Home Market Releases for May 24th, 2016

May 24, 2016

Mustang

There are not a lot of first-run releases on this week's list and none that are contenders for Pick of the Week. That's not to say there are no contenders, but they come from catalog releases, TV on DVD, etc. Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection 1917-1923 on Blu-ray tops that list. However, I'm going with Mustang on DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack as the Pick of the Week. The screener arrived late, but it was worth it.

54: Director's Cut - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I was hoping to get a screener for this release, as I wanted to see if the director's cut was better than the theatrical release. It would almost have to be.

American Gothic: The Complete Series - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I loved this show when it first aired 20 years ago. Apparently I was in the minority, because it was canceled after just one season. The DVD only costs $20, which is a good deal for this type of release.


Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection 1917-1923 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I put in my request for this title and I really hoped I would get it in time. Unfortunately, with Kino, I rarely get the screeners I request. Even sight unseen, I know this Blu-ray is a Pick of the Week contender.

Call the Midwife: Season Five - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A British period drama set in the 1960s that focuses on a group of nurses and midwives. The show's reviews have been strong, but this past season there are only two reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and only one of them is positive. Hopefully this is an anomaly and not representative of a true drop in quality.

Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace - Buy from Amazon: DVD
If this came out a decade ago, I would say wait to see if they will find the first and fourth episodes of this story. However, it would take a minor miracle for them to show up now. ... Then again, I said that before and some were found in 2011 and 2013. You can't give up all hope, but you also can't wait forever.

The Finest Hours - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This was an expensive bomb costing $70 million to make and earning just $50 million worldwide. The reviews were good, but not great, while the extras include deleted scenes and a handful of featurettes. It deserved to been seen by more.

How to be Single - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
I forgot this was a wide release. It's not a terrible movie, but it doesn't do much with the genre conventions. If you like Rom Coms, then you will likely enjoy this movie. Extras include a few featurettes, outtakes, and deleted scenes. It's a solid rental, if you are a fan of the genre.

Killer Dames: Two Gothic Chillers by Emilio P. Miraglia - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Two B-movies that are not well-known nor do they have a lot of appeal outside cult appeal.


Lou Grant: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This is a drama, which is a spin-off of a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The original show was an absolute classic. This show could have been the same, but it was canceled after two seasons, despite its ratings, reviews, and awards. Ed Asner won two Emmys during the two seasons it was on the air. I'm glad it is coming out on DVD this week.

Major Crimes: Season 4 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A better-than-average summer series. It's not award-worthy, but worth checking out.


Manhunter - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Video on Demand
I previously reviewed this film and while I liked it, I don't think it is as good as its Tomatometer Score would indicate. That said, the Blu-ray is excellent. It includes two versions of the film, including a director's cut. The director's cut can be watched in standard definition or high definition, but the additional scenes are in standard definition regardless. While I didn't like it as much as most critics did, it is still worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Sport-Y-Thon - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I've reviewed a couple of DVDs from this series. It's better than most shows aimed at the same target demographic.


Note: This DVD made its home market debut on the 13th.

Mustang - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film earned an Oscar Nomination for Best Foreign-Language film, but it didn't win in the end. Did it deserve to win? Check out our review to find out.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume II - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This is about 40% less than the set's original price. It's not worth the double-dip, but if you missed out the first time, it is worth picking up.

Outsiders: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I admit I've never seen this show, but the reviews are good. However, the premise (a look at an insular community living in the hills of the Appalachians) has no appeal to me.

The Player: The Criterion Collection - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A classic that has most of the extras from the 1990s laserdisc, plus some new ones. If you don't own this movie, you should own it.

Risen - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A faith-based film that earned mixed reviews, which is better than average for a faith-based film. Extras on the DVD and Blu-ray include an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, and a quartet of making of featurettes. That's better than expected, given its box office numbers. It is worth checking out and worth picking up, if you are in the target demographic.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Season One, Part One - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
An Anime title in the top twenty that isn't One Piece or Naruto.

Tokyo Ghoul vA: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
An Anime title in the top ten that isn't One Piece or Naruto.

The Wonder Years: Season 5 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Fans of the show likely already have the Box Set.

Zapped! - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This is a terrible movie, but some think it is so good it's bad.

Zoolander 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
Zoolander wasn't a big hit in theaters, but it became a cult hit on the home market. Was the sequel able to live up to its predecessor? Or was it a very lazy sequel? Read our review for my opinion.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Brothers Grimsby - Reviews - Video on Demand
Eddie the Eagle - Reviews - Video on Demand
Hail, Caesar! - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Other Side of the Door - Reviews - Video on Demand
Sex, Love & Therapy - Reviews - Video on Demand
Touched With Fire - Reviews - Video on Demand
A War - Reviews - Video on Demand
Wondrous Boccaccio - Reviews - Video on Demand
Of the VOD releases this week, Hail, Caesar! is the one I'm most interested in. I also want to see Eddie the Eagle.

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Zoolander 2, The Brothers Grimsby, How to be Single, Risen, Hail, Caesar!, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, The Finest Hours, Eddie the Eagle, Mustang, The Other Side of the Door, Krigen, The Missionaries, Maraviglioso Boccaccio, Buster Keaton, Edward Asner