GOOD BURGER (SteelBook) is Collectible Nostalgia

GOOD BURGER 25th Anniversary SteelBook (Blu-ray Review)

1997 / 95 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

You gotta hand it to Nickelodeon for one thing…they managed something in the ‘90s Saturday Night Live was never able to do: Make a genuinely funny movie based on a five minute comedy sketch. Granted, it helped if you were 11 years old, but at a time when even Disney had long-since given-up cranking-out innocuous live-action kid comedies, a movie like Good Burger must have seemed like a breath of fresh air.

I say “must have” because in 1997, I was at-least a generation beyond the film’s intended audience and ignored it. But watching it 25 years later for the purpose of this review, I was immediately reminded of the old live-action Disney years, when Mom & Dad would dutifully take us to such flicks as Freaky Friday and The Strongest Man in the World. None of them would ever be mistaken for classics, but they were harmless fun back then.

"You missed him! There goes 50 points!"

Like those films, I wouldn’t necessarily call Good Burger a product of its time…more of a product of its audience’s time. Viewed in that context, the movie remains pretty damned funny for what it is, something you can’t say about, say, Space Jam (which has aged terribly). Kenan & Kel are likably goofy and the plot - while nothing particularly original - provides a solid springboard for their juvenile antics. But truth be told, even though this writer is well into middle age, several moments had me laughing out loud.

The kids who loved Good Burger back in the day are now in their mid-30s, so the nostalgic appeal for this one will obviously be high and a Blu-ray SteelBook makes a nifty blast from the past for those who enjoy collecting relics of their youth. For those who’ve since become parents themselves, Good Burger’s good-natured buffoonery is likely to tickle their kids’ funny bones, as well, despite not even knowing who Kenan & Kel were. Why not pass it along?

EXTRA KIBBLES

ORIGINAL “GOOD BURGER” SKETCH - From the series, All That.

DIGITAL COPY

THE POOP SCOOP: Collectible Kibbles!

😺3:10 TO YUMA arrives September 6 on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate

Director James Mangold’s remake of a classic Western, 3:10 to Yuma, arrives September 6 on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook® from Lionsgate. Produced by Cathy Konrad, 3:10 to Yuma stars Russell Crowe (Les Misérables, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) and Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, American Psycho). OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:Infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Bale) volunteers to deliver him alive to the “3:10 to Yuma,” a train that will take the killer to trial. But with Wade’s outfit on their trail — and dangers at every turn — the mission soon becomes a violent, impossible journey toward each man’s destiny. This release includes an audio commentary by director James Mangold, numerous documentaries & featurettes and deleted scenes.

 

🙀AMERICAN CARNAGE arrives August 30 on Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate

The new horror-comedy American Carnage arrives August 30 on Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate. The political satire features Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Night Teeth), Jenna Ortega (Scream, X, TV’s “You”), and Eric Dane (TV’s “Euphoria,” “Grey’s Anatomy”). OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:After a governor issues an executive order to arrest the children of undocumented immigrants, the newly detained youth are offered an opportunity to have their charges dropped by volunteering to provide care to the elderly. Once inside the eldercare facility, the volunteers discover the governor and the facility’s supervisor have cooked up a horrifyingly depraved conspiracy that endangers the young and the old in this twisted thriller-comedy. This release includes an audio commentary, featurettes and deleted scenes.

 

🌎WAR OF THE WORLDS/WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE on 4K/Blu-ray September 27 from Paramount

Two of the most iconic Science Fiction epics come to Paramount Presents in this out-of-this-world limited-edition double feature from producer George Pal. Making its 4K Blu-ray debut, War of the Worlds is an Oscar winning adaptation of the chilling H.G. Wells novel. Then, get ready for impending disaster, when a runaway star signals the destruction of Earth in When Worlds Collide, included on Blu-ray remastered from the original film elements. Both are essential Technicolor masterpieces from the Golden Age of Hollywood, delivering eye-popping visual effects and unmatched sound design. The release, which will be part of the Paramount Presents line, is scheduled to arrive on the market on September 27.

😺WARRIOR arrives August 30 on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate

The MMA-centered family drama, Warrior, arrives August 30 on 4K Ultra HD (+ Blu-ray + Digital) SteelBook from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy. Warrior features Joel Edgerton (The Gift, The Great Gatsby), Tom Hardy (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises), Jennifer Morrison (TV’s “House,” TV’s “Once Upon a Time”), Frank Grillo (The Grey, The Purge: Anarchy), and Nick Nolte (Affliction, The Prince of Tides). OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns home and enlists his father, a recovering alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. Tommy’s estranged brother Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to provide for his family as a public school teacher, also enters the competition. Set on a collision course with each other, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense winner-take-all battle of their lives. This release includes an audio commentary, documentaries & featurettes and a gag reel.

THE SACRED SPIRIT: "What the Hell!"

THE SACRED SPIRIT (Blu-ray Review)

2021 / 97 min

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Fluffy the Fearless🙀

“What the hell!”

I thought that more than once during The Sacred Spirit. Not that it’s confusing, visually shocking or excessively weird (though it does get weird, at times), but because it lulls the viewer into a feeling of complacency before pulling the rug out from under them.

Initially, there appears to be two stories happening concurrently. The first is a girl who’s gone missing. Her mother, Charo, struggles to deal with her daily routine - trying to care for the girl’s twin sister, Veronica, and keep working while waiting for news from the police. The second is an oddball group of ufologists called ONVI Levante, whose leader, Julio, suddenly dies. One member, cafe owner Jose, tries to go through with the plans they made, apparently anticipating alien contact. Since he’s the missing girl’s uncle, Jose is the connecting thread between the two stories and the film’s primary protagonist. A majority of the narrative sees him meeting with fellow ONVI members, preparing for an alien arrival and eventually watching over Veronica while Charo is urgently called away. 

Up to this point, the movie is meandering, almost dull. The characters are quirky, but decidedly expressionless. Whether that’s due to the amateurism of its actors - none have really appeared in anything else - or Chema Garcia Ibarra’s direction could be debated. Considering numerous long stretches where characters are simply sitting or walking, I think it’s a deliberate attempt to manipulate the audience into letting their guard down before throwing-in the first “what the hell!” moment, which not only changes our perception of Jose, it alters our entire view of the narrative.

Not quite Starship Troopers.

The film continues at the same lethargic pace, but now a sense of dread seeps into the proceedings and every subsequent scene has much darker underpinnings. And with hindsight, we realize clues to the story’s direction were peppered throughout the first deceptively mundane act (including recurring eye-related imagery and TV broadcasts in the background). What began as an eccentric little indie excursion has - with only a few key scenes - become something more sinister and grounded in reality than we expected, culminating in a disturbing denouement that certainly sticks with the viewer…whether they want it to or not. 

Some will be tempted to quit the film entirely before even reaching those “what the hell!” scenes, others may find themselves ready to stop because of them. The Sacred Spirit certainly isn’t for everybody. but patient and adventurous viewers might find this Spanish oddity pretty rewarding. In addition to a good video & audio transfer, Arrow Video features an interesting - sometimes unusual - batch of bonus features, including an entire second disc of early short films directed by Chema Garcia Ibarra, some of which will prompt a similar “what the hell!” reaction.

EXTRA KIBBLES

2 VIDEO ESSAYS - 1) “Beyond the Eye of Horus,” by Alexandra Heller Nicholas; 2) “Pyramid Scheme,” by Josh Nelson. I’d watch the movie before either of these.

INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR CHEMA GARCÍA IBARRA

4 BEHIND-THE-SCENES FEATURETTES - Running about 2 minutes each.

ELCHE VISION - Short pieces about the film, “reported” by Esther Armengol (the reporter in the movie, played by Lorena Iglesias.

CHARACTER INTERVIEWS - 9 of the characters discuss themselves for a few seconds each.

UNCUT TV CLIPS - The broadcasts in the background are a major part of the story. A few are presented here uninterrupted.

“DOMESTIC SCI-FI” (DISC TWO) - Six shorts by the director: “Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5”; “Protoparticles”; “Mystery”; “Uranes”; “The Disco Shines”; “The Golden Legend.”

IMAGE GALLERY

TRAILER

2-SIDED MINI POSTER

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - 2 essays; cast, crew & disc production credits.

REVERSIBLE COVER - Featuring new and original cover art.

THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN and the Creepshow Lady

THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN (Blu-ray Review)

1948 / 110 min

FROM WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION

Review by Mr. Paws😺

“Wow! The Creepshow lady was drop-dead gorgeous!”

I’m speaking of Viveca Lindfors, who played “dotty old Aunt Bedelia” in 1982’s Creepshow. She was only in the film for about 10 minutes, but it was a pivotal role. Playing a crazy, guilt-ridden old woman who’s killed by the resurrected corpse of her abusive father - whom she murdered years earlier - she left a hell of an impression. 

What I didn’t know at the time was Lindfors had an extensive career dating back to the ‘40s. But as much as I love classic-era Hollywood today, I somehow managed to miss-out on every old film she starred in until now. For the longest time, she was simply the Creepshow lady, even when I’d spot her in stuff like The Exorcist III and Law & Order episodes.

