What to Netflix

I can't get over the number of new DVD releases hitting shelves this week (I know what I'll be doing Saturday!). Along with these three picks, you also have Charlize Theron in The Burning Plain, Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Downloading Nancy with Maria Bello, and the political satire In the Loop.

The Hurt Locker

A small film with big word-of-mouth buzz, The Hurt Locker was one of the cinematic dark horses of this past year. The behind-the-scenes story of an elite bomb squad in Iraq is an action movie with depth, as it explores how the members cope with the weight of their high-risk job. Critics love it, and I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't catch Locker when it first hit theaters. I plan on making up for lost time by devoting my Saturday to it —  before it runs away with all of the award season trophies. Of special note is Kathryn Bigelow, who is receiving the most accolades for her directorial work.

DVD extras include a commentary and a behind the scenes documentary.

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Fame

Most of you said that you wanted to see Fame in theaters, but you can take it home now in case you missed it (or if you want to see it again!). This update of the 1980s musical follows a whole new class of singers, musicians, and actors at the New York City High School of Performing Arts. It feels a little more cutesy, teeny-bopper than the original, but seeing as how I'm sucker for dance movies, I'm adding it to my queue for the flashy production numbers alone.

DVD extras include deleted scenes and the Fame National Talent Search Contest Winner.

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Welcome back from your holiday hibernation! If you still feel like being a couch potato, settle in and prolong that vacation with these new movie releases. Or if you're in the mood for a marathon, catch up on your TV (and prep for the upcoming episodes) with Big Love: Season 3 or Chuck: Season 2, which also hit shelves today.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

After a strong showing at the box office and solid reviews, I'm curious to check out Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs — even if it's not the most grown-up of movies. The film follows Flint (Bill Hader), an inventor whose creations get him into trouble. His latest is a contraption that changes water into food, and Flint accidentally launches it into the sky, causing hamburgers and the like to rain down. Seems like a cute, kooky pick if I want something light. Plus, Anna Faris voices one of the characters.

Special features include a Director's Commentary with Hader, but if you get the Blu-Ray/DVD combo, you can use the "Splat" button to simulate throwing food at the screen, which sounds fun if you're a kid (or not a kid).

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The Final Destination

It's the fourth installment in the horror franchise, so you know the premise by now: a teen sees a deadly vision and tries to protect those around him, but death still comes calling in a series of over-the-top gruesome setups. It may be campy, but The Final Destination did well in theaters, probably thanks to its new 3-D effects. The DVD version includes special 3-D glasses, so you can watch it in all its gory glory home. I doubt it'll capture the magnitude you get on the big screen, but it's kind of an entertaining novelty, none the less.

Special features include deleted scenes.

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Ready to ring in the New Year with a few movies to watch at home? I've got some fresh picks for you — and more than one is perfect for a good scare!

Paranormal Activity

If you're anything like me, then you might have been intrigued, but too terrified to see Paranormal Activity in theaters. Now that it's on DVD, perhaps you'll feel braver about checking out the Blair Witch Project-esque film that features "lost" footage of a couple as they are tormented by other-worldly elements in their home. The movie had one of the most successful viral marketing campaigns of all time earlier this year, so it might be worth checking out just to finally see for yourself what all your friends have been talking about.

DVD extras include an alternate ending and a downloadable digital copy of the film.

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Whether you're looking for the perfect last minute Christmas gift or just need something new to snuggle up with during the holiday lull, I've got some new goodies for you. First up are hot new DVDs for your Netflix queue, and check back later for the latest in the music world.

(500) Days of Summer

Taking apart a doomed relationship that lasts just over a year (500) Days of Summer is a refreshing, realistic spin on the typical movie romance. Zooey Deschanel stars as the film's title character, while Joseph-Gordon Levitt plays her idealistic admirer and ultimately, her ex-boyfriend (which nabbed him a Golden Globe nomination). The quirky little rom-com charmed audiences (and me) even if it is a little too cute and hipster-y at times. I will say this: it may be worth it just for JGL's adorable dance sequence and the killer soundtrack.

DVD extras include deleted scenes and a commentary track featuring director Webb, writer Michael Weber, co-writer Scott Neustadter, and Gordon-Levitt.

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We're in the midst of perfect movie watching season, and if all you want to do is make a you-sized dent in your couch with a new movie, you're in luck. Today is Tuesday, which means new DVDs and music, and there are some particularly entertaining releases this week. And in addition to my picks below, there are also Jeremy Piven's The Goods: Live Hard Sell Hard and animated guinea pig flick G-Force available today as well.

