THE EPITAPH VOL. 66(6)
WOLF CREEK (2005) - ENTER THE DRAGON (1973) - BABYLON 5: THE ROAD HOME (2023) - FAST X (2023) - METALOCALYPSE: ARMY OF THE DOOMSTAR (2023)
2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray
Label: Via Vision Entertainment
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: R 18+
Duration: 98 Minutes (Theatrical), 104 Minutes (Unrated )
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 (Theatrical), LPCM Stereo (Unrated) with Optional English Subtitles
Duration: 98 Minutes (Theatrical), 104 Minutes (Unrated )
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 (Theatrical), LPCM Stereo (Unrated) with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Greg McLean
Cast: John Jarratt, Kestie Morassi, Cassandra Magrath. Nathan Phillips
Inspired by Australia’s most gruesome true crime stories, writer/producer/director Greg McLean's debut film Wolf Creek (2005) holds-up quite nicely nearly 20 years later. In it Brit lasses lasses, Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi, Darkness Falls) vacation in Australia where they meet up with local guy Ben (Nathan Phillips, Blood Vessel), they hit it off and decide to road trip together to Wolf Creek Park, an isolated but of natural beauty on the Outback. After an uncomfortable stop at a roadside diner they make it to the isolated park and get some backpacking in, but upon returning to their car find it won't start. Starting to fear they might be spending the night they are seemingly rescued by kindly bloke Mick Taylor (John Jarratt, Dark Age) who offers to tow it back to his place and have a look at it. Too bad Much turns out to be a cold-blooded killer with a knack for hunting human prey. I remember seeing this for the first time and being quite impressed with how visceral and gruesome it was, Jarratt is fantastic as the sadistic killer and the gory special effects are still bangers. The first hour is a slow-burn with not much happening, that's maybe the one drawback, but it does build some character and that pays off when the grue hits the fan, you actually care about these characters. This 2-disc region-free Blu-ray set offers both the Theatrical and Unrated cuts of the film, the Unrated does offer some additional gore and action, but I have to say I still prefer the Theatrical version. The set is also loaded with tons of archival extras, the best of which is the 52-min The Making Of Wolf Creek that offeres some terrific behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew, and a look at the origins of the film. The set arrives in an oversized keepcase with a sleeve of artwork features the original four-quad pastiche movie poster, and the glossy slipcover features a different movie poster artwork.
Inspired by Australia’s most gruesome true crime stories, writer/producer/director Greg McLean's debut film Wolf Creek (2005) holds-up quite nicely nearly 20 years later. In it Brit lasses lasses, Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi, Darkness Falls) vacation in Australia where they meet up with local guy Ben (Nathan Phillips, Blood Vessel), they hit it off and decide to road trip together to Wolf Creek Park, an isolated but of natural beauty on the Outback. After an uncomfortable stop at a roadside diner they make it to the isolated park and get some backpacking in, but upon returning to their car find it won't start. Starting to fear they might be spending the night they are seemingly rescued by kindly bloke Mick Taylor (John Jarratt, Dark Age) who offers to tow it back to his place and have a look at it. Too bad Much turns out to be a cold-blooded killer with a knack for hunting human prey. I remember seeing this for the first time and being quite impressed with how visceral and gruesome it was, Jarratt is fantastic as the sadistic killer and the gory special effects are still bangers. The first hour is a slow-burn with not much happening, that's maybe the one drawback, but it does build some character and that pays off when the grue hits the fan, you actually care about these characters. This 2-disc region-free Blu-ray set offers both the Theatrical and Unrated cuts of the film, the Unrated does offer some additional gore and action, but I have to say I still prefer the Theatrical version. The set is also loaded with tons of archival extras, the best of which is the 52-min The Making Of Wolf Creek that offeres some terrific behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew, and a look at the origins of the film. The set arrives in an oversized keepcase with a sleeve of artwork features the original four-quad pastiche movie poster, and the glossy slipcover features a different movie poster artwork.
