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‘The Accountant 2’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on August 10 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess I do not have a vivid recollection of the 2016 film “The Accountant,” which starred Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. I know I watched and reviewed the first film, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me in either a positive or negative way. Because of this, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from a sequel that was taking place nine years after the original. I didn’t go back and watch the first film, but I was still able to follow along effortlessly with the sequel. The more I watched it, little bits and pieces from the first film started to come back to me. Plus, with an action/thriller, in most cases, you start to understand the gist of it: These guys are good, these guys are bad, and they are going to have a big shootout before it’s all said and done.

“The Accountant 2” opens up with a bang as Raymond King (J. K. Simmons) meets up with a quiet yet deadly assassin, Anaïs (Daniella Pineda). Raymond tells her he needs her help in tracking down a missing family. Before long, there is bedlam at their meetup location, which leaves Raymond, the former FinCEN director, dead. On his dead body, he wrote “Find the Accountant.” This message finds its way to his protégé and the current deputy director, Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). She gets in touch with The Accountant, Christian Wolff, played by Ben Affleck.

Christian is not only an accountant, he’s an autistic assassin. I don’t remember if it was clearly stated in the first film, but they hint around at it here, as I don’t think they wanted to hit the audience over the head with it. It would have felt like they were exploiting this if they reminded the audience of it time and time again. Instead, the film shows his difficulty expressing himself while also highlighting his strengths, such as when he goes line-dancing and is able to pick up the moves by watching other people and their rhythmic movements. With his help, Marybeth will be able to find out what happened to her mentor and also find out what got him killed.

“The Accountant 2” does not even mention the Anna Kendrick character, but it does bring back Christian’s brother, Braxton, played by Jon Bernthal. Affleck and Bernthal have terrific chemistry together on screen, as they have a real Oscar and Felix “Odd Couple” dynamic. Braxton is direct, in-your-face, and blunt. Christian is more subdued, thoughtful, and precise with his actions. Along with Marybeth, they are committed to finding answers when it comes to the death of Raymond King along with the missing family. The three of them all bring something unique and different to the table with their strengths and weaknesses.

This sequel is a tale of two movies. The first half is entertaining, funny at times, and fast-paced. It focuses on relationships, characters, and story. I was captivated and enjoyed the story and its various twists and turns along with the interactions between the characters. Bernthal, in particular, is a real standout amongst the cast. He’s funny but also has a softer side to his character. There is one scene in particular where he’s talking to his brother and he’s wondering why they aren’t closer. He wonders if it’s because of Christian’s challenges or if there is something more to it. Affleck also does a good job of not overplaying his character or turning it into an over-the-top and showy performance. He brings humanity and heart to the character.

Overall, “The Accountant 2” is way too long at 132 minutes, and after a while, there are one too many bad guys to be found here. Once it turned into a shoot-’em-up action flick, I was ready for the credits to start rolling. It turns into a live-action version of “Call of Duty.” I also feel as though films which use sex trafficking as a major storyline are becoming commonplace in Hollywood, and they are starting to feel like a copout when the screenwriter doesn’t know what else to do with the story. Overall, I enjoyed a lot more of this sequel than the parts I didn’t, and it’s a fun action flick until it loses itself in the final 40 minutes.

* * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Accountant 2” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 132 minutes and is rated R for strong violence and language throughout. The film comes with a crisp looking slipcover along with a digital copy that can be redeemed online.

4K Video Info: The Dolby Vision transfer is a thing of beauty. The colors are vivid and the film has a crisp and flawless look to it. Action films, in particular, are some of the best films to watch on 4K, and “The Accountant 2” is no exception.

4K Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track is loud, in-your-face, and it really thumps in your living room. At times, I found the film to be a little too loud, but that might just be my personal preference. For others, they might find it to be perfect for enjoying this film to the fullest. Subtitles are included in English, Spanish, and French.

Special Features:

None

Should You Buy It?

I try to keep my finger on the pulse of physical media when it comes to collectors and their buying habits, and if there is one genre they are always looking for on 4K, it is action flicks. Because of this, if you are a physical media enthusiast, I’m going to recommend you purchase “The Accountant 2,” but I’d maybe wait for it to drop in price a little bit. I don’t think you need to rush out and buy it on release day. The film is an above average film, and I did enjoy it, but it did lose me near the end with its endless shootout scenes. The film is also about 30 minutes too long. For filmgoers who aren’t as into action flicks as others, it’s worth watching one time as it’s a fun flick with some interesting characters.

**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.

‘A Working Man’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on June 14 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

At 57-years-old, Jason Statham has made quite a career out of playing the Jason Statham character. Some might say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, I think it’s reached the point where it’s starting to become quite tedious and laborious to see him simply spinning his wheels with his film choices. Do his characters even need names or backstories? You can just call them, ‘The Jason Statham character’. His latest film, “A Working Man,” was directed by David Ayer, who collaborated with him on 2024’s “The Beekeeper.” While “The Beekeeper” was good fun, there isn’t a whole lot of entertainment value in “A Working Man.”

