CHRISTINE Drives Home on 4K ULTRA HD for It's 35th Anniversary

DRIVING HOME SEPT. 11

The scare factor in John Carpenter’s (Halloween, The Thing) terrifying classic CHRISTINE revs up even higher when it debuts for the first time on next-generation 4K Ultra HD on September 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Celebrating its 35^th Anniversary, CHRISTINE follows a sentient and violent vintage Plymouth Fury and its effect on the car’s new teenage owner. The film stars Keith Gordon (The Legend of Billie Jean, Back to School), John Stockwell (Into the Blue, Top Gun), Alexandra Paul (“Baywatch,” Piranha) and Harry Dean Stanton (Alien). In addition, the film will also debut in 4K via participating digital platforms.

DEATH WISH (2018): Getting Bloody with Bruce

Starring Bruce Willis, Vincent D'Onofrio, Elizabeth Shue, Dean Norris, Kimberly Elise, Mike Epps, Camila Morrone, Beau Knapp. Directed by Eli Roth. (2018/107 min). 

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM 
MGM/20TH CENTURY FOX

Review by Tiger Longtail😼

There's a segment in the new Death Wish that may be the most creatively ironic sequence director Eli Roth has ever assembled.

Dr. Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) is increasingly frustrated at the police's lack of progress in catching the thugs who killed his wife and critically injured his daughter during a home invasion. After deciding to take the law into his own hands, there's a great montage in which Roth uses split-screen to show Kersey resuming his duties as an ER surgeon in a Chicago hospital, while teaching himself to fire and maintain an automatic handgun at home. As he's removing a bullet from a gunshot wound, he's loading rounds into a magazine, saving lives while simultaneously learning how to take them. 

Bruce Willis & co-star.

The original Death Wish was a both a cultural touchstone and a defining moment in Charles Bronson's long career, but not such a sacred cow that remaking it is out of the question (one could argue Hollywood's essentially been doing that for years, anyway). Granted, considering our current cultural climate, the timing couldn't be worse, but it seems fitting that re-imagining original's incendiary premise would be placed in the hands of someone with the audacity of Eli Roth.

Considering his torture porn reputation, Roth actually shows a surprising amount of restraint. Death Wish is still brutal-as-hell, but never descends into depravity. In fact, Roth actually pulls most of his punches during the initial home invasion sequence, a key scene that remains extremely difficult to watch in the original. Whether or not this is a positive point depends on your level of fondness for Roth's usual brand of butchery.

"Back at ya, bro!"

Elsewhere, this is not your daddy's Death Wish, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The original film may be iconic, but did tend to glorify vigilantism (and author Brian Garfield absolutely hated what they did with his novel). Kersey never hunted down the punks who took his family away; he simply snapped and started walking the streets to lure muggers before shooting them. But in the new film, Kersey actively seeks out specific criminal targets...car-jackers, drug dealers and, through circumstances that are both clever and inane, the very thugs who killed his wife. Like the original, he becomes a media sensation, which this version amusingly presents through talk-radio programs, YouTube and internet memes...a sign of the times.

None of this makes Death Wish better than the original. It's bigger, louder, gorier and more skillfully crafted, but far less memorable. Despite some clever modern touches - such as the aforementioned montage - this version is mostly content to be a straightforward action film with little substance beneath the surface. Though it's the best film he's appeared since Looper, Bruce Willis doesn't really reach beyond his comfort zone to bring anything new to the Kersey character.

But admittedly, I've always enjoyed watching Willis kick-ass. Death Wish may not be another cultural milestone, but it is a lot of vicious, violent fun. And if nothing else, the film is a hell of a lot better than the gloomy sequels Bronson finished his career with. Keep your expectations in-check, enjoy the mayhem and apologize to yourself later.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE - "Vengeance and Vision: Directing Death Wish"

DELETED SCENES

EXTENDED SCENES - "ManCow in the Morning" & "Sway in the Morning" (two of the fictional radio shows depicted in the film).

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Roth and Producer Roger Birnbaum,

TRAILERS - Includes an amusing "grindhouse" version.

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

KITTY CONSENSUS:

 PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

ISLE OF DOGS Trots Home

Arrives on Digital June 26th and Blu-ray™ & DVD July 17th.

Visionary director Wes Anderson’s ISLE OF DOGS tells the story of Atari Kobayashi, 12-year-old ward to corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to vast Trash Island, Atari sets off in search of his bodyguard dog, Spots. With the assistance of his newfound mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

 

Movie fans can add ISLE OF DOGS to their digital collection on Movies Anywhere beginning June 26^th and purchase the Blu-ray and DVD starting July 17^th.

