The Polar Express

Buy-it - The children's book is a better version of this Christmas story, but the animation was groundbreaking at the time, and if you want something to show off that new 3D TV when your family comes to visit these holidays this is probably the best ride.

It's a Wonderful Life

Buy-it - This classic holiday film is my mom's all-time favorite, and one of the only movies you can (and maybe already do) watch every year come Christmas time.

Hook

Buy-it - Steven Spielberg's version of the childhood tale of Peter Pan has been critically panned, but in my heart, and the eyes of many Millennials, Dustin Hoffman is Captain Hook, Julia Roberts is Tinkerbell, and Robin Williams will always be Peter Pan. Bangarang!

Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy

Buy-it - This awe-inpsiring special-effects trilogy about dinosaurs living amongst humans in the 20th century gets progressively worse with each film, but the first is so utterly stunning (especially on Blu-ray) it justifies purchasing all 3 and having a "Back to Jurassic" movie marathon.

Pulp Fiction

Buy-it - This 90s classic came out the same year as Schindler's List, Philadelphia, and Jurassic Park, or it would have one a handful of Oscars. Quentin Tarantino's writing and directing is brilliant as always, but the ensemble cast including Bruce Willis, Samuel Jackson, Uma Thurman, John Travolta and others was even better. Go buy this violent, pop drama.

Thor

Buy-it - Something about an Australian swinging a hammer just didn't strike me as "cool" superhero material, but Thor, like Iron Man, is comic-book movie gold, with the perfect mix of action and laughs, and brilliantly iconic direction by Kenneth Branagh. But boy do I feel bad for younger brother Liam Hemsworth who lost out to big brother Chris for the title role of a lifetime.

Star Wars: Original Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI)

Buy-it - These are some of my favorite films of all-time and even though George Lucas ruined parts of them, again, they are still the definitive Blu-rays for your collection. You have to see this epic space saga in HD. And maybe just mute the last 10 minutes of DTS sound.

X-Men: First Class

Buy-it - The epic beginning of the mutant saga is just as diverse, stylish and powerful as the "superheroes" it's about. You'll leave wishing the Cold War had never ended. But it's the perfect summer blockbuster that will obviously have a sequel and will certainly make a handful of somewhat recognizable faces into Hollywood stars.

Scarface

Buy-it - If you are a man this is a must own, overly-violent, often-quotes gangster film starring Al Pacino as exiled Cuban criminal Tony Montana and Michelle Pfeiffer as his cokehead mistress.

Godfather / Godfather: Part II

Buy-it - The first is often considered the best film of all time and is my 2nd favorite film ever made. The second is typically referred to as one of the best sequels in film history. Together, they tell the story of a mafia family and their life in organized crime. And they are simultaneously the ultimate family film and best mob movie ever.

13 Assassins

Buy-it - Cult director Takeshi Miike (Audition) creates an epicly bloody samurai action film set in feudal Japan. The emotional subtitled story combined with the elegant violence makes it an impossibly unattainable, perfectly over-the-top, period masterpiece.

Source Code

Buy-it - Source Code is an exhilarating, mind-bending, sci-fi thriller where Jake Gyllenhaal enters a stranger's body on a Chicago train for 8 minutes at time in an attempt to find the bomber onboard - think Groundhog Day meets Minority Report - but better!

Captain America: The First Avenger

See-it - Marvel comics has a third great superhero film of the year with this pleasantly nostalgic, good-ole-fashioned, action adventure film.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Buy-it - The second best and darkest Harry Potter film (behind Goblet of Fire) is the perfect ending to the magical story about the young wizard and his lifelong antagonist Voldermort. Don't be surprised if Ralph Fiennes gets an Oscar nom-nod. And film might just make its way into the Academy's top 10 this year as well.

The Adjustment Bureau

Buy-it - Is Matt Damon married? Because if so, he might be having an affair with Emily Blunt. These two stars light the screen on fire and their burning chemistry is reason enough to see this film about politics, life and love and whether or not we control our own destiny.

13 Assassins

Buy-it - Cult director Takeshi Miike (Audition) creates an epicly bloody samurai action film set in feudal Japan that is an impossibly unattainable, perfectly over-the-top, period masterpiece.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Buy-it - Early reviews had the world buzzing about Matthew McConaughey's return to the courtroom (A Time to Kill), however, recently, the buzz has turned into a low hum as The Lincoln Lawyer fails to offer a single twist on the predictable formula.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Buy-it - The 3rd installment in Michael Bay's series about giant alien robots battling on earth is better than the 2nd, not quite as good as as the first, but definitely 10x better than most critics are saying. It's the perfect summer blockbuster full of 3-D action - possibly the best 3-D action since Avatar - and, surprisingly, tons of laughs! Go buy-it and help Michael Bay rub Ben Franklins in those snobby critics' faces.

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

Buy-it - This documentary about Conan's 6-month leave from TV, radio and internet doing stand-up on a 32-city music-and-comedy tour is as funny and intriguing as any documentary you will ever see. Even Letterman and Leno fans will ROTFL and even Conan's haters will find some pleasure in the more raw moments caught on film.

Black Swan

Buy-it - Natalie Portman is the mysterious "black swan" in this psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet where competition is brewing with a new dancer in the company, Mila Kunis.