DVD and Blu-ray Releases for November 5th, 2013

November 7, 2013

It's a big week with several first run releases, some big TV on DVD, releases, and more to deal with. The only one that truly rises to the level of Pick of the Week is Mad Men: Season Six, but the screener arrived late and I hate awarding Pick of the Week to a title when that happens. The only other release I really want to see is White House Down, but that's more guilty pleasure than Pick of the Week. I guess it goes to Mad Men: Season Six on DVD or Blu-ray.

As I Lay Dying - Buy from Amazon
One of several films directed by James Franco. He's yet to really win over critics with any of his movies and this one is no different. It's not terrible, but you have better options out there.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: The Best Man, The Best Years of Our Lives, Bishop's Wife, Care Bears: The Great Giving Holiday, Dream Theater: Live at Luna Park, East of Eden, Giant, Intolerance, James Dean Ultimate Collector's Edition, The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hear My Train A Comin', The Mentalist: The Complete First Season, My Name Is Nobody, Rebel Without a Cause, Renoir, The Right Stuff: 30th Anniversary, Steven Wilson: Drive Home, Sweet Summer Sun - Hyde Park Live, Three Faces of Eve, and Yes: Close to the Edge
A huge number of secondary Blu-rays on this week's list, including a James Dean box set, which is arguably the best. A screener for The Three Faces of Eve arrived late, so I will get to it A.S.A.P.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) Gift Set
Just the two 3D releases this week, but it is a big release.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: All American Christmas Carol, Angels Sing: Christmas in Ireland, Christmas Colt, A Christmas Story: 30th Anniversary, Christmas Wedding, Classic TV Comedy Christmas, Dora the Explorer: Dora's Ice Skating Spectacular, Elf: 10th Anniversary, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (Blu-ray), Holiday Christmas Specials (Kenny Rogers Christmas/Liberace Christmas/G.E. Theatre: Fred Waring Music/All-Star USO Show), I Love Lucy: Colorized Christmas, Journey to the Christmas Star, Mickey's Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary (Blu-ray Combo Pack), Perry Como's Christmas Show, Pound Puppies: Holiday Hijinks, Rise Of The Guardians - Holiday Edition, Rise Of The Guardians - Holiday Edition with Marching Elf, Scoot and Kassie's Christmas Adventure, Scrooged: 25th Anniversary, and Surviving Christmas
A large number of Christmas releases came out this week, including the annual release for A Christmas Story. I got a copy of Rise of the Guardians Holiday edition, but it arrived late. I will check to see if there's any difference, besides the walking Elf, and post a review A.S.A.P.

Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about Ricky Jay, a stage magician / conman expert. The film earned excellent reviews and if you are a fan of Ricky Jay, or of stage magic / conmen movies in general, it is worth checking out.

Disney Christmas Double-Shot
Mickey's Christmas Carol -
Buy from Amazon
A Very Merry Pooh Year - Buy from Amazon
Two Disney Christmas specials are making their release on Blu-ray this weekend. Are either of them worth checking out? And are they worth picking up on Blu-ray? Check out our review for my opinion.

Duck Dynasty: I Am Dreaming of a Redneck Christmas - Buy from Amazon
Why? No. Just no. This combines two of the things I like the least, Reality TV and unnecessary Christmas specials.

Girl Most Likely - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Proof that no matter how talented a cast is, if the script if bad, the end result will be terrible. Even if you like the cast, there are better options out there.

Grown Ups 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
I almost feel bad for Adam Sandler. When he makes a good movie, no one sees them, so he's stuck making really bad crap movies like this one, which tend to reach $100 million with ease. On the other hand, he has done this to himself, and he is probably worth more than $250 million, so he doesn't need my pity. There are enough extras on the DVD and exclusives on the Blu-ray that if it were a good movie, then it would be worth picking up. But it is not a good movie, so I would avoid it.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray (Limited Edition), or 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack (Limited Edition)
One of the biggest complaints leveled at Peter Jackson is that his movies are too damn long, but that didn't stop them from releasing an extended edition of the movie on the home market. The film is better than its reputation, as a lot of critics had issues with the 48 frames per second, which is rather silly. 24 frames per second is too slow and the human eye can pick up the changes in the frames, so when people complained the film didn't look like a film, they were actually complaining that it looked too realistic. On the other hand, I'm not sure a three-hour version of the movie is entirely necessary, nor am I sure it is worth $60 or $70 to buy a version with a figurine, although I have all three of the Lord of the Rings films with the figurines.

Lovelace - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A film about the life of the first porn star, Linda Lovelace, that earned a lot of pre-release buzz. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to this buzz, but is it busted Oscar-bait? Or did it deserve better? Check out our review to find out.

Law and Order: Season 13 - Buy from Amazon
Great show, but weak DVD releases. Since you don't need to see the episodes in chronological order, the DVD really needs a lot of extras to be worth buying. This has never been the case.

Mad Men: Season Six - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The screener arrived late, but I will get to it A.S.A.P.

Magic City: The Complete Second Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The series stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Ike Evans, a man trying to battle the mob for control of his hotel in 1950s Miami. The reviews are mostly good and there are enough extras on the DVD and Blu-ray, but the price-per-minute is still high.

Parkland - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A look at the JFK assassination from the point of view of about 10,000 characters. This is an interesting idea, but most critics felt the execution was flawed. In fact, it probably would have been a really good mini-series, since the longer running time would have allowed each character to get more development. It is still worth checking out, but without a lot of extras, a rental will be enough for most people.

Passion - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace star in this film co-written and directed by Brian De Palma. Like most of his recent films, this one didn't earn good reviews. He used to be golden with critics, but he's fallen out of favor with them for about two decades now.

Released: The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998 - Buy from Amazon
A collection of concerts that supported Amnesty International. This six-disc set not only has about 12 hours of concert footage, but also hours of extras.

Syrup - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A film about advertising, but it's no How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The reviews were terrible and it went nowhere at the box office. There are almost no extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray, so there's little reason to check it out.

TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Absolutely Fabulous, Boy Meets World, Doctor Who: Series 1-7 Limited Edition Blu-ray Giftset, Farscape, Farscape (Blu-ray), Keeping Up Appearances, Naked City, Robotech, Saved by the Bell, Seinfeld, and Weeds
There is a big list of Full-Series Megasets this week, but many of them are re-releases. Also, Doctor Who isn't really a Mega Set, and it is released pretty much every year with another season tacked on.

Twilight Forever: The Complete Saga Box Set - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of the biggest franchises ever comes out in a special box set this week. I'm not a fan of the movies, but is the ten-disc set worth picking up? Is it worth the upgrade? Read our review for my opinion.

Under the Dome - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or Blu-ray: Limited Collector's Edition
A TV mini-series based on a book by Stephen King. The pilot earned great reviews and its ratings were strong enough that it earned a second season, but could it maintain this quality throughout its first season? Read our review to find out.

White House Down - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A film that is very similar to Olympus Has Fallen, too similar. The other film was released first, which killed this one's chances at the box office. Personally, I think this one is much better. It isn't a great movie, but at least it doesn't take itself so seriously that it drains the fun out of the movie. (Plus it has Ben Mankiewicz in a cameo role.) Extras include a ton of featurettes and it is worth picking up, especially if you like the big action films Roland Emmerich usually makes.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Grown Ups 2, White House Down, Lovelace, Olympus Has Fallen, Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay, Girl Most Likely, Passion, Syrup, As I Lay Dying, Parkland, The Three Faces of Eve, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, Twilight, James Dean, Brian De Palma, Roland Emmerich, James Franco, Peter Jackson, Ricky Jay, Stephen King, Rachel McAdams, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Adam Sandler, Noomi Rapace