DVD and Blu-ray Releases for April 28th, 2020
April 29, 2020
It is a slow week for DVD and Blu-rays with almost no first-run releases to talk about. The Rhythm Section is the biggest first-run release of the week and it bombed hard. As for the best, The Assistant and The Grand Budapest Hotel are the only two contenders for Pick of the Week. That said, I am really looking forward to Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and I won’t have to wait long, because the screener is on its way.
The Assistant - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD - Rent from Redbox: DVD
Date A Live III: Season Three - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark: Special Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Grand Budapest Hotel: Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Guns Akimbo - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray - Rent from Redbox: DVD
Just One of the Guys - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Looking for Alaska - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The Rhythm Section - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
TV on DVD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
4K Ultra HD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Video on Demand
This film earned a Tomatometer Score that is over 90% positive and it earned just over $1 million in limited release, which is a lot better than most limited releases can even dream of. However, it wasn’t enough to get it a Blu-ray release. This is too bad, because a fully-loaded Blu-ray release could have been the Pick of the Week. It is still a contender, on the other hand.
Video on Demand
The third season of this harem anime is the best-selling Anime title on this week’s list. Its reviews are okay, but nothing special. If you liked the first two seasons, then you will probably be fine with season three. Season One is also coming out this week as part of the Essentials line, which is just the previous release, but at about half the price.
The screener is on its way and it might even get to me before the weekend. I remember liking this movie a lot more than the average critic does, but it has been a while since I’ve seen it and I’m not sure it will live up to my memories. It could get here before the weekend, so I shouldn’t have to wait long to find out.
This is my second favorite Wes Anderson movie, behind only Moonrise Kingdom. I already own this movie on Blu-ray, but I’m very tempted to grab the Criterion Collection edition. It has a lot of new features, enough to make the double-dip worth it. They include a new audio commentary track, making-of documentary, interviews, etc. It is clearly a Pick of the Week contender.
Video on Demand
The film has an out-there premise that was intriguing to me. Then I saw that the reviews were merely mixed and my interest waned. Then the director had a freak out online and I was done with the movie. Maybe I will watch it when it hits a streaming service.
A slice of mid-1980s cheese. This film wasn’t well regarded by critics, nor was it a major box office hit. Despite this, it is still one of the best-selling new releases on this week’s list. Granted, it is a slow week, but its sales ranking is high enough that it would be one of the best-selling releases on a normal week. I’m not sure why, but I put in a request for a screener, so maybe it is a hidden gem.
Video on Demand
Looking for Alaska is a TV mini-series based on the book by John Green. The film was originally going to be adapted into a movie, but a troubled production resulted in that plan being scrapped before pivoting to television. Was this a wise move? Does the story need a much longer running time than it would have gotten with a movie? Or is there just more padding here? Read my review to find out.
Video on Demand
One of the biggest bombs of the year. It isn’t a good movie, but it is certainly better than its box office numbers would indicate. That said, even if you are a fan of the cast, I would wait until it is on a streaming service.
Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Arrow: The Complete Series - Reviews - - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
FRONTLINE: Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
NATURE: The Mighty Weasel - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Room 222: Season Two - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom Bash - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Underdog: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Arrow was the first of the current DC TV Universe. While I watch some of the shows in this Universe, Arrow isn’t one of them. Still, the reviews are strong and its sales ranking is great, so I assume the fans were happy with how this one ended and are looking forward to the spin-off.
The Back Lot Murders - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Caper of the Golden Bulls - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Chasing the Dragon 2: Wild Wild Bunch - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Clannad: Steelbook - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Europeans - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Gutterballs - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I Wish I Knew - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Lost Continent - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Lupin the 3rd: The Last Job - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The McPherson Tape (aka U.F.O. Abduction) - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Me and You and Everyone We Know: Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
My Girl - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
My Girl 2 - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Seijun Suzuki's The Taisho Trilogy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Sweet Bird of Youth - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Wind - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
There are a few gems on this week’s list of secondary Blu-ray releases. This includes the Criterion Collection release of Me and You and Everyone We Know, as well as the Steelbook release for Clannad.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
This adult-oriented animated film has 100% positive reviews, but the average score is just 7 out of 10. It is one of those films that is liked by most, but loved by a few.
Filed under: Home Market Releases, DVD and Blu-ray Releases, The Rhythm Section, Guns Akimbo, The Assistant, The Europeans, The Lost Continent, Wes Anderson, John Green