You've Already Seen RIGHTEOUS THIEVES

RIGHTEOUS THIEVES (Blu-ray)

2023 / 92 min

FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

Who doesn’t love a good heist film? Sometimes there’s nothing more entertaining than watching an eclectic band of thieves, assembled by a charismatic leader, who engage in a sophisticated caper where the odds are against them. Though technically criminals, their quirky charm wins us over. And it's especially satisfying if the victim deserves to be robbed.

Righteous Thieves desperately wants to be one of those films. But unfortunately, it’s just a checklist of familiar tropes that plays like it was assembled by a committee, who simply filled-in the blanks until they had their own heist movie. 

The basic plot has a woman named Annabel (Lisa Videl) assembling a crew to steal a batch of priceless Jewish artwork from billionaire neo-Nazi Otto Huizen (Brian Cousins). You’ve met all these people before…the computer hacker, the safe-cracker, the infiltrator, the hired gun and the overconfident bad guy who practically dares them to steal from him. Of course, the entire crew, including Annabel herself, is photogenic and bursting with swagger, their actions punctuated by blaring hip-hop tunes to remind us how cool they are.

"Maybe there's a key under the mat."

Damn near every scene will spark deja vu, too. First, the crew is assembled, which obviously includes one who doesn’t initially want to join. Then there’s the plan, with a lot of talk about the building and vault’s impenetrability. And let’s not leave out a couple of personal clashes among the crew (most of which are quickly resolved). It’s all so familiar that one could literally leave the room for minutes at a time and still be up-to-speed on every plot development.

Then there’s the heist itself. For a supposedly complicated job, none of it really looks all that difficult. They break into the place with relative ease, and for such a priceless collection, there ain’t much in the way of security…some cameras and a half-dozen “elite” mercenaries hired by Otto. But not only is the crew able to crack any safe and hack any computer, they’re all consummate ass-kickers.

Every aspect of Righteous Thieves is devoid of surprises…from the plot to the characters to the obligatory “gotcha!” twist ending. But even utter predictability can be enjoyable if done with a little flair. Unfortunately, the direction and performances never rise above perfunctory, while the screenplay is so generically assembled you can almost anticipate some of the dialogue before it’s even spoken. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

MAKING-OF FEATURETTE

DIGITAL COPY

SUPERMAN 5-FILM COLLECTION Looks Super in 4K

SUPERMAN 5-FILM COLLECTION (4K UHD/Blu-ray)

1978-1987 / 601 min (5 movies)

FROM WARNER BROS / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Paws😺

This new boxed set might be of more interest to videophiles than die-hard Man of Steel fans. All four Superman films featuring Christopher Reeve (as well as the 2006 Richard Donner Cut of Superman II) get a 4K facelift. For the most part, they look and sound terrific with excellent transfers. Whether or not every individual film is actually worth upgrading is certainly debatable, but they are bundled together in an attractive, sturdy box, each film with its own case (as opposed to those annoying, cumbersome Digipaks).

However, the Superman 5-Film Collection isn’t quite comprehensive. Though considered part of this specific canon, Superman Returns is not included (while some previous Blu-ray collections did). That’s kind of a shame because, at the very least, it’s a hell of a lot better than the dire third and fourth films (though I’m in the minority on this, I’d even argue it’s better than Superman II). But I get it. From a certain perspective, it makes sense to focus exclusively on the Christpher Reeve films.

Additionally, only the theatrical cut of Superman: The Movie is included, whereas other editions also featured the longer “Special Edition”. And one time, Warner Bros even released the 3-hour “Extended Cut” that was originally prepared for television. While I personally feel the original cut remains the superior version, including the others (even if only on Blu-ray) would have made the set more fan friendly. 

The first movie remains the greatest-ever adaptation of Superman for the big screen. Earnest, epic and (for its time) visually spectacular, not-only was it the first big-budget superhero film, the concept was taken more-or-less seriously, without a whiff of irony or campy, tongue-in-cheek humor. But it’s still often quite funny, thanks largely to Gene Hackman’s scene-stealing turn as Lex Luthor.

Super-sloshed.

Both versions of Superman II are uniquely different viewing experiences. Though Richard Lester’s theatrical version is a worthy sequel, there's a noticeable shift toward the type of humor prevalent in the director’s other work. Of course, most fans are aware that original director Richard Donner (who did the first film) was unceremoniously fired during production. But in 2006, he was allowed to re-cut Superman II as he originally envisioned. Whether or not The Richard Donner Cut is an improvement is certainly debatable, but because the pace and tone of both are so dissimilar, it’s like watching different adaptations of the same story.

Even back in 1983, Richard Pryor sharing top billing with Reeve in Superman III reeked of gratuitous stunt casting. Sure enough, with Lester returning as director, there’s an overemphasis on comedy that’s completely out-of-step with the first two films. Reeve is terrific as usual, but Pryor is woefully miscast and, through no fault of his own, not remotely funny. But it’s The Dark Knight compared to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, produced by notoriously-frugal Cannon Films. As the Jaws: The Revenge of superhero movies, it’s choppy, cheap and utterly inane, marking a sorry end to the Christopher Reeve era.

But hey, Superfans are probably gonna want the bad films, too, if simply to chart the rapid descent of a franchise with the morbid fascination that hindsight provides. Good and bad, they’re all here in this boxed set for posterity, most presented in 4K for the first time. It also includes excellent vintage bonus material (on accompanying Blu-ray discs) related to both the films and Supe’s history. The Superman 5-Film Collection falls just short of definitive, but those seeking technical upgrades should have no complaints.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE

“THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE” 

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By producer Pierre Spengler & exec-producer Ilya Salkind.

SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN (1951) - One of the earliest feature-length Superman movies, featuring George Reeves.

3 LOONEY TUNES SHORTS - “Super Rabbit”; “Snafuperman”; “Stupor Duck” (one of the best Daffy Duck cartoons, in our opinion).

TRAILERS & A TV SPOT

SUPERMAN II

“THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN II”

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By producer Pierre Spengler & exec-producer Ilya Salkind.

FLEISCHER STUDIOS’ CARTOONS - 9 animated shorts from the 1940s.

DELETED SCENE

TRAILER

SUPERMAN II - THE RICHARD DONNER CUT

“SUPERMAN II: RESTORING THE VISION” - This doc primarily features Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz, the primary collaborators on this cut.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz.

INTRODUCTION BY RICHARD DONNER

FAMOUS STUDIOS’ CARTOONS - 8 shorts from Paramount’s animation studio. 

6 DELETED SCENES

SUPERMAN III 

“THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN III”

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By producer Pierre Spengler & exec-producer Ilya Salkind.

11 DELETED SCENES

TRAILER

SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE

“SUPERMAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL” - Vintage TV special, hosted by Dana Carvey, who’s as unfunny as ever.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By co-writer Mark Rosenthal.

15 DELETED SCENES

TRAILER

IN THE LINE OF DUTY I-IV: Two Khans Are Better Than One

IN THE LINE OF DUTY I-IV (Blu-ray)

1985-1989 / 375 min (4 movies)

FROM 88 FILMS

Review by Tiger the Terrible😺

For the uninitiated, it’s probably prudent to point out that In the Line of Duty wasn’t really a franchise in the purest sense. For the most part, they're all stand-alone films, the only tenuous connection between them being the basic concept…an ass-kicking female cop as the protagonist. So one could watch them in any order and miss nothing. That being said, this collection features the first four films, providing an interesting look at the early careers of Michelle Yeoh (when she was still billed as Michelle Khan) and her fresh-faced successor in the series, Cynthia Khan.

In Royal Warriors (retroactively re-titled In the Line of Duty), dedicated cop Michelle Yip (Yeoh), a Japanese Interpol agent and an obnoxious air marshal thwart an airline hijacking. Now they’re being targeted by a group of vicious war veterans who’ve made a pact to avenge the deaths of their friends. This wildly-plotted film features ample gunplay, explosions, fights and a shitload of broken glass. The opening close-quarters clash on-board an airliner is especially impressive. Attempts at broad comedy sit uncomfortably alongside scenes of brutal violence, but overall, the movie is a fun ride.

Yes, Madam! (retitled In the Line of Duty II) was actually released a year before Royal Warriors, featuring Yeoh as a different character (Inspector Ng). It also boasts the film debut of American martial arts champion Cynthia Rothrock (amusingly, her voice is dubbed in both versions on this disc). Together, they’re investigating the murder of their mentor, who had microfilm that could incriminate a powerful Hong Kong businessman. However, it has fallen into the possession of three bumbling petty thieves. Ridiculous but enjoyable, it has a rousing climax that showcases these ladies’ considerable skills.

Cynthia and Michelle do not appreciate being mistaken for Duran Duran.

Relative newcomer Cynthia Khan takes the reins for the next two films. Playing the same character in both (Inspector Yeung), she isn’t quite as charismatic as Yeoh, but is an equally formidable fighter. Storywise, In the Line of Duty III might be the best film in the collection (and the bloodiest), in which a pair of psychotic lovers commit a deadly jewel heist to fund a terrorist organization…while causing a jaw-dropping amount of collateral damage. In the Line of Duty IV has Yeung trying to protect a hapless dock worker from gangsters and corrupt CIA agents. More serious in tone, this one is also noteworthy for featuring a very young Donnie Yen as Khan's hotheaded partner.

Being that all four films hail from those wacky ‘80s, it probably goes without saying that, aesthetically, they’re definitely products of their time. From the synth & drum scores to the production design to Yeoh’s mullet and shoulder pads, watching these things is kind of like time traveling. Beyond that though, In the Line of Fire I-IV has more-than-enough brutal, bloody brawls to sate action lovers, plus the added bonus of a few martial arts legends in early roles. With decent restorations and a smattering of vintage bonus features, 88 Films has put together a nicely-packaged boxed set, throwing in some physical goodies for good measure.

EXTRA KIBBLE

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET

2 TWO-SIDED POSTERS

REVERSIBLE COVER ART

ROYAL WARRIORS (In the Line of Duty)

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng

2 TRAILERS

ENGLISH TITLE SEQUENCE

YES, MADAM! (In the Line of Duty II)

ENGLISH DUBBED VERSION

INTRO BY CYNTHIA ROTHROCK

MICHELLE YEOH INTERVIEW

CYNTHIA ROTHROCK INTERVIEW

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng

SCENE SPECIFIC COMMENTARIES - By Cynthia Rothrock & Frank Djeng

“LADIES FIRST - MANG HOI ON YES, MADAM!”

“BATTLING BABES”

ORIGINAL HONG KONG TRAILER

IN THE LINE OF DUTY III

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN SHAM - A very entertaining interview with Sham, who produced a lot of these things…and acted in a few.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Frank Djeng & Michael Worth

ENGLISH & HONG KONG TRAILERS

ENGLISH CREDITS

IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV

ENGLISH DUBBED VERSION

INTERVIEW WITH DONNIE YEN

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By Frank Djeng & Michael Worth; 2) By Stefen Hammon & Michael Wong.

ENGLISH & HONG KONG TRAILERS

YAKUZA GRAVEYARD and the Badass Mofo

YAKUZA GRAVEYARD (Blu-ray)

1976 / 96 min

FROM RADIANCE FILMS

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😺

Kuroiwa is one badass mofo. 

A tough cop with a permanent chip on his shoulder, he doesn’t take shit from anybody…not his superiors, his girlfriend or the two yakuza families fighting for control of the territory. He’s also pretty fearless, with no qualms about single handedly putting the hurt on a room full of gangsters or hooking up with a yakuza boss’ wife. The guy makes Dirty Harry look like Barney Fife.

But while Kuroiwa (Tetsuya Watari) is revealed to be somewhat morally questionable, his bosses are worse. Most in the department are corrupt and in-bed with the Yamashiro family, who are planning to wipe out their competitors, the Nishidas. Disgusted with his own department, Kuroiwa eventually finds himself siding with the Nishidas, even befriending Iwata (Tatsuo Umemiya), the guy in charge since their boss, Sugi, has been sent to prison. 

He also begins a relationship with Sugi’s wife, Keiko (Meiko Kaji), which is pretty ballsy, especially when you consider his other girlfriend is the widow of another yakuza boss he shot and killed a year earlier. Meanwhile, Kuroiwa uses his badassery to not-only take on the Yamashiros, but try and protect Iwata from his own crooked superiors, who didn’t even want him investigating the yakuza in the first place and soon relieve him of duty.

"I ain't no idiot. I wanna see the candy before I get in the van!"

Though the story is a little convoluted at times, Yakuza Graveyard is big, violent fun, with plenty of action and amusingly questionable behavior by its protagonist. Speaking of which, Kuroiwa is a great character and played with tough conviction by Watari. Watching him let his fists do the talking - usually without even removing his sunglasses - is a rousing way to spend 90 minutes. But he isn’t just a thug with a badge. Kuroiwa is more complex than his perpetual scowl and gruff demeanor initially suggest. And even though he falls-in with criminals, his code of ethics remains unchanged. The film makes it clear that being a corrupt cop is far worse.

Respected, influential director Kinji Fukasaku dabbled in a lot of different genres during his decades-long career, but his bread & butter were the yakuza films he made in the 1970s. As some of this disc’s bonus features will attest, he was especially adept at cranking out pulp thrillers and Yakuza Graveyard is a great example. Highly recommended for fans of action flicks with badass mofos.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“OF WOLVES AND MEN” - Interview with Kazuya Shiraishi, a director who was influenced by Kinji Fukasaku, talks about the director’s career making Yukusa films.

“THE RAGE AND THE PASSION” - Video essay by Tom Mes.

TRAILER

GALLERY

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Featuring three essays, as well as cast, crew & restoration credits.

REVERSIBLE COVER - With new & vintage artwork.

THE POOP SCOOP: Baba Yaga Edition

✏JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 arrives May 23 on Digital and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand June 13 from Lionsgate.

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe, and forces that turn old friends into foes. Old friends and new foes come together when John Wick: Chapter 4 arrives Digtal May 23 and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD & On Demand June 13 from Lionsgate. The high action-thriller, which has grossed a franchise-best $400 million+ at the global box office, directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, stars Keanu Reeves (The Matrix franchise) as he returns in the titular role, joined by franchise regulars Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix franchise), Lance Reddick (TV’s “Lost”), and lan McShane (“Deadwood”) while welcoming Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Bill Skarsgård (It franchise), Hiroyuki Sanada (Avengers: Endgame), Shamier Anderson (Race), Rina Sawayama (TV’s “Turn Up Charlie”), and Scott Adkins (Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday).

 

🐉DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES now available on VOD, on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD May 30 from Paramount.

“Bursting with action, comedy and spectacle” (Kristy Puchko, Mashable), DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES has been hailed as “a total blast” (Scott Mantz, KTLA-TV) and “the best movie of the year” (Lex Briscuso, The Wrap).  Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and boasting a 93% audience score, the film is “the perfect movie for the whole family!” (Joe Deckelmeier, Screen Rant). Fans who purchase the film on Digital will have access to over an hour of fascinating bonus content taking them deeper into the exciting world of Dungeons & Dragons.  Go inside the making of the movie, featuring interviews with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and more.  Explore the universe, characters, magical creatures, epic fight sequences, and stunning visual effects.  Plus, laugh along with a hilarious gag reel and check out deleted & extended scenes not seen in theaters!

😺RAIN MAN: 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION on 4K UHD + Blu-ray May 30 from MVD.

Rain Man, the winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow), Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman) and Best Director (Barry Levinson), makes its 4K Ultra HD format debut with a new restoration approved by Levinson and presented in its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio in Dolby Vision / HDR.  Rain Man stars Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise as estranged brothers on a road trip unlike any other across America. The two-disc 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray 35th Anniversary Edition is packed with supplemental material including three audio commentaries (one with director Barry Levinson, one with co-writer Barry Morrow and a third with co-writer Ronald Bass). Along with the commentaries, there are several making of / behind the scenes featurettes including: The Journey of Rain Man featurette, Lifting the Fog: A Look at the Mysteries of Autism featurette, a deleted scene, and the original theatrical trailer.  

80 FOR BRADY Earns Penalty Flags

80 FOR BRADY (Blu-ray)

2023 / 96 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

The 2017 Super Bowl was both the best and worst day of my life as a football fan. It was the best because my beloved Atlanta Falcons had made it to the big show for only the second time in their history, and for three glorious quarters, were kicking the crap out of the New England Patriots.

But it turned into the worst when those damn Patriots, led by life-size Ken doll Tom Brady, engineered the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. I was devastated, and as my family will attest, inconsolable for the rest of the evening (as well as a good part of Monday). So I’m gonna throw a penalty flag against 80 for Brady for not only forcing me to relive that painful day, but painting the Patriots’ comeback as some kind of inspirational underdog story.

The film gets another penalty flag for wasting the combined talents of Sally Field, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Rita Moreno, living legends who are working way, way below their pay grade. They don’t embarrass themselves or anything, but as four octogenarian Brady fans who impulsively decide to attend the Super Bowl in person, seeing them in such a disposable flick (already past its cultural expiration date) is kind of disheartening.

"Wow, Tom...you even smell like a GOAT."

Predictably, the meandering narrative mines most of its “humor” from their age, operating with the conceit that old ladies winning pepper eating contests, tripping on edibles and busting a groove with young people is inherently funny. Elsewhere, the film throws in standard-issue subplots and manufactured sentiment, as well as a truckload of gratuitous cameos by celebrities nobody’s gonna know in ten years. Of course, Brady himself eventually shows up during the Super Bowl climax (in game footage as well as a few scripted scenes). Since he also co-produced the film, it gets a third penalty flag for playing too much like a vanity project.

But even with a final act that stretches credibility to the breaking point, I wouldn’t necessarily go so far as to say 80 for Brady is “bad.” But the whole thing is distressingly formulaic, more like a skillfully marketed product than an actual movie, with its four slumming stars serving as celebrity endorsements. 

And since I had to endure the Falcons’ humiliating Super Bowl collapse all over again, I gotta throw one last penalty flag…a personal foul for taunting.

EXTRA KIBBLES 

FEATURETTES - “The Game Plan: Making 80 for Brady”; “The GOATS: Jane, Lily, Rita & Sally”; “The Visiting Team: Meet the Supporting Cast”; “The Largest Comeback in Super Bowl History” (aaarrrgh!)

DELETED/EXTENDED SCENES

DIGITAL COPY