DVD and Blu-ray Releases for February 22nd, 2011

February 22, 2011

It's a pretty good week on the home market, all things considered, with two $100 million first-run releases on this week's list. On the other hand, there doesn't feel like a whole lot of depth and there are about as many featured reviews as other releases, if you count late reviews and ones where I'm still waiting on the screeners. One of these late reviews, Megamind could be the Pick of the Week, but I'm giving the Blu-ray one last chance to arrive before its release on Friday.

Alien Vs Ninja - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
In my DVD collection, I have a special section for "Weird Stuff From Japan". I'm absolutely going to have to add this one to that collection. From the people who made Tokyo Gore Police and The Machine Girl? I'm there.

All-Star Superman - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
D.C. has a long history with many, many stories to choose from. Despite this, their direct-to-DVD movies have been rather average. Early reviews are promising, while the DVD and Blu-ray are loaded with extras. Depending on how you've felt about the previous releases, this is either a solid rental, or an easy purchase.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 13th.

Beauty & the Briefcase - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Hilary Duff returns to TV in this ABC Family movie. It's a TV movie and a romantic comedy, so expectations are a little low, but can Hilary's charms help the final product? Check out our review for my opinion.

Birdemic: Shock and Terror - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A movie that's so bad it's good. There huge potential for Cult status here and if you are a fan of MST3k, then his movie could be worth checking out.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: 48 Hours, Alien vs. Ninja, All-Star Superman, Birdemic: Shock and Terror, Due Date, Fish Tank: Criterion Collection, FLCL: The Complete Series, Get Low, How the Earth Was Made: Season Two, Jeff Beck Rock 'n' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul, Killshot, The Last Unicorn, Megamind, Memento, Mesrine: Killer Instinct, Les Miserables: The 25th Anniversary Concert, Nurse Jackie: Season Two, Psych 9, Senso: Criterion Collection, The Steig Larsson Dragon Tattoo Trilogy, Sweet Smell of Success, and Weeds: Season Six
Quite a selection of Blu-rays this week, including $100 million hits, limited releases, foreign films, catalogue titles, TV on DVD, everything. One of these titles, Memento, is running a little late, but I hope to get the screener soon.

Celtic Thunder: Heritage - Buy from Amazon
The latest PBS concert DVD featuring the traditional Irish music of Celtic Thunder. It's in the top ten, according to Amazon.com, which is likely a bit of an anomaly, but still impressive.

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

Dances with Wolves - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
This film was the big winner at the 1991 Oscars. Now 20 years later does it stand up, or is its reputation too much? Check out our review to find out.

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Ballet Adventure - Buy from Target
A Target Exclusive release from Dora the Explorer. So what episodes are found on this disc? Read our review to find out.

Due Date - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
While the movie was merely average, it was able to earn $100 million at the box office, which is double what it cost to make. Add in the $100 million it has made internationally so far, and the film is very profitable. This makes it quite disappointing that the DVD has only some outtakes, while the Blu-ray offers just some deleted / extended scenes and a couple short montages. Strictly a rental, which is a shame, as with a full compliment of extras, it would have been worth picking up.

Eddie Griffin: You Can Tell 'Em I Said It - Buy from Amazon
Eddie Griffin is one $100 million movie from hitting $1 billion for his career, but will those who liked him in Undercover Brother or Scary Movie 3 enjoy his latest stand-up special? Check out our review to find out.

Fooly Cooly: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This critically acclaimed Anime series is hitting the home market this week. Be warned that while this is technically a complete series release, the series only lasted 6 episodes, so it is more of a mini-series than a TV on DVD release.

The French Art of Seduction - Buy from Amazon
A four-movie box set that should please fans of French cinema. Won't know if it will have appeal outside that group till after the screener arrives.

Get Low - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Robert Duvall stars as a hermit who comes into town and declares he's going to have his wake before he dies, and he invites the whole town. The film earned excellent reviews and even a few nominations. It's certainly worth checking out, and with extras that include and audio commentary track, a making of featurette, Q&A, etc., it's worth picking up. On the other hand, the Blu-ray is pricey compared to the DVD and there are no exclusive extras.

The Guild: Season 4 - Buy from Amazon
I believe this was previously released as an Amazon exclusive and is coming out in general release this week. Regardless, it's worth owning. Also of note, Felicia Day has a new webseries coming out, Dragon Age: Redemption. I'm looking forward to that.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 1st.

Hatchet II - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The sequel to Hatchet, which was enjoyable, in an old school kind of way. Will this movie live up to its predecessor? Check out our review to find out.

Have Gun - Will Travel: Season Five, Volume Two - Buy from Amazon
We are nearing the end of the road for this classic Western, but is it still going strong, or is it running out of steam? Check out our review to find out.

How the Earth Was Made: Season Two - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
I previously reviewed this season of this show when it was released on DVD. But now that it is coming out on High Definition, was it worth the wait? Is it worth upgrading to? Read our review to find out.

Huge: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon
Nikki Blonsky stars in this ABC Family show as a girl going to Fat Camp for the summer. It earned good reviews, but sadly only lasted 10 episodes.

Invader Zim: Operation Doom - Buy from Amazon
There are rumors that Invader Zim might be making a comeback on TV. If that's true, will this DVD be able to entice a whole new group of people to want to watch it, or is the show too out there for a wider audience? Read our review for my opinion.

The Killing Jar - Buy from Amazon
An excellent cast is wasted on a thriller that moves too slowly and ends in a predictable twist.

Kings of Pastry - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about one of the most prestigious food challenges in the world, the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, a.k.a. Best Craftsmen in France. Will this film please Food Network addicts? Perhaps even have a wider appeal? Should it be watched while on a diet? Read our review to find out.

Last Train Home - Buy from Amazon
This documentary has earned perfect reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and even picked up a DGA nomination. If you missed it in theaters, it is certainly worth picking up now.

The Last Unicorn - Blu-ray / DVD Combo-Pack - Buy from Amazon
This film is considered a classic by a number of people, but for most, they've probably never seen it, perhaps never heard of it. (It made just over $6 million theatrically when it was released nearly 30 years ago.) Now that it is being released on Blu-ray, is it worth discovering? And if you have the previous DVD release, is it worth the upgrade? Check out our review to find out.

Megamind - Buy from Amazon: DVD, DVD Double-Pack, or Blu-ray / DVD Combo-Pack
Just a quick note that I have a screener for this film, the Double-Pack to be precise, but since it doesn't come out till the 25th, I'm holding off on the review for one more day to give the Blu-ray a chance to arrive. If it is going to arrive, it should arrive today or tomorrow.

Mesrine: Killer Instinct - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film was a big hit in its native France, while it earned excellent reviews here. My main concern is with part 2, which comes out on DVD and Blu-ray next month. It might be worth it to wait to see if there will be a package deal or a box set.

Midsomer Murders: Set 17 - Buy from Amazon
Great show, but like so many other British TV on DVD imports, the price per minute is distressingly high.

New Tricks: Series Three - Buy from Amazon
One of the best police procedural shows out there. It follows a cold case squad run by Amanda Redman, who leads a team of three formerly retired police detectives. (Who better to solve old cases that old cops.) The cast on this show is fantastic. The local station that used to air it here stopped, so these DVDs are a godsend.

Nurse Jackie: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The first season of this show was great, but can it maintain that quality or will it fall into the dreaded sophomore slump? Read our review for my opinion.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 8th.

Paranormal Activity 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The second late review for a horror sequel on this week's list. Will this film live up to its predecessor? Check out our review for my opinion.

Psych 9 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Ghost House Underground label has brought us some undiscovered gems, but it has also brought us a few lumps of coal. So which end of the spectrum does this film fall under? Check out our review for my opinion.

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

Raging Bull - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Made by Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro who were both at the peak of their careers and nearly all of the critics agree. Will I add my voice to the choir of praise, or will I be a dissenting voice? Check out our review to find out.

Room in Rome - Buy from Amazon
One of a handful of releases where I'm still waiting on the screener.

See What I'm Saying - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about a group of hearing impaired entertainers who are trying to break out of their niche market and into mainstream success. With a compelling story and great reviews, it's worth picking up.

The Stieg Larsson Dragon Tatoo Trilogy - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I wasn't expecting a box set to be released so soon. In fact, I was expecting it to come up just before the remake hits theaters. It's a good deal if you waited.

Survivor 20: Heroes vs Villains - Buy from Amazon
The term, "Jump the Shark" applies to this show. It was probably applicable many years ago, but it definitely applies now.

Sword of War - Buy from Amazon
A medieval war epic about a battle that took place between Germany and Italy that is practically unknown here. Will this lack of familiarity prevent audiences from being drawn in? Read our review for my opinion.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 8th.

Thelma & Louise - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
One of three Oscar winners that recently came out on Blu-ray, but the screeners was late. Was this one worth the wait? Read our review to find out.

Timmy Time: Timmy Steals the Show - Buy from Amazon
From the people that make Wallace & Gromit. This show is aimed at a much younger audience, but maybe parents will enjoy watching the show as much as their kids. Won't know till the screener arrives.

Weeds: Season Six - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
After a few years of critical praise, and more than a few award nominations, this show struggled to find the right tone. Do things get better during season six? Or is it about time to wrap the show up and move on? Check out our review for my opinion.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Dances with Wolves, 48 Hrs., Thelma & Louise, Memento, Raging Bull, The Last Unicorn, Killshot, Män som hatar kvinnor, Flickan som lekte med elden, Get Low, Fish Tank, Paranormal Activity 2, Kings of Pastry, Luftslottet som sprängdes, L'instinct de mort, Hatchet II, Last Train Home, Megamind, All Star Superman, Psych 9, Sword of War, The Killing Jar