DVD and Blu-ray Releases for May 26th, 2015
May 25, 2015
Wow. It is a summer week on the home market, as there are a ton of summer shows coming out on DVD. Unfortunately, none of them seem like big sellers. The best-selling new release of the week is Seventh Son, which is a terrible sign. The second best is The Nanny: The Complete Series. I don't know how to react to that. As for the best of the new releases, Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Wells (DVD or Blu-ray) is as good as it gets.
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Ballet 422, Cannibal Ferox, The Confession, Darker than Black: Season One, Empire Of The Ants / Jaws Of Satan, Enter the Ninja, Erik the Viking, The Escapees, The Food of the Gods / Frogs, Gun Woman, Inuyasha The Final Act - The Complete Series, Invitation to a Gunfighter, Island of Death, Kings of the Sun, Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued, Madman, Men, Pride and Vengeance, The Merchant of Four Seasons, Revenge of the Ninja, River of Death, Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf, Ski School, Soni-Ani: Super Sonico, State of Siege, Student Council's Discretion 2, To Kill a Mockingbird, Touch of Evil, and Yellowbeard
Cut Bank - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Wells - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Major Crimes: Season 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Murdoch Mysteries: The Movies - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Nanny: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Ray Donovan: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Rockford Files: Movie Collection - Volume 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Seventh Son - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Sons of Liberty - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: The Nanny, The Rockford Files, and The Saint
When Calls The Heart: Trials Of The Heart - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Wonder Years: Season 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Yellowbeard is one of my favorite bad movies. I might grab that and Erik the Viking and have a double-feature.
Liam Hemsworth plays a young man living in a small town looking for a way out. He goes out and films his girlfriend, Teresa Palmer, talking about the town. However, while filming, they "coincidentally" capture the "murder" of the local postal worker. Having evidence of the murder of a federal worker is worth a reward. There are some complications. There's no body, so no proof a murder took place, so no reward. Also, the postal worker was on the job at the time and couldn't complete his route ... and someone is very impatient about getting a special package. That's a cool setup, but unfortunately, the execution was flawed. Extras are fine for Video on Demand premiere, so if you like the genre and the cast, it is worth a rental.
A horror film set in a small town police station where the cops all have dark secrets. This isn't exactly a unique setup, but is the execution good? Read our review to find out.
The Loft - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This film only managed to open semi-wide and failed to reach the Mendoza Line on the per theater chart. It is no surprise it is being released on a featureless DVD and Blu-ray. Skip it.
They are not getting a penny more from me until they start releasing chronological collections.
A documentary about the life and career of Orson Welles. Its reviews are only 73% positive; however, that's head and shoulders above most of the rest of the films on this week's list and really the only contender for Pick of the Week. I suggest grabbing this and the previously released F for Fake Blu-ray for a double-feature.
A spin-off to The Closer starring Mary McDonnell. The reviews started off really well, but this past season, there weren't even enough for a Tomatometer Score. Extras include deleted scenes and outtakes, which is the minimum for a TV on DVD release.
If you are a fan of the TV series, then you will want to pick up this three-movie set.
I've reviewed this show in the past. It's a typical sitcom that relies on a formula, but the cast is charismatic enough that it is funny. It is worth picking up is you like the show, but I'm really surprised Amazon.com has it that high up the list of new releases.
I reviewed the first season, but when it came to getting the second season to review, I passed. I'm just sick of TV shows about dark anti-heroes and this one also had serious pacing issues.
It's a great week for fans of The Rockford Files. Not only is the final volume of the TV movies coming out, but so is the Complete Series Megaset. Both are worth picking up.
Hopefully this film will end up as one of the biggest bombs of the year. The only way it won't is if September is (nearly) historically bad. Not only did it fail to find an audience in theaters, its reviews were also terrible. Despite this, the extras on the DVD and especially the Blu-ray are really good. Still, it is hard to compensate for its 13% positive Tomatometer Score.
A three-part TV mini-series about the American revolution. Its reviews were only mixed, as is was too dull and had too many historical inaccuracies. The DVD and Blu-ray have a trio of featurettes, which is enough for a rental, if you are into historical dramas, but are not a stickler for historical accuracy.
All three of the Full Series Megasets are worth picking up. That's a lot of cash, but it is worth it.
The latest DVD release for this series. Each DVD is essentially a TV movie, but I'm sure fans would rather complete season sets. They certainly would be cheaper.
Great show, but it has already been released on the a Complete Series Megaset. I suspect a lot of fans either already own the Megaset or are simply waiting for it to drop in price.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Yellowbeard, Erik the Viking, Seventh Son, The Loft, Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Wells, Cut Bank, Let Us Prey, Orson Welles, Mary McDonnell, Teresa Palmer, Liam Hemsworth