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Harry's DVD PICKS AND PEEKS Does January 2007 - Lots of Great Titles!
Hey folks, Harry here... Gotta do a short intro to this - as I have to get to transcribing the first half of the James Cameron interview to try to get that up by morning. Forgot these two from last week - and then - here's the rest of the month as I see it. Remember - use this list as a guide to what's coming out this month - Whether you click and buy from Amazon - or just use this for your Netflix order list... it's totally up to you. This isn't meant to be complete - it is merely what leapt out at me from this month - by all means suggest your own titles you know are coming out this month. Here ya go...
January 2nd, 2007
EVENT HORIZON (Special Collector’s Edition)
No fucking way… Harry’s recommending a Paul W. S. Anderson DVD for purchase? Well – this is the closest thing to a watchable film he’s made. And mainly that’s due to the production design and cinematography. Paul’s always griped about how he was fucked over and had the film manhandled by the studio. Well – I’m picking this up, not because of any love for the film, but I’m curious to see Paul make his case in the documentary and in the “unfilmed Rescue Scene” that he never got to shoot… to see if it was anything worth shooting, or if the studio saw a film that wasn’t coming together and just cut their losses.
SEVEN SWORDS
I love Tsui Hark movies. He’s just the godfather of the modern Hong Kong film scene, went to college with my dad – and has directed and produced the fried gold of Asian cinema. This isn’t necessarily a great one, but I kinda love the funkiness of the film. The scope is gorgeous, the action is crazy fucking Tsui-ness. I really don’t think he’ll ever top his THE BLADE – which is sublime cinematic heaven, but that was kinda what I was hoping this would be – times seven, and in a whacked way it kinda is – but doesn’t come together in the end. The extras are totally worth it. You have commentary, making of featurettes and more. Neat film.
January 9th, 2007
THE ILLUSIONIST
Depending who you talk to this was the best “magician” film of 2006. I still haven’t decided. I need to watch this again – and I need to watch that other one a few more times as well. Neil Burger did damn good work on this and I loved Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti in the film. You get a commentary and a couple of behind the scenes, but by no means is this an exhaustive DVD, but then – I don’t think anyone was really expecting one.
CRANK
This insane fucking double fisting of testosterone is just what a man needs that just went to a “Bridal Extravaganza” today. The amount of soft fabrics, candle stands and wimpy wedding cakes and Djs that can do Austin Powers impersonations… SCREW THAT – give me Jason Statham fucking Amy Smart in front of a busload of Asian Schoolgirls! That’s entertainment. Give me crazy insane shit. Make no bones about this – this is not a great film – but it is way entertaining. It feels like it was produced by Neil Moritz – though it wasn’t… at least I don’t think so. Basically – it’s the third remake of D.O.A. which was brilliantly done as a film noir with Edmond O’Brien – highly recommend checking that out. Then Dennis Quaid did a remake of it here in Austin. Now there’s this insane version. Or maybe just… an EXTREME version. This comes with a bizarre feature where you toggle a family friendly audio – so your kids can see the maiming and fucking with nice happy dialogue. It’s insaner.
IDIOCRACY
Ok – check out one of the best films that Fox made last year. Sadly – you didn’t really have an opportunity to see this in theaters – because… well, the plotline of this movie – has already taken place at that studio. Mike Judge turns in a film that’s pretty damn funny. I wasn’t a huge OFFICE SPACE fan, but then… I’ve never worked in an office, but my friends that have – really love that film. Here, I’ve never been hibernated beyond the basic average laziness inherent to fatasses like myself, but I preferred this film to OFFICE SPACE. Oddly – there isn’t a Mike Judge commentary on this one, and I’m betting there won’t be one till Rothman leaves Fox. And given he signed a contract extension last year – we’ve got a bit of a wait. So this is the best version you’ll get of this for a while.
TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST Vol 2
Sadly I missed giving y’all the heads up on Vol 1, but I got your back this time. I admit, I haven’t seen this – but when I saw the title on AMAZON – I giggled for about 3 minutes – cuz I know good and well if I put this on here – there will be a whole group of you on Talkback that’ll take me to task for placing this on here… BUT c’mon… you know you want “TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST” right after T2 on your DVD shelf. Admit it!
