The Messenger

Whether you're feeling like a light, fluffy kind of movie or something with more depth, this week's DVD releases run the gamut. In addition to these three, Extraordinary Measures featuring Harrison Ford and Keri Russell also comes out today.

Valentine's Day

Featuring the likes of Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, and Jennifer Garner, this romantic comedy has plenty of star power for what it lacks in substance. The ensemble film follows multiple couples on the lovey-doviest day of the year, telling their individual stories. Unfortunately, by attempting to cover too much at once, the movie sort of glazes over each relationship, giving it more of a cute montage feel than anything with an actual meaty plot. That being said, it could be the perfect rental for a girly night in. Special features include several deleted scenes.

18%

Invictus

This biopic of Nelson Mandela (portrayed by the excellent Morgan Freeman) follows the iconic leader after his release from prison. Stuck with the difficult task of restoring a post-apartheid country, Mandela tries to bring the divided community together using a struggling rugby team and its captain (Matt Damon). Helmed by Clint Eastwood, Invictus isn't the director's best work — and it's a little too long — but it is the kind of well-acted, inspirational film that has you rooting for its characters. Special features on the Blu-Ray version include a featurette where Freeman meets Mandela for his role and a documentary spanning Eastwood's career.

77%

One more release to check out when you read more

We've all seen 'em: those heart-breaking, suspenseful scenes in war movies, when the family of a missing soldier anxiously waits by the window for an update. From Army Wives and beyond, our sympathy naturally gravitates to the friends and family as they take in the news, but what about the soldiers who have to issue the depressing notices?

In The Messenger, Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster star as two soldiers responsible for informing families that their loved ones aren't coming back from the war. As the younger of the two, Foster's character finds himself faced with a moral dilemma when he extends some extra sympathy to one of the widows he meets along the way.

It's refreshing to see Harrelson back in serious mode for a change, and the premise brings a different aspect of war into focus as we learn more about the inner workings of the seemingly stoic men in uniform at all those front doors. The film hits theaters on Nov. 13, and to see the trailer, just read more