DVD and Blu-ray Releases for June 26th, 2012

June 25, 2012

It's a good week on the home market, especially for this time of year. Not only do we have a first-run release that hit $100 million at the box office, 21 Jump Street, but we have an art house film that found massive success with moviegoers, critics, and even Awards Season voters, The Artist. There are also a couple of wide releases that should have some impact on the overall sales, Mirror Mirror and Wrath of the Titans, as well as some TV on DVD releases, limited releases, catalogue titles, etc. that are also of interest. As for Pick of the Week, The Artist on Blu-ray is the most obvious choice, but The 39 Steps on Blu-ray and Sound of Noise on DVD were also in the running. Finally, Phineas and Ferb: - The Perry Files arrived late, but it too is worthy of that honor.

21 Jump Street - buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
When I first heard they were going to make this movie, I thought it had disaster written all over it. However, its reviews were excellent, while its performance at the box office was equally surprising. Extras include an audio commentary track, deleted / extended / alternative scenes, outtakes, and some short behind-the-scenes featurettes. It is a good selection of extras and it is clearly worth picking up, while the Blu-ray is a good deal at just $3 more than the DVD.

The Artist - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film earned near perfect reviews and was the big winner during Awards Season culminating in five Oscar wins. The DVD and Blu-ray both have making of featurettes, interviews, outtakes, etc. There's more than an hour of extras, but no audio commentary track. Additionally, there's nothing exclusive to the Blu-ray and the film's aesthetic choices limit its audio and video quality. (It has a soft focus and obviously no audio / sound effects.) That said, it is clearly worth owning and the Blu-ray only costs $3 more than the DVD.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: The 39 Steps (The Criterion Collection), Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 5, Bachman & Turner: Live at the Roseland Ballroom NYC, Christopher Nolan Director's Collection, Deliverance, Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories (Deluxe Edition), Father's Day Limited Edition, The Hangman, Hiding, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Night of the Grizzly, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here, The Samurai Trilogy (The Criterion Collection), The Spirit is Willing, Stone Temple Pilots: Alive in the Windy City, Tales of Vesperia, Tales That Witness Madness, Towanoquon: Complete Collection, WWE: Falls Count Anywhere: The Greatest Street Fights and other Out of Control Matches, and Yessongs: 40th Anniversary Edition
Quite a selection of secondary Blu-ray releases this week. Of these, The 39 Steps is the one I'm most interested in, while here's something for just about everyone.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Love 3D: Sex, Erotic and Passion: Volume 1, Love 3D: Sex, Erotic and Passion: Volume 2, Love 3D: Sex, Erotic and Passion: Volume 3, Mars in 3D: Images from The Viking Mission, Sector 7, Wrath of the Titans
This week's selection of 3D releases includes Wrath of the Titans and some second-tier releases. Hopefully I'll be getting Sector 7 to review. It is the first South Korea film shot in 3D and it is the release I'm most interested in seeing. On the other hand, 3D porn! I can't imagine how cheesy that must be.

Bullhead - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film earned an Oscar nomination for best foreign language film and backed that up with 82% positive reviews. Extras include an audio commentary track, behind-the-scenes, interviews, and a short film. Easily worth picking up.

Damages: Season Four - Buy from Amazon
A courtroom drama focusing on a powerful law firm run by Glenn Close. The show has done really well picking up Emmy wins and nominations, as well as other major TV awards. It's a good show, but the extras include just two featurettes, deleted scenes, and outtakes, which is not a lot.

The Decoy Bride - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I might be getting a screener for this film to review. I like the cast, but the reviews are troublesome, to say the least.

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom - Buy from Amazon
The latest Dora DVD features a trio of sea related adventures. What are they? And how does this DVD compare to ones released in the past? Check out our review to find out.

