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In-home Releases: May 22, 2018: THE MATRIX, JURASSIC PARK, RED SPARROW, & More

In-home Releases: May 22, 2018

New films and TV shows have been released on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra, and Digital HD today (May 22 2018), including new Criterion Collection films. Some of these releases are on single discs while others come in large collections, filled with extras, behind-the-scenes footage, and cloud capabilities. Below you find a listing of those films and TV programs.

Our Picks of the Best DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Ultras, and Digital HDs Out Today

The Matrix
Jurassic Park
Red Sparrow
Game Night
The Patriot
The 15:17 to Paris
Beyond the Hills

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Thoughts on This Week’s In-home Releases

A pair of films that paved the way for visual effects, along with a couple of early 2018 releases, are among the in-home releases for this week. Leading off for my top pick is the most successful and influential Science-Fiction films of all-time, 1999’s The Matrix arriving on 4K Blu-ray. Directed by The Wakowski’s the film was pioneering in its visual effects, and numerous imitators followed in the years after its release. But it’s not only the effects, the film also has deep messages on the nature of reality, identity and choice. The movie spawned two inferior sequels, but the original still holds up as what good storytelling combined with outstanding effects can yield. The Matrix belongs in any serious cinephile collection, and the 4K is definitely worth a purchase.

Also releasing this week for the first time on 4K Blu-ray is Steven Spielberg’s mega-blockbuster Jurassic Park. Adapted from the best-selling Michael Crichton novel, the film is both a horror movie, and a cautionary tale on science and engineering run amok. The movie combined amazing practical and visual effects seamlessly to give us truly remarkable sequences (including the T-Rex encounter and the Raptors in the kitchen to name a couple). Many people rank this with Spielberg’s best work, and I tend to agree (it’s my second favorite in his filmography). He managed to direct the perfect balancing act between the thought-provoking questions posed in the novel, and the blockbuster/shock sensibilities he mined years earlier in Jaws.

New releases this week include Red Sparrow. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, the film is about a ballerina who is recruited to ‘Sparrow School,’ a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. I have yet to see the film, but it severely under-performed with both critics and at the box office, earning just $148 million. It was the second bomb in a row for Lawrence after last years abysmal mother!. Ending her impressive run, this marks the first time in her career that she has starred in two consecutive studio films that have failed to eclipse $100 million domestic.

Also releasing is Game Night, the latest comedic romp starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. It was a surprise hit with audiences, grossing $116 million against a reported $37 million budget. The film looks intriguing, and there are not too many black comedy’s made nowadays so it may be worth a look at renting.

Let us know your thoughts and which new In-Home Releases for May 22, 2018 you plan on purchasing (or renting) below in the comments section. Readers seeking more In-Home release news can visit our Home Entertainment News Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Facebook.

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Kyle Steininger

Born and raised in Chicago, Kyle has loved movies ever since his father took him to the theater to watch Home Alone. Since then, he has developed a passion for films and everything about them from watching endless DVD extras, interviews with cast/crew, and attending screenings of older films when available. Some of his favorite directors include Kubrick, Fellini, Scorsese, Tarantino, Leone, and Nolan.
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