Weekly RoundUp 10-18-2005 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Frezon]

The Weekly RoundUp

The Features


Dying together's even more personal than living together.
– Henry Hull, John Hodiak, Hume Cronyn, William Bendix, Mary Anderson, Tallulah Bankhead (Lifeboat – 1944)


Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet, with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel with his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way!
–George Reeves (The Adventures of Superman – 1952)


That rug really tied the room together.
–Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman (The Big Lebowski - 1998)

The Prices

TITLEAmazonBestBuyCrcCityTargetCostcoAdventures of Superman: Season 1$27.99$29.99$27.99--Atomic Betty: Volume 1$13.98$14.99$15.99--Atomic Betty: Volume 2$13.98$14.99$15.99--Atomic Betty: Volumes 1 & 2$20.99$24.99$24.99--Barbara Cook: Bell Tel. Hour (1960-65)$20.97$24.99$19.99--Batman Begins: 2-disc Deluxe Ed.$15.98$22.99$22.99-$21.99**Batman Begins: 1-disc$15.98$16.99$14.99$16.99-Batman SE$18.89$17.99$17.99--Batman Returns SE$18.89$17.99$17.99--Batman & Robin SE$18.89$17.99$17.99--Batman Forever SE$18.89$17.99$17.99--Batman Anthology (1989-1997)$51.98-$52.99$49.99-Batman: 1943 Serial Collection$20.96$14.99$24.99--Batman vs. Dracula (2005)$17.49$22.99$17.99--Big Lebowski: CE Gift Set$34.99$44.99$39.99--**Big Lebowski: Collector’s Edition$13.28$12.99$12.99--Black & White (2002)-$22.99$19.99--Blood of Beasts$22.46$22.99$24.97--Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection$34.99$44.99$39.99--Chained Heat 2$17.97$14.99$15.99--A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2005)$14.98$14.99$17.99--Coen Brothers Collection$29.98$32.99$34.99--CSI: New York: Season 1$45.49$46.99$69.99$44.99$44.99Davey & Goliath: Holiday Spectacular$26.24$34.99$34.99--Day of the Dead 2: Contagium$14.98$14.99$15.99--Dot the I$18.73$22.99$19.99--Elektra: Director’s Cut (NR)$18.89$19.99$19.99--Emperor’s New Groove: New Groove Ed.$20.99$16.99$19.99$19.99-Eternal$22.46$22.99---Excessive Force 2$17.97$14.99$15.99--Felony$17.97$14.99$15.99--Ferngully: Last Rainforest SE$14.98$14.99$15.99--Five Children & It/Return of It-$34.99$29.99--Garfield Prime Time Collection$20.99$24.99$24.99--**Geo. Romero’s Land of the Dead: Dir. Cut (NR)
$20.99$16.99$17.99$16.99-Geo. Romero’s Land of the Dead (R)$20.99$16.99$17.99$16.99-Ghost Hunters: Season 1$22.45$19.99$19.99--He-Man & Masters/Universe: Season 1 Vol. 1$33.98$24.99$34.99$34.99-House of Voices$26.98$24.99$24.99--**Jacqueline Hyde (R & NR)$14.98$14.99$15.99--Jazz Singer$13.99$12.99$15.99--Legend of Zelda: Complete Series
$22.48$24.99$24.99--Lifeboat SE$13.99$14.99$15.99--Mad Hot Ballroom$20.99$19.99$24.99$19.99-**Ma Mere (R)$22.49$19.99---**Ma Mere (NR)$18.74$19.99---Man with the Golden Arm: 50th Anniv. Ed.$17.49$19.99$19.99--Mark of Zorro (1940)$14.98$14.99$15.99--Mask of Zorro: Deluxe Edition (2005)$14.95$14.99$12.99--Mister Peepers: Complete Series$39.99----Queen & Paul Rodgers: Return/Champions$13.99$17.99$15.99--The Sabata Trilogy$26.96$34.99$29.96--Saved/Bell-New Class: Season 5$29.99$34.99$34.99--Saving Face$20.22$24.99$19.99--Saw: Uncut Edition (NR)$18.89$16.99$17.99$16.99-Tarzan: SE (Disney 1999)$20.99$16.99$19.99$19.99-Tell Them Who You Are$26.99$24.99$24.99--Twilight Zone-Definitive Ed: S4$69.99$73.99$99.99--Unscripted$24.49$35.99$29.99--

Individual Titles included in Collections listed above:

Garfield Prime Time Collection: Garfield as Himself, Garfield Travel Adventures, Garfield Fantasies.
Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection: Game of Death 2, The Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Game of Death, The Big Boss.
Coen Brothers Collection: The Big Lebowski, Blood Simple, Intolerable Cruelty, The Man Who Wasn’t There.
The Sabata Trilogy: Sabata, Adios Sabata, Return of Sabata.

