If a movie is even remotely successful, you can bank on seeing a sequel. That seems to be a Hollywood trend these days. Why not? We've come to know and love these characters and the studio has a built-in fanbase. It's a win-win for everyone.
This year was especially insane for sequel lovers. In fact, it was probably hard to keep up with all of the installments that were released into theaters. Four of the most popular franchises will have added another notch in their home video belts soon, in the form of DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Let's take a peek at which franchises you'll want to add to your collection and when. All are available at discounted prices at Walmart.com with the option to buy online and have it shipped or pick up at your local store on release day.
Fast Five
Was the world crying out for another Fast & Furious movie? The answer would actually surprise many of you. It's hard to believe that there was a second Fast & Furious installment. Now here we are five-deep into the franchise. This one follows the proven formula of fast cars and Vin Diesel. Need more? Paul Walker also returns to pair up with Diesel and Jordana Brewster for a $100 million heist. That sort of seems like chump change compared to the film's $609.8 million box office haul.
Expect the movie to rev up fans again when it hits Blu-ray and DVD on October 4, 2011. Three versions of the film will be available, with WalMart throwing in a fourth option. That Limited Edition Blu-ray combo pack is a Walmart exclusive, and includes a virtual Gurkha armored vehicle and military locker for the popular Facebook game Car Town.
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Cars 2
Speaking of fast cars, how about ones that can talk? Pixar sped into theaters this summer with another installment for the Cars franchise. Besides a bevy of new toys, the film featured new characters, a secret agent plotline, and the option to view the film in 3D. Did we mention that there were new toys?
Owen Wilson returns to voice speed racer Lightning McQueen. However, Larry the Cable Guy was really the star of this show, as the loveable, gullible Mater. When Cars 2 hits stores on November 1, you'll have to choose between the Blu-ray and/or the 5-disc Blu-ray 3D package. Just to throw a wrench into your decision-making process, WalMart will also offer an exclusive Blu-ray gift set, which comes packing a Finn McMissile die cast car.
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Transformers: Dark of the Moon
After the last Transformers, Michael Bay owed everyone an apology. Well, maybe not but it would have been nice. Instead he gave us a third installment in the franchise. Promising to do better this time, he brought back Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro, and made headlines by replacing Megan Fox with Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Although it didn't seem humanly possible, Bay also added in a little (ok, a lot) more technology, by releasing Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 3D. The end result did slightly better with critics. Even our own Joe Lozito said that the film "may be less unforgivably bad than the last one, but that doesn't make it good." (Read his full Transformers: Dark of the Moon Review for more info.)
Of course, lukewarm reviews didn't keep the third installment from crushing the box office. To date, it has grossed about $1.1 billion. The 3D certainly helped box office receipts. It's not going to do much for the at-home audience, however - at least not at first. Paramount is only planning 2D versions of this title for now, with a DVD release as well as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. WalMart also has the exclusive on a single-disc Blu-ray, which doesn't bother with the standard def DVD. All of the releases will ship on September 30.
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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Arrrrrrrrgh! Earlier this summer, Johnny Depp set sail with Disney for a fourth time for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley jumped ship. However, Geoffrey Rush returned with new additions Penélope Cruz and Ian McShane. While some critics thought the franchise was sinking, it didn't stop the film from becoming the eighth highest-grossing film of all time (worldwide). Joe Lozito gave the movie a fair review, saying that Depp is the main attraction for this wild ride. "It's a testament to how well-realized this character is that it could sustain a fourth movie as well as it does," he added. (Read his full Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review.)
Disney will deliver DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D versions of this one, starting November 15. There's also a box set, which features all four of the Pirates movies, inside a special-edition 15-disc set. WalMart will also have its own special version of the Blu-ray, which comes with a pirate bank so you can store a bit of your own treasure... at least until some no-good scabber's dog slits your gizzard for it.
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Also Available in Complete Collection Boxed Set:
