HEAVEN CAN WAIT and REDS: Two of Beatty's Best

HEAVEN CAN WAIT and REDS - 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Blu-ray Review)

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Mr. Paws😸

As actors-turned-directors go, Warren Beatty hit the ground running with what’s arguably one of the best one-two punches in movie history. More impressively, the films couldn’t be more different. One is a “feel good” comedy that showcases his natural charisma, while the other is an ambitious, long-gestating labor of love. Not only were both nominated for multiple Oscars, they’re indisputable classics.

HEAVEN CAN WAIT 

1978 / 101 min

On Blu-ray for the first time, this whimsical remake of 1941’s Here Comes Mr. Jordan features Beatty as Joe Pendleton, an NFL quarterback who’s taken to heaven prematurely and given a second chance at life. Unfortunately, his body’s been cremated, so head angel Mr. Jordan (James Mason) offers to put him into another - eccentric billionaire Leo Farnsworth - who’s just been poisoned by his conniving wife (Dyan Cannon) and his nebbish secretary (Charles Grodin). 

While undoing a lot of Farnsworth’s unscrupulous business practices, Joe still wants to play football. So he buys the team he once played for and coerces friend-trainer Max (Jack Warden) to help him get back in shape. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Betty Logan (Julie Christie), the activist he meets when she arrives in town to protest one of Farnsworth’s environmentally destructive projects.

"Do I rock this robe or what?"

One of the best comedies of the ‘70s, Beatty co-directs Heaven Can Wait with Buck Henry (who also plays his beleaguered guardian angel). He also co-wrote the film with Elaine May, tailoring the classic story to suit his inherent charm and laidback comedic style. But this was never just a vanity project. The entire cast shines here, especially Grodin, whose wonderfully droll persona is here in abundance. Punctuated by a great score, Heaven Can Wait is funny, bittersweet and constantly engaging. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

DIGITAL COPY

REDS - 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 

1981 / 195 min

Beatty’s very next film was 1981’s Reds, a sprawling, epic and ultimately exhausting pet project he’d been trying to get off the ground for years. Both a biography and a love story, the film is about idealistic journalist John Reed (Beatty), who not-only witnesses the Russian Revolution of 1917, he achieves widespread notoriety writing a book about it (Ten Days That Shook the World). A longtime socialist, Reed embraces and radicalizes the ideals of Communist Labor Party, which doesn’t sit well with America’s capitalistic government.

However, the first half of the film chronicles his somewhat tumultuous relationship with Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), a free spirited writer who leaves her hometown of Portland, not just to be with him, but to have her work taken more seriously. But Reed and his cronies are often so wrapped up in their own ideals that she begins to resent being relatively unheard, which briefly drives her into the arms of Reed’s friend, playwright Eugene O'Neill (Jack Nicholson).

"Of course I'm serious. I'm wearing the button."

Tonally, both halves are quite different and a strong argument could be made that Reds might have been better off as two separate films (even though no one was really doing that at the time). Taking it all in at once is sort of a daunting task, especially since the second half - focusing on Reed’s experiences in Europe - is dramatically stronger. But despite running 3+ hours, it’s often fascinating. Once again writing and directing, Beatty gives the viewer an entertaining history lesson on a grand scale while delivering the best performance of his entire career. We may not pop this one into the Blu-ray player as often as, say, Bonnie & Clyde, but it’s certainly a film everyone should experience.

EXTRA KIBBLES

WITNESS TO REDS - Retrospective documentary, featuring numerous interviews with most of the cast and crew. Running over 70 total minutes, it’s divided into seven chapters: “The Rising,” “Comrades,” “Testimonials,” “The March,” “Revolution Part 1,” “Revolution Part 2” and “Propaganda.”

TRAILER

DIGITAL COPY

Considering the critical and/or social impact of both films, I’m sort of surprised they weren’t released as part of the Paramount Presents series. Perhaps that’s because there is no new supplementary material. Heaven Can Wait is a barebones release, while the bonus material for Reds is the same as the 25th Anniversary Edition. However, the latter has been restored and remastered. At any rate, both films are worth space on your shelf.

THE HILLS HAVE EYES: Crazy Cannibals in 4K

THE HILLS HAVE EYES (4K UHD Review)

1977 / 90 min

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Looking back at Wes Craven’s early career, a couple of things immediately come to mind. First, he was kind of a sick puppy whose films went beyond mere horror escapism to rub audience noses in all sorts of human depravity. Second, unlike such contemporaries as Carpenter and Romero, he was still trying to figure out how to make movies.

I know Last House on the Left has its fans, but not only does it remain a joyless exercise in pure nihilism, it’s poorly written, amateurishly performed and haphazardly directed by a guy whose only noticeable skill was pointing the camera in the right direction. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Craven’s next film, The Hills Have Eyes, may not be what anyone would mistake for a masterpiece, but it’s obvious he learned a lot in the interim. 

Thematically, The Hills Have Eyes is similar to Last House in that both films depict their main characters' descent into savagery. Instead of revenge, however, this time it’s for pure survival. Taking an obvious cue from Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Craven also creates antagonists - a family of desert cannibals - that are far more interesting (and entertaining) than his protagonists. Yeah, the film still wallows in depravity, but it's tempered by healthy amounts of twisted humor, making some of the violence easier to take.

The scariest part of the movie? That outfit.

And unlike Last House, Craven manages moments of genuine tension and takes advantage of the film’s atmospheric desert setting. The result is a film that doesn’t quite transcend its low budget origins, but it’s his first that’s at least watchable. And though Craven’s best work was still years away, The Hills Have Eyes offers glimpses of what he would someday become. In that respect, the film is a historically important stepping stone.

For collectors, the only difference between this Limited Edition boxed set and Arrow’s 2016 release is the 4K Ultra HD disc. All of the bonus features and aesthetic goodies (outlined below) are identical. As for the 4K transfer, it’s not bad, particularly during the daylight scenes. However, the night sequences - roughly the middle third of the film - are often pretty dark and grainy. The 7.1 remix sounds great, though.

EXTRA KIBBLES

LOOKING BACK AT THE HILLS HAVE EYES - Retrospective doc featuring interview with director Wes Craven producer Peter Locke and most of the primary cast.

FAMILY BUSINESS - Interview with actor Martin Spear.

THE DESERT SESSIONS - Interview with composer Don Peake.

3 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By actors Michael Berryman, Janus Blythe, Sesan Lanier & Martin Spear; 2) By Mikel J. Koven; 3) By director WesCraven & producer Peter Locke.

ALTERNATE ENDING - The order of a few kills during the climax are switched, with a more cheerful final scene.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - On-screen text of the screenplay under its original title.

OUTTAKES

THREE TRAILERS

IMAGE GALLERY - Mostly promotional art.

SUPPLEMENTARY BOOKLET - Running 40 pages, it includes 2 essays, cast, crew & restoration credits.

TWO-SIDED POSTER - Featuring 2016 and original artwork. We prefer the original, since it is somewhat iconic.

6 LOBBY CARD & INTERNATIONAL POSTER REPLICAS

REVERSIBLE COVER - Featuring 2016 and original artwork.

RAGING FIRE is the Best Action Film of the Year

RAGING FIRE (Blu-ray Review)

2021 / 126 min

FROM WELL GO USA

Review by Tiger the Terrible😹

Raging Fire is Donnie Yen’s best movie in years. Maybe ever.

Besides the intensity of the action, the title could also apply to both its main protagonist, Inspector Bong (Yen), a dedicated, upstanding detective, and antagonist, Ngo (Nicholas Tse), who leads a gang of ruthless high-tech robbers. During a police raid to thwart a major drug deal, Ngo’s crew shows up, kills both parties in the exchange and makes-off with $40 million in crystal meth. They also kill several cops, including Bong’s longtime friend and mentor.

 

But Ngo is no ordinary criminal. He and his entire crew were once promising cops under Bong’s tutelage, but ended up being convicted for the wrongful death of a suspect during a kidnapping, largely due to Bong’s testimony. While Bong simply stated what he witnessed, Ngo and his partners were actually acting on the orders of their superiors. 

 

Ngo appears just as motivated by revenge - on Bong and the higher-ups who railroaded them - as personal gain. This makes him an intriguing villain...violent, maybe even a little crazy, but not entirely unsympathetic. The relationship between Ngo and Bong is thoroughly explored, resulting in a dynamic game of cat & mouse where both men are equally methodical and intelligent, often anticipating each other’s moves. Additionally, Bong is the most engaging character Yen’s had the opportunity to play since his Ip Man days, delivering a strong performance to go along with his legendary physical abilities. 

Someone ate the last bear claw. Bong leaves in a huff.

Speaking of which, Raging Fire not-only features great characters and a complex plot - though not difficult to follow - it’s loaded with kinetic, violent mayhem. Yen engages in a few extended fight scenes, including a showstopper in an abandoned church. But these sequences, directed by Yen himself, aren’t simply well-choreographed; they’re convincing. These guys really look like they’re beating the shit out of each other. Following a destructive car chase - the only time some wonky CGI is noticeable - there's a massive Heat-style gun battle in the streets, resulting in collateral damage most similar action films pretend doesn’t happen.

