Weekly RoundUp 3-28-2006 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Frezon]

The Weekly RoundUp

The Features


– Naomi Watts and friend (King Kong - 2005)


– Ziyi Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005)


– Triumph of the Will (1935)


– Li Gong (The Story of Qiu Ju - 1992)

The Prices

TITLEAmazonBestBuyCrcCityTargetCostco3 Films by Louis Malle (CC)$55.99$99.99$69.99--Andy Milonakis Show: Season 1$17.49$19.99$19.99--Astro Boy Ultra CE: Set 1$90.99$114.99$129.99--Au Revoir Les Enfants (CC)$20.99$24.99$19.99--Battle for the Planet of the Apes$9.99$12.99$12.99--Beneath the Planet of the Apes$9.99$12.99$12.99--A Boy Named Charlie Brown$9.99$9.99$12.99--The Children Are Watching (CC)$20.99-$19.99--Conquest of the Planet of the Apes$9.99$12.99$12.99--The Cutting Edge: Going for Gold$16.96$22.99$17.99$19.99-Danger Mouse: Seasons 5 & 6$20.99$19.99$19.99--Dark Kingdom: Dragon King SE$16.99$22.99$24.97--Doctor Who: The Beginning Coll.$34.96$34.99$39.99--Escape from Plant of the Apes$9.99$12.99$12.99--Friends: One with all…Babies$11.19$12.99$12.99$9.44- Friends: One with all…Weddings $11.19$12.99$12.99$9.44- Friends: One with all…Birthdays $11.19$12.99$12.99$9.44-G$20.19$24.99$17.99--**Get Rich or Die Tryin’$17.96$16.99$17.99$19.99-Godzilla: Monster Edition (1998)$14.99$14.99$15.99--Godzilla (Series) Monster Mayhem$6.99$8.99$9.99--Godzilla (Series) Mutant Madness$6.99$8.99$9.99--HG Wells’ Invisible Man: Season 1$26.98$24.99$24.99--Highway to Heaven: Season 3$48.99$48.99$69.99--I Love Your Work$20.99$20.99$24.99--Julius Caesar (1970)$11.19$12.99$12.99--Karol: Man Who Became Pope$14.99$15.99$17.99--King Kong (2005) 2-disc SE$19.98$22.99$22.99$20.99$21.79**King Kong (2005) 1-disc$14.96$15.99$13.99$14.99-King Kong (1933) 1-disc$11.19$12.99$12.99$9.44-Knots Landing: Season 1$27.99$27.99$27.99$32.99$26.99Lacombe Lucien (CC)$20.99$24.99$19.99--Left Behind DVD Coll. 3-pack$23.99$24.99$24.99--Little House on Prairie (2004)$20.99$24.99$19.99--Love on the Side$20.99$24.99$19.99--Masters Horror: Carpenter/Gordon$20.99$24.99$19.99--Masters/Horror: Cigarette Burns$12.69$11.99$9.99$12.99-Masters/Horror: Dreams/Witch House$12.69$11.99$9.99$12.99-**Memoirs of a Geisha$17.96$16.99$17.99$16.99$19.39Monty Python’s Personal Best$55.99$89.99$69.99--Murmur of the Heart (CC)$20.99$24.99$19.99--Northern Exposure: Season 4$34.96$34.99$34.99--Planet of the Apes (1968)$9.99$12.99$12.99--Planet of the Apes: Ult. DVD Coll.$134.99-$179.98--Planet of the Apes: Legacy Coll.$34.99$37.99$32.99--Quantum Leap: Season 4$34.99$34.99$34.99--Robot Chicken: Vol. 1$19.49$21.99$24.99$16.99-Six Feet Under; Season 5$69.99$65.99$64.99-$68.99Sliver (NR)$9.96$9.99$12.99--Snoopy Come Home$9.99$9.99$12.99--A Sound of Thunder$19.96$19.99$19.99$19.99-Stay$17.96$19.99$17.99$14.99-The Story of Qiu Ju$18.69$22.99$24.97--Super Mario Bros. Super Show$19.96$20.99$24.99--The Triangle$18.99$16.99$17.99$19.99-Triumph of the Will$26.19$24.99$24.99--Wind in Willows: Tale of Two Toads$13.99$14.99$15.99--Wonder Showzen: Season 1$17.49$17.99$19.99--

(CC) after a title = New release in the Criterion Collection.

Individual titles included in box sets listed above:

3 Films of Louis Malle: Murmur of the Heart, Lacombe Lucien, Au Revoir Les Enfants.

Left Behind DVD Collection: Left Behind: The Movie, Left Behind: Tribulation Force, Left Behind: World At War.

Monty Python’s Personal Best: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin.