 

The film features an all-star cast voicing the dog and human characters including Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, and Frances McDormand.

Does PETER PAN Still Fly?

Featuring the voices of Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Heather Angel. Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson & Hamilton Luske. (1953/77 min). 

AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS FORMATS FROM 
WALT DISNEY 

Review by Mr. Paws😸

"Now remember, the Indian is cunning, but not intelligent."

Whoa, what??

Wendy says this to her siblings during their visit to Never Land in Disney's Peter Pan. No, I wasn't offended and won't engage in pretentious retro-condemnation of the film's stereotypical depiction of Native Americans. But wow...it's apparently been a hell of a long time since I've seen this.

Unlike the title of its most endearing song, there are some things in Peter Pan that just don't fly anymore, which actually makes it a more interesting viewing experience than some of Disney's better films from the era. There are other moments - including the decidedly less-endearing song, "What Makes the Red Man Red" - nearly as primeval as the singing crows in Dumbo and the happy slaves in Song of the South. So from a historical context, the film provides a fascinating look at a time when mindsets and values were much different.

"Hey! The meds are kickin' in!"

The film itself was never one of Disney's best (though Walt himself had been trying to get it made for over a decade). Archaic inclinations notwithstanding, the animation remains impeccable (streaming doesn't do it justice, however). But unlike previous classics with universal appeal, Peter Pan was a pivotal film in Disney's history, arguably being the first one that seemed to be aiming primarily at kids, a direction they'd fully embrace throughout the 60s and 70s with diminishing results.

Blasphemy, you say? Perhaps, but does Peter Pan really equal the timeless artistry of Bambi or Pinocchio, or does it simply evoke fond personal nostalgia? Not that there's anything wrong with that, because who hasn't picked up an old movie out of nostalgia? Hell, that's half of my movie collection. If Peter Pan is a childhood favorite, this "Signature Edition" is loaded with extensive bonus features, most of which were included on the previous "Diamond Edition," as well as older DVDs. Additionally, the two new featurettes will definitely appeal to those who grew up on this film.

EXTRA KIBBLES

We reviewed our digital screener through Amazon Prime, which typically includes all bonus material at the end as part of the feature's running time. Considering the abundant extras, if convenient access is what you're looking for, you are better off with the Blu-Ray or using Movies Anywhere.

NEW: FEATURETTES - "Stories from Walt's Office"; "A Darling Conversation with Wendy & John: Kathryn Beaumont and Paul Collins" (since they were actually involved in the film, this is the best of the new material).

NEW: 2 SING-ALONG VIDEOS - "You Can Fly"; "Never Smile at a Crocodile" (what...no "What Makes a Red Man Red"?)

FEATURETTES - "You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan"; "Tinker Bell: A Fairy's Tale"; "The Peter Pan Story"; "Growing Up with Nine Old Men"; "In Walt's Words: Why I Made Peter Pan"; "The Peter Pan That Almost Was"

AUDIO COMMENTARY - by Roy Disney, with other artists & voice actors. 
DELETED SCENES
DELETED SONGS
SING-ALONG VERSION OF THE MOVIE 
"DISNEY-VIEW" VERSION - Where the sidebars are filled with paintings by artist Cristie Maltese (a Disney Animation background painter).

MUSIC VIDEOS - "Never Land" by Paige O'Hara (you know...Belle); "The Second Star to the Right" by T-Squad.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW

An Upgraded GRIDIRON GANG

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, Kevin Dunn, Leon Rippy, Jade Yorker, David Thomas, Setu Taase, Trever O'Brien, L. Scott Caldwell. Directed by Phil Joanou. (2006/125 min). 

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM 
MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Gridiron Gang has been released on Blu-Ray a few times before, most recently by Mill Creek Entertainment with none of the supplementary material previously available on Sony's initial release. This latest edition - also from Mill Creek - not only restores those bonus features, but includes the original 1993 documentary that inspired the film in the first place.

As for the movie itself, Gridiron Gang is your usual triumph-of-the-underdog sports movie: a gang of misfits brought together by a determined coach who doubles as a father figure. Standing in their way are authoritative naysayers, a community that doesn't believe in them and the players' own personal demons. It all leads up to the climactic game where each selected player has their moment in the sun.

In this case, it's a football team made-up of the gang bangers and delinquents of a juvenile detention facility and their coach is Dwayne Johnson. And, of course, it's based on a true story. Aren't they all? Gridiron Gang follows the formula playbook pretty faithfully, with a lot of the prerequisite soul searching, inspirational speeches and opposing players so viciously hateful that the viewer might wonder how they're even allowed on the field.

