New movies to be released tomorrow on DVD

Encounters at the End of the World (2008) ***½ An engaging and generous profile of the fascinating folks who have chosen to live at the end of the world.

Garden Party (2008) * The leaden performances (Erik Scott Smith is the worst offender), the unlistenable musical interludes, the amateurish caricatures, and the short stories’ lack of overall cohesion make this a garden party you should take a rain check on.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson (2008) *** The film is thorough and entertaining. It’s enthusiastic about his contributions, but it’s no hagiography, and it serves as both a celebration and a cautionary tale.

Priceless (2008) *** Stop laughing long enough, and you’ll see that it’s a picture about compromised lives and love for sale. But no one who watches this film will stop laughing for that long.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008) *** Actress America Ferrera walks this fine line between the real and the fairy tale – she’s the only one in the film who doesn’t seem to equate a good performance with a lot of blinking – and it’s fun to watch her outside the confines of her TV character.

Tropic Thunder (2008) *** All over the map, but it’s worth enduring the botched gags, formula plotting, and even the racism to marvel at the genius of Robert Downey Jr.

Up the Yangtze (2008) ***½ May be the best film to date about the humanitarian and environmental impact of China’s enormous Three Gorges Dam project.

Wall-E (2008) **** The idea that a company in the business of mainstream entertainment would make something as creative, substantial and cautionary as this movie has to raise your hopes for humanity.