Home Market Releases for January 8th, 2019
January 9, 2019
We are still in that awkward time on the home market we have to deal with every year. It is too late for the summer blockbusters to come out on DVD / Blu-ray, but too soon for the fall hits or Oscar contenders. This means there’s very little in the way of contenders for Pick of the Week with only one release worth considering, a Canadian show, Frankie Drake Mysteries: Season 1. This does mean I get to give out a Puck of the Week, for best Canadian release.
Bad Times at the El Royale - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Castle Rock: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Dragon Ball Super: Part Six - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Frankie Drake Mysteries: Season 1 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Hell Fest - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Kusama: Infinity - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Mid90s - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Mobile Fighter G-Gundam: Volume 2 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Monsters and Men - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Oath - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Office Space: 20th Anniversary Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Pokémon Battle Frontier: Complete Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Twin Star Exorcists: Part Four - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
When Harry Met Sally...: 30th Anniversary Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Willie Dynamite - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
4K Ultra HD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Video on Demand
The screener arrived, but due to a technical error, I wasn’t able to get the review done this weekend. Furthermore, two more screeners have already arrived, meaning I might not be able get to this review in a timely fashion. I did watch the movie, and I love it. I would consider it a must have for anyone who likes Film Noir. There’s only one extra, but it is a 30-minute making of featurette, which is substantial. Hopefully I will have a full review done soonish, but in the meantime, it’s worth picking up.
A horror anthology series based on the writings of Stephen King. His track record with adaptations is mixed, but this show’s reviews are impressive. Extras include a couple of featurettes and Inside the Episode for all 10 episodes. It is definitely worth picking up.
One of the biggest Anime franchises in the world. Certainly one of the biggest Anime franchises in the West. Extras include a trio of interviews, as well as the usual clean openings and closings that nearly all Anime titles come with.
A Canadian mystery drama that focuses on an all-female private investigator firm in Toronto in the 1920s. There are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but the ones there are positive. It is worth picking up, especially if you like the genre, but want something that stands out. The lack of extras hurts the overall value, but it is a slow week, so it is still a contender for Pick of the Week.
Video on Demand
A low-budget horror film set in a horror-themed amusement park where a real killer stalks some of the visitors. It’s not a bad setup, but the actual film is merely mediocre. Additionally, there’s only a single making of featurette for extras. If you are a fan of the genre, then it is worth a rental, but that’s it.
Video on Demand
A documentary about Yayoi Kusama, the top selling female artist in the world. The film’s reviews are great, but not award-worthy and it wasn’t part of the Oscar Documentary shortlist. It is worth checking out, but it is not a must have, because there have been so many top-notch documentaries released this past year.
Video on Demand
The directorial debut of Jonah Hill. Its reviews are good, but not great, which explains why it wasn’t a major hit at the box office and this explains the lack of extras on the DVD / Blu-ray. It is still worth checking out for most, picking up for many.
The second of four Anime titles on this week’s list. This is the oldest Anime franchise of the four, but it is worth watching for those who have been fans of Anime for as long as this show has been around, as well as those who are new to Anime.
Video on Demand
A man witnesses a police shooting and has to decide whether or not to come forward. The reviews are really good, but it struggled in limited release. The DVD / Blu-ray does include a short film by the same director, but that’s it for special features. It is still worth checking out. Let’s call it a solid rental, leaning towards a purchase.
Video on Demand
A political satire that hits most targets, but the end result is still merely good. Call it a rental.
This is a good movie, but it appears to be the previous release in a new package.
It’s Pokémon. While the games are more popular than the Anime, it is still one of the most popular Animes around and there’s not much more that needs to be said.
The fourth and final installment of this franchise hits the home market this week. The show’s appeal depends heavily on how much tolerance you have for Shounen Anime Tropes, as the show is far from unique, but the execution is strong, for the most part.
I remember loving this movie, but it has been a long, long time since I’ve seen it. I’m worried it hasn’t aged well. On the other hand, there are some new extras to go along with vintage featurettes, so fans of the movie should be interested in buying this edition.
I previously reviewed this movie as part of the Soul Showcase lineup. I remember being pleasantly surprised that it rose above the typical blaxploitation films. Additionally, there is a new audio commentary track as some other extras lifting the value of the Blu-ray further.
All the Creatures Were Stirring - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
There’s a Christmas release this week. It’s actually a horror anthology film set during Christmas and the reviews are actually nearly uniformly positive, so it is worth picking up, for fans of the genre.
8MM - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
24 Frames: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Asher - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Bent - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Captain - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Great Battle - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The House That Would Not Die - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Judgment Night - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
KanColle Kantai Collection: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Karate Kid Part III/The Next Karate Kid - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Let the Corpses Tan - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Nemesis - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Purge: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Time Freak - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
There’s an eclectic selection of secondary Blu-ray releases this week. So many, that I’m having trouble picking what’s the best bet. The easy answer is 24 Frames, as The Criterion Collection rarely lets me down.
Are there really no 4K releases this week?
Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
8 Remains - Reviews - Video on Demand
Edge of Obedience - Reviews - Video on Demand
First Man - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Hate U Give - Reviews - Video on Demand
Hillbilly - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Old Man and the Gun - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Pea Shooter - No Reviews - Video on Demand
SGT. Will Gardner - Reviews - Video on Demand
What They Had - Reviews - Video on Demand
There are three films on this week’s list of secondary VOD titles that I’m planning reviewing. In fact the screener for First Man has already arrived.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Nemesis, Kusama: Infinity, The Old Man and the Gun, Bad Times at the El Royale, Hell Fest, Laissez bronzer les cadavres, What They Had, Asher, Monsters and Men, 24 Frames: Before and After Lumiere, Der Hauptmann, Time Freak, An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn, The Oath, Mid90s, Ansisung, Edge of Obedience, Hillbilly, All the Creatures Were Stirring, SGT. Will Gardner, The Pea Shooter, 8 Remains, The House That Would Not Die, Karate Kid, Jonah Hill, Stephen King, Yayoi Kusama