JCVD in 4K!

DEATH WARRANT (4K UHD) and LIONHEART (4K UHD)

MVD Visual

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bonecrusher😼

Two of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s popular fightfests from 1990 (when he was still flirting with A-lister status) are getting the 4K treatment from MVD Visual. Available separately, both more-or-less include the same bonus material from previous Blu-ray or DVD releases, so these are for the Damme die-hards who just gotta have the best picture and sound quality possible. You know who you are.

Lionheart (1990/110 min) is arguably the first film where Van Damme was required to truly act...you know, with emotions 'n stuff. As such, he isn't half bad. He plays Lyon Gaultier, trying to visit his dying brother who was burned alive during a drug deal gone bad in Los Angeles. Needing quick cash, Lyon ends up participating in underground fights to earn money to get to L.A., and later in a big money bout run by wealthy and conniving socialite Cynthia (Deborah Rennard).

Lyon is too late to see his brother, but his niece and estranged sister-in-law are in financial dire straits, so he resumes fighting, with Cynthia arranging bigger and more dangerous matches. Van Damme, of course, engages in plenty of what he does best: punching, kicking, collecting contusions. But unlike, say, Bloodsport, at least the downtime is watchable. Lyon's developing friendship with one character even manages to be engaging at times.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

EXTENDED 110 MIN VERSION

"THE STORY OF LIONHEART" & "INSIDE LIONHEART" - Two lengthy and entertaining retrospective documentaries featuring some of the cast & crew, including director Sheldon Lettich, producer Eric Karson, Harrison Page, Deborah Rennard and, of course, Van Damme (who seems to be lost in his own world).

AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By director Sheldon Lettich (this is the only new bonus feature); 2) By director Sheldon Lettich and actor Harrison Page.

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with director Sheldon Lettich and actor Harrison Page.

"LIONHEART: BEHIND THE FIGHTS"

VINTAGE MAKING-OF FEATURETTE

BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF THE AUDIO COMMENTARY (really) - Five minutes of Lettich & Page in a recording booth, beginning their commentary.

PHOTO GALLERY

TRAILER

MINI POSTER

"Did I step in something?"

Death Warrant (1990/89 min) is more outlandishly plotted and somewhat bereft of plausibility, but you could say the same about far worse Van Damme vehicles. Besides, this one delivers what his fans care about most…bone-crushing, bloody brawls. In this one, he’s a cop named Louis Burke who goes undercover as an inmate at a maximum security prison to investigate a string of murders. Complicating matters, however, is the appearance of “The Sandman” (Patrick Kilpatrick), a serial killer Burke thought was already dead (Burke shot the man himself in the prologue).

As long as you check your brain at the door, there’s some violent fun to be had here. Van Damme’s performance is, as usual, adequate enough for what’s required of the character, while Kilpatrick….you know, now that I think about it, I don’t recall ever seeing him in a role where he didn’t play a psycho. Stick to your strengths, I guess. Elsewhere, the action is plentiful and well shot. All-in-all, these are two decent additions to MVD’s LaserVision collection.

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with actors Patrick Kilpatrick, Cynthia Gibbs and one of my favorite “hey, it’s that guy!” actors, Art LaFleur.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Director Deran Sarafian.

TRAILER

MINI POSTER

Both films feature upgraded picture and sound from previous Blu-ray editions. The overall image is a slight improvement, and the LPCM 2.0 audio tracks for each are clear and well balanced. Be advised, however, that the 5.1 Surround option for Lionheart is only available on the Blu-ray copy.

Catnip Reviews: SPACEBALLS - THE ANIMATED SERIES, ELVIS '56 and SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE

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

SPACEBALLS: THE TOTALLY WARPED ANIMATED ADVENTURES (Blu-ray) - Even though Airplane came along to render Mel Brooks’ brand of parody somewhat old fashioned (and occasionally a little corny), the legendary director continued with business as usual. He had one more good film in him, Spaceballs, which didn’t have much of an impact at the time, but has since become such a beloved cult classic that we’re getting a belated sequel in 2027. Before that though, there was this ill-fated attempt to resurrect the property as an adult animated series, which I’m willing to wager some of you didn’t know even existed. For good reason, too. After a two-part pilot that pointlessly retells the original movie, the following 13 episodes are a scattershot collection of tales that use the Spaceballs characters to parody a variety of other movies, TV shows and video games. While occasionally amusing, most of the humor is juvenile, heavy-handed, and worst of all, painfully unfunny. A few actors from the film return to voice their characters, including Brooks, but others are solely missed. Sadly, the biggest laughs in this two-disc set come from trailers for Spaceballs and Spaceballs 2 (included as bonus features, along with a mini poster). For Mel Brooks completists only. (2008/329 min/MVD Rewind Collection).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼

ELVIS ‘56 (Blu-ray) - Of all the Elvis documentaries we’ve gotten over the years, this is definitely one of them, so there’s that. Made in 1987, it’s been resurrected on Blu-ray for those who still can’t get enough of The King (though the disc’s technical aspects are rather dreary). The film is a perfunctory compilation of performance footage from various TV appearances and concerts, his first film appearance in Love Me Tender, as well as plenty of behind-the-scenes stills from the era. The Band’s Levon Helm narrates, offering info about how Elvis was marketed to the public and his explosion in popularity. None of this is particularly revelatory and probably already familiar to his fans, so while Elvis ‘56 is watchable, it’s hardly essential. 20 songs are also included throughout the film, though few are performed in their entirety. (1987/59 min/Lightyear Entertainment).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE (Blu-ray) - I loved the original Sisu, which was awesome in its simplicity…90 minutes of Nazi killing mayhem at the hands of an old, legendary warhorse who just wanted to be left alone with his gold strike. The good news is that Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is back for more, and the great news is Sisu: Road to Revenge is every bit as fast-paced, brutal and bloody as the first film. This time, he’s trying to move his entire home out of Soviet territory to his Finnish homeland, made much more difficult since he’s pursued by Yeagor Dragonov (Stephen Lang), the same sadistic Russian commander to murdered Aatami’s entire family. Though a bit more emotionally affecting than the original - due to Aatami’s heartbreaking backstory - the primary focus remains on the thrill of the chase. This was the best action film of 2025 and is worth watching again and again.   (2025/89 min/Sony).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

JCVD Plays With Himself in DOUBLE IMPACT (4K)

DOUBLE IMPACT (4K UHD)

1991 / 110 min

MVD REWIND COLLECTION

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Brainsmasher😼

Looking back at his lengthy filmography, it’s clear that Jean-Claude Van Damme’s favorite co-star is…Jean-Claude Van Damme. Giving ol’ Peter Sellers a run for his money, the Muscles from Brussels has played dual roles in no-less than four films, meaning he has shared the screen with himself more than any other actor he’s worked with.

1991’s Double Impact was the first of ‘em. He plays Alex and Chad Wagner, separated as babies after their wealthy parents were murdered by Hong Kong gangsters. Chad is raised in America by Dad’s former bodyguard, Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis), where he grows up to be a martial arts instructor. Alex, on the other hand, remains in Hong Kong, becoming a tough, streetwise smuggler. 

Chad learns about his twin when he and Frank go to Hong Kong, the latter informing both that they’re the proper heirs to their father’s tunnel project, which is currently under the control of Nigel Griffith (Alan Scarfe). Working with a Chinese triad, Griffith is also the man who had the Wagners’ parents murdered. So it’s payback time as Alan and Chad ultimately team up to go scorched-earth on Griffith and the gangsters.

Of course, we ain’t exactly talking The Corsican Brothers here (though Dumas’ novel was an apparent early inspiration). Double Impact largely coasts on the gimmick of two Van Dammes for the price of one. Other than that, it’s your usual revenge-fueled action fest, its perfunctory plot serving as a clothesline on which to hang gunfights, chases, roundhouse kicks and plenty of kaboom. Thrown in for good measure is a gratuitous, amusingly out-of-place sex scene between Van Damme and Alonna Shaw (on-hand to provide eye candy and be placed in peril).

"Aw...my wittle man has tummy twouble?"

While certainly no classic, Double Impact is fairly enjoyable. Stating the obvious, Van Damme has never been gifted with a lot of range (nor has he needed it), but does an adequate job establishing the distinctive personalities of each twin. He’s sometimes even kind of funny in scenes where Alex and Chad initially do not get along (a prerequisite for all buddy action movies). Elsewhere, the action scenes are handled with slick professionalism, offering plenty of opportunities for Van Damme and his favorite co-star to do their thing, which is ultimately why we pay our two bits in the first place. 

I’ll say this much…Double Impact may be little more than a B-movie guilty pleasure, but MVD has always done right by this one. It’s been previously released on Blu-ray with the same bounty of bonus features (the best being a feature-length retrospective documentary). Now it’s being given a 4K upgrade. Since I’m decidedly not a Van Damme completist, I can’t say whether or not the new transfer is a significant improvement, but overall, the film looks and sounds really good.

EXTRA KIBBLES

THE MAKING OF DOUBLE IMPACT - The best of the new bonus features, the two-part, feature length documentary is even longer than the film itself. Features plenty of interviews with the cast and crew, including director Sheldon Lettich and JCVD himself, who sometimes speaks nonsensically.

FEATURETTES - Anatomy of a Scene features director Sheldon Lettich discussing his favorite action sequence in the film; Double Impact Behind the Scenes is an archival making-of from 1991.

