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Attention Nostalgia Fans: The Banana Splits Movie is coming in Aug.

BURBANK, CA (June 18, 2019) – One banana, two banana, three banana, GORE! The cult-favorite animal rock-band from Hanna-Barbera’s 1968 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour variety program is back with a blood-spattered vengeance!  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you The Banana Splits Movie, an original feature-length film on Digital on August 13, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on August 27, 2019.  The movie is priced to own at $19.99 SRP for Digital, $24.98 SRP for Blu-ray Combo Pack ($34.97 in Canada), $19.98 SRP for the DVD ($24.99 in Canada).

The Banana Splits Movie will offer a new take on the classic characters. The film follows a boy named Harley and his family as they go to a taping of The Banana Splits TV show, which is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley. But things take an unexpected turn — and the body count quickly rises. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape?

“Get nostalgic and horrified all at the same time while watching the trippy 60’s characters in this all-new tale about fear, power, and an oversized puppet rock-band,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE, Vice President, TV Marketing, Family & Animation. The Banana Splits Movie is a throwback to a fanatical children’s series with a horror-genre twist — and we can’t wait for the band to get back together for a new generation of fans!”

The Banana Splits Movie stars Dani Kind (Wyonna Earp) as Beth, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong (The Kindness of Strangers) as Harley, Romeo Carere as Austin, Steve Lund (Street Legal, Schitt’s Creek) as Mitch, and Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries, A Series of Unfortunate Events, War for the Planet of the Apes) as Rebecca. The beloved Bingo, Fleegle, Snorky and Drooper are voiced by Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes Cartoons, Woody Woodpecker, UniKitty!). The film is written by Jed Elinoff & Scott Thomas (Raven’s Home, My Super Psycho Sweet 16) and directed by Danishka Esterhazy (Level 16) with music by Patrick Stumph (Fall Out Boy, Gnome Alone). The movie is produced by Blue Ribbon Content in association with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and SYFY. The Banana Splits Movie will make its broadcast debut on SYFY later this year.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Banana Splits: Behind the Horror

DIGITAL AND BLU-RAY COMBO PACK SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Banana Splits: Behind the Horror
  • Terror on Set
  • Breaking News! The Banana Splits Massacre 

DIGITAL

The Banana Splits Movie will be available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.

BASICS

Digital Release: August 13, 2019

Blu-ray/DVD Release: August 27, 2019

Order Due Date: July 23, 2019

Blu-ray and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 86 min

Enhanced Content: Approx. 15 min

UNITED STATES

DVD

Price: $19.98 SRP

1 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

BLU-RAY

Price: $24.98 SRP

1 Blu-ray + 1 DVD + Digital Copy

BD Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

CANADA

DVD

Price: $24.99 SRP

1 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

Subtitles – English

BLU-RAY

Price: $34.97 SRP

1 Blu-ray + 1 DVD

BD Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

Subtitles – English

REVIEW: Us

I was captivated by Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out, until it devolved into over-the-top horror film fare, spoiling the social commentary. Apparently, I was not alone in this and Peele decided his sophomore outing would be a straight on horror film, Us. When it opened, my students flocked to see it, many enjoying it, and several saying they needed to see it twice to fully appreciate it.

The film, from Universal Home Entertainment, is out on home video tomorrow, and I have to say, I don’t get the fuss. Once again, Peele layers in social commentary mixed with his horror tropes (a modern-day Body Snatchers?), but I was fairly bored for the majority of the film.

In short, your perfect nuclear family, headed by Lupita Nyong’o (in a part Peele wrote just for her) and Winston Duke, has their lives turned upside down when their home is invaded by red-tracksuited doppelgangers. We eventually learn that they are not alone and the local town is overrun with these silent, deadly clones.

It becomes a race for survival although there appears to be something personal between Nyong’o and her double, who she first saw in 1986. She (Madison Curry) was so traumatized, she fell silent for years, and today is uncomfortable in crowds and easily spooked. There’s also some odd connection between her son Jason (Evan Alex) and his double.

As in all good horror films, people make stupid decisions so at various points when the family could escape to safety, they chose the less obvious path, extending the threat.

As we learn, these are imperfect clones, dubbed the tethered, developed and raised by the government in some harebrained scheme to control the masses. Why they were allowed to remain alive is never addressed. Nor is there a hint of government response to any of this. Similarly, and in keeping in the horror tradition, our heroes appear to be the only ones to have survived their deadly encounter. In fact, there are lot so internal logic questions left dangling.

The cast is appealing as Duke and Nyong’o play parents nicely and it’s good to see Elizabeth Moss in something other than a red robe but I wonder why she took the role since there’s absolutely nothing to work with. She’s just the highest profile cannon fodder in the cast.

Apparently, people smarter than me have plumbed the film’s deeper meanings and what Peele is trying to say about ourselves, our psychological states, but nothing about why a republican wants to control its citizens. I think people want to see more in this movie than is really there. And then Peele pulls the rug out from under us with a reveal at the end that raises plenty of unanswered questions, but by then, I was done.

The movie is out in the usual assortment of formats including the $K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD combo pack. The film works very well in 4K as the 2160p digital transfer allows the deep shadows and figures running in the dark to look clear. The Dolby Vision color palette lets the limited color palette work just fine. Coupled with a fine Dolby Atmos sound track, the film will play nicely at home, spooking its audience.

The Blu-ray, by the way, is nearly as good so if you just get that, you’re fine.

The Special Features included don’t reveal as much as one would have hoped and are a fairly average assortment. We begin with The Monsters Within Us (4:45), examining the main family; Tethered Together: Making Us Twice (7:29, which touches on how the cast played two versions of themselves, aided by the crew; Redefining a Genre: Jordan Peele’s Brand of Horror (5:31), although I question if anything actually got redefined; The Duality of Us ( 9:56), with Peele admitting he’s scared of his own double; Becoming Red (4:09), shows Nyong’o getting into character; Scene Explorations – Seven Second Massacre (2:41), It’s a Trap (2:02), and I Just Want My Little Girl Back (2:53); Deleted Scenes (6:28); We’re All Dying (6:22), an extended beach scene; and, As Above, So Below: Grand Pas De Deux (5:02): Zora dances.

The Law Is A Ass #443: Daredevil Has To Prove He’s The Devil You Know

How do you prove that you’re you?

Testimonials from family and friends. DNA tests. Those embarrassing Facebook photos that no one but you would ever post.

But how do you prove you’re you, if nobody other than you knows who you are?

That was the problem facing Daredevil in Daredevil v 5 #22. He had convinced a judge to let him testify in court against one Simon (Slug) Slugansky while still wearing his mask and without revealing his true identity. Okay, he hadn’t convinced the judge, Daredevil’s unrevealed secret identity of assistant district attorney Matt Murdock convinced the judge by way of a legal motion. How Matt did that, I don’t know, as I laid out in my last column. But he did. However, now, in order to testify, Daredevil had to convince the court that he really was Daredevil under that bright red costume, because, as the judge put it, “Anyone can put on a suit, Mr. Devil.”

(more…)

Supernatural Season 14 Haunts Homes Sept. 10

BURBANK, CA (June 12, 2019) – Reunited, and it feels so good! Or does it? The thrilling and terrifying journey of the Winchester brothers continues as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you Supernatural: The Complete Fourteenth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 10, 2019. The sets contains all 20 exhilarating episodes from Season 14 – including the landmark 300th episode “Lebanon,” featuring the return of Sam and Dean’s father John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)! The discs are loaded with over two hours of bonus content including two all-new featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and audio commentaries from the cast and producers.  Supernatural: The Complete Fourteenth Season is priced to own at $44.98 SRP for the DVD (C$52.99/Canada) and $49.99 SRP for the Blu-ray, which includes a Digital Copy (C$57.99/Canada – Digital Copy not available in Canada). Supernatural: The Complete Fourteenth Season is also currently available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

The Winchester brothers’ harrowing journey into the heart of darkness continues as Supernatural enters Season Fourteen. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) have matched wits with monsters, demons, Heaven and Hell. But last season, the Winchesters and Castiel (Misha Collins) stumbled upon a terrifying alternative universe: an apocalyptic world where they were never born, all while training Jack (Alexander Calvert), the son of Lucifer, and trying to save their mother, Mary Winchester. The final battle with Lucifer and the Archangel Michael altered the Winchesters’ lives forever…and created an even greater threat for Sam and Dean. The boys are back and willing to risk everything for their loved ones in all twenty thrilling new adventures, including a historic 300th episode, with a Winchester family reunion never to be forgotten.

“After fourteen captivating seasons on the air, Supernatural remains a ratings leader for the The CW and retains an enormously loyal fan base,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “We’re excited to offer the show’s ravenous fans the latest season to add to their Blu-ray and DVD collections – loaded with over 2 hours of all-new behind-the-scenes bonus content – ahead of the highly anticipated final season on The CW.”

Supernatural has spawned several novels, magazines, comics, games and an anime series and stars Jared Padalecki (Friday the 13th, Gilmore Girls) and Jensen Ackles (Smallville, My Bloody Valentine) as Sam and Dean Winchester, with Misha Collins (24; Girl Interrupted) as Castiel, Mark Pellegrino (Lost, Dexter, Capote) as Lucifer and Alexander Calvert (Arrow, The Edge of Seventeen) as his son, Jack. Created by Eric Kripke (Revolution, Timeless), the fourteenth season of the hit series was executive produced by Robert Singer (Timecop, Lois & Clark), Andrew Dabb, Phil Sgriccia (Smallville), and Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming (Lois & Clark). Produced by Kripke Enterprises, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, Supernatural returns for its fifteenth and final season this fall on The CW.

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Supernatural: The Complete Fourteenth Season will be released in 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The 3-disc Blu-ray will feature a high-definition Blu-ray and a Digital Copy of all 20 episodes from season fourteen.

SPECIAL FEATURES

·       Supernatural Homecoming: Exploring Episode 300 (NEW Featurette)

·       The Winchester Mythology: The Choices We Make (NEW Featurette)

·       Supernatural: 2018 Comic-Con Panel

·       Audio Commentaries with Talent & Producers

·       Deleted Scenes

·       Gag Reel

20 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

  1. Stranger in a Strange Land
  2. Gods and Monsters
  3. The Scar
  4. Mint Condition
  5. Nightmare Logic
  6. Optimism
  7. Unhuman Nature
  8. Byzantium
  9. The Spear
  10. Nihilism
  11. Damaged Goods
  12. Prophet and Loss
  13. Lebanon (300th episode)
  14. Ouroboros
  15. Peace of Mind
  16. Don’t Go in the Woods
  17. Game Night
  18. Absence
  19. Jack in the Box
  20. Moriah

DIGITAL

The fourteenth season of Supernatural is also currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.

BASICS

Street Date: September 10, 2019

Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 880 min. /Enhanced Content: Approx. 127 min.

UNITED STATES
DVD
Price: $44.98 SRP
5 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1), Portuguese
Subtitles – ESDH, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Thai

BLU-RAY

Price: $49.99 SRP

3 BD-50s

1080p Full HD Video, DTS-HD Master

Audio 5.1 – English (5.1), Portuguese

Subtitles – ESDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Catalog # 1000733882

UPC # 883929657889

CANADA

DVD

Price: C$52.99 SRP

Catalog# 1000733883

UPC# 883929657896

BLU-RAY

Price: C$57.99 SRP

Catalog# 1000744720

UPC# 883929684137

Win a Blu-ray Copy of Us

Win a Blu-ray Copy of Us

Director Jordan Peele made quite a splash with Get Out and then reinterpreted The Twilight Zone for a new generation. He continues that genre exploration with the creepy Us, which chilled audiences earlier this year.

The home video release is Tuesday and our friends at Universal Home Entertainment have provided us with a Blu-ray copy of the film for one lucky reader.

Peele said he made this film in part because doppelgangers are a personal fear. Tell us what spooks you, keeps you up at night, has you preoccupied.  Post your personal terrors no later than 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, June 18. The contest is open to North America readers only and the decision of ComicMix‘s judges will be final.

Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season Arrives Home in Sept.

BURBANK, CA (June 12, 2019) – Just in time for the fifth season premiere on The CW, catch up with one of TV’s favorite DC Super Heroes as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 17, 2019. Fans can purchase the sets which, in addition to all 22 super-powered episodes from season four, also contain the DC Crossover featurette, the show’s 2018 Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes and a gag reel! All three DC Crossover: Elseworlds episodes will also be available only for fans who purchase the Blu-ray set. Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season is priced to own at $39.99 SRP for the DVD ($51.99 in Canada) and $44.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($52.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (Available in the U.S.). Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

In season four, Supergirl faces a bigger threat than she’s ever faced before – a new wave of anti-alien sentiment, spreading across National City that’s fomented by Agent Liberty.  As Kara mentors a new reporter at CatCo, Nia Nal, and tries to use the power of the press to shine a light on the issues threatening to tear the city apart, Supergirl takes to the skies to battle the many villains who rise up in this era of divisiveness.  But how does Supergirl battle a movement when she, herself an alien, represents one of the main things people are fearful of?

