Warner Brothers

Who is Billy Jack?

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

“Billy Jack” is a movie I have heard about time and time again, and it was on July 30, 2012, when I finally got to see it for the first time. Billy Jack is a half-Indian Green Beret Vietnam veteran whose experiences have molded him into this protector who is out to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Tom Laughlin, who played Billy Jack and directed all the movies this character was in, seems inseparable from Billy Jack as both are out to protect those individuals who were sworn by their government to protect them, but which have failed to do so. While no more “Billy Jack” movies have been made in the longest time, Laughlin still fought for the rights of others throughout his life.

The character of Billy Jack was first introduced to audiences “The Born Losers” which was inspired by the real-life incident where members of the Hell Angels got arrested for raping five teenage girls. “The Born Losers” proved to be the first of Laughlin’s movies which was embedded with a layer of social criticism and an anti-authority tone which remained constant throughout each “Billy Jack” film ever made.

The movie “Billy Jack” came after “The Born Losers,” and it was a response to the conflicts Native Americans often found themselves caught up in. Its sequel, “The Trial of Billy Jack,” was a comment on the anti-war protests which were met by violence from the National Guardsmen who fired upon those protesters, and its follow up, “Billy Jack Goes to Washington,” has the title character battling against senators who are more interested in representing the interest of those representing nuclear power than the people. Even his unfinished sequel, “The Return of Billy Jack,” had political overtones as Billy went to New York to fight those supporting child pornography.

Taking this into account, Laughlin appears to be the first liberal action movie hero as his politics played a big part in each film he made. Then again, calling him a liberal may not be entirely fair as he has gone from one political affiliation to another over the years. In the end, he does not need a particular political label as his goals remain the same; fighting for the rights of ordinary Americans who are not always heard in the way they should be.

All these political and human rights interests greatly informed each movie Laughlin did, and this of course led to many conflicts between him and movie studios. When it came to “Billy Jack,” the movie’s original distributor, American International Pictures (AIP), refused to release it unless Laughlin removed all the political references featured in it. Laughlin, of course, refused to remove them, and he and his wife Delores Taylor, who played Jack’s girlfriend and schoolteacher Jean Roberts, ended up stealing the movie’s sound reels and held them hostage until AIP gave them back their movie.

Warner Brothers ended up releasing “Billy Jack” in 1971, but it failed at the box office and Laughlin sued the studio to get back the rights as he was upset at the way it was promoted. He ended up re-releasing the film himself, and it ended up grossing over $40 million at the box office against a budget of $800,000. Adjusted for inflation, it remains one of the highest grossing independent films ever made.

“Billy Jack,” however, was not without controversies as critics assailed its apparent hypocrisy. In his review of the movie, Roger Ebert said that “Billy Jack seems to be saying that a gun is better than a constitution in the enforcement of justice. Is democracy totally obsolete, then? Is our only hope that the good fascists defeat the bad fascists?” Leonard Maltin ended up saying about the movie that “seen today, its politics are highly questionable, and its ‘message’ of peace looks ridiculous, considering the amount of violence in the film.”

Still, many embrace Billy Jack as a character and the movies he appears in, and this was proven by the large turnout at New Beverly Cinema which cheered him on as soon as he made his first entrance in the movie which is named after him. Seeing Billy grimace at and intimidate the bad guys who were foolish enough to end up in his path had us endlessly entertained, and this remains the case so many years after the film’s initial release.

Laughlin ended up leaving Hollywood to found a Montessori preschool in Santa Monica, California which later became largest school of its kind in the United States. He would eventually turn his attention to politics and psychology as they became the tools with which he could fight injustice. Looking at his life back then and now, it becomes clear how Laughlin and Billy Jack are in many ways the same person as they fight for those whose rights are in danger of disappearing.

Laughlin passed away in 2013 in Thousand Oaks, California at the age of 82. Back in 2007, he announced he was planning to make another film featuring Billy Jack, but this did not happen for a number of reasons. Still, had he made another film with that character, I have no doubt many filmgoers would have welcomed it with open arms.

‘The Exorcist’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

It’s crazy to me to know “The Exorcist” is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. Unfortunately, we lost its legendary director recently in William Friedkin, a trailblazer who was not afraid to push the envelope and do things his own way in films such as “Cruising,” “The French Connection,” and “To Live and Die in L.A.”  He was an outspoken and passionate filmmaker who never backed down from his vision and his principles. I think it’s safe to say his most talked about film of all-time is “The Exorcist” which recently got a 4K upgrade from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. Even to this day, people go to their local theater to watch it on the big screen, or they revisit it on home video when it’s spooky season.

There is quite an infamous backstory to the making of this film and getting it off the ground.  It’s a legitimate miracle the film was able to be made considering all of the roadblocks and obstacles the director and his crew had in making it. I could go into detail here, but it’s best to Google it, as it’s lengthy and strange.  I’ll just say this–many thought the film itself was cursed because of all the odd occurrences which happened to this production.  People would also heavily protest the film, and many filmgoers would faint and get sick while watching it.  The film has certainly developed quite a reputation over the years for a variety of reasons.

“The Exorcist” is set in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. and introduces the audience to actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and her twelve-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair). They are renting a house while Chris works on a film directed by Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran), someone she considers a close friend.  We are also introduced to Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), a psychiatrist at Georgetown University who works with fellow priests. Father Karras is struggling with guilt as he wishes he was spending more time with his mother, who is elderly, frail and unwell. He is also having a crisis of faith as well. At a party Chris is hosting, she notices some unusual behavior from Regan, and Regan is also talking about strange and weird noises in the attic.

From here, things only get worse for Regan as she starts to become vulgar, aggressive and develop facial sores.  She has baffled modern science as they can’t understand what is wrong with her. They think it has something to do with her brain, but it still doesn’t explain her actions or her superhuman strength. Once Regan becomes a danger to herself and others, they decide the only solution is to tie her to her bed and perform an exorcism.  There is a lot of hesitation on the part of Father Karras, as he doesn’t think it will turn out well and might only further damage young Regan.  However, if a more experienced priest helps him, he will do it.  This is where Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) comes in to help Father Karras with the exorcism that will hopefully save the child.

I’ve seen “The Exorcist” three times now, and I’ve really, really wanted to fall in love with it, but for whatever reason, it is a film I respect and admire but don’t love.  I can see the great acting on display from Jason Miller, Ellen Burstyn, and Linda Blair.  It’s impossible to ignore their range of emotions and their ability to sell this material and make it work. My issue is with the pacing of the film.  I’m all about letting things breathe and building up to something, but this is very much an all-or-nothing film at times.  At times, it’s moving a little too slowly without enough character build-up, and the plotting can be a little tedious.  At other times, it’s in-your-face, intense, and really mind-blowing.  There is really no middle ground with “The Exorcist.”

At fifty-years-old, “The Exorcist” is still an impactful horror film, without question.  I just wonder if it’s more built on its reputation and folklore at this point. One might even argue if it’s a horror film or a thriller. It is a little bit of both, which I think most horror films are to some degree unless they are just flat-out horror with no plot.  There is a plot here and a rhyme and reason to what unfolds, but it feels a little dated, in my opinion.  All in all, I think “The Exorcist” should get its flowers for being a horror film that was ahead of its time and has really opened the door for a lot of the supernatural horror films we see today from “The Conjuring” and “Insidious” world.  However, it’s a good yet flawed film, overall. As I stated earlier, I like it and it stays with me, which is a good thing, but I don’t love it and it doesn’t impact me, as much as I feel like it should, considering its place in film history.

* * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Exorcist” is released on a two-disc 4K release from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It comes with two different 4K versions of the film.  One version is the theatrical cut, which is 122 minutes. The second disc is 132 minutes and features the extended director’s cut of the film in 4K.

Video/Audio Info:  Warner Brothers did a pretty good job of cleaning up this film. However, they didn’t clean it up so much that you aren’t able to enjoy the dark and moody look of the film. I would say it’s a good but not great transfer of the film.  I’ve seen better transfers of older films from Warner Brothers.  It does come with a very, very good Dolby Atmos soundtrack for the film, though. I was really blown away by how good the film sounds. It also comes with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

Special Features: The theatrical version comes with the following special features: an introduction by William Friedkin, a commentary track by Friedkin, and a commentary track by William Peter Blatty, who wrote the novel and the screenplay for the film, with special sound effects. The unrated version of the film also comes with a commentary by Friedkin. These are all older commentary tracks and the introduction is much older as well.  The big issue here is the fact they didn’t have a third disc with some of the special features from the previous Blu-ray release.

 Should You Buy It?

This is a rather tricky one.  I’ll say this–if you love “The Exorcist” and it’s one of your favorite films of all time, the transfer makes it worth the upgrade, even though I didn’t think it was a great transfer.  It has its issues, as, at times, it can be a little unfocused and not super clear.  If you own the Blu-ray, you should keep and not sell it because you will lose your special features with this 4K as it only has the commentary tracks and an introduction from the director. They really should have added a third disc just for the special features.  Overall, “The Exorcist” is a film that has earned its place in horror film history based on it being released at the right time with the right director and the right cast and crew.  It’s a good film.  However, I don’t think it’s a great film in my personal opinion. If you love the film, I think you will be happy with what Warner Brothers has done with the transfer.  It’s not a bad transfer by any means.  It’s just not a transfer that is going to “wow” you.  You will probably be very disappointed they didn’t port over the special features from the Blu-ray.  However, if this is your favorite horror movie, you want to own it on the best format out there right now, which is 4K.  If you are lukewarm on the film or think it’s merely good, you can keep your Blu-ray if you already own it.

**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 Flash’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

In order to be direct with the readers, I must admit two things before reviewing “The Flash” – I’m not at all familiar with the drama surrounding Ezra Miller and his off-screen antics.  I’m also not at familiar with “The Flash.”  Because of these reasons, I was able to go into the film fairly fresh, which is how I like to go into most movies.  The less I know about a movie or a character, the better.  I believe a film should be able to stand on its own two feet for the diehard fans along with the newbies.  When the movie accomplishes that tricky tightrope act, it has done its job.

Ezra Miller stars as Barry Allen/The Flash.  He’s just trying to get his energy for the day with a sandwich when he must help save a hospital, specifically the maternity ward, as babies are flying out of the window along with a nurse and a dog.  Barry even says to himself that he feels like the janitor of the Justice League. Meanwhile, he shows up late to his job at a research center, where his coworkers are none too pleased with his track record for being tardy. After work, he sees an old friend from college, Iris West (Kiersey Clemons). She’s a reporter who wants to find out how Barry feels about his father’s upcoming trial for the murder of his mother.  Barry maintains that his father is innocent.  This sets him on a mission to try to go back in time using his lightning speed and change the past.

If he can change the past, his father will not be in prison and his mother will still be alive.  Batman (Ben Affleck) warns The Flash about the consequences of messing with the past.  He says their past made them who they are, and they need to grow from it.  The Flash, however, believes he can right a wrong and is determined to change past events. When he goes back into his childhood home, he sees his mother, father, and a different version of himself.  He meets up with the second version of himself and tries to explain what he’s trying to do and how they are going to do it.

“The Flash” had a great opening sequence which was fun, exciting, and really well-done by director Andy Muschietti (“It” and “It Chapter Two”).  I thought the film was establishing a really good baseline of humor and emotion, especially in the scene with Barry talking to his father (Ron Livingston) on the phone.  I could feel the connection between Barry and his mother and what an important relationship this was to him.  It’s the emotional core of the movie.  Who amongst us has not wanted to go back in time and fix the past?  However, the middle of the movie is really bogged down with action sequences, Michael Keaton looking bored as Batman, and the film lost its way in the multiverse.  It ends on a high note with the emotion and heart from the start of the movie. At that point, we were two hours plus into this movie, so it was too little, too late.

Miller is entertaining in small doses here, but when there are two of him, he overplays it a little bit and tries way too hard to be funny.  Less is more with the multiverse angle in the film. The second version of Barry is incredibly grating, annoying and cumbersome to spend time with as an audience member.  When the first part of him is grounded in some form of reality, it’s really good. Overall, it’s a mixed bag with his performance.  The film loves nostalgia with cameos and callbacks throughout the film, but it didn’t work for me because it felt like they were trying to be a little too cutesy.  Overall, there is a good film in here somewhere, but it really lost its way in the middle.  Once it regained its footing, it was far too late.

* ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “The Flash” is released on a single disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 144 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some strong language, and partial nudity. It comes with a digital code for the film as well.

Video/Audio Info: The film comes with a Dolby Vision transfer and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. I’m sad to report, this is not one of the better transfers I’ve seen for a new film. It didn’t stand out in any way, really.  It looks very lifeless and run-of-the-mill. The audio was solid, but the visual look of the film left a lot to be desired.

Special Features:

“The Flash: Escape the Midnight Circus” podcast – Six-part original scripted audio series featuring Max Greenfield as The Flash

“The Flash: Escape the Midnight Circus” Behind the Scenes

Deleted Scenes

Saving Supergirl – featurette

The Bat Chase – featurette

Battling Zod – featurette

Fighting Dark Flash – featurette

The Flash: The Saga of the Scarlet Speedster – featurette

Making the Flash: Worlds Collide – featurette

Let’s Get Nuts: Batman Returns, Again – featurette

Supergirl: Last Daughter of Krypton – featurette

Flashpoint: Introducing the Multiverse – featurette

Should You Buy It?

I had high hopes for this film as I’m a big fan of director Andy Muschietti, and I thought he would bring a unique visual flair to it.  I also felt as though the film would do what I wish more superhero films would do, which is incorporate comedy and emotion with some fun action sequences.  Instead, it goes off the rails for a good chunk, and it doesn’t stick with what works in the beginning and end of the film. It also completely forgets about the love story between Iris and Barry, which was moving in a really good direction.  For the most part, this was a pretty dull and uninteresting viewing experience.  The 4K transfer also leaves a lot to be desired.  There are plenty of special features here, so if you did enjoy the film, you will have a lot to go through if you pick this disc up.  If you did like the film, I’d suggest waiting for it to drop down in price a little bit, as the 4K transfer doesn’t make this a must-own right away.  I wish it would have included the Blu-ray, as I would have liked to have seen the difference between the two formats.  Overall, if you haven’t seen this film, you aren’t missing anything. If you did see it and liked it, you have the special features going for you, but the visuals are truly underwhelming.

**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.

Walking the Picket Line Outside of Warner Brothers Studios

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

So, it was another day on the picket line for me as I walked outside of Warner Brothers on August 18, 2023. It is now day 35 of the strike for SAG/AFTRA, and day 109 for the WGA. The picket hours have been reduced to go from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. as the heat continues to be brutal and unforgiving, and the unions clearly want to make sure no one suffers from heatstroke.

After picketing outside of Paramount Studios and Netflix, I felt the time had come to go over the hill, so to speak, and check out what was going on in the valley. Picketing has ceased at Universal Studios due to them not providing enough safety for union members exercising the right to protest. As a result, the crowd outside of Warner Brothers proved to be especially huge as the sidewalks were crowded, and strike captains had to keep telling people to keep moving as there were parents with strollers trying to get through. And while there were sidewalks you could cross at, there were others which were off limits as cars kept coming up and down Barham Boulevard. Like me, many of them were desperately trying to find a place to park.

It was also a big day for Latino actors (Latino/a/x) as they made their presence known and partied on like there was no tomorrow. Their energy proved to be infinitely infectious as many joined in with their dancing and singing while also chanting loudly, “This corporate greed has got to go!” And if you looked closely, you could see actress Frances Fisher (“Unforgiven” and “Titanic”) walking the picket line as well as the Mandalorian and Captain America who was carrying a sign saying, “I can do this all day.”

Once again, a big thank you to the strike captains for keeping everyone safe and hydrated. To date, this has been the busiest picket line I have been to yet, so their jobs were a lot tougher than usual as a result. The temperature was in the high eighties, so even a warm lime La Croix was refreshing in this climate.

Check out the video below, and please consider making a donation to those in need.

WRITER’S NOTE: For the record, I am not currently a member of SAG/AFTRA or the WGA. The video I have put together here is not officially endorsed by either union.

‘Enter the Dragon’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

My unofficial title of a film buff might be revoked when I reveal this is the first Bruce Lee film I have ever watched. I do have “Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits” on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection, but I have yet to dive into those films.  “Enter the Dragon” was the last film Lee completed before his untimely death.  With it being the 100-year anniversary of Warner Brothers, they have taken it upon themselves to give this film the 4K treatment.  While I have some issues with “Enter the Dragon,” for the most part it was a decent introduction to Lee.  I look forward to checking out more of his films with my Criterion box set.  There are too many films out there and not enough hours in the day.

Bruce Lee stars as Lee, a skilled and proficient martial artist and instructor, being approached by Braithwaite (Geoffrey Weeks), a British intelligence agent, about entering a martial arts tournament. The tournament is being run on a private island by the villainous Han (Kien Shih). He needs Lee’s help as he suspects Han is involved in prostitution and illegal drug trafficking. He needs Lee to enter the tournament and find out the inside scoop on Han and his operation.  It’s also a deeply personal mission for Lee as he finds out one of Han’s goons has caused Lee’s family pain and misery.

Lee is joined in this tournament by a compulsive gambler named Roper, played by film veteran John Saxon, and the smooth-talking Williams, played by Jim Kelly. They are treated to beautiful women and told to stay in their rooms and not ruffle any feathers.  One night, Lee goes out looking for clues and evidence, which leaves Han wondering what is going on with his security team. Can he trust his men to keep Lee, Roper and Williams in line? Lee seems to be one step ahead of Han, but Han has an army of men and will stop at nothing to keep his enterprise up and running.

“Enter the Dragon,” overall, was a mixed bag for me.  The first hour of the film really lost me, and it seemed to move at a glacial pace.  I’m all for building up the story, the characters, and giving us time to digest everything before the final battle. I’m on board with that one hundred percent, and I like interesting characters and a good build-up to a grand finale. However, the first hour is tedious and rather boring.  It doesn’t really go anywhere.  When we get to the last half-hour and Lee gets to do his thing, it’s a beautiful movie to watch unfold on screen.  The martial arts sequences are put together like a work of art and are truly out of this world.

Maybe I’m asking too much for a martial arts movie to have a better story, but it’s more about the pacing.  There is no sense of urgency in a film that is only 99 minutes or 102 minutes if you watch the special edition of it.  Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely was enthralled with the last act when it comes down to Han and Lee. The way they use the mirrors and what’s around them had me on the edge of my seat, literally. Bruce choreographed the fight scenes himself, and he has a great screen presence.  I didn’t feel like he had a ton of screen time, but when he’s on screen, he really makes his scenes count. It’s remarkable how lightning fast and intense the fight sequences are, and they are flawless.  You have to give credit to Bruce for looking the part, playing the part, and putting so much into this film.

Many people have talked about the spy aspects of the film and compared it to the James Bond franchise. I didn’t really feel like they fleshed out those aspects enough.  I really wanted more of the meat and potatoes of the story. I know Lee was a silent but deadly killer in this film, but the rest of the cast can be a little too cartoonish at times.  Again, I was blown away by the final 30-40 minutes.  If they had properly built it up in the first hour, I would have considered it a classic, which many film critics and historians out there have labeled it.  Maybe I need to give this one another watch, but on my first viewing, I can’t say I see the historical significance of this film.

* * out of * * * *

4K Info: “Enter the Dragon” is released on a single disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  The theatrical cut of the film runs at 99 minutes while the special-edition version runs at 102 minutes. The film is rated R for martial arts violence and brief nudity.  It also comes with a digital copy of the film.

Video/Audio Info:  The High Dynamic Range on this 4K release is very, very strong here.  The film was released in 1973, and many scenes were incredibly bright, colorful and eye-popping.  It still has a little bit of the old-school charm to it, but it’s also touched up. That being said, it isn’t so touched up that it looks too clean.  This is a prime example of a film that is improved with a 4K release, but it still keeps its classic look at the same time. The Dolby Atmos track is perfect here.  It also comes with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

Special Features:

Introduction by Linda Lee Cadwell

Commentary by Paul Heller and Michael Allin

Should You Buy It?

Film criticism is subjective, and I really wanted to love this film. I’ve loved what Warner Brothers has been doing lately with their restorations of classic cinema.  I’m always looking to learn about new films and classic Hollywood stars.  With that being said, I was bored and uninterested in two-thirds of this film.  For a classic, it shouldn’t be the case.  I will give credit where credit is due and say the final 30-40 minutes feature some of the best martial arts I’ve ever seen in my life.  I didn’t expect the film to be wall-to-wall action, as that wouldn’t be feasible, but I was hoping for a little bit more out of the characters, pacing and storytelling, even in a martial arts movie. If you are a Bruce Lee fan and you adore this film, you won’t be disappointed in the least by this 4K release and transfer.  I’m willing to watch this film again and see if I missed something. In the end, it’s one with a grand finale that needed a story and some build-up to accompany it.

