The Corner Penthouse

Join me as I do a quick review round-up for the best of this month's new home video releases...

All of the items below have already been released and are available for purchase from Amazon at the links provided. The Corner Penthouse will earn a very tiny commission from your purchase using these links.



• BUY IT: Blu-ray.

• SYNOPSIS: Kull The Conqueror (1997) - Action superstar Kevin Sorbo slams evil as Kull the Conqueror, a fearless barbarian warrior who, through skill and bravery, becomes king. The Cowboy Way (1994) - Hold onto your hats and get ready for a wild ride! Woody Harrelson, Kiefer Sutherland and Dylan McDermott bring the wide-open plains to the crowded city in this rip-roarin' action-comedy! The Jackal (1997) - A ruthless assassin (Bruce Willis) has been hired to eliminate someone at the very top of the U.S. government. Constantly changing his identity and location, this shadowy figure is known only as the Jackal. End of Days (1999) - All hell breaks loose when Arnold Schwarzenegger battles the ultimate evil in this chilling supernatural action thriller!

• SPECIAL FEATURES: None.

• RATING: Kull The Conqueror is rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence and sensuality. The Cowboy Way is rated PG-13 for violence, some language and comic sensuality. The Jackal is rated R for strong violence and language. End of Days is rated R for intense violence and gore, a strong sex scene and language.

• NOTES: This two-disc set features two movies per disc, all in English with optional English subtitles. It's a decent collection of films, but Mill Creek previously released Kull The Conqueror on Retro VHS Blu-ray, so it would have been nice if they chose a different Universal title to include in its place here.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Mill Creek Entertainment for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: Inspired by Steven Spielberg's own childhood, rediscover the magic of movies in The Fabelmans, a coming-of-age story about a young man uncovering a shattering family secret and the power of film and imagination to help us see the truth about ourselves and each other. With a star-studded cast featuring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, and Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans tells a timeless tale of heartbreak, healing, and hope for the dreamer inside all of us.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: The Fabelmans: A Personal Journey (11:00) - Steven Spielberg reflects on how The Fabelmans is inspired by his own personal story and family. Family Dynamics (15:28) - Discover how the film's cast brought The Fabelmans to life as Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and more build a bridge between their onscreen personalities and their true-life counterparts. Crafting the World of The Fabelmans (22:04) - From costume and set design to music and cinematography, the filmmakers behind The Fabelmans reveal how they created movie magic while capturing the film's unique look.

• RATING: PG-13 for some strong language, thematic elements, brief violence and drug use.

• NOTES: A semiautobiographical biopic centered on Steven Spielberg, who wrote and directed. It's a very touching drama that runs for 2 and a half hours, so it may not be for everyone.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for review on this site.



• BUY IT: Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: This debut feature by Robert Townsend is an ingenious guerrilla satire that takes riotous aim at the typecasting of Black actors in 1980s Hollywood. The writer-director-star's megawatt charisma propels Hollywood Shuffle, the hilarious tale of a struggling actor attempting to break into an industry where the only roles available to Black performers seem to be hustlers, butlers, slaves, and "Eddie Murphy types" - forcing him to choose between selling out and maintaining his self-respect. Lampooning everything from film noir to zombie flicks to Siskel and Ebert, Townsend and cowriter Keenen Ivory Wayans cannily turn the frustrations of the Black artist into a subversively funny pop-culture critique.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary - with writer-director-actor Robert Townsend. Doing the Hollywood Shuffle (24:12) - A new documentary featuring recent interviews with actors Rusty Cundieff, Anne-Marie Johnson, and Bobby McGee. Robert Townsend with Elvis Mitchell (27:02) - A conversation recorded for film critic Elvis Mitchell's radio show The Treatment which first aired on October 22, 2022. Theatrical Trailer (1:52).

• RATING: R.

• NOTES: As is usual for the Criterion Collection, the disc is enclosed in a thick, clear plastic Blu-ray case with a fold-out liner booklet featuring an essay by critic Aisha Harris.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by The Criterion Collection for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD, Blu-ray.

• SYNOPSIS: Welcome to the 31st century and the Legion Academy, where a new generation hones its powers with hopes of joining the Legion of Super-Heroes. Among its ranks is Supergirl (Meg Donnelly), who struggles to adjust to life on Earth after devastating tragedy. Taking her cousin Superman's (Darren Criss) advice, Supergirl leaves her former space-time to attend the academy. She quickly makes new friends, as well as a new enemy with old ties: Brainiac 5 (Harry Shum Jr.). But a nefarious plot lurks in the shadows - the mysterious group known as the Dark Circle seeks a powerful weapon held in the academy's vault. Find out if the budding heroes can rise to stop them in this all-new DC Universe Movie!

• SPECIAL FEATURES: The Legion Behind The Legion (4:40) – It took a heroic effort from a legion of writers, artists, animators and filmmakers to bring Legion of Super-Heroes to life. In this featurette, filmmakers and stars give us a deep dive into the making of the movie, from the original story idea through character development and final animation. Down to Earth: The Story of Supergirl (8:21) – Supergirl's narrow escape from Krypton and her arrival on Earth is just the beginning of our story (literally). In this featurette, filmmakers explain why they chose to center Legion of Super-Heroes on Supergirl, what the backstory is between her and Superman at the start of the movie, and what exactly is going on between her and Brainiac 5. Meet the Legionnaires (9:24) – There are dozens and dozens of Legion members, many of whom are featured in Legion of Super-Heroes. Who made the cut, and why? Lucky for us, the filmmakers are here to introduce us to each one - and give us some background on who they are, and why they're important to the movie. Brainiac Attack: The Intellect Behind the Super-Villain (8:14) – In Legion of Super-Heroes, Brainiac 5 proves himself to be the pinnacle of all Brainiac iterations, but how did he become that way? In this featurette, filmmakers explain what we should we know about the 4 Brainiacs who came before him, and how – and why – Brainiac 5 chose his own path. From the DC Vault: Superman: The Animated Series (21:17/21:29) - The episodes "Little Girl Lost" Parts 1 & 2, which originally aired as a two-part Season 2 finale in 1998 and, appropriately enough, focuses on Supergirl.

• RATING: PG-13 for some violence and language.

• NOTES: Not the best of the DC animated films, but still a fun little outing aimed at teenagers and young adults, who could easily relate to the themes there in. The movie looks and sounds great, and it's nice that Meg Donnelly, one of my favorite actresses, voices the lead character.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.



• BUY IT: Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: After 17 years in the ring, it's the final bell for Mountain Rivera (Anthony Quinn). A fight doctor confirms one more punch for the washed-up heavyweight could leave him permanently disabled. Reluctantly, but with the support of his faithful trainer (Mickey Rooney) and a kindly employment counselor (Julie Harris), Rivera tries to land a job outside the ring. But his calculating manager Maish (Jackie Gleason) has other plans for Rivera. With the mob closing in on him for payment of a huge gambling debt, Maish coerces Rivera into returning to the ring for a lucrative and humiliating career in staged wrestling matches.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: None.

• RATING: Not Rated.

• NOTES: A classic film that, no doubt, was the inspiration of Darren Aronofsky's film The Wrestler (2008), starring Mickey Rourke. Even if you're not a fan of boxing (I'm not), Requiem for a Heavyweight is an excellent drama and character piece, with a screenplay written by Rod Serling; yes, the host of The Twilight Zone. The first print run includes a slipcover.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Mill Creek Entertainment for review on this site.



• BUY IT: Blu-ray.

• SYNOPSIS: Creature With the Atom Brain (1955) - Richard Denning stars as a police Medical Examiner hot on the trail of a mob boss who's hired a scientist to re-animate his dead thugs to do his dirty work! It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955) - In Ray Harryhousen's vintage sci-fi thriller, a giant, radioactive octopus make the mistake of attacking a Navy submarine, prompting the commander to pursue the beast. As the military races to develop a torpedo that will penetrate the octopus's brain and destroy it, the monstrosity discovers how to survive on land, wreaking havoc in San Francisco. 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) - On its way home from Venus, a U.S. Army rocket crashes into the sea, leaving Colonel Robert Calder (William Hopper) as the sole survivor. A sealed container is also recovered containing a gelatinous mass that escapes and grows into a giant, horrific monster. Calder calls in the Army to help fight the monster, but it will take more than man's weapons to fight the evil creature. The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959) - Artie Pinsetter (Lou Costello) is a would-be inventor who needs to create something in a hurry when his girlfriend Emmy Lou (Dorothy Provine)is mysteriously turned into a giantess. This wacky spoof of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and other sci-fi "growth" epics of that era is skillfully helmed by veteran actor/director Sidney Miller.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary on Creature With the Atom Brain - with Phoef Sutton and Mark Jordan Legan of the "Film Freaks Forever" podcast. Audio Commentary on It Came From Beneath the Sea - with Justin Humphreys and C. Courtney Joyner, who are Ray Harryhausen superfans. Audio Commentary on The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock - with Larry Strothe, Matt Weinhold, Shawn Sheridan, and James Gonis of The Monster Party Podcast. They Came from Beyond (25:49) - A retrospective feature on Producer Sam Katzman. Fantastical Features (14:45) - A retrospective look at the career of Director Nathan Juran.

• RATING: All of the movies are Not Rated.

• NOTES: This two-disc set features two movies per disc, all in English with optional English subtitles. The first print run includes a slipcover. Most of the films look decent, but Creature With the Atom Brain looks HORRIBLE! The picture is interlaced at 60fps with every line jagged. I don't know if the fault lies with the master Sony provided or with Mill Creek's encoding. All of the other films are 24fps progressive and look better, including the two with the Ray Harryhausen effects: It Came From Beneath the Sea and 20 Million Miles to Earth, the latter of which has a Sony Pictures Television logo at the end. I really wish Mill Creek would have included the trailers for each of the films, but when you consider that most of the studio's releases don't have special features, I can't really complain too much.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Mill Creek Entertainment for review on this site.



• BUY IT: Blu-ray.

• SYNOPSIS: The Black Room (1935) - Twin brothers (both Boris Karloff) are born to a ruling family. One twin inherits a castle and becomes infamous for his sadistic behavior and murders the other twin, assuming his identity. The Man They Could Not Hang (1939) - A doctor (Boris Karloff) working on experiments to restore life to the dead is hanged for murder. Brought back to life by his assistant, he sets about murdering the jury that convicted him. Before I Hang (1940) - Sentenced to die for a mercy death, Dr. John Garth (Boris Karloff) spends his final days on his experiments. Before his end, he injects himself with serum from a maniac's blood to deadly effect. The Man With Nine Lives (1940) - Dr. Leon Kravaal (Boris Karloff) seeks a cure for cancer by freezing bodies in suspended animation, eventually freezing himself. Thawed 10 years later, he continues his research using his enemies. The Devil Commands (1941) - Dr. Julian Blair (Boris Karloff), obsessed with communication beyond the grave, registers brain activity in a corpse. When he escalates his work taking desperate measures, the bodies begin to pile up. The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942) - An addled scientist (Boris Karloff) and a conniving huckster (Peter Lorre) attempt scientific experiments in the basement of a hotel, leaving bodies piling up in the cellar in this comedic thriller. The Return of the Vampire (1943) - A 200-year old Vampire (Bela Lugosi) prowls the countryside feeding on villagers until a railroad spike is driven through his heart. He is entombed for decades until a German bomb releases him. Five (1951) - A woman (Susan Douglas) and four men (William Phipps, James Anderson, Charles Lampkin, Earl Lee) survive a nuclear explosion and seek shelter in a house. They must work together, but their clashing visions of the future could lead to their destruction.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary on The Black Room - with Steve Haberman. Audio Commentary on The Man They Could Not Hang - with C. Courtney Joyner and Heath Holland. Audio Commentary on The Devil Commands - with Tom Weaver. Audio Commentary on The Boogie Man Will Get You - with Larry Strothe, Matt Weinhold, Shawn Sheridan, and James Gonis of The Monster Party Podcast. Madness and Mayhem: Horror in the 30s & 40s (36:17) - A retrospective look at the Horror films of the 1930s and 1940s.

• RATING: All of the movies are Not Rated.

• NOTES: This four-disc set features two movies per disc, all in English with optional English subtitles. The first print run includes a slipcover. I really wish Mill Creek would have included the trailers for each of the films, but when you consider that most of the studio's releases don't have special features, I can't really complain too much.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Mill Creek Entertainment for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: Every day a war rages between drug dealers and cops on the streets of America's inner cities. With every war come casualties, none greater than 13-year veteran Los Angeles narcotics officer Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), whose questionable methods blur the line between legal and corrupt. Today Alonzo gets a new partner, idealistic rookie Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), and Jake has one day -- and one day only -- to prove his mettle to his fiercely charismatic superior. Over 24 hours, Jake will be dragged into the ethical mire of Alonzo's logic as both men risk their careers and their lives to serve conflicting notions of justice.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: The commentary can be found on both discs; everything else is on the Blu-ray disc only. Audio Commentary - by director Antoine Fuqua. Training Day: Crossing The Line (15:02) - HBO First Look making of featurette. Alternative Ending (4:46). Deleted Scenes (12:33). Nelly's "#1" Music Video (4:10). Pharoahe Monch's "Got You" Music Video (4:21). Theatrical Trailer (2:24).

• RATING: R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, drug content and brief nudity.

• NOTES: What a gripping, relentless film that takes place over the course of a single day. Excellent performances by stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Highly recommended.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.



• BUY IT: Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound taking everyone inside hostage, they are not prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour).

• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary - with director Tommy Wirkola, producer Guy Danella, and writers Pat Casey & Josh Miller. Deleted and Extended Scenes (19:02) - Includes these none scenes: "Family Arrives at the Mansion", "Jason and Linda in Bedroom", "Krampus Sees Trudy's Radio", "Santa on the Roof", "Walk to the Manger", "Family Resolution", "Bad Dad", "Cast Call Back", and "Extended Scenes". Quarrelin' Kringle (3:45) - Cast and crew relay why David Harbour is the perfect brawler for this combative rendition of Santa. Santa's Helpers: The Making of Violent Night (5:56) - Tommy Wirkola and David Leitch have reunited for another madcap, violent fairytale with heart in Violent Night. This making-of will celebrate their spirited reunion as well as the other little helpers. Deck the Halls with Brawls (6:04) - Go behind the action as we go blow for blow with the new villains of Christmas.

• RATING: R for strong bloody violence, language throughout and some sexual references.

• NOTES: I caught this film in theaters back in December, and not since Spider-Man: No Way Home, have I had so much fun at the cinema. Violent Night is a crazy mix of Die Hard, Home Alone, and Bad Santa; and it all works well together. It's a fun popcorn flick, and as long as you go into it not expecting more than that, you'll enjoy the film.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD (Steelbook Pkg), 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: An unlikely romance between beautiful teen girl Julie (Teresa Palmer) and sensitive undead slacker R (Nicholas Hoult) sets off a chain of events with the power to transform the world.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary - with director Jonathan Levine and actors Nicholas Hoult & Teresa Palmer. Boy Meets, Er, Doesn't Eat Girl (9:49) - Some background on how the film came to be. R&J (16:21) - A look at the romantic aspect. A Little Less Dead (16:41) - Focuses on the film's casting. Extreme Zombie Make-Over (10:11) - A profile of make-up artist Adrien Morot. A Wreck in Progress (14:59) - Finding appropriate locations. Bustin' Caps (10:09) - Teresa Palmer discusses some of the action sequences. Beware the Boneys (7:04) - The really scary zombies. Whimsical Sweetness: Teresa Palmer's Warm Bodies Home Movies (12:38) - Teresa Palmer's fun behind the scenes footage. Zombie Acting Tips with Rob Corddry (4:43) - A clip from the Screen Junkies YouTube channel. On the Blu-ray disc, a YouTube "Recommended Videos" screen appears at the end, which was (wisely) cut off from the video on the UHD disc. Deleted Scenes (11:11) - Many scenes, with optional director commentary. Shrug & Groan Gag Reel (5:07). Theatrical Trailer (2:32).

• RATING: PG-13 for zombie violence and some language.

• NOTES: Both of the discs are the same as what was previously released (see "Buy It" section above); the Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook packaging is new. The Steelbook features nice red and orange tinted illustrations of several of the key characters. The inside has an illustration showing a close-up of a zombie's eyes, where the eyes are placed under the holders for each disc. A clear plastic slipcover is included, which features the zombie R on the over with a clear space where his heart would be. It's a really beautiful case.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Lionsgate for review on this site.

If you're looking for more cool stuff to buy, check out all of the other items I've reviewed over the years. I'm sure you'll find something you'll love.