TOP Blu-Ray TITLES FOR WEEK ENDED 2/25/2007

Powered By RANK TITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR, SRP)
1 BABEL (PAR, $39.99)
2 THE DEPARTED (WB, $34.99)
3 SUPERMAN RETURNS (WB, $34.99)
4 THE PRESTIGE (BV, $34.99)
5 THE FIFTH ELEMENT (SONY, $28.95)
6 TERMINATOR 2 (LG, $29.99)
7 X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (FOX, $39.98)
8 CRANK (LG, $39.99)
9 BLACK HAWK DOWN (SONY, $28.95)
10 FLYBOYS (MGM/FOX, $39.99)

Source: Rentrak’s Retail Essentials ™.
Sales estimations are based on preliminary data provided through an exclusive arrangement with Rentrak Corp.’s Retail Essentials service. Point-of-Sale data is collected weekly and projected nationally for the U.S. bricks-and-mortar sales channel.

Am I the only one that thinks that the format most be doing really well if the fifth element (first BD ever) is still selling well. That indicates to me that there are many many people buying new players and jumping into the format.

It's interesting that there is some deviation between this and the amazon rankings. The fact that superman returns, the 5th element, and terminator 2 rank so highly may mean joe public buyers are loading up on titles as they leave the store. It may also simply mean many stores have the older titles but not much stock of newer ones ;)

Am I the only one that thinks that the format most be doing really well if the fifth element (first BD ever) is still selling well. That indicates to me that there are many many people buying new players and jumping into the format.

egcarter posted the Top 10 HD-DVD list on the HD-DVD forum, and it also has first-day titles Serenity and The Last Samurai (plus a few more "oldies" like Goodfellas and Batman Returns) hanging around at the top of the retail sales chart. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray (as a movie format, not the PS3 carryover effect) have sold to such a small number of buyers compared to regular DVD that the constant influx of newcomers keeps the older releases of both formats bubbling near the top of the sales charts.

Will people stop buying Fifth Element!!

When I go to Target around here, they have a pretty poor selection of titles overall. But Fifth Element and Terminator 2 are there and they're only $20. I can see why they're selling relatively well.

The biggest surprise is that The Prestige came in 4th.

Babel is #1. I really don't know what to say. I bought this title, and sat throught it all. I suppose a healthy mix of serious convoluted story along with the mindless action flicks is needed to keep a fresh perspective on things.

But somehow watching Babel, I had the same feeling come over me, when we visit our friends - a couple who chose careers teaching in the university: they show us their Art collection --- you hear the story of the painter, and what is supposed to be conveyed in the abstract jumble of paint, and no, you just can't figure out what the heck the whole thing is about. Yet, you don't want to say anything because to reveal your true feelings would mark you as part of the rabble without culture.

So, you sort of stick it out with Bable, because you just know that your artsy friends would frown on you if you let them see your puzzled expression.

I have no idea what the movie is about. There I said it. I like a good mix of movies, and I can take talking heads and drama with plot twists. But this one is just very very confusing. I have no idea what I just sat through.

Babel was about the interconnectivity of people's lives (the filmmakers decided to make it an international affair since cultures are clashing these days-- far too often-- with no one actually listening to each other). One's actions can effect more than just your inner circle in the current world with no borders. In this case, it was one gun carelessly given out that starts a chain reaction. It's also about communication-- namely the barrier of communication, hence the name of the film: Babel. It's a biblical reference.

I liked the film, though it hits you with its sledge hammer-like subtlety. It was definitely better than Crash, which IMHO was clearly overrated and did not deserve Best Picture. I thought the Japanese deaf/mute girl's story was the best acted and most compelling of any of the characters (she, above all the others, had the biggest hurdle in the struggle to communicate with barriers set up because of the culture she was in, her age, and the fact that they take such a dim view of the handicaped and females in general to this day- though being a deaf/mute anywhere is hard enough). She should have won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.