Back in 2014, I got to speak with filmmaker Salome Breziner about her film “Helicopter Mom.” It stars “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” creator Nia Vardalos as Maggie, a completely overbearing single mother who is about to see her only son, Lloyd (Jason Dolley), finish up high school and then move on to college. Maggie feels ever so close to Lloyd, and she quickly proves to be much too close to him. While Lloyd does love his mom, he cannot help but be constantly annoyed at her being more of a best friend to him than a parent as she is almost completely unable to leave him alone for a second.
Maggie’s relationship with Lloyd then enters another plateau when she discovers that gays can get scholarships for college. Constantly worries about she will pay for Lloyd’s college tuition, Maggie decides to tell the whole world that her son is a homosexual in the hopes of securing a scholarship. The problem is, Lloyd is not really gay or, at least, doesn’t think he is. In fact, he finds himself very confused about his sexuality to where life is not about to give him an easy answer to who he really is.
What results is a motion picture which deals with the confusion teenagers typically experience about life and themselves during their formative years, and it promotes a message of acceptance for people of all kinds. Deep down, we are only so different from one another.
Breziner previously directed the 2013 independent comedy “The Secret Lives of Dorks,” and her other directorial efforts include “Fast Sofa,” “An Occasional Hell,” “Tollbooth” and “Lift.” During my interview, she talked about how she went about director the comedic powerhouse that is Nia Vardalos, her own experience as a single mother, the luck she had in being able to shoot the film in Los Angeles and Venice Beach, and of how she got to cast Mark Boone Junior in a role which allows him to go completely against type.
Please check out my exclusive interview below, and be sure to also check out the movie’s trailer.
So here I am with another video review of a recent movie release. This time it is for Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving,” a movie which was promised to us ever since Roth made his fake “Thanksgiving” trailer for 2007’s “Grindhouse.” But while that trailer came across as a send-up and satire of the many slasher films we grew up with over the years, this one is more of a reboot of what came before. It also comes with quite the cast of actors which includes Patrick Dempsey (recently crowned People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive), Rick Hoffman, Gina Gershon, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae and Milo Manheim to name a few. Furthermore, it proves to be far more well-produced and directed than the average slasher flick to where it becomes clear this one has a much higher budget what filmmakers would usually expect on a shoot like this.
What results here is a horror movie which is not about to redefine the genre in any way, shape or form, but instead one which acts as a love letter to those Roth and company grew up on like “Halloween,” “Silent Night Deadly Night,” “New Year’s Evil” and “April Fool’s Day” to name a few. I found “Thanksgiving” to be a complete blast as it featured a number of truly suspenseful and scary moments, and I found myself laughing harder here than at any other movie released in 2023. While Eli Roth’s output as a director has been mixed at best, this film reminds you he is a better filmmaker than we tend to give him credit for. From start to finish, I could say everyone in front of and behind the camera put a lot of love into this project, and they must have had the time of their lives making it.
Please check out my video review below, and you can also check out both the real trailer for “Thanksgiving” and the fake one Roth created for “Grindhouse.”
The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.
It’s rare I use the word perfect to describe a film, but it certainly applies to 1993’s “The Fugitive.” Now, when I say this film is perfect, I’m not saying it is one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. It is perfect because it is a film that is exactly what it needs to be for its genre in terms of what is expected of it and how it goes out and executes its formula. When I’m using that as my template, it’s a perfect action/thriller flick. The film is two hours and ten minutes, and there is not a wasted moment or scene throughout the course of its running time. It’s one of those movies where it has you hooked in its story from start to finish.
The film stars Harrison Ford as Chicago surgeon, Dr. Richard Kimble, who is thrown in prison after being falsely accused of murdering his wife, played by Sela Ward. Richard says a one-armed man did it, and he’s completely innocent. However, all of the clues make him look guilty. The police think he did it because his wife had a lot of money and a lucrative life insurance policy. With no signs of forced entrance, all signs point to the husband. At the moment, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on in their eyes.
Kimble is able to escape from prison when his transportation bus is hit by a train on its way to death row. He’s now free, and he is bound and determined to prove his innocence and find this one-armed man. Deputy US Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) has one mission in life now: to catch Richard Kimble and bring him back to death row. From here, we are treated to a delightful game of cat and mouse between Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Throughout the course of the movie, Ford is always one step ahead of him, even when they are face-to-face. His character is incredibly smart and wily. Because of this, he’s not going to make any mistakes or leave himself vulnerable to getting caught.
Ford is really, really effective at being a charming and intense underdog to root for in “The Fugitive.” On the other hand, Jones’ character is also incredibly well-written and fleshed out by the script, which was written by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy. He’s not really a bad guy or a villain. He’s just doing his job, and, at the time, is completely unaware of the fact that Richard is innocent. He also brings great comedic timing to the role, which makes for a fun action film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a performance which relies on his perfectly timed facial reactions. Veteran action director Andrew Davis also knows how to make the big action scenes mean something, as the pacing here is terrific. He trusts his actors, and he trusts his script as well.
The movie was partially filmed in Chicago, and Chicago plays a big part in this movie. He captures the hustle and bustle of the city with a great visual eye. The cinematography is top-notch, as it also shows the toughness and the grit that comes from the city. When you have great acting, great direction, a great script, and a great sense of place, you have a great action movie. There are so many scenes that were brilliant because they never insulted the intelligence of the audience. When Ford is able to get free from Jones time after time, it makes sense because of the set-up and the execution of the scenes.
