Need to know when that awesome action movie is coming to DVD? Want to relive that first date at a romantic comedy by watching it at his apartment the Saturday after it’s released? Looking to stay up all night with ghosts and goblins, but aren’t sure which thrillers are right for your fright-night? It can get confusing trying to figure out where you can get some reliable info on how to get that new DVD. It can be harder still to find new and different movies to add to your collection of all-time favorites. There are so many options out there to find information on DVD releases, but how to choose?

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At times it can seem overwhelming. This article is going to help you find what DVD-hunting method works best for you, and how you can get the down-low on all you need to know about DVD releases. Whether it’s the internet that helps you find what you need to find, or a movie expert you meet face-to-face, what you need to know is out there. Here are some tips to help you get it faster, so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying the new addition to your anthology.

One of the easiest ways to find out when that flick will be ready to take home, or to find which movie is right for tonight, is to head where people work with DVDs the most: Movie Rental Places. Hop on down to your local Blockbuster, or whatever movie rental center is nearby. These places are literally the libraries of all things movie. Nearly every bit of information on almost any movie ever made can be found within the walls of these buildings. If the store doesn’t already have a “Coming to DVD” marquee filled with all the movies due out within the next few weeks, often times there are advertisements everywhere with the release dates of major movies coming out soon. If the release dates aren’t plastered all over the walls, there is still one more option. The employees there are asked about release dates all the time and will most likely know when that special day is for you. They are immersed in the vast ocean of Hollywood-at-home, and are very knowledgeable on all things DVD. I haven’t met a Blockbuster employee yet who didn’t know the release date of the movie I was looking for. And these employees have another expertise that you may find most helpful of all.

Aren’t completely sure what you want to watch? That’s okay! The staff at these places watches dozens, if not hundreds, of movies, and with more than one person working you can get diverse opinions on what is a must-see and what is a must-not. I’ve seen bitter arguments break out between employees who were asked a simple, “Is movie X worth watching?” Hearing these kinds of debates is good; you can listen to two or more people and see with whom you agree more. That person can even become your go-to for future suggestions if you find that you both nearly always agree. At least half of the movies I’ve watched at home were recommended to me by a Hollywood Video (no longer in business) employee. I don’t know what my collection would look like if it were not for their suggestions.

If by chance you don’t have a movie store near your house, you can always hit the internet. Sites like Netflix, IMDB (International Movie Database), and Amazon let you search for and browse DVDs to see what’s up-and-coming. These sites are available 24/7, a definite perk for the insomniac that can’t make it to the rental store during business hours. Just run a search for the DVD you need and nearly always the release date will show right up. This way you can instantly find out how long the wait is until that movie can be delivered to your home. You can also read reviews by other people (including professional film critics) to find the movie that’s right for you. Netflix even allows you to rate movies you’ve seen so they can give recommendations on what movies might fit your taste. It may not as much fun as watching the staff at Blockbuster yell at each other, but sometimes the reviews and comments posted on these sites can be just as enthusiastic and entertaining, and can themselves be a great source of chuckles.

Lastly, there may be some “underground” type movie that you can’t find anything about. Maybe it’s a foreign film from your country of birth. Maybe it’s an Indie film that wasn’t widely released after showing in Aspen. How can you find when it’s going to be released on DVD? If even IMDB has failed, I’ve found that the best way to dig up the dirt on these movies is to use a search engine, like Google, to find out what company produced it. Once you know that you can go to that company’s website and click around to see if there’s any news on the film you’re looking for. Oftentimes, they’ll have release dates posted on the main page, but this is sometimes not the case. If scouring the site doesn’t yield the information you need you might have to contact the production company for further information. Most of these sites have “Contact Us” pages that will include either: a phone number; e-mail address; or snail-mail address. Taking one of those routes can get you the info you’re looking for and on your way to setting a date with your DVD player.

So now that you’ve interviewed the staff at your local rental center, clicked through the pages of your favorite movie site, or sent off an e-mail to that German film-maker everyone’s talking about, what’s left? Well, since you’ve gotten the goods on that movie you’ve been itching to see, there are only a few things left you need to do: Grab that DVD, pop some popcorn, dim the lights, fire up the DVD player, and enjoy the show! Next time you’re in the mood for that sci-fi alien adventure that was in theatres last year, or a tear-jerking drama you remember from your teens, you’ll know where to go to find out, when and where you can get your hands on it.

Po (Dragon Warrior) and the Furious Five, Tigress, Mantis, Crane, Monkey and Viper, are now all very good friends. In fact, they are a very effective team. In the other part of the village, a new villain, a peacock called Shen, prepares for battle. Shen then sends his minions to get more metal for the completion of the weapon they are building. Po and the gang hear about the ransacking being made by the minions so they head to the village to fight.

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While Shen’s minions fight Po and the Furious Five, Po gets a vision about his real parents. He later finds out that Mr. Ping (a goose) is not his father. (What? I had to laugh out loud when I was watching this part specifically.) Shen wants to take over China with his villainous weapon. Of course, Po and the Furious Five need to stop him otherwise Kung Fu is history. But when Po almost had him he gets another memory and sees that Shen was there when his parents disappear. Shen then uses this opportunity to discourage Po. Now, it’s up to Po to save China. How? He has to find his inner peace.

I know I didn’t give away the ending. I want you to watch it as you will not be disappointed. With Po’s quirks, clumsiness, and overall comedy while defending China, the movie will be sure to give you a good time. The story is not at all dull and it doesn’t just concentrate on defeating the villain. The plot gets a twist when Po’s vision about his parents came along. When Mr. Ping tells Po that he’s adopted, it was real ‘laugh-starter’. All of us in that movie theater were laughing hard. Actually even at the start of the movie, you will really be interested straight away. I have a toddler and I thought he will be roaming around the theater (because of boredom) but no, he was watching Po closely and laughing hard. Imagine that. This movie is recommended as a must-watch for the whole family.

I also love the ‘finding-the-inner-peace’ part that Po had to go through. This is when he realizes that he really has to stand-up, not let the past get to him and be what he wants to be. I think our children, even us adults, can learn a thing or two in this movie.  Kung Fu Panda 2 is an action/comedy sequel. The movie was released under DreamWorks Animation. The cast includes Jack Black (voice of Po), Angelina Jolie (voice of Tigress), Dustin Hoffman (voice of Shifu), Jackie Chan (voice of Monkey), Seth Rogen (voice of Mantis), Lucy Liu (voice of Viper), David Cross (voice of Crane) and Gary Oldman (voice of Shen).