THUNDERBOLTS*: A Breath of Fresh Air

THUNDERBOLTS* (Digital)

2025 / 127 min

Marvel Studios

Review by Princess Pepper😺

Thunderbolts* is now available on Digital, and will be released on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD July 29.

At the very least, Thunderbolts* doesn’t hinge its entire narrative on events which occurred in previous Marvel films or TV shows. Its main protagonists are lesser known, previously introduced MCU characters, but the film does a decent job re-establishing them for newbies. So unlike Marvel’s recent attempts to extend its increasingly rote universe, this one actually works quite well as a stand-alone story.

It’s also pretty damn funny. I know that probably sticks in the craw of militant fanboys who take their superheroes way too seriously, but there’s a good reason Deadpool & Wolverine and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 have been among Marvel’s few recent financial bright spots. And like Guardians, the ample amount of humor throughout Thunderbolts* feels organic, mostly stemming from the characters’ distinctive personalities rather than an abundance of jokey one-liners. Ultimately, it’s the kind of Marvel movie one might recommended to those who profess to hate them (save for the DC emos still worshiping at the alter of Zack Snyder).

The story itself is perfunctory. Yelena (Florence Pugh) is a Black Widow assassin who regularly does dirty work for CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), as does John Walker (Wyatt Russell), who was once slated to be the next Captain America. Facing impeachment for her questionable experiments trying to create a super-human hero (called the Sentry project), Valentina instructs Yelena to go to Malaysia and destroy the lab containing all the evidence, while ordering Walker to kill Yelena, and ordering Ava Starr (aka Ghost, played by Hannah John-Kamen) to kill Walker. Instead, they discover an amnesiac young man named Bob, the result of Valentina’s experiment. Now she wants everyone but Bob dead.

"I told you if we parked here we'd get towed."

Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), now a rookie congressman, is trying to expose Valentina’s illegal activies, while Yelena’s estranged father, Alexei (aka Red Guardian, played by David Harbour) saves her, Walker and Ghost. All of them reluctantly (since they have no love for each other) team up to save Bob, though his emerging God-like powers, hastened by Valentina, prove too formidable. But really, the story is of secondary importance. What really matters here are the characters. Though most were introduced in other films, Thunderbolts* makes them engaging and likable…even Parker with all his cockiness. Their antagonistic relationships and bickering banter are often very funny, occasionally kind of touching.

Additionally, this is a surprisingly low-key affair for a Marvel movie. There’s still plenty of action, but comparatively speaking, it’s fairly grounded and never threatens to take over the entire film, not even during the climax. And even though these characters all have dark pasts (especially Bob, it turns out), the overall tone is breezy and fun, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. I especially liked the origins of the Thunderbolts name, as well as the story's amusing denouement.

Does Thunderbolts* rank among the best MCU films? No, but it’s certainly the most purely entertaining one in quite awhile. In a way, it’s not unlike a triumph-of-the-underdog sports movie: These guys are initially branded losers, but over the coarse of the story, they overcome personal individual shortcomings to find strength as a team, part of what makes it kind of a breath of fresh air.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Around the World and Back Again; Assembling a Team to Remember; All About Bob, Sentry and the Void.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Jake Schreier.

BLOOPERS - As usual, it’s mostly the cast clowning in up for the camera.

3 DELETED SCENES

THE POOP SCOOP: Upcoming Kibbles!

🧟1990’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD - UNCENSORED CUT on 4K SteelBook September 23 from Sony. It’s about damn time. Legendary make-up artist Tom Savini’s directorial debut is the underappreciated remake of George A. Romero’s seminal zombie film, Night of the Living Dead. Now available in 4K, with two versions, as well as gobs of new bonus features.

🤠THE UNHOLY TRINITY on Digital NOW, and Blu-ray DVD August 26. A tale of revenge, dark secrets, and buried treasures, the film is set against the turbulent backdrop of 1870s Montana. It picks up in the moments before the execution of Isaac Broadway, as he gives his estranged son, Henry, an impossible task: Murder the man who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Intent on fulfilling his promise, Henry travels to the remote town of Trinity, where an unexpected turn of events traps him in town and leaves him caught between Gabriel Dove, the town’s upstanding new sheriff, and a mysterious figure named St Christopher. Starring Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson.

🦸THUNDERBOLTS* on Digital NOW and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD July 29. Thunderbolts* turns up the heat this summer as it blasts onto digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home on July 1, before making its explosive entry on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on July 29. The Thunderbolts are The New Avengers, the ultimate surprise to both audiences and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as this misfit team of burned assets rallies their powers and unites against all odds. Their namesake movie Thunderbolts* is an action-packed, international adventure, with audiences embracing the film’s super-powered humor and adrenaline. 

😺Oscar Winning FLOW on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 23 from Criterion Collection. A thrilling tale of friendship and survival that took indie animation to ecstatic new heights of ambition and imagination, this Academy Award–winning international sensation follows a courageous cat after its home is devastated by a great flood. 