"Ooh! Potato bug!"

As these things go, Gridiron Gang is a decent example of the genre and a rare opportunity at the time for Johnson to demonstrate skills beyond snapping limbs or hoisting his eyebrow. As such, he delivers an earnest, convincing performance, as does his supporting cast of assorted little criminals (especially Jade Yorker as a troubled teen doing time for murder).

This is a difficult genre to screw up, and director Phil Joanou makes certain it doesn't happen on his watch. Gridiron Gang makes no attempt to re-invent the wheel or even give it shiny new hubcaps. Hence, every moment is as predictable as the tide. Then again, this is also a difficult genre not to get swept along by. As such, the film remains an enjoyable example.

EXTRA KIBBLES

"GRIDIRON GANG" - The original 1993 documentary

FEATURETTES - "The Rock Takes the Field"; "Phil Joanou Profile"; Gridiron Gang Football Training"

DELETED SCENES

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW

THE 10TH KINGDOM Conspiracy?

Starring Kimberly Williams, Scott Cohen, John Larroquette, Dianne Wiest, Rutger Hauer, Daniel Lapaine, Ed O'Neill, Hugh O'Gorman, Dawnn Lewis, Jeremiah Birkett, Ann-Margret, Camryn Manheim, Warwick Davis. Directed by David Carson & Herbert Wise. (2000/447 min).

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM

MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

While reviewing The 10th Kingdom (which first aired in 2000 on NBC), I noticed something just a tad unnerving during the opening credit sequence (one of the most creative ever, by the way). As the stirring theme song plays, the hustle & bustle of New York City slowly morphs into a colorful, mythical kingdom. Skyscrapers sink into the earth, making-way for castles, waterfalls and shining mountains. And at one point, as a giant is crossing Manhattan Island, just behind him, you can see the twin towers of the World Trade Center drop to the ground very much like they did on 9/11.

So I referred to that bastion of reputable knowledge, the Internet, to see if anyone else noticed. Sure enough, quite a few did, including a crap-ton of crackpots who claim such shows as this and certain episodes of The Simpsons as proof of a massive conspiracy, or more amusingly, a prophecy foretelling the tragedy.

No, I doubt there were any clairvoyants or government conspirators employed at Hallmark Entertainment (who produced this miniseries), and despite that surreal moment in the credits, I'm glad it's been left intact ever since, for it really is a beautiful sequence. In fact, with a feature-film budget and epic production values, The 10th Kingdom is probably the best TV program Hallmark has ever attached its name to.

"Sorry, lady, I'm only here to meet Ann-Margret."

I never actually watched it until now, and despite being a little meandering at times, it was a lot more enjoyable than I expected it to be. Fairy-tale fantasy is a tough genre to pull-off well, especially on television, but The 10th Kingdom succeeds more often than it fails. Like many miniseries, it's too long by at-least an hour (maybe even two), often diverting from the basic plot for lengthy sequences involving various obstacles facing the main protagonists (almost like missions in a video game). However, just when interest in these predicaments begins to wane, the narrative steers itself back on course, aided a great deal by healthy doses of satire and Princess Bride-style humor. In fact, if anything about The 10th Kingdom is indeed prophetic, it's that the basic concept predates the cash-cow of Shrek by a over a year.

I've had a crush on Ann-Margret since birth, but alas, she's only got about ten minutes of screen time in the final episode (though she still looks damn fine). Elsewhere, the casting decisions run hot and cold. Kimberly Williams is decent in the lead, but the show's MVP by far is Scott Cohen. As a wolf in hero's clothing, his manic performance is a joy to watch. And of course, it's always great to see Rutger Hauer as a villain. On the other hand, both John Larroquette and his character grow tiresome really fast, as do a trio of trolls who overact to an annoying degree.

Everything is wrapped up fairly neatly, though the resolution makes it obvious somebody was hoping to parlay this into a full series. Considering it earned boffo ratings in 2000, it's rather surprising that never happened. At any rate, The 10th Kingdom is a solid miniseries that has aged well and worth revisiting from time to time. It's been released on Blu-Ray before, and aside from a digital copy, this new edition has the exact same bonus features.

EXTRA KIBBLES

"THE MAKING OF THE 10TH KINGDOM"

ISOLATED MUSIC SCORE

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (2005): Now 100% Crab-Free

Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Gabrielle Anwar, Danielle Calvert, Patrick Stewart, Roy Marsden, Omar Gooding, Vinnie Jones, Jason Durr, Tom Milson, Chris Larkin. Directed by Russell Mulcahy. (2005/171 min). 

AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM 
MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT 
(includes digital copy) 

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

It is probably prudent to point-out in advance that yours truly holds the 1961 version of Mysterious Island in phenomenally high regard. Not that it's a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it was my first monster movie as a kid and I distinctly remember my parents graciously allowing me to stay up an hour past my usual bedtime to watch it on TV.

I mention this because the original Jules Verne novel was bereft of giant crabs and Fiat-sized bees (to my utter disappointment when I checked it out at the library). The 1961 version took the basic premise of the book to fashion a parade of Ray Harryhausen's wonderful stop-motion critters. This 2005 update, first-aired as a two-part miniseries on the Hallmark Channel, seems more inspired by that movie than Verne's novel, featuring a variety of oversized beasts  - though no crabs, dammit - and Captain Nemo (Patrick Stewart) grudgingly trying to save the world from its warring ways, this time by constructing a doomsday weapon as a deterrent.

Snakes love walkies.

Unfortunately, the similarities pretty much end there. Mysterious Island 2005 is a long, disjointed, cheap-looking mess. Stewart is one of its few bright spots, but isn't in the film nearly as long as his billing suggests and still doesn't hold a candle to James Mason (or even Herbert Lom). Most of the other performances range from perfunctory to downright terrible. We actually end up spending more time with Vinnie Jones, who's embarrassing as Captain Bob, a cornball composite of every pirate cliche you've ever heard, stopping just short of grunting "aaarrgh" with every line.

Narratively, the whole thing is padded-out with way too much dull plot and boring exposition for what should essentially be just a survival film. Instead, we get a ridiculous quest to find forbidden gold, with two different parties possessing part of a necklace that, when pieced together, will lead them to the treasure. From a technical standpoint, the laughable special effects make Sharknado look like The Lord of the Rings. For many scenes, the actors don't even appear to be sharing the same space as their surroundings. And the CGI actually gets worse as the film progresses, almost as if they ran out of time to finish them in post-production. Granted, no version of Mysterious Island could ever make me forget my favorite childhood monsterfest, but would it have killed them to at-least try?

Perhaps saddest of all, this version was directed by Russell Mulcahy, once touted as the next big thing after unleashing the original Highlander on the world. All he manages to do here is make me appreciate that old 1961 chestnut even more. Good god, what has happened to you, man?

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEH...

A BUCKET OF BLOOD (1959): Everything's Better with Dick (Miller)

Starring Dick Miller, Barboura Morris, Antony Carbone, Julian Burton, Ed Nelson, Bert Convy. Directed by Roger Corman. (1959/66 min).

AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM

OLIVE FILMS

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Who doesn't love Dick Miller? Not only has the guy been in every movie ever made, he's the sole reason anyone knows what the hell a Kentucky Harvester is.

Everyone had to start somewhere, and decades before he became Joe Dante's good luck charm, Miller was Roger Corman's go-to guy. The two made dozens of drive-in delights together, and only Corman ever saw fit to cast him in lead roles.

One such film was A Bucket of Blood, a micro-budget horror comedy that features Miller as Walter Paisley, the dimwitted young busboy of an ultra-hip coffee bar where artists and poets hang out. To them - as well as his boss, Leonard - he's a fool. But Walter wants to be an artist just like them, mostly to impress co-corker Carla (Barboura Morris). When he accidentally kills a cat, Walter gets the idea to cover the animal in clay and claim it as his first sculpture, which he calls Dead Cat.

"I'm gonna need more clay for those."

Dead Cat is a hit with the locals, who now praise Walter as a genius. So he continues making his "art," murdering several hapless folks and turning them into sculptures. Leonard soon discovers what Walter's been doing, but seeing potential profit, he decides to host an exhibit of the kid's work rather than turn him in.

A Bucket of Blood is typical Corman of the time. Shot cheaply and quickly, the film has a twisted sense of humor that helps the viewers overlook its technical shortcomings, making it sort-of a kindred spirit to the more legendary Little Shop of Horrors (which was shot on many of the same sets). Miller, of course, goes all-in with a wonderfully goofy performance.

At only 66 minutes, A Bucket of Blood doesn't stick around long enough to wear out its welcome. The gruesome premise and satiric jabs at the pretentious art scene make this a fun little flick.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.

