Home Market Releases for June 6th, 2017

June 6, 2017

Summer is usually the slowest time of the year on the home market; however, this week we have the biggest theatrical hit of the year so far coming out. Unfortunately, Beauty and the Beast isn’t really Pick of the Week material. It’s not bad and the DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack hav enough extras to be worth picking up, but that’s not enough to put it over the top. Unfortunately, the film was such a massive hit at the box office that it scared away all of the competition and there’s no real Pick of the Week films on this week’s list.

The Assignment - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
A hitman is kidnapped by a doctor who forces him to undergo gender reassignment surgery turning him into Michelle Rodriguez. Okay. ... That’s an unusual setup. The reviews are weak and it was a VOD debut, so it bombed in limited release. There are almost no extras on the DVD or Blu-ray, so even if you like the cast and crew, it is only worth a rental.

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CHiPs: The Complete Sixth Season - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The movie bombed, but the TV on DVD release is selling really well. Also coming out this week is the Complete Series Megaset.

A Cinderella Story: 4-Film Bundle - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
They made four of these?

The Convenient Groom - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A Hallmark Channel original movie. You can probably guess what that means quality-wise. You will have to guess, because there are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. On the other hand, it is selling really well, so it clearly has its target audience.

A Cure for Wellness - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
The first time I saw the trailer for this movie, it looked like it was trying too hard to be artistic, because it didn’t have the substance to draw in an audience otherwise. Most critics agreed that was the case and moviegoers stayed away. Extras on the DVD and Blu-ray include a couple of featurettes and a single deleted scene. If you are interested, it is worth checking out, but stick with a rental.

Fahrenheit 451: 50th Anniversary Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This movie wasn’t well-received when it first came out, but many now consider it a classic of the genre. Interestingly, despite most people assuming it is about censorship, it is actually about TV turning people into zombies by passively ingesting entertainment instead of more active reading.

Fairy Tail: Collection Eight - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
One of the most popular Anime titles in the west. It is considered by many to be near the top of the shounen genre. Technically shounen just means it is aimed at boys, but it is commonly used as a genre as well. Anime is confusing. Extras include commentary tracks on five episodes, one of which is a video commentary. If you are a fan, then it is worth picking up. If you’ve never seen it, but like Anime, then start with Collection One.

Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
The first film is a great movie. This one is just okay. It is worth checking out, but I don’t think it warrants a purchase over a rental.

Lady Bloodfight - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
This film started out as a remake and / or delayed sequel for Bloodsport. The reviews are okay, for the genre, but it is nothing special.

Land of Mine - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A 2015 Danish-German co-production about German soldiers forced to remove mines, partially as a form of punishment for Germany’s occupation of Denmark, despite the fact that many of them were conscripted teenagers. The reviews are great, but not quite Oscar-worthy. It was nominated for an Oscar, but did not win. Likewise, it is worth picking up, but it is not a Pick of the Week contender.

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 2007 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I think there are three more seasons of this show left to be released on DVD here. It was one of the longest-running shows on British TV and I’ve long since run out of things to talk about.

The Last Word - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
Shirley MacLaine plays a rich businesswoman who wants to write her own obituary, while Amanda Seyfried plays a journalist who decides to make sure Shirley MacLaine’s character is being honest. The reviews are weak and it went nowhere in theaters, which explains the lack of extras on the DVD / Blu-ray.

Midnight Lace - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This DVD is selling really well, so well that I’m surprised it hasn’t gotten a Blu-ray release yet.

RWBY: Volume 4 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
A screener is on its way. There was a mix-up with shipping, so it will arrive late. I will get to it A.S.A.P. after it arrives.

A United Kingdom - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This is one of the biggest limited release hits of the year so far earning nearly $4 million. Unfortunately, this was apparently not enough for a loaded DVD or Blu-ray. That said, it is still worth picking up, but not a contender for Pick of the Week.

The Young Pope - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Jude Law stars as a new Pope who decides to take the Catholic Church in a more conservative direction, despite what others in the Vatican wanted. The reviews are good, but not as good as the buzz going into the mini-series. The ratings were likewise good, but not as good as expected. It is still getting a season two, on the other hand. There are a lot of extras, but most of them are really short and that hurts the overall value.

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Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
1492: Conquest of Paradise - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Axe Murders of Villisca - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Enter the Warriors Gate - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I am Dragon - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Kill ‘em All - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Let Me Make You a Martyr - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Major Payne - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Man in the Glass Booth - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Operation Mekong - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Sky on Fire - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Sound of the Sky - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Ticket - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Ugetsu Monogatari - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Van Helsing: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Voice from the Stone - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Where the Buffalo Roam - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Zaza - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Ugetsu Monogatari is the best Secondary Blu-ray on this list.

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3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
No 3D releases this week.

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4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
The Bourne Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Hk Ultra HD
Despicable Me - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD
Despicable Me 2 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD
Ex Machina - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD
Snitch - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Ex Machina is the best film here, but I’m not sold on Ultra HD.

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TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Archie’s Weird Mysteries - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Becker - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
CHiPs - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Joan of Arcadia - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Numbers - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiago - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
There are a couple of cartoons on this week’s list. There would have been even more, as there were six or so Hanna Barbara releases, but almost all of those were single-seasons. The longest on was only 34 episodes long.

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Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
The Axe Murders of Villisca - Reviews - Video on Demand
CHiPS - Reviews - Video on Demand
A Country Wedding - Reviews - Video on Demand
Don’t Knock Twice - Reviews - Video on Demand
Dying in Vein The Opiate Generation - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Kidnap Capital - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Road Less Traveled - Reviews - Video on Demand
The biggest secondary VOD release of the week is CHiPS. Wow. Slow week.

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C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Midnight Lace, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, CHiPS, A Cure for Wellness, The Ticket, Voice From the Stone, Beauty and the Beast, Don't Knock Twice, A United Kingdom, The Last Word, The Assignment, Warrior’s Gate, On-Drakon, Operation Mekong, Chongtian Huo, The Axe Murders of Villisca, Kill ’em All, Lady Bloodfight, Ugetsu monogatari, The Convenient Groom, Kidnap Capital, Dying in Vein: The Opiate Generation, ZaZa, Bourne, A Cinderella Story, Jude Law, Shirley MacLaine, Michelle Rodriguez, Amanda Seyfried