What It’s About: It’s all about the Benjamins, yo. Despite being a friggin genius, Ben (Jim Sturgess) can’t go to Harvard Medical School because he’s short a few hundred thousand bucks. Enter Kevin Spacey. Who offers him a spot on his team of card-counters, a group that heads to Vegas on the weekends and rakes it in.
Even though the movie has a good premise and some incredibly interesting characters, so much of it seems rushed or half-assed. There is a better movie in here. The love story? Useless. But the whole loser becomes Vegas high-roller aspect is cool as is the fact that there aren’t really any good guys here, they’re all messed up in their own way.
Technical Stuff: It looks great and the sound is solid. Nothing fancy but it all holds up weel to scrutiny.
Synopsis: Inspired by the true story of MIT students who mastered the art of card counting and took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. Looking for a way to pay for tuition, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) finds himself quietly recruited by MIT's most gifted students in a daring plot to break Vegas. With the help of a brilliant statistics professor (Kevin Spacey) and armed with fake IDs, intelligence and a complicated system of counting cards, Ben and his friends succeed in breaking the impenetrable casinos. Now, his challenge is keeping the numbers straight and staying one step ahead of the casinos before it all spirals out of control.
Extras? Closed Caption; Disc 1: ; Filmmaker commentary; ; Disc 2:; Bonus digital copy of the film ; Basic Strategy: A complete film journal - Making-of featurette; 21: The advantage player - The cast explains the game of blackjack and card counting; Money Plays: A tour of the good life - Featurette that explores the clothes, luxuries and locations shown in the film

Final Verdict: Rent it!

What It’s About: The original Step Up was awesome. One of those dancing movies that made you get off your butt and pretend to dance like the skilled peeps in the movie. Unfortunately, Step Up 2 kinda sucks.
It’s not a new story but pretty much the same one with a gender role switch. The dancing is stellar, I’ll give them that, but the characters are shallow and the plot is predictable. I’m sure the younger set will love and my high schoolers will be begging me to show it in class next semester (because it has sooo much to do with English class) but I couldn’t get into it. That said, it’s not horrible, it’s just not as fun as it could have been.
Technical Stuff: The film is sort of dark but I think that’s on purpose. The 5.1 sound is great and all about the soundtrack. You also get French and Spanish tracks, and subtitles come in English, French and Spanish.
Synopsis: Step Up 2: The Streets is the hottest dance movie of the year! With awesome high-energy dancing, heated drama and pulse-pounding music, it's guaranteed to blow your mind! When rebellious street dancer Andie teams up with a hot modern dancer, Chase, to compete in the biggest, toughest street dance-off ever, "The Streets," sparks fly both on and off the underground dance stage. Even more sensational than the smash hit Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets features music from today's hottest artists, including Flo Rida, Missy Elliott, T-Pain, Enrique Iglesias, Cassie, Trey Songz, Cherish and Plies. With electrifying, exclusive dance bonus features, you'll want to see these moves again and again!
Extras? Deleted scenes - including dances by Jabbawockeez and West Coast Riders dance crews; Music videos:; "Low" - Flor Rida feat T. Pain; "Ching-A-Ling/Shake Your Pom Pom" - Missy Elliott; "Killa" - Cherish feat. Yung Joc; "Hypnotized" - Plies feat. Akon; "Let It Go" - Brit & Alex; Outtakes from Step Up 2 the Streets - Cassie performs "Is It You?"; Lead actor Robert Hoffman video prank; Outlaws of hip hop - meet the "410"; Through Fresh Eyes: The Making of Step Up 2
Final Verdict: It’s fluff but harmless fluff, just not good fluff. Rent it.

What It’s About: A surprisingly good turn by Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin make this romantic comedy a sweet time-killer. There isn’t anything too deep about it but the story of a dad who has just been served with divorce papers telling his daughter the story of how he met her mother (no it’s not that show) is kind of endearing.
The real star here for me was Isla Fisher who just lights up the screen whenever she’s on. You don’t know who will end up with Will (the father) and the movie does a great job of keeping you guessing.
Technical Stuff: The film is a little soft, but overall good picture quality. The sound is 5.1 surround in English, Spanish and French and sounds perfect!
Synopsis: From the makers of Notting Hill and Love Actually comes the charming and irresistibly funny romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe. When Will (Ryan Reynolds) decides to tell his daughter (Abigail Breslin) the story of how he met her mother, he discovers that a second look at the past might also give him a second chance at the future. Co-starring Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher, it's the heartwarming story that makes you realize it's definitely never too late to go back...and maybe find a happy ending.
Extras? Creating a romance; The changing times of "Definitely, Maybe"; Feature commentary with director Adam Brooks and star Ryan Reynolds; Deleted scenes and much more!
Final Verdict: Buy it!

