DVD and Blu-ray Releases for April 1st, 2014

March 31, 2014

The home market isn't terrible this week and there are a couple of releases on top that could sell well. However, it is not a very deep week and even the second page of the new releases over on Amazon.com has some releases I would call filler. Anchorman: The Legend Continues on 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack is the best-selling new release of the week and it is arguably the best as well. The Pirate Fairy on Blu-ray Combo Pack is the second best-selling new release of the week and also a contender for Pick of the Week. Meanwhile, I'm really looking forward to seeing Knights of Badassdom but the Blu-ray Combo Pack is still on its way.

47 Ronin - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 3D Combo Pack
This film is one of the most expensive movies ever made. It is also one of the worst wide releases released last year and one of the biggest box office bombs ever. Unless it is a bigger hit on the home market than its theatrical numbers would suggest, it will lose close to $200 million, maybe more. (It also depends on how much the global P&A budget was.) Apparently it looks and sounds fantastic on the home market, but that's hardly a reason to put up with the rest of the film.

Anchorman: The Legend Continues - Buy from Amazon: DVD or 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack or 3-Disc Combo Pack with Underwear
Nearly ten years after the original, the sequel finally comes out. Does it live up to its predecessor? Does it live up to the reputation its predecessor has? Check out the review for my opinion.

The Bag Man - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film has a great cast, but earned terrible reviews. It managed a really strong opening weekend, but quickly disappeared after that. The only extra is a behind-the-scenes featurette, but it is 30 minutes long, so it is not too bad. That said, it is not good enough to overcome its review.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Fargo, L'Immortelle, Jesus Film, Joe Kidd, King Kong Escapes, King Kong vs. Godzilla, The Little Rascals Save the Day, No Holds Barred, Once, Rooster Cogburn, Two Mules For Sister Sara, Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection, and The War Wagon
Most of the secondary Blu-ray releases this week are Westerns, while there are also a couple of WWE releases. Personally, I'm most interested in Fargo. I'm hoping to get a screener, but it hasn't arrived yet.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Ronin 47 and War of the Worlds-Goliath
There are only two 3D release on this week's list. On the one hand, one of them was a wide release not some smaller film. On the other hand, it bombed in theaters so it likely won't have a major impact for the format.

Broadchurch: Season 1 - Buy from Amazon
A British police procedural starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant. The series has earned excellent reviews and picked up a number of awards. It is expensive on a per-minute basis, but this is common for a British import. If you are a fan of the genre, it is worth checking out. There is a lot of competition, on the other hand.

The Client List: The Complete Second Season - Buy from Amazon
This show was recently canceled, supposedly due to issues behind-the-scenes. This is a shame, as many thought the second season was better than the first.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 - Blu-ray Buy from Amazon
According to Amazon.com, this release is in the top ten for the week. Granted, this is a very popular Anime series, but Anime is still a niche market. It's a shallow week.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut... previously. I'm not sure when, because Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, the distributor that is releasing it, and Amazon.com, rarely agree on release dates.

Due South: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon
The first Canadian TV show to air prime time on an American network. The network changed its time slot repeatedly and it only lasted three seasons. (Technically four, but the last two seasons were only half as long.) I loved the show when it first came out, but I haven't seen it for a while. Has it aged well? And is the DVD worth its budget price? Read our review to find out.

George Gently: Series 6 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of two British police procedurals on this week's list. Fans of the genre know what to expect. It is a great show, but the DVD release has a really high price-per-minute.

Knights of Badassdom - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
I'm hoping to get a screener for this film. This is a comedy about a group of LARPers who accidentally summon a real demon. It stars, among others, Peter Dinklage and Summer Glau, who are two of my favorite actors. The reviews are only mixed, but I think I will enjoy the movie more than the average critic.

Middleton - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Andy Garcia and Vera Farmig plays two parents of two different potential college students who meet while taking their respective kids to a college orientation. The reviews were only mixed and it failed to find an audience in theaters. The DVD and the Blu-ray include an audio commentary track, outtakes, and a music video.

The Pirate Fairy - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The fifth film in the Tinker Bell franchise introduces some famous characters into the mix. Does the film live up to the previous installments in the franchise? Or is the franchise running out of steam? Read our review for my opinion.

Power Rangers: Seasons 13 -17 - Buy from Amazon
This show has lasted so long that even Megasets have to be only a fraction of the complete series. This five-season set is stored on 22 discs. The full series would be closer to 100 discs.

Psych: Season 8 - Buy from Amazon
Such a good show. It is too bad it's over. Then again, eight seasons is a lot, so you can't complain it was canceled before its time. Many people were happy with how it ended and there are plenty of extras on the three-disc set. It is worth picking up, unless you are waiting for a full-series Megaset.

When Jews Were Funny - Buy from Amazon
A documentary about the Jewish culture, focusing on the huge number of Jewish comedians that have been around over the years. There are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but they are 75% positive.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Fargo, 47 Ronin, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, At Middleton, The Bag Man, Knights of Badassdom, The Pirate Fairy, Tinker Bell, Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage, Vera Farmiga, Andy Garcia, Summer Glau, David Tennant