It’s a week of “good, not great” on the new release wall, what with the DVD debuts of the documentary Afghan Star (about the politics of a televised singing competition in Afghanistan), the coming-of-age drama An Education (featuring a terrific, Oscar-nominated Carey Mulligan performance), and the low-budget comic horror film I Sell The Dead (which is more clever and agreeable than it is scary). None are exactly must-see, but all are worth your time if you’re looking for something new to rent.
For must-see, turn to the archival/reissue front, where you’ll find John Woo’s The Killer, now out on Blu-ray. For more Woo action, check back on Thursday for Scott Tobias’ New Cult Canon column on Hard-Boiled. Also coming soon: full AVC reviews of this week’s releases Letters From Fontainhas: Three Films By Pedro Costa, The Abbot & Costello Show: The Complete Series, The Baader Meinhof Complex and Henri Cartier-Bresson. So there’s something to look forward to.
The Abbot & Costello Show: The Complete Series
E1, $59.98
Afghan Star
Zeitgeist, $29.99
Alice In Wonderland (1951)
Walt Disney, $29.99
Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
20th Century Fox, $29.98/$34.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning
PBS, $24.99
The Baader Meinhof Complex
MPI, $27.98; Blu-ray, $34.98
The Backyardigans: Escape From The Tower
Nickelodeon, $16.99
Behind Convent Walls
Cult Epics, $29.95
Bigfoot
Troma, $19.95
Blind Date
Mya/Ryko, $24.95
Building Pharaoh’s Ship
PBS, $24.99
Collateral
Dreamworks Blu-ray, $29.99
The Crucifer Of Blood
Warner, $14.98
Deadliest Catch: Season Five
Discovery, $29.98
An Education
Sony, $28.96; Blu-ray, $38.96
Henri Cartier-Bresson
New Video, $49.95
Housebroken
Image, $27.98; Blu-ray, $35.98
I Sell The Dead
MPI, $19.98; Blu-ray, $29.98
The Jacksons, A Family Dynasty: Season One
A&E, $24.95
Jesse James’ Hidden Treasure
A&E, $19.95
Joe Rogan: Talking Monkeys In Space
Comedy Central, $14.98
Judge John Deed: Season One
BBC Warner, $39.98
The Killer
Weinstein/Dragon Dynasty, $24.99; Blu-ray, $29.99
Kreola
Mya/Ryko, $24.95
Letters From Fontainhas: Three Films By Pedro Costa
Criterion, $79.95
The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Set One
Acorn, $49.99
Marisa Tomei: Core & Curves
Gaiam, $14.98
Mysteryquest: The Complete Season One
A&E, $29.95
Nostradamus: The Complete Season One
A&E, $34.95
Nova: Killer Subs In Pearl Harbor
PBS, $24.99
Once Upon A Time In A Battlefield…
Virgil, $19.99
The Real Housewives Of New Jersey: Season One
A&E, $29.95
Rhoda: Season Two
Shout! Factory, $39.99
The Rivals Of Sherlock Holmes: Set 2
Acorn, $59.99
Robin Williams: Weapons Of Self-Destruction
Sony, $14.98
The Sadist With Red Teeth/Forbidden Paris
Mondo Macabre, $29.95
Sherlock Holmes
Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
Smash Cut
Shriek Show, $19.95
SportsNight: The Complete First Season
Shout! Factory, $29.97
Steven Seagal, Lawman: The Complete Season One
A&E, $19.95
The Story Of Math
Athena, $59.99
Vampyres
Blur Underground Blu-ray, $29.95
What Darwin Never Knew
PBS, $24.99; Blu-ray, $29.99
The Yes Men Fix The World
New Video, $26.95