Over the last couple of months, the major studios have a released a flurry of specialty box sets, big movies and TV sets so that plenty of merchandise could be bought during the holiday season. While there's nothing huge like these gift sets or a big Marvel or DC release hitting shelves this month, there are actually some pretty big movies and TV sets coming out, from Girl on The Train to The Accountant and more. You can take a look at some of the other big releases, below.
In addition, if you are looking for the December DVD, Digital and Blu-ray releases, head here. Unless otherwise noted in the Digital column, Digital releases are the same days as the Blu-ray and DVD releases.
Tuesday, January 3 Blu-ray And DVD Releases
Sleepy Hollow: The Complete Third Season
The Librarians: Season Two
Blair Witch
Bones: The Complete Season 11
Girls: The Complete Fifth Season
Denial
Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life
Week of January 3 Early Digital Releases
Kevin Hart: What Now?
Grimm: Season 6 (January 7)
Max Steel
Deepwater Horizon Blu-ray Review
Leading into the release of Deepwater Horizon, it didn't seem possible that a movie about the largest oil spills disasters in history would be both compelling and emotional, but Mark Wahlberg puts in a believable performance as engineer Mike Williams and the flick manages to toe the line between suspense and staying true to the real-life narrative. As such, Peter Berg's film is one to watch, and the big budget flick works to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, although it doesn't get quite into the nitty gritty of the true story as movies like The Big Short do. The bonus features really work to rectify that. "Beyond the Horizon" is a five-part series featuring both the actors and the real-life people involved with the disaster that goes a long way to satisfy my curiosity regarding the event. Other extras include "Captain of the Rig," "The Fury of the Rig," "Deepwater Surveillance," and "Work Like an American." Of course, Summit and Lionsgate Home Entertainment's set would not be complete without a DVD and Digital copy of the flick. You can order your own copy at Lionsgate's shop or head here.
The Accountant Blu-ray Review
While Gavin O'Conner's latest drama doesn't have some of the emotional heart that some of his other movies have had, The Accountant does have Ben Affleck playing a stoic assassin who occasionally likes to talk shop with Dana (Anna Kendrick), an in-house accountant with adorable nerd tendencies. The movies big reveal--or really, reveals--don't always hold our attention, but this is more than made up for by great performances by Affleck and Kendrick, not to mention Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons and Cynthia Addai-Robinson. Bonus features on Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's disc are less exciting than on other releases; one extra looks at the "unique" action hero, for example, although I did kind-of enjoy the extra that featured takes from weapon and stunt guys. While the most exciting extra might be the now-standard DVD and Digital release, The Accountant is still a crowd pleaser of a movie, and you can order your own copy on Amazon and at other outlets.
Tuesday, January 10 Blu-ray And DVD Releases
Deepwater Horizon
Broad City: Season 3
The Accountant
The Birth Of A Nation
Los & Found DVD
Max Steel
Homeland: The Complete Fifth Season
Max Steel
Apple Of My Eye DVD
Kevin Hart: What Now?
Swamp People: Season 7
Week of January 10 Early Digital Releases
Queen of Katwe
Ash Vs. Evil Dead (January 9)
Blunt Talk (January 9)
The Girl On The Train Blu-ray Review
It's a difficult task to take a book's story and turn it into a movie, especially a psychological thriller like The Girl on The Train, which sold more than 15 million copies worldwide by the time Emily Blunt took on the role of Rachel Watson for the big screen. Following the alcoholic character as she hazily reels through life is tough to watch in the beginning, and it doesn't get easier as we learn more about the character, her prior life with her ex-husband and the mysterious disappearance of a girl Rachel stares at on the train every day. The ending conclusion is a good twist for those who haven't read the books, but some of the unreliable narration that makes Paula Hawkins' story so great is lost in translation. Still worth a watch and maybe a purchase if you liked the flick. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment's set come with the standard DVD and Digital copy, and Universal is doing this additional thing where if you volunteer to sign up for emails, the company will give you a free movie. Definitely a better perk than some of the bonus features, which are pretty standard and include deleted scenes and audio commentary. Order your own copy here.
Tuesday, January 17 Blu-ray And DVD Releases
The Girl on the Train
Keeping Up with the Joneses
12 Monkeys: Season Two
Ouija 2: Origin Of Evil
Rizzoli and Isles: The Complete Seventh And Final Season
Surf's Up 2: Wave Mania
Zero Days
Week of January 17 Early Digital Releases
Masterminds
Six (January 19)
Inferno Blu-ray Review
Inferno is the third installation in a trio of movies based on Dan Brown's novels of the same names. If you have been keeping tabs on the Ron Howard movies, which all star Tom Hanks, you may know that the series of movies have never gotten the warmest critical reception. Still, if you liked the other two, you are bound to like Inferno, a thriller that features Professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) once again following clues, this time after a billionaire geneticist named Zobrist (Ben Foster) created a virus that could kill off humanity. There are some twists and turns in the generally fun plot and while the movie is not life-changing, it's easy to see how it made plenty of money worldwide---especially considering its fun settings in Italy and Istanbul. If you like a movie with twists and turns, not to mention a slew of bonus features, Inferno is a good bet for purchase. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's release comes with over 25 minutes of deleted & extended scenes, some of which are more exciting than others. I also particularly liked the "Inferno Around the World" featurette, as I was clearly smitten with the worldly perspective of the flick. You can order your own copy of Inferno here. And if you've been wondering why Ron Howard and co. skipped The Lost Symbol, we have an answer.
Tuesday, January 24 Blu-ray And DVD Releases
Sherlock: Series Four
The Light Between Oceans
Inferno
The Vessel
Queen of Katwe Blu-ray Review
Disney has really been killing it with releases over the past 12 months or more. Insta-classics like Moana and Zootopia hit theaters, and there were a slew of live action movies that crushed it as well. There aren't a ton of family-friendly, live-action movies put out for family viewing anymore. There also aren't any with such a compelling premise as Queen of Katwe, the PG-rated story of Phiona (Madina Nalwanga), a young woman with few prospects growing up in Uganda. Mira Nair's movie is not one of despair, however, as Phiona meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), who teachers her how to play chess and to never to succumb to despair. It's a a hopeful movie but never a stilted one and its suitable for audiences of all ages, and should be appreciated by older children and adults. Lupita Nyong'o also stars. The extras on the disc often focus on Alicia Keys' involvement on a musical level. Queen of Katwe is based on a true story and that's touched on in the "Their Story" featurette, which has three sections. The best of the three is "A Spark of Inspiration," if you get a chance to watch. The coolest extra is probably the short film "A Fork, A Spoon & a Knight," which is also about chess and follows Katende. A sticker also indicated there's more if you unlock the Digital Movie that comes complimentary with the Blu-ray. You can order your own copy of the film here.
Masterminds Blu-ray Release
There are a lot of famous cast members in the heist movie Masterminds, including but not limited to Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Jason Sudeikis. Oh and Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Ken Marino. There are lots of really funny people in Jared Hess' film and the central conceit is workable enough for a comedy of this ilk---in fact, it's based on a true story. However, the film feels a little too short for all of the characters to really shine, although they get up to plenty of shenanigans after stealing over $17 million. Luckily, there's plenty of (often sophomoric) humor to entertain you for 94 minutes. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's disc is short on bonus features, but it does come with an additional DVD copy of the film, and at a good price. Order your own copy here.
Tuesday, January 31 Blu-ray And DVD Releases
Jack Reacher 2: Never Go Back
Queen of Katwe
Ballers: The Complete Second Season
Week of January 31 Early Digital Releases
