Home Market Releases for May 15th, 2018

May 14, 2018

Black Panther comes out on DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack this week and it has scared away all of the competition. It’s so bad, that even though Black Panther was Pick of the Week last week and I hate giving a film Pick of the Week twice, it is still clearly the best film on this week’s list. The only real competition is Early Man, which is only coming out on Video on Demand this week, but I got to the review early.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension: Limited Edition Steelbook - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This movie was ahead of its time. Imagine making a continuity obsessed comic book movie, a whole franchise of them, then only releasing the fifth of seven installments. That’s what this movie feels like. It is still a self-contained story, but we are clearly meant to know a lot more backstory than we are given in the movie, and there’s nowhere else to go to get that backstory. It’s still a fun ride and has become a cult classic on the home market. Extras include two audio commentary tracks, a feature-length documentary retrospective, alternative opening, deleted scenes, and more. It is easily worth picking up; however, it has only been two years since the previous special edition, so it is not a Pick of the Week contender.

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure: Limited Edition Steelbook - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The second Steelbook on this week’s list. Again, it is worth picking up, but not a Pick of the Week contender. On a side note, apparently, they are making a third film in the franchise, which I’m actually interested in seeing.

Bleach: Set 4 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This show started out great, but by this time was a mere shadow of its former self.

It’s Alive Trilogy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
A horror franchise about a mutant killer baby. It was never a hit at the box office, but became a cult classic on the home market. The first film was the best, but even then, it doesn’t have a lot of crossover appeal for those who are not fans of the genre.

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
The Lego franchise and the DC animated franchise are both very popular, so it makes sense that combining them would also sell well. That said, on an average week, this wouldn’t be included on this list, so it is benefiting from the shallow week on the home market.

One Piece: Season Nine, Voyage Five - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I give up. This show has lasted so long and it has appeared on this list so many times that I’ve run out of things to say about it. The show has lasted more than 800 episodes and there’s only so much you can say about it.

The Return of Swamp Thing - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
A believe there is a screener on its way. Screeners from group usually arrive a few weeks to a month late. Hopefully it won’t be as late.

Rick and Morty: Season 3 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This is a great show, but it is partially ruined by its fanbase. There are a ton of extras on the DVD / Blu-ray, including 13 audio commentary tracks on the 10 episodes, animatics, inside the episodes, and more. If you are a fan of the show, then this is a must have. On the other hand, if your only encounter with the show is the obnoxious elements of the fanbase, like the ones that harassed McDonald’s employees when they ran out of Szechuan Sauce, then I don’t blame you if you don’t want to go anywhere near the show.

Samson - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
One of two films released by Pure Flix this year. Both bombed. In fact, of the six most recent films released by the company, only one of them has earned more than $10 million. This film is doing much better on the home market, but I can’t see it doing well enough to break even.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A Hallmark Channel original movie. There are no reviews, but this is a sequel, so obviously the first movie has enough fans that the network thought it made sense to make another film in the franchise.

Super Troopers - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I really think this should have been released closer to Super Troopers 2’s release date, not nearly a month later.

Unforgotten: Season 2 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A British “TV series” that is better described as 3 TV movies than a series. The show has earned great reviews and even a couple of BAFTA awards, so if you like the genre, it is worth checking out.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
All Out!!: Part Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Doctor Blood's Coffin - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
ElDLIVE: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
John Mellencamp: Plain Spoken - From The Chicago Theatre - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A Lady Takes a Chance - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Monkey King 3 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The Other Side of Hope: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Sacrifice - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Shannara Chronicles: Season Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Submergence - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This is Cinerama - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Tsukigakirei: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
There are some really good secondary Blu-ray releases this week, including A Lady Takes a Chance, The Other Side of Hope, Tsukigakirei: The Complete Series, and others. There’s also a really good variety of choices, so everyone should find something they are interested in.

4K Ultra HD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Black Panther - Review - 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Braveheart - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Die Hard - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Gladiator - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Black Panther likely looks amazing in 4K Ultra HD.

TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
No megasets this week, or next week, but there are some before the end of the month.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Early Man - Review - Video on Demand
Red Sparrow - Reviews - Video on Demand
Only two secondary VOD releases this week. One of which I already reviewed and the other I’m waiting for a screener.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Black Panther, Early Man, Red Sparrow, Samson, Toivon Tuolla Puolen, Submergence, Xi You Ji Nu Er Guo, Bill & Ted, It’s Alive