DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 12th, 2011
July 11, 2011
After one of the worst weeks on the home market I've seen, there's an uptick of first run releases this week. This includes the first release of 2011 to reach $100 million at the box office, Rango. However, that film doesn't hit the home market till Friday, so this Tuesday is even weaker. There are a few other midlevel releases coming out this week to bolster the overall strength of the market, but while it is better than most third quarter offerings, I'm still itching for the fall to start. As for the best release of the week, Rango's Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack is the clear winner there and it is our Pick of the Week.
Agatha Christie's Poirot Movie Collection Set 6 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Arthur - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Agatha Christie: Poirot: The Movie Collection - Set 6, Arthur, B.B.King: Live, Battle Beyond the Stars, Brazil, Brother's Justice, Buster Keaton - Short Films Collection: 1920 - 1923, Damnation Alley, Dinocroc vs. Supergator, Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season, Foreigner: Live, Insidious, The Lincoln Lawyer, Miral, Naked: The Criterion Collection, Rango, Robot Chicken: Star Wars III, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, and White Irish Drinkers
Buster Keaton - Short Films Collection: 1920 - 1923 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Buy from Amazon
Damages: The Complete Third Season - Buy from Amazon
Damnation Alley - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Doctor Who - Buy from Amazon: Episode 25: The Gunslingers and Episode 132: The Awakening
E.R.: Season 15 - Buy from Amazon
Entourage: Season Seven - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
George A. Romero Presents: Deadtime Stories Vol. 1 - Buy from Amazon
Have a Laugh - Buy from Amazon: Volume Three and Volume Four
Insidious - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
MI-5: Volume 9 - Buy from Amazon
Miral - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Rango - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy Combo Pack
Robot Chicken: Star Wars III - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
White Irish Drinkers - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
These movies are excellent and David Suchet's portrayal of Hercule Poirot is impeccable. However, $45 for three TV movies is still too much and for most people a rental will be the better deal. On the other hand, $47 for the Blu-ray is much more reasonable.
The original Arthur was an excellent movie. The remake wasn't. And despite 30 years of inflation, the new version of the film only managed to make a fraction of the original's at the box office. Its box office struggles explain why the DVD / Blu-ray are so weak in terms of extras (making of featurette, deleted / extended scenes / outtakes) and the end result is worth no more than a rental. Strangely, it doesn't come out till Friday, so if you are interested in seeing it on the home market, you will have to wait till the weekend.
At the time this film was made, it was Roger Corman's most expensive project. But is it also among his best? Or is it strictly for B-movie enthusiasts? Check out our review for my opinion.
There really only one top notch releases this week, Rango, and it doesn't come out till Friday. There are a few smaller releases that are of interested. The Lincoln Lawyer was a solid midlevel hit, Brazil is a personal favorite of mine, while Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is an award-winning foreign film. Overall I think sales will be okay for this time of year.
One of the most talented comedians in early film history. If you were to hold a vote among film historians, he or Charlie Chaplin would come out on top. (Harold Lloyd would also earn more than a view first place votes.) If you are a fan of silent films, this is an absolute must have.
One of a handful of releases where I'm still waiting on the screener. This TV series has an impressive cast, so I'm looking forward to seeing it.
I'm still waiting on the screener for this film. I hope it arrives soon, because while I loved it as a kid, I'm not sure how well it's aged.
Two more stories from the longest running Sci-fi series of all time are coming out on the home market this weekend. The first one, The Gunslingers, has a reputation for being so bad it's good. The second one, The Awakening is just good, but it is also short at just two episodes.
This show ran for a decade and a half, which is amazing since the economics of the TV industry are such that it is usually more profitable to end a show after seven years and stick with syndication. It is also impressive that the show never really jumped the shark. Granted, it wasn't quite the powerhouse it used to be in terms of ratings or critical praise, but it never fell apart either.
Even most fans of this show will admit it has jumped the shark. In fact, many would argue it jumped the shark a few seasons ago and it has been coasting on inertia ever since.
A collection of three short horror films. Still waiting on the screener for this one, so I don't know much about the films or how many are worth checking out.
Disney's latest branding of their classic shorts. How do these compare to previous similar releases and are they worth picking up? Check out our review for my opinion.
An ultra-low-budget horror film in the same vein as Paranormal Activity. The film's reviews were very strong and it became a solid midlevel hit at the box office. On the other hand, the DVD and Blu-ray only have three featurettes with a total running time of roughly 25 minutes. That's not a lot for a first run release.
Despite low expectations, this film showed impressive legs at the box office and was able to become a solid midlevel hit. Now that the film is hitting the home market, will it continue this surprise success? And is the Blu-ray and / or DVD worth picking up? Read our review to find out.
Great show, but the price-per-minute is high, even for an import.
Julian Schnabel previously directed The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which earned four Oscar nominations. This put a lot of pressure on this film, and it wasn't able to live up to the pre-release buzz. Is it as bad as its reviews would suggest? Won't know till the screener arrives.
Two box sets each featuring three previously released DVDs from two of Nickelodeon's most popular shows. So which DVDs are featured, and are the box sets worth picking up? Check out our review to find out.
This is easily the biggest release on this week's list, but is it also the best? Check out our review for my opinion.
The follow-up to one of the most successful Spanish films. Can this film live up to its predecessor? Is that even a fair comparison? Read our review for my opinion.
I love this show in general, and these Star Wars specials in particular, while the extras on the DVD / Blu-ray are better than average. However, the price-per-minute is still high for a TV on DVD release. You would have to be a pretty hardcore fan to buy this release.
This film not only earned impressive reviews, but it also took home the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. On the other hand, it was never able to escape the art house circuit. There are not a lot of extras on the DVD or Blu-ray (deleted scenes, interview, and featurette) but it is worth picking up.
One of several releases on this week's where I'm still waiting for the screener to arrive. The reviews were only mixed, but I remain cautiously optimistic.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Brazil, Naked, Rango, Damnation Alley, [Rec] 2, Arthur, Insidious, Miral, The Lincoln Lawyer, Brother's Justice, Loong Boonmee raleuk chat , White Irish Drinkers