THE FUGITIVE (4K): Whatever Happened to Andrew Davis?

THE FUGITIVE 30th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD)

1993 / 130 min

FROM WARNER BROS / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Tiger the Terrible😻

Hey, whatever happened to Andrew Davis, anyway? This was the guy who managed to direct a good Chuck Norris movie (Code of Silence) and followed it with the only Steven Seagal vehicle anyone still cares about (Under Siege). Then there’s The Fugitive.

Not only one of the best movies of 1993, The Fugitive still ranks among the best thrillers of the entire decade and arguably one of the few times that an adaptation of a legendary TV show transcended its origins to become a classic unto itself. 30 years later, I’d be willing to wager that when most people think of The Fugitive, it’s the movie that comes to mind (and probably very fondly).

Not that Davis was emerging as some sort of action auteur. He’s always had help from strong casts and screenplays that paid special attention to supporting characters. Not only does The Fugitive feature career-best performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones (who won an Oscar), the other characters are engaging…and often pretty amusing. 

"Sorry, we don't validate parking here."

But it was Davis' acute sense of pacing, as well as a knack for putting together thrilling (and plausible) action sequences, that briefly had me paying more attention to him as a director. Alas, The Fugitive ended up being the high point of his career. Not counting a lone foray into family films (his agreeable adaptation of the best-selling YA book, Holes), he’s directed nothing noteworthy or memorable since. In fact, Davis hasn’t even done a feature film in nearly 20 years. What a waste.

But at least he has this one, which nobody can take away. I still believe that, in lesser hands, The Fugitive wouldn’t be considered a modern classic. The film remains a smart, nail-biting thriller that’s always worth revisiting from time to time. Ironically, the only aspect that hasn’t aged very well involves the iconic train wreck that sets the fugitive hunt in motion. While Davis & company destroyed an actual train and bus for the sequence, the special effects depicting Richard Kimble (Ford) leaping to safety just before impact are pretty wonky, exacerbated by this 4K restoration.

Speaking of which, the overall picture and sound quality of the 4K transfer is excellent and an improvement over previous Blu-rays. The disc also features two audio options…a 5.1 DTS-HD version and, more significantly, a new Dolby Atmos track. Elsewhere, this 30th Anniversary edition includes a solid batch of vintage bonus features (though I sure would've loved an update on what Andrew Davis has been up to lately).

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTRODUCTION - By director Andrew Davis, actors Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones. Davis is on the phone with Jones, while Ford’s appearance looks to be from a separate interview.

FEATURETTES - The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase; Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck; On the Run with The Fugitive.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Andrew Davis and actor Tommy Lee Jones.

TRAILER

DIGITAL COPY

2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of AMERICAN GRAFFITI. Nominated for five Academy Awards, it features a great young cast and an unforgettable soundtrack. And just in time for Xmas, VIOLENT NIGHT is now in 4K. When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound taking everyone inside hostage, they are not prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus. Courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

EAST OF EDEN, BLUE BEETLE, THE FUGITIVE AND COOL HAND LUKE  ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR). Courtesy of Warner Bros.

TITANIC: Available nationwide December 5 in a two-disc set that includes the film on 4K Ultra HD, plus a Blu-ray Disc boasting more than five hours of new and legacy bonus content. PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 1: Plumb the depths of horror with this collectible box set featuring five unforgettable movies, all in eye-popping 4K Ultra HD, along with hours of special features and exclusive collectibles. Courtesy of Paramount Movies

3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR, MARATHON MAN, SERPICO, THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT and DEATH WISH are now all available in 4K Ultra HD! MEE-OW! 
Courtesy of Kino Lorber

ENTER THE VIDEO STORE: EMPIRE OF SCREAMS: Arrow delivers five classic films (The Dungeonmaster, Dolls, Arena, Robot Jox, Cellar Dweller) from Charles Band's Empire Pictures in a limited edition box set. The packaging features newly commissioned artwork, reversible sleeves and double-sided posters; an Arrow Video store "membership card"; an 80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing on the films by Lee Gambin, Dave Jay, Megan Navarro, and John Harrison, plus select archival material. Courtesy of Arrow Video

Admit it...plopping that little urchin in front of the set on Christmas morning and subjecting him to a little Italian terror would be pretty amusing.

Courtesy of Synapse Films

A few recommended newer Blu-ray and 4K titles that made us purr.