The Disclaimer Standard disclaimer: All prices are taken from the websites of each chain, or from their printed Sunday advertisements. All prices are subject to change by each chain. Prices and inventory in-store may or may not match the website price.

"LP" in the RoundUp table means a store’s Sunday flyer says "Low Price". That means I could not locate a definite price for the item, and the ad is all I have to go on. Retailers use these phrases in advertisements so that they do not violate MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) agreements with the studios. Doing so can cost them thousands or even millions of dollars in co-op advertising funds.

I, obviously, cannot include EVERY title released in a given week in the RoundUp. The titles included are those that I am interested in...as well as those which I consider will be of interest to a majority of consumers (and sometimes I’ll miss one!). I don't get paid for this, and I don't have the time to list every DVD. So, please don't complain! If there is a title not included in the RoundUp that you want to see, just look it up yourself, and be nice enough to post and share the results with everyone!

Note that I cannot include Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club prices in the RoundUp. They set prices at individual stores based on nearby competition, so there is no way I can say here what price you'll find at YOUR local Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club location. And, as always, Circuit City does not guarantee their sale prices in Hawaii.

The Specials

**BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL! Get Rich or Die Tryin’ AND King Kong (2005) 1-disc AND Memoirs of a Geisha are ALL available in both MAR and OAR versions...get the correct one!

--Amazon, this week, again has slightly different pricing on the OAR and MAR versions of some titles. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (FS) = $19.96, King Kong (2005) 1-disc (FS) = $14.98, Memoirs of a Geisha (FS) = $17.98.

--Amazon also has the following information on its website about the Planet of the Apes Ultimate DVD Collection with Ape Head Packaging:

Each Planet of the Apes - The Ultimate DVD Edition is stamped with a limited edition number, 1-10,000. Numbers 1-100 have been stocked by Amazon.com and will be shipped randomly to customers who order this item. Please note we can't guarantee you will receive one of the lower numbers in this series.



--BORDERS, this week, has a coupon to purchase King Kong (2005) 2-disc for just $19.99! Borders Coupon for 2-disc King Kong/$19.99 THIS looks like the best price on the 2-disc KK anywhere. You need to be a member of the Borders Rewards program…but that is a free sign-up you can do at checkout. All they’ll want is an e-mail address to be able to send you promotions, coupons, etc. Special thanks to Arnie G for posting this nugget earlier this week!

--Best Buy is advertising FREE Nestle Buncha Crunch, Goobers, or Raisinets, instantly, with the purchase of the NEW King Kong DVD. Minimum 12 per store. No rainchecks. In-store only.

--A couple of other King Kong-related promotions at Best Buy include $20 off the purchase of the new King Kong DVD and any Toshiba DVD player $79.99 and up. Must be purchased on same receipt. Also, save $10 off, instantly, any Kodak digital camera or printer dock with the purchase of the new King Kong DVD. Must be purchased on same receipt.

--Best Buy is also advertising that it will have an EXCLUSIVE disc available at its stores this week--“Sci-Fi Boys”. The disc will be selling for $14.99! Explore the fascinating story of sci-fi film evolution, featuring Peter Jackson and other top sci-fi directors of today. Minimum 8 per store. No rainchecks.

From BestBoy.com:

--Best Buy, this week, has EXCLUSIVE Pewter Dog Tags included on-pack with its copies of Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Minimum 35 per store. No rainchecks.

--Best Buy also has a 2/$20 deal if you buy Memoirs of a Geisha ($16.99) and one of three other titles ($9.99 apiece). Those three titles eligible for this sale are: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Y Tu Mama, Tambien, and Original Sin. Must be purchased on same receipt. No rainchecks.

--Best Buy is also advertising an EXCLUSIVE with the new Masters of Horror DVDs this week. Buy Cigarette Burns or Dreams in the Witch House and a “From Script to Screen” featurette is included on-pack with each DVD.

--Best Buy has also renewed its deal to pre-order The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe on DVD and save $5, instantly, on ANY Disney DVD $14.99 and up. $5 deposit required. Release date (April 4) subject to change.

--Worth mentioning that Best Buy is advertising special prices on season copies of the X-Files. Save $15, instantly, when you buy any 2 X-Files seasons. Save $30, instantly, when you buy any 3 X-Files seasons. Each season comes in a 6-disc set and a new, slimmer package. Offer valid on seasons 1-6 only. Must be purchased on same receipt. In the flyer, they show only Seasons 4-6 at $37.99 apiece.

--I am working without a net again this week as my local papers have failed to supply me with an early Circuit City flyer. My CC information has been culled from various internet sources—including circuitcity.com.

--Circuit City has a similar deal on King Kong as Best Buy. Dubbing it an EXCLUSIVE, CC has a free Nestle “KING” size candy bar with the purchase of the new King Kong DVD. Minimum 48 per store. No rainchecks.

--Circuit City’s copies of Get Rich or Die Tryin’ include a FREE bonus disc which contains the featurette “Bringing the Life to the Screen”. Minimum 30 per store. No rainchecks.

--With the two Masters of Horror titles released this week, Circuit City is including a FREE collectible poster. Minimum 5 per store.

--Worth mentioning that Circuit City is also advertising deals on season sets of Northern Exposure, Quantum Leap and Six Feet Under. Seasons 1-3 of Northern Exposure are available for $18.99. Seasons 1-3 of Quantum Leap are available at $18.99. And, Seasons 1-4 of Six Feet Under are available for $54.99.

--Target is offering an EXCLUSIVE this week with the new King Kong…a FREE comic book. Quantity limited; no rainchecks.

--A special tip of the hat this week to Eric Schulz. Eric has been supplying me for months with inside information on Target prices. This marks Eric’s last week helping me in that capacity. That’s too bad because he often fed me prices of new releases at Target that were not listed in the Target Sunday flyer. While it’s a loss for the RoundUp, it’s a good thing for Eric who is taking a step forward professionally. THANKS, ERIC!

The Markdowns

The latest markdowns according to DavisDVD:

EFFECTIVE: March 28, 2006 (Studio/Titles/New SRP)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Barney's Great Adventure, The Best Man, Blue Crush, The Bone Collector, Fear, The Hurricane, The Mexican, The Paper, Psycho (1998), Scent of a Woman, Shenandoah, The Skulls, Timecop, Undercover Brother ... $9.99

 

[Patrick Sun]

Circuit City on sale DVD items:

King Kong 1976 $6.99
King Kong Lives $6.99

Ron White: You Can't Fix Stupid $9.99
Ron White: You Can't Fix Stupid CD $9.99
Chicken Little $19.99
Destiny's Child: Live in Atlanta $9.99

2 FOR $10: (otherwise $6.99 each)
The Hurricane
The Bone Collector
Blue Crush
The Best Man
Scent of a Woman
Undercover Brother
FEAR
The Tuskegge Airmen
Juice
Serpico
Black Mask (Jet Li)
Bat 21
Primal Fear
Double Impact
The General's Daughter
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Valley Girl
Island of Dr. Motreau (Val Kilmer / Marlon Brando)
Eddie & The Cruisers
Godzilla (Broderick)
Dirty Work
Robocop
Kalifornia
Blown Away
Misery
Leaving Las Vegas
Dead Man Walking
A Guy Thing
UHF
The Falcon & The Snowman

-------

Best Buy on sale DVD items:

King Kong 1933 2-DVD Special Edition $15.99

Ron White: You Can’t Fix Stupid $16.99
Chicken Little $19.99
Destiny’s Child: Live in Atlanta $9.99
Barry Manilow: Live From Las Vegas: Music & Passion 2 DVD set $14.99

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon $9.99
Original Sin: Unrated $9.99
Y Tu Mama Tambien: Unrated $9.99

$9.99 each:
House of Flying Daggers
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Gone in 60 Seconds: Unrated, Extended Director’s Cut Edition (Cage / Jolie)
The Aviator
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle: Unrated
Tomb Raider
Open Water Raider
South Park: The Passion of the Jew
Spider-Man 2
Jackie Brown
Snatch (Red Cover)
Dirty Dancing: Ultimate Edition
White Chicks
Not Another Teen Movie: Uncensored
Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Bound By Honor (Blood In, Blood Out)

DVD Sets:
Six Feet Under: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 $54.99 each

---------

Target on sale DVD items:

$10.00 each:
Racing Stripes
Hotel Rwanda
Spanglish
Ocean's Twelve
Kung Fu Hustle

 

[Scott_J]

Thanks, Mike and Patrick. Expensive week this week. Robot Chicken, Super Mario Super Show, and Wonder Showzen sets. I wasn't planning on picking up King Kong ('05), but the prices on the 2-disc set are tempting. I'm probably going to pick it up at buy.com for $19.97 (free shipping, no tax).

Speaking of KK 2-disc:
I don't think it's going to be the best price for people with a Tower B&M nearby. Tower.com is selling the 2-disc set for $16.99 and according to a couple posts at DVDTalk from people who have seen their flyer, it's going to be the same price in-store this week.

 

[Christopher D]

Must ... resist ... ape head!

 

[Bill Thomann]

Thanks for the roundup. Just the big Ape for me. Probably the one disc as I'm hoping for an EE. Papa John's is supposed to have a King Kong promotion ($3 off coupon with all pizza purchases beginning 3/27/06).

