This week marks the official death of the stupid snap-case DVDs that Warner Bros released when DVDs first launched that didn’t fit as well on the shelf and were prone to fall apart. Warner has begun re-releasing many of the films that were only available in Snap-Case in standard DVD casing. This is a proud day for DVD nerds.
This Week’s Tastiest Morsel
Important Things with Demetri Martin: Season One
The Dave Chappelle format of having a host in front of a live audience kick to various pre-taped sketches which has been pushed upon every sketch comedy personality (Carlos Mencia, Frank Caliendo) has finally found a second comic able to work it to perfection. Martin’s comedy fits well into the sketch format and I expect the show to pick up more steam in the second season.
Fresh Catches
Crank 2: High Voltage
Don’t get the cheap single disc edition, grab the Two-Disc Special Edition which comes with special features and a Digital Copy. The features include a commentary from the writing/directing team and two behind the scenes featurettes. I thought the first Crank was a wonderful premise with lousy execution and so I have some hope that they got it right with the sequel.
Fringe: The Complete First Season
The show is working really hard to grow an X-Files type cult following, and while I think the show started off poorly they are fighting to make it up. One good sign is all the production value pumped into the DVD which is loaded with features including episode specific Behind the Scenes coverage which I haven’t really seen before.
The Office – Season Five
This marks the first season that will be available on Blu-ray and it comes with the usual commentaries and a gag reel and all the Webisodes that were available online for this season.
Parks & Recreation: Season One
A nice, affordable DVD set given that the first season is only six episodes long and the new, longer season kicks off in a few weeks.
MTV’s Nitro Circus: Season One
This is a turbocharged version of Jackass with guys performing stunts both skillful and stupid on a range of vehicles from Big Wheels to Baja busting rally cars. Starring the X-Games motorcycle master Travis Pastrana.
Criminal Minds: The Complete Fourth Season
The least of the procedural crime dramas soldiers on.
Double Dip DVDs
Homicide– Criterion Collection
A David Mamet classic starring Joe Montegna as a homicide detective investigating an anti-Semitic crime that becomes much murkier than originally imagined. It’s a solid film with an excellent cast which includes William H. Macy and Ving Rhames.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Just like Pete’s Dragon, the live-action, lesser known Disney films are getting cleaned up and released, but I wish they got the star treatment that the un-vaulted Disney animated classics were getting with nicer packaging and more features.
Friday, Menace II Society, Set It Off
Warner is releasing their three urban hits in new deluxe editions and for the first time in HD. Each comes with a new making of featurette and any accompanying music videos like “Keep their Heads Ringing” by Dr. Dre on Friday.
Triple Packs Galore
A string of horror movies are getting released in cheap triple packs this week including: Halloween, Scream, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Scary Movie.