The Andromeda Strain
It’s another jam-packed week of releases in May, including a high-profile theatrical release, some terrific catalogue outings, and even some super cool new toys! Add to that some television collections, some rarities, and some classic titles, and we’ve got something for everyone this week!
In This Week’s Column:
- Mickey 17 (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
- The Andromeda Strain (4K Ultra HD)
- Masters of the Universe: Revelation/Revolution (Blu-ray Steelbook)
- Better Man (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
- Rick & Morty: The Anime (Blu-ray)
- Star Wars: May the 4th Funko Pops (Toys)
- Ben 10: The Complete Series (DVD)
- Ultraman Trigger (Blu-ray)
- Striking Rescue (Blu-ray)
- Jack the Ripper & Unknown World (Blu-ray)
- Girl With a Suitcase (Blu-ray)
Mickey 17 (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
The Movie:
I know that Bong Joon-Ho is considered an all-star director now, especially in the wake of the Academy Award-winning Parasite, but I’ve come to realize there’s a trend to Bong’s films, at least when it comes to my reaction to them: I’m going to like them… but I’ll stop short of loving them.
Now, I’ve been watching Bong’s films since 2006, when The Host came out, and at the time I was excited by this new-to-me director. A weird sort of creature film, The Host had some serious flaws, but overall, I liked it. Fast forward through Snowpiercer, Mother, Okja, Parasite, and now Mickey 17, and I always know what I’m going to get: a fantastic-looking movie largely populated by characters I don’t like doing things that I find morally questionable. I’ve figured out over the years that that’s the story he’s interested in telling, but it means I’m usually not going to outright love them.
Mickey 17 is no different. It takes place in the future where Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has taken a job as an “expendable” on a space ark to a new planet. The ship is run by a televangelist/Donald Trump stand-in (played by Mark Ruffalo) and his controlling wife Ylfa (Toni Collette). Mickey does the dangerous and dirty jobs, and when he dies, he’s reprinted and his memories are uploaded into the new body. But when a mishap leads to there being two Mickeys at once, things start to go haywire.
There’s a lot more to the film than just a clone comedy, though; there are alien creatures, romance, spaceship mechanics, and no small amount of sociopolitical satire. And while I did overall like the movie, at times I was unclear of exactly who I was supposed to be rooting for. Sure, I guess we’re rooting for Mickey 17, but even he’s kind of a moron. It’s one of those films that does exactly what it sets out to do, but the way it gets there just left me cold in some places.
The 4K Video/Audio:
Mickey 17 looks absolutely beautiful in 4K Ultra HD. The film has a lot of mechanical/sci-fi tones and settings in it, so while there isn’t necessarily a ton to work with, color saturation still manages to be terrific. There’s a sense of scope and scale that the 4K imagery really gets across, and the razor-sharp clarity is impeccable. The surround soundtrack has a lot to work with and it makes the most of it, featuring strong directional effects and an immersive soundfield, plus a thumping low-end bass that really gives the proceedings some oomph. It’s a terrific A/V presentation from start to finish.
The Bonus Features:
Digital Copy Included: Yes
The Wrap-Up:
Don’t get any of my comments wrong, I did actually enjoy Mickey 17 a fair amount. I just don’t know that it’s a repeat viewing kind of movie, as I find most of Bong Joon-Ho’s films to be more of a one-and-done experience for me. That said, there’s a lot to like here.
The Andromeda Strain (4K Ultra HD)
The Movie:
Arrow Video continues to maintain their growing reputation as the best home video purveyor on the market with their new 4K Ultra HD release of The Andromeda Strain, the 1971 film adaptation of Michael Crichton’s landmark novel. Directed by the great Robert Wise, this science thriller follows a team of scientists battling a deadly virus that has a secret origin.
What I love about this movie is how it feels like a Michael Crichton work. If you’ve read any of Crichton’s many amazing books, you’ll know that he really puts the “science” in science fiction, always making sure that even the most outlandish concepts are explained in a way that makes them seem plausible and realistic. The Andromeda Strain movie also takes that approach; it’s almost like watching a procedural on what to do in the case of a mysterious viral outbreak. Of course, it’s much more entertaining than that, but the Crichton vibe is definitely there.
It’s a terrific film, even if the effects and hairstyles are a bit dated. It’s not filled with big-name stars or huge special effects, but it will get your attention right from the very start and not let go until the very end. And what more can you ask for than that?
The 4K Video/Audio:
For an older film, The Andromeda Strain looks and sounds very good in the premium format. The color saturation is quite vibrant, image clarity is sharp, and shadow delineation is very strong, helpful in a film that features many darker moments. You won’t think it’s a brand-new movie, but the usual Arrow restoration and remastering has worked its magic here.The soundtrack isn’t the most immersive ever, but it does a great job of maximizing what it has to work with and extending the sounds of people trying to save the world into your living room.
The Bonus Features:
Not content to just upgrade the film to 4K, Arrow has created a great Collector’s Edition for fans that comes with a terrific collection of extra features, including an audio commentary, archival documentaries, and other goodies that explore the film further.
- Audio commentary by critic Bryan Reesman
- A New Strain of Science Fiction, an appreciation by critic Kim Newman
- The Andromeda Strain: Making the Film, an archive featurette from 2001 directed by Laurent Bouzereau and featuring interviews with director Robert Wise and screenwriter Nelson Gidding
- A Portrait of Michael Crichton, an archival featurette from 2001 directed by Laurent Bouzereau and featuring an interview with author Michael Crichton
- Cinescript Gallery, highlights from the annotated and illustrated shooting script by Nelson Gidding
- Theatrical trailer, TV spots and radio spots
- Image gallery
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing by Peter Tonguette and select archive material
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
The Andromeda Strain is an older movie than Arrow tackles a lot of the time, and it’s closer to “classic” status than “cult classic” status, but if the film’s own studio isn’t going to give it the premium release it deserves, then I’m more than happy for Arrow to take the reins.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation/Revolution (Blu-ray Steelbook)
The Show:
I grew up watching the original He-Man cartoon and I always loved it, so I’m forever open to anything that keeps the world of Eternia in the public eye. The first reboot series back in the early 2000s was a lot of fun, and so I was excited for this latest iteration. Launching on Netflix in 2021, Masters of the Universe: Revelation ran one season in two parts, totaling ten episodes, while the follow-up, Masters of the Universe: Revolution, aired in 2024 with just five episodes. That totals 15 episodes, which are all collected in this new Blu-ray Steelbook set from Mill Creek.
The show, which was produced and written by none other than Kevin Smith (one of my favorite filmmakers), takes the original He-Man concept and tweaks it for a new audience and a new age. The show eschews fully-CGI animation for a more traditional hand-drawn style, and it also aims for an all-ages or younger audience rather than just a nostalgic older audience like previous iterations have done. Personally, I love that; there’s nothing wrong with making a cartoon show for kids. The best way to get He-Man to live on is to get new generations of kids interested in him. But the show lives right in that sweet spot; it’s accessible enough that viewers of all-ages can enjoy it, but also written maturely enough that adults can enjoy it without it being “adult-oriented” per se. Frankly, it’s a perfect balance.
As a Netflix property, I just assumed we would never get a home video release of Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution as Netflix is extremely stingy when it comes to any of their properties hitting home video, but now Mill Creek gives us a gorgeous Steelbook Blu-ray release that will be right at home in any He-Man fan’s collection.
The Bonus Features:
Sadly, there are no bonus features, but that’s pretty typical for Netflix home video releases.
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
As a Kevin Smith fan and a He-Man fan, I couldn’t be more excited to own a physical copy of this terrific show and not just have it available through streaming. It looks great on Blu-ray and the Steelbook is absolutely gorgeous. Go track it down now!
Better Man (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
The Movie:
I don’t get it.
Before I go any further, let me state that I REALLY enjoyed Better Man, a biopic of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. But what I don’t get is why you would choose to make a biopic of a popular singer and make him into a CGI monkey for the entirety of the film.
Yes, you read that right. Throughout Better Man, Williams is portrayed as a giant ape who looks like he just stepped off the set of the latest Planet of the Apes movie. And while the special effects are outstanding — and there’s a metaphor in there for how Williams sees himself — it’s weird. And kind of distracting. And I don’t get it.
Because here’s the thing: Better Man is a really, really good film. Directed by Michael Gracey, who’s last movie was just the international juggernaut called The Last Showman, the film is endearing, well-acted, and beautifully shot. There are some musical numbers that rival anything in The Greatest Showman, and it’s clear that Gracey knows how to craft a musical that is better than 95% of the others out there.
So why, oh why, would you portray your lead character as an ape in world surrounded by humans? Not only is it jarring, but it surely had to add to the budget, which was a whopping $110 million. For a pop star who is internationally famous yet almost equally unheard of in the United States — where a big chunk of many movies’ box office dollars come from — it doesn’t make financial sense. You could have just had an actor play Williams and saved yourself $50 million, easy. And judging by the film’s worldwide box office, that would have been the prudent move.
That all said, I loved the film. The monkey bit eventually stops standing out and just becomes part of the film, so that’s good. But I can’t help but think it’s going to keep a lot of people from watching what is an excellent film simply because they think it looks silly or made up.
Yeah… I just don’t get it.
The 4K Video/Audio:
Better Man looks and sounds very good in the premium 4K format. There is what I would call a kind of intentional graininess that I suspect was intentional on the filmmaker’s part to give it more of cinema verite feel mixed in with the glamor of the lavish musical productions. Having never seen the movie theatrically, I have to imagine this is how it looked originally and was what was intended, and it fits the film well. Image clarity is sharp, however, and with such a visually sumptuous film, the overall effect is quite strong. The surround soundtrack isn’t the most immersive ever, but it does a great job of bringing the music and dialogue into your living room. Obviously, pop/rock and orchestral music drive the proceedings here, and it sounds lush and full as you would expect. Meanwhile, the powerful bass channel ensures that the low end is bolstered at all times. All in all, this is a very impressive A/V presentation.
The Bonus Features:
- Let Me Entertain You: The Making of Better Man
- Monkey Business: The VFX
Digital Copy Included: Yes
The Wrap-Up:
Don’t let the monkey business sway you from checking out Better Man. Even if you don’t know who Robbie Williams is, this film will win you over, and maybe make a fan out of you as well. I know I easily added a half-dozen songs to my playlist after watching the movie.
Rick & Morty: The Anime (Blu-ray)
The Show:
So I’m gonna keep this review a little short, because, you know… if you don’t have anything nice to say…
I’ve been pretty open over the years in my reviews about how I don’t like Rick & Morty. I know it has a huge fan following and I know I’m in the minority with my opinion, so nothing I say here is probably going to sway you if you’re a fan. I’ve also been pretty open about how I’m a casual anime fan at best, and not a die-hard anime watcher. Yet somehow, I talked myself into being positive about Rick & Morty: The Anime. After all, it’s by a completely different creator (writer-director Takashi Sano) and it has a more traditional sci-fi aspect to it, so maybe I’d have fun with it.
I did not.
Rick & Morty: The Anime takes everything about Rick & Morty and amplifies it… except for the humor. Even though I don’t find the original show particularly funny, at least there are a couple of chuckles per episode for me. But this show doesn’t even seem like it’s trying to be funny (and to be fair, I suspect it isn’t.) It’s got spaceships and aliens and laser beams… but it doesn’t have humor. Or a coherent plot to non-R&M fans. But again, if you’re a fan, you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did.
Rick & Morty: The Anime contains all ten episodes of the series.
The Bonus Features:
There are no bonus features on this release.
