As more and more movies come out each week, I’ve noticed that they don’t compare to movies from the past. There are some movies that are really good, but most of them are a waste of time and money.

Paranormal Activity, for example, was a movie that got a lot of hype, but it just put me to sleep. If you want to go see a good movie, just rent one, because there doesn’t seem to be a lot of good ones in the theaters.

My must see DVD recommendations are Crash, Next Friday, and The Silence of the Lambs. All three of these movies, are really good and can provide a great night of entertainment.

Crash is based on a real life car accident and tells several stories through interesting characters. There’s a racist white cop who disgusts his partner, a successful Hollywood director and his wife who deal with the cop, a Persian-immigrant who buys a gun to protect his shop and a Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter who’s afraid of bullets. Most of the movie is straightforward and easy to understand, but you do have to pay attention or you could feel lost.  There are even one or two parts that are funny. Loretta Devine, who portrays Shaniqua Johnson, did a really good job in the film and she will make you laugh when she argues with the other characters.

When you need a good laugh, I recommend the hilarious Next Friday, a sequel to the popular film Friday. This movie was released in 2000 and is about someone who moves to his uncle’s house to get away from a group of people that want to hurt him. The cast was very comedic and will have you cracking up throughout the movie. You don’t need to see the first movie to appreciate or follow what is going on in this one. The main character repeatedly finds himself in awkward situations, adding to the humor that truly makes this movie a must see. If you’re looking to watch a good comedy over Christmas break go out and rent, or buy, Next Friday. You won’t be disappointed.

Finally, The Silence of the Lambs, a thriller film from 1991, shows how a suspense film should be done.

The movie has a bit of gore, but not as much as movies like Saw. It starts out with Clarice, the protagonist, going to interview Hannibal Lector, a key-person in finding the serial killer “Buffalo Bill”.

The movie progresses through a series of interactions between the two as Clarice tries to hunt down the serial killer. At first, the film seems like it is going to be boring, but then as the movie goes on it captivates viewers as they wonder what will happen next. I would not classify this movie as “scary”, but it does have some elements that are chilling because of the realistic nature of the plot. The movie was not made to scare viewers by having things jump out or do things for shock value; instead it takes a realistic scenario and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wait to find out what happens to Clarice and Hannibal. I highly recommend watching this movie if you’re looking for a good thriller without that much horror; sure beats the boring Leprechaun movies.

Buying DVD’s is a good investment, because if you like the movie you can watch it over and over again instead of having to go rent it every time. And if you make sure you only purchase DVDs that you know you already enjoy, you will always be able to enjoy your investment.