Weekly RoundUp 10/26/04 (1 Viewer)

My, my, what beautiful blossoms we have this year. But look, this one's late. But, I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all.
–Soon Tek-Oh as Fa Zhou (Mulan – 1998)


My baby’s all grown up and saving China!
-Eddie Murphy as Mushu (Mulan – 1998)



[c]The Weekly RoundUp[/c]
[C]
_____________TITLE___________ _ _Amazon _ BestBuy _ CrcCity _ Target_ _ Costco_
21 Jump Street: Season 1__ _ $27.99 __ $27.99 __ $29.99 __ $24.99 __ $_N/A_ __
Bad Boys II (SB)__________ _ $23.46 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Brain Donors______________ _ $13.04 __ $12.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
China Syndrome SE_________ _ $16.35 __ $14.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Cliffhanger (SB)__________ _ $23.46 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Control Room______________ _ $18.89 __ $25.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
**Dawn of the Dead (R)____ _ $20.99 __ $24.99 __ $15.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __
**Dawn of the Dead (NR)___ _ $20.99 __ $15.99 __ $15.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __
Deadly Spawn______________ _ $13.97 __ $14.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Dora’s Christmas__________ _ $11.89 __ $14.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Dora’s Ultimate Adventure_ _ $27.29 __ $34.99 __ $34.99 __ $34.99 __ $25.99 __
Dr. Quinn: Season 4_______ _ $83.96 __ $77.99 __$119.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Father and Son____________ _ $26.08 __ $24.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $18.49 __
Father Murphy: Season 1___ _ $34.99 __ $44.99 __ $39.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Forgotten Silver__________ _ $16.98 __ $14.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Frankenfish_______________ _ $21.72 __ $23.99 __ $24.97 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Grand Theft Parsons_______ _ $21.30 __ $19.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Guns of Navarone (SB)_____ _ $22.11 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Happy Birthday to Me______ _ $20.47 __ $15.99 __ $24.97 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
The Harvest_______________ _ $17.35 __ $16.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
In Enemy Hands____________ _ $17.38 __ $14.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
I Want Dog for Xmas,C.Brown_ $10.49 __ $12.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Jimmy Hollywood___________ _ $13.04 __ $12.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Little House: Season 6____ _ $34.99 __ $43.99 __ $39.99 __ $34.99 __ $_N/A_ __
The Missing (SB)__________ _ $23.46 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Mulan SE__________________ _ $20.99 __ $17.99 __ $17.99 __ $19.99 __ $17.99 __
MST3k: Collection #6______ _ $41.97 __ $_N/A_ __ $49.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
The OC: Season 1__________ _ $48.99 __ $47.99 __ $59.99 __ $45.99 __ $_N/A_ __
Once Upon Time/Mexico(SB)_ _ $18.87 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Profiler: Season 4________ _ $55.96 __ $51.99 __ $69.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Spartacus:Miniseries(2004) _ $19.59 __ $22.99 __ $22.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
ST: DS9:Complete Series___ _$685.95 __$620.48 __$729.98 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
ST:TNG: Complete Series___ _$685.95 __$620.48 __$729.98 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
S.W.A.T. (SB)_____________ _ $18.87 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
That ‘70s Show: Season 1__ _ $34.99 __ $34.99 __ $39.99 __ $35.99 __ $33.99 __
The Thing CE______________ _ $13.99 __ $14.99 __ $14.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Underworld (SB)___________ _ $23.46 __ $20.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Viva La Bam: Season 1_____ _ $23.48 __ $19.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
**White Chicks(PG-13/NR)__ _ $20.26 __ $15.99 __ $17.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __
WildBoyz: Season 1________ _ $18.89 __ $19.99 __ $19.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __
[/C]

(SB) listed after a title in the above grid = new SuperBit release.

Standard disclaimer: All prices are taken from the websites of each chain, or from their printed advertisements, the Sunday of the week of release (so as to catch any week-of-release sale prices). All prices are subject to change by each chain. Prices and inventory in-store may or may not match the website price. If a price is marked "$_N/A_" in the grid, it means that this title is not shown as available on that chain's website or perhaps in their ads...but it COULD still be in-stores!

$_"LP" means the advertisement says "Low Price", and $_"HP" means the advertisement says "Hot Price". Use of either of these in the Roundup grid indicates that 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 only include the titles I feel like including (or the ones Dave tells me he's looking for ;o)). In fact, the titles are pretty much the ones I'm personally interested in, with few exceptions. I don't get paid for this, and I don't have time to devote to doing 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...like Dave & I do!

