This Week in DVD is a new column on /Film compiling all the latest info regarding new DVD releases, sales, and exclusive deals from stores including Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Fry’s.

The Good

FUTURAMA: THE BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS
Continuing its semi-return from the Fox cancellation grave yard, Futurama finally releases its second direct-to-DVD feature out of four with The Beast with a Billion Backs. It’s not nearly as dramatically compelling or well paced as Bender’s Big Score (that film was so good it had the potential to be made as a theatrical release), but it does up the ante on laughs, which is debatably something the former picture was lacking. Who really cares though? The important thing is that Futurama is back, and personally, I couldn’t be happier to see it return.
Blu-ray? No.
Notable Extras: Audio commentary from the cast and crew, ‘Futurama: The Lost Adventure’ (featuring the cut-scene footage from the Futurama video game), a joke interview with comedian David Cross, deleted scenes, a featurette detailing the history of the game Death Ball, and footage of voice recording outtakes.

BEST PRICE
Target Best Buy Circuit City Fry’s
N/A $19.99 $13.99 $13.99

IN BRUGES
This film marks one of those instances where the trailer prepares you for a movie so vastly different than the actual film that the film itself is harder to enjoy because of it. It’s still a solid movie though, so I’ll just warn you to avoid viewing it with the expectation of something Guy Ritchie or Tarantino-esque. Its witty and raunchy dialogue may come across as similar at times, but the movie is also very slowly paced, focusing heavily on existential and religious themes atop all the profane comedy. It’s definitely not your standard hitman film.
Blu-ray? No.
Notable Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, four featurettes, and a gag reel.

BEST PRICE
Target Best Buy Circuit City Fry’s
$19.99 $19.99 $19.99 $19.99

EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? Save $5 when you buy In Bruges with either Charlie Bartlett, Definitely Maybe, or Bonneville.
Where? Best Buy.

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
(Available as single-disc and 2-Disc Field Guide Editions)
Starring Freddie Highmore and featuring plenty of fantastical creatures, this movie may seem like it’s simply treading the same water as Arthur and the Invisibles. However, this children’s adventure (based on the popular book series of the same name) has the heart and imagination lacking in that film, and succeeds much more admirably because of it.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: The 2-disc set includes deleted scenes, six making-of featurettes, and Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide (which includes reprinted pages from the book while letting you access relevant scenes from the film).

BEST PRICE
Target Best Buy Circuit City Fry’s
$16.99 $16.99 $13.99 $13.99

*Does not include 2-Disc Edition, which costs $22.99 at each of the listed stores (excluding Fry’s, where it costs $21.99).

EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? Free Spiderwick Movie Storybook and bookmark with purchase of single-disc DVD.
Where? Target.

EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? Free “The Field Guide” book.
Where? Best Buy.

EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? Free Spiderwick Chronicles trading cards.
Where? Circuit City.

PERSEPOLIS
With a 95% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.1 rating on IMDB, Persepolis (based on Marjane Satrapi’s bestselling graphic novel) is by far one of the year’s most celebrated animated films. Shot in black-and-white, the movie uses its inventive visuals as a way of setting the tone for the deeply compelling coming-of-age story ahead. The plot explores a young Iranian girl’s attempt at finding her place in the world during the Islamic Revolution.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: Commentary on select scenes, a 30-minute documentary, a making-of featurette, and a Q&A from the film’s 2007 Cannes Film Festival Press Conference.

BEST PRICE
Target Best Buy Circuit City Fry’s
$16.99 $19.99 $19.99 $16.99

CHARLIE BARTLETT
A mixed bag overall, Charlie Bartlett is an uneven yet oftentimes hilarious teen angst comedy about a wealthy teenager finding his place in the social hierarchy by becoming an unofficial school psychiatrist. It also stars Robert Downey Jr. in a supporting role, and as a rule I like to force myself to see every movie he’s in. You might want to consider doing the same, because with the filmmography he’s been building recently it’s really starting to pay off.
Blu-ray? No.
Notable Extras: Three audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and restroom confessionals.

BEST PRICE
Target Best Buy Circuit City Fry’s
$19.99 $17.99 $19.99 $19.99

EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? Save $5 when you buy Charlie Bartlett with either In Bruges, Definitely Maybe, or Bonneville.
Where? Best Buy.

