Short circuits 1/17: 'Ides of March' good, but not insightful

DVD: 'Ides of March' good, but not insightful

Viewers looking for penetrating insight, rather than a well-crafted political potboiler, will come away disappointed from "The Ides of March." Granted, director and star George Clooney elicits terrific performances from his players, gamely letting Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti take the lion's share of the film's most toothsome dialogue. "The Ides of March" is so well directed and acted that it's easy to overlook how dated and shallow it is. Clooney does a good job opening up the ideas Beau Willimon first explored onstage in the 2008 play "Farragut North," but the result is still a pessimistic truth so universally acknowledged that it doesn't bear repeating, however stylishly. The DVD and Blu-ray (Sony, $31-$36) include making-of featurettes.

Out on DVD Tuesday

Out on Blu-ray

VIDEO GAMES: 'NFL Blitz' breaks conventions Although Midway's "Blitz: The League" games were head-and-shoulders deeper than "NFL Blitz" ($15 download for PS3, Xbox 360; rated Everyone 10+), the one thing "The League" couldn't provide -- the NFL license -- was the one players wanted the most. With the franchise and license now in EA Sports' hands, that no longer poses a problem. While "NFL Blitz" lacks some elements -- roster management, injuries, story-driven seasons and giggle-inducing illegal late hits -- of the earlier games, the arcade-like spirit of the originals returns in immaculate condition. The old rules (seven on seven, 30-yard first downs, two-minute quarters and no penalties) still apply, and a game of "NFL Blitz" plays so fast and loose with football conventions that you need not even like football to get a kick out of it.

GADGETS: Affordable Bagis earbuds are solid

Urbanears Bagis earbuds ($30, www.urbanears.com) come in eye-catching colors and produce great ear-catching sound. The earbuds aren't going to be confused with a pair of high-end and high-priced headphones but they offer fine sound, especially for the price. Often, cheaper earbuds feel just like that -- cheap -- but that's not the case with these solidly constructed products. The Bagis earbuds feature a rubber housing, with a combined fabric and TPE cord, which eliminates distortions that can be caused by friction. The earbuds can be snapped together to carry around your neck when they're not being used. Urbanears shows off its creativity when it comes to naming the 10 color options, which include mustard, tomato and mocha.