BLACKkKLANSMAN Blu-ray Giveaway!

TO ENTER: Simply drop us a message using the 'KITTY KONTACT' form at the top of our side column. CONTEST ENDS 11/6.

Based on the book Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth, BlacKkKlansman is filled with outstanding performances from an all-star cast led by John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace  and Laura Harrier  alongside an incredible roster of supporting talent including Alec Baldwin, Corey Hawkins, Ryan Eggold and Paul Walter Hauser.

From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. In the early 1970s Ron Stallworth (Washington) becomes the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a difference, he bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. He recruits a seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Driver), into the undercover investigation. Together, they team up to take down the extremist organization aiming to garner mainstream appeal. BlacKkKlansman offers an unflinching, true-life examination of race relations in 1970s America that is just as relevant in today’s tumultuous world.

Packed with bold and provocative moments from beginning to end, BlacKkKlansman on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital comes with exclusive bonus content that will take viewers deeper into this timely and moving true story.

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL OCTOBER 23, 2018
AND ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY^™ AND DVD NOVEMBER 6, 2018
FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

BLOOD AND BLACK LACE and Giallo's Humble Origins

Starring Cameron Mitchell, Eva Bartok, Thomas Reiner, Mary Arden, Enzo Cerusico. Directed by Mario Bava. (1964/90 min). 

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY/DVD FROM
VCI ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

It would be interesting to see the direction Dario Argento's career would have gone if Mario Bava hadn't come along first. While Argento is widely considered the undisputed master of the Italian horror subgenre known as giallo, it was Bava who more-or-less invented it.

1960's Black Sunday may be Bava's most famous film (and arguably his best), but from a historical standpoint, Blood and Black Lace is probably his most important. Not only one of the very first giallo films, its style and narrative structure would also have a significant impact on the evolution of the slasher genre.

A cloaked, masked killer is stalking the beautiful models of a fashion agency, killing them one by one in search of a diary that supposedly has dirt on nearly every employee. Naturally, this means everyone is a suspect. This is all basic whodunit stuff, of course. But by placing unprecedented emphasis on style, vibrant color contrasts and extended murder sequences, Bava creates the template that his peers have been using ever since.

When bobbing for apples turns deadly.

That being said, it helps to view Blood and Black Lace in the context of when it was made. Undoubtedly a product of its time, the dialogue, jazzy soundtrack and violence will seem quaint compared to, say, Deep Red, though the murder scenes are still pretty potent, especially in this uncut version. Visually, it's easy to see the influence the film had on Dario Argento's subsequent work. For anyone interested in giallo's humble origins, this is worth checking out. 

Arrow Video released the film on Blu-ray a few years ago with a big batch of extras. I've never seen that version, though in addition to a nice 2K video restoration, this one from VCI has a few decent bonus features as well, including two brand new audio commentaries. It also comes with a cheaper price-tag.

EXTRA KIBBLES

ENGLISH & ITALIAN LANGUAGE VERSIONS - English on Blu-ray, Italian on DVD.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Diabolque Magazine editor Kat Ellinger.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By historian David Del Valle & writer/director C. Courtney Joyner (Lurking Fear, Class of 1999).

VIDEO COMPARISON - American version vs. uncut European version.

ISOLATED MUSIC SCORE

VINTAGE INTERVIEWS - One with Cameron Mitchell, the other with Mary Arden.

SOME PRETTY AMUSING VINTAGE TRAILERS

PHOTO GALLERY

REVERSIBLE COVER - We like the red one better.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT.

YESSONGS and the Revenge of the Nerds

Starring Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire, Alan White. Directed by Peter Neal. (1975/70 min). 

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM
MVD VISUAL

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😺

Growing up, I remember when the cool kids listened to Kiss, the cooler kids listened to Led Zeppelin and the sheep listened to what they were told was cool by radio DJs. But Yes? That was for the nerds and stoners. Or more accurately, nerds who also happened to be stoners, the hipsters of their day. This was also the era of midnight movies, when aging movie houses and college cinemas would show stuff created to appeal to those in the wrong state-of-mind, which included a lot of concert films. One of those was Yessongs, filmed in 1972 during the band's Close to the Edge tour and released in 1975 when they were at the peak of their progressive-era popularity.

While I've always liked progressive rock, I was more partial to ELP because I didn't need a musical intellect to appreciate how their brand of abrasiveness drove my parents up the wall. But a buddy of mine, Rick, loved Yes because he was a nerdy stoner and a guitar player, able to greater appreciate their complex songs, cerebral lyrics and Steve Howe's intricate solos. Hence, we broke curfew one Friday night to partake in the Oregon flower before venturing to the 5th Avenue Cinema so Rick could get his Yes on. From the opening number, he was enthralled - as were a lot of other nerds in the audience - marveling at the musicianship and humming along with every song, occasionally engaging in a bit of air guitar. As for me...well, "Roundabout" was cool.

Billy Bob Thornton's college days.

Keyboardist Rick Wakeman notwithstanding, Yes was never exactly renowned for their showmanship and not as conducive to a cinematic concert experience as, say, The Rolling Stones. Nor is Yessongs very imaginatively filmed (even Led Zeppelin's long-winded The Song Remains the Same had a goofy fantasy sequence or two to liven things up).

Which essentially means Yessongs is strictly a film for hardcore fans, those with an inherent appreciation for the band's 20 minute suites, virtuoso solos and Jon Anderson's quasi-mystical lyrics. Those same fans should get a kick out of this 40th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. The original film didn't look or sound that great in '75, nor is this transfer much of an improvement (Yes still sounds like they're performing in a high school gymnasium). But in a way, that might be part of the nostalgic appeal for those who first caught Yessongs back in the day. Personally, I found the bonus feature, "Yessongs: 40 Years On," quite a bit more interesting. Nearly as long as the film itself, this retrospective documentary features guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and longtime album cover artist Roger Dean discussing the film and the band's lengthy career.

I still think "Roundabout" is the best thing Yes ever did and anyone who concurs might have a hard time sitting through the entire film (even at 70 minutes). But all the nerds who grew up on these guys will surely love having this relic from their youth on disc. And at our age, isn't it nice that you no longer need to venture out at midnight to catch it?

EXTRA KIBBLES

"YESSONGS: 40 YEARS ON"

"BEGINNINGS" - A weird little short featuring Steve Howe.

4 POSTCARDS OF ROGER DEAN'S ARTWORK

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW

THE MEG Swims Home on Digital 10/30 & on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD 11/13

"We...loved...this!"

-Free Kittens Movie Guide

Go head-to-head with the largest prehistoric shark to ever exist when The Meg arrives on 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD Special Edition and Digital. Jason Statham and award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing star in this science fiction action thriller directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies). Turteltaub directed the film from a screenplay by Dean Georgaris and Jon and Erich Hoeber, based on the best-selling novel MEG by Steve Alten.

The Meg 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD Special Edition contain the following special features: "Chomp On This: The Making Of The Meg" & "Creating The Beast."

On October 30, The Meg will be available to own in high definition and standard definition from select digital retailers including Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. On November 13, “The Meg” will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

 

PEPPERMINT on Digital on 11/20 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on 12/11

A powerful story about an underdog hero (Jennifer Garner) fighting for justice, Peppermint arrives on Digital on November 20, 2018 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on December 11, 2018 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The release showcases exhilarating bonus content including a special featurette and film commentary with director Pierre Morel.

The Original INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS: Olive Signature Edition

Starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Winter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones, Jean Willes, Ralph Dumke, the ever-reliable Whit Bissell and the ever-eccentric Sam Peckinpah. Directed by Don Siegel. (1956/80 min).

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM

OLIVE FILMS

Review by Mr. Paws😸

One of the coolest things about the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers is that it's conceptually timeless, which is probably why the film has been remade three times since its inauspicious 1956 release (with another one reportedly in development). And let's not forget countless others - big & small, good & bad, classic & obscure - that have drawn obvious inspiration from it.

Social commentary and themes notwithstanding, the original still holds up as a smart slice of provocative sci-fi horror, certainly belying its minuscule budget and drive-in fodder title. Despite the film's iconic climax - when Miles (Kevin McCarthy) breaks the fourth wall to warn us we're next - its most effective moments remain the subtle ones. The scene where Miles (Kevin McCarthy) realizes Becky (Dana Wynter) is no longer Becky is still one of horror's most quietly chilling moments, while the pod people "gathering" at Santa Mira's town square is truly unnerving.

Everyone loves Mr. Bubble.

Then there's those seed pods. They may appear quaint compared to their horrifically-gooey counterparts in the 1978 remake, but a strong argument can be made that the greenhouse scene is one of cinema's earliest examples of the type of "body horror" David Cronenberg would make a career from decades later. It's amazing what you can do with a few soap bubbles, and the sequence remains a wonderful early example of gross-out entertainment.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers has been released on Blu-ray before, but this time Olive Films has thrown-in a plethora of new and vintage bonus features (outlined below), all of which are entertaining and informative. Along with a great video & audio transfer, this is, so far, the best release in Olive's ongoing Signature series and one of the best Blu-rays of the year. A must own for any cinephile, even if they own a previous version.

EXTRA KIBBLES

NEW FEATURETTES:

"The Fear is Real" - Directors Larry Cohen and Joe Dante recall their first experience seeing the film and its influence on thier own careers.

"I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wagner" - Author Matthew Wanger discusses the career of the producer, who derailed his own career by shooting a man.

"The Stranger in Your Lover's Eyes" - Director Don Siegel's son reads from the director's autobiography, along with vintage photos.

VINTAGE FEATURETTES:

"Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited" - The best of all the bonus features, with commentary from its two stars, contemporary directors and historians.

"The Fear and the Fiction" - A feature about the movie's cultural impact.

"What's in a Name?" - An amusing look at some alternate titles that were considered.

"Return to Santa Mira" - A look at the various shooting locations.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - One by historian Richard Harlan Smith, the other a vintage commentary by Kevin McCarthy, Dana Winter and director Joe Dante.

VINTAGE KEVIN McCARTHY INTERVIEW

IMAGE GALLERY

TRAILER

ESSAY - "At First Glance, Everything Looked the Same," by Kier-La Janisse

KITTY CONSENSUS:

LIKE BEING TURNED LOOSE IN A BIRD SANCTUARY

ELF // 15th Anniversary "Buddy’s Sing & Cheer Along Edition" on DVD and Digital 11/27

Elf: Buddy’s Sing & Cheer Along Edition will be available on DVD and brand new Elf-inspired extra content, including a bouncing elf hat singalong with Buddy and his friends and all new fun, family-friendly interactive special features.  Also included in the DVD package are the original theatrical film and previously released special features.

Fans can also own Elf: Buddy’s Sing & Cheer Along Edition via purchase from digital retailers beginning November 27^th as a new standalone feature, as part of iTunes Extras, or in a bundle with the original film depending on the digital retailer platform.

Elf: Buddy’s Sing & Cheer Along Edition will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

THE EQUALIZER 2 on 11/13 and 4K, Blu-ray & 12/11

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington (Best Supporting Actor, Glory, 1989; Best Actor, Training Day, 2001) returns to one of his signature roles in the first sequel of his career when the gritty, pulse-pounding thriller THE EQUALIZER 2 hits digital November 13 and 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD December 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Reunited with Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), Washington is Robert McCall, who serves unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will his no-holds-barred vengeance go when the victim is someone he loves? THE EQUALIZER 2 also stars Pedro Pascal (Kingsman: The Golden Circle), Ashton Sanders (Moonlight) with Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Oscar winner Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress, The Fighter, 2010).

The digital & Blu-ray releases of THE EQUALIZER 2 are loaded with over an hour of action-packed bonus features, including “Retribution Mode,” deleted and extended scenes, The Equalizer 2 pop up trivia track and a behind-the-scenes featurette. “Retribution Mode,” the follow-up to The Equalizer’s “Vengeance Mode,” allows fans to watch the film with Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua as they take fans through the making of their favorite adrenaline-filled action scenes with exclusive in-depth and personal conversations.  In the featurette “Denzel as McCall: Round Two,” Denzel Washington describes his return as Robert McCall and why this continued story was so important for him to tell.

Good Vibes from BAD RONALD

Starring Scott Jacoby, Kim Hunter, Pippa Scott, Dabney Coleman, John Larch. Directed by Buzz Kulik. (1974/74 min).

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM

WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😼

I have fond memories of the ABC Movie of the Week, which used to air on Tuesdays back in the early 1970s. This anthology series consisted of modestly-budgeted made-for-TV movies from a variety of genres. Not a lot of them were memorable, but some served as pilots for popular television shows and a few - such as Duel and Brian's Song - were as good as anything playing in theaters.

Some of the horror-based episodes, such as Trilogy of Terror and The Night Stalker, have since become cult classics among those who grew up on them. Watching these movies on a flickering, hand-me-down black & white TV was my first real introduction to horror, as it probably was for a lot of children of the 70s.

Bad Ronald is not as revered as those aforementioned titles, but like Killdozer, enough of a cult item to at-least inspire a band name. I vividly remember being disturbed by the concept: Teenage misfit Ronald Wilby (Scott Jacoby) accidentally kills a taunting peer. His overprotective mother (Kim Hunter) comes up with an idea to keep him in a hidden room so no one can find him, telling the police he ran away. After she dies, Ronald remains in the house, staying hidden from the new owners, a family with three daughters, one whom he begins to obsess over.

Snickers satisfies.

Revisiting it with adult eyes - I think this is the first time I've ever actually watched it in color - Bad Ronald is more quaint and campy then it was all those years ago, playing more like the type of lurid quickie William Castle used to crank out a decade earlier. Still, the story remains kind-of fun, bolstered by tight storytelling and Jacoby's wonderfully creepy performance. Whatever happened to him, anyway?

Aesthetically, Bad Ronald is pretty dated and probably lost all its power to scare audiences a long time ago. But anyone who grew up on this stuff will certainly find it an amusing trip down memory lane. And with a great Blu-ray transfer, the movie didn't look this good even during its original broadcast.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD...A FUN NOSTALGIA TRIP

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: An MCU Power Ballad

Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, T.I., Judy Greer, David Dastmalchin, Hannah John-Kamen, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, Abby Ryder Forston. Directed by Peyton Reed. (2018/118 min). 

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM
DISNEY / MARVEL

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😸

When heavy metal was at the height of its popularity, most bands could be counted-on to include at least one power ballad on each album, a relatively quiet song that was seldom the best tune on the record, but got the most radio airplay and had fans whipping out their lighters during a concert.

The power ballad also served an important aesthetic purpose, offering a brief respite from the sonic fury of the rest of the album. For example, smack-dab in the middle of Metallica's Ride the Lightning is a song called "Fade to Black." While still heavier than anything Poison ever recorded, it was sort of a breather from the constant speed and intensity of the surrounding songs.

As films in the MCU grow longer, louder and increasingly epic, the Ant-Man films are sort-of like Marvel's power ballads. The second film, Ant-Man and the Wasp, is more tied to the MCU story arc than the first, but steadfastly maintains the same light, breezy and humorous tone, another welcome break from the serious implications and apocalyptic battle royals where the fate of the world is at stake.

"Guys...I gotta make a stop."

Not that it skimps on spectacle. As power ballads go, Ant-Man and the Wasp is still more Metallica than Poison. But the stakes are more personal, the characters more grounded and realistically flawed. One thing I appreciate about Paul Rudd's amusing take on the title character is that he screws up as often as he succeeds, and most of the supporting characters (Evangeline Lilly as Hope/Wasp in particular) are just as integral to the plot. Most distinctively, the action & visuals are as humorous as they are eye-popping (you haven't lived until you've seen a giant Pez dispenser take-out a henchman).

Other than an ominous MCU-related coda during the end credits, Ant-Man and the Wasp, while not strictly mining for laughs, is never overly serious. It's even shorter than other recent Marvel movies, never outstaying its welcome. Like heavy metal power ballads, the film may not be among the most essential entries in the franchise, but like the first Ant-Man, it's a welcome change of pace. Even fanboys need an occasional breather.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - "Back in the Ant Suit: Scott Lang"; "A Suit of Her Own: The Wasp"; "Subatomic Super Heroes: Hank & Janet" (These three feature the cast & director talk about the main characters and the actors who played them); "Quantum Perspective"

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Director Peyton Reed

GAG REEL

OUTTAKES - The outtakes feature Stan Lee and comedian Tim Heidecker, who isn't funny

2 DELETED SCENES

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS