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

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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.

THE CHRISTOPHERS: Another One That Sticks

THE CHRISTOPHERS (Blu-ray)

2025 / 100 min

NEON

Review by Princess Pepper😺

Hey, didn’t Steven Soderbergh retire at one time? 

I sure as hell didn’t need any coaxing when the opportunity came to hang up my spurs. Then again, I suppose it’s a lot easier to walk away from a quarter-century of babysitting educating middle schoolers than decades of directing whatever you want, however you want. For me, Soderbergh has always been hit-or-miss, but I admire his willingness to throw damn near anything at the wall to see what sticks. When it does stick, the results are memorable.

If he had stayed retired, we wouldn’t have gotten the likes of Logan Lucky and Black Bag, which would’ve been a shame because they’re among my favorites of his films. So I’m glad he’s back, and damn, he’s been prolific, cranking out one-to-two movies a year since 2017. As usual, not all of ‘em stick, but The Christophers is one that does.

Lori Butler (Michaela Coel) is a struggling artist who restores old paintings on the side. She’s approached by Sallie and Barnaby Sklar (Jessica Gunning & James Corden), two siblings whose ailing father, Julian (Ian McKellen), is an artist whose series of paintings, collectively called The Christophers, made him world famous. They want Lori to pose as Julian’s new assistant, find a batch of unfinished Christophers in his attic, and finish the paintings herself. The idea is that when Julian dies, Sallie and Barnaby will make millions from these newly “discovered” pieces.

"What I'm ultimately hoping to paint is this door."

Because of a past encounter with Julian that affected her own career for the worst, Lori agrees to do it. But while Julian may be old, weak and a shadow of his former artistic self, he’s still sharp as a tack and generally contemptuous of other artists (as well as his own kids). Though he discovers Lori’s ruse, they develop an interesting relationship that’s both professional and personal, friendly and adversarial. A lot of this is depicted through mostly one-sided conversations initiated by Julian, whose lengthy, cynical monologues are often very amusing - if somewhat cryptic - with Lori as a not-so-casual observer.

Oh, there’s still the plot to deal with, which takes a few unexpected turns, but the real crux of the film is the interaction between these two. Lori and Julian are very engaging, and not just through dialogue. In fact, the former probably has fewer lines in the entire film than Julian has in just one of his diatribes, yet Soderbergh, screenwriter Ed Solomon and especially Coel keep us invested in her. Still, the movie belongs to McKellen. Julian doesn’t initially come across as all that complex (though he’s quite funny). But beneath his blunt, cantankerous exterior is vulnerability and remorse, attributes that slowly reveal themselves as the narrative unfolds…and McKellen plays him perfectly.

One minor quip is that it doesn’t look like much effort was put into the film’s antagonists. Sallie and Barnaby are obnoxious caricatures, played with sitcom-level buffoonery by Gunning & Corden. They’re an annoying, lazily-conceived distraction in an otherwise rewarding and enjoyable film. It's yet another reason why it's a good thing Soderbergh chose not to retire.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE - Conversation with Screenwriter Ed Solomon and Charlie Kaufman.

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MICHAEL-pedia in 4K

MICHAEL (4K UHD + Blu-ray)

2026 / 127 min

Lionsgate

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

Because Michael has been so polarizing (for stupid reasons), I’d like to preface this review by saying that while I’ve never been a particular fan of Michael Jackson, I don’t dislike him either. There were some songs I enjoyed, but even though he once ruled the world and remains a cultural icon to this day, he simply wasn’t a vital part of my life or musical interests.

However, some of the best music biographies I’ve ever seen were about artists I don’t give a damn about. As much as I detest country music, 1980’s Coal Miner’s Daughter is excellent because it tells an engaging - and ultimately revealing - story about its subject. Even in movies about real life figures, characters and story matter, perhaps even more so than historical accuracy.

So before any of Jackson’s legions brand me a hater, keep in mind that I still think his status as a legend and musical genius - to say nothing of the man’s tumultuous personal and professional life - would make a phenomenally compelling film. But Michael ain’t it.

Not-so-much a biography as a Wikipedia article set to music, Michael is chock full of his songs (as a solo artist and part of The Jackson 5) and perfunctory depictions of career milestones. But as a meaningful exploration of the man’s life and what makes him tick, it makes Bohemian Rhapsody look like Straight Outta Compton (the latter being another example of a bio done right). It’s homogenized fluff that worships its subject as much as his fans do, refusing to acknowledge any flaws or controversy, and conveniently ends before the darker aspects of Jackson’s personal life began to emerge.

Michael discovers Slayer.

At the same time, I can understand why so many people absolutely love Michael. It plays like a living greatest hits album, intended for fans who find nostalgic comfort in music and imagery. As a gushing love letter to the man and his fans, I suppose it works brilliantly. But as a film in general, Michael is narratively jumpy, maddenly benign, and devoid of any real character complexity (despite earnest performances by Jaafar Jackson as Michael and Colman Domingo as his abusive father, Joe). To be honest, I kind of expected better from director Antoine Fuqua, whose work I generally admire. Though I could be wrong, I suspect he was more of a director-for-hire here, bending to the will of the Jackson family themselves (hence Michael’s squeaky clean life).

But despite my personal assessment of the movie itself, the music sequences - and there’s a ton of ‘em - are well done and Michael’s songs are used quite effectively, both as set-pieces and when underscoring certain scenes. For the legions who loved Michael to the tune of a billion dollars (making it Lionsgate’s biggest movie ever), this disc comes highly recommended. Both the 4K and Blu-ray transfers feature excellent picture and sound quality.  

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

DON’T STOP ‘TILL YOU GET ENOUGH: THE MAKING OF MICHAEL is a terrific hour-long documentary with plenty of interviews and on set footage. Even if one isn’t necessarily a fan of the movie, the doc is interesting.

FEATURETTES - Home is Where the Heart Is: Behind the Gates of Hayvenhurst looks at the Jackson mansion; In the Mirror: Becoming Michael & Joe Time Lapses focuses on the make-up work; Becoming Michael features Jaafar Jackson discussing the role, while others sing his praises; First Look and Before the Big Screen are short EPKs.

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