4k Review of Kinds of Kindness

 

Kinds of Kindness is available on digital and out on Blu-ray and DVD on October 8th.

The movie features three stories, starting with a man trying to take control of his life, a policeman whose wife was missing-at-sea has returned and seems like a different person, and a woman who is determined to find a person with a special ability and destined to become a spiritual leader. 

Now, the films of Yorgos Lanthimos have an acquired taste. Some of his films stay within the realm of understanding while others are offbeat and require some patience to understand the perspective. Kinds of Kindness is far from being offbeat. There is little to no setup to what is happening as you sit there and try to figure out what is unfolding. And as we have come to expect from Lanthimos, this film uses sexuality to help the story. If you are not a fan of graphic nudity and sexual situations then this is a movie to avoid. While the film will more than provide a lot of discussion, the pay off at the end isn't worth the very long runtime. At times it is a tough film to watch and definitely not a film for everyone. 

Video:

The streaming 4K presentation is nearly perfect here. Color reproduction and skin tones are practically flawless. The blacks and shadows are inky and stand out when combined with mixed content.  

Audio:

The audio mix is very front heavy as to be expected with this type of movie. Dialogue, music and sound effects are crystal clear. There is very little use of the surround channels but when utilized create an enveloping experience. 

Bonus Features:

Featurette

• It Takes All Kinds: The Vision of Kinds of Kindness

• Join cast and crew for a behind-the-scenes look at this unique triptych story written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou. See how the sets, costumes, cinematography and music amplify the film's themes, and discover — maybe — what RMF stands for.

 

Deleted Scenes

• Robert ignores the SatNav

• Liz isn't recognized

 

Conclusion:

Kinds of Kindness is another bizarre and perplexing film from Yorgos Lanthimos. The 4K Digital version features excellent video and audio along with a few bonus features. The film is definitely not for everyone but I do recommend it for Lanthimos fans or those that enjoy different types of films. 

*The movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment solely for the purpose of review and the review is strictly my opinion*

The Sixth Sense/Signs 4K Digital Review

For the first time ever, M. Knight Shyamalan's movies The Sixth Sense and Signs are out on 4K UHD Digital and coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray disc on October 22.

It's crazy to think that the films are 25 and 23 years old. The original negatives for both films were scanned at 4K resolution and restored in High Dynamic Range (HDR).  

Once you have seen The Sixth Sense, you can never see it the same way again. So watching the 4K presentation was really watching the masterpiece that Shyamalan put together. Bruce Willis play Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist meets 8 year old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment). Crowe is not prepared for the things that haunt Cole. The brilliant performance of Osment also brings it all together. 

The 4K video is great for a film shot on film and restored. The shadows, and there are a lot of shadows, are rich and inky. The colors are vibrant and the details of the clothing and skin tones are very evident here.

The audio mix is subtle as there is not much use of the surround channels but dialogue, score and sound effects are crystal clear. 

Signs is the alien invasion movie for people who aren't into crazy special effects or large battles. It will make you question if things happen for a reason or just a coincidence. It tests the faith of Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), a former reverend who lives with his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) and two children on a farm in Pennsylvania. After the accidental death of his wife, he has left his congregation and has lost hope in the things he stood for as a pastor. 

The 4K presentation looks even better than The Sixth Sense. The video is crisp and clean and the colors are vibrant. The audio also gets a boost and the surround channels are very effective with all the subtle sound effects. The dialogue is crisp and clear here and the score has never sounded better.

Conclusion:

The films are two of my favorites from Shyamalan and have never looked or sounded better. I really wish there were some sort of bonus material here for either film. If you have never seen them, this is the way to watch the for the first time. If you have seen them then they will be a welcomed addition to your library if you haven't added them already.

*The films were sent to me by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of reviewing but the review is strictly my own opinion*

DISNEY ANIMATION’S “MOANA 2” -- NEW TV SPOT AND POSTER

 

A new TV spot offers a sneak peek at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana 2,” including a new song, “We’re Back,” from the film. The epic animated musical, which opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024, reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.  

 

The voice cast also features returning stars Rachel House (Gramma Tala), Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui) and Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), as well as Hualālai Chung, David Fane and Rose Matafeo as Moana’s new crew members Moni, Kele and Loto, respectively. Awhimai Fraser voices mysterious new character Matangi; Gerald Ramsey plays Moana’s ancestor, Tautai Vasa; and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda lends her voice to Moana’s adoring and adorable little sister, Simea. 

 

Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. Jared Bush and Miller are writing the film, which is executive produced by Jennifer Lee, Bush and Johnson. 

Alien: Romulus Invades Digital Retailers on Oct. 15 and Terrorizes on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Dec. 3

 

The legendary Alien franchise gives birth to an all-new terrifying sci-fi horror thriller when 20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus arrives to digital retailers (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) on October 15 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on December 3.

Director Fede Alvarez takes the phenomenally successful Alien franchise back to its iconic roots in the next jaw-dropping installment heralded by critics as “sheer terror” (Brian Truitt, USA Today) and “utterly breathtaking” (Andrew J. Salazar, Discussing Film). Alien: Romulus is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ and has already thrilled audiences at the box office, becoming the second highest grossing film in the Alien franchise globally.

Alien: Romulus is the start of a new chapter with a brand-new story unlike any other Alien movie that came before it, featuring all-new creatures and characters that are “tense enough to grab you by the throat” (Owen Gleiberman, Variety). Fans can delve deeper into the Alien franchise with all-new exclusive bonus features, including featurettes with filmmakers Fede Alvarez and Ridley Scott, behind the scenes content, and alternate and extended scenes. The 4K UHD will be available in a collectible limited edition SteelBook® with custom artwork and packaging.

The original 1979 sci-fi thriller, Alien, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Fans can experience the terror in a 2-Movie Collection digital bundle (Alien & Alien: Romulus) on October 15 in 4K UHD, HD and SD.

Bonus Features*
Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus

• The Director’s Vision – Discover how one of today’s greatest horror directors, Fede Alvarez, collaborated with master filmmaker Ridley Scott to craft a new, heart-pounding chapter in the Alien franchise.
• Creating the Story – Learn what inspired the story of Alien: Romulus and see the many easter eggs from previous Alien installments that you may have missed.
• Casting the Faces – Meet the stars of Alien: Romulus as they take us inside the hearts and minds of their characters. Explore the parallels between Rain and the iconic franchise heroine, Ripley, and learn how filmmakers brought back a face from the past.
• Constructing the World – Explore the massive, practical sets of Alien: Romulus that hearken back to the futuristic style established in the '80s and get up close and personal with a hoard of practically built facehuggers, chestbursters, and xenomorphs.

Inside the Xenomorph Showdown – Experience the film’s climactic zero-gravity sequence from every angle as filmmakers break down what it took to make the moment spectacular. From sets and performances, to wirework, stunts, and VFX, see how it all came together.

Alien: A Conversation – A special conversation with Ridley Scott and Fede Alvarez for the Alien 45th Anniversary theatrical re-release.

Alternate / Extended Scenes – Check out scenes that didn't make the final cut.