OUTLAND and RED PLANET in 4K: Arrow Goes to Space

OUTLAND and RED PLANET (4K UHD)

Arrow Video

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Butt Nugget😸

In addition to taking place in the near future on distant worlds, these two films have something else in common: We here at Free Kittens feel they remain underappreciated and undeservedly forgotten (at least compared to other sci-fi films of their eras). But Arrow Video does right by both titles with a couple of new 4K editions.

Sean gets sassy.

OUTLAND (1981/109 min) - I always hated the term, “lost classic,” because it’s basically an oxymoron. But if I were to ever use it, 1981’s Outland would certainly make the list. This is gritty, violent, adult sci-fi that’s often been called High Noon in space. Sean Connery plays a weary law-enforcer assigned to keep the peace on a mining colony on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons...only nobody really wants him to enforce the law. This becomes clear after several miners go apeshit and kill themselves due to their addiction to a synthetic drug created to boost production, but the powers-that-be (led by Peter Boyle) send assassins to kill Connery. 

Outland is similar to Alien in look and tone, but essentially a cop drama that happens to be set in outer space. Like a lot of equally-underrated movies written and directed by Peter Hyams, it's fun, fast-paced junk food with decent special effects, witty dialogue and well-conceived characters. It also features a terrifically understated performance by Connery.

I’m of the opinion that Hyams has never really gotten the accolades or respect he deserves. But in addition to the outstanding 4K restoration, this set boasts bonus features that spotlight his quietly impressive film career (including a great interview where we hear it from the horse’s mouth). Other material includes a few commentaries (one that’s new), a critical analysis and an interview with the FX supervisor who discusses the process known as “Introvision,” which was new and innovative at the time. However, whoever designed that godawful new slipcover deserves to be fired.

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - A Corridor of Accidents is an excellent 50-minute interview with writer/director/cinematographer Peter Hyams, who discusses his career from his beginnings through the early ‘80s. This is easily the best of the bonus features; Introvision: William Mesa on Outland features the FX artist discussing his use of Introvision; Outlandish is an interview with cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt, who’s candid about his mostly symbolic film credit.

NO PLACE FOR HEROES - This is a visual essay by Josh Nelson, who goes into detail about Outland being a western (not really all that revelatory, since most of us already knew that).

HOLLYWOODLAND OUTLAND - A visual essay about Peter Hyams, by Howard S. Berger.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By Peter Hyams; 2) By critic Chris Alexander.

2 TRAILERS

IMAGE GALLERY - Mostly stills from the film, with a bit of promotional artwork.

"Based on what I just stepped in, I think a dog beat us here."

RED PLANET (2000/106 min) - This was a critical and box office bomb back in 2000, which also contributed to Val Kilmer’s freefall as a bankable leading man. Further sealing its fate was another sci-fi film released just a few months earlier (Mission to Mars) that was conceptually similar. While Brian De Palma would go on to find more work (sort of), Red Planet remains director Atony Hoffman’s only film. 

But it ain’t that bad. Sure, the thing’s got its share of narrative issues, such as waaay too much upfront exposition offered by voice-over narration, and perhaps more plot than the film actually needs. In the future, Earth is slowly dying, so efforts are being made to terraform Mars by growing oxygen-producing algae. But when the experiment begins to fail, a mission is sent to investigate. However, a solar flare damages the ship, so most of the crew are trapped on the surface and running out of air.

You could actually jettison most of the Earth-in-peril stuff and still have a fairly gripping survival tale. In addition to suffocation, the landing partly must deal with a scary-ass rogue robot that’s turned homicidal and is hunting them down. Those scenes are pretty cool, but sometimes undermined by the episodic nature of the story, which presents one new crisis after another. Still, the performances and cast are decent (including Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss, Tom Sizemore and Benjamin Bratt), while the special effects and production design are excellent. If nothing else, this is a great looking film that’s been nicely restored on 4K and comes with a smattering of bonus features.

