Cedar Rapids

Rent-it - Finally, an R-rated comedy that isn't overly raunchy! Cedar Rapids stars a perfectly conventional comedic cast performing a pleasantly clever script.

Atlas Shrugged Part I

Skip-it - This first in a proposed trilogy (please, no) is an anti-capitalist, anti-industrialist, contradictory story about America's largest remaining railroad company is a low-budget, no-talent, eye-rolling disaster.

Catfish

Wait-for-it - Well actually, first go watch the trailer, because half of the intrigue begins with, well, the intrigue, then wait patiently until this "true" story makes its way to Netflix or HBO.

Case 39

Skip-it - Of the two scary movies hitting theaters this week, this is hands down the worst! In fact, it is completely repulsive, illogical and just plain silly - despite stars like Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger.

Born To Be Wild

Rent-it - A beautiful documentary about the bond between humans and animals with some of the best 3-D footage you will ever see - if you like National Geographic or visiting the zoo you will love this experience. 

Battle: Los Angeles

Wait-for-it - There are a dozen cliches for every "wow" moment, but the first 30 minutes are intensely suspenseful and the action delivers like an all-night video gaming marathon of Halo Reach.

Everything Must Go

Rent-it - Will Ferrell is surprisingly low-key in a dram-com film that shockingly offers a little perspective, as he falls off the wagon, gets fired from his job, and returns home to find his wife has left him and his clothes in the front yard.

Charlie St. Cloud

Skip-it - If it wasn't for Zac Efron, this film wouldn't even get talked about, get commercial air time, or maybe even be in theaters, and surprisingly, he does his best to make this sweet film worth seeing, but the director and supporting cast fall short with this story.

Born

Skip-it - A 20-something virgin goes to bed and wakes up pregnant -- rent Rosemary's Baby instead.  

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.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Skip-it - This long-awaited live-action version of Alice has had people on the edge of their seat since the first poster of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter was released, and unfortunately, that's as interesting and cool as the rabbit hole ever gets. Alice in a 3-D wonderland was visually entertaining (though more gimmicky and not a part of the story like Avatar), but it's almost too Tim-Burtony, even by his standards. You'll love the tea party with Depp and the hare, and Helena Bonham Carter is the perfect Red Queen, but everything else disappoints.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rent-it (closer to Christmas time) - Another classic Christmas film that you could catch on all the major networks post-Thanksgiving, but is worth a look on Blu-ray this year.

Conviction

Rent-it - This remarkable true story starring Hilary Swank, Minnie Driver, and Sam Rockwell will have you vehemently rooting for a sister who puts herself through law school to help prove her imprisoned brother is innocent.

Catfish

Wait-for-it - Well actually, first make sure you see the trailer, because half of the intrigue begins with the intrigue, then wait patiently until this "true" story is in a theater close enough to completely "shock" you."

Animal Kingdom

Rent-it - This brilliant Australian cops and robbers drama starring Guy Pearce is so perfect it'll make you wish you lived in Australia and were best friends with this Guy.

Centurion

Rent-it - Set during the 2nd century Roman conquest of Britain, this bloody R-rated swords-and-sandals film is perfect film to kick back and watch at home with the guys and some beers.

All Good Things

Skip-it - Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst are the title characters in this based-on-a-true story ("based" being the key word) about the most notorious missing persons case in New York history that will leave you with little to no answers and hundreds of questions.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

Rent-it - Visually it holds up, and this Freddy may be better than Englund's version, but, unfortunately, this NOES reboot is lacking the twists and depth of story that made the original so terrifyingly great.

Celine: Through the Eyes of the World

Skip-it - Unless you are a huge Celine Dion fan, or still (inexplicably) obsessed with Titanic, skip this concert DVD.

Biutiful

Rent-it - A funny looking Oscar winner Javier Bardem (who? I know - he's the bad guy from No Country for Old Men) ironically makes this script about a father's love for his children even more beautiful than the title suggests.

Extract

Rent-it - Jason Bateman (Juno) and Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) in another Mike Judge (Office Space) comedy about the workplace. Yes, please!

Enlighten Up!

Rent-it - You rarely get to say thought-provoking and funny in the same phrase, but this documentary about a yoga-loving filmmaker is just that.

Elizabeth (1 & 2)

Rent-it - For both of these films, Cate Blanchett turns in her typically stellar performance making this "history lesson" more interesting, entertaining, and dramatic than you expect.

Edge of Love

Skip-it - One can understand how a man could fall for both Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller at the same time, making these two hours of your movie-viewing life pointless.

Eat Pray Love

Skip-it - Despite the catchy trailer song, and Julia Roberts headlining, this film is very skippable, especially if you read or plan to read the much, much better book.