The last round of March releases can be found below. Also, I picked up a PS3 to use as a Blu-Ray player this weekend, so I’ll likely be paying much more attention to the high definition releases from now on as quality library titles come out. In the past, it was agreed that HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases would only be mentioned if they came out the same day as the DVD release, but I’m noticed great library titles, or even a mere 2-3 week delay between DVD and higher definition releases. Should I make a distinct, second column each week for HD DVD and Blu-Ray?
First, the genre releases:
- The Addams Family – Volume 2
- Children of Men: This has had some great reviews. Also available in HD-DVD format.
- Cinema of Death: 5 Films of Underground Cinema
- Fantastic Four – World’s Greatest Heroes, Volume 1: The new cartoon aimed at 6-10 year olds.
- Happy Feet: Also available in Blu-Ray.
- Naruto, Volume 10: Surviving the Cut
- New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 2
- The Pebble and the Penguin – Family Fun Edition: Why release this today? Could it be they’re banking on extra sales from people who can’t tell the difference between this and “Happy Feet?” In any event, this was a decent movie, and (I believe) the first animated feature released in full digital sound.
- Samurai 7 Box Set: This is an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s fantastic “Seven Samurai.” I can’t comment on the quality of this adaptation, though, as I haven’t seen it.
- Sonic The Hedgehog – The Complete Series
- Touched by an Angel – The Fourth Season, Vol. 1
Now, the non-genre releases:
- 7th Heaven – The Complete Fourth Season
- Color Me Kubrick: John Malkovich plays the yahoo who pretended to be Stanley Kubrick, despite bearing no physical resemblance to the man and knowing virtually nothing about his movies.
- Curse of the Golden Flower
- Docurama Film Festival III
- Early Bergman – Criterion Collection: This includes “Torment,” “Crisis,” “Port of Call,” “Thirst,” and “To Joy.” Those who have read reviews of The Seventh Seal or The Virgin Spring know how highly I regard Bergman.
- The Errol Flynn Signature Collection, Vol. 2: Includes “Adventures of Don Juan,” “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” “The Dawn Patrol,” “Dive Bomber,” and “Gentleman Jim.”
- Family Affair – Season 3
- Full House – The Complete Sixth Season: How long did this show last?
- The Jeffersons – The Complete Sixth Season
- The Judi Dench Collection: Includes the BBC miniseries “Ghosts,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “Talking to a Stranger,” “Absolute Hell,” and “Can You Hear Me Thinking?”
- Little Rascals in COLOR!
- Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman – Volume 1
- One Foot In The Grave – Season One
- One Foot In The Grave – Season Two
- The Pursuit of Happyness: Also available in Blu-Ray format.
- Requiem for a Dream / Pi: I generally try to avoid rereleases, but these are two of the best movies I’ve ever seen. “Requiem for a Dream” may be the most effective anti-drug movie I’ve ever seen.
- The Shield – The Complete Fifth Season
- Shirley Temple – America’s Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 5: Includes “The Little Princess,” “Stand Up And Cheer,” and “The Blue Bird.”
- Trailer Park Boys: The Movie: That this was nominated for the “Best Motion Picture” category in the 2007 Genie Awards is a deeply disturbing comment on the state of Canada’s feature film industry.
- Turistas
- Van Wilder – The Rise of Taj
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (British) – Seasons One and Two: Hosted by Clive Anderson. Drew Carey wanted Clive to host the American version, too, but at the time Carey was the network’s best known star, and they refused to do it unless Carey had an on screen presence. Still, I’ve never spoken to anyone who preferred the American version, so if you liked that, give this a shot.
Finally, the pick of the week. It’s got to be the “Requiem for a Dream / Pi” two pack. Both are good, but “Requiem for a Dream” is amazing.
Second Column
I would rather not have a mix of regular and high-def DVDs, so I vote for a second column.
One column
I don’t have a strong opinion, but I would go with one column, and clear indication of whether the release is high-def or not.
Re: One column
Agreed. Two columns for movie releases seems a bit much, and I think the majority of us Bureaucrats are still on DVD.
Re: One column
How about this idea to avoid clutter: stop seperating genre and non-genre, and instead have sections for DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-Ray. Does that work?
Re: One column
That would work (for me). :)
Why Not Pi
Having one big list would be a good idea, I think. Then there would not be any question whether or not Pi is a genre film.
Remember; Only You can stop Barbie.