Well, the run of big-time Blu-ray releases had to come to an end at some point ... and surprisingly during Black Friday week there’s a dearth of good stuff to choose from.

The big release this week isn’t a movie, but a TV series—perhaps the most acclaimed cable TV series of all-time. HBO’s The Sopranos finds its way onto Blu-ray with the Complete First Season (HD DVD enthusiasts may still have their copy of Season 6 Parts 1 and 2 lying around, but here it is from the beginning in high-def).

It’s been 10 years since the original airing of the landmark series’ first season, and here it is in full 1.78:1 aspect ratio frame, with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack sure to capture all of the dramatic dialogue and mob action. The Blu-ray release is a five-disc set, and if you check it out on Amazon right now it’s being offered for just $36.99.

On the movie side of this week’s releases, not a whole lot stands out, but there’s always Hollywood favorite Tom Hanks. This week we get him in another Dan Brown book-turned-movie blockbuster, with Angels & Demons. Hanks is back again as Robert Langdon in the follow-up to The Da Vinci Code in another taut thriller. Look for Angels & Demons in its full CinemaScope 2.40:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD Master Audio surround soundtrack. You get the digital copy version as well.

Here are all of this week’s releases, courtesy of Blu-ray.com:
Air America
Angel Heart
Angels & Demons
Blood: The Last Vampire
Cujo
Four Christmases
Frailty
Funny People
Ghost in the Shell 2.0
Gomorrah
Ink
Kansas: There’s Know Place Like Home
Megafault
The Monster Squad
My Bloody Valentine
My Brilliant Career
New Police
Santa Buddies: Legend of Santa Paws
Shorts
The Sopranos: The Complete First Season
Superstar
The Way of the Gun

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!