Almost epic in scope, Raging Fire may not always be believable, but it’s a constantly entertaining crime thriller with a great story. Doing the preliminary legwork to fully flesh-out its characters - on both sides of the badge - certainly pays off, since we’re far more invested in them when the bullets begin to fly. Donnie Yen has seldom been better, digging into a role that showcases both his physical and dramatic skills. This is the best action film of the year.

 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Four very brief promotional featurettes. The first two are set-construction/special effects montages set to heavy metal music. The other two are short interviews with Donnie Yen and Nicolas Tse.

4 TEASERS & TRAILERS

MAD MAX ANTHOLOGY (4K): The Apocalypse Gets an Upgrade

MAD MAX ANTHOLOGY (4K UHD Review)

1979-2015 / 415 min (4 films)

FROM WARNER BROS

Review by Tiger the Terrible😺

#InPartnershipwithWB

For 4K collectors, the big news is that The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome are now available in the format for the first time. And if the original Mad Max (released on 4K just last year by Kino Lorber) and Mad Max: Fury Road already sit on your shelves, rest-assured Warrior and Thunderdome are also available separately, so no double dipping is required to complete your collection.

The other news is that the Mad Max Anthology is essentially a bare bones release. With the exception of The Road Warrior - which has a few archival bonus features - no supplementary material is included, meaning some of those older discs are still worth hanging on to. This set is simply a convenient and economical way to upgrade all four films to 4K at the same time.

Of course, the entire series is worth owning (in any format). The original Mad Max is undoubtedly a product of its decade, but remains a superlative example of ‘70s era Ozploitation. It’s still pretty amazing what first-time director George Miller and producer Byron Kennedy were able to put on-screen with such limited resources. And what more can be said about The Road Warrior (aka Mad Max 2)? Not only did it set the bar for action cinema and make Mel Gibson a star, its eye-popping action sequences and apocalyptic aesthetics are still influential. Beyond Thunderdome, the weakest in the series, has also aged the worst, being too slick with ‘80s gloss for its own good. Still, it’s required viewing for completists. 

When Uber drivers revolt.

The Road Warrior’s legacy may be far-reaching, but it’s arguably Mad Max: Fury Road that’ll go down in history as the franchise’s crown jewel (despite plenty o’ pissiness from butthurt misogynists with too much spare time on their hands). Not only is it one of the few belated sequels worth the 30 year wait - even without Gibson - it ranks among the best action movies ever made. I can’t imagine even Miller ever topping it.

But are they worth owning in 4K? Of course. Fury Road looks and sounds best in the format, but the others all feature good transfers, as well. Of the older films, The Road Warrior benefits most from the upgrade. Having never seen Kino Lorber’s recent 4K release of Mad Max, I can’t offer comparisons, but Warner Bros’ version looks great. 

However, if bonus bells & whistles are your thing, you’ll probably want to give this set a pass. Mad Max Anthology is strictly for videophiles looking to upgrade the picture and sound. Digital copies of all four films are also included.

EXTRA KIBBLES 

ROAD WAR: THE MAKING OF THE ROAD WARRIOR - Excellent 50-minute retrospective doc from 2016.

THE ROAD WARRIOR AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director George Miller & cinematographer Dean Semler.

THE ROAD WARRIOR INTRODUCTION - By Leonard Maltin.

DIGITAL COPIES OF ALL FOUR FILMS - The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome & Mad Max: Fury Road are accessible through Movies Anywhere, Mad Max through wb.com/redeemdigital.

THE THIN MAN GOES HOME: A Working Vacation

THE THIN MAN GOES HOME (Blu-ray Review)

1944 / 101 min

FROM WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION

Review by Mr. Paws😸

Five down, one to go…

Though it might have been preferable to get them all at once, fans of The Thin Man film series have to be pleased. The first film was released on Blu-ray a few years ago, but in 2021, Warner Archive has been committed to putting out another one - in sequence - every couple of months or so. 

The fifth film, The Thin Man Goes Home, isn’t quite on par with the previous entries, which might be partially due to new director Richard Thorpe replacing W.S. Van Dyke, who helmed the first four films but had since passed away. With all due respect to Mr. Thorpe’s respectable career, Van Dykw had a defter touch and a better feel for the characters.

Not that The Thin Man Goes Home isn’t good. It’s another wonderful blend of crime & comedy featuring Hollywood’s greatest husband-wife detective team, Nick & Nora Charles (William Powell & Myrna Loy). This time, they're visiting Nick’s parents in the small town of Sycamore Springs to vacation and celebrate his birthday. But after a local artist is murdered - one of his paintings is sought by a variety of potential suspects - Nick’s forced to make it a working vacation.

"Well, that's one way to humiliate a dog."

Nick’s also trying to impress his father, who never truly approved of his career choice or his drinking, the latter of which Nick swears off during the visit. One of the more amusing running gags is Nick getting into predicaments where Dad thinks he’s plastered. We also meet a lot of Nick’s old friends, some of whom Nora doesn’t approve of, which is also good for a few laughs. As usual, the story is perfunctory, though this film spends more time on the actual case than earlier ones, meaning there’s less of Nick & Nora’s amusing banter than usual. Still, their natural chemistry shines through...and Asta's as charming as ever.

Though not quite as consistently clever - the humor’s a bit broader, the side characters a little less interesting - The Thin Man Goes Home is another solid entry in the beloved film series. And how often can you say that about the fifth film of a franchise?

EXTRA KIBBLES

SHORT - “Why Daddy?” featuring Robert Benchley.

CARTOON SHORT - “Screwball Squirrel” (personally, I think Screwy Squirrel is the most obnoxious character Tex Avery ever created).

TRAILER

MANIAC COP 2 and MANIAC COP 3: Your Favorite Undead Enforcer in 4K

MANIAC COP 2 and MANIAC COP 3: BADGE OF SILENCE (4K UHD Review)

Maniac Cop 2: 1990/87 min /  Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence: 1993/85 min

FROM BLUE UNDERGROUND 

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

William Lustig is probably best-known to grindhouse fans as the maniac behind Maniac. Of late, though, he’s folded-up the director’s chair to be the Big Cheese at Blue Underground, one of the better boutique video companies dedicated to restoring a variety of cult classics, including many of his own. Two such films - Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence - may not be as notorious as Maniac, though they’re arguably more polished, more skillfully directed and - considering the subject matter - more ridiculously fun.

Lately, Blue Underground has been giving some of their more “prestigious” titles the 4K UHD treatment and re-issued them with treasure troves of bells & whistles, such as new & vintage extras, CD soundtracks and lenticular covers. Available separately, the 4K editions Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3 are lacking some of the accoutrements that make some of those other sets exemplary. However, the transfers for both are excellent.  

Looks like she's warming up to him.

Maniac Cop 2 will never be mistaken for a great film, but is undeniably enjoyable due to its anything-goes attitude. After revisiting the original’s climax, it’s full speed ahead with everyone’s favorite undead enforcer, Matt Cordell (Robert Z’Dar), still seeking revenge on those who framed him. The story’s full of plot holes and implausibilities, but so conceptually amusing and fast-paced that we don’t much mind. The film is given considerable heft by an impressive cast of familiar faces, including cult heroine Claudia Christian and perennial tough guy Robert Davi in a rare leading role.

Davi and Z’Dar return for Maniac Cop 3. Though the law of diminishing returns certainly applies to this sequel, it’s hardly the train-wreck Lustig himself continues to claim. In fact, he actually quit mid-production, hence the infamous pseudonym, Alan Smithee, listed as director. But while the noticeably-padded story is more contrived - and sometimes threatens to take itself a little too seriously - the film still has its share of wild moments. The extended climactic car chase, with Cordell behind the wheel while engulfed in flames, is a particular highlight.

If anyone reading is wondering to themselves, “What about the original Maniac Cop?” Someone else apparently owns the rights, so it looks like fans will have to wait for the 4K of that one. But that shouldn’t stop anyone from grabbing these two, especially since Maniac Cop 2 is the best film in the series. Even without seeing the first film for context, it isn’t difficult to figure out why Matt Cordell is still plenty pissed.

EXTRA KIBBLES

Maniac Cop 2

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

BACK ON THE BEAT: THE MAKING OF MANIAC COP 2 - An excellent 40 minute retrospective doc featuring director William Lustig, writer-producer Larry Cohen, actors Robert Davi, Claudia Christian & Robert Z’Dar.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By William Lustig and Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn (who was apparently planning a remake of the original Maniac Cop).

CINEFAMILY Q&A - Following a screening, the director answers questions and has some amusing anecdotes.

ISOLATED MUSIC SCORE

DELETED SCENES

TRAILERS

POSTER & STILL GALLERY

Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

WRONG ARM OF THE LAW: THE MAKING OF MANIAC COP 3 - Revealing 25 minutes retrospective doc featuring director William Lustig (who doesn’t sugarcoat his hatred of the film), writer-producer Larry Cohen, producer Joal Sousson, actors Robert Davi, Caitlin Dulany, Gretchen Becker & Robert Z’Dar.

ORIGINAL SYNOPSIS - Text summary of writer Larry Cohen’s original script, which was considerably different.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By “Alan Smithee.”

DELETED/EXTENDED SCENES

TRAILER

POSTER & STILL GALLERY

LEGENDS OF TOMORROW: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON: Experience Preferred, But Not Required

DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON (Blu-ray Review)

2021 / 640 min

FROM WARNER BROS

Review by Carl, the Couch Potato😺

#InPartnershipwithWB

One of the big drawbacks of many serialized television shows - especially after they’ve been airing for a while - is the continued expectation of commitment on the viewer’s part. And as for curious newcomers...well, good luck digging into a new season without having seen all the others. Sure, you could use your Google Fu to dig-up some recaps, but what’s the fun in that?

However, the good ones do compel you to go back to see what you’ve been missing, which Season Six of Legends of Tomorrow does. Not necessarily to bring you up to speed on the new story arc (which was apparently established during Season Five’s last episode), but because this amusing, eclectic team of time travelers are interesting enough that we’re intrigued about their pasts, which are sometimes important to the narrative.

"I thought he didn't roll on Shabbos."

That aforementioned story arc - the Legends’ search for Sara (Caty Lota), who was abducted by aliens - is merely perfunctory. It isn’t the hunt for Sara that matters, but how they’re looking for her, with various team members travelling back and forth in time to different years, hoping to capture Earth-bound aliens who might know her whereabouts. For the most part, each episode has them visiting a specific era, sometimes with funny results and occasionally making things worse by putting humankind in peril (such as an ill-conceived visit to 1962 during the Bay of Pigs).

It’s these side stories that make the show fun, since the individual episodes - each with great attention to period detail - are entertaining enough out of context. And even with limited knowledge of their pasts, certain characters endear themselves to us pretty quickly. As someone new to the show, my favorites were Matt Ryan’s take on demon hunter John Constantine, and Dominic Purcell as Rory, a perpetually drunk meathead who’d rather solve everything with violence.

While Season Six of Legends of Tomorrow certainly relies on longtime viewer commitment, at least it isn’t required. Most of these 16 episodes are engaging enough that newcomers might still get a kick of them. That’s always the sign of a good show.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Never Alone: Heroes and Aliens; VFX Creature Feature; Animation Split Screen; Actors Split Screen.

UNAIRED SCENES

GAG REEL

DIGITAL COPY

PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND: More Cage Craziness

PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND (Blu-ray Review)

2021 / 102 min

FROM RLJE FILMS

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

Nicolas Cage himself is quoted right on the cover as saying Prisoners of the Ghostland is “The wildest film I’ve ever made.” While I personally think that distinction still belongs to Mandy, this one certainly fits right in among all the other made-to-order cult flicks he’s been cranking out for the past decade. So I suppose his quote is a more effective ringing endorsement than anything a critic would have to say.

Prisoners of the Ghostland is indeed bizarre, almost self-consciously so. Cage’s character - simply referred to as ‘Hero’ - is a convicted criminal who’s recruited by the tyrannical Governor of Samurai Town to venture into a desolated, radioactive region known as Ghostland and rescue Bernice (Sofia Boutella), whom he claims is one of his granddaughters. If Hero returns, he’ll get a full pardon. If not, the explosives on the suit he’s wearing will start blowing off body parts.

In Ghostland, Bernice has fallen-in with a bizarre cult who are trapped there by a band of undead convicts led by Hero’s former partner-in-crime, Psycho (Nick Cassavettes). Since it’s later revealed all the girls The Governor (Bill Moseley) calls granddaughter are just his sex slaves, you don’t need to be Einstein to figure out where the story’s going. In addition to escaping Ghosttown, Hero and Bernice must also contend with The Governor’s band of samurai henchmen.

Mad Max: Furry Road

Storywise, this sci-fi/western hybrid certainly throws everything at the wall to see what sticks - some does, some doesn’t - and Cage once again goes all-in with yet another over-the-top performance. However, the attempts at outrageousness often feel too calculated, almost like everything was tailored for Cage’s unique brand of bombast. But because he’s already done so many of these types of films, outrageousness is now an expectation.

So despite the Mad Max on acid premise, bizarre characters and overall flamboyance, Prisoners of the Ghostland ends up being surprisingly predictable, mostly due to the participation of its star. The film certainly has its moments and is sometimes quite funny. But in the end, it simply repackages Nicolas Cage’s usual schtick, topped with a shiny new bow.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE - “The Making of Prisoners of the Ghostland”

PHOTO GALLERIES