Video conversion software?

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I have done so many Google searches and have really come up with nothing. Simple issue: I have some AVI files I want to put into iMovie. Can't do it; they need to be in another format (i.e. Mpeg-2).

There are so many spammer-type "articles" out there and I can't find an simple program with an easy interface that I can use (and at this point, I'm not opposed to buying one).

Recommendations would be SUPERB. Thank you!

MPEG steamclip (open source)

Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Mac and Windows

Make sure the AVIs play OK in Quicktime first, if they dont download Perian first

Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime® components

Wonderful! Thank you!

Use MPEGStreamclip to Export to Quicktime and use the Apple Intermediate Codec option, as this is what iMovie is optimised for.