The following is a list (and short description) of all of the major movies, TV shows, anime, and documentary Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of July 28, 2015. At the end of the post, there is also a complete list of all the Blu-ray and DVD releases that I know of for the week that didn’t make the cut (in alphabetical order). Clicking on any links (or the box art) will bring you to the Blu-ray or DVD’s Amazon.com page where you can get more information about the release and/or order it. If you buy something using the links provided, a small percentage of your purchase comes back to us to help keep Geeky Hobbies running.
We here at Geeky Hobbies are always looking to try and review as many new Blu-rays and DVDs as we can so if you are involved in the promotion of any of these releases and would like to see it reviewed on this blog, contact us and we’ll most likely be willing to review it.
Jump To: TV Shows | Anime | Documentaries | Other Movies/Special Interest
July 28 Major Movie Blu-ray and DVD Releases:
Home (Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD)-There aren’t a lot of major movie Blu-ray or DVD releases this week. In fact, sadly enough, a middling animated film like Home is the biggest movie release of the week. Home is about Oh, a misfit from another planet who lands on Earth, has to go on the run from his own people, and (shocker) forms an unlikely friendship with a girl. I’m a big animation fan so I usually check out almost all of the new animated films but I have next to no interest in this boring concept. However, Rotten Tomatoes claims it’s a passable diversion for kids so at least they might enjoy it.
Justice League: Gods and Monsters (Blu-ray, DVD)-The newest DC Universe Animated Original Movie, Justice League: Gods and Monsters takes place in an alternate universe where the Justice League is actual a force that brutally maintains order on Earth. Superman (now the son of General Zod), Batman (who feeds on criminals to cure his cancer), and Wonder Woman are completely different in this universe. Gods and Monsters sounds like a very intriguing concept and early reviews make it sound outstanding. Even though I haven’t watched many of the previous DC animated universe films, I will definitely give this one a try.
White God (Blu-ray, DVD)-White God is a Hungarian drama film about mixed-breed dogs who seemingly start an organized uprising against their human oppressors. With a 91% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, White God is clearly a pretty good film (though it apparently isn’t easy to watch).
Miracle Mile (Blu-ray, DVD)-Even though Miracle Mile has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and supposedly has a cult following, this is the first major DVD and Blu-ray release for the film (it was previously only available as an Amazon exclusive DVD-R and Instant Video release). The film stars Anthony Edwards as a musician who intercepts a call from a soldier stationed at a Midwestern missile silo who claims that nukes have been launched and it’s only seventy minutes to Armageddon.
Jauja (Blu-ray, DVD)-With a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, Jauja was definitely well received. However, the story (a man searches for his daughter who ran away with a young soldier) sounds pretty boring to me.
July 28 TV on DVD and Blu-ray Releases:
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXIII (DVD)-The 33rd volume of Mystery Science Theater 3000 brings us four more of cinema’s biggest bombs and the hilarious jokes the Satellite of Love crew made at their expense. This time, the titles include Daddy-O, Earth Vs. The Spider (pretty much exactly what it says on the tin), Teen-Age Crime Wave (two punks become serious criminals when one of them shoots a sheriff), and Agent For H.A.R.M. (a James Bond parody about an American spy attempting to keep a formula for stopping alien spores that turn human flesh into fungus from getting into the hands of Russian agents). As usual, Shout! Factory has also included at least one special feature per film.
Helix: Season 2 (Blu-ray, DVD)-Though Helix was recently canceled by Syfy after two seasons, it did get relatively good reviews and has an interesting concept (CDC scientists investigate disease outbreaks that put them in life-or-death situations).
Life on the Reef (Blu-ray, DVD)-Life on the Reef is a three-episode documentary series that recently aired on PBS. The documentary was shot over the course of a year and is all about one of the most beautiful locations on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Ancient Roads From Christ to Constantine (DVD)-Another PBS documentary series, Ancient Roads From Christ to Constantine takes a look at the places where Christianity began and where some of it’s most important events happened.
Kaboul Kitchen: Season 1 (DVD)-Kaboul Kitchen is a comedy television series hailing from France. The series is based on the true story of French journalist Marc Victor, who ran a restaurant for French expatriates in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The Churchmen: Season 1 (DVD)-Another French show but this time it’s a drama. The Churchmen is about five priesthood candidates who come from completely different backgrounds; Jose (a murderer who was just released from prison), Yann (who had an idyllic upbringing), Guillaume (who came from a dysfunctional family), Raphael (who had a privileged upbringing), and Emmanuel (on the run from a secret he can’t even admit to himself). Each of them will see their commitment to the cross tested and deal with temptations from outside.
July 28 Anime Blu-ray and DVD Releases:
No Game No Life (Blu-ray, Limited Edition Blu-ray, DVD)-As a gamer who really wants to get into anime, No Game No Life sounds right up my alley. The series follows two people, Sora and his younger stepsister Shiro, who are undefeated gamers. One day, the “God of games” challenges them to a game of chess and they are victorious. Because of their victory, these two “hikikomori” (a Japanese term for loner) are brought to Disboard, a reality which revolves completely around games (I wish I lived in a reality focused on gaming). The two try to stay undefeated as they attempt to conquer the sixteen ruling species and take down the God of games. The five-disc limited edition is quite a bit more expensive but comes with amaray cases with reversible covers, three original soundtrack CDs, six double-sided art cards, a double-sided poster, a set of playing cards, and nine die-cut character stickers.
Inari Kon Kon: The Complete Series + OVA (Blu-ray)-In Inari Kon Kon, a young, sweet, and shy girl named Inari has a crush on one of the cutest guys in her grade (Tanbabashi). However, she can’t tell him how she feels until she saves an injured fox who turns out to be the familiar of a goddess. The goddess grants Inari the ability to shape-shift and she uses her powers to try to win over Tanbabashi.
Naruto Shippuden Uncut: Set 23 (DVD)-Featuring episodes 284 (“The Helmet Splitter: Jinin Akebino!”) through 296 (“Naruto Enters the Battle!”), Set 23 of Naruto Shippuden includes a six-episode arc called “Power,” which is supposedly great. Naruto Shippuden (along with the original Naruto series) is definitely on my list of anime to watch but it’s kind of hard to get into a show once you realize you are 23 DVD releases behind.
009 Re: Cyborg (Blu-ray)-This is the first time that this anime film has been released in America. However, since 009 Re: Cyborg has a 25% on Rotten Tomatoes (three fresh, nine rotten), I’m not sure we were really missing anything.
Recently, My Sister Is Unusual (DVD)-I know there are some strange anime series out there but this one is actually somewhat disturbing. Recently, My Sister Is Unusual is about a girl named Mitsuki who one day is possessed by an angel who during its life had deep feelings towards Mitsuki’s step brother. The angel places a chastity belt on Mitsuki and tells her in order for her to go to heaven she will have to fulfill her final wish (becoming closer to Mitsuki’s step brother) or both of them will die and go to hell. Yeah, that’s pretty messed up.
Galilei Donna: Complete Collection (DVD)-Set in 2061, Galilei Donna is the story of three sisters (who are descendants of famous astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei) who are falsely accused of terrorism because of an ancient treasure left behind by Galileo. The three sisters (who have completely different personalities and are usually fighting with each other) will have to follow Galileo’s clues to find the treasure and clear their names.
Monster Farm: Complete Japanese Language Collection With English Subtitles (DVD)-Known as Monster Rancher in America, this anime series ran for 73 episodes from 1999-2001 and is based on the video game series of the same name. The story follows a boy named Genki who, after winning a tournament, puts the special CD he won from the tournament in his game console and finds himself transported to a world of monsters similar to the game he plays.
Windy Tales: Complete Collection (DVD)
July 28 Documentary Blu-ray and DVD Releases:
Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau (Blu-ray, DVD)-I love filmmaking documentaries and Lost Soul appears to be a great one (100% on Rotten Tomatoes but on only seven reviews). Lost Soul chronicles the disastrous 1996 adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau, which had plenty of behind-the-scenes drama and horrible weather. The film includes interviews with actors Fairuza Balk and Rob Morrow, studio executives, crew members, and even the very reclusive Richard Stanley (director of The Island of Dr. Moreau). Since most documentaries about filmmaking are about good films where most things went right, it’s a bit refreshing to see one about a film where everything went wrong.
Frontline: Outbreak (DVD)-Outbreak takes a look at the Ebola outbreak that struck the world last year and exposes the missteps in the response to the epidemic.
The Homefront (DVD)-The Homefront is a two-hour PBS special that focuses on families through the difficulties of deployment, the joy when their loved ones come home, and the challenge of reintegrating as a family once the soldiers have returned.
Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (Blu-ray)-I personally hate Ayn Rand’s politics (or at least the people who have adopted her ideas) but I’m sure her life was pretty interesting. Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life is a two-and-a-half hour look at her life which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1998. The film was previously released on DVD but this is the first time its been on Blu-ray.
The Milky Way: Every Mother Has a Story (Blu-ray, DVD) and Our Daily Poison (DVD)-Two documentaries I have absolutely no interest in but if you care about breastfeeding (The Milky Way: Every Mother Has a Story) or about why the foods we eat are giving us cancer and other terrible diseases (Our Daily Poison), check them out.
July 28 Other Movie and Special Interest Blu-ray and DVD Releases:
3 Hearts (Blu-ray, DVD)-A French romantic drama, 3 Hearts is a film about a classic love triangle. Marc meets Sylvie in Paris and the two are instantly drawn together but after plans for a second meeting fall through, the two go in different directions. Marc falls in love with another woman, but has no idea that his bride just so happens to be Sylvie’s sister.
Ghost Town (1988) (Blu-ray)-This isn’t the very average 2008 Ricky Gervais film, this is a horror and western film mash-up about a ghost town that still holds the town’s original inhabitants one hundred years later.
The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (Blu-ray, DVD)-Originally titled simply The Rites of Frankenstein, this film is a sexually explicit version of the classic Frankenstein story. Frankenstein isn’t exactly the first monster I’d pick for an erotic film so I have no idea what they were thinking when they made this film.
Comet (DVD)-Justin Long and Emmy Rossum star as lovers whose relationship grows and falls apart over the course of six years in this tepidly received romance film (41% on Rotten Tomatoes).
New to Blu-ray Releases: Monte Walsh (Blu-ray), Cherry 2000 (Blu-ray), Prime Cut (Blu-ray), and Zone Troopers (Blu-ray)-Monte Walsh is a 1970 western film about an old cowboy who decides to settle down and get married (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), Cherry 2000 is a sci-fi film about a yuppie who seeks out a replacement for his sex-toy robot Cherry (0%), Prime Cut is Sissy Spacek’s feature film debut and a crime drama about a horrible cattle broker who sells women as well (70%), and Zone Troopers is definitely the most intriguing of the bunch. It follows a group of American soldiers who find a UFO and enlist some aliens to help them defeat the Nazis. I’m guessing the movie is terrible but that is an awesome concept for a film.
Warner Archive Releases: The Bugle Sounds (DVD-R), Bad Bascomb (DVD-R), Barnacle Bill (DVD-R), Jackass Mail (DVD-R), and Big Jack (DVD-R)-Note, as all of these are Warner Archive releases, they are manufactured on demand on DVD-Rs, not regular DVDs. They still work like regular DVDs but they may not last quite as long. All of these are from the 1940’s and star Wallace Beery. I just love that there was a film named Jackass Mail back in the 1940’s.
Runoff (DVD), Glass Chin (DVD), and 52 Tuesdays (DVD)-Three films that got good reviews but aren’t really my kind of movies. Runoff (82% on Rotten Tomatoes) is about a woman named Betty who is about to lose her family farm and finds out her husband is seriously ill. Glass Chin (85%) focuses on a boxer out of the limelight who attempts to get back in the game by making a deal with a crooked restauranteur. Finally, 52 Tuesdays (79%) is about a mother undergoing gender transitioning as a year goes by. While none of them are my cup of tea, I’m sure they are all well-made films that their target audiences will enjoy.
Other July 28 Blu-ray and DVD Releases (Listed in alphabetical order):
- 2015 NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors Highlight Video (Blu-ray + DVD)
- 2015 Stanley Cup Champions: Chicago Blackhawks Highlight Video (Blu-ray, DVD)
- AC/DC: No Holding Back (DVD)
- Comet: Unseen Images From the Archives (DVD)
- Family Adventure Collection: 50 Features (DVD)
- Family Classics Collection: 50 Features (DVD)
- Fifty Shades of Irresistible: Harlequin Dark Desires (6 Movies-At the Midnight Hour, The Awakening, Diamond Girl, Loving Evangeline, Another Woman, and Treacherous Beauties) (DVD)
- In Da Cut (DVD)
- Invisible Centerfolds (DVD)
- Mama’s Family: Mama’s Favorites – Season 6 (DVD)
- Mr. Right (DVD)
- Starstruck (1982) (DVD)
- Stiletto Dance: Sensual Style (DVD)
- Strangler of the Tower/Monster of London City Double Feature (DVD)
- Tango of Perversion (DVD)
- The Voices of the Battle of Britain (DVD)
- WWE: The Kliq Rules (Blu-ray, DVD)