So I was totally taken-back by her beauty in The Adventures of Don Juan. Sure, everyone was young once, but…wow! Playing the assertive Queen of Spain, not much is required for the role…simply look gorgeous and try to mask her growing affection for the title character. But to her credit, she nails both. In fact, Lindfors does a remarkable job looking outwardly put-off by Don Juan’s reputation and behavior, yet revealing just enough through her eyes and mouth that tells the audience otherwise. There's actually a lot of sexual tension in those expressions.

"Smooth. Palmolive?"

One thing that’s absolutely no surprise is the casting of Errol Flynn. I’d be surprised if anyone else was even considered. Who better to take the role of the world’s most famous womanizing swordsman? Since he’s already skilled at both, no method acting is required. Hell, Flynn doesn’t even bother with a Spanish accent. Why would he? Considering his own reputation and behavior, he’s arguably just playing a version of himself. Though certainly beginning to show signs of hard living, Flynn nails his role, too. He’s charming, funny and phenomenal with a sword. 

Robert Douglas, playing the conniving, treasonous Duke de Lorca, makes an excellent villain, while Alan Hale is amusing as Don Juan’s beleaguered sidekick, Leporello. Elsewhere, the film tells a fast, breezy story of Don being appointed as a fencing instructor by Queen Margaret to atone for his scandalous behavior abroad. However, he finds himself in the middle of an attempted coup by de Lorca, who wants to vanquish the Queen and establish Spain as a military power.

But the story ultimately takes a backseat to the characters, action and dialogue, the last of which is often quite funny (and occasionally suggestive). Bolstered by impressive, colorful cinematography and handsome production design, The Adventures of Don Juan is a fun film featuring Flynn in his comfort zone, where he was always the most enjoyable. It also offers a great opportunity to check out that crazy old Creepshow lady at her most beautiful.

EXTRA KIBBLES

AUDIO COMMENTARY - by director Vincent Sherman & historian Rudy Behlmer.

VINTAGE NEWSREEL

2 SHORTS - “So You Want to Be on the Radio”; “Calgary Stampede.”

LOONEY TUNES SHORT - “Hare Splitter” (Bugs Bunny cartoon).

TRAILER

RENO 911!: THE HUNT FOR QANON is a Mixed Bag

RENO 911!: THE HUNT FOR QANON (DVD Review)

2021 / 84 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

What made the original Reno 911! so damn funny was it had just the right balance of satire - skewering popular reality shows like Cops - and oddball characters, each with their own distinctive personalities. With hindsight, one could argue that such later ensemble comedies as Parks and Recreation wouldn’t exist without it.

The show has been resurrected a few times over the years. I haven’t seen any of the recent versions, so I couldn’t tell you if it stayed conceptually true to the original series. But like 2007’s Reno 911!: Miami, this second film is a mixed bag, mainly because the very nature of reality TV isn't really conducive to feature-length treatment in the first place, to say nothing of spoofs of the genre.

Sometimes Reno 911: The Hunt for Qanon is very funny, particularly the subtler moments with throwaway lines so clever you might miss them, as well as some timely commentary on what it’s like being a cop these days. And true to the title, the crazy Q cult also gets some well-deserved ribbing (though poking fun at them is kinda like shooting fish in a barrel). 

Fox News staff meeting.

But just as often, there are long stretches where the film abandons its own “reality” format altogether in favor of the actual story (the squad going undercover on-board a cruise ship). There are also hints of desperation, such as the station briefing scene where several characters are shown doing drugs without context, as if the sight of  Lt. Dangle (Thomas Lennon) taking bong hits is inherently funny. Then there’s the moment when the cast breaks into a full-blown rendition of “Caribbean Queen” for no discernible reason. It’s simply an musical sequence bereft of any narrative purpose. Hell, there ain’t even a punchline.

Still, the entire cast is back and some of their situations are highly amusing, such as Deputy Wiegel’s “encounters” with a suave male passenger, or Dingle’s marathon audition to be the ship’s entertainment. Frequent Reno 911! guest star Patton Oswalt also returns in a funny role as a high ranking Qanon member. A few other famous faces pop up in cameos, such as RuPaul and Pink.

Reno 911: The Hunt for Qanon is never as clever or consistent as the original show, and since the last attempt to pad the concept to feature-length wasn’t either, maybe that’s to be expected. But with tempered expectations, there are (probably) just enough funny bits to make this worthwhile for longtime fans. Others need not apply. 

WOLF HOUND Goes Old School

WOLF HOUND (Blu-ray Review)

2022 / 130 min

From LIONSGATE

Review by Tiger the Terrible😼

The title refers to what the Nazis called stolen allied aircraft they’d use against their enemies - mostly the British - during World War II. After shooting one down, they’d fix it up, stick in German pilots and strike before anyone was even aware of the ruse. So Wolf Hound is, of course, “inspired by true events,” though I suspect the only thing true about this story is the concept they built it around.