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! Batman Begins 1-discAND Big Lebowski CE AND George Romero’s Land of the Dead: Director’s Cut (NR)are ALL available in both OAR and MAR versions...get the correct one(s) ! And, George Romero’s Land of the Dead AND Jacqueline Hyde AND Ma Mere are ALL being released in both R & NR versions…get the one that’s right for you.

--Best Buy is offering EXCLUSIVE in-pack movie cash to Saw 2 with the purchase of Saw: Uncut Edition at its stores. in theaters 10/28, up to $12 value.

--Best Buy has a deal on the new releases of Disney’s Tarzan, Emperor’s New Groove and Toy Story. Save $6 instantly when you buy ANY 2 of these DVDs. Each is priced at $16.99. Must be purchased on same receipt. No rainchecks.

--Buy Batman begins at Best Buy and get…hold on to your hats…TWO FREE BOTTLES OF YOUR FAVORITE COCA-COLA BEVERAGE! Instantly. Good towards any Coca Cola soda, juice or water products.

--Maybe a bit more significantly, Best Buy has EXCLUSIVE BOX ART with its copies of Batman Begins. Includes 72-page collectible comic book. Plus DVD special features give insights into the new Batmobile, Batsuit, fighting styles and more.

--Best Buy’s ad for The Mask of Zorro reveals that it contains movie cash worth $7.50 to see The Legend of Zorro in theaters 10/28. This does not seem to be a Best Buy exclusive. It should be in with copies everywhere.

--Circuit City has a FREE Collectible Lithograph with its copies of Batman Begins. In-store only. While supplies last. Minimum 50 per store.

--Circuit City’s Sunday flyer says CC’s copies of Elektra: Director’s Cut (NR) includes an on-pack comic book. While this, also, does not appear to be a Circuit City exclusive…no one else’s ads tout the inclusion of a comic book.

--Circuit City is, however, touting an EXCLUSIVE peek at Saw 2 with the purchase of Saw: Uncut (NR).

--Target’s got their FREE $5 GiftCard offer, this week, on its copies of CSI-New York: Season 1. Giftcard automatically given at register. No rainchecks.

--K-Mart features Batman Begins as the only new release in its Sunday flyer this week. AND, it doesn’t list a price. It DOES, however, advertise a $10 savings when you bou BOTH Batman Begins on DVD AND the Batman Begins Batmobile. No price is given on the toy car either.

The Appeal

Any visitor to the Weekly RoundUp should be sure to check out the new Main Portal Page of the Home Theater Forum….FOR TWO VERY GOOD REASONS!

First: Parker & Ron have re-formatted the Portal Page to include exclusive HT industry news you won’t find in any place on the HTF! Second: You will help support the Home Theater Forum and keep it up and running.

Operating the HTF is not free for Parker and Ron. That is why there is advertising throughout the forum and there has been the occasional membership fund drive. THIS IS AN EASY WAY FOR YOU TO HELP…AND IT’S FREE OF CHARGE…AND INFORMATIVE, TOO!

If you simply link to the Portal Page when you start your visits to the HTF, that act alone wILL bring revenue to the forum. While it would also be nice if you wanted to click on some of the advertisers’ links and check out their deals and sales (that form of “window shopping” would bring even more revenue to the forum), the simple act of landing on the Portal Page registers a “hit” or “impression” that creates revenue for the HTF.

So, if you’ve been “sneaking in” to the HTF through links to your favorite thread or forum, please take an extra second of your time and land first on the HTF Portal Page. You’ll see the new Industry News sections AND help out financially. THANKS!

The Markdowns

The latest markdowns according to DavisDVD:

EFFECTIVE: October 18, 2005 (Studio/Titles/New SRP)

None to report.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Circuit City on sale DVD items:

$24.99 each:
Everybody Loves Raymond season 1
Friends season 1
Dukes of Hazzard season 1
Smallville season 1
Nip/Tuck season 1

$9.99 each:
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Parents
Ray
The Bourne Supremacy
Shaun of the Dead
E.T.
16 Candles
Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
Anchorman
Seed of Chucky
Breakfast Club
Apollo 13
In Good Company
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)

$7.49 each:
Amistad
Meet Joe Black
How High
Honey
Erin Brockovich
Head of the State
21 Grams
Almost Famous
Spy Game
8 Mile
Beautiful Mind
Bruce Almighty
Out of Africa
Fear
Deliver us From Eva

-------

Best Buy on sale DVD items:

$55.99:
Mr. Show Complete Collection

$25:
The Amityville Horror (both old and current version)

$19.99 each:
Amityville Horror (2005)
Unleashed Unrated
Kingdom of Heaven
Kicking & Screaming

$17.99:
The Amityville Horror (2005) UMD

$16.99:
Toy Story 10th AE (save $6 if bought with Tarzan or Emperor's New Groove)

$15.99 each:
New Jack City 2-disc SE
Nip/Tuck season 1
Dukes of Hazzard season 1
Dallas season 1&2
Smallville season 1
West Wing season 1
Friends season 1

$9.99:
The Amityville Horror (old)

3 for $20:
The Sandlot
X2
My Cousin Vinny
Donnie Darko
Last of the Mohicans
Aliens
(over 30 titles in store)

---------

Target on sale DVD items:

$52.99
Friday the 13th Collection w/ $5 GC

$49.99 each:
Batman Anthology 8-disc
Lost season 1 w/ $5 GC

$47.99:
Roswell season 3 w/ $5 GC

$37.99 each:
Charmed season 2 w/ $5 GC
Nightmare on Elm Street Collection w/ $5 GC

$27.99:
The Amityville Horror Collection w/ $5 GC

$22.99:
Chucky Collection w/ $5 GC

 

[Steve...O]

Thanks guys for your usual great job. Most appreciated.

The Adventures of Superman, Batman 1943 and Lifeboat for me this week.

Steve

 

[Bill Thomann]

Thanks for the Roundup! Looks like I'll keep my order for Batman Begins DE @ Amazon. I've got 2 copies ordered for free shipping (one for my nephew). All the rest I'll get at CC: Batman SE, Batman Returns SE, Mask of Zorro DE w/moviecash, Ferngully SE & Tarzan SE (both with BB price matches).

BTW if you're getting Saw with the "exclusive movie ticket" I'd open it at Best Buy to make sure you get one in case there is another fiasco like with The Fog (both B&M & online orders).

 

[ChrisBEA]

Looks like Batman from Amazon!

Thanks!

 

[WillG]

Just wanted to let everybody know that I was at Costco today an it seems that they are running a promo where if you but "The Twilight Zone" season 4 with any of the other previous seasons, you will get a $25 discount off the purchase. I'm not entirely sure if it is at the register or if it is mail in thing though. Obviously, the two sets must be purchased on the same receipt. Costco is selling the sets for around $55. So already it is pretty much the best price you can get these sets for anywhere that I have seen.

 

[RyanAn]

It's definate:

Batman Begins: 2-disc Deluxe Ed.
Batman Anthology (1989-1997)
Big Lebowski: CE Gift Set
Emperor’s New Groove: New Groove Ed.
Geo. Romero’s Land of the Dead: Dir. Cut (NR
He-Man & Masters/Universe: Season 1 Vol. 1
Tarzan: SE (Disney 1999)

It's probable:

Coen Brothers Collection
CSI: New York: Season 1
Ferngully: Last Rainforest SE
Mark of Zorro (1940)
Mask of Zorro: Deluxe Edition (2005)
Queen & Paul Rodgers: Return/Champions
Saved/Bell-New Class: Season 5
Saw: Uncut Edition (NR)

It's eventual:

Adventures of Superman
Day of the Dead 2: Contagium
Elektra: Director’s Cut (NR)
Man with the Golden Arm: 50th Anniv. Ed.
Twilight Zone-Definitive Ed: S4

Ryan

 

[Tim_P_76]

The wait for Batman DE and the Anthology is going to be excruciating!!! (and who knows if I spelled that right). This reminds me of the pain when I preordered the original film in 1989 on VHS! What a wait! Amazon has the best deals on those 2 titles with their free shipping.

Also the Nightmare box set at Target is a steal with a 5$ gift card. DDD price along with a gift card..wow...Must resist.

