LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (4K): Still Mean & Green

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (4K UHD)

1986 / 94 & 103 min (2 cuts of the film)

Warner Bros

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Paws😺

I distinctly recall a humorous moment during the 1986 Academy Awards broadcast, when Bernadette Peters announced the nominees for Best Song. As usual, it was a list of drippy ballads and turgid torch songs, save for a ditty titled “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space,” from Little Shop of Horrors. Even Ms. Peters looked amused while reading it.

It’s a funny song filled with expletives, the kind of thing the Academy previously seemed too “dignified” to acknowledge. It didn’t win, but just maybe paved the way for the likes of “Blame Canada” and “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” to get a little Oscar love. 

Or maybe not, but it does bring Little Shop of Horrors to a wild, showstopping conclusion (though an even wilder ending was intended at one time). As for the film overall, it’s arguably the best musical of the 1980s. Granted, it didn’t have much in the way of competition, but unlike many others from the same era that have aged like fine milk, there’s a timeless quality to this one that makes it look, sound and feel fresh four decades later.

It’s also the kind of musical you’d show to people who profess to hate them. Based on the popular off-Broadway play, which in turn was inspired by the semi-classic Roger Corman cheapie from the 1950s, Little Shop of Horrors tells the twisted tale of plant lover Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), a lowly floral shop employee who nurtures an unusual plant no one’s ever seen before, only to discover it survives on human blood. 

"You're seeing other plants, aren't you?"

He names it Audrey II (voiced by Levi Stubbs), in honor of the co-corker he’s in love with, Audrey (Ellen Greene, reprising her role from the stage version). Initially feeding it his own blood, Audrey II grows to immense size and becomes a popular attraction, reversing the fortunes of the floral shop owned by taskmaster boss Mr. Mushnok (Vincent Gardenia). However, Audrey II’s hunger is insatiable, which Seymour can no longer sate by himself.

As directed by Frank Oz (this remains his best work), the film is funny, colorful and filled with great musical numbers by Alan Menkin and Howard Ashman (including one song that definitely sounds like a dry run for The Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World”). While Moranis and Greene are engaging in their roles, Steve Martin steals the film on a couple of occasions as Orin Scrivello, a biker and sadistic dentist whose own musical introduction is hilarious (though his abusive treatment of Audrey sometimes threatens to kill the mood). Of course, the visual highlight is Audrey II, an animatronic/puppet creation that is funny, menacing and still a special effects marvel. 

Now a cult classic, Little Shop of Horrors has been given a great 4K facelift, with two cuts of the film and an overall image that is bold and colorful. There are also two audio options, the original 2.0 stereo track and an all new Dolby Atmos track, which makes the many musical numbers really pop. In addition to some archival supplements, a couple of new retrospective bonus features are included (outlined below). For both longtime fans and curious newcomers, this is a disc worth grabbing.

EXTRA KIBBLES

THEATRICAL VERSION AND DIRECTOR’S CUT - The latter runs about 10 minutes longer.

NEW KIBBLES - To Feed or Not to Feed: For the Love of Little Shop features director Frank Oz and actor Ellen Greene looking back on the making of the film. Frank is interesting, while Ellen’s over-exuberance is exhausting. Mean Green Mother: Creating Audrey II focuses on creating the endearing carnivorous plant.

VINTAGE FEATURETTE - A Story of Little Shop of Horrors

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Frank Oz (theatrical version only).

OUTTAKES AND DELETED SCENES - With optional commentary.

DIRECTOR’S CUT ENDING - I can see why it wasn't used, but it’s certainly interesting, with some pretty great special effects. Includes optional commentary.

FIREFLIES AT EL MOZOTE: War Is Hell For Children, Too

FIREFLIES AT EL MOZOTE (Blu-ray)

2025 / 99 min

Alliance Entertainment

Review by Princess Pepper😽

“Inspired by true events” touts this movie during the opening credits. Yeah, lots of movies begin this way and I always take such claims with a grain of salt. But while watching Fireflies at El Mozote, I found myself hoping the first half-hour wasn't the true part.

