ROCKY - THE KNOCKOUT COLLECTION (4K) Pulls a Few Punches

ROCKY - THE KNOCKOUT COLLECTION (4K UHD)

1976-1985 / 522 min (5 movies)

FROM WARNER BROS / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Paws😼

I suppose completists might scoff at the exclusion of Rocky V and Rocky Balboa from this 4K set. But from a certain perspective, it sort of makes sense. While those films might have their share of admirers, only the first four had a widespread - and lingering - impact on popular culture (for better or worse). 

Watching them back-to-back provides an interesting look at how the franchise devolved from character-driven sports drama to flashy, MTV-inspired eye candy. Of course, the original Rocky remains the series’ crown jewel, an engaging character study wrapped inside an old fashioned, feel-good underdog story. Not only did the film turn its creator (Sylvester Stallone) into an instant household name, he never topped it. 

Though slightly contrived, Rocky II is a solid sequel, which was something of a surprise back in the day, since it had an untried director (Stallone, flexing his clout) and essentially repeats the formula of the first film. But hey, if it ain’t broke, don't fix it, and these down-to-Earth characters are still the driving force behind the narrative.

Rocky III displays an increasing emphasis on style over substance. Aside from a poignant farewell to one of the franchise’s most endearing characters, there isn’t much subtlety or depth, but it’s certainly a lot of audience rousing fun. In this writer’s opinion, Rocky IV represents the nadir of the entire franchise, a good vs. evil conflict that’s not-so-much a movie as a sensory experience. At this point, Rocky is more of a symbol than a flesh & blood everyman, while his nemesis, Drago, is essentially a video game character.

"What have I told you about name calling?"

This set also features Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago (The Ultimate Director’s Cut) for the first time on home video. This is a re-edit overseen by Stallone himself, who lengthens some scenes, shortens or removes others. Overall, it’s an improvement, though the film remains the worst in the series. I can see some fans disagreeing with Stallone’s tweaks, but comparing both cuts is part of the fun of this set. 

From a video standpoint, the overall quality is pretty good. Admittedly, the only film I’ve seen in the Blu-ray format is Rocky and the 4K transfer looks noticeably better. Since the other films feature equally impressive pictures, I’m assuming those are an improvement, too. The same consistency can’t be said about the audio, Rocky II, in particular. To be perfectly blunt, that film sounds terrible. Elsewhere, most of the bonus features (on a separate Blu-ray disc) are carried over from previous releases, though it does include a new documentary about re-editing Rocky IV, which is pretty interesting.

Probably released to coincide with the release of Creed III, Rocky: The Knockout Collection isn't a complete knockout, since it pulls a few punches in terms of content and quality. The four included films do look good in 4K, but some fans will obviously see it as incomplete and there are actually fewer bonus features than previous boxed sets. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

“KEEP PUNCHING” - This is an hour-long documentary where Sylvester Stallone (apparently during COVID) discusses and shows the process of re-editing Rocky IV. It’s very enjoyable and Sly is quite candid about what worked and didn’t work in the original  film. 

FEATURETTES - “3 Rounds with Lou Duva” (boxing trainer); “Steadicam: Then and Now ” (with Garrett Brown, who invented it); “Make Up! The Art and Form” (featuring make-up artist Michael Westmore); “Staccato: The Composer’s Notebook” (featuring Bill Conti); “The Ring of Truth” (featuring set designer James Spencer); “A Tribute for Burgess Meredith”; “Stallone Meets Rocky” (through the miracle of ‘90s technology, creator & character meet each other).

3 ROCKY AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By director John G. Avildsen, producers Irwin Winkler & Robert Chartoff, cinematographer Garrett Brown (who didn’t work on Rocky, but invented the Steadiman that was used), actors Talia Shire, Burt Young & Carl Weathers; 2) By trainer Lou Duva & sports writer Bert Sugar; 3) By Sylvester Stallone.

TRAILERS FOR ALL FILMS

DIGITAL COPIES OF ALL FILMS

THE BUG: A Movie for Beetlemaniacs

THE BUG: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE PEOPLE’S CAR (Blu-ray)

2016 / 80 min

FROM FIREWATER FILM COMPANY

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😺

Like Ewan McGregor, my first car was a Volkswagen Beetle. 

Well, not mine exactly. Growing up, that baby blue ‘69 Bug was my parents’ second car. The other was a sporty new Mustang, which they sure as hell weren’t gonna entrust with their freshly-licensed 16-year-old son, so the Bug it was. While sometimes a little envious of peers whose parents provided them sexier sets of wheels, I grew to love that little car, which sort-of became part of my identity. I was even a little sad when I eventually moved out of the house and had to leave it behind.

