Flick Picks 12/2/2014: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Hundred-Foot Journey

New on DVD at the Library This Week

ENTERTAINMENT: Hey hey, they're the apes! The sequel to 2011's reboot Rise of the Planet of the Apes comes home this week with the dark and thought-provoking Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, in which the intelligent apes are free but eventually come into conflict with a group of human survivors. The film's producers didn't monkey around with the first film's quality so you're sure to go ape over it. Gary Oldman and Keri Russell are the humans, Andy Serkis is an ape and you and I are the viewers, tossing popcorn into our mouths while laying on our couches. We've got it on DVD and Blu-ray. The Hundred-Foot Journey is another feel-good food dramedy starring Helen Mirren as a restaurateur who becomes resentful of the Indian chef who moves his restaurant next door. Eventually they are brought together through their shared love of food. Finally, the sci-fi flick The Congress features Robin Wright as a version of herself, who decides to sell her digital image for future film use. Harvey Keitel, Paul Giamatti, Jon Hamm and Danny Huston beef up the cast.

SERIES: Guillermo del Toro's disturbing vampire virus novel The Strain has been adopted into a disturbing series for FX. Also, modern Kentucky cowboy show Justified hits season 5.

SUBTITLED: Eric Rohmer's A Summer's Tale, never released on DVD in the United States, finally arrives, telling the story of young people in a French beach town.

DOCUMENTARIES: We've got a number of meditation programs coming up and you can continue to use what you've learned at home with A Beginner's Guide to Mindfulness Meditation. Celebrate the late Robin Williams's career with Robin Williams Remembered, a PBS Pioneers of Television special.

PERFORMING ARTS: Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy and Kris Kristofferson are just a few of the musicians celebrating four decades of entertainment in Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years.

You can find all of our new and upcoming releases on Enterprise.

History is No Mystery on DVD

Take advantage of the cold weather by locking yourself in the house and watching a documentary about some fascinating parts of the world.

• Do you remember when the Berlin Wall came down? The Wall: A World Divided is a PBS series telling the history of the structure that divided Berlin for over 25 years.
• The Story of Ireland tells the story of the country's mythic past and important figures.
• We've got a number of fascinating National Geographic specials including When Rome Ruled, Egyptian Secrets of the Afterlife and Unlocking the Great Pyramid.
• Arabia is a beautifully shot film, narrated by Helen Mirren, that culminates in the largest gathering on earth.
• The secrets of The Kremlin are secrets no more when you view the series The Kremlin, which was the first time that an American film crew was allowed to film inside the building.
• The Story of India is a six-part series covering ten thousand years of the country's history.
• Learn about the history of England through its rules with the series Monarchy.
• The PBS series Napoleon brings the man to life from birth to exile.