Jose (Mateo Honles) is a 10-year old kid living in the remote El Salvador village of El Mozote, which is seized upon by vicious government soldiers. Though he manages to escape into the jungle, everyone else is slaughtered, including his mother and little sister. It’s a truly harrowing sequence, not only because of the cruelty and sadism committed by the soldiers (which includes hanging children), but because Jose sees first-hand what happened to his family. 

The boy is later found by a team of guerillas who regularly broadcast underground radio programs to the oppressed population. While Alma (Paz Vega) is protective of him - having lost a son herself - Jose stubbornly insists on doing his part in fighting back, a feeling eventually shared by her commander/ex Aurelio (Juan Pablo Shuk). Meanwhile, Colonel Reynaldo Montenegro (Yancy Arias) and his troops are hunting down the team in order to nab the transponder they use for broadcasts.

"No, kid...that ain't the ice cream truck."

None of the subsequent narrative is as intense or visceral as that first act, and the movie kind of suffers for it. But even with the tension dialed down, it remains fairly interesting, if erratically paced. The frequent bursts of action are well executed, vivid and suitably violent. Alma and Jose's relationship is engaging, while most of the other characters are either cannon fodder or serve to provide exposition (though their cause has us invested). The bad guys are strictly one-note caricatures, which is probably fine because their acts are so repugnant that all we really want is to see them die.

Well made on what looks like a limited budget, Fireflies at El Mozote is worth a watch. Knowing that writer/director Ernesto Melara (who passed away before it was released) drew inspiration from real events certainly makes the film more distressing, and I can’t escape the sinking feeling that the most horrific aspects of the story are also the most accurate.

THE LAST BOY SCOUT (4K): Quintessential Bruce

THE LAST BOY SCOUT (4K UHD)

Also available on Blu-ray

1991 / 105 min

Arrow Video

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Baller😺

In many ways, The Last Boy Scout is the quintessential Bruce Willis vehicle. That’s not to say it was ever one of his best films…far from it. Looking back at it over three decades later, it’s obvious everyone involved had the sole intention of cranking out a flashy, high concept blockbuster. And coming off a string of flops at the time, Willis certainly needed one. 

So why not shape another action film around his quasi-comedic persona, which made Die Hard so memorable? And why not pair him with a currently hot comedian (Damon Wayans)? And why not enlist the services of Tony Scott, the Michael Bay of his day? And why not use the latest screenplay by Shane Black, who certainly knows his buddy comedies? How could it miss?

I suppose it didn't miss, doing okay in theaters but becoming absolutely huge on home video. And I can kinda see why. Big, loud, violent and expertly assembled to pander to fans of that stuff, The Last Boy Scout has always been the movie equivalent of comfort food, the kind of lunkheaded boomfest you pop into your player when you can’t think of anything else to watch. I, myself, have owned the thing in every format, even though it has never been what I consider a great film.

Kinda makes 'Deflategate' seem trivial, doesn't it?

What can I say? Burned-out private detective Joe Hallenbeck (Willis) and ex-quarterback Jimmy Dix are funny together and display a lot of chemistry, even if their quips and comebacks are almost too clever and rapid-fire at times. And God knows the bloodshed, gunplay, car crashes and kaboom gleefully cross the line of plausibility at every turn, but it’s sure fun to watch…and may even be a little cathartic. As usual, Scott and his cohorts display admirable slight-of-hand by glossing over the ridiculous story with enough flash, hyper-editing and dizzying camerawork to make everyone think they’re watching a more substantial movie than it really is.

But who cares? I love empty calories as much as the next junk-food junkie. As Bruce Willis vehicles go, I probably revisit this one more often than any other movie that doesn't have Die Hard in the title. Each time, it gets a little sillier, a little more archaic and a lot more vulnerable to scrutiny. The Last Boy Scout is ultimately as dumb as shooting your way to the endzone, but there are a lotta guys on both sides of the camera working on all thrusters to showcase Bruce at his Bruciest.

All those fans who made the film a latent cult classic will certainly appreciate what Arrow Video has put together for its 4K release. The overall picture quality is excellent, and a big improvement over the old Warner Bros. Blu-ray. There are also three audio options, the original (restored) stereo track, a DTS-HD 5.1 track and Dolby Atmos, the latter of which is new. Finally, there’s a great selection of new bonus features (listed below), the best being interviews with screenwriter Shane Black and child-actor-turned-scream-queen Danielle Harris. 

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. 

INTERVIEWS - All new individual interviews with screenwriter Shane Black and actor Danielle Harris. Both are very entertaining.

THE ART OF TONY SCOTT is an appreciation by author/historian Stephanie Moissakis.

SHANE BLACK AT THE AMERICAN CINEMATEQUE is an on-stage interview/discussion between Black and historian Jim Hemphill. Filmed in 2025.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By critics Josh Nelson and Martyn Pedler.

EXTENDED/ALTERNATE SCENES

2 TRAILERS

2 IMAGE GALLERIES

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - This actually features two drafts of the screenplay.

THE POOP SCOOP: "Wonderful" Edition

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

FALL 2: DEADPOINT on digital now and Blu-ray & DVD November 17 from Lionsgate. On a perilous climb across Thailand's Mount Kwan, two climbers become trapped thousands of feet above the ground, where vertigo-inducing heights, sheer exposure, and impossible odds turn every moment into a fight for survival. On October 6, FALL 2: DEADPOINT will be available to buy via Electronic Sell-Thru on participating digital platforms where movies are purchased, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango, Google TV, YouTube, and more.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 80th Anniversary Limited Edition Gift Set coming November 17 from Paramount. Frank Capra’s heart-warming masterpiece has been embraced as a cherished holiday tradition by families around the world! This new Amazon Exclusive set includes 4K, Blu-ray, DVD and digital copies, as well as a keepsake book by actor/author Jimmy Hawkins.

PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 on digital October 14 and 4K, Blu-ray and DVD December 1. The Owens Sisters return in Practical Magic 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved modern classic Practical Magic, debuting on digital at home on October 13. Practical Magic 2 stars Academy Award winners Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, along with Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, with Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest, and Academy Award nominee Stockard Channing.

COYOTE VS. ACME on 4K and Blu-ray December 1 from Ketchup Entertainment. After decades of being blown to bits by bombs, demolished by dynamite, mangled by magnets, battered by boulders, trampled by trains, tricked by tunnels, sprung by springs, steamrolled by steamrollers, maligned by misfires, bedeviled by bungees, rattled by rockets, backstabbed by bat suits, rocked by rocket skates, upended by unicycles, quaked by quake pills, rubberized by rogue bands, and hurled headlong off every cliff in the Southwest, Wile E. Coyote (Genius) finally fights back. Teaming up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), he takes on slick corporate counsel Buddy Crane (John Cena) and ACME, Inc., the profit-obsessed conglomerate behind every one of the Coyote's chaotic catastrophes. 

LOGAN’S RUN on 4K and Blu-ray December 8 from Arrow Video. This new limited edition features a new restoration with plenty of new and vintage bonus features.

BULLITT on 4K and Blu-ray December 8 from Arrow Video. This new limited edition features a new restoration with plenty of new and vintage bonus features.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER - SEASONS 1 & 2 on 4K November 3 from Alliance Entertainment. Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth.

THE END OF OAK STREET on Digital September 15 and Blu-ray, 4K and DVD November 3 from Warner Bros. After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.

FLIC STORY on Blu-ray October 20 from Kino Lorber. Director Jacques Deray follows in the footsteps of master filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville (Un flic) by bringing unsentimental verve, intelligent pacing and multi-layered performances to this hard-boiled classic of ’70s French film noir. 

THE LAST BOY SCOUT on 4K and Blu-ray October 13 from Arrow Video. The Limited Edition release features a brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by director of photography Ward Russell. A Limited Edition Blu-ray release will also be available.   

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD November 3 from Criterion Collection (seriously!). Few films have taken the world by storm quite like KPop Demon Hunters, an Academy Award–winning sensation overflowing with dazzling animation, unforgettable characters, and tenaciously catchy songs. 

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).

GONE WITH THE WIND in 4K and Digital November 3 from Warner Bros. The classic 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. 

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.

