Revisiting POPEYE in 4K

POPEYE (4K + Blu-ray)

1980 / 113 min

Paramount

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

If you’re old enough to have seen Popeye in a theater, you probably couldn’t help but be knocked out by the opening sequence where the title character arrives in the coastal town of Sweethaven. Even today, it remains a triumph of imaginative production design. Add to that the first appearance of Robin Williams in a role he was born to play, and you had the makings of a magical musical with charming reverence for the original source material. For a while, the sheer aesthetic whimsy on display was enough to keep you engaged.

But a gorgeous aesthetic and spot-on characterizations can only carry a movie so far. Once the novelty wears off, you’re left with a weird, interminable film with about 10 minutes of actual story unreasonably stretched out to two hours…and that’s when it even bothers to get to the story. To call the first half of Popeye meandering is an understatement, with gobs of isolated sequences that try to capture the quirkiness of the original comic & cartoons with live actors…and mostly failing.

The film’s narrative shortcomings are exacerbated by a scattershot pace, occasionally clumsy direction, Williams’ unintelligible dialogue (thank God for subtitles) and laborious musical numbers with terrible songs (was Harry Nilsson on another bender when wrote these?). You certainly can’t fault the actors, all of whom perfectly embody these classic characters. But what remains shocking even today is that somebody (probably producer Robert Evans) thought director Robert Altman was the right man for the job. A fiercely independent maverick his entire career, Altman is clearly out of his element.

"Stop smoking around the baby!"

Still, Popeye does have its share of admirers. What was once written off as a pricy, slapdash trainwreck has earned something of a cult following over the years, perhaps by those who did see the film in theaters back in the day and now carry a nostalgic torch for it. Those same folks might appreciate this new 4K release, which doesn’t include any new bonus material but boasts a pretty nice video upgrade. The two audio options, DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.1, are nothing mindblowing, but strike a nice balance between the music, sound effects and dialogue (though you’ll still want subtitles whenever Williams is speaking). 

As for this writer, Popeye is pretty to look at, but ultimately something of an endurance test that stands out in Altman’s filmography like a sore thumb. Then again, what do I know? I’m the one guy who thought Quintet was actually pretty good.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

FEATURETTES - Return to Sweethaven: A Look Back with Robin and the Altmans features interviews with actor Robin Williams, director Robert Altman and his son; The Popeye Company Players takes a look at the characters.

POPEYE’S PREMIERE is a photo gallery of the movie’s premiere screening.

THE SAILOR MAN MEDLEYS - Jump to the musical numbers.

KITTEN COLLECTIBLES #14: Boldly Going to Boise

In addition to watching and writing about films, I’m something of a memorabilia collector. I ain’t out there bidding on Dorothy’s ruby slippers or anything, but certainly enjoy haunting local shops for a variety of movie-related stuff. Or when feeling particularly bold, I’ll occasionally overpay for some retro relic on eBay. More often than not, I leave stores empty-handed. But every now and then, I’ll find a small treasure that doesn’t completely empty my wallet and give it a new home in the Dave Cave.

A Treasure Hunt by D.M. ANDERSON💀

My niece recently got married, a cause for celebration, of course. While my family and I were privileged to attend the wedding, the downside was that it was in Boise, Idaho…a seven hour drive away. That’s a long fucking time in a car to visit a town I’ve never been remotely interested in driving through, let alone staying for a few days. In the eyes of some of us Oregonians, Idaho is mostly populated by potato farmers, doomsday preppers and Proud Boys.

But I was reminded by my wife, Francie, that Boise itself is a college town, so maybe it’s the lone liberal island in a sea of pick-ups and MAGA hats…and since we were going there anyway, maybe it was worth exploring after the wedding. I fought the urge to counter with, “If Boise is so enlightened, then why does its stadium have a blue football field?” 

