The week’s top DVDs begin in France:

DVDs for Sept. 17 by Boo Allen

This week, we begin in Longeverne:

The War of the Buttons (***1/2)

In this fourth film based on the 1912 novel by Louis Pergaud, who died at 33 during World War I, director Christophe Barratier updates it to Vichy France during World War II. The main plot revolves around groups of boys from two villages who harmlessly battle each other, taking trophies such as buttons and shoelaces. But the plot’s updating also allows an enabling sub-plot to play out about the building love between a seemingly shy if not cowardly school teacher (noted director Guillaume Canet), who secretly belongs to the Resistance, and a local shop owner (Laetitia Casta), who shelters a Jewish girl from the occupying Nazis. The war time activities provide opportunities for the boys from both villages to learn about bravery as well as loyalty to country and to their parents.

Rated PG-13, 87 minutes. The DVD includes a 35 minute “making of” featurette, four minutes of bloopers and four deleted scenes.

Two Men in Manhattan (**1/2)

Few directors have enjoyed a career resurrection and re-appraisal like Jean-Pierre Melville. The mid-century dramas from the French artist have been poured over by contemporary scholars and have influenced several film-makers, particularly Quentin Tarantino. This noirish entry, now arriving from the Cohen Media Group’s efforts to rescue notable but overlooked films, represents Melville’s only film shot in America, and also one of the few in which he acts. He plays a reporter, Moreau, called upon to find a French diplomat who has gone missing. He is joined by a sleazy photographer (Pierre Grasset), and they tour a succession of Manhattan’s nighttime haunts. The slight narrative gives Melville a chance to indulge his passion for American culture, including Jazz and beautiful women, but it also allows him to fashion a glistening post-film noir portrait of the city. The pace lags at times, and the payoff hardly seems worth it, but anyone interested in Melville’s progression as a film-maker will appreciate the film’s resurrection.

Not rated, 89 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, includes a 36 minute discussion between film critics Jonathan Rosenbaum and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, and an essay from Melville scholar Ginette Vincendeau.

Blood (**1/2)

This often measured British crime drama sports an excellent cast filled with several actors appearing on American TV. After two police-detective brothers, Joe and Chrissie, played, respectively, by Paul Bettany and Stephen Graham (Al Capone on “Boardwalk Empire”), murder a suspect in a child killing, they bury the body. Unknown to them, however, their drunk, dementia-ridden father (Brian Cox) watches from the back seat of their car. Later, a colleague (Mark Strong—Frank Agnew on “Low Winter Sun”) suspects the brothers and begins acting on his suspicions. Chrissie folds under the pressure, causing trouble with his fiancee Gemma (Zoe Tapper—Ellen Love on “Mr. Selfridge”). Director Nick Murphy delivers a no-nonsense drama filled with angst-ridden characters.

Not rated, 92 minutes.

Shanghai Calling (**1/2)

Sam Chao (Daniel Henney) reluctantly travels to Shanghai when sent by his Wall Street bosses because they think he can use his Asian heritage. But he is New York born and bred, enough so that when he arrives in China, he may not look it, but he is the fish in this fish-out-of-water tale. The slight plot revolves around his working on some big corporate deal, a Macguffin shoved into the background when Sam proves a jerk and then tries to redeem himself in the eyes of Amanda (Eliza Croupe), another American living and working in the city. Daniel Hsia directs with little imagination, but he has written a diverting script that propels his characters through Shanghai, thereby providing a thorough, loving portrait of the city. Bill Paxton plays another American-gone-native, and Alan Ruck appears as a sneaky entrepreneur.

Rated PG-13,101 minutes. The DVD contains a 16 minute “behind-the-scenes” featurette.

Sisters and Brothers (**)

Director Carl Bessai shows a light comedic touch to go along with an unfocused, overly ambitious narrative about four sets of siblings: brothers Rory (Dusty Milligan) and movie star Justin (Cory Monteith), half sisters Nikki (Amanda Crew) and Maggie (Camille Sullivan), Louise (Gabrielle Miller) and her manic brother Jerry (Benjamin Ratner), and Sarah (Kacey Rohl) who learns she has a much older half sister, Sita (Leena Manro) from India. Usually, in such intricate dramas, parties play off each other, interacting, and coming to some unified conclusion. Here, however, director Bessai concentrates on the individual concerns of each set of siblings, flipping among them while also fleshing out his lightweight film with cutesy bridges and animated sequences.

Rated R, 86 minutes.

Frankenstein’s Army (**1/2)

This English language film unfolds as a Russian soldier records everything for his battalion in faux-documentary style. At the end of World War II, a squad of lost Russian soldiers stumbles into a seemingly deserted laboratory in East Germany. Lurking inside is an evil German madman (Karel Roden) who has been turning out Frankenstein-type zombies to fight one last gasp for the motherland. From there, bodies fly, blood flows, and chaos reigns in this first film from writer-director Richard Raaphorst.

Rated R, 84 minutes. The DVD includes a 32 minute “making of” featurette along with five brief creature “spots.”

Java Heat (**1/2)

In this formulaic action-thriller with international flavoring, Kellan Lutz plays Jake Travers, an American in Indonesia who becomes embroiled in a sticky conflict. After an assassination attempt on a local religious leader, Travers teams up with a Muslim partner, learning much while still feeling like an outcast. Mickey Rourke turns up as an unexpected bad guy.

Rated R, 104 minutes. The DVD includes a “making of” featurette.

And now, something for the young ones:

Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville

In these seven animated episodes, Princess Ava matches children with new pets. But Ava’s twin sister Eva becomes jealous and sends Ava away, causing trouble throughout Pocketville.

Not rated, 80 minutes.

Thomas and Friends: King of the Railway—the movie

Four new engines arrive on the Island of Sobor, and, when they do, Thomas and his buddies Percy and James show them how to rely on their friends and how their cooperation can help everyone. Not rated, 62 minutes. The DVD includes puzzles, a game, and three music videos.

Thomas and Friends: Animals Aboard

Thomas and his pals have five new adventures in this collection of episodes along with two music videos.

Not rated, 55 minutes.

Barney: Most Huggable Moments

This two disc set holds new, unseen episodes among the six offered. Also included is a special episode celebrating Barney’s birthday.

Not rated, 138 minutes. The set also offers five music videos.

Also on DVD: Behind the Candelabra, The Bling Ring, The East, Universal World War Z.