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - The Martian Chronicles is an interview with FX supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun; Suit Up is an interview with helmet & suit designer Steve Johnson.

ANGRY RED PLANET - A visual retrospective by critic Heath Holland, who discusses the good and bad aspects of the film.

DELETED SCENES

TRAILER

Revisiting CREEPSHOW 2 in 4K

CREEPSHOW 2 Limited Edition (4K UHD)

1987 / 90 min

Arrow Video

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

As a big fan of Stephen King, George A. Romero and anthology horror films in general, I loved the original Creepshow. While not as flat-out scary as I expected, the movie was a hell of a lot of fun, with great stories, plenty of humor and a colorful aesthetic that paid homage to the ancient horror comics that inspired it. Decades later, it remains the best (certainly the most consistent) anthology film I’ve ever seen. 

For once, here was a horror film that justified and deserved a sequel…maybe lots of sequels. 

So imagine my initial disappointment at 1987’s Creepshow 2, which was (and still is) inferior in almost every way. Shorter (only three stories), cheaper and aesthetically drab, the movie largely eschews the comic book flourishes that made the first one unique. Though Romero returns to write the screenplay based on King stories, he’s sorely missed in the director’s chair, replaced by longtime associate Michael Gornick. And save for one segment, much of the original’s giddy gallows humor is conspicuously absent. At the time, I felt like those responsible for the sequel didn’t really give a damn about it, resulting in a movie that should have been called CHEAPshow.

But you know what? Time has actually been somewhat kind to Creepshow 2. While it still doesn’t hold a candle to the original (nor to many episodes of the recent Shudder series), I’ve revisited the movie on numerous occasions over the years, and like Jordy Verrill's fungus, it has sort of grown on me. Without the baggage of elevated expectations, I’ve learned to enjoy it on its own terms. So have many other fans, because what was once a critical and commercial dud has since earned something of a cult following.

Shoulda gone to Supercuts.

As for the stories themselves, I enjoy the first one, “Ol’ Chief Woodenhead," more than I used to. A fairly straightforward tale of just-desserts, its utter predictability doesn’t help, but the segment features a terrific villainous performance by a very young Holt McCallany (who’s now a reliable character actor) and some nice atmospheric touches. Conversely, one of King’s best stories, “The Raft,” is turned into the movie’s cheesiest segment, with unlikable characters, shitty performances and a man-eating slab of lake-dwelling goo that resembles a bunch of Hefty bags tied together. However, this one does feature some nasty gore effects. 

The best segment, “The Hitchhiker,” is the only one that would have been right at home in the first film. The story of a hit-and-run victim who won’t stay dead, this one boasts fun performances by Lois Chiles as a self-absorbed driver and Tom Wright as the title character seeking revenge. Creepshow 2 also has a wraparound story tying it all together, that of a comic book fan getting revenge on bullies with the help of Venus fly traps. This story (as well as The Creep himself) is animated, and cheaply, too, but it’s pretty amusing.

In the end, I no longer think Creepshow 2 was made by folks who didn’t give a damn. They simply did their best with the talent and meager resources available to them at the time. So all things considered, everyone involved who wasn’t a pencil pusher did manage to put together an entertaining little horror film. 

Now it’s available on 4K as a limited edition boxed set and features a pretty good video upgrade, though the three audio options are the same as Arrow’s previous Blu-ray release (and not really a complaint since the DTS-HD Master Audio track is really good). Having been sent a promo disc for review, I can’t comment on any physical supplements, but all of the other bonus material (outlined below) is the exactly same as the Blu-ray. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.

