New on DVD & Blu-ray, Week of Jan. 3: 'Contagion,' 'The Guard'

The brand new year is off and away to a modest begin with a couple of gems that deserved more eyeballs, but mostly middle-of-the-road fare which was forgettable at theaters and really should remain so in your own home. Take a look at our picks for The month of january 3rd's DVD releases. MOVIEFONE'S PICKS For That WEEK 'Contagion' What's It About? Steven Soderbergh directs an exciting-star cast of Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne and much more within this creepy thriller. An unknown new virus strain breaks out and rapidly turns into a global epidemic, killing off huge lots of the populace. View It Because: The film keeps the cleaning soap opera drama under control to document the cold, calculating reality of the horrible disease eliminating the progressively-connected world community. With frightening precision, we have seen how fear, stress and untrue stories spread as quickly as bacteria. It is also among Moviefone's options for top movies of 2011. Watch a clip 'The Guard' What's It About? Brendan Gleeson plays the titular Guard, a police sergeant in a tiny Irish little town, that has their own unique method of fighting crime. He's merged with an FBI agent (performed by Don Cheadle) which has descended on their own town to bust an enormous drug deal -- and Gleeson's particular approach will either finish up saving your day or providing them with both wiped out. View It Because: It is a funny, foul-mouthed, non-PC crime comedy. Should you loved 'In Bruges,' then you will most likely like 'The Guard' because it is made by John Michael McDonagh (brother of 'Bruges' director Martin). It's another our picks for 2011's best movies. Watch a clip ALSO ON DVD & BLU-RAY, The month of january 3, 2012 'Don't Hesitate from the Dark' Just a little girl moves right into a creepy old mansion and it is terrorized by small, little demonic animals, within this remake from the cult TV movie from 1973. No awful redo, but simply type of there -- despite being co-written and created by Guillermo Del Toro. View It Or Skip It? Skip It. 'I Have No Idea How She Does It' Within this adaptation of the greatest-selling novel, Nicole Kidman stars like a career lady trying to be all because the loving wife, perfect mother and effective bread-champion. A captivating cast is wasted on many of the cliche easy jokes that include probably the most shallow chick-lit you will find better versions of the story available. View It Or Skip It? Skip it. 'The Last Lions' Jeremy Irons narrates this documentary from National Geographic, concerning a lioness named Ma di Tau, battling to boost her cubs after their natural habitat is slowly removed from their store. The film may upset some audiences -- in its accurate depiction from the laws and regulations from the jungle and it is concentrate on the population crisis affecting the lion kingdom -- however the beautiful cinematography and globally-relatable story allow it to be compelling. View It Or Skip It? View it. 'Puncture' Action star Chris Evans plays a drug-addicted ambulance chaser, who will get swept up within the greatest court situation of his existence including money-driven health organizations, the Helps scare along with a new type of needle. Aren't seeing it for that execution (thinking about the initial true subject material it took it's origin from, 'Puncture' feels as though a typical underdog legal thriller) but view it for Chris Evans' drugged-out, restless performance -- a performance he views to become among his best. View It Or Skip It? View it. 'Shark Night' College kids remaining in a lake house are terrorized by killer sharks. Then your movie will get dumber. The entire factor is really a bloodless PG-13 fare, and also the home edition is missing a budget gimmicky three dimensional effects that conned people into seeing in theaters. View It Or Skip It? Skip it. Follow Eric Larnick on Twitter Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook