Editor's note: Justin is on vacation hiatus, so in his stead, we bring guest bloggers to the NXT desk.

Well, with Justin out on a well-deserved and desperately-necessary vacation after the rigors of the election season (and go Obama, by the way), I, Videoport Jones, am left to thrash about in the high grass of this week's new releases without his steadying voice of reason to guide me. God help us all...

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army: "He's big, red, mean, has horns growing out of his head, and was born in Hell. And he's the good guy. I love comics. Mike Mignola's favorite funnybook son makes his return foray to the silver screen in this largely successful sequel. Perhaps Hellboy's second biggest fan, director Guillermo Del Toro is back too, and that's good news for the likes of us, as the fanciful-yet-disciplined mythmaker (are you taking notes Tim Burton?) of 'Pan's Labryinth' and 'The Devil's Backbone' brings his a-game, along with his fanboy cred to the party. Also thankfully back is Ron Perlman, who inhabits the character with a gruff, no-nonsense, working-class demeanor that seems just right for the character. Selma Blair is back, too, rather regretfully, as H-Boy's requisite love interest, but it's not a huge handicap. Weirder than the current spate of comics adaptations by about 45%, and full of neat, witty effects and clever touches along with the smash 'n' bash, this one's a winner."

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: "George Lucas continues to whizz all over my childhood, and now he's shaken the last drops with this indifferently-CGI'ed prequel to something, or sequel to something else, or, hell, I don't know. There's bland voice acting, mediocre storytelling, and long, long, LONG dull stretches punctuated by slightly above average computer animation during the too-infrequent battles. Someone just needs to take Georgie's toys away at this point."

What We Do Is Secret: "Ever hear of Darby Crash and the Germs? No? Well then you're probably neither cool, hip, nor with it. Either that or you aren't an historian of the California punk scene in the late 70s-early 80s. In eaither case, you are forgiven. Crash has gained a minor cult following over the years (aided by his early suicide, coincidentally on the day John Lennon was shot, and the Germs' appearance in Penelope Spheeris' documentary 'The Decline of Western Civilization'), and this rambling, scruffy little biopic is the result."

When Did You Last See Your Father?: "The second of this week's oddly prosaic film titles comes along with this British drama about a successful writer (Colin Firth) who, on the brink of his greatest triumph, finds himself reliving his troubled relationship with his incorrigiable rapscallion of a father (Jim Broadbent). Based on a memoir by Brit writer Blake Morrison, this is the sort of intense chamber piece that guarantees an audience not at all, but offers its leads the opportunity to strut their stuff, and Firth (rescued from Bridget Jones-land) and Broadbent (never better) take full advantage. "

The Perfect Holiday and This Christmas: "One hates to lump two otherwise unrelated films together, since no doubt the people involved worked on them really hard and their moms must be so proud of them, but, well.... It's Holiday film season again, and in addition to the big screen's destined-to-be-insufferable offerings (Four Christmases, anyone? Anyone...?), we here at Videoport are flooded with last years holiday movie detritus right about now. These two African-American-themed Christmas would-be heartwarmers can boast some decent actors (Delroy Lindo, 'The Wire''s Idris Elba, Morris Chestnut), but I'll be damned if I can tell them apart. So, if you're desperate for some holiday cheer, or just something your mom will pronounce 'nice', then, by all means..."

Love Songs: "From the director of 'Dans Paris' comes this French New Wave-ian love triangle where the leads occasionally break into song. Yup, it's a postmodern French musical, kids! Be the first on your block! Only at Videoport!"

Beer for My Horses: "Oh, hell no... Country music flag-fan Toby Keith stars in this action comedy about a pair of bumbling redneck deputies who do...I dunno, something. I'd give a more complete summary, but even with one of co-star, rock legend, and trigger-happy nutbar Ted Nugent's loaded crossbows to my head, I would not, ever, watch this movie. You have fun, though..."

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