 

[george kaplan]

Thanks as usual.

Light week - just the Planet of the Apes films (not the expensive set)

 

[Mike Frezon]

Ya know, George...I really miss your sig which included the last five films you and your son watched.



Bet those are words few people have ever strung together before!

 

[ChrisBEA]

AT least Kong and Geisha.... perhaps more.....

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Meyers]

Thanks as always Mike & Patrick.
Also, thanks to Eric Schulz for all of your behind the scenes contributions and efforts to the weekly RoundUp - they will be missed. Good luck to you in your endeavors.

That's an amazing price - especially so for Tower Records! I can't recall ever purchasing a DVD at Tower Records - primarily because of their pricing.
Here's the link to KK: 2D SE at Tower.com: King Kong - 2 Disc Special Edition
Unfortunately, I don't live close to a Tower Records store anymore. But I just checked their web-site and there's a location just down the street from my wife's work.

[WIFE BEG]"Hey Hon, what are you doing Tuesday on your lunch break?"[/WIFE BEG]

 

[RoyWilbury]

I have the "Legacy" (cheap) Planet of the Apes set on order from Amazon. I usually purchase items in person, in-store when I'm buying something on the release date. But I figured the stocking of the set would be hit-and-miss at retailers. Plus, only Circuit City seems to have a cheaper price than Amazon ($2 less), and I don't have a Circuit City super close to me, not to mention that I seem to often hear about sell-outs and low stock on a lot of items at Circuit City, especially when it comes to new, large, pricey items.

I've discussed the ape head vs. "Legacy" set decision over on the DVD Films forum, so I won't dredge that up here. (One sentence version: The only "exclusive" on the ape head other the actual ape head packaging itself is the animated series, which should (hopefully) get a seperate release on its own). But I am curious, how many copies do you think the various retailers will stock of the ape head? Some probably won't stock it at all, and others will surely only have a few at the most.

One other pricing point for "Best Buy": I was just at one or their stores, which is not the one I usually go to, and they had all of the "Star Trek" movie "Special Collector's Edition" titles on sale for $9.99. Perhaps I missed this in a recent roundup of sale prices, but I was able to pick up the last Trek movie I was interested in getting. That sale price may end soon, I don't know. The sale price stickers were dated 3/20. The Best Buy closest to me that I usually go to did not have the Trek films on sale, which means either one or the two stores have incorrectly priced these, or perhaps there are differences in pricing from store to store?

 

[nolesrule]

Not sure exactly when I'll be etting them, but I've ot the following on my list:

King Kong (2-disc)
Danger Mouse Seasons 5 & 6
Quantum Leap Season 4

 

[Greg_S_H]

Nothing this week, fortunately.

 

[EricSchulz]

Probably the 2-disc Kong (with the comic book from Target, if it looks good) and DEFINITELY Escape from the Planet of the Apes (hmmm...there's a theme here I think!).

Thanks for the kind words regarding the help I have really enjoyed giving over the past year. It's been alot of fun contributing my little bit to help out the Forum. About two weeks ago I saw information on a new system that Target is implementing (and I think it hits this week) regarding the quantities of new release titles that are shipped to the stores. It looks like they understand that running out of a title during its first week of release REALLY hurts and this new system is supposed to correct the problem...hopefully!

 

[Tino]

King Kong 2 Disc at TOWER RECORDS for $16.99 for me!:b

 

[Bob Graham]

Tower is slowly becoming the place to go for 2 disc editions. A few weeks ago, I purchased the 2 disc version of WALK THE LINE for $19.99 at Tower.com. Their shipping (which is free on orders over $20) is very prompt. I know they were struggling as a retailer, so I'm glad to see a resurgance via their online business.

 

[george kaplan]

That was taking too much space up (and was kind of hard to keep track of with him seeing films in school), and I really needed that space a while back to rant about the a-hole that is Mack Brown.

But maybe I'll bring it back.

Let's see, I think at the moment it's:

The Pink Panther (2006)
The Shaggy Dog (1959)
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Return of the King
The Sword in the Stone

 

[Robert Crawford]

You're right it took up too much space.





Crawdaddy

 

[aaron campbell]

If you are buying Kong make sure you grab a Papa Johns $3.00 off coupon. http://www.papajohns.com/#

 

[Steve...O]

Thanks for the Roundup! After buying several Warners boxes recently, my bank account takes a well deserved break this week.

Steve

 

[SteveVM]

I will be getting X-Files 4-6 at Best Buy.
And will get a pricematch of Quantum Leap S1-S3 at BB.
and maybe Sliver and Snoopy also.

I also mst....resisit....ape head...