SIBERIADE
Ok. Ok ok ok… So I showed my juvenile side with that TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST - well – how’s this. I absolutely love the work of Andrei Konchalovsky, the director of one of my all time favorite films, RUNAWAY TRAIN – which was written by Akira Kurosawa and starred Jolie’s pops as the greatest escaped con this side of Cody Jarrett. Well, prior to RUNAWAY TRAIN – Andrei directed SIBERIADE – which got cut to fuck stateside, but now… thanks to KINO is complete and uncut for the first time stateside! If you’ve ever wondered what life in Siberia was like… perhaps the hardest land and the hardest people on the planet. This film is an absolute triumph – as it tells the stories of three separate generations and their individual struggles in Siberia. To build a road, to build communism and to build an industry of OIL. Brilliant film. A must see.
January 16th, 2007
DOCTOR WHO – THE COMPLETE SECOND SERIES
I’ve never been a fan of any of the versions of DR WHO – not even the Peter Cushing version. I love the kitsch of it, but not the reality. I’ve been told this series is really something cool – and I have to admit – I haven’t seen an episode – but I saw a trailer for some episode with like a billion Daleks filling the sky and it did make me giggle. I do have a set from the UK that a friend in Manchester gave me, I should give it a look see and try it out. What do you think?
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE – THE BEGINNING (unrated edition)
Saw this a couple of times. Once in advance of FANTASTIC FEST for programming needs – and then once at FANTASTIC FEST. Personally – I really enjoyed the film. I like that it’s very nihilistic. That it is gritty and mean. Some of the other staff folks at AICN were not so kind. And VERN just absolutely ripped it. To me – the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is untouchable. Sheer brilliance. Something on another level of existence. To me, these are just the Hollywood versions – and as such, I think they’re pretty damn good – and a helluvalot better than the SAW films. But to each their own – This version shows more gore, especially at the end – if you’ve seen the film – you know the scene – here – it’s a bit tougher. Quite a bit. You’ll see.
THE PROTECTOR
This has both the domestic and the foreign edit in play. It has a TON of extras – thus the 2 disc set. You get tons of behind the scenes Tony Jaa stuff – as well as just Tony Jaa Martial Arts Demonstrations – and a making of – which includes some glimpse at how they did that amazing “one take” sequence that was just mind-blowing – till Cuaron upped the ante by 7000% for one takes. One of the great entertainments of last year. A must own for any Martial Arts geek.
THE ANIMATION SHOW (Vol 1 & 2 Boxed Set)
Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt’s tribute to the great eclectic Animation Shows of yesteryear is alive and well – and if you love the form known as The Animated Short… not so much the “cartoon” but the animated short. Not necessarily meant for children and not really a goofy bit of juvenile lunacy. It’s just amazing work done through the art form of animation… be it cg, stop motion or hand drawn. The only drawback on these sets is that the DISNEY bits that were a part of the theatrical run, don’t appear here. But frankly - if you’re an animation freak – you’ve got those on your Walt Disney Treasure sets. However, what is here are the brilliant shorts that we did get to see – that are so so so good. This is the highest quality theatrical animation touring show out there right now. And it reminds me of that FANTASTIC ANIMATION SHOW that I loved so much as a kid of the seventies. Simply fantastic.
January 23rd, 2007
SAW III
I’m not the biggest fan of this series. However, the kills have always been very fun – and very inventive. The best thing about the series has always been the posters… which just have kicked the most ass. Those three pulled teeth… That said – this is a nice DVD, but both you and I know that around the release of SAW IV, there will be a better DVD. I’m just saying.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN
I haven’t been the biggest fan of these Marvel / Lionsgate Animated Movies – but they have been fun, and I do enjoy them for the low budget attempts at entertainment, I just feel that Marvel is shorting themselves with the cheap animation route. If MARVEL FILMS sunk real money into theatrical quality animation, written by the best of screenwriters – they would have amazing films. BUT we don’t have that happening anytime soon… so, we have this and hell… it’s better than nothing. It will make you drool for what Jon Favreau has in the works.
YOJIMBO & SANJURO – Criterion Collection
If you don’t know why you should pay the $50 or so dollars that this Criterion Double Feature set – then you definitely NEED to buy it. YOJIMBO and SANJURO are works of stunning brilliance. This is high quality brilliant filmmaking unleashed. Of the two – I’ve always been a Yojimbo man, but Sanjuro is right there knocking. The extra features are up to the exemplary standards that Criterion has always done. Really great work. BUT more importantly – brilliant mastering and sound. It doesn’t get much better than this.
