Home Market Releases for January 16th, 2018

January 15, 2018

I, Daniel Blake

It’s not a particularly good week on the home market with no one film that is a must have dominating the rest of the pack. However, this is actually a good thing, as there are several smaller releases that get a chance to shine and there are several Pick of the Week contenders as a result. This includes the biggest release of the week, Blade Runner 2049, as well as a limited release, Loving Vincent, and a forgotten film, Matinee. In the end, I went with I, Daniel Blake: The Criterion Collection as the best of the week.


The Amicus Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
There was a problem with the packaging for the initial run of this release, which is why its release was pushed back several times before being pulled entirely. It appears they have finally fixed the problem, which is great news, as it is a stellar box set and worth picking up for fans of horror films of this era.


Berserk: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A man cursed to be hunted by demons for the rest of his life vows revenge on the person responsible. This Anime is for adults only and the reviews are not great. It is selling better than most Anime titles manage, but I think that’s because there’s so little competition among mainstream releases.


Better Call Saul: Season Three - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This show is earning some of the best reviews of any show currently on the air and it has picked up nearly two dozen Emmy nominations, although it hasn’t won yet. The DVD has audio commentary tracks, outtakes, and a couple of featurettes. The Blu-ray has this, plus more featurettes and some deleted / extended scenes. It is easily a Pick of the Week contender.


Beyond Skyline - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film is much better than the original, but I would still call it just a rental.


Blade Runner 2049 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This film earned some of the best reviews for a wide release all year and has even picked up many BAFTA nominations. However, it struggled at the box office. To be fair, earning more than $250 million worldwide is hardly a bomb and the studio’s share of that is likely between $110 million and $120 million. Unfortunately, the film cost nearly $200 million to make, so it will end up costing the studio about $100 million, after taking into account advertising, home market numbers, etc. Since it lost money, it is not a real surprise that there are almost no extras on the DVD or Blu-ray. (There are a couple of featurettes and some prologues.) Even so, the film itself is worth of being a Pick of the Week contender.


Crooked House - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A rich family hires an ex-spy turned private investigator to find the person who murdered their patriarch. They need him to find the truth before Scotland Yard discover any family secrets. I was really hoping to get a screener for this movie, but that’s not happening now. There are not a lot of extras, just a trio of featurettes, but it is still worth checking out. Call it a solid rental, leaning towards a purchase, especially if you like Agatha Christie.

The Doctor Blake Mysteries: Season Four - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
An Australian murder mystery TV show. Like most similar imports, this one is loved by fans and it even picked up several major award nominations back in its native country. On the other hand, its price-per-minute is high, but again, this is true of most similar imports.

Happy Death Day - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
A teenage slasher where the lead character dies in the middle of the first act, only to wake up and relive the day over and over again. The injuries start to build up and she realizes if she doesn’t stop the murderer soon, she’s going to die for good. It’s a good premise and the reviews are also solid. There are not a lot of extras, only a trio of featurettes and an alternate ending / deleted scenes. It is still worth picking up, but if it had an audio commentary track, it could have been a Pick of the Week contender.


I, Daniel Blake: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This is a great movie and absolutely worth owning, even if it were coming out on a featureless DVD. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Extras include an audio commentary track, documentary on the making of the film, documentary on the director, deleted scenes, and more. It is easily a Pick of Week contender.


Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
An Anime set in a fantasy world were demons and undead have attacked humanity and driven them back to highly fortified cities. It is aimed at adults and it is too violent for kids. The reviews on My Anime List are good, but not great, while the extras are light.


Loving Vincent - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I think this film will earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film. This seems like a safe prediction. The film’s visuals are enough to make it worth watching. The extras push it from a solid rental all the way to Pick of the Week contender.


Matinee - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
Slow weeks can be difficult to deal with; however, sometimes they let great films that would otherwise slip through the cracks get a chance to shine. John Goodman stars as a movie promoter in the 1960s who is trying to hype his latest Sci-fi film; however, the Cuban missile crisis is happening at the same time. The reviews are fantastic, but it went no where at the box office during its initial release. It does have a cult appeal and the new DVD / Blu-ray are loaded with extras. It is yet another Pick of the Week contender.


The Snowman - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This movie is fascinating. ... Or to be more accurate, the story of the movie is fascinating. Even the filmmakers admit they were not able to shoot 10% to 15% of the script, and they are likely trying to underplay the problems. If you are interested in troubled productions, then this film is worth checking out. However, that’s a very, very narrow audience. If you are interested in “so bad they are good” films, stay away. The end result is too dull to entertain.

Studio Ghibli Triple-Shot
The Cat Returns - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
My Neighbors the Yamadas - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Whisper Of The Heart - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
We are at the third-tier of Studio Ghibli releases; however, third-tier Studio Ghibli is still worth owning. You maybe don’t need all three of them, on the other hand. Whisper Of The Heart is the best, while My Neighbors the Yamadas likely won’t connect with audiences here.

Yor, The Hunter From The Future - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This is prime, finely aged B-movie goodness. MST3K is getting another season and this film would be perfect for them. The only extra is an audio commentary track, but it is worth picking up for fans of “so bad it’s good” movies.


Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
The Cemetery Club - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Cook Off! - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Eye Of The Cat - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Flight of Dragons - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Kills on Wheels - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Macon County Line - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Morose Mononokean: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Outlander: The Complete First Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Raw Deal - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Raw Deal is the 1940s Film Noir movie and not the Schwarzenegger action film from the 1980s. This is the vastly superior film.


4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Only one 4K release this week, Blade Runner 2049, and we mentioned it above.


TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
The Commander - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Street Sharks - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
S.W.A.T. - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Street Sharks is a real TV show. If you didn’t grow up in the 90s, you might not believe me.


Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
All I See is You - Reviews - Video on Demand
American Satan - Reviews - Video on Demand
Last Flag Flying - Reviews - Video on Demand
SquadGoals - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Twin - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Last Flag Flying is the best of the secondary VOD releases, but even then it is busted Oscar-bait.


Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Blade Runner 2049, Loving Vincent, All I See is You, The Snowman, Cook Off!, I, Daniel Blake, Beyond Skyline, Happy Death Day, Last Flag Flying, American Satan, Crooked House, , John Goodman, Ken Loach, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Agatha Christie