Home Market Releases for November 10th, 2015

November 9, 2015

Better Call Saul: Season 1

There are a couple of big hits on this week's list of new releases. Terminator: Genisys was a monster hit internationally, but it failed to live up to expectations here. On the other hand, Trainwreck earned $100 million here, but barely made a peep internationally. Of these two films, Trainwreck is the only one worth picking up. In fact, it is a Contender for Pick of the Week. However, I'm still waiting for the screener and I hate to give out this title when a screener is on its way. Because of that, I'm going with Better Call Saul: Season One as the Best of the Best, but it isn't the only other title worth picking up.

ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks: Alvin's Wild Adventures - Buy from Amazon: DVD
After Chipwrecked, I thought we were done with this franchise. But nope. Not only is there another movie coming out this year, but a new TV series started in the summer. This is the first DVD release from that series.

Bad Boys I and II - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
They are making a third and fourth installment of this franchise. Not sure why. It is not a franchise that needed to continue. Then again, they are fine for their genre (mindless action flicks) and I'm sure there are fans of the first two films that can't wait for the next two. On the other hand, that's exactly what these fans should do... wait. They should wait for a better deal when the franchise is complete and not buy now and look for a double-dip later on.


Better Call Saul: Season One: Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This series is a prequel Breaking Bad. When I heard of this series, I was skeptical. Breaking Bad is one of the best TV shows around, so making a prequel sounded like a risk. However, its reviews for season one were prefect and the reviews for the individual episodes never dropped below 88% positive. That's amazing. Additionally, there are a ton of extras on the DVD and Blu-ray. It is a Pick of the Week contender for sure.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon: Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone, Voices of Christmas, and WWE: Ring in the Holiday
Not much in the way of Christmas releases this week. However, if you have a WWE fan you need to buy for, Ring in the Holiday might be a fun gift.

Enchanted Kingdom 3D - Buy from Amazon: 3D Combo Pack
A 3D nature documentary. It is from BBC Earth, which is a good sign, but there are no reviews to judge the movie.

Forbidden Zone - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Blu-ray / CD Soundtrack Combo Pack came out a couple of weeks ago. I would spend the extra $5 and get the soundtrack.

Leapfrog: Learn with Leap - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This is a good series, but at $100 for ten discs, it's no cheaper than buying the discs separately.

Mala Mala - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A documentary about nine trans individuals living in Puerto Rico. The reviews are amazing and this is a subject that even most LGBT films won't touch.


Mr. Holmes - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
I did this review a week early, because I misfiled the screener in the wrong week. This is becoming a habit for me. It was a Pick of the Week contender last week, and it continues to be a Pick of the Week contender this week.

Naruto Shippuden - Uncut: Set 24 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
It is unusual for an Anime title to sell well enough to be included on this list, but long time readers will recognize Naruto, as it has done so a number of times in the past.

One Piece: Collection 14 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The second Anime title on this week's list. That's really rare.

Passage to Marseille - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Passage to Marseille is to Casablanca as Fierce Creatures is to A Fish Called Wanda. Both sets of movies have the same creative teams behind them, but are not sequels. Also, in both cases the second film isn't as good as the first, but are still both worth checking out.

Pay the Ghost - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Nicolas Cage needs to be more selective when it comes to scripts. He's still a good actor, but hasn't had a good script to work with for a number of years.

Play Misty for Me - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This is Clint Eastwood's directorial debut, and it was a critical and financial success. Also coming out this week are a trio of other Clint Eastwood Blu-rays: The Eiger Sanction, Coogan's Bluff, and The Beguiled.

Restless - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Hayley Atwell stars as a woman who learns her mother was a spy in World War II and now must help her mother uncover the truth. This TV mini-series is selling rather well, but there are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to judge the film by.

Self/Less - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Director Tarsem Singh has a firm reputation for taking interesting ideas, turning them into bad movie that cost a lot to make and lose money at the box office. I guess if you really like his style, it is worth checking out, but a Tomatometer Score of 21% should scare off his fans.


Note: This film comes out on VOD this week, but makes its Blu-ray debut on the 24th.

Shaun the Sheep - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This is the latest film from Aardman Animations, which is a production company with a very impressive track record with critics, if not with moviegoers. This film made less than $20 million at the box office, but is it better than its financial run would indicate? Read our review for my opinion.

Sherlock Holmes - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
This is the 1916 silent film edition of Sherlock Holmes. The film was thought to be lost until print was discovered last year. So not only is this classic a must have for fans of the sleuth, but it also gives hopes for those hoping their favorite lost film won't stay lost forever.

Star Wars - Steelbook Collection - Buy from Amazon:
Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Blu-ray
Episode II: Attack of the Clones - Blu-ray
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Blu-ray
Episode IV: A New Hope - Blu-ray
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - Blu-ray
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - Blu-ray
These films have already been released on trilogy box sets. I'm not sure if there's any differences between these releases and the earlier ones, but I think a screener is on its way.


Tangerine - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A film about two transwomen played by two transwomen. That's really rare; although with Laverne Cox's breakout success, it should become a lot less rare in the future. The reviews are amazing and I'm hoping it will find a wide audience on the home market. However, it was a limited release and a niche market release, so that's unlikely.

Terminator: Genisys - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 3D Combo Pack
Video on Demand
The latest, but probably not last installment in the Terminator franchise. It earned the worst reviews and the worst domestic box office numbers in the franchise. However, its international numbers are strong enough that it might have already broken even. (It depends on what the film's global P&A budget was and what the studio's share was in the different markets.) As for its chances on the home market, the extras are three featurettes having a combined running time of nearly an hour. However, there's no audio commentary track, deleted scenes, etc. Unless you are a completionist, I don't think it's worth a rental.


Trainwreck - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
One of the best-reviewed summer releases and a surprise $100 million hit. Extras on the DVD are a little light, but the Blu-ray is loaded with exclusive exrtas. It is clearly a Pick of the Week contender, but I'm expecting a screener, so I would like to check out the extras myself before making that judgment.

TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Automan, Danganronpa, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Foyle's War, Galtar and the Golden Lance, Justice League Unlimited, Manimal, Pokemon: The Johto Journeys, Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre, and Super Sentai
It's a busy week for TV on DVD Megasets. Some of these really stretch the definition of Megaset. Automan only lasted 13 episodes.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: American Ultra, Bound to Vengeance, The Little Ponderosa Zoo, No Escape, Pretend We're Kissing, Red Herring, A Tale of Two Thieves, and Zarafa
American Ultra feels like the best VOD release this week, as it is good enough to watch, but you don't need to buy it.

Woodlawn - Buy from Amazon: DVD Pastor's Kit or Student Study or Small Group Study
This is one of the easiest films to talk about. There's a Pastor's Kit. Do you have a Pastor who might be interested in using it as a study tool? If so, you are probably in the target audience. If not, then you are not.

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Self/Less, Terminator: Genisys, Mr. Holmes, Pay the Ghost, Trainwreck, Shaun the Sheep, Tangerine, American Ultra, Mala Mala, Star Wars, Terminator, Bad Boys, Nicolas Cage, Hayley Atwell, Clint Eastwood, Tarsem Singh, Laverne Cox