What to Rent

Parker and Stand Up Guys are also available on DVD this week.

Beautiful Creatures

Alice Englert stars as a witch in this romantic, fantastical movie that may fill the void left by the end of the Twilight franchise. Set in the South, the adaptation of the young-adult novel follows Lena (Englert) as she discovers her powers and falls for local boy Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich). Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson, and Viola Davis add some actor credibility to the cast, but it's Ehrenreich's charisma that makes the biggest impression. The DVD comes with a trailer for author Margaret Stohl's next book, plus deleted scenes.

45%

Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh directs Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum in a stylish thriller that puts antidepressants under the microscope. When Emily's (Mara) therapist (Jude Law) prescribes her a new drug to treat her anxiety, she comes out of the daze she's been in since her husband (Tatum) returned from prison. But soon enough, she begins to experience unexpected and dangerous side effects that involve her in a murder. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and some fake drug-company commercials.

85%

The Last Stand

A former LAPD narcotics officer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) moves to a quiet border town following a botched operation. Hoping to find solace there, he instead gets caught up in capturing an escaped convict: a notorious drug kingpin who threatens the security of the town. Schwarzenegger proves he's still capable of firing off one-liners, but the humor is generic, as is the action. The DVD will come with several featurettes as well as deleted and extended scenes.

59%

Cloud Atlas

Tom Tykwer teams with Andy and Lana Wachowski to take on the epic task of adapting David Mitchell's sweeping novel that occurs in different times and places. The filmmakers enlist a crew of A-list actors, including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, and Jim Broadbent, to play several versions (and races) of themselves. Their interweaving stories prove how the present can be affected deeply by the past, and despite its cast and how visually impressive it is, Cloud Atlas is a letdown. The DVD comes with the featurette, "A Film Like No Other."

68%

A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III

Charlie Sheen, Bill Murray, and Jason Schwartzman collaborate with writer/director Roman Coppola for this self-absorbed turkey of a film. Sheen is Charles Swan, a graphic designer whose life falls apart when his true love (Katheryn Winnick) breaks up with him. Set in a stylized Los Angeles, the "comedy" outstays its welcome, even at a quick 84-minute run time. Aubrey Plaza, Patricia Arquette, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead also star.

16%

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Jack Reacher

Tom Cruise brings his signature grin and action-star style to Jack Reacher, the big-screen adaptation of the popular Lee Child series. Cruise plays a former military officer called out of retirement when an accused sniper asks for him by name. The opening shooting scene is immensely disturbing, but the film works as a mystery, and Cruise fans will be especially pleased to see the actor turn in another action-packed performance.

61%

Safe Haven

Safe Haven is the latest adaptation from renowned romance novelist Nicholas Sparks. Abuse victim Katie (Julianne Hough) is looking for a clean start. She finds herself in a small seaside town being courted by a charming single dad (Josh Duhamel), but she's plagued by an ex who is intent on tracking her down. Unrealistic and filled with cheesy clichés, the film itself is a lot less tempting than Duhamel. The DVD comes loaded with extended scenes and a (much-needed) alternate ending.

13%

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Silver Linings Playbook

Jennifer Lawrence took home an Oscar for her performance as a young widow in this crowd-pleasing award season darling. The film centers on Bradley Cooper as a bipolar former teacher returning home after a nervous breakdown. The fantastic David O. Russell film is as comedic as it is dramatic, and the leads have undeniable chemistry. Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, and Chris Tucker round out a terrific cast. The DVD comes with deleted scenes and three behind-the-scenes featurettes.

92%

The Guilt Trip

Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand muster all the spirit they can for this schmaltzy, predictable film. Streisand plays mother to Rogen, an inventor who invites her along on a road trip he has planned to sell his latest invention. Though high jinks inevitably follow, the movie is more targeted at feel-good humor than crude jokes — not to say that there aren't a few in there. The DVD includes deleted scenes and three featurettes.

37%

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Gangster Squad

There's plenty of eye candy in this neo-noir gangster film set in Los Angeles circa the 1940s and '50s. Josh Brolin plays an honest cop in a corrupt world. He rounds up a group (including a sweet cop played by Ryan Gosling) to try to clean up the city and attempt to take down mafia boss Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). Some of the performances and action sequences border on cartoonish, but the film is worth seeing if not just for Gosling's chemistry with love interest Emma Stone. The DVD includes director's commentary, deleted scenes, and making-of featurettes.

32%

The Impossible

Naomi Watts earned an Oscar nod for her performance in The Impossible, which chronicles a family's harrowing experience with the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. The movie showcases strong acting from both Watts and Ewan McGregor, who plays her husband, as well as the three boys who play their sons, but it's not easy to watch, and you're likely to be in tears by the end. The DVD comes with director commentary, as well as deleted scenes and a casting featurette.

81%

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Django Unchained

Christoph Waltz took home an Oscar for his fantastic performance in Quentin Tarantino's hit Western. Waltz plays Dr. King Schultz, a bounty hunter who takes on a new protégé, freed slave Django (Jamie Foxx). When Django proves to be a natural at the bounty-hunting business, Schultz agrees to assist him in finding his wife (Kerry Washington), who's been sold to the evil Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). The film is definitely in keeping with Tarantino's bloody style, but it's massively entertaining. The DVD comes with a couple of featurettes and a soundtrack spot.

89%

Save the Date

In this lightweight indie, commitment-phobe Sarah (Lizzy Caplan) breaks up with her boyfriend (Geoffrey Arend) after a very public proposal. She turns to her sister Beth (Alison Brie) for some moral support, but Beth is too busy planning her own wedding to listen. Once Sarah meets Jonathan (Mark Webber), she starts to confront her issues with relationships and vulnerability. Like its characters, Save the Date is flawed, but enjoyable to watch.

44%

Lincoln

Daniel Day-Lewis scored a best actor win at the Oscars for his portrayal of the 16th president in this critically acclaimed historical film from director Steven Spielberg. The movie takes place over the months before Lincoln's assassination, documenting the time he spent working to abolish slavery and end the Civil War. Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt costar. The DVD comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette.

89%

Killing Them Softly

Professional hit man Jackie (Brad Pitt) gets called in to take out two amateur robbers who hit up the wrong card game in this dark thriller. Set in the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis, the film isn't a straightforward mob movie. Yet despite an all-star cast that includes James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, and Ray Liotta, the characters and story at times get overshadowed by the gratuitous violence. DVD extras include a making-of featurette and deleted scenes.

76%

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Les Misérables

Director Tom Hooper adapted the legendary musical into this Oscar-nominated big-screen version, starring Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, a former prisoner who flees lifelong nemesis Javert (Russell Crowe) and finds redemption in 17th-century France. The movie is almost entirely sung, which doesn't always work, but it's a triumph when it does. Case in point: Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" as Fantine, the role that won her an Oscar. A commentary track and a few behind-the-scenes featurettes are included on the DVD.

70%

Zero Dark Thirty

Jessica Chastain stars in this true-life thriller as Maya, the woman who leads a decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden. Kathryn Bigelow directed the harrowing drama, which also stars Chris Pratt and Joel Edgerton as members of the SEAL Team 6 who found bin Laden. Chastain delivers a great performance (which earned her an Oscar nomination), but the controversial torture scenes can be tough to watch. DVD extras include a few making-of featurettes.

93%

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Life of Pi

Director Ang Lee snagged an Oscar for his visually stunning adaptation of the bestselling novel. Following a boat accident, Pi (Suraj Sharma) is left stranded on a life boat in the middle of the ocean. He's not alone — his sole companion is his family's Bengal tiger. The story is well told by flashing between a modern-day Pi and his harrowing teenage experience, but the unforgettable part of the movie is its breathtaking visual aspect. The DVD extras include featurettes.

88%

Hitchcock

Anthony Hopkins portrays the titular filmmaker in this semibiographical movie about Alfred Hitchcock. Set around the time he was filming Psycho, the film follows Hitchcock and his wife, Alma (Helen Mirren), as they work with star Janet Leigh (Scarlett Johansson) on the horror movie. The enlightening film focuses on backstage drama and the tension between the director and his wife. Hopkins makes a wonderful Hitchcock, but the film is a bit too fluffy. The DVD includes several featurettes, director commentary, and a deleted scene.

63%

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Wreck-It Ralph

John C. Reilly voices Ralph, a bulky video game villain itching to shed his bad-guy image and become a hero. The film's stellar voice cast also includes Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, and Jack McBrayer. Chock-full of nostalgic references (think Q*bert and Sonic the Hedgehog), Wreck-It Ralph is just as much fun for adults as it is for kids. The DVD comes with the Oscar-winning short film Paperman, deleted and extended scenes, and making-of featurettes.

86%

Red Dawn

Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson take the reins in this remake of the 1984 action film. This time, the invading forces are North Koreans, and they take over Spokane, WA. Lucky for Spokane, its best and brightest young adults are ready to fight for freedom. Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki also star in the unnecessary remake that suffers from a laughable script and distinct lack of charm that the original had. The DVD include four making-of featurettes.

11%

Check out one more new release after the jump.