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
Just… either you’re a fan or you’re not. I’m not. If you are, it’s a good set for your money.
Star Wars: May the 4th Funko Pops (Toys)
The Toys:
As part of Funko’s May the 4th celebration, they dropped a huge assortment of Star Wars-related merchandise, including light-up backpacks, collectibles, and — of course — Funko Pop figures. While I didn’t receive their entire catalog for review, Funko was kind enough to provide a few samples for review, and I am happy to report that they are stellar products as always.
The three Pops I received were Boba Fett (Retro), Luke Skywalker (Red 5), and R2-D2 and Princess Leia Hologram. Now, I’ve been collecting Funko Pops since before they exploded in popularity, an d seeing their evolution over the years has always been impressive, but these are some of the sharpest looking figures I’ve seen yet.
The Boba Fett (Retro) Pop is styled to look like the old Star Wars comic books, so while it looks like a fairly regular Boba Fett, the shading and colors are so intricately applied and add so much depth to him that this has easily become my favorite Boba Fett Pop yet. Luke Skywalker (Red 5) sees Luke in his X-Wing Pilot outfit from his attack on the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope. Again, the detailing on his uniform — the goggles, the chest plate, the helmet — are so incredible that it’s hard to think of this as a Funko Pop and not a full-on action figure. Finally, R2-D2 and Princess Leia Hologram is one of the more deluxe Pops, with a box that’s about twice the size of a regular Pop box. It features R2 playing the Princess Leia recorded message for Ben Kenobi that we see in the beginning of A New Hope.
There are plenty of other May the 4th releases from Funko and I didn’t get my hands on all of them, obviously, but if they’re as awesome as these three, you can’t go wrong.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Funko
- Funko Release Numbers: Luke (763), Boba Fett (769), R2-D2 (766)
- Retail Price: $11.99 – $24.99
The Wrap Up:
I will always happily sing the praises of Funko Pop releases, as I am truly a fan of the property, but I can also say that their newest Star Wars offerings look better than ever!
Ben 10: The Complete Collection (DVD)
The Show:
I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since Ben 10 first hit the airwaves. The series was launched in 2005, and my kids were born in 2007, so it was a good few years before they were old enough to watch and I finally experienced the show. Once I did, of course, I was hooked.
The show follows Ben Tennyson, a young boy (and eventually a teenager) who discovers the Omnitrix, an extraterrestrial device that contains the DNA of various alien species, allowing Ben to transform into them at will. Originally, he he gained the ability to unlock additional species, but eventually that number would grow.
As an adult viewer, I always found the show to be a lot of fun. It’s well written, and while there is a lot of cartoon fighting and violence, there is actually a larger story arc at work here, as well as some good humor. I might be wary of showing it to kidlets who are really young, but for the appropriate ages, it’s a blast.
Now, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Home Video have released Ben 10: The Complete Collection, a massive 26-disc box set that includes all 227 episodes of the original series (including Ben 10, Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, and Ben 10: Omniverse) as well as two movies, Ben 10: Secret of The Omnitrix and Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens. (It does not include the new relaunch series currently airing.) That’s about 72 hours of content! Yowza!
The Bonus Features:
- Episode commentaries on select episodes
- Deleted Scenes
- Character Galleries
- Promos & Trailers
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap Up:
I know everyone’s all about the streaming these days, but this set is a prime example of why physical media is still so important. It’s not easy to find the entire series of Ben 10 online, nor is it guaranteed to always be there, much less presented in order. This awesome box set gives you everything you need to relive the amazing saga of Ben 10 from start to finish. Bravo!
Ultraman Trigger: The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
The Show:
Specialty distributor Mill Creek continues their march through the Ultraman catalog with their latest collection, Ultraman Trigger: The Complete Series. One of the most recent shows in the franchise, this 33rd (I think?) iteration of Ultraman came out in 2021, and it ran for 25 episodes plus a bonus episode, all collected here.