Of all the cars I’ve driven throughout my life, that Beetle is the one I miss the most.

The Bug: The Life and Times of the People’s Car is a documentary that perfectly captures the affection me and so many others still have for the Volkswagen Beetle. When actor Ewan McGregor fawns over his own vintage Bug while waxing nostalgic about growing up driving one, he could be describing my own formative years. His enthusiasm is contagious. Even viewers who’ve never had the pleasure of puttering around in a Bug will find the relationship between these homely vehicles and their owners quite charming.

Another lovely garden, destroyed by Bugs.

McGregor is not the only Beetlemaniac featured here. Plenty of others are on-hand to sing the car’s praises, from collectors to those who restore old Bugs to their former glory. One of the film’s more affecting narratives chronicles a man’s year-long effort to rebuild a car he purchased from the widow of a man who never got to finish the job. 

Concurrently, the film delves into the Beetle’s history, beginning by dispelling the general notion that it was developed by Nazis. We get the whole story…the car’s explosion in sales & popularity during the 1960s, its impact on pop culture (particularly in America), Volkwagen’s unorthodox ad campaigns and, somewhat sadly, its decline in the late ‘70s (except in some countries where they were widely used as taxis). 

More recent history is briefly touched upon, like when the car was reintroduced with a new design, but for the most part, The Bug is an affectionate, surprisingly bittersweet love letter to the distant past. We don’t see too many old school Beetles on the roads anymore, as many of the film’s participants concur. And as it ended - with a lone Bug driving off into the distance - I found myself missing my first car more than ever. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - “Ewan McGregor on Keeping Your VW Alive”; “Ewan McGregor on Saving an Old Bug”; “Ewan McGregor’s First Car”; “Mike Yager on Volkswagen Camaraderie.” (These are essentially deleted or extended scenes).

PHENOMENA: Dario Argento Gets Buggy in 4K

PHENOMENA (4K UHD)

1985 / 116/110/83 min (3 cuts of the film)

FROM SYNAPSE FILMS

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

On this side of the pond, Dario Argento was difficult to appreciate in the ‘80s because a lot of his films were severely edited for American release. Over 20 minutes were shaved from the original version of Deep Red, while Argento’s biggest international success, Suspiria, lost nearly ten. Neither edited cut was terrible, but they certainly diluted Argento’s unique style by disrupting the fluid pace, tone and, of course, some masterfully disturbing death scenes. As a result, what most of us saw was unremarkable home video fodder.

1985’s Phenomena suffered the most from such wholesale butchery, released here as Creepers and chopped to a measly 83 minutes. Which was too bad, because if not Argento’s best film of the ‘80s, the Italian version is certainly his most outlandish (in a good way). But none of us Americans got a chance to see that movie. As with some of Argento’s best-known classics, it would be years before we were able to appreciate how good the original Phenomena really is. Perhaps just a notch or two below Deep Red and Suspiria, I'd argue it’s the last great film he ever directed. 

The setting is similar to Suspiria’s, with American student Jennifer (a very young Jennifer Connelly) studying abroad at a private school in Switzerland. Because of her penchant for sleepwalking and a strange relationship with insects - Jennifer has a telepathic connection with them - she quickly becomes a pariah among the students and staff. Meanwhile, young local girls are being brutally murdered, including some of the students. Assisting in the investigation is Professor McGregor (Donald Pleasance), a wheelchair-ridden entomologist who uses insect behavior to determine times of death, and even where bodies are located. He believes Jennifer’s ability to communicate with bugs could possibly lead them to the killer.

Probably time to change those filters.

While Argento’s striking imagery and jarring violence are here in abundance, he also throws in truly unusual elements, such as seemingly out-of-place heavy metal music (as opposed to relying exclusively on Goblin) during comparatively mundane scenes, and a batshit climax involving a mutant boy, maggots, a straight razor and an angry chimpanzee. Also throughout the film are bugs by the thousands - both nasty and docile - obeying Jennifer’s commands, “flirting” with her and, of course, doing a little killing themselves. Some of the story elements border on ridiculous, but are presented with such audacity and panache that we roll along with it.

