Rest in Peace, Martin Landau

Martin Landau (1928-2017)

Rest in Peace, George A. Romero

George A. Romero (1940-2017)

Blu-Ray Review: RESIDENT EVIL: VENDETTA

Starring the voices of Kevin Dorman, Matthew Mercer, Erin Cahill, Kari Wahlgren, John DeMita. Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto. (2017, 97 min).

SONY

Resident Evil: Vendetta is the third film in the Japanese-produced computer-animated series. Unlike the live action franchise starring Milla Jovovich, these films are considered part of the same universe as the video games. While that might be preferable to purists, as someone who isn't much of a gamer, I found myself questioning Vendetta's purpose as a movie.

The story involves three characters from previous games (Chris, Leon and Rebecca) attempting to thwart the nefarious plans of Glenn Arias. A psychotic genius, he wants revenge for the death of his wife & family by unleashing a new virus on New York, which turns people into ravenous zombies.

The movie looks like a video game, plays like a video game and has a story structure like those in a video game (concluding on a rooftop, which is apparently a tradition in the Resident Evil world). I'll concede that Vendetta would probably be great fun to play. But as a viewing experience, well...it's like watching someone else play.

Spaceballs 2: Revenge of Pizza the Hut

While my own kids enjoy YouTube videos of that very thing, Vendetta does little to justify its existence as a movie, not helped by expressionless & dull animated characters and completely implausible action, the latter best exemplified in a scene where a character falls 500 feet and splats to the ground like a water balloon, yet survives long enough to speak. Sure, it's just an animated movie, but totally negates obvious efforts to make these characters move and behave realistically. Hell, even toddlers knew Mufasa was toast when he fell into that ravine.

The characters are inconsistent, as well. In a single scene, Arias goes from being creepily obsessed with marrying Rebecca (the spitting image of his dead wife) to deciding she he'd rather turn her into a zombie. As for Chris...for someone who's supposedly the world's most badass zombie killer, he sure spends a lot of time staring dumbstruck at the hordes of undead shambling his way.

Though plenty bloody and full of action, Resident Evil: Vendetta would probably be more exciting if you could pick up the controller and inflict the carnage yourself. As a movie, the CG mayhem quickly becomes repetitive and boring. Hardcore gamers might enjoy it, but there's a good reason the live action films chose to go in a different direction.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES: "CGI to Reality: The Creature"; "CGI to Reality: Designing Vendetta"; "Motion Capture Set Tour with Dante Carver"; "Designing the World of Vendetta"

"BSAA MISSION BRIEIFING" - Character Profiles

TOKYO GAME SHOW FOOTAGE - The creators speaking at a Comic-Con

STILLS GALLERY

AUDIO COMMENTARY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEH...

Book Review: THE MONSTER MOVIES OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

By James L. Neibaur. (2017, 228 pp).

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Horror has been part of Hollywood since the silent movie days. While some studios delved into the genre more than others, none were as synonymous with movie monsters than Universal. In fact, as this book explains, films like Dracula, The Mummy and Frankenstein ultimately kept the studio afloat during the 30s and 40s. Collectively, they were a genre unto themselves. Today, "Universal Monsters" is an instantly identifiable brand name.

It all started somewhere. The Monster Movies of Universal Studios is a detailed and comprehensive chronicle of those glory years. Beginning with 1931's Dracula, each chapter thoroughly covers every Universal monster film through the 50s, from conception, casting & filming to release, critical consensus & box office performance.

Author James L. Neibaur writes more-or-less objectively, though he clearly displays affection for his subject. Most importantly, he does a great job making the reader appreciate the cultural impact these films had at the time, which in many ways is still being felt today. Those of you who assume the whole 'cinematic universe' began with Marvel...think again.

A must-read for any avid horror fan or classic movie buff, The Monster Movies of Universal Studios is an fascinating look back at a struggling studio and the genre that saved it. For those who weren't around at the time, the book provides a wealth of insight & trivia, and if it prompts the reader to revisit any of these classics, then it's done its job.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

Blu-Ray News: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES on Digital 9/19 and 4K/Blu-ray Combo Pack 10/3

From Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, it was announced today at D23 Expo, that “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”—the fifth film in the now-iconic “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise—will sail home on Digital in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ on September 19, and on 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on October 3.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” is a rollicking new tale of the high seas, infused with all the elements of fantasy, humor and action that have resulted in an international phenomenon for the past 13 years. Johnny Depp returns to his Academy Award®-nominated role as the outrageous, swashbuckling scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow, and is joined by Oscar® winners Javier Bardem (Best Supporting Actor, “No Country for Old Men”) and Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor, “Shine”).

