Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.

WHAT: Humiliated by the stunt pulled by Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) at the end of the 74th Hunger Games, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) enlists the help of Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to squash a potential uprising by forcing previous victors (including Katniss and Peeta) into participating in a special 75th edition of the Games.

WHY: As far as book sequels go, “Catching Fire” isn’t exactly the most original, which is why I was pleasantly surprised by the film adaptation. Under the assured direction of Francis Lawrence, “Catching Fire” doesn’t just improve upon Suzanne Collins’ novel, but is superior to the first movie in just about every way, including more spirited performances from its two leads and better development for the supporting characters. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright and Jena Malone – actors you wouldn’t normally associate with a big budget franchise like this – are just a few of the notable additions to the already impressive cast, and there’s not a weak link among them. The script by Oscar-winning screenwriters Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt is also crucial to the movie’s success, removing a lot of the unnecessary filler while raising the stakes to create a smarter and more focused adaptation that’s extremely well-paced for its 146 minute runtime. “Catching Fire” is everything you could want from a sequel without many of the usual failings, and it’s a prime example of a tentpole film that offers both style and substance.

EXTRAS: In addition to an audio commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, the Blu-ray release includes a ridiculously in-depth making-of featurette (clocking in at nearly 150 minutes) that covers pretty much every aspect of the filmmaking process, as well as some deleted scenes and a sneak peak at “Divergent.”

FINAL VERDICT: BUY

WHAT: The real-life story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man living with his wife and children in New York, who was kidnapped and sold back into slavery in 1841. Transported to the South, Northup spent 12 years working on various plantations, including one owned by the malicious Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender).

WHY: “12 Years a Slave” is without a doubt Steve McQueen’s most accessible film to date. Though it boasts the same gorgeous cinematography from longtime collaborator Sean Bobbitt, it’s not as experimental as his first two films, instead opting for a more straightforward narrative. Unfortunately, the movie isn’t without its faults, and John Ridley’s screenplay is chief among them, riddled with bad dialogue that’s made only marginally better by the ensemble cast. Some of the actors treat it like they’re reading Shakespeare, and the theatricality of their performances weakens what would otherwise be powerful scenes. As a result, Chiwetel Ejiofor is left to shoulder most of the weight, and his brilliant performance not only holds the movie together, but outshines it completely. Without Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave” would be just another mediocre drama about slavery in the antebellum South. McQueen’s film is way too long for such a thinly scripted story, hammering you with the same ideas over and over to the point of exhaustion. It’s almost too in-your-face at times – less concerned with the character’s own emotional journey than piling on the white guilt – and though Solomon Northupp’s tale is one that deserves to be told, it could have benefited from a little restraint.

EXTRAS: There’s a making-of featurette titled “Historical Portrait,” profiles on the various cast and crew, and a short look at composing the score.

FINAL VERDICT: RENT

WHAT: After he’s kidnapped, framed for the murder of his ex-wife and locked away in solitary confinement for 20 years, Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) is mysteriously released one day by his captors. Determined to seek revenge and track down his estranged daughter, Joe teams up with a kindly nurse (Elizabeth Olsen) to find out why he was imprisoned in the first place.

WHY: Rumors of an American remake of Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” had been swirling around Hollywood for so long that surely the people involved had to realize it was a bad idea. And when it was announced that Spike Lee would be the one to helm the U.S. version, any hope for the project went from bad to worse. As a director, Lee lacks the style or subtlety to even compete with Chan-wook’s atmospheric cult classic, and it definitely shows in the final product, abandoning the gritty, twisted nature of the original for a pulpier B-movie that is almost comically gratuitous with its violence. Josh Brolin performs admirably in the lead role, and Samuel L. Jackson makes the most of his few scenes, but Sharlto Copley’s villain is so atrocious from conception to execution that it completely derails any chance the movie had of being taken seriously. Though Lee’s version follows many of the same beats (including that unforgettable twist ending), it adds absolutely nothing to the story, reaffirming its status as one of the more pointless remakes in recent history.

EXTRAS: Apart from the making-of featurette, the rest of the extras – which includes an additional interview with Josh Brolin, an EPK-style promo piece and four alternate/extended scenes – are barely worth your time.

FINAL VERDICT: SKIP

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Paulson

Steve McQueen

If the critics at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival had their way, “12 Years a Slave” would win the Academy Award for Best Picture, despite the fact that there are still plenty of Oscar hopefuls yet to be released. That kind of short-sightedness and hyperbolic mentality is exactly what’s wrong with the dog and pony show we call awards season, because while Steve McQueen’s historical drama may tick several of the requisite boxes for a typical Oscar-winning movie, it’s far too early to make that call. You can praise the film’s realistic depiction of slavery all you like, but just because “12 Years a Slave” is hard to watch doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s deserving of the top prize.

