Weekly RoundUp 9-8-2009

The Features



– Anna Torv (Fringe – 2008)


– Tatsuya Nakadai & Michiyo Aratama  (The Human Condition – 1961)


– Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier (That Hamilton Woman– 1941)


– Jason Statham & Amy Smart (Crank 2: High Voltage – 2009)


– Cast  (The Office – 2008-9)

The Prices

SD-DVD TITLE	Amazon	BestBuy	Target	Costco
Alvin & Chipmunks: Go to Movies	$10.99	$14.99
Alvin & Chipmunks: Very 1st Alvin Show	$10.99	$14.99
Bedknobs & Broomsticks	$21.49	$17.99	$19.99
The Buttercup Chain	$12.99	$14.99
Crank 2: High Voltage	$19.99	$16.99	$19.99
Crank 2: High Voltage SE (2-disc)	$23.99	$22.99
Criminal Minds: Season 4	$35.49	$39.99		$37.99
Friday	$13.49	$12.99
Fringe: Season 1	$38.99	$35.99	$37.99	$37.99
Gifted Hands: Ben Carson Story	$18.99	$19.99
Harper's Island	$29.99	$34.99
Homicide (1991) (CC)	$29.99	$34.99
The Human Condition (1961) (CC)	$79.95	$89.99
I'll Believe You	$22.49	$19.99
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin: S1	$13.99	$12.99
Local Color	$24.49	$24.99
Love & Pain & Whole Damn Thing	$12.99	$14.99
Mad Monster Party	$9.99	$9.99
MMC: Mickey's Advs. in Wonderland	$19.99	$14.99	$17.99
Model Shop	$12.99	$14.99
Mr. Belvedere: Season 3	$34.99	$34.99
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency: S1	$41.49	$44.99
The Office: Season 5	$36.99	$31.99	$32.99	$34.99
Parks & Recreation: Season 1	$15.49	$19.99
Power Rangers RPM: Volume 2	$13.99	$14.99
Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Dreams	$19.99	$19.99
The Pursuit of Happiness (1971)	$14.49	$14.99
Sleep Dealer	$19.99	$14.99
Summertree	$12.99	$14.99
That Hamilton Woman (CC)	$29.99	$34.99
Valentino: The Last Emperor	$15.99	$19.99
Worst Week: Complete Series	$19.99	$19.99

BLU-RAY TITLE	Amazon	BestBuy	Target	Costco
Catwoman	$14.99	$24.99
Crank 2: High Voltage	$19.99	$24.99	$25.99
Creepshow	$14.99	$24.99
Dance Flick	$27.99	$25.99
Dead Calm	$14.99	$24.99
Exit Speed	$17.99	$14.99
Freddy vs. Jason	$11.49	$24.99
Friday	$19.99	$24.99
Fringe: Season 1	$50.99	$49.99	$52.99	$53.99
Menace II Society	$19.99	$24.99
The New World (Ext. Cut)	$14.99	$24.99
The Office: Season 5	$42.99	$41.99	$42.99
Over the Top	$14.99	$24.99
The Postman	$14.99	$24.99
The Quick and the Dead	$19.99	$24.99
Requiem For a Dream	$9.99	$17.99
Set It Off	$19.99	$24.99
Silverado	$22.99	$29.99
Sleep Dealer	$11.99	$19.99
Sphere	$14.99	$24.99
Valentino: The Last Emperor	$21.99	$24.99

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

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. 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, PLEASE 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, Circuit City is still out of business...even in Hawaii (where they NEVER guaranteed their prices anyway).

The Specials

--Since there has been a certain level of interest in the Beatles remasters released this week, I'll tell you what these retailers are up-to.  Amazon has the individual CDs available for $12.99 apiece (with the White Album @ $18.99 and Past Masters @ $16.99).  The big Stereo Box Set is $259.98.  Don't know the price on the Momo box @ amazon.  Both box sets have sold out via pre-order.  More will eventually be made available.

--At Best Buy this week, they have one of their EXCLUSIVE GIFT SETS with The Office: Season 5.  For $41.99, get the DVD set, along with exclusive "Schrute Farms" packaging which contains the following Office-themed products:  stress ball, magnet, mouse pad, T-shirt (Shrute Farms Beets) and door hanger.  Minimum 8 per store.