 

[John*D]

Is this comic book and DVD special features exclusive to BestBuy? Or is this just standard. I couldn't tell by the desription you gave.

I know they have the custom changing slipcover.


EDIT: I read the specs on amazon and that comic book isn't exclusive to BB. It's just that I thought it was b/c it was listed in the exlusives section in this thread.

I'm going to buy it at amazon. I'm also going to get the DC of Elektra, hopefully the comic isn't a CC exlusive.

 

[Dillon*G]

I'm getting:
-Adventures of Superman:Season 1
-Batman Begins: DE
-Batman Anthology
-The Big Lebowski
-Ferngully:SE
-Land of the Dead
-Mr. Show Gift Set
-Saw:SE
-Tarzan:SE

Thanks for the prices Mike and Patrick.

 

[Chris S]

Thanks guys!

The Best Buy 72-page collectible comic book:
Detective Comics #27 (first Batman)
The Man Who Falls
Batman: The Long Halloween (first chapter)

I can't believe the prices for Batman Begins: 2-disc Deluxe are so bad at the B&Ms. I really wonder if this foreshadows prices for the rest of the big fall releases.

Chris S.

 

[Eric DiPiazza]

According to BestBuy.com "Order Batman Begins (Deluxe Edition) — starring Christian Bale, Katie Holmes and Michael Caine — and get an amazing lenticular cover you'll find only at Best Buy!"

 

[george kaplan]

After a 1 week break, it's the first of many huge weeks:

The Emperor's New Groove
Lifeboat
The Mark/Mask of Zorro (anywhere from 0 to 2 purchases depending on whether either of these is worth a double dip)
Tarzan
Twilight Zone Season 4

 

[Kenneth Cummings]

Well this week I probably get Batman deluxe edition and maybe something else, but I need to make sure I have enough to pre-order Civilization 4 so I can get that cool collection edition. Thanks for the roundup Mike.

 

[EricSchulz]

Can't waits:
Lifeboat (WOOHOO!!!!)
Queen/Paul Rodgers
Tarzan SE

Rentals:
Land of the Dead (unrated)
Batman Begins
Dark Shadows (despite being MAR)

And then I will take a very deep breath before going into debt on October 25th.

 

[dpippel]

I usually don't list my list, but this IS a big week for me:

Batman Begins 2 Disc
Batman SE
Batman Returns SE
The Big Lebowski CE (Finally, man!)
Lifeboat SE

Ouch.

 

[John Swarce]

I was in Target last night picking up something else and noticed that they had one copy of the the Nightmare on Elm Street box set for $39.99. I couldn't believe the price, as it has been almost twice that price at other B & M's (if you could find it).

Now I see it's $37.99 with a $5 gift card today! Will Target honor the sale price on a previous purchase and would I get the $5 gift card as well?

Pre-ordered Batman Begins from Amazon last week, but that's all I can afford this week.

John

 

[TommyJD]

Looks like Batman 2 Disc SE & Return Of The Champions from Amazon.
Land Of The Dead WS/Unrated.

Future wish list for
Tarzan
Batman SE
Batman Returns SE



Thanks for another great weekly update.

 

[TravisR]

Big week!

The Adventures Of Superman: Season One
Batman
Batman Returns
The Big Lebowski
Land Of The Dead
Lifeboat
Season Of The Witch/There’s Always Vanilla
The Twilight Zone: Season Four

For the George Romero fans out there, Season Of The Witch/There's Always Vanilla is $13.99 at Amazon, $14.99 at Best Buy, $15.99 at Circuit City and Deep Discount DVD has it for $9.59 (as part of their sale on Anchor Bay DVDs).

 

[WillG]

That's the reason that I can't stand the Stardard/Deluxe Edition release. WB has been good about it in the sense that they only set the price of the deluxe a couple of dollars more that the standard. But the B&Ms just don't mark the Deluxe editions down very well, unfortunately. But it's a moot point for me because Amazon is getting my money for B.B. because of their great price on it.

Now when Spielberg's WOTW (2-Disc) comes out, that's going to be a different story. It's a bit ridiculous when you have to pay at least $25 to get extra disc which, from what I have seen is featurettes. If they are going to do the premium priced thing, I think we should get full, uninterrupted documentaries.

In contrast, a couple of weeks ago, I got "The Fly" and "The Fly II" which are fully loaded SEs with newly produced special features that involved pretty much all of the principal talents, and paid less then $10 a piece.