The Hedgehog - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A coming of age story revolving around a twelve-year who wants to kill herself before she become a hypocritical adult. This film earned excellent reviews and deserves to be seen by more. The DVD has deleted scenes and an image gallery, while the Blu-ray adds a behind-the-scenes featurette. It's worth picking up, while the Blu-ray costs 30% more than the DVD, which isn't a bad price.

Iron Man: Armored Adventures: Season 2, Volume 1 - Buy from Amazon
Still waiting for the screener.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Season Seven - Buy from Amazon
Great show, but the DVDs have never been good with a lack of extras. Also, the show is on 24 hours a day in syndication and there's not a lot of replay value, because it is a police procedural that relies on mystery more than character development or fancy visuals.

Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season 1 - Buy from Amazon
Currently, Amazon.com has this two-disc set as the 11th best selling new release of the week, 6th best if you ignore duplicate releases. That's impressive for a TV on DVD release based on a toyline. Granted, Lego has done a wonderful job in creating games and shows based on Lego, but it is still a little weird to see it sell so well.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 19th.

Louie: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I was expecting this release out be pick of the week material, in fact, I named it that last week. Did it live up to expectations? Read our review to find out.

Love in a Cold Climate - Buy from Amazon
An eight-part TV mini-series based on the novel of the same name by Nancy Mitford and starring Judi Dench among others. It was made again in 2001 and both versions are really good. If you liked one, you will probably like the other.

Oranges and Sunshine - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Emily Watson stars as a social worker who discovered the British government was shipping poor kids overseas because it was cheaper to take care of them in Australia, among other places. The kids were told their parents didn't want them, while the parents were told the kids died. It's based on a real life story that took place in the 80s, that's the 1980s. It's an important story and the reviews are good, but not great. It's worth picking up, while the Blu-ray costs just $5 or 20% more, which is a good deal.

The Perfect Family - Buy from Amazon
Kathleen Turner stars as a woman who values outward appearances, which is why she's kept the craziness of her family hidden. Now that she's up for a major award with her church group, she has to get her family to act normal, at least for a little while. The film's reviews were mixed, while it struggled at the box office. It deserves better on the home market, but start with a rental.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 5th.

Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files - Buy from Amazon
This is one of my favorite shows on TV at the moment. What episodes are on this movie recent DVD release? And do they live up to earlier episodes? Read our review for my opinion.

Mirror Mirror - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
One of two big-budget Snow White adaptations that came out this year. This one earned exactly 50% positive reviews, but I won't know which side I fall under until the screener arrives.

Sound of Noise - Buy from Amazon
A film that was a little too strange to thrive in limited release. Now that it is out on DVD, should more people take a chance and discover it? Check out our review for my opinion.

A Thousand Words - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Eddie Murphy really needs a career revitalization project. Something that will remind people of his comedic talent. Something that is the complete opposite of this film. The only thing kind you can say about this movie is that it is not as bad as many other films that are stuck with zero positive reviews. Talk about damning it with faint praise.

Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns: Season Six - Buy from Amazon
Like most Tyler Perry works, this show is aimed solely at his fans and others need not bother.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 19th.

Wilfred: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I had high expectations for this show, so much so that I thought it could be Pick of the Week material. Was I right? Or was I too optimistic? Read our review to find out.

Wrath of the Titans - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 3D Combo Pack
The 2010 version of Clash of the Titans was really bad, but it made nearly half a billion dollars worldwide. Wrath of the Titans was marginally worse and more or less bombed at the box office. Extras on the DVD only include some deleted scenes, while the Blu-ray / 3D Blu-ray have two Maximum Movie Mode versions, one on the mythology and one on the making of the movie. If you liked the first one, then this one will probably also entertain you. If not, skip it.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Deliverance, A Thousand Words, Le hérisson, 21 Jump Street, Wrath of the Titans, Mirror Mirror, The Artist, Sound of Noise, Oranges and Sunshine, Bir zamanlar Anadolu'da, Rundskop, The Decoy Bride, The Perfect Family, Hiding, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The 39 Steps