Here's a look at the hottest new DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases for the week of January 26, 2010:
BLU-RAY MOVIES:
Atonement (Universal)
Fame (1980) (Warner)
Give 'Em Hell Malone (National Entertainment Media)
Michael Jackson: This Is It (Sony)
Paris, Texas (Criterion)
Pride & Prejudice (2005) (Universal)
Saw VI (Lionsgate)
Soul Power (Sony)
Surrogates (Disney)
The Toolbox Murders (Blue Underground)
Whip It (Fox)
Wild Ocean: IMAX (Image)
DVD MOVIES:
Bright Star (Sony)
Give 'Em Hell Malone (National Entertainment Media)
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (Fox)
Little Ashes (E1)
Michael Jackson: This Is It (Sony)
Paris, Texas (Criterion)
Pontypool (MPI)
Pride & Prejudice (2005) (Universal)
Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy (Criterion)
Saw VI (Lionsgate)
Soul Power (Sony)
St. Trinian's (Sony)
Surrogates (Disney)
The Toolbox Murders (Blue Underground)
Whip It (Fox)
Wild Ocean: IMAX (Image)
TV-on-DISC:
Bridget's Sexiest Beaches: Season 1 (Image)
MI-5: Vol. 7 (BBC/Warner)
Naruto Shippuden: Box Set 1 (Viz)
Parker Lewis Can't Lose: Season 2 (SHOUT! Factory)
Pawn Stars: Season 1 (A&E)
Southland: Season 1 (Warner)
WWII in HD (A&E)
HIGHLIGHTS:
Atonement - For such a young actress, it's startling just how many period romances Keira Knightley has anchored. This time out she stars opposite James McAvoy (Wanted) in a tangled tale of love and regret. Of the two Knightley romances hitting the street this week, Pride & Prejudice is definitely the better bet, but Atonement does has its merits. Universal brings Atonement to Blu-ray boasting a superior technical presentation saddled with a fairly sparse array of bonus material.
Fame - Forget the recent (and unnecessary) Fame remake. If you want to learn how to how to fly or you want to live forever, look no further than Alan Parker's 1980 original film of the same name. I won't say that time's been good to the film - especially with some of the fashion on display - but the film does have a decidedly more realistic, down-to-earth vibe than does its recent retread. Warner brings the film to Blu-ray Disc with a 1080p transfer that's respectable but hardly noteworthy. The same can be said of its Dolby TrueHD soundtrack, though if anything it fares a touch better than the video. Extras are somewhat scant but the highlight is a commentary track with Director Alan Parker.
