Darfur Now

*** (Warner, $4.99)

In the past decade, so many awful things have happened to the people of Sudan that it’s hard for outsiders to fathom the suffering caused by a ruthless civil war and burgeoning ethnic strife. It’s also hard to keep abreast of the feuding factions and shifting complicity of the nation’s government. “Darfur Now” not only clarifies the region’s ongoing conflict, but offers inspiring stories of those – both foreign and native – who have succeeded in making a difference. Yes, on some level this is a filmed civics lesson that’s “good for you,” but at a $5 retail price, it’s one you can afford to take a chance on.

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 2: 1937-1939

**** (Sony, $24.96)

The shorts the Stooges made for Columbia – still in their Curly, Larry and Moe configuration – continue to get a well-deserved DVD treatment, with 24 films remastered and restored. It’s a key moment in the series, since many Stooges aficionados consider 1939 to be one of the trio’s most consistent years. Among the highlights are “Termites of 1938,” “Wee Wee Monsieur,” “We Want Our Mummy,” “Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise” and “Yes, We Have No Bonanza.”