JESUS CAMP
The Scariest Film of 2006. This is a very intense and disturbing film. I’m not someone that “hates” Christianity. Hell, I’ve been working to get my nephew into a Religious Private School for quite some time and he is attending one. BUT – you have got to research these places before just sending your child to one. This is, by no means, the typical “Jesus Camp” – but it is a real place – and it most likely isn’t unique. Now – why own this? Is it really something worth owning? Well, if you love documentaries, this is a great one. A great Halloween film.
ROBERT MITCHUM – THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION ( ANGEL FACE / MACAO / THE SUNDOWNERS / HOME FROM THE HILL / THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS / THE YAKUZA )
I love Robert Mitchum – and Warners has done a brilliant job with their “Signature Collections”. Now – these aren’t necessarily THE Robert Mitchum films… Like THUNDER ROAD and NIGHT OF THE HUNTER – but these are great films on their own right. I love THE YAKUZA, it is gritty and tough. Never had a chance to see HOME FROM THE HILL, but with a cast including George Peppard and George Hamilton in their prime as adventure-thrill seekers. I can’t wait. THE SUNDOWNERS is an early Australian outback adventure that is pretty damn great. See Robert with Deborah Kerr – Very good. ANGEL FACE is fantastic. Directed by Otto Preminger – and co-starring the luscious Jean Simmons – no, not the rocker. Very Film Noir and very dark dark. MACAO is another fantastic Mitchum film noir – this time upon a boat with Ms. Heaving Chest – JANE RUSSELL and the fantastic William Bendix. Add to that the brilliance of Josef von Sternberg’s direction and way with the lens… and you have a film that just steams off the screen. I’d never quantify THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS as a “great film” but with a cast joining Mitchum like George Kennedy, Martin Balsam and David Carradine – shit. It’s worth it just for the personalities on screen. As usual on the Signature Collection – they’re loaded with just enough extras to keep ya smiling.
THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED
When you watch Kirby Dick’s investigative documentary into the unsavory realm of the MPAA – and their shroud of mystery and deception – you’ll find yourself as a film fan getting angry, emotional and ultimately cheering for what you see happening in this film. This film is AWESOME entertainment and the DVD is a classic DVD to add to your collection.
THE FILMS OF KENNETH ANGER, VOL. 1
In the realm of experimental and controversial film – there are few as bizarre and captivating as Kenneth Anger and his films. Here is a treasure trove of films – you just can’t see any other way like FIREWORKS, PUCE MOMENT, RABBIT’S MOON, EAUX D’ARTIFICE and INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME. These films have influenced the most influential of filmmaking artists as well as high art artists. Not for everyone, but it is for the daring viewers out there.
Monsters And Madmen (THE HAUNTED STRANGLER / CORRIDORS OF BLOOD / THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE / FIRST MAN INTO SPACE ) - Criterion Collection
And here is where we all sing the praises of Criterion. That they do the loving detailed work that they do on Kurosawa films or the works of Renoir… well, that’s one thing. But that they also give that same glorious treatment to these films… well it tickles my balls! Too often these titles have been put out on dupey fuzzy nasty looking DVDs – but here they are given the great treatment that – well nobody but folks like me desired. None of these films are great – but they are works of Psychotronic mayhem – and star such gods as Boris Karloff, Bob Steele and Anthony Dawson. So if you like your films with head scratching plots and gigglicious visual effects and make-up. Look no further – you’ve reached your Briar Patch!
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF ( 2 Disc Collector’s Edition)
Piotro Pinkie’s favorite film given the full treatment! This has been a bare-bones title for long enough. Here – you’ve got two discs – loaded with a Commentary, Dolby Digital 5.1… Deleted scenes – including the song “ANY DAY NOW” – a full fledged documentary, interviews with John Williams – the cast and much more. This is a fantastic double disc for those of us that have loved this film for so many years. About time! Now I can finally buy it.
DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK / ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
I love early Rock n Roll musicals – these fast and dirty flicks – with nonsensical plot lines set more to the fact that they had this new crazy music called ROCK N ROLL to unleash on the poodle skirts in the audience. It is a lost art form. Gone the way of Music Videos. Bands never seem to have the personality today to sustain a feature film. So instead we have actresses becoming singers and vice-versa. Of the two, my fave is ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK.
DON’T KNOCK THE TWIST / TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK
And then we have the TWIST double feature – taking Chubby Checker’s outrageously popular song and dance and twisting it into the mold of the Rock flick. Don’t expect brains – but do expect to learn to twist properly and to have a lot of fun with this classic rocker and roller when he was in the early days of the twist.
THE PUFFY CHAIR
A wonderful little indie film that did damn good on it’s own. It’s a beloved film around the Austin area – but it won high praise at last year’s Sundance and it took the Audience Award at last year’s SXSW film festival. Well, now you can see this film without having to stand in the uncertain lines of a film festival – and you can laugh and cry at this tale about a big puffy chair that a character remembers from his childhood and finds another of – that he gives his dad as a surprise gift – only to find… oh no, I wouldn’t spoil that… maybe Apocalypto, but definitely not this.
January 30th, 2007
FLYBOYS ( Two Disc Collector’s Edition)
I love biplane flicks. Movies like WINGS, THE DAWN PATROL, THE BLUE MAX… maybe it is because I love King Kong so much and just like I love Dinosaurs and Monkeys… I also love these planes… and the Empire State Building, Blondes and New York. That said – this has some of the finest aerial battle footage ever captured on a computer – I even kinda like the story. The acting wasn’t my fave – but as someone that loves this period and type of film – it makes me very happy. You might feel a two disc set is ludicrous on this title, but you’ll be a giddy kid at how they made some of these scenes. Check it out on Netflix if nothing else.
Viva Pedro – Pedro Almodovar Classics Collection (TALK TO HER, BAD EDUCATION, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, LIVE FLESH, FLOWER OF MY SECRET, MATADOR, LAW OF DESIRE )
Ok – if you’re a bit stunned by the Latin film boom of this year – with PAN’S LABYRINTH and CHILDREN OF MEN and BABEL – and you’ve decided that perhaps Spanish Language film is where it is at and you want to just dive in…. Well this set is about as great a way to start as any. Almodovar is the Spanish Fellini. His films are joys of life and cinema. They worship women, sex and family. They’re sensual and above all else they’re films about the human existence that have souls of their own. Viva Pedro indeed. The first film of his I saw was WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN over at Hogg Auditorium at the University of Texas campus. It blew my mind it was so good. Get yours blown!
DO NOT DISTURB
Ok – Remember the Stallone Q&A? Remember the question about if he was tougher than Rod Taylor? Remember Stallone avoiding that comparison? Well – find out why! This film isn’t really going to help you. As this isn’t that type of Rod Taylor film – just like how Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, etc all do their romantic comedies and fun flicks – Rod Taylor did in his day as well. Co-Starring with Doris Day. Contrary to most of the modern tough guy attempts to soften and be funny – Rod Taylor did so effortlessly. This is a very good film. Love the look back with Rod Taylor extra on here!
BAND OF ANGELS
This is a latter film for Raoul Walsh, one of the greatest directors ever… btw. And it stars Clark “I was Kirk First” Gable and Yvonne “You ain’t painting me green” DeCarlo. This is a Civil War epic starring the man that made that a good thing. In addition – you’ll see an impossibly young Sidney Poitier and at the end of the day – you’ll kinda love it all. Gable is great as always – and the sexual tension in this is throughout. Definitely worth a watch!
THE MARINE (Unrated Edition)
I never got around to seeing this while it was in theaters – but I am definitely going to find it at a used DVD store – where I’ll trade something that is unwatchable for this film – just so I can finally give it a see. And I have to say, I’m looking forward to oogling John Cena fighting Robert Patrick. Should be moderately entertaining at… at least a good heckling level.