Because of his attention to aesthetics over everything else, Argento’s catalogue has probably benefited more from the 4K UHD format than any other horror director and Phenomena is no exception. The film looks and sounds outstanding, no matter which version you’re watching. Speaking of which, this set offers three versions of Phenomena, including the Creepers cut. Also included are a bevy of bonus features, the best of which is a fascinating 2-hour documentary. Be aware, however, that this 4K release and its bonus content are virtually identical to the one Synapse Films put out just last year. Other than a new cover, there are no other discernible differences.

But if you’ve never seen Phenomena - or the old Creepers cut still leaves a bad taste in your mouth - this set is definitely worth checking out. It nicely showcases one of Dario Argento’s last great films…the way it should’ve been seen all along.

EXTRA KIBBLES

3 VERSIONS OF THE FILM - Disc 1: Original Italian version (116 min); Disc 2: International version (110 min); Creepers version (83 min).

“OF FLIES AND MAGGOTS” - A comprehensive 2-hour documentary about every aspect of Phenomena’s production and release. Features dozens of interviews, mostly those involved behind the camera, including Argento.

“THE THREE SARCOPHAGI" - An interesting side-by-side comparison of all three versions by Arrow producer Michael Mackenzie.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By Dario Argento biographer Troy Howarth (Italian version); 2) By author Derek Botello and historian David Del Valle (International version).

“JENNIFER” MUSIC VIDEO - Goblin’s haunting theme.

TRAILERS - For all three versions.

U.S. RADIO SPOTS

JAPANESE PRESSBOOK GALLERY

REVERSIBLE COVER - Featuring new and vintage artwork.

Finally...BLACK SUNDAY (1977)

BLACK SUNDAY (Blu-ray)

1977 / 143 min

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Mr. Paws😸

For some of us, witches and vampires are not the first things that come-to-mind at the mention of Black Sunday. We think of Robert Shaw, the Super Bowl and a Goodyear blimp armed to the teeth. That Black Sunday was heavily promoted as a disaster movie and predicted by some to be the next Jaws. 

As a kid who grew up loving disaster movies of the ‘70s, that's what got me to see it, anyway. I even bought Thomas Harris’ original novel because the cover showed a blimp smashing into a stadium, terrified spectators fleeing in panic. I didn’t get very far into the book, however, because Harris’ prose was a bit too complex for my puny 13-year-brain to process. But since the movie also boasted Robert Shaw - of whom I was suddenly a big fan after his scenery chewing role as Quint - how could Black Sunday miss?

The movie was R-rated, so I had to sneak into the movie at the Southgate Quad…and emerged two-and-a-half-hours later thinking it sucked. Where were the explosions, burning bodies and massive scenes of destruction? Even the heavily-hyped blimp assault on the Super Bowl was an effects-shitty let-down compared to the non-stop death and mayhem of The Towering Inferno. I didn’t give a rat’s ass about terrorist plots or psychologically-unstable war veterans. I just wanted some spectacle.

Black Sunday isn't a disaster movie, of course, and obviously didn’t become the next Jaws. After a moderately successful theatrical run, it just sorta disappeared without anyone really giving it a second thought.

But perhaps the movie, too, was simply a bit too complex for my puny 13-year-brain to process. Seeing it years later - armed with more maturity and tempered expectations - I had to admit the story itself was really great (and sadly prophetic, but more on that later). 

Bruce Dern (the 70s’ king of on-screen looneys) plays Michael Lander, an unstable Vietnam veteran who now pilots blimps at sports events. He's got serious issues with damn-near everybody and has the perfect chance to strike back with the help of Dahlia (Marthe Keller), a member of a Mid-East terrorist group, Black September. Together, they devise a plan to kill 80,000 fans at the upcoming Super Bowl by piloting a blimp into the stadium and using explosives to launch hundreds of thousands of rifle darts. Trying to prevent the disaster is Major Kabakov (Robert Shaw), an Israeli anti-terrorism expert who's nearly as ruthless as those he hunts down. Most of the film cuts back and forth between the terrorists putting their plan in motion and Kabakov tracking them down, culminating in a climactic showdown in Florida on Super Bowl Sunday.

Extreme product placement.

The special effects depicting the blimp’s descent into the stadium are still laughably bad, but the aerial photography and stuntwork leading up to that scene are actually pretty astounding, even by today’s standards. One also has to appreciate the fact that large parts of the climax were filmed during the actual Super Bowl. That’s really Robert Shaw sprinting through the crowd and down the sidelines as the Cowboys & Steelers clash on the field (I wonder if anyone recognized him). When you think about it, those scenes might be the pinnacle of guerrilla filmmaking. And unlike the sleazier, cheesier Two-Minute Warning - the other stadium-themed thriller released around the same time - Paramount managed to get the full cooperation of both the NFL and Goodyear (considering the premise, that’s kinda mind blowing). 