A few classic kibbles on Blu-ray and 4K (some of for the first time). For that one person who's hard to buy for, you can't go wrong with the classics.

SAW X: Bittersweet Revenge...But Not a Horror Film

SAW X (Blu-ray)

2023 / 118 min

FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

What makes Saw X one of the best entries in the franchise is that it strives for something different, at least from a narrative perspective. Aesthetically, it’s a welcome return to the original Saw…with its bleak, grimy warehouse setting and traps that look like they could have realistically been conceived and assembled by an ailing old man. But really, the similarities end there.   

Whereas Saw was a police procedural at-heart and subsequent sequels increasingly dove into horror or gore for its own sake (though I’ve never considered it to be torture porn), Saw X eschews the sensationalism and increasingly convoluted franchise timeline to present a simple, satisfying tale of comeuppance. In fact, I wouldn’t consider it to be a horror film at all.

Taking place between the events of the first two films, Saw X essentially tells a stand-alone story featuring the welcome return of John Kramer (Tobin Bell), this time as its protagonist. With terminal cancer and only months to live, he seeks out an alternative cancer treatment program overseen by Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund). However, whole thing turns out to be an elaborate scam she uses to bilk desperate patients out of their money.

When the WiFi goes out.

Naturally, Kramer applies his skills as an engineer to exact revenge. With help from Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), he captures Cecilia and everyone else involved in the ruse, then imprisons them in the very “clinic” they used for conning him. And of course, Kramer offers each the opportunity for redemption if they can escape the horrific traps he’s devised. While Saw X may not be a horror film in the purest sense, rest assured, the death scenes are as creatively nasty as ever.

But ultimately, what makes Saw X such an effective visceral (and vicarious) experience is the story itself. In the other films, Kramer/Jigsaw was more of an anti-hero than a villain. Here, great effort is made to paint him as a likable, sympathetic protagonist (maybe even a tragic hero?). Conversely, the film features some of the most despicable villains of any in the entire franchise, especially Cecilia, who displays no remorse for her actions. Hence, there’s perverse pleasure to be had in watching these people begging for their lives before getting what they deserve (though I could have lived without seeing a child being waterboarded with blood). 

The film stumbles a bit when attempting to throw in the usual plot twists. While I understand they’re something of an expectation in the franchise, a major revelation during the final act requires a sizable suspension of disbelief. Other than that, Saw X is a satisfying tale of bloody, bittersweet revenge, but never really a horror film.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“REAWAKENING” - This is an excellent 6-part making-of documentary, with plenty of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with cast & crew.

FEATURETTES - Drawing Inspiration (scene breakdowns with director Kevin Greutert); Make-Up Department Trap Tests (special effects tests).

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director-editor Kevin Greutert, cinematographer Nick Matthews & production designer Anthony Stanley.

DELETED SCENES - Nealy 40 minutes’ worth.

TRAILER

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

A BULLET FOR SANDOVAL: The Good, the Bad and the Borgnine

A BULLET FOR SANDOVAL (Blu-ray)

1969 / 101 min

FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Tiger the Terrible😼

Quite a few iconic American actors used to find additional work overseas, often popping up in action flicks and spaghetti westerns. For some of them, it was out of necessity, but for others, it was either for the love of acting or, perhaps more likely, a hefty paycheck. Whatever the case, producers of these films certainly knew the marquee value of a big name in the cast, even if they weren't the actual star.

The late, great Ernest Borgnine once made the trip, appearing in 1969’s A Bullet for Sandoval as the main antagonist. Speaking of which, watching this film (for the first time) was another reminder how good Borgnine was at playing both guys and bad guys without really changing gears too much. Whether lending his talents to a classic or a crapfest, his indelible presence makes a lot of films just a little bit better.

Borgnine’s not in the film nearly as much as the title or his billing suggest. The actual star is George Hilton (aka Jorge Hilton) as John Warner, a confederate soldier who goes AWOL to be there for the birth of his son, and then is pursued by his own superiors. John arrives home to find that his lover died after giving birth. Shunned by her powerful and resentful father, Sandoval (Borgnine), John takes the baby with him. However, since there’s also a cholera epidemic raging through town and no one is willing to help provide medical care or food, the child dies as well.

"High five, buddy...or else!"

