Home Market Releases for November 7, 2017

November 8, 2017

Your Name.

It is not a particularly strong week on the home market. Cars 3 is the biggest new release, but it is far from the best. There were not a lot of contenders for Pick of the Week. The Philadelphia Story and Your Name were the two best with the latter coming out on top and its Blu-ray Combo Pack is the Pick of the Week.

American Dad! Volume 12 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This show has been past its prime for a number of seasons, but it just keeps going and going. Fox canceled it, but it has a new network, TBS. I think most fans of the TV show have moved on, so there’s not a lot of reason to pick up the latest season.


Cars 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4k Ultra HD Combo Pack
Video on Demand (Movie Only) or Video on Demand (With Bonus Features)
The first two Cars films are among the two worst films Pixar has ever released. Will Cars 3 continue this trend? Or will the franchise finally have a critical hit? Read our review to find out.


The Crown: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This TV show earned 90% positive reviews, but like most Netflix TV on DVD releases, there are no extras. There is also a Gift Set with physical extras, like art card, collector’s coin, replica newspaper, etc. If the DVD / Blu-ray had good extras, then it is would be a Pick of the Week contender. Without them, it is still worth picking up.

DC Universe 10th Anniversary Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This box set has 30 movies from the past 10 years. Granted, the animated films have had some real missteps over the past few years, the overall quality is still really good. If there are 20 or more films that you don’t have yet, but are interested in, then the box set is worth picking up. If not, it is likely a better deal just to grab the few you like and give this box set a pass.

Family Guy - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Like American Dad! above, this series hit its peak a while ago, but it just keeps going. I lost interest in the show a long time ago.


The Glass Castle - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
I got a shot to review this Blu-ray, but passed, because I figured I would be too busy to get a full review done. The screener arrived anyway. I didn’t have time to do a featured review, so we will have to settle for a spotlight review.

The film focuses on the Walls family, Rex and Mary Rose and their four kids. The film bounces between two times, firstly when the kids are younger and secondly it focusses mostly on Jeannette as an adult. As kids, they live in poverty and have to run whenever bill collector’s corner them. Meanwhile, the adult Jeannette is getting married and wants to reconnect with her father.

On the one hand, the film has some great performances, especially by Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson. On the other hand, the script doesn’t do enough to give me a reason to care about these characters. It is based on the memoirs of the real Jeannette Walls, but the screenplay still feels false. It doesn’t take the trauma of childhood abuse / neglect seriously and that was a serious impediment in my opinion.

Extras are better than expected for a limited release. They start with a 26-minute making of featurette and there is also a 15-minute interview with the real Jeanette Walls. There is a shorter 3-minute featurette on the song, “Summer Storm” and a 4-minute featurette on the score. Finally, there are nine deleted scenes with a total running time of 10 minutes.

The Glass Castle takes a real story and strips it of all authenticity. There are some great performances and better than expected extras, but it is still disappointing overall. If you are a fan of the cast, then maybe it is worth a rental.


Harry Potter Box Set - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Packs
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
This week, you can buy the complete box set of the Harry Potter on 4K, or the first four films individually. If you made the leap to 4K, then this is a good week for you.

Ingrid Goes West - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film earned a great Tomatometer Score, but its average score was just 7.2 out of 10. That’s still good, but it is not good enough to thrive in limited release. The film earned $3 million in theaters, which is better than most limited release films manage, but it wasn’t a breakout hit. Continuing this trend, the DVD / Blu-ray has an audio commentary track and some deleted scenes. This is good enough for a purchase, but not enough to be a Pick of the Week contender.

The Limehouse Golem - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Bill Nighy plays a police detective in Victorian London. He’s investigating a grisly series of murders and thinks a woman, Olivia Cooke, who killed her husband might be involved in the murders. It was released on VOD and I was able to check it out. It was released on VOD and I was able to check it out. The performances by the two leads are great, the production design is a real asset, it was a little too predictable, but still worth checking out. There are only two featurettes on the DVD / Blu-ray, so call it a solid rental, leaning towards a purchase.

Masterpiece: Poldark: Season 3 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A popular period piece from the U.K. The reviews continue to be great, but the only extras are some short behind-the-scenes / interview featurettes. This is not quite enough to be a Pick of the Week contender, but it is definitely worth picking up.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Season Six - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
It has been a while since this show has sold well enough to make this list. I guess My Little Pony: The Movie helped boost sales. If so, then the movie is certainly a success.

Patti Cake$ - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
An Indie film about an aspiring rapper, played by Danielle Macdonald, who wants to use her musical talents to escape her small New Jersey town. The reviews are good and it earned $800,000 in limited release, which is better than most limited releases manage. Call it a solid purchase, but not quite a Pick of the Week contender.


The Philadelphia Story: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A romantic comedy from 1940 starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. It is considered an all-time classic, and for good reason. There are a lot of extras, audio commentary track, interviews, etc., but only one of them, a featurette, that’s new to this version. That said, it is still a Pick of the Week contender.


Westworld: The Complete First Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
This TV show was the highest rated first a season of any show on HBO. It also earned great reviews, but sadly the extras are only good. There are no audio commentary tracks, but there are nearly 100 minutes of featurettes, behind-the-scenes, outtakes, deleted scenes, etc. It is still worth picking up, but it is not quite a Pick of the Week contender. On a side note, this is one of the first TV on DVD releases getting a 4K Ultra HD release. If you have already made the leap to 4K, then it is worth spending the extra $8 for 4K.


Your Name. - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This is the biggest Anime box office hit of all time, while it earned nearly 100% positive reviews. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any extras on the DVD or Blu-ray. You can buy a Limited Edition that includes a two-disc soundtrack and an artbook. The lack of extras is disappointing, but not surprising for a foreign-language import. It is easily worth picking up and even a contender for Pick of the Week.


Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon:
A Christmas to Remember - No Reviews - Video on Demand
The Christmas Truce - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Video on Demand
A Cinderella Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Video on Demand
Journey Back to Christmas - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Married By Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Mother Krampus - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray - Video on Demand
My Christmas Dream - No Reviews - Video on Demand
A Nutcracker Christmas - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Almost every Christmas release on this week’s list is a Hallmark Channel TV movie. Mostly. If you like these movies, it is a good week for you.


Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Darkman 2: The Return of Durant - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Darkman III: Die Darkman Die - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Darkness Rising - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Death Rides A Horse - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Godfather Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
He Walked by Night - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Into the Night - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Killing Ground - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Mercenary - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Collection 1 (DVD or Blu-ray) and Collection 2 (DVD or Blu-ray)
Operation Petticoat - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Overdrive - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Project Itoh: Genocidal Organ - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Satan’s Cheerleaders - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Sting: Live at The Olympia Paris - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Summer of ‘42 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Te Ata - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Untamed - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
If you are a fan of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, there’s a massive Box Set coming out next month. It looks like it is worth the wait.


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


4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
There are a few 4K releases this week, but I included them above.


TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Speed Racer: Collector's Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Overpriced. That’s really all you need to know about this set. If you love the show, get the regular edition instead.


Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Beach Rats - Reviews - Video on Demand
Birth of the Dragon - Reviews - Video on Demand
Black is the Color - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Depth Perception - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Ditch Party - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha - Reviews - Video on Demand
Good Time - Reviews - Video on Demand
Hack House - No Reviews - Video on Demand
The Hitman’s Bodyguard - Reviews - Video on Demand
Leap! - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Spearhead Effect - Reviews - Video on Demand
A Taxi Driver - Reviews - Video on Demand
Thumper - Reviews - Video on Demand
Unfallen - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Villainess - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Hitman’s Bodyguard is the biggest VOD release of the week and I believe a screener for the film is on its way. I hope the same is true for The Villainess, which looks like the best VOD release on this week’s list.


Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha, Good Time, Overdrive, Cars 3, The Glass Castle, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Birth of the Dragon, Kimi no na wa, La Region Salvaje, Ballerina, Killing Ground, Darkness Rising, Patti Cake$, Ingrid Goes West, Beach Rats, Aknyeo, Te Ata, The Limehouse Golem, Taeksi Woonjunsa, Il Mercenario, Journey Back to Christmas, My Christmas Dream, A Nutcracker Christmas, A Christmas to Remember, 12 Deaths of Christmas, The Christmas Truce, Black is the Color, Depth Perception, Ditch Party, Hack House, Unfallen, Thumper, The Spearhead Effect, Harry Potter, Godfather, Cars, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Woody Harrelson, Brie Larson, Bill Nighy, Naomi Watts, Olivia Cooke, Danielle Macdonald, Jeanette Walls