Man, this week seems almost bigger than it actually is due to the myriad of ways each of these releases occurs. The Planet of the Apes Blu-ray release can be purchased as a collection or individually, Kung Fu Panda can be purchased individually or with the Secrets of the Furious Five, the Get Smart movie is out and you can also purchase the complete TV series set, Shrek the Halls can be bought on DVD as well as options with toys, the Star Wars trilogies are being released again and A Christmas Story now comes to Blu-ray.

On top of all that I have added several upcoming Fox catalog Blu-ray releases, which are listed at the end of this report.

Planet of the Apes on Blu-ray
	I just reviewed the single disc Blu-ray edition of the 1968 film that started this massive franchise, which apparently may be getting another reboot (read about that here). With this release you will be able to buy each film individually or the set of all five films in the Planet of the Apes franchise, which includes an unrated version of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes that is eight minutes longer. Each release has a new making-of featurette and Planet of the Apes has a lot of new features as I detailed in my review. You can click here to take a peek at all of your buying options.

Kung Fu Panda Sunday, November 8th Release
	This one doesn't actually release until Sunday, and I have no idea why Paramount/DreamWorks decided to go that route, but that's the way it goes. The release includes Kung Fu Panda on Blu-ray or DVD and you also have the option of buying it individually or bundled with a spin-off feature called Secrets of the Furious Five, which delves into the back stories of the Kung Fu Panda characters Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper and Crane. I will likely have a review next week, but I have been told Paramount isn't shipping this one to critics until after it's released. Another decision I don't understand since this is a great movie, but perhaps they are worried people will put the spin-off film online before it is released. Hmmm, now that I think about it that does make sense.

Shrek the Halls
	I received this title, but have had no time to give it a spin. Okay, that is a lie, I have no interest in watching this thing and do you really care what I think about a 22 minute animated TV special? Didn't think so. Do you really need to know my opinion anyway? Look at the box, it says it’s "An Instant Holiday Classic." I mean, would a box lie to you?

Get Smart
	I just reviewed the Blu-ray version of this one (read that here) and was shocked I enjoyed it as much as I did. I liked Get Smart in the theater, but it holds up quite well to multiple viewings.

A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
	Yup, you guessed it, another one I just reviewed, but this one you need to second guess when considering buying it. It's being released on both Blu-ray and DVD, but the DVD version includes a whole slew of goodies (cookbook, apron, cookie cutters, photo cards, etc.) and the Blu-ray version only includes some movie themed lap leg Christmas lights. However, the biggest point is this release is no different than the previous special edition DVD and Blu-ray releases outside of the collectibles. If those are important to you the link is directly below.

Waterworld (2-Disc Extended Edition)
	I would have reviewed this one and actually started watching it, but as it turns out the Extended version IS THE EDITED FOR TV VERSION. You notice it from the very beginning as Kevin Costner is originally seen peeing into a cup and then filtering it for drinking water. Well, the pee is no longer seen. I thought I must be wrong and the pee was never shown, but then when the word "shit" is substituted with "slime" not once, but twice in the same scene I hit "Stop" really quick. Sorry, not interested in edited stuff. Oh, and the extended footage just makes the film longer and it is obvious why it was cut.

Moscow Zero
	Yes, that is Val Kilmer. Yes, this film was released in theaters (in 2006). No, there are no box-office figures and over at Rotten Tomatoes there isn't a single review. Is it good? I'll let you make that decision based on the facts and any guts you may have in buying it.

Transsiberian
	Meh, I have no idea how this film has a 92% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, but I'll let the words from my theatrical review speak for my opinion: Depending on your level of anticipation and curiosity, this is a film that can generate several reactions. Folks can come away riveted as there are several twists to the narrative often giving viewers something more to think about on a multitude of emotional levels. However, you can also come away frustrated depending on how deeply you engage yourself with the logic of it all. I came away just shy of disappointed as the film never really jumped off the screen, but kept me asking questions the whole way. Oftentimes these questions were logical, which accounts for my disappointment, but the occasional moral dilemma made it mildly interesting.

Henry Poole is Here
	Henry Poole is Here is certainly a film that will interest many and provokes some interesting conversation, but it gives up on itself and resorts to standard storytelling for a weak ending that turns it from being a potentially really good film to just your average fair.

• Star Wars Trilogy Box Sets
• The Jason Bourne Trilogy
• When Did You Last See Your Father?
• The Perfect Holiday
• Futurama: Bender's Game
• Project Runway: The Complete Fourth Season
• Batman – The Complete Animated Series
• The Gregory Peck Film Collection
• Return to Sleepaway Camp
• Lonely Hearts (Blu-ray)

• Moscow Zero (buy now)
  Releasing on November 4, 2008
• Friday the 13th Part 3 3D (Deluxe Edition)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Friday the 13th Part 2 (Deluxe Edition)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Friday the 13th (Uncut, Deluxe Edition)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach
  Releasing on January 13, 2009
• Lakeview Terrace
  Releasing on January 13, 2009
• Mirrors (Unrated) (buy now)
  Releasing on January 13, 2009
• Mamma Mia! (2-Disc Special Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on December 16, 2008
• Burn After Reading (buy now)
  Releasing on December 23, 2008

• Friday the 13th (Uncut, Deluxe Edition)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Lakeview Terrace
  Releasing on January 13, 2009
• Ronin (buy now)
  Releasing on February 24, 2009
• The Passion of the Christ (The Definitive Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on February 17, 2009
• Donnie Darko (Collector's Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on February 10, 2009
• Raging Bull (buy now)
  Releasing on February 10, 2009
• Sideways (buy now)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Office Space (Special Edition With Flair!) (buy now)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Napoleon Dynamite (buy now)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• Little Miss Sunshine (buy now)
  Releasing on February 3, 2009
• The French Connection (buy now)
  Releasing on January 20, 2009
• Mirrors (Unrated) (buy now)
  Releasing on January 13, 2009
• Burn After Reading (buy now)
  Releasing on December 23, 2008

Related post categories: Blu-ray, Home Video News, Reviews, This Week On DVD and Blu-ray : A Christmas Story, DVD, Get Smart, Henry Poole Is Here, Kung Fu Panda, Moscow Zero, Planet of the Apes, Secrets of the Furious Five, Transsiberian, Waterworld

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