EPK INTERVIEWS & FILM CLIPS

B-ROLL CLIPS

MVD REWIND PROMO

MINI POSTER

TRAILER

Catnip Reviews: KNOCK OFF (4K), LONDON CALLING and THE VISITOR (4K)

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

KNOCK OFF (4K UHD) - It’s ironic that the only time I ever found Rob Schneider funny was in a film where he’s more or less trying to play it serious. But there’s a reason for that. Not only is Schneider one of SNL’s least funny alumni, he can’t escape his own shadow. At least the real star of the film, Jean-Claude Van Damme, has always been aware of his limitations, dutifully serving as the guy producers go to when they can’t afford a bigger action hero. Of all of his fightfests, Knock Off might conceptually be the weirdest, with a story that tries to pass him off as a fashion designer while throwing in exploding dolls and ‘nanobombs’ stitched into trousers. Director Tsui Hark puts together a few decent action scenes, but this is a far cry from his Hong Kong glory days. While good for shits & giggles (often at its own expense), this one is mostly for Van Damme completists or those who still think Schneider was robbed of an Oscar for The Hot Chick. The former will be pleased with this impressive 4K transfer, as well as the big batch of new and archival bonus features, including a mini poster (1998/88 min/MVD Visual). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼

LONDON CALLING (DVD) - Man, talk about your misleading covers! The box art and plot synopsis suggest yet another generic, low-wattage action flick starring some guy you’ve seen in other stuff, though nothing that stood out because of him. In this case, that guy would be Josh Duhamel, probably best known for the TV show, Las Vegas, as well as a supporting role in a batch of Transformers flicks. But lo and behold, not only is London Calling an action-comedy, it’s a pretty damn funny one and Duhamel is a big reason why. He plays Tommy Ward, a once-elite hitman who kills the wrong guy…that just happens to be related to a British mob boss. With a price on his head, he retreats to LA, but wants to return to London where is family is. His current employer offers to make that possible on one condition…that Tommy takes the man’s nerdy, socially awkward teenage son, Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor), on his next hit in hopes of manning the kid up. The two make an engging pair, their relationship being both amusing and endearing. Though there are plenty of laughs, the movie doesn’t skimp on the action and bloody violence. A minor gem worth checking out.  (2025/109 min/Quiver Distribution).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

THE VISITOR (4K UHD) - This one is a strong candidate for the craziest '70s film not directed by Ken Russell or Alejandro Jodorowski. The Visitor comes courtesy of producer Ovidio G. Assonitis, the man behind such kooky copycat classics as Tentacles and Beyond the Door. Like those films, it’s an Italian-produced knockoff that liberally borrows from American blockbusters. However, this horror/sci-fi mashup must be seen to be believed. Nowhere else will you find aliens, the antichrist, exploding basketballs, killer kids, Franco Nero as Jesus, Glenn Ford bested by a bird and an clearly shitfaced Sam Peckinpah in a cameo as an abortion doctor. These tasty ingredients are stirred into a concoction that’s as baffling as it is entertaining. With surprisingly decent production values and not-half-bad special effects, the film also boasts a pretty solid cast that includes Shelley Winters, Mel Ferrer, Lance Henriksen, cult film cutie Joanne Nail and legendary director John Huston (whose character defies description). Adding to the fun are some great bonus features, including two visual essays and interviews with a few people involved in the film whose opinions are very candid. (1979/109 min/Arrow Video).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER!: 100% Hallmark Free

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER! (Blu-ray)

2024 / 98 min

MVD Rewind Collection

Review by Princess Pepper😽

I just dodged a bullet. 

When this arrived at my doorstep, for a split second, I thought I was gonna be expected to review a collection of Hallmark Christmas movies. Vomiting in my mouth a bit, I briefly wondered who I could have wronged in a past life to deserve such a fate. Then I actually read the synopsis…

Thank God…Best Christmas Movies Ever is just a single-disc compilation of scenes from classic (and not-so-classic) holiday themed movies, assembled by Mark A. Altman, the guy responsible for a similarly-structured retrospective, 1982: The Best Geek Year Ever. 

There are clips from dozens of Christmas themed films along with comments and appreciation from various critics, B-list celebrities, producers and directors. If it’s a movie near and dear to your heart - drama, comedy, fantasy, action, horror - chances are it’s featured here, however briefly. Even movies with tenuous holiday ties are featured (such as Eyes Wide Shut and Star Trek Generations), with certain interviewees grasping straws defending them as Christmas movies. 

Speaking of which, of course there’s the ol’ Die Hard debate, an argument that was beaten to death 10,000 memes ago. Can we all just move on now?

Patrick Warburton...bursting with holiday spirit.

Most of the discussions consist of summaries and fan service, but there are a few interesting nuggets of trivia here and there, as well as some well-deserved snark thrown at the likes of The Polar Express and Santa Claus: The Movie. But my favorite segment is when WWE wrestler Matt Hardy feels compelled to mansplain the concept of Santa bringing toys to kids. His earnestness is hilarious.

We may not walk away from Best Christmas Movies Ever feeling particularly enlightened, but it’s fairly enjoyable. And who knows…watching it might even turn you on to a holiday favorite you haven’t seen yet. Best of all, there isn’t a single Hallmark moment to be found. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER: LIVE AT GALAXYCON - With writer-director Mark A. Altman.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By writer-director Mark A. Altman & producer Scott Mantz. 

DELETED/EXTENDED SCENES

MINI POSTER

REVERSIBLE COVER

TRAILER