PAYCHECK: John Woo's Forgotten Film

PAYCHECK (DVD)

2003 / 118 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Princess Pepper😼

Legendary Hong Kong director John Woo certainly made a splash when he came to America, bringing his unique, over-the-top style to such action movies as Broken Arrow, Face/Off and Mission Impossible 2. Hell, he even managed to make Jean Claude Van Damme look good. 

Then came Paycheck, loosely based on a Phillip K. Dick story, which was not only a box office disappointment, it was met with negative reviews and has been largely forgotten. Even Woo himself wasn’t entirely happy with it. Maybe that’s why he wouldn’t direct another American film for 20 years.

But it ain’t that bad.

Granted, Paycheck largely eschews most of Dick’s high-minded themes and ideas to make room for all the gunplay, chases, explosions and destruction Woo’s known for. But the basic plot is still there, with Ben Affleck playing Michael Jennngs, a freelance reverse engineer who’s regularly hired by companies to infiltrate rivals’ existing technologies, then make improvements. Afterwards, he’s contracted to have any knowledge of the job erased from his memory.

Then old friend James Rethrick (Aaron Eckhard), the powerful CEO of Allcom, offers Michael a job to tempting to pass up. It will take three years, and all his memories accrued during that time will be erased, but he’d collect $92 million afterwards. However, when the job is finished, not only is he screwed out of the money, all he receives is an envelope of random objects he’s never seen before. Worse yet, he’s wanted by the FBI, while Rethrick has sent men to try and kill him.

Ben passes a kidney stone.

With no memory of the past three years, including a relationship with Allcom biologist Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman), all he has is the envelope, which he sent to himself and contains clues to what’s happening, as well as just the right things he needs to get out of various situations. He’s also plagued by visions…not of the past, but the future, all related to whatever he was hired to design, which Rethrick plans to use for nefarious purposes.

The whirlwind plot throws a lot at us, but it isn’t all that hard to follow. Still, the story often takes a backseat to the action sequences. Typical of John Woo, they’re slick, loud, flashy and frequently presented in slow-motion. Some are exciting and well-choreographed, others are distractingly ridiculous (such as a car/motorcycle chase at a construction site that’s set up like an obstacle course). As for the performances, Affleck is pretty bland, but Thurman has some good moments, while Eckhart’s inherently punchable face makes him a decent antagonist without having to try that hard. 

With it’s PG-13 rating, Paycheck feels kind-of benign compared to the director’s more hard-hitting films. But while it’s no Face/Off - arguably John Woo’s best American film - it’s certainly watchable (if somewhat forgettable). 

This is a re-issue of a previous released DVD. There are no technical upgrades or additional bonus features.

A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES: Expect The Unexpected

A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES (Blu-ray)

2004 / 113 min

FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😽

In reviewing a considerable number of Chinese films over the years, I’ve become a fan of Andy Lau. Aside from House of Flying Daggers, he hasn’t done much that has made any real impact on this side of the pond. Nor has Hollywood had the good sense to take advantage of his talents like they have with Donnie Yen.

But Lau has has starred in some outstanding action films during his lengthy career. If you haven’t seen the likes of Firestorm, Internal Affairs, The Adventurers or Chasing the Dragon (his once-in-a-lifetime pairing with Yen), drop what you’re doing and seek these movies out. You won’t be disappointed.

That being said, I’m still not quite sure what to think about 2004’s A World Without Thieves. Most Lau films I’ve seen are from the action genre, but his one his completely different in pace and tone. That’s not to say he isn’t excellent in his role as Pang Bo, a smart, cocky thief who teams with partner/lover Wang Li (Rene Liu), traveling around the country to rob and fleece others. 

My Breakfast with Andy.

Their personal and professional relationship changes when Wang meets “Dumbo” (Wang Baoqiang), a gullible, naive young rube who simply wants to return home with money earned from a construction job, buy a house and get married. Charmed by his innocence, Wang becomes protective of him, while Pang initially sees him as just another mark, at least until another gang of expert thieves, led by “Uncle” Li (Ge You), conspire to steal Dumbo’s stash of cash. A battle of wits ensues.

The film is set primarily on a train, with both sides trying to one-up and outwit each other. But while there is some action, it arrives in fits & starts and mostly seems like an afterthought. The focus is more on light comedy, as well as the strange relationship between Dumbo, Pang and Yang, which is sometimes engaging, but just-as-often meandering. Lau is easily the best part of the film, but I’d argue he’s not even the primary protagonist. That would be Wang, who’s well-played by Liu, but her character isn’t nearly as interesting, despite being more sympathetic and complex.

A World Without Thieves is not the movie I was expecting, which is certainly a disappointment. But that could simply be because I simply haven't seen Andy Lau in anything but action flicks. Going into it without such assumptions arguably makes it a better film, or at least an interesting curio in the actor’s lengthy filmography. Though maybe a little too long and leisurely paced, it’s still worth checking out.

THE POOP SCOOP: Boxes of Scares

🙀50th Anniversary Chain Saw Box of TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE Arrives This October from Dark Sky Selects.

Dark Sky Selects proudly presents The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chainsaw Edition. This multi-disc set will include the new 4K UHD edition of the film, a Blu-ray bonus disc containing new extra features, and an exclusive VHS release of the movie. The special edition collector’s set will be housed in a custom created box, which is a replica of the iconic chain saw from the film. Opening the chainsaw triggers the sound of Leatherface wielding the chainsaw in the film. Each box set will be numbered and only 5000 have been created. This limited edition also features a newly designed 50th Anniversary O-card and brand-new bonus content, including The Merchandise of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chainsaw Edition will be available for $299.98 exclusively at darkskyselects.com

🙀FEAR THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION arrives 10/15 on Blu-ray + Digital and DVD from Lionsgate.

“Fear the Walking Dead” is a post-apocalyptic horror-drama series set in the universe of “The Walking Dead.” It begins in Los Angeles with Madison Clark and her children, Nick and Alicia, in the early days of a zombie apocalypse. As society collapses, they encounter various threats from walkers and other survivors, and in Season Four, collide with the world of “The Walking Dead” when Morgan Jones joins the story.  Over eight seasons, the group – including characters like Victor Strand and Daniel Salazar – travels through California, Mexico, and Texas facing enemies far more sinister than the undead, while working to rebuild a sense of hope and community in a devastated world. Survive the apocalypse when the “Fear the Walking Dead” The Complete Collection arrives on Blu-ray + Digital and DVD October 15th from Lionsgate. Austin Amelio (“The Walking Dead,” Hit Man, Mercy Black), Danay Garcia (“CSI: NY,” “Hawaii Five-O,” The Cure), and many more talented cast members. 

🙀PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 2 arrives on 4K Ultra HD October 1 from Paramount.

Everyone loves a sequel!  PARAMOUNT SCARES is back with another limited-edition collection of terrifying films, all available for the first time in 4K Ultra HD.  PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 2 arrives October 1, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment. This collectible box set includes four killer films that offer an exciting mix of all that the horror genre has to offer.  From a knife-wielding maniac in FRIDAY THE 13TH PART II, to the twisted thrills of ORPHAN: FIRST KILL, the terrifying zombie hordes of WORLD WAR Z, and the psychological terror of BREAKDOWN, this must-own collection delivers loads of chills and thrills. Each film in the 8-disc collection has been newly remastered and is presented on both 4K Ultra HD Disc and on Blu-ray in an individual case and special sleeve exclusive to the set, all housed in a premium box with original artwork.  PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 2 also includes more than 2.5 hours of bonus content, the unrated version of WORLD WAR Z, access to a Digital copy of each film, and exclusive collectible items.

Visit THE RUINS

THE RUINS (Blu-ray)

2008 / 93 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

This one sort of came-and-went in theaters back in 2008 without much notice. With hindsight, however, I’m a little surprised it hasn’t since become a minor cult classic on home video. Unlike, say, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, the film isn’t an overlooked masterpiece, but after a terrible first act that’s a chore to endure, The Ruins becomes a harrowing, visceral experience with a mean streak a mile wide.

Admittedly, it builds its foundation on a silly premise. With the possible exception of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, it’s hard to take any movie about killer plants too seriously. But The Ruins makes a respectable go of it, with five obnoxious young tourists who decide to visit an ancient, vine-covered Mayan temple in the remote jungle. This doesn’t sit well with the locals, who force them at gunpoint to climb to the top and stay there…for good reason, it turns out.

The flowery vines covering the structure are predatory, carnivorous and especially attracted to open wounds. The locals, who’ve surrounded the base of the structure, are ready to kill anyone who comes into physical contact with a vine, as shockingly depicted to they shoot one of their own children. So the tourists are stranded at the top with no phone service and precious little food or water, all while being stalked by hungry plants. Believe it or not, it’s not as stupid as it sounds. 

Yardwork sucks, especially when the yard fights back.

Again, the first 20 minutes are almost painful to watch. These 20-something characters are not-only shallowly written, the dialogue is often cringeworthy. However, the film soon turns into a dark, extremely brutal fight for survival, and the psychological toll the situation takes on these characters actually manages to make them more interesting. Not only is the tone extremely bleak, the body horror elements - vines burrowing their way through victims’ bodies - are vivid, gruesome and mostly pretty convincing. 

Speaking of convincing, The Ruins also features one of the nastiest, most jaw-dropping amputation sequences I’ve ever seen in a mainstream horror film. Without going into detail, it’s long, agonizing and extraordinarily graphic. Viewers even remotely squeamish about broken bones will probably find themselves covering their eyes.

It’s kind of a shame The Ruins remains underseen, never enjoying the cult following that has rescued plenty of other horror movies from obscurity. While never particularly scary - nor does the whole equal the sum of its parts - it’s a frequently unnerving film that manages to get under your skin. Considering the inherently goofy premise, that’s quite an accomplishment.

This is a re-issue of a previous released Blu-ray. There are no technical upgrades or additional bonus features.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Making The Ruins is your basic behind-the-scenes featuring interviews with the cast & crew; Creeping Death is about the creation of the killer vines and nasty gore effects; Building The Ruins focuses on set design.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Carter Smith and editor Jeff Betancourt.

DELETED SCENES

Revisiting BRINGING OUT THE DEAD in 4K

BRINGING OUT THE DEAD (4K UHD)

1999 / 121 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Princess Pepper😺

That bastion of accuracy, Wikipedia, currently defines Bringing Out the Dead as a “supernatural horror drama film.” Of course, anything you read on that website should be taken with a grain of salt, but in revisiting the film for the first time since 1999, I have to concede it does sometimes have a horror aesthetic. Or more accurately, the entire thing unfolds like some kind of nightmarish fever dream.

Still, Wikipedia may want to reconsider their policy of allowing anybody to edit the site.

As for the movie itself…we here at Free Kittens hold director Martin Scorsese in the highest regard. Not everything he’s made has been great, but with the possible except of New York, New York, they’ve all been worth seeing. 1999’s Bringing Out the Dead remains one of his less-heralded efforts - for good reason - though it does have its share of admirers, who’ll certainly like this 25th Anniversary 4K edition, #47 in the Paramount Presents series.

But while Bringing Out the Dead doesn’t rank among Scorsese’s greatest pictures, it arguably features one of Nicholas Cage’s greatest performances. As burnt-out, tormented paramedic Frank Pierce, he perfectly conveys the character’s weariness, depression, cynicism and, most significantly, perpetual guilt over failing to save a young girl’s life months before…a tragedy that haunts him every night. Displaying just the right measures of desperation and vulnerability, this is Cage at his most dynamic. 

"Nice shot, Frank! Fifty points!"

Elsewhere, the setting, dark tone and episodic nature of the film reminds me a little of Taxi Driver, minus the terrifying protagonist. But unlike that classic, this one is populated by too many broadly-drawn secondary characters, compounded by some overwrought performances (especially those of Ving Rhames and Tom Sizemore). Maybe that’s intentional in order to convey the black comedy elements of Paul Schrader’s screenplay, but it’s sometimes handled with the subtly of a mallet. 

Still, we’ll take second-tier Scorsese over most other directors’ magnum opuses any damn day of the week, and though it’s a bit overlong, Bringing Out the Dead remains a gritty, engaging and occasionally haunting film with some stunning moments (both creatively and technically). Like other recent Paramount Presents releases, it boasts an excellent 4K transfer and includes a great batch of new bonus features, along with some carried over from previous versions.

Just don’t call it a horror movie.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

NEW FEATURETTES - Filmmaker Focus features director Martin Scorsese, who is always worth listening to; A Rumination on Salvation is a new interview with Nicholas Cage; Cemetery Streets is a new interview with screenwriter Paul Schrader; City of Ghosts is a new interview with cinematographer Robert Richardson.

ON SET - Individual archival interviews with actors Patricia Arquette, Ving Rhames John Goodman, MarcAnthony and Tom Sizemore.

BLUE DESERT: Looks Aren't Everything

BLUE DESERT (DVD)

2013 / 92 min

FROM INDIEPIX

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Baffled😾

This Brazilian sci-fi film is visually striking, both naturally, with numerous scenes of red desert hills vividly contrasting a piercing blue sky, and through creative production design, depicting a future world of ethereal technology and aesthetic eye-candy.

However, looks aren’t everything.

Blue Desert is an utterly baffling film about a young man named Ele (Odilon Esteves), who’s tormented by his mundane daily existence and seeks to find transcendence. Also serving as the narrarator, Ele is repeatedly reminding us of his quest as he goes through life trying to empty his mind of societal clutter. He also has visions of an old man in the desert, whose goal is to paint it all blue. Hence the title, I guess, though the significance of these scenes are never clear…

…nor is anything else, really, including a lengthy and interminable sequence in a nightclub that we’re forced to endure twice. This is where he meets a mysterious woman, Alma (Maria Luisa Mendonça), who leads him through a perplexing conversation about love before making out with him. Then she disappears. Later, the same sequence is played again, only with their roles reversed. The entire time, an MC spouts pretentious gobbledegook about…well, your guess is as good as mine. Ele's best friend pops up now and again to verbally spare with him, but neither he nor Alma have any discernible relevance to the narrative.

Ele loses his beach ball.

I'm saying 'narrative' like I could actually follow it. I don’t have a problem with ambiguity, or even a filmmaker’s attempt to leave viewers completely perplexed. However, director Eder Santos should at least keep things interesting. Not only is Blue Desert confusing, it’s a colossal bore and moves at a snail’s pace. Characterization is almost non-existent and the only significant thing revealed about the main character is he likes to tinker with robots. It’s just a series of hallucinatory sequences strung together by indecipherable dialogue that sounds profound, but maybe someone smarter than me can explain what the hell any of it means. Speaking of which, some of that dialogue is apparently lifted directly from a book by Yoko Ono, which should tell you something. 

The film ends as it begins, in the barren desert beneath a blue sky. There’s no climax, no discernible resolution and absolutely no clarity. Ultimately, watching Blue Desert is like going on a date with someone who’s drop-dead gorgeous, but might be the dullest person you ever met.

THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK (4K): Somewhere In There Is A Great Film

THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK (4K UHD)

2004 / 119 & 135 min (2 cuts)

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

If nothing else, this is the best The Chronicles of Riddick has ever looked on home video, with an excellent 4K transfer of both the theatrical version and the director’s cut. For at least the first viewing, even the overblown world-building elements that originally sank this sequel are visually striking enough to maintain interest. 

Additionally, this three-disc set is loaded with substantial new bonus features to go along with a plethora of archival ones, including a terrific feature-length retrospective documentary where everyone involved is still enthusiastic over the decision to make Riddick (Vin Diesel) a mythic character in an epic saga. Their enthusiasm is kinda contagious and I really enjoyed their recollections of creating a film that was intentionally different from the first.

And you know what? I believe there’s still a pretty great film somewhere in that Dune-like mess that became The Chronicles of Riddick. Had the gritty, violent middle act been expanded to become the entire story, it could’ve been the Pitch Black sequel it’s antihero deserved. The scenes taking place on the prison planet, Cremetoria, with its 700 degree days and minus 300 degree nights, make for some intriguing and suspenseful set pieces. No supernatural elements, no semi-zombified armies and - best of all - far less emphasis on elaborate spectacle. Just Riddick taking on mercs while rescuing Jack/Kyra (Alexa Devalos) from this subterranean hell. This lengthy segment remains the best part of the film...like the cream filling in a Twinkie.

The rest picks up five years after the events in the first film and Riddick has a huge bounty on his head. Meanwhile, a hostile army known as Necromongers, led by Lord Marshall (Colm Feore), are picking off planets one-by-one, laying waste to entire civilizations and killing anyone to doesn't convert to their faith. The next planet in their path is Helion Prime, the home of New Mecca, where people from all over the galaxy have congregated to live in peace. They are also the folks who put the bounty on Riddick. 

After checking in, Riddick realizes he misplaced his luggage.

It turns out Riddick is the last of the Furyans, the only race that Necromongers are afraid of. Judy Dench, in a wasted role as an omniscient “Elemental”, pleads for Riddick's help, just as the Necromongers land on Helion and start kicking ass. Meanwhile, several of Lord Marshall’s trusted underlings are secretly plotting against him, mercs are still chasing Riddick down, the good folks of Helion Prime are systematically being turned into Necromongers and Riddick is tormented by visions of his homeworld, as well as his destiny (which is to get even, of course).

That’s three times the plot of Pitch Black and not the direction I would have gone with a sequel. Wall-to-wall action & special effects take the place of atmosphere & characterization, when a tight & grungy story would have at least retained the tone of the original. Instead, director David Twohy simply plops a familiar character into a new (and much bigger) story, but Riddick's character is not much of an antihero here. In Pitch Black, he’s a remorseless criminal. In this sequel, Riddick is served-up as some kind of “chosen one.” Oh well, at least everyone came to their senses for the third film and reverted Riddick back to his ruthless, antisocial self. 

The Chronicles of Riddick is a decent film with visually stunning moments and a terrific middle act. It’s just too busy to be an effective sequel to Pitch Black. Still, this is another great release from Arrow Video that fans of the franchise will surely love. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.

THEATRICAL & DIRECTOR'S CUT - The latter runs about 15 minutes longer, with additional scenes mostly related to Riddick’s Furyan past.

THEATRICAL CUT (in 1.78:1 aspect ratio)

AMBITION ON ANOTHER SCALE: CHRONICLING A BLOCKBUSTER SEQUEL - By far the best of the bonus features, this is an new feature-length documentary about the making of the film. Includes numerous interviews with cast and crew, including writer-director David Twohy, actors Keith David & Linus Roache, artists Brian Murray & Matt Codd, miniature FX designer Ian Hunter and digital matte artist Dylan Cole.

NEW INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with David Twohy, Keith David and Brian Murray.

ARCHIVAL FEATURETTES - Creation of New Mecca; Riddick Rises; Keep What You Kill; Visual Effects Revealed.

ARCHIVAL INTERVIEWS - With most of the main cast, as well as David Twohy and producer Kroopf.

VIRTUAL GUIDE TO THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK - As told by some of the characters.

TOOMBS’ CHASE LOG - Narrated by Toombs (Nick Chinlund, who played him in the film).

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By David Twohy & Vin Diesel; 2) By actors Karl Urban & Alexa Devalos.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE

DELETED SCENES

INTRO BY DAVID TWOHY

2 TRAILERS