WRITTEN BY Zachary Scheer

You know how movies are supposed to begin with a big action scene? This entire movie is a series of those big opening action scenes. The spirit of this movie is fun. It’s a simple word but I feel it’s at the heart of Ghost Protocol and the thing that it takes the most seriously. The story isn’t going to work your mind like the first one, but it’s not about that here.

One of the most underrated films of 2011 is finally released upon the world like so many Titans before it. The Immortals is out on Blu-ray/DVD and can finally take its rightful place in your collection, right between I, Claudius and The Iron Giant -- alphabetically.

From the fiery pits of sword-and-sandal epics comes Conan the Barbarian. He’s come riding in on his Blu-ray steed and he’s out for blood. Let’s see if he’s the stuff of legend or something less memorable.

Captain America: The First Avenger is the last Avenger to take a jab at the big screen. As such, it’s the latest one to add to your DVD collection as it hits the home video circuit. But as we’re assembling the team, let’s see if this one truly earns its spot amongst Earth’s mightiest heroes.

There aren’t many horror films that have lasted nearly two decades with the same core cast. Some may say that there’s a reason for this. For those who disagree, there’s Scream 4, or Scre4m if you’re nasty.

The new Batman is out, and I’m not talking Arkham City. The direct-to-video feature film Batman: Year One is finally available to own. The question is: would your 64 minutes be better spent installing DLC? I don’t think so. After all, before you get all caught up in seeking out Batman skins you should get a good look at Bruce Wayne.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a classic. Either you grew up with it and love it, or you and I are different ages. It’s a comic staple, an institution...but is it good? Well, it’s in high definition now thanks to Best Buy’s exclusive release. Let’s see whether or not the other retailers are missing out.

In the past 10 years the superhero film has become as major a genre as any, and with so many out there it can be hard to stand out if your hero’s surname isn’t “man.” Enter a golden-haired hammer wielder who has the audacity to call himself “Thor.” He says he can summon lightning, now let’s see if he can catch it in a bottle.

Sometimes, there’s a movie, well, it’s the movie for its time and place. It fits right in there. And that’s The Big Lebowski, on Blu-ray. But sometimes there’s a movie, sometimes, there’s a movie. Aw. I lost my train of thought here.

It’s hard out there for a legal thriller. Between the films and TV shows, many of the twists and turns have already been tapped. At least The Lincoln Lawyer has its own titular rap song for the credits.

Extended Cuts can mean a lot of things. For Lord of the Rings, it meant more stuff for the fans who wanted it; for Blade Runner it meant changing the meaning of the film itself. Sometimes it just means more fan service. With Sucker Punch I just wanted everything this film threatened to be -- crazy and confusing mixed with singing and dancing.

A remake is only as good as two things: the original and the people remaking it. When the name attached was revealed to be the Coen Brothers, the question changed. It now became, “Who wouldn’t want to see this movie?”

Having not seen this film in recent years, it was exciting to go back and see what inspired a franchise that included, amongst other things, a game-changing sequel and two subsequent lousy movies. Amazingly, both succeeded equally in nullifying the original, which is a very straightforward movie about two men who want the same woman.

What brings the movie back, however, is Steven’s next obsession: Phillip Morris. It’s a refreshing role that is extremely well played by Ewan McGregor. He finds honesty in this character where others may have approached it as more of a caricature. This is where the film really begins and the remarkable cons that Steven pulls off start to take shape.

Martin McDonagh’s second feature film Seven Psychopaths is one of the most overlooked films of 2012. Does its home video release pack enough punch to redeem it for a new audience?

David Cronenberg’s most recent film, Cosmoplis, is about sex, commerce, alienation, white stretch limos, a haircut, sensitivity and the lack thereof. He calls it a comedy. Trudging its way from a limited run in theaters across town into home video, let’s see if it was worth the drive.

Finding Nemo is the product of expert storytellers working in unison with the most skilled animators in the field. Nearly ten years after its initial release, the film has been re-released in 3D for a theatrical run as well as a Blu-ray/DVD package challenging the audience to sink or swim with these characters, once again.

Season 1 of HBO’s Game of Thrones is an adaptation of the book of the same name, the first in the longer ongoing story of The Song of Ice and Fire” by writer George R.R. Martin. The entire first book -- with some additions and subtractions -- is covered in this season of the HBO series, and the scale of the effort is simply outstanding, with a final product that is passionately faithful.

ATTN: Those who don’t watch Doctor Who, read this first and then watch series 5. Series 6 has landed on Blu-Ray, and I’m going to do my utmost to make sure you catch it while there’s still Time. Yes I went there, and so will you.

There are a few shows on television that exist on the line between entertainment and art. There are shows of a certain caliber that you’d see a college offer a class for in their communications program. I could take a class on Twin Peaks. I could take two classes on The Wire. The master class that this review will extrapolate on is Eastbound & Down 201. It may look like an entertaining show about baseball and cussing, but it’s really a study on depravity, heart, and American cock fighting.