DVD and Blu-ray Releases for March 8th, 2011

March 7, 2011

Another incredibly slow week with very few releases that could be considered top tier. None of the first-run releases are really worth picking up for most people, but there are a couple smaller releases that are contenders for Pick of the Week. This includes Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XX, but in the end I gave that honor to Inside Job on either DVD or Blu-ray.

The Backyardigans: We Arrrr Pirates - Buy from Amazon
The latest release from this popular preschool show. What episodes are on the DVD, and how many have been previously released? Check out our review to find out.

Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium - Buy from Amazon
I reviewed the documentary last month, while the concert DVD comes out this week and the concert Blu-ray comes out next month. No idea why they are splitting the release like that.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Four, Every Day, Excalibur, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Four Lions, Heart: Night at Sky Church, Inside Job, Jackass 3, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus, The Man from No Where, Morning Glory, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Next Three Days, NFL Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers Champions, The Reef, and The Walking Dead: Season One
As always, there's an eclectic mix of Blu-ray releases this week. Inside Job is the best film, while The Walking Dead: Season One and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind are also quite intriguing.

Colin & Brad: Two Man Group - Buy from Amazon
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are best known for their work in Whose Line Is It Anyway? and they recently took their brand of improve on the road for a two-man show. Still waiting on the screener, but it should arrive soon.

Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts - Buy from Amazon
A stand-up concert DVD from the star of Tosh.O. Will this special appeal to fans of that show or even of fans of stand-up in general? Read our review for my opinion.

Doctor Who - Buy from Amazon: Story 23: The Ark and Story 85: Seeds of Doom
Two more Doctor Who stories coming out on the home market this week. The first, The Ark, is one of the earliest stories, originally airing in 1966. It might not be among the best the the franchise has to offer, but it is still worth checking out. On the other hand, some would argue Seeds of Doom is among the best. And with plenty of extras, fans will be wanting to add both DVDs to their growing collections.

Every Day - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Good cast, mixed reviews, poor box office results, weak home market releases. If you are a fan of some of the cast, then it is worth checking out, but a rental will be enough.

Exit Through the Gift Shop - Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack - Buy from Amazon
One of the best documentaries of 2010, one of the Oscar nominated documentaries and it even won an Independent Spirit Award. It's coming out this week on a Blu-ray / DVD combo pack, but with a price of $30, even after the Amazon discount, it's a little high.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 8th of February.

For Colored Girls - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Tyler Perry has a very loyal fan base, but his films tend to have equally limited crossover appeal outside of African-American churchgoing women. Is this true of his latest film? Or is it the one that will finally crossover to all audiences? Check out our review for my opinion.

Four Lions - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Political satire about Islamic terrorists. It's the kind of movie only the British would make. Given its reviews I'm really looking forward to seeing it, but the screener is late.

Hannah Montana Forever: The Final Season - Buy from Amazon
So they put out the first season, and the last season, but not the other two. Huh. That bit of strangeness aside, I'm still waiting on the screener for this release.

Inside Job - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This Oscar winning documentary about the economic collapse is a must have and with plenty of extras (audio commentary track, deleted interviews, making of featurette) it is the Pick of the Week. The Blu-ray doesn't have any exclusive extras and it's not the type of film that needs to be seen in High Definition to be enjoyed, but at just 25% more, it's a good price compared to the DVD.

Jackass 3D - Buy from Amazon: DVD, 3D DVD, or Blu-ray / 3d DVD Combo Pack
The biggest first run release on this week's list. I've never been a fan of the franchise, but will the third time be the charm? Will I finally be won over? Check out our review to find out.

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie - Blu-ray / Blu-ray Combo - Buy from Amazon
VeggieTales has been releasing direct-to-DVD since before DVDs were around. (Obviously they started out as direct-to-video.) This was their first theatrical release, but was it worthy of theaters, or would it have been better if it went straight to the home market? Read our review for my opinion.

On a side note, also coming out this week is 'Twas the Night Before Easter.

The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus - Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack - Buy from Amazon
A stop motion / cell animated Bible tale made in 2000. It's mostly unknown here, but is it worth checking out for Churchgoers looking for some religious entertainment? Does it have crossover appeal? Read our review for my opinion.

Morning Glory - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film was never able to find an audience in theaters when it opened last fall, but was this because of poor quality or was there something else at work here? And now that it has reached the home market, is it worth checking out? Perhaps even picking up? Read our review to find out.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XX - Buy from Amazon
MST3k is one of my favorite shows of all time, but how do the episodes presented in the twentieth volume compare to those in the past? Read our review for my opinion.

The Next Three Days - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
One of a trio of first-run releases that are hitting the home market this week and of the three, this one earned the weakest box office numbers. Is it better than the box office numbers would indicate? Check out our review for my opinion.

NFL Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers Champions - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Not the full game, therefore not worth picking up. At least that's my opinion.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Great Patty Caper - Buy from Amazon
SpongeBob continues its decade-long run with the latest single-disc release. While I vastly prefer full-season sets, does this disc at least offer a strong selection of episodes? Perhaps some extras? Check out our review to find out.

Tales from Earthsea - Buy from Amazon
The latest from Studio Ghibli. I've reviewed many of their releases in the past, but this one earned weaker reviews than most of the studio's output. Is it really that much weaker? Won't know till the screener arrives. Also coming out this week is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind on Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, but that screener is also late.

Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman - Buy from Amazon
Morgan Freeman hosts this science show that deals with the cutting edge of cosmology. What happened at the beginning, how did we get here, are we alone? It's an excellent program and worth picking up.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 25th of January.

Truth in Numbers? - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about Wikipedia and whether or not it is a trust-worthy source. But is the documentary itself trust-worthy? Check out our review for my opinion.

The Walking Dead: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A TV series about a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. It was created by three-time Oscar nominated Frank Darabont and it has earned impressive reviews. I'm looking forward to the screener arriving, but it's not here yet.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, Morning Glory, Gedo Senki (Tales from Earthsea), For Colored Girls, Exit Through the Gift Shop, The Next Three Days, Inside Job, Every Day, Jackass 3D, Four Lions