This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: July 7, 2009

I do have one question though. What makes Megan Fox a star and Odette Yustman a forgotten actress? To me they appear to be the same person only one gets to runaway from CG robots and inspire late night computer sessions for 14-year-olds and the other can only look at Cloverfield as an accomplishment to this point. I just don't get it.

Lonely are the Brave stars Kirk Douglas as a cowboy that has just broken out of jail and is on the run from Sheriff Morey Johnson played by Walter Matthau. The Trail of Lonesome Pine stars Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray as they battle it out over a beautiful woman (Sylvia Sidney) in one of the first films shot outdoors in Technicolor.

Gary Cooper stars in Beau Geste as one of three brothers who join the Foreign Legion only to find themselves battling a sadistic sergeant in the Sahara. And finally there is Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves telling the story of Ali Baba (Jon Hall) as he is adopted by a band of thieves at a young age only to grow up with a desire to avenge his father's death and rescue the woman he loves (Maria Montez).

As I said, I haven't watched these yet, but I find myself increasingly interested in watching the old classics, and mildly obscure titles such as these four, rather than revisiting so much of the garbage studios are pushing on us nowadays. Watching movies like these, good or bad, broaden your cinematic viewpoint. I am not saying any of these four are must buys, but perhaps a Netflix consideration is in order. Then again, if you are interested in giving one or two of them a shot they are linked individually below or just click "Buy Now" for a look at all four over at Amazon.

• Lonely are the Brave (1962)
• Beau Geste (1939)
• Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1943)
• Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936)