THE POOP SCOOP: Death From Above Edition

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

Finally! BLUE THUNDER Limited Edition 4K Coming May 5 from Arrow Video. This tale of airborne surveillance and institutional overreach became a defining genre snapshot of Reagan-era anxiety, shot through with Hollywood muscle and a prescient distrust of unchecked technology. Roy Scheider (Jaws) stars as Frank Murphy, a veteran LAPD helicopter pilot picked to test-fly Blue Thunder, an experimental attack chopper bristling with unprecedented surveillance capabilities. When Murphy uncovers a covert plot to weaponize the aircraft for domestic policing, he takes to the skies in open rebellion. Hunted through the city by his own unit and shadowy government architects, Murphy’s final patrol becomes a white-knuckle fight for justice – and survival. Co-starring Warren Oates, Malcolm McDowell, and Candy Clark, Blue Thunder delivers heart-pounding suspense and sky-high stakes. A landmark of analog-age futurism, it remains a razor-sharp thrill ride that fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. Includes numerous new and archival bonus features.

GREENLAND on 4K March 31 from Lionsgate. A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth. John Garrity, his estranged wife Allison, and young son Nathan make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary. Amid terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being leveled by the comet’s fragments, the Garritys experience the best and worst in humanity while they battle the increasing panic and lawlessness surrounding them. As the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven.

THE SUBSTITUTE on 4K March 17 from Lionsgate.  In this action-thriller favorite, now on 4K for the first time, a mercenary faces off against one of his most formidable enemies: a high school gang. Shale (Tom Berenger) is an ex-Vietnam vet reeling from a botched covert operation. Returning home, he reunites with his girlfriend, Jane (Diane Venora), a high school teacher who’s hospitalized after a beating by the Kings of Destruction gang. Hunting Jane’s attackers, Shale goes undercover as a substitute teacher, and uncovers a cocaine highway running through the school involving gang leader Lacas (Marc Anthony) and the school’s shady principal, Rolle (Ernie Hudson). Summoning his mercenaries, Shale goes to war with the Kings of Destruction – and rival guns for hire – on the unusual battleground of a high school, but for the usual stakes: life…and death

THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA on 4K and Blu-ray May 12 from Celluloid Dreams. This giallo classic will arrive in a beautiful slipbox that features the film, along with a vast array of bonus features that provide more insight into the film and its production than ever before. It is now available for preorder on the Celluloid Dreams website.

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD March 31 from Lionsgate. In the aftermath of a comet strike that devastates most of the Earth, GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION follows devoted family man John Garrity (Gerard Butler) and his wife and son (Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis) after they’re forced to leave the safety of their bunker in Greenland to search for a new home in a shattered world. 

THE HOUSEMAID on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD March 17 from Lionsgate. From director Paul Feig, the film plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. What begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous.

The New ANACONDA on 4K and Blu-ray March 17 from Sony. Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) have been best friends since they were kids, and have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie: the cinematic "classic" Anaconda. But things get real when an actual giant anaconda appears, turning their comically chaotic movie set into a deadly situation. 

POINT BLANK Coming to 4K and Blu-ray April 21 from Criterion Collection. Free Kittens’ CEO bought himself an older Blu-ray copy of this action classic, then literally the next day, Criterion announces this release! In addition to a 4K restoration, this disc comes with a bunch of bonus features.

MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN on 4K and Blu-ray April 14 from Criterion Collection. Featuring ribald Roman puns, sharp political commentary, and an audacious crucifixion-themed musical number, the Pythons’ most ambitious film is a hilarious satire of dogma and blind faith in which nothing is sacred.

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD March 24, 2026 from Criterion Collection. An epic elegy of greed, betrayal, and murder, Scorsese brings a dark chapter of American history to the screen with gripping narrative power and a profound feeling for the weight of systemic injustice.

TESTAMENT, on Blu-ray March 17 from Criterion Collection Taking a hauntingly intimate approach to an often sensationalized subject, the singular Testament depicts one family’s daily life in the wake of nuclear devastation.

Watching STALKER With My Cat

STALKER (1979)

Starring Alexander Kaidanovsky, Anatoly Solonitsyn, Nikolai Grinko, Alisa Freindich. Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. (161 min).

