Out Today on DVD 03/17/2009

First on today’s list is The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 5: 1946-1948. This set marks the bittersweet end of Curly’s career who suffered a stroke and was replaced by his older brother Shemp (whom he’d replaced almost 15 years prior.) I’ve been watching a lot of Three Stooges lately (I’ve plunked down cash for volumes 3 and 4 and they’re worth every penny) and I have to say that they’re as relevant and hilarious now as they’ve ever been. I’ve been meaning to write an editorial about this, but the Three Stooges are once again today’s everyman. They started in the great depression and most episodes (aside from the war propaganda) casts them as down on their luck guys in need of work. They just happen to maim each other and destroy everything as soon as they get a job.

Next on our list is the classic The Princess Bride, which comes out on Blu-ray today. This is one of Rob Reiners best films (not hard to do) but is also one of William Goldman’s best films (virtually impossible to do.) It’s achieved a cult like status (deservedly so) and I imagine a lot of people will be putting cash down on the barrel head to pick this version up.

Two geek titles hit releases today, though I’ve not seen either of them. Does anybody know how bad (or good?) Punisher: War Zone and The Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 2?

There’s also a really nice box set coming out titled simply Murnau, that contains all the films of F.W. Murnau from 1921 to 1926, including Nosferatu.

That’s about it for this week.

(Unless you count Twilight, which I don’t.)