🎸THIS IS SPINAL TAP Goes to 11 on 4K & Blu-ray September 16 from Criterion Collection. This Is Spinal Tap, now beautifully restored, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) embark on their final American tour, with filmmaker Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) capturing all the mishaps, creative tensions, dwindling crowds, and ill-fated drummers. 

🐶Wes Anderson’s ISLE OF DOGS on 4K September 30 from Criterion Collection. Wes Anderson conjures a dystopian future Japan in magical stop-motion. Innovatively blending English and Japanese dialogue through a cross-cultural voice cast that includes Bryan Cranston, Greta Gerwig, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, Yoko Ono, and Koyu Rankin, this fable of loyalty and disobedience combines Anderson’s signature themes.

🙀FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES on Digital June 17, 4K, Blu-ray and DVD July 22 from Warner Bros. “Final Destination Bloodlines” is the newest chapter (and the great Tony Todd’s final role) in New Line Cinema’s bloody successful franchise which takes audiences back to the very beginning of Death’s twisted sense of justice.

🐍COBRA Limited Edition 4K Coming July/22 from Arrow Video. The Limited Edition release features a brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original 35mm negative, and is packed with bonus content. 

😺THE WES ANDERSON ARCHIVE: 10 FILMS, 25 YEARS Coming to 4K & Blu-ray September 30 from Criterion Collection. This momentous twenty-disc collector’s set includes new 4K masters of the films, over twenty-five hours of special features, and ten illustrated books, presented in a deluxe clothbound edition.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Clings To The Past

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD (Digital)

2025 / 118 min

From Marvel/Disney

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

Available on Digital NOW and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD 5/13

Of all the Marvel movies, the first two Captain Americas are my personal favorites. The third one? Not so much, mainly because it felt like more of a transitional Avengers episode than a movie that can be appreciated on its own terms. 

I also really enjoyed The Falcon and the Winter Soldier during the short time I had Disney+. Yeah, it was sad that Steve Rogers was gone, but Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) was a worthy heir to the shield and the (mostly) stand-alone story was really good. It also introduced a few interesting new characters along with some familiar faces…Familiar if you’ve been keeping up, that is.

Captain America: Brave New World certainly assumes you have. In fact, you might need a masters degree from MCUniversity to appreciate half of it. Not only does it operate on the conceit that the audience is well familiar with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but also Eternals, Black Widow, Ant-Man, all the Avengers movies and even 2000’s The Incredible Hulk (you know, the one with Edward Norton). 

The narrative depends on the past more than any other MCU film to date. Starting at the top, viewers who’ve never subscribed to Disney+ might find themselves asking,“When and how did Sam Wilson become Captain America?” Haven’t revisited the mostly forgotten Incredible Hulk movie from 25 years ago? Well, that’s on you, even though the film isn’t even considered part of the MCU. Newcomers will likely find the movie lacking in overall character exposition because a lot of them were established in other movies and TV shows.

Cap forgets where he parked.

Obviously, Brave New World isn’t intended for newcomers, an attitude that has torpedoed some recent Marvel movies. But the good news is that it’s better than The Marvels, Wakanda Forever & Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Much of that is due to the performances. Mackie earnestly demonstrates resolve and vulnerability, while Harrison Ford as now-President Thaddius Ross (assuming the role played by the late William Hurt) indulges in a rare bit of scenery chewing. Giancarlo Esposito is fun as Sidewinder, though he’s underused compared to the far less interesting main antagonist, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson).

The serviceable story never approaches the throwback fun of The First Avenger or the intrigue of The Winter Soldier, but is fairly entertaining in the moment (and maybe just forgettable enough to seem new again during repeated viewings). There’s also plenty of action throughout, though sometimes a little too dependent on CGI (which is pretty wonky at times). But on the plus side, here’s a rare Marvel movie that’s comparatively light on rampant mass destruction. I like citywide mayhem as much as the next guy. I also love lasagna…just not for every damn meal.

Additionally, Captain America: Brave New World does not have the look or tone of the other three movies, which I think is by design since it gives us a new Captain. But I don’t think it goes far enough. At this point, a fresher move would’ve been to ditch the MCU baggage with a stand-alone story that doesn’t cling to the past or offer hints about the future. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Assuming the Mantle; Old Scores, New Scars.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Julius Onah and cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau.

BLOOPERS - It’s mostly just actors dancing for the camera.

3 DELETED SCENES

ICONS UNEARTHED: MARVEL: An Almost Complete History

ICONS UNEARTHED: MARVEL (Blu-ray)

2023 / 712 min

From Mill Creek Entertainment

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Icons Unearthed is an ongoing series in which each season focuses on the history of a particular entertainment franchise. I’m typically skeptical of shows like this, since many tend to simply summarize what’s already common knowledge for fans, along with commentary from a variety of talking heads who may or may not have been involved.

But I kind-of changed my tune after catching their season dedicated to Star Wars. Yeah, there were a lot of talking heads and few of them were the “big” names associated with the franchise, but each episode featured tons of revealing information on the germination of Star Wars and the sometimes tumultuous efforts to get each film to the big screen. Though “unofficial and unauthorized,” the show featured gobs of footage, accompanied by narration that was unafraid to sometimes get snarky.

Icons Unearthed now turns its attention to Marvel, arguably the most culturally significant franchise since Star Wars. This season sets the stage with early episodes that delve into the history of Marvel Comics and attempts to expand their brand beyond the printed page. Most of the early adaptations, largely cartoons and TV shows, were hampered by tiny budgets and laughable production values (I can attest to that because I remember some of 'em).

Those shades are MARVEL-ous.

Even more interesting are the times Marvel had been bought and sold over the years, often by moguls more interested in toy sales than quality. And as the popularity of Marvel Comics waned and the company struggled to stay afloat, they sold the film rights to their biggest characters for shockingly small amounts of money (which is why Spider-Man still continues to be distributed by Sony). These early episodes are by-far the most revealing, especially in light of the juggernaut Marvel would become.

That juggernaut began with Kevin Feige, a fledgling producer whose vision of a cinematic universe not-only reversed Marvel’s fortunes, its influence was felt throughout Hollywood (for better or worse). Subsequent episodes focus heavily on the early MCU films - both before and after Marvel was purchased by Disney - and the significant financial risks being taken (almost everyone but Feige and director James Gunn thought Guardians of the Galaxy would bomb). These episodes feature plenty of behind-the-scenes stories related to casting and struggles during production.

However, this season isn’t quite comprehensive, content to conclude the Marvel story at around 2017, which means the pinnacles of the studio’s success (Infinity War and Endgame) are not covered, nor are any of Marvel’s subsequent failures or the saturation of TV shows on Disney+ . And since this was originally an episodic series with commercial breaks, many of the details (with accompanying commentary) are repeatedly summarized. Still, the Marvel story is pretty interesting, whether you’re a die-hard fanboy or feel the whole MCU has worn out its welcome. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

EXTENDED INTERVIEWS - Lengthy additional interview footage with actor Lou Ferrigno, actor J.J. Field, comic writer Mark Miller, actor/director Clark Gregg and filmmaker/comic writer J. Michael Straczynski.

THE MARVELS Expects A Lot From Its Audience

THE MARVELS (Digital)

2023 / 105 min

FROM MARVEL/DISNEY

Review by Pepper the Poopy😼

The Marvels is on digital NOW; on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD February 13.

While watching The Marvels at home with my wife, I ended up pausing the movie twice in the first half-hour, feeling like I must have missed something. Since Francie is far better versed in Marvel lore, I asked, “Who is this kid?” (referring to the character of Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani).

“She’s Ms. Marvel on Disney+,” Francie replied matter-of-factly. She had seen the show, but I hadn’t.

The second time was when Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), the daughter of Carol Danvers’ best friend in Captain Marvel, shows up with unique abilities of her own. “When the hell did she get super powers?”

“Remember…on WandaVision? She got her powers from the static field.” 

Now, I did watch WandaVision on Disney+, but that was three years ago and I barely remember anything about it. Not wanting to disrupt the movie any longer, I simply said, “Oh,” and hit play.

More than any other movie in the MCU, The Marvels has unreasonably high expectations of its audience. The entire film operates on the conceit that everyone has not-only seen Captain Marvel, but several other MCU movies. It also assumes Disney+ is a common fixture in most homes and we've already watched WandaVision, Ms. Marvel and - for one key scene - Hawkeye. Two of The Marvels' three main protagonists are from television shows that require a premium subscription and the narrative does little to bring newcomers up to speed. 

On set, Goose was known to be verbally abusive.

Huge chunks of The Marvels will be lost on much of the audience, which is unfortunate because at its core is a decent story, good performances and what’s probably the funniest scene I’ve ever seen in a Marvel movie. That scene - involving Goose the cat and her newborn “kittens” - will undoubtedly stick in the craws of fanboys who regularly complain about how needlessly jokey the MCU has become, but it works within the context of the story.

Elsewhere, we’re introduced to a unique civilization from planet Aladna, where singing is the official language, a nice touch that Francie truly appreciated because it features one of her favorite Korean actors - Park Seo-joon - as a prince who turns out to be married to Danvers. I mention this because the smaller moments are when The Marvels works best, such as Zenobia Shroff stealing every scene she’s in as Kamala’s protective mom.

Because of its frustrating over-reliance on story and character elements we’re already expected to know, perhaps The Marvels should have premiered on Disney+ in the first place. It barely functions as a stand-alone film, but as a supplementary chapter to other shows & movies just a remote click away, there’s some fun to be had here.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Entangled; The Production Diaries.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director-co-writer Nia DaCosta and special effects supervisor Tara DeMarco.

4 DELETED SCENES

GAG REEL