MADAME CURIE
I assume most of you have never seen a Greer Garson movie. She was beyond lovely. And Mervyn LeRoy sure as hell knew how to direct her. Also – it stars Morbius from FORBIDDEN PLANET, but long before color started saturating planet Earth – you know, back when the world was love shades of gray. This is a romantic drama about how Marie Curie and Dr Pierre Curie found each other, love and the amazing powers of radium! The film has its extras and is beautiful to watch with a snuggle-goddess.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Collector’s Edition)
Ok – I’ve been pissed ever since I ordered the SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Criterion DVD online – only to be sent the barebones. I’ve wanted a fairly loaded version of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS ever since and here we go with a nice one. There’s a 3 part documentary, a scoring featurette, a 1991 making of. Deleted scenes, outtakes and an Anthony Hopkins Phone Message… pretty ace, if you ask me. Sadly – no Lecter commentary – which is my real dream for a Silence – DVD. I love this film – and it’s nice to have a really good – available to all – version.
ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (Amazon Exclusive Offer)
No – not that craptacular version that Disney made… no – this was done back in the day and I love this version of the film. It’s probably that I love Janet Leigh…. Or that the girl that see’s the angels – well… she’s just perfectly angelic herself. Or maybe it’s the wonderful Paul Douglas. Whatever. I love it. Now – this is an exclusive on Amazon – so click the link above if you want this film – it’s literally the only way to get it!
LOOKER
I love LOOKER. I’ve been a fan since I first saw it at a Drive In with my parents back in 1981. It was written and directed by Michael Crichton – and is one of my favorite films that his name is attached to. First off… There’s the brilliant Albert Finney at work. Then there’s James Coburn. But more than that… honestly – it’s all the honeys on display in this miraculously yummy sci-fi fare. Susan Dey was so hot in this film. As were all the girls in this film. It’s very dated, but now it plays more like a period Sci fi film. And that’s a good thing. Crichton did a bang up job on this one.
GYMKATA
From the director of ENTER THE DRAGON and BLACK BELT JONES come GYMKATA – the magnificent blending of Fake-Fu and Gymnastics! It is the future fighting skills of mankind… a mankind that will have strategically placed trampolines and swinging pole things. OK – truth time. In the late seventies when Kurt Thomas was the fucking MAN in Gymnastics – I was dreaming that somebody would cast him as Captain America so my dream of a great Captain America movie would come to pass. Then – around the time I was 14 and that dream had mostly died – I saw the trailer for this… STARRING KURT THOMAS!!! I got so excited. The day I saw this film, the dream of Kurt Thomas playing Captain America… died. D.O.A. That said – this is one of the most amazingly hokey alleged American martial arts flicks ever made. And it has ninjas versus a gymnast. You kinda have to see it for that alone.
THE ARRANGEMENT
By no means is this the best film of Elia Kazan’s career – nor is it a particularly wonderful film. It is – however, completely an Elia Kazan film. Best seen alone or with someone very respectful of film. Douglas is good in the film, though mis-cast. It should have been Brando – you can feel that it was meant for Brando – and Kirk should never attempt to be Brando, because Kirk is Kirk and Brando is Brando -- But if you ever wondered how Kirk Douglas would do in a role meant for Marlon Brando… check this out. It’s good – tragically flawed, but still good. Kazan was really that good.
COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
This is fucking funny. That’s all.
VIGILANTE
I’ve never seen this. It’s directed by William Lustig and stars Robert Forster and Fred Williamson – is loaded with extras and has that cover art. I’m there.
SAYONARA JUPITER
Toho’s answer to Peter Hyams’ 2010. I’ve never heard of this film – but this DVD is tricked out and look at this description
In the 22nd Century, the United Earth Federation has begun colonizing neighboring planets in the solar system. While attempting to extract water from Mars' polar ice caps, a UEF science team uncovers ancient carvings that describe the crash of an alien spacecraft on the planet Jupiter several millennia ago. The discovery postpones the initial phase of the Jupiter Solarization Project, a plan to transform the gas giant into a second sun, providing both additional solar energy for Earth and making the outer worlds fit for colonization. From Minerva Station in the orbit of Jupiter, Dr. Eiji Honda (Tomokazu Miura, Survive Style 5+, Taste of Tea) is dispatched to ensure that alien life does not exist on Jupiter before the planned mission is to commence.
Yeah – I’m VERY CURIOUS!