Essay by D.M. Anderson💀

I currently live with two cats, Pepper and Mr. Bonnie. Notice I didn’t say I have cats, because that would imply ownership. For as long as I’ve been alive, there have always been one-or-more cats in the house, and not once did I feet like I “owned” any of them. They’re more like freeloading roommates who never pay their share of the rent…unless you count the dead things they’d sometimes bring home. 

But when Pepper and Mr. Bonnie moved in, we decided they should strictly be indoor cats (too many coyotes in the neighborhood), so they aren't afforded the same hunting opportunities as previous tenants. Still, one of them did recently manage to kill a small mouse that was also living rent-free in the house. I’m grateful, of course, but sure wish I wouldn’t have discovered their handiwork with my bare feet. Thus far, neither cat has claimed credit for the kill, but my money is on Pepper because she watches a lot more television. 

While they don’t go outside, they are aware of the outside. Both enjoy sitting in the living room window to watch the neighborhood, but it’s Pepper who gets “the chatters” wherever a bird lands in the yard, her tail whipping furiously. Additionally, she’s the first cat I’ve ever lived with who’s demonstrated an active interest in TV. Depending on what’s happening onscreen, she’ll often jump onto the TV stand and swat at whatever is moving. One of the few downsides of high definition, I guess.

Pepper’s favorites are various YouTube videos made for the sole purpose of entertaining cats. Typically, they consist of birds or squirrels lured before the camera by food piled in a wooded area. These critters scurrying in and out of frame drive Pepper nuts, and though it’s kinda funny, I try not to encourage it too much because I just know the day is coming when I discover claw marks raked across my expensive 55” HD screen. It’s even gotten so Pepper sometimes comes running into the room when she hears the YouTube app intro music, ready to hunt.

TV and movies are nothing if not educational. If Star Trek can show me how to prevent a warp core explosion, it sure as hell can educate my cat on the wondrous wildlife in the world just begging to be disemboweled. But really, most anything featuring a lot of quick or sudden movement can hold her attention for a minute or two, such as hockey games, Looney Tunes and the occasional action movie, which is why I was initially perplexed that she appeared so keenly engaged in the movie, Stalker. 

"Sorry guys...I could've sworn it was Ladies' Night." 

Released in 1979, Stalker is a Russian science-fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, widely considered one of that country’s greatest filmmakers. On my side of the pond, he’s probably most remembered for Solaris, which is often compared to Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, at least regarding its pace and overall cerebralism. Tarkovsky’s movies are typically very slow, with plenty of looooong takes. Anyone who’s ever seen Solaris can concur that it makes 2001 look like it was edited with a Cuisinart.

But Solaris is a Michael Bay film compared to Stalker, which moves along at the speed of an oil painting. In fact, it often looks like an oil painting, the work of a tortured artist who starts their mornings with coffee, toast and suicidal thoughts. There are no special effects or action scenes, and nothing but some expositional dialogue to suggest it’s even science-fiction. If you were to watch it with the sound off (and sometimes you’ll feel like you already are), it’s just three stone-faced guys walking for two-and-a-half hours.

Those three stone-faced guys are the “Stalker” (Alexander Kaidanovsky), the “Writer” (Anatoly Solonitsyn) and the “Professor” (Nikolai Grinko). Stalkers hire themselves out to illegally escort people into a quarantined, fenced-off area known as “The Zone,” which has been rendered off-limits after an unexplained phenomenon occurred there 20 years earlier. Whether it was a meteor or something sentient (it's never made explicit), the area is now an unpopulated wilderness of forests, fields and ruins. Also within The Zone is a room where, upon entering, your innermost desires come true (for better or worse). 

Though he just recently got out of prison for previously entering The Zone, the Stalker agrees to take the Writer and the Professor there and guide them to the room, much to the chagrin of his wife, once-again left alone to look after their daughter. However, they really need the money. 

The Stalker informs his new clients that The Zone is a dangerous place, and potentially fatal if they don’t follow his explicit instructions during the journey. As he gravely warns, “The Zone is a very complicated system of traps, and they're all deadly. I don't know what's going on here in the absence of people, but the moment someone shows up, everything comes into motion. Old traps disappear and new ones emerge. Safe spots become impassable. Now your path is easy, now it's hopelessly involved. That's the Zone. It may even seem capricious. But it is what we've made it with our condition. It happened that people had to stop halfway and go back. Some of them even died on the very threshold of the room.”