It can get tricky trying to summarize Ultraman sometimes, so i’m going to let the product description do the heavy lifting here for a minute: “30 million years ago, the world was engulfed in terrifying darkness. But that darkness was sealed deep in space by the Giant of Light. His power spent, the Giant of Light sleeps in a red star. Time passes. The Terrestrial Peaceable Union (TPU) hurries to gather the expert team GUTS-Select, while Kengo Manaka lives peacefully on now-colonized Mars as a botanist. However, his peaceful life suddenly comes to an end one fateful day. The darkness that the ancient civilization sealed away breathes once more! As a monster bears down on the Martian settlement, Kengo’s fate leads him to a chance encounter. A chance encounter with none-other than the sleeping Giant of Light. How will Kengo’s meeting with the Giant of Light influence his destiny and the destiny of Earth? The Giant of Light is reborn after an eternity. His name: Ultraman Trigger!”
So time around, we follow Ultraman Trigger, who gets his start on a Martian Colony, which is pretty cool and gives the show a unique flavor. As with so many previous Ultraman offerings, the show can be a little hit or miss. As one of the most recent entries, it’s a step above the series from the ‘70s and ‘80s, at least for me. While it still has that “grown-up Power Rangers” feel to it, the special effects and action sequences are pretty good, even if there’s still a lot of people in giant suits fighting each other in big-scale city models. But I will say that the monsters are quite creative this time around, with ones like Satandelos, a giant robot who only moves for one hour each day, or Metsu-Orochi, who absorbs all energy. This is one of the best outings for cool villains, in my opinion.
This four-disc Blu-ray set collects all 25 episodes of the series, plus a bonus episode that sort of wraps up some of the plotlines.
The Bonus Features:
There are no extra features included, but you do get an exclusive Ultraman Trading Card Game card in the package, so that’s kind of cool.
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
Being one of the newest shows in the Ultraman franchise, Ultraman Trigger, much like some of the other recent entries in the franchise, features better costumes and special effects than some of the earlier efforts. Ultrafans, don’t miss this cool collection!
Striking Rescue (Blu-ray)
The Movie:
I’ve been a fan of Tony Jaa’s since I saw him in The Protector back in 2005, and for my money it remains one of the best martial arts action films of the 2000s. I haven’t gotten a lot of his movies for review in the pact couple of years, so I was quite excited to get Striking Rescue, his latest vehicle.
In the film, Jaa plays Bai Ahn, a former special forces operative whose wife and daughter were murdered for something related to a large corporation. Setting out for revenge on the parties involved, Bai Ahn ends up taking the daughter of the conglomerate’s head honcho hostage until he can find him and kill him. But, not surprisingly, there’s more to the story than meets the eye and Bai ends up against overwhelming amounts of bad guys.
From a story perspective, the film is solid, with a decent mystery that won’t entirely surprise you, although there are a couple of characters that you’re not sure if you should trust or not. However, the action is absolutely outstanding. Jaa is a master Muay Thai practitioner (at least on screen; I assume in real life, too) and he is fast and fierce and furious and every action scene will leave you breathless. The story just basically works as a framing device to tie to the action scenes together, but honestly they’re so good that you won’t care.
The Bonus Features:
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
Striking Rescue isn’t a masterpiece per se, but from an action standpoint it’s incredible. I was mesmerized watching some incredibly intricately choreographed fight sequences, with the best part being that they don’t look choreographed, which is the mark of great action for me. I really enjoyed this movie and I think any other action junkies out there will too.
Jack the Ripper & Unknown World (Blu-ray)
The Movies:
Severin Films continues to develop as one of the premier niche and cult home video providers with two of their newest releases, Jack the Ripper and Unknown Worlds. Both films are from the 1950s and both films have something noteworthy about them that sets them apart from other more generic Hollywood fare of the era.
Jack the Ripper hails from 1959 and is a black-and-white thriller that tells the (fictional) tale of an American investigator sent over to London to help with the Jack the Ripper case in the late 1800s. Not only was it banned in the U.S. at the time for its graphic violence and nudity (which likely wouldn’t even rate an eyebrow-raise in 2025), but the film was also re-cut for the U.S. to add in that nudity and violence, meaning there are two distinct cuts of the movie, both included in this new 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray release.
Meanwhile, 1951’s Unknown World is “The first full-length feature to tackle the Hollow Earth genre” (think Journey to the Centre of the Earth), but it also is long-suspected to have been written by blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. It was also filmed in Carlsbad Caverns, resulting in some truly stunning scenery. This one is a Blu-ray-only release, but it’s still a pretty cool offering.
Both films are… good. I don’t mean to damn them with faint praise, but neither of these is masterpieces. But they’re also not bad movies. I enjoyed both of then, but both have some pacing issues and some of the typical faults of 1950s moviemaking, such as wooden acting on occasion and some overly-expository dialogue. Still, they’e nothing likable films and they have some cool historical importance.
The 4K Video/Audio:
Jack the Ripper comes to home video in a nicely slipcovered 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray combo pack. To give you an idea of the video quality, imagine watching a movie through a blindfold, and then taking the blindfold off and watch it again. That’s what it was like when I watched a trailer for Jack the Ripper on Youtube and then saw Severin’s gorgeous restoration. It’s like a completely different movie. I was floored by how clean and crisp the imagery is. The soundtrack is a mono offering, not surprisingly, but it is a lot clearer and less tinny sounding than you might expect.
The Bonus Features:
Jack the Ripper –
- Audio Commentary With Co-Director/Co-Producer/Co-Cinematographer Robert S. Baker, Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster And Assistant Director Peter Manley, Moderated By British Horror Historian Marcus Hearn
- The Reel Jack The Ripper – Interview With Denis Meikle, Author Of Jack The Ripper: The Murders And The Movies
- Gentleman Jack – The Whitechapel Murders Revisited
- Choice Cuts: The Two Faces Of Jack The Ripper – Interview With Alain Petit, Ripperologist Extraordinaire
- Poster And Still Gallery
- Trailer
Unknown World –
- Audio Commentary With Film Writer Stephen R. Bissette
- Victor Kilian: A Blacklist Legacy – Interview With Crawford Kilian, Actor Victor Kilian’s Grandson
- The Unknown World Of Terrell O. Morse – Interview With Film Historian C. Courtney Joyner
- Special Effects Maestros Of The 1950s – Video Essay By Comic Book Artist Stephen R. Bissette
- Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
I love that Severin Films gives us important and cult classic movies in gorgeous packaging with copious bonus materials and featuring improved sound and picture quality. What more can you ask for from releases like these?
Girl With a Suitcase (Blu-ray)
The Movie:
Claudia Cardinale might not be a full-on household name in the U.S., but she’s not a complete unknown either. The Italian actress was a superstar in her home country, and she made a splash in U.S. cinema with her role in Sergio Leone’s western epic Once Upon a Time in the West.
Here, she stars in Girl With a Suitcase, an Italian melodrama about a singer named Aida who has an affair with a wealthy man. Expecting to run away with him, he leaves her waiting with just her suitcase (hence the title of the film.) When she goes to his house to confront him, he sends his naive younger brother to get rid of her, but the brother falls for her instead. From there, it’s a bit of a doomed-romance drama that is very evocative of the time it was made in.
Radiance Films has released Girl With a Suitcase as a special edition Blu-ray that features remastered picture quality and new bonus features that will be a real treat for collectors.
The Bonus Features:
- Interview with assistant director Piero Schivazappa
- Interview with screenwriter Piero De Bernard
- Interview with film critic Bruno Torri on Zurlini’s career
- Visual essay about the film by Kat Ellinger
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Giuliana Minghelli
- Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
Girl With a Suitcase isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but foreign film fans and drama aficionados will find a lot to like, and this Blu-ray release is an outstanding one.
