Release of the Week - Fresh from Cinemas
A Single Man
Colin Firth and Tom Ford deserve all of the credit they've gotten for this, one of the few 2009 movies with a really long life ahead of them. Blu-ray shows off the designer's eye of auteur-to-be Ford especially well here. I hope to see more from his guiding hand and creative mind. I don't care if he's an egotist. I don't care who he is in private life. I just want the movie to be good. The extras include a Tom Ford commentary and a making-of piece. I eagerly await the tenth anniversary edition with retrospective docs on Firth and Ford's five Oscars (each).
Release of the Week - Catalog Movie New to Disc
Lost Keaton: Sixteen Comedy Shorts 1934-1937
Sight-unseen, I'm awarding this based on track record.
Release of the Week - Catalog New to Blu
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Again sight-unseen, but assumed to be good.
Release of the Week - UK TV
Doc Martin Season 4
Praised based on a single episode here.
Release of the Week - Catalog TV
ER Season 13
This is how you do a medical procedural and stretch it out, folks. All the other shows in the game right now in the "nighttime soap" game don't know what they're doing. this is the first season where John Stamos' Tony Gates is really working at the hospital, no longer a paramedic. The standout guest star of this season was easily Forest Whitaker (though Sally Field is good in her episodes as well). I really enjoyed the surprise of where Dr. Weaver's ambitions take her, and this season sees the introduction of Stanley Tucci in the last two episodes. There's a lot more meat with him in Season 14, but you get a nice introduction to him here. I never really got tired of this show, unlike so many others.
Movie New Releases
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
No, I haven't seen this thing, and no, I'm not going to kill myself to track it down ASAP.
Brooklyn's Finest
Direct to Video
Eyeborgs
The Asylum: bless them.
Catalog Movies New to Disc
Gamera Vs. Barugon
The more Gamera the giant turtle monster movies that are on DVD, the less that people are forced to associate it with Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Volume 2
Human Desire
The Brothers Rico
Nightfall
City of Fear
Pushover
What a set...can't wait to invent a time machine so that I can have seen this two weeks ago.
Catalog Movies New to Blu
Jason and the Argonauts
I'd love to see this. Hopefully it's grainy and old-looking, just like the Original Gangsta Clash of the Titans.
Ladybugs
Finally, some respect on Blu-ray! They fit a surprising amount of ribald humor into a PG-13 movie that was really aimed and advertised at tween kids. There are no extras whatsoever, but the movie looks great and very celluloid-y.
Reissue/Repackaging
Life on Mars (UK) Complete Series
This is both season sets packed together at a slightly reduced price. Aspiring screenwriters: here is an assignment for you...forget Lost and get this.
TV New Releases
Squidbillies Volume 3
The Game Final Season
Catalog TV
Dragnet 1968 Season 2
I love Dragnet. Add this one to my Wish List.
Have Gun, Will Travel Season 4 Volume 2
Rhoda Season 3