THE POOP SCOOP: Gators Don't Sing

PAW OF APPROVAL: CRAWL

While the rest of the free world flocks to the first NatGeo musical, I checked out Alexandre Aja’s Crawl. Personally, I prefer to watch animals kill people than belt-out 25 year old showtunes and was not disappointed. Crawl is a lot of grisly fun, delivering exactly as promised. And with a category 5 hurricane thrown-in for good measure, what’s not to love? It’s a shame the movie is playing to empty theaters. On the plus side...no mouth-breathing rugrats were kicking my chair.

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UPCOMING CAT TOYS

THE DEAD DON'T DIE on Digital 9/3 and on Blu-ray & DVD 9/10

A quiet town finds itself under attack from the undead with the greatest zombie cast ever disassembled in the comedy, THE DEAD DON’T DIE, arriving on Digital on September 3, 2019 and on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on September 10, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Showcasing exclusive bonus features not seen in theaters including insight from the cast and filmmakers, as well as a closer look at the making of the film that takes fans deeper into this “giddy apocalypse with no way out” (Richard Brody, The New Yorker). Starring Academy Award winner Bill Murray (Olive Kitteridge, Lost in Translation, Ghostbusters), Adam Driver (Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, BlacKkKlansman) and Chloë Sevigny (“The Act,” Boys Don’t Cry), THE DEAD DON’T DIE is a “hilariously fun” (Adam Patterson, Film Pulse) and irreverent film unlike any you’ve seen before.

Olivia Wilde’s Directorial Debut, BOOKSMART, on Digital 8/20 and Blu-ray 9/3

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents BOOKSMART, arriving on Digital August 20 and Blu-ray and DVD September 3. In this fresh, unfiltered modern comedy, best friends and academic overachievers Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) realize they’ve missed out on pretty much all fun during high school. So, on the eve of graduation, they decide to make up for lost time with one wild adventure in this hilarious coming-of-age story about the meaningful bonds we create, also starring Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis.

Disney's ALADDIN on Digital 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere 8/27 and 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray 9/10

Extras explore elements of Aladdin that audiences adore, from the film’s treasured, iconic award-winning music to its beloved characters and their hilarious antics on and off screen. Viewers get the first look at an all-new song “Desert Moon,” deleted from the final film, written by eight-time Academy Award winning composer Alan Menken and Oscar-and Tony Award-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“The Greatest Showman,” “La La Land”). Features document Guy Ritchie’s joyful, easy-going approach to directing that led to movie magic; Will Smith’s fresh take on the infamous shape-shifting blue entity confined to an oil lamp; Naomi Scott’s powerful performance as the spirited princess who yearns to lead the people of Agrabah; and the indescribable feeling of playing Aladdin chronicled personally by Mena Massoud. Deleted scenes and a blooper reel round out the fun.

Pet Beast for a flying lesson.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX on Digital 9/3 and 4K, Blu-ray and DVD 9/17

Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence fire up an all-star cast in this spectacular culmination of the X-Men saga! During a rescue mission in space, Jean Grey (Turner) is transformed into the infinitely powerful and dangerous DARK PHOENIX. As Jean spirals out of control, the X-Men must unite to face their most devastating enemy yet — one of their own. The home entertainment release comes packed with hours of extensive special features and behind-the-scenes insights from Simon Kinberg and Hutch Parker delving into everything it took to bring X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX to the big screen. Beast also offers a hilarious, but important, one-on-one “How to Fly Your Jet to Space” lesson in the Special Features section. Check out a clip of the top-notch class sessions below!

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  ADVENTURES IN THE BUDGET BIN

 

Big Lots doesn’t re-stock their Blu-ray shelf as often as I’d like (though my wife is probably grateful). Sometimes have have nothing, other times they’re loaded, and among the junk are a surprising number of classics for five bucks or less. So while the missus shopped for cleaning supplies and kitty litter, I recently found these:

ALIEN ANTHOLOGY (Blu-ray) – The first four Alien films, including original and alternative versions and literally hours of bonus features. This is essentially the same content as the massive Alien Quadrilogy DVD collection that set fans back $100. $5.00 at Big Lots.

ON A RELATED NOTE: We found Prometheus (Blu-Ray) at the same time. Say what you will about Ridley Scott’s return to the franchise, which is sometimes really dumb, but this polarizing film is certainly worth five bucks. For those who care – or need a few beverage coasters for the family room, the two Alien vs Predator films are available as a double feature DVD for three bucks. Still overpriced.

PLANET OF THE APES LEGACY COLLECTION (Blu-Ray) – Sure, the original franchise of five films had a few wonky entries, but the 1968 film is an unqualified classic and this set also includes a slew of bonus features that were not part of the DVD release. $5.00 at Big Lots.