This sets John on a path of revenge, leading a gang of outlaws who terrorize those responsible for his son’s death, with Sandoval being the ultimate target. Simply plotted and typically violent, A Bullet for Sandoval is neither the best nor worst of its kind, but overall, it’s a pretty satisfying revenge western. As with most slabs of spaghetti imported for English consumption, the dubbing is sort of a distraction, especially a couple of chuckleworthy moments where it’s obvious two different voice actors have been used to dub a single character (however, the original Spanish version, Los Desperados, is also included on this disc).

A Bullet for Sandoval won’t make anyone forget Sergio Leone, but spaghetti western lovers won’t regret giving it a go. Other than the lousy ending, this Italian-Spanish co-production is fast-paced, efficiently directed and features a good villainous turn by Borgnine (especially his final scene, which I won’t give away). VCI Entertainment has put out a Blu-ray that's fairly light on bonus material, but the overall 4K restoration is pretty decent.

EXTRA KIBBLES

LOS DESPERADOS - Spanish version.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Repo Man director Alex Cox.

TRAILER

THE POOP SCOOP: Books, Bloodlines & Boxes

THE ART OF THE CLASSIC WESTERN MOVIE POSTER Coming March 28th 2024 from Schiffer Publishing.

Acknowledging the iconic, but with plenty of room for the rare and unfamiliar, The Art of the Classic Western Movie Poster presents poster art created for several hundred classic (and not-so-classic) westerns produced from 1903 to 1978. More than 800 images—many reproduced as full page—make this the most comprehensive book of western movie poster art ever published, and the definitive history of a genre often underestimated for its impact on American audiences. One of the earliest narrative films, 1903’s The Great Train Robbery, was a western, and before commercial cinema was a decade old the form had proliferated to such an extent that practically every nickelodeon in the country used short-length shoot-’em-ups in their daily programs.

MINE’S BIGGER THAN YOURS: THE 100 WACKIEST ACTION MOVIES Now Available from from Schiffer Publishing.

A celebration of the wildest and weirdest that action cinema has to offer, the hosts of the Really Awful Movies podcast take you on a fun-filled pilgrimage through the nuttiest movies in the genre. Traversing both decades and continents, these 100 titles reach beyond the typical patron saints of action, giving unsung genre heroes like Vic Diaz, Reb Brown, and Godfrey Ho their due. Our intrepid hosts have highlighted action gems with all of the necessary components for greatness: Heroes! Villains! Henchmen! But something’s typically missing. Usually, it’s a budget. Often, it’s talent. But that doesn’t mean these films aren’t as entertaining as any mainstream fare. Divided into nine chapters by subgenre, featuring stills and posters, and with a foreword by genre icon Brian Trenchard-Smith, Mine’s Bigger Than Yours is a romp through the world of fisticuffs, jailbreaks, pit fighting, mercenaries, and really big explosions—all the stuff that makes action movies great.

PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES arrives to buy on Digital December 5, 2023 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD December 19 from Paramount.

In 1969, young Jud Crandall dreams of leaving his hometown behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that forever binds him to Ludlow.  Banding together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped the town since its founding, and once unearthed has the power to destroy everything in its path. Find out why sometimes dead is better when the terrifying prequel PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES arrives to buy on Digital December 5, 2023 and debuts on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD December 19 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Based on the untold chapter from Stephen King’s bone-chilling novel Pet Sematary, PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES is a blood-curdling thriller starring Jackson White as Jud and an outstanding ensemble cast including Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Henry Thomas, and Natalie Alyn Lind, with Pam Grier and David Duchovny.

THE WARRIORS Limited Edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray December 12 from Arrow.

On December 12th, Arrow Video invites The Warriors to come out and play in a new 4K UHD Blu-ray release and Limited Edition Blu-ray set. The action-thriller sets feature exclusive new 4K remasters of both the theatrical cut and the 2005 alternate version of the film sourced from the original camera negative, approved by director Walter Hill. After the assassination of respected gang leader Cyrus, the Warriors are framed for the murder and must traverse the boroughs of New York on foot to get back home to Coney Island. Hill’s thrilling and visually stunning adaptation of Sol Yurick’s novel (itself a retelling of the Greek story of Anabasis) features performances by Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, and David Patrick Kelly. The two-disc 4K UHD Blu-ray / Blu-ray Limited Edition set’s bonus content includes a 100-page collector’s book containing new writing by film critic Dennis Cozzalio plus select archival material; limited edition packaging with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Laurie Greasley; a double-sided fold-out poster with original and newly commissioned artwork by Laurie Greasley; 6 postcard-sized artcards; and gang logo stickers.

