DVD and Blu-ray Releases for October 18th, 2011

October 18, 2011

It should be a relatively good week in terms of DVD and Blu-ray sales with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides leading the way. However, it's not a particularly deep week in terms of home market releases. Nor is it really strong when it comes to contenders for Pick of the Week. Degrassi: Season Ten is in competition, but in the end I went with Robotech: The Complete Series.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 4th.

African Cats - Buy from Amazon: Buy from Amazon
The latest DisneyNature documentary to be released in theaters was not a major hit overall, but did earn more than most documentaries manage. Did it deserve to be a bigger hit? Or does it not live up to the studios most recent efforts? Check out our review to find out.

Bad Teacher - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This was not the best movie of the summer, but it managed $100 million domestically and more than $200 million worldwide on a budget of just $19 million. It definitely connected with an audience. The DVD and Blu-ray have lots of smaller extras, with the latter delivering some exclusives. If you are a fan of some of the cast in particular, or of the genre in general, it is worth picking up.

Batman: Year One - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Two-Disc DVD, or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Batman is one of the few D.C. Comics properties that reliably draws in viewers. That is certainly the case with this release, which is one of the best selling of the week, at least according to Amazon.com. The reviews have been excellent and there are plenty of extras. Its worth picking up, with the Combo Pack the better deal at just $3 more than the single disc DVD and the same price as the Two-Disc DVD.

Beats, Rhymes, and-Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This documentary earned stellar reviewed and managed to top $1 million at the box office, which is rare for the genre. Clearly fans of the band will be the people most interested in this film, but even neophytes who just like documentaries should give it a try. And with solid extras, its worth picking up over just renting. Finally, the Blu-ray only costs $2 more than the DVD, so it is the better deal.

A Better Life - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film opened well in limited release, but struggled to maintain that momentum as it opened wider. It did top $1 million, which not that many limited release manage, while it should do better on the home market, especially given its reviews. The extras are limited to an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, and a music video, but that's enough for the DVD and / or Blu-ray to be worth picking up.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Cape Fear, Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid, The Goonies, The Guns of Navarone, Kuroneko (The Criterion Collection), Peter Gabriel: New Blood: Live in London, Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory 40th Anniversary Edition, and Zombie (2-Disc Ultimate Edition)
I thought The Goonies already came out on Blu-ray. Regardless, it's worth owning if you don't already have it.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Peter Gabriel: New Blood: Live in London and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
I'm not happy that you have to buy the 3D Blu-ray to get the bonus disc full of special features, but at least it's not too much more than the Blu-ray.

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition - Buy from Amazon
This three-disc DVD is loaded with live performances from the Annual Bridge School Benefit Concerts and includes such acts as Neal Young, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Simon and Garfunkel, Tom Petty, The Who and many, many more.

Captain America / Captain America II - Buy from Amazon
These are the two TV movies from the 1970s. I'm still waiting for the screeners for both of these releases.

The Captains - Buy from Amazon
As a Trekkie, I'm looking forward to reviewing this film, but the screener is late.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: A Christmas Wedding, Christmas in Paradise / Deck the Halls, Dr. Seuss's Holiday on the Loose, Gift Of The Magi, Happiness is... Peanuts: Snow Days, His & Her Christmases / Will You Merry Me, Holiday Wishes, Peter, Paul and Mary: The Holiday Concert, Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas, Under the Mistletoe, and A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride
Lots of Christmas releases this week, including Gift Of The Magi, which I should get a screener to review.

Complete Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Little House on the Prairie and Robotech
I reviewed one of the two Complete Series Megaset releases this week and I might get a screener for the other. Robotech is Pick of the Week material.

Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to be Said - Buy from Amazon
The second stand-up concert DVD release from Craig Ferguson that I've reviewed. Is it as good as the first? Read our review to find out.

The Crow - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
It has been nearly 20 years since the tragic death of Brandon Lee during a stunt gone wrong while filming this movie. That event brought a lot of attention to this film, but after all of these years have passed, does the film stand on its own? Read our review for my opinion.