Fans who bring home “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” will experience the nonstop action in stunning 4K Ultra HD format, the ultimate home entertainment experience with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio. 

Bonus material includes a collection of behind-the-scenes, making-of stories, including a conversation with directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg; a sit-down with the two young newcomers who play Henry and Carina; the secrets behind the menacing new villain, Salazar, and his ferocious ghost sharks; an on-set visit with Jack’s first mate from all five films; a chat with Sir Paul McCartney who appears as Uncle Jack; and a discussion about the franchise’s legacy; along with hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes and memories from producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s photo diary. 

VIEW THE NEW TRAILER:

Blu-Ray Review: GHOST IN THE SHELL (2017)

Starring Scarlett Johansson, "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, Michael Carmen Pitt, Pilou Asbaek, Juliette Binoche, Chin Han, Peter Fernando. Directed by Rupert Sanders. (2017, 106 min).

PARAMOUNT

It ultimately boils down to how well a viewer can judge a movie on its own merits, not where it came from. This is especially true for films like Ghost in the Shell, which was a long time coming and probably burdened with more pre-release baggage than any mainstream film since Ghostbusters.

As someone almost completely unfamiliar with the original manga series or 1995 anime it's adapted from, I had no preconceptions, expectations or comparisons while reviewing this film. I couldn't care less if the film is a faithful adaptation, just like those who continue to praise The Shining even though it's a complete bastardization of the novel. All that really matters is whether-or-not Ghost in the Machine works as a singular live action sci-fi movie.

"My boat, a brewski, some bobbers and a babe. Yep...this is Heaven."

First and foremost, Ghost of the Shell is visually stunning. There's nary a single scene that isn't interesting to look at, from the elaborate production design, colorful imagery, convincing visual effects, creative costumes...right down to the imaginatively rendered cybernetic characters. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, this is Blade Runner on crack. That alone is probably enough to make the film worth checking out at least once. Additionally, the numerous action sequences are well-executed and - somewhat surprisingly - mostly free of the hyperkinetic editing style utilized to amuse those with ADHD. If nothing else, Ghost in the Machine is a technically impressive piece of work.

But despite a nifty idea - a future where most humans are physically augmented by cyber-technology - the story itself isn't all that involving. Scarlett Johansson plays Major Mira Killian, whose brain has been transplanted into a mechanical body after a supposed terror attack. The company that created her, Hanka Robotics, use her as a weapon against cyberterrorism. Mira also begins seeing images that were supposedly wiped from her memory. Meanwhile, several of Hanka's bigwigs are being murdered by Kuze (Michael Carmen Pitt), one of the company's earlier failed experiments. However, when Mira finally confronts him, she learns more about her previous life than originally told, leading her to question her own humanity and purpose.

"Alexa...show me Free Kittens Movie Guide."

I don't know how faithful the story is to the original manga, but the underlying theme - technology's impact on personal identity - was explored more effectively in films like Robocop. There's a lot of gunplay and acrobatic combat, but no real depth or narrative surprises (not helped by trailers which essentially gave away its biggest twist).

With the possible exception of Kuze, none of the characters are particularly interesting. There's been a lot of outcry over the casting of Johansson, superficially made up to appear more Asian. But the real problem is, though she's physically capable and looks great in a body suit, she does nothing to distinguish Mira from her similar roles in Lucy or The Avengers.

But as someone with no expectations going in, while I found Ghost in the Shell narratively unremarkable, I wouldn't exactly call it a disappointment. In fact, I have to admit it's better than the aforementioned trailer suggested, Perhaps I'd think differently if I cared about its history, but as a stand-alone movie experience, the visuals alone are enough to make it worth catching at home, preferably on a huge screen.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES: "Hard-Wired Humanity: Making Ghost in the Shell"; "Section 9: Cyber Defenders"; "Man & Machine: The Ghost Philosophy"

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW

Blu-Ray News: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray Coming 8/15

"The greatest western of all time."