I’ve grown to admire the work of John Frankenheimer over the years and he’s now one of my favorite directors. While not quite a dark masterpiece on the level of The Manchurian Candidate or Seven Days in May, Black Sunday is cut from the same cloth, with concepts and characters that are definitely within Frankenheimer’s wheelhouse. Flexing his storytelling skills, he distills the more convoluted aspects of Harris’ novel into an effective, tightly-wound thriller, anchored by great performances from Shaw, Dern and an underappreciated turn by Fritz Weaver as beleaguered FBI agent Sam Corley.

Perhaps Black Sunday should have been the next Jaws, tapping into our fears of terrorism the way the latter exploited our fear of sharks. There have been countless films about terrorism over the years, but Black Sunday was the first to depict a large-scale attack on America itself. But back in 1977, the idea of extremists targeting us on the holiest of holidays seemed inconceivable, maybe even too ridiculous to be taken seriously. 

Then, of course, 9/11 happened. Now we live in an age where the Super Bowl is a very possible terrorist target. In fact, shortly after 9/11, the US Department of Homeland Security declared the Super Bowl a National Special Security Event (NSSE), right up there with presidential inaugurations, State of the Union Addresses and major political conventions (the Academy Awards and Olympics have been designated NSSE's, too).

At any rate, it’s nice to see Black Sunday get a little belated love. Not just because it’s (unfortunately) more timely now than back in ‘77, but because it remains a fun, exciting thriller that's finally getting the domestic Blu-ray release it deserves. On this side of the pond, it’s previously been only available as a bare bones DVD with a middling transfer. In addition to bonus material that helps one appreciate the film, Arrow Video offers up a great restoration with vivid overall picture quality and multiple sound options (John Williams’ score, in particular, really stands out here). So for some of us, here’s another one of those overlooked gems we can scratch off our wish list.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“IT COULD BE TOMORROW” - Titled after the film’s tagline, this is an excellent 30 minute video essay by Sergio Angelini.

“THE DIRECTORS: JOHN FRANKENHEIMER” - Being that Frankenheimers is one of my favorite directors, I found this vintage doc from 2003 pretty engaging.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Josh Nelson.

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET (not reviewed)

REVERSIBLE COVER (?) - We were given a check-disc to review, so we aren’t 100% sure Arrow provides the usual two-sided cover. Let’s hope so because the new artwork is godawful.

Movie Night with Dave & Stinky: JFK (1991)

JOHN WICK CHAPTERS 1-3 STASH BOOK COLLECTION: Sometimes Appearance is Everything

JOHN WICK CHAPTERS 1-3 Stash Book Collection (4K UHD SteelBook)

2014-2019 / 355 min (3 movies)

FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Tiger the Terrible😸

While you can’t always judge a book by its cover, sometimes you gotta grab it because of its cover, even if you have already read it before.

For example, it’s hard to imagine any hardcore action fan who doesn’t already own all three John Wick movies (and a fourth on the way, of course). If not one of the greatest action franchises of all time, it’s easily one of the most consistent. And because these aren’t so-much individual films as installments in an ongoing saga, sitting down to take in one essentially means doing them all. And who hasn’t done that…multiple times? This series is nothing if not supremely rewatchable.

Not only that, all three films have been released - individually or bundled together - on Blu-ray and 4K UHD before…more than once, actually. Both formats featured excellent video and audio quality, as well as a generous amount of bonus features for each film. The packaging on most of them has generally been pretty cool, too. From a technical and content aspect, this “Stash Book” Collection offers nothing new.

But sometimes appearance is everything, especially for dedicated physical media collectors. If you’re like me, you tend to collect movies much like voracious readers hoard books. For most novels, the paperback will do, but it’s nice to have hardcover editions of those ‘special’ books - classics, favorite authors, etc. - proudly displayed on a bookshelf, not just as part of their living room feng shui, but because, in a way, they sort-of define you. And speaking of books…

Dressed for Excess.

Obviously released to coincide with the long-delayed, highly-anticipated John Wick Chapter 4 (and I can’t wait), the Stash Book Collection is one of the more creatively packaged boxed sets I’ve seen in a long time. Like the titular character's own “Russian folk tales” stash book from Chapter 3, the box itself is designed like a rare hardcover. It opens up to several pages of Russian text (which one must assume is the story of Baba Yaga). 

Beneath those pages are three individually numbered & colored SteelBooks containing 4K & Blu-ray versions, each featuring new artwork contextually related to the film inside. Capping it off are a couple of photo cards, one of Wick and his late wife, the other of Wick and his murdered puppy, Daisy (whose death we still haven’t gotten over).

Available as a Best Buy exclusive, the John Wick Chapters 1-3 StashBook Collection is a beautifully packaged (and sturdy) boxed set. There’s nothing new in terms of content, but the design and artwork certainly reflect the mythic world of its titular character, making it a must own for those who sometimes do appreciate a book for its cover.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

2 PHOTO CARDS

John Wick

FEATURETTES - “Don’t F*#% with John Wick”; “Calling in the Cavalry”; “Destiny of a Collective”; “Assassin’s Code”; “Red Circle”; “NYC Noir”

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Chad Stahelski and producer David Leitch.

TRAILER

John Wick Chapter 2

FEATURETTES - “RetroWick: Exploring the Unexpected Succuss of John Wick”; “Training John Wick”; “WICK-vizzed”; “Friends,Confidantes: The Keanu/Chad Partnership”; “As Above, So Below: The Underworld of John Wick”; “Car Fu Ride-Along”; “Chamber Check: Evolution of a FightScene”; “Wick’s Toobox”

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves..

KILL COUNT - Montage of every death scene.

“DOG WICK” - Trailer parody.

DELETED SCENES

TRAILER

John Wick Chapter 3 - Parabellum

FEATURETTES - “Parabellum: Legacy of the High Table”; “Excommunicado”; “Check Your Sights”; “Saddle Up Wick”; “Bikes, Blades,Bridges and Bits”; “Continental in the Desert”; “Dog Fu”; “House of Transparency”; “Shot by Shot”

2 TRAILERS

JOHN WICK HEX GAME TRAILER

BEHIND THE SCENES OF JOHN WICK HEX - All about the video game.

THE RETALIATORS: The Multipurpose Revenge Movie

THE RETALIATORS (Blu-ray)

2021 / 96 min

FROM QUIVER DISTRIBUTION

Review by Tiger the Terrible😺

The cool thing about The Retaliators is there are more reasons to watch it than just another revenge story.

For starters, you could play a game of “Spot the Metal Dude.” The cast is loaded with real life rockers from various popular bands. Some appear in short cameos, while others, such as Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and several members of Five Finger Death Punch, have significant supporting roles. Even old school geezer Tommy Lee shows up to slap a waitress’ ass.

Speaking of which, The Retaliators has a killer soundtrack featuring some great tunes by the likes of Asking Alexandria, From Ashes to New, The HU, Nothing More and, of course, the two bands previously mentioned. But these songs aren’t gratuitously inserted. For the most part, they enhance the overall tone of the film, as does the score itself. If nothing else, it's a movie worth cranking up loud.

There's also an opportunity for a bit of self-reflection. In certain scenes, mild-mannered pastor John Bishop (Michael Lombardi) is forced to decide whether to strike back at those who’ve wronged him, or practice what he preaches and turn the other cheek. He faces the ultimate test of his beliefs when given the opportunity to kill the man who murdered his daughter without any fear of consequences. Personally, I’d drive that ice pick right into the guy’s brain - maybe even wiggle it around a little - which I realize says more about me than John (to avoid spoiling things, I won’t reveal what he chooses).

Mr. Clean Stirkes Back.

Even the dependable driven-by-revenge premise has a few interesting wrinkles. Though he obviously wants to find who killed his teenage daughter, John isn’t seriously considering revenge until the detective on the case, Jed Sawyer (Marc Menchaca), provides the opportunity. In fact, Sawyer reveals a pretty shocking secret about his personal brand of justice (stemming from a past tragedy). But while the narrative occasionally threatens to address more serious themes, it’s ultimately all about getting even...violently. The final act is an over-the-top splatterfest with creative, audience-rousing gore and excellent make-up effects.

As a horror-tinted action flick, The Retaliators doesn’t score many points for subtlety - or originality - but it’s a lot of shameless fun. Well-paced, efficiently directed and featuring solid performances (even some of the rock stars are surprisingly decent), the film is a guilty pleasure worth checking out…for a variety of reasons. 

EXTRA KIBBLES 

INTERVIEWS - Short but entertaining interviews with most of the main cast.

MUSIC VIDEOS - A lot of heavy metal videos of songs from the film. Only drawback…they’re presented as a single feature.

TRAILER