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Blu-ray, Digital, and DVD Releases for September 1, 2015 (Highlights and Complete List)

The following is a list (and short description) of all of the major movies, TV shows, anime, and documentary Blu-ray, DVD, and digital releases for the week of September 1, 2015. At the end of each section (movies, TV shows, anime, documentaries, and other/special interest), there is also a complete list of all the Blu-ray, DVD, and digital 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.

The week of September 1 has one of the biggest releases of the year (Mad Max: Fury Road) but not much else in terms of major movies. As usual, the first week of September is very heavy when it comes to TV on DVD releases. Among the highlights are Star Wars Rebels: Season 1, Scorpion: Season 1, Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 1, and new season releases for The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, New Girl, Castle, and many more. The week is also heavy on critically-acclaimed documentaries, including Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World, That Sugar Film, Dior and I, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, and The Decent One.

Jump To: TV Shows | Anime | Documentaries | Other Movies/Special Interest

September 1 Major Movie Blu-ray and DVD Releases:

Mad Max: Fury Road (Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD)-The summer’s most critically-acclaimed blockbuster (98% on Rotten Tomatoes with a whopping 276 fresh reviews), there is no doubt that Mad Max: Fury Road is this week’s biggest release. While I haven’t seen it (and neither have I seen any of the film’s predecessors), I can’t wait to get my hands on it whenever my library gets it.

I’ll See You in My Dreams (Blu-ray, DVD)-I’ll See You in My Dreams definitely isn’t my kind of film but it was very well-received by critics (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), mostly due to Blythe Danner’s performance. The film doesn’t sound particularly original (widow discovers that life can begin anew at any age) but there must be some reason it did so well with the critics.

Boulevard (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital)-Robin Williams’ final (non-voicework) film is unfortunately pretty run-of-the-mill. While critics praised Williams’ performance, they didn’t have much else positive to say about the film.

Good Kill (Blu-ray, DVD)-Good Kill features Ethan Hawke as an Air Force pilot with six tours of duty under his belt, who now begrudgingly has to fight terrorists by controlling a drone. The film is all about the psychological toll drone pilots are forced to endure. With a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, reviews of Good Kill were pretty positive.

Early Digital Releases: Pitch Perfect 2 (Digital), Spy (Digital), Poltergeist (Digital)-Big week for early digital releases. I normally wouldn’t be interested in a film like Pitch Perfect 2 but since I am a Green Bay Packers fan and Clay Matthews and the offensive line make a cameo, I will definitely watch it once it comes out on Blu-ray and DVD. Spy has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and looks like another awesome Mellisa McCarthy comedy. Meanwhile, Poltergeist looks like yet another lukewarm horror remake.

September 1 TV on DVD and Blu-ray Releases:

Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season One (Blu-ray, DVD)-I’ve heard Star Wars Rebels is a lot like Firefly, so it is definitely something I want to try soon. The CGI animated series started airing last October on Disney XD and season two will premiere next month. The show is set five years before Star Wars Episode IV and follows a group of rebels (all of whom were affected by the Galactic Empire in some way) that band together on a starship called Ghost. Yeah, that sounds a lot like Firefly. This has been a golden age for animated shows (especially ones meant for kids that are still good for adults as well) and Star Wars Rebels looks like another hit.

Scorpion: Season One (Blu-ray, DVD)-While I never watched an episode of Scorpion during its first season (and reviews were pretty mixed), I am so glad that CBS is finally moving away from their boring procedurals and trying something new. While Scorpion is still a procedural at heart, at least it seems to have a bit more serialization than most CBS shows. I usually skip most of their shows, but I might actually give this one a shot sometime down the road.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume One (DVD)-While this set has already been released (thirteen years ago in 2002), it has long been out-of-print and is pretty pricey to purchase ($50 plus shipping on Amazon, which is actually lower than I expected it to be). Shout! Factory has decided to start re-releasing some of the out-of-print volumes, starting with the very first Mystery Science Theater 3000 release. The episodes included in Volume One are Catalina Caper (a beach party film with an appearance by Little Richard), The Creeping Terror (a blob-like monster goes on a rampage), Bloodlust! (a hunter traps young people on his island to try to add to his trophy collection), and The Skydivers (an old girlfriend seeks revenge on her skydiving instructor ex-boyfriend). All but Catalina Caper are from season six, meaning this release is very Mike-heavy.

The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Sixth Season (Blu-ray, DVD) and The Originals: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray, DVD)-I watched and enjoyed the first season of The Vampire Diaries but I stopped watching it for some reason. It is definitely a show I plan to watch in the future though. The sixth season is the last one for a certain major character. The Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals also sees it’s second season released this week as well.

New Girl: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) and The League: The Complete Season Six (DVD)-Two comedies I’ve never seen but have interest in watching down the road. I might watch The League pretty soon because it is going into its seventh and final season and I love football (though I’m not really a fan of fantasy football). New Girl doesn’t seem to get as much press as it used to but the reviews are still pretty strong.

Peter Pan Collector’s Edition: 1955 & 1956 Telecasts (Blu-ray, DVD)-This is the first time the 1955 and 1956 telecasts of Peter Pan have been released on home video. It’s kind of weird that there was a time when productions like this would be re-staged (instead of taped and replayed the next year) but that’s what happened with Peter Pan. Note: The Blu-ray is the only one that comes with both telecasts, the DVD only has the 1956 one.

Madam Secretary: Season 1 (DVD)-While not universally acclaimed, the first season of Madam Secretary does have a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes (with 33 fresh reviews) which is pretty good. I haven’t seen an episode but it seems like the perfect fit for CBS’s Sunday lineup.

Nashville: The Complete Third Season (DVD)-This week is packed with high quality TV releases. Nashville is yet another show I haven’t watched an episode of (I don’t really watch a lot of TV live anymore, I prefer watching season sets straight through) but I know is great.

Texas Rising (Blu-ray, DVD)-Texas Rising is a ten-hour TV miniseries that aired on History Channel from May to June this year. The miniseries is about the Texas Revolution against Mexico and how the Texas Rangers were created. The reviews were surprisingly pretty negative (just a 13% on Rotten Tomatoes with only two positive reviews) even with an amazing cast which includes Bill Paxton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Ray Liotta. However, I am interested in history and will probably still give the show a chance sometime.

Detectorists (DVD)-Acorn Media focuses on British and other foreign television gems and Detectorists seems like another interesting release. The show is about two oddballs who scour the English countryside for treasure.

Black Jesus: Season One (DVD)-While Black Jesus may be offensive to some viewers (especially the fact that Jesus is a pot smoker in this show), it did get some pretty good reviews (all six reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive).

Castle: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD), Hawaii Five-0: The Fifth Season (DVD), Chicago Fire: Season Three (DVD), and Chicago P.D.: Season Two (DVD)-Procedurals galore. The only show of these four I ever plan on watching is Castle, mostly just because of Nathan Fillion. However, they are all major releases so I had to put them on the list.

Johnny Test: Seasons 1-5 (DVD)-All of these seasons have already been released but Mill Creek has decided to release a budget version of the show. For $27.99 or less, you get 91 episodes of Johnny Test. I’m not sure why season six wasn’t included to make it a complete series set but there must be some reason because that season has never been released before. I hate it when that happens.

Other September 1 TV on DVD and Blu-ray Releases:

  • 20 Halloween Stories: Scholastic Storybook Treasures – The Classic Collection (DVD)
  • Animal Fight Night: Season 3 (DVD)
  • Caillou: Caillou’s Halloween (DVD)
  • The Chica Show: Chica’s Halloween Adventure (DVD)
  • Cracked: The Darkness Within (DVD)
  • Curious George: The Complete Eighth Season (DVD)
  • Doozers: Spookypalooza (DVD)
  • Hell’s Kitchen: Season 12 (DVD)
  • LEGO: Legends of Chima – Legend of the Fire Chi: Season 2, Part 2 (DVD)
  • Littlest Pet Shop: Halloween Fest (DVD)
  • Pajanimals: Spooky Costumes (DVD)
  • Paw Patrol: Meet Everest! (DVD)
  • Peg & Cat: A Totally Awesome Halloween (DVD)
  • Wordworld: Halloween Fun (DVD)

September 1 Anime Blu-ray and DVD Releases:

One Piece: Season Seven, Voyage Two (DVD)-Another month, another One Piece release. This one contains episodes 397-409, which apparently include one of the saddest episodes of the series.

K-On!: Season 1 (Blu-ray) and My Teen Romantic Comedy: Snafu – Complete Collection (Blu-ray)-Two anime series that have already been released on DVD but are coming out on Blu-ray for the first time. K-On! is about four Japanese high school girls who join their music club to save it from being disbanded while My Teen Romantic Comedy: Snafu is about students who form a high school service club to help their fellow students with the struggles of being a teenager.

 

Sketchbook ~Full Color’s~: DVD Collection (DVD)-This anime series follows a girl named Sora, who takes a sketchbook with her no matter where she goes so she can draw all of the mysterious and beautiful things she sees. All thirteen episodes of the series are included.

Argevollen: Collection 1 (Blu-ray, DVD)

September 1 Documentary Blu-ray and DVD Releases:

Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World (DVD)-A documentary about an award-winning sci-fi monster maker? Sign me up. If you don’t know, H.R. Giger did the design work for the Alien series as well as several other films. Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World got a solid 62% on Rotten Tomatoes (on 21 fresh reviews).

