Home Market Releases for December 6th, 2016

December 5, 2016

There are a few releases on this week’s list that are worth picking up. The Secret Life of Pets is by far the biggest release of the week. That said, Don’t Think Twice is the best and the Blu-ray is our Pick of the Week.

2016 World Series Champion: The Chicago Cubs - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
It took more than a century, but the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series. Oh boy, the fans will be happy with the release. ... Or to be more accurate, they will be happy with the 8-disc Collector’s Edition, which comes out next week. Real fans want the full games and they will be willing to wait an extra week to get them. Hell, they waited more than a century for this win.

Attack on Titan Part 2 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
The original Manga and the Anime adaptation were both amazing. The live-action movies were okay, I guess.

BabyMetal: Live at Wembley Arena: World Tour 2016 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
I believe this is the Japanese import, which is why it costs nearly $80. (Blu-rays are really expensive in Japan.) I would wait for a North American release, which will cost about $30 instead.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
This would be an excellent gift to give to a fan of the D.C.E.U., had the movie not been terrible. Now it looks like an overpriced insult.

Beauty and the Beast: The Final Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
This show is terrible and I’m shocked it lasted this long. Frankly, I’m surprised it lasted more than one season.

BrainDead: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
A political satire about alien bugs who are eating the brains of politicians and taking over their bodies. The show earned mostly good reviews, but was canceled after just one season. The DVD costs too much, but if you have Amazon Prime, you can watch the first episode for free.

The Devil’s Dolls - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
There’s only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is positive. If you are a fan of low-budget horror, it is probably worth checking out. It also only costs $10 for the Blu-ray, so you can’t argue with that price.

Don’t Think Twice - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
When a member of a improv group gets cast on a TV show, the rest of the group are both excited for them, but also realize not everyone in the group will find success like that. This is one of the best-reviewed films of the year and it did really well for a limited release, but not well enough to expand truly wide. Extras are fine for a limited release with some deleted scenes, a featurette on improv, making of featurette, and more. Even so, it is a Pick of the Week contender.

Elena of Avalor: Ready to Rule - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The latest Disney Princess makes its DVD debut this week. She’s a Latina princess and her kingdom is inspired by the Latin American culture. The DVD is selling very well and is in the top five on the Amazon new releases best-sellers list.

Family Guy: Season Fourteen - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
It has been a while since I saw an episode of this show. The hit to miss ratio was too low years ago, so I gave up on the show.

For the Love of Spock - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A documentary about Leonard Nimoy, directed by his son, Adam Nimoy. The film has earned 100% positive reviews and if you are a fan of Star Trek, then it is a must have.

The Great Gilly Hopkins - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Video on Demand
Sophie Nelisse plays the titular Gilly Hopkins, a young teenager trying to escape foster care and be reunited with her birth mother. The reviews are good, but not great, while it is only coming out on DVD. That said, it is certainly worth the $7 to rent it on VOD.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: 30th Anniversary Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Video on Demand
Based on the confessions of a real-life serial killer, this film rises above mere exploitation, but it is still very grim and 90% plus of the people reading this will want to stay away. On the other hand, there are a ton of extras on this 30th Anniversary edition, so if you are a fan, it is certainly worth picking up.

The Hollars - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
This movie has a great cast, but the story just isn’t original enough. Worse still, it tells a story that has not only been done too many times before, it has been done a lot better as well. That said, if you like the cast, it is worth renting.

I Am Bolt - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A documentary about Usain Bolt that borders on Hagiography at times.

In Order of Disappearance - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Video on Demand
A father learns his son died of an overdose. He doesn’t believe that could happen, so he investigates and based on what he learns, he decides to get revenge. The film’s reviews are excellent, but it is a foreign-language import, so extras are not good. Worth picking up, but not quite a Pick of the Week contender.

Jason Bourne - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
When I first saw the trailer for this film, I was worried. It hinted that they were going to kill off one of the returning characters, so I was strictly “wait and see” with this film. Turns out I was right and this is the second time in the franchise that they killed off the female lead to motivate the male protagonist. That’s hack writing and I have no interest in that. Also coming out this week is a franchise box set, but only the first three movies are worth owning and those three have been released on a box set already. The previous four movies are also coming out on 4K Ultra HD, which are covered down below.

