Shakespeare, some new takes on old classics and two movies with “sea” in the title that you don’t necessarily need to “see” in the future are amongst the DVD releases for March 8th:
In the Heart of the Sea (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: The story behind the story of Moby-Dick
Why Buy?
You love Moby-Dick so much that you’ve gone out and bought an first edition of Herman Melville’s classic.
Why Rent?
You just hooked up your new big screen and surround sound and really want to give it a whirl.
Why Stream?
You aren’t that interested in a whale of a tale but can’t imagine Ron Howard missing the mark. You think Chris Hemsworth is dreamy.
Why Skip?
You always thought Moby-Dick was that porn you accidentally rented on a Houston business trip.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
In the Heart of the Sea has some impressive visuals and is occasionally gripping but, for the most part, is a little bit of a bore.
Victor Frankenstein (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: A “reimagined” version of the Frankenstein tale.
Why Buy?
You heard Harry Potter is Igor and Professor X is Victor Frankenstein and without hesitation said, “Sign me up!”
Why Rent?
You’re a big fan of the Frankenstein universe and are curious to see a fresh take.
Why Stream?
You know who Max Landis is and have enjoyed some of his previous work (even if it is just his tweets and not his actual body of work).
Why Skip?
You have better things to do than watch Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy in a cash grab.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
There’s plenty of better ways to spend 2 hours than watching a bad version of a story that has already been rebooted more times than necessary.
The Peanuts Movie (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: Charles Schultz’s Peanuts gang hit the big screen with a fresh coat of animation and a paint-by-numbers Peanuts tale.
Why Buy?
Your own a ton of Peanuts memorabilia, some Snoopy boxers and still watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every year.
Why Rent?
You hate to admit it but hearing that the Peanuts gang was going to make it back to the big screen got you a little excited.
Why Stream?
You’ve binge watched all of the rest of the Peanuts catalog so why not see what the movie is all about.
Why Skip?
You prefer popcorn to peanuts.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
For purely nostalgic reasons, The Peanuts Movie is worth a look.
By the Sea (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: A married couple takes a French vacation in the 70s in an effort to strengthen their marriage as they’ve grown apart.
Why Buy?
You read that super simple synopsis and are still intrigued. You love Brangelina so much, it doesn’t matter how bad the movie is.
Why Rent?
You can watch this montage and still have interest.
Why Stream?
You really need a nap.
Why Skip?
You are smart enough to realize that a vanity project starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt that gets absolutely zero Oscar interest must be an absolute disaster.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
By the Sea? More like By the Zzzzz!
The Benefactor (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: Newlyweds and the philanthropist that meddles in their lives in an effort to relive his past.
Why Buy?
You think Richard Gere is amazing and see every movie that is shot in Philadelphia.
Why Rent?
You aren’t really all that intrigued by the story but are curious to see Gere act circles around the rest of the cast.
Why Stream?
You’ve watched the trailer a few times and you’re still confused to the point where you have to see what the heck this movie is all about anyway.
Why Skip?
You saw the reality TV show The Benefactor and now refuse to watch anything of the same name.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
It’s a rather tough week for DVD releases so take a shot on The Benefactor. How bad could it be?
Break Point (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: Hey look, a tennis movie!
Why Buy?
You’re excited to hear they made a tennis movie.
Why Rent?
You’ve read some reviews and for the most part, they’re good enough to get you to Redbox. Your Redbox actually has this movie.
Why Stream?
Your Redbox doesn’t have it.
Why Skip?
A tennis movie?
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
It sounds a little far-fetched but Jeremy Sisto is usually solid and critics and audiences kind of liked it, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Terminus (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: Sci-fi flick about a guy possessed by an extra-terrestrial organism during a near-fatal accident. His family (and mankind) will be changed forever.
Why Buy?
You tell me because I got nothing for this one.
Why Rent?
You’re a sci-fi freak and 24 hours of the Scyfy Channel isn’t enough.
Why Stream?
You like poorly lit, small budget science fiction films.
Why Skip?
You were fine not knowing of the existence of this before today.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
One of those under-the-radar films that never actually needs to hit the radar in the first place.
Macbeth (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: The most rebooted man in the history of the world — Shakespeare — has another retelling of one of his classics.
Why Buy?
You’ve always agreed with critics previously when they’ve given thumbs up to a Shakespearian reboot. You love Macbeth and aren’t going to be able to wait 5 years for the next theatrical version of it.
Why Rent?
You aren’t a huge Shakespeare fan but think Michael Fassbender is an amazing performer and have to see what he did with Macbeth.
Why Stream?
You have to cram for that English test on Tuesday and have had no time to read the actual play.
Why Skip?
You’d rather have a Big Mac.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
This is your safest bet this week of all the films available this week. Fassbender is a great actor and that Shakespeare guy is pretty good, too.
I do prefer popcorn to peanuts…
Popcorn > Peanuts