DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 9th, 2013
July 8, 2013
It is a very busy week on the home market with four wide releases, five if you count Spring Breakers, which expanded semi-wide during its second weekend of release. None of these films were big hits at the box office. In fact, the five of them combined made $122 million. Additionally, only one of them earned good reviews. Fortunately, not only did Spring Breakers earn good reviews, its DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack are loaded, enough to be a contender for Pick of the Week. The other main contender is The Legend of Korra - Book One: Air. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for the screener for both of those releases, and I hate handing out the Pick of the Week when the screener is on its way. Because of that, I'm going with a late review, Wilfred: Season Two on DVD or Blu-ray.
Admission - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Blood & Sand, Boy, Cohen & Tate, Gattaca, Hands Of The Ripper, The Jerk, The Life of Oharu (Criterion Collection), Pickin & Grinnin, and Street Trash - Special Meltdown Edition
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise
Bonanza: Official Sixth Season, Vol. 1 & 2 - Buy from Amazon
Dead Man Down - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Dynasty: Season Seven - Buy from Amazon: Volume One and Volume Two
The Gatekeepers - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Host - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
How the West Was Won: The Complete First Season - Buy from Amazon
In Old Arizona - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1999 - Buy from Amazon
The Legend of Korra - Book One: Air - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Marvel Knights: Wolverine, Origin - Buy from Amazon
Mr. Hockey: Gordie Howe Story - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Portlandia: Season 3 - Buy from Amazon
The Power of Few - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Quincy, M.E.: Season Six - Buy from Amazon
Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Spring Breakers - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Team Umizoomi: Animal Heroes - Buy from Amazon
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enter Shredder - Buy from Amazon
Trek Nation: Special Edition - Buy from Amazon
A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise - Buy from Amazon: DVD or 3D Combo Pack
Tyler Perry's Temptation - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Unforgettable: Season One - Buy from Amazon
Warehouse 13: Season Four - Buy from Amazon
Wilfred: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Women Who Kill - Buy from Amazon
Would you Rather - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film has a good cast, but it earned weak reviews and utterly bombed at the box office. Given its box office numbers, it should come as no surprise that the DVD and Blu-ray have nearly no extras (just a behind-the-scenes featurette) which further hurts the overall value. If you like the cast, it is worth checking out.
There are a lot of secondary Blu-ray releases this week, but most of them are part of the Best of the Decade brand and are re-releases. Some of these were previously released less than a year ago and therefore not worth mentioning.
There is only the one 3D release this week, and it is hardly a top-tier release.
The two-volume set actually has a decent price-per-minute.
This movie did so poorly at the box office I forgot it was a wide release. Most critics agree that it has a good cast, but a bad script. There are almost no extras on the DVD, just a single featurette, while the Blu-ray has a couple of additional featurettes. That's enough to lift the Blu-ray to a rental, but that's it.
A nighttime soap from the 1980s. It was a huge hit during its day, but I was never a fan. Also, the split-season releases are overpriced on a price-per-minute basis. You can buy them as a Two-Pack, but you only save $1.
A documentary about the Israeli / Palestinian conflict from the perspective of those who guard the border. The film's reviews were amazing, while its box office numbers were stunning for a documentary. There are not a ton of extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray, but it does have an audio commentary track and a 42-minute Q&A featurette with the director, and this is more than most such films have.
Twilight, but with aliens. The film earned some of the worst reviews of the year and likely won't recoup its P&A budget. Extras include an audio commentary track, a featurette on the novel, deleted scenes, and more. That's better than expected, but not enough to make it worth a rental.
A Western TV series from the late 1970s. This is technically not the first season, but the mini-series that led into the TV series. Fans should be very happy it is being released as the first season, as this implies the two-season show is coming out sooner rather than later.
This western is historically important, because it is one the first talkies in its genre, and one of the first films with sound that included outdoor scenes. But is it more than an historical document? Or have the years not been kind to it? Read our review to find out.
One of the longest running TV shows of all time. I've long since run out of things to say about it. I don't think you can blame me; after all, there have been roughly 20 DVD releases over the years.
The Last Airbender was an excellent show and many people think this follow-up is even better. I'm trying to get a screener so I can compare the two. The extras on the DVD / Blu-ray releases are impressive with audio commentary tracks on all 12 episodes, plus some animatics. Definitely worth picking up. It might even be a contender for Pick of the Week.
I've reviewed a number of these releases in the past, so I'm going to try and snag a screener for this one as well.
Michael Shanks stars as Gordie Howe in this TV movie. If you are not a fan of hockey, you might not recognize the name, but he was one of the best players during his day, and when his two sons were drafted, he decided to come out of retirement at the age of 44 to play professional hockey again. There are not a lot of reviews out there, but they are mostly very positive. It is worth checking out for fans of inspirational sports movies and worth picking up for fans of hockey in particular.
A TV show set in Portland, Oregon, or at least a fictionalized version where the city's quirks are amplified. For the most part, the show has earned good reviews, but it is Indie Quirky, which can turn off some people. There are not a lot of extras, just a couple of deleted scenes and a tour of some locations from the show. It is worth checking out if you like Indie comedies.
This film focuses on the same 20 minutes as seen by five different characters who are unknowingly connected to a smuggling operation. The reviews were only mixed and it struggled in limited release. On the other hand, the extras are better than expected and if you are a fan of the genre or of some of the cast, it is worth checking out.
A great show from the late 1970s through early 1980s. It starred Jack Klugman as a Medical Examiner who tended to get involved whenever he thought a death was strange enough to warrant it, which was every week. If you are a fan of police procedurals, then this show is definitely worth picking up.
This is a very funny special, but it is only 23 minutes long. There are a lots of extras, including three audio commentary tracks, making of featurettes, set tour, etc. It is enough to make it worth picking up, but not enough to be a Pick of the Week contender. The price-per-minute is just too high for that honor.
The early buzz for this film was horrible, absolutely horrible. A lot people were mocking it as "Disney Girls Gone Wild". However, the reviews were good. The reviews were also polarized. Some people called this the best movie of the year, while others said it was one of the worst movies of all time. Which side to I fall under? Won't know till the screener arrives.
The latest DVD from this edutainment preschooler series arrived late, but I finally got to the review this week. So what episodes are found on the DVD? And is it worth the price? Check out our review to find out.
William Fichtner is playing Shredder in the upcoming movie. I love him as an actor, he's the main reason I gave Drive Angry a positive review, but he's white. Shredder is Japanese.
This is a great movie for fans of the Star Trek franchise, or those who just want to take a look at the more hardcore end of the fandom.
The original film, A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures, was a big hit internationally, even though it wasn't released in theaters here. The sequel didn't do as well at the box office, while its reviews are much weaker than its predecessor's reviews were. If you liked the first film, give this one a rental before you buy.
Tyler Perry's latest movie was destroyed by critics, but pulled in more than $50 million in theaters. If you are a fan of his drama, then it is worth checking out, but give it a rental first. Also coming out this week is The HAVES & The HAVE-NOTS (The Play).
Poppy Montgomery stars as a police detective with Hyperthymesia, a.k.a., photographic memory. The first season began in the fall of 2011, but season two begins later this month. That's not a good sign. If you are a fan of the show, pick up the DVD, because strong home market sales might help it stick around.
This is a bit of a confusing release. The DVD came out on April 2nd, but the Blu-ray makes its debut this week. I only received the DVD to review, so it is technically a late review, but very well timed late review. The film is a low-budget horror movie, which lowers expectations. On the other hand, it won the Best Feature at last year's Shockfest Film Festival. Is it worth checking out for fans of the genre? Will it have broader appeal? Check out our review to find out.
This show focuses on a government agency tasked with finding and recovering supernatural artifacts before they fall into the wrong hands. If you like The X-Files, Sanctuary, Torchwood, etc., you will probably like this one as well. Also, it stars Allison Scagliotti, who was in my favorite episode of TableTop. I've watched that episode three times, in one day. I'm watching it again right now.
A high-concept comedy about a man and a dog, who he sees as a man in a cheap dog costume. I liked the first season, but high-concept shows tend to have a short shelf life. Can the show improve upon the first season? Or are there already signs it has jumped the shark. Read our review for my opinion.
Four stand-up comediennes featured on one DVD. I've previously reviewed Amy Schumer's first hour-long concert set and I liked it, but I don't know the other three.
A horror film starring, among others, Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, and Sasha Grey. The film's overall reviews are only mixed, but it is earning more praise from genre critics. Fans of horror films should check it out, but with no extras, a rental will likely be enough.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Host, Tyler Perry’s Temptation, Spring Breakers, Dead Man Down, The Gatekeepers, Admission, The Power of Few, Would you Rather, Sammy's avonturen 2, In Old Arizona, Star Trek, X-Files, Twilight, Jeffrey Combs, William Fichtner, Jack Klugman, Poppy Montgomery, Tyler Perry, Michael Shanks, Brittany Snow, Sasha Grey, Amy Schumer