DVD and Blu-ray Releases for August 7th, 2012
August 7, 2012
This is not a really slow week on the home market this week, as we have The Lorax coming out, and it was the highest-grossing animated film of the year, until Brave overtook is very recently, so it should be a big seller on the home market. Unfortunately, it is the only major release of the week. There are some other releases worth checking out, a few worth picking up, but very few that are contenders for Pick of the Week. High Fidelity is a great movie, but its Blu-ray debut is Shovelware. Personally, I think Spaceballs is really underrated, but this is not the first time it has been released on Blu-ray and double-dips are rarely Pick of the Week material. In the end, I'm going with My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding, because I liked the first DVD release more than I thought I would.
Bel Ami - Buy from Amazon
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Blues Brothers 2000, The Boogens, Bound, Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, Johnny Guitar, The Preacher's Wife, Rio Grande, Spaceballs, and World God Only Knows: Season 2
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Dr. Seuss's The Lorax
Blue Like Jazz - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Devil Seed - Buy from Amazon
Garrow's Law: Season Three - Buy from Amazon
Grimm: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Gunsmoke: Season Six, Volume One - Buy from Amazon
Iron Sky - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Looney Tunes Show: There Goes the Neighborhood - Buy from Amazon
My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding - Buy from Amazon
One Direction: The Only Way Is Up - Buy from Amazon
One Piece: Season Four, Voyage One - Buy from Amazon
Parenthood: Season Three - Buy from Amazon
The Rookies: Season Two - Buy from Amazon
Squidbillies: Volume Five - Buy from Amazon
Strike Back: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This was a relatively low-budget movie that did well enough in the box office to earn a sizable profit for the studio, while it was an even bigger hit on the home market. Now it is making its debut on Blu-ray. It is worth paying to make the upgrade? Check out our review to find out.
Robert Pattinson's latest attempt to grow his fan base outside of Twilight. So far he hasn't had much success. This film earned very weak reviews and barely avoiding missing the Mendoza Line during its opening weekend. Unless you have to see everything Robert Pattinson is in, you can skip this one.
There are a lot of catalogue titles coming out this week, including several I reviewed. I was supposed to review Spaceballs, but the screener is late.
Only one 3D release this week, but it is a big one. It is a kids movie, so it likely won't sell as well as a $200 million action hit, but it should still do better than most releases we've seen recently.
While this film was being made, it lost funding. In order to complete the movie, the filmmakers turned to Kickstarter. The funding drive was successful, but the movie itself only earned mixed reviews and failed to reach the Mendoza Line during its opening weekend. It has plenty of extras and the DVD is worth checking out, but the Blu-ray costs too much more and you don't get any exclusive extras to compensate.
This film bombed when it first came out in theaters. It was marketed on a gimmick (one of three random endings was shown in each theater) and moviegoers stayed away. On the other hand, it developed a cult following on the home market. Will fans want to pick up its Blu-ray debut release? And will others who have never seen the movie want to give it a chance? Read our review for my opinion.
A low budget horror film about a psychic reading that results in demonic possession. There are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so I will have to wait for the screener to arrive to judge for myself.
One of four digitally-animated films released this year to reach the $200 million milestone. It was the first, and for a while the biggest. But was it the best? Read our review for my opinion.
A courtroom drama set in the 18th century. It is a British import and like nearly all such shows, it is expensive on a per minute basis compared to most TV on DVD releases.
I'm still waiting for the screener to arrive, but I have heard some good things about the show.
This film wasn't a huge hit when it first came out in theaters, but it has earned a more appreciative audience on the home market. Will these fans want to upgrade to Blu-ray? And will others want to discover it after all of these years? Check out our review to find out.
This show was on TV for 20 years and they are releasing split-season DVDs? At this rate, DVD will be dead before they finished the complete series. In fact DVD will be dead and whatever replaces Blu-ray will be mainstream.
This film earned incredible reviews when it first came out, but failed to find as large of an audience as some were expecting. This week it is making its Blu-ray debut and does it deserve to seen by more? Read our review to find out.
The Blu-ray is coming out next Monday while the DVD doesn't come out till October. I have no idea why that's happening. The film has only earned mixed reviews, but it has Cult Classic written all over it.
The latest, and possibly last of the Jesse Stone TV movies. They are still drawing in big audiences, but they are aimed at much older audiences, so the ad revenue isn't covering the expenses. Should the producers try to find a new home on cable where ad revenue won't be an issue? Or has the franchise run out of steam? Check out our review for my opinion.
The latest Disney Channel Original Movie to hit the home market. When it first aired earlier this year, it earned the best ratings for any DCOM this year, but is it also among the best? Check out our review to find out.
I love these characters and this show has been earning very good reviews, for the most part. It is a suburban sitcom, so it is very different than most incarnations of the Looney Tunes, but those who accept the changes have been entertained by the resulting show. If you haven't seen it yet, give it a chance. It won't be the same as the animated shorts we're used to, but it is entertaining in its own way.
A documentary about Reggae legend Bob Marley. Is it worth checking out for his fans? Does it have wider appeal? Check out our review to find out.
I'm more interested in seeing this royal wedding than the one that recently happened with Kate Middleton and whichever one of the royal family she's married to now. However, I still have to wait for the screener to arrive.
I've never heard any of this band's music, at least not to my knowledge, so I will have to wait for the screener to arrive. At the moment it is late, but hopefully it will get here soon.
An Anime series that is selling surprisingly well according to Amazon.com. It is popular amongst its niche market, but this is a sign that it is a weak week for new releases.
The second TV series based on the movie of the same name. It is more successful than the first and earned very good reviews and even some major award nominations.
This film is mostly a one-joke affair about two stereotypically dumb blonde ladies going to their high school reunion trying to impress people by coming up with a lie about how successful they are. Is there hidden depth to the film? Can the cast carry the movie? Check out our review for my opinion.
A 1970s police procedural show focusing on the lives of three rookie cops, although by season two, they were no longer rookies. The First Season came out five years ago, but now Shout! Factory has taken over and hopefully seasons three and four won't be too far away.
This show is too strange for me, which is saying a lot.
A Cinemax series about an anti-terrorism task force. The show has earned good reviews, and there are audio commentary tracks on the DVD and Blu-ray.
The film earned positive reviews but struggled to find an audience. It could be because it is about a little-known historical event, a rebellion of the indigenous tribes of Taiwan against the Japanese colonialists. Extras include a feature-length making-of documentary and it is certainly worth picking up if you are a fan of the genre.
An Italian TV series that was adapted for theaters back in 2007. It did well enough to earn a profit and more recently the series has been picked up for North American audiences. Will fans want to see the movie? And is it a good introduction for neophytes? Read our review to find out.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Preacher’s Wife, Full Metal Jacket, Spaceballs, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity, Blues Brothers 2000, Clue, The Boogens, Bound, Winx Club - Il Segreto Del Regno Perduto, Adventures in Babysitting, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Bel Ami, Marley, Iron Sky, Blue Like Jazz, Sàidékè balái, Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt