Home Market Releases for March 26th, 2019

March 27, 2019

If Beale Street Could Talk

It is an amazing week for home releases. Not only do we have the biggest hit of last winter on this week’s list, but Aquaman is actually worth owning. That’s only the second time I can say that about the D.C.E.U. Additionally, there are a huge number of contenders for Pick of the Week, ranging from Oscar contenders (If Beale Street Could Talk on Blu-ray Combo Pack); limited releases (The Miseducation of Cameron Post: Special Edition Blu-ray); animated imports (My Hero Academia: Two Heroes on Blu-ray); TV movie aimed at teens (Kim Possible on DVD); and classics (For A Few Dollars More: Special Edition Blu-ray). It was an exceptionally close call, but in the end, I went with If Beale Street Could Talk.

Aquaman - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, 3D Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
I think this film benefited from low expectations, as Aquaman was never the most popular character in D.C. Comics and his appearance in the D.C.E.U. didn’t exactly wow critics or audiences. The movie isn’t great; it barely earned overall positive reviews. However, it’s entertaining and its $1.1 billion worldwide box office run certainly puts a nail in the Grimdark Era of the D.C.E.U. There are plenty of extras on the DVD / Blu-ray, but many of them are rather short. It still adds up to an impressive runtime and puts it solidly into the purchase level.

DARLING in the FRANXX: Part One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
This Anime series started out well, but then fell off a cliff. So much wasted potential.

Dragons: Race to the Edge - Seasons 5 & 6 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The third and final release for this TV show hits the home market just as How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is about to exit the top five at the box office.


For A Few Dollars More: Special Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I put in a request for a screener for this film, but the screener hasn’t arrived. It is an absolute classic of the genre and there is a ton of extras on the Special Edition.


If Beale Street Could Talk - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This film is Oscar-bait. It didn’t do as well as some thought it would during Awards Season, but it still picked up some major awards, including an Oscar. The extras are good for a limited release, but it isn’t a loaded disc. It is still a Pick of the Week contender.


Kim Possible - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
When the live action remake of Kim Possible was first announced, a lot of fans of the cartoon were skeptical. However, the film’s reviews are 100% positive and the critics are heaping praise on Sadie Stanley in particular for her portrayal of the titular Kim Possible. The extras on the DVD are better than expected for a TV movie like this and fans of the show will certainly want to pick it up.

Fans of the show also want the full cartoon series and animated movies on DVD as well, but we will have to wait for that.


Kingdom of the Spiders - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I previously reviewed this film when it came out on DVD and I was hoping to get a Blu-ray screener to compare. However, if a screener is on its way, it didn’t get here in time. There appears to be less extras here than on the DVD, perhaps due to problems with the rights to certain interviews / featurettes.

MFKZ - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
A fusion of French and Japanese animation styles. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t live up to the visuals.


The Miseducation of Cameron Post: Special Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Special Edition DVD came out a couple of weeks ago, but the Blu-ray comes out this week. I said at the time that waiting for the Blu-ray was the smart play and I stand by that.



My Hero Academia: Two Heroes - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is a theatrical animated movie for the popular Shounen Anime series. The film earned 100% positive reviews here; granted, there are only six reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so that’s not really enough to judge the film. The only extra is a making of featurette, but this is still better than average for this type of release.


Naruto Shippuden Uncut: Set 37 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I’ve run out of things to say about this show. I’ve lost track of the number of times it has appeared on this list. That said, there is only one more release to talk about. Unless they switch to Blu-ray next.

Perfect Blue - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
A 1998 title from the same director as Paprika and Tokyo Godfathers. This film doesn’t have the same high level reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is still worth picking up, especially if you are a fan of his other work.


Pet Sematary - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
The one time highest grossing Stephen King film is hitting 4K and getting a Blu-ray re-release just in time for the upcoming remake. Is it worth picking up? Is it worth the upgrade? Read our review to find out.


Second Act - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Jennifer Lopez stars as a middle-age woman who gets a second chance at a career thanks to a faked resume. The film earned mixed reviews and did merely okay at the box office. Extras include a quartet of featurettes. It all adds up to a rental, nothing more.

Stan & Ollie - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Busted Oscar-bait. The reviews are great, but it wasn’t able to find much success during Awards Season. Extras include four featurettes and some deleted scenes, which is good for a limited release, but not enough to be a Pick of the Week contender.


Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Blood Hunger: The Films Of Jose Larraz - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Body Snatcher - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Capernaum - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Children - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Columbus - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Glass Bottom Boat - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Iceman Cometh - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
In the Cold of the Night - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Japon: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Katana Maidens: Toji No Miko - Part One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Life After Flash - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Multiplicity - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Nemesis: Sequel Trilogy Nemesis 2/Nemesis 3/Nemesis 4 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Road to Morocco - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Road to Singapore - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Road to Utopia - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Road to Zanzibar - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Star Blazers 2202: Space Battleship Yamato – Part One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Street Fighter Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Suckling - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
The Tarnished Angels - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Warning Sign - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
White Nights - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
It is a very busy week for secondary Blu-ray releases with a flood of titles on this week’s list. I put in a request to get the Road To... movies to review, but if they are on their way, they haven’t arrived yet.


3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Aquaman - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 3D Combo Pack
Jivaro - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
There’s a 3D release this week. In fact, there are two of them, including the biggest release of the week.


4K Ultra HD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Aquaman - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Pet Sematary - Review - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
There are two 4K releases on this week’s list. Of them, Aquaman is clearly the better choice.


TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Power Rangers: Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Another release from the original Super Sentai, which was turned into the Power Rangers here.


Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Capernaum - Reviews - Video on Demand
A Dog’s Way Home - Reviews - Video on Demand
Holmes & Watson - Reviews - Video on Demand (Movie Only) Holmes & Watson - Reviews - Video on Demand (With Extras)
Holmes & Watson - Reviews - Video on Demand (4K Ultra HD)
I Am Richard Pryor - Reviews - Video on Demand
On the Basis of Sex - Reviews - Video on Demand
Swell - Reviews - Video on Demand
Welcome to Marwen - Reviews - Video on Demand
The secondary VOD title I’m most interested in seeing it On the Basis of Sex and fortunately for me, the screener just arrived.


C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Pâfekuto burû, Aquaman, Holmes & Watson, Welcome to Marwen, If Beale Street Could Talk, Second Act, A Dog’s Way Home, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, On the Basis of Sex, Cafarnaúm, Kim Possible, Boku no Hero Academia the Movie, Stan & Ollie, Life After Flash, Jivaro, I Am Richard Pryor, The Body Snatcher, Road To …, DC Extended Universe, Stephen King, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Momoa, Sadie Stanley, Satoshi Kon