Short circuits 12/27: Clock radio comes with control app

DVD: Death comes calling in fifth 'Final' film

Nothing in life is certain but death and sequels. "Final Destination 5" isn't as novel as it hopes to be, but it gets the job done. More playful than the old "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween" series of hunt-the-kids-down flicks, the "Final Destination" series offered something new. Here, the villain is fate itself, a sense that the entire physical world is loaded with inevitable death for those who somehow evade the Reaper the first time he comes calling. The camera in "Final Destination 5" treats inanimate objects -- say, malfunctioning air conditioners -- as killers whose mindlessness only makes them more unstoppable. Once the initial trigger happens, there's not a lot of fun left in the scene. Writer Eric Heisserer and director Steven Quale do manage a couple of grisly, postmortem punch lines after viewers think the violence has reached its conclusion. But one or two of the gags are mean-spirited enough to kill the humor. The DVD and Blu-ray (Warner, $29-$36) include featurettes and alternate scenes.

Out on DVD Tuesday

Out on Blu-ray

VIDEO GAMES: Doesn't have a fighting chance "Tekken Hybrid" ($40 for PS3; rated Teen) is not a singular release; it's actually three "Tekken" properties crammed onto one disc for fight fans. But even the most die-hard of "Tekken" followers won't relish putting money into this release. The best of the bunch is "Tekken Tag Tournament HD," which is nothing more than the PS2 game with a fresh coat of high-definition paint. Once a great game, it holds up over time. "Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue" is nothing more than a demo of the upcoming game. It has only four playable characters, making it a shallow demo. There is little to whet your appetite for the full game release. The final piece of the triumvirate, the CG movie "Tekken: Blood Vengeance," is shallow on plot and dialogue. Outside of the decent update to a classic PS2 game, there is little in "Tekken Hybrid" that should compel you to drop even the "bargain" $40 price on this title.

GADGET: Clock radio comes with control app The app-enhanced iHome iA91 stereo clock radio ($69, www.ihomeaudio.com) continues the endless line of great innovative products from iHome Audio. Of course, it wakes you to tunes of your choice from your iPhone or iPod, which is charged on the top-sided dock. With the radio app, you have access to stream an endless number of radio station choices from anywhere, while the sleep app gives you the access to customize alarm presets along with instant weather for your area. A wireless remote is included to control music or video choices from your device. Setting the time is simple with the Time-Sync button to synchronize the iA91 with an iPhone. The sound is great, and the buttons are easy to access in addition to looking great on your nightstand.