Drama, romance, a little comedy and Shirley MacLaine -- and that's just for Downton Abbey, people! Otherwise, we're looking at a pretty good week for Blu-ray releases.
We're going with Downton Abbey: Season 3 for this week's spotlight because the show is insanely popular and we also like instant gratification. If you want to wait and see how the show plays out on PBS, go right ahead. Otherwise, you can binge-watch the entire season with this set, which also includes about two hours of extras.
Of course, not everyone can appreciate the antics of this PBS favorite. For the rest, we have the next entry in a horror franchise, a pair of animated releases, every John McClane adventure in one box, and Seven Psychopaths. Enjoy.
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 January 29, 2013, except where noted. Enjoy!
Downton Abbey: Season 3
If you can't wait for PBS to air the season three finale, you can snag this set a week early and indulge at your own pace. Yes, the Great War is finally over, but this season still has plenty of heartache and other drama, as well as Shirley MacLaine! The lengthy cast also includes Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Penelope Wilton, Joanne Froggatt and Brendan Coyle.
The 3-disc set features a 1.78:1 image and a lone DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. PBS also promises more than 2 hours of extras across two of the three discs included. That collection includes a 48-minute look at "Behind the Drama," as well as shorts on the era, the weddings, the male characters, the addition of MacLaine, and more. [PBS]
Hotel Transylvania
Adam Sandler paired up with Andy Samberg for last summer's That's My Boy -- and both audiences and critics hated it. So why did this second outing snag $323 million and a sequel? Well, it's animated and puts a fun spin on fright-filled favorites, such as Frankenstein, werewolves, mummies and even the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It also has a bevy of famous voices, including Kevin James, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Cee Lo Green, and Jon Lovitz.
Sony is releasing this hit in a 3-disc 3D set or two discs if you want the 2D version. Both have a 1.85:1 image, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, the standard-def DVD and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. There's also a bonus short titled, "Goodnight Mr. Foot." Otherwise, both versions also have an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, and a music video, as well as shorts on the music, the production, and the film's famous voices. [Sony]
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2
Batman has a new sidekick named Robin. Maybe you've heard of her? Yes, Robin is now a teenage girl and this dynamic duo has finally brought order to Gotham City -- temporarily, course. After all, what fun would that be? So when The Joker hears about all of Batman's accolades, he comes a-calling. However, he's just one of Batman's many problems. Apparently, Superman has a beef as well!
Fans of part 1 should be familiar with this release's 1.78:1 image and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It also has a decent amount of special features, including a short on Batman's battles with The Joker and Superman, a pair of sneak peeks, additional episodes "From the DC Comics Vault, and a 44-minute documentary titled, "From Sketch to Screen." [Warner Bros.]
Seven Psychopaths
Writer/director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges) reteams with Colin Farrell for this uber-violent, sort of funny film about a struggling screenwriter (Farrell) and his friends -- one of which kidnaps a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu. The dream cast includes Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Harry Dean Stanton and Gabourey Sidibe.
Expect this single-disc release to have a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and a series of super-short featurettes about the cast and the location. There's also some weirdness in "Seven Psychocats," which is basically the trailer acted out by a bunch of crazy kitties.
Paranormal Activity 4
Paramount is still aboard the Paranormal Activity freight train -- and we can't say that we blame them. Despite being the fourth entry in the horror franchise, this flick made $140 million against a $5 million budget. The film kicks off five years after we last saw Katie (Katie Featherston). Now, it just so happens that a family starts seeing mysterious goings-on, after a mother and young child move next door. Coincidence? Of course, not.
Expect Paramount to give this hit a 2-disc set with a 1.85:1 image, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, a standard-def DVD and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. The main special feature in the set is something called "The Recovered Files," which claims to have nearly 30 minutes of "found footage." Spooky!
Die Hard: 25th Anniversary Collection
Welcome to the party, pal! Before you head out to see A Good Day to Die Hard next month, take a crash course in John McClane with this 5-disc set. The collection includes the original Die Hard, Die Hard 2, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and Live Free or Die Hard.
Since all four movies were previously released in the Die Hard Collection, fans should expect the same 2.35:1 images and the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. The real hook on this set is the fifth disc, known as "Decoding Die Hard." This has an all-new collection of seven featurettes to cover the cast, the sidekicks, the villains, the action, the special effects, and pretty much everything else you'd expect to see in a Die Hard flick. [Fox]