Mad Max: Fury Road: Black & Chrome Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Why? The movie is great, maybe not 97% positive reviews great, still a must have for fans of the franchise or of action movies in general. However, you can grab the original Blu-ray for $10, so why spend $25 for a black and white version of the movie? Also coming out this week is a franchise box set, but it is $75 and the only substantial additions are the Black & Chrome Edition and a documentary on The Road Warrior. It’s not worth that much money.

Phantasm: Remastered - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Phantasm is a cult horror film from 1979 that spawned a number of sequels, including one that is coming out on DVD / Blu-ray this week. Its overall reviews are good, but not great, but it is beloved by many genre fans. Extras include an audio commentary track, making of featurette, and even some archival interviews. If you are a fan of horror from the era, then this is a must have.

Phantasm Ravager - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The latest in the Phantasm franchise. It only earned mixed reviews, but that’s still better than the other sequels. Extras include an audio commentary track, making of featurette, behind-the-scenes, deleted scenes, outtakes, and more. Worth picking up, if you are a fan of the franchise.

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A Video on Demand
It is rare for an Anime title to reach the top 20 on the Amazon list of best-selling new releases. It is even rarer for a live-action film from Japan to do that, but that’s what we have here. The reviews are mixed with most critics saying it is entertaining for stretches, but it is too long.

Scream Queens: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I watched the first three episodes of the first season before stopping. It wasn’t a terrible show, I just didn’t get invested in any of the characters. However, I checked out the first couple of episodes of season two and was hooked. I don’t know if I should recommend this DVD or not. It’s only $13, so it might be worth it just to get to know the characters from season two better.

The Secret Life of Pets - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, 3D Combo Pack, or 4K Combo Pack
Video on Demand
This is one of the biggest original animated films of all time. Is it also one of the best? If not, will it at least entertain the kids without driving their parents nuts? Read our review for my opinion.

The T.A.M.I. Show / The Big T.N.T. Show - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Two concert films from the 1960s. The T.A.M.I. Show is arguably the seminal concert film and has had a huge influence on the genre. It has also never been released on the home market in its entirety until this week. So historically, it is worth picking up. Also, the music is amazing. The Big T.N.T. Show was made two years later and while it doesn’t have the same historical heft, it is still worth owning for fans of 1960s Rock’n’Roll. The combined two-disc Blu-ray is a Pick of the Week contender.

Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Bikini Warriors: The Complete Series - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Dead Rising Endgame - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Exterminating Angel - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Fairy Tail: Part 22 - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Fists Of Fury - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Frontier - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Heart: Live at The Royal Albert Hall with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Howards End - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Kicks - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Ordinary World - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Night Has a Thousand Desires - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Night Ranger: 35 Years And A Night In Chicago - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Porky’s II: The Next Day - Reviews / Porky’s Revenge - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
School Days: Complete TV Series - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Shannara Chronicles: Season One - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Show By Rock!!: The Complete Series - No Review - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Something for Everyone - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
White Girl - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
I think Night Has a Thousand Desires has been pushed back a week. If so, it would be the film’s third release date in under a month. On a side note, I’ve mentioned a couple of times in reviews films having too much “fan service”, but not the jiggly kind. Bikini Warriors is the jiggly kind of fan service.

Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon
Back to Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Beverly Hills Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A Miracle on Christmas Lake - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Regarding Billy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Santa and Me - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
None of these releases jump out at me. Although, Beverly Hills Christmas does have a sequel in the works, so clearly it did well enough to justify making another.

TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Cannon - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Diagnosis Murder - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Two murder mystery TV shows from the 1980s. If you like the genre, it could be a tough decision.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Howards End, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer , Phantasm, The Secret Life of Pets, Jason Bourne, Phantasm: Ravager, Hillsong: Let Hope Rise, The Magnificent Seven, Storks, Ordinary World, Sully, The Hollars, The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, The Frontier, I Am Bolt, Kicks, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Don’t Think Twice, Kraftidioten, Demon, For the Love of Spock, The Devil’s Dolls, We Love You, If There’s a Hell Below, Pojkarna, Knucklehead, Fever, Dead Rising: Endgame, Seduced, Curse of the Man who See’s UFOs, Les héritiers, Star Trek, Mad Max, Bourne, Phantasm, DC Extended Universe, Leonard Nimoy, Sophie Nelisse, Usain Bolt, Adam Nimoy

Home Market Releases for December 6th, 2016

Quick Links

Most Anticipated Movies

Trending Movies

Trending People