We start with an overlooked craftsman:

The man who has quietly turned into one of the most reliable directors working today gets special treatment this week from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Four of Ron Howard’s best movies come packaged in a box set with two discs for each movie, the second filled with bonus materials ($39.98).

Howard offers commentary on the movies, all rated PG-13 except for Backdraft (R). Check individual titles, but found within are hefty doses of deleted scenes, extra featurettes, trailers, interviews and production notes.

Backdraft (***) In this underrated 1991 drama written by Gregory Widen, Kurt Russell and William Baldwin star as two firefighting brothers who work together but remain estranged. Howard excels at orchestrating his special effects, which garnered three Oscar nominations. Great supporting cast of Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Scott Glenn.

AP file photo

Tom Hanks, center, and Kevin Bacon star in Apollo 13, which is coming to DVD on Tuesday as part of The Ron Howard Spotlight Collection.

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A Beautiful Mind (****) Howard won a Best Director Oscar and the film earned Best Picture in this tale of John Nash (Russell Crowe), the brilliant but troubled Nobel Prize-winning mathematician.

Jennifer Connally also won for her portrayal of Nash’s suffering wife, and Akiva Goldsman scored for his screenplay.

Cinderella Man (***1/2) In this underrated inspirational drama from 2005, Russell Crowe plays underdog heavyweight boxer James Braddock, who fights against overwhelming odds and wins the title during the Depression, giving hope to a nation starved of heroes. Renee Zellwegger plays his wife, Mae, and Paul Giamatti is the fighter’s manager, Joe Gould. Nominated for three Oscars.

*

Hancock (**1/2) In this not-completely-successful odd mix of genres, Will Smith broke out of his usual good-guy persona by portraying a nasty alcoholic bum. Hancock’s redeeming quality, however, is that he’s a Superman-type hero but one who constantly alienates those he helps.

When he goes too far and is sentenced to jail, an image consultant (Jason Bateman) counsels him to serve time and rehabilitate himself. What starts out as against-the-grain humor, however, strangely fades into supernatural origins and an awkward love triangle.

Peter Berg directed and obviously took great delight in setting up the outrageous special effects, such as Hancock tossing a beached whale out to sea. Entertaining but a mixed brew.

Unrated version, 102 minutes.

The DVD holds a 13-minute “making of” featurette, an eight-part, 16-minute segment, “Seeing the Future,” and several other additions, including a featurette on Peter Berg, and another on the film’s physical demands, “Bumps and Bruises.”

*

Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection (*****) For perspective, in 1998 the American Film Institute ranked this great 1950 Billy Wilder classic the 12th greatest American movie ever. Ten years later, it still ranks 16th, ahead of The Graduate and It’s a Wonderful Life . William Holden plays a destitute screenwriter who unwittingly teams up with a faded silent movie star (Gloria Swanson).

The rest is movie history. Priceless, perfect filmmaking.

Not rated, 110 minutes.

For its Centennial celebration, Paramount releases this jewel on a double-disc set, with the second disc containing hours of fascinating extras, including featurettes on the film’s sound and score, its locales, William Holden, the film’s genesis, Gloria Swanson, the Paramount lot and more.

*

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! Fans of Stephen Colbert’s hilarious cable program will appreciate his mock sincerity as he plays host at his own self-serving Christmas special. Stephen hides in his remote cabin, afraid to leave because of the bear outside. So, he receives visits, and songs, from visitors Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, John Legend, Feist and Jon Stewart (yes, Jon Stewart sings).

Not rated, 43 minutes.

The DVD holds three brief alternate endings, an endless Yule log visual and Stephen’s 25-day video Advent calendar.

*

Live From Abbey Road: Best of Season One This two-disc set, also on Blu-ray, comes packed with numerous performances from a variety of artists, such as John Mayer, Dr. John, Norah Jones, David Gilmour, Iron Maiden, Dave Matthews, Wynton Marsalis, the Goo-Goo Dolls and many more.

The studio made famous by the Beatles is now celebrated for its outstanding engineered sound, unhindered by an audience.

Not rated, 220 minutes.

The feature holds several interviews, but more are also included in the bonus materials, along with some behind-the-scenes footage.

*

Daniel Boone: The Final Season The sixth, and last, season (1969) of Fess Parker as the famous frontiersman sees more of the travails of Mama Cooper, as well as Hannah coming home. The DVD includes about half an hour of supplements. 

*

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releases a trio of new arrivals that should please the countless fans of two of the studio’s most popular franchises.

First, young viewers can enjoy two interactive, non-rated DVD games: High School Musical DVD Game and The Hannah Montana DVD Game, both equipped with 11 interactive exercises. In Musical, viewers can answer trivia questions, or sing along, or dance along, or learn new routines, all with their favorite cast members. In Hannah, viewers can audition, sing, dance or challenge themselves in several new games. Neither DVD requires any special equipment beyond a DVD player and a remote control.

Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season All 26 episodes of the increasingly popular series arrive in a four-disc set replete with such special features as a featurette on Miley Cyrus’ trip back home, select episodes with trivia challenges, and much more.

Rated TV-G, 588 minutes.

*

Also coming to DVD this week: Fred Claus, Mark of Cain , Meet Dave, Still Life, Vicky Christina Barcelona.