Home Market Releases for July 31st, 2018

August 1, 2018

Avengers: Infinity War

This is one of the worst weeks on the home market I can remember. There’s nothing here that even remotely looks like a top-notch release, at least on physical medium. This is the week that Avengers: Infinity War hits Video on Demand and it is dominating the home market in that regard and has to be the Pick of the Week. The only other releases that were close are Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 on Blu-ray Combo Pack and Star Wars Rebels: Season Four.

Final Portrait - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
This film earned good reviews, but not quite good enough to thrive in limited release. It’s not getting a Blu-ray release, which further hurts its box office chances. The lack of substantial extras also hurts, so my end rating is a rental.


Isle of Dogs - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
Another screener that arrived late. This is one of the biggest limited release hits of the year, but will it appeal to a wider audience? Or is it strictly for fans of Wes Anderson? Read our review to find out.


LEGO DC Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
There are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but the LEGO DC Super Heroes franchise has been a popular seller for a long time, so it clearly has an audience.

The Miracle Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
An inspirational sports movie about real-life events. If you like the genre, then it is worth a rental, especially if you like volleyball.

Murdoch Mysteries: Series 11 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
When I started writing this list, this was the best-selling new release of the week. The show is a police procedural set in the early 1900s at the beginning of forensic science. It’s a great show, but it is also Canadian, so I’m very surprised it is selling so well. There are a lot of very short featurettes, so the total length is just over 20 minutes. That’s not a lot for a TV on DVD release, but it is still enough to be one of the best releases of the week.

Overboard Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
The original movie has a plot that is, well, problematic. The remake is only slightly less problematic, due to the gender bending done to the story, but it is still uncomfortable. Extras are fine for a first-run release with an audio commentary and a trio of featurettes.

Piranha II: The Spawning - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
One of the first films directed by James Cameron. It’s historically significant because of that, but it is really terrible. That said, if you like bad movies, this one is entertaining.


Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
The very first review on My Anime List calls this Anime franchise the Star Wars of Japan, and that’s a very accurate description in multiple ways. In terms of style, scope, cultural importance, and overall quality, this is one of Japan’s biggest Sci-fi franchises around. The extras are better than most Anime releases get with an audio commentary track and a featurette. It is a Pick of the Week contender.


Star Wars Rebels: Season Four - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
There was real talk that Season Four of this show would be its last, but it’s back for a fifth season. That’s great news, as the show’s reviews are excellent. I’ve only see a few episodes, so while I can say I liked what I saw, I can’t confirm if it truly deserves its 100% positive Tomatometer Score. That said, a screener is on the way, so hopefully I can get a review done soon.


Tully - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Diablo Cody’s best screenplay in more than a decade, but it wasn’t able to find an audience in theaters. This box office struggle in turn resulted in weak extras, as there’s just one featurette. It is still worth picking up, but it is not Pick of the Week contender.

Village of the Damned - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This is the 1960s classic and not the 1990s remake. It is absolutely worth owning, but there doesn’t appear to be any special features on the Blu-ray. That’s disappointing.

Washington Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup Champions - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Real fans want full games, not 90 minutes of highlights.


Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Babel II: The Complete 1992 OVA Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Buddies - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Counterpart: The Complete First Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray, Video on Demand
Dark Crimes - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The House of the Dead aka Alien Zone - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Mr. Destiny - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Taking Care of Business - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Pendulum - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
It’s a really slow week for secondary Blu-ray releases, mainly because I moved the best title, Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199, to the main list above.


4K Ultra HD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
The two live-action G.I. Joe movies were supposed to come out on 4K this week, but their releases have been pulled. Maybe they are waiting until the new film’s release is about to hit theaters, so there can be some synergy.


TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Power Rangers: Mirai Sentai Timeranger - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The original Japanese show that was turned into the ninth season of Power Rangers, which was called Time Force. Fans of Power Rangers will probably enjoy the original.


Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Anything - Reviews - Video on Demand
Avengers: Infinity War - Reviews - Video on Demand (With Bonus Features) or Video on Demand (Movie Only)
Barren Trees - Reviews - Video on Demand
Blur Circle - Reviews - Video on Demand
First Reformed - Reviews - Video on Demand
Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story - Reviews - Video on Demand
Avengers: Infinity War is coming out on VOD this week. It is the only release that really matters.


Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Taking Care of Business, Mr. Destiny, Overboard, Avengers: Infinity War, Dark Crimes, Isle of Dogs, Tully, Final Portrait, The Miracle Season, First Reformed, Anything, Barren Trees, Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story, Blur Circle, Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Wes Anderson, James Cameron, Diablo Cody