Home Market Releases for August 15th, 2017

August 16, 2017

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Alien: Covenant is the biggest release on this week’s list, but the franchise is off its peak and has been for a long time. As for Pick of the Week contenders, there are not a lot of them. If I were to stretch the definition, Food Wars: Season One is great, if you are into that subgenre of Anime. Descendants 2 is arguably better than the original, but the DVD isn’t going to really appeal to those outside the target audience. That leaves The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 50th Anniversary Blu-ray as the clear winner for Pick of the Week.

2017 NBA Champions: Golden State - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
Real fans want full games, not just over an hour of highlights.

Alien: Covenant - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Video on Demand
There’s a rumor that they are going to reboot the franchise ignoring Prometheus and Covenant. On the one hand, I really like the franchise when it is focusing on the core elements that work and going back to its Sci-fi horror root and drop the psychology / philosophy musings from the prequels is the right direction, in my opinion. On the other hand, trying to reboot the franchise now would just cause a bigger backlash due to franchise fatigue. If you do like these movies, then the DVD / Blu-ray is loaded with extras, so it is worth picking up, but I wouldn’t call it a Pick of the Week contender. Also coming out this week is Prometheus on 4K and yet another Franchise Box Set.

Billions: Season Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The ratings for the second season of this show were mostly stable. Unfortunately, the second season Tomatometer Score is the least useful for judging a show’s quality, as usually, the score will jump up, but that’s because most critics who reviewed the first season didn’t bother reviewing the second season. Looking at user reviews on individual episodes and it appears season two is slightly better than season one, so if you liked the first season, you will likely enjoy season two as well.

The Blacklist: Season Four - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
It looks like the reviews for this show have peaked, as there were almost no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Also coming out this week is a Two-Pack with the short-lived spin-off, but it is only on DVD.

Bull: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Michael Weatherly left NCIS to headline this show. The ratings were good enough to get a second season, but the critics were not happy with the show. If you like the actor, stick with NCIS reruns.

The Case for Christ - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Faith-based films are arguably the most difficult genre to predict when it comes to box office potential. This one earned some of the best reviews in the genre, but still bombed at the box office. The extras are better than expected, given its box office troubles, but the crossover appeal is really limited. If you do like Christian Apologetics, then it is a must buy. There are not a lot of better options out there.


Note: This Blu-ray made its home market debut on the 1st.

Crashing: Season 1 - Buy from Amazon: DVD and Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Pete Holmes stars as a fictionalized version of himself in this semi-autobiographical TV show. It is about his early years as a stand-up comic and depicts the stand-up comic world in a way we usually don’t see. Is it worth checking out? Is the DVD / Blu-ray worth picking up? Read our review for my opinion.


DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Arrowverse shows have earned a lot of praise, but this one is the lone exception. The first season only earned mixed reviews and the second season isn’t that much better. The extras on the DVD / Blu-ray are good, but not great, which further hurts its overall value. Personally, I’m sticking with Supergirl.

Descendants 2 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
I’m not getting a screener for this film, but I liked the first film and this one is earning even better reviews, so that’s good news. It also pulled in amazing ratings and it was seen by nearly 9 million people during its opening night.

Digimon Adventure Tri.: Determination - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The second of five Digimon Adventure Tri. movies to hit the home market. So far the films have earned good reviews on My Anime List and the fifth film airs on TV in Japan in September, so there’s not a long wait for the arc to be over.

Everything, Everything - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
A Young Adult adaptation in the Dying Girl subgenre. The reviews were mixed and it wasn’t a big hit in theaters. (Granted, it only cost $10 million to make, so it should break even sometime during its home market run.) Extras include a making of featurette and some deleted scenes. Call it a solid rental for fans of Young Adult adaptions.

Fairy Tail: Collection Nine - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
This is the second of four Anime titles on this week’s list. Fairy Tail is one of the few Anime franchises that appear on this list on a regular basis. On the other hand...

Food Wars: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Food Wars appearing on this list is a bit of a surprise. Granted, it is one of the best rated Animes from 2015; however, it is a... niche market Anime. It’s Ecchi in an unusual way. The show is about a cooking school and a self-taught, but supremely arrogant chef who manages to wow the teachers with his skill, but also create enemies with his arrogance. The show does have a lot of fan service, and I mean the giggly kind, not the Easter Egg kind, as it really emphasizes the food porn aspect of cooking shows. Again, it is Ecchi not Hentai, so it is not actual porn, but this is still enough to limit its audience. There are no real extras on the DVD / Blu-ray, but that’s common for Anime titles and it is still worth picking up for fans of Anime.