I’m embarrassed to say this, but this was my first time watching “The Fugitive,” either the movie or the TV show. As they say, better late than never. I wish Hollywood would do more brainy action films like this today. It really starts with trusting your screenplay and your actors. When you have that, everything else falls into place. This is a great film with tons of action, suspense, and a sense of humor that is put in at just the right moments. They didn’t overdo it with the comedy to where it was poking fun at the movie. It was done because the moment and the scene called for it.
There is also a great supporting cast here, filled with actors and actresses you have come to know and love such as Julianne Moore, Joe Pantoliano, Ron Dean, Jane Lynch and Neil Flynn. “The Fugitive” is fun with a capital F. It is a film I look forward to revisiting many times in the future now that I own it on 4K. It’s remarkable how they were able to cram so much into this movie without it ever feeling tedious or laborious. It’s a movie where you are invested in everything happening on screen, and as Roddy Piper once said, “Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the question.” You find yourself as an audience member wondering how Dr. Richard Kimble is going to find his way out of a jam, and he does it time and time again. Even though it took me far too long to sit down and watch “The Fugitive,” it was well worth the wait. I love this movie.
* * * * out of * * * *
4K Info: “The Fugitive” is released on a single disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well. It is rated PG-13 for a murder and other action sequences in an adventure setting. It has a running time of 130 minutes.
4K Video/Audio Info: Let’s start with the visuals on this film: WOW! This film looks incredible on 4K. You are able to see all of the pores on the actor’s faces, and they have really brightened up the look and feel of this film without making it look too over-saturated or washed out. They have cleaned up the picture a lot while also maintaining the cinematic grain that is part of the film’s charm. This is one of the best looking 4K’s of 2023. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also lively without being too punchy or loud. It’s perfect. I give both the audio and visuals an A+ here.
Special Features:
Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford
Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones
“The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase”
“On the Run with the Fugitive”
“Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck”
Theatrical Trailer
Should You Buy It?
“The Fugitive” is celebrating its 30th anniversary with this 4K release on November 21st, and let me tell you right now, this is a day one purchase if you are a film historian and lover. If you have seen the film before and own the Blu-Ray, you need to upgrade to this magnificent 4K that showcases everything that is beautiful about HDR and Dolby Atmos. If you have never seen the film before, like yours truly, you can confidently buy this film on day one without hesitation or regret. It is worth every single penny. There is also a 4K steelbook release, which looks awesome! Warner Brothers did a magnificent job with this 4K transfer of “The Fugitive.” Yes, the special features are imported over from the Blu-ray, but at least you get them here, including a commentary track with Tommy Lee Jones and Director Andrew Davis. I loved this movie, and I equally loved what they did with this release. It comes HIGHLY recommended!
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.
Hello people. My apologies, I have not been writing much recently. I kind of hit a brick wall and have been a bit depressed about my current living situation. As a result, I am trying something a little different; I will be doing a movie review on camera. Sooner or later, it had to happen.
This review will be of Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon” which stars Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military commander and leader who came to prominence during the French Revolution, and his brutal military campaigns during the Revolutionary War are the tales of history which are impossible to forget, especially considering how it resulted in millions of lives lost. The movie focuses on Napoleon’s rise to power, and of his all-consuming relationship with Joséphine de Beauharnais, played in a fantastic performance by Vanessa Kirby (the White Widow in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise).
Scott’s “Napoleon” works best when it focuses on the tortured relationship between Napoleon and Josephine as Phoenix and Kirby make quite the acting pair whenever they are together onscreen. Watching them face off with one another is endlessly enthralling, and it helps to make up for Scott and company do not dig enough into Napoleon’s psychology. My problem is the film tends to keep him at an arm’s length distance, and I came out of it feeling like I could have learned more about the man. Nevertheless, Scott has crafted a four-hour cut of the film which will debut on Apple TV in the near future. That’s right, it will be streaming before we all know it.
Please check out the review below and subscribe to The Ultimate Rabbit You Tube channel if you have not already. It is not too long, and I did my best to make sure it only lasts a fraction of “Napoleon’s” running time which is 157 minutes.
The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.
In the interest of transparency, I must admit I either saw “The Nun” and it was so bad and I completely erased it from my memory, or I haven’t seen it at all. I’m leaning toward the latter. However, I’m pleased to report “The Nun II” was a very satisfying cinematic achievement. In fact, I need to go back and watch the original and see how I feel it holds up compared to this sequel. This is a film I went into with very low expectations, and it really impressed me with its visual style, its acting, and its effective use of mood and dread to tell a compelling story.
“The Nun II” opens with a scene that is sure to catch your attention and hook you right away. It’s a scene in which a priest is raised in the air and set on fire in a church located in Tarascon, France. This takes place in the late 1950’s. Our film then takes us to 1960 and the events following the original “Nun” film where we see Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) who is now located in Italy. From what I gathered through flashbacks, she survived a demon in the original film, so she’s well-versed in demon attacks and how to combat them. We also meet Maurice (Jonas Bloquet), a servant/janitor in France who is supportive and encouraging to a young student named Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey) and her mother Kate (Anna Popplewell), a schoolteacher.
Sister Irene is called back into action when the Cardinal informs her of a number of deaths taking place all over Europe. He suspects they are at the hands of the demon Valak. Since Sister Irene survived the demon the last time, he believes she will be able to put a stop to this madness. She brings along Sister Debra (Storm Reid), as Debra is starting to question her beliefs and wants to see a real miracle. If there is anyone who can get her to believe, it is definitely Sister Irene.
While all of this is happening, the demon Valak keeps showing up and disappearing in visions and also in real life. I’m not a big fan of jump scares in cinema, but this film is very effective in knowing when and how to use them. They really got to me, which is not something that happens easily. In a lot of films, they tend to come across as premeditated, and you can see them coming from a mile away. Here, they really build up to and use them when you least expect. Director Michael Chaves also does a splendid job in creating a film which is moody, creepy and very unnerving. The film runs at 110 minutes, and they probably could have trimmed maybe 10-15 minutes off the running time to make it even better. Near the end, it feels like there were a few too many scenes thrown in there which weren’t entirely necessary. It’s still a good film, and a big part of that is the performance of Taissa Farmiga. She’s great at being vulnerable, tough and easy to like.
What I enjoyed most about this film is the fact it explained its backstory and history in great detail. In most horror films, they tend to leave out any backstory or character development. With Maurice, we understand why certain things are happening to him. We learn more about the demon Valak and his motivation for why he’s possessing and killing people. With Irene, we learn why she’s having visions of the demon. Even with Debra, we know why she has trouble believing in her faith and needs to see a miracle. The screenplay really knows the devil is in the details here (put intended), and in order to tell this story the right way, we need the protagonists and antagonists to be properly fleshed out.
All in all, people are going to see a movie like “The Nun II” because they want to be scared. As a scary movie, it succeeds because we are invested in the characters and seeing them succeed. There are high stakes here. They really took their time to build up to the jump scares and big moments. Lately, I’ve been finding myself more and more surprised by certain movies, which is always a delightful treat. This could have easily been a cash-in sequel, but they decided to make a worthwhile film that is worth your money and more importantly your time. Spooky season might be over, but you won’t be disappointed by the disturbing and eerie filmmaking on display in “The Nun II.”
* * * out of * * * *
4K Info: “The Nun II” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It also comes with a digital copy of the film. The film has a running time of 110 minutes and is rated R for action/violence, some bloody images, language and brief suggestive material.
4K Video/Audio Info: The HDR on this film is really, really potent. On darker films like this, it has a way of making the film look even scarier. There are tremendous spooky shadows throughout the film. It is also dark without being too dark. It’s one of the many things I love about 4K—even though this film looks bleak and otherworldly, it’s still a clean, flawless transfer. They didn’t overdo it by making it so dark and dreary you were unable to see what was happening on screen. We also get a really, really nice Dolby Atmos track, which pops during the jump scares. There are also subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. This is a top-notch release from Warner Brothers.
Special Features:
Demons in Paradise – featurette (5:35)
Handcrafter Nightmares – featurette (7:28)
Should You Buy It?
If you were a fan of the original “Nun” or even if you haven’t seen it, like myself, this is a great stand-alone release from Warner Brothers. There are moments where they stop and explain things if you haven’t seen the original, which is very helpful. The 4K is pitch-perfect with a really, really good Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and the picture quality definitely gets an A. There are only two special features here, and I would have certainly enjoyed a commentary track from the director. With all of that being said, if you are interested in buying this for the movie and for the 4K, I would absolutely recommend adding this film to your horror collection. I’ve always been a big fan of “The Conjuring” universe and their dedication to putting out quality horror films. While they don’t always succeed, they have way more hits than misses. This film has somewhat of an ambiguous ending, and I wouldn’t mind if they did a third film, as long as it’s done with the quality and care they devoted to this one. It’s truly remarkable what they have been able to do with all “The Conjuring” cinematic universe. They have a lot of interesting stories to pluck from, and they bring in creative and fresh writers and directors to bring unique perspectives to the series.
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.
The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.
For those of you who keep up with my reviews on this website, you are familiar with my feelings on most superhero films. It is not my favorite genre, but I’m always willing to give it a try and hope for the best. It hasn’t happened in a while, which is why I was so pleased to be completely enamored with “Blue Beetle.” I went into the film knowing absolutely nothing about it, and it ended up being one of the more enjoyable viewing experiences I’ve had this year. When you sit down to watch a movie, you truly never know what is going to transpire on screen. It’s the beauty of cinema.
Prior to seeing “Blue Beetle,” I had never even heard of this character in any shape or form. After watching this movie, I hope to see more of this character, especially if he’s played by the uber-talented Xolo Maridueña, who is terrific on “Cobra Kai.” However, after the low box office numbers, I wonder if it’s a realistic expectation.
Maridueña stars as Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate with a degree in pre-law, who returns home to Palmera City to discover a plethora of problems for his family. They are struggling to keep their heads above water as the father had a heart attack, recently lost his job, and they are about to lose their family home. However, he believes if they stick together, they can find a way to make it work.
