DVD and Blu-ray Releases for September 4th, 2012
September 3, 2012
This week is again loaded with TV on DVD releases, including several in the top best sellers according to Amazon.com. The best TV on DVD release in terms of comedy is 2 Broke Girls: Season One on DVD or Blu-ray, while Person of Interest: Season One on DVD or Blu-ray is the best TV on DVD release as far as the dramas are concerned. Both are contenders for Pick of the Week, but neither quite gets there. The Five-Year Engagement on Blu-ray Combo Pack comes a little close, but in the end I went with Headhunters on DVD or Blu-ray. Just keep an eye on the price of the Blu-ray.
2 Broke Girls: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Chronos, Cold Creek Manor, The Dark Mirror, Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 20th Anniversary Edition, High School, Hocus Pocus, Holy Flying Circus, How to Make it In America: Season Two, Mad Monster Party, Man on a Swing, Mother's Day, My Sucky Teen Romance, The Navigator: Ultimate Edition, A New Leaf, Pursued, Re-Animator, Secret Beyond the Door, Sleepwalkers, and Umberto D. (Criterion Collection)
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Piranha 3DD, Titanic, and Titanic Collector's Edition
Bored to Death: Season Three - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Criminal Minds: Season Seven - Buy from Amazon
Dance Moms: Season One - Buy from Amazon
The Dictator - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The Five-Year Engagement - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Fringe: Season Four - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Good Wife: Season Three - Buy from Amazon
Grey's Anatomy: Season Eight - Buy from Amazon
Harry Potter: Wizard's Collection - Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack Buy from Amazon
Haven: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Headhunters - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Hung: Season Three - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Megaforce - Buy from Amazon
The Office: Season Eight - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Parks and Recreation: Season Four - Buy from Amazon
Person of Interest: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Piranha 3DD - Buy from Amazon: DVD or 3D Combo Pack
R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series - Buy from Amazon: Volume One and Volume Two
Safe - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Titanic - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, 3D Combo Pack, 3D Collector's Edition
Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day - Buy from Amazon
This show earned great reviews based on its pilot, among the best of the new crop of shows. It was arguably the biggest hit in the ratings as well. (Some might argue it had an unfair advantage in that regard, given its place in the CBS schedule.) It has picked up three Emmy nominations and won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy. Given all of that, it is definitely a contender for Pick of the Week, but the extras are weak with just a making of featurette and some deleted / alternative scenes. Still, it is worth picking up.
There's a big list of secondary Blu-ray releases this week, including more than a few I hope to review. (The screeners are late.) Holy Flying Circus certainly sounds interesting, while Re-Animator is a cult classic. Overall, there's something for everyone here.
Only two 3D releases this week, and I'm waiting for the screener for both of them.
Every time I have seen an offer to review this series, I put in my request, but the screeners never arrived. I understand the problem is limited products. Unfortunately, it seems this was my last chance to get a screener, as the show was canceled. It is going to live on in the form of a TV movie, so fans will get one last chance to say goodbye.
One of about a dozen police procedural shows currently on CBS this season. Every show like this needs a hook, and for Criminal Minds, the show tries to set itself apart by focusing on a unit of profilers. Unfortunately, for a few seasons now, this hasn't been enough. It isn't a bad show, but even if you are a fan, it is beginning to fade into the crowd.
A reality TV show about a dance studio. Dancing is an art form that I'm not exactly a huge fan of; however, I do appreciate shows about people struggling to perfect their craft. Is that what we get here? Or is it a typical Reality TV show? Read our review to find out.
This film didn't live up to expectations at the box office, but was that due to some inherent weakness in the movie? Or did moviegoers become tired of R-rated comedies? Check out our review for my opinion.
I had really high hopes for this movie, given the talent on both sides of the camera. However, the reviews were only good, but not great, and it struggled at the box office. The extras are excellent with a feature-length movie worth of deleted / extended / alternative scenes, outtakes, as well as an audio commentary track. The Blu-ray has an additional hour of featurettes. Easily worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.
Amazing, this show lasted yet another season. It has been one of the lowest rated shows on the big four networks, but it has been renewed yet again. It is a very good sci-fi show and deserves to be seen by more. Also, the DVD has a good amount of extras (three featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes) and the Blu-ray has a couple exclusive featurettes. It is worth picking up and worth paying a little extra for high definition.
This show earned good reviews throughout its run, but during season three, it didn't earn as strong a critical acclaim, while its reviews took a hit as well. It is still worth picking up, but if it doesn't recover this season, it will be its last.
This show surpassed my tolerance for soap opera storytelling way too early in its run. There were a few characters I liked on the show, but far too few to watch. On the other hand, it has lasted eight+ seasons, so it clearly has a lot of fans.
Overpriced. I didn't buy the last two movies on Blu-ray, because I knew there would be a box set coming out. I didn't think it would cost more to buy the box set than to get the movies individually. This would have been fine if the studio also released a more reasonably priced box set with just the discs and not all of the fancy packaging.
I'm still waiting for the screener for this show. I'm looking forward to seeing it, as it looks like it is right up my alley.
The screener arrived just a little too late to get to on time, but was it worth the wait? Or should people here wait for the Hollywood remake? (Yes, there is one currently in the works.) Read our review for my opinion.
The show earned a lot of buzz before it aired and for the first couple of seasons mostly lived up to that buzz. However, season three was the end of the show. There are a lot of extras on the DVD and Blu-ray, but the hit in quality might be enough for some to pass it by.
A movie so bad that it should have been on MST3k. It is bad in an entertaining way, so if you are fan of such movies, it is worth checking out.
The live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series. It only lasted one season, which is being split into two volumes for its DVD release. Was it unfair that it didn't last more than one season? Or was it a mercy cancellation? Read our review to find out.
The penultimate season. The show has taken a real hit in terms of quality, but hopefully it can right itself before it ends. Quite frankly, I would wait to see if that is that case. If not, it might be time to give up on the DVDs.
Even when NBC puts out a good show, it still can't find an audience for them. Despite earning critical praise, this show had its worst year in terms of ratings and it is very likely it will last long enough to get to syndication before ending. Enjoy it while it lasts.
One of countless police procedurals on TV at the moment. The hook here is similar to minority report, except it uses a computer to predict crimes instead of psychics. The show earned good reviews and was a solid hit on CBS. It also picked up the Favorite New TV Drama award at the People's Choice Awards this year. Extras are a little weak. There are two versions of the pilot, both with commentary tracks, a featurette, and outtakes. Still worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.
The original was B-movie campy fun, and while it wasn't a big hit in theaters, it did well enough on the home market to earn a tidy profit. This sequel barely had a theatrical release, but was this unfair? Or did the studio know they had a dud on their hands? I won't know till the screener arrives.
R.L. Stine is synonymous with Kids Horror. The latest TV series to carry that name hits the home market this week, but can it live up to Goosebumps and other shows? Won't know till the screener arrives.
It's a Jason Statham movie. That pretty much sums up the plot. Even his fans will admit there is a sameness to his films, but that doesn't mean they are bad. Is this one of his better efforts? Won't know till the screener arrives.
I've never seen this movie. It was for more than a decade the highest grossing film of all time and since I've worked at The Numbers, I've reviewed 2,500 DVD and Blu-rays (plus a handful of HD-DVDs), but I still haven't seen this movie. Hopefully that will change soon now that the 3D release has hit the home market, but unfortunately the screener is late.
Opening a limited release in more than 100 theaters is risky, but this film managed a very good per theater average during its opening weekend. Then it collapsed the next weekend. One look at its reviews explains that.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Titanic, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Hocus Pocus, Sleepwalkers, Cold Creek Manor, Megaforce, Re-Animator, Umberto D, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, The Five-Year Engagement, High School, Safe, The Dictator, Piranha 3DD, Hodejegerne, Woman Thou Art Loosed On the 7th Day