With a DVD heavy top seller, the Blu-ray market share was down to 9% for the week ending August 22nd, according to Home Media Magazine.

The revenue was middle of the road these days at $13.37M, up fractionally over last year for the same period.

Miley Cyrus vehicle The Last Song from Disney was the top seller for the week, followed by Showtime favourite Dexter: The Fourth Season in 2nd place, closely followed by Clash of the Titans from Warner in 3rd.

Kick-Ass from Lionsgate and Date Night from Fox rounded out the top 5, pushing Avatar to 6th place.

King Kong from Universal made a surprise appearance in 11th place, ahead of recent releases Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief from Fox in 12th and 13th respectively.

The top sellers were lower than typical Blu-ray market share, with The Last Song taking 10% and Dexter: The Fourth Season with 14% on Blu-ray Disc.

A hot selling DVD that failed to make the top 20 Blu-ray chart was Furry Vengeance from Summit, with only 5% market share on Blu-ray Disc.

This no doubt goes a long way to explain the low overall market share for the week.

On the plus side, Clash of the Titans and Kick-Ass sold in the 33%-34% market share range, with Avatar holding strong at 43% Blu-ray Disc market share.

The most recent link in the Miley Cyrus chain is the movie The Last Song, released on Blu-ray by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on August 17th, 2010.

Make no mistake, this movie was created to serve Miley Cyrus, with writer Nicholas Sparks writing the novel and screenplay concurrently, all the while with Cyrus in mind for the main character.

In fact the screenplay was finished before the novel was completed, so it is perhaps more fair to say that the novel is based on the film.

The movie follows a summer in Georgia where an angsty teen and her little brother go to spend time with their estranged father.

The angry daughter was an accomplished pianist who quit playing when her father left home in an act of defiance.

Ronnie, played by Cyrus, is about as angry and annoying as a teen can be, and suffering through her behavior at the start of the film is a real burden.

The plot is not particularly imaginative and while she mellows slowly throughout the film, Ronnie is still prone to bouts of moodiness, even after the advances of the most eligible bachelor on the beach.

The story also suffers somewhat from ‘Showgirls syndrome’, where the main character is a lot of trouble, yet the other seemingly sane characters do whatever they can to befriend the her regardless.

Along with Miley Cyrus the cast includes Bobby Coleman and Liam Hemsworth, with Greg Kinnear delivering a pretty decent performance as the estranged father.

The Last Song was directed by Julie Anne Robinson in her directorial debut.

The movie was dismally received by critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 19% and an IMDb score of 3.6/10.

The Last Song was however somewhat of a success in the cinema, earning $63M at the US box office.

The video on the disc is an AVC 1080p encode at 26 Mbps, and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1.

See the details page for The Last Song for full resolution PNG screen captures taken directly from the disc.

The main audio is lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 5.1 channels - 24 bits resolution at 48 kHz.

The disc is a dual layer BD50, with 32.9 GB used and is coded for Region A.

The disc has a small collection of supplemental features, including a feature audio commentary as well as an alternate opening sequence and deleted scenes with optional director commentary.

The only behind the scenes production featurette on the Blu-ray Disc is the Set Tour with Bobby Coleman, with the young actor interviewing various members of the crew - it is a very cute segment.

The remaining supplemental features are a Miley Cyrus music video for When I Look At You and a making of segment covering the music video.

The package also contains a DVD version of the movie for legacy players in the car or the kids’ room.

The Last Song is somewhat of a trying movie, though it does pick up after a while.

Still it is probably only really appealing to Miley Cyrus fans.

The Blu-ray Disc is a fairly decent release from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, perhaps a nice gift for the Miley Cyrus fan in your family.

The retail price is $39.99, or order it right now at Amazon for $24.99, saving 38%!

Extras:

• Alternate Opening Sequences
• Deleted Scenes
• Set Tour With Bobby Coleman
• Miley Cyrus Music Video
• The Making Of
• Audio Commentary

Synopsis:

Miley Cyrus shines as the star of this heartwarming coming-of-age movie that will strike your emotional chords. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks (Dear John, The Notebook), The Last Song follows Ronnie (Cyrus) and her estranged father as he tries to restore the loving relationship they once had. But reconnecting with his rebellious daughter isn’t easy, so he chooses the one thing they still have in common — music. Complete with not-to-be missed bonus features - the Miley Cyrus music video “When I Look At You,” exclusive interviews with the actress and more - this uplifting and touching drama about family, first loves and second chances is a heartfelt story you won’t soon forget.

Lots of new releases in the Blu-ray Cover Art Gallery for the week, though few are high profile.

Perhaps the highlight for the week is the release of Lost: The Complete Sixth Season, rounding out the popular series on Blu-ray Disc.

Also on TV we have The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season, which seems like an unusual choice given that we are 20 seasons in on this show.

The day and date release of Jennifer Lopez in The Back-up Plan is one of the few studio movie releases for the week.

Fans of  Bob Hoskins may want to check out Image Entertainment releases Mona Lisa and The Long Good Friday.

Other British notables from Image include Withnail and I and Time Bandits, though Time Bandits has a 1080i encode for some weird reason.

Click on any cover to see the details for the title.

The Blu-ray Cover Art Gallery for this week reveals a pretty slow week for Blu-ray titles.

Perhaps the top release for the week is the latest season release of Dexter with Dexter: The Fourth Season.

New Day and Date releases include the latest Ricky Gervais production Cemetery Junction and the Miley Cyrus vehicle The Last Song.

Over to classic cinema we have the Criterion release Black Orpheus and Warner adds another Digibook title with Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Click on any cover to see the details for the title.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues their dedication to family releases with James and the Giant Peach, released on Blu-ray Disc August 3rd, 2010.

The movie is based on the Roald Dahl story and is a combination of live action and stop motion animation in the style of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Another similarity is the inclusion of a number of songs, though in this film the music is courtesy of Randy Newman.

The film follows the story of young James Henry Trotter, who is orphaned when his parents are eaten by a demonic rhinoceros.

His new guardians are his two abusive aunts Spiker and Sponge, who make him work from dusk until dawn and feed him things like fish heads.

Things change significantly though when a mysterious stranger appears with some magic green “crocodile tongues” which should make his life better.

However the tongues escape from the bag and create a magic giant peach which James’ aunts take advantage of financially.

When he follows a spider from the house, James finds one remaining magic crocodile tongue and it transforms him into an animated world where he finds a number of the local insects have grown huge and gained the ability to talk.

James and his new insectoid friends set off in the peach on a journey to New York City, a place his parents promised to take him before their untimely demise.

James’ delightful journey includes harnessing seagull power, a run in with a giant mechanical shark and an appearance by an easily recognized Skellington.

I found the film to be an enjoyable family version of the classic hero’s journey theme, blended with quirky elements that are unmistakably Roald Dahl.

The cast includes Paul Terry as James, Joanna Lumley and Miriam Margolyes and the evil aunts, and the voice talents of Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon and David Thewlis.

James and the Giant Peach was directed by Henry Selick, who also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, and most recently Coraline.

The critical reception for the movie was very strong, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 93%, though it didn’t do so well with casual viewers with only 6.7/10 at the IMDb.

James and the Giant Peach was also earned $28.9M at the US box office.

The video on the disc is an AVC 1080p encode at 35.5 Mbps, and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1.

The film makers opted for a very grainy look for this title and this style has been well preserved with this high bitrate encoding.

Find full resolution PNG screen captures taken directly from the disc at the details page for James and the Giant Peach.

The main audio is lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 5.1 channels - 24 bits resolution at 48 kHz.

The disc is a dual layer BD50, with 29.3 GB used and is coded for All Regions.

The Blu-ray disc is somewhat short on new extra features, though it does include Spike The Aunts, a new interactive Java based game.

The game is based on the special sequence at the end of the credit roll, where you control a mechanical rhinoceros and try to spike the two aunts to win points.

The Blu-ray also contains the original DVD features, which include a Behind the Scenes Making Of featurette and Randy Newman’s Good News music video.

The original trailer is also presented, along with a collection of still picture galleries.

It would have been nice to see some of these features, like the trailer, upgraded to high definition.

For a change, the sneak previews are actually well worth a look, with a trailer for the upcoming Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland 60th Anniversary and The Lion King releases, along with Tinker Bell promoting genuine Disney products over pirated versions and Panasonic advertising.

The package also includes a DVD copy which features the movie in the legacy format for portable players and the kid’s room.

James and the Giant Peach is a fun and entertaining movie that the whole family can enjoy.

While it is not as fully featured as some Disney titles, this Blu-ray release from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment presents a super high bitrate encode of the movie that is sure to please fans of releases that look like film.

The retail price is $39.99, or order it right now at Amazon for $24.99, saving 38%!

Extras:

• Spike The Aunts Interactive Game
• Behind The Scenes Making Of
• “Good News” Music Video
• Still Frame Gallery
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis:

In an all-new digitally restored special edition from Tim Burton, the acclaimed director of Alice In Wonderland, comes the astounding film that captured the hearts of fans and critics all across the world. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book, Burton, Denise Di Novi and Director Henry Selick combine a fascinating mix of live-action, stop-motion animation and computer-generated special effects to create a world beyond your imagination. After the daring rescue of a spider, a young boy named James gains possession of some magic crocodile tongues. When James spills them in the garden, out sprouts an enormous peach! Climbing inside, he meets an astonishing cast of characters and embarks on a magical odyssey full of thrills and adventure. Voiced by an all-star cast, including legendary actors Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow and Jane Leeves, and featuring the celebrated music of Randy Newman, this classic story is delicious entertainment for the whole family!

There are quite a few titles of note in the Blu-ray Cover Art Gallery this week, including the kick ass action film Kick-Ass.

Other Day and Date releases include Heroes: Season 4  and the Sony Pictures foreign language release A Prophet.

There are also a few notable catalog releases, including Sam Mendes directed Road to Perdition, cult classic Piranha, Disney’s animated James and the Giant Peach , eighties classic The Breakfast Club and Elvis documentary movie Elvis on Tour from Warner.

Additionally MGM has a number of their movies being released with DVDs included with titles like Escape from New York, Kalifornia, Bull Durham and Fargo.

Click on any cover to see the details for the title.

Top sale titles at Amazon this weekend include Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series, The Hangover, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Remember the Titans.

Top selling bargain right now is a great deal on Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series - only $132.99 right now - saving 56% off retail.

Close behind is the remastered edition of Gangs of New York, currently listed for only $15.99 saving 60%.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is still a great deal at only $10.00, and 2001: A Space Odyssey is now further under $10 at only $7.99, a full 72% off retail price.

Popular title The Hangover is only $14.99 right now and Remember the Titans is only $11.99, saving 60%.

$10 titles include Mr & Mrs Smith, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Clockwork Orange, Logan’s Run, La Femme Nikita, The Thomas Crown Affair and Man On Fire.

All in all a lot of opportunity for great savings this weekend

Not much change in the popular sale title at Amazon this week - the exception being Close Encounters of the Third Kind for only $11.99.

At a little over half off it is not a huge discount, but popular none the less.

Another surprise entry for me this week is Big Trouble in Little China for $10.99 - a good deal but I am a little surprised at the interest in this title.

A welcome addition to the $10 Blu-ray club is the Denzel Washington movie Man On Fire - currently listed for $10.00.

The Digibook edition of The Matrix is also a great deal right now, listed for $15.00.

Popular titles under $10 include 2001: A Space Odyssey for $9.99, Green Lantern: First Flight for $9.49 and Mr & Mrs Smith for $9.99.

Pixar fans are also given a great deal with 61% off retail for the excellent Up release, which includes two Blu-ray discs, a DVD and a Digital Copy, which is currently $17.99.

The Blu-ray market share was only 10% last week, and the revenue of $12.77M for the week ending July 11th was down 20% compared to last year, according to Home Media Magazine.

July has been a bit of a slow month for releases so these lack luster numbers don’t surprise me.

Brooklyn’s Finest from Anchor Bay topped the sales chart ahead of last week’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief release from Fox in 2nd place and MGM’s Hot Tub Time Machine in 3rd.

The ever present Avatar from Fox held 4th ahead of new release The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo from Music Box Films in 5th position.

Sony’s new release A Single Man settled for 14th place, while sale priced titles showed up in the chart, including Warner titles Dark City and 2001: A Space Odyssey in 17th and 18th place.

Looking at per title market share, Brooklyn’s Finest managed a solid 25% Blu-ray Disc market share, with Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Hot Tub Time Machine in the same ball park at 23% - 24%.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo did a little better with 28% of sales on Blu-ray Disc while A Single Man was slightly worse at 21%.

Avatar is still going strong for Blu-ray though, with a 43% market share.

With consistently high market share for Blu-ray Disc, it would seem that Avatar is the ‘killer app’ this summer.

Blu-ray sales into July remain fairly steady with a market share of 11% on a decent revenue of $17.35M for the week ending July 4th, according to Home Media Magazine.

Fox release Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief took 1st place ahead of Hot Tub Time Machine from MGM in 2nd and The Crazies from Anchor Bay in 3rd.

The top five was rounded out by hot sellers Avatar from Fox and Warner’s The Book of Eli.

The new release of Predator (Ultimate Hunter Edition) from Fox, with its super shiny new transfer, also made the chart in 13th place.

Magnolia got a boost with their release The Warlords, featuring Jet Li, in 14th position.

The new release market share for the top selling titles were fairly strong, with Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief at 25%, Hot Tub Time Machine at 28% and The Crazies at 32% market share.

Avatar continues its strong tradition with 42% market share on Blu-ray Disc, while the HBO television series Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season is at the other end of the scale at 15% of sales on Blu-ray Disc.