It likely won't be a strong week on the home market. There's only one prime release, True Blood on DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack. It is an excellent show and the Blu-ray is a clear contender for Pick of the Week, but as a TV on DVD release, I doubt it will sell as many units as the average first-run theatrical release sells. The biggest first run release is Man on a Ledge, but it did so poorly in theaters that I doubt it will have a real impact on the home market. True Blood isn't the only contender for Pick of the Week. Goon's Blu-ray Combo Pack is on that list. The price of the Combo Pack dropped since my review went online and at $15, it is the Pick of the Week, or should I say Puck of the Week. Also of note, Degrassi: Season 11, Part 1 - Buy from Amazon would also be a contender for Pick of the Week, but the full season set will likely be significantly cheaper on a price-per-minute basis.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm not a fan of this composer; however, his amazing commercial success proves there are plenty of people who are fans of his. In fact, the DVD and the Blu-ray for this film are both in the top five, so if you like his work in general, and Phantom of the Opera in particular, it's worth checking out.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: The Aggression Scale, Demoniacs, Denver & Rio Grande, Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Blu-ray/DVD Combo), Gintama the Motion Picture, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Rape of the Vampire, Requiem for a Vampire, Run for Cover, Shiki: Part 1 (Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo), Shiki: Part 1 (Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo), Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Summer Interlude (The Criterion Collection) , and Summer with Monika (The Criterion Collection)
The second Blu-ray releases are an interesting mix of classics, Anime, and low-budget erotic horror. The Outlaw Josey Wales is the Blu-ray I'm most interested in.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: A Better Tomorrow, Bikini Beach Babes, Cane Toads: 3D - The Conquest, Earth 3D, Kamasutra, Michael Flatley Returns as Lord of the Dance 3D, Mystic Mountains, and Safari 3D
There are plenty of 3D releases this week, unfortunately, none of them are even close to prime releases. There are a few Edutainment releases that could be interesting, but there are more along the lines of Bikini Beach Babes. There are four volumes of that franchise coming out this week.

Coriolanus - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Still waiting for the screener for this film to arrive. I'm really looking forward to it and the combination of the amazing cast and stellar reviews means it could have been a pick of the week contender. It depends on the extras.

Diamond Queen - Buy from Amazon
I'm not sure why Americans care about the Queen so much, but this DVD and The Queen's Palaces are selling well enough that obviously a lot of people do care.

Drop Dead Diva: Season Three - Buy from Amazon
A beautiful but vain model dies, only to have her spirit placed in the body of a brilliant, but slightly overweight lawyer. I'm expecting to get a screener, but so far it is late. I have heard good things about the show and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Goat Rodeo Sessions - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Sometimes you come across a name that is so bizarre you have to stop and take notice. This is one of those times. However, it's actually just a concert DVD and Blu-ray featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile.

Gone - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I like Amanda Seyfried, but she needs to chose better movies than this if she wants to maintain a movie career. Awful reviews and a featureless DVD / Blu-ray means this movie is skippable.

Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp - Buy from Amazon
A show about secret agent chimps. I don't think you could make a show like this now. I think good taste and sound judgment would prevent it.

Man on a Ledge - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film isn't terrible, but it is mostly a formulaic action film that is buoyed by a better than average premise, but sunk by weaker than average execution. At best, it is worth a rental, but there are better options out there.

Maverick: Season One - Buy from Amazon
James Garner stars as Bret Maverick, a gambler and a ladies man living in the wild west, along with his brother, Bart Marverick. It's an excellent show and I'm happy it's finally coming out on DVD.

Memorial Day - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
James Cromwell stars as a World War II vet who tells his 13-year old son three stories about the war. There are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so it is hard to judge the quality of the film.

Murdoch Mysteries: Season 4 - DVD or Blu-ray
A police procedural show from Canada starring Yannick Bisson. There are a lot of shows in this genre, but this one stands out because it is set in the 1890s and uses what would be cutting-edge forensic techniques for that time. If you are fans of the genre, it is worth checking out.

One Direction: Up All Night Live - Buy from Amazon
I have no idea who these people are, but this DVD is currently in third place on Amazon.com's new releases chart.

Rookie Blue: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A Canada cop drama. The film's reviews are good compared to a lot of other summer shows. However, the screener is late, so I don't know if I agree with the fans or not.

Royal Pains: Season Three, Volume Two - Buy from Amazon
A typical lighthearted summer show. The reviews are good, but not great and it is worth checking out. I'm not sure it is worth $21 for half a season.

Take Me Home - Buy from Amazon
Thom drives an illegal taxi in New York City to earn money, but it is not enough to prevent him from getting evicted. Claire catches her husband having an affair and then learns his father had a heart attack. So she hired Thom to drive her to see him... all the way from New York City to California. The film has no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and failed to make a real impact at the box office. Hopefully that will change on the home market.

We need to Talk About Kevin - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Some people thought Tilda Swinton would earn an Oscar nomination for his performance in this film. However, while the overall reviews were great, they weren't quite up to Awards Season levels. Likewise, the DVD or Blu-ray are worth picking up, but not quite a Pick of the Week contender.

Wing Commander Academy: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon
I liked the video game this show is based on, but don't remember the cartoon at all. That's not a good sign.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2012-05-28