DVD and Blu-ray Releases for October 12th, 2010

October 11, 2010

A strange week for the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report, as there are only five featured reviews for releases coming out this week. However, there are also eight featured reviews for releases that arrived late, plus another eight or so that came out this week where the screener is late. (There's a couple where I don't know if they will or will not arrive.) The Pick of the Week is one such release, How to Train Your Dragon on Blu-ray / DVD Combo, but be warned, that movie isn't released to the home market till Friday.

All My Friends Are Funeral Singers - Collector's Edition - Buy from Amazon
The first film on this week's list... and I'm still waiting for the screener. Get used to that phrase. With the huge number of releases coming out, having one or two arrive late is not unexpected. However, combine the large number of releases with the holidays that have already started for me (it's Thanksgiving today in Canada) and I expect there will be a lot more delays from now till January.

Arn: The Templar Night - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This was a very expensive movie to make for a Swedish film, but it did well enough to justify a sequel. If you are interested in historical epics, especially those dealing with Medieval knights, it is worth checking out. With 40 minutes of deleted scenes and a $13 price-tag, it's almost worth a blind buy over just renting.

As Good as Dead - Buy from Amazon
This film opened in theaters on Friday and is coming out on DVD this Tuesday. Talk about a quick turnaround.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 5th.

Baseball: The Tenth Inning - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Famed documentarian Ken Burns updated his award-winning baseball documentary naming the new part The Tenth Inning, great name, but is it a worthy installment? Read our review to find out.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Arn: The Knight Templar, Bangkok Adrenaline, Callas Forever, The Darjeeling Limited (The Criterion Collection), Deep Blue Sea, Dollhouse: Season Two, Gamera: Guardian of Universe & Gamera: Attack of The Legion, The Hangover (Extreme Edition), How to Train Your Dragon, I Am Love, Jonah Hex, Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, Leaves of Grass, The Lost Boys: The Thirst, Magic, The Magician (Criterion Collection), The Original Christmas Classics, Red Dragon, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, S&Man, Score, Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings - The Complete Series, Sex and Lucia, Three Kings, Warren Millers' Dynasty, Wolverine and the X-Men: The Complete Series, and WWII In Hi-Def
There are a number of interesting Blu-ray releases coming out this week, including How To Train Your Dragon. There are also several limited releases, TV on DVD releases, Special Editions, etc. There are even some Christmas specials in the list. Something for everyone. On the other hand, the top selling Blu-ray of the week is a kids movie, and one that won't be released till Friday, so odds are, the Blu-ray sales won't be particularly strong compared to DVD.

Carnies - Buy from Amazon
Doug Jones is among the stars in this 2007 horror film that is finally getting a release this week. The film looks at a traveling Carnival Side Show that arrives in the latest small town but it is plagued by a killer. Simple set up, but it has earned some praise from genre critics.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: Angelina Ballerina: The Nutcracker Sweet, Booky and the Secret Santa, Christmas Hope, Christmas Hope (Blu-ray), Christmas in Boston, Connie Talbot: Holiday Magic, Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow, A Golden Christmas, He-Man & She-Ra Christmas Special, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, The Original Christmas Classics (Blu-ray), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Blu-ray), Santa Baby 2, Saturday Night Live: A Very Gilly Christmas, Super Why: Twas the Night Before Christmas, Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express, and Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish
Another week filled with Christmas releases, including some classics like The Original Christmas Classics (Blu-ray) and some that are ... not so classic ... He-Man & She-Ra Christmas Special.

C.S.I.: Miami: Season Eight - Buy from Amazon
The screener for the latest season of C.S.I.:Miami is ... puts on sunglasses ... late. YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!!

Crucible of Terror - Buy from Amazon
B-movie horror from 1971. The film has a bit of a cult following and fans will be happy to see it on DVD, while fans of the genre should give it a rental.

Dexter's Laboratory: Season One - Buy from Amazon
Cartoon Network has made a lot of really good shows over the years, and this is one of them. In fact, some might argue this was the best original show they had at the time. (I would go with Johnny Bravo, but I would agree there are legitimate arguments for both sides.) Excellent show and absolutely worth picking up.

Dollhouse: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The latest Joss Whedon TV series never found an audience while the reviews for the early episodes for season one were mixed. We know there won't be a season three, but did season two help the show end on a high note? Check out our review for my opinion.

Dynasty - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is not the night time soap, but a Warren Miller skiing movie. I've seen enough nighttime soaps and Warren Miller movies to know I vastly prefer the latter over the former, but I won't know if Dynasty is worth checking out, or even picking up, till the screener arrives.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 28th of September.

Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment - Buy from Amazon
This episode was considered too much for TV, too much for Fox TV. But now that it's out on DVD, is it worth checking out or even picking up? Read our review for my opinion.

Gamera: Guardian of Universe & Gamera: Attack of the Legion - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
A Gamera release that I didn't get to review? I'm going to have to investigate this.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 28th of September.

Get Him to the Greek - Buy from Amazon: Single-Disc DVD, Two-Disc DVD, or Blu-ray
This Forgetting Sarah Marshall spin-off earned similar box office numbers as its predecessor, but will it have the same high level of quality? Read our review to find out.

Ghost Whisperer: Season Five - Buy from Amazon
I'm still a little surprised that they canceled this show, as the ratings were still strong. Maybe when the screener arrives I'll be able to figure it out.

How to Train Your Dragon - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Two-Disc DVD, or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
One of the best movies of the year and a bigger hit than expected. The film doesn't make its home market debut till this Friday, but hopefully the screener will arrive before then.

I Am Comic - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about stand-up comics featuring interviews with dozens of them. There are not many reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but so far they are all positive.

I Am Love - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
In a year where we haven't seen many limited releases become breakout hits, this foreign language film stood out as one of the few bright spots. Did it deserve this success, or even more? Read out review to find out.

In Treatment: Season Two - Buy from Amazon
It's an HBO show, and like many other such shows, the DVD release is very, very expensive. Too expensive to recommend buying, but it might be worth a rental.

Inspector Lewis: Series 3 - Buy from Amazon
The spin-off from Inspector Morse. This three-disc set has five episodes, but since each episode is 90 minutes long, it is better to consider it a series of TV movies than a true TV on DVD release.

Note: This DVD / Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 14th of September.

Janeane Garofalo: If You Will - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
It has been more than a decade since Janeane Garofalo has put out a stand-up concert DVD, so fans of her should be excited about this release. But was it worth the wait? Check out our review to find out.

Jonah Hex - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The reviews for this movie were bad, to put it mildly, but its box office performance was even worse. Because of this, it comes as no surprise that the DVD / Blu-ray has very little in the way of extras, and unless you are desperate for a Megan Fox fix, this release is skippable.

Kung Fu Master - Buy from Amazon
A martial arts film with a name so generic that is it impossible not to judge the film on that basis. But does it live down to its name? Read our review for my opinion.

Ladies & Gentlemen The Rolling Stones - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A concert DVD featuring the Rolling Stones performing back in 1972. I think I'm getting the screener for this release, but it is late.

Leaves of Grass - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Edward Norton's dream project, but while he gives a great performance, the rest of the film is only mixed. Still, it is worth checking out and at just $13.49, the Blu-ray is worth picking up.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 28th of September.

Legend of the Seeker: Season Two - Buy from Amazon
This syndicated Sword & Sorcerer show was made by the same people who made Xena and Hercules, but it didn't last as long as its predecessors. Was it canceled too soon, or did it not have the same magic? Read our review for my opinion.

Looney Tunes: The Essential Bugs Bunny - Buy from Amazon
What is wrong with these people? Put out chronological collections. That's what real fans are waiting for.

Lost Boys: The Thirst - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The first film is one of my favorites, but is the latest sequel worthy of the name? Won't know till the screener arrives.

Marcus Welby, M.D. Season Two - Buy from Amazon
I reviewed season one back when it came out, but I won't know if season two is better or worse than season one until the screener arrives.

Manson, My Name is Evil - Buy from Amazon
One look at the cover of this DVD and it wouldn't be outrageous to assume it is exploitative crap that takes advantage of a real life tragedy just to make money. However, it's not, as this film is a victim of of deceptive cover art. So what is the movie and is it better than it looks? Check out our review to find out.

Mega Piranha - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm supposed to review one of these types of movie, although it might be Megashark or Megashark vs. Giant Octopus, or some other Mega Movie. If it does arrive, I'll get to the review A.S.A.P.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 14th of September.

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? - Buy from Amazon
The contest begins on Friday, but the review went online just last week. You can check it out here.

Peepli [Live] - Buy from Amazon
A movie about a poor Indian farmer that is very, very deep in debt due to his family members spending his money on booze. They convince him to commit suicide, because the government sometimes forgives debts of those that commit suicide. In the meantime, a political party gets involved because a farmer killing himself over debt could be used to attack the political party in power. Meanwhile, a TV station is also interested in his story, because a guy killing himself live on TV would be good for ratings. It did quite well with its target audience here, but the crossover appeal is likely limited.

S&Man - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A documentary about underground horror films with a twist. Is it worth checking out if you are fan of these film? Will it have a wider target audience? Check out our review to find out.

Note: This Blu-ray / DVD made its home market debut on the 21st.

The Secret of Moonacre - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film has taken a while to get a release in North America, despite debuting at the TIFF in 2008. Was it worth the wait? Read our review to find out.

Sex and Lucia - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
This film earned very good reviews when it was initially released about a decade ago, but does it shine on its Blu-ray debut? Won't know till the screener arrives.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 28th of September.

South Park: A Little Box of Butters - Buy from Amazon
First Cartman, now Butters, I wonder who will be the next character put in the spotlight? But before we start speculating on that, is this two-disc set worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.

The Tudors: The Final Season - Buy from Amazon
I'm either getting this DVD or the Complete Series Megaset to review. Hopefully it is the latter, because that way it is not late.

TV Series Megaset - Buy from Amazon: Angel, The Commish, and Renegade
"The Chronicles of Meap, starring Lorenzo Lamas as Meap. Episode 38: More than Meaps the Eye" What's scary is, I didn't have to look up that Phineas and Ferb episode to write that quote. Three Full Series Megesets this week, at least those are the three I noticed. The first is the most expensive, but it has plenty of Fanboys willing to pay the price. The second stars Michael Chiklis before he went all badass in The Shield. While the third is basically only good for that Phineas and Ferb.

Wolverine and the X-Men: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is just a quick note that this TV series is being released on a full season set after coming out in multiple volumes. Since I've reviewed these volumes previously, I'll just link to them here. Heroes Return Trilogy, Deadly Enemies, Beginning of the End, Fate of the Future, Revelation, and Final Crisis Trilogy. However, it is also coming out on Blu-ray for the first time, and as soon as the screener arrives, I'll do a featured review on that.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Hangover, Red Dragon, Deep Blue Sea, Three Kings, The Darjeeling Limited, Sex and Lucia, Callas Forever, Jonah Hex, Get Him to the Greek, How to Train Your Dragon, Leaves of Grass, Arn - Tempelriddaren, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?, Lost Boys: The Thirst, Io sono l’amore, Bangkok Adrenaline, I Am Comic, Carnies, Peepli Live, As Good as Dead