EVENT HORIZON (Special Collector’s Edition)
SEVEN SWORDS
THE ILLUSIONIST
CRANK
IDIOCRACY
TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST Vol 2
SIBERIADE
DOCTOR WHO – THE COMPLETE SECOND SERIES
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE – THE BEGINNING (unrated edition)
THE PROTECTOR
THE ANIMATION SHOW (Vol 1 & 2 Boxed Set)
SAW III
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN
YOJIMBO & SANJURO – Criterion Collection
JESUS CAMP
ROBERT MITCHUM – THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION ( ANGEL FACE / MACAO / THE SUNDOWNERS / HOME FROM THE HILL / THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS / THE YAKUZA )
THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED
THE FILMS OF KENNETH ANGER, VOL. 1
Monsters And Madmen (THE HAUNTED STRANGLER / CORRIDORS OF BLOOD / THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE / FIRST MAN INTO SPACE ) - Criterion Collection
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF ( 2 Disc Collector’s Edition)
DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK / ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
DON’T KNOCK THE TWIST / TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK
THE PUFFY CHAIR
FLYBOYS ( Two Disc Collector’s Edition)
Viva Pedro – Pedro Almodovar Classics Collection (TALK TO HER, BAD EDUCATION, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, LIVE FLESH, FLOWER OF MY SECRET, MATADOR, LAW OF DESIRE )
DO NOT DISTURB
BAND OF ANGELS
THE MARINE (Unrated Edition)
MADAME CURIE
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Collector’s Edition)
ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (Amazon Exclusive Offer)
LOOKER
GYMKATA
THE ARRANGEMENT
COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
VIGILANTE
SAYONARA JUPITER
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Really enjoyed my Seven Samurai, looking forward to this one.
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...but that may be because having already introduced our wandering hero, we can produce a really lean action flick
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I love it!
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The Protector is about HIM not Tarantino.
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..is together with Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, Seven and Saving Private Ryan one of the most overrated films of the 90's! (But Foster and Hopkins are BRILLANT!)
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I actually remember really appreciating the movie, though I'd have to watch it again to remember why. I think it made me excited to see SPHERE during Crichton's cinema heyday. Then after seeing that mess nostalgia may have kicked in. Also, I'm glad I'm slow to pick up DVDs... don't have SILENCE OF THE LAMBS yet. I felt stupid a couple weeks ago when I found out Buffalo Bill is Monk's boss (not that I ever watch Monk... personally, I was more pleased to see Christopher Meloni/Det. Stabler as Freakshow in HAROLD & KUMAR).
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Harry, vigilante is a Death Wish rop off that ends up better than any Death Wish movie ever made. A really awesome little piece of sleaze.
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Should've been SHAWSHANK all the way. Tsk tsk, Academy. Tsk tsk.
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If we are talking about over-rated films.
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give me your address, I will slap you, sir.and once again, doofuses like jfp think that if something is over 30 seconds old, and mentioned on AICN, they should be given free reign to swing their nerds swords and be jackasses. Harry's reccomending it because it's his DVD pick reccomendation talkback thread post, etc. who cares when it came out? god, some people just love to whine.
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Sorry, I have not been converted to the strange cult this film enjoys. Devin Faraci called it...it's a chick flick for guys. So painfully earnest it hurts!
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I had heard some time ago that the uncensored version of this movie was supposed to be released on DVD in 2006. Clearly, it wasn't. Anyone know what happened there?
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I highly recommend you pick this disc up because I hear there's a commentary track with Kirby Dick, producer Eddie Schmidt, and some supergenius movie critic guy. Best commentary of the year! Four stars!
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The One-Armed Swordsman, even with (because?) the overt Homoeroticism and blatant Wong Kar-Wai swipes, but his best film? Not even close. That honor goes to the genius that is Peking Opera Blues...
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SO glad I'll be able to see the original non-Miramaxed version of the film! (even if it means they slap Tarantinos name on it)
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Thanks for the heads-up on ANIMATION SHOW! As the resident Don Hertzfeldt nut on this board, I have to ask: when are you going to review Hertzfeldt's ass kickin' BITTER FILMS: VOLUME 1 DVD retrospective? My friend, it is a must-have.
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Harry watch THE EMPTY CHILD/THE DOCTOR DANCES from the Christopher Eccleston series, then watch THE GIRL IN THE FIREPLACE and THE IMPOSSIBLE PLANET from the Tennant box you have. Then get back to us. RighteousBrother - you sir are a clown.