Special Features:
Disc One: Theatrical Cut
- Audio Commentary with Greg McLean, Matt Hearn, Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi
-The Making Of Wolf Creek (52 min)
- Deleted Scenes (6 min)
- Theatrical Trailers
- Audio Commentary with Greg McLean, Matt Hearn, Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi
-The Making Of Wolf Creek (52 min)
- Deleted Scenes (6 min)
- Theatrical Trailers
- Photo Gallery
Disc 2: Director's Cut
Disc 2: Director's Cut
- Meet Mick Taylor: An Interview with John Jarratt (22 min)
- Broken & Twisted Music Clip by Auxillary One (5 min)
- Storyboard & Production Sketch Montage (3 min)
- Broken & Twisted Music Clip by Auxillary One (5 min)
- Storyboard & Production Sketch Montage (3 min)
- Slipcover
- Reversible Sleeve of Artwork
ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)
4K Ultra HD + Digital
Label: WBHE
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: R
Duration: 99 Minutes 2 Seconds (Theatrical), 102 Minutes (Director's Cut)
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: Dolby Vision, 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen (2.35:1)
Director: Robert Clouse
Cast: John Saxon, Ahna Capri, Bob Wall, Shih Kein, Jim Kelly
The Robert Clouse (Deadly Eyes) directed Enter the Dragon stars legendary martial arts icon Bruce Lee in his final completed film role, it was the first American produced martial arts film and made Lee an icon here in the states, but sadly he died a month before the film premiered. Bruce Lee (The Big Boss) plays Lee, a Shaolin Temple and master of the martial arts who is recruited to infiltrate a martial arts tournament held by diabolical crime-lord Han (Kien Shih) on his private island, Han is involved in several criminal enterprises, including the opium drug trade, white slavery, and he also happens to be the one responsible for Lee's sister's suicide - so it's personal for him. Also in the entering the tournament are Roper (John Saxon, Cannibal Apocalypse) and Williams (Jim Kelly, Black Samurai) who end up teaming-up with Lee. A terrifically slick martial arts film that blends action and spy-thriller pizzazz with stunning fight choreography and lensing, plus a fight-to-the death-tournament finale that is action-packed, and made all the better by a terrifically bombastic score from Lalo Schifrin (The Manitou). The new 4K restoration from the OCN looks absolutely amaze-balls in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision HDR color-grading, and the Dolby Atmos remix is tastefully done and offers wonderful depth and fidelity. On an A/V level this is easily the best the film has and will probably ever look on home video. Sadly WBHE do not carry-over all the extras from the 40th Anniversary Blu-ray (nor include a remastered Blu-ray on this set), a sad continuing trend with WB 4K upgrades, we only get the Intro by Lee's widow Linda Lee Cadwell, and the Audio Commentary by Paul Heller and Michael Allin - so hang onto your Blu-ray if you're an bonus-junk junkie like myself.
Special Features:
- Intro by Linda Lee Cadwell (2 min)
- Audio Commentary by
- Slipcver
- Digital Copy
BABYLON 5: THE ROAD HOME (2023)
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital
Label: WBHE
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: PG-13
Duration: 78 Minutes
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: HDR 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1)
Director:
Cast: Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, Peter Jurasik, Bill Mumy, Tracy Scoggins, Patricia Tallman, Paul Guyet, Anthony Hansen, Mara Junot, Phil LaMar, Piotr Michael, Andrew Morgado, Rebecca Riedy
Babylon 5 celebrates its 30th anniversary with an imated film featuring the voice acting of many of the original live-cast including Bruce Boxleitner as John Sheridan, Claudia Christian as Susan Ivanova, Peter Jurasik as Londo Mollari, Bill Mumy as Lennier, Tracy Scoggins as Elizabeth Lochley, and Patricia Tallman as Lyta Alexander. I cannot say I was a huge fan of the original five season series, I didn't dislike it I was just only casually watching it on and off again, it was cool, it just didn;t catch fore with me. As a viewer who only slightly familiar with the characters and story arcs this animated feature was pretty solid, it did good establishing the characters just well enough and spoon-feeding some of the old story arcs to make it work. With the The Road Home John Sheridan as he unexpectedly finds himself transported through multiple timelines and alternate parallel realities in a quest to find his way back home, which offers some fun sci-fi action set pieces that looked and sounded great with the HDR color-grading and immersive 5.1 DTS-HD MA. I can only imaging that if you're a fan of the show there's a lot more fan-service and in-jokes to enjoy, but as someone basically going in cold it held it's own, I was quite entertained and would certainly enjoy another animated adventure. The animation style is solid, it's not super stylistic or stunning, but the animation and backgrounds are quite attractive and suited the stand-alone story quite nicely.
Special Features:
- Babylon 5 Forever (New Featurette) (18 min)
- Audio Commentary with creator/writer/executive producer J. Michael Straczynski, actor Bruce Boxleitner and supervising producer Rick Morales
- Slipcover
- Digital Copy
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Collector's Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital
Label: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: PG-13
Duration: 140 Minutes
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: Dolby Vision 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen (2.39:1)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, with Helen Mirren, with Brie Larson, with Rita Moreno, and Jason Statham, Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron
I only ever saw the first Fast and the Furious film and of it I have zero recollection, saw I redicuouly jumped into the 10th film in the series cold. I was hoping I would at least be entertained by big-dumb adrenaline-fueled action set-pieces as the lore of the series, and to my sort of surprise this was a lot of big-dumb fun. The sheer amount of car stunts and bonkers car chases is off the wall, they're pretty dazzling if far-too digital to ever really get my pulse racing, but as it is they're plenty exciting. The flick is lousy with cameos that seemed surprising but as I've never watched the last eight film seeing Brie Larsen, Helen Mirren, John Cena, John Stathan and Charlize Theron pop-ip was sort of head-spinning. The in for me here is Jason Momoa as baddie Dante Reyes, who sort of comes off as an unhinged "Joker" type character, causing chaos and out to destroy Dominic Toretto and his "family" of street-racers turned spies, who one character remarks are “Everyone becomes family. It is like a cult with cars.”, I certainly appreciated that the film is self-aware at just how ridiculous it all is, which makes it go down all the better. The 4K presentation with Dolby Vision and Atmos upgrades is pretty stunning with deep color infusion, the blacks are deep - it's just a whiz-bang UHD with bombastic audio that shakes the room, the revved engines and screeching tires are piercing, gunfire and explosions rattle the rafters, it's just a glorious A/V experience, and the extras are quite plentiful as well.
Special Features:
- This is Family (35 min)
- Fast Breaks: Scene Breakdowns with Louis Leterrier (8 min)
- Xtreme Rides of Fast (13 min)
- Belles of the Brawl (7 min)
- Tuned Into Rio (5 min)
- Jason Momoa: Conquering Rome (3 min)
- Little B Takes the Wheel (3 min)
- A Friend In the End (2 min)
- Gag Reel (5 min)
- Music Vidoes: "Toretto" by J Balvin, "Angel Pt. 1" by Kodak Black & NLE Chopa (Featuring Jimin of BTS, JVKE & Muni Lung)(6 min)
- Audio Commentary by Director Louis Leterrier
- Slipcover
- Digital Copy
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Blu-ray + Digital
Label: WBHE
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: R
Duration: 83 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen
Director: Brendon Small
Cast: Brendon Small, Tommy Blacha, Victor Brandt, Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, King Diamond, Mark Hamill, Kirk Hammett, Jon Hamm, Scott Ian, Amy Lee, Malcolm McDowell, Juliet Mills, Laraine Newman, Raya Yarbrough, Livia Zita
I love the recent trend of cancelled Adult Swim series getting feature-length animated films to properly close and/or continue the shows, we've seen it with Aqua Teen Hunger Force and The Venture Bros., now we get the metallized series Matalocalypse getting a proper devil-horns send-off with this flick that takes off right from the hour-long episode that ended season four with Nathan Explosion suffering from ego-kicking heartbreak and being tasked with saving the whole friggin' planet by writing the greatest song of all time, "The Song of Salvation". This new Dethklock adventure is a full-tilt wild ride, and where it ends up going is truly epic and absurd and totally on-brand for the series. The animation style is very true tot he original series, the humor hasn't changed much (thankfully) and still makes me giggle, this group of surprisingly emotional death-metal hessians is always a blast, plus we get new kick-ass music from all-star metallers Dethklok. Here's hoping we get more metal adventures with Dethklok's Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Pickles, William Murderface and Toki Wartooth in the near future, I for one would love to see more one-off feature length flicks coming our way.
Special Features:
- Behind the Metal Curtain (Featurette) – Dive deep into the making of Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar with interviews with show co-creator Brendon Small and his team of writers, animators, and musicians as they share the inspirations behind turning the hit Adult Swim series into its first feature film. (24 min)
- Slipcover
- Digital Copy
- Exclusive Fold-Out Poster
