DVD: Po returns with a vengeance

In "Kung Fu Panda 2," the sequel to the funny, charming and action-packed animated feature from 2008, Po the panda (voiced by Jack Black) returns in pursuit of inner peace, the defeat of a murderous peacock (Gary Oldman) and the truth about what happened to his real parents. "Kung Fu Panda 2" is darker and more intense than the first film, especially for the youngest viewers. There are laughs, but Po is less physically inept and emotionally insecure this go-round, having spent the last film mastering the art of kung fu. The DVD (DreamWorks, $30) includes the debut episode of the Nickelodeon TV series "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness," commentary, deleted scenes and making-of featurettes. The Blu-ray ($50) adds the short "Secrets of the Masters" and a trivia track.

  • WASHINGTON POST

Out on DVD Tuesday 12/13

  • "Circumstance"
  • "Family Guy" (Vol. 9)
  • "Fright Night" (2011)
  • "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
  • "Switched at Birth" (Vol. 1)

Out on Blu-ray

  • "Branded to Kill"
  • "City of God"
  • "The Expendables" (director's cut)
  • "Heavenly Creatures"
  • "Meet Me in St. Louis"
  • "The Rocketeer"
  • "Stars & Stripes Forever"
  • "Tokyo Drifter"

VIDEO GAMES: Coming at you in 3-D So you just got a 3-D TV or maybe you're going to get one. Now that you're moving into the world of 3-D, the big question: Which games should you get? The experience in a new dimension varies widely depending on the developer. Some games show off the effect really well. In other games, it's less noticeable. Here are the best:

  • "Super Stardust HD" (PlayStation Network; $10).
  • "Gran Turismo 5" (PlayStation 3, $40).
  • "Sonic Generations" (PS3, Xbox 360, $50).
  • "Child of Eden" (PS3, $40).
  • "The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection" (PS3, $40).

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

GADGET: Have fun with a robot

Robots are still not cheap or effective enough to serve all our needs, but the DeskPets TankBot will patrol your home or office, find its way through obstacles and obey the commands you send it through an Apple iOS or Android device. The smart toy uses infrared sensors to roll its way around autonomously, and an included remote control plugs into the headphone jack of your mobile device for direct driving. Tankbots come in a variety of colors and cost $25 at Radio Shack and Toys 'R' Us and from Desk Pets (www.mydeskpets.com).

  • MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

WEB: Go for broke online

This Is Why I'm Broke (www.thisiswhyimbroke.com) is a blog stocked with eccentric and geeky items to tempt the cash out of your wallet, assuming there is any left. The website links to items ranging from the absurdly expensive and impractical -- such as the $130,000 water jet pack and a $55,000 "Tron" light cycle -- to cheap, mass-produced junk, such as a $1.93 iPhone case that looks like a cassette tape and a $9 coffee mug that looks like a toilet. It's worth a quick visit for ideas and laughs, including the Batman snuggie blanket and the AT-AT "Star Wars" dog costume.

  • MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL