he answered an open call for tryouts for the Eagles football team in 1976. Greg Kinnear plays the Eagles’ new coach, Dick Vermeil, who decides to give Papale a place on the squad. Included on the digital edition is an inspired featurette on the real Papale as well as heartfelt commentary with the former football player, producer Mark Ciardi and writer Brad Gunn. Also new:

“Walt Disney Treasures” (Disney, $33): Vintage delights from the Disney vaults include “More Silly Symphonies (1929-1938),” “The Complete Pluto, Volume Two,” “The Mickey Mouse Club Featuring the Hardy Boys” and “Your Host, Walt Disney.” Each “Treasure” includes introductions from film historian Leonard Maltin. There are also select audio commentaries on the “Silly Symphonies,” a complete episode of “The Mickey Mouse Club” on the “Hardy Boys” ’ disc, as well as an interview with the stars Tim Considine and Tommy Kirk, and pencil tests of a Pluto cartoon on “The Complete Pluto.” “Presenting Lily Mars” (Warner, $20): Underrated 1943 Judy Garland musical based on the Booth Tarkington novel. Garland shines as a small-town girl who dreams of becoming a Broadway star. Van Heflin is engaging as a producer from her hometown. Extras include the Oscar-winning musical short “Heavenly Music,” the Tex Avery cartoon “Who Killed Who?,” the radio version of “Lily,” starring June Allyson and Heflin, and an audio-only version of the deleted finale.

“Jackie Chan’s Police Story -- Special Collector’s Edition” (Dragon Dynasty, $30): You don’t watch a Chan movie for the acting, but stunts -- including a car chase down a hillside shantytown and climbing onto a speeding bus using an umbrella -- are incredible. Entertaining extras include a new interview with Chan, a retrospective visit with members of his stunt team, deleted scenes and enthusiastic commentary with Brett Ratner, who directed Chan in the “Rush Hour” films.

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“Up Periscope” (Warner, $20): Submarine war films were extremely popular in the 1950s, and this 1959 entry is serviceable, thanks to a strong cast that includes a young James Garner at the height of his “Maverick” popularity and Edmond O’Brien. Among the supporting ensemble is ex-football star Frank Gifford.

Also out today: “All the King’s Men” (Sony, $29); “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” (Fox, $30); “Step Up” (Touchstone, $30); “Fearless” (Universal, $30); “A Scanner Darkly” (Warner, $28); “The Beauty Academy of Kabul” (Docurama, $27); “Lady in the Water” (Warner, $29); “The Promise” (Warner, $28); 2006 version of “The Wicker Man” (Warner, $20); “The Wicker Man” double-disc special edition of the 1975 version (Anchor Bay, $20).

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susan.king@latimes.com

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