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Just yesterday under a page about Ong-Bak 2 I mentioned how I want to see the Thai version of The Protector and I got a response from someone who felt the Miramax version is better. IDK what the original is like, but the shorter version seemed like one of the worst edited films I'd ever watched. Bad ass action either way. I'll be glad to get this to watch, enjoy, and compare.
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Ah, haven't seen that in years and years. Kurt Thomas could have been Bond! Er, or maybe Bond's bitch.
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Brings tears to my eyes. Reminds me of the days when I was but a wee child. HBO used to show things like Toxic Avenger, Hamburger The Movie, Hot Dog, and Return Of The Living Dead all through the week. Man I spent many sleeples nights glued to that set. HBO and Showtime used to kick ass.
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I'm rushing home tonight to buy that bad boy. Its going to sell like hotcakes. Rothman can suck it.
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Really is one of Fred Williamson's best performances in a flick.
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Kiss my ass, catchphrase haters. That one HAD to be done. Good list, Harry. You should make a few calls and see if you can get your manboobs in Tit Queens - Volume III.
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Idiocracy. I managed to see it in theaters, and I thought it was really, really funny, and albeit not perfect, something that definitely deserved a wide release. That Fudruckers montage was funny, the shift from average places into brothels (Full Body Chicken), and much more. I also recently saw Saw III, and I thought it was much better than it had any business to be, and if you look at typical third parts in series, this one was much better. And although that Silence of the Lambs edition looks cool, do we really need another version of it?
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i love cherry from pee wee's playhouse, and i hope that what they are refering to. My dvd picks of the month for me would be:
Fearless directors cut
Severence
Memories of Matsuko
by the way these are all overseas dvds. You must have a region free dvd player!!! -
Thank you, Harry.
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Went to add this to my Queue and it's the only movie in your article not listed anywhere at Blockbuster.
Guess if the industry wants to kill that movie ..they will. -
Idiocracy and This Film is Not Yet Rated. Some good stuff on this one Harry!
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Really? And what exactly do you consider a good movie from the 90s?
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There are some god picks on this one Harry. Plus, you reminded me that I have never seen Runaway Train. One of those I always meant to see and never got around to. I'll pick it up now.
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...is when Kurt, being chased by numerous bad guys, runs down an alley and just happens to come across what is portrayed as a natural stone formation that coincidentally grew into the shape of a pommel horse. He then hops on and gymkatas the bad guys to death.
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...from the Criterion release? Again?? What the fuck, you'd think maybe MGM could've cowboyed up the green to lease the rights from Criterion -- back in early 2001, it might've been an acceptable omission (when Criterion wasn't yet outsourcing its supplemental material), but six years later, there's simply no excuse.
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Give me a damn break. And don't by Tarantino's cut-up shitbag version of THE PROTECTOR. Buy the original version, which was called HONOR OF THE BEAST. GYMKATA, as cheesy as it was, worth the wait. As for SEVEN SWORDS: I'll give it a try and pray it's not more Art House Kung Fu like Hero and Chrouching Tiger, Boring Dragon.
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I can't believe you didn't mention the new special edition of The Wicker Man. It has 11 minutes of footage back in, and a commentary from Christopher Lee. Otherwise, good list.
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...but then I was distracted by Gong Li's cleavage. Stupid advertising.
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I had that scene flash into my mind as you all reminded us of the brilliance that was "Gymkata"! I salute you sir! Oh, and Tin, advertising is a powerful tool. As is cleavage. Combine the two and you have Magic! I'll buy that for a dollar!
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That should be the tagline for IDIOCRACY. What is the deal man? Although the satire of the movie is depressingly believable, it's hard to imagine the people at Fox could be dumb enough to fuck up this movie this bad. There's no way they could do such a ridiculously horrible job of every conceivable level of releasing and marketing this movie unless it was on purpose. Why do they have it in for this movie? Even now that they're finally putting it on DVD they can't figure out how to make a god damn cover for it? I should be thankful they avoided the white background and red font, but jesus man.
I managed to see the movie through a secret underground network of rebels determined to just watch a fucking movie they want to see. It's pretty good, definitely flawed but better than many comedies that were released theatrically such as LET'S GO TO PRISON. It has alot of really funny jokes, details that I probaly missed and good observations about parts of our culture that I have not really seen addressed in movies before.
I don't think Fox understands the movie. They think it's insulting its own audience, but that's because they think everyone is stupid. They have so little respect for the world that they think we can't even be trusted with an explanation of what the movie is about on the cover (you can't even tell it's about a futuristic world!) The movie has a world where everyone really is stupid, but I think it's also about people like Fox dumbing down our culture by giving lowest denominator crap and treating us as morons and babies. And I don't think Fox realizes they are illustrating the movie's point.
By the way, Mr. Incredible: the original title of The Protector was Tom Yum Goong. And unless Harry is wrong, it's included on this DVD. You gotta read the thing before you attack it, at least that's how it would work in a society not gone mad. -
good to see some things never change. Yes, some of it is deserved but sometimes the quick little jabs just feel like a child throwing a fit cuz he didn't get the toy he wanted.I actually liked Event Horizon so I will check this new version out and see what the deal is with the extras.Crank looks like it could be dumb fun. Does smart get naked though?Will defintely have to track down Idiocracy (this is where the Fox jihad is justified)TCM:The Beginning - Yes I know never to trust one of Harry's recommendations but his positive words and the fact that I enjoyed the first remake a little convinced me to catch this one. Crap. Fuck me for listening to Harry. It was a complete paint by numbers re-hash from the first remake. The kills nor the gore were nothing we haven't seen a millions times before. Not even the hotness of Brewster nor Baird could salvage what an unnecessary trainwreck this was.Still need to catch The Protector, still need to catch Ong Bak for that matter.Saw III was nothing memorable. If you've seen I & II you SAW this one.I actually wanted to see Flyboys in the theaters but never got around to it and in my area it was only in the theater for about a week. I'll check it out.Like Crank, The Marine looks like dumb fun. An old 80's or 90's low budget action flick.
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...is for Diora Baird. Quite possibly the sexiest woman in movies right now. So comes the Unrated Edition... and my question to you, Harry, is: Naked or not naked? Let's keep to the important issues here.
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Gymkata, bitches!
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Maybe the best piece of real acting in Kirk Douglas' career: He's talking to a business associate on the phone, speaking in annoying, abbreviated ad-man lingo, and catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Cue bemused self-loathing: "Twenty 'thou'...?"
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Diora Baird: http://www.freecelebrities.org/d/Diora-Baird/ ....... Now you don't have to spend money on that shitflick.
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..and wrong. I didn't attack this movie; I attacked the screwed up American released version of it. And yes, I know THE PROTECTOR is TOM-YUM-GOONG which can ALSO be found as HONOR OF THE BEAST. Both versions will be on this edition; we'll see. It still doesn't excuse Tarantino and Co. or their crappy editing. And just like Fox screwed up IDIOCRACY, The Weinsteins shat on this movie. Excelsior.
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I actually laughed out loud when I read your post. That scene is cinema gold! Now that we have both Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare and Gymkata on DVD, all we need is a MegaForce disc!
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Holy Jesus! My right hand has now been frozen into twisted, mangled claw! Baird would've been the PERFECT M.J.
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Past or present?
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... that Little Miss Sunshine is pretty much a "quirky" version of "Vacation"? They're almost the same movie.
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My story must be told. Make it a Criterion Collection, double-disc, packed with featurettes, and commentaries by various film historians and admiring directors (Marty, Francis, Steve, etc).
Deeds Not Words -
this is the movie to get. Awesome soundtrack. Awesome punch gun.
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MY GOD. Now THAT is a Woman.
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That woman needs to be in more movies. NOW.
Its too bad tic-tac toothed Dunst is M.J. Baird looks just like the comic... -
I guess 'Retro Tit Quest 2', or whatever it was called, was Harry's wank recommendation of the month. But I was really expecting Harry to back 'Bandidas' and demand a sequel. I guess this web site is not as predictable as I thought.Damn you Michael Bay! ASTEROID THE SIZE OF TEXAS'S GOTTA EAT!
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I know I gave you lots of flack saying that you couldn't do this DVD column as well as Moriarty (and even though you didn't) you did a great job! Cheers!
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three thumbs up for catholic private schools. crank=the most absurd action film ever???? are you kidding? it was a very good, though.
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I really missed this feature on the site. Sure Moriarity or whomever had their DVD picks...BUT