Note that Circuit City does not guarantee their sale prices in Hawaii. Also note that I cannot include Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club prices in the standard Roundup: they set prices at individual stores based on nearby competition, so there is not a way I can say here what price you'll find at YOUR local Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club location. When it comes to Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club prices mentioned at all, just remember that "Your Mileage May Vary".


**BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL! Dawn of the Dead is available in both OAR and MAR versions AND differently-rated versions...get the correct one. That means 4 different versions in one release: Widescreen & R-rated, Widescreen and Not Rated, Pan & Scan and R-rated, and Pan-and-Scan and Not Rated. Also, White Chicks is available in two differently-rated versions PG-13 and NR…get the one that’s right for you.

--Amazon is still featuring free shipping on orders over $25. Restrictions apply.

--Best Buy is offering double points in its Reward Zone program on all movies, music, video games and PC entertainment software purchases.

--Best Buy is offering a bonus disc in-pack on its unrated copies of Dawn of the Dead. Disc “features mockumentary “Undead and Loving It!”, a perspective on working with on-set zombies from the director, cast and crew. Includes “Drawing The Dead: Storyboard Comparisons”. Minimum 75 per store. No rainchecks.

--On the subject of Best Buy and Dawn of the Dead: bb.com is showing a price of $15.99 for the NR version and $24.99 for the R version. The Sunday BB flyer shows only the NR version with a price of $15.99. I cannot predict an in-store price on the R version of DotD.

--Circuit City is advertising a FREE Dawn of the Dead comic book with the purchase of its Dawn of the Dead DVDs. So, if you're a fan of gore in cinema...but also like gore in your comics, CC is the place for you!

-------------------------

The latest markdowns according to DavisDVD:

EFFECTIVE: October 26, 2004 (Studio/Titles/New SRP)

None to report this week.

Thanks as usual Mike. A moderate week for me, with just Mulan and Cliffhanger (if I can find any indication that the picture quality is indeed improved).

Thanks for all your efforts Mike. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time you devote to this each week because it's taken me the last 15 minutes to research 4 titles. Dreamworks is re-releasing 4 animated titles this week - with "Limited Edition" in their titles. I'm not sure what the differences are between these and the previous releases but here are the prices:

_____________TITLE___________ _ _Amazon _ BestBuy _ CrcCity _ Target_ _ Costco_
Antz (LE)_________________ _ $13.04 __ $12.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Chicken Run (LE)___________ _ $13.04 __ $12.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Shrek (LE)________________ _ $_N/A_ __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Spirit: Stallion Cimarron (LE)_ _ $13.04 __ $12.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __

I apologize if I messed-up the above formatting - I now see that this is time consuming as well. Thanks again Mike.

Dawn Of The Dead for me but all the packaging is confusing.

Hope I can get the right one on Tuesday morning at BestBuy.

Anyone think "The O.C." is worth buying as a box set? Never saw the show but it seems to get raves. Wouldn't mind have the dvds to go thru each episode. Can't stand to watch regular TV with all those commercials.

Thanks for the round up, Mike. I will get Mulan this week, and...dunno acually. My brother is wanting to get Dawn of the Dead remake and "The Thing", which means I should hold off on getting them (he shares his collection with the family, so getting it now is pointless). I might save up money for Grand Theft Auto : Sand Andres or Halo 2. Or just get another dvd I passed up eariler this year. Just have to wait and see what other deals are going on this week with the stores.

I'm glad I put off buying Guns of Navarone since Sony's releasing the Super Bits version.

Dawn of the Dead: DC, The Thing and Brain Donors for me!

And I might have to buy The Deadly Spawn because Netflix doesn't seem to have it for rental. I remember that flick from my younger days and I recall it being gloriously gory.

(Kinda odd that there's such a big price difference between the DOTD theatrical ($24.99) and the Director's Cut ($15.99).)

Thanks Mike! (There's a solid 3-for-20 horror sale at BB, but I'll save it for the regular fella to list 'em!)

And don't forget: hit McDonald's on your way if you're shopping at BB! Love those Best Buy Bucks!

Circuit City on sale DVD items:

$9.99 each:
Gothika (1 disc)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (remake)
Exorcist
Hannibal
Bride of Chucky
Jeepers Creepers 2
Scary Movie 3

$14.99:
Jimmy Page/Robert Plant - No Quarter

$15.99:
Punisher

311 Live - $19.99
Chucky Collection - $29.99

--------

Best Buy on sale DVD items:

3 for $20:
Poltergeist
The Legend of Hell House
Jacob's Ladder
Children of the Corn (old version)
Evil Dead 2
Scream
The Faculty
Fright Night
Blair Witch Project
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Childs Play
The Amityville Horror
April Fools Day
Jeepers Creepers
The Believers
The Fog
Species SE
Friday the 13th
Sleepy Hollow
Rosemary's Baby
Prophecy
Don't Look Now
Scanners
Videodrome (non-Criteron)
Jaws
The Hitcher
Salem's Lot (original)
Final Destination
Nightmare on Elm Street
The Omen

$14.99 each:
China Syndrome
Fraggle Rock
311 Live in Concert

$17.99:
Scooby Doo 2

$19.99:
Van Helsing

Everybody loves Raymond S1 - $34.99
Grateful Dead: Beyond Description - $119.99

Circuit City Sunday flyer prices have now been included in the above grid. Actually, no changes were made in the grid prices. Just the notice was added that CC will be carrying a FREE comic book with puchases of its DotD DVDs.

quote:Thanks for all your efforts Mike. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time you devote to this each week because it's taken me the last 15 minutes to research 4 titles...



I apologize if I messed-up the above formatting - I now see that this is time consuming as well. Thanks again Mike.

Click to expand...

Jeff: Thanks for the kind words (and everyone else, too!). It ain't easy, is it?



I don't think there's anything new to the Dreamworks re-releases except maybe the packaging.

quote:A moderate week for me, with just Mulan and Cliffhanger (if I can find any indication that the picture quality is indeed improved).

Click to expand...

George: I cannot tell if Mulan is included in your concerns about the picture quality issue (or just Cliffhanger). I always thought the one-disc Mulan PQ was excellent...but I amwatching on a small screen (a 26' WS HDTV Samsung). I just figure the bonus features are why I am double dipping on that title.

Thanks Mike. Just Mulan for me.

quote:I cannot tell if Mulan is included in your concerns about the picture quality issue

Click to expand...

These days there are only 3 reasons why I upgrade. Improved picture quality, director's cut, or deleted scenes. Other bonus features are nice, but are one time shots for me, so don't warrant a double dip. Since Mulan has 7 deleted scenes, it wasn't included in my concern about picture quality...



...But...



You got me curious so I checked a couple of reviews, and while it seems PQ might be slightly improved, there's also a change in aspect ratio from 1.85 to 1.66. Now, depending on what the OAR was, this could be a good thing, or a bad thing. If Disney is just chopping off the sides to make it "family friendly" 1.66 and we're losing intended picture, then it'll be a no-purchase no matter how much better the PQ is. Right now I don't know what the AR change means, so I'm now on the fence about Mulan as well.

Mulan SE prices a little disappointing. I was hoping for somebody to have a $15.99 on that one.



Thanks for the roundup.

Thanks guys, nothing for me this week. Just got hit with the first heating oil fill of the season. And many must haves in the weeks ahead.

Re: Mulan - The new version is anamorphic, the old wasn't - that usually warrants a double-dip for me right there.

quote:If Disney is just chopping off the sides to make it "family friendly" 1.66 and we're losing intended picture, then it'll be a no-purchase no matter how much better the PQ is.

Click to expand...

That's a legitimate concern, although it could also mean more information on the top & bottom. Hopefully HTF's Disney reviewer David Boulet will weigh in on this one soon.

Other than Mulan, probably just That 70's Show for me this week.

Thanks as always for the hard work, Mike!

Thanks

I'm looking to get

Mulan

Dawn of the Dead UR



and possibly

Control Room

That 70's Show S1



And probably something from that BB 3 for 20 deal.

MST3K Collection 6 this week (and maybe That '70s Show down the road). Deep Discount DVD has it for $35.88 (as always, free shipping) if you're looking to order online as opposed to B&Ms.

quote:but I am watching on a small screen (a 26' WS HDTV Samsung)

Click to expand...

Hey Mike, since when is a 26 foot TV a "small screen?" If that's what you watch your movies on, I'm heading down to Rensselaer from now on to watch my DVDs.

Unless, of course, you meant it's a 26 inch (26") screen.


Nice job on the Roundup, as always, Mike. Just Brain Donors for me this week.

I hope Wal-Mart has Mulan for a better price.

Anyone have any prices for Garfield:Holiday Celebrations?Any help will be appreciated.I will be getting:

-Dawn of the Dead UR

-Mulan

-The O.C.:Season 1

-That 70's Show:Season 1

Oooooohhhhh...Frankenfish!

(Seriously, though. Not as bad as its title would lead you to believe...at least within the carnivorous fish subgenre.)