So here are my takeaways after experiencing a taste of Boise: It’s windy as fuck, the streets are a logistical nightmare, weed is illegal and their zoo is one of the most depressing tourist attractions I ever paid to visit (the few animals we actually saw looked like they were two opposable thumbs away from trying to hang themselves). On the plus side, I discovered chicken & waffles are pretty good, the freeway speed limit is 80 mph and, most importantly, there’s a huge overpriced antique store. Although this one had more than the usual quota of John Wayne commemorative china (comes with the territory, I guess), I generally love huge overpriced antique stores. 

Lunch...boldly boxed.

It was here, of all places, that I found a vintage Star Trek: The Motion Picture lunchbox. Considering what they were asking, it was a little beat-up, but hey…I’d never seen one before…or any other Star Trek: TMP stuff for that matter. Though not exactly the most revered film in the franchise, I’ve always carried a nostalgic torch for this one because my mom took me to see it back in ‘79, which was when I discovered she was always a closet Trekkie, bless her heart. Shortly after scoring that find, my family and I beamed the hell out of there, taking with us the only thing in Boise worth a seven hour drive…besides the wedding, of course. 

Here’s the weird part of The Voyage Home (see what I did there?). I talked Francie into swinging by another huge overpriced antique store located in the small town of Bingen, Washington. We’d been to that place a few times before when driving to visit my mother-in-law and I always manage to find something interesting. This time it was a second piece of Star Trek: The Motion Picture memorabilia I never knew existed.

With those feet, it looks like Annie Wilkes paid Kirk a little visit.

This is a 13-inch Captain Kirk “soft poseable figure” made by the Knickerbocker Toy Company, best known for manufacturing Raggedy Ann dolls. In other words, it’s a plushie with William Shatner’s head, not even an action figure (and certainly not poseable, despite what the box says). It’s kinda creepy looking and I’m pretty sure it ain’t something I’d want to sleep with (I’m not that big of a Shatner fan), so I’m kinda curious how many kids back in ‘79 would’ve been excited to find this under the Christmas tree. Perhaps none, which might explain why it was still in its original packaging (though the box pretty beat up, so I freed Kirk from his 47-year Man Trap...see what I did there, too?).

In the span of a single weekend boldly going where no Dave has gone before, I managed to snag two pieces of vintage Star Trek: The Motion Picture tie-in products, having previously never seen any. What are the odds of that? However, I think I might regret taking Shatner out of his box. Not because it reduces his value, but the way he’s staring at me from where he’s perched on the sofa is kind of unnerving.

Potential nightmare fuel.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (4K): Revisiting Marty's Misstep

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (4K + Blu-ray)

1977 / 163 & 136 min (2 cuts)

MVD Visual

Review by Mr. Paws😼

New York, New York remains Martin Scorsese’s worst film. Trust me, it’s been scientifically verified. 

Notice I didn't say it was a bad film. That would imply it isn’t well made. But comparatively speaking, this is the most tonally inconsistent, narratively empty and fatally overlong movie of the director's entire career. Neither of its main characters are particularly engaging (though the performances are good), nor is the meandering story all that interesting. 

On the other hand, New York, New York is beautifully shot, and Scorsese’s intention to recreate the cinematic artifice of films he grew up with is wonderfully realized (with considerable help from cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs). Then you’ve got all that awesome music, both new and classic standards from the era the story takes place. And what more can you say about the iconic title song? If you think Sinatra did it best, you obviously haven’t heard Liza Minnelli belt it out.

Looking back at the film decades later, there’s ambition-to-spare on display, and if nothing else, every shot is obviously a labor of love. So because Scorsese and friends stoically go down fighting on this one, their efforts can’t be dismissed entirely. To be honest, some of the narrative and tonal wrong turns are part of what makes it such a strange experience today…especially in light of the director’s work before and since.

Liza points out someone she wants whacked.

But even Scorsese’s less beloved films have their share of defenders who’ll die on that hill, and New York, New York is no exception. For them, this 4K upgrade from MVD might be worth seeking out. The 4K scan and restoration of the expanded cut features a solid overall image, making the production design really shine. There are two audio options, DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM 2.0, with the former being especially impressive. Additionally, a second Blu-ray disc features the truncated 136 minute “international version.” Though I can’t imagine this cut holding much appeal to fans, at least it’s here for posterity. Personally, I think a really cool second disc would have been a soundtrack CD, which would probably never leave my car.

Content-wise, all the bonus features are older ones, but they’re substantial and far more entertaining than the movie itself. Not only is Scorsese a national treasure, his boundless enthusiasm for the craft is always engaging and his look back at New York, New York (his only trainwreck) is fascinating. In fact, I watched the bonus material before revisiting the film, and having all that background context made for more interesting viewing.

EXTRA KIBBLES

EXPANDED AND INTERNATIONAL VERSIONS - The 4K disc features the 163 minute expanded cut (God help us); the Blu-ray features the 136 minute international version (which I didn’t wish to endure).

THE NEW YORK, NEW YORK STORIES - Totaling over 50 minutes, this is an excellent two-part retrospective documentary from 2005. A lot of principals involved in the production are featured, including Martin Scorsese, producers Irwin Winkler & Robert Chartoff, editor Tom Rolf and cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs.

LIZA ON NEW YORK, NEW YORK is an extensive interview from 2005.

INTRODUCTION BY MARTIN SCORSESE - Expanded cut only.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Martin Scorsese and critic Carrie Rickey.

SELECTED SCENE COMMENTARY - By cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs.

ALTERNATE TAKE & DELETED SCENES

PHOTO GALLERY

TEASER & TRAILER

REVERSIBLE COVER

THE POOP SCOOP: Sensurround Edition

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

The Original MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Movie on 4K and Blu-ray September 15 from Toy Robot. The muscular action-adventure movie Masters of the Universe makes its global 4K UHD debut. The film is based on the bestselling ’80s toy line featuring He-Man. Along with the original theatrical cut, the Preview Cut of Masters of the Universe is included, featuring new and extended scenes plus alternate takes. The release also includes hours of special features and newly commissioned extras. A 2-Disc Blu-ray version will also be available.

MINIONS & MONSTERS on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD Se[tember 9 from Universal. Illumination expands its joyful Minions universe with a riotous chapter featuring all-new characters in the biggest global animated franchise in history. This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood as movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try saving the planet from the mayhem they created. 

The Original INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE: THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES on 4K September 15 from Warner Bros. Featuring an all-star cast led by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt and directed by Academy Award winner Neil Jordan (“The Crying Game”), the newly remastered film will also include new bonus content featuring filmmakers reflecting on the making of the film over 30 years later. Based on the blockbuster novel of the same name by Anne Rice, the film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Academy Award winners Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, Academy Award nominees Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea, and Kirstin Dunst along with Christian Slater. The film was nominated for Best Original Score and Best Art Direction at the 67th Academy Awards.

Not Quite Sensurround, but the next best thing…ROLLERCOASTER on 4K +  Blu-ray September 29 from Kino Lorber. An unnamed young extortionist (Timothy Bottoms) sets off a bomb on an amusement park roller coaster, causing multiple fatalities, then says that he will do the same to five other rides around the country simultaneously unless he's paid one million dollars. Amusement park employee Harry Calder (George Segal) gets unwillingly drawn into the precarious situation when the FBI's lead agent (Richard Widmark) presses him into service as the go-between with the authorities and the bomber. 

  

EVIL DEAD BURN on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 18 from Warner Bros. EVIL DEAD BURN unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem.

SUPERGIRL on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 8 from Warner Bros. In its inaugural flight into the new DC Cinematic Universe, “Supergirl” reveals the origin of the interplanetary nomad Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, cousin of Kal-El, better known as Superman. 

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD October 20 from Alliance Entertainment. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicolas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). e.

Nominated for Multiple Oscars, THE SECRET AGENT Comes to 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 22 from Criterion Collection. With an electrifying blend of kinetic punch and elegiac historical sweep, Kleber Mendonça Filho connects life under Brazil’s twentieth-century military dictatorship to the living present, delivering a kaleidoscopic period thriller pulsing with resonance. 

GONE WITH THE WIND in 4K and Digital November 3 from Warner Bros. The film quickly became an “Instant Classic” when it was first released over eighty-five years ago and now returns newly remastered with extraordinary picture and sound and includes new bonus content. 

Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN on 4K and Blu-ray October 27 from Criterion Collection. A decades-in-the-making triumph of darkly ravishing visual invention and operatic storytelling, Frankenstein is a deeply personal statement from a director who has long been drawn to the realm where men and monsters merge.  

STAR TREK: THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIES 60th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD September 8 from Paramount. Blending action, philosophy, and visionary storytelling, the series remains one of the most influential sci-fi shows of all time. .

POWER BALLAD on Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital) August 25 from Lionsgate. From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), POWER BALLAD is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. 

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES on Blu-ray and DVD August 25 from Alliance Entertainment. The film holds a staggering 95% ‘Certified Fresh’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences agreeing that The Sheep Detectives is a film the whole family will be coming back to for years to come. 

The Original PRACTICAL MAGIC on 4K August 25 from Warner Bros. The newly remastered film will be available ahead of the theatrical release of the highly anticipated sequel Practical Magic 2 on September 11. 

FORBIDDEN PLANET Limited Edition on 4K September 28 from Arrow Video. For the very first time, Forbidden Planet is presented in its original Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.55:1 with its theatrical "Perspecta" stereo soundtrack in an eye-popping brand new 4K restoration. 

THE COMPLETE KUBRICK Coming to 4K + Blu-ray October 20 from Criterion Collection. Collected here for the first time are Kubrick’s thirteen features and three shorts, all restored in 4K, over twenty-five hours of interviews, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes materials; and deluxe packaging.

Revisiting MARS ATTACKS! in 4K

MARS ATTACKS! (4K UHD)

1996 / 106 min

Warner Bros

#InPartnershipwithWB  

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

One of the black sheep in Tim Burton’s filmography, Mars Attacks! was a critical and commercial disappointment thirty years ago, his own equivalent to Spielberg’s 1941. In Burton’s defense, the film’s failure wasn’t entirely his fault. Even with his reputation and a cast of A-listers big enough to rival The Ten Commandments, releasing this one so soon after 1996’s other big-budget alien invasion movie doesn’t rank among the wisest Hollywood decisions ever made.

But aside from bad timing, I think the biggest issue with Mars Attacks! might’ve been that it was directed by a guy trying to make a cult film for a studio expecting him to crank out another blockbuster. That it ultimately did become something of a cult film is neither here nor there. With its obscure trading card origins, exaggerated characters, wild aesthetic and an overall emphasis on black comedy, the film was always destined to appeal to a niche crowd.

That being said, revisiting Mars Attacks! all these years later more-or-less confirms what I’ve personally always felt about it. Like 1941, it’s a film guided by boundless enthusiasm (on both sides of the camera), but mostly anchored by a one-joke premise that’s mildly amusing, though seldom hilarious. And once the basic plot and characters are established, it becomes a series of visual gags and set-pieces that could almost be placed in any order without disrupting the narrative too much. 

These guys should pay today's congress a visit.

While the impressive cast does what they can with the caricatures they’ve been given, the appeal of the film has always been largely aesthetic. And in that respect, Mars Attacks! might arguably be one of Burton’s most interesting efforts. The director’s films have always been triumphs of production design and this one is no exception. But in addition to that, the rendering of the Martians, as well as their ships and cartoony weapons, are great fun simply to look at. Speaking as someone who isn’t the world’s biggest Tim Burton fan, such amusing eye candy (aided by a fun sense of mean-spiritedness) is probably the reason I revisit this one more often than his others. 

And I gotta say, the thing looks wonderful in 4K. The overall image is very sharp, and the film’s frequent use of bright, garish color really stands out, much more so than on the previous Blu-ray release. There are also two audio options, the original theatrical mix and a brand new Dolby Atmos track. I’ve always loved Danny Elfman’s playful score, and it sounds terrific here. And finally, sweetening the deal for fans are two all new retrospective bonus features (see below). 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Looking Back at Mars Attacks! features interviews with several people involved in the film’s production; Ack! Ack! Aesthetic is more of a continuation of the first featurette, with more of a focus on creating the Martians.

DIGITAL COPY

Lambcast #820: DECADE LOOKBACK: 1977

We recently participated in a recent installment of the popular LambCast show, Decade Lookback. Richard Kirkham hosts this lengthy (but well worth it) discussion of selected films from the year 1977. In addition to your furry friends at FREE KITTENS, you’ll hear personal insights, anecdotes and opinions from Howard Casner, David Brook, and Todd Liebenow. 

LISTEN HERE:

Lambcast #820: DECADE LOOKBACK: 1977

Power Powers ABANDON SHIP!

ABANDON SHIP! aka Seven Waves Away (4K UHD)

1957 / 101 min

Sony

Available at MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😸

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea this movie even existed until just recently. Considering my lifelong predilection for disaster-based films, I’m kinda surprised that I hadn’t at least heard of it. Oh well…better late than never, because while Abandon Ship isn’t quite a disaster film, it’s a gripping tale of survival that had me pondering what I would do in a similar predicament.

Disaster certainly sets up the scenario, though. An ocean liner, the S.S. Crescent Star, strikes an old mine left over from World War II and sinks. Unfortunately, this is depicted immediately following the opening credits as a montage of fire and raging water, not even showing the ship going down and thus avoiding any expensive special effects. But my initial disappointment over the lack of spectacle dissipated as the story unfolded.

A couple of dozen survivors manage to make it to a lifeboat, which is only designed and equipped to support nine. After the captain dies, Executive Officer Alec Holmes (Tyrone Power) takes command. Almost immediately, he’s forced to deal with a dangerously overfilled boat, injured passengers, challenges to his authority and, most ominously, the realization that no distress signal was sent prior to the sinking. Worse yet, there isn’t nearly enough food or water to sustain everyone for very long. This ultimately forces Holmes to make the terrible decision of who to save and who to let perish.

The passengers learn that Holmes' previous command was the S.S. Poseidon.

I suppose comparisons to Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat are inevitable. But while that film is a superior technical achievement, it does occasionally get bogged down by melodrama. Conversely, Abandon Ship! achieves a darker tone. Aside from establishing an existing relationship between Holmes and ship’s nurse Julie White (Mai Zetterling), the narrative focuses almost exclusively on the crisis at hand, with Holmes acting alone and resorting to using a gun to force selected people off the boat. Abandoning the idea of trying to save everyone so that at least some stand a chance for survival is both logical and appalling.

To be honest, I never thought a “movie star” like Power had it in him to convey such a moral quandary, but Nightmare Alley notwithstanding, this could be the best (or at least the most underrated) performance of his career. Holmes’ character transformation is ultimately the crux of the entire film and Power pulls it off quite well. Though few of the other characters are as engaging, the story effectively establishes that some of those tossed from the boat absolutely do not deserve to die, leading to some gut-wrenching moments.

Somewhat forgotten over the years, Abandon Ship! is a survival thriller worth checking out. What it lacks in visual panache is compensated by a compelling story that raises some discussion-worthy questions. I’m not sure why Sony chose to forego any Blu-ray or DVD release and go straight to 4K with this one, but the disc does boast excellent picture and sound quality.

EXTRA KIBBLES

DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CUTS - The latter is a couple of minutes longer.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By film scholar Jason A. Ney

DIGITAL COPY