Catnip Reviews: DEADMAN'S BARSTOOL, TMNT TRILOGY (4K) and HARLEY FLANAGAN: WIRED FOR CHAOS

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

DEADMAN’S BARSTOOL (Blu-Ray) - This ain’t your daddy’s Anchor Bay. Those of a certain age might fondly recall this boutique label was renowned as purveyors of B-movie horror and cult classics. These days, the label’s been putting out quirky, low-budget indies, most of which are an acquired taste. The black comedy, Deadman’s Barstool, is no exception. This one involves the disgruntled wife of a philandering televangelist who plots with his mistress to rob him blind, only to have their plans go up in smoke when he turns up dead. And that’s just the beginning of their problems. Not bad for a microbudgeted film by a writer-director (Dean Dempsey) with obvious cult aspirations, though he clearly loves his eclectic assortment of  characters more than you’re likely to. (2018/78 min/Anchor Bay). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TRILOGY (4K UHD) - I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact there are people pushing 50 who grew up watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on TV, then dragged their beleaguered parents to theaters to catch these - the original live-action trilogy - on the big screen. If you’re one of them, here’s a big ol’ box of nostalgia. This set collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, all given good 4K restorations. These films are definitely products of their time, and their crude charm will likely be lost on anyone raised on the later (and better) films. However, if they were a part of your childhood, it’s an enjoyable trip down memory lane. You also might end up chuckling at what you used to think was awesome (like Vanilla Ice). This three disc set also comes with a generous selection of new and archival bonus features, as well as some physical goodies to re-establish your fandom.  (1990-1993/278 min min/Arrow Video). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

HARLEY FLANAGAN: WIRED FOR CHAOS (Blu-ray/DVD) - Though I’ve occasionally enjoyed my share of punk rock over the years, I never really delved into the hardcore stuff, and prior to watching this film, had never heard of Harley Flanagan (founder of the band, Cro-Mags). But it’s also been my experience that the most interesting music docs have been those about artists I’m not familiar with. That being said, Wired for Chaos is a fascinating (and sometimes harrowing) look at the life of a guy who has lived, eaten and breathed the genre all his life. Flanagan himself candidly tells his own story, which includes a childhood I wouldn’t wish upon anybody. The film also features interviews and testimonials from a variety of musicians, artists and people who know him well. The movie didn’t make me want to rush out and buy a Cro-Mags record, but Flanagan’s perseverance and dedication to his craft is admirable. We also get the impression he’s lucky to still be alive. (2025/99 min/Lightyear Entertainment). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

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: 😼😼

SUPERMAN Under the Gunn

SUPERMAN (Blu-ray)

2025 / 129 min

Warner Bros

Review by Princess Pepper😺

This is the best Superman film since Robert Donner’s 1978 classic. That might be considered faint praise, since sequels to the original got increasingly worse. Then there are the dumpster fires by Zack Snyder, who had the misguided idea to make the Man of Steel as brooding as Batman. 

Certainly, a fresh start was in order, but thank God this isn't another origin story. At this point, who isn’t aware of Superman’s origins and early days? And we sure as hell don’t need to see the planet Krypton explode again. So who better to rescue the franchise from itself than writer-director James Gunn? He's not only responsible for the best trilogy in the MCU (Guardians of the Galaxy), but made the best DC do-over with The Suicide Squad.

Gunn’s Superman remembers this stuff is supposed to be fun, and sets that tone right away with our titular hero (David Corenswet) getting his ass handed to him by a “metahuman” foe, only to be rescued and dragged home by his rambunctious, CG-created dog, Krypto. Typical of Gunn’s style, the scene is funny without descending into campy self-awareness, displaying a playful sense of humor that pops up throughout the rest of the film, and seldom gratuitously. 

"I don't care how cold it is. You do your business outside."

But Superman isn’t a comedy, nor so awestruck by its hero that he can’t be depicted as uncertain and vulnerable. While never particularly jawdropping or groundbreaking, what makes the film enjoyable is the attention paid to its characters, how they’re written, and just as importantly, how they’re performed. Corenswet is a compassionate, likable Man of Steel, while Nicholas Hoult makes Lex Luthor’s obsessive hatred/envy of Superman almost understandable (especially when one considers the paranoid state of the world right now), stopping just short of being sympathetic.

The movie is occasionally stolen by the “Justice Gang,” consisting of self-absorbed Green Lantern (Nathon Fallon), snarky Hawkgirl (Isabella Merced) and beleaguered Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who provide a considerable amount of comic relief. I wouldn’t mind seeing these guys in their own movie. Interestingly, the weakest character might be Louis Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), mainly because there isn’t a whole lot of difference between her and other depictions of the character. Still, the scenes between Lois and Clark/Superman are engaging (and she’s well played by Brosnahan). 

There’s a new story, of course, and it’s a pretty good one that includes some relevant social commentary on how easily the media can be manipulated by those in powerful positions with an agenda. It also culminates in the usual destructive, CGI-laden climax, which is arguably the least interesting aspect of the film, mainly because we've seen it all before. But until then, the new Superman is a breezy breath of fresh air after a decade of dour debacles. This franchise finally appears to be in the right hands.

And as for the mouthbreathers, Kool-Aid drinkers and Zack zealots getting all butthurt over a supposed “woke” Superman…go home and clean the poo-poo out of your Underoos. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

ADVENTURES IN THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN - This is an excellent making-of doc that runs nearly an hour.

FEATURETTES - Breaking News: The Daily Planet Returns; Lex Luthor: The Mind of a Master Villain; The Justice Gang (these guys should get their own movie); Paws to Pixels: Krypto is Born (James Gunn based this charming pooch on his own dog); The Ultimate Villain; Icons Forever: Superman’s Enduring Legacy; A New Era: DC Takes Off; Kryptunes: The Music of Superman. These features run 5-10 minutes each.

ANIMATED SHORT - “School Bus Scuffle,” featuring Krypto.

AUDIO COMMENTARY (Digital Copy Only) - By director James Gunn.

ULTRAMAN DECKER: More Monsters & Mayhem

ULTRAMAN DECKER - THE COMPLETE SERIES (Blu-ray)

2022 / 700 min (25 episodes, 1 movie)

Mill Creek Entertainment

Review by Nick Lyons, from DVDCorner.net

2022’s Ultraman Decker (which is part of the Reiwa era) is simultaneously a sequel to Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga and is also based on Ultraman Dyna. The 25 episode series begins at a time of peace in which there have been no monsters for 7 years. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a series if there were no monsters, so as you might expect, all hell breaks loose when alien Spheres attack Earth and Mars. Moreover, a barrier covers Earth which prevents ships and communications from coming or going from the Planet. Luckily, Earth has hope. A brave and optimistic grocer named Kanata Asumi winds up becoming Ultraman Decker (who can transform into various types). Kanata himself also joins Earth’s TPU training school (and later becomes a part of the GUTS-Select team) alongside cadets Ichika Kirino and Soma Ryumon. Together this team (also comprised of robots HANE2 and Terraphaser) combat the evil Sphere forces (including the big bad Mother Spheresaurus) as well as Kaiju such as Deathdrago and Pagos. 

Along the way, some familiar faces pop up, such as Ultraman Trigger, Cameara, Grace, Marluru, and a Kanata descendant. Elsewhere in the plot is a key storyline involving the alien Agams who may or may not be connected to the Sphere invasion. Last, but not least is a movie finale titled Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey To Beyond, where Ultraman Decker, GUTS-Select and Ultraman Dinas team up to fight against Earth invader Professor Gibellus.

A great find from the Ultra Yard Sale.

Much like Super Sentai (AKA Power Rangers), the Ultra franchise has been running for decades. The Japanese Tokusatsu franchise has had many incarnations including Ultraman Decker. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Decker is far from being one of the more beloved series in the franchise. Ultra Q and the original Ultraman, it certainly is not. The series is filled with cheeseball dialogue, an over-the-top Kanata (played by Hiroki Matsumoto), overly dramatic speeches, war cries, bad CGI, and an episodic formula involving new Ultraman types and a new Kaiju or monster. There’s nothing here that you haven’t seen before in previous Ultra series. 

On the plus side, the show delivers plenty of explosive action, which tends to be the selling point for the Ultra series. Yes, the CGI is pretty rough, but it’s nice to see that suits/costumes are still being used. Sure, you can do more with CGI, but nothing beats people in costumes duking it out. On top of that, it’s nice to see some cameos from past series. Anytime there’s more than one Ultraman on screen, it’s a treat to be sure.

Ultraman Decker is unlikely to be a fan favorite, but it’s still an entertaining tokusatsu series that will undoubtedly appeal to super fans or completists.

THE POOP SCOOP: Heroes & Villains Edition

🙀A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7-FILM COLLECTION on 4K September 30 from Warner Bros. Freddy Krueger, the vengeful child killer burned alive by angry parents, returns to haunt the dreams of their children when this chilling 7-film saga becomes available as a 4K UHD collection for the first time. From his first terrifying appearance on Elm Street to his resurrection through nightmares, Freddy unleashes horror across generations – where sleep is no escape, and dreams become deadly. The collection includes the original seven films –  A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989), Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), and  Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) – along with the uncut versions of A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Dream Child.  The collection also includes an alternate ending of Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare presented in anaglyph 3D and complete with 3D glasses in the physical collection. The collection will be available in limited edition collectible steelbook packaging and as a standard 4K collection.

🦸James Gunn’s SUPERMAN on Digital NOW, Coming to 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 23 from Warner Bros. When Superman is drawn into conflicts both abroad and at home, his actions to protect humankind are questioned, and his vulnerability allows tech billionaire and master deceiver Lex Luthor to leverage the opportunity to get Superman out of the way for good.  Will the Daily Planet’s intrepid reporter Lois Lane, together with the aid of Metropolis’s other metahumans and Superman’s own four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help Superman before Luthor can completely destroy him? In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original Super Hero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind. From DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn produced the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

😺FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA arrives on Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and 4K UHD Steelbook on September 9 from Lionsgate. The next chapter from the World of John Wick follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. Eve seeks revenge for her father’s death, and finds herself crossing paths with John Wick himself.

🛸LOST IN SPACE on 4K UHD September 2 from Arrow Video. The Limited Edition set is packed with hours of special features, collectible packaging, and such newly commissioned extras as assorted interviews and a video essay.

🙀CREEPSHOW 2 on 4K UHD September 30 from Arrow Video. The Limited Edition 4K UHD features a brand new 4K restoration from the original negative, packed with hours of special features and an illustrated collector’s booklet.

👰Tim Burton’s CORPSE BRIDE on 4K UHD September 23 from Warner Bros. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the stop-motion-animated fantasy musical film Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, the 2005 film will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital for the first time. 

🙀BRING HER BACK Coming to Blu-ray August 19 from A24 Films. From Danny & Michael Phillipou, the writer-directors of Talk to Me, Bring Her Back features a brother and sister who uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother. 

😺MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING on Digital August 19 and 4K & Blu-ray October 14 from Paramount. Both the digital and physical releases come with hours of bonus content, including behind-the-scenes interviews, exclusive commentary, and deleted footage not seen in theatres.

😸MATERIALISTS Coming to Blu-ray August 26 from A24 Films. A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. 

✈AIRPORT: THE COMPLETE 4-FILM COLLECTION on 4K and Blu-ray September 30 from Kino Lorber. This 4-Film collection includes all four newly-restored Airport movies, accompanied by new audio commentaries. 

🤖MEGAN 2.0 On Digital Now and 4K & Blu-ray September 23 from Universal. The rewired bot will also be launching on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on September 23, 2025, and you can unlock M3GAN’s newest updates with over 30 minutes of exclusive bonus content.

🙀THE CONJURING on Digital NOW and 4K UHD 8/26 from Warner Bros. From New Line Cinema comes a feature film drawn from the case files of married demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. 

🤠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. 

🐈Oscar Winning FLOW on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 23 from Criterion Collection. 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, capturing all the mishaps, creative tensions, dwindling crowds, and ill-fated drummers.

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