That Sugar Film (DVD)-Another documentary that got a decent amount of press when it was released (and currently has a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes), That Sugar Film chronicles an experiment performed by actor-director Damon Gameau. No, he didn’t just start eating a ton of candy and soda. He had been off refined sugars for years but decided to see just how bad the hidden sugars in “healthy” products like yogurt would be to his health. There are a lot of documentaries about the food industry (this experiment is very similar to Super Size Me to begin with), but it sounds like That Sugar Film is a pretty good addition to the genre anyway.

Dior & I (DVD)-With an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes (48 fresh reviews), Dior & I is the second best reviewed documentary of the week. The film takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Christian Dior fashion house and the creation of a new fashion collection. I could care less about fashion (I’m a T-shirt kind of guy) but even I think that sounds like an interesting idea for a documentary.

Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me (DVD)-Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and it isn’t like there are just three or four positive reviews, the film has 29 fresh reviews so it isn’t a fluke. The documentary followed the country singer as he went on a year and a half tour across America. This tour was a bit different than most though, because Campbell had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was told he should retire. He ignored the doctor’s advice and went on the tour anyway.

The Decent One (DVD)-This week is very heavy on quality documentaries, The Decent One also got positive reviews (67% on Rotten Tomatoes). This documentary is about a recently discovered cache of letters, diaries, and photos that belonged to high-ranking Nazi Heinrich Himmler. Director Vanessa Lapa studied all of the documents and found a man who was responsible for some of the worst tragedies the world has ever seen but still thought of himself as a hero.

Harlem Street Singer: The Reverend Gary Davis Story (DVD)-This documentary is about one of the most influential guitarists of his time. While there are only three reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, they are all positive.

JFK and LBJ: A Time for Greatness (DVD)-Aired as part PBS’s Secrets of the Dead historical documentary series earlier this month, JFK and LBJ is about Lyndon B. Johnson’s behind-the-scenes work to ensure John F. Kennedy’s legacy by passing two bills that were important to him (the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act).

I Am Dale Earnhardt (DVD)-Part of Spike TV’s I Am documentary series (which also produced the I Am Chris Farley documentary I wrote about a few weeks ago), I Am Dale Earnhardt takes an in-depth look at the NASCAR driver’s life and death.

Our Man in Tehran (DVD)-Yet another critically-acclaimed documentary release this week, Our Man in Tehran is the real story behind Argo (the Ben Affleck film about the CIA plot to use a fake movie to rescue Americans during the Iran hostage crisis).

U.S. Cavalry: History of America’s Mounted Forces (DVD)-This Mill Creek release is a five-part documentary series about the American cavalry, which existed even before America was founded and is still somehow in service today.

Monument Men: The Road to Rushmore (DVD)-Another Mill Creek documentary series (this time a seven-part series), Monument Men is about the men on Mount Rushmore as well as the men who sculpted them. This release also includes a virtual tour of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

Living the Fantasy (Digital)-This high stakes fantasy football documentary is a digital-only release for now. While I am a huge fan of the NFL, I haven’t played fantasy football in a decade. However, I do like documentaries about hobbies so this might be right up my alley.

Other September 1 Documentary Blu-ray and DVD Releases:

  • Aerosmith: Rocks Donington 2014 (Blu-ray)
  • All About Meghan: Meghan Trainor (DVD)
  • Braddock America (DVD)
  • Deep Purple: …To the Rising Sun in Tokyo (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Deep Purple: W:O:A – From the Setting Sun (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Freemasons: Order of the Knights Templar (DVD)
  • The Grand Organ of Coventry Cathedral (DVD)
  • Imminent Threat (Digital)
  • Lisa Stansfield: Live in Manchester (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Murderer by Vocation (Digital)
  • Operation Sussex (DVD)
  • Portraits of Colorado: The Making of a Modern American Symphony (DVD)
  • Sacred Music: Monteverdi in Mantua – The Genius of the Vespers (DVD)
  • Seven Wonders of Brazil (DVD)
  • Sharon Corr: Live in Sao Paulo (Digital)

September 1 Other Movie and Special Interest Blu-ray and DVD Releases:

Backcountry (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital)-While there are a lot of similar movies, Backcountry (about a young couple’s camping trip which becomes a fight for survival due to a man-eating bear) has received very positive reviews (88% with 30 fresh reviews) so I had to give it a shout-out.

Hopalong Cassidy: The Ultimate Collector’s Edition (DVD)-This Echo Bridge release contains a whopping 66 films (made in just 14 years), all of which star William Boyd as the cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy. Three classic radio shows are also included as bonus features. At over 71 hours long and priced at $49.99, this is a pretty good value for Hopalong Cassidy fans.

