A caper picture (“Armored”), an animated adventure (“Astro Boy”), a teen musical (“Bandslam”), a romantic comedy (“Did You Hear About the Morgans?”), a dark fantasy (“The Fourth Kind”), an action romp (“Ninja Assassin”), and a Disney title (“The Princess and the Frog”) rank among the new arrivals for the first weekend of spring.
Also arriving at 12:01 a.m. Saturday is the anxiously awaited franchise title “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (Summit; $32.99, DVD; $34.99, Blu-ray Disc) with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.
The top DVD/Blu-ray Disc rental and sales offerings are:
Best Renters
1. “The Princess and the Frog” (G); Grade: A; with Ron Clements and John Musker co-directing a Walt Disney animated musical fairy tale about a waitress who works in New Orleans’ French Quarter and dreams about having her own restaurant.
2. “Up in the Air” (R); Grade: A; with George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick in a satirical drama about a downsizing expert specializing in firing people.
3. “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (R); Grade: A; with Gabourey Sidibe and Oscar winner Mo’Nique in an intense drama about a 16-year-old girl who is abused by her parents.
4. “Astro Boy” (PG); Grade: B+; with the voices of Nicolas Cage and Kristen Bell in a computer-animated tale about a young boy who dies and is turned into a super-powered android by his scientist father.
5. “The Hurt Locker” (R); Grade: A; with Jeremy Renner in director Kathryn Bigelow’s riveting Oscar-winning film about a bomb disposal unit patrolling the streets of Baghdad.
6. “Old Dogs” (PG); Grade: B; with John Travolta and Robin Williams in a family comedy about business partners who become responsible for 7-year-old twins.
7. “Ninja Assassin” (R); Grade: B; with the one-named Rain in a gory action tale about a ninja hunting the culprit responsible for the murder of his friend..
8. “2012” (PG-13); Grade: B; with John Cusack and Thandie Newton in director Roland Emmerich’s over-the-top disaster epic about a race against time to stop a global catastrophe.
9. “The Fourth Kind” (PG-13); Grade: C; with the Milla Jovovich in a 1972-set sci-fi thriller about some Alaska residents being abducted by aliens and then returned.
10. “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” (PG-13); Grade: NP; with Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant in a romantic comedy about an urban couple forced to relocate to a tiny town in Wyoming after witnessing a murder.
11. “Bandslam” (PG); Grade: NP; with Vanessa Hudgens of “High School Musical” in a tween tale about a battle of the bands at a high school.
12. “Armored” (PG-13); Grade: B-; with Milo Ventimiglia, Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne in a crime thriller about an armored car heist.
13. “Where the Wild Things Are” (PG); Grade: B+; with the voices of James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker in director Spike Jonze’s expensive fantasy based on the children’s book by Maurice Sendak.
14. “Law Abiding Citizen” (Unrated and R); Grade: B-; with Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler in the hit thriller about a heartbroken man punishing Philadelphia city officials who he feels allowed murderers to escape punishment.
15. “Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” (PG-13); Grade: C+; with John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek and Josh Hutcherson in a teen-oriented fright film about a guy who meets a creature of the night working in a carnival.
Best-Sellers
1. “The Princess and the Frog” (G); Grade: A; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, DVD/Blu Ray combo; $44.99, DVD/Blu-ray Disc with a digital copy
2. “Astro Boy” (PG); Grade: B+; $26.99, DVD; $34.99, Blu-ray Disc
3. “Up in the Air” (R); Grade: A; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc
4. “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (R); Grade: A; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc
5. “Ninja Assassin” (R); Grade: B; $28.99, DVD; $35.99, Blu-ray Disc
6. “The Hurt Locker” (R); Grade: A; $26.99, DVD; $34.99, Blu-ray Disc
7. “Old Dogs” (PG); Grade: B; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; $44.99, Blu-ray Disc with digital copy
8. “2012” (PG-13); Grade: B; $28.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc
9. “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” (PG-13); Grade: NP; $28.99, DVD; $34.99, Blu-ray Disc
10. “The Fourth Kind” (PG-13); Grade: C; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc
Partial source: Home Media Magazine, wire-service and Web reports; NP means not previewed.
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