IS GOD IS: Bittersweet Revenge

IS GOD IS (Blu-ray)

2026 / 99 min

Alliance Entertainment

Review by Princess Pepper😺

Humorist Josh Billings once wrote, “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” Yeah, okay…but show me someone who doesn’t enjoy a good revenge flick now and again and I’ll show you someone whose life is devoid of joy…and spicy food…and novelty socks…and sex with the lights on. Sure, in real life, revenge seldom works out the way we want it to, but in movies? Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than swift violent payback. 

Of course, the inherent problem with the subgenre is there are a finite number of scenarios, meaning we tend to see variations of the same story over and over again. And if done well, I’m generally cool with that. After all, who goes to an AC/DC concert hoping to hear a ballad? Still, I always appreciate one that tries to do something unique with the formula. With the awkwardly titled Is God Is, first-time writer-director Aleshea Harris has made a Tarantinoesque revenge film that's both rousing and bittersweet.

Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson) are twins who were disfigured during childhood and raised in numerous foster homes. As adults, all they really have is each other. When unexpectedly summoned by their dying mother (Vivica A. Fox), who they thought was already dead, they see that she, too, bears similar scars. She then reveals how they all ended up this way: Years earlier, their father set her on fire, and the two girls suffered burns trying to save her. Worse yet, their father got away with it thanks to a fast talking lawyer. 

Sometimes you gotta dance like the entire state of Tennessee is watching. 

Mom (whom they refer to as God, since she “created” them) has one dying wish…for Racine and Anaia to find their dad and kill him, along with everything he now loves. Though Anaia has mixed feelings over committing murder, Racine  (who’s always been the more aggressive twin), is more than ready to exact revenge, reasoning that he’s solely responsible for the misery they’ve endured all their lives.

The middle act is an episodic journey to find him. While this stretch is sometimes a little pokey, the sisters have some amusing encounters with Dad’s old acquaintances. In fact, the film is often pretty damn funny, due to how well-realized the two protagonists are…so in-tune with each other that they’re able to carry on conversations without speaking (the subtitles are a clever touch). There’s also conflict between them, largely because of their opposing views over the quest they’ve undertaken. We get the impression this is the first time they don’t see eye to eye. But their unconditional love for each other is very clear, which endears us to them.

I won’t reveal anything that transpires after they do finally find their father (Sterling K. Brown) and his new family (including Janelle Monae as his wife, who might also be suffering from abuse). However, I will say that Harris delivers a wild, violent and emotionally-charged finale. Whether or not it’s a satisfying ending depends on what viewers expect from their revenge flicks, but I appreciated how it made me feel.

I LOVE LUCY: Building a Bigger Blu-ray

I LOVE LUCY: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Blu-ray)

75th Anniversary Edition

1951-1960 / 5453 min

Paramount

Review by Carl, the Couch Potato😽

Like Elvis Presley and rock & roll, I Love Lucy didn’t invent the sitcom, but sure as hell defined it in the early days of American television. Its popularity and cultural impact was huge, its influence immeasurable. Just think of the sheer number of similarly-structured shows that probably would never have existed without it.

I Love Lucy first aired long before my time, but has been in syndication forever. I can’t say I grew up on the show, nor did I ever go out of my way to watch it, so it holds no real nostalgic value. But whenever it happened to pop up on TV, I always found it pretty funny and a lot of the humor holds up even today, especially the classic episodes that have since become iconic (I dare anyone not to laugh their ass off during Season 1’s Lucy Does a TV Commercial).  

Content-wise, this set is priceless. The initial I Love Lucy TV show actually ran for six seasons, but this set also includes three seasons (13 episodes) of the retooled hour-long version, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, which ran from 1957 to 1960. It’s all here, spread out over 33 discs. Then again, so did the DVD set released in 2020, as well as a Blu-ray edition released in 2024. However, this 75th Anniversary Edition offers some bonus features that, as far as I can ascertain, are new to disc, including a few that were not included on the DVD version of this set released a just couple of months ago, such as I Love Lucy: The Movie (see below). Here's hoping some of you die-hards held out for this.

Desi realizes he could've had a V8.

It’s also packaged identically to the recent DVD, meaning it’s pretty cumbersome. Granted, any set consisting of 33 discs is always gonna be a challenge, though Paramount did a pretty decent job with Mission: Impossible a few years ago. But here, the discs are stacked atop each other and tend to slide around inside the box. That might be a minor quip for some, but I personally don’t know a single physical media collector not put-off by inconveniently housed discs that are likely to get scratched up. 

