'Transformers' (PG-13): A 1980s toy line and cartoon phenomenon-turned-high-octane action flick, "Transformers" is not only easily one of the best sci-fi action movies of the year -- it's one of the best overall. And this is coming from a writer who had zero history with the "Transformers" phenomenon before the film hit theaters with a bang just before the 4th of July.

Shia LeBeouf is brilliant as Sam Witwicky, a teenager who, along with a girl with a past, Michaela Banes (Megan Fox), seeks the help of members of the Autobot robot alien race to battle the Decepticons, a rival race intent on taking over the Earth.

On Sam's side are Autobot leader Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, an Autobot that doubles as Sam's beat-up car, as well as the U.S. Secretary of Defense (Jon Voight), an Army Special Forces ranger (Josh Duhamel) and Air Force Controller (Tyrese Gibson). Together they devise a plan to eliminate the Decepticons and their leader, Megatron.

Thanks to the hyper-kinetic direction of filmmaker Michael Bay, there's never a dull moment in "Transformers." That shouldn't come as total surprise, given the success of some of his past winners, like "The Rock" and "Armageddon" -- but with this film, he takes his penchant for the manic to a whole new level.

Before the film came out, it was hard to imagine just how Bay -- even with the advanced state of special effects -- was going to make the idea of robots transforming into vehicles (and vice versa) work. But the director pulls it off masterfully. But what's even more impressive is how these intricately constructed heaps of metal actually give off a sense of emotion. It's an incredible feat.

The great thing is, while the visual effects (and its atmospheric residuals) are stunning, the story remains well intact with a fine mix of humor, suspense and a fair amount of romantic tension between Sam and Michaela.

But the film is hardly about just LeBeouf and Fox. Voight's solid veteran charisma anchors the ensemble cast, while Bernie Mac (as the used car salesman who sells Sam Bumblebee), Kevin Dunn and Julie White (as Sam's parents), Anthony Anderson (as a stressed-out computer hacker) and John Turturro (as an uptight government agent), bring a fair amount of comedy in supporting roles. Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson duty is to keep things intense as two survivors of a Decepticon attack on a Middle Eastern military base.

The great thing about "Transformers" is, the movie isn't lost on the people who didn't buy the old or new toys or watch the cartoons: Everybody is invited to play in this sandbox. Of course, the film loses some of its impact on DVD since the scale of the action is suddenly downsized; but a great home theater system will make up for some of the lost ground. It's an eye-popping thrill ride.

DVD Features: The two-disc special edition includes commentary by Bay, production documentaries, early concept drawing and production galleries, and more. (Paramount Home Entertainment)

'Grindhouse Presents 'Planet Terror'' (Unrated): Directed by Robert Rodriguez, the second "Grindhouse" film to come out on DVD was actually the first -- and better -- feature in theaters. Basically, it's no-holds barred gore fest, as a small group of survivors (including Freddy Rodriguez, Rose McGowan, Marley Shelton and Naveen Andrews) fend off an insurmountable army of zombies when an epidemic breaks out.

But in Rodriguez fashion, the action is off-the-wall as some of its characters, namely Cherry (McGowan), who uses a machine gun for a prosthetic leg after losing it during the battle.

Like last month's "Grindhouse" DVD release, Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof," "Planet Terror" is an extended an unrated cut that adds the "missing reel" scenes in theaters.

And while "Planet Terror" still lacks the fake movie trailers that were sandwiched in between it and "Death Proof," it at least has two cool features: Watching the "scratched print" version (like you'd see in a B-movie dive) and an additional audience reaction track. It's as close as you'll get to the theatrical experience you'll get for now – at least until the inevitable "Special Edition" with both films and the fake trailers comes out.

DVD Features: The two-disc special edition includes production featurettes, Rodriguez commentary and the director's "10-Minute Film School," and more. (Genius Products)

Also New:
'A Mighty Heart' (R) Angelina Jolie transforms herself into Mariane Pearl, the widow of Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman), the real-life Wall Street Journal reporter slain by Islamic terrorists while on assignment in the Middle East. The film chronicles the happenings around Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and subsequent murder in Pakistan in 2002.

TV On DVD: Season 1 releases this week include "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (Warner Home Video). Season 3 releases include "Medium" (Paramount Home Entertainment).