DVD and Blu-ray Releases for February 18th, 2014

February 17, 2014

It's a horrible week for me. The biggest release of the week is Game of Thrones: Season Three. I was supposed to review the Blu-ray, but it hasn't arrived yet. Usually HBO releases arrive a little early, not late. On the other hand, it was a holiday last week, at least it was where I live, so perhaps the mail was delayed. Or perhaps they ran out of copies before they got to me. It's the uncertainty that sucks the most, because right now the Blu-ray Combo Pack costs just $30 on Amazon.com. Of course you buy it at that price. The only reason not to, is because you want the Limited Edition Box Set instead. On the other hand, after Game of Thrones, there are practically no major releases. According to Amazon.com, the second best new release is the Criterion Collection release for The Fantastic Mr. Fox. It's a great movie, but it failed to make an impact at the box office, so a Blu-ray double-dip shouldn't sell that well.

Afternoon Delight - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
I'm still waiting for the screener for this release. It earned good reviews, but not great reviews, so I'm cautiously optimistic.

The Allman Brothers Band: Live At Great Woods - Buy from Amazon
According to Amazon.com, this is just outside the top ten best selling new releases of the week. Concert DVDs rarely crack the top 40.

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Epic Series - Buy from Amazon
The original 1970s series on a ten-disc set that is loaded with extras. If you liked the original series, it is certainly worth picking up. If you liked the remake, it might be a little too 1970s to handle.

Beware the Batman: Shadows of Gotham Season 1 Part 1 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The latest incarnation of one of the most popular comic book characters of all time. And I think it has been canceled. It was pulled from the schedule in October and has yet to return.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Bad Dreams / Visiting Hours, Battle of the Damned, Darkman, Dragonball Z: Season Two, Fantastic Mr. Fox (Criterion Collection), Foreign Correspondent (Criterion Collection), Hidamari Sketch: Season 1, Jormungand: The Complete First Series, Jormungand: The Complete Second Series, and Time Bokan: Royal Revival
There's a lot of Anime on this week's list, including Dragon Ball Z: Season 2, which just jumped into fifth place on the best-sellers list for the new releases this week. However, the best of the secondary release I'm most interested in is Darkman. It has been a while since I've seen it, but I remember liking it and the reviews are better than I remembered.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Hellbenders
Only one 3D release this week, and it is a small release earning weak reviews.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 11th.

Chicago - Blu-ray Diamond Edition - Buy from Amazon
I'm not the biggest fan of musicals. Unless the overall film is really good or the songs are particularly catchy, I tend to not get sucked in like some other people do. That said, Chicago earned six Oscars, including Best Picture. Does this mean I will love this film despite being a musical? Or will I be one of the minority? Regardless, is the Blu-ray double-dip worth picking up / upgrading to? Read our review to find out.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or Limited Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack
I'm still waiting for the screener, but it is the Pick of the Week. I don't need to see it to know that, for two reasons. 1. The show is amazing and HBO puts out really good TV on DVD releases. And 2. it is a really slow week besides this release.

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is the second Anime title in the top twenty new releases for the week, according to Amazon.com. Granted, the TV series is very popular so I'm not surprised a movie would do well, but most weeks it wouldn't do as well as the top twenty.

Nurse Jackie: Season 5 - DVD or Blu-ray
I'm still waiting for the screener for this TV on DVD release. It's a great show, so it is very likely worth picking up. In fact, with the right amount of extras, it could be a contender for Pick of the Week during most weeks.

The Pervert's Guide to Ideology - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about "cultural theorist" Slavoj Zizek. I'm not 100% sure what a "cultural theorist" is, but the film earned stunning reviews.

Robotics: Notes: Part One - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack or Limited Edition
According to Amazon.com, this Amine release is in the top ten for new releases for the week. That's a good sign it is a slow week.

The Six Million Dollar Man: Season 5 - Buy from Amazon
According to Amazon.com, this is in the top 20 for best selling new releases for the week. Normally, this is the kind of release I would skip by. It's not a bad show, although I think nostalgia has colored most people's opinion.

Note: This Blu-ray makes its home market debut on the 25th.

Thor: The Dark World - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 3D Combo Pack
It is such a slow week that I got one review done early. Out of the three films I had, I choose to review Thor: The Dark World. Was it worth it? Or were my high hopes dashed? Check out our review to find out.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Chicago, Darkman, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Thor: The Dark World, Afternoon Delight, The Pervert's Guide to Ideology, Slavoj Zizek