This week on DVD and Blu-ray - July 15th 2008

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Well, I warned you guys last week. And I mentioned it a few weeks ago. Blockbuster theatrical releases translate into few, if any, good new home video pickings. When "The Bank Job" is high on the new release list, you know it's a slow week. Now, with all due respect to the movie itself, it might be a good little heist yarn. A lot of critics seem to to like it (78% fresh over at Rotten Tomatoes) and it did decent enough business earlier this year ($30 mil in the US). It should be no shock then that Lionsgate is releasing three variations on disc. Single disc widescreen, double disc Special Edition and Blu Ray. The last two feature...wait for it...Bonus Digital Copies! Yep, my favorite extra out there.

And then there's the immortal "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" making its debut on high def. For the longest time, I associated Louise Fletcher with her role on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and not with Nurse Ratched. It didn't change when I saw the movie, to tell you the truth. I'm just a big nerd. Just nod you head. (It shocked me, too, that "DS9" was able to net an Oscar winner for a recurring role fourteen times in seven years. That must speak to the quality of the production, don't you think?)

I guess I should mention "Step Up 2 The Streets," also debuting this week in both regular and high def Dance-Off Editions. Somehow-maybe divine intervention-this sequel grossed $144 million worldwide, all but ensuring "Step Up 3's A Crowd" or some other inanely named next installment. Going from a movie that looks horrific to one that might actually be scary, "Shutter" gets the three release treatment, just like "The Bank Job" (sans Digital Copy, sadly). Another in the Asian remake genre (the original was a 2004 Thai film), former "Dawson's Creek"-er Joshua Jackson, if the quality is anything like other recent entrants in the genre, there is a problem. But just for the record, look for a fullscreen/widescreen R-rated disc, an unrated widescreen variation and an unrated Blu Ray edition.

Our tie in bonanza almost gets a week vacation today if it weren't for the complete series of "Birds of Prey" coming to disc at long last. The thirteen produced episodes center on Barbara Gordan (aka Batgirl), the daughter of Batman and Catwoman and the daughter of the Black Canary as they fight crime in New Gotham City. If you can't figure out what this series ties into by now, go back to living under the rock you just crawled out from under. I should note Dina Myer, formerly of "Starship Troopers," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Star Trek Nemesis" and the "Saw" flicks stars.

No one will ever accuse me of being a "Reno 911!" fan, but with Niecy Nash's posterior taking up a rather large section of the fifth season cover, I feel as though I have to at least mention it. Also on the TV front is the ninth season of "Dallas" (!), season two of "Eureka," "Evening Shade," TNT's "Saving Grace" and the second volume of the animated "Swamp Thing" (tie in? You tell me.).

And now a recap: "The Bank Job" (x3), "One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest," "Shutter" (x3), "Step Up 2 The Streets" (x2), "Birds of Prey: The Complete Series," "Reno 911! Season Five", "Dallas Season Nine," "Eureka Season Two," "Evening Shade Season One," "Saving Grace Season One," "Swamp Thing Volume 2."

Please Note - More details:
Be sure to check out the full details under related releases.

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