Forgotten Filmcast Episode 201: DOGS (1977)

We recently participated in a podcast at Forgotten Filmcast to discuss the 1977 killer critter film, Dogs. Thanks to host Todd Liebenow for having us on the show.

Click HERE to listen to the episode.

Poirot Gets Spooked in A HAUNTING IN VENICE

A HAUNTING IN VENICE (Digital)

2023 / 103 min

FROM 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😽

A Haunting in Venice is now available on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD November 28.

Director-star Kenneth Branagh's third go-round as legendary detective Hercule Poirot adds a dash of the supernatural to his usual crime-solving exploits. While A Haunting in Venice isn’t quite as intriguing or complex as Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile, it’s a fairly entertaining entry in the franchise. 

Mystery writer Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) coaxes Poirot out of retirement to attend a seance conducted by self-declared medium Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh), who was hired by Rowena Drake in hopes of communicating with her dead daughter, Alicia. Oliver challenges perpetually skeptical Poirot to prove Joyce is a fraud. However, during the seance and supposedly speaking through Joyce, Alicia claims she was murdered by one of the others in attendance.

Shortly afterwards, Joyce herself is killed. As a storm builds outside the dilapidated orphanage where the seance took place (and where Alicia died), Poirot insists on locking everyone inside and questioning the suspects individually. These scenes are when the film is most effective…Poirot on the case, interrogating an eclectic cast of characters in his usual detached-but-forceful manner. As with other Poirot novels and the two previous films, there’s comfort in the formula and Branagh has long-since made the character his own (though I still believe Albert Finney did it best).

"My hat's cooler."

But unlike the novel on which it’s (very) loosely based (Hallowe’en Party), A Haunting in Venice unnecessarily throws paranormal elements into the narrative. I don’t know if this was to create more of a horror atmosphere, but if so, it tends to undermine the primary appeal of the Poirot franchise. While I can’t speak for everybody, the character’s methods and unflappable detective skills are what makes him enjoyable…not self-doubt and vulnerability when genuine phantasms figure into the story.

Still, A Haunting in Venice is primarily a whodunit with enough moments of genuine sleuthing to make it worthwhile. This time around, the secondary characters aren’t quite as interesting and the outcome is a tad more predictable, but like the previous two films, it’s gorgeously shot and features a solid ensemble cast.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MURDER, DEATH AND HAUNTING - 26 min making-of featurette.

11 DELETED SCENES

THE NUN II: An Equally Forgettable Sequel

THE NUN II (Blu-ray)

2023 / 110 min

FROM WARNER BROS / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

I know I saw The Nun, but aside from the image of the title character, I can't remember a damn thing about it. And even that image stems more from her brief but terrifying introduction in The Conjuring 2. Sometimes the only thing worse than a bad horror movie is one that leaves no impression.

Now here’s The Nun II, featuring returning characters I have absolutely no memory of, along with a few new faces for Valak to torment and terrify. Most of this one takes place in a Catholic girls’ school in France. Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), who I forgot saved the day in the first film, is ordered to once again square off against Valak. Her old friend, Maurice (Jonas Bloquet), who I also forgot was possessed by Valak at the end of The Nun, is working there as a groundskeeper…still possessed.

Valak shows up early and often (as do other creatures doing her bidding), mostly emerging from the murky darkness, which was scary as hell in The Conjuring 2, but happens here so frequently that we’re more-or-less expecting it. The same can be said about the plethora of noisy jump-scares. There’s some perfunctory exposition about Valak’s past and how she might be defeated - as well as a couple of flashbacks to remind us that Maurice is possessed - but most of the actual story elements feel like afterthoughts.

"So are you gonna buy a magazine or not?"

The main emphasis is on CG-driven spectacle, especially during the fiery, destructive final act. Everything is slickly made and the performances are serviceable, but the film is seldom involving. There isn’t a single scene, character or image that is likely to resonate after the end credits roll. Even Valak herself is demystified to the point where she ain’t all that intimidating. She was a lot scarier when we knew nothing about her.

Ultimately, we’ve seen all of this before…probably in The Nun, but I can’t be sure since it left no impression whatsoever. The Nun II doesn’t either, so if nothing else, at least the franchise is consistent. But unless it’s the first horror movie you’ve ever seen, every aspect of the film is utterly forgettable.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - The Nun II: Demon in Paradise (location shooting); Handcrafted Nightmares (covers some of the practical effects).

DIGITAL COPY