This week: Edward and Bella finally tie the knot in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," the mystery author behind Shakespeare's works is explored in "Anonymous," John Cho and Kal Penn fight through the haze to find a perfect Christmas tree in "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas," and "Ben-Hur" gets a biblical Blu-ray debut.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1'
Box Office: $281 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 25% Rotten
Storyline: The love triangle between vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson), Bella (Kristen Stewart) and werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is finally resolved when Edward and Bella get married in this first part of the final "Twilight" story. The honeymoon is cut short when Bella becomes pregnant and the fast-growing hybrid unborn baby threatens to kill her and destroy the delicate truce between vampires and werewolves.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain "Bella and Edward's Wedding Video," a souvenir of the cinematic wedding of the decade.
We Say: Twi-hards have been waiting for Bella and Edward to consummate their passion after three movies' worth of longing looks and frustrating foreplay, so let no reviewer tear apart what "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer has joined together. Bella's rapid disintegration during her harrowing pregnancy demands that "Twilight" fans grow up fast and prepare themselves for vampire Bella in "Breaking Dawn - Part 2."
'Anonymous'
Box Office: $4 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 47% Rotten
Storyline: Set in Elizabethan England, "Anonymous" answers a question that many have asked throughout history: Who really created the works credited to William Shakespeare? This pseudo-historical drama stars Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis and Xavier Samuel.
Extras! The featurette "Who Is the Real William Shakespeare?" on the DVD and Blu-ray explores some of the theories about Shakespeare's work and possible authors.
We Say: Although the theory that the historical Shakespeare is not who we think might be intriguing, the silly soap opera subplots involving Queen Elizabeth's trysts, royal bastards and unintentional incest undermine its credibility.
'A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas'
Box Office: $35 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 69% Fresh
Storyline: This third chapter in the stoner-comedy franchise has the estranged friends, played by John Cho and Kal Penn, embark on an adventure in New York City to find a new Christmas tree after Kumar's tree is accidentally torched by a lit joint.
Extras! "Through the Haze With Tom Lennon" has six funny interviews with the actor talking about everything from Charles Dickens to his drugs of choice.
We Say: Although it works best on Blu-ray 3-D because of the number of 3-D sight gags used for the theatrical version, this raunchy holiday treat also has some unexpected heart that is welcome in any dimension.
'Ben-Hur' (Blu-ray)
Box Office: $74 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Fresh
Storyline: Charlton Heston plays Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman in Palestine whose heroic adventure entails enslavement by Romans, an epic chariot race that is cinematic legend, and even an encounter with Jesus Christ.
Extras! You'll want to give the illuminating audio track by film historian T. Gene Hatcher and the late Heston a listen.
We Say: Director William Wyler's biblical epic took home a record-setting 11 Oscars and features visually arresting set pieces, which the Blu-ray helps resurrect in their heavenly splendor. Amen.
Also New This Week:
"Casino Royale (1966)" Blu-ray
"Dangerous Liaisons" Blu-ray
"Day of the Dead: Blu-ray 3-D
"Lady and the Tramp" Blu-ray