Family is at the heart of “Blue Beetle,” and the film has a big old heart attached to it which I absolutely adored. This is a family of fun, eccentric and entertaining characters. You have the wise-cracking sister, Milagro, played wonderfully by Belissa Escobedo. You have the tough, no-nonsense Nana Reyes played by Adriana Barraza. There is also the pot-smoking conspiracy theorist Uncle Rudy played by George Lopez. All of these characters are unique and fun in their own way. They feel like a real family as the chemistry between all of the characters on screen is off-the-charts.
When Jaime discovers that jobs are hard to come by after college, he gets one with his sister working for the CEO of Kord Industries, Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon), at their mansion. After Jaime and Milagro end up losing their jobs when they are caught eavesdropping on a conversation between Victoria and her niece, Jenny (Bruna Marquezine), Jaime must figure out what to do next. Jenny was impressed by the way Jaime stuck up for her and might have a job opportunity for him. When he goes to meet up with her, she hands him the Scarab, an artifact which holds special powers. She tells him not to open it, but when his family opens it for him, he soon finds out that his life will never be the same again.
With this Scarab, it chooses you, you don’t choose it. It has chosen Jaime, and he has to figure out how to handle the responsibilities which come with it. He’s also dealing with a nosey family, a newly developing crush on Jenny, and having to fight off Victoria who wants to have the Scarab to create a series of One-Man Army Corps. He also learns that Jenny’s father was Ted Kord, a vigilante named Blue Beetle who left the family company because they were more interested in creating mayhem instead of working for the greater good. Victoria is also not pleased she was overlooked by her father in favor of her brother when it came time to take over Kord Industries.
“Blue Beetle” is a film I was able to follow with relative ease, which is a huge accomplishment considering I didn’t know anything about it or the character as previously mentioned. I do believe a comic book movie should be able to stand on its own two feet for first-time viewers and long-time fans. This film does this for first-time viewers, and I imagine fans of the “Blue Beetle” comic will not be disappointed. I was also quite pleased to see the film really lean into the ethnic dynamics of the family. It’s rare to see a film which is almost entirely composed of Latino actors. Even though I’m an Italian-American, I felt as though the film was accessible to everyone. Although, I imagine you will enjoy it even more if you are Latino as some of the jokes and TV shows they reference will be more in your wheelhouse.
This film is about 15-20 minutes too long, but it is never boring or uninteresting. Some of the scenes involving lasers, blades and various high-flying actions can be a little repetitive, but I thought the special effects looked terrific and they were still fun to watch. This is one of the best superhero movies I’ve seen in a while. As a matter of fact, it’s my favorite superhero movie I’ve seen since 2022’s “The Batman.” It has so much going for it: the cast, the love story, the backstory, the acting, and the fact it wears its big heart on its sleeve.
I like when my superhero movies are grounded in reality with a sense of wonder, and “Blue Beetle” knows all of the right notes to hit. Maridueña is perfect at getting his ass kicked and being a likable underdog to root for, as we have seen in this film and also in “Cobra Kai.” He’s incredibly likable, and he has the emotional elements of the character down pat along with the physical transformation as well. The family is hilarious, and I loved spending time with them. This is a fun superhero movie with a tremendous sense of humor. I really enjoyed “Blue Beetle,” and I hope it finds a second home with this physical media release.
* * * ½ out of * * * *
4K Info: “Blue Beetle” is released on a single 4K disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It has a running time of 127 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language and some suggestive references. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well.
4K Video/Audio Info: Once again, we are treated to a tremendous Dolby Vision transfer. I loved the look of this movie on 4K. It has a gorgeous blue hue throughout, and when the suit lights up, it looks absolutely incredible. It’s an eye-popping transfer. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack also brings the film to life in your home theater. Subtitles are included in English, Spanish and French.
Special Features:
“Generations: Blue Beetle” – 4-part documentary
Told in distinct chapters, explore the journeys of actors and filmmakers bringing “Blue Beetle” to the big screen for the first time ever. Audiences will be immersed in the POV of filmmakers who showcase their experiences on set and in their creative studios making the story of this DC character a reality.
Nana Knows Best – featurette
Witness Nana’s transformation from an adorable ‘abuelita’ into a machine gun-wielding revolutionary, and stop in for a few of her most fun moments on set throughout production.
Scarab Vision – 2-part featurette
Xolo Maridueña hosts this series of scene study walk throughs that showcases how the scarab works and the role it plays in some of Blue Beetle’s most epic moments.
Should You Buy It?
I can’t tell you how pleased I was with “Blue Beetle” both as a film and as a 4K release with tremendous visuals and a powerful Dolby Atmos soundtrack. One of the greatest joys of being a film reviewer is when you are completely caught off guard by a movie in the best possible way. You go into most movies with an open mind and open heart, but certain movies you are more excited to watch and review than others. As soon as I finished this one, I couldn’t wait to write this review and spread the word to those who have not seen it to check it out. It’s a film which deserves a lot more attention than it has received so far. This is the kind of superhero film I truly enjoy and want more of in the future. The 4K was released on Halloween, and I think the Best Buy steelbook looks really, really cool. If you can pick that up, I’d recommend it. If not, the 4K slipcover is really good as well.
Do yourself a favor and check out “Blue Beetle.” It’s one of the most pleasant surprises of 2023.
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.
The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.
I haven’t seen 2018’s “The Meg”, but after watching the sequel, I don’t see myself seeking out the original. “The Meg 2: The Trench,” I thought, would be a fun little popcorn film to kick back and enjoy while I shut my brain off for 90 minutes or so. Instead, it is a film which is almost two-hours long and goes back and forth between being deadly serious and having silly over-the-top nonsense. The problem with the silly over-the-top nonsense is, by the time it kicks in, things have already lost its audience to where it is far too late for anyone to recover. Plus, the scenes do not feel natural or organic, and they seem to be in there saying, “See? Here is the stuff you came for: the killings, the mayhem, and random one-liners. Isn’t this movie fun?” “The Meg 2: The Trench” was a tedious viewing experience.
Jason Statham stars as Jonas Taylor, and if you have seen one performance from Statham, you have probably seen them all. However, I do enjoy when he collaborates with director Guy Ritchie, as there are darker elements to his characters in those films. In his other films, he’s the wise-cracking bad-ass who beats everyone up. That’s OK once in a while, but when you keep playing the same tune, it gets rather repetitive and dull. In this film, he plays an environmentalist with a heart of gold who is looking after Meiying (Shuya Sophia Cai) after her mother passed away, along with her uncle Jiuming Zhang (Wu Jing). She’s a teenager who is looking to explore and be adventurous while her two guardians are also trying to keep a close eye on her.
One day on a deep-dive mission, Jonas and Jiuming discover there is an illegal operation happening deep down below in the water. So, this time, not only do they have to fight off the megalodons, but they also have to fight off the attacks of greedy and avaricious mercenaries who are looking to make billions of dollars off of this illegal mining operation. Does any of this sound like fun? It wasn’t fun for me. It might have been fun if they kept the plot to 90-95 minutes, moved at a faster pace, and went with an R-rating. They play it a little too safe here, and it is dull, uninventive, and very uninteresting.
Another problem with the film is the other characters in it. There is nothing unique or original about them. They come and go with absolutely zero-character development or any significant reasons why we should care if they live or die. There are some nice scenes between Jonas, Meiying and Jiuming, and there are some pretty cool shark deaths, but by the time they finally make it to the screen, as mentioned, the audience has long since fallen asleep and lost interest in anything happening on screen. I popped up for a minute to remark, “Oh, that was cool. That was a sweet moment.” When your film is nearly two hours long, though, you need a lot more of those scenes instead of random characters in scuba gear you can’t even identify or care about.
This film also suffers from not having any silly or fun villains. The whole thing just felt like a cash-in sequel to me. It made a lot of money, so I’m sure no one who made the film or was involved in it is disappointed by that. There is also a wise-cracking supporting character played by Page Kennedy, and he’s trying way too hard to be funny. It’s almost like they added him specifically for the purpose of forcing comedy on us when it wasn’t there. As soon as he appears on screen, you are waiting for the one-liners instead of them happening naturally. It’s clear they were only thinking about the bottom line with this movie, and they had zero interest in making a film which could at least pass as escapist entertainment.
* ½ out * * * *
4K Info: “The Meg 2: The Trench” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well. It is rated PG-13 for action/violence, some bloody images, language, and brief suggestive material. It has a running time of 116 minutes.
4K Video/Audio Info: One of the good things about this release is we get the film released on Dolby Vision with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack as well. As far as the transfer here, it’s a flawless transfer that is clean, crisp, and bright. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also a really good one, as it’s not too loud or in-your-face. Even though the special effects left something to be desired, I can’t deny how good the transfer looks and how good the film sounds. As a 4K, it’s one of the better transfers I’ve seen for a film released in 2023. It also comes with subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Special Features:
The Making of “Meg 2: The Trench” – Cast and crew revisit the making of the film and working with new and returning cast members, then highlight the beauty and challenges of working with a Meg they can’t see.
Up From the Depths: Even More Beasts – Director Ben Wheatley, cast and producers guide fans through the creation and design of the new creatures seen in “Meg 2: The Trench”
Should You Buy It?
If you enjoyed the original “Meg” and are a fan of Jason Statham films, you will probably want to add this one to your collection. However, I would say it’s a film you can wait to buy when it drops a little in price. If you did not enjoy the “Meg or haven’t seen the original, I don’t think there is anything here that will convert you to this sequel. It’s a shame, too, as the second half showed some promise and did deliver some cool kills. If they had trimmed the fat, stuck to a reasonable running time, embraced the absurdity of the film and had better looking sharks, we would have a good popcorn film here. Instead, we are left with a laborious viewing experience with only a few highlights. This one left a lot to be desired.
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.
WRITER’S NOTE: This review was written back in 2009 when this reboot was released.
What better way to spend Singles Awareness Day (a.k.a. Valentine’s Day) than with an old friend who butchers camp counselors because they didn’t keep him from drowning, or supposedly so? I somehow doubt you can call this latest slasher adventure of Jason Voorhees a remake. Each sequel to the original “Friday the 13th” was basically a reworking of the first sequel which introduced Jason as the main killer of the franchise. Watching each successive sequel has been like witnessing a perverted sports event. How is Jason going to kill off those promiscuous teenagers? What weapons will he use? Will the ladies be as cute as they were in the previous movie? Will the guys be every bit as gullible as before? I think this is what makes people keep coming back to this never-ending franchise. We are curious to see how Jason will dispatch his latest batch of victims before he gets laid waste to by the final girl. John Carpenter said evil never dies, and Jason Voorhees is proof of this.
This “Friday the 13th” comes to us from Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay’s film company which made such unnecessary remakes of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Hitcher” and “The Amityville Horror.” A lot of people complain about Bay the director, but I am more worried about Bay the producer. Still, the idea of bringing back Jason was too intriguing even for me to pass up.
In this particular “Friday,” Jason more threatening here than he has been in ages. For the last few movies, he has become a figure of such unbridled camp that he comes across as more of a joke. Here, he is as vicious as ever. This Jason does not just walk at lightning speed like he did in “Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.” Here, he thrusts his weapons and impales his victims with sheer velocity. His mommy issues have never been more deeply rooted than they have been since the franchise first began.
The movie starts off more or less condensing the original, as it was Jason’s mother who was the brutal killer in that one. We see Jason’s mother, played by Nana Visitor from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (never piss off a Bajoran), get decapitated by the one camp counselor, female of course, who she couldn’t kill. We all know how seriously pissed she was at the counselors who let her son Jason drown, and now Jason will carry on her vengeance. The prologue is much longer than I ever could have expected, and in it we meet a bunch of kids who are seriously interested in obtaining a huge quantity of marijuana. Jason, however, is there with a bag over his head, the iconic hockey mask gets introduced later, killing off potential profiteers. It made wonder if Jason was actually a drug dealer as he apparently lives near such a big farm of green.
These kids meet a gruesome end (is there any other kind?), and the movie then moves ahead a couple of months to introduce us to a new set of victims. These ones though are not there to be camp counselors, but instead to stay in a house by the lake to have a “relaxing” weekend. The house belongs to the father of a snobby little spoiled brat named Trent (Travis Van Winkle), and his name wreaks of snobbery whether he likes it or not. Along with him is his girlfriend Jenna (Danielle Panabaker) who has no business being with a guy like him, an Asian smarty named Chewie (Aaron Yoo) who has yet to get laid, and a couple others who, whether they get laid or not, will most likely not live through the weekend. You also have the sole black man, Lawrence (Arlen Escarpeta), who loves to mess with white people and their prejudices they are blind to. Arlen has one of the best lines of dialogue, and you will know it when you hear it.
What makes this particular “Friday the 13th” different from the others? Not much. It has the requisite killings and naked breasts. Sean S. Cunningham, the director of the original, is along for the ride as a producer, and he is intent on giving the audience what they expect from a movie like this. What makes this franchise reboot different is it is a lot bleaker and more unrelenting than the other sequels.
Marcus Nispel directed this installment, and he also directed the Platinum Dunes remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” He gives it a washed out look, and it gives the proceedings a more realistic feel as well as a foreboding one. The tension is thick in the air, and even though the scares are pretty much where you would expect them to be. The killings are effectively brutal, but Nispel doesn’t dwell so much on the blood and gore as much as you might expect.
As for the characters, they really didn’t stick in mind for long after I left the theater. That’s the problem with movies like these. Not that I expect them to be in depth character studies, but it is clear these characters are presented as being ones who are quickly disposable. There are those who you want to live through the night, and there are others whose demise constantly root for, especially Trent. In the end, they are all fair sport for Jason who kills everything in his path. Having an Asian and a black character also shows how this masked killer knows no racial boundaries when it comes to slashing trespassers. After all these years, Jason Voorhees remains an equal opportunity murderer.
Jason is played in this incarnation by Derek Mears, an actor who played the Chameleon character in that awful sequel, “The Hills Have Eyes 2.” I liked how he gave Jason a fury we have not seen from in over a decade. Not that I want to take away from Kane Hodder, but Mears gives Jason a viciousness which makes him feel more dangerous than ever before.
Regardless of these positives, there is nothing particularly special to this “Friday the 13th.” Despite a higher standard of production values the other sequels never got, it still feels like an ordinary run of the mill slasher movie to where the one word I can best describe it as being is bland. It’s the kind of movie which doesn’t stay in the brain too long after you have seen it. While Jason may be more threatening than ever, it is not enough to make this movie seem altogether satisfying.
Also, I am really getting sick of this plot device in which cell phones do not work. I find it hard to believe there are places on this planet which do not have cell phone signals. Granted, the Hollywood Hills never seem to have them, but still, while this scenario worked fine in “The Hills Have Eyes” remake, this singular excuse to isolate these dumb characters continues to get weaker and weaker.
For what it’s worth, this is the first “Friday the 13th” movie I have ever seen in a theater. I always kept hearing about these movies as a kid, and I was fascinated with them even while Siskel & Ebert kept tearing them apart as “cynical filmmaking.” It took me a while to get around to actually watching them, and even then, I had the volume turned down. I also kept hearing from my friends how people reacted during them. One told me how, when he saw “Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood,” everyone started a chant when it looked like the most unlikable character, a horribly spoiled girl with no manners whatsoever, was about to get killed off. This led the audience members to start chanting:
“Kill the bitch, kill the bitch, kill the bitch, kill the bitch, KILL THE BITCH! KILL THE BITCH!! KILL THE BITCH!!! KILL THE BITCH!!!!!!”
That would have been fun to witness, and the fact that this “Friday the 13th” movie did not have it took away from the experience. While I admire how they made Jason more lethal, part of me missed the tongue in cheek qualities of this franchise. You know, the moments which reminded you it was just a movie, and how some critics take them way too seriously. Looking back, I feel like I missed out on something.
Jason should really engage in a group therapy session with Norman Bates because they have more in common than they realize. Of course, Jason doesn’t talk, but maybe Norman could get him to or perhaps teach him sign language. Hey, anything is possible, right?
WRITER’S NOTE: This article was originally written back in 2012.
Sir Anthony Hopkins has played real-life people in movies such as President Richard Nixon in “Nixon” and John Quincy Adams in “Amistad,” but he was initially hesitant about playing the brilliant filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock in “Hitchcock.” The master of suspense has been imitated so many times over the years to where it seems impossible to portray the man without it feeling like it is a joke. Hopkins, however, was won ever by the film’s director, Sacha Gervasi, who told him, “You’re not Alfred Hitchcock, you’re Anthony Hopkins playing him.” From there, Hopkins knew he would be portraying Hitchcock without ever having to do a mere impersonation of him.
Hopkins actually had the unique privilege of meeting Mr. Hitchcock while he was alive. It’s always great fun to hear from actors who have met the highly esteemed filmmaker as the majority of us have only seen him from a distance. We all wondered what Hitchcock was really like as his films generally delved into the pitch-black darkness of humanity, and that had many assuming he was a somewhat disturbed human being himself. Hopkins described the experience of meeting Hitchcock to Fox News.
“I met Hitchcock in Hollywood in 1979. He had just been awarded his knighthood and I was with my agent, and his agent in fact, George Chasen,” Hopkins said. “This was many years ago. I saw Hitchcock sitting in the restaurant and I said to my agent, ‘I’d love to meet him.’ He said ‘I’ll introduce you.’ So, we walked out of the restaurant after we finished our meal, and Hitchcock was sitting there drinking a large brandy. And George said ‘Congratulations Sir Alfred,’ and he said, ‘Thank you very much George. How are you?’ and George said, ‘This is my client Anthony Hopkins,’ and (Hitchcock) said ‘Charmed, I’m sure, very good luck to you.'”
For Hopkins, a key importance for him was getting the look of the famous filmmaker right. The fact is he is far slimmer than Hitchcock was, and Hitchcock famously known for being overweight. It was up to Academy Award-winning makeup artist Howard Berger to transform Hopkins into Hitchcock. In a conversation with Andrea Mandell of USA Today, Berger talked about doing six makeup tests with Hopkins before filming on “Hitchcock” began, and they experimented with all sorts of prosthetics to get the look right.
“I think the biggest challenge was finding the right combination of Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Hopkins,” said Berger. “We knew from the get-go; we didn’t want to completely cover and disguise Tony. As Hopkins became more comfortable with the character, slowly we started to strip things away.”
Berger went on to describe the end result of his work as being a portrait of Hitchcock on Hopkins. The makeup process took two hours each day to complete, and this included applying a prosthetic jowl and neck pieces to Hopkins. In addition, Hopkins took to wearing a bodysuit and brown contact lenses, and he also shaved “a patch of hair at the back of his head to replicate the director’s hair pattern.” With the makeup done, it freed Hopkins to concentrate on the inner life of his role as opposed to the physical aspects of it. In the end, this is what actors need to focus on the most when playing any role.
But the one thing you will not find Hopkins doing during shooting is staying in character when the cameras are not rolling. Right now, the movie “Lincoln” is in theaters, and it stars Daniel Day Lewis as President Lincoln. Stories from that set have described Lewis as staying in character throughout the shoot to where other actors kept referring to him as Mr. Lincoln. In talking with Philip Sherwell of The Telegraph, however, Hopkins made it very clear how this method of acting is completely unnecessary for him.
“I think that’s a lot of crap,” Hopkins said. “I just don’t understand that. If actors want to do that, fine. If they want to be miserable, that’s up to them. I’m not interested. It’s a job. Who the hell wants to be with some miserable grump because he wants to get his performance right, so you have to call him this or call him that? It’s so boring. I’ve been with actors like that and… they’re unpleasant to work with and I don’t think they’re always that good either.”
With all the great performances he has given throughout his illustrious career in “Silence of The Lambs,” “Remains of the Day” and “Titus,” Anthony Hopkins doesn’t need to stay in character a whole day in order to give audiences a confident performance. His role as Alfred Hitchcock in “Hitchcock” is just the latest example of the kind of work we can always expect from an actor of his caliber. Hopkins never takes the easy way out with a role, and he understands it is the inner life of a character that the actor needs to work on. As for how he looks on the outside, that is someone else’s concern.
The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.
I went into “Barbie” with very little knowledge of the film beforehand. I was aware that it gained a lot of money at the box office, and I also knew it was the most talked about movie of the summer. It broke records at the box office, as stated, and it’s the rare film that has received positive reviews with critics and also with audiences as well. It’s an important film in today’s world. Of course, I heard of the Barbie brand name in my 38-years on this planet, but I didn’t consider myself the key demographic for this film. However, the expert direction of Greta Gerwig and the top-notch writing from herself along with her long-time partner, Noah Baumbach, made this a very, very enjoyable viewing experience. I also believe it can create healthy and meaningful conversations for families after they watch it together. It’s the power of cinema.
“Barbie” opens up by introducing us to Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) living in Barbieland. She sees a world populated by Barbies, Kens and other characters, even if it is full of mundane routines at times. One of the Barbies is even President (Issa Rae). One day, Stereotypical Barbie notices she has flat feet and is starting to think about her own mortality. This is met with confusion by those in Barbieland where everything, on the surface, is always sunshine, rainbows and lollipops. They tend to live in denial at times. The Kens like to hang out at the beach and seek approval from the Barbies. This most certainly applies to one Ken, played by Ryan Gosling. When Stereotypical Barbie meets Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), she realizes that someone has been playing with her and causing her to have bad breath, flat feet and even cellulite.
Ken insists on following her into the real world where he and Barbie are mocked, ridiculed and even thrown into prison. Barbie is not used to men making comments on her appearance and even groping her. Ken, on the other hand, likes it in the real world as he sees the opportunities and respect that come with being a man. He didn’t have those same privileges in Barbieland. Barbie meets young Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) who lays into Barbie about how she has given young women unrealistic expectations of how they should present themselves in the real world. This is news to Barbie, who becomes quite depressed.
When the Mattel CEO (Will Ferrell) finds out that Barbie is running loose in the real world, he wants to ensure she is put back into her box, as he doesn’t like the fact that worlds are colliding. Barbie also learns more about what caused her to have problems in Barbieland. She wants to find out how to make things better not only for herself, but for everyone else. Since Ken is starting to feel overly confident and selfish, this puts Barbieland in serious jeopardy. It’s up to Barbie, Sasha, and Sasha’s mother, Gloria (America Ferrera), to make things right not only for all of the Barbie’s out there, but for the entire Barbieland as well, which includes numerous Kens and also Allan, played by Michael Cera.
For a movie about a collection of dolls, “Barbie” has a lot to say, and it says it quite well with humor, intelligence and a powerful sense of self-awareness. The filmmakers are also not afraid to take Mattel to task as well for some of their decision making. This is a film about change, growth, empowerment, and being the best version of yourself. It’s also a beautiful looking film with some of the best cinematography I’ve seen in a long time. It’s filled with color, vividness and life. At times, the film can be a little too on the nose and it does lag a little in the end, but this is a really, really good movie that is hugely entertaining while also having a strong message behind it at the same time. It’s really remarkable what Gerwig has achieved with this film. She took a lot of chances with this film, but nine times out of ten, they were the right chances to take.
“Barbie” is going to cause an uproar with certain groups of people and, quite frankly, that is their burden to carry around with them. As the old expression goes, “For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation is good enough.” It’s fine if you don’t like the film, but if you are getting caught up in certain aspects of the film’s subject matter, you are missing the point entirely. “Barbie” is well-acted, well-made, incredibly funny, and it has a wit to it that I’m sure many audiences will appreciate.
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are tremendous here, of course, and the rest of the cast is top-notch, featuring such actors as America Ferrera, Rhea Perlman, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, and Will Ferrell. They know exactly how to hit all of the right notes with this material. Everyone has bought into the film here, and they know how to sell it just perfectly. This is sophisticated humor, and the actors are never too over-the-top or winking at the camera too much. Of course, there are moments where the movie is breaking the fourth wall, such as when its narrator, Helen Mirren, talks about it not being a good idea by the filmmakers to have Margot Robbie complain about being ugly, but those moments make sense because it shows the movie is right there with the audience in terms of what we are thinking.
All in all, “Barbie” was one of my favorite viewing experiences of 2023. As stated earlier, it is not perfect. At times, it is a little too self-aware for its own good, and the last thirty minutes or so tend to drag a bit. However, it is easy to see why this film garnered so much attention at the box office and with mainstream audiences. A movie about Barbie could have easily been banal and vapid. Instead, they trusted that audiences can be smart and they want something more out of a Barbie movie. I really enjoyed “Barbie,” and I can’t wait to watch it again.
* * * ½ out of * * * *
4K Info: “Barbie” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It also comes with a digital copy of the film. It is rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language. It has a running time of 114 minutes.
Video Info: The 4K look of this film is really, really on-point with its lively HDR and tremendous color palette. It is not so bright that it will hurt your eyes or cause any discomfort. It knows when to pop and when to shine and it always looks sharp, clear, and incredibly rich. It’s a visual feast for audiences. This movie was made for 4K.
Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also vibrant and really consistent throughout the entire film. It has a nice bass to it, as there are tons of great songs sprinkled throughout the soundtrack of the film. Dialogue is easy to understand without any issues. Subtitles are in English, Spanish and French.
Special Features:
Welcome to Barbie Land – featurette
Becoming Barbie – featurette
Playing Dress-Up – featurette
Musical Make-Believe – featurette
All-Star Barbie Party – featurette
It’s A Weird World – featurette
Should You Buy It?
HECK YES!! I don’t care what age you are or what gender you identify as, if you have a sense of humor and heart, you will really, really enjoy Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” This is a great example of how to do a big studio film the right way while also making a ton of money at the box office. The audio and visual aspects are also top-notch and really, really well done. It’s a gorgeous looking transfer with an incredible Dolby Atmos soundtrack. We also get some pretty cool special features as well. “Barbie” is one of the biggest surprises of 2023, and it is the kind of film I love to see out of Hollywood. It comes out on 4K on October 17th, and it is a day-one purchase. I don’t know if there will be a steelbook edition at some point or not, but this is the kind of film you would not mind double dipping on in the future. This one comes highly recommended!
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.
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