This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: October 20, 2009

'Transformers 2' continues to surprise me and 'Ponyo' gets a date...

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, October 20th 2009 at 2:44 AM

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
	I know I shouldn't be surprised the Blu-ray, 2-disc DVD and single-disc DVD are the numbers 1, 2 and 3 best-sellers at Amazon this week, but for some reason I would have thought all the negative talk about this film surrounding its release would have discouraged folks to throw to down their hard-earned cash to endure this pummeling one more time. However, I can say it is nice to see prices on Blu-rays are dropping slightly, so much to the point the Blu-ray edition of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is actually $3 less than the 2-disc DVD, at only $19.99. That's all I really have to say about this one.

Monsoon Wedding (Criterion Collection)
	I just reviewed the Blu-ray edition of this one (read that here) and was really impressed with the entire package, which not only includes Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, but also seven short films from Nair, several of which are quite good. The best way to describe it is an all-out introductory piece to Mira Nair and as such it is a great value and one that surprised me considering neither Vanity Fair nor The Namesake moved me one bit, but this one has me looking farther back into Nair's filmography.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
	I may have to spring for a copy of this one or add it to the Christmas list. I already have the HD DVD edition, but I want to replace it with the new digi-pack Blu-ray. I love this film even if watching parts of it in reverse is beyond frightening.

Easy Rider
	Here's another one I would like to pick up and replace my DVD edition, but my DVD edition is that 2004 Deluxe Edition and it's quite an impressive package on its own so I will probably call this one good for now, but if you don't own this one you may want to give it a once over… here's a clip for your viewing pleasure:

Cheri
	It was hotly anticipated and thought to be a serious Oscar vehicle for Michelle Pfieffer and while Cheri isn't a terrible movie it just didn't do much for me outside of look really pretty.

Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead
	I really enjoyed Wrong Turn 2, but hated Wrong Turn, both of which I just watched over again on Blu-ray and still come away with the same opinion, but I am interested in seeing how the third film turned out and wish I had been sent a review copy since I am highly unlikely to blind buy this one and my Netflix queue just doesn't have the time for a direct-to-DVD horror. Oh well.

Blood: The Last Vampire
	Meh, not a lot here, but if you are interested don't buy it, just rent it and you will be more than satisfied.

100 Feet
	I included this based on pedigree alone and the likelihood that any horror fans reading the site may be interested as Eric Red (writer of The Hitcher and Near Dark) wrote and directed this film focusing on a woman living in a house possessed by the enraged and violent spirit of her dead husband. The flick stars Famke Janssen (X2) and Bobby Cannavale (The Station Agent). Those two would be the other reasons I would say this one is worth a once over. Here's the trailer:

• Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Those Aren't Pillows Edition)
• The Tournament
• Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler
• Transformers: 25th Anniversary Matrix Of Leadership Edition [The Complete Series]
• It's Garry Shandling's Show: The Complete Series
• Waterworld [Blu-ray]
• The L Word: Final Season

• Ponyo
  Releasing on December 8, 2009
• All About Steve (buy now)
  Releasing on December 22, 2009
• Paris, Texas
  Releasing on January 26, 2010
• Che
  Releasing on January 19, 2010
• Public Enemies (2-Disc Special Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on December 8, 2009
• Public Enemies (buy now)
  Releasing on December 8, 2009
• Taking Woodstock (buy now)
  Releasing on December 15, 2009
• World's Greatest Dad (buy now)
  Releasing on December 8, 2009

• Fame (buy now)
  Releasing on January 26, 2010
• Ponyo
  Releasing on December 8, 2009
• All About Steve (buy now)
  Releasing on December 22, 2009
• Paris, Texas
  Releasing on January 26, 2010
• Che
  Releasing on January 19, 2010
• Federico Fellini's 8½
  Releasing on January 12, 2010
• Public Enemies (2-Disc Special Edition) (buy now)
  Releasing on December 8, 2009
• Taking Woodstock (buy now)
  Releasing on December 15, 2009
• World's Greatest Dad (buy now)
  Releasing on December 8, 2009