Hey folks, Harry here with the MARCH Preview look at the DVDs for this month. You’ll find a lot of titles here, more than in the earlier months, but that’s because I actually got sent many discs in advance to look at so a few things that I never would’ve necessarily stuck my credit card out for, like the Baseball Box set – well, I have to say after watching the set, I found it worth every dime to pick up. Hope you continue to enjoy this feature I’m doing, well there’s a lot to get through, so let’s get to it!

March 2nd, 2004

THE CHAPLIN COLLECTION, Vol. 2 (CITY LIGHTS / THE CIRCUS / THE KID / A KING IN NEW YORK / A WOMAN OF PARIS / MONSIEUR VERDOUX / THE CHAPLIN REVUE / CHARLIE – THE LIFE AND ART OF CHARLES CHAPLIN)

If you’ve seen Bertolucci’s recently released wonder, THE DREAMERS, or if you’re a serious film fan that has argued and discussed films for hours with other film fans, the great Buster Keaton vs Charles Chaplin conversation has inevitably come up. While feeling both men were brilliant, I’m a Chaplin kinda guy myself, Moriarty is a Keaton man. To me, there has never been a greater soul on screen than Charles Chaplin. This set is a fantastic journey through some of his finest work. CITY LIGHT, arguably, could be considered his best film, though the strongest counter cases would be made for GOLD RUSH and MODERN TIMES. The relationship between the Tramp and his Blind Girl, whom he gives so much for… well it is one of the great romances in film history. You have never lived if the film doesn’t touch your soul. THE CIRCUS – Personally, I’d put THE CIRCUS right up there with the very best of Chaplin, but then I’ve got a whole fetishistic love for circuses in general, and watching Chaplin hauling equipment around like a clumsy lucky cluck in the Circus… well, I love it. THE KID - Here’s another great one - The Tramp taking care of an abandoned child played by the brilliant child actor, Jackie Coogan… well it is another fantastic film. I’ve heard many disparage Chaplin for playing the same character too often in film, but frankly… to me, that’d be like taking a piss on John Wayne for playing too many Cowboys -- Sometimes it’s a blessing to know what you were put on Earth for, and Chaplin was put on Earth to fully explore perhaps the single greatest cinematic character in history, the Tramp. For those that have never seen Chaplin play anything other than the Tramp, this eclectic collection of his work gives you A KING IN NEW YORK, where Charlie plays King Shadov. This film is Chaplin’s liberal critical attack at conservative America, personally, I love it. But then, I’m a proud Liberal. Next we have A WOMAN OF PARIS, another departure for the waddling cane carrier. This… is a melodrama, one that I like, if only because I find it fascinating to see Chaplin try something so different. The audiences of his time didn’t want him in anything else other than a comedy though. It would be like today, if we never allowed Robin Williams or Jim Carrey or Adam Sandler to try darker, more serious material. An interesting picture. MONSIEUR VERDOUX marks perhaps Chaplin’s most wildly uneven film. Pitch Black Comedy, Slapstick, Drama and even a tad of Suspense. A full fledged talkie played in broad strokes from two decades before. A film filled with contradictions, but one I enjoy once in a blue moon. THE CHAPLIN REVUE is a repackaging – reediting and interesting concept that has been continued by the likes of George Lucas. Here, Chaplin took three of his silent classics: A DOG’S LIFE, SHOULDER ARMS & THE PILGRIM and put them together to form a “new feature” / Revue. A special edition if you must. Personally, as with Lucas’ films, I prefer the original editions, but it’s interesting to watch how Chaplin worked to make them fit, and I like it mainly for his narration. CHARLIE – THE LIFE AND ART OF CHARLES CHAPLIN – This is a very strong documentary about Chaplin’s career and life that was put together this past year, it is nice to see it make this set. Getting to see folks like Woody Allen, Attenborough, Johnny Depp, Geraldine Chaplin, Milos Forman, Marcel Marceau and so many others chime in on the master is worth the price of the whole box set. Many of the films in this set are in Two Disc special editions with features out the yin yang. If you love Chaplin, or just want to discover him for the first time, try this!