The Bad

10,000 BC
Favoring a focus of style over substance (and logic for that matter), director Roland Emmerich’s epically stupid journey into the prehistoric era is both bland and frustrating to watch. The film doesn’t even make an attempt at being historically accurate, and the lack of effort shows. It might be so-bad-it’s-good were it actually entertaining.
Blu-ray? Yes.
Notable Extras: An alternate ending and 10 minutes of deleted scenes.

BEST PRICE
Target Best Buy Circuit City Fry’s
$16.99 $14.99 $13.99 $13.99

EXCLUSIVE DEAL:
What? 2-Disc Special Edition ($22.99).
Where? Best Buy.

Other noteworthy DVDs available this week…
Definitely, Maybe – The Hammer – Honeydripper – Xanadu (Magical Music Edition) – Trailer Park Boys (Season 7) – Bonneville – The Tattooist – Early Edition (Season 1)

Discuss: What are you planning to rent or buy this week?

The Specials


$17.99 – Arrested Development (Seasons 1, 2, or 3), The Simpsons (Seasons 7 or 8), Monk (Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5), Weeds (Seasons 1 or 2), Flight of the Conchords (Season 1), The Office (Season 1), The Boondocks (Season 1), and more…

$13.99 – The Incredibles, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Toy Story (10th Anniversary Edition), Toy Story 2 (2-Disc Special Edition), and more…


$14.99 – Da Ali G Show (Seasons 1 or 2), American Gangster (2-Disc Unrated Extended Edition), I Am Legend, Semi-Pro, Juno, The Bucket List, Be Kind Rewind, The Bourne Ultimatum, and more…


Buy one, get one free ($9.99) – Blade, Speed, Cast Away, Sideways, This is Spinal Tap, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Master and Commander, The Replacements, and more…

$6.99 – The Bourne Identity, King Kong, Jurassic Park, 300, Troy (Director’s Cut), Full Metal Jacket, Children of Men, School of Rock, Sleepy Hollow, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Shark Tale, Chicken Run, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Antz, Shrek 2, and more…


$3.99 – Big Trouble in Little China, Cocoon, Great Expectations, and more…

$4.99 – Dumb and Dumber, Frequency, and more…

$6.99 – 28 Days Later, Edward Scissorhands, Alien, Aliens, True Lies, From Hell, and more…

  • For anyone that hasn't seen Arrested Development, go buy all 3 seasons with that deal at Target, best television comedy show ever.

    Can only comment on what I've seen but In Bruges is worth a watch defintely, Charlie Bartlett wouldnt' be the end of the world if you ended up missing it, but its not horrible.
  • Some nice DVDs to hunt for this week.
  • BANDWAGON DOWNEY JR FAN!!!!! HAHAAH Rooooookie! BANDWAGON, follower!!!!!!!! Follower!!!!!!!!! bandwagon!!!!!!!!!

    Please kid, your talking to the master.
  • Got to agree with Rufi, 'In Bruges' is a must-see, McDonagh's feature directorial debut is, smart, witty, funny and touching, combining both black comedy and emotion to create a film well worth a watch that'll make you laugh from start to finish. Also it's the only film, that I've seen with my friends and we've all unanimously agreed at the end that it's a good film!
  • Christopher Marc
    In Bruges was a great little gem I watched it two weeks ago thinking from the trailer it was going to be this upbeat little comedy. I was pleasantly surprised...It's a very solid British movie, it's very much worth buying or at least renting. Farrell doesn't play the regular egomaniac he does in his Hollywood movies.
  • O
    Thanks for having these posts now, Peter. I like seein' me some dvd sales.
  • theanner
    Persepolis is wonderful! Read the book and watch the movie!
  • Brett
    Just want to say I love "This Week in DVD". I F5 on Tuesdays till it shows up.
  • Goro
    Arrested Development COMPLETE SERIES (1-3) is $45 at amazon which, for those who don't have the entire series, is better than the $18/season at Target.
  • Pill
    "The film doesn’t even make an attempt at being historically accurate, and the lack of effort shows."

    The movie was stupid, but so was this remark. I think you missed the point.
  • Hendo
    just finished watching the new Futurama DVD and it was great! I wish there was a better solution for getting rid of the tents but oh well. It did deliver on way more laughs this time. The last one was all about the paradoxes so everything didn't come together and completly make sense until the last 10 minutes. This one was much more linear. I also wish they mentioned Lars from the last movie.
  • Paul
    In Bruges is one of my favorite movies of the year. It had a very solid plot with great actors and incredibly funny and witty dialogue. They took a very serious topic and made it light while still getting a good message across. Buy or download this movie now!
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