Home Market Releases for April 26th, 2016

April 26, 2016

Phoenix

We are in Q2, which is historically the slowest time of the year on the home market. The last of the monster Christmas hits were released weeks ago and none of the yearly year hits have come out yet. Ironically, the biggest release of the week is actually a Christmas film, Krampus, and its Blu-ray Combo Pack is a contender for Pick of the Week. (It is admittedly a slow week.) Its two biggest competitors are both foreign-language films: Phoenix: Criterion Collection - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray and Son of Saul - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray. Son of Saul won the Oscar this year for Best Foreign-Language Film, but I'm going with Phoenix instead.

The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official First Season - Buy from Amazon: DVD
 This season has already been released by MPI; in fact, MPI releases all 55 public domain episodes, which were the first season and a half. Back in 2008, Paramount starting releasing the the show as an Official release, starting with Season Two. Now they are finally releasing season one. Don't think about it too much. It doesn't make sense.

Death Becomes Her - Reviews
 I think this movie is underrated. Not great, but fun entertainment. Also, the special effects were really special when this movie first came out.

DePatie / Feleng Triple-Shot - Buy from Amazon: The Ant and the Aardvark, Crazylegs Crane, and The Inspector
 This company is responsible for the Pink Panther cartoon, but they made several other series that were not as well-received or even remembered today. That said, if you liked the Pink Panther cartoon, the quality here is close enough that you will want to check it out.

Hot in Cleveland: Season 6 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
 Video on Demand
This show ended after its sixth season. That's too bad for the fans, but six seasons is better than most shows manage. Also coming out this week is the Complete Series box set. Unfortunately, it is not that much cheaper than buying the individual seasons.

Jane Got a Gun - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
 Video on Demand
This film had a troubled development, to put it mildly, and that hurt its reviews and its box office, more the latter than the former. Given its box office performance, it should come as no surprise that there are no extras on the DVD or Blu-ray, but I think a rental is still in order, if you like the genre and / or the cast.


Krampus - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
 Video on Demand
This film came out last Christmas and did well at the box office, given its release date and genre. While it is a Christmas film, it is a black comedy / horror comedy and those rarely have mainstream success. Is it better than most films in its genre? Will it appeal to non fans? And is the DVD / Blu-ray worth picking up? Read our review to find out.

The Last Man on the Moon - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
 A documentary about Eugene Cernan, who was the last man on the Moon. The reviews are great, but the only extras are extended interviews. Still worth picking up, but not Pick of the Week material.

The New Adventures of Gilligan - Buy from Amazon: DVD
 Cartoons based on live-action TV shows or movies are rarely worth watching. This isn't one of the exceptions.


Phoenix: Criterion Collection - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
 Video on Demand
This film is set just after World War II and focuses on a concentration camp survivor, who gets plastic surgery to fix a bullet wound to the face. She then tracks down her former husband, who doesn't recognize her, to see if he is the one who sold her out to the Nazis. This is an excellent setup for a film and the execution is even better. Add in the better than average extras for a foreign-language film (two interview featurettes and a behind-the-scene documentary) and this is Pick of the Week material. There are two other Criterion Collection releases coming out this week, Brief Encounter and The Kennedy Films of Robert Drew & Associates, that are also worth picking up.

Ride Along 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
 Video on Demand
I reviewed the original Ride Along. Didn't feel the need to review the sequel. If the critics are correct, then this movie is even worse. Skip it.


Son of Saul - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
 Video on Demand
This film earned stellar reviews and even picked up an Oscar for Best Foreign-Language Film. The extras are also better than most foreign-language films with an audio commentary track, Q&A session, and deleted scene. Additionally, it's a slow week, so it's the only real choice for Pick of the Week.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: Bayou Maharajah, The Boy, Deadpool, Dirty Grandpa, High Strung, Made Belfast, Mustang, Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson, Rachel Feinstein: Only Whores Wear Purple, Sherpa, and Who Took Johnny
 Mustang is clearly the best VOD release on this week's list. However, it is so good that I would wait to buy the Blu-ray. Deadpool is the biggest, but it is also worth waiting to buy on Blu-ray.

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Deadpool, Jane Got a Gun, Ride Along 2, Krampus, Phoenix, The Last Man on the Moon, Saul fia, Mustang