“After four strong seasons, Supergirl continues to develop a strong fan following and soars in the ratings,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “We’re excited to release the Blu-ray and DVD with in-depth bonus content in addition to the 22 action-packed episodes. Fans and newcomers alike can catch up on all their favorite moments from season four and prepare for the highly anticipated fifth season of this hit series.”

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. In addition to featuring all 22 episodes from the fourth season in high-definition, as well as a digital copy of the season (Available in the U.S.), the 4-disc Blu-ray will also include all three crossover episodes, a tremendous value and collectors’ opportunity.

Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist (Glee), Mehcad Brooks (About Last Night, Necessary Roughness), Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy), Katie McGrath (Jurassic World, Merlin), Jesse Rath (Defiance, No Tomorrow), Sam Witwer (Being Human, Smallville), Nicole Maines (Royal Pains), April Parker Jones (Jericho) and David Harewood (Homeland, The Night Manager). Based on the DC characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster by special arrangement with the Jerry Siegel family, Supergirl is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller.

BLU-RAY & DVD FEATURES

  • The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panel San Diego 2018
  • Inside the Crossover: Elseworlds
  • Villains: Modes of Persuasion
  • Gag Reel
  • Deleted Scenes

DVD: 22 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

  1. American Alien
  2. Fallout
  3. Man of Steel
  4. Ahimsa
  5. Parasite Lost
  6. Call to Action
  7. Rather the Fallen Angel
  8. Bunker Hill
  9. Elseworlds: Hour Three
  10. Suspicious Minds
  11. Blood Memory
  12. Menagerie
  13. What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?
  14. Stand and Deliver
  15. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
  16. The House of L
  17. All About Eve
  18. Crime and Punishment
  19. American Dreamer
  20. Will the Real Miss Tessmacher Please Stand Up?
  21. Red Dawn
  22. The Quest for Peace

BLU-RAY: 22 ONE-HOUR EPISODES + 2 FULL CROSSOVER EPISODES

  1. American Alien
  2. Fallout
  3. Man of Steel
  4. Ahimsa
  5. Parasite Lost
  6. Call to Action
  7. Rather the Fallen Angel
  8. Bunker Hill
  9. Elseworlds: Hour One
  10. Elseworlds: Hour Two
  11. Elseworlds: Hour Three
  12. Suspicious Minds
  13. Blood Memory
  14. Menagerie
  15. What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?
  16. Stand and Deliver
  17. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
  18. The House of L
  19. All About Eve
  20. Crime and Punishment
  21. American Dreamer
  22. Will the Real Miss Tessmacher Please Stand Up?
  23. Red Dawn
  24. The Quest for Peace

DIGITAL

The fourth season of Supergirl is also currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage (Available in the U.S.).

BASICS

Street Date: September 17, 2019

BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx 990 min

Enhanced Content: Approx 115 min

UNITED STATES

DVD

Price: $39.99 SRP

5 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

Subtitles – English

BLU-RAY

Price: $44.98 SRP

4-Disc Elite

BD Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

Subtitles – English

CANADA

DVD

Price: $51.99 SRP

5 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

Subtitles – English

BLU-RAY

Price: $52.99 SRP

4-Disc Elite

BD Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

Subtitles – English

Hellboy Reboot Headed for Home in July

SANTA MONICA, CA (June 11, 2019) – It’s time to give evil some hell when Hellboy arrives on Digital July 9 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand July 23 from Lionsgate. Based on Mike Mignola’s smash-hit comic book series from Dark Horse and written for the screen by Andrew Cosby (TV’s “Eureka”), the horrifying vision filled with monsters and mayhem is directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent, TV’s “Game of Thrones”) and stars Golden Globe®  nominee David Harbour (2018, Best Supporting Actor – Drama Series, “Stranger Things”) as the iconic half-demon superhero, Hellboy. “A horrifyingly good time” (William Bibbiani, TheWrap), the film also stars Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil franchise, The Fourth Kind), Golden Globe® winner Ian McShane (2005, Best Actor – Drama, “Deadwood”), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Daniel Dae Kim (TV’s “Lost,” TV’s “Hawaii Five-O,” Insurgent), and Academy Award® nominee Thomas Haden Church (2004, Best Supporting Actor, Sideways). Additionally, the film features the talents of Academy Award®-winning special effects makeup artist Joel Harlow (2010, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Star Trek) and world-renowned prosthetics artist Norman Cabrera (Planet of the Apes, TV’s “The Walking Dead”), bringing Mignola’s wise-cracking demon and other creepy creatures to life.

Hellboy is back, and he’s on fire. From the pages of Mike Mignola’s seminal work, this action-packed story sees the legendary half-demon superhero (David Harbour) called to the English countryside to battle a trio of rampaging giants. There he discovers The Blood Queen, Nimue (Milla Jovovich), a resurrected ancient sorceress thirsting to avenge a past betrayal. Suddenly caught in a clash between the supernatural and the human, Hellboy is now hell-bent on stopping Nimue without triggering the end of the world.

Take home Hellboy and delve into his world with exclusive special features, including a three-part documentary, never-before-seen deleted scenes, and more! Experience four times the resolution of full HD with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes Dolby Vision® HDR, bringing entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker. Additionally, the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack features Dolby Atmos® audio mixed specifically for the home, to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead The Hellboy 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack,Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively.

4K UHD / BLU-RAY / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Tales of the Wild Hunt: Hellboy Reborn” (3-Part Documentary)
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Previsualizations

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Previsualizations

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2018

Title Copyright: Hellboy © 2019 HB Productions, Inc. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2019 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Type: Theatrical Release

Rating: R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, and language.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Closed-Captioned: N/A

Subtitles: English,Spanish, French, English SDH

Feature Run Time: 121 Minutes

4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 16×9 (2.39:1) Presentation with Dolby Vision

BD Format: 1080p High Definition, 16×9 (2.39:1) Presentation

DVD Format: 16×9 (2.39:1) Presentation

4K Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Audio™, English Descriptive Audio

BD Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English Descriptive Audio

DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English Descriptive Audio

Review: Rifftrax Live – Star Raiders

  • News
  • June 11, 2019

Previously on ComicMix, we mentioned talked about how friend of ComicMIx and legendary comics creator Mike Grell makes an appearance in the latest movie that the RIfftrax crew did live, Star Raiders. While it’s no Space Mutiny (and really, what is?), Star Raiders has a lot to offer. I’ll be getting into that in the next paragraph though, so bare with me.

For those not in the know, Star Raiders is a Casper Van Dien starring science fiction romp put together with a modest budget. Though principle photography was finished in 2014, the team went to Kickstarter in 2016 to help offset the post production costs that ended up $40,000 over budget. Earlier this year, Star Raiders would appear on Kickstarter again through Rifftrax for their 2019 live riffing roster and to celebrate 10 years of Rifftrax.

Okay, okay, but what do I think about the movie? I was just getting to that I promise!

Basically, Casper Van Dien plays this guy Saber Raine who looks and acts kind of like Mal from Firefly and has to save this prince and princess who ended up getting captured by ancient bad people who have a plot at getting revenge because people were mean to them a while ago. There’s a bunch of other characters that do things sometimes, and a betrayal in the third act that feels pretty forced, and then a bunch of explosions, the heroes win, and they set up a sequel that we probably weren’t going to be getting, but now with the Rifftrax attention maybe that’ll be on the table.

The movie itself feels like a Sylvester McCoy era Doctor Who serial done today. Like, really, the special effects, the costumes, the filming locations, all of it seems about that quality. There were a few times that I genuinely thought I was watching the three parter Delta and the Bannerman. I wish they leaned more into how cheesy and campy it all was.

Honestly, one of the highlights in the movie was Mike Grell’s small role in it.

For Mike Grell’s acting debut, he plays the character of Jax Grymm (yes, we know, GrimJack), who steals the show for a precious couple of minutes when Casper Van Dien goes to him asking for help. The moment does feel like it could of been in Firefly or Blake’s 7 where a couple of morally questionable individuals are trying to work out a deal as you wait for one (or both) of them to double-cross each other. Everyone makes it out alive in this scene, however, so perhaps this means we’ll get more Jax Grymm if they ever make the sequel they tease at the end.

While this movie fails to deliver on its promise of the high adventure serials that it pulls inspiration from, it definitely delivers for the low budget sci-fi junkie crowd. If you’re into SyFy Channel Original Movies, this could make for some good Sunday afternoon watching.

If you’re watching this with Rifftrax, that’s another story.

This is one of the stronger Rifftrax Live events I’ve gone to recently. There are few if any boring lulls in the film like Octoman which gives our riffers Mike, Bill, and Kevin a lot to work with here. And like the best of MST3K and Rifftrax, they create a through-line with jokes going back to Casper Van Dien’s career having led him here and poor Gary getting killed all the time that honestly just never get old.

I highly recommend you check out the Rifftrax for this if you haven’t already. After it’s done showing in theaters, you can purchase it right on their website. For those braver souls out there reading this, you can check out the movie without Rifftrax on Amazon Prime.

Jackman, Saldana, Galifianakis Bring Vocal Talents to Missing Link

Los Angeles, June 11, 2019 – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents MISSING LINK, arriving on Digital July 9 and Blu-ray and DVD July 23.

Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Zach Galifianakis lead an all-star voice cast in this globetrotting adventure from LAIKA, the makers of Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings. Hugh Jackman is Sir Lionel Frost, a brave and dashing adventurer who considers himself to be the world’s foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is no one else seems to agree. Zach Galifianakis is Mr. Link. As species go, he’s as endangered as they get; he’s possibly the last of his kind, he’s lonely, and he believes that Sir Lionel is the one man alive who can help him. Along with the independent and resourceful Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), who possesses the only known map to the group’s secret destination, the unlikely trio embarks on a riotous rollercoaster ride of a journey to seek out Link’s distant relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La.

MISSING LINK Blu-ray™ and DVD Bonus Features Include:
• Commentary by Chris Butler
• Creating Mr. Link
• Bringing the Final Battle on the Ice Bridge to Life
• Animation Inspiration w/optional Commentary by Chris Butler
• VFX Breakdown Reel – Realizing the Potential of Stop Motion
• Oh What a Mystery: Pulling the Camera Back on Missing Link’s Magic
• Making Faces
• Inside the Magic of Laika
• Gallery x 24 Images

MISSING LINK Blu-ray™ and DVD Specifications:
Street Date: July 23, 2019
Pre-Book: June 19, 2019
Screen Format: Widescreen 2.39:1
Audio: Blu-ray™: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
DVD: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Descriptive Audio 5.1/ Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Total Run Time: 94 Minutes
U.S. Rating: PG (Action/Peril And Some Mild Rude Humor)
Closed Captioned: Yes

REVIEW: Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Surprising to some, Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have some commonalities. After all, the half-shell heroes were initially created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a parody of Frank Miller’s work on Daredevil, before coming to DC and turning his talents to The Dark Knight. Both properties work best in the shadows and had the producers of this animated adventure leaned into that, this could have been a cut above an obvious cash grab.

The participants have met before, in three miniseries from DC Comics and IDW in addition to one strictly set in their “Adventures” incarnations, aimed more at all-ages readers. Now, we have Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a briskly paced story. It’s not bad, but boy, it could have been so much more had anyone made an effort.

The versus portion of the story is the most obvious bit of fan service since time immemorial has required crossovers to begin with a fight before a partnership can begin.  The Foot Clan arrives in Gotham City for nefarious purposes and gets discovered by Batgirl (Rachel Bloom) just before Leonardo (Eric Bauza), Donatello (Baron Vaughn), Raphael (Darren Criss), and Michelangelo (Kyle Mooney) arrive. As usual, they are on the trail of Shredder (Andrew Kishino) and the next target is, of course Wayne Enterprises. Enter: Batman (Troy Baker) and Robin (Ben Giroux). Mix, repeat.

And if the usual felons arrive for one team, surely we must have equal villains for the other so toss in The Penguin (Tom Kenny), Mr. Freeze John DiMaggio), Two-Face (Keith Ferguson), Ra’s al Ghul (Cas Anvar), Scarecrow (Jim Meskimen0, and of course, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn (both Tara Strong).  All of these are underutilized which is s shame since the turtles versus the rogues could have been as interesting as watching the Caped Crusader face off against Shredder.

This works when your young viewer knows both properties because introductions and backgrounds are the least concern to writer Marly Halpern-Graser and director Jake Castorena. Instead, it’s to keep things upbeat and moving for 84 colorful minutes. One thing rising above the sameness is Kevin Riepl’s score.

The film is out in a variety of formats including the 4k Ultra HD/Blu-ray/ Digital HD combo pack, which was reviewed. The 2160p transfer works best with the colors and is acceptable all around, just not stunning. The Blu-ray actually might work a little better for overall balance. The audio is more than up to the task, just not in a noteworthy way.

In keeping with the same old feel of the main feature, the special features continue that with perfunctory features starting with Cowabunga Batman! When Comic Book Worlds Collide (12:31), Fight Night in Gotham (18:06); and A Sneak Peek at Batman: Hush (9:18). That’s it no extra cartoons from either property or anything about their comic book meetings, which is a shame.

 

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