DVD and Blu-ray Releases for September 9th, 2014

September 9, 2014

The Christmas shopping season has begun in full force. Even if Captain America: The Winter Soldier were the only new release this week, it would be a great release, as the Combo Packs are clearly pick of the week contenders. It's not the only Pick of the Week contender. Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 1 is also a prime contender, although I'm still waiting for the screener for that release. At the moment, I'm giving the win to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but when I get a chance to review the screener, that might change.

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 1 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm still waiting for the screener for this release. It was one of my favorite new TV shows from last season, so as long as the DVD / Blu-ray has significant extras, it is a Pick of the Week contender. There are a lot of extras, including audio commentary tracks, featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, etc., but I don't know if they are substantial.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Across 110th Street, The Addams Family, The Amityville Horror, Cotton Comes to Harlem, Flowers in the Attic, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Godzilla 2000, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) / Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, Graduation Day, The Great Race, Jennifer's Body, Juggernaut, Korengal, Last Passenger, Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events, Lifeforce, Listen to Me Girls. I Am Your Father: Comp Collection, Little House on the Prairie: Season 3, Prom Night, Pumpkinhead, Queen: Live at the Rainbow '74, Rebirth Mothra Collection, and Young Frankenstein: 40th Anniversary
There are a lot of Godzilla releases and horror films on this week's list of secondary Blu-ray releases.

Blue Bloods: Season Four - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This show is a mix of police procedurals and family drama, but the result is very old-fashioned. Is it too old-fashioned for most audiences? Or is it worth picking up? Read our review to find out.

Brick Mansions - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of Paul Walker's final movies made before his death. I think a lot of his fans will want to see it, but those looking for a good action film should just stick with the original. It is the better movie.

Borgman - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I forget to send in a request for this film, but I'll see if I can get one sent late. Its reviews are great and it looks like a strange movie, but one I would like. A Measure Of The Sin is the film that pops into my mind as a comparison.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or 3D Combo Pack
Up to very recently, this was the biggest hit of the year. Was it also the best film of the year so far? And is the Blu-ray worth picking up? Read our review for my opinion.

Doc Mcstuffins: School of Medicine - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I might get a screener for this release. I'm not in the target demographic, but this show is better than most similar shows.

Doctor Who: Deep Breath - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
It's a single episode for $20 on Blu-ray and $13 on DVD. Pass.

Dynasty: The Final Season - Vol 1 & 2 Pack - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A screener for this arrived unannounced, but I didn't have time to get to it, so it will be featured on this week's Box Office Prediction contest.

Fed Up - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A documentary about the federal nutrition guidelines and how they are skewed by industry interests. This results in foods being loaded up with sugar, which is not only unhealthy, but also a little addictive. The film earned fantastic reviews and pulled in more than $1.5 million in theaters. There are not a lot of extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray (just 13 minutes of deleted scenes) but it is still worth picking up.

God's Pocket - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A posthumous release for Philip Seymour Hoffman. It is not as good as A Most Wanted Man, so I would wait for that to come out on the home market instead.

The Goldbergs: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This TV show only earned mixed reviews and wasn't a huge hit for ABC during its first season. If it doesn't turn things around during season two, there won't be a season three.

Homeland: Season 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I really liked the first two seasons of this show, but reports suggest that the third season took a really big dip in quality. The screener hasn't arrived yet, so I can't say for sure if the reports are true.

The Hornet's Nest - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A documentary about a father-son team of conflict journalists, which is the technical term given to people crazy enough to go into a war zone armed only with a camera. The reviews are excellent and the film did relatively well for a documentary. If you are a fan of documentaries, then this one is definitely worth owning.

A Long Way Down - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Great cast, but weak reviews killed its chances in limited release and that resulted in almost no extras on the DVD or Blu-ray. (There are just some deleted scenes.) Even if you are a fan of the cast, there are better options out there.

The Midnight Special - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A screener might be on its way and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Spooktacular Pony Tales - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A Halloween themed MLP release. I didn't get a screener to review, but this show is one of the best aimed at its target demographic.

Palo Alto - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A film based on short stories by James Franco, which is a lot better than the films he's directed. It is worth checking out for most, buying for many.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This release is on the first page of the top-selling new releases on Amazon.com, which seems odd. I would not have guessed this film would have performed that well.

Sabrina - Secrets of a Teenage Witch: A Witch and the Werewolf - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The latest incarnation of a 50-year old comic book character is a digitally animated TV series. This "movie" is three episodes of the show stitched together. Does this work? Is the DVD worth picking up? Check out our review for my opinion.

Star Trek: The Compendium - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Box Set
Both of these movies have been released on Blu-ray before, so is there anything new here? And is the new stuff worth the price? Check out our review to find out.

Supernatural: Season 9 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This show has been on the air for a decade starting this season, yet the Reviews are still amazing. Extras include audio commentary tracks, featurettes, ComicCon panel, deleted scenes, and outtakes. That's easily enough to be worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

The Vampire Diaries: Season 5 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
One of the biggest hits on the CW and if you like teenage soap operas, one of their best. I'm not in that target demographic, so I can't really say if it is good or not. Extras are good, but not great. There are a few featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, etc., but no audio commentary tracks and that hurts the overall value.

Willow Creek - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A horror movie written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. The film earned stellar reviews, but failed to find an audience, mainly because a lot of moviegoers found it slow and the found-footage genre is burned out. If you like the genre and prefer horror films that use slowly built mood and tension rather than gore, then this one is worth checking out. If you saw it and liked it, then the DVD and Blu-ray have enough extras that it is worth picking up.

Words and Pictures - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A romance starring Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche as an author and an artist who get into an argument over what reaches people more, words or pictures. The reviews are mixed, but it did quite well in limited release. Extras include an audio commentary track and a featurette. It is worth a rental, if you are a fan of the cast.

The World Wars - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A History channel release that is actually about history. That's the good news. The bad news is, they get a lot of history wrong.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Words and Pictures, Palo Alto, Brick Mansions, Fed Up, Borgman, God’s Pocket, The Hornet’s Nest, A Long Way Down, Willow Creek, Star Trek, Godzilla, Juliette Binoche, James Franco, Bobcat Goldthwait, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Clive Owen, Paul Walker