This Week on DVD and Blu-ray - October 28, 2008

I have a question: why couldn't either the Hulk or James Bond cry uncle last week and move to this one? You would think with LESS competing product on the shelf both characters would have been able to generate MORE sales. Especially with the state of the world economy, can consumers really justify plopping down enough cash to get everything that debuted last week? And with only one-arguably-marquee title this week, there's no reason for the feast or famine.

That marquee title is Brendan Fraser in "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Both the DVD and Blu-ray versions come equipped with a couple sets of 3-D glasses, not to mention a couple iterations of the movie: fullscreen and widescreen 2-D and widescreen 3-D. That means triple the Fraser goodness for one third the price. Or something like that. (If you're in the market for something, well, good with the guy, check out "Gods and Monsters," also featuring Ian McKellan.) There was a rumor that the BD version would be available in 3-D for a limited time. I can't confirm or deny that information; I can only mention how it makes no sense for New Line and Warner to produce a 2-D-only high def disc when one of the main selling points for the film was the 3-D technology. PS: there's digital copy attached, too. "Hell Ride" streets on both formats, too; be warned: the trailer is R-rated.

"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" hits in dueling editions, too. The DVD comes with both fullscreen and widescreen presentations while the BD is...do I even need to mention it? At any rate, both formats include a Digital Copy of the film for all the ten-year-old girls who can't get enough of the uber-marketing machine known as American Girl. Seriously, have you ever seen the lines and mad rushes into these stores? Along the same lines-kids and two format releases-is the direct to DVD flick "Tinker Bell" featuring our favorite little fairy from "Peter Pan." Cute but possibly off putting to purists, it features notable voice talent like Angelica Huston, America Ferrera and Kristen Chenoweth.

Further proving no studio can ever say goodbye to a money machine, Warner presents yet another permutation of "The Polar Express." Previously we've had fullscreen, widescreen, BD, HD DVD, 2-Disc Widescreen Special Edition and Gift Sets versions. Add to that DVD and BD 3-D volumes now. (Gamers will recognize the name "Dead Space: Downfall." Everyone else? Probably not so much. Regardless, the new movie featuring the voice of Captain John Sheridan-Bruce Boxleitner-also hits the shelf.)

Rounding out our hybrid releases Jenna Jameson in "Zombie Strippers." There's a rated (ie. theatrical) DVD, unrated Special Edition DVD and BD. Really, I feel kinda skeezy about mentioning it right after the other three family friendly movies...

"Baraka" deserves a mention as well, if only for the fact it is the first 8k restoration on disc. Our news story from last Thursday has all the details.

On the high def-only front is perpetual unfunny man Will Ferrell in "Elf," timed to coincide with the upcoming holiday season. In decidedly un-holiday news is the 1080p debut of "Last Time I Saw Paris" (not sure about the quality of this one, to be fair). And just for the name, "Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter."

I'll just mention a couple DVD-only releases before jumping into the glut of television product. There's "7 Virgins" (not making any claim about the quality, just a funny title); an "All-American Co-Ed" and "Swing Hostess" double feature; "American Hormones"; "Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens"; "In the Folds of the Flesh"; and "National Lampoon's Animal House" (30th Anniversary Special Edition and Gift Set). Skirting the edge of the category, we round out with "Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection" on 15 discs and "The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection" on 8 discs.

What comes next are complete series or other compilations for TV show, okay? "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (featuring Chad Allen later in the series); "Good Times" (in the new Sony space saving hub packaging); "The X-Files" spinoff "Millennium"; "NewsRadio"; "Sanford and Son"; "The 4400"; and "The Flintstones." Special honorary mention to the Limited Edition "Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition," which comes in a tin box with a figurine of Crow T. Robot, custom lobby cards and four of the most popular episodes from the series.

Alright, hang on, we're almost there. "Sister, Sister," "Girlfriends" and "The Donna Reed Show" all street new seasons...well, the first season for the Mowry girls and Ms. Reed; the fifth for the now-cancelled UPN/CW show. Finally, I will be raked over hot coals by a friend of mine if I don't mention the fifth season of "The L Word." Consider it mentioned.

Blu-ray Recap: "Baraka," "Dead Space: Downfall," "Elf," "The Final Countdown," "Hell Ride," "Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Kit Kittredge: Am American Girl," "Last Time I Saw Paris," "The Polar Express 3-D," "Tinker Bell," "Zombie Strippers."

DVD Recap: "Abbott and Costello: The Complete universal Picturess Collection," "All-American Co-Ed"/"Swing Hostess" 2-pack, "American Hormones," "Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens," "Baraka," "Dead space: Downfall," "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Series," "The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season," "The 4400: The Complete Series," "The Flintstones: The Complete Series," "Girlfriends: The Complete Fifth Season," "Good Times: The Complete Series," "Hell Ride," "In the Folds of the Flesh," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Kit Kittedge: An American Girl," "The L Word: The Complete Fifth Season," "The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection," "Millennium: The Complete Series," "Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition," "NewsRadio: The Complete Series," "National Lampoon's Animal House," "The Polar Express 3-D," "Sanford and Son: The Complete Series," "7 Virgins," "Sister, Sister: The Complete First Season," "Tinker Bell," "Zombie Strippers."