The Hangover

This Summer's smash hit The Hangover won over audiences and critics for its raucous bachelor party story. The buddy pic lets Zach Galifianakis shine as the hilariously inept counterpart to the more straight-laced Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper, as they try to find their buddy (Justin Bartha) after a crazy night in Vegas. I loved the unapologetic male-centric movie, and so did you, it seems — it's running away with my best comedic movie of 2009 poll.

If you've already seen the movie in theaters, the DVD extras may make you want to see it again: there's a montage of Ken Jeong's improv from the movie, some deleted extra scenes, and more photos from the notorious missing camera.

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Want a new movie to curl up with this week? Today's DVD releases offer something for everyone. (And If you've seen a film you love lately, give it a review in the Movie Reviews Group — I may even feature it on the site!)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
With anticipation building for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — did you check out my sneak peek? — I fully intend on watching the most recent chapter one more time. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hasn't been my favorite movie in the series, thus far, but I still enjoyed it due to the special effects and the raging hormones between the main characters, which was fun to watch. This time Harry is coping with his godfather's death and the pressure of Hogwarts, so the themes are decidedly darker (and at times, even scary). If you're a fanatic, check out the two-disc version which includes a peek at Universal's "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" theme park. I've already seen a short preview of the place, but I'm excited for a more in-depth look!

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Two more DVD releases to check out when you read more

Looking to add some new DVDs to your entertainment library? It's Tuesday which means there's a slew of movies hitting shelves, including these three releases.

Terminator Salvation

Christian Bale plays John Connor in this latest installment in the Terminator franchise. The film follows an ex-con turned robot (Sam Worthington) who meets up with Connor in the hopes of saving Connor's father (who is currently a teenager), and therefore the human race. Confusing? Yes. But strange time-traveling aside, my biggest complaint is that I miss the humor from the previous films. Still, it's a Netflix possibility thanks to some solid action sequences and Worthington's standout performance (not to mention he's nice to look at).

If you're a die-hard Terminator fan, you may consider the special three-disc Blu-Ray edition, which includes a Director's Cut and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

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Two more DVD releases to check out when you read more

It's Tuesday, so you know what that means — new DVD releases just in time for the Thanksgiving break! I've already shared some fresh music picks, but here are three movies to add to your Netflix queue for the weekend.

Funny People

Adam Sandler plays a comedian who tries to turn his life around and befriend a past love (Leslie Mann) after being diagnosed with a blood disorder; Seth Rogen steps in as his idealistic assistant. Both men turn in solid performances in Funny People, and there are laughs, even though this is way more serious than director Judd Apatow's previous work. One of my complaints in the theater was that it was much too long, but that's the good thing about DVDs — you can always hit pause and go back later.

The single disc version includes a gag reel and a feature commentary with Apatow, Rogen, and Sandler. (Normally I don't watch with the commentary on, but in this case, I might just tune in for their wise cracks.) The special two-disc collector's version is loaded with extras, including a 13-year old Seth Rogen doing stand-up!

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Two more DVD releases to check out when you read more

There's a silver lining to TV shows going into reruns, and it's more time to watch movies! Happily, today there are a few highly-anticipated flicks, and I've gone through them to tell you What to Netflix. In addition to the three movies mentioned below, you can also catch Robert Pattinson's pre-Twilight dramedy How to Be.

Star Trek

This year's updated version of Star Trek turned the franchise on its head. With hot young things Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in the beloved roles of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, the film completely changed the series' history so they could start over with a fresh new story.

It worked like gangbusters: the space-set action movie is clever, entertaining, and tons of fun. It manages to make a sex symbol out of a pointy-eared geek, whom I personally drooled over. The movie manages to pay respect to the original, so those fans are still happy, while pleasing folks who weren't fans of the first (like myself).

The DVD's got lots of extras, including deleted scenes, a special feature on casting and a gag reel.
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Tuesday means it's time to rev up your entertainment engine with new releases in music and new DVDs to add to your Netflix queue. I've checked out today's movie offerings and have some recommendations for the movies that are worth your rental time below.

Up

This Summer's hit from Pixar is as tear-jerking as it is funny and light, and equally entertaining for kids and adults. Up is a story about an old man, voiced by Ed Asner, who attaches his home to balloons to escape his rapidly changing neighborhood.

I loved the emotional and original story, and wouldn't be surprised to see it nab a Best Picture nomination. The DVD has a ton of fun extras like cartoon shorts Partly Cloudy and Dug's Special Mission, and the expected making-of featurettes.

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