The Tree of Life
(Twentieth Century Fox)
One of the year's best, most challenging movies gives you an option to do something you couldn't do in a theater: pause the action, sit back, and take in the metaphysical typhoon that just stormed over you. Terrence Malick's deliberately paced and occasionally heavy-handed meditation on the evolution of the life cycle personalizes its story by focusing on a 1950s family (headed by Brad Pitt) and the death of one of the sons. But the centerpiece is a 2001-style mind-fuck in which the cosmos, dinosaurs, and various foliage collide for a knockout scene that will leave you breathless. Have the remote ready.
Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season (Warner)
The geeky TV show about a Tron-loving spy plays around with some familiar plots — including Chuck's long-lost mom and her big secret — in its fourth season. There's also way too much time spent on his blossoming romance with, of course, a very hot agent. But the 24 episodes here do have their nerd appeal.
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (Twentieth Century Fox)
Judy's summer may not have been a bummer, but that's because she didn't have to sit through this cloying and unfunny mess aimed at preteen girls. Judy's wacky aunt is played by Heather Graham, who was a lot less of a bummer when she was wearing nothing but roller skates.
Zookeeper (Sony)
Kevin James basically takes Paul Blart out of the mall and puts him in charge of a zoo filled with — are you ready for it? — talking animals. It's harmless in its way, but poop jokes can carry a movie only so far. Extras include a profile of Bernie the gorilla, who doesn't have much to say.