DVD Court: The Hobbit, Zero Dark Thirty, Les Miserables, This is 40

This week, we put four movies on trial. As The Jury, we recommend what should happen to a particular DVD released today. Voting Burn It, Skip It, Rent It, or Buy It, we come together to deliver a verdict and hope to help you decide what to watch or avoid. We are planning on starting a rotating Jury for the DVD Court, so if you have interest in joining the discussion, let us know below! I also want to thank Chris of FilmHipster for the brand new DVD Court logo. It’s quite attractive, indeed.

The Jury:
Nick of The Cinematic Katzenjammer
Ries of The Cinematic Katzenjammer
Joe of Two Dude Review
Vern of The Vern’s Video Vortex
Sati of Cinematic Corner
Fernando of Committed to Celluloid
Ben of Benend’s Basement
Alex of Cinemaniac Reviews
Chris of Film Hipster
Kristen of Journeys in Classic Film
Colin of Move Flubs
Vivek of The Cinematic Katzenjammer

“A younger and more reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out on an “unexpected journey” to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home from a dragon named Smaug.”
Directed by: Peter Jackson, Rated: PG-13, 169 minutes

Nick: Rent It
Ries: Rent It
Joe: Buy It
Vern: Rent It
Sati: Rent It
Fernando: Burn It
Ben: Buy It
Alex: Rent It
Chris: Rent It
Kristen: Rent It
Colin: Rent It
Vivek: Buy It

Closing Arguments:
Nick: “While messy, poorly paced, and too ambitious, The Hobbit is still a return to Middle Earth. And that’s something I can get behind”.
Fernando: ”Boring, silly and extremely long: this was torture to sit through. Avoid if you’re not a Lord of the Rings fan”
Colin: “It’s visually stunning, but the first half is surprisingly boring and it never lives up to the amazing The Lord of the Rings.”
Sati:  ”Richard Armitage and Martin Freeman did a hell of a job here and their last scene together in the movie moved me even more than any of Aragorn/Frodo scenes. It’s a shame the film didn’t have more moments like this one.”
Ben: ”I loved this film. Every single minute of it. Nothing felt like filler, nothing felt unnecessary and I’m very excited for the upcoming installments.”

“A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May 2011″
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow, Rated: R, 157 minutes

Nick: Rent It
Ries: Skip It
Joe: Buy It
Vern: Rent It
Sati: Skip It
Fernando: Buy It
Ben: Rent It
Alex: Buy It
Chris: Buy It
Kristen: Rent It
Colin: Rent It
Vivek: Buy It

Closing Arguments:
Kristen: “Jessica Chastain’s performance is amazing, and I felt better than Jennifer Lawrence (I said it)”
Fernando: ”With sharp writing and a marvelous character at its center, this movie is one of the most riveting films in quite a while.”
Vern: “In a very special episode of  CSI: Afghanistan, we watch a lot of boring bureaucratic paperwork in order to get to a good action scene at the end.”
Alex: “Jessica Chastain gives an outstanding performance in one of the most entertaining thrillers–if not THE most entertaining–of last year.”
Sati:  ”The film will quickly fade from my memory just as tears faded from Maya’s lifeless face.”
Ben: “The film is worth watching for those final scenes alone. Hell, if Maya can wait eight years, you can wait 157 minutes!”

“In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.”
Directed by: Tom Hooper, Rated: PG-13, 158 minutes

Nick: Skip It
Ries: Rent It
Joe: Buy It
Vern: Rent It
Sati: Skip It
Fernando: Buy It
Ben: Skip It
Alex: Buy It
Chris: Buy It
Kristen: Skip It
Colin: Rent It
Vivek: Rent It

Closing Arguments:
Nick: “Almost a Burn, the movie is a sloppy attempt at cashing in on a beloved musical. Poorly paced, wishy washy acting, and very little chemistry among the cast doesn’t help Anne Hathaway’s award-worthy performance.”
Kristen: ”As a fan of the musical, only a few pieces work.  Russell Crowe ruins every number where he opens his mouth.”
Fernando: ”Not without its flaws, but the movie  is one of the most satisfying cinematic experiences I’ve had so far this year. Yes, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway are that good but no, Russell Crowe ain’t that bad”.

“A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.”
Directed by: Judd Apatow, Rated: R, 134 minutes

Nick: Rent It
Ries: Burn It
Joe: Rent It
Vern: Rent It
Sati: Skip It
Fernando: Rent It
Ben: Skip It
Alex: Skip It
Chris: Rent It
Kristen: Skip It
Colin: Skip It
Vivek: Rent It

Closing Arguments:
Colin: “The only joke I can remember is my own, saying that This is 40 minutes too long.”
Kristen: ”Why does Judd Apatow think his life is so fascinating?  It’s not.”

Other Releases:
Rust and Bone
Bachelorette

The Court of Appeals

Porky’s (Blu-ray)

Badlands (Criterion Blu-ray)

Like This? Check Out These:

DVD Court: Lincoln, Parental Guidance, Killing Them Softly DVD Court: Wreck-It Ralph, Red Dawn, Playing for Keeps DVD Court: Life of Pi, Rise of the Guardians, Hitchcock DVD Court: The Master, Chasing Mavericks, Twilight