**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.

‘East of Eden’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

Recently, I have been fortunate enough to see two out of the three films James Dean made in his short but powerful film career: “Rebel Without a Cause” and now “East of Eden.”  Both of them have been released on 4K this year through Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  “Giant,” the third film in Dean’s career, has also been released on 4K as well.  It’s been a tremendous cinematic experience to watch these particular films on 4K for the very first time and see a true artist at work. I’m a huge fan of method acting from the likes of Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and it’s been eye-opening to see Dean and his method acting on display here.

Dean plays a character named Cal Trask. Much like his character in “Rebel Without a Cause,” he’s troubled, confused, and he doesn’t get along with the older generation. That is the genius of Dean and why he was so ahead of his time.  He really knew how to convey on screen what young men and women were feeling at that time: disconnected, misunderstood, unhappy, angry, and filled with angst.  He does it effortlessly without ever being too showy or over-the-top.  He knows when to ramp up the anger and frustration, and also what to express with his facial expressions and mannerisms.  Everything on screen with him is very naturalistic.

The film is set in 1917 California, located in both Monterey and Salinas.  It shows the struggle of young Cal trying to reach out to his mother Kate, played by Jo Van Fleet, someone he has long believed to be dead.  His father, Adam (Raymond Massey), told him and his brother Aron (Richard Davalos) that she died shortly after their birth. Cal, however, finds out she’s a successful woman running a brothel who left their father because of his strict religious ways.  She wanted to be free to do her own thing and felt as though she was wasting her life away with him.  Cal thinks he is evil like his mother while he believes his brother Aron is good like his father.  The film was clearly inspired by the story of Cain and Abel.  It comes from the 1952 novel of the same name by John Steinbeck.

There is also a young woman named Abra (Julie Harris), and she’s the girlfriend of Aron, but she seems to connect more with Cal.  She sees the good in Cal, even if he struggles to see the good in himself. The two of them have tremendous chemistry on screen, and I loved the playful back and forth between them.  It was truly something special to behold.  Taking nothing away from this talented cast and the tremendous screenplay from Paul Osborn, but this is Dean’s show here.  Credit is due as well to the direction of Elia Kazan. Having previously worked with Brando, he knows how to step aside and let the camera focus on the star of the show.  He uses skillful camera movement to allow us to take in the character and everything around him.

This is classic Hollywood craftsmanship at its finest here from Kazan and Dean.  Human stories are always very powerful, and Dean does not shy away from the good intentions of his character as well as his bad ones.  He’s struggling to win the love of a stern father; a love he fears he might never get in life.  He’s also trying to figure out how to deal with the fact his mother is alive and rather cold, cruel and indifferent to how things happened between her and her husband.  She does seem to care about Cal, but she’s complex and complicated, much like he is.  At a time where a lot of things were black and white, Dean was someone who was always painting in shades of grey.  It’s truly a magnificent cinematic journey to watch him in this film.  It also leaves us wanting more, but sadly he left us far, far too soon.  Thankfully, we have his movies on physical media to relive over and over again.

* * * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “East of Eden” is being released on a single 4K disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 117 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements and some violent content.  It also comes with a digital copy of the film.

Video/Audio Info:  The HDR on this film is a visual feast with bright colors and moody darks.  I can’t imagine it ever looking better than it does with this 4K release.  It’s truly stunning to watch, and I was really happy with the clean, crisp and vivid look of the film.  There is also a great Dolby Atmos soundtrack for the film along with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

Special Features:

Commentary by Richard Schickel

Should You Buy It?

In order for studios like Warner Brothers to preserve film history, it is up to us as consumers to buy films like “East of Eden” on 4K.  It’s very affordable, and they have done a great job of making this film from 1955 look truly top-notch.  When people ask me why I collect 4K’s, I often point to the older films from Hollywood, as they really are the ones which benefit the most from a 4K upgrade.  They still maintain their original charm and the feeling is still there, but they are being seen in the best possible way on 4K as it truly enhances the experience in every way possible.  I’m such a fan of great acting and great characters.  This film is filled with so many great performances, powerful moments, and characters that are well-developed and fleshed out over the course of almost two hours, which flies by when you are truly invested in their well-being.  James Dean was one-of-a-kind, and it’s a shame his life was cut short, as he would have kept churning out one classic film after another.   This is a four-star film which needs to be bought on its release date.  If you love classic Hollywood, you won’t be disappointed.

**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.

‘Rio Bravo’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

When you think of the western genre in cinema, it’s hard not to think of John Wayne.  Perhaps the only other actor who might be synonymous with westerns is Clint Eastwood, but he would frequently venture into other genres to expand his repertoire. For the most part, John Wayne lived and breathed westerns. When you think of his classic westerns, you think of films such as “The Searchers,” “Red River,” “Stagecoach,” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” to name a few.  However, I believe his best film in this genre is none other than “Rio Bravo,” directed by the legendary Howard Hawks.  He brought out the humanity and vulnerability from the tough, no-nonsense Wayne persona.

“Rio Bravo” is a patient and detailed film that allows us to really get to know, understand and like our main characters.  There is Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) who is deliberate, fair and direct in his communication and his actions.  His former deputy is named Dude, played by legendary crooner Dean Martin in a fantastic performance.  Dude used to be a reliable deputy and partner to Chance until his drinking got the better of him.  Now, he’s trying to get himself together because he knows John needs him by his side in order to deal with the Burdette’s, Joe (Claude Akins) and Nathan (John Russell). Joe is behind bars after committing murder and is currently being watched closely by Stumpy (Walter Brennan), a trigger-happy deputy with a quirky personality.  While he might be up there in years and also have a limp, John trusts him to keep an eye on Joe and the rest of Nathan’s goons.

Nathan is a wealthy land tycoon with a lot of connections, and he will stop at nothing in order to get his brother out of prison.  However, with Chance, Dude and Stumpy working together, this is not going to be an easy task for Nathan.  Chance is out to prove there are consequences when it comes to murdering an unarmed man for no reason other than you have the money and power to do so and think you can get away with it. Chance is also developing feelings for a young woman in town named Feathers (Angie Dickinson), whose deceased husband was a shady gambler notorious for cheating.  Chance is not quite sure what to make of Feathers and wonders if he can trust her because of her past connections. However, it is clear there is a connection between the two of them.

At this point, they are waiting for the U.S. Marshal to come and handle things, but that could take up to a week before this comes to fruition.  It’s up to Chance, Dude, Stumpy and the rest of the town to band together and not give in to Nathan Burdette and his greed.  He’s willing to pay hired guns in order to make sure his brother gets out of jail.  This is something Chance is keenly aware of, so he’s on his toes at all times.  The same can be said for Stumpy, who will shoot anyone that dares to enter their jail without announcing themselves first.  Dude sees this as a second chance for himself.  He might be struggling with losing his confidence, but if he can stay away from the bottle and remain focused, people will start to take him seriously again.  Chance has never given up on Dude, even when others around him do not take him seriously.

I really loved the performances in “Rio Bravo” along with the beautiful western scenery.  There is also a sense of humor injected into the film, but it’s not forced and it doesn’t feel phony.  Sometimes when things get really serious and intense, you need to step back and throw a humorous moment in there to lighten things up.  Howard Hawks knows how to do that during just the right moments in the film. I’ve often found Wayne to be a one-note actor, but here he’s still the same badass we have seen in previous films, and he shows good comedic timing, a sense of vulnerability, and a more human side to the character of Chance. He doesn’t seem invincible. He is a real person with feelings, emotions and some depth to him. 

The same is also true of Dean Martin.  I haven’t seen Martin in a film before, but the way we see his inner struggle on screen is truly a work of art.  For my money, he gives the best and most impressive performance in “Rio Bravo.”  He shows tremendous depth here.  He’s not just the town drunk.  There are many layers to his character. Walter Brennan’s Stumpy might look like an old fool, but he still has some fight left in him as well.

There is also a tremendous supporting performance by Ricky Nelson here as Colorado. He becomes part of their little family, and he even gets them out of a few jams as well.  Ward Bond also appears in this film, which has a tremendous cast that works perfectly together. The film is two hours and twenty-one minutes long, but it doesn’t feature a moment on screen that isn’t meaningful to the purpose of the story in some way.  Hawks is one of the great filmmakers of all-time, and he shows that here.  He really brought out the best in everyone throughout this emotional, funny and action-packed film.  This is a movie that has just about everything in it without ever feeling like it’s bloated or too many genres thrown into one.  It’s a fantastic piece of cinema.

* * * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “Rio Bravo” is released on a single 4K disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It has a running time of 141 minutes and is not-rated.  However, anyone can watch the film. It comes with a digital copy of it as well.

Video/Audio Info:  The HDR is beautiful here with so many beautiful shots coming to life as we get engrossed in the film. It’s truly eye-popping to watch on screen.  In addition to the great acting and terrific pacing of the story, this film looks stunningly gorgeous.  I couldn’t have asked for a better 4K release of it.  There is no Dolby Atmos track here, but I didn’t feel like it really hurt the sound quality as the film sounds great.  It comes with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

Special Features:

Commentary by John Carpenter and Richard Schickel

I’m truly loving just about every classic film being restored by Warner Brothers on 4K with this being their 100-year anniversary.  It is filled with films I’m watching for the first time along with others I’m viewing in a whole new light because with age comes wisdom, and also because of how much time and effort they are putting into these releases from an audio and visual perspective.  Classic cinema will always stand the test of time, and it is clearly on full-display here with “Rio Bravo.”  I loved the performances of John Wayne and Dean Martin in this film, if I’m going to single out two of the actors here.  Martin really showed tremendous range and emotional trauma with this performance.  The only special feature is a commentary track, but that’s okay considering the age of the film.  I’m just happy we are being treated to so many great films through the Warner Archives on 4K.  It seems like every month, there is a classic film on 4K, and I’m loving it.  This is one you need to buy on its release date along with “East of Eden.”  They are two totally different films, but they have one thing in common: they are timeless and immortal.  As far as the audio and visual aspects of this release, it truly takes your breath away on 4K with its range of colors.

**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.

Exclusive Interview with the Cast of ‘The Gallows’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Looking through my vast collection of movie interviews, I came across this one which I did with the cast of “The Gallows.” Released back in 2015, it is a found footage horror film written and directed by Chris Lofing and Travis Cluff, and it opens up on a production of a play called, coincidentally, “The Gallows” which was done at Beatrice High School back in 1993. Everything looks to be going smoothly, but then an actor named Charlie Grimille is accidentally hanged and killed when the prop noose around his neck ends up malfunctioning, and the students and parents look on in horror.

The film then moves forward twenty years later to 2013 when the school attempts to put on a new performance of “The Gallows” in honor of Charlie’s memory. But, as you can expect, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and the young adults who are part of this production soon find that they are not alone as something ominous is hiding in the shadows. Suffice to say, they find themselves in fear for their lives, and some learn in the worst way how certain things are better left alone.

This interview took place at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California, and it quickly proved to be one of the most cinematic press days I have ever been a part of. “The Gallows” stars Cassidy Gifford (the daughter of Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford), Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown who would go on to appear in “The Gallows Part II,” and Ryan Shoos who co-starred in “The Red Tie Massacre.” We had fun talking about the improvisation they did on set, working with the video cameras given to them, and of the advantage of playing characters with the same first names as theirs.

Please check out the interview below. “The Gallows” is now available to own and rent on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital. Watch it if you dare…

‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

When it comes to comedy in films, I’m well aware of the fact it is subjective.  In fact, film criticism as a whole is subjective, but I feel as though with comedy, it is especially subjective. What I find funny in film, you might find painfully stupid and vice versa. When it comes to the National Lampoon films with Chevy Chase at the helm, I find them annoying and tedious.  They fall completely flat for me.  I initially watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and was completely unimpressed. Now, it was my first time watching the initial film, “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” and I’ll just say I have no desire, whatsoever, to watch “European Vacation” or “Vegas Vacation.”

Upon researching this film, I discovered readers of Total Film Magazine ranked it as the 46th greatest comedy of all-time. I’m truly baffled by this. It starts with its lead actor in Chevy Chase.  I don’t find his style of comedy particularly interesting, funny, or unique.  He is overplaying it in these films with his facial reactions and mannerisms, and I found his character of Clark Griswold to be rather exhausting and laborious to spend time with, even if it’s only for a little over an hour and a half.  It comes down to laughter, and I might have smirked once or twice during this film.

In “Vacation,” the Griswolds are looking to take a trip from Illinois to California by car, to visit Walley World, a world-famous amusement park, as Clark is looking to spend more quality time with his family. He feels as though if they were to travel by plane, they would just listen to music and tune each other out.  Even though it’s a lengthy trip, he looks forward to getting to bond with his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and their two children, Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall) and Audrey (Dana Barron). Audrey is a teenage girl who likes to live on the wild side while Rusty is looking to take the next step into being a man.

Along the way, they run into every possible problem you can imagine with their mode of transportation, traffic issues, misfortunes, folderol, and even death. They also stop by and visit everyone’s favorite Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), who is always looking for a handout or a quick buck by telling his latest sob story. Either you like these characters or you don’t.  Personally, my favorite character is Ellen, played by Beverly D’Angelo, as she plays the straight woman perfectly during all of this mayhem and mischief.

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION, Anthony Michael Hall, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Barron, 1983

The expression, “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong” definitely applies to the Griswolds.  After a while, as an audience member, you see it coming from a mile away.  It doesn’t work because you know trouble is right around the corner.  If everything were going well, there wouldn’t be a movie to be made here. If you want a road trip movie which can produce great laughs, look no further than “Midnight Run.”  However, if you don’t have quirky and likable characters, the film is going to fail.  As a film critic, I’m driven by characters more than plot. A film needs a plot of course, but I can overlook the lack of one if the characters are keeping me glued to the screen.

Now that I’ve seen two of these films, I can safely state this brand of slapstick, gimmick comedy is not my cup of tea.  I know these films are hugely popular, especially “Christmas Vacation,” but I found them extremely painful to sit through as a viewer.  It’s even more surprising this film didn’t connect with me because it was written by John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis, two of my favorites.

* out of * * * *

4K Info: “National Lampoon’s Vacation” is being released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It is rated R and has a running time of 98 minutes.  It also comes with a digital code for the film.

Video Info:  The 4K transfer on this forty-year-old film is terrific. It is crisp, clean, and quite colorful.  They really upgraded this one in a masterful way.  It looks beautiful and has no issues whatsoever.

Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track is a very nice touch here, and the film sounds terrific from start to finish.  It is a dialogue heavy film, and you can hear all of the dialogue without skipping a beat.

Special Features:

Commentary with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Matty Simmons, Harold Ramis, Anthony Michael Hall, and Dana Barron

Should You Buy It?

If you are a fan of the franchise and this film, it is a must-own because Warner Brothers has done a phenomenal job with making this film really pop on 4K. Even though it was my first time watching it, I can’t imagine it gets much better than this from an audio and visual perspective.  The commentary track comes from the previously released Blu-ray, but at least there is something to listen to if you want to hear some interesting tidbits about the making of the film.  As stated early on, you either like Clark and the Griswolds or you find them insufferable like myself.  I’ve seen “Christmas Vacation” and “Vacation,” and it is more than enough for me.  It comes down to your personal preference. As the old saying goes, “For those that like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like.” However, if you do love it, you would be making a grave mistake not to own the 4K of this film.  They really hit a home run here from a technical aspect.

**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.

‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Movie and 4K/Blu-ray Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

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

Your enjoyment level for “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” will depend on how funny or clever you find its main protagonist, played by Zachary Levi. Personally speaking, he is an actor I’ve never been a fan of, especially in these films.  I found his performance incredibly irritating, silly and annoying. I understand he’s trying to portray a silly high schooler as an adult who is learning how to be mature and deal with his new superpowers.  However, I just found his performance to be very grating after a while. He’s very over the top.  I’m all for a superhero film where they have some fun as it doesn’t have to be so dark and dreary throughout. There is room for every type of superhero film out there, and I fully respect and get that.  However, he is not the right actor for balancing the goofy scenes along with the more serious action sequences.

Our film opens up in a museum in Athens, Greece where two of the three daughters of the Titan Atlas break in to steal the Wizard’s broken staff from the previous film. Billy Batson (Zachary Levi) is trying to keep his family together as he’s about to turn eighteen and is worried he will be thrown out of the house as his foster parents, Victor and Rosa Vasquez (Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans), are struggling to keep it all together financially.  He’s also suffering from a case of imposter syndrome. In essence, he’s insecure and also struggling to figure out his place in the world. Can he keep his “Shazamily” of foster siblings together, as they are maturing and developing their own interests and unique personalities?

However, he has to act fast as two of the daughters of the Titan Atlas, played by Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu, have captured his brother Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) along with a newly repaired Wizard staff.  Early on, they are also dealing with controversy for their crime fighting methods in Philadelphia.  In fact, they are now known as The Philly Fiascos thanks to some of their mishaps, even though their hearts were in the right place. As mentioned previously, the family has a lot on its mind.  For Freddy Freeman, before he was captured, he had a crush on a girl named Anne, played by Rachel Zegler. Pedro Peña (Jovan Armand) is keeping a secret he’s not sure he’s ready to share with the world quite yet.

Darla Dudley (Faithe Herman) is trying to accept growing up while still being a kid at heart. Eugene Choi (Ian Chen) is preoccupied, and Mary Bromfield (Grace Caroline Currey) wants to get into college and is focusing on her studies.  They must come together as a family and put their individual interests aside in order to conquer The Three Daughters of the Titan Atlas. They work better when they are together, but it is important they get on the same page and focus on the task at hand. From here on out, we get a lot of explosions, special effects, bad jokes, and a big finale.  The film was never boring and it kept my attention for its over two-hour running time.  However, it just fell flat for me because of Levi’s performance and just the fact that the film lost its sense of direction near the end and went all over the map.

I’m completely aware that sequels are part of Hollywood when a film is successful, especially when we are talking about a superhero film.  People will flock to them.  There is a built-in audience already.  The “Shazam!” films have been directed by David F. Sandberg, and I was a huge fan of his previous two films: “Lights Out” and “Annabelle: Creation.”  The film looks really good, as he has a keen visual sense.  However, I didn’t feel the heart of the film as much as I would have liked, and it’s a big problem here.  I liked it better than the first one, but when the lead actor is such a ham on screen and so phony and fake with his line readings and performance, it really takes you out of the story. I liked everyone else and thought they did a really good job, but once it becomes a bloated mess and Billy Batson turns into a one-line machine, the film just didn’t work for me.  If you liked the first one, you will like the second one.  If you didn’t, there isn’t anything here that is going to change your mind or convert you to this character and this franchise.

* * out of * * * *

4K Info: “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is released on a two-disc 4K and Blu-ray combo pack from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It has a running time of 130 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of action, violence and language. The film comes with a digital copy to be redeemed as well.

Video Info: We are treated to a beautiful Dolby Vision transfer here that really stands out and pops.  The film looks beautiful on 4K, especially the action sequences.  Even though they can be overdone and unnecessary at times, I can admit when they look beautiful. My issue is more of the fact they don’t hold as much weight when the emotional heart of the film isn’t present.  The darks set the mood when it needs to, and the film is also filled with color and light when it calls for it.

Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track is also really, really good here.  With a film that relies heavily on action, you worry about the film being so loud that it takes you out of the film.  Here, thanks to the Dolby Atmos track, it’s never too loud or soft.  It’s perfect throughout the entire duration of the film.

Special Features:

SHAZAM! Let’s Make a Sequel – featurette

The Rock of Eternity: Decked Out – featurette

The Shazamily Reunion – featurette

The Zac Effect – featurette

The Sisterhood of the Daughters of Atlas – featurette

Pay By Play: Scene Breakdown – featurettes

    Ben Franklin bridge collapse

    Rooftop battle of the gods

    Unicorn ride in Philadelphia

    Epic showdown at the baseball stadium

The Mythology of Shazam! – featurette

Director’s Audio Commentary with David F. Sandberg

Deleted Scenes, Alternate & Extended Scenes

Should You Buy It?

As a 4K disc, it looks and sounds out of this world. I’m a big fan of what Warner Brothers does with its 4K releases. They really place a high importance on giving their big screen movies a proper release on 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.  There are also a lot of special features here, so if you enjoy “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” you will enjoy this disc and its special features. If I’m grading this movie overall, it’s just average.  It was watchable and entertaining at times, but it’s a film I have no interest in rewatching, and I don’t think it will have great repeat value.  There are rare moments where the heart of the film is on display, and I liked those moments. The main struggle here is the balance between comedy, action and drama.  The film doesn’t quite pull this task off successfully during its over two-hour running time.  When it does, it’s good fun.  When it doesn’t, it’s very bland and uninteresting.  This is a film in search of a tone.  If you are a fan of this franchise, you will be happy with the 4K release.  If you are watching this for the first time or didn’t enjoy the first one, this sequel is not going to win you over.

**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.