Home Market Releases for June 23rd, 2015

June 23, 2015

Ex Machina

As I've mentioned countless times in the past, the summer is the worst time of year for the home market. Outside of an occasional spring hit, there's very little worth talking about. It's much too late for last year's holiday hits, it's much too early for the summer blockbusters, and there are not even a lot of TV on DVD releases to pick up the slack. However, as bad as the average is, this week is much, much worse. There are no first-run releases of note. There's no real limited releases, TV on DVD releases, or classics coming out either. I had nothing to review this week. The top contender for Pick of the Week is Ex Machina, which is only coming out on Video on Demand. It's that slow on the home market. The other two contenders are Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro on Blu-ray and Timbuktu on Blu-ray.

An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
I reviewed one of these releases in the past and it was better than expected. There's only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, so I don't know if this one is as good as McKenna. But fans of the franchise should at least give it a rental.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Bank Shot, The Bridge, The Color Out of Space, Dog Soldiers, The Fisher King, Harry in Your Pocket, Hayate the Combat Butler, Horsehead, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Mean Season, Mission Impossible Collection, Needful Things, Ping Pong the Animation, Pound of Flesh, The Rolling Stones: From The Vault - The Marquee Club Live in 1971, Stone Cold, Sugar Hill, and The Thing with Two Heads, Workaholics: Season Five
Mission: Impossible Collection? Why buy franchise box sets when there's a new installment on its way?

3D Blu-ray Release - Buy from Amazon: 3-D Rarities
Only one 3D release and it is certainly not a top-tier release. It is more of a curiosity.

Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This franchise has been around for a long time in book form and even had a movie. However, it doesn't have a large audience. In fact, most weeks it would be too small of a release to mention. ... It is a really slow week.

Ex Machina - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This movie doesn't come out on DVD or Blu-ray till the 17th of July, but the film hits VOD this week and it is arguably the best film on this week's list. I hope to get a screener before it it is released on DVD or Blu-ray.

The Forger - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
One of the worst movies of the year. Skip it.

Garfunkle and Oates - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This show earned good buzz, but its ratings were not good enough to last more than one season. If you've never seen the show, and the ratings suggest you haven't, but you like the musical comedy duel, it is worth picking up.

Graceland: Season Two - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
This is a DVD-R release, which means Amazon burns a copy when you order it. There are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so a lot of critics who watched the first season didn't bother with the second. That's not a good sign.

If There Be Thorns - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
I reviewed the first film in this franchise and hated it. When I got a chance to review the two additional installments, I passed. There are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so I guess a lot of critics did the same.

Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
The first feature-length film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. That means it is important in the history of animated films, as Hayao Miyazaki is a legend, while its Tomatometer Score is 90% positive. However, if you look at the individual reviews, most critics say it is good, but not great. Definitely worth picking up and one of the contenders for Pick of the Week.

Ripper Street: Season Three - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Despite earning amazing reviews, the show was canceled after just two seasons. It was then revived as part of a VOD deal. In fact, it was revived for two more seasons after this one. Unfortunately, there's only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is only for the first episode of the third season. That's not enough to judge the entire season.

Survivor - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
One of the worst movies of the year. Skip it.

Teen Beach Movie 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I might get a screener for this TV movie. The first movie earned excellent reviews, so I'm hopeful this one will be as good.

Timbuktu - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
One of the best-reviewed releases on this week's list and it even earned an Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, the only extra on the DVD or Blu-ray is an interview with the director. It is a slow week, so it is still a contender for Pick of the Week.

TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Young Hercules
Just the one TV on DVD Megaset and it is for a show that lasted only two seasons. (Technically it only lasted one season, but it was 50 episodes, plus the pilot, which is two full seasons worth of episodes.)

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: '71, An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success, Annabelle, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, The Bridge, Cairo Drive, The Color Out of Space, Crossroads, Dog Soldiers, Elimination Game, Ex Machina, The Forger, Four Blood Moons, Ghoul, Glass Chin, Harry in Your Pocket, Home, Horsehead, If There Be Thorns, If You Build It, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Last Call, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, Marfa Girl, The Mean Season, Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story, Pound of Flesh, Safeword, Survivor, Timbuktu, Woman in Gold, and Zero Motivation
It is a busy week for VOD releases. Of course, we include films that debuted on VOD previously, but are coming out on DVD / Blu-ray this week. Of these releases, Ex Machina is clearly the best.

When Calls The Heart: Heart And Soul - Buy from Amazon: DVD
TV on DVD releases that are not full-season are rarely good value for the money. For this show, you are better treating it as a series of TV movies rather than a traditional TV series.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, Ex Machina, The Forger, Survivor, Timbuktu, Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle, An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success, Mission: Impossible, Hayao Miyazaki