"I can't escape the feeling we're being watched."

But this ain’t a Saw movie. The entire middle act consists of their journey, through fields, swamps and dilapidated buildings, then through a series of dark tunnels and drab rooms. The Stalker must be a helluva guide, because the walk is largely uneventful (aside from the Writer and Professor occasionally antagonizing each other). We hear a lot of poetry along the way, too, but there’s nary a trap to be seen…no physical ones, anyway. We also learn more about these characters and their motivations, which aren’t quite what we’re initially led to believe. That's right, kids...Stalker is one of those metaphysical journeys.

Sure, Rod Serling probably could’ve told the same basic story in about a half-hour, but despite its epic length and glacial pace, Stalker is an immersive film that kind-of sucks you in with its beautifully bleak aesthetic, extended takes, nearly-imperceptible camera movement and the quiet desperation exhibited by these men. And as it turns out, there’s actually a hell of a lot at stake during the climax, as well as a WTF denouement that makes you wonder what the hell you just watched…if you can even get that far…

…which I barely managed when I first watched it. Stalker was recommended to me by a guy I sometimes do podcasts with, whose tastes are somewhat eclectic. When the end credits finally rolled, my initial thought was that it was marginally more interesting than watching an old TV test pattern for the same amount of time. But damn, if I didn’t think about the movie a lot afterwards…the imagery, the movement, the underlying themes and (especially) the resolution. So I bought a physical copy and have since watched it a handful of times, finding it very rewarding. Sure, I sometimes nod-off, but that’s another one of the cool things about the film. Even if one doesn’t necessarily care about the story or characters, it’s an agreeable movie just for the overall vibe.

Recently revisiting the film, I was about an hour into it when I noticed Pepper watching, too. She was sitting on the floor, about three feet from the TV, tale twitching during a scene where the three main characters are making their way through a field. Shot from a distance, they appeared very small among the grass, but their movement had Pepper’s complete attention. In fact, she jumped onto the TV stand and swatted at them. Perhaps she thought it was a bug on the screen (she likes those, too).

However, after that particular scene ended, Pepper returned to her spot on the floor and continued watching…for nearly 20 minutes (which is about 15 minutes longer than some of you might commit to the movie). What was it about Stalker that was keeping her attention? Since she never liked subtitles, it couldn’t have been the plot, and it wasn’t like the screen was teeming with birds or squirrels. 

Then it occurred to me…visually, much of Stalker actually resembles a lot of the YouTube videos that rile her up...minus the animals. Even the film’s ambient sound design is similar on occasion…wind, trickling water, footsteps crunching the ground, etc. Maybe she was waiting for some critters to scurry into frame, just like they do in those videos, which would be her reward for patiently enduring three bald guys contemplating their lives. 

Eventually though, she finally had enough, her attention suddenly diverted by Mr. Bonnie, who sauntered into the room and tackled her. Then the battle was on, the two rolling around on the floor for a few seconds, hind legs furiously kicking at each other, before bolting upstairs to zoom around the living room. Stalker may be one of those rare films that manages to be both a masterpiece and a sleep aid, but it can’t beat the frisky fun of scrapping with your bro.

Catnip Reviews: HANKY PANKY, CHEAP THRILLS and CINDERELLA: IN CONCERT

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

HANKY PANKY (Blu-ray) - This romantic comedy is mostly a footnote in the careers of a few Hollywood legends. The first pairing of Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, the film tells sort of a Hitchcockian story with a comedic spin. Unfortunately, it’s seldom particularly thrilling, and though its two stars exhibit agreeable onscreen chemistry, the film rarely rises above mildly amusing. As much as I’ve always respect Sidney Poitier as an actor, it’s a different story when he’s calling the shots in the director’s chair. Hanky Panky is watchable, especially for those who were charmed by the stars’ real-life relationship. But by-and-large, it’s a forgettable film that squanders the talents of a lot of people on both sides of the camera.   (1982/108 min/Alliance Entertainment).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

