DVD and Blu-ray Releases for November 12th, 2013

November 11, 2013

There are a number of good releases this week. The two biggest releases are Man of Steel and Turbo. While the former has a larger target audience, the latter is the better film. It is still not Pick of the Week material. The best films are some of the smaller releases, like The Attack, Barbara, Blackfish, City Lights, and Prince Avalanche. All of those are worth picking up, but I think Nosferatu on Blu-ray is the Pick of the Week.

Akira: 25th Anniversary - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This is one of the first Anime I saw and it still sticks in my mind. I'm not alone in loving this movie. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time it has been released on Blu-ray, nor does it have all of the extras that have been released over the years. This is frustrating, which is why I still don't own this movie. I'm waiting for a complete collector's edition release. Hopefully it will arrive before the world ends.

The Attack - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A Palestinian couple are happily married in Israel, but the wife is killed in a terrorist attack. While still reeling from her death, her husband learns the police are blaming her for the attack. He is conviced she is innocent and tries to prove it. The film earned outstanding reviews and did very well in limited release. There are lot a lot of extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray (just an interview, trailer, and image gallery) but it is still worth picking up.

Barbara - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Nina Hoss stars as the titular Barbara, a doctor living in East Germany in the 1980s. She asks for permission to leave East Germany and the government responds by taking away her prestigious post in Berlin and moving her to a small town. The film earned amazing reviews and if you like foreign films in general and German ones in particular, then it is worth picking up.

Blackfish - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm still waiting for a screener for this title. The film's reviews are near perfect and even though the extras don't appear to be great (some extra interviews and a featurette) it is still worth picking up. In fact, it might be a Pick of the Week contender. I won't know till the screener arrives.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: All the Presidents Men, The Beach Girls, Body Bags, City Lights (Criterion Collection), Frances Ha (Criterion Collection), Lion of the Desert, Message , Mother, Nosferatu, Not Fade Away, and The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun
There are a number of prime Blu-ray releases on this week's list, including two Criterion Collection release. However, I would go with Nosferatu as the best pick in the bunch.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Fascination Coral Reef: Hunters and the Hunted, Man of Steel, Man of Steel (Collector's Edition), Ocean Predators, Polar Bears: Ice Bear, and Turbo
There are six 3D releases this week, including two for Man of Steel.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: Christmas Lights Across America, A Country Christmas, Ernie Haase and Signature Song: Christmas Live, It's a Wonderful Life (Blu-ray), Mumfie's White Christmas, The Naughty List, and Road Trip for Ralphie: A Christmas Story Documentary
It's time for the annual release of It's a Wonderful Life.

Dance Moms: Best of Dance Moms - Buy from Amazon
When I first saw this title, I thought, the only way this would be Best of would be if it were just the dances and none of the moms. Apparently that's what it is. That said, the adults on this show are so terrible that I can't support the show in any form.

Deadliest Catch: Season 8 - Buy from Amazon
One of the few Reality TV programs that I can watch. It's about a job that is very dangerous and attracts interesting characters. It also helps that on my father's side, we've had fishermen for generations.

Dealin' with Idiots - Buy from Amazon
An improvisational comedy about a comic looking for inspiration at his son's little league games. Improvisational comedy is hit and miss and when it misses it usually really misses. Is this film a hit? Or is it one to avoid? Read our review for my opinion.

Dear Dumb Diary - Buy from Amazon
A TV movie about a young girl, Emily Alyn Lind, as a middle-schooler who wants to escape the shadows of averageness. There are not many reviews online, but the ones I read were generally very positive, assuming you are looking for a family film.

Dexter: Season Eight - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
For most of its run, this series earning amazing critical acclaim. However, the past two seasons were an exception. Could the show turn it around during its final season? Or did it go out on a sour note? Check out our review for my opinion.

Grabbers - Buy from Amazon
Irish / British horror comedy about monsters that suck your blood, but can't do that if you are drunk. It wasn't able to find an audience in limited release, but will it perform better on the home market? Read our review for my opinion.

I Declare War - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A Canadian film about several kids who play war games in the woods, but they get really, really into it. It changes from games into something more. The film's reviews were good, but not good enough to thrive in limited release. I'm trying to get a screener for this film to review, but I'm not sure it will arrive. Extras include a couple of audio commentaries and a featurette, which is enough to make it worth picking up over just a rental.