FEATURETTES - Screenplay for a Sequel is an interview with screenwriter George A. Romero; Tales from the Creep is an interview make-up legend with Tom Savini (who plays The Creep in the wraparound segments); Poncho’s Last Ride and The Road to Dover are interviews with actors Daniel Beer (Randy) and Tom Wright (The Hitchhiker); Nightmares in Foam Rubber is special effects featurette, including interviews with Howard Berger & Greg Nicotero; My Friend Rick is an appreciation of make-up artist Rick Baker, featuring Howard Berger.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Michael Gornick.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE

TRAILERS & TV SPOTS

SCREENPLAY GALLERIES

Catnip Reviews: BETTER OFF DEAD (4K), WATSON Season One & SPAWN (4K)

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

BETTER OFF DEAD 40th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD) - 1985 was a pretty damn good year for John Cusack, with a couple of films that put him directly in the spotlight. One of them, Better Off Dead, didn’t make much of an impression when it was first released, but has since become something of a cult film. 40 years later, it at least deserves a few kudos for its quirkiness and black comedy elements, which helped distinguish the film from countless other ‘80s era teen comedies. But as an obvious product of its time, how much one enjoys it today depends largely on nostalgic reverence for that decade, and so small amount of tolerance for director “Savage” Steve Holland’s sense of humor. Considering this release touts the film’s 40th Anniversary, the 4K video/audio quality is merely average and there are no additional bonus features. Fans who already own the film in other formats have little reason for an upgrade. (1985/96 min/Paramount). 

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

WATSON Season One (DVD) - Just when you think they’ve run out of ways to serve up iconic characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along comes the first season of Watson. As the title indicates, the focus is on Sherlock Holmes’ longtime loyal sidekick. However, it’s set in the present day, with the title character (Morris Chestnut) as the head of a Pittsburgh clinic. Not the worst idea as these things go, but it doesn’t necessarily need to feature characters we’re already familiar with (including Holmes’ nemesis, Moriarity). With a few name changes here and there, this could be any typical TV detective series. Still, Chestnut is good in the lead role, and if not quite bingeworthy, the show has its moments. This 4-disc DVD includes a few featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel.  (2025/560 min/Paramount). 

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺

SPAWN Limited Edition (4K and Blu-ray) - Spawn was a garbage truck movie back in 1997 and time hasn’t been any kinder to it. Too bad, really, because the basic premise has the makings of a compellingly dark and brutally bloody comic book movie. But instead of appealing to the same older audience that made Blade a sleeper hit a year later, Spawn aims for the mallrat crowd. But even that doesn’t excuse the shipshod direction, bad writing (with eye-rolling dialogue) and tremendous overacting. Speaking of which…if they gave out awards for the most irritating performance of all time, John Leguizamo (who apparently improvised a lot of his dialogue) would be a strong contender. Instead of rebooting Batman over and over, how about somebody try to give this character a decent movie? However, fans of the film will certainly appreciate Arrow Video’s excellent restoration and big batch of all new bonus features, including two commentaries and interviews with several primary cast members. It also features both the theatrical and director’s cut (a marginal improvement). (199798 min/Arrow Video). 

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

THE CAT is a Crazy Concoction

THE CAT (Blu-ray)

1992 / 89 min

88 Films

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Doppleganger

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Bonnie, one of several writers of the feline persuasion who tow the line around here while Dave gets all the credit (but at least he feeds us on time). Dave also hands out the review assignments, and in my paws he dropped The Cat, a Hong Kong science-fiction film from 1992. 

“Why me?” I asked. “Doesn’t Pepper usually review the sci-fi stuff?”

“I thought you’d get a kick out of it,” Dave said. “It’s about a cat from space. And Look at the cover. The cat looks just like you.”

“I guess that explains why you kept The Picture of Dorian Gray for yourself. The painting looks just like you.” He didn’t think I was funny.

Unlike the movie I reviewed earlier this year with the same title, at least this one features a cat, even if he isn’t the actual star. Named General, he’s just one of three aliens who’ve arrived to save Earth from a blobby, goopy monster that sometimes absorbs people, others times burns them alive, and occasionally assumes their identity (depending on the requirements of the plot at the time). So creature-wise, there are similarities to The Thing, The Blob and a bowl of marinara sauce.

Scene stealer.

The main protagonist is Wisely (Waise Lee), a writer who uncannily determines General and his friends are aliens who must be stopped. He and the police are determined to hunt the cat down, which proves impossible. This leads to my personal favorite scene in the entire movie…a lengthy junkyard brawl where General kicks a dog’s ass (landing it in the hospital). But when his companion, Pai So (Christine Ng), assures Wisely they’re here to stop the monster from getting-hold of an artifact called the Octagon (which is actually some kind of weapon), he teams up with them. 

The special effects are as goofy as the plot, a kooky combination of rubber monsters, puppetry, wild gore, bluescreen and good ol’ stop motion. Speaking of which…I’ll concede that Dave is right about one thing: General really does resemble yours truly, save for numerous bits where he looks like a stuffed animal being thrown across the room.

The whole thing culminates with a climax that must have been sponsored in-part by Fanta, because the soda company’s logo is prominently featured among scenes of death and destruction. The Cat is as crazy and campy as it sounds, but at least it’s never boring, even when that handsome devil of a title character isn’t onscreen. It’s one of those fun what-the-hell-did-I-just-watch flicks.

EXTRA KIBBLES

JAPANESE CUT - With English subtitles, and waaay different than the original (less fun, too).

INTERVIEW - An extensive interview with the film’s screenwriter, Gordon Chan.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng.

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Includes two essay, color photos, cast & crew credits.

IMAGE GALLERY

TRAILER

REVERSIBLE COVER - With new and original artwork.

5” x 7” POSTER ART REPLICA - Two sided, with new and original artwork.

The Good, Bad & Ugly of PATTERNS

PATTERNS (Blu-ray)

1956 / 83 min

Film Masters

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

The boutique label, Film Masters, is mostly known for releasing older films that have been largely forgotten. Many are low budget - sometimes really low budget - obscurities that’ll never be mistaken for lost masterpieces. But whether it’s an overlooked gem or Corman-cranked cheapie, these discs generally boast great restorations and bonus material that’s often more informative and entertaining than the movies themselves…

…which makes this release of 1956’s Patterns a little perplexing. Written by Rod Serling (based on his teleplay for a Kraft Television Theatre episode that aired a year earlier), it’s a genuinely great film. And if all you know of Serling are his classic, genre-bending series, The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, it’s something of a revelation. Instead of a sci-fi tinged allegory or creepy slice of horror, the film is a compelling drama of corporate greed and office politics. 

But atypically, this Blu-ray is just a bare-bones disc with no bonus material or even a supplemental booklet that usually accompanies Film Masters releases (which I’ve always enjoyed). Considering Patterns is the work of one of the 20th Century’s most influential screenwriters, surely it’s deserving of some retrospective analysis and/or appreciation (if even just an audio commentary). Additionally, the actual video transfer isn’t quite up to snuff. For most of the running time, the picture and sound quality is decent, if unremarkable, until the key final scene, which suddenly turns noticeably murky and muddy, almost as if someone forgot to finish the job.

Bad vibes only.

Still, Patterns is a film worth discovering, with Van Heflin as Fred Staples, the newest executive at Ramsey & Company, a powerful industrial corporation. He’s initially hired to work alongside longtime vice president Bill Briggs (Ed Begley), whose compassion for others is the polar opposite of the company’s ruthless president, Walter Ramsey (Everett Sloane), relentlessly driven by profit and expansion, which leads to considerable conflict with Briggs. But Ramsey’s conniving agenda all along has been to push Briggs out by making him miserable enough to resign, then replace him with Staples as the new VP. This puts Staples in a moral quandary since he and Briggs have become close friends and partners. 

Though Fielder Cook’s direction is merely perfunctory, Sterling’s story and screenplay crackle with sharp dialogue and complex characters, bolstered by excellent performances from Heflin, Begley and Sloane, the last of whom is wonderfully hateful. Even devoid of a music score or much in the way of melodramatic flourishes, Patterns is a consistently engaging film that holds up to repeated viewings, even if it hasn’t yet gotten the Blu-ray release it deserves.