But we didn’t sign up for a history lesson, which is a good thing because Wolf Hound appears more inspired by old war movies than any actual war. Aside from some expletives, squibs and a few other modern trappings, this could have been something RKO cranked out in the ‘50s. The good guys spout stuff like  “Auf wiedersehen, you son of a bitch” and “This is how we do it in Brooklyn!”, while the Nazis are all overconfident, sneering and such lousy shots they make Imperial Stormtroopers look like Chris Kyle.

Still, they do manage to shoot down an American bomber, which they plan on using to drop a super-bomb on London. That is, unless fighter pilot David Holden (who was also shot down) can sneak onto the base, rescue the bomber crew and take back the plane. Standing in his way are seething Nazi pilot Erich Roth (Trevor Donovan) and granite-jawed Colonel Krieger (John Turk), who looks like Dolph Lundgren swallowed another Dolph Lundgren.

This flight has a smoking section.

There’s plenty of fiery conflict both on and off the ground, though little real tension. Despite our stoic heroes practically taking on the entire Luftwaffe, the outcome is almost never in doubt. But there’s one aspect to Wolf Hound that’s pretty unique these days; rather than relying on CGI, the aerial scenes are mostly created with real planes and good old-fashioned miniatures. The results may not be hyperkinetic eye candy, but at least we don’t feel like we’re watching someone else play a video game.

Considering almost no time is spent on characterization, Wolf Hound has no business dragging things out for 130 minutes, especially during the needlessly protracted climax. But despite some eye-rolling moments - mostly the dialogue - the film displays an old school earnestness that’s fairly entertaining...and it’s always fun watching Nazis get blown up.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - “Wolf Hound: Behind the Scenes”; “Wolf Hound: Creating the Visual Effects”

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Michael C. Chait and actor James Maslow.

DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES

TRAILER

DIGITAL COPY

Movie Night with Dave & Stinky: THE GODFATHER (1972)

 

THE RIGHTEOUS...Starring That Guy

THE RIGHTEOUS (Blu-ray Review)

2021  / 97 min

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

“Hey, it’s that guy! You know, what’s his name…from that one movie…”

A lot of us may not be familiar with his name - much less pronounce it properly - but there’s no mistaking Henry Czerny. He’s been in a ton of stuff over the years, usually in supporting roles playing bad guys, or at least someone intimidating and unlikable. As character actors go, he’s one of my favorites.

So The Righteous is sort of a revelation. Czerny’s not only the primary protagonist, he conveys uncharacteristic vulnerability and uncertainty as Frederic Mason, an ex-priest grieving the sudden death of Joanie, the girl he and wife Ethel had adopted. While it’s not made immediately clear what happened to her - it’s a major plot reveal later on - Frederic prays to God for penance.

That penance arrives in the form of Aaron (Mark O’Brien, who also wrote & directed), a young stranger who shows up in the middle of the night with an injury. They initially offer shelter for one night, but he endears himself to Ethel, so he ends up staying. However, Aaron’s arrival isn’t a chance encounter. During one of many revealing one-on-ones, Aaron asks Frederic to kill him. If Frederic refuses, he’ll take Ethel away from him. 

Henry Czerny, the Godfather of Grunge.

Until this point, The Righteous takes its time establishing the three leads - plus Doris (Kate Corbett), Joanie’s troubled biological mother - and setting a somber tone with striking black & white cinematography. This allows the narrative to subtly slip into horror territory during the second half, with some stunning plot turns that explain Aaron’s presence and Frederic’s need for penance (whether or not he’s truly ready for it). 

To explain further would be to spoil some dark surprises, but even if The Righteous is slow burning and never particularly scary - not to mention some biblical interpretations that are a tad too literal - the haunting denouement is worth our patience. Best of all is Czerny’s performance. Though Frederic Mason is a far cry from the pricks and authority figures he usually plays, he earns our trust and sympathy…for a while, anyway. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews (ranging from seven to thirty minutes) with writer-director Mark O’Brien, actor Henry Czerny, producer Mark O’Neill, editor Spencer Jones, actors Mimi Kuzyk & Kate Corbett, cinematographer A.A.Scott McClellan, production designer Jason Clarke.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION - An hour+ discussion with writer-director Mark O’Brien and Radio Silence podcasters.

GRIMMFEST Q&A - With director Mark O’Brien.

FANTASIA 2021 Q&A - With director Mark O’Brien and actor Henry Czerny.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By writer-director Mark O’Brien and editor Spencer Jones.

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK - An hour of music from the film, with accompanying stills.

TRAILER

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Essay, “Washed in the Blood: Spirituality in the Modern Horror Film,” by writer-filmmaker Sean Hogan; director & producer statements; cast, crew & disc production credits.

REVERSIBLE COVER - Both are pretty striking.