Home Market Releases for July 7th, 2015

July 8, 2015

Dude Bro Party Massacre 3

It's a slow week, which should come as no surprise. There are no major releases and even among the smaller releases, there are few that are must haves. As far as Pick of the Week contenders go, Dude Bro Party Massacre 3 is the best. It is the Pick of the Week, but you can only get it on the Official Site. I think it is worth the price for the Superfan Edition, but I also backed the Kickstarter at the Blu-ray level, so my judgment is not to be trusted.

5 Flights Up - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A limited release with a good cast, but mixed reviews. Even so, it earned $1 million in limited release, which is better than expected. There are no extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray, so the film is strictly a rental.

'71 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
I am hoping to get a screener for this release, but it is late. The reviews are 97% positive, which is amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing it, if it arrives.

Bitten: Complete Second Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A weak summer show about werewolves. I think "guilty pleasure" is a good term for this show, but there are too many similar shows out there, so even fans will have plenty of options.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: Absolution, Alien Outpost, The Cell, Contamination, The Crimson Cult, Deli Man, Deranged, Fire Birds, Joe Dirt, The Killers, Merchants of Doubt, Noragami: Season 1, One Week Friends, Robot Jox, Roller Boogie, Spasmo, Truck Turner, and Virtuosity
Merchants of Doubt is clearly the best of the secondary Blu-ray releases.

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 1 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Four episodes. If you consider this New Zealand murder mystery four TV movies, then the price is a lot more acceptable.

The Color Out Of Space - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
I really hope this is a good movie. I believe a screener is on its way and I want more good H.P. Lovecraft movies out there.

The Drop Box - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A documentary about abandoned babies in South Korea and the man who tried to help as many as he could. There are only two reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but they are both positive. On the other hand, if the next review is negative, the reviews would go from amazing to just okay. Maybe try it as a VOD rental first.

Dude Bro Party Massacre 3 - Buy Direct Video on Demand
One of the greatest movies ever made... I hope. There's only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but like the other reviews from smaller sites I've read, it is positive. I'm hoping to get a screener, but it is late. In the meantime, you can buy the film direct from the site.

The Encore of Tony Duran - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
One of four new releases that arrived on my desk unannounced and that will be turned into prizes in a couple of weeks. I'd like to talk about it, but there are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

First Peoples - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A PBS documentary TV series about the earliest human who traveled and populated the world. The reviews are mostly positive; however, even the positive reviews complain about the soundtrack drowning out the dialogue. That's a serious issue.

House of Cards: Season 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
One of Netflix's most critically acclaimed shows. The third season was the weakest in terms of critical reception and it is no longer an award-worthy show. (That's not to say it won't win any awards, but I think they will be based in part on inertia.) Extras on the DVD are limited to just one featurette, while the Blu-ray also has an additional featurette. That's not a lot. It is still worth picking up, but it is not a Pick of the Week contender.

Kill Me Three Times - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
I really like Simon Pegg, but wow, this is a bad movie. Skip it.

Maggie - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
The latest film from Arnold Schwarzenegger and it is a zombie movie. That sets up expectations that this film doesn't even try to meet. Does it work on its own merits? Read our review for my opinion.

On a side note, according to Amazon.com, this release is in the top five new releases for the week. This will either be a surprise hit on the home market, or this is a really slow week.

Masterpiece: Poldark - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A British TV series that is based on the first two of the Poldark novels. The reviews are excellent and the extras are better than most British imports. The price-per-minute is higher than most TV on DVD releases, but that's to be expected for this type of film. It is still worth picking up for fans of the genre.

Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The latest release in the Monster High franchise. I've never gotten a chance to review this series, but they sell very well, so obviously the target audience likes the show.

Mutant Planet: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
All ten episodes from season two of Mutant Planet which is also known as Life Force. It looks at animals and their adaptations to their environments. The reviews are good, but I couldn't get to the review this weekend, so it is going to be a prize in a couple of weeks.

Slow West - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A Western shot in New Zealand about a boy from Scotland who travels to America to reunite with the woman he loves. The reviews were amazing, but its box office performance wasn't. Who was right, the critics or the moviegoers? Check out our review to find out.

Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 23rd June.

Teen Beach 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Teen Beach Movie earned excellent reviews and was one of the biggest original movies on the Disney Channel since High School Musical days. Is the follow-up as good? Check out our review to find out.

Tooken - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A parody of the Taken franchise. I thought that was called Taken 3. Look for this film on an upcoming Box Office Prediction Contest.

TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Married... With Children
Married... With Children is one of my favorite TV sitcoms of all time. However, I understood that the writers were making fun of Al Bundy and not holding him up as a hero. If you don't have the show on DVD yet, this is certainly worth picking up. It costs just $0.11 per episode and 90% of them have strong replay value.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: Absolution, Alone Yet Not Alone, Alien Outpost, Contamination, Deli Man, Fire Birds, Gabriel, Glitch, Kung Fu Killer, Merchants of Doubt, The Search for General Tso, Sharknado: Feeding Frenzy, Virtuosity, and The Water Diviner
I might rent The Search for General Tso and order in some Chinese food. It's a great movie, but I know it will make me hungry watching it.

Witches of East End: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The first season's reviews are good, but the second season only has one review on Rotten Tomatoes... and it is negative. Finally, there are just too many similar shows and even fans of the genre have many, many options.

Woman in Gold - Reviews
Video on Demand
This feels like an Oscar-bait movie, except for its release date. Also, its reviews are barely 50% positive. However, films based on real-life stories with someone overcoming adversity do fit what the Oscars like most. Strangely, despite the mixed reviews, the film was able to thrive in limited release earning more than $30 million. Extras on the DVD include an audio commentary track, making of featurette, and a trailer for a related documentary. The Blu-ray also has a press conference. It's worth checking out, but I think a rental is the better option.

WWE: Monday Night War Volume 1: Shots Fired - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Professional wrestling. I have nothing to say.

Yu-Gi-Oh Gx: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I got this as a prize for our weekly Box Office Prediction Contest; however, I double-booked the weekend by mistake. Look out for it as a prize in a couple of weeks... more or less.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Dude Bro Party Massacre 3, 5 Flights Up, Merchants of Doubt, Maggie, Kill Me Three Times, ’71, The Search for General Tso, Woman in Gold, Slow West, Tooken, Teen Beach Movie 2, Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights, The Drop Box, High School Musical, Taken, Monster High, Ed O'Neill, Simon Pegg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, H.P. Lovecraft