Catnip Reviews: LANDMAN (Season 2), THE MONSTER and BURNING

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

LANDMAN Season Two (Blu-ray) - I know series creator Taylor Sheridan is a big deal right now (he practically owns Paramount+). But to be honest, I wish he’d go back to doing more movies because he’s written some real bangers over the years. But I get it…Yellowstone and its spin-offs were much bigger than the likes of Sicario and Wind River (and probably made his wallet a lot fatter). But I think he’s starting to spread himself a little thin now. Tulsa King is okay, but Lioness? Marshalls? The Madison? Meh. Like those shows, Landman boasts a killer cast, this time led by Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, a Texas oil landman and president of T-Mex Oil. Having never seen Season One, it took me a while to sort out the various subplots and who’s who, but once I did, I kinda felt like I was watching Dallas with F-bombs. While there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that, there are way too many characters to keep track of, and not all of their conflicts are very interesting, which tends to detract from these 10 episodes’ overall bingeworthiness. Fighting for screen time in Season Two include Demi Moore, Andy Garcia, Sam Elliot, Ali Larter, though the show is at its best when focused on Thornton and his character. (2025/418 min/Paramount).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

THE MONSTER (Il mostro) (Blu-ray) - This Italian obscurity walks, talks and generally looks like classic Giallo, but to call it such isn’t entirely accurate. The plot involves a mysterious killer who calls themself  “The Monster” and commences bludgeoning a seemingly random batch of victims, but not before sending letters to down-and-out reporter Valerio Barigozzi (Johnny Dorelli), announcing each attack in advance. Seizing the opportunity to get back the respect and notoriety he once had, Valerio milks the situation for all its worth, with histrionic, tabloid-style articles that are a media sensation. Along the way, he becomes a celebrity by actually creating the news rather than simply reporting it. Sorelli himself is a real piece of work. Bitter and angry at first, sudden fame goes to his head, while new-found ambition and greed turn him into something of a monster himself. Though there are certainly Giallo elements to be found, both narratively and aesthetically, actual onscreen violence is limited and the story itself largely unfolds like a black comedy. As such, the film is pretty entertaining, with a wonderfully acidic performance by Dorelli (who was largely known as a Sinatra-like crooner back then). I also wonder if The Monster served as partial inspiration for the conceptually similar Kurt Russell vehicle, The Mean Season. (1977/95 min/Radiance Films).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼

BURNING (DVD) - Not to be confused with the critically-acclaimed 2018 South Korean thriller with the same title, this one hails from Kyrgyzstan. And despite the ominous cover art, grim overall tone and some genuinely creepy sequences (especially during the first act), Burning is ultimately not a horror film...yet arguably more disturbing. It opens with a fire that destroys a young couple’s home, then focuses on a few neighbors who’ve gathered in a nearby shop, three of whom each have different accounts of what caused the fire. Taking a narrative cue from the likes of Rashomon, the film presents three different versions of the same scenario. Only the first segment - the recollection of an old man with a drinking problem - is horror-based and features a couple of effectively nasty scenes. The other accounts are more grounded in reality, and interestingly, based on the subjectivity of the characters telling them. Throughout the story, more is revealed about the young couple (and their history), which eventually alters our perception of each. All the while, Burning becomes an increasingly downbeat, emotionally harrowing film to endure. Though it features good performances, effectively moody direction and timely themes worth exploring, be prepared for one hell of a Debbie Downer.  (2024/101 min/IndiePix).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

JACKASS: BEST AND LAST: Not The Best, But A Nice Send-Off

JACKASS: BEST AND LAST (Blu-ray)

2026 / 91 min

Paramount

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Ballkicker😺

It was with just a touch of sadness that I sat down to watch this one with my two daughters. Not only has the film franchise been the mother of all guilty pleasures for nearly a quarter-century, my now-grown kids and I have enjoyed all of them together, gathering on the living room sofa whenever a new one came out on DVD (and later Blu-ray, because Dave England getting doused in pig spooge was screaming for the HD treatment). 

After this, no more Jackass. Unlike countless other franchises with movies touting to be the “final” chapter, I believe Johnny Knoxville when he says Jackass: Best and Last will actually be the last. Even though Natalie, Lucy and I will miss these guys, maybe it’s for the best. Not only is the old guard getting pretty long in the tooth for stunts like this, none of the newer cast members have become nearly as endearing (two movies in, they still remain comparatively anonymous).