CHEAP THRILLS (Blu-ray) - A rich couple coerces two financially strapped friends into performing demeaning, increasingly dangerous acts for money in this pitch black comedy. But before anyone assumes Cheap Thrills is a scripted variation of Jackass, the film sometimes appears to have more on its mind than shocking the viewer. There’s a clear underlying theme of the “haves vs. the have-nots” permeating the narrative, and the increasing animosity between its two main characters takes the story to some pretty dark places. With morons in the real world doing stupid things on YouTube and TikTok for free, I suppose the film would’ve seemed edgier if made a decade earlier, but it’s still a morbidly compelling descent into depravity and desperation, anchored by dedicated performances from the entire cast. This new Blu-ray release includes a big selection of new and archival bonus features. (2013/85 min/Arrow Video).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

CINDERELLA: IN CONCERT (Blu-ray) - Any Cinderella fans still out there? Okay, you three…stop what you’re doing and stick this one in your Amazon cart right now! You won’t be disappointed, as this 1991 concert video captures the band at the height of their powers, just before grunge came along to relegate nearly every hair band to the state fair circuit. For the uninitiated, these guys were part of a second wave of popular glam metal bands who took things to the next level (at least visually). Try as they might, Cinderella never quite escaped their image, but were actually better than many others of their ilk, with a hell of a screecher in singer/guitarist Tom Keifer and a blues-based approach that made songs like “Gypsy Road” and “Shelter Me” pretty catchy. This Blu-ray disc sounds great and the concert itself is well shot, featuring all the band’s biggest hits.  (1991/80 min/cleopatra Entertainment).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼

EXCALIBUR: For People Who Love Shiny Things

EXCALIBUR Limited Edition (Blu-ray)

1981 / 141 min

Arrow Video 

Review by Mr. Paws😺

In addition to its gorgeous aesthetic, Excalibur was sort of unique for the time. Here was a big budget, live action fantasy film aimed squarely at adults, boasting copious amounts of nudity, sex and brutal violence (that scene of a crow plucking out a dead knight’s eyeball still gets to me). For the most part, only Heavy Metal magazine and the occasional album cover offered such gratuitous gifts on a regular basis. The film transcended its genre, attracting an audience who normally wouldn’t be caught dead watching one of these things. Hell, even my parents went to see it, which is really saying something because Dad always hated this shit. 

Not to let an opportunity go to waste, Excalibur was later re-released in an edited PG-rated version to grab the kiddie crowd. Studios did that sometimes, most memorably when Paramount took the splicer to Saturday Night Fever. But at least the music and dancing was left intact, which was that movie’s main appeal in the first place. But a de-fanged Excalibur? Why bother? I only bring it up because this Blu-ray release from Arrow includes the original and edited-for-TV versions of the film. I don’t know if the latter is the same as the PG cut, but I wasn’t ready to sit through it to find out. Still, it’s here for the curious. 

Aside from Deliverance, Excalibur arguably remains director John Boorman’s most fondly remembered film, a sprawling, visually stunning epic that walks that fine line between high art and high camp. From a narrative standpoint, it’s all over the place, but this was never something you watched for the plot. Excalibur has always been a movie of moments (of which it has plenty), its lulls compensated by striking cinematography and production design. Best to settle in and immerse yourself in the imagery, violence, music and the perverse pleasure of beautiful people doing terrible things…

A shiny kingdom is a happy kingdom.

…and Excalibur is chock full of beautiful people, some who’d later become big stars, such as Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson. The performances are generally exaggerated and over-the-top, most of the cast delivering overtly grandiose dialogue with such seriousness that the result is sometimes unintentionally funny (Nigel Terry as King Arthur & Nicholas Clay as Lancelot still make me chuckle). The big exception is Nicol Williamson as Merlin, the lone actor who appears to be having fun in his role and steals every scene he’s in. He’s also the closest thing the film has to (intentional) comic relief.

Still, the actors and characters ultimately take a backseat to the real stars: Boorman’s flamboyant direction and Alex Thompson’s Oscar-nominated cinematography. These days, I suppose Excalibur might seem a little quaint compared to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, but remains a unique visual experience that’s been very nicely restored in all its shiny, colorful, soft-focus glory for this 3-disc release. It also comes with two audio options, the original mono and DTS-HD 5.1. In addition to two cuts of the film, there’s an entire disc of new and archival bonus features. Arthur and his knights never looked so good.