--Best Buy also features an EXCLUSIVE MINI-COMIC BOOK with their copies of Fringe: Season 1 (either version).  On-pack.  Minimum 4 per store.

--Best Buy, this week, has the following TV shows on sale:

$14.99:  Friday Night Lights: S 1-2

$16.99:  Dexter: S 1-2, Curb Your Enthusiasm: S 1-6

$17.99:  Monk: S 1-6, Scrubs: S 1-6

$19.99:  It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: S 1-3, Smallville: S 1-7, Supernatural: S 1-3, My Name is Earl: S 1-3

$24.99:  House: S 1-3, Heroes: S 1-2, 30 Rock: S 1-2

--Best Buy has most of the individual Beatles CDs listed @ $12.99 apiece.  The White Album is $16.99.  The big Stereo Box Set is $199.99 and the LE Mono Box Set is $229.99.  (The box sets are) Not available in all stores.  Available @ Bestbuy.com.

--BB will also have an Abbey Road "Crate Kit" which includes the AR CD and a T-Shirt ($24.99).  Also available in Let It Be, Rubber Soul and Revolver.  Minimum 3 per store.

--Best Buy Odds and Ends:  Some "comic book movies" @ $4.99, $6.99, $9.99 (in-store and online).

--Target, this week, has one of its EXCLUSIVE DELUXE EDITIONS of The Office: Season 5 on DVD (only).  Includes 45-minute interview with the writers, plus a script and inspirational cast magnets.  Quantities limited.  No rainchecks.

--Target also has an EXCLUSIVE BONUS DVD with its copies of Fringe: Season 1 (again this week, not clear if this is available on both their DVD & Blu-ray copies).  With 45-minutes of content from the Paley Festival and more.  Quantities limited.  No rainchecks.  

--Target has a FREE $5 TARGET GIFTCARD with the purchase of ANY TWO re-mastered Beatles CDs ($11.98 apiece).  Choose from 14 titles! Quantities limited.  No rainchecks.

--Target is also advertising Blu-ray 2-packs at a pricepoint of $24.99:  Italian Job/Shooter, TopGun/Days of Thunder, Mission: Impossible/M:I 2, Next/Face-Off.

--Target Odds and Ends:  A list of $4.75 titles.

That's a tempting price on Requiem for A Dream.

Best Buy on sale DVD items:

Spider-Man 2 $4.99
Ghost Rider $4.99
Iron Man $6.99
The Incredible Hulk $6.99

TV on DVD:
Friday Night Lights season 1-2 $14.99 each
Dexter season 1-2 $16.99 each
Curb Your Enthusiasm season 1-6 $16.99 each
Monk season 1-6 $17.99 each
Scrubs seaosn 1-6 $17.99 each
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 1-3 $19.99 each
Smallville season 1-7 $19.99 each
Supernatural season 1-3 $19.99 each
My Name Is Earl season 1-3 $19.99 each
House seaosn 1-3 $24.99 each
Heroes season 1-2 $24.99 each
30 Rock season 1-2 $24.99 each

Blu-ray:

None


---------

Target on sale DVD items:

$4.75 each (and selected others in stores):
Catch Me If You Can
Steel Magnolia
Love Story
Platoon


TV On DVD
californication season 2 $22.99
90210 season 1 $32.99
One Tree Hill season 6 $36.99
Gossip Girl season 2 $36.99
Smallvile season 8 $36.99
Supernatural season 4 $36.99
True Blood season 1 $39.99
Heroes season 3 $39.99

Blu-ray:

2-packs:
The Italian Job / Shooter $24.99
Top Gun / Days of Thunder $24.99
Mission Impossible / M:I 2 $24.99
Next / Face/Off $24.99

Mike, I think the thread this week is gonna be dominated by The Beatles!

Starbucks is ALSO carrying the following titles at $12.95 each:  Help!, Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road and Rubber Soul.  What I don't get there (with my discount) I will pick and choose some at Target.  I am sure hoping (OK, it's a ridiculous dream) that the mono versions will eventually be made available as individual titles at some point down the road....

I'm curious to see what exactly is going to be included in the Harpers Island set.  If the extras are good I might pick it up when the price inevitably drops.

