Home Market Releases for April 19th, 2016
April 19, 2016
The biggest release on this week's list is The Revenant. There are no other releases that come close to that film's box office run and / or Awards Season run. However, personally I think it is well overrated and would be considered a merely good film if it weren't for its reputation for being a difficult shoot. As for the Pick of the Week, there were only a couple of contenders. In the end, Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead on Blu-ray was the clear choice.
And Then There Were None - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Fifty Shades of Black - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Haven: Complete Final Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Ip Man 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Norm of the North - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Pretty Little Liars: Season 6 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Revenant - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or 4k
The Stuff - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: The Babysitter's Seduction, Bob the Builder: Construction Heroes!, The Choice, Daniel Tosh: People Pleaser, A Royal Night Out, and What an Idiot
A British Mini-series based on Agatha Christie's most famous story. The cast is amazing and the reviews are just as good. Extras include a making of featurette, a featurette about Agatha Christie, and an interview with with the writer, Sarah Phelps. Definitely worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.
Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A documentary about the rise and fall of National Lampoon, which was arguably the greatest influence in American comedy and its influence is still found to this day. Does the documentary do the story justice? Read our review to find out.
Yet another terrible spoof. The genre can be amazing, but it has been a long time since the genre was consistently putting out hits. Skip it.
Video on Demand
This show never earned great reviews, but it did well enough in the ratings to last five seasons. Also coming out this week is the Complete Series, but it's just on DVD and it is not a good price compared to buying the seasons individually.
The third film in the Ip Man franchise. The reviews are not as good as the preview film's reviews were. Extras include a making of featurette, a behind-the-scene featurette and an interview. That's worth picking up, but not Pick of the Week material.
The Lady in the Van - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This movie earned stellar reviews, but this is almost entirely due to Maggie Smith. The rest of the movie is still good, but not great. Extras include an audio commentary track, featurettes, and deleted scenes. It is a contender for Pick of the Week.
I forgot this film existed. Then again, it bombed in theaters so hard that one has to assume most people forgot it existed. Furthermore, if you look at its reviews, one has to assume those who saw it are happier if they can forget it.
Video on Demand
I'm not in this show's target audience, but the reviews have been consistently positive and the show's seventh season begins shortly. (At one point, the seventh season was going to be the final season, but that's now in doubt.)
In a word, this movie is overrated It wouldn't have been nominated for so many Oscars if the film didn't have a reputation for being a difficult shoot. And it wouldn't have been a difficult shoot had the director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, been able to control his shoot. The film is only as good as it is, because the aptly named Mary Parent had to be sent in and take control. She should have gotten the Oscar, not Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. The only extra is a making of featurette and that's only on the Blu-ray. It is still worth checking out, but I would just rent it.
Video on Demand
An HBO series set in Silicon Valley and focused on a new technology start up. I missed most of the first season, but what I saw I liked. Is the second season as good as the first? Check out our review for my opinion.
Video on Demand
"Are you eating it? Or is it eating you?" This is a horror comedy from 1985 that earned good reviews, but it is clearly for a niche market, as it is an intentional B movie. Furthermore, the new Blu-ray release doesn't have a lot of extras. Even so, if you are a fan of the genre, it is worth checking out.
Video on Demand
The original is a classic in the genre. This film is just meh. Obviously there are much worse Teenage Slashers out there and if you love the franchise, then this is worth owning, but I can't recommend it to a wide audience.
Video on Demand
Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as the titular Veep, although at the end of season three, she became the president. In season four, she tries to win the election. The show won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series last year. Did it deserve it? Or is it overrated? Read our review for my opinion.
A Royal Night Out is the only VOD release that I'm remotely interested in. Its reviews suggest it might be worth purchasing.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Norm of the North, The Revenant, The Lady in the Van, Yip Man 3, Fifty Shades of Black, A Royal Night Out, Ip Man, Maggie Smith, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mary Parent, Agatha Christie