IT (1927)

Clara Bow is so damn hot in this silent that you’ll find yourself dizzy. I had the immense pleasure of seeing this on the big screen with a live score created for it, and Clara had a full standing ovation from many a tented crotch. Discover why she was known as the “It” girl – this is the film that gave her that name. Her eyes, her face… everything she does in this film is just fantastic. The trip to the amusement park is breathtaking for me. If you want to be a future filmmaker, I can not recommend these silents to you enough. There’s so much at play in these.

LOONEY TUNES – BACK IN ACTION

While not a terrific or even very good film, I can’t help but pick it up because of my love for Joe Dante. This was a mess before he ever got involved and the sole reason to see it is for the changes he brought to it. The aliens sequence in the secret base is great. Just watching Wile Coyote and the Road Runner in the REAL DESERT is something to marvel at. And as my nephew said when I asked him why he liked it, he responded succinctly with, “Da Duck!” Yup, this is Daffy’s picture he runs all over Bugs.

MELVIN & HOWARD

Many people name SILENCE OF THE LAMBS as Jonathan Demme’s best film, or perhaps PHILADELPHIA, but that’s because those chumps haven’t seen MELVIN & HOWARD or CAGED HEAT for that matter. Or hell, SOMETHING WILD too. I love this period of Jonathan Demme… Pre-Oscar Demme I call it. Before we all see Scorsese’s THE AVIATOR – I would highly recommend checking this one out. This is a side of Hughes, I bet Scorsese and DiCaprio don’t get into. Heh. ENJOY!

PEYTON PLACE

Nominated for 9 Academy Awards without winning a single one. If you like Melodrama and an absolutely delicious Lana Turner, this is a flick for you. In many ways it set a pattern that became the Soap Opera. Superbly performed and powerfully told. A horny Lana Turner is a very good thing to have in a movie. I promise you.

SCHOOL OF ROCK

One of the best films of 2003. Jack Black is a god. The children all rule. Linklater kicked ass all over this film. The music makes keeping your feet still while watching impossible, frankly – one of the best films of type ever made. Has so much more life, energy, wit and entertainment than all those other “teacher” flicks like DEAD POET’S SOCIETY or MR HOLLAND’S OPUS. This is the sort of teacher that would reach more students than a thousand disciplinarians. TONS of extras on the DVD. Can not wait to wade through them all!

MARCH 9th, 2004

BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON

Ah, you either love Franco Zeffirelli or ya don’t. This is the hippie version of the story and life of St. Francis of Assisi. In a way, remember how the ol Disney ROBIN HOOD cartoon started out, telling you that the story of Robin Hood had been being passed down through so many ages that even the animals had their version. This is like that, but with hippies and St. Francis. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful films you’ll ever see, using color in its full spectrum. I love Zeffirelli’s work, but it honestly isn’t for everyone.

FUTURAMA Vol 3

I’ve been enjoying this set for a couple of days now. I love the microwave supernova time travel episode, and the Giant Amazon Planet one where the women kill men by destroying the bones in their pelvic region. Hehehe… A must have for all lovers of the SIMPSONS and FUTURAMA!

THE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS MIND

KARLOFF! There, go buy it! Heh. Boris was known for the Frankenstein Monster, The Mummy and Fu Manchu… But for me, that’s the “Jack Pierce” Karloff films. When I think of Boris – sans the extreme make up, I think of this, THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG, THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES, THE INVISIBLE RAY and BEFORE I HANG as the great Karloff MAD SCIENTIST films. This one is one of the best. Karloff invents a device for transporting one’s thought waves and basically reformatting them over another’s brain, thus transplanting the consciousness of one person to another.

ONIBABA

One of the greatest horror films of all time. Made in 1964 and has influenced everyone from William Friedkin on THE EXORCIST to Guillermo Del Toro and a ton of horror filmmakers in-between. This is truly one of the great horror films left undiscovered by around 95% of Horror fans. Criterion coming out with this DVD is providing us with the best transfer available on the face of the planet and a DVD box that I want a one-sheet of, it’s so nice. A sincerely brilliant work of suspense, terror, madness and horror!

RAQUEL WELCH COLLECTION (ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. / BANDOLERO! / MYRA BRECKENRIDGE / MOTHER, JUGS & SPEED / FATHOM)

Ok – this is the Box Set I’m currently working my way through. I started off with one of the most astonishing train wrecks of a movie ever made, MYRA BRECKENRIDGE. An utterly fascinating fucked up piece of trash cinema disquised as low brow gutter art. This film has the astonishing ability to make a lesbian scene between Raquel Welch and a 22 year old Farrah Fawcett be utterly forgettable – even though it does have nudity and nipples present. Mae West is like an animatronic Disneyland freakshow brought to life with the desire for young cock. It is so disturbing. Then there’s the completely bizarre film clips throughout. A GRANDLY FUCKED UP FILM! BANDOLERO! – god I love this movie. Watched it this morning, Dean Martin, Jimmy Stewart, George Kennedy and as the rich lady/ ex-Mexican Cantina Whore -- Raquel Welch. Yowza. I really like this movie. ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. – Raquel in a fur bikini, Harryhausen Dinosaurs -- absolutely classic! The film is a bit air-headed, but Raquel Welch in a fur bikini… did I mention Raquel Welch in a fur bikini? She looks REAL GOOD in it! FATHOM -- The bombshell plays a sky-diver recruited to become a secret agent. So you see her in all sorts of stages of undress. Really fun lite stuff. Not a really wonderful film, but a fun one. Lots of eye-candy. Last, but not least is MOTHER, JUGS & SPEED – This flick is mayhem, hilarty and joy bundled into an ambulance. Just looking at Raquel in this makes you want to administer emergency chest massage. She plays Jugs, Bill Cosby plays Mother and Harvey Keitel plays Tony Malatesta (aka Speed) and this thing is fun as hell. It’s lowly rated on IMDB, but this thing rocked the house when Tarantino showed it on a big screen during one of his Drafthouse Film Fests! Also look out for L. Q. Jones, who is great in this too! The box set doesn’t feature many extras, though MYRA BRECKENRIDGE does have a Raquel commentary.

SCHINDLER’S LIST

The most highly acclaimed of Spielberg movies. Definitely his most “artistically sound and important” film. This is a truly great film and marked the beginning of his creative partnership with Janusz Kaminski and his use of black & white is superb. Stark and real feeling. The only scenes that break that illusion are the “color” moments, which are beautiful, but have always called attention that I could have done without. I always thought this would be my choice for the best Holocaust film, but frankly I prefer the intimate story that Polanski told with THE PIANIST. No matter – that’s like the Keaton vs Chaplin debate earlier. It is a matter of personal taste. And yes, I can hear a couple of you shouting THE GREY ZONE, another great Holocaust film.

MARCH 16th, 2004

THE BARE BOX (BLAZE STARR GOES NUDIST / DIARY OF A NUDIST / THE NAKED VENUS / DEADLY WEAPONS / DOUBLE AGENT 73)

Basically a Doris Wishman Box Set with the exception of THE NAKED VENUS, which was directed by Edgar Ulmer. This is all from SOMETHING WEIRD VIDEO – and as usual, they live up to the company name. I had the absolute joy to meet, hang out and talk with Doris Wishman on a couple of occasions and she was the sweetest ol lady you ever did see. A female Russ Meyer, and her film BAD GIRLS GO TO HELL is a truly great film. These are not of that quality. Instead, these are her softcore/nocore nudie flicks. If you like kitschy cool funky fun, then these will be a hoot for you. DEADLY WEAPONS has Chesty Morgan as a revenge thirsty woman out for revenge on the mob and killing people with her 73 inch chest. Chesty had a 73-32-36 figure, and until you see her swing that chest at a man’s head and level him in a single blow… You’ve never fully comprehended the danger of a busty broad. DOUBLE AGENT 73 has the terrible Chesty Morgan attempting a spy movie, where she had a spy camera surgically implaned beneath her tits, which she must heave and drop to take a picture. Yes, the movies really have this stuff. You must see it to believe it! I’ve only seen clips from the other 3 and they are less sensational exploitation, but wonderfully naïve looking documents of a pre-porn era!

DEMONLOVER

I’ve raved about the Sonic Youth composed score as well as the Connie Nielsen and Chloe Sevigny nudity and the Gina Gershon pseudo-lesbian villainry! Oh and the fight over cg tentacle porn is a classic plot device. The film is not for all tastes, it is however a very bizarre, very surreal ride that you’ll either like a lot or just plain hate for all times. A rental for the curious, a purchase for those that dug it! This is the R-rated edition, they’re holding the Unrated Edition for June. FYI!

FISTFUL OF TALONS & KUNG-FU ZOMBIE

I honestly know next to nothing about this DVD double feature, only… that there is a movie called KUNG-FU ZOMBIE that I don’t own and that it was cheap. “I have you now!”

GRAND SLAM DVD Giftset (BULL DURHAM / EIGHT MEN OUT / THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY / THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES)

This is a fantastic box set. Got this last week, watched all 4 films in an all-night marathon that left me wanting more. I’m not the biggest baseball nut in the world, and usually I claim the sport is boring, except everytime I get caught up in a baseball movie. John Sayles’ EIGHT MEN OUT is a wonderful ensemble film. The aggravation on poor John Cusack’s face is classic. This is about the Chicago “Black Sox” and the way Sayles lets it play out, it’s just so natural and real feeling that other than a couple of maggots here and there, you feel for everyone. Next I watched THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY, which Jackie played himself in. Shot between his 3rd and 4th seasons as a Brooklyn Dodger and… HOLY SHIT, that movie is great! I’d never seen it, had no concept that the film would be as racially tense and honest as it was. Kept thinking throughout this thing that everytime I saw Jackie having to ride in the “Colored Section” of the bus, that… well, at the time of the film, he would still have to sit in the Colored section. Throughtout this thing he’s tormented by his color, but turns the other cheek. The film has a habit of making me feel like it is real. Really loved this movie. BULL DURHAM -- Susan Sarandon is so damn hot in this movie! Costner has the best dialogue of his career and Tim Robbins is wonderfully clueless throughout. You don’t need me to tell you how good this movie is, we all know about it. THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES -- This film should be outlawed from its ability to cause spontaneous eye sprinklers to drain one’s precious bodily fluids. Really hard movie to watch and not blubber like a baby looking at his ice cream on a hot sidewalk covered in ants.

KUNG FU – THE FIRST COMPLETE SEASON

I’m a big fan of KUNG FU, and yes I know all that Bruce Lee should’ve played the lead stuff, but I’ve always felt… If Bruce had got this, then perhaps we never would have had FISTS OF FURY, CHINESE CONNECTION, ENTER THE DRAGON, RETURN OF THE DRAGON and GAME OF DEATH – instead, we would have just been a television star and if what happened to him was a natural death – he still would have died. So perhaps things worked out for the best! I believe they did. Besides, David is so iconic in the role. Watching episodes from Kung Fu on film at the Alamo with David and Quentin talking… too cool. Watching David do kung fu with Michael Jai White in China – there are no words. However, I’ll watch this set and be happy!

THE LAST UNICORN

I LOVE THIS MOVIE! Rankin/Bass’ masterpiece. The animation is cool, the Red Bull sequence is a classic, the tidal waves where the crests are charging unicorns returning to land. GREAT! I love this film. Can’t wait to show this to my nephew!

THE RUNNING MAN (Special Edition)

A friend of mine that is in prison right now (and for the past 14 years) once referred to the experience of seeing this as being a “PAPER BAG MOVIE!” What that means is that this is the sort of film you wear a paper bag to and from so that nobody sees you coming or going, but you just can’t help but go! That being said… A fascist state where reality television rules the collective conciousness. Isn’t quite as fictional as it used to be. However, the stalkers make this film so much stupid ridiculous fun that having a loaded to the gills 2 dvd special edition semi worth it. I love this DVD – as it freaks me out that someone somewhere made this a 2 DVD special edition with documentaries comparing the future portrayed in this film with the possible realities that 9/11 has left us with… and just the concept that they are serious is both scary and utterly hilarious. Also, the MEET THE STALKERS feature is lamely awesome!

MARCH 23rd, 2004

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS

Here is a great Stephen Frears movie that snuck past an awful lot of people. In addition, it has Audrey Tautou and an absolutely fantastic international cast. It has intense black situations involving organs that this movie plays deliciously with. If you didn’t catch this one in a theater, then this is the best way to make sure you do. In an odd way this feels more like a fantasy than a crime film, though it is most definitely that as well.

THE LADYKILLERS (1955)

Now, if you liked DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, then checking out the original version of THE LADYKILLERS which the Coen Brothers are set to release a remake of this following Friday, well, you should check out the brilliant original. There’s a caper going on here too, not nearly as bloody as the work in Frears film, but Alec Guinness is in amazing form in this film. I’m told by folks that have read the Coens’ script that this is enough of a departure that you will love both films, or at least should. This is the same edition that was on the box set, only it’s being released again as a single, due to the new Coen Flick. DO NOT MISS SEEING THIS FILM!

SHATTERED GLASS

This is a really great journalistic ethics flick starring young Anakin Skywalker as the rule breaking journalist that was completely fabricating entire stories and articles and passing them off as truth to his editors. Critically acclaimed and proof that he’s a really strong actor to boot. Definitely worth a look.

MARCH 30th, 2004

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (2-Disc Special Edition)

I really like THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, it isn’t brilliant or even genius, what it is though is a fun pulpy what-if type of story that’s pretty darn cool. Ya know, the idea of a modern aircraft carrier being sent back in time to a few hours before Pearl Harbor… well, that’s just fun. And when Kirk Douglas hears about two mint Jap Zeros – the look on his face and the reaction is just classic. Once again, this is one of those 2 Disc sets that I really can’t believe is being made and I’m so eager to get my paws on. Alas, it is an entire month away, for intents and purposes.

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG

Unlike a lot of people that seem to just dismiss this film as weepy Oscar bait material, I really am quite fond of it. Until the end gets so crazed. I’m still all sorts of conflicted about that, but I love all the performances. Jennifer is so wonderfully fragile in this, and beautiful as always. Ben Kingsley’s body language is so naturalistically up-tight and quantified that I can’t help, but marvel at how complicated the character is. It would have been so easy to play him as a bad guy, especially given the current world climate, but instead to show him as a deeply proud man ashamed of his current station in life and desperate to carve out a future for him and his family… well, it really is beautiful. A fantastic debut film.

MASTER TOUCH

An Italian Crime Heist Thriller starring Kirk Douglas teamed up with Giuliano Gemma and the beautiful Florinda Bolkan. This was another film that I first saw at a Tarantino Film Fest at the Alamo Drafthouse. It has some great fight scenes and a car chase / crash sequence that should leave your jaw hanging knowing that no pixels were expended for a frame of footage. Absolutely wonderful sequence. Personally, my favorite aspect is the triangle of Kirk, Giuliano and Florinda. Also – being that this is Italian, you know that anything and everything is a possibility, which makes it a bit edgier than many films you see. It has a great grit to it. Also gotta give props to Morricone’s score, it’s a jewel! Incredibly cheap buy!

THE SUNSHINE BOYS

I love this movie. The interaction between Walter Matthau and George Burns is magic – oh sure, they’re knocking at each other with five-pound sledges throughout, but it’s so much fun to watch. Burns is a god (couldn’t resist) and Matthau’s steaming burn and wit is ever-present. Hilarious and heart-warming. So much better than the GRUMPY OLD MEN movies, that was derived from this… the far better material. The perfect double feature with this is GOING IN STYLE by Martin Brest which was hilarious, sad and just a damn fine film.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003 – Special Platinum Series Edition)

Ok – sure my head is on a platter in the film, but that’s why ya gotta get it right? I mean all you Talk Backers have been wanting to serve my head on a platter for years, and here it is! Seemed this was a like it – don’t like it flick with emotions not running to far in either direction except if you were insulted that it ever existed in the first place. Nothing compares to Tobe Hooper’s original, but heck… even Tobe liked this one – it is nowhere near as bad as 3 or 4, both of which I have on DVD -- Can’t help it, growing up in Austin makes me a huge Leatherface fan! And I’m proud to have my head on his fruit platter! As is typical with Platinum Editions from New Line, this sucker is packed to the gills with extras. Plus a really fun performance out of R Lee Ermey.

Well, that’s it for MARCH. There are other things to keep your eye out for, but I’m only listing the titles I’m headed for. There may be other material, but frankly… these lists are mainly what my interests are. I suggest scanning the Talk Backs to look for further recommendations by other folks with tastes outside of my own. For example, I’ve never seen C.S.I, but I saw the disc for… I think the 3rd Season was due out. But I don’t know if that’s any good or not. If I could only recommend a single title out of this month’s list, it would be ONIBABA – that film is an absolute under-loved masterpiece that will absolutely get you. Don't forget to remind me around the end of March to do up April's previews if you want me to continue with this. Thanks!

And here's Harry's Feb. DVD Picks!!