-Free Kittens Movie Guide

50th Anniversary Edition
2-Disc Blu-ray and 3-Disc DVD Coming August 15, 2017

Directed by Sergio Leone
Starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Mario Brega, Aldo Sambrell, Aldo Giuffre, Luigi Pistilli

For three men, the Civil War wasn't hell... it was practice! 

By far the most ambitious, unflinchingly graphic and stylistically influential western ever made, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a classic actioner shot through with a volatile mix of myth and realism. Screen legend Clint Eastwood (A Fistful of Dollars) returns as the "Man With No Name", this time teaming with two gunslingers to pursue a cache of $200,000 and letting no one, not even warring factions in a civil war, stand in their way. From sun-drenched panoramas to bold hard close-ups, exceptional camera work captures the beauty and cruelty of the barren landscape and the hardened characters who stride unwaveringly through it. Forging a vibrant and yet detached style of action that had not been seen before, and has never been matched since, this 50th Anniversary Special Edition includes the 4K restored versions of both the 161-minute original theatrical cut and the 179-minute extended cut. Hailed as "pure cinema" by Robert Rodriguez and "the best directed movie of all time" by Quentin Tarantino, this epic masterpiece was directed by the great Sergio Leone (For a Few Dollars More) and co-starred Lee Van Cleef (Death Rides a Horse) as Angel Eyes and Eli Wallach (The Magnificent Seven) in the role of Tuco. Music legendary composer Ennio Morricone (A Fistful of Dollars, Navajo Joe).

2-Disc Blu-ray
Disc 1:
- 4K transfer of the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut Available for the first time in HD
- New Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
- Trailers From Hell with Ernest Dickerson
- Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio
- Restored 1967 UA Logo
- Alternate Scene: The Optical Flip
- Deleted Scene 1: Skeletons in the Desert
- Deleted Scene 2: Extended Torture Scene
- GBU on the: animated behind-the-scenes image gallery
- Promoting GBU: Posters & Lobby Cards animated image gallery
- Sergio Leone Westerns: Original Theatrical Trailers
- Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
- English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio
- Reversible Art

Disc 2:
- 4K transfer of the Extended Cut
- Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Schickel
- Audio Commentary By Noted Cultural Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
- Leone's West: Making Of Documentary (19:55)
- Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone and GBU Featurette Part 1 (7:48)
- Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone and GBU Featurette Part 2 (12:26)
- The Leone Style: On Sergio Leone Featurette (23:48)
- The Man Who Lost The Civil War: Civil War Documentary (14:24)
- Reconstruction GBU (11:09)
- Deleted Scene 1: Extended Tuco Torture scene (7:15)
- Deleted Scene 2: The Socorro Sequence - A Reconstruction (3:02)
- Vignette 1: Uno, Due, Tre (0:40)
- Vignette 2: Italian Lunch (0:43)
- Vignette 3: New York Accent (0:09)
- Vignette 4: Gun in Holster (0:58)
- Original U.S. Theatrical Trailer
- Original French Theatrical Trailer
- English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio
- Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono

www.kinolorber.com

Blu-Ray News: THE MUMMY Unleashes on Digital 8/22 and Blu-ray & DVD 9/12

TOM CRUISE CONFRONTS A LEGENDARY TERROR IN AN ALL-NEW STUNNING THRILL RIDE

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL AUGUST 22, 2017 AND 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY, DVD AND ON DEMAND ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

An ancient evil is unleashed after centuries of captivity and her lust for revenge threatens to destroy the world in The Mummy, a spectacular saga coming to Digital on August 22, 2017 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on September 12, 2017 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible franchise, Top Gun) battles the ultimate evil in a breathtaking version of the legendary and mystical monster that has captivated and terrified humankind for centuries. With more than an hour of never-before-seen bonus features, The Mummy 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD reveal the deepest secrets behind this sumptuous and wonder-filled epic.

Thought safely entombed deep beneath the desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella, Star Trek Beyond, Kingsman: The Secret Service) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day. Her malevolence has grown over millennia and with it come terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sands of the Middle East through modern-day London, The Mummy balances wonder, thrills, and imagination.

The latest action-packed entry from director and producer Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek Into Darkness, Now You See Me) and producer Chris Morgan (Fast & Furious franchise), The Mummy also stars Oscar winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World, “New Girl”), Annabelle Wallis (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, “Peaky Blinders”), and Courtney B. Vance (“American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” Terminator Genisys).

Movie News: Neill Blomkamp and Oats Studios Present: ZYGOTE Available July 12

Oats Studios and filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium, and Chappie) are pleased to announce the latest short film in the Oats Studios Volume I anthology, ZYGOTE.

Starring Dakota Fanning and Jose Pablo Cantillo, ZYGOTE will be available for free on July 12, 2017 via the Oats Studios YouTube, Steam, and Facebook channels.

Exclusively on the Steam platform, fans of ZYGOTE will be able to access a wealth of specialty behind-the scenes content including dailies, an HQ stereo version, concept art, sound stems, 3D models, the musical score, and more for just $4.99. This contribution will go towards Oats Studios and their mission of creating cutting edge, compelling films for their dedicated audience.

 

 www.oatsstudios.com

Blu-Ray Review: THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS

Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Scott Eastwood, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kristofer Hivju, Kurt Russell, Elsa Pataky Helen Mirren. Directed by F. Gary Gray. (2017, 136 min).

UNIVERSAL

There's a scene in The Fate of the Furious where cyber-terrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) is trying to steal a nuclear football from some Russians traveling through New York. She hacks the computers of nearby cars, allowing her to control them from safety of her high-tech jet. Within minutes, thousands of driverless vehicles are giving chase, blocking the streets and literally falling from the sky...a veritable orgy of fiery destruction and twisted metal.

It's the quiet, understated moments we love about the franchise.

The aforementioned slice of hardcore motorporn isn't even the movie's climax, which is even more bombastic and audacious. This ultimately raises a question: Where can they go from here?

A quiet moment in The Fate of the Furious.

The Fate of the Furious is, of course, the eighth film in the long-running franchise, which shows no signs of slowing down  - or scaling back - anytime soon. Each film has steadily gotten bigger, longer & louder, evolving from a relatively straightforward depiction of super-cool street racers to an ever-growing cast - or 'family' - being recruited to save the world. It seems like half of the Screen Actors Guild shows up in this one. Scott Eastwood, Charlize Theron and, in an amusing cameo, Helen Mirren (!) join the already ginormous cast, and there's still room for a subtle shout-out to the departed Paul Walker.

The numerous action sequences are so big and over-the-top they make the skyscraper jump in Furious 7 look like a Sunday drive. You haven't lived until you've seen Jason Statham swoop into a moving plane strapped to a winged jetpack, Dwayne Johnson shrug-off multiple hits from rubber bullets (without so much as flinching) and Vin Diesel square-off against a nuclear submarine...with his car.

Really, the next logical step for the franchise would be to resurrect Steve McQueen, put him back behind the wheel of his Mustang and send the entire crew into space to battle aliens.

Lords of the Dance.

As usual, you'll scarcely believe a minute of it, but unlike, say, the Transformers series, the Fast and Furious films have actually become a lot more fun with each subsequent entry (speaking as someone who absolutely hated the original). This is because, even though they're essentially cartoons, these characters have grown on us over the years (including the bad guys, who nearly always end up as part of the team). So when Dominic Toretto suddenly 'goes rogue' at the behest of Cipher, we're actually invested in what could have caused him to turn on his friends. Oh, I'm sorry...family. That word is tossed around a lot in this film, and plotwise, takes on a new level of importance.

I don't know how much bigger these films can get, and maybe The Fate of the Furious will be the nadir of the series (how can you possibly top zombie cars?). I certainly hope not, because even though I still hold the early films in low regard, I've truly enjoyed the last few and look forward to the next one. If nothing else, just to see if Toretto & company are able to time travel...or fold space...or touch God. Until then, this one will be well worth seeing more than once because it's entertaining as hell.

NOTE: The Extended Unrated Edition included with this release is a digital copy. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES:

"The Cuban Spirit" - On location with cast & crew members;

"Car Culture" - 3-part feature focusing on some of the vehicles, including the massive 'zombie car' sequence;

"All About the Stunts" - Title tells all;

EXTENDED SCENES

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Director F. Gary Gray

EXTENDED EDITION (Digital Copy Only - not previewed)

DVD COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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