Home Market Releases for November 1st, 2016

November 2, 2016

The Home Market Release Report is a day late this week for a trio of reasons. Firstly, the November Preview was also due the same day. Secondly, it was a very busy week. And finally, I’m suffering from a medical condition a lot of Canadians suffer from this time of year... acute Coffee Crisp poisoning. I’m not saying I ate four dozen fun-sized Coffee Crisps in the past three days... I’m not saying that, because it was actually an even 50. Don’t judge me. ... Okay, judge me. Clearly mistakes were made. It is a busy week, but not very deep week. Star Trek Beyond is by far the biggest and best release of the week and the various home market releases are the pick of the week. There wasn’t a lot of competition for that title, but Bad Moms is also worth picking up.

Anthropoid - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A real-life story about a group of Czech resistance fighters trying to assassinate a high-ranking member of the Nazi party. The reviews are good, but not great, and it struggled in limited release. The DVD and Blu-ray don’t have a lot of extras, but it is worth checking out.

Barbie and Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
One of the longest running and most prolific Direct-to-Video franchises around.

Batman Return of the Caped Crusaders - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
An animated film based on the 1960s TV version of Batman. There are only four reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but all four of them are positive. Extras include a featurette on the villains and a behind-the-scenes look at the voice work. It is worth picking up, but not quite a contender for Pick of the Week.

Deep Web - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A documentary about the Silk Road, a site on the deep web that specialized in selling all manner of illegal goods. Unsuprisingly, the people who run a site like this weren’t concerned about the law when it came to dealing with each other. It is a fascinating subject matter and the film does a great job delivering it. Worth picking up.

Dirty 30 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A trio of YouTube stars star in a movie, which is about one of them turning 30 and the three of them having a drunken party to celebrate. It’s not deep, but it is fun and they do have a lot of chemistry together.

Dr. Strange - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This is the TV pilot from the 1970s. Watch it before you see Doctor Strange. The difference in quality levels will be stunning.

Free to Run - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A documentary about the movement to make running a more populous sport. As strange as it may seem now, running used to be seen as a sport only for elite athletes and not anyone with running shoes.

Gleason - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A documentary about Steve Gleason, a former professional athlete who was diagnosed with ALS, just months before his wife announces she was pregnant with their first child. This is one of the best-reviewed documentaries of the year and there’s some buzz that it could pick up a major nomination or two.

Hell on Wheels: Season Five, Vol. Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD ir Blu-ray
This seven-episode volume is more money than season four’s 13-disc set. Split-seasons are too often excuses to demand more money per episode. Also coming out this week is a full-series Megaset, on both DVD and Blu-ray.

Imperium - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Daniel Radcliffe plays an FBI agent who goes undercover in a white nationalist group in order to stop them from building a dirty bomb. The reviews are great, but it debuted on VOD, so it went nowhere at the box office. Extras are good for a VOD / limited release film and they include an audio commentary track, a couple of featurettes, and some interviews. Definitely worth picking up.

Last Girl Standing - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A teenage slasher about the last girl and her attempts at reintegrating into society. She begins to connect with people, only to be attacked by another slasher. It is a good hook compared to most teenage slashers, but there are no reviews to judge it by. $6 for a rental doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

The Librarians: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A modern day continuation of the King Arthur myth with a group of Librarians tasked with protecting ancient artifacts to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. It’s not a great show, but it is fun.

Men go to Battle - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
This film takes place during The Civil War and focuses on two brothers forced to spend too much time together. This manifests in ever increasingly violent pranks. When a prank goes too far, the prankster leaves and joins the Union army. The reviews are good, but not great, so I would suggest renting it on VOD. That costs just $5, so it is a good deal.

Milton’s Secret - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
Even if you are interested in a family film, there are too many better options out there.

Miss Sharon Jones - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A documentary about soul singer Sharon Jones. The film was shot over a year where she was trying to release an album, while battling pancreatic cancer. The film earned excellent reviews and it is worth checking out. Maybe grab this one and Gleason for a double-shot.