Bessie (Blu-ray, DVD)-Bessie is an HBO TV film that aired in May 2015. The film is about American blues singer Bessie Smith (played by Queen Latifah) who struggled to get on stage (because of racism) but eventually turned into “The Empress of the Blues.”

Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters Collection (DVD)-Featuring Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, this collection of very funny and well-received films also includes two commentaries with film historians (on Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde).

Army of Frankensteins (Blu-ray, DVD)-Army of Frankensteins sounds so campy and ridiculous that I just had to write about it. In the film, a mad scientist attempts to reanimate the legendary Frankenstein monster. However, his experiments tear a hole in space and time and an army of the creatures (from hundreds of different parallel universes) are sent back to the 19th century…during the Civil War. I need to see this film.

Hitler on Trial (DVD)-Also known as The Man Who Crossed Hitler, Hitler on Trial is a 2011 BBC film about a lawyer (Hans Litten) who subpoenaed Adolf Hitler in an attempt to expose him and discredit the Nazi Party.

Remember (DVD)-Remember is a sci-fi film where, years after a global financial meltdown, parents are willingly giving their children over to the state (in exchange for drugs that block their most painful memories). The film is about a man tasked with keeping rebellious parents from attempting to reunite with their children and the difficult choice he has to make after his past comes to light.

Hangar 10 (DVD, Digital)-While I love aliens and UFO films, I’m not a big fan of found-footage films and Hangar 10 unfortunately only has one positive review (out of seven) on Rotten Tomatoes. I’m guessing its pretty bad but I might give a shot sometime down the road.

Other September 1 Movie and Special Interest Blu-ray and DVD Releases:

  • 4 Movie Lifetime Collection Volume 2: Color Me Perfect, Closer and Closer, My Mother: The Spy, and Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story (DVD)
  • 40 Cartoons: Featuring the Story of Rapunzel (DVD)
  • 7 Minutes (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave (DVD)
  • Avalanche Sharks (DVD)
  • Bandit and the Saints of Dogwood (DVD)
  • Barbie: The Princess & The Popstar (Digital)
  • The Beast of Xmoor (DVD)
  • Before They Were Bond: 9 Movies (DVD)
  • The Blood Lands (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Blood Moon (DVD-R)
  • Blood Punch (DVD)
  • Bread and Butter (Digital)
  • British War Collection 2: Reach for the Sky, We Dive at Dawn, The Way Ahead, and The One That Got Away (DVD)
  • Broken Horses (DVD, Digital)
  • The Chambermaid (DVD)
  • The Christopher Lee Collection: Triple Feature (DVD)
  • Coming Out (DVD)
  • The Curse of Downer’s Grove (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • The D Train (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Daniel Boone: A True American Legend (DVD)
  • Dark Was the Night (DVD)
  • Day and Night (Digital)
  • Exeter (DVD, Digital)
  • Extinction (DVD)
  • The Face of an Angel (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Father Robert Barron’s The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Father Robert Barron’s The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters – Leader Kit (DVD)
  • Felt (DVD)
  • Francesco (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital)
  • Gemma Bovery (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital)
  • Ghost Squad (DVD, Digital)
  • God for the Rest of Us Pastor’s Kit (DVD)
  • God for the Rest of Us Small Group Study (DVD)
  • Gustafer Yellowgold’s Dark Pie Concerns (DVD)
  • The Harvest (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital)
  • In Stereo (DVD)
  • Into Dangerous Territory (Digital)
  • Jesse James Lawman (DVD, Digital)
  • Lawless Kingdom (DVD, Digital)
  • The Lesson (DVD)
  • Lords of London (DVD, Digital)
  • Lost After Dark (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Love in the Time of Civil War (DVD)
  • The Monster Collection: 16 Movies (DVD)
  • Panic 5 Bravo (DVD)
  • Para Elisa (DVD, Digital)
  • Paranormal Island (DVD, Digital)
  • Ponchao (DVD)
  • Redeemer (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Blu-ray, DVD)
  • Run Hide Die (DVD, Digital)
  • Scooby-Doo! Double Feature: Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King and Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo (DVD)
  • Shark Killer (DVD)
  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice/Merlin: The Return/The Magic Door/The Magic Sword (DVD)
  • Steven Seagal: 8 Action Movie Collection (Blu-ray)
  • The Surface (DVD)
  • Treachery (DVD)
  • Trejo Trio: Danny Trejo Triple Feature (DVD)
  • Why in the World: The Reason God Became One of Us (DVD)
  • Wolf Warrior (Blu-ray, DVD)