Home Market Releases for July 14th, 2015

July 13, 2015

Clouds of Sils Maria

It is both a good and a bad week on the home market. The biggest new release is Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. That's bad. However, there are also a trio of limited releases coming out this week that are easily contenders for Pick of the Week: Clouds of Sils Maria, Ex Machina, and It Follows. It is really a coin-toss between those three, but in the end, I went with Clouds of Sils Maria - Buy from Amazon: DVD.

Adventure Time: Season Five - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I've previously reviewed a couple of seasons of this show and really liked it. Sadly, I didn't get a screener for this season. I would be shocked if it weren't at least worth a rental. Given the quality of the previous seasons, it is a contender for Pick of the Week.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon: The Andromeda Strain, The Black Stallion, Blown Away, The Crimson Field, Familiar of Zero: F Season 4, Gangs of Wasseypur, Here Is Your Life, Hiroshima mon amour, Howling II: Your Sister Is A Werewolf, Is the Order a Rabbit, Life Stinks, Little House on the Prairie: Season Six, Rush, Sailor Moon R: Season 2, Part 1, Sneakers, Stray Cat Rock, and Unwanted
There's a lot of secondary Blu-ray releases on this week's list, but none that really stand out as must haves. I like Sneakers, but I already own it and I don't think I need to buy it again.

Cedar Cove: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
Cedar Cove is a summer series starring Andie MacDowell as a judge in a small town. It is better than most summer shows and has been a huge hit for Hallmark Channel. It is also the cable channel's first scripted original show, so they have to be relieved that it turned out so well.

Clouds of Sils Maria - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
One of the best-reviewed new releases of the week. All three leading ladies earned a lot of praise, especially Kristen Stewart, who became the first American actress to win a Cesar Award. It also pulled in nearly $2 million in theaters, which is good for a limited release. Unfortunately, it is only coming out on DVD. It is still worth picking up and even a Pick of the Week contender. However, not coming out on Blu-ray is a problem.

Ex Machina - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
According to Amazon.com, this is the best-selling new release of the week. Granted, Amazon does tend to lean towards this genre more than the market as a whole and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 will likely end up the biggest selling new release of the week. Regardless of the final position in the sales chart, it is one of the best releases of the week. But do the DVD and Blu-ray live up to the film? Read our review to find out.

It Follows - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A low-budget horror film that opened in limited release. These rarely do well in theaters, even if they earn incredible reviews. However, this film was a rare exception earning more than $10 million in theaters. That's more than a few wide releases managed this year. The extras are disappointing with just an audio commentary track and a five-minute interview with the composer. However, the reviews are so good that it is still a Pick of the Week contender.

The Longest Ride - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This movie isn't as bad as some of Nicholas Sparks' movies are, but it is very forgettable. In fact, I forgot it was a wide release.

One Piece: Collection 13 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
One Piece: Season 7 Voyage One - Buy from Amazon: DVD
One of the few Anime series that regularly appear near the top of the new releases whenever a new DVD comes out. This week, there are two new releases and they are both selling relatively well.

Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
One of the worst movies of the year. Avoid at all costs.

Powers: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A police procedural show set in a world where there are super powered individuals. It follows a homocide detective who lost his powers. Like most summer shows, the reviews are mixed, but I believe a screener is on its way, so I'm hoping for the best.

The Salt of the Earth - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This documentary earned fantastic reviews and even picked up an Oscar nomination. It is only coming out on a Blu-ray Combo Pack and the extras include an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, and more. Definitely worth picking up for fans of the genre.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
The screener arrived this afternoon. I can't get the review done on time if it doesn't arrive before the weekend. However, I should be able to get to the review this week. Given its reviews and the extras, it looks like it is at least worth picking up.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: 5 Seconds of Summer: Up Close and Personal, Goodbye to All That, Harry Styles: My World, Junction, Justice League: Gods & Monsters, Mythica: A Quest for Heroes, Purgatorio, Reckless, SHReD, Trust, The Unbelievable Truth, We Are Journalists
Usually, there are a couple of big releases that come out on VOD before they hit DVD and Blu-ray. According to Amazon.com, that's not happening this week. As a result, there's not a lot of interesting VOD releases to talk about.

X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
The screener for this release arrived this afternoon. The film itself is excellent, but I don't know if this new cut will make the movie better or worse. Nor do I know if the new release is worth the double-dip. It is also coming out as a Collector's Edition.


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Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Sneakers, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Longest Ride, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, It Follows, Ex Machina, Clouds of Sils Maria, The Salt of the Earth, Andie MacDowell, Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Sparks