Based on the 1853 memoir of the same name, the film recounts the tale of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man living with his wife and children in Saratoga, New York in 1841. Well-educated and a talented violinist, Solomon is invited to Washington, D.C. by a pair of circus promoters who offer him a lucrative job playing at one of their shows. Upon arriving in the capital city, Solomon is wined and dined by the two men, only to awaken the next morning to find himself shackled and charged as a fugitive slave from Georgia. Despite his claims that he’s a free man, Solomon is wrangled up with other “fugitives” and shipped to a slave trader in the South, who then sells him to a kindly plantation owner named William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch). But when Solomon causes trouble with one of Ford’s white employees, he’s sold again, this time to Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), a decidedly more malicious owner with a reputation for breaking the spirits of any slave under his rule.

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October has never been a particularly strong month for movies in the past, but that could all be about to change with the exciting crop of titles scheduled for release this year. Though there’s still the usual cluster of genre films (“Machete Kills,” “Carrie”), this month also features an extraordinate amount of quality, boasting no fewer than five movies with genuine Oscar potential. It seems award season is beginning a little early this year, and compared to what October typically brings, it’s hard to complain.

Who: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney
What: A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space
When: October 4th
Why: Alfonso Cuaron hasn’t made a feature-length film since 2006’s underrated tour de force “Children of Men,” but if the early buzz surrounding “Gravity” is to be believed, then it was well worth the wait. The sci-fi drama has been in development for what seems like years, and Warner Bros. deserves a lot of credit for taking the chance on such a daring project. It definitely helps when you have actors like Sandra Bullock and George Clooney attached, but with audiences constantly lamenting the lack of originality in the Hollywood system, it’s refreshing to see that studios haven’t completely abandoned this type of filmmaking. “Gravity” probably won’t make a ton of money at the box office, but it should be at the top of everyone’s must-see lists.

Who: Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton and Anthony Mackie
What: When a poor college student who cracks an online poker game goes bust, he arranges a face-to-face with the man he thinks cheated him.
When: October 4th
Why: If “Runner Runner” sounds like the unofficial sequel to “Rounders,” that’s because it was written by the same duo, Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Obviously, gambling is just the gateway into the world of their latest film, but fans of the 1998 poker thriller should be encouraged by their involvement, because they clearly know their way around the subject. Whether or not they strike gold twice remains to be seen, but “Runner Runner” has a good enough cast to pull it off. Justin Timberlake is a natural entertainer who’s only gotten better with experience, and though Ben Affleck appears to be hamming it up a bit as the villain, he’s proven that he can deliver great work with the right material and director.

Who: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener and Max Martini
What: The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama.
When: October 11th
Why: There’s an inordinate amount of films based on true stories being released this year (even more so than usual), and Tom Hanks stars in two of them. But while moviegoers may be excited at the prospect of seeing the veteran actor play Walt Disney in “Saving Mr. Banks,” the Paul Greengrass-directed “Captain Phillips” is the more intriguing of the pair. Many people don’t know much about the real-life events that inspired the movie, and that’s only going to work in its favor. Add to that Greengrass’ knack for dramatizing true stories (as evidenced in “Bloody Sunday” and “United 93”) and what looks like yet another Oscar-worthy performance by Hanks, and there’s no reason why “Captain Phillips” won’t be part of the conversation come awards time.

Who: Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Charlie Sheen and Mel Gibson
What: The U.S. government recruits Machete to battle his way through Mexico in order to take down an arms dealer who wants to launch a weapon into space.
When: October 11th
Why: The first “Machete” wasn’t nearly as entertaining as its gonzo premise suggested, but with Robert Rodriguez taking over full directing duties for the sequel, there’s a part of me that really wants “Machete Kills” to fulfill that potential, especially with a rumored third installment (“Machete Kills Again… In Space!”) already in the works. The sequel looks bigger and better than the original, with a cast that includes Antonio Banderas, Sofia Vergara, Cuba Gooding Jr., Demian Bichir and Charlie Sheen (credited here as Carlos Estevez). And if that wasn’t enough to get you on board, Rodriguez has even managed to enlist Mel Gibson to play the Big Bad. Why his character is dressed like a “Street Fighter” villain is beyond me, but it’s great to see that the actor still has a sense of humor, because it’ll go a long way in repairing his career.

