Your time is short. We know this. So in order to expedite your buying and Netflix decision making, we provide you with a list of the cool and not-so-cool titles coming out for movies, television and everything in-between. So put your feet up, grab some popcorn and check out this week’s selections.

MOVIES

GNOMEO AND JULIET | © 2011 Walt Disney

GNOMEO AND JULIET – You’ve seen them in your neighbor’s yard. You’ve looked at them and laughed wondering why anyone would actually have such a thing in their yard. But step into the world of Gnomes and you learn there is much more than we’ve ever thought – romance, feuding families, danger and lots of lawn-based lifeforms including a pink flamingo. From the mind of Elton John and the men who bought you SHREK comes a pretty good family film that will be more for young children than adults (although there is some good inside jokes here and there that are amusing). Don’t worry, however, it isn’t nearly as tragic as the classic Romeo and Juliet because, duh, it is a kid’s movie. It won’t win you over the way say TANGLED did or TOY STORY 3, but it is a good distraction until the next animated joint comes along.

I AM NUMBER FOUR | © 2011 Walt Disney

I AM NUMBER FOUR – The first question I have is what about No. 6-10? How about No. 11, he’s always lucky, right? I think they tried to do something with I AM NUMBER FOUR that was a cross between JUMPER and TWILIGHT … a rebel with super powers trying to escape a past who moves to a small town to avoid an enemy sent to kill him. And much like JUMPER, there are some pretty cool scenes with twentysomethings playing teenagers and fighting extraordinary battles. Much like TWILIGHT there are some craptacular romances between normal peeps and this dude with super powers with the object of affection this time GLEE’s lovely Diana Agron. While it gets a bit muddled here and there, the special effects are worth checking out alone – especially on Blu-ray. The last part of the movie picks up and is much more enjoyable as the action takes center stage. Not the best action flick going, but this week might be the best of the bunch.

PLATOON: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | © 2011 MGM Home Entertainment

PLATOON: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION – For the first time, the epic Vietnam War flick starring a then-sane Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger and more people you’ll recognize is coming home on Blu-ray. Unfortunately, there are no new extras on the Blu-ray cut, but it does include all the choice special features from the Deluxe Edition that was released onto DVD just a few years ago. However, the new cut of the film is enough for maybe fans to jump on board.

SECONDS APART | © 2011 Lionsgate Home Entertainment

SECONDS APART – After Dark’s experiment in creating original films continues with this film and FERTILE GROUND. This one is the better of the two as it revolves around the whole idea that twins have some sort of psychic power. In this case, they indeed do and use that power to punish people that they think are evil – in some cases right – but they have no checks and balances to their punishments so they run a bit wild drawing the attention of an emotionally-drained detective (Orlando Jones) that lost his wife in a fire recently. While it won’t win many awards in the horror department, it is worth checking out via Netflix.

FERTILE GROUND | © 2011 Lionsgate Home Entertainment

FERTILE GROUND – This, on the other hand, is pretty predictable and once-again involves the now oft-used pregnancy as the centerpiece. After losing their first child by miscarriage, a couple (including Leisha Hailey from THE L WORD showing off her nice talents) moves to the country to start again. There Emily begins seeing visions and hearing voices but also gets mysteriously pregnant again. Soon, it goes from bad to worse as Emily no longer knows what’s real or what the ghosts of the house are making her see ending in disaster for the family.

And the rest …

• THE RON HOWARD ACTION PACK: GRAND THEFT AUTO/EAT MY DUST – The double feature of Ron Howard’s not so famous films get new anamorphic widescreen cuts and a host of new cool special features as Shout! Factory continues to roll out its Roger Corman collection.
• FORGET ME NOT – A horror film that proves why you should never shun your childhood BFF cause when you grow up to be a silicone-enhanced twentysomething pretending to be a high school student all hell breaks loose. But what’s up with a slew of sex scenes and no nudity? For shame. For. Shame.
• GRAND PRIX – The James Garner classic comes to Blu-ray for the first time with a new remastering for high definition.
• PAPILLON – The great escape film makes its debut on Blu-ray starring Steve McQueen also with a new remastering for high def and a new Blu-ray book with new photos and film info.

TELEVISION

CAPADOCIA: SEASON 1 | © 2011 HBO Home Video

CAPADOCIA: A PLACE WITHOUT FORGIVENESS: SEASON ONE – While many of us are familiar with HBO’s original programming such as TRUE BLOOD, GAME OF THRONES, THE SOPRANOS and more, did you know that HBO Latin America has been rolling out its own original programming? Well, it is true and CAPADOCIA is now coming to DVD for the first time with all 13 episodes from the series on the cheap, just $19.98. The story follows a private prison doing all sorts of tests on unlucky prisoners and the activists that fight to get the prison closed. 13 episodes for $20 bucks? Deal.

MELISSA AND JOEY: SEASON ONE, PART ONE – ABC Family tried to do something interesting with MELISSA AND JOEY, combine two sitcom favorites into one show (Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence) and watch the cash flow from the heavens. Well … maybe it didn’t do that but it did garner some pretty good fans for the show, which is always positive. And fans that have long awaited the show returning, it comes back on June 29.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - Season 1 & 2 DVD | ©2011 Warner Home Video

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL: THE COMPLETE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS – The third season of CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL is coming on June 2 and so here is your chance to catch up on the funny live-action series that pokes fun of all the medial dramas on TV with a slew of slapstick antics, oh, and occasionally helping kids if they find time. The two-disc set includes all 22 episodes from the first two seasons of the show along with a host of extras including music videos, deleted scenes, a featurette on the cast of the show and more.

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