The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 50th Anniversary - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I own this movie on DVD or Blu-ray three times, but I’m still going to buy this anniversary edition on Blu-ray. The main new extra is an audio commentary track, while there is also a new featurette with director Ernest Dickerson talking about his love of this trilogy. Add in all of the old extras and it is Pick of the Week material.


Hickok - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This film would have been in the secondary Blu-ray section below, but there is one interesting point about it. It is only coming out on 4K Ultra HD and not regular Blu-ray.

How to Be a Latin Lover - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
The latest big released aimed at an Hispanic audience. Like most similar movies, it earned mixed reviews, while it did well at the box office, compared to its production budget. Extras include an audio commentary track, two making of featurettes, and deleted / extended scenes. If you are part of the target audience, it is worth picking up. If you just like comedies, give it a rental.

The Middle: The Complete Eighth Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
This show it too much of a typical sitcom for my liking.

Murdoch Mysteries: Season 10 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is a police procedural TV show from Canada that has lasted just over 6% as long as Canada itself. There are too many shows in this genre, but this one has an interesting hook. It takes place in the early 1900s during the infancy of modern forensics. If you like the genre, then it is certainly worth checking out.

NCIS: New Orleans: The Third Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I liked the original NCIS, but I quickly grew tired of the first spin-off and the backdoor pilot for this show was enough to convince me to not even bother watching the first season.

One Piece: Season Nine, Voyage Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
One of the longest-running Animes of all time. It is also widely regarded as the best. However, it would be nearly impossible for anyone new to the franchise to catch up at this point, which is a problem only a handful of Anime titles have.

Once Upon A Time: The Complete Sixth Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I think the show’s quality has already peaked, so I don’t know how much longer it will last. It has been moved to Friday for its seventh season, so that could be the end. As for this DVD / Blu-ray, there are enough extras (audio commentary track, making of featurette, deleted scenes, and outtakes) to be worth picking up for fans.

Riverdale: The Complete First Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Archie has sex with his teacher. That’s not a spoiler as much as it is a warning. This TV show is a teenage soap opera that has almost nothing to do with its source material. The reviews are great, so if you want a teenage soap opera with a darker edge to it, then it is worth checking out. If you want a movie about Archie and the gang, because you like the original comics, then avoid it at all costs.

The Wall - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film is selling surprisingly well on DVD and Blu-ray. It opened below the Mendoza Line, but its one of the best-selling new releases of the week. Its reviews are better than its box office numbers, while its extras are okay (audio commentary track and two featurettes). Call it a solid rental, leaning towards a purchase if you are a fan of the cast.


Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
After The Storm - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Baby Steps - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Bluebeard - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Chuck - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Duel in the Sun - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Hopscotch - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Meantime - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Missing in Action - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Night Moves - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Noose Hangs High - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Once Upon a Time in Venice - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
One Dark Night - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Pet Sematary - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Scarehouse - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Shakes the Clown - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
After The Storm is the best secondary Blu-ray release of the week, but it is a foreign-language film, so it will likely not find the audience it deserves.


3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
No 3D releases this week.


4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Alien: Covenant - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Hickok - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
The Lincoln Lawyer - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Prometheus - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
The two Alien films are the ones that benefit the most from 4K, but not enough to make the leap to Ultra HD.


TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This TV Megaset includes the 1980s movie that inspired it, as well as some episodes from the 1950s shows. It’s great value for the money.


Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Batman and Harley Quinn - Reviews - Video on Demand
Baywatch - Reviews - Video on Demand (Theatrical)
Baywatch - Reviews - Video on Demand (Extended)
First Daughter and the Black Snake - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Lion King - Reviews - Video on Demand (Theatrical Version)
The Lion King - Reviews - Video on Demand (With Bonus Content)
The Lion King 1 1/2 - Reviews - Video on Demand (Theatrical Version)
The Lion King 1 1/2 - Reviews - Video on Demand (With Bonus Feature)
The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride - Reviews - Video on Demand (Theatrical Version)
The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride - Reviews - Video on Demand (With Bonus Feature)
There are six VOD releases for The Lion King films this week.


Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Duel in the Sun, Hopscotch, Shakes the Clown, Alien: Covenant, Baywatch, How to Be a Latin Lover, Umi yori mo mada fukaku, The Case for Christ, Everything, Everything, The Wall, Haebing, Chuck, Once Upon a Time in Venice, Batman and Harley Quinn, Hickok, First Daughter and the Black Snake, Baby Steps, Meantime, Alien, The Lion King, Michael Weatherly, Ernest Dickerson, Pete Holmes