THE POOP SCOOP: Books & Blockbusters

🙀MEOW!: CATS IN HORROR, SCI-FI, AND FANTASY MOVIES Available Now from Vanessa Morgan and Moonlight Creek Publishing.

Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies is the ultimate movie guide for cat lovers and cinephiles. Whether you are a fan of spine-chilling horror, fantasy worlds filled with cats, or the sudden thrill of a cat jumpscare, this comprehensive book has everything you need. Explore an extensive list of cat horror movies that will leave you on the edge of your seat. From the eerie and mysterious to the downright terrifying, our furry friends are the central figures in these hidden gems and cult classics. But the magic does not stop at horror. Meow! also delves into the most famous cat-centric sci-fi and fantasy movies. Find cats that have inspired fantastical adventures, mythical journeys, and futuristic sagas. This guide highlights a curated selection of films where cats play pivotal roles, embodying everything from magical felines to alien beings. Includes contributions from your furry friends at Free Kittens Movie Guide!

😺THE BRUTALIST Coming to 4K Ultra HD andBlu-ray March 25 from A24.

Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect arrives in America to rebuild his life. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost. Starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola. The Brutalist is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

🙀COMPANION on Digital NOW and Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD April 1 from

Warner Bros..

New Line Cinema—the studio that brought you “The Notebook”—and the unhinged creators of “Barbarian” cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story… “Companion,” will debut Digitally at home on February 18. Written and directed by Drew Hancock (“My Dead Ex,” “Suburgatory”), “Companion” stars Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets,” “The Boogeyman”), Jack Quaid (“The Boys,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”), Lukas Gage (“Smile 2,” “Dead Boy Detectives”), Megan Suri (“Never Have I Ever,” “It Lives Inside”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows,” “Blue Beetle”) and Rupert Friend (“High Desert,” “Asteroid City”). The film is produced by the filmmakers behind “Barbarian”—Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger and Roy Lee. The executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

🦁MUFASA: THE LION KING On Digital NOW and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD April 1 from Disney.

Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season - Coming To 4K UHD, Blu-ray, & DVD on

May 13 from Warner Bros.

Get ready to binge all 6 episodes from the epic sci-fi adventure, along with over an hour of bonus content including 5 extended featurettes and an all-new, never-before-seen featurette exclusive to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season is also available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango at Home, and more. 

TRICK OR TREAT on 4k UHD, Blu-ray & DVD March 11 from Synapse Films.

Red Shirt Home Video and Synapse Films are proud to present this heavy metal horror classic in an all-new 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) with a head-banging 5.1 surround sound mix and loaded with hours of supplemental material including multiple commentary tracks and a feature-length video retrospective! 

BETTER MAN arrives on Digital February 11th and on 4K/Blu-ray May 13th from Paramount.

Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. 

THE LAST OF US: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is releasing March 18 in a 4K Ultra HD

Steelbook Limited-Edition Collectable from Warner Bros.

In anticipation of the Season 2 premiere of “The Last of Us” on HBO, catch up on all nine episodes of the critically-acclaimed first season, along with nearly 3 hours of special features! Pre-order your copy today HERE.

MOANA 2 is now available on Digital and coming to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18

from Disney.

Moana 2 is available on digital retailers and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18. With hours of exclusive bonus content for the whole family featuring a full-length Sing-Along version of the film, deleted scenes, featurettes and much more. 

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA arrives on PVOD Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD March 4 from

Lionsgate.

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA returns to everything fans loved about the original film, while answering unresolved questions and diving deeper into the lives of each character. 

DEEP BLUE SEA Limited Edition on 4K and Blu-ray March 18 from Arrow Video.

Limited-Edition release features a brand new 4K restoration approved by the director on 4K UHD, packed with special features. There is also a limited-edition Blu-ray. 

GLADIATOR II on Digital NOW and on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray March 4th from Paramount.

Director Ridley Scott’s action-packed epic GLADIATOR II is available to purchase now, followed by a physical release on March 4, from Paramount Home Entertainment.

CONSTANTINE (4K): The Little Movie That Could

CONSTANTINE (4K UHD)

2005 / 121 min

From Warner Bros

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

20 years later, Constantine continues to be the Little Movie That Could. Not exactly a critical darling, it did fair business back in the day, getting considerable mileage out of Keanu Reeves’ recent success with The Matrix franchise (and obviously cut from similar cloth). But despite the intriguing premise - loosely based DC’s Hellblazer comics - the film was mostly driven by action and special effects. 

