DUNE: PROPHECY (4K): Experience Preferred, But Not Necessary

DUNE: PROPHECY - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (4K UHD)

2024 / 392 min

From Warner Bros.

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Though set in the same universe as Denis Villeneuve’s epic two-part adaptation of Dune, this six-episode series doesn’t really require that you’ve seen it. HBO’s Dune: Prophecy is set 10,000 years before the events in those films. So while the Atreides and Harkonnen surnames are central to the story, we’ve never met these characters before. And almost none of it takes place on the titular planet. 

Still, the show sometimes operates on the assumption that audiences are familiar with at least some aspects of Frank Herbert’s universe…the importance of planet Arrakis (Dune), civilization’s dependence on spice production, the nature of the Fremen, etc. It also feels like we’re jumping into the middle of the story and being brought up to speed with opening narration by its main character, Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson). But even then, it takes a couple of episodes for the viewer to keep track of who’s who and what they’re up to (and most are up to quite a bit). 

We’re introduced to a huge cast of characters whose purpose and motives are initially ambiguous, which will intrigue some viewers and frustrate others. And unlike the action and spectacle of Villenueve’s films, Dune: Prophecy is far more driven by the political maneuverings of the various “houses” vying for power. The nutshell story arc focuses on the Sisterhood, the school of “Truthsayers” that would eventually evolve into the Bene Gesserit that longtime Dunies are probably familiar with. Headed by Valya and her sister, Tula (Olivia Williams), their ultimate goal is to insinuate their influence on House Corrino, ruled by Emperor Javicco (Mark Strong), in order to put one of their own on the throne.

"My kingdom for a recliner."

But as Harkonnens, Valya and Tula are also driven by revenge, their hatred of House Atreides being an underlying factor in some of their decisions. What ultimately makes Dune: Prophecy interesting is that even though these two are the primary protagonists, their actions and motives are morally questionable at best. In fact, most of the major characters are seen plotting, conspiring and betraying others to serve their own agendas. This political intrigue grows increasingly complex with each episode, with occasional flashbacks that reveal Valya and Tula’s past and how it impacts the Sisterhood’s direction (which doesn’t sit well with everybody). 

Though Dune: Prophecy pretty light on action - even as the season draws to its conclusion - the overall narrative is eventually pretty engaging. Playing almost like a sci-fi soap opera, the series is loaded with plot twists and revelations, some we see coming, others we don’t. Of the plethora of characters to keep track of, the most interesting is Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), an enigmatic soldier whose power and motives threatens the Sisterhood...and everybody else, for that matter.

One aspect the series does share with the films is its aesthetic. Dune: Prophecy is visually gorgeous, each world painstakingly depicted through creative production design and excellent visual effects. It also features a moody, evocative music score by Volker Bertelmann. Conversely, and because this is HBO, there’s a lot more sex in this one, with most of the younger cast bumpin’ uglies at one point or another. 

Dune: Prophecy isn’t quite bingeworthy, but after a slow, murky start, it’s a pretty entertaining prequel series. But be prepared for an overall lack of closure, with a majority of the storylines left open-ended in anticipation of Season Two.

EXTRA KIBBLES

INSIDE THE EPISODE - Summary/breakdown of each of the six episodes.

FEATURETTES - Disc 1: Entering the Dune Universe; Houses Divided. Disc 2: Truth or Lie (2 parts); Expanding the Universe.

BUILDING WORLDS (Disc 3) - Exclusive to disc, this featurette covers how each world/planet was conceived & created.

BEHIND THE VEIL (Disc 3) - Five separate featurettes covering various technical aspects of the series.

THE PENGUIN Waddles Onto 4K

THE PENGUIN (4K UHD)

2024 / 460 min (8 episodes)

From Warner Bros.

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

One gauge we typically use to review a TV series is how often we’re compelled to see it through to the final episode. For the bad shows, we might get to the halfway point of a season before assuming it’s not gonna get any better. For good shows, we’re generally happy to watch the entire thing, an episode or two per day. The great ones compels us to binge it all in one sitting, making it tough to get up for work the next day.

The Penguin falls somewhere between good and great. It takes its time introducing (or re-introducing) its characters and overall story arc, which is entertaining enough, but not so addicting that the next episode can’t wait until tomorrow. However, once all the players and pieces are in place, there are eventually enough narrative curveballs, character revelations and double-crosses that I just had to see how things turn out, sleep be damned. I was rewarded with a dark and somewhat shocking resolution I didn’t see coming.

The Penguin takes the second most interesting character from 2022’s The Batman and makes him the focus of this eight episode spin-off. Taking place shortly after the Riddler’s terror attack on Gotham, the story essentially chronicles Oz Cobb’s (Colin Farrell) rise to power by pitting the city’s two most powerful crime families, the Falcones and Maronis, against each other, while outwardly maintaining his loyalty to the former (though nobody on either side really trusts him).

As presented, Cobb is fascinating. Beneath his repulsive, buffoonish bluster is a complex character who’s menacing, violent, narcissistic, and self-aggrandizing. At the same time, he displays cunning few of his enemies see until it’s too late, as well as generosity and compassion for both his invalid mother (Deidre O’Connell) and young new right-hand man Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), who just lost his entire family during the attack. One episode in particular also reveals Cobb’s disturbing past, including the fate of his brothers and his creepy relationship with Mom. As in The Batman, Farrell goes all-in with his performance, aided once again by wonderfully grotesque make-up.

It just ain't a campfire without 'Smores.

The pleasant surprise is Cristin Mioloti as Sofia Falcone, recently released from Arkham Asylum after being framed for serial murder, who emerges as Cobb’s primary foe. Incarceration has definitely loosened a few screws upstairs, but also strengthened her resolve for payback against those who betrayed her (including Cobb). She’s a complex character with plans of her own, and like the narrative does with Cobb, harrowing flashbacks (including an entire episode chronicling her incarceration at Arkham) reveal her terrifying past.

Elsewhere, The Penguin features well-conceived secondary characters, as well as a level of violence you aren’t likely to ever see in a Batman movie. And speaking of which, the Caped Crusader is never part of the story, nor is he even mentioned. The show is strictly a dark and brutal crime drama that shares more DNA with old Warner Bros gangster movies than anything you’d find in a comic book. The series does open on the assumption that one is familiar with what transpired in The Batman, but by the second or third episode, that aspect of the story is left behind.

Overall, The Penguin is an entertaining extension of the universe established in The Batman, though geared more toward adult audiences with its story, tone, violence and language. But unless they come up with one helluva second story, one eight-episode mini-series is probably enough for this character, since it reveals everything that makes him tick. This three-disc 4K UHD release looks great, nicely showcasing the show’s impressive production design and occasionally seedy aesthetic. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - This set comes with a bunch of short featurettes spread out over three discs: Inside Gotham (eight chapters); Introducing The Penguin; The Origin of Oz; Welcome to Gotham; Gotham Re-Envisioned; Becoming the Penguin (easily the most interesting); Who is the Hangman: Portrait of Sofia Falcone; Hearts of the Penguin; A Tale of Two Gothams; Victor Aguilar: The Making of a Henchman.

THE POOP SCOOP: Upcoming Spring Kibbles!

DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season - Coming To 4K UHD, Blu-ray, & DVD on May 13 from Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, HBO and Legendary Entertainment are bringing the highly anticipated series DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on May 13, 2025. Get ready to binge all 6 episodes from the epic sci-fi adventure, along with over an hour of bonus content including 5 extended featurettes and an all-new, never-before-seen featurette exclusive to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season is also available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango at Home, and more. Set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.

The Cult Classic, TRICK OR TREAT, on 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD March 11 from Synapse Films.

Rock 'n' roll will never die in this 1980s cult favorite that stars Marc Price (Family Ties) as Eddie Weinbauer, a teenage outcast who idolizes Sammi Curr (Tony Fields), a heavy metal superstar. After Sammi dies a violent death, his spirit returns to help Eddie get even with his high school tormentors. In doing so, Sammi begins to gain control over Eddie's life and brings him deeper into the world of the occult. When Eddie realizes that he has become the tool of Sammi's vengeance, he attempts to stop him, and the horrifying events that follow leave no one unscathed. Featuring special appearances by Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne, Trick or Treat marked the directorial debut of veteran actor Charles Martin Smith (Never Cry Wolf, Starman) and features a legendary soundtrack by Fastway. Red Shirt Home Video and Synapse Films are proud to present this heavy metal horror classic in an all-new 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) with a head-banging 5.1 surround sound mix and loaded with hours of supplemental material including multiple commentary tracks and a feature-length video retrospective! 

BETTER MAN arrives on Digital February 11th and on 4K/Blu-ray May 13th from Paramount.

Experience the critically acclaimed and wildly entertaining musical spectacle BETTER MAN, arriving to purchase or rent on Digital February 11, 2025 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  The film will arrive in a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo as part of the Paramount Presents line on May 13 and will also be available on DVD. Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. 

TOMMY BOY Celebrates 30th Anniversary With 4K Ultra HD Debut On March 25th from Paramount.

Celebrate 30 years of gut-busting laughs with the 90s classic TOMMY BOY, arriving for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD March 25, 2025 from Paramount Home Entertainment. TOMMY BOY stars “Saturday Night Live” alumni Chris Farley and David Spade in one of cinema’s funniest on-screen pairings as two drastically different personalities on a hellish road trip to save a family business. Newly remastered under the supervision of director Peter Segal, TOMMY BOY is presented for the first time on 4K Ultra HD in a 4K/Blu-ray Combo or in a Limited-Edition SteelBook, both of which include hours of legacy bonus content and access to a Digital copy of the film.

THE LAST OF US: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is releasing March 18 in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Limited-Edition Collectable from Warner Bros.