"I'd say our Oscar chances are pretty good this time."

While the movie may indeed be the last, the “best” part is certainly debatable. Everybody gathers one last time for a batch of new gags, as well as classic segments from the previous films and a few from the original series that MTV refused to air. Some of the new stuff is great…and gross. My personal favorite is the “office party” held for Ron, an aggressively angry ram. And what Jackass film would complete without a stunt meant to trigger your gag reflex? In this case, a few of the boys engage in a game of naked Twister after chugging colonoscopy laxatives. I also enjoyed the recurring presence of Larry, a robot that performs a prostate exam on Steve-O using peanut butter as lubricant.

However, the older segments, while funny, suggest an effort to pad the whole thing out to a feature length film. I won’t speak for every longtime Jackass fan, but I don’t have any need to be reminded of stunts that are readily available to revisit on discs I already own. Still, Jackass: Best and Last is entertaining, serving as a nice - slightly bittersweet - send-off for a franchise that has kept my family in stitches for years. While we are sad it's the end of an era, we’ll definitely revisit this one from time to time, just like all the other films.

EXTRA KIBBLES

DELETED SCENES MONTAGE

Revisiting FUTUREWORLD in 4K

FUTUREWORLD (4K UHD)

1976 / 108 min

Arrow Video

Review by Mr. Paws😾

This ol’ man seems to remember Futureworld being a lot cooler when he first saw it in a theater. Granted, he was a middle schooler who not-only loved Yul Brynner’s Westworld badassery, he had just recently seen Peter Fonda put the pedal to the metal in Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, so maybe there was some residual antihero worship going on.

While time can be cruel to a lot of films (especially sci-fi films), I still get a nostalgic kick out of such antiquated epics as Logan’s Run, Rollerball, and of course, the original Westworld. They may be products of their decade, but viewed in that context, there’s still a lot to love, both narratively and aesthetically. Revisiting Futureworld with adult eyes, I now realize it was never very good in the first place. 

Taking place a few years after the disaster at Westworld, Delos is back in business with a bigger, better resort with four individual parks, including the titular playground. To boost the company’s tarnished image, they invite reporters Chuck Browning (Fonda) and Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner) hoping to generate good publicity from their reviews. Fortunately for the guests, the robots never turn homicidal this time around. But unfortunately for Chuck, Tracy and a couple of world leaders who were also invited, Delos has something more sinister in store. 

While I suppose Futureworld deserves an attaboy for not simply being another rampaging robot rehash, the overall plot is kinda ridiculous. Sure, Westworld was ridiculous too, but still managed to be great, violent fun. But not only is this story dull and slow (with only a few brief bursts of low-wattage action), the shocking discovery of Delos’ agenda is underwhelming. Making things worse is the setting. Despite the premise, we see very little of the park itself. Most of the story takes place in tunnels, hotel lobbies, control rooms and what looks like the bowels of a power plant. 

"You stole that jacket from an English teacher, didn't you?"

Some interesting computer graphics notwithstanding, Futureworld is visually drab, similar to a TV movie-of-week from the same era. With hindsight, I guess that’s not too surprising, since many of those involved behind the scenes worked primarily in television. Even with a pretty decent 4K restoration, it still looks and feels smaller, cheaper and more archaic than the original. As for Brynner…back in the day, I was disappointed that his return was basically a gratuitous cameo and the silliest part of the film. Today, the scene is just a sad reminder of what it could have been if American-International (taking over for MGM) had put in a bit more effort, creatively and financially.

But hey, that's just me. Though I doubt there are too many ol’ geezers out there who seriously believe Futureworld holds a candle to the original, some still might consider it a nostalgic blast from the past. For them - or completists who recently grabbed Arrow’s excellent 4K release of Westworld - this might be worth picking up. Though considerably lighter on bonus features and physical goodies, the picture and sound quality is solid.

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. 

FUTURE PRESENT is a new interview with producer Paul N. Lazarus III, who admits the film didn’t end up being all that great.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By filmmaker/historian Daniel Kremer.

FEATURETTE - NASA: Science Fact and Fiction is an archival behind-the-scenes short.

TRAILER, TV & RADIO SPOTS

IMAGE GALLERY