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Since this is a very thin week as far as dvd releases, and we're three quarters of the way through the year, I thought I'd take a moment this week to compile my recommendations for this year's movies currently available on dvd:

Warm Bodies - This zombie-human romance was my favorite movie of the year until I saw The World's End. It's more a romance than a horror movie, is funny, and would make for a good date movie.
Iron Man 3 - Iron Man fans will no doubt have either already seen this or seek it out. It's much more entertaining than Iron Man 2, and is surprisingly funny. Ben Kingsley is the highlight.
Star Trek Into Darkness - I do like the rebooted series for its open possibilities, but I still have a nostalgic preference for the original cast movies. Cumberbatch is very good in this.
Oblivion - Not necessarily one of Tom Cruise's more popular movies, but really worth a look for the fanstastic cinematography. There are some great tense moments in this sci-fi adventure.
World War Z - This gets going quickly and keeps you engaged all the way through. Some of the globetrotting is silly in terms of plot, but in terms of chills without excessive gore, it delivers.
White House Down - One of the White House hostage twins this year, this is the Foxx/Tatum version. It's dumb, but it's dumb fun and a lot more enjoyable than Olympus Has Fallen.
Now You See Me - Despite an out-of-nowhere twist ending, this was an early summer sleeper hit. The big magic tricks and heist elements make this a fun adventure.
42 - An Oscar-quality movie released outside of award season, this is worth watching both for the history lesson and the performances by Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson.
Mud - I haven't seen this one yet but the buzz about Matthew McConaughey's performance is up there with the kind of talk usually found in award season.
The Kings of Summer - I haven't seen this one either, and it is similar to the boys of summer setup in Mud, but word is it's far more upbeat, fun, and lively.

And ones to avoid:
Side Effects - Have I liked a Soderbergh movie since the 1990s? This psychological thriller is just boring.
The Wolverine - I'm a big fan of Jackman as Wolverine, but this sequel was so dull that I just felt numb. It barely felt like it was part of the X-Men universe.
A Good Day to Die Hard - I love the Die Hard series and this movie just phoned it in. Despite recycling some DH elements, and a decent action sequence, it's just lifeless.
Beautiful Creatures - Not even worth it for some nifty special effects. The meandering Southern accents and personality quirks are unbearable.
Scary Movie 5 - Just a little better than A Haunted House, I actually laughed at some gags in this movie because the pacing and editing were quick. But I don't recommend it to anyone.
The Numbers Station - This one of John Cusack's movies where he just looks completely miserable to have to show up for scenes. An unthrilling thriller.
Parker - Jason Statham's tough guy movies tend to blur together without much variation, but this movie's pacing and editing were horribly slow, as if it was made for broadcast tv.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters - After a solid trio of The Town, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and The Bourne Legacy, this Van Helsing-esque choice was a misstep for Jeremy Renner.
Broken City - Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe seem like a great recipe for a political thriller together, but the dialogue, exposition, and character actions in this movie are just lousy.
A Haunted House - Slow and stupid, this horror spoof of Paranormal Activity is currently ranked at the bottom of my list for the year.


Coming next week:

After Earth, Home Run, The Look of Love, Much Ado About Nothing, Stuck in Love, We Steal Secrets

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