This Week on DVD and Blu-ray - November 10th, 2009

Welcome back to another edition of This Week and this week, the secret word for new release day is Pixar. It's been nearly 25 years since the release of their first theatrical film, "Toy Story," and nothing seems to slow them down. Even after ten productions, the quality has never dipped. It seems as if Pixar is incapable of making a bad movie. Their latest film, "Up," certainly ranks as one of Pixar's best and will definitely make its way to numerous year-end lists. "Up" is a fun adventure film that still manages to tug at the heart strings. Disney and Pixar will release "Up" this week on single-disc and 2-disc DVD editions as well as a 4-disc Blu-Ray which has been reviewed by James Plath. The high definition version comes with the film on BD, a second disc with bonus features, a third standard edition disc, and a Digital Copy. So you're getting three copies of the movie, whether you want them or not.

In conjunction with "Up," Pixar will also be releasing "Monsters, Inc." which was co-directed by "Up" helmer, Pete Docter. "Monsters Inc." will also come with the film on Blu-Ray, a second disc of extras on BD, a third standard edition DVD, and a fourth disc with a Digital Copy.

It seemed like Gerard Butler was everywhere this year. The Scottish-born actor starred in the sci-fi action film "Gamer," the vigilante thriller "Law-Abiding Citizen," and the paint-by-numbers romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth." Hitting DVD and Blu-Ray, "Ugly Truth" features Butler as a crass television host at odds with his dismayed producer played by Katherine Heigl.

Another rom-com being released this week is "The Accidental Husband," starring Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Colin Firth who always seems to play the nice guy that winds up getting dumped. "Husband" was actually released in theaters in the UK last year, but a theatrical run in the States never happened due to distributor, Yari Film Group, went bankrupt.

Barely making a blip on the radar is the Ashton Kutcher vehicle, "Spread." Mister Demi Moore stars as a free-wheeling playboy who sleeps his way into a swanky life of comfort.

Originally set to come out last week, the comic book adaptation "Watchmen" receives a more elaborate edition with this new "Ultimate Cut" DVD and Blu-Ray. This re-release features a new, longer version of "Watchmen" with the animated "Tales of the Black Freighter" edited in. You'll also get the same bonus features from the 2-disc edition, a new commentary track with director Zack Snyder and artist Dave Gibbons, the entire "Black Freighter," the companion documentary "Under the Hood," "Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics," and a digital copy of the theatrical cut of "Watchmen."

Several films make the jump to Blu-Ray this week, the biggest of which is the Michael Mann crime epic, "Heat," starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. Let me say that again, starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. Though the film is built around those amazing actors, they don't actually have that much screen time together. "Heat" is packed with an A-list supporting cast that includes Val Kilmer, Natalie Portman, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, William Fitchner, Tom Sizemore, Hank Azaria, Wes Studi, and Danny Trejo. Not to mention "Heat" is highlighted by one of the best shootouts in cinematic history. The Blu-Ray (kindly reviewed by John J. Puccio) features a new high definition transfer supervised by Mann and all the same extras from the previous 2-disc special edition.

Also coming out on Blu-Ray this week are the underrated vampire flick "Near Dark" (sporting an awful "Twilight" inspired cover), the Arnold Schwarzenegger-James Belushi buddy cop film "Red Heat," the classic 70's sci-fi movie "Logan's Run," the box office bomb "Godzilla," and "The Negotiator" starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey.

TV on DVD releases hitting November 10th include "Nash Bridges: The Third Season," "JAG: The Ninth Season," "Dawson's Creek: The Complete Series," "Justice League: The Complete Series," and "Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Volume 2".

That wraps it up for this week, next week the words on the lips and minds of movie fans will be "Star Trek."