I’ve not had the weekly release of new discs lately.  Not that there have not been some fine movies, but I’m not sure anybody reads them.  Enough laziness, so here is this weeks list.  I would guess that “The Wizard of Oz (70th Anniversary)” would be the biggest release, but how many times will people really buy this movie released in 1939?, and in 1.33:1 aspect ratio which does not fill my screen with HD goodness.  The must buy on blu-ray would have to be “Monsters vs. Aliens” in my book.  It looked great in theatres and I’m looking forward to view it again on the smaller screen.

• The Wizard of Oz (70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition with Digital Copy and Amazon Exclusive Set of 4 Collectible 8x10 Character Posters) Wow!! that’s a mouthful
• Monsters vs. Aliens
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
• Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
• Labyrinth
• The Dark Crystal
• How I Met Your Mother: Season Four
• The Universe: The Complete Season Three
• Management
• Snakes on a Plane
• Away We Go
• The Girlfriend Experience

Here are this weeks stellar releases. Yes, It’s getting so that my blu-ray collection is staying pretty stagnant in numbers with no great releases week to week. If studios want any more of my money, they’ll have to do better.

• I Love You, Man
• The Ninth Gate (2.35:1)
• 17 Again (2.40:1)
• Cutthroat Island (2.35:1)
• Starman (2.40:1)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Film Collection (1.85:1)
• Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid Box Set (1.33:1)
• Chaos (2.35:1)
• Blue Thunder (2.40:1)
• National Geographic: Sea Monsters - A Prehistoric Adventure (In 3-D) (1.78:1)

I’m almost at a loss for words, such classics to choose from again.  I have not seen The Soloist, so I can’t judge it, but My Cousin Vinny or Sling Blade are worth a watch.  Wether you need to see them in HD is up to you.

• Race to Witch Mountain (2.40:1)
• Big Trouble in Little China (2.35:1)
• The Soloist (2.35:1)
• My Cousin Vinny (1.85:1)
• Mutant Chronicles (1.85:1)
• Obsessed (2.40:1)
• Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (1.85:1)
• Stargate Atlantis: Fans’ (1.78:1)
• Sling Blade (1.85:1)
• The Beast (Special Extended Edition) (1.33:1)
• The Waterboy (1.85:1)
• The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2.35:1)

I know last week was pretty slim pickings, but this week we have a few tasty tidbits. Of course there is Mad Men:Season Two, For All Mankind, Towering Inferno and the tastiest tid of all, Shark Week: The Great Bites Collection. Of course there are a couple of dozen titles most people have never heard of too, including myself. If you plan on entering the ocean this summer, try not to enter during shark feeding time..I’ll be traveling to Volusia County in Florida soon, where at least two attacks have taken place this summer.  Which means I won’t be watching The Great Bites Collection anytime soon.

• Mad Men: Season Two
• For All Mankind - Criterion Collection
• The Towering Inferno
• Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon / Curse of the Golden Flower / House of Flying Daggers Trilogy
• Wild Pacific
• The Haunting in Connecticut
• Paris Concert: Jose Feliciano Band
• The Edge of Love
• Cheap Trick: Every Trick In The Book
• The Black Crowes: Warpaint Live
• Shark Week: The Great Bites Collection

So far this summer has become quite the snooz fest when it comes to studio releases. We can only hope it will get better soon. The best next week will be Mad Men: Season 2.

• Knowing
• Push
• Flight 666
• The Deep
• The Unborn
• Grumpy Old Men
• The Universe: The Complete Season Two
• Night Train

Here again we have the Blu-ray releases for the week and to be honest, not many great films to purchase. I did like the HBO series Generation Kill when it aired in HD on HBO, so it should look pretty fine on blu-ray. Paul Giamatti did a fantastic job portraying John Adams and should be seen by all history buffs. If you have Spaceballs on video tape, then why spend more. Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove should look very good in glorious B&W too.

• Ghostbusters (2.40:1)
• Lost: The Complete First Season (1.78:1)
• Lost: The Complete Second Season(1.78:1)
• Dr. Strangelove (1.66:1)
• Friday the 13th (Extended Killer Cut and Theatrical Cut) (2.40:1)
• The Seventh Seal (1.33:1)
• Spaceballs (1.85:1)
• John Adams (1.78:1)
• Generation Kill (1.78:1)
• Burn Notice: Season Two (1.78:1)

Here is the complete list courtesy of Amazon, and here are the current best sellers.

This is from a review on Amazon for the Woodstock 40th Anniversary box set:

“I just watched the video above about bringing in some Santana band members (and in one case the son of a band member) to re-record some percussion parts for the 40th Anniv Woodstock blu-ray/dvd. I am the only person who has a problem with this? I think that if you have to re-record music today to make footage from 1969 usable, the footage shouldn’t be included in the movie. If the music isn’t original, it’s not authentic, and if it’s not authentic, what’s the point?”

It’s a very good point.  It should not be used if it’s not authentic.  Anyway, Clint Eastwood is always a good watch and The International has plenty of action.  The others could probably be skipped if you have them on DVD.  Of course there is always next week when we get Spaceballs, Dr. Strangelove and Generation Kill.

• Gran Torino (+ Digital Copy and BD-Live) - $24.99
• Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music Director’s Cut - $48.99
• The International - $26.99
• Predator 2 - $22.99
• Fatal Attraction - $19.99
• The Siege - $19.99
• Indecent Proposal - $19.99
• Time Warp: Season One - $20.99
• Fired Up - $27.99
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Planned, but delayed

Here is the complete list courtesy of Amazon, and here are the current best sellers.

Here we have another week with some good movies, but no recent blockbuster’s.  Even though I’m pretty excited about the blu-ray format, I don’t feel the need to purchase older movies that I already have on standard definition DVD’s.  I do make exceptions if it’s a classic remastered properly, or a movie that has the awesome visual effects that only blu-ray could do it justice.

• Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete
• Weeds: Season Four
• Defiance
• Live from Madison Square Garden
• The Graduate
• Air Force One
• Glory
• Revolutionary Road
• He’s Just Not That Into You
• Inside Man
• Road House
• Nature’s Most Amazing Events

Here is the complete list courtesy of Amazon.

And here are the current best sellers.