Cancer is not funny. Hence the expression, “As serious as cancer.” So the film “50/50” takes a great chance in mining humor out of so serious a subject. Luckily, the film pulls it off. Part of this may be due to the fact that “50/50” is based on the true fact that Rogen’s friend and co-writer Will Reiser was diagnosed with cancer in his late 20s, and he is the inspiration for Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in the film. As Dan pointed out in his review, “Adam is sympathetic and likeable, and when he gets angry he has every right to be. In fact, Adam handles the situation better than most of us probably would, and because of that he’s inspiring, too. And, best of all, he has Rogen’s Kyle by his side to make him smile, which makes us smile.” Buy It.

“Paranormal Activity 3” is a prequel to the first two “Paranormal Activity” films. In it, we meet Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) as adolescent girls, roughly twenty years before the events of parts 1 and 2. We see how they first encounter the demon that haunts them throughout their lives. And it is scary. The jumps and jolts we have come to love from these films are in full force. You can’t help but psyche yourself out by constantly scanning the screen in trepidation of where the next surprise will come from. Yeah, it’s “Gotcha!” cinema, but darn good “Gotcha!’ cinema that delivers on the scares and gets them through very shrewd editing and clever filming techniques, the best of which is a camera that pans back and forth on top of an oscillating fan. So, Buy It, grab a tight hold of something (or someone), feel your blood pressure increase from the tension and suspense, and prepare for the scares.

“Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as sad sack ex-boxer Charlie Kenton. In the near future, boxing is done by robots, and Charlie is one of the operators. He also has a young son named Max (Dakota Goyo), whom he has to care for and protect. These facts lay the ground work for a sentimental feel good drama that is, as Dan put it, “a shameless ‘Rocky’ rip-off… In fact, the movie plays like a bad dream that combines ‘Rocky’ and the old Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots game. If you don’t know what that is, go track it down or find the old commercials on YouTube – guaranteed that’ll be more entertaining than this tired, predictable movie.” Skip It.

With the Oscar race getting into high gear, it’s only appropriate that “Wings,” the first film to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture, is getting its release on blu-ray. The film is a silent-era classic, as well as a solid epic, about two fighter pilots in World War I who are in love with the same woman. Of course, the aerial combat scenes are dated compared to this day and age, but the heart of the film is still strong, and that’s what makes “Wings” a timeless classic. Buy It, and also be on the lookout for a young Gary Cooper as Cadet White.

Richard Pryor fans, rejoice! Three of the late comedian’s films are coming out on blu-ray this week. First is “Stir Crazy,” with Pryor and Gene Wilder teaming up as two east coasters who get framed for a robbery and wind up in a western prison. The film has the classic moment of them trying to be tough guys to the other inmates by strutting around saying, “That’s right—we bad!” and was directed by Sidney Poitier; next is “The Toy,” with Pryor being bought by a wealthy man (Jackie Gleason) as a present for his bratty son (Scott Schwartz); and finally there is “See No Evil, Hear No Evil,” with Pryor once again teaming up with Wilder as a blind man and deaf man, respectively, who witness a murder with the senses they do have, and must team up to catch the killer. Check out an early appearance by Kevin Spacey as a baddie. These movies all have great moments and good laughs, so do yourself a favor and Rent Them.

Also out this week: “Godzilla,” the 1954 Japanese man in a rubber suit version; “Memphis,” a filmed version of the Broadway hit; “Restless,” a Gus Van Sant film about young love; “The Whistleblower,” with Rachel Weisz as an American police officer working as a peacekeeper in Bosnia; and “The Woman,” a horror film that is apparently so repugnant that some people at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival became sick while watching it, causing some to walk out.

Andrew Hudak is a lifelong film lover. His column on Blu-Ray new releases appears every Tuesday; he also regularly reviews new theatrical releases for Hudak On Hollywood. He lives in Connecticut.

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