DVD and Blu-ray Releases for March 27th, 2012
March 26, 2012
It's not a particularly strong week when it comes to the home market. The biggest box office hit coming out this week is Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked, but that film missed expectations at the box office and was savaged by critics. It should be the best selling DVD and Blu-ray of the week, but that's because it is a slow week overall. As for the best of the best, Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIII is my choice for Pick of the Week. Others might go with South Park: Season 15 instead, while A Dangerous Method would also be the top choice of many. By a strange coincidence, I'm waiting for the screeners for all four of these films.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Assault on a Queen, BBC Natural History Collection, The Bodyguard, Casablanca: 70th Anniversary Edition, Come Blow Your Horn, Crows Zero, David Lean Directs Noel Coward (In Which We Serve, This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter) (Criterion Collection), Demons, Dragonheart, Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection, It's Only Money, Macbeth, A Night to Remember (Criterion Collection), The Quest, UFC: Best of 2011, Who's Got the Action, and Who's Minding the Store
3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Lion of Judah
Breaking Wind - Buy from Amazon
The Broken Tower - Buy from Amazon
Camel Spiders - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Confucius - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A Dangerous Method - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress - Buy from Amazon
Eureka: Season 4.5 - Buy from Amazon
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Buy from Amazon: DVD Combo Pack or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Hop - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I, Claudius: 35th Anniversary Edition - Buy from Amazon
In the Land of Blood and Honey - Blu-ray Combo Pack - Buy from Amazon
Kate Logan Affair - Buy from Amazon
Lego: Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu - Buy from Amazon
Leslie Sansone: Ultimate 5 Day Walk Plan - Buy from Amazon
The Lion King Double-Shot
Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIII - Buy from Amazon
Romantics Anonymous - Buy from Amazon
The Sitter - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
South Park: Season 15 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Wallace & Gromit: World of Invention - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The screener for this film hasn't arrived yet. Considering how much I really hated the first two movies, I'm hoping it doesn't arrive.
There are quite a few secondary releases, including several worth noting. Casablanca is the best of the best, but there are also a couple Criterion Collection releases worth picking up.
There's only one 3D release this week, and it is not one that will be a best seller for the format.
From the same director that brought us The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It. That film earned aggressively negative reviews and early reviews for this film are even worse. It's filled with really immature humor but unless you've seen enough of Breaking Dawn, you won't get the actual jokes. Avoid at all costs.
James Franco wrote / directed / starred in this biopic of the poet Hart Crane. The actor has previously directed a number of films, many of which were shorts, but this one likely won't be remembered as one of his best.
Camel Spiders look quite scary / ugly, but they are quite harmless. On the other hand, watching this movie can cause flu-like symptoms after just 15 minutes of exposure. Avoid at all costs.
Chow Yun-Fat plays the titular philosopher. Unfortunately, while Confucius is an important person and more people should learn about him, the movie is not the best place to start.
I'm a big fan of Roger Corman's work and I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie, especially given its reviews, but the screener is late.
This film had quite a bit of Awards Season buzz going into its opening weekend. However, it's reviews were merely very good, but not Oscar-worthy. Likewise, it's run in limited release generated $5 million, which is great, but not enough to expand wide. There are enough extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray that it is worth buying over just renting, but I'm not sure if it is Pick of the Week material. It is close.
A look at El Bulli as he tries to develop new recipes for his award winning restaurant. Because the film is a "fly on the wall" documentary, viewers don't get enough insight on the man or his process, which led to mixed reviews.
I'm disappointed that this show is over, but it was a great show while it lasted.
This is widely regarded as one of the worst movies to ever earn a Best Picture nomination. It's better than the other wide release on this week's list, but that's damning it with faint praise.
Kid's movies with computer animation characters put into live action worlds is becoming a crowded genre. In fact, two such films hit the home market less than a week apart. This was the smaller of the two films, but is it the better film? Read our review to find out.
The award-winning mini-series from 1977. This is not the first time the series has been released on DVD, but if you don't own it yet, it is worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of Ancient Rome.
Angelina Jolie's directorial debut only earned mixed reviews, while it went practically nowhere at the box office. It's only being sold as a Blu-ray Combo Pack, but it doesn't have a whole lot of extras. Worth checking out, but start with a rental.
I like Alexis Bledel, but she hasn't been able to find the right projects since Gilmore Girls. This film earned mixed reviews with more than a few people comparing it to a TV movie of the week. Maybe if you are a fan of the actress and / or psychological dramas it is worth checking out, but stick with a rental.
This is a fun series for kids, but the price-per-minute is a little high, even compared to the direct competition.
One of the many warning signs of a slow week on the home market is a fitness DVD placing within the top ten on Amazon's list of best selling new releases. This one is currently in sixth place.
The Lion King 1 1/2 = Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Two direct-to-DVD sequels to one of the biggest and best animation films of all time. No one is expecting these films to live up to its predecessor, but can they entertain in their own way? Check out our review to find out.
Out of all of the late screeners, this is the one I'm looking forward to watching the most. I can't wait for it to show up.
A man suffering from Anxiety Disorder hires a woman who also suffers from Anxiety Disorder to work in his family's chocolate factory. They begin a tentative, highly anxious romance. It earned excellent reviews, so hopefully it will find an audience on the home market.
The last film released before Jonah Hill had his massive weight loss. As an actor, he's shown he can really shine, but will this movie be one of his successes? Check out our review for my opinion.
Still waiting for the screener for this TV on DVD release. Some of the recent seasons have been mixed, but the ratings are still good so the fans are obviously still happy. I won't be able to judge till after the screener arrives, nor can I comment on extras on the DVD or the technical presentation of the Blu-ray.
This TV show is of the edutainment genre and features Wallace & Gromit as supporting characters. Because of this, adult fans of their previous adventures might not be drawn in as much, but will it entertain kids and maybe teach them a thing or two? Read our review for my opinion.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Bodyguard, Dragonheart, The Quest, Come Blow Your Horn, Casablanca, The Lion King 1 1/2, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1, Confucius, The Sitter, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Lion of Judah, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, A Dangerous Method, Hop, Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel, In The Land of Blood and Honey, El Bulli: Cooking in Progress, Les Émotifs anonymes, Breaking Wind, Camel Spiders