In anticipation of the Season 2 premiere of “The Last of Us” on HBO, catch up on all nine episodes of the critically-acclaimed first season, along with nearly 3 hours of special features! Pre-order your copy today HERE.

MOANA 2 is now available on Digital and coming to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18 from Disney.

Moana 2 is available on digital retailers and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18. The digital and Blu-ray release goes far beyond with hours of exclusive bonus content for the whole family featuring a full-length Sing-Along version of the film, deleted scenes, featurettes and much more. The 4K UHD will be available in a collectible limited edition SteelBook with custom artwork and packaging.

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA arrives on PVOD Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD March 4 from Lionsgate.

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA returns to everything fans loved about the original film, while answering unresolved questions and diving deeper into the lives of each character. Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves through the infamous Panther mafia, and their plot to pull off a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange. 

DEEP BLUE SEA Limited Edition on 4K and Blu-ray March 18 from Arrow Video.

On March 18, Arrow Video releases Deep Blue Sea, the blockbuster action/adventure film from acclaimed director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger). The Limited-Edition release features a brand new 4K restoration approved by the director on 4K UHD, packed with special features. There is also a limited-edition Blu-ray. 

SEPTEMBER 5 On Digital Now 4th And On Blu-ray February 18th from Paramount.

SEPTEMBER 5 is available to purchase or rent on Digital from Paramount Home Entertainment and will arrive on Blu-ray February 18. The film details the hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympics through the eyes of the American sports producers who covered the event live and changed television news forever. 

GLADIATOR II on Digital NOW and on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray March 4th from Paramount.

Director Ridley Scott’s action-packed epic GLADIATOR II is available to purchase now, followed by a physical release on March 4, from Paramount Home Entertainment. Fans will have access to over 100 minutes of fascinating behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY (SEASON 4): Murder in the Arctic Circle

TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY (Blu-ray)

2024 / 379 min (6 episodes)

FROM WARNER BROS / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Blizzard😺

Free Kittens doesn’t spend much time reviewing TV programs. Exceptions tend to be when the show in question possesses certain cinematic qualities or prominently features actors or filmmakers typically associated with movies. In this case, that person is the great Jodie Foster, and True Detective: Night Country marks her first role in a TV series since her childhood days.

Night Country is the fourth season of HBO’s anthology series, True Detective, each season featuring a different cast and story. I have not seen the previous ones, so I don’t know if this one is similar in structure, pace or tone. But I certainly haven’t seen a mystery thriller quite like this.

Taking place in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska (way north of the Arctic Circle), a team of scientists at a research station suddenly disappear. A few days later, most of them are found dead in a twisted, naked pile, with various wounds on their bodies. Police chief Liz Danvers (Foster) is in charge of the investigation, though her immediate supervisor/casual lover, Captain Connelly (Christopher Eccleston), keeps threatening to hand the complex case to the better equipped Anchorage police.

Concurrently, Danvers’ ex-partner, now a state trooper, Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) remains obsessed with an old unsolved case, in which a native Alaskan woman was stabbed to death and her tongue cut out. Since that same tongue was just found at the research station, Navarro thinks the cases are connected. The problem is Danvers & Navarro really hate each other, stemming from an incident that resulted in both of them being demoted to the positions they now have.

Liz regrets not splurging for that filing cabinet.

The case is only about half the story. There’s also an escalating conflict between Alaskan natives and a corporate mining company accused of contaminating the water. Danvers’ native teenage step-daughter gets involved, further straining an already volatile relationship. In fact, Danvers has a volatile relationship with damn near everybody. She’s blunt, mean, bossy and indifferent to how her demands affect the marriage of beleaguered young deputy, Peter Prior (Finn Bennett). Meanwhile, Navarro is tasked with looking after her emotionally unstable sister, Julia (Aka Niviăna), who’s prone to complete breakdowns. 

Other interesting characters drift in and out of these episodes, some relevant to the primary story, others who remain part of subplots related to the main characters, both of whom are loaded with emotional baggage. In a way, Night Country unfolds like a season of the Fargo TV series, only much bleaker (though Foster is often a real hoot as Danvers). Speaking of bleak, the entire show takes place during the perpetual night Ennis experiences during winter. That, coupled with the constantly shitty weather, had me repeatedly asking why anyone would choose to live there.

The mystery itself intriguing and extraordinary bizarre. In fact, certain scenes and revelations suggest a narrative turn toward the supernatural, exacerbated by sequences and imagery that would be right at home in a horror film. But the complexities of the case, scenes of teasing ambiguity and mounting tension eventually give-way to an underwhelming finale, with one or two plot details left unresolved. Until then, Night Country is dark, moody and pretty compelling, punctuated by excellent performances from Foster (as usual) and Reis (who’s sort of a revelation).

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Meet the True Detectives & Inkblots Challenge feature stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis swayed at a table asking each other questions; Exploring Indigenous Themes discusses native Alaskan culture that’s prevalent in the series; New Chapter features director/co-writer Issa Lopez discussing the fourth season.

RECAPS OF EACH EPISODE