Home Market Releases for October 17th, 2017

October 18, 2017

It is one of those weeks. There’s a massive release coming out, which has scared away nearly all of the competition, so it is a really shallow week. Fortunately, that huge release is Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is not only one of the biggest hits of the year, it is also one of the reviewed. It isn’t the only contender for Pick of the Week, but the Blu-ray Combo Pack wins that honor.

Barry Lyndon: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This Stanley Kubrick film took a while to be appreciated, but today is seen as an absolute classic. Extras include making of featurettes, interviews, etc. There are over two hours of extras on the Blu-ray. It is absolutely worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

Batman vs Two Face - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This is the last time Adam West performed as Batman before his death. So far there is only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is positive. Furthermore, the first film earned excellent reviews, so that’s a good sign. Extras include a couple of interview featurettes and the ComicCon panel. If you liked the Adam West TV show, then this is worth picking up.

Girls Trip - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Video on Demand
An R-rated comedy aimed at African-American women. The reviews were surprisingly good and the film earned over $100 million domestically on just a $28 million budget. Extras on the DVD / Blu-ray include a trio of featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, and more. If you are in the target audience, it is absolutely worth picking up. If you just like R-rated comedies in general, then it is worth picking up.

The Good Place: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
Kristen Bell plays a woman who dies and goes to the “good place”. However, she’s not supposed to go there. Now she has to learn to be a good person before anyone realizes she’s there by mistake. There doesn’t appear to be any extras on the DVD, so VOD might be the better option.

Hunter x Hunter: Set 3 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This Anime series has earned some of the best reviews on My Anime List, but the show ran for 148 episodes, so if you get into the show, it’s a pretty big commitment you are making. It’s worth it, but be forewarned.

Lady Macbeth - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
Florence Pugh stars in this period piece as a woman stuck in a loveless marriage who is willing to do just about anything to improve her situation. The reviews are amazing, but the DVD only has a short behind-the-scenes featurette. Even so, it is worth picking up and a contender for Pick of the Week.

Landline - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
The second film from the co-writer / director pair of Gillian Robespierre / Elisabeth Holm and starring Jenny Slate, who was also in their previous film, Obvious Child. This film couldn’t live up to their earlier film, not with critics or with moviegoers. That said, it is still a good movie and worth picking up.

Lewis Black: Black to the Future - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I’ve previously reviewed Lewis Black releases and liked them both. I haven’t seen this special, but I have high hopes based on past specials.

The Midwife - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Catherine Frot plays the titular midwife, who reconnects with her late father’s former mistress, played by Catherine Deneuve, after the later is diagnosed with cancer and has nowhere else to turn to. The reviews are great and it did well in the box office, for a foreign-language film. Sadly, it didn’t do well enough to get a Blu-ray release.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume VI - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
They are re-releasing the MST3K DVDs at a cheaper price. If you missed them the first time around, then grabbing them for $20 is a great deal.

Rawhide Rex - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This horror movie failed to find an audience when it first hit theaters 30 years ago, but it became a hit on the home market. The Blu-ray includes an audio commentary track, several interview featurettes, and more. It is worth picking up if you are a fan of horror films from the 1980s, but it lacks the crossover appeal better films of the subgenre have.

Red Christmas - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A Christmas horror movie starring horror legend Dee Wallace. The reviews are only mixed, so perhaps rent it on VOD.

Samurai Jack: Season 5 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
It has been more than a decade since season four, but one look at the reviews and you can tell it was worth the wait. Also coming out this week is the Complete Series Box Set, if you don’t have the first four seasons yet or want to upgrade to Blu-ray.

Shot Caller - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars as a man who goes to prison after causing a fatal car accident. To protect himself in prison, he joins a gang, but once he’s out of prison, he owes his gang favors. The reviews are good, but not great. Extras include an audio commentary track and a making of featurette. Call it a solid rental, leaning towards purchase.

Spider-Man: Homecoming - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, 3D Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Video on Demand (Movie Only) or Video on Demand (With Extras)
I was hoping to get a screener for this film, but it won’t be arriving. On the other hand, I did get a chance to watch it VOD with friends over the weekend and I will be buying the Blu-ray and if no other screener arrives by the weekend, I’ll review it for next week. Also coming out this week is the Gift Set with Mask. I don’t think it’s worth the extra money.

Studio Ghibli
Howl’s Moving Castle - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Kiki’s Delivery Service - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
My Neighbor Totoro - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Ponyo - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Princess Mononoke - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Spirited Away - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Six Studio Ghibli films are getting Blu-ray re-releases this week. They are from the Studio Ghibli Fest 2017 and have different dubbing than the Disney releases. If you already own them, but prefer a more accurate translation, then they are worth the upgrade. If you don’t have them already, then buy them immediately.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me: Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Twin Peaks revival was a success, so it makes sense to release the movie on a Criterion Collection DVD / Blu-ray. Extras include a 90-minute cut of the movie put together by David Lynch, a new interview with Sheryl Lee, plus a lot of old extras.

A Very Sordid Wedding - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This movie is a direct-to-DVD release and there only six reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it is one of the best-selling new releases of the week. Extras include behind-the-scenes, interviews, deleted scenes, outtakes, and more. That’s a lot for a direct-to-DVD release.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon:

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
PJ Masks: Hello Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Scooby Doo Holiday Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Thomas & Friends: Christmas on Sodor - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Now that we are approaching Halloween, the list of Christmas releases is slowing down.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Batman/Superman Anthology - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
La Chinoise - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Frankenshark - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Garo: TV Series: Collection 1 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
God of War - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Hotel Transylvania - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Love Chunibyo & Other Delusions Rikka Version - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Orange: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Resident Evil: Animated Movie Collection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Rolling Vengeance - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Three O’Clock High - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Titanic - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Vice Versa - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Wes Craven’s Summer of Fear - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
There are not much in the way of secondary Blu-ray releases. God of War is earning some great reviews, as is Love Chunibyo & Other Delusions. Neither are mainstream releases, on the other hand.

3D Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Spider-Man: Homecoming - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 3D Combo Pack
There’s only one 3D release this week, but it is the biggest release of the week.

4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
The Amazing Spider-Man - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Apollo 13 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Serenity - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Spider-Man: Homecoming - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Spider-Man: The Motion Picture Trilogy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Lots of Spider-Man this week. I still don’t think 4K is worth the investment, but the prices are going down.

TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Green Acres: The Complete Series - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Only one TV on DVD Megaset this week and it is six seasons for $96. That’s not much of a deal.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Annabelle: Creation - Reviews - Video on Demand
Axeman 2: Overkill - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Capps Crossing - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Dark Forest - No Reviews - Video on Demand
The Dark Tower - Reviews - Video on Demand
Jonah: The Musical - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Kidnap - Reviews - Video on Demand
Killing Gunther - Reviews - Video on Demand
Annabelle: Creation is the biggest VOD release of the week and practically the only one worth checking out.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, The Dark Tower, Kidnap, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Shot Caller, Dark Forest, Annabelle: Creation, Girls Trip, Lady Macbeth, Landline, Killing Gunther, God of War, Batman vs. Two-Face, Red Christmas, Rawhead Rex, Titanic, Rolling Vengeance, Axeman 2: Overkill, A Very Sordid Wedding, Capps Crossing, Spider-Man, Hotel Transylvania, Kristen Bell, Lewis Black, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Catherine Deneuve, Catherine Frot, Stanley Kubrick, Sheryl Lee, David Lynch, Adam West, Dee Wallace, Jenny Slate, Elisabeth Holm, Gillian Robespierre, Florence Pugh