Since we know time is money, here's a quick handy reference guide to recent DVD releases that should be on your radar and, in many cases, on your shelf. Immediately.
The Final Destination (Blu-Ray)
Release Date: January 5
What it is: Despite a premise that's wearing a tad thin (this is the fourth movie in the franchise, so such a thing is inevitable), The Final Destination continues one of the more inventive horror series we've seen in a long time (and, yes, we are deliberately ignoring Saw). Essentially—kids cheat death, death finds cool and unusual ways to get back at them.
Why you need it: Sadly, the main selling point of The Final Destination was that it was in 3-D. Great for theaters, not so much for home-viewing. Until TVs reach the point where you can get the vibrant, true-color 3-D you can at the multiplex and you can ditch the headache-inducing red and green cardboard retina-rapers, this gimmick just won't translate to DVD or Blu-Ray. Still, the discs do have the 2-D version, too, so you can at least enjoy the fun kills. And there are many.
Jennifer's Body
Release Date: December 29
What it is: Diablo "I Have An Oscar?" Cody wrote this female-centric horror tale of a queen bee (Megan Fox) who gets possessed by a demon and creates major problems for her mousey sidekick (Amanda Seyfried) named, we shit you not, "Needy." Once again: Oscar.
Why you need it: A movie that was a real disappointment in theaters (not really scary, not really funny, not really…much of anything) plays a little better at home where its mildness passes over you without asking too much. There's a better movie lurking behind this concept, but for now this is Megan Fox eye-candy and a horror flick your girlfriend won't be sickened by. Not a bad thing to have in your collection. Oh, and again, "Unrated" means "A few extra minutes that don't really amount to much."
9 (Blu-Ray)
Release Date: December 29
What it is: Boasting some impressive producer credits—Timur "Wanted" Bekmambetov and Tim "I Have Johnny Depp's Home Number" Burton—9 is a bizarre animated tale of a band of rag dolls battling robots in a post-Apocalyptic wasteland.
Why you need it: On Blu-Ray, this is a visual feast. Gorgeous, and loaded with action, it's exactly the kind of movie you pop on to remind yourself why you invested in HD. Tonally, it's not quite a kid's movie and not quite an adult movie, so not all of it comes together in a cohesive whole, but it is original. You may not feel the overwhelming need to own this, but you should definitely see it.