The Numbers News - DVD and Blu-ray Releases for November 20th, 2012

It's not a good week on the home market. The best-selling new release is The Expendables 2, which makes sense, as the film made $300 million worldwide. However, the second best selling new release of the week is Cinderella on DVD. The Blu-ray Combo Pack came out last month and is currently cheaper than the DVD. It is a really shallow week for new releases. As for releases that might compete for Pick of the Week, there's not a lot here to look at. I'm going to go with the special edition DVD for The Point! a TV movie from 1971 that isn't exactly forgotten, but is isn't as well known as it should be. Grave of the Fireflies on Blu-ray is the only other contender for the week.

Ancient Aliens: Season Four - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
What is wrong with the History Channel these days?

Black Magic - Buy from Amazon
A film starring, and widely believed to be at least partially directed by, Orson Welles. It is not considered one of his best.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Amazing Nature 3D
Didn't this come out last week? Sometimes Amazon gets the release date wrong and I guess that's the case here.

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True / Cinderella III: A Twist In Time - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I might get this release to review, or I might get the box set for the Gift Guide. I barely remember A Twist In Time, which is the only one of the two I've seen.

Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements - Buy from Amazon
A rockumentary about The Replacements, which is a band that formed in the late 1970s and helped define alternative rock 'n' roll. This film focuses on the fans, including many famous ones, but there not a lot of reviews to judge it by.

Doctor Who: Limited Edition Gift Set - Buy from Amazon
All of the seasons of the reboot of the franchise starting with the ninth doctor and running till the most current season. Also includes a collectable sonic screwdriver. It is expensive, but you do get a lot.

Dragons: Riders of Berk - Buy from Amazon
I'm still waiting for the screener for this DVD. I did like the movie it is based on, so I am cautiously optimistic.

Eclipse Series 37: When Horror Came to Shochiku - Buy from Amazon
Four horror films from Japan that were made in 1967 and 1968. It is definitely a niche market release, but according to Amazon.com, it is in 25th place for the new releases for the week.

The Expendables 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This film, like its predecessor, was aimed at fans of 1980s action films. There were obviously enough fans to warrant a sequel, but will these fans enjoy the film? Read our review for my opinion.

Game of Thrones: Season One: The Super-Duper-Uper Version - Buy from Amazon
I think this is the fourth time they've released the first season of this show on the home market. It is getting ridiculous. I love the show, but this is too much, and it might hurt future sales, as people won't buy the original season two release because they'll be waiting for the super special release.

InuYasha: The Final Act, Set One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Anime is still a niche market here, but according to Amazon.com, the DVD is in 15th place for the week. That's an indication how weak the week is, not how strong this release is.

Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Ken Burns is one of the most famous documentarians around and his style is so famous that it bears his name. His latest documentary series is about the Great Depression, specifically the Dust Bowl, which was at the time the greatest man made natural disaster of all time. The first part airs on Sunday and the second part airs on Monday before coming out on the home market on Tuesday.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Season One, Volume Two - Buy from Amazon
Still waiting for the screener for this review. I might not get this release and get the Megaset.

The Point: The Definitive Collector's Edition - Buy from Amazon
A TV movie based on an album by singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. It is about a boy, Oblio, who has a rounded head. This doesn't seem strange to us, but he lives in kingdom where everyone has a pointed head. After some political machinations, he is banished to the Pointless Forest. This version is the home market version with narration by Ringo Starr. Extras include a featurette on Harry Nilsson, a making of featurette, a retrospective, and more. It is absolutely worth picking up and the only real contender for Pick of the Week. And while you are at it, grab the CD as well.

Pokemon Black & White Set 1 - Buy from Amazon
I'm more than a little shocked this series has lasted this long.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 6th.

Prep and Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection - Buy from Amazon: DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack
The first Prep and Landing was surprisingly good and absolutely worth picking up. But is the second special as good? Is the combined Blu-ray worth the partial double-dip? Check our out review to find out.

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Air Bud was released in 1997 and in the years since, there have been a dozen more films released in the franchise. The latest is the sequel to the Santa Paws spin-off. I might get a screener for this release, but it is late. Clearly these films have a large enough audience to warrant further sequels, but that doesn't necessarily mean its quality matches its sales.

Tarantino XX 8-Film Collection - Buy from Amazon
An 8-film, 10-disc Blu-ray box set that is coming out on the 20th anniversary of the release of Reservoir Dogs to celebrate the career of Quentin Tarantino. I was hoping to get a screener to review, but that's apparently not going to happen, but without seeing it first hand, the value seems to come down to double-dips. Do you have more than half of these movies on Blu-ray already? If so, it is probably a better deal to buy the ones you like separately. If not, the extra discs full of extras puts it over the top.

Note: This DVD comes out on the 20th and the Blu-ray comes out on the 27th.

Transformers: Prime: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
When I first reviewed this series, I thought it was the best Transformers cartoon since Beast Wars, which is high praise. Does it maintain this quality level during season two? Can it improve? Read our review for my opinion.

TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Just one TV on DVD Full Series Megaset, and I might get a screener to review. However, it is currently late. I did review the first part of season one, so you can check out that review while you wait.

WWE Attitude Era - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A collection of matches from 1998 - 2002. Not a fan of pro-wrestling, so I can't really speak to the quality. That said, it certainly is selling well.