Still, the overall video transfer is good, as is the audio quality, which in some cases differs from the recent DVD version. And it goes without saying that those who love the show will like having every episode immediately on-hand. As a 75th Anniversary commemoration, I Love Lucy: The Complete Series is a nice souvenir, but I’d be a little miffed if I was one of those buyers who just shelled out for DVD set thinking that a Blu-ray version wasn’t happening, only to have this sprung on me.

EXTRA KIBBLES (Spread out over several discs)

ORIGINAL OPENINGS & CLOSINGS - These changed a bit from season to season.

ORIGINAL PILOT

ORIGINAL BROADCAST VERSIONS OF SELECT EPISODES

AUDIO COMMENTARIES OF SELECT EPISODES

LUCY ON THE RADIO: MY FAVORITE HUSBAND - Episodes from the radio program.

I LOVE LUCY: THE MOVIE - From 1953, this seldom seen “movie” combines three episodes from the first season, along with some newly-shot material.

CHRISTMAS REBROADCAST FOOTAGE

EYE ON CBS SEGMENTS - From 1959.

SELECT COLORIZED EPISODES - For those into that sort of thing.

FLUBS - Various mistakes made during live tapings.

LOST SCENES

RESTORED MUSIC

BEHIND THE SCENES - Most are excerpts from a book about the show.

VINTAGE ADS 

SLIDE SHOW GALLERY

COLOR MONTAGE VIDEOS, FOOTAGE AND HOME MOVIES

CAST LIST MENUS

GUEST CAST LIST MENUS

PRODUCTION NOTES 

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

SPONSOR SPOTS - Vintage ads from the show’s sponsors.

David Jonsson Discovers MURDER IS EASY

MURDER IS EASY (DVD)

2023 / 117 min

Fifth Season

Review by Carl the Couch Potato😽

David Jonsson crept onto my radar after catching him in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, two films where his character was the most interesting, largely due to what he brought to the roles. And in my humble opinion, his performance in the latter was damn near Oscar-worthy. From what I’ve seen, the guy’s one of those actors able to convey more with an expression than a mouthful of dialogue.

He brings that same skill to Murder is Easy, a British mini-series (being two episodes, maybe a mini-miniseries) that was produced before he started making waves on this side of the pond. Adapted from Agatha Christie’s novel, Jonsson plays Luke Fitzwilliam, a Nigerian on his way to a new job in England. Onboard the train, he befriends Lavinia Pinkerton, a kindly old woman who informs him of multiple murders in her hometown of Wychwood, all of which have been officially deemed accidents, and claims to know who’s committing them. Then she’s struck and killed by a car shortly after they arrive.

When you reach the drive-thru menu and are still undecided.

His suspicions raised, Luke takes it upon himself to visit Wychwood and do a little investigating of his own. Posing as a writer conducting research, he finds an ally/love interest in Bridget Conway (Morfydd Clark), who’s engaged to Lord Whitfield (Tom Riley), a wealthy, arrogant profiteer who basically owns the town and is a chief reason for the bad blood between the upper and lower classes. Since most of the victims have been the former (and critical of Whitfield), he’s the primary suspect, especially after the murders continue. Unfortunately, Whitfield is so heavy-handedly established as a total bastard that even casual mystery fans can confirm with utter certainty that he’s not the killer. 

Still, Murder is Easy is fairly entertaining, largely thanks to Jonsson, whose character exudes cool confidence among the locals suspicious of his presence. We’ve seen this kind of story and structure many times before, including previous adaptations of the same novel. The plot dutifully throws numerous suspects our way before revealing the killer in a climax that’s a little too talky for its own good. Until then though, it’s a decent little mystery.