Ip Man: The Final Fight - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of roughly six million films made about Ip Man, a legend of martial arts. This one earned good reviews, but not great reviews. The extras are not bad for an import and if you like the story, it is worth checking out. However, there are better films about Ip Man out there. I would go with Ip Man starring Donnie Yen.

MADtv: Season Four - Buy from Amazon
The first two seasons were the best, but it was still pretty good at this point.

Man of Steel - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack (Collector's Pack with Figurine), 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 3D Blu-ray Collector's Edition
This is arguably the biggest disappointment of the summer. Early buzz was better than with Superman Returns, but in the end its reviews were much worse. A lot of the problems stem from the misuse of the character. Superman is supposed to be a symbol of hope, so making a dark and gritty version of the character just doesn't work. Also, the amount of death Superman is responsible for is incredible. He punches the bad guy into metropolis where the civilian casualties would be in the thousands, instead of fighting him in the countryside. The extras on the DVD are not bad, while the Blu-ray has a bonus disc with a three-hour documentary. There is also a Blu-ray box set with two figurines or a 3D box set with a fancy container. There are a lot of options, but the movie isn't as strong as many hoped it would be.

Paradise - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Written and directed by Diablo Cody. She earned an Oscar for Juno, but she hasn't been able replicate that success since then. This film is her directorial debut, but it is her worst film. There are some extras on the DVD (audio commentary track and behind-the-scenes featurette) but that's not enough to lift it to a rental.

The Paradise: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Is it weird that Paradise and The Paradise are coming out on DVD and Blu-ray on the same week? The Paradise is a British series set in 1875 and is a relationship drama focusing on Denise, played by Joanna Vanderham. The TV shows reviews have been okay, but not great. There are also a lot of competition in this genre, as the BBC makes plenty of shows like this each year.

Power Rangers: Zeo, Volume 1 - Buy from Amazon
The fourth installment in the Power Rangers franchise. It came out in 1996 and that's really all I know about it. I can say, splitting the season into two volumes is not a good price.

Prince Avalanche - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film earned great reviews, but never gained any traction at the box office. I'm still waiting for a screener.

Red Vs. Blue Season 11 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm still waiting for the screener for this show. I really like the show, so I'm looking forward to the latest season.

RWBY - Buy from Amazon
A series made by Rooster Teeth Productions, the same people who made Red vs. Blue. The series has earned mostly positive reviews. If you are a fan of Anime style animation, it is worth checking out.

Turbo - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Combo Pack (With Toy), or 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack
Ryan Reynolds provides the voice for Turbo, a snail who dreams of being fast. One day he is sucked into the engine of a race car and flooded with nitrous, which causes him to become fast. He's not just fast for a snail, but fast for a race car. The film's reviews are very good for a kids film. Additionally, the DVD is loaded with extras and the Blu-ray releases have a lot more exclusive extras. If you have kids in the right age group, it is absolutely worth picking up. Even if you don't have kids, it might be worth a rental.

TuTu Much - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about nine girls looking for to become prima ballerinas. They come from around the world, but they all get the chance to audition for a prestigious ballet school. There are not many reviews online, but most of them are positive. If you are interested in Ballet in particular, or documentaries about young people struggling to fulfill their dreams, it is worth checking out.

TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Best of Sesame Street Collection, Cagney & Lacey, Combat!, Dexter, Dexter (Amazon Exclusive), Diagnosis Murder, Family Ties, Maken-Ki (Blu-ray Combo Pack), Maken-Ki (Blu-ray Combo Pack Limited Collector's Edition), Mod Squad, My Mother the Car, Nakaimo, Nakaimo (Blu-ray), and Power Rangers: Seasons Eight - Twelve
There's a ton of TV on DVD Megasets on this week's list. None really jump out as must haves. The most recent TV series on this list, Dexter, ended on a low-note. In fact, the last three seasons were weak, so unless you don't have any season on Blu-ray, it's likely not worth the price.

World's Greatest Super Friends: Season 4 - Buy from Amazon
Amazon.com says this is Season Four, but Wikipedia identifies this as season five of the Super Friends. Confusing. It's all 8 episodes from the 1979 season of the show and if you are a fan of this long-running cartoon series, it is worth picking up.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Akira, City Lights, Man of Steel, Turbo, Barbara, L’attentat, Paradise, Dealin' with Idiots, Prince Avalanche, Blackfish, Grabbers, I Declare War, Yip Man: Jung gik yat jin, Ryan Reynolds, Donnie Yen, Emily Alyn Lind, Diablo Cody, Nina Hoss, Joanna Vanderham