Nikhil Burman

Video: 4
Audio: 4
Extras: 4
Forget the two-dimensional superhero that Rocky became in the sequels. The guy we meet in this first installment is a highly sympathetic character—an aging, likable loner with nothing going for him. He gets a title shot out of the blue and, in a touching moment, ultimately decides that all he can hope to do is go the distance. Then there’s the great supporting cast, highlighted by Burgess Meredith’s inimitable Mickey the trainer, Talia Shire’s sensitive Adrian, and the always underrated Carl Weathers as the larger-than-life but self-absorbed champ, Action Jackson...er, Apollo Creed.

Video: 5
Audio: 3
Extras: 4
Watching March of the Penguins, it's hard not to feel as though the cast, fleets of emperor penguins, is imbued with human nature. I kept catching myself thinking of the penguins as people—I kept searching for humanlike motivations to understand their behavior. But perhaps this is unfair of me to say, if not a little arrogant. After all, we humans are all animals (some of us more untamed than others), and this documentary essentially focuses on the central function of all mammals—procreation and the successful nurturing of offspring into self-sufficient beings. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this movie beautifully demonstrates that even something as complex as love is not reserved for humans.

Video: 3
Audio: 4
Extras: 4
If you've rented or purchased xXx: State of the Union, chances are you're not looking for something too heady. In fact, if you're not really in the mood to have things like logic or character development get in the way of fast-paced action, explosions, and the occasional shocking stunt, then you've come to the right place.