My Blind Brother - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This film centers on a strange sibling rivalry. The one brother is a blind athlete and an inspiration to all. The other brother is a slacker and works as his brother’s assistant. They both fall in love with the same woman. The film earned great reviews, but it was a VOD release, so it went nowhere at the box office. It is definitely worth checking out and I would purchase it over just renting it.

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls — Legend of Everfree - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I’ve seen a little bit of this show and it isn’t bad. It’s much better than most similar shows. However, it’s My Little Pony without the ponies. It confuses me.

My Love, Don't Cross That River - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A documentary about a South Korean couple who have been married for 76 years. It’s not the most important documentary you will see, but it is life-affirming and that’s nice to have as well.

Nine Lives - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This was originally supposed to be a drama about a cat-hater who was reincarnated as a cat. Serious drama. For adults. I don’t know if that movie would have worked, but this family film sure did not work. Skip it.

Outlander: Season Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A nurse travels through time to Scotland in the 1700s and falls in love. That sounds like a bad plot, but the reviews are stunning. The extras on the DVD are good, while the Blu-ray has a lot of exclusive extras. It is a Pick of the Week contender. Also coming out this week is a two-season box set. ... Really? It is selling really well on Amazon, but it feels like a cash grab and is a bad sign for the next two seasons.

Schitts Creek: Seasons One and Two - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara are great comedic talents, but the writing isn’t good on this show.

The Sea of Trees - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Good cast. Terrible reviews. Skip it.

Story of God with Morgan Freeman: Season One - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A documentary TV series starring Morgan Freeman. This feels like an internet meme come to life.

The Walking Dead: Season Six Limited Edtition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Every year there’s another box set. Just trying to grab more cash from the fans.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Battle of the Sexes (1960) - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Carnage Park - Reviews - Buy from Amazon:Blu-ray
Durrells in Corfu: The Complete First Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Gypsy: Live from the Savoy Theatre - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Snow White With the Red Hair: Season One - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
I Wake Up Screaming - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
X-Men Universe - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The X-Men box set is the biggest secondary Blu-ray release on this week’s list, but it isn’t a great price on a per film basis and several of them are not worth picking up.

4K Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Star Trek Beyond - Buy from Amazon: 4K Combo Pack or Gift Set
Great movie and the Gift Set would make a great gift. That said, I’m not sold on 4K.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon
Bob Hope: Hope for the Holidays - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Bob the Builder: Bob's Winter Build - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Christmas Eve - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Video on Demand
Christmas Switch - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Video on Demand
Christmas with the Andersons - No Reviews - Video on Demand
A Cinderella Christmas - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Defending Santa - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Northpole - Reviews - Video on Demand
Northpole: Open for Christmas - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Video on Demand
Paw Patrol: Pups Save Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Spirit of Christmas - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Uncle Nick - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Wish for Christmas - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD - Video on Demand
It’s the day after Halloween, which is the earliest I will accept a Christmas release.

TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Hell on Wheels: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I.T. Crowd - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Power Rangers: Chouriki Sentai Ohranger - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Fans of the Power Rangers should be excited to grab more of the Japanese original shows.

Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown - Video on Demand
Carnage Park - Reviews - Video on Demand
Elvis Lives! - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA - Reviews - Video on Demand
Rainbow Time - Reviews - Video on Demand
Right Footed - Reviews - Video on Demand
Tickled - Reviews - Video on Demand
Sausage Party - Reviews - Video on Demand
Sausage Party is the biggest VOD release of the week. I believe a screener for the Blu-ray is on its way.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Video Review, DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Sausage Party, The Sea of Trees, Deep Web, Star Trek Beyond, Men go to Battle, Bad Moms, Anthropoid, Nine Lives, Milton's Secret, Miss Sharon Jones, Christmas Eve, My Love, Don't Cross That River, Imperium, Carnage Park, Tickled, Gleason, Dirty 30, Free to Run, My Blind Brother, Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA, Rainbow Time, A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, Building Star Trek, Last Girl Standing, Barbie & Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase, A Cinderella Christmas, Right Footed, The Battle of the Sexes, Wish for Christmas, Star Trek, X-Men, Barbie, Morgan Freeman, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Scott, Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate