Buy Me, Rent Me, Forget Me: 'Take Shelter,' 'The Rum Diary,' 'Human Centipede 2,' and More

Take Shelter (Sony)
Release Date: Sep 30, 2011
Director: Jeff Nichols
Cast: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Tova Stewart,Shea Whigham, Katy Mixon. Full cast + crew

Verdict: Buy Me
Available On: Blu-ray, DVD
Special Features: Commentary with Jeff Nichols, Deleted Scenes, Q&A w/ Michael Shannon and Shea Whigham, Behind the Scenes
Additional Thoughts: Take Shelter is the best film of 2011 that you've either never heard of or, due to its very limited theatrical release, haven't had a chance to see. Now you can rectify that and I heartily suggest you do. It's an incredible piece of filmmaking about one man with apocalyptic visions of the future desperate to keep his family and his own sanity together amidst the increasing pressures of it all. The entire supporting cast is phenomenal, but the spotlight here belongs to Michael Shannon, who gives the best performance of 2011. See this movie. Now.

The Rum Diary (Sony)
Release Date: Oct 28, 2011
Director: Bruce Robinson
Cast: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins. Full cast + crew

Verdict: Rent Me
Available On: Blu-ray, DVD
Special Features: A Voice Made of Ink and Rage: Inside Rum Diary, The Rum Diary Back-Story

The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence (IFC)
Release Date: Oct 07, 2011
Director: Tom Six
Cast: Laurence R. Harvey

Verdict: Forget Me
Available On: Blu-ray, DVD
Special Features: Commentary w/ Tom Six and Laurence R. Harvey, 3 Featurettes, Deleted Scenes
Additional Thoughts: Human Centipede 2 is a worthless movie. Not because of how vulgar, offensive or inhumane it may be, but because it's simply a wretched piece of filmmaking. Even if you're one of the few who found merit in the first Human Centipede film, you won't find a single drop of entertainment here. It's a terrible, no-good, joyless, boring excuse for suckering more money out of those who thinking press play on this is a daring act that will test their own boundaries. The only thing this piece of crap tests is your patience.

All Quiet On the Western Front (Universal)
Release Date: Apr 21, 1930
Director: Lewis Milestone
Cast: Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, Raymond Griffith, George "Slim" Summerville, Russell Gleason. Full cast + crew

Verdict: Rent Me
Available On: Blu-ray
Special Feature: Intro by Robert Osborne, a "Silent" Version Presented by the Library of Congress, 100 Years of Universal featurettes
Additional Thoughts: This Blu-ray is one of the first in a new line of "Collector's Series" Universal is putting out in honor of their 100-year anniversary. That means it boasts an immaculate video presentation remastered from the film's original 35mm negatives. Basically, if you're a fan of the film and already own it, the vivid HD preservation here will make the upgrade worth your while.