DVD and Blu-ray Releases for January 24th, 2012
January 24, 2012
There are three first run releases of note this week, including an Awards Season player, 50/50; the latest installment in a perennial horror franchise, Paranormal Activity 3; and big budget family film, Real Steel. Of those three, 50/50 is the best and a contender for Pick of the Week. Other contenders include Godzilla: The Criterion Collection on Blu-ray and Wings on Blu-ray. However, I'm going with a late arrival: Moneyball on Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack.
50/50 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Ancient Aliens: Season Three - Buy from Amazon
Beware the Gonzo - Buy from Amazon
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Annie Hall, Fascination, The Iron Rose, Lips of Blood, Manhattan, The Moment of Truth (The Criterion Collection), Notorious, The Nude Vampire, Rebecca, Rifftrax: Live! Christmas Short-Stravaganza! - San Diego 2009, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Shiver of the Vampires, Spellbound, Stir Crazy, Stripes, The Toy, U2: From The Sky Down, The Woman, and The World God Only Knows
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: WWII in 3D
Celtic Woman: Believe - Buy from Amazon
The Doors: Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman - Buy from Amzon: DVD or Blu-ray
Godzilla: The Criterion Collection - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Happy Happy - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Hell and Back Again - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Kojak: The Complete Movie Collection - Buy from Amazon
Limelight - Buy from Amazon
Meet the Browns: Season 4 - Buy from Amazon
Memphis: The Original Broadway Production - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Moneyball - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
Restless - Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack - Buy from Amazon
Revenge of the Electric Car - Buy from Amazon
Roger Corman's Cult Classic's Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol. 2 - Buy from Amazon
Sid and Nancy - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Today's Special - Buy from Amazon
This film earned amazing reviews and it even picked up several major nominations. Extras include an audio commentary track, deleted scenes and a trio of short featurettes. It's easily worth picking up, while the Blu-ray is worth spending the extra $3 for. In fact, it is a contender for Pick of the Week.
Someone needs to buy the people at The History Channel a dictionary so they can learn what the word, "history" means.
A Slobs vs. Snobs story set in the world of high school newspapers. The reviews were only mixed with many critics complaining it didn't have the Hunter S. Thompson spirit the name would suggest it needs.
There's quite a collection of secondary Blu-rays coming out this week, including several from Woody Allen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Richard Pryor. There's also a large collection of Lesbian Vampire Movies. I hope to get the Woody Allen and Alfred Hitchcock films to review, but they are currently late.
Just the one 3D release this week, and it is an edutainment release, so I don't expect it to have much of an impact in sales.
This is the latest from a very popular singing group. However, I don't think it's quite as popular as Amazon.com has it. It is currently in sixth place on the list of new releases.
A documentary look at the creation of the final Doors album with Jim Morison. It is placing really high on Amazon.com's chart of best-selling new releases.
When you think about films that deserve the Criterion touch, films starring men in rubber monster suits don't spring to mind. This film deserves it. In fact, it is a contender for Pick of the Week.
This film earned strong reviews, but it struggled at the box office missing the Mendoza Line during its opening weekend. It probably won't do much better on the home market, as Norwegian films don't have a built in audience.
This documentary earned 100% positive reviews, but that wasn't enough to save it at the box office. Perhaps audiences are not open to films about the War in Afghanistan, even ones this strong.
After the TV series was over, Telly Savalas made seven TV movies and they are presented here on this 4-disc set. Lack of extras, or even captioning, is a pain, but it is hard to be hard with that price.
A documentary about nightclub owner Peter Gatien. The film opened well, but with reviews that were good, but not great, it wasn't able to hold onto its audience and it never truly expanded.
Mannix was a private investigator series from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. Shows like this have been on TV for almost as long as there has been TV shows. The styles have changed over the years, so how well does Mannix stand up? Check out our review to find out.
I've seen most of Tyler Perry's films and while there have been one or two that were okay, I have not become a fan of his. His TV shows are even worse than his movies. Because of that, and a general lack of time, I'll be giving away this DVD in a contest starting soon.
A Broadway musical set in the 1950s and dealing with a forbidden interracial relationship. It won several Tonys, as well as other major awards. If you are a fan of stage musicals, it is certainly worth owning.
This film just picked up six Oscar nominations. Is it worth all of that praise? Read our review to find out.
The first Paranormal Activity was a huge hit and won over movie critics as well as moviegoers. However, by the third installment, is there enough left to entertain? Or is the novelty gone? Read our review for my opinion.
The latest from Shawn Levy was mocked by some as Rock'em Sock'em Robots: The Movie. Is this accurate? Yes. Is it an insult? Check out our review for my opinion.
Mia Wasikowska earned praise for her performance in this film; however, with just 36% positive reviews, it was one of the few parts of the movie to earn any praise. If you like the actress, then it might be worth a rental, but that's it.
A pseudo-sequel to Who Killed the Electric Car? Its reviews were not quite as good, while it struggled at the box office in comparison to the earlier film. That said, it is still definitely worth picking up.
Still waiting for the screener to arrive. I reviewed the previous volume, so hopefully this one will get here soon.
A biopic about Sid and Nancy, who have become the poster children for doomed relationships in the rock and roll world. Is it worth watching as anything more than a warning to others? Check out our review for my opinion.
A B-movie starring Kevin Sorbo. It is a long delayed sequel to The Sword and the Sorcerer. Was it worth the wait? Check out our review to find out.
Aasif Mandvi stars as Samir. A chef who abandoned his Indian roots to become a great French chef. However, when his father becomes ill, he has to take over the family restaurant and learn about Indian food. The film's reviews were outstanding, but it opened in way too many theaters for a limited release and went nowhere at the box office. Hopefully more people will see it now that it is out on the home market.
This film had Awards Season buzz going into its release, but that didn't pan out. Is it still worth checking out, even if it is not Oscar-worthy? And is the DVD or the Blu-ray worth picking up? Read our review to find out.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Stir Crazy, Stripes, The Toy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Manhattan, Annie Hall, Notorious, Spellbound, Rebecca, Gojira, Wings, Restless, Real Steel, Moneyball, Today's Special, The Whistleblower, Paranormal Activity 3, 50/50, Revenge of the Electric Car, Sykt lykkelig, Limelight, Beware the Gonzo, Hell and Back Again