The Peculiar Friendship of THE TWO OF US (1967)

Starring Michel Simon, Alain Cohen, Charles Denner, Luce Fabiole, Roger Carel, Paul Preboist. Directed by Claude Bern. (1967/87 min).

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM

COHEN MEDIA GROUP

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😺

Claude and Pepe have a strange relationship, to say the least.

Claude (Aain Cohen) is an 8-year-old Jewish boy living with his parents in Nazi occupied Paris. Like most kids, he's mischievous and wants to fit-in. But his father, terrified of calling attention to themselves, regularly scolds him for misbehaving. As the threat of being shipped to Auschwitz looms larger, they send Claude to live with an elderly couple in the country.

Since the couple are devout Catholics and Pepe (Michel Simon) is a staunch anti-semite, Claude must keep his heritage a secret. Pepe himself is a piece of work...a stubborn, closed-minded nationalist who's blindly loyal to France's puppet leader and spends his evenings listening to government propaganda on the radio. He also shares his contempt for Jews with Claude, who listens intently and asks many questions, never revealing what he really is.

But ironically, it's Pepe with whom Claude develops the closest bond. Claude grows to love the old man, despite his racist, wrong-headed rhetoric. Pepe shows more affection and respect for the boy than his own father ever did, treating him as an equal and teaching him - sometimes irresponsibly - the ways of the world and, best of all, the inherent joys of childhood.

"Then the doctor says, "If this is my thermometer, where the hell is my pen?'"

Though set against the backdrop of the darkest period in European history, The Two of Us tells the sweet, heart-warming story of this relationship. We genuinely like Pepe, accepting him more as an ill-informed buffoon than a hateful bigot, and Simon plays him perfectly. But the real revelation is little Cohen. Nearly the entire story is presented through this child's eyes, and we learn through brief opening and closing narration that this is how he remembers the war. Carrying a whole narrative is a considerable burden for any actor, but Cohen (who was 9 at the time) delivers one of the most remarkably complex performances I've ever seen from a child actor.

Though mostly charming and upbeat - even quite funny, at times - an underlying sadness is omnipresent beneath the film's sunny exterior, occasionally surfacing to remind us of the harsh realities surrounding these characters. Hence, The Two of Us is ultimately a bittersweet viewing experience, but a memorable one well-worth seeing. Even 50 years later, its themes remain relevant and timely.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MICHEL SIMON DISCUSSES THE TWO OF US

MICHEL SIMON AND JEAN RENOIR IN CONVERSATION

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

THE ROAD MOVIE: All the Rage in Russia

Directed by Dmitrii Kalashnikov. (2016/67 min).

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM

OSCILLOSCOPE LABORATORIES

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😸

Dash cams (dashboard cameras) are apparently very popular in Russia. In the interview included on this disc, director Dmitrii Kalashnikov says they're good for insurance purposes, as well as settling disputes with other drivers. After all, the camera never lies.

Based on the footage Kalashnikov has compiled, the camera never sleeps, either. The Road Movie is a collection of incidents - from the humorous to the bizarre to the tragic - captured by automobile dash cams. What separates this film from the sensationalism of caught-on-camera TV shows is that no narration is provided...no set-up, no manufactured drama, no technical enhancement. All we see is what the cameras capture, all we hear are the drivers' reactions (which includes enough f-bombs to rival a Martin Scorsese film).

The Adequate Seven

Kalashnikov must have sifted through an unholy amount of footage to assemble this film, which includes the now-infamous shots of a meteor strike in 2013. Not every segment is that spectacular, though we do witness some jaw-dropping car accidents (a few of which appear to be fatal), two terrified motorists trying to drive through a raging forest fire and - most jarringly - just how little reaction time a driver has when an animal picks the worst moment to cross the road.

Moving day with Russell Crowe.

No film like this would be complete without presenting a variety of idiots, whack-jobs and examples of extreme road rage. We see quite a few folks display decidedly antisocial tendencies during driving discrepancies. Elsewhere, some scenes go on a bit too long where nothing interesting happens, but just as often, the wait results in a shocking or hilarious pay-off. And if nothing else, we learn where Russians go to wash their tanks.

Obviously, The Road Movie isn't high art. But while morbidly fascinating, it doesn't wallow in sensationalism to placate the yahoo crowd, either. And with a running time of just over an hour, the film doesn't wear out its welcome.

EXTRA KIBBLES

"DASH CAM DOCUMENTARY" - Interview with director Dmitrii Kalashnikov.

2 SHORT FILMS BY DMITRII KALASHNIKOV - "Waiting for the Show" & "Film About Love"

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS