Home Market Releases for April 11th, 2017

April 12, 2017

It is another shallow week on the home market. There are a number of Oscar-contenders on this week’s list, but the quality quickly drops off from that point. A couple of releases are contenders for Pick of the Week, but it is mostly filler. The best of this week’s list was Hidden Figures on Blu-ray and it is the Pick of the Week.

The Bye Bye Man - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This is a low-budget horror movie that opened in theaters in January. You probably don’t need to know more than that to judge its quality. Apparently there are no extras on the DVD or Blu-ray, so even if you liked the movie, there’s no reason to buy over just rent.

Daughters of the Dust - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film was the first wide release by an African-American female director and it is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Extras include an audio commentary track, as well as a trio of interview / Q&A featurettes. Definitely worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

Great British Baking Show - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Season One, Season Two, and Season Three
One of the few competitive Reality TV shows that don’t make me wish for a full frontal alien invasion. While it is competitive, the contestants are not aggressive and actually pleasant to watch. I’m not surprised so many of the winners have jobs as a result of being on the show. It shows that they are both skilled at baking and able to work in a busy kitchen without turning on each other.

House: Two Stories - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I was really hoping to get a screener for this Blu-ray. I love the first film and I’ve seen it about a dozen times, but I haven’t seen it in at least two decades. I don’t remember much about the sequel. The two-disc set is loaded with extras, including two audio commentary tracks, making of documentaries, etc.

Lion - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film was an Awards Season contender and even picked up six Oscar nominations, but it wasn’t able to convert any of them into wins. There are not a lot of extras with a five-part, 22-minute long behind-the-scenes featurette, five minutes of deleted scenes, and a music video. It is still worth picking up, but not a contender for Pick of the Week.

Masterpiece: To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sisters - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A biographical look at the Bronte Sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Their combined literary output has been adapted into plenty of TV mini-series and movies, so fans of those productions will really want to check out this show as well.

Monster Trucks - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray
Video on Demand
I forgot this movie came out. I’m sure the studio wished it could do the same. Man, Paramount has had a rough few years.

Phantasm: Special Edition Box Set - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
All five films in the Phantasm franchise, plus a bonus disc loaded with extras. Each individual disc also has lots of extras, so if you are a fan of the franchise, then it is a must have, even with an $80 price-tag.

Silicon Valley: The Complete Third Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
I reviewed season two of this show and enjoyed it. I didn’t have enough time to review season three, but the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are incredible. If you liked the show enough to buy the DVD / Blu-ray for the first two seasons, then there’s no reason to stop now.

Toni Erdmann - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film was an Oscar contender for Best Foreign-language Film. In fact, there were many who thought it was the favorite to win, although it didn’t in the end. Extras are limited to an audio commentary track and a Q&A session with members of the cast. This is better than most limited releases get and it is easily worth picking up.

Veep: The Complete Fifth Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Another show that I previously reviewed, but wasn’t able to take on this time around. The show consistently earns critical praise and if you liked the first several seasons, then season five is certainly worth picking up.

Walking with the Enemy - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A World War II movie about a Jewish man who steals a Nazi uniform in an attempt to find his family. It’s based on a real life story, but most critics agree the execution doesn’t live up to the real life story.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
36 Hours - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Adventure Club - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Believe - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Brimstone - Reviews - Buy from Amazon:Blu-ray
Cathy’s Curse - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Crucible - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Dead Or Alive Trilogy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Demented - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Is Genesis History - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Ludwig - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Mars - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Never too Young to Die (1986) - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Sword Master - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Tristan and Isolde - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Umbrellas of Cherbourg - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
War on Everyone - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The Young Girls of Rochefort - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
There are not a lot of secondary Blu-ray releases that stand out. The two Jacques Demy that are getting Criterion Collection releases this week, Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort, are arguably the best.

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

4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Hidden Figures - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD
Only one 4K release this week and it is a film that doesn’t need to be seen in Ultra HD to be enjoyed.

TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
No Megasets this week. It is a slow time of year for these releases. They usually come out when the last season of a show comes out, or when Christmas shopping kicks into high gear.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:

Dear Diary, I Died - No Reviews - Video on Demand
La La Land - Reviews - Video on Demand
Silver Skies - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Sweet Life - Reviews - Video on Demand
Underworld: Blood Wars - Reviews - Video on Demand
The screener for La La Land arrived today and we will have a contest starting on Friday. If you can’t wait, it did come out on VOD this week.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Monster Trucks, Walking with the Enemy, The Bye Bye Man, Lion, La La Land, Brimstone, Hidden Figures, Toni Erdmann, Daughters of the Dust, War on Everyone, Believe, Sword Master, Silver Skies, The Sweet Life, Is Genesis History?, Dear Diary, I Died, Never too Young to Die, House, Phantasm, Finn Atkins, Chloe Pirrie, Jacques Demy, Charlie Murphy