KEOMA: A Saddlebag of Surprises

Starring Franco Nero, William Berger, Olga Karlatos, Woody Strode, Orso Maria Guerrini, Gabriella Giacobbe, Antonio Marsina, Joshua Sinclair, Donald O’Brien. Directed by Enzo G. Castellari. (1976/101 min).

ARROW VIDEO

Review by Mr. Paws😺

The problem with spaghetti westerns is they're all inevitably compared to those made by Sergio Leone, whose shadow continues to loom so large over the entire genre that it’s difficult to assess them on their own merits. Many directors simply cop his moves without understanding his artistry. Others make their way overseas so badly dubbed and edited that they’re nearly unwatchable.

So Keona comes as sort-of a surprise.

Franco Nero (no stranger to the genre) is the title character, a half-breed who returns to the mining town where he was raised, only to find its people suffering from a plague. The sick are kept against their will in a nearby camp by Caldwell (Donald O’Brien), who runs the town with an iron fist, allowing no one to leave – to say nothing of bringing back medicine to cure the sick. Keoma ends up saving a pregnant woman (Olga Karlatos) from being quarantined, raising the ire of Caldwell and the thugs who work under him.

Keoma’s adoptive father, William Shannon (William Berger, also no stranger to the genre), informs him his three stepbrothers are also working for Caldwell. The emancipated slave to helped raise him, George (Woody Strode), has since become the town drunk. Anyone who’s seen even a couple of westerns can probably figure out what comes next: Keoma decides to use his considerable killing skills to try and take down Caldwell...with a bit of assistance from William and George.

Franco belts out a showtune.

The plot is pretty standard stuff, but what’s surprising about Keoma is its creative ambition. Made at a time when the reign of the spaghetti western was nearing its end, director/co-writer Enzo G. Castellari takes a slightly more cerebral approach to the material, specifically the recurring presence of death - personified as an old woman – always lurking near Keoma, who’s been a killer most of his life. Castellari is something of a surprise, as well. No stranger to spaghetti westerns himself, his entire career has been pretty imitative. But here, he displays brief moments of artistry I’ve personally never seen in the genre, such as numerous flashbacks which share the same space as the present. Though generally pretty somber in tone, the scene where Keoma explains the cost of bullets to four dumb henchmen is as amusing as anything Leone put together in his Dollars trilogy.

Not bad for a director whose greatest claim-to-fame for American audiences was 1990: The Bronx Warriors.

However, another way Keoma escapes Leone’s shadow is a bit more dubious. The music score by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis is godawful, full of grating, tuneless songs with lyrics that often narrate the very scenes we’re watching. The female vocals border on hysterical, while a few numbers are almost comically grunted. In one of the bonus features, Austin Fisher does indeed mention that the score remains one of the most polarizing aspects of the film (Nero loves it, though).

Other than that, Keoma is an interesting late entry in the spaghetti western genre. The film will definitely be of interest to Django fans, as it’s similarly structured (in fact, it was retitled as a Django sequel in some parts of the world). It’s suitably violent, with well-choreographed action sequences that draw as much inspiration from Sam Peckinpah as they do Leone. Loaded with interesting bonus features, this Blu-ray rescues a relatively obscure western with a great transfer and is well-worth checking out.

EXTRA KIBBLES

NEW: INTERVIEWS with Franco Nero, director Enzo G. Castellari, writer/actor Luigi Montefiori, editor Gianfranco Amicucci, actor Wolfango Soldati & actor Massimo Vanni (these are all individual interviews, running 20-30 minutes each)

NEW: AUDIO COMMENTARY – By C. Courtney Joyner & Henry C. Parke

NEW: “KEOMA AND THE TWILIGHT OF THE SPAGHETTI WESTERN” - Austin Fisher discusses the film, the era of when it made made and what makes it unique. I don’t know who he is, but he’s pretty well versed in the genre.

NEW: SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET – Includes 2 essays, restoration credits, cast & crew credits and a collection of vintage reviews.

REVERSIBLE COVER

INTRODUCTION – By filmmaker Alex Cox (Repo Man, Straight to Hell).

ENGLISH & ITALIAN VERSIONS (There are a few slight differences).

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

TARANTULA: A Childhood Nightmare Returns

Starring John Agar, Mara Corday (mee-ow!), Leo G. Carroll, Nestor Paiva, Ross Elliott and a very young Clint Eastwood (the fighter pilot behind the mask!). Directed by Jack Arnold. (1955/81 min).

SHOUT FACTORY

Review by Mr. Paws😸

For me, a 'large spider' is defined as one visible to the naked eye, and always do my part by using 8,000 times the necessary force required to kill them, usually with a shoe or book. I whack them more than once...often several times to make certain they don't return to torment me in the next life. While I haven't yet resorted to using fire, I did once make the mistake of smashing one with a hammer, leaving a permanent dent in our dining room floor.

Spiders are scary because...well, they're spiders. They exist for the sole purpose of being squashed by a paperback (a good reason not to switch to e-books). If God didn't intend us to kill them on sight, he would have made spiders look more like rabbits. Instead, they're stealthy, silent, hairy, venomous and equipped with more eyes and appendages than any creature has a right to possess. I'm certain if a spider were to catch its own reflection in a mirror, it would try to squash itself.

"Have I ever told you how much I love smoking?"

But some spiders you just can’t squash, like the epic arachnid in Tarantula, one of the better ‘big bug’ movies of the 50s. I first saw it on TV late one night in the early 70s and spent half the time with my head buried under blankets. This was absolute nightmare fuel for an arachnophobic nine-year-old, especially since the special effects were pretty convincing for the time (and still relatively impressive today). 

In Tarantula, Professor Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll) has good intentions, trying to create a synthetic nutrient that will help feed the world's increasing population. But like all well-meaning scientists with radioactive chemicals at their disposal, his experiment results in oversized lab animals, such as mice, guinea pigs and a tarantula. Apparently intrigued by this side effect, Deemer keeps injecting them...including the fucking tarantula.

"Fuck this. I'm outta here."

Sure, the idea of a dog sized guinea pig has a certain cuddle appeal (imagine one curled up at the foot of your bed). But a spider? What exactly would be the possible motivation for bulking-up a creature which already makes the average person pee themselves when they spot one in the shower? Perhaps Deemer was also looking for an effective constipation cure. After all, your bowels could be impacted with a rack of billiard balls, but upon seeing a barn-sized tarantula scurrying up the highway, those suckers would shoot from your ass like rounds from an M-16. So Deemer's either totally insane or simply worst person ever.

Whatever the case, it's now up to Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar) and "Stevie" Clayton (Mara Corday) to unfuck Deemer’s fuckery. After killing a bunch of farmers and their cattle, the title creature threatens an entire Arizona town. Guns don’t work, nor does dynamite, which I’ve always suspected would be the case.

Guess who?

As everyone knows, the only effective solution to getting rid of a spider is total overkill, just to make sure it doesn’t come back twice-as-big and plenty pissed. So while I totally concur with the final decision to bring in jet fighters armed with a heaping helping of napalm (Hell, I’d bug-bomb my own house with napalm if Walmart carried it), perhaps Tarantula doesn’t go far enough. Fuck the napalm and unleash a warhead to nuke that bastard into oblivion. Sure, the Arizona desert would be a radioactive wasteland for a few decades, but it ain't like I know anybody who lives there, anyway.

Tarantula is mostly remembered today for featuring a young Clint Eastwood near the start of his career (unbilled as one of the jet pilots). Despite not being as widely revered as Them!, it holds up better than a lot of similar films from the era (though the abundance of sexist dialogue is pretty cringe-worthy). This Blu-ray from Shout Factory is light on bonus features, but does feature one of the better audio commentaries I’ve heard in awhile and the picture quality is outstanding. This eight-legged childhood nightmare has never looked or sounded better.

EXTRA KIBBLES

AUDIO COMMENTARY – By film historians Tom Weaver, Dr. Robert Kiss and David Schector. Also includes comments from Mara Corday, as spoken by another actress (!). A lot of great info and fun trivia in this one.

TRAILER

STILL GALLERY

PROMO MATERIALS GALLERY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

APOCALYPSE WHEN?

4-IN-1 APOCALYPSE COLLECTION

ARACHNOQUAKE – Starring Tracey Gold, Bug Hall, Edward Furlong, Tiara Boocock, Gralen Bryant Banks. Directed by G.E. Furst. (2012/86 min).

GHOSTQUAKE – Starring Jonathan Brown, MC Gainey, Danny Trejo, Lauren Pennington, Marc Donato. Directed by Jeffery Scott Lando. (2012/84 min).

MIAMI MAGMA – Starring Rachel Hunter, J.D. Evermore, Cleavant Derricks, Stacey Asaro, Brad Dourif. Directed by Todor Chapkannov. (2011/87 min).

WEATHER WARS – Starring Jason London, Wes Brown, Stacy Keach, Erin Cahill, Indigo. Directed by Todor Chapkannov. (2011/85 min).

MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Tiger the Terrible😼

The title of this 2-disc DVD collection is a bit misleading. None of the four films feature stories of impending global doom. In fact, only a couple could loosely be considered disaster movies.

It also bares mentioning that all of them originally premiered on SyFy. Anyone familiar with the channel’s brand of budget-conscious catastrophe knows exactly what to expect: outlandish plots, bargain basement CGI and lead actors whose celebrity status is one step away from appearing on Dancing with the Stars. And I’m guessing anyone who’s read this far is probably okay with that.

Predating Sharknado by a year, Arachnoquake is exactly what you think it is. Still, this one is the best of the lot because it’s mostly played for laughs. That doesn’t mean it’s always funny, but there’s an occasional good gag here and there. Additionally, it features former child stars Tracey Gold & Edward Furlong, the latter of whom looks and sounds completely shitfaced. Sharing the disc is Ghostquake, which is actually more of a horror movie. Though not remotely scary, it’s at-least watchable and there are a couple of decent death scenes. Besides...who doesn’t love Danny Trejo?

Edward Furlong hocks a loogie.

While Weather Wars and Miami Magma might qualify as disaster movies, only the former is worth sitting through, mainly because Stacy Keach engages in some serious scenery chewing as an unhinged evil genius who manipulates the weather to exact revenge on a senator who once poo-pooed his research. The premise is ridiculous, but relatively speaking, the special effects aren’t half bad. The same can’t be said for Miami Magma, by-far the worst of the four. The plot, dialogue, logic, pacing and CGI are uniformly awful, even by SyFy standards. As for the cast, what more can be said about a movie where Rachel Hunter turns in the best performance? On the plus side, it does include an unexpected death by a flaming tennis ball.

But hey, they can’t all be zingers, which is par for the course with collections like this. Arachnoquake has enough moments as amusing as Sharknado to make it worth seeing more than once. As for the rest...well, we ain’t exactly talking Roland Emmerich, but if you enjoy cheese as part of your disaster diet, dig in.

EXTRA KIBBLES

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.

MEGA TIME SQUAD: How to Make a Cult Film

Starring Anton Tennet, Jonny Brugh, Arlo Gibson, Hetty Gaskell-Hahn, Milo Cawthorne, Yoson An, Mohi Critchley. Directed by Tim van Dammen. (2018/86 min).

DARK SKY FILMS

Review by Tiger the Terrible😹

One of the tricks in making a good cult film is trying not to look like you’re making a cult film, which is easier said than done. Too much of a conscious effort to be hip, quirky or self-aware reeks of desperation, like a dorky dad trying to relate to his teenage kid by using modern slang. New Zealand’s Mega Time Squad definitely has cult aspirations, and fortunately, writer/directer Tim van Dammen doesn't seem to be actively seeking-out the fringe crowd. Maybe he knows if you have an idea worth doing unconventionally, that crowd will seek you out.

Conceptually, Mega Time Squad is already pretty clever without the oddball accouterments. John (Anton Tennet) is a dimwitted petty crook who works for Shelton (Jonny Brugh), a self-aggrandizing gangster who has other rubes do all his dirty work. After John is ordered to steal a cache of money from the Chinese mob, his buddy Gaz (Arlo Gibson) convinces him they should keep it for themselves. While snatching the cash from an antique store, John also takes an ancient bracelet which lets the wearer travel back in time a few minutes.

Gaz doublecrosses John and leads him right to Shelton and his thugs. John manages to escape and activate the bracelet before they can kill him. He’s suddenly in the immediate past and saves himself yet again. Now there are two Johns. Both of them learn of the bracelet’s dark past, which does indeed allow the user to make as many copies of themselves as they want, but also summons a ravenous demon that will devour them all. That doesn’t stop him from creating a lot more Johns, who form their own gang and dub themselves the Mega Time Squad. Together, they decide to steal the money back and return it to the Chinese. Meanwhile, one of the Johns – we’re never certain which – has fallen in love with Shelton’s sister, Kelly (Hetty Gaskell-Hahn).

"When I told you to duck, that's not what I meant."

Aside from an amusing flashback of the bracelet’s origins, the demon doesn’t actually figure much in the story. In fact, it’s largely forgotten after awhile, which creates a plot discrepancy by the end. But aside from that, the film ingeniously plays around with the logistics of time travel in a way I’ve never seen before. Better still, it’s mostly done for laughs. Mega Time Squad is consistently funny, with great dialogue, silly slapstick and a marvelously deadpan performance by Tennet. Unlike other cult films that seem a bit too eager to please, this one doesn’t beat its premise to death or turn annoyingly self-congratulatory.

The overall tone is like a sci-fi version of Napoleon Dynamite, augmented by a few bursts of gory violence and an aesthetic that (intentionally?) recalls straight-to-video sci-fi thrillers from the 1980s. Whether or not it actually becomes a cult classic, Mega Time Squad is certainly worthy. There are a few plot holes here and there, but none big or deep enough to matter. Well worth checking out for those looking for something different.

EXTRA KIBBLES

DELETED SCENES

AUDIO COMMENTARY – By Writer/Director Tim van Dammen

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

THE POOP SCOOP: Modern Classics Edition

Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of GHOSTBUSTERS on 4K June 11

Steelbook with GHOSTBUSTERS & GHOSTBUSTERS II

GHOSTBUSTERS returns to 4K Ultra HD in an all-new limited edition Steelbook, which also includes the 30th Anniversary edition of GHOSTBUSTERS II. The set includes both films on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, along with an entire additional disc of special features from each film. The films were fully restored from their respective original camera negatives and presented on 4K Ultra HD with HDR and Dolby Atmos audio; the Blu-rays feature HD presentations also sourced from the 4K restorations. The special features disc includes more than two hours of long-requested and rare archival elements—including never-before-seen deleted scenes from the first film—along with returning interviews, effects breakdowns, multi-angle explorations and much more! Both films also feature brand new commentaries, featuring the filmmakers on GHOSTBUSTERS II and passionate fans with deep-cut insights on GHOSTBUSTERS.

NIXON – SPECIAL EDITION on Blu-ray 5/21

From Oliver Stone, the director of Platoon, JFK and Natural Born Killers. Screen legend Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal) electrifies the screen as Richard Nixon, whose chance at greatness was ultimately destroyed by his passion for power. Nominated for four Academy Awards (Actor for Hopkins, Supporting Actress for Joan Allen, Original Screenplay for Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson and Stone, and Score for John Williams), Nixon takes a riveting look at a complex man who became the first American president to resign, due to the threat of impeachment and his involvement in conspiracy jeopardizing the nation's security. The phenomenal all-star cast includes Allen (The Crucible), Powers Boothe (The Emerald Forest), Ed Harris (Needful Things), Bob Hoskins (Shattered), E.G. Marshall (Consenting Adults), Paul Sorvino (I, the Jury), David Hyde Pierce (TV's Frasier), Mary Steenburgen (Hope Springs), J.T. Walsh (Breakdown) and James Woods (The Onion Field). This special three-disc edition includes both the original theatrical cut and the extended director's cut, and is loaded with extras.

BLACK MOON RISING – SPECIAL EDITION on Blu-ray 5/28
Brand New 2K Restoration of the film from the Original 35mm.

When master thief Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive, Blown Away, The Park Is Mine) is hired by the government to steal top-secret data from a crime organization, he hides the stolen data in the experimental supercar, The Black Moon. But when the car is then stolen by high-tech auto thief Nina (Linda Hamilton, The Terminator), Quint must pull off the most daring heist of all: break into an impenetrable skyscraper and steal it back. With time running out and all sides closing in, Quint and Nina take The Black Moon on one final ride towards a shattering climax of sky-high suspense. Screenplay by legendary filmmaker John Carpenter (Escape from New York), Desmond Nakano (American Me) and William Gray (An Eye for an Eye), from a story by Carpenter. The all-star cast includes Robert Vaughn (Bullitt), Richard Jaeckel (The Dirty Dozen). Loaded with extras, including interviews, audio commentary, alternative scenes and a vintage documentary featuring behind-the-scenes footage and cast & crew interviews.

Rest in Peace, Seymour Cassel

Seymour Cassel (1935-2019)

GOLDEN JOB: Leave Your Scrutiny at the Door

Starring Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Kar Lok Chin, Jerry Lamb, eric Tsang, Yamei Zhang, Charmaine Sheh, Serej Onopko. Directed by Kar Lok Chin. (2018/109 min).

WELL GO USA

Review by Tiger the Terrible😼

Though the unfortunate title sounds like something you might pay for at a brothel, Golden Job is an outlandishly entertaining heist film. However, it does require a bit of effort on the viewer’s part, mainly a willing suspension of disbelief.

Having grown-up together in an orphanage, Lion, Crater, Bill, Dan & Mouse are as close as brothers and fiercely loyal to each other. They are more-or-less raised, loved and mentored by a man they refer to as Dad. Under his tutelage, they eventually become globe-trotting thieves-for-hire. When de-facto leader Lion (Ekin Chang) learns the medicine they stole to treat an African village is expired, they plan another elaborate heist, this time targeting a second batch being moved by a shady foreign agency. However, what they end up with is $400 million in stolen gold, which Bill (Michael Tse) knew about all along, part of his own plan to doublecross his friends and the guys they stole it from.

"Yeah, I did my hair myself. What about it?"

Bill disappears with the gold, Lion goes to jail and the others lay low while Dad and his daughter, Lulu, try to start over in a small town in Japan. Once Lion is released, they decide to go after Bill and the gold. But despite his betrayal, they aren’t looking for revenge. In fact, their motivation is what makes Golden Job kind-of unique among heist films. There’s the usual quota of action, gunplay and bloodletting. The gold heist itself is wonderfully elaborate, though pretty damned far-fetched. But what gets us through the technical and narrative rough spots are the characters. All the protagonists are extremely likable and their dedication to each other is endearing, leading to more-than-a few funny or heartwarming moments. Even Bill, vicious as he becomes, is never completely evil. Throughout the film, he’s openly remorseful over what he’s done to break the trust between the five of them.

However, anyone expecting plausibility should probably keep walking and never look back. The elaborately staged action scenes often play like a video game, especially during a Tokyo car chase and the climactic island siege (yeah, there’s an island siege). The bad guys all have the marksmanship skills of Imperial Stormtroopers and our heroes seem a little too fearless in the face of overwhelming odds.

But Golden Job ain’t a documentary and makes no claims of realism. There’s no lofty agenda or ambition beyond offering a fun ride with a half-dozen amusing characters we can’t help but like. Big, loud, violent and even poignant at times, you won’t believe a minute of it, but with films like this, does that ultimately matter?

EXTRA KIBBLES

SEVERAL PROMOTIONAL FEATURETTES

ANIMATED POSTER

MUSIC VIDEOS

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

NO ALTERNATIVE: Uncomfortably Numb

Starring Michaela Cavazos, Conor Proft, Harry Hamlin, Kathryn Erbe, Chloe Levine, Eli Bridges, Aria Shahghasemi, Matthew Van Oss. Directed by William Dickerson. (2018/104 min).

GRAVITAS VENTURES

Review by Fluffy the Fearless🙀

I remember when Kurt Cobain died. I was in college and a bit older than many of my classmates (having partied through most of my 20s). So while his suicide didn’t have a profound impact on my life, I did observe how it affected a generation touched by his songs. That, coupled with the overall bleakness of grunge music itself, galvanized the stereotype of 90s’ youth as moody, ambivalent naval-gazers.

No Alternative revels in that decade, as experienced through two disaffected suburban siblings in the post-Cobain era. Bridget (Michaela Cavazos) is a brooding, perpetually angry high-schooler who’s been prescribed a variety of medications since she was eight. Her older brother, Thomas (Conor Proft), initially appears to be the more responsible of the two. Their parents (Harry Hamlin, Kathryn Erbe) expect Thomas to go to college, though all he really wants is to play with his band of Nirvana wannabes.

The film itself is nearly plotless, primarily shifting back and forth between Bridget and Thomas. Mom and Dad are mostly peripheral figures in their daily lives (and the story, though Dad is arguably its de-facto antagonist). Neither kid is particularly likable, but as products of their environment – or in Bridget’s case, no-small-amount of medication – each manages to generate fair amounts of empathy. Both find emotional outlets through music. Bridget embraces rap, which suits her confrontational nature. Through cringeworthy scenes during open-mike night at a local club, her performances are similar to scream therapy. However, as the narrative unfolds, it’s Thomas whose behavior and actions take alarming turns.

If Jay & Silent Bob had offspring.

As authentic as everything looks, sounds and feels, No Alternative is not a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The film is as cheerless as the music from the era, especially its depiction of how mental illness can go tragically unnoticed until it’s too late. Writer-director William Dickerson adapted his own novel, a fictionalized recollection of his own youth and equally troubled sister. The result isn’t what anyone would call a good time at the movies, but by the time we realize the entire film will be an exercise in misery, we feel compelled to see it through, even once we’re certain not every character will make it out alive.

No Alternative is the type of movie where we admire the message, the performances and the director's integrity, which isn’t the same as actually enjoying it. Dickerson doesn’t pull any emotional punches and the film grows increasingly tough to watch as the story approaches its inevitable-with-hindsight conclusion. However, those who vividly recall the '90s will feel like they've unearthed a time capsule.

EXTRA KIBBLES

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.

THE POOP SCOOP: Cult Kibbles Edition

VIEW THE TRAILER

LORDS OF CHAOS on Blu-ray & DVD 5/28

Oslo, 1987: Seventeen-year-old Euronymous (Rory Culkin) is determined to escape his idyllic Scandinavian hometown and create "true Norwegian black metal" with his band, MAYHEM. He's joined by equally fanatical youths - Dead (Jack Kilmer) and Varg (Emory Cohen). Believing that they're on the cusp of a musical revolution, the group gets even darker, driven by the black metal dogma to spread evil. They begin burning down churches throughout the countryside and stealing tombstones for their record store. But when the press catches up with them and Euronymous takes more credit than he's earned for the group's violent acts, Varg, fresh out of jail, arranges a dark encounter to settle the score and ultimately determine who the darkest black metal musician is. Inspired by a true story, Lords Of Chaos made its debut at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival before going on to impress audiences at Fantastic Fest, Beyond Fest, Fantasia Festival, and more.

THE NEW YORK RIPPER Limited Edition 3 Disc Set Coming 6/25

A blade-wielding psychopath is on the loose, turning The Big Apple bright red with the blood of beautiful young women. As NYPD detective Fred Williams (Jack Hedley of For Your Eyes Only) follows the trail of butchery from the decks of the Staten Island Ferry to the sex shows of Times Square, each brutal murder becomes a sadistic taunt. In the city that never sleeps, the hunt is on for the killer that can't be stopped! Co-written and directed by acclaimed horror maestro Lucio Fulci (Zombie, City Of the Living Dead) and filmed on location in the mean streets of New York City, this is one of Fulci's most savage and controversial thrillers. Now Blue Underground is proud to present The New York Ripper in a new 4K restoration from its original camera negative, completely uncut and uncensored, and fully loaded with exclusive new extras.

VIEW THE TRAILER

LEPRECHAUN RETURNS on Blu-ray and DVD 6/11

The devious and deadly wisecracking Leprechaun that we all know (and love to hate) returns to reclaim his pot of gold from a sorority house property…all while gleefully going on a Leprechaun-style killing spree. Leprechaun Returns stars Linden Porco as The Leprechaun with his signature hat and shiny shoes, Taylor Spreitler, and Mark Holton, who returns to the series for the first time since the original 1993 film. The Leprechaun Returns Blu-ray and DVD will include a making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes footage and still gallery.

VIEW THE TRAILER

A VIGILANTE on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital 5/28

Give her a call, and she’ll give you justice. After escaping her violent husband, Sadie (Olivia Wilde) makes it her life’s mission to help free others in danger. Now, after months of rigorous training in survival skills, boxing, and lethal martial arts, Sadie is back with a vengeance in this fight-packed action-thriller. Experience Olivia Wilde’s incredible, critically acclaimed performance in the riveting, genre-bending thriller A Vigilante, arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and Digital May 28 from Lionsgate. This film is currently available On Demand. “Olivia Wilde is positively brilliant” (Entertainment Weekly) as an avenger who lives to defend victims of domestic abuse in this electrifying, fight-packed action-thriller. The A Vigilante Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will include a never-before-seen making-of featurette

VIEW THE TRAILER

CLIMAX on Blu-ray and DVD May 28

Another truly unique and sensual vision from filmmaker Gaspar Noé. Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh, this hypnotic and provocative horror film centers on a troupe of younger dancers who, while rehearsing in an empty school building, learn their sangria is laced with LSD and descend into a passionate and violent delirium. Stirring up buzz upon its premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, the film is “a sensual overload that will have your heart pounding” (Joseph Walsh, Time Out New York) and features rising star Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub, and Claude Gajan Maull. The Climax Blu-ray and DVD include a never-before-seen making-of featurette.

THE GREAT BUSTER is a Fitting Tribute

Featuring Mel Brooks, Paul Dooley, Bill Hader, Werner Herzog, Bill Irwin, James Karen, Richard Lewis, Norman Lloyd, Leonard Maltin, Ben Mankiewicz, Carl Reiner, Cybill Shepherd, French Stewart, Quentin Tarantino, Dick Van Dyke, Jon Watts and, of course, a big batch o' Buster. Narrated & Directed by Peter Bogdanovich. (2018/101 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM COHEN MEDIA GROUP

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😸

The film’s full title is The Great Buster: A Celebration, which is fitting. The problem? It leaves you wanting more.

It’s another great documentary by Peter Bogdanovich, who also chronicled Tom Petty’s career in the epic-length Runnin’ Down a Dream. Since both are arguably the best films he’s directed in at least 30 years, perhaps he should just stick to documentaries for awhile.

Bogdanovich’s approach and structure – not-to-mention his own affectionate narration – does indeed celebrate the life, career and enduring influence of Buster Keaton. The biographical first half is loaded with restored clips from the classic two-reelers where he first found stardom, along with on-screen commentary by dozens of actors, directors, historians and comedians, whose admiration and respect for Keaton is clearly genuine.

Jesus Christ, look at those ticket prices!

The second half focuses exclusively on the ten feature-length films he directed and starred-in from 1923 to 1928 (widely considered his glory years). Celebrity testimonials give-way to lengthy segments in which Bogdanovich himself celebrates each of those films with insightful observations and no-small-amount of gushing praise. Keaton’s most famous bits are showed in their entirety, most of which are still very funny even when presented out of context. I’ll be upfront and admit I’m not too well-versed in silent comedy, so a lot of this was revelatory and one thing becomes quickly obvious: Filmmakers and comics have been ripping-off Keaton’s moves for decades.

Ultimately, what The Great Buster does best is inspire the viewer to experience Keaton’s films themselves. Peter Bogdanovich has assembled an entertaining tribute that might actually appeal more to newcomers than those familiar with comic’s work. The clips themselves have been wonderfully restored, and since Cohen Media Group founder Charles Cohen boasts in a bonus supplement that he’s acquired most of the Keaton filmography, one can only hope we’ll someday see 4K transfers The General and The Navigator. Until then, this charming retrospective will do nicely.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“CONVERSATIONS FROM THE QUAD” - A half-hour discussion/interview with Bogdanovich, with an intro by Charles Cohen.

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEE-OW! LIKE BEING TURNED LOOSE IN A BIRD SANCTUARY