Catnip Reviews: MICKI & MAUDE, RED SUN (4K) and NETWORK (4K)

Snack-sized opinions from the frisky felines at Free Kittens…

MICKI & MAUDE (Blu-ray) - One of the more unlikely Hollywood success stories of the ‘80s, diminutive British comedian Dudley Moore elevated himself from respected cult figure to leading man status with a couple of classics, 10 and Arthur. While those two more-or-less cemented his legend (at least in the U.S.), the reality is that subsequent films were a mixed bag, largely consisting of middling romantic comedies and forgettable family films. One exception might be 1984’s Micki & Maude, which reteams Moore with 10 director Blake Edwards (whose own career was also in creative decline). As a reporter who marries two different women, both of whom end up pregnant at the same time, Moore manages to make his character a likable protagonist (no small feat, considering the premise). Elsewhere, the farcical aspects of the film are pretty enjoyable and somewhat reminiscent of Edwards’ classic comedies. While no classic itself, it’s arguably the last film by either of these guys that’s worth revisiting. Like other releases in Alliance Entertainment’s Retro VHS series, this one is nicely packaged, but doesn’t include any bonus material.    (1984/118 min/Alliance Entertainment).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼

RED SUN (4K and Blu-ray) - If nothing else, Red Sun boasts a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble cast of international superstars…Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mufune, Ursula Andress and Alain Delon, all under the able direction of Bond veteran Terence Young. The result is a lively western with a distinctively European flavor, yet I’d argue that it stops just short of spaghetti territory. Featuring its three male stars at their coolest (and the lovely Ms. Andress at her sultriest), you get bad guys against worst guys in a plot that includes a train heist, revenge and the hunt for an ancient stolen sword. There ain’t much depth, but for a revisionist western chock full of antiheroes, the movie’s a lot of violent & sexy fun. Considering the talent on both sides of the camera, it’s a shame more people haven’t actually seen this one, but Arrow rectifies that with a solid restoration and a good selection of new & vintage bonus material.   (1971/114 min/Arrow Video).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺😺

NETWORK (4K and Blu-ray) - With all due respect to Rocky and its fans, there were three other Oscar nominated movies that year that more-deserved to take home the Best Picture statue. One of them was Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayefsky’s scathing satire on the TV news business, Network. Featuring a top-notch cast that includes William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall and Peter Finch, not only does the film pull no punches depicting a (fictional) network’s relentless drive for ratings and revenue, it might be even more timely today than it was 50 years ago. If you were to take away Finch’s legendary (and Oscar winning) histrionics, this could be a fairly convincing behind-the-scenes portrayal of any number of current cable news networks that trade in journalistic integrity for sensationalism. In addition to a solid 4K restoration, this release includes some terrific bonus material, including a feature-length documentary on Chayefsky. (1976/121 min/Criterion Collection).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😺😺

Revisiting THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD in 4K

THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (4K UHD)

1958 / 88 min

Sony

Available at MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

About a decade ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing a humble little B-picture called Queen Crab. The movie wasn’t any good, but I was charmed by its titular monster, rendered in good ol’ fashioned stop-motion animation. It was also a sad reminder that the process is largely a lost art these days (with only Laika Studios consistently carrying the torch).  

Even as a kid and thrilling to the likes of Mysterious Island & Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, I never thought stop-motion animation was all that convincing, but still appreciated the enormous effort it took to create such special effects. And convincing or not, they looked wonderful. To movie lovers of a certain age, they still do. 

The legendary Ray Harryhausen didn’t invent stop-motion (or, “Dynamation,” as his brand was known), but he was its rock star. Even today, you’d be hard pressed to name another special effects artist whose name was just as vital to a film’s creative success as the director and cast. In some cases, his wonderful work was the only reason to watch the film…such as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. 

One could debate forever over what movies feature Harryhausen’s best work, but this one features a lot of his most iconic creations…the malevolent cyclops, the giant dragon, the vengeful flying Rocs, and of course, those resurrected swordfighting skeletons that provided nightmare fuel for a generation of kids (and they’re still kinda creepy looking). 

Not to nitpick, but does that skeleton actually need a shield?

The movie itself is standard ‘50s-era fantasy fluff with silly dialogue and forgettable performances (Kerwin Matthews as Sinbad makes a bland action hero), but who cares? For the time, it was an astounding technical achievement, with thrilling action, gorgeous production & costume design and - the icing on the cake - a rousing score by the great Bernard Hermann, which ranks among his all-time best.

It’s all brought back to vibrant life with this new 4K release, which features an excellent video transfer that improves on the comparatively lame Blu-ray edition (also included in this set). Even better is the DTS-HD Master Audio track, which is well mixed, particularly regarding the score. But aside from a digital copy, there are no new bonus features. Though there’s a lot of stuff of considerable historical interest (especially for Harryhausen fans), it’s all carried over from previous releases.

I had a childhood friend who loved this Sinbad stuff, and while we’ve since lost touch, I can’t help but think about how much he’d enjoy a release like this (even if he’s since outgrown it). The 7th Voyage of Sinbad’s inherent technical charms would probably be lost on those weaned on Jurassic Park, but for the generation(s) who grew up thrilling to Harryhausen’s groundbreaking creations, it’s a nostalgic blast. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

THE HARRYHAUSEN CHRONICLES - An hour-long retrospective documentary that’s previously been included on many other Harryhausen-related releases, but is always worth revisiting.

FEATURETTES - In Remembering The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Ray Harryhausen recalls his efforts to get the film made; The Harryhausen Legacy features several filmmakers and effects arts who were influenced by Ray’s work; The Music of Bernard Herrmann looks at the legendary composer; A Look Behind the Voyage is very old short film about Harryhausen that plays like a distilled version of the Harryhausen Chronicles feature; Ray Harryhausen - Interviewed by John Landis.

“THIS IS DYNAMATION” is a promotional film touting the special effects. 

MUSIC VIDEO - “Sinbad May Have Been Bad, But He’s Been Good to Me” was a song used to promote the movies. Silly but catchy. 

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippet, Randall William Cook, Steven Smith, Arnold Kunert.

PHOTO GALLERY

TRAILER

THE POOP SCOOP: Movie, TV & Literary Classics

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

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. Three versions of the 4K UHD disc will be available for purchase: the standard 4K UHD, a 4K UHD SteelBook, and a special collector’s edition available exclusively at Walmart.com (see below). WaterTower Music will also release the film’s score on vinyl this fall. This re-pressing of the record is the first time the score has been released in over forty years.

Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN on 4K and Blu-ray October 27 from Criterion Collection. Guillermo del Toro’s spellbinding take on one of the most enduring of all modern myths, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, imbues the classic tale with new depths of humanity while pushing it toward dazzling heights of gothic grandeur. Shifting between the perspectives of the brilliant but callous Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and the creature (Jacob Elordi) he fashions from flesh and then cruelly mistreats, del Toro movingly reframes the legend as a story of fathers and sons struggling to break free from cycles of trauma. 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. Celebrate 60 years of the groundbreaking series that launched a global phenomenon. Star Trek: The Original Series follows Captain James T. Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise as they embark on a five-year mission to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before. Blending action, philosophy, and visionary storytelling, the series remains one of the most influential sci-fi shows of all time. Star Trek: TOS will also be available as an Amazon Exclusive gift set (see below).

POWER BALLAD on Blu-ray (+DVD & Digital) August 25 from Lionsgate. When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves — even if it means risking everything he cares about. 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. 

SEVEN SNIPERS on Blu-ray and DVD August 11 from Well Go USA. This action film is loosely inspired by the Akira Kurosawa masterpiece Seven Samurai.   

TROY Limited Edition on 4K and Blu-ray 8/18. Features brand new 4K remasters of both the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films, hours of special features, and newly commissioned extras. A Blu-ray edition release will also be available. 

BARBARIAN Coming to 4K + Blu-ray August 11 from 20th Century Studios.  Released in September, 2022, shocking and captivating audiences with its bizarre twists, violence, carnage, and delightfully subversive sense of humor. "Barbarian," which stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long and is written and directed by Zach Cregger (Weapons). 

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. 

PROJECT HAIL MARY on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD August 11 from Alliance Entertainment. Based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, screenwriter Drew Goddard adapted Project Hail Mary for the screen, and it was brought to life by directors Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray releases of Project Hail Mary include out of this world bonus content.

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.

MARS ATTACKS! on 4K August 11 from Warner Bros. The newly remastered film will also include new bonus content featuring the behind-the-scenes filmmakers reflecting on the making of Mars Attacks! 30 years later. 

SOYLENT GREEN, Proud Owner of the Second Greatest Plot Twist in Sci-fi History, Coming to 4K UHD and Blu-ray July 28 from Arrow Video.  The Limited Edition release features a brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films, hours of special features and newly commissioned extras. A Blu-ray edition will also be available. 

KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR 4K/Blu-ray Combo Pack Coming July 28 from Lionsgate. This release also comes with an assortment of physical extras, including posters, collectors cards and a 40 page booklet.

An Underseen Gem from the 70s, THE OUTFIT, on Blu-ray July 28 from Arrow Video. The Outfit is as tough, taut, and relentless as its protagonist. This release includes numerous new bonus features.

MORTAL COMBAT II on Digital Now and Blu-ray, 4K and DVD July 28 from Warner Bros. From New Line Cinema, the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory.