DVD and Blu-ray Releases for November 15th, 2011
November 16, 2011
It's a really soft week for releases. Granted, Harry Potter came out last week and it is likely still going to be selling quite well this week. But the best release of Tuesday, at least according to Amazon.com, is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on DVD. Normally this would be a huge release, but it came out on Blu-ray weeks ago. The same is true of the second best selling release, The Lion King. The most of the next several best selling releases are Blu-ray catalog titles. Granted, many are worth picking up, but it could still be a really slow week in terms of overall sales. That doesn't mean it is a slow week in terms of high quality releases. West Side Story is coming out on Blu-ray, My Fair Lady is also making its Blu-ray debut. There are several more catalogue titles getting a Blu-ray double-dip, like Evil Dead II: 25th Anniversary Edition, or the latest Blu-ray for Metropolis. TV on DVD is well represented with Farscape: The Complete Series (Blu-ray), Being Human: Season One on Blu-ray, and Awkward: Season One. Beginners on Blu-ray is also a Contender for Pick of the Week, as is Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume One: Blu-ray Ultimate Collector's Edition. In the end I went with Evil Dead II: 25th Anniversary Edition. It is a double-dip, but there are major improvements over the previous release, plus it is a bargain price at just $11, and given the number of prime releases coming out this week, a bargain price is certainly welcome.
Assassins Creed: Lineage - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Awkward: Season One - Buy from Amazon
Beginners - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Being Human: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Bellflower - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: My Fair Lady, The Rules of the Game (The Criterion Collection), Sigur Ros: Inni, Spy Kids Trilogy, Three Colors: Blue, White, Red (The Criterion Collection), Tom Cruise Blu-ray Collection, and WWII in HD
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: IMAX: Sea Rex
Bratz: 3-Movie Collection - Buy from Amazon
Britney Spears: Femme Fatale: Live - Buy from Amazon: Buy from Amazon
Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: Dora the Explorer: Celebrate with Dora and SpongeBob SquarePants: Holidays With SpongeBob
Complete Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Crime Story, Farscape, and It Takes a Thief
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Cop Land - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
DreamWorks Dragons Double Pack - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Flypaper - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Griff the Invisible - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour - Buy from Amazon
Larry Crowne - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Lion King - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume One - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray or Blu-ray Ultimate Collector's Edition
Metropolis - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Rolling Stones: Some Girls: Live in Texas '78 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Shaun the Sheep: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon
Turtle: The Incredible Journey - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
West Side Story - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Whitechapel : The Ripper Returns - Buy from Amazon
I don't think there are very many people who will be willing to pay money for a 36 minute long story. Granted, the extras are nearly triple that, but it is still for hardcore fans only.
It has been a long time since there's been a show on MTV that I'm actually interested in seeing. In fact, I don't think I've watched a show on MTV since Daria. The reviews for the first season were great and I'm hoping to get a screener to review.
This limited release earned excellent reviews and pulled in more than $5 million during its run. That is a great run. The DVD has an audio commentary track and a making of featurette, while the Blu-ray is BD-Live enabled. The Blu-ray is about 40% more than the DVD, which is pricey for this type of release, but either format is worth picking up.
This is the Canadian version of the popular British TV series of the same name. A lot of people were really upset when they found out the original show was being remade; however, most people who gave it a chance really liked it. Unfortunately, I don't know if I'm among those people, as the screener is late. I'll try to get to it as soon as it arrives, as it could be Pick of the Week material.
Two disaffected youths have their friendship tested when a woman comes into the picture. The film earned good reviews and I'm interested in seeing it, but the screener is late. If you have already decided to pick it up, get the Blu-ray, because it is cheaper.
This movie franchise is one of the most popular Anime series this side of the Pacific. And many fans of the franchise agree that this is the best movie so far. There are almost no extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray (just some concept art), but it is still worth buying for fans of the genre, while the Blu-ray is worth spending an extra $3 for.
The selection of Blu-rays this week includes mostly catalogue titles, plus a few limited releases, as well as some TV on DVD releases. What it doesn't include is a first run release that was a monster hit at the box office. Many of these secondary releases are definitely worth picking up, but unless Harry Potter holds on better than expected, it will be a slower week.
Just the one 3D release this week, and it is an edutainment release and those rarely sell a lot of units.
Three previously released Bratz DVDs sold in one collection. How are they when compared to the franchise as a whole and is it worth the price? Check out our review to find out.
Concert releases rarely crack the top ten on Amazon.com. This week there are three of them. Strangely, all three are coming out on the 21st, which technically makes them next week's releases, but Amazon.com has them on this week's list.
Only two Christmas releases this week, and I reviewed them both.
Only three Megasets this week and by some coincidence, I'm supposed to review the latter two of them. Hopefully the screeners will arrive shortly.
George Clooney's directorial wasn't able to find an audience in theaters. It did well in limited release, but despite its star power, it couldn't expand wide. On the other hand, it was also quite inexpensive to make. Now nearly 10 years later, the film is making its debut on Blu-ray. Has it aged well? And is the Blu-ray worth the upgrade? Read our review for my opinion.
The film marked a rare dramatic turn for Sylvester Stallone. The film was quite inexpensive to make and was able to become a solid midlevel hit, but after this film, it wasn't until Rocky Balboa that he starred in a film that was a hit with both with critics and moviegoers. Is it a bad film? Or is there something else at work here? And if the film is worth checking out, is the Blu-ray debut worth picking up? Check out our review for my opinion.
Three holiday themed Dora DVDs in one box set, plus another one with a French-Bilingual track. So what DVDs are found within and are they worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.
Just a quick note that the screener for this release is late. Hopefully it will get here soon.
How many times are they going to release this film on the home market? Please let this one at least be an improvement over the previous Blu-ray release. Is it? Read our review to find out.
When you think of genres that do well in limited release, horror is not one of them and neither are fantasy films. So it should come as no surprise this film wasn't able to find an audience in limited release. But will things improve on the home market? Check out our review for my opinion.
Two groups of robbers hit the same bank at the same time and get into an armed standoff. One's going for the ATM, the others are going for the vault, so one of the hostages, Tripp, suggests they just complete the respective heists without getting in the way of each other. This plan doesn't quite workout. It's an interesting premise, but its execution was flawed.
Griff is an office drone with a rather dull life, but outside of his office life he's a super hero. A seemingly average person who is a secret super hero is not an uncommon. Plus the reviews were only barely in the overall positive level. It is still worth checking out, but start with a rental.
Most people here will be more familiar with the remake, The Departed, which not only made nearly $300 million worldwide, but was the big Oscar winner that year. However, many who have seen both films think the original is better. Is that the case? Read our review to find out.
The second concert DVD on this week's list. This is the better selling of the two and is currently in fifth place for the week, at least according to Amazon.com.
Due to Tom Hanks's record at the box office, I figured this film would be a sure hit. It wasn't. The film struggled with critics and moviegoers alike. Now that it is out on the home market, it's worth checking out if you are a fan of the actor and / or the genre, but with just a couple featurettes and some deleted scenes, a rental will be enough.
The Blu-ray Combo Pack was the pick of the week. My suggestion is to stick with that release.
This looks awesome and I'd love to add this to my collection, but I really don't want to buy any more Looney Tunes till they come out with Chronological shorts. Real fans want a chronological and complete collection.
One of the greatest movies ever made and if you don't own it already, buy it. And if you are buying it, get the Blu-ray. On the other hand, this is not the first time it has been released on the home market, and I'm wary of double-dips.
This is only worth picking up if you are never going to make the leap to high definition. And if that's the case, you are likely not in the target demographic for this film.
A low-budget western about a payroll heist. We've seen a surge in low-budget westerns lately, but the genre's hit to miss ratio hasn't been good. Will this one help raise the average? Check out our review for my opinion.
The third concert film in the top ten. Only one format is in the top ten, the Blu-ray, while there are a couple of combo packs, but they are overpriced. (You can literally buy the DVD and the Blu-ray separately for less than the combo pack.)
From the makers of Wallace and Gromit. It is a kids show, but a kids show that parents can watch and enjoy with their kids.
I believe the average episode of SpongeBob has been released three times on DVD. A three-disc box set with three previously released DVD raises that average, but is it worth picking up if you don't have any of the three DVD? Check out our review to find out.
This nature documentary earned good reviews, but struggled to find an audience during its limited release run. It's worth checking out, but I'm not sure spending an extra 54% for the Blu-ray is worth it.
One of the most famous musicals of all time, and one of the best. It makes its Blu-ray debut this week, but the screener is running late. If it's well done, it's pick of the week material.
The police force of Whitechapel, London, deal with a serial killer who appears to be copying Jack the Ripper. The show earned good reviews and the price isn't bad, as long as you look at it as a TV movie instead of a TV series.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Lion King, My Fair Lady, Cop Land, West Side Story, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Evil Dead II, Metropolis, Mou gaan dou, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Beginners, Flypaper, Larry Crowne, Bellflower, Fading of the Cries, Griff the Invisible, Turtle: The Incredible Journey, The Righteous and the Wicked