Home Market Releases for February 23rd, 2016
February 23, 2016
It's not a great week on the home market. The Good Dinosaur is the biggest release this week, but it is the only wide release of note. Spotlight started out in limited release, but while it expanded significantly, it never expanded truly wide. As for the Pick of the Week, I'm going with the Bogart / Bacall Blu-ray Double-Shot: The Big Sleep and Key Largo.
On a side note, it is another short list this week, because Amazon continues to be run by morons. I tried to get help from chat, but that wasn't very successful. I "talked" to four people without getting an answer. Two of which logged in and then logged out without saying a thing. One logged in, introduced themselves, then logged out when I asked a question. I tried through e-mail, but a week later and no reply. I have a phone number for press and I will try that once the Oscars are over and I'm not overwhelmed with work.
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Extraction - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Fritz Lang Double-Shot - Buy from Amazon: Spies and Woman in the Moon
I Smile Back - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Jesus Of Nazareth: The Complete Miniseries (40th Anniversary Edition) - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Secret in Their Eyes - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Shaun the Sheep: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon: Bare, Becoming Bulletproof, Brooklyn, Carole King: Natural Woman, Day Out of Days, Entertainment, In the Heart of the Sea, Rolling Papers, Theeb, and Victor Frankenstein
Bogart / Bacall Blu-ray Double-Shot - Buy from Amazon: The Big Sleep and Key Largo
These two films both have amazing reviews. Key Largo is widely considered a Film Noir classic, while The Big Sleep is the first Film Noir I saw. Both Blu-rays are must have and both are Pick of the Week contenders.
One of the better Christmas Specials for this show, and it has had a lot, but you are still spending $15 / $20 for a 60-minute special.
Video on Demand
Avoid at all costs.
Fargo: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I'm still waiting for the screener for this release. If it is even close to as good as the first season, then it is Pick of the Week material.
I'm hoping to get both of these films to review. If I get every screener that I think might be on its way, I'm going to be crushed by the workload. As for the quality of these two films, I haven't seen them, but Fritz Lang is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time for a reason.
Video on Demand
This is the first film from Pixar that won't break even. Is it a bad movie? Or was it just aimed at a different target audience than the usual Pixar release? Read our review to find out.
The Graduate: The Criterion Collection - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
A classic film and one truly deserving of the Criterion touch. Extras include two audio commentary tracks, more than an hour of inteviews, making of featurettes, archival extras, and more. It is a Pick of the Week contender. There's a second Criterion Collection release this week that is also worth picking up: I Knew Her Well on Blu-ray.
Video on Demand
This movie showed Sarah Silverman can act, but the overall reviews were just "Meh".
Apparently this version is actually the cut version, so if that is important to you, hold off to see if there is an uncut version in the works.
The latest Direct-to-DVD sequel to The Lion King. There is only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is positive, so perhaps that's a good sign.
One of the most disappointing releases from last fall. Given the source material and the cast, this should have been an Award-worthy film. It's barely worth a rental and that's only if you really like the cast.
If you liked the movie, then the TV show is also worth owning.
Spotlight - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
One of the biggest films for Awards Season success. I'm hoping to get a screener, but it hasn't yet arrived. One look at the reviews and you know that it is at least a contender for Pick of the Week. Unfortunately, the extras are limited to a trio of short featurettes, so it remains just a contender.
There's the usual dichotomy when it comes to the best VOD release. Brooklyn is so good that you should just wait and buy it on Blu-ray.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, The Good Dinosaur, Spotlight, Secret in Their Eyes, Brooklyn, Extraction, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Sarah Silverman