DVD and Blu-ray Releases for December 28st, 2010

December 27, 2010

It's the last week of the year and despite some choices for Boxing Week sales, there's not a lot interesting on this week's list of DVD and Blu-ray releases. There are barely more than a dozen releases, and some of those I wouldn't have mentioned had it been busier. As for Pick of the Week, there's only one contender, Archer: Season One. It's a very funny, and very demented show and even though I'm not 100% happy with the extras, it is definitely worth picking up.

Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 14th.

The A-Team - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film really missed expectations at the box office, but was it as bad as its box office performance would indicate? Or is it at least a fun popcorn flick? Read our review for my opinion.

The American - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film earned good reviews, especially for a September release, and matched expectations at the box office perfectly. Unfortunately, its expectations were rather low. The DVD has an audio commentary track, a short making-of featurette, and some deleted scenes. The Blu-ray is BD-Live enabled, but costs 60% more. Stick with the DVD.

And Soon the Darkness - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
With just 11 days between its theatrical release and its home market release, this is practically a direct-to-DVD film. I hope to get a screener shortly and if I do, I'll be able to review it ASAP, as I have no late screeners to get to anymore. At least I won't until the next flood of late arrivals shows up.

Archer: Season One - Buy from Amazon
A secret agent spoof with a pedigree that includes Home Movies, Frisky Dingo, and Sealab 2021. You know it's going to be demented, but is it demented in a good way? Check out our review to find out.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 14th.

Army Wives: Season Four - Buy from Amazon
This show can be amazing, but it can also wallow in Soap Opera territory. Which end of the spectrum does the most recent season land in? Check out our review for my opinion.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: The American, And Soon the Darkness, Battlestar Galactica: Razor, Derailed, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 3, Kamui Gaiden: The Movie, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, Surf Nazis Must Die, and Twelve
A rather soft week with only one first-run release that can even be considered a midlevel hit. There's not much in terms of smaller releases to compensate either.

Blu-ray 3-D Releases - Buy from Amazon: Resident Evil: Afterlife
The trickle of 3D Blu-ray releases continues. There are not enough to recommend making the upgrade yet, but if new releases come out most weeks, then that might change by next Christmas.

A Charlie Brown Valentine - Buy from Amazon
Are you kidding me? We are barely done with Christmas and there are already Valentine releases?

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Anime is still a niche market here, so it is very impressive that both formats of this release are in the top ten, at least according to Amazon.com. It is also a sign that it is a very, very slow week.

Handsome Harry - Buy from Amazon
The reviews suggest that this is a rather predictable film, but the acting is strong enough to compensate. The DVD includes an audio commentary track and a making of featurette, which is enough to be a solid rental, leaning to a purchase.

Jersey Shore: Season Two - Buy from Amazon
Hell no. I couldn't get through the first season, and I'm not even going to try this time around. The contest will begin on Friday.

Kamui Gaiden: Movie - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
An orphan boy is ostracized by his village, so he trains to become a soldier, then a ninja. After years of killing, he abandons his ninja clan, but his clan considers him a traitor as a result and hunt him down. The film has earned mixed reviews with many critics praising some of the action scenes, but just as many lamenting the poor CG effects, and the lack of a narrative flow. If you are a fan of the genre, it is probably worth checking out, while the Blu-ray costs just 11% more than the DVD.

Legacy - Buy from Amazon
A former Black Ops commando is wracked with guilt over some of his past missions while worrying about his brother's political aspirations. The film eared good reviews, but not a lot of reviews, which makes it hard to judge its overall quality. (With just four reviews, the margin of error is way too high.) It looks to be worth a rental.

Legendary - Buy from Amazon
When former wrestlers make movies, they usually make mindless action flicks that are heavy on stunts and light on emotions. There's a reason for this. John Cena tried his hand at more dramatic fair and it doesn't work. It will likely do better on the home market than it did in theaters, but only because it would be nearly impossible not to. Unless you are a real hardcore fan of the cast, or wrestling movies in general, it is safe to pass it by.

Legendary Assassin - Buy from Amazon
Jacky Wu from Invisible Target, among others, makes his directorial debut with this film. Will it be the film that is the showcase and man of his martial arts talent deserves? Check out our review for my opinion.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 7th.

Prayers for Bobby - Buy from Amazon
If you see the term "TV movie" in a review for a theatrical release, it is likely being used as an insult. But this TV movie earned a number of major nominations, so can it rise above its contemporaries? Read our review for my opinion.

Resident Evil: Afterlife - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or 3D Blu-ray
Another franchise saved by 3-D. Resident Evil was never a major franchise. But it did respectable business with the first three earning between $100 million and $150 million worldwide, but nothing more. However, Afterlife earned nearly $300 million worldwide. It made almost as much internationally as the first three installments did combined. On the other hand, its reviews remained as weak as average for the franchise. The DVD has an audio commentary track and a multi-part making of featurette, while the Blu-ray has a Picture-in-Picture track, deleted scenes, outtakes, and is BD-Live enabled. Easily worth the upgrade. The Blu-ray 3D release is 40% more, but if you've already made the leap, there are so few choices I can imagine a lot of people will pick it up for that reason alone. If you like the franchise so far, it's worth picking ip, but if you are not a fan, this one won't change your mind.

Twelve - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
When this movie opened in theaters, it earned some of the worst reviews of the year and completely bombed. Was it really that bad? Read our review to find out.

United States of Tara: The Second Season - Buy from Amazon
Still waiting on the screener for this release. I had mixed feelings about the first season, so I'm looking forward to seeing if they fixed the issues, or if they got worse.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Derailed, The A-Team, Resident Evil: Afterlife, The American, Twelve, Handsome Harry, And Soon the Darkness, Legendary, Long nga, Legacy