It's a rather strong week on the home market with several top-notch releases and no matter what your tastes are, you should find something to enjoy here. Even if you just look at contenders for Pick of the Week, there are first run releases (Captain America: The First Avenger on Blu-ray Combo Pack); limited releases (Attack the Block on DVD); TV on DVD releases (Robot Chicken: Season Five on Blu-ray), Box Sets (Jurassic Park: Trilogy Box Set) and even classics (Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection on DVD). In the end, I went with the Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, which should pick up an Oscar nomination and might be the favorite to win Best Feature-Length Animated Film.

Attack the Block - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I consider myself to be a nerd and love the nerd community. Sometimes the nerd community really lets me down (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World or Kick-Ass). This has happened enough that even with a film earns unbelievably positive reviews, the studio is reluctant to release it wide. It did reach $1 million in limited releases, which is good, but it needs an amazing run on the home market to break even. Fortunately, it deserves it. The extras on the DVD / Blu-ray include three audio commentary tracks, an hour-long making of featurette, a featurette on the creation of the aliens, interviews with the cast, and more. In total, the extras have a longer running time than the movie itself. Easily worth picking up and, since the Blu-ray only costs 15% more, it is clearly the better deal.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: City of Life and Death: 2 Disc Special Edition, The Conversation, Dazed and Confused (The Criterion Collection), Faces in the Crowd, Father of Invention, Identification of a Woman (The Criterion Collection), Island of Lost Souls (The Criterion Collection), Jurassic Ultimate Trilogy Box Set, Jurassic Ultimate Trilogy Gift Set, A Little Help, Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, A Serbian Film, Shaolin, Shaolin: Collector's Edition, Witchblade: Box Set, and WWE Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart: WWE's Greatest Rivalries 2-Disc Blu-ray
It could be a good week for Blu-ray sales with Captain America: The First Avenger leading the way. Also, there is a big none first-run release, Jurassic Park box sets, which could sell well compared to most. Also a quick note about that. The screener did arrive, but not till Monday, which is too late to get to on time. I should get to it soon.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack
Only one 3D release this week, but it was a big hit with critics and moviegoers, so it should sell well, compared to average 3D release.

Brain Games - Buy from Amazon
This three-part series on the brain includes information from many studies and interactive experiments the viewers can do at home. It's a great show, but the price-per-minute is high for TV on DVD. On the other hand, if you consider it a documentary that runs just over two-hours, it's a great deal.

Captain America: The First Avenger - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack
Just a quick note that the screener for this release is right. It is a contender for Pick of the Week, if there are enough extras and the technical specs on the Blu-ray are strong enough.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: BBC Holiday Comedies, BBC Holiday Dramas, BBC Holiday Gift Set, Franklin's Christmas Gift, Gathering, Holiday Triple Feature: Christmas Shoes/Christmas Blessing/Christmas Hope, Holiday Triple Feature: Holiday in Handcuffs / Snow / Snow 2: Brain Freeze, Holiday Triple Feature: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year/ Moonlight & Mistletoe/ The Christmas Choir, Holiday Triple Feature: One Special Night & Christmas Clause & Xmas Clouds, Holiday Triple Feature: Christmas Maybe / Christmas in Boston / Snowglobe, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Blu-ray), and The Wiggles: It's Always Christmas With You!
There are quite a few box sets on this week's list of Christmas releases. Some of them are high quality, , like the BBC Holiday Gift Set. Most are really weak films collected together and the only real selling point is the low price. On a side note, I'm hoping to get a screener for Rare Exports, but so far it hasn't arrived.

Complete Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Barney Miller
Just the one Megaset this week, but it is a good show.

Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection - Buy from Amazon
Laurel & Hardy is one of the most famous comedy duos of all time. This ten-disc set has more than 30 hours of shorts and special features. It's a must have for fans of their comedy and would make a fantastic gift.

Luther: Season Two - Buy from Amazon
Idris Elba stars in this BBC police procedural. It's a great show, but the price-per-minute is unacceptable for TV on DVD, especially since there are no extras on the DVD.

Marvel The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes - Buy from Amazon: Volume Three and Volume Four
Just a quick note that the screeners arrived, on Monday. The review will go online ASAP.

Robot Chicken: Season Five - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of the best shows on the Adult Swim lineup, plus the DVD and Blu-ray are loaded with many deleted scenes in various forms (audio with storyboards, animatics, fully animated), audio commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes featurette, and more. The Blu-ray doesn't have anything exclusive, but the the price is right for a TV on DVD release. Easily worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Buy from Amazon
With the movie coming out in December, it makes sense to release the BBC mini-series on DVD. In fact, I'm a little surprise it is being released this week and not a little closer to the movie's release date when ads would be appearing on TV. This six-hour mini-series stars Alec Guinness, who won a BAFTA for his performance. In fact, the series won two BAFTAs and picked up seven more nominations, as well as two Emmy nominations. It is certainly worth checking out for most, picking up for many.

Tom & Jerry Golden Collection: Volume One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I am not a fan of Tom & Jerry; however, I love this new collection. It presents 37 shorts, in chronological order and uncut. This does mean there are some decidedly un-P.C. elements to the cartoons, but adult collectors would rather have this and decide for themselves what is and is not acceptable. Now if only Warner Bros. would do the same with Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes. I would buy Chronological Bugs Bunny, Chronological Daffy Duck, Chronological Elmer Fudd, etc., even though that would mean a lot of double-dips.

Wrong Turn 4 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Wrong Turn wasn't a huge hit when it came out, nor did it earn good reviews. However, the franchise has been extended with three direct-to-DVD releases. I've reviewed one of them in the past, and the screener for this one might arrive any day now. When it does, I'll be able to say if the film lives up to, or down to, the previous installment of the franchise.

Young Justice: Volume Two - Buy from Amazon
Good show, but the price-per-minute is unacceptably high.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2011-10-25