DVD and Blu-ray Releases for March 11th, 2014

March 10, 2014

If you look over at Amazon.com, the best-selling new release of the week is The Book Thief. This film made just over $20 million at the box office, which is amazing for a limited release. However, it is still a limited release on top of the new releases. That tells you how slow this week is on the home market. Fortunately, last Friday The Hunger Games: Catching Fire came out on DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack and I'm including it on this week's list as well. There are a number of other releases that are worth picking up, including The Patience Stone on DVD, In Fear on DVD, and Inside Llewyn Davis on Blu-ray. However, while there is some competition, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Blu-ray Combo Pack is the Pick of the Week.

Barbie: The Pearl Princess - Buy from Amazon: DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack
One of the biggest direct-to-DVD franchises around. Obviously I'm not in the target demographic and I've never had a chance to review the franchise, so I don't personally know if it is any good. However, it is hard to argue with the sales numbers. Clearly the target demographic loves it.

Beyond Outrage - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A sequel to Outrage, which I didn't see. Is this going to be a problem? Or will this film work for neophytes as well as fans of the original? Read our review to find out.

Big History - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A science show on the History Channel. Too often shows on the History Channel have nothing to do with history. Even when they do, they tend to have some stylistic flaws. Can this show avoid the pit-traps? Or is it another show that doesn't live up to its potential. Check out our review for my opinion.

Black Plague - Buy from Amazon
Look at that cover and tell me they are not trying to scam sales by aping Game of Thrones. It's not like this film was going to sell based on its reviews.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Aachi and Ssipak, Accel World: Set 02, Airplane / Airplane II Double-Shot, Commitment, Dogs, East of Eden, Easy Money: Hard to Kill, El Dorado, Eugene Onegin, Giant, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Hatari, Hungover Games, Pet Girl Sakurasou: Collection 2, Psycho-Pass: Complete First Season Premium Edition, Rebel Without a Cause, Thirst, The Who: Sensation: The Story of the Who's Tommy, Winnie the Pooh Springtime With Roo, and WCW's Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches, Volume 1
This week's list includes a number of James Dean releases, but a Box Set came out in November.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Grindhouse Double Feature - Deadly Culture and V-World The Matrix
The only 3D release of the week is a Grindhouse double-feature.

The Book Thief - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I think it is fair to call this movie busted Oscar-bait. The film only earned mixed reviews, although it did earn some Awards Season buzz. The Buzz was mostly for John Williams's score, but Sophie Nelisse's performance also earned praise. The film made $20 million at the box office, which is great for a limited release, but the extras are a little weak (deleted scenes and two featurettes). It's worth checking out, but I think a rental will be enough for most.

The Broken Circle Breakdown - Buy from Amazon
Two different people meet and fall in love, but when there is a tragedy in their lives, their love is tested. The film's reviews were great, but the film couldn't find an audience in theaters. Hopefully it will do better on the home market.

Bubble Guppies: Animals Everywhere! - Buy from Amazon
The latest DVD from Bubble Guppies hits the home market this week. What episodes are on the DVD? Are there any extras? And is the DVD worth the asking price? Read our review to find out.

Enemies Closer - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of two Jean-Claude Van Damme movies to come out recently. This one earned great reviews, especially considering the genre. The DVD and the Blu-ray has an audio commentary track and a making of featurette. On a side note, my screener for Welcome to the Jungle has already arrived. I'll get to that review next week.

Homefront - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Jason Statham stars as a ex-DEA agent who runs foul of a meth dealer in the small town. The film's reviews were mixed, but if you like the actor, the film is probably worth a rental. The only extras are some deleted scenes, so a rental will be enough.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The biggest box office hit of the year arrived on the home market on Friday. It is also one of the best films of the year? Check out our review for my opinion.

In The Heat of the Night - Buy from Amazon: Season Two and Three, Season Six, and Season Seven
This is a great show; however, there are some issues with the DVDs. Each season has at least one episode omitted because of clearance issues. On the one hand, fans of the show will definitely be disappointed certain episodes aren't there. On the other hand, if you don't support these releases, there's little hope the situation will change in the future.

In Fear - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film came out in limited release on Friday and it earned amazing reviews. It looks like it failed to find an audience in theaters, but that's not surprising given its genre and the fact that it was also playing on Video on Demand. If you are a fan of the genre, it is definitely worth checking out. In fact, even with only one featurette as an extra, it is worth picking up. However, right now the DVD is just $10 while the Blu-ray is $25. That's definitely not worth the upgrade.

Inside Llewyn Davis - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A film by the Coen Brothers. Every film by them is considered a potential Awards Season player. It earned amazing reviews, but never got traction with Awards Season voters, nor did it find an audience in theaters. The only extra on the DVD or the Blu-ray is a 40-minute making of featurette. It is still worth picking up, but the lack of extras means it is not Pick of the Week material.

Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles - Buy from Amazon
Two episodes from the new Lego Star Wars TV series. Even the fans of the two franchises will think twice about spending $10 on just two episodes.

Out of the Furnace - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Before this film came out, it was earning some Awards Season buzz, and if you look at the cast, you can see why. It didn't live up to the hype, either at the box office or with Award Season voters. Was this result warranted? Or was the film unfairly overlooked? Read our review for my opinion.

The Patience Stone - Buy from Amazon
Golshifteh Farahani stars as a woman whose husband takes a bullet and is left in a coma. When she tells her vegetative husband about her life he hears her and becomes a syngue sabour, a mythical stone to protect his wife. The reviews are amazing and it is worth picking up.

Rogue: Complete First Season - Buy from Amazon
Thandie Newton stars as an undercover cop whose son is murdered, so she allies herself with the leader of a criminal organization, played by Marton Csokas, to find out the truth. Its reviews are good, but not great. There are a lot of TV shows in this genre, so unless you are a fan of the cast, there are plenty of competing shows to chose from.

Samson and Delilah - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
I reviewed the DVD previously, but now it is coming out on Blu-ray. Is it worth a double-dip? Or was it wise to have waited? Check out our review to find out.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutagen Mayhem - Buy from Amazon
The latest incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a CG cartoon series. How well does it compare to the other installments in the franchise? And is the DVD worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.

Transformers Armada: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon
One of several Japanese Transformers TV shows to come out since Generation 1 ended. This one earned mixed reviews among fans of the franchise, but if you like the show, it is nice to have the complete series, especially since the older Rhino releases have been out of print for a while.

Veggietales: Veggies in Space - Buy from Amazon
A fun show that is worth picking up if you want a kids show that has a Christian perspective. It's fun and it isn't too preachy.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Samson and Delilah, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Out of the Furnace, Syngue sabour, pierre de patience, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Book Thief, Homefront, The Broken Circle Breakdown, In Fear, Anazapta, Autoreiji: Biyondo, Enemies Closer, James Dean, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Marton Csokas, Golshifteh Farahani, Thandiwe Newton, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, John Williams, Sophie Nelisse