Statham stars as Levon Cade, a man with a background in the Royal Marines. After the death of his wife, he’s now working in construction for the Garcia family in Chicago. He is looking to keep a low profile, keep his head above water, and also spend some time with his daughter. She’s currently staying with his father-in-law who is not a fan of Levon. As a matter of fact, he blames Levon for the death of his daughter, as she passed away while he was in combat. He’s trying to get more time with his daughter, but his father-in-law is not only extremely rich, but he’s fueled by anger and bitterness. He looks at Levon as someone who can’t control his anger and thinks violence is the only answer.

Arianna Rivas, Michael Peña and Jason Statham star in the film “A Working Man.” (OSV News photo/courtesy Dan Smith, Amazon MGM Studios)

One night, Jenny Garcia (Arianna Rivas), the only daughter of Joe and Carla (Michael Peña and Noemí González) goes missing when she goes out to celebrate an academic achievement. They suspect foul play is involved, so they look to Levon Cade for help, as they get a feeling that he has a background that might lend itself to helping them out. At first, Levon is hesitant to get himself involved in anything, as he says he’s a different person now. He decides to help them out because he’s having a battle for visitation rights over his daughter and he’s fiercely loyal to the Garcia’s who have helped and been patient with him during a difficult time in his life.

From this point forward, you have a paint-by-numbers revenge flick where Statham is bound and determined to find the men and women responsible for Jenny’s disappearance. On paper, this might sound like a fun flick to sit back and relax while you shut off your brain. This would be true if we hadn’t seen this countless times over with Statham. Let me put it this way—Pizza is great, but if you start to have pizza every night of the week, it starts to make you feel sick. The bad guys in the film are these cheesy, over-the-top Russians who are laughable and can’t be taken seriously. You know what’s going to happen, but it takes almost two hours to reach our destination. I was long checked out of this film mentally by the time it was nearing its conclusion.

I’m a fan of movies that are so bad, they’re good, but make no mistake about it, “A Working Man” is just bad. This film is all about the action sequences, the kills, and the explosions. I can’t sit through another Jason Statham film unless he plays against type, which I don’t see happening anytime soon. I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but “A Working Man” is only for diehard Statham fans who want to seek out his entire filmography. For everyone else, like me, who is feeling extreme fatigue from another Statham film with no imagination, bland kills and a lazy plot, you’ll be wise to skip this one.

* out of * * * *

4K Info: A Working Man is being released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It has a running time of 116 minutes and is rated R for strong violence, language throughout and drug content. It also comes with a digital copy of the film.

4K Video Info: The 4K HDR transfer is incredible. The picture is clear, vivid, and full of color and life. Even though the film isn’t much to watch from an entertainment perspective, it looks stunning in 4K.

4K Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track really pops on this release as well, as it brings the film to life in your home theater.

Special Features:

NONE

Should You Buy It?

“A Working Man” is an A+ movie when it comes to the audio and visual aspects of this 4K release. It looks mesmerizing, and it also sounds terrific. Sadly, it’s a D movie. Moving forward, unless Jason Statham makes a real effort to think outside the box with his film choices, I’m going to politely decline his future projects. I went into this movie with low expectations, as I thought it would be harmless fun, but instead, it’s just a dull, lifeless, and listless movie. Even though I enjoy the style of director David Ayer, this screenplay, which was co-written by Sylvester Stallone, is dead on arrival. The characters here are so vanilla and one-note. The writing is absolutely terrible. I don’t know if these were real Russians in the film or not, but they came across as fake and phony villains. They spend about 15 minutes setting up this plot and the rest is all in the chase, but I didn’t care about the chase because I barely had time to get to know these characters. I know you might be tempted to seek this film out, as a late-night quality pleasure, but make no mistake about it: This film is only for fanatical Statham fans.

**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.

‘Red One’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on March 2 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“Red One” is the latest film from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one of the biggest names and highest paid actors in Hollywood. I am very familiar with Johnson’s work from his time in the professional wrestling industry, which is something I follow closely. He has become one of the biggest brands in the world. It is rare to find someone out there who does not know who Johnson is, either from his time in professional wrestling or his movie career. Personally speaking, I cannot help but respect and admire how he has built his career in two different industries, but lately, I am starting to suffer from a major case of Dwayne Johnson fatigue.

The film follows the story of Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) who oversees and protects Nick, aka Santa, aka Red One, played by J.K. Simmons. Callum Drift informs Santa this will be their last Christmas together, and then he is calling it quits. He has seen the naughty list grow by over twenty percent, and he feels as though too many people are losing the real meaning of Christmas. They are more interested in their own selfish needs as opposed to being good human beings. Santa tells him there are good people all around the world still, and he should not lose his hope in humanity. In classic movie fashion, Callum is going to retire so, of course, this means his final days will be filled with peril, stress, and action.

On Christmas Eve of all nights, Santa is kidnapped thanks to the help of a mercenary bounty hunter named Jack O’Malley, played by Chris Evans. Callum’s boss, Zoe (Lucy Liu) puts him in charge of tracking down Jack to find out the whereabouts of Santa. Jack confesses he does not know anything about the kidnapping, and he follows the money when it comes to his job opportunities. Lucy Liu oversees the MORA (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority), and they take their job of protecting Santa very seriously. In order for Santa to be able to do his job, Jack and Callum must put their differences aside, team up together, and find out who was behind this mission and save Santa.

“Red One” is an absolute mess of a film from start-to-finish. One of the biggest issues with the film is that Johnson and Evans have no chemistry together on screen. This is not a fun buddy movie as Johnson takes this role too seriously while Evans is a goofball. The dialogue written for their characters is also bland and unfunny. When you have two actors with the charisma of Johnson and Evans, it should make for a fun, silly and enjoyable thrill-ride. Instead, this movie is dead on arrival. Johnson looks like he is sleepwalking throughout this movie.

The movie is searching for a consistent tone. As stated earlier, Johnson gives a one-note performance throughout the film. He is supposed to be a funny tough guy who takes himself too seriously, only he is not funny at all. His performance is so wooden, and it does not work with this material. Johnson and Evans should have played up their dynamic of being polar opposites in a way that was natural, organic, and funny. It is hard when the script does not give either of them anything of interest to say. J.K. Simmons, by the way, is barely in the movie. He is there at the beginning and he only shows up again at the end.

The film also tries to do too much in its over two-hour running time. It introduces shapeshifting, Krampus and scenes involving snowmen attacking the two main characters at the beach. What is going on here? The writer, Chris Morgan, has written such films as “Cellular,” “The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift,” “Wanted,” “Fast and Furious,” “Fast Five” and “Furious 7,” and he has worked with Johnson before. Morgan has also worked in the action genre before, and he has had a lot of success. On paper, this film should have been a big hit at the box office. You have Johnson and Evans working together for the first time, Morgan as the writer, and the backdrop of Christmas.

For whom was this movie made? Was it made for children? I cannot see children really getting into this movie. It is not that it is too violent or too intense for children, as that is not the problem. The problem is the film does not have a sense of wonder or a sense of fun. It is also not really for adults as it is too silly and juvenile for an adult audience. I do not really know who “Red One” is going to appeal to, unless you are a diehard fan of Johnson or Evans. They should have kept this movie simple. They should have kept it under two hours, focused more on the dynamic between Johnson and Evans, given them better dialogue, and it should have been a lighthearted unlikely buddy comedy with heart. Instead, it is a brainless and soulless action flick. “Red One” is one of the worst movies of 2024.

½* out of * * * *

4K Info: “Red One” is being 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 123 minutes and is rated PG-13 for action, some violence, and language.

4K Video Info: Warner Brothers is one of the most consistent studios when it comes to their home video releases on 4K, and “Red One” is no exception. The Dolby Vision transfer is vivid, colorful, and full of life. This is an exceptionally clean and crisp-looking 4K.

4K Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track is also perfect for this film, as it has a good thump to it during the action sequences. Subtitles included are in English, Latin Spanish, Castilian Spanish, Italian, German, Parisian French, Canadian French, Dutch, Chinese – Complex, and Cantonese.

Special Features:

NONE

Should You Buy It?

With certain movies, you can feel the length of its run time. “Red One” is a movie where I felt every minute of its 123-minute run time. This film needed to focus on the strengths of its two main actors and not get bogged down with a convoluted backstory and mindless action that did not mean anything or go anywhere. This film was restlessly boring, and I did not chuckle or smirk once while watching it. I just wanted it to be over. This should have been an enormous success especially considering Hollywood is always in the market for new Christmas movies. Instead, they really lost the plot here. On the bright side, the 4K looks and sounds terrific. There are no special features included here, and I think that says a lot about the film. If you did enjoy this film, I’d recommend buying it when it goes on sale. If you are a Dwayne Johnson or Chris Evans superfan, you might enjoy it, but you must really love everything they do. For everyone else, this is a hard pass.

**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.

‘Blink Twice’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on November 8, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“Blink Twice” is a film with ambition, style, and some big goals. It does not always achieve those goals from a filmmaking perspective, but it’s an interesting directorial debut from actress Zoë Kravitz, who also co-wrote the screenplay with E.T. Feigenbaum. The film also opens with a trigger warning for audiences, which is something I don’t think I’ve seen before from a big screen movie. I’ve seen it before on TV shows when a particular episode is going to show scenes involving abuse, suicide, or rape. “Blink Twice” has become one of the most-talked about movies of 2024, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a film that is either going to piss audiences off or leave them with a lot to ponder.

Our film opens up introducing us to Frida (Naomi Ackie) who, along with her friend and roommate Jess (Alia Shawkat), work a ritzy and glamorous exclusive event, where she runs into Slater King (Channing Tatum). He was recently forced to step down as CEO of his company after a scandalous event which forced him into therapy. He claims to be a changed man and has also apologized publicly for his behavior. When he runs into Frida and Jess, they are invited to his private island, where they have to put their phones in a bag. It seems to be your typical rich, glamorous party with drugs and over-the-top behavior, but Slater insists he has toned down his behavior. The longer Frida and Jess spend at this private island, the more they suspect something is up. Can they put the pieces together?

Kravitz has assembled an all-star cast for her feature film debut. The film features unique screen performances from Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, Kyle MacLachlan, and Simon Rex. While their performances are unique and out there, unfortunately these are not characters that are particularly well-written or fleshed out. Since they are good actors, they chew up the scenery. However, I can only imagine how much more effective these performances would have been if these characters were not so one-dimensional. The stand-out performance comes from Tatum, who gives a chilling, eerie and unnerving performance.

The first 45-60 minutes are repetitive and boring at times, even though the film is shot beautifully and looks fantastic. As a director, Kravitz has a keen eye behind the camera. This is a gorgeous film featuring beautiful people looking their best while doing very bad things. The film is much more interesting in the third act when certain elements of the plot are revealed to the audience. I wanted the film to be more like the third act, which was lively, intense and exciting. The film lost me for the first hour or so, which is why it was too little, too late to save it as a whole.

I could examine all of the issues and themes which are rather on-the-nose, but I don’t think it would serve my review. I think Kravitz has A LOT to say, and she’s not shy about how she goes about presenting that message. Is it preachy at times? Yes, but it didn’t take me out of the film or make me lose interest in the story. As a matter of fact, it did the opposite for me—it left me with a lot to think about long after the credits rolled. It made me want to see what she has up her sleeve in the future as a filmmaker. “Blink Twice” is a film that gains traction the more you think about it and the further removed you are from it as an audience member. It was the lack of action and the pacing which took me out of the film in the first hour.

Overall, “Blink Twice” almost lost me entirely for a good chunk of its running time. This is something that cannot be ignored. If I wasn’t reviewing the movie, I would have shut it off. Yes, I enjoyed the scenery and the acting, but the plot took way too long to get moving. That being said, I also can’t ignore the power and the impact of the film’s final act along with the energy Kravitz brought to this film as a director. After the movie was over, it stayed with me and I thought about it for a long time. This is a movie that is below average for the first 45-60 minutes before it ends with a bang for the final 30-35 minutes. This is a brainy film. I give it a slight recommendation with some hesitation.

* * out of * * * *

Blu-ray Info: “Blink Twice” is released on a single-disc Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 102 minutes and is rated R for strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use and language throughout, and some sexual references. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well.

Blu-ray Audio/Video Info: “Blink Twice” looks good on Blu-ray, but I’m not sure why this film didn’t get a 4K release. This film was screaming to be released on 4K, and I’m not sure why they didn’t offer that option. It is still a solid Blu-ray, but a 4K transfer would have been eye-popping and mesmerizing. The Dolby Audio is also solid, but an Atmos track would have been preferred for this movie. Subtitles are included in Parisian French, Castilian Spanish, Italian, English, Latin Spanish, and Canadian French.

Special Features:

NONE

Should You Buy It?

Considering this film should have received a 4K release and there are no special features on this Blu-Ray disc, I don’t think it is a film you need to purchase right away. It also doesn’t come with a slipcover for the Blu-ray. For a collector like me, I enjoy a slipcover over the Blu-ray case. For the time being, it is a film worth seeing, despite how frustrating it can be at times. I’d recommend you rent the film from a digital platform like Amazon, YouTube or Apple TV. It’s worth renting digitally and checking out. I’m looking forward to the next film from director Zoë Kravitz, as she impressed me with her first offering.

**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.

‘Rocky: The Ultimate Knockout Edition’ 4K Review

Posted on July 29, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

A little over a year ago, Warner Brothers Home Entertainment released a set which included the first four “Rocky” films along with the director’s cut of “Rocky IV.” Many fans were dissatisfied with this release and pointed out audio and video issues along with the fact that “Rocky V” and “Rocky Balboa” were not included in the set. Now, Warner Brothers has released a new edition of the “Rocky” films on 4K in a set entitled “Rocky: The Ultimate Knockout Edition,” and it includes replacement discs for the issues with the first four films and also includes “Rocky V,” “Rocky Balboa” and “Rocky Balboa: The Director’s Cut.” There is also a Blu-ray disc which includes special features for the first four films. I went back and looked at my review from March 2023 for “Rocky: The Knockout Collection,” and I didn’t feel as though the issues were as egregiously bad as other reviewers made them out to be.

With all six of the Rocky films now out on 4K, people are going to be wondering if this set is worth its hefty price tag. Before I get into all of that, let’s briefly discuss the films. The original “Rocky,” released in 1976, won Best Picture and put Sylvester Stallone on the map. It is the ultimate underdog sports movie and a film which is quoted and remembered to this very day. Even after Stallone is long gone, fans and historians will always remember him as Rocky Balboa. Of course, he also played John Rambo, but people really connect with Rocky and can even see themselves in the character. It was the right film with the right actor at the right time.

There is much debate and handwringing over the sequels. I love all of the “Rocky” films, warts and all, as they play a part in the story of Rocky Balboa and his ups and downs as a character. We see him start from nothing, rise, fall, and rise again. I think you have to appreciate the good, bad and the ugly all of the films as they all serve a specific purpose for this franchise. Of course, my favorite film will always be the first “Rocky.” After that, I’d probably go with “Rocky II,” “Rocky Balboa,” “Rocky IV,” “Rocky III,” and “Rocky V.” If you ask me this question in a few months, my answer might change again.

The original “Rocky,” the one which started it all, is about a low-level boxer who is looking for a chance to prove he’s not another bum from the neighborhood. He mostly takes outlaw fights which make little to no money. One day, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is looking for an opponent in order to sell his next fight. When he stumbles upon Rocky Balboa, an underdog fighter from Philadelphia, he figures he can use this David vs. Goliath story to sell some tickets and get an easy victory. He ends up getting more than he bargained for from Rocky Balboa, who is feeling the support of his newfound love interest, Adrian (Talia Shire) and her brother Paulie (Burt Young). All he wants is a chance to prove his self-worth.

In “Rocky II,” he needs to prepare for his rematch against Apollo Creed. Can he defeat Apollo Creed this time, or will Creed destroy him and show that their last fight was simply a fluke? Even though Creed won the first fight by decision, Rocky showed he can last in the ring with the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

In “Rocky III,” Rocky needs to learn how to handle the biggest obstacle of all: success. How will he deal with money and fame? He also encounters Clubber Lang, played by Mr. T and Thunderlips, played by Hulk Hogan.

In “Rocky IV,” Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a menacing Russian, awaits him. I mentioned in my initial review of the first set how I preferred “Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago” over the original cut of “Rocky IV.”

In “Rocky V,” he has to get a handle on being a dad and life outside of the ring.

In “Rocky Balboa,” he’s past his prime, old and beaten down, but he’s looking to find an outlet to deal with his pain.

I imagine most people reading this review are familiar with each and every film in the “Rocky” series, so I don’t imagine these are major spoilers. They simply serve as a refresher in case you haven’t seen the films in a while. You are reading this review to see if this box set is worth the money, as mentioned previously. The answer is both yes and no. The 4K transfers are cinematic and an upgrade over the Blu-rays. The “Rocky” films have never looked or sounded better in any other format. The audio issues are also cleaned up on all of the films, even though I didn’t really notice them with the last “Rocky” set. This is all of the “Rocky” films, as the “Creed” films are their own separate entity, even though they are in the “Rocky” universe.

This set is going for about $90 to $110 depending on where you purchase it from, as Gruv.com has it for the cheapest I’ve seen. The discs themselves are great. Warner Brothers fails massively with the packaging of this set. It comes in a flimsy cardboard slipcover with discs that can be looked through in a flipper case. These movies are important to me, and they are also important to a lot of film fans out there. They went cheap with the packaging, as the cardboard slipcover is not a thick and sturdy box that can protect the films or the case. The discs are also stuck in a flipper case which shows a lot of off-gassing, which is this greasy substance that is really difficult to remove from the back of the disc holders.

Overall, I enjoyed watching the films on 4K, and I’m happy Warner Brothers decided to release this “Ultimate Knockout Edition” of all of the “Rocky films. At its price point, however, I would expect a lot more on the packaging side of things. The packaging and the case are truly a mess, and it makes it hard to fully enjoy this set. As a collector, we buy movies for the movies and also the packaging. We are not simply buying the discs of these films. I wish they would have shown a little tender loving care to this set. They should have released these in individual cases in a sturdy box set which holds them all together.

Ratings:

“Rocky”: * * * * out of * * * *

“Rocky II”: * * * ½ out of * * * *

“Rocky III”: * * ½ out of * * * *

“Rocky IV”: * * * out of * * * *

“Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut”: * * * ½ out of * * * *

“Rocky V”: * * out of * * * *

“Rocky Balboa”: * * * ½ out of * * * *

“Rocky Balboa: Director’s Cut”: * * * out of * * * *

Video Info: All of the films are released on Dolby Vision, which leads to some very impressive looking visuals. The best-looking films in this set, in order, are “Rocky V,” “Rocky II,” “Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago,” “Rocky IV,” “Rocky,” “Rocky III,” “Rocky Balboa” and “Rocky Balboa: The Director’s Cut.” It was a bit of a surprise to me that “Rocky Balboa” was the weakest link out of all these films from a visual standpoint. It was the film I was most excited to see upgraded to 4K, but it looks rather bland and vanilla. This is probably because they put both versions of this film on one 4K, which is asking a lot out of one disc, although it didn’t affect both versions of “Rocky IV” for some reason. It’s surprising to see that the worst film in the “Rocky” franchise, “Rocky V,” is the best-looking one out of the bunch.

Audio Info: All of the audio issues are fixed here from the previous release, but once again, I didn’t notice a big difference the last time they released these films on 4K. I know that Warner Brothers made sure to correct the issues from the last release based on what I’ve read online. You don’t have to worry about a disc replacement program with any of the audio tracks here. None of the films come with Dolby Atmos, which is a bit of a bummer, as the Rocky films seem perfect for Dolby Atmos. The audio is still really good, but this would have given it that extra boost.

Special Features:

“Rocky”

• Audio Commentary with director John Avildsen and producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, and Garrett Brown

• Audio Commentary with Lou Duva and Bert Sugar

• Audio Commentary with Sylvester Stallone

“Rocky Balboa”

• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Sylvester Stallone

• Deleted Scenes

• Skill vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa

• Reality in the Ring: Filming Rocky’s Final Fight

• Virtual Champion: Creating the Computer Fighter

• Fight Makeup

“Rocky” Bonus Disc

• 8MM Home Movies of Rocky

• 3 Rounds with Lou Duva

• Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown

• Make-Up! The Art and Form with Michael Westmore

• Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook with Bill Conti

• The Ring of Truth

• A Tribute to Burgess Meredith

• Stallone Meets Rocky

• The Making of “Rocky vs. Drago”: Keep Punching

• Trailers

Should You Buy It?

I don’t think Warner Brothers is going to release ANOTHER “Rocky” set, so I would say buy it, but I would wait until it goes on sale. As of right now, the price is way too high considering the packaging on this set and the lack of original special features. My feeling is this—if you are going to release a set like this, which is near and dear to so many people’s hearts, why not release it the right way and take your time? I would have loaded it up with as many special features as possible and spent a little more money on better packaging and a better case. The films, for the most part, look good and the audio is solid. I’m not trying to sound picky here or look a gift horse in the mouth, but this set should cost $60 and not $90 to $110, considering how they threw it all together in this packaging. You will enjoy the films, which is the most important part, but a little quality control would have gone a long way. This “Rocky” set on 4K does come recommended, but I recommend you wait for it to go on sale and not rush out and buy it right away.

**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.

‘Challengers’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on July 17, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“Challengers” is a film I went into with high expectations. Even though I’m not a tennis fan, it looked very promising based on its director, young cast and premise. I thought it would be a stylish and entertaining film that would be one of my favorites of 2024. This brings me to my next point, which is the worst kept secret in film criticism: MOST film critics do read reviews before they watch a movie. Now, I didn’t read full-length reviews of “Challengers,” but I did look at its score on Rotten Tomatoes. I know certain film critics like to go into films completely blind, but I do believe they are more excited for certain films than others based on word-of-mouth. With that being said, I was very excited and eager to check this one out.

“Challengers” has a nonlinear plot, so it goes back and forth over a decade of time. It follows three tennis players: Tashi Donaldson (Zendaya), Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist). Art and Patrick have been friends since their school days, but their friendship is put to the test when Tashi, a talented but extremely competitive tennis player, comes between them. They have a tennis match where the winner will get Tashi’s phone number. Patrick ends up winning the tennis match, but it doesn’t take long for him to self-destruct and blow it with Tashi.

This is where Art comes in and sees an opportunity to be there for Tashi, especially after she suffers a career-ending injury. Patrick is supremely talented on the tennis court and also incredibly cocky, which makes him his own worst enemy. Art is a very good tennis player, but he seems to lack the killer instinct necessary to survive on the court. He’s a nice guy, which isn’t a bad thing, but oftentimes his insecurity shows up on the tennis court. Tashi, in present day, is his coach and is pushing him to be the best and find that next gear he needs to succeed. In many ways, she is living through him after her dream came to an end because of her injury.

All three lives come together once again when Tashi enters Art into a Challenger tournament to prepare him for a potential Career Grand Slam if he’s able to obtain one more US Open Tournament victory. In the Challenger event, he finds himself facing off against his former best friend, Patrick Zweig, who is now broke, busted and disgusted as he’s living out of his car. Patrick relishes the chance to beat his former best friend and also possibly win back Tashi. Tashi and Art are now wealthy, married and have a child. It feels like their relationship, however, will always be based on how well he does on the tennis court.

As I’m writing this review and remembering the film, I’m very surprised it didn’t win me over. There are a few problems with the film, and the first one is the cast. While all three of the young actors are aesthetically pleasing, I don’t feel like they were portraying characters I found interesting, layered or complex. Yes, they are unlikable, but that’s OK in the movies. There have been many unlikable characters throughout the history of cinema, but these characters are just plain boring. I didn’t care about their love triangle or drama. It felt forced and unnecessary. I also found the acting to be very wooden and cold. They are playing cold characters, but the acting didn’t really sizzle on screen. I didn’t feel as though the three of them had any chemistry together.

Another problem is the use of music. Yes, the soundtrack features music by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, but the music is overdone here. It takes away from the film, as it’s one song after another after another. I didn’t need an onslaught of music in this movie. They could have sprinkled the music in here and there throughout when it was truly needed. It’s overkill.

“Challengers” is also directed by Luca Guadagnino, a supremely talented director whose previous works include “Call Me By Your Name,” the “Suspiria” remake, and “Bones and All.” Much like the music, the style is overdone in this movie. It’s style over substance.

There is no doubt that “Challengers” is a good-looking film with good-looking people. It needed a lot more from the script and its actors. It also needed the director to step back a little and let the film breathe without throwing so much at us at once, whether it was visual tricks or the music. This felt like an A24 film on steroids. Now, I’m a fan of A24 films, but their best films are the ones where they have a healthy balance of style, substance, human emotion, and powerful acting. At the end of the day, I didn’t care who won the big match or who ended up with the girl. These are pretty people with self-induced problems, and I didn’t enjoy spending time with them in the world created by Guadagnino.

* * out of * * * *

Blu-Ray Info: “Challengers” is released on a single-disc Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It has a running time of 131 minutes and is rated R for language throughout, some sexual content and graphic nudity. The film comes with a digital code as well.

Video Info: This is a sharp looking Blu-ray, but it’s baffling this film didn’t get a 4K release. It looks good on Blu-ray, but it would have been eye-popping on 4K. This was a real missed opportunity.

Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track really thumps during the moments in the film where the music takes over. It sounds good and powerful. I’m always happy when a Blu-ray or a 4K has a solid Dolby Atmos track.

Special Features: None

Should You Buy It?

“Challengers” only gets a Blu-ray and DVD release from Warner Brothers, and it also comes without any special features, which is truly baffling. As stated previously, this film should have been given a 4K release on day one. I’m not quite sure why they didn’t go in such an obvious direction. The film itself has been well-received by critics and most audiences, but it didn’t quite click with me. I found it to be very shallow, and it was also way too long. I can’t recommend you purchase this Blu-ray because of the movie itself, and also because there are no special features. “Challengers” would have been a better movie with a better cast, a sharper script, and a better editor. As it stands, it is watchable, but I found it to be incredibly forgettable when it was over. I’d pass on this one. If you did enjoy the film in theaters, I’d also wait for a possible 4K release at some point, perhaps from the Criterion Collection.

**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.

‘American Fiction’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on June 24, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“American Fiction” is the kind of adult drama which has been sorely missing from Hollywood over the past decade and a half. Hollywood has become obsessed with the big screen blockbuster and superhero films. Now, of course, there is nothing wrong with those films, but the adult drama along with R-rated comedies are becoming harder and harder to find these days. It is why a film like “American Fiction” is such a delightful treat for moviegoers who enjoy complex characters and well-rounded stories, and who like to be challenged when they sit down and watch a movie.

The film stars Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison, an author and teacher who is grumpy, defeated and incredibly unhappy with his life. Thelonious is a difficult person to be around as he’s critical of not only himself but everyone else around him. It doesn’t help that he isn’t as successful as he used to be with his writing. He’s finding it harder and harder to connect with audiences as he sees a shift in the literary landscape. The books which are making money and selling are those which profit off the stereotypes that exist in black entertainment.

Thelonius is told to write a “black book,” which is something he wants nothing to do with at all as it goes against his principles and his beliefs. It makes him angry to see a writer like Sintara Golden (Issa Rae) selling books left and right while his own work is financially unsuccessful. He returns home to spend time with his family, which is another source of stress in his life. His sister, Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross), is a hard-working physician who is doing her best to get back on her feet after a painful and costly divorce. He also discovers that his mother, Agnes (Leslie Uggams), is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

This is not the pick-me-up visit Thelonius needed, as he’s not exactly close with his brother, Cliff, played by Sterling K. Brown. Cliff and Lisa have trouble getting along with him because he’s too much like their deceased father who was withdrawn, judgmental and often pushed people away. With his mother’s health suffering, it is up to Thelonius to take care of her finances and figure out what to do with her care. He finds a solution when he ends up writing a book under a pseudonym, which gives the public what they are looking for: a stereotypical black book which relies on the offensive and cliché-ridden tropes audiences love. As the old expression goes, “No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”

Thelonius has also developed a relationship with a neighbor, Coraline, played by Erika Alexander. She likes him, but can he love himself enough to work it out with her? Can he get along with his brother? He’s also discovering through his agent, played by John Ortiz, that his book might even be turned into a movie. This is all happening very fast for him as he’s wrestling with his need to produce substantial material and also his need for money. In many cases, the two do not go hand-in-hand. He doesn’t want to sell his soul for the almighty dollar, but he also has bills to pay in the meantime. Can his moral compass allow him to “sell out?”

“American Fiction” was my favorite film of 2023. It starts with the screenplay, which won Best Adapted Screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards. The film has great dialogue in it along with rich and funny characters that really sizzle on screen. It’s a witty, timely and sharp script. The film reminded me a lot of Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled,” but it’s a more upbeat film and not as bleak. It is hard to overlook how little has changed since “Bamboozled” came out back in 2000, though. The big thing that has changed is there are more platforms and outlets for this kind of material to be digested by audiences.

This film also has a tremendous cast from top-to-bottom. Everyone has effortless chemistry with one another on screen, and they are all likable, interesting and well-developed. Even though Thelonius is a curmudgeon, he’s never boring. There is something very quirky and funny about him, and it is because he was written with a lot of different layers to him. As an audience, we understand his frustration and we know why he feels the way he does about his family and how African Americans are presented in mainstream media. He’s not wrong, even if he goes about it in a way that tends to grate on those closest to him. He can be preachy and self-righteous, but it’s hard to argue with his points. This is a man who is learning to love himself, love someone else, and reconnect with his family. He’s a work-in-progress.

If you are like me and enjoy a film with heart, humor and a bit of edge to it, you will love “American Fiction.” This is the kind of movie Hollywood used to make but seem to shy away from these days. I enjoyed every single minute of this hilarious, heartfelt and intelligent piece of moviemaking. This film allows the audience to spend time with these characters, get to know, care about, and become emotionally invested in them. The ending, without giving anything away, is also perfect. I loved “American Fiction,” and I’m confident you will love it too.

* * * * out of * * * *

Blu-ray Info: “American Fiction” is being released on a single-disc Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It has a running time of 117 minutes and is rated R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references, and brief violence. It also comes with a digital copy of the film as well.

Video/Audio Info: The 1080p high-definition transfer is very colorful, clear, and bright. Would I have loved a 4K transfer of my favorite film of last year? Of course! However, this is a very good-looking Blu-ray, and I can hold out hope it gets a 4K upgrade at some point as I think this film is only going to grow in popularity as more people see it on physical media. The audio on this Blu-ray is also top-of-the-line. All of the dialogue can be heard very clearly, which is important, because this is a very dialogue-driven film. Subtitles are included in English, French and Spanish.

Special Features:

None

Should You Buy It?

If you are strictly buying “American Fiction” for the movie itself, you should definitely buy it right away. However, this is only available on Blu-ray and DVD, and there are also no special features. This is a supremely bare bones Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment which is pretty disappointing. It does come with a slipcover, though. I’d say buy the Blu-ray with the slipcover as, from an audio and visual standpoint, it still looks and sounds really good. I always like to err on the side of caution, and I’d rather have a great movie on Blu-ray with the slipcover while I can before they stop releasing it with a slipcover. That being said, this film deserved a much better physical media release than it got,

**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 Beekeeper’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on April 23, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

Jason Statham is one of the most successful action stars of the 21st century, even though he’s not exactly reinventing the wheel with his performances. In most cases, if you have seen one Jason Statham performance, you have seen them all. He’s a calm, cool and calculated killer with a sense of humor. There is an element of over-the-top fun that permeates his films. Even though the action is fast-paced, bloody and violent in “The Beekeeper,” the tone of the film is perfectly balanced in terms of action and self-awareness. The people making these films are fully aware of what the audience expects out of them, and they are more than happy to give it to them. They aren’t overly serious to where it’s dreary and dull, and they also aren’t so goofy you check out because it’s so silly.

The film opens up by introducing us to a retired schoolteacher named Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad), who rents out her barn to Adam Clay (Jason Statham), a beekeeper with a heart of gold. One day, she falls victim to an online scam and ends up losing not only her entire life savings but also two million dollars from a charity she was managing as well. After this life-changing mistake, she ends up committing suicide. This springs the beekeeper into action, as he believes in right and wrong. He also held a special place in his heart for Eloise, as she was the only one who looked after him and took care of him.

Along the way, Eloise’s daughter, Verona (Emmy Raver-Lampman), an FBI agent, starts to look into Adam Clay and his background. She doesn’t quite understand how a beekeeper can be so violent and hard to catch. It turns out he belongs to a group called The Beekeepers, and they all work together to make sure “the hive” is protected and safe from anyone who tries to disrupt the natural order of things in the world. Once he tracks down the scammers with help from the Beekeepers, he begins to make life a living hell for them. He wants to take everything from them in the same way they have taken everything from the elderly with their online scams.

I’m a huge fan of silly, over-the-top and fun action movies which are done with style, intensity and a sense of humor. “The Beekeeper” is one of the best action movies I’ve seen in a while. The pacing is perfect as the action comes fast and furious throughout the film’s 105-minute running time. It’s directed by veteran action director David Ayer, and he knows how to make these movies sizzle and pop on screen. The fight scenes are incredibly violent, in-your-face, and gory. They left me with my jaw on the floor. That is exactly what I’m looking for out of a Statham action film.

It also helps that the bad guys are so shady and underhanded, and the actors hit all of the right notes with their performances. Josh Hutcherson is smarmy, indifferent and filled with charisma and cockiness. He plays a spoiled and ruthless adult in his late twenties who has had everything handed to him, so he thinks he is above the law and can do whatever he wants. Jeremy Irons is the classic fixer. He’s brought in to fix things and be the voice of reason when things get too hot and heavy for Hutcherson’s character. The way he reads his lines in this movie is just perfect. He’s an elegant, dignified and smooth-talking problem solver. He looks forward to these challenges, but he also knows the risks which come with them.

When it was all said and done, I had a blast with this movie. It’s a trashy action film that wears its bloody heart on its sleeve. It knows exactly what it wants to accomplish and pulls no punches. Statham is perfectly cast here as the complicated hero who will stop at nothing to get revenge on the bad guys. Even when it seems impossible and the odds are stacked against him, he finds a way to overcome all of the obstacles thrown his way. It’s highly entertaining to see him have to wiggle his way out of tricky situations where he’s outnumbered and outmanned. The film also has some very violent and creative kills that go for the jugular and linger on the violence. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from “The Beekeeper,” but it’s a highly entertaining action film with blood, guts and humor.

* * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Beekeeper” is released on a single disc in 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It has a running time of 105 minutes and is rated R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well.

Video Info: They did a fantastic job with this 4K release. I thought the HDR was very vivid, bright, and colorful. Even though “The Beekeeper” is a trashy action film, they still did a great job with this transfer. It pops with its color palette.

Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos soundtrack was the perfect choice for this action/thriller, as it allowed me to keep it on the same volume for the entire duration of the film. Action films need to have a strong soundtrack, but they can’t be so strong that they force you to turn down the volume throughout when the bullets and bodies start to fall. The soundtrack here is consistent from beginning to end, and it enhances the viewing experience.

Special Features:

None

Should you buy it?

At times, it is best to walk into a film completely blind without knowing what it is about or having read any reviews. This is exactly what I did with “The Beekeeper,” and I’m happy about that because it allowed me to enjoy the film without having any preconceived notions about it. I enjoyed the ride it took me on, and I thoroughly enjoyed Statham’s performance and the unique and grotesque kills he unleashed on the bad guys. When it comes to the 4K disc, the picture and audio quality are top-notch here. The film itself doesn’t have any special features, which is OK, as I can’t imagine they would have added a ton to the film overall. Sometimes it is better to have an air of mystery surrounding your film. Overall, I’d say buy this movie when it drops in price, as you will get a great action/thriller at a great price. I don’t think it’s the kind of movie you need to run out and buy right away, though.

**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.