DVD and Blu-ray Releases for April 5th, 2011

April 5, 2011

It's Tron week with at least seven releases related to Tron and Tron: Legacy. This appears to have scared away the competition, because outside of those releases, there's not much of a selection. Actually, there are three $100 million hits coming out this week; however, one doesn't come out till Friday, so I'll likely deal with it next week after the screener arrives, and the other is so bad it's best to pretend it doesn't exist. Those two films are clearly the Pick of the Week, but depending on where you buy your DVDs, the Combo Pack may or may nor be less expensive than buying the two films separately, so double-check before you buy.

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
There were very high expectations for this film when it came out a decade ago, but it never really found a theatrical audience. Now that it is making its Blu-ray debut, has the film aged well? Does it shine in High Definition? Check out our review to find out.

Ayn Rand: In Her Own Words - Buy from Amazon
A documentary look at Ayn Rand in advance of the theatrical release of Atlas Shrugged: Part I. I think the most important detail about her philosophy you need to know is this. Despite all of her talk of self-reliance and the immorality of charity, she developed lung cancer after years of smoking (and denying there was a link between smoking and cancer) she took government assistance. So much for her belief that, "There can be no compromise on basic principles. There can be no compromise on moral issues. There can be no compromise on matters of knowledge, of truth, of rational conviction."

Beauty and the Beast: A Dark Tale - Buy from Amazon
This is a story that has been adapted countless times, with mixed results. There have been classic movies, a cult TV, etc., as well as complete disasters. Where does this film fit in that spectrum? Won't know till the screener arrives.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, ... And Justice for All, Arthur / Arthur 2: On the Rocks, Babe, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Benny & Joon, Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium, Casino Jack, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Cove, De-Lovely, Fiddler on the Roof, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 4, I Love You, Phillip Morris, Jawbreaker, Kung Fu Panda, Lars and the Real Girl, Little Fockers, Much Ado About Nothing, Mystic Pizza, National Geographic: Big Cats Collection, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Peter Pan, The Rules of Attraction, Scooby Doo: Aloha Scooby Doo, Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase, Still Waiting, Taxi, Taxi Driver, Tom & Jerry: The Fast and the Furry, Tron, and Tron: Legacy
There are three first-run, $100 million films on this week's list of Blu-ray releases, two of which have the visual flair to make Blu-ray worth the upgrade. Additionally, there are a number of smaller releases, as well as catalogue titles, making this week the best in quite a while. Finally, there are a number of catalogue titles screeners that I'm waiting for, but the same was true last week and they still haven't arrived, so I might not be getting them. Too bad.

3-D Blu-ray releases - Buy from Amazon: Tron: Legacy, Tron / Tron: Legacy Box Set, or Tron / Tron: Legacy Gift Set
There are three 3-D releases this week, all for Tron: Legacy. If you have already made the leap to 3-D, then this is a must own. Just check the prices of the various releases, because it might be cheaper to buy the two Tron films separately then it is to buy the box set.

Casino Jack - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is the second film made about this subject, the first being a similarly named documentary. The documentary is much better. It's important subject matter and worth learning more about, but I would skip this film and buy the documentary.

Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Two-Disc DVD, or Blu-ray
Two quick notes. Firstly, this film doesn't come out till Friday. Second, I hope to get the screener before then, but it might still arrive late.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 8th of March.

Colin & Brad: Two Man Group - Buy from Amazon
It took a bit longer than I would like, but the screener for this stand-up concert DVD finally arrived. Was it worth the wait? Check out our review to find out.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 15th of March.

Dinosaur Train: World Tour Adventures - Buy from Amazon
Four more episodes of dinosaur lessons arrive on DVD. So what will we learn about this time around, and is the DVD worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.

Friday Night Lights: The Final Season - Buy from Amazon
This show had a dedicated fanbase, but ultimately too small of a fanbase. In fact, if it weren't for NBC's pathetic schedule and the off-network agreement, it would have been canceled years ago.

I Love You, Phillip Morris - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A film about a gay romance set in prison. Yeah, this was a movie that was never going to expand wide. However, did it deserve to perform better than it did? Check out our review for my opinion.

iCarly: Season Two, Volume Three - Buy from Amazon
I think iCarly is one of the best shows aimed at teenagers on TV today. Granted, I'm outside the target demographic, but I've seen enough of its competition to make that call. However, with so many single-disc releases, much of this DVD is a double-dip. Are there enough new to DVD episodes to be worth it? Or is it strictly for those who waited? Read our review to find out.

Lark Rise to Candleford: Season Four - Buy from Amazon
The BBC period drama comes to a close, so it's a bitter-sweet moment for fans. They should be happy to be able to complete their collection, but sad there will be no more episodes. Speaking of complete collections, the Megaset is also coming out this week.

Life Unexpected: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon
A story of a teenage girl who grew up in the foster care system and at age 16 tries to have herself legally emancipated. In order to do so, she needs the signatures of her birth parents, and after tracking them down, the three start to form a family. The reviews were mostly positive, but the show never really found an audience and was canceled after just 26 episodes were aired over two seasons. Extras include a couple making of featurettes, outtakes, and deleted scenes. That's not bad for a short-lived show, but not great either.

Lionsgate Blu-ray Triple-Shot - Buy from Amazon: The Cove, The Rules of Attraction, and Still Waiting
This week three Lionsgate films make their Blu-ray debut. Are any of them worth checking out? Are any of them worth upgrading to? Read our review for my opinion.

Little Fockers - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
This is a franchise that overstayed its welcome. Even if you liked the first films, avoid this one.

Roger Corman's Action-Packed Collection: Georgia Peaches, The Great Texas Dynamite Chase, Smokey Bites The Dust - Buy from Amazon
It's an awesome time to be a Roger Corman fan with all of the DVDs coming out. However, for every B-movie gem found, there's a real chance of getting nothing but a lump of coal. Do we get lucky here? Won't know till the screener arrives.

Sarah Palin's Alaska - Buy from Amazon
This TV series debuted to strong ratings, but weak reviews, and by the time the second episode aired, it had lost 40% of its viewership. I think people tuned in expecting a train wreck, but what they got was merely mediocre. I guess that's kind of a compliment to Sarah Palin, but it's still not enough to recommend watching the show.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 22nd of March.

Strawberry Shortcake: Putting on the Glitz - Buy from Amazon
Since its reboot, this franchise has release a lot of DVDs, some with feature-length movies, others just a few episodes from the TV show. Which type is this and is it worth the price? Read our review for my opinion.

Tron: Legacy - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, or 3D Blu-ray / Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
Tron - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD
Tron / Tron: Legacy Double-Shot - Buy from Amazon: 3D Blu-ray / Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack or Collector's Gift Set

Good lord! Look at all those releases? Are any of them worth checking out? Perhaps even picking up? If so which is the best deal? Check out our review to find out.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne: Volume 7 - Buy from Amazon
I reviewed the previous release and was not a fan. Granted, I'm not in the target demographic, but this show is weak compared to most Tyler Perry movies.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Kung Fu Panda, Arthur, Fiddler on the Roof, Artificial Intelligence: AI, Babe, Peter Pan, Taxi, ...And Justice For All, Tron, Benny & Joon, Much Ado About Nothing, Taxi Driver, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Arthur 2: On the Rocks, De-Lovely, Mystic Pizza, The Rules of Attraction, Lars and the Real Girl, Jawbreaker, The Cove, Little Fockers, Tron: Legacy, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Still Waiting..., I Love You, Phillip Morris, Casino Jack, Strawberry Shortcake: Puttin' on the Glitz