Home Market Releases for February 2nd, 2016

February 2, 2016

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

This week the home market is led by a Blu-ray double-dip, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, while there is also an Oscar contender, Bridge of Spies, on the top. After that, the list is filled with bombs and weaker limited releases. It was an easy choice to select Snow White as Pick of the Week.

Batman: Bad Blood - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
The latest animated Batman movie. There are no reviews, but these films tend to do well with their target audience. The DVD only has a preview for the next Direct-to-Video movie, but the Blu-ray has a making of featurette and another featurette on the Bat Family, as well as two episodes. Definitely worth picking up, if you are a fan of the genre. You can also buy the Blu-ray with a Action Figure.


Bridge of Spies - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This film is an obvious piece of Oscar-bait and I think that might have hurt it with moviegoers. It didn't bomb, but it didn't live up to its reviews either. Extras include four making of featurettes focusing on recreating the 1960s, the special effects for the U2 crash, and more. Definitely worth picking up, and a contender for Pick of the Week.

Delirious - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
One of a handful of releases where I might get a screener. The reviews are mixed, but I like John Candy so I'm choosing to remain optimistic.


Evangelion 3.33: You Can {Not} Redo - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This franchise is a mess. Anime has two main problems when it comes to getting new people interested. Firstly, Fan Service. The amount of Fan Service in the average Anime makes the genre feel like it is aimed at a very immature audience. Secondly, the mythos of the longest running shows are nearly completely impenetrable for newbies. Evangelion falls firmly in the second category. In fact, many longtime fans are throwing their hands up in despair. That said, the Blu-ray is selling very well compared to most of the new releases on this week's list. If you are a fan of the Giant Robots Fighting genre of Anime, this is worth checking out, but start at the beginning. Don't jump in here.

Extraordinary Tales - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Anthology films are a bad genre for theaters, but a good genre for the home market, because you can skip bad segments. Likewise, the reviews were not good enough to recommend a trip to the theater, but good enough for a rental on the home market.

Falling Skies: The Complete Fifth Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This show earned good reviews, but never lived up to the hype. Season five was the last season and they are releasing a Megaset as well. Unfortunately, the Megaset is over $100, which is about the same price as all five seasons combined.

Freeheld - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
An Oscar-bait film about gay rights. It only earned mixed reviews and never expanded significantly.


He Never Died - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
This film has earned some of the best reviews on this week's list. However, it was a VOD premiere, which explains why it went nowhere at the box office. It is definitely worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Video on Demand
One of several films on this week's list that I'm hoping for a screener. This is a spoof of 70s Blaxploitation films and while it isn't a great movie, it's still fun.

Kahlil Gibran's the Prophet - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A good movie, but not a great movie, and certainly not as good as its source material. It is worth checking out for fans of animated films. There are not a lot of extras, so let's call it a solid rental, leaning towards a purchase.

The Keeping Room - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film bombed in limited release and it can't even blame a VOD premiere for that. Its reviews were merely good and not great, which explains why it struggled in limited release. It is worth at least a rental on the home market, purchasing if you like the cast and / or Westerns.

The Last Witch Hunter - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
Vin Diesel starred in one of the biggest hits of 2015. This wasn't it. This was a terrible action fantasy film about an immortal witch hunter and an evil witch queen. The extras are good, but that's not enough to raise it to even a rental.

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I like Christina Ricci and I really hope she finds a better show for her next project.

Man Up - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film earned great reviews, but it was a VOD premiere and did no business in limited release. I'm hoping to get a screener, but if it is on its way, it is currently late.

Mercy Street - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A six-part TV mini-series about a make-shift military hospital. The reviews were good, but not great, and frankly you should expect Great for PBS.

Our Brand is Crisis - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
One of the biggest bombs of 2015. Not among the worst movies of the year, but it is only worth a rental if you are a fan of the cast and / or genre. Otherwise, you can safely skip it.

Rock the Kasbah - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Another film that is among the biggest bombs of 2015. This one was more deserving of its struggles. Skip it.


Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This isn't the first time this film has been released on Blu-ray, but the 2009 release is now out of print. Is this Blu-ray worth picking for those who missed the first release? Is it worth the double-dip? Read our review to find out.

Suffragette - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
When making a movie based on a real-life progressive movement, don't Whitewash history. Progressives are going to bristle at a film that erases people of color from history. The reviews are still good, but not great. Extras include an audio commentary track and a trio of featurettes. Its worth renting, maybe a purchase.

Truth - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
An Oscar-bait film about the Dan Rather scandal. Its reviews are barely in the overall positive range, which explains why it struggled in limited release. It didn't bomb, but it missed expectations and didn't expand truly wide. Extras include an audio commentary track, featurette, and Q&A session. It is worth a rental for most, picking up if you are a fan of the cast and / or genre.

Up the Creek - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I might get a chance to review the Blu-ray release. I've previously reviewed the movie on DVD. It's a guilty pleasure. It's not good, but I like it.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: A Ballerina's Tale, Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland, Girl Missing, Hellions, Julia, Little Savages, Masterless, Love the Coopers, The Monkey King - Havoc In Heaven's Palace, Portrait of a Serial Monogamist, Spotlight, Steve Jobs, A Teacher's Obsession, and Wonders
Spotlight is the best movie on this week's list of VOD releases. However, it is too good for VOD and I would wait for the Blu-ray.

The World of Kanako - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This is a good movie, but I would hold off buying from Amazon. Right now, they have a picture of the DVD when the Blu-ray release is selected and vice versa. I'd wait till that is fixed before buying, just in case they screw up the order.

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Evangelion Shin Gekijôban: Kyu, The Keeping Room, Bridge of Spies, The Last Witch Hunter, Spotlight, Rock the Kasbah, Our Brand is Crisis, He Never Died, Suffragette, Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, Kawaki, Man Up, Freeheld, Truth, Evangelion, John Candy, Vin Diesel, Christina Ricci