Degrassi: Season 10 - Buy from Amazon
The show has lasted a decade, and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, for the first time ever, it earned a Prime Time Emmy nomination. Is the series still getting stronger? And is the DVD worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 27th of September.

Footloose - Deluxe Edition - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The remake opened in theaters on Friday, but wasn't able to really connect with audiences. Did they stay home to watch the original on Blu-ray? Would that be a wise decision? Check out our review for my opinion.

The Howling Reborn - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Just a quick note that the screener is late. I'll get to it ASAP after it arrives.

The Last Circus - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm still waiting for the screener for this film, which is strange enough that I want to wait to see it before commenting at all.

Note: These Blu-rays made their home market debut on the 13th of September.

Hannibal - Buy from Amazon
The Last House on the Left - Buy from Amazon
Manhunter - Buy from Amazon
Poltergeist II: The Other Side - Buy from Amazon
Robocop 2 - Buy from Amazon
A quartet of horror films, plus one other, were released on Blu-ray in September. The screeners arrived late, but was it worth the wait? Check out our review to find out.

Monte Carlo - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / Digital Copy Combo Pack
Films aimed at tween and teen girls are rarely big hits at the box office, and this film wasn't able to rise above other such films. Did it deserve a better fate? Or was it destined to struggle at the box office? Check out our review for my opinion.

Page One: Inside the New York Times - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A documentary look at the people behind the New York Times. It earned great reviews and topped $1 million at the box office. With deleted scenes, bonus interviews, and more it is worth picking up; however, the Blu-ray costs nearly twice as much as the DVD, so stick with standard definition.

Pearl Jam Twenty - Buy from Amazon
Wait for the Blu-ray. It might be the better deal once the usual discount is in place.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and 3D Combo Pack
This film was one of the biggest hits of the summer, especially internationally. But while it sold a lot of tickets, was this because it was a great film? Or is it riding on the good will the franchise has built up? Check out our review for my opinion.

Red State - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film earned polarizing reviews with some loving the film and others calling it the worst movie of the year. It's worth checking out and there are enough extras on the both the DVD and the Blu-ray that it could be worth picking up; however, try before you buy. Also coming out for fans of Kevin Smith is Too Fat for 40 on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as SModimations: Season One.

Robotech: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon
Robotech was the first Anime series I watched and it was the first RPG I played. There's a lot of nostalgia built into the franchise, but will it appeal to others? And does this 17-disc set have enough extras to be worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season Three - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The buzz going into this series was mixed with some people really excited about anything Star Wars related, while others were worried it would ruin their childhoods. I think the former camp is more reasonable here. There are also a lot of extras, plus an exclusive feature on the Blu-ray. It's worth picking up, and it is worth paying $10 more for the Blu-ray.

Sucker Punch - Buy from Amazon
This is not the film released earlier this year, but a low budget British action flick that was made in 2008. Is it worth checking out? Or is this lesser known film best left unknown? Read our review to find out.

Thundercats: Season One, Volume One - Buy from Amazon
It looks like the reboot of Thundercats is pleasing most fans. I'm not happy with the DVD release, because they split the season and there are no extras, but the quality of the show is high enough that it is worth picking up.

V: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This show never really found an audience and it barely earned a renewal after its first season. It was clear it wasn't going to last long after its second season ratings were even lower than the first season's ratings were. These two-disc sets have the final ten episodes, plus a few extras. The Blu-ray does cost less than the DVD so it's the better deal, but the show wasn't so good that many people will want to get into it knowing it ended too soon.

Note: This DVD / Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 4th.

"Weird Al" Yankovic Live!: The Alpocalypse Tour - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
"Weird Al" Yankovic has been making music for more than 30 years and his latest concert tour was captured when it hit Toronto in the Summer. It is worth picking up for long time fans? Will it convert new fans? And when will The Compleat Al be released on DVD? For answers to the first two questions, read our review.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Hannibal, Footloose, The Crow, RoboCop 2, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, Manhunter, The Last House on the Left, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, African Cats, Bad Teacher, Monte Carlo, Red State, The Last Circus, A Better Life, Page One: Inside the New York Times, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, Pearl Jam Twenty