EXTRA KIBBLES

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.

TV VERSION - An interesting curio, and maybe worth watching once for a few chuckles.

THE MAKING OF EXCALIBUR: MYTH INTO MOVIE - Neil Jordan’s on-set documentary, which I seem to remember airing on HBO back in the day.

EXCALIBUR: BEHIND THE MOVIE is another, more recent documentary featuring numerous cast/crew interviews.

NEW INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with director/co-writer John Boorman, John’s son & actor Charley Boorman, Neil Jordan, production designer Anthony Platt, co-writer Rospo Pallenberg and 2nd unit director Peter MacDonald (MacDonald’s interview is the longest and most entertaining).

DIVIDED NATURE - An appreciation by Howard S. Berger and Kevin Marr.

3 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By Boorman biographer Brian Hoyle; 2) By filmmaker David Kittredge; 3) By director John Boorman.

2 TRAILERS

5 IMAGE GALLERIES

LOOKIN’ ITALIAN: Life Before Joey

LOOKIN’ ITALIAN (Blu-ray)

1994 / 101 min

Severin Films

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

The title makes it sound like a comedy, while the cover art & synopsis suggest more of a crime thriller. 1994's Lookin’ Italian contains elements of both, but doesn’t fall neatly under either category. And chances are the film would’ve remained in obscurity if not for the presence of Matt LeBlanc in his first major role. So for some, the curiosity factor might be pretty high.

Released just before Friends made him a household name, this low budget indie drama is mostly about mid-level gangster Vinnie Pallazzo (Jay Acovone). Following a job that goes fatally wrong, he quits the mob and relocates to Los Angeles for the comparatively quite life of working at a bookstore. He’s also tasked with trying to keep his irresponsible, womanizing nephew, Anthony (LeBlanc), out of trouble and away from the old “family” business.

There isn’t actually a hell of a lot of plot until the final act. Until then, the film’s rambling, episodic narrative mostly consists of Anthony and his buddies partying while an exasperated Vinnie repeatedly scolds him for his behavior (though he does sometimes participate). Then when a couple of Anthony’s friends are killed in a drive-by shooting, the tone suddenly turns serious as he sets out to get even, despite Vinnie’s efforts to intervene.

"I guess I don't gotta ask how you're doin'!"

Lookin’ Italian is written and directed by Guy Magar, who’s mostly known for B-movie horror and should be commended for stepping out of his comfort zone. Considering the miniscule budget, the film is pretty well assembled from a technical standpoint. However, inconsistent pace and tone tend to hamper the narrative's overall effectiveness. The first hour is almost maddeningly meandering at times, perhaps in an attempt to establish a vibe similar to Mean Streets. But Magar is no Scorsese, nor are his characters as richly developed. However, the story culminates an exciting (and violent) final act that in-some-ways does more to establish the strong bond between these two characters than the rest of the film. 

Engaging performances help, of course. Acovone is one of those guys you’ve seen in lots of other stuff without ever knowing his name, and he makes the most of a rare leading role. As for LeBlanc...in light of Friends becoming a cultural milestone, I personally found it difficult separating Anthony Manetti from Joey Tribbiani, since his approach to both is almost identical. While he’s certainly likable here, I half expected him to blurt out “How you doin’?” on numerous occasions. 

Still, seeing pre-fame Matt LeBlanc is kind of interesting, and look quick for a very young, still unknown Denise Richards in a small role. While no lost classic or forgotten gem, the film itself ain’t half bad. For its Blu-ray debut, Severin Films has thrown in quite a few archival bonus features, including promotional interviews and a film festival Q&A session (where the movie apparently premiered).

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - Individual archival interviews with writer/director Guy Magar, actors Matt LeBlanc, Jay Acovone, Stephanie Richards, Lou Rawls and John MaMotta.

PALM SPRINGS FILM FESTIVAL Q&A -  with writer/director Guy Magar, actors Matt LeBlanc, Jay Acovone, Stephanie Richards and Ralph Manza.

INSIDE EDITION FIRST LOOK

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FEATURETTE

GAG REEL

TRAILER