Hope everybody has a great Labor Day!

Thanks, as always, guys!

I look at Best Buy's pricing on the several Blu-ray catalog titles coming out this week and I shake my head "no" in amazement. They are a full $10 higher than Amazon in almost every single instance. I stand by my earlier statement that since CC went out, BB's prices continue to creep higher.

When you factor in the '$5 gift card on two' plus the $11.98 vs. $12.99 advertised sale price (i.e. $9.48 ea. at Target), Target is killing Best Buy on the Beatles stereo remasters.

Beatles mono box for me (pre-ordered in July from Amazon) otherwise, nothing.

I'll be picking up The Office: Season Five DVD. Since I've got the first four seasons on DVD, I figure that I'll just stick with DVD. And I'll be picking up the Fringe: S1 Blu-ray on sale somewhere (hopefully) not too far down the road.

Thanks for the prices, guys!





I still say that their prices were always terrible.  I guess taking a look at the prices in old Weekly Round Ups would settle the 'debate' though.

Freddy vs. Jason at some point, but not this week.  I keep finding myself in FYE at their "Buy 3, Get the Fourth Free" used BD bin. 

I'm sure that's correct, Travis. CC was, generally speaking, more-often-than-not, lower than BB when it came to advertising "blast items." I may be completely wrong on this, but AFAICR, having CC out there at least helped keep BB honest to a certain extent. As it is now, BB looks to be going exclusively after margin. $24.99 for Freddy vs. Jason when Amazon is selling the same thing for $11.49? Not that I even want the title, but in this economy, who in their right mind is going to pay that kind of premium to buy it from Best Buy?

Gary, I couldn't agree more!  But doesn't Catwoman at $24.99 look tempting???

Just Fringe Season One for me this week.  I absolutely love this show.  Slow to get going and a lot of WTF moments early on, but things became clearer as the season progressed.  Can't wait to revisit the early shows now to see what I missed!

--John

It hurt me to type that into the price grid! 

As most of you folks know by now, I'm with Jason...I find myself spending a lot more time perusing the used bins (especially FYE) than places like Best Buy.  I actually make very few "release week" purchases.  I'll be making an exception this week for The Office: Season 5

I was recently browsing in my local BB abd couldn't believe how high prices were on any titles I'd be interested in.  Sure, they had a fair share of titles in the $14.99 range that catch the eye...but they've been discounted for months and months already (most of 'em).

Best Buy (and Circuit City when it was still around), were creeping up both new  release sale prices and their regular prices starting a couple of years ago. It didn't start when Circuit City went out of business.

The closest FYE has had some good titles in that bin in the last three weeks.  I've picked up Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Descent, Michael Clayton, 27 Dresses, The Brave One, Quarantine, Pride and Glory and Constantine.  Nothing I'd pay full price for, but at about $11 each, why not?

I'll go with Crank 2: High Voltage, The Fringe: Season 1 & The Office: Season 5 on Blu-ray this week.

Joseph: 

Why do I figure that Crank 2: High Voltage will be in the discount bins faster than you can say "Chev Chelios?"   

I know that when HD DVD was still around, my local BB would frequently have the discs priced well above MSRP.  I assume they've continued to do that with Blu-ray. 

Nothing of interest here.  Too bad that the rights issues couldn't be straightened out to get LET IT BE released on DVD this week too.

What, no "Chipmunks sing the Beatles songbook" release this week? 

I plan to head over to the local Target right after work tomorrow to pick up at least a couple of the remastered albums. Unfortunately, my local Target has a habit of not stocking more than four anything so I'm probably going to be SOL.

Cameron,

It's looks like Amazon sold out its initial allotment, so I ordered a copy while they are still advertising that price.

The New World for me. Waiting for the BluRay paid off.

I may be missing something, but the Beatles stereo box set on sale appears to be more expensive than just buying each of the individuals CDs on sale (especially if you got those at Target).  They only thing missing would be the DVD compiling the mini-docs that were on the individuals CDs anyway. 

You're correct. I paid about $150 (plus tax) for all the individual CDs yesterday. I bought the 12 single discs at $12 a piece and got $30 in gift cards. Then I went back to display and picked up the Past Masters and the white album for $16 or $17 each and used the $30 of gift cards and ended needing to pay about $5.