DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 3rd, 2012

July 4, 2012

After a run of several good weeks, it is a complete disaster on the home market this week. The best selling first run release will be... nothing. This is because there is no first run release coming out this week. According to Amazon.com, the best selling new release of the week is Midsomer Murders: Set 20, while the top ten is dominated by limited releases and Blu-ray catalogue titles. This makes choosing a Pick of the Week difficult, because there are so few prime releases. Rocko's Modern Life: Season Three is on the short list for contenders, as is The Hunter on Blu-ray. But in the end, I went with God Bless America on either DVD or Blu-ray. It's a great movie and there's a surprising number of extras on the DVD.

An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars - DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack - Buy Direct or Video on Demand
The latest in the long line of movies based on the American Girl doll and book line. I'm obviously outside the film's target demographic, but do I think pre-teen girls will enjoy the film? And will parents be entertained while watching with them? Check out our review to find out.

Barbarella - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
When this film first came out, it failed to impress critics or moviegoers. However, over the years it developed a cult following. Now it is making its Blu-ray debut, but were the initial impressions correct? Or did it deserve to find the bigger audience? And if it is the latter, is the Blu-ray worth picking up? Read our review for my opinion.

Becker: Season 4 - Buy from Amazon
Ted Danson's second hit sitcom. It's not as good as his first, but it is still funny enough to be worth watching, while the DVD is not a bad price.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Chesty Morgan's Bosom Buddies, The Devil's Needle and Other Tales of Vice And Redemption, Django Kill... If You Live, Shoot!, Most Dangerous Game/Gow The Headhunter, Needless: Complete Collection, Phenomenon, Rise & Shine, Tough Enough, Under the Tuscan Sun, and Wind Blast
Chesty Morgan makes her Blu-ray debut. Oh boy. ... Yeah, it's a slow week.

Born on the Fourth of July - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
According to Amazon.com, this is the second best selling new release of the week. It's a good movie, but a catalogue Blu-ray release shouldn't be the second best selling new release, unless it broke records at the box office when it first came out.

Disney Double-Shot
Treasure Planet - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Home on the Range - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
Some of Disney's, well, to be polite, second-tier films are coming out on Blu-ray this week. Were they unfairly overlooked the first time around? Or did they struggle for a reason? Are either of the Blu-rays worth picking up for anyone besides Disney completists? Check out our review for my opinion.

Dynasty: The Sixth Season - Buy from Amazon
I'm not a fan of nighttime soaps and this one is overpriced.

Elvira's Movie Macabre: Giant Monsters - Buy from Amazon
Every time I get an offer to review an Elvira DVD, I immediately put in a request for a screener. Not once has one arrived. It's getting depressing, but I keep hoping that one day they will arrive late.

The Entity - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
One of those horror movies that pretends to be based on a real story. I hate those. If a horror movie is bad, pretending it really happened won't make it better. If it is good, it doesn't need it. This one fits somewhere in the middle. Some people like it, but others complain that it is exploitative. Even more say it is just plain dull.

The Forger - Buy from Amazon
Josh Hutcherson plays a 15-year old homeless boy who is an art prodigy. In order to survive, he begins to use his talent to forge art. Hayden Panettiere stars as a girl from a rich family, who falls in love with Josh's character. But as he falls deeper into the world of organized crime, it becomes harder for him to escape and the two to have a life together.

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The re-release of this TV show is in in the top twenty for the week. Boy is it a slow week.

George Gently: Series 4 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A British police procedural. It is expensive for TV on DVD, but that's common for imports like this.

God Bless America - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film had a lot of buzz for a limited release, but it wasn't able to translate that into high ticket sales. This was partially because it opened on Video on Demand before it debuted in theaters. But was there more to it than that? Read our review for my opinion.

Hetalia: World Series 2 - Season Four - Buy from Amazon
Anime is very much a niche market here, but this DVD is in the top five for the new releases this week. Of course, this is a sign that it is a slow week.

The Horse Whisperer - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
The first film Robert Redford directed and starred it. It was based on a book that was the subject of a movie rights bidding war before it was finished. It wasn't quite the award-winning film some expected it to be, but is it still worth seeing? And is the Blu-ray worth picking up? Read our review to find out.

The Hunter - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This Australian film failed to find an audience in its native market and struggled in limited release here. Now that it is coming out on the home market, does it deserve to do better? Check out out review to find out.

Jesus Henry Christ - Buy from Amazon
I'm still waiting for the screener for this film. It did earn bad reviews, but I'm choosing to remain hopeful.

Looney Tunes: Platinum Collection 1 - Buy from Amazon
Chronological order. Do not release another Looney Tunes collection till you make a chronological collection. In fact, plan the entire catalogue from start to finish for a Blu-ray release, and include a Java program that allows you to select cartoons based on characters involved, themes, etc. and it will prompt you to change discs when necessary. I would buy a complete collection on Blu-ray, but I won't spend any more money on random collections.

Mac & Devin Go to High School - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A stoner comedy that tries to make the argument for marijuana legalization. There are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but the ones I did find online were mostly negative.

Mannix: Season Seven - Buy from Amazon
The penultimate season of Mannix. After this, Mike Conner's iconic private eye only has to get shot a couple more times and knocked unconscious about six times. Can the show still entertain after seven seasons? Check out our review to find out.

Midsomer Murders: Set 20 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The latest season of the long-running British police procedural series. As a TV on DVD release, it is way too expensive. As a series of TV movies, it is worth picking up.

No Holds Barred - Buy from Amazon
One of the first Wrestling movies. Should have been one of the last.

The Pirate Movie - Buy from Amazon
The re-release of a DVD for a movie that was a critical failure and a box office bomb. It is fighting for a spot in the top twenty according to Amazon.com. It is a slllloooooooooowwwwww week.

Rocko's Modern Life: Season Three - Buy from Amazon
I was supposed to get this show to review, but so far none of the seasons have arrived. There was talk of a complete series Megaset, so maybe that screener will arrive.

Some Guy Who Kills People - Buy from Amazon
Such a generic name. I think the name might hurt the DVD sales, as will the lack of reviews. Granted, the one review on Rotten Tomatoes is positive, but I don't think it will sell very well. On the other hand, there is very little competition this week.

Step-Up - Blu-ray - Buy from Amazon
I've reviewed all three Step-Up movies. Where does this one fit in terms of quality? Read our review to find out.

Streets of San Francisco: Season Three - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Good show, but I hate it when they split seasons into two volumes. The price-per-minute is almost always too high.

The Women of Saturday Night Live - Buy from Amazon
A lot of these women deserve solo DVDs, but I guess a compilation is as good as it will get for now.


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Filed under: Video Review, DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Phenomenon, The Horse Whisperer, Born on the Fourth of July, Step Up, Home on the Range, Under the Tuscan Sun, Treasure Planet, No Holds Barred, The Entity, The Pirate Movie, Tough Enough, Barbarella, The Hunter, Jesus Henry Christ, Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story, God Bless America, The Forger