This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: March 24, 2009

Bond and Criterion are this week's prime titles

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, March 24th 2009 at 5:36 AM

Well, it's a James Bond week as we have several new releases from 007. We also have a pair of Francois Truffaut films coming to Blu-ray from Criterion and Paramount has released two new films from its Centennial Collection. On top of that I think this is the first time ever that all of the announced new released dates have "buy now" links with them should you feel the need to preorder some of the latest titles announced including a new Criterion release of Bergman's The Seventh Seal as well as Paramount prestige releases including Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road and Defiance.

I should also note that Bolt will be releasing on DVD today after the Blu-ray saw an early release on Sunday. I detailed this film in my recap last week and should you be interested in what I had to say click here or just click here and buy it already.

Let's get this party started!

Two Francois Truffaut Criterion Collection Blu-rays The 400 Blows / The Last Metro
	If you don't want to read my two page review of these two new Criterion Blu-ray titles I will sum it all up for you quite simply… buy them both.

Quantum of Solace
	I just received this Blu-ray yesterday and was able to watch the movie last night but none of the supplements. I should have a review by the end of the day or some time tomorrow. However, I can tell you right now I love this film and this is a great release. Many times I hear people complaining about Fox and their use of DNR with their Blu-ray releases but film grain is present in this release and the DTS audio track puts your speakers through a serious workout. However, the special features look to be seriously lacking without any kind of special Blu-ray extras. Do I smell a double-dip?

James Bond Blu-ray Wave 2 Goldfinger / The World is Not Enough / Moonraker
	It's a James Bond Tuesday as not only do we have Quantum of Solace hitting shelves, but also the second wave of Bond Blu-rays. I reviewed the first wave last October and haven't received this second wave yet and I will say it isn't exactly awe inspiring outside of Goldfinger. I consider The World is Not Enough the worst of the Brosnan Bonds and Moonraker is not exactly stellar either. It is worth noting that should you decide to take the dive into James Bond Blu-rays this week you can also get the first two Bond Blu-ray sets which include Dr. No, Die Another Day, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, From Russia with Love and Thunderball for $64.95 at Amazon right now by clicking here and that is $115.01 off the original list price.

Never Say Never Again (Collector's Edition)
	Here's our final new Bond release for the day and would you believe I have actually never seen this one? I just received it along with Quantum and hope to have it finished in the next couple of days, but I am really anxious as it means I have a brand new James Bond to watch. The features include a commentary with director Irvin Kershner and James Bond historian Jay Rubin and a trio of featurettes so I shouldn't be too long giving it a debut spin.

The Centennial Collection To Catch a Thief / The Odd Couple
	Between these two I have watched To Catch a Thief and also listened to a couple minutes of the awful commentary track, but that's as far as I have gotten with these two. I am anxious to watch The Odd Couple since both Matthau and Lemmon are comedy gold and I am hoping the second disc on To Catch a Thief is better than the pompous audio commentary on the feature film. These are the sixth and seventh releases in Paramount's Centennial Collection and in terms of features and video quality they continue to live up and it is nice to see studios finally treating their classic films with a little bit of respect. I always think it is a shame that someone like Criterion has to get hold of these before they are given the treatment they deserve. That's like handing your child off to a stranger in order to finally get them clothes that fit. It just doesn't make sense.

Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter
	I already reviewed this one and just yesterday posted a pair of clips from the release. My short review will tell you not to buy it and simply wait for the mega-Watchmen release later this year as these two features are a fun watch for fans of the graphic novel, but they are only best served as part of the complete package.

The Kite Runner / A Mighty Heart / Things We Lost in the Fire
	I received all three of these Blu-rays in the same package and while I thought The Kite Runner and Things We Lost in the Fire were phenomenal films and A Mighty Heart had a great performance from Jolie, these are three films that if watched back-to-back-to-back would inspire suicide. Sure, there are some uplifting moments, but all-in-all these are three seriously depressing films dealing with murder, a beheading by a terrorist organization and the rape of a little boy. Not exactly everyday home theater fun. I will say though, I think everyone should at least see both The Kite Runner and Things We Lost in the Fire and I would say Things We Lost in the Fire is a film worth buying. I loved that film.

The Fast and the Furious Trilogy The Fast and the Furious / 2 Fast 2 Furious / The Fast and the Furious: Toyko Drift
	In preparation for the release of Fast and Furious Universal is getting consumers prepared with new "limited" edition DVD releases of the first three films as well as a box set release of all three films on Blu-ray. I expect my Blu-ray review copy will be here any day and I will have some kind of review online afterward, but I am not sure buying a trilogy is worth it as the fourth film is about to hit theaters and a rumored fifth one already in the planning stages… that is if you like these films and already own them. If you like them and don't own them the price isn't all bad.

Big Stan
	I included this one because there may be someone out there interested in movies that look bad and inspire groans at the mere sight of them. If that is you click the link below and have a field day as this one not only stars Rob Schneider, but he directed it as well! Oh boy!

• In Treatment
• The Riches: Season 2
• The Cake Eaters (starring Kristen Stewart)
• Lilo & Stitch 2-Disc Big Wave Edition
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service

• Paul Blart: Mall Cop (buy now)
  Releasing on May 19, 2009
• JCVD (buy now)
  Releasing on April 28, 2009
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2-Disc Criterion Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on May 5, 2009
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (buy now)
  Releasing on May 5, 2009
• Revolutionary Road (buy now)
  Releasing on June 2, 2009
• Defiance (buy now)
  Releasing on June 2, 2009
• The Seventh Seal (2-Disc Criterion Collection) (buy now)
  Releasing on June 16, 2009

• Children of Men (buy now)
  Releasing on May 26, 2009
• Field of Dreams (buy now)
  Releasing on May 26, 2009
• Cinderella Man (buy now)
  Releasing on May 26, 2009
• Inside Man (buy now)
  Releasing on May 26, 2009
• Seabiscuit (buy now)
  Releasing on May 26, 2009
• Paul Blart: Mall Cop (buy now)
  Releasing on May 19, 2009
• Changing Lanes (buy now)
  Releasing on May 19, 2009
• The Machinist (buy now)
  Releasing on May 19, 2009
• JCVD (buy now)
  Releasing on April 28, 2009
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2-Disc Criterion Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on May 5, 2009
• Revolutionary Road (buy now)
  Releasing on June 2, 2009
• Defiance (buy now)
  Releasing on June 2, 2009
• The Seventh Seal (Criterion Collection) (buy now)
  Releasing on June 16, 2009

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