As for me, it was a decent way to kill a few hours…watchable, though nothing particularly memorable. My wife, Francie, felt differently. Though not a big horror fan, this one joined 1999’s The Mummy and The Haunting as horror films she not-only enjoyed, but would rewatch from time to time (something her husband, who is a horror fan, never felt compelled to do).

Of course, Constantine is more of a dark fantasy than pure horror, but damn, if it didn’t go on to become a cult classic of the genre. Over the years, people like Francie have kept it alive and thriving on home video, to the point that a belated sequel is now in the works, which would make four film franchises Reeves has under his belt (surely some kind of record). With a following like that, a 20th Anniversary 4K upgrade is kind of a no brainer.

It’s also an opportunity to revisit a film I haven’t watched in its entirety since catching it in theaters (only bits and pieces whenever Francie popped in our old DVD to watch while folding laundry). Constantine has always been more of a visual experience than a narrative one, so perhaps reassessing it as such, in the best possible format, is what it ultimately deserves…

Making the most of bath time.

…and I gotta say, the first thing that struck me is how well the visual effects have held up. Sure, there’s some obvious CGI, but unlike Francie’s beloved The Haunting, they aren’t a distraction and even enhance the hellish surrealism of specific sequences. The 4K transfer also increased my admiration of the production design, from the grunginess of LA’s underbelly to the vivid and colorful sets created for the film. If nothing else, fans will probably be very happy with the video/audio boost offered here. 

My overall opinion of the film itself is largely unchanged, though I think I appreciated Reeve’s performance as the titular, damned-and-dying demon slayer more than I once did. Part of that could be because of how his career has shaped up over the years. He’s never been gifted with a lot of range, but in roles suited to his particular style, he’s become as reliable as Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise. There ain’t much difference between John Constantine, John Wick and Neo, but it’s now hard to imagine anyone else being nearly as effective in those roles. As such, Reeves’ tough, brooding approach is just what a cynical, nihilistic character like Constantine needs.

Movies like Constantine seem made for 4K and this disc is a significant technical upgrade from previous releases. It also comes with a digital copy and a new retrospective featurette, as well as an impressive amount of older bonus material.

EXTRA KIBBLES

TWO DECADES OF DAMNATION - This is a new retrospective featurette in which Keanu Reeves, director Francis Lawrence, producer Akiva Goldsman, and others. Watching them look fondly back at the film is entertaining, though not particularly revealing. It’s obvious Reeves loves this movie.

FEATURETTES - Channeling Constantine; Conjuring Constantine; Director’s Confessional; Collision with Evil; Holy Relics; Shotgun Shootout; Hellscape; Visualizing Vermin; Warrior Wings; Unholy Abduction; Demon Face; Constantine’s Cosmology; Foresight: the Power of Pre-Visualization; A Writer’s Vision.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By director Francis Lawrence & producer Akiva Goldsman; 2) By screenwriters Kevin Brodbin & Frank Cappello.

DELETED SCENES

ALTERNATE ENDING

DIGITAL COPY

THE ORDER Is Saved By Its Characters

THE ORDER (Blu-ray)

2024 / 114 min

From Vertical

Review by Princess Pepper😽

It’s possible FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) has been doing his job too long. 26 years of dealing with hate groups and mobsters in New York has him transferring to Coeur d‘Alene, Idaho, presumably to live a quieter life with his family when they follow him there.

That doesn’t happen, though. Shortly after arriving, Husk connects a recent murder and series of robberies to a local hate group known as The Order, an Aryan Nation splinter group led by charismatic extremist Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult).

Conversely, Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan) is a young police officer who probably hasn’t been at his job long enough. With his knowledge of those involved in local hate groups, his idyllic family life is disrupted as he becomes nearly as obsessed as Husk when the two team up to bring The Order down, even though he has a fraction of the experience.

"Who took the last bearclaw?"

The Order does an excellent job fleshing out its three pivotal characters, subtly shaped and defined through their actions and key scenes. For example, a single silent with moment Husk alone in his new apartment speaks volumes about the reality of his family situation. Similarly, a scene in which Matthews stands up in church to confront reigning Aryan Nation leader Richard Butler (Victor Slezak) not-only signifies a changing of the guard, it establishes Matthews as disturbed and dangerous.

It’s the characters and performances that make The Order worth seeing. Based on a nonfiction book, the choppy narrative often forces the viewer to re-acclimate themselves whenever a significant amount of time has passed between one scene and another. The result is a film that ends up being a little too episodic for its own good, with a few plot threads that are introduced but never explored any further…such as scenes where Matthews has the opportunity to kill Husk but chooses not to. 

The Order features action sequences depicting robberies, murder, terror attacks and shootouts with the FBI, all of which are presented with slick professionalism. Still, the movie is ultimately more interesting - and disturbing - during the character driven moments.

Rediscovering HOUSE M.D.

HOUSE M.D. - THE COMPLETE SERIES (Blu-ray)

2004-2002 / 7765 min

From Universal

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky’s Mom😺

Funnily enough, I had started my House journey right before the Complete Series came out. I was too young to appreciate House during the height of its popularity, preferring to spend my weekday evenings watching Spongebob with my finger up my nose. Now, as an adult, I quite enjoy watching House, ‘hmming’ and ‘oh, of course’-ing at it and pretending like I’m finally getting use out of my biology degree by keeping up with each new diagnosis. 

House ran on Fox for eight seasons between 2004 and 2012. It features the titular Dr. House (Hugh Laurie), a great doctor who is also the most insufferable man you’ll ever meet. Each episode features House and his gaggle of doctors diagnosing and treating patients, committing insane medical malpractice along the way. Each episode is approached like a mystery, with twists and incorrect diagnoses before a solution can ever be landed on, but it never wears out its welcome even as it veers towards being formulaic. 

The Complete Series features all 177 episodes, plus bonus features on Blu-Ray. Each season has its own section of special features, although not all seasons are created equal. Season one features what looks like mostly old promotional material, with grainy, crunchy quality to boot. Later seasons have things like music videos, episode commentaies, and blooper reels (thank God…why have special features without a blooper reel?). The quality on most of these special features seems lower than the picture quality of the episodes, and look like they were probably just nabbed from past releases of seasons. 

Hugh feigns interest in Robert's cat pix.

The episodes themselves mostly look great on Blu-Ray. Most shots even from the first season look like something that could be on TV today. There were a few exceptions though, where oddly enough, a few shots looked a bit pixelated and grainy. It wasn’t enough to diminish my enjoyment of the series, especially as a fan, but it was at least noticeable. 

It's a nice collection of a great series and a better alternative to streaming, where an hour long episode is interrupted by commercials. I was thrilled to have it to finish my binge of the series. However, this collection doesn’t necessarily add anything worth having if you’ve already got access to the series through past releases or if you’re already spending money on ad-free streaming. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

SEASON 1 - Dr. House Medical Cases; The Concept; Set Tour; House-isms; Casting Session with Hugh Laurie.

SEASON 2 - An Evening with House; Blooper Reel; Alternate Takes: The Valley Girl Versions; In Could Be Lupus…; Producer Audio Commentaries.

SEASON 3 - Soundtrack Sessions; Anatomy of an Episode: The Jerk; Blood, Needles and Body Parts: The House Prop Department; Open House: The Production Office; Blooper Reel; Audio Commentary.

SEASON 4 - House’s Soup: Prescription Passion; New Beginnings; Meet the Writers; The Visual Effects of House; My Favorite Episode So Far…; House’s Head Audio Commentary (by exec producers David Shore &  Katie Jacobs.

SEASON 5 - House Meets a Milestone: The 1000th Episode; Keeping it Real: Accuracy in Writing; Dr. Mom: Cuddy’s Storyline; House Guests: Casting the Show; Audio Commentary (by exec producer David Foster and writers Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner.

SEASON 6 - Before Broken (this is an original, unscripted short film with actor Hugh Laurie); A Different POV: Hugh Laurie Directs; New Faces in a New House; Various Episode Commentaries.

SEASON 7 - Meet Martha Masters; Huddy Dissected ( a look at House & Cuddy’s relationship); Anatomy of an Episode: Bombshells; Thirteen Returns (the return of Dr. Hadley to the series); Various Episode Commentaries.

SEASON 8 - House M.D. Swan Song; The Doctor Directs: Behind the Scenes with Hugh Laurie; Everybody Dies: A Postmortem (about the series finale).

SEPTEMBER 5: A Tragic Event From A Unique Perspective

SEPTEMBER 5 (Blu-ray)

2024 / 94 min

From Paramount

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Being of a certain age, I have a (very) vague recollection of the Munich Massacre casting a dark shadow over the 1972 Olympics. But at the time, I was too young to comprehend that these events were unfolding live on television…and simply because ABC happened to be there for sports coverage. 

For those unaware, on September 5, the terrorist organization known as Black September entered the Olympic village, taking several Israeli athletes and coaches hostage and demanding the release of hundreds of Palestine prisoners. During the course of that day, there were negotiations and failed rescue attempts, and ultimately, everything ended with the deaths of all 11 hostages.

The tragedy has been the subject of numerous movies and television shows before (most notably, Steven Spielberg’s Munich), but September 5 is cut from different cloth. Less focused on the particulars of the terror attack itself, the film is a dramatic reenactment of ABC’s coverage behind the scenes. As such, it brilliantly achieves an urgent, chaotic tone not unlike United 93, exacerbated by superior editing that should’ve gotten on Oscar nomination. 

"You're asking for a raise now?"

As depicted here, coverage begins with ABC Sports president Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) refusing to turn the developing story over to the network’s more experienced news division, stating his team is already on location and able to broadcast live. We feel like a fly on the wall, watching barely controlled chaos as the coverage is often complicated by conflict, miscommunication, ethically questionable decisions and occasional overreaching ambition. 

Being the most recognizable member of the cast, I suppose Sarsgaard could be considered the de facto main character. But really, September 5 is an ensemble piece, its primary players being ambitious control room leader Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro), German translator Marriane Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch) and head-of-operations Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), the last of whom sort-of serves as the film’s moral compass, sharply contrasting Arledge and Mason’s competitive drive for exclusive coverage. We may not always condone some of these characters’ attitudes or actions, but we certainly understand them and they’re undeniably compelling

The film is mostly devoid of onscreen antagonists (the terrorists are only seen from a distance). The entire narrative is from the point-of-view of those doing the broadcast, with the ongoing event itself presented primarily through archival broadcast footage. With his sci-fi/horror background, director/co-writer Tim Fehlbaum has seemingly come out of nowhere to put together a tense, fast-paced thriller that presents a tragic event from a unique perspective. Though nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar, how September 5 was largely ignored by the Academy while Emelia Perez racked up 13 nominations is a complete mystery.

BAD REPUTATION: Joan Jett's Journey

BAD REPUTATION (Blu-ray)

2018 / 93 min

From Magnolia Pictures

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Headbanger😺

There was the Joan Jett before “I Love Rock & Roll” and the Joan Jett after. 

Some of us remember back in 1982 when she and that song were suddenly everywhere, blasting from car speakers and popping up on MTV about 500 times a day. At the time, she seemed not-only new, but far different than your typical female pop star. Jett was punky, wore leather, half-sang-half-shouted and totally rocked a guitar. As a teenage headbanger, yours truly found that kinda hot.

What we didn’t know was this wasn’t exactly Jett’s first rodeo. She’d previously been a founding member of The Runaways, an all-girl rock band who never amounted to much but are now regarded as influential and groundbreaking. The Joan Jett biography, Bad Reputation, begins by documenting those pre-stardom years, particularly the struggles and obstacles she faced in an effort to be taken seriously. If all you know of Jett are the glory years, these segments are somewhat revelatory.

The film segues into Jett’s most successful era, the 1980s, beginning with “I Love Rock & Roll” and her career-long working relationship with manager-producer Kenny Laguna. Ironically, these years are chronicled, but not in a lot of depth (maybe because its assumed to be common knowledge). These segments also tend to reveal Bad Reputation’s one major drawback…we learn a lot of Jett’s career highs and achievements, but comparatively little about her personally.

In a moment of epiphany, Joan Jett suddenly realizes she doesn't particularly love rock & roll.

The remainder focuses of Jett, the mentor, legend and activist…essentially a victory lap of a long, influential career, which more-or-less culminates in her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. As presented, Jett is a woman who has more-than-earned the respect and admiration of fans and peers. Speaking of which, in addition to Jett herself, the film features dozens of interviews with people who’ve known, worked with or have been influenced by her, including Iggy Pop, Pete Townsend, Debbie Harry, Billy Joe Armstrong, Adam Horovitz, Kathleen Hanna, co-Runaway Cherie Currie, Michael J. Fox and Miley Cyrus. 

Bad Reputation also features plenty of performance footage spanning over 40 years, from the club days to arena shows to philanthropic events raising awareness of issues important to her. Overall, it’s an entertaining chronicle of a remarkable career, though viewers still might be left wondering what truly makes Joan Jett tick.

EXTRA KIBBLES

THEATER PERFORMANCE - “Bad Reputation” and “Fresh Start.”

SOUND CHECK - “Bad Reputation” and “Fresh Start.”

BACKSTAGE - At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony.

SEVERAL MUSIC VIDEOS