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Something to Watch: Discs

Movies bring X-Men: Apocalypse home, which I am excited about because I haven’t seen it yet. It is probably the only Marvel movie of the last few decades I didn’t get to see on the big screen, and I am determined not to let that happen again any time soon. I likewise missed Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV in the theaters, with the difference that I have no intention of watching it at home either. The low key and intelligent Into The Forest is a post-apocalyptic tale with heart, and no zombie hoards or maniacs with muscle cars and chain saws anywhere to be seen. Probably the less said about The Purge: Election Year the better, but I do have to mention the quirky Swiss Army Man also comes out this week.

How many of you saw the 3D version of It Came From Outer Space when it hit the big screen in 1953? It was only the 6th movie ever made with a stereo soundtrack, and that too has been restored in the new Blu Ray 3D release coming out this week. They also fixed a number of problems with the vertical being out of alignment between the two film tracks, and corrected several scenes where the 3D was reversed (the stuff in the back of the scene appeared closer to the audience than the stuff in the foreground). Since they remastered it from the original duel film strips, they were able to convert it from its original red/green anaglyph format to the modern Blu Ray 3D format, so you will have none of the lose of brightness that format induced by virtue of limiting your visual input to just 2 parts of the spectrum.

Anime starts with a live action film this time, Attack on Titan Movie: Part 1, for those who missed it because its theatrical run was so limited. Gundam Reconguista in G takes place after the war torn Universal Century has ended, but the new century’s peace and prosperity hides some serious problems. Re-Kan! is a bout a new girl in school who hangs out with Ghosts, and pretty soon one of her classmates is seeing them too. Naruto Shippūden uncut box 28 brings more Ninja goodness home.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion: Complete Collection is the first time both seasons can be found in a single box set. Strike Witches The Movie is also out on disc for the first time this week, which completes that series, with seasons 1 and 2 already being out in a S.A.V.E. edition. Blood-C: The Complete Series and Blood-C: The Last Dark are both coming out in S.A.V.E. editions as well.

Something to Watch: Discs

The fantasy/adventure Warcraft comes home this week for those who enjoyed it as much as I did. I can’t really speak for Cell, having missed it in the theaters, but it was based on the excellent Steven King book of the same name, so I have my hopes for it.

Anime has Chaika – The Coffin Princess Avenging Battle, which is a well done sword and sorcery warfare story. Maria the Virgin Witch is also about medieval magical warfare and how to stop it, with more adult themes. Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign has humanity on the edge of extinction, three guesses from what threat. The complete collection is a bit pricey, I will wait for a S.A.V.E. edition. The Labyrinth of Grisaia/Eden of Grisaia are two OVA series of about 5 episodes each that expand the story told in the original 13 episode anime series The Fruit of Grisaia. Mikagura School Suite: The Complete Series is another Magical Girls Combat School, this one oriented for the Yuri audience. The second half of Plastic Memories also becomes available this week, but I will wait for all 13 episodes to come out in a single box set before picking it up.

Something to Watch: Discs

The only Western genre title I could find this week was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, a franchise I generally like better in comic/manga form. But I haven’t seen this one yet, I am hoping they finally live up to the promise of their original format.

Anime has Asterisk War Volume 1 which is sadly only the first half of season one of this series. I will be waiting until they release at least a full season, and preferably two, to a single box set before I pick it up. But it is an excellent story you should be watching online while waiting for a real release. Den-noh Coil 2 is the second season about the hidden secrets in the digitally augmented world beyond their VR headsets. With one of their number dead and virtual creatures that act as if they are alive, they only have so much time to unlock the mysteries surrounding them. Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen has the Jun’s from two separate universes getting together to explore how having/not having the combat dolls in their lives changed how it all worked out. Finally, One Piece – Season 8 Voyage 3 brings episodes 481 through 492 of pirate goodness home.

Something to Watch: Discs

Captain America: Civil War is pretty much it for western movies and TV this week, but if you can only have one, what an excellent choice! Anime doesn’t do any better, having only two titles, neither of them new. Maken-Ki!: Season One is being re-released in a S.A.V.E. edition, and everything from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is being released in an Ultimate Collector’s Edition. That means 28 episodes of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (seasons 1 and 2), 25 episodes of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya (likewise 2 seasons), 13 episodes of Nyoron! Churuya-san, and 16 episodes of The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, along with some artwork and extras, all in a single boxed set for over $100. The good news is, they are also re-releasing each of those titles individually at reduced rates, so if you already have a lot of them, this is a great time to complete your sets. I will be picking up The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan since that is the title I am missing, as an example.

Something to Watch: Discs

In movies, Equals is about a society genetically engineered to be emotionless, in order to wipe out war and crime; too bad for the couple falling in love despite their DNA. Tale of Tales is a twisted dark fantasy based in Medieval Europe and filmed by a British/French/Italian team which looks rather interesting. Now You See Me 2 isn’t really genre, but it is quite a good movie. If there was anything new in TV, it slipped right past me.

In Anime Psycho-Pass: Season One is the first time you could get the entire season in a single box set in the US (previous availability was only in a Japanese all-region import disc for noticeably more money). A dystopian police procedural where the weapons decide the punishment for having the wrong attitude and a percentage of the population are imprisoned for crimes they haven’t committed yet, the show explores some uncomfortable possibilities. Rin-Ne 2 brings another Anime season of Rumiko Takahashi‘s beloved Manga home. The broke half-blood sort-of Shinigami continues to help the dead on their path to reincarnation, having a series of hair raising adventures in the process. Fairy Tail: Part 21 brings still more collateral damage and combat comedy from the wizard’s guild that doesn’t know when to stop in episodes 240 through 252. High School DxD BorN is season 3 of this supernatural fan service favorite; the war between Heaven and Hell continues, and they are fighting to protect the underworld from destruction. Gundam Build Fighters Try is more sporting event than life or death combat, growing that universe in a more peaceful direction.

Something to Watch: Discs

Movies have the live action version of The Jungle Book hits the shelves this week, bringing home the latest incarnation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic story. TV’s Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Two really ramps up the action in the animated battle for the fate of the galaxy.

Anime did better this week with When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace: Complete Collection getting my vote for best title. A variation on Magical Girls, the one boy in the school club with powers is pretty unimpressive. Doamayger-D is a tip of the hat to old-school Mecha shows from the 70s and 80s, right down to the animation style. The episodes are very short, weighing in at 3 minutes or so each, and the premise is a bit goofy; the giant Mecha fights the monsters by creating elaborate deserts. When the monsters eat the deserts they turn back into human beings. Beelzebub Part 1 is the first 30 episodes of this 2011 series which has not been previously released in the US as far as I can tell. It is about a delinquent who finds a mystical baby who makes his life difficult by doing things like throwing lightning bolts around.