Who: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer and Ansel Elgort
What: A shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far.
When: October 18th
Why: Fans of the 1976 original will no doubt cry foul over this latest adaptation of the Stephen King novel, but purists will be pleased to learn that the 2013 edition reportedly sticks closer to the book. And if its R rating is any indication, the film won’t be skimping on the violence and gore either, despite the fact that it’s directed by Kimberly “Boys Don’t Cry” Peirce. She’s certainly a unique choice to helm a horror movie, but if nothing else, it proves that the studio is serious about creating the best version possible. That extends to its cast as well – particularly star Chloe Grace Moretz (one of Hollywood’s more exciting young talents, who’s never been afraid to dip her toes in the genre pool) and Julianne Moore as her ultra-religious mother.

Who: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel and Vincent D’Onofrio
What: When a structural-security authority finds himself incarcerated in a prison he designed, he must put his skills to escape and find out who framed him.
When: October 18th
Why: Before “The Expendables,” moviegoers had to wait decades for the chance to see action stars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger side by side on the big screen, but these days, you can’t seem to keep the two apart. It’s a smart move by the actors to piggyback off each other’s popularity, because my interest level probably wouldn’t be quite as high if this was merely a Sly Stallone vehicle. The first two “Expendables” films were nothing more than elaborate teases, but “Escape Plan” feels like the actual dream team-up that action fans were hoping for when Schwarzenegger announced his retirement from politics. Though it looks like he’ll still play a much smaller role compared to Stallone (the part was reportedly beefed up when he signed on to the movie), without Arnie, no one would care.

Who: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt and Paul Giamatti
What: In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
When: October 18th
Why: The way people were talking about “12 Years a Slave” at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, you’d think that the Steve McQueen drama had already won the Oscar for Best Picture. But no matter how effusive the praise may have been, it’s impossible to make those kinds of predictions with several other award contenders still yet to be seen. Nevertheless, “12 Years a Slave” does sound like the quintessential Academy Award movie, from its challenging subject matter (based on a true story, no less) to the incredible ensemble cast. It’s nice to see Chiwetel Ejiofor finally getting the credit he deserves, and between his lead performance and McQueen regular Michael Fassbender’s turn as a villainous slaver owner, it’s easy to see why the film has Oscar gold written all over it.

Who: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl, Carice van Houten and Alicia Vikander
What: The true story of two men’s quest to expose the corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization.
When: October 18th
Why: The story behind WikiLeaks is one that seems tailor-made for the big screen treatment – especially with a protagonist as captivating as the website’s enigmatic founder, Julian Assange – so it’s no surprise that the movie is already drawing comparisons to the likeminded “The Social Network.” Similar to that film, “The Fifth Estate” boasts an intriguing tale about an Internet startup and a fantastic cast led by two of the more exciting rising talents working today. In this case, those actors are Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Bruhl, and their involvement alone makes the movie worth seeing. Whether director Bill Condon is able to deliver an experience as fascinating as the real-life story is another question, but based on the mixed reaction from its Toronto premiere, it’s going to depend largely on what side of the debate you fall on.

Who: Robert Redford
What: After a collision with a shipping container at sea, a resourceful sailor finds himself, despite all efforts to the contrary, staring his mortality in the face.
When: October 18th
Why: The talky financial thriller “Margin Call” did a better job of showcasing writer/director J.C. Chandor’s screenwriting skills than his ability behind the camera, but for his sophomore effort, Chandor has bravely removed that variable from the equation. “All Is Lost” is a one-man show in the truest sense, and as such, there’s very little dialogue for Chandor to lean on. Fortunately, he managed to enlist Robert Redford as his leading man, and though the veteran actor hasn’t delivered a noteworthy performance in several years, it would be crazy to think that he won’t earn an Oscar nomination for his work here. The movie was a big hit at this year’s Venice Film Festival, and between its “Life of Pi”-like survival story and Redford’s reportedly triumphant performance, this is one you’ll want to hunt down at your local indie theater.

Who: Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem
What: A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.
When: October 25th
Why: It’s been awhile since Ridley Scott’s last great film, but he never fails to attract the best talent possible. Though frequent collaborator Russell Crowe isn’t involved in the director’s latest project, Scott has nevertheless landed an impressive ensemble cast comprised of two former Oscar winners, an Oscar nominee and two Golden Globe nominees. “The Counselor” has the unfortunate distinction of being released during one of the most competitive awards seasons in recent history, but with an original script by Cormac McCarthy, the potential for this one is still pretty high. In fact, I’m actually looking forward to just sitting back and watching these great actors go toe-to-toe without any preconceived expectations that it has to be award-worthy for it to be any good.