We've had a flood of high-profile Blu-ray releases over the past few weeks. Now, it looks like we're getting some low-key entries for the week of April 9, 2013. That's not to say these aren't good, but they certainly don't have hefty budgets and tons of special effects. In fact, this week's spotlight doesn't even have any color.
That spotlight belongs to The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete First Season. Image Entertainment released the entire series as a box set last year, but now you can build your collection by season, if that's preferred. This is a hilarious collection that should keep you busy until the next season comes along -- it has a whopping 30 episodes!
Once you work your way through that, there's one show's swansong, an underwater adventure, and a trippy Naked Lunch.
Did we miss one of your favorites for the week? Have something to say about one of this week's new releases? Sound off in the comments below. Otherwise, all of these titles are out as of April 9, 2013, except where noted. Enjoy!
The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete First Season
Late last year, Image Entertainment unloaded this entire series in one giant box set, with an MSRP of $349.98. Oh, Rob! It's since dropped ($124 on Amazon!) -- or you can spread out some of those payments by purchasing one season at a time. However you buy it, you should buy it. The story of comedy writer Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) and his wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is a hilarious one.
This 5-disc set has all 30 of the first season's episodes. Each episode has been digitally remastered to its original full-length version, with a 1.33:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track. The set also has a hearty amount of extras, including interviews, Emmy clips honoring the show, original commercials, photos, the original pilot, and commentary tracks with Carl Reiner and Van Dyke on select episodes. [Image Entertainment]
Hyde Park on Hudson
For his portrayal of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Murray received some rave reviews. When doesn't he, though? The rest of this movie didn't get the same kind of accolades. That's because it finds America on the brink of World War II, with our fearless leader greeting the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) and having an affair with Daisy (Laura Linney) -- his neighbor and sixth cousin.
There's a lot of nice imagery in this 2.35:1 image. Otherwise, viewers can expect a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, as well as deleted scenes, an audio commentary, a short with director Roger Michell, and a promo about the movie. [Universal]
Boss: Season Two
Apparently, viewers weren't ready to accept Kelsey Grammer as anything but Frasier. Despite the accolades he received for this juicy dramatic role, this season was the last for the Starz series. However, you're going to want to pick this one up just to check out the actor's portrayal of Mayor Tom Kane, who continues to rule Chicago with an iron fist, even with his dementia.
Lionsgate has given the show's swansong a 2-disc set, with a strong 1.78:1 image and a lone DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. However, the special features don't pack the same punch as the program. Maybe if the cast and crew knew that this was the final season, they would have added something else besides this set's trio of commentary tracks and the promo piece, "The King and His Court." [Lionsgate]
Planet Ocean
If you were going to learn about the ocean, wouldn't you want that knowledge to come from Josh Duhamel? The dreamy actor (also known as Mr. Fergie) narrates this underwater adventure from photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand.
Expect to go on this expedition with a 1.78:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Otherwise, the 2-disc set features a trio of short featurettes about the making of the film. [Universal]
Naked Lunch: Criterion Edition
This weird, wonderful adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel finds exterminator/drug addict Bill Lee (Peter Weller) chatting it up with a ton of giant talking bugs. Sound trippy? You haven't even scratched the surface of David Cronenberg's (The Fly) bizzare film.
Leave it to Criterion to put this one on Blu-ray, with a 1.78:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. However, it's the extras section that makes this one a real "gimme." It includes audio commentary, marketing spots and an insane amount of photos, as well as over an hour of audio that has Burroughs reading from his own book. [Criterion]