What It’s About: The movie The Golden Compass was a total snore. So I was apprehensive putting this one in, worrying it might be another overdone and lacking magic kids movie with creatures. But it’s not! This is a sweet and magical movie that somehow seems more…intimate.
Twin brothers both played by Freddy Highmore and their sister and mother move into a run-down old mansion. Turns out it’s haunted (surprise!) with all kinds of creatures, none of them too scary. The movie is cute and the only annoying thing is Highmore’s attempt at an American accent. It ain’t Harry Potter, but it will do.
Technical Stuff: Beautiful crisp picture here and DD 5.1 sound that’s excellent. There are also French and Spanish 5.1 soundtracks available, as well as English, French and Spanish subtitles available.
Synopsis: From the beloved, best-selling series of books comes an extraordinary fantasy adventure, revealing the unseen world that exists all around us. From the moment the Grace family moves into a secluded old house peculiar things start to happen. Unable to explain the accidents and strange disappearances, the Grace children, Jared, Simon and Mallory, start to investigate and find the unbelievable truth of the Spiderwick Estate and the amazing creatures that inhabit it.
Extras? Closed Caption; Disc 1: Spiderwick: It's All Time1; It's a Spiderwick World Aruthur Spiderwick's field guide; Disc 2: Spiderwick: meet the clan; Making Spiderwick the magic of Spiderwick!; A Final Word of Advice...; Deleted scenes

Final Verdict: Buy it!

What It’s About: It’s always tough when you read a book before you see the movie. In this case the novel was delicious. Full of sex and history it was a complete page-turner. Then you get to the movie and they’ve ripped it apart! Wtf? I watched this with three other ladies and they hadn’t read the book and really enjoyed it but it was tainted for me. Natalie Portman is fabulous and Scarlett Johannson does a nice job of playing the soft and not incredibly bright Mary. Eric Bana is pretty one-dimensional but pretty hot for Henry who we all know was a total dog.
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novel and starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana, The Other Boleyn Girl is the scandalous tale of two sisters - the ambitious Anne Boleyn and her sister Mary - who rival for the bed and heart of King Henry VIII.
Extras? Closed Caption; Deleted and extended scenes; "Translating History to the Screen" - Featurette on bringing the actual historical story and best selling novel to life; "To Be a Lady" Featurette on the life of a lady & court etiquette in 16th century England; Members of the Court Biographies: Go in depth and explore the real lives of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII and others

Final Verdict: Rent it.

What It’s About: I was expecting this to be a comedy. It was certainly marketed as a comedy. So I was thrown off at first by the fact that this is mostly a drama about friendship with a subtext of death. Totally different from a freaking comedy.
But once I got myself past that point it was—pass the Kleenex, yo. This is a very touching and sweet movie directed by Rob Reiner. Even Jack Nicholson who I normally can’t stand is endearing here. It’s an odd movie but ultimately a really likeable one.
Synopsis: Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do before they "kick the bucket" and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor. Each adventure adds another check to their list.
Extras?
Writing a Bucket List with Screenwriter Justin Zackham; John Mayer Say Music Video; DVD-ROM PC Weblink to Access Other Great Web Features

Final Verdict: Rent it.

What It’s About: What a snooze. I had planned to see this movie in theatres when it came out but my husband and I just never got around to it. Man, am I glad we didn’t. I barely made it through this awake. Hayden Christensen is not good. In fact, he’s incredibly annoying to watch onscreen. Rachel Bilson I normally adore but she can’t even make this palatable. And wtf is Samuel L. Jackson doing here? He used to be good.
Synopsis: David is a Jumper who can teleport himself anywhere in the world, which creates a fun and exciting life. But things turn deadly when David finds himself pursued by a secret organization sworn to kill Jumpers. Forming an uneasy alliance with another Jumper he becomes a player in a war that has been raging for thousands of years.
Extras?
· Audio Commentary - Director Doug Liman
· Jumping from Novel to Film Featurette
· Disc 1 Side B: Widescreen Feature Film
· Audio Commentary - Director Doug Liman
· Making an Actor Jump Featurette
· Previz: Future Concepts Featurette

Final Verdict: Skip it.

What It’s About: Lipstick Jungle went head to head with Cashmere Mafia as the new Sex and the City this past television season. Cashmere has now officially bitten the dust and Lipstick will be back in the fall. Thank goodness. While I didn’t much enjoy the first episode, the show did begin to grow on me and I was able to get over how much I despised Kim Raver on 24. Here, she’s pretty cool, as are Brooke Shields and Lindsay Price. Price can’t really act but she manages to pull of the fashion designer Victory Ford very well with a charming edge. Shield’s husband on the show is yummy as is Raver’s lover. It’s a good show and hopefully with a real season will grow into itself a little more.
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle is the sassy, sexy and inspirational new series about three high-powered women who support each other through the triumphs and tears of big-city life. In every funny and fabulous Season One episode, follow the ups and downs of Wendy (Brooke Shields, Suddenly Susan), a sophisticated movie exec trying to manage a career and a family; Victory (Lindsay Price, 90210), a free-spirited designer dreaming of romance and making it big; and Nico (Kim Raver, 24), an independent and ambitious fashion magazine editor. Armed with strength, style and a wicked sense of humor, these women show that it takes a lot to make it in the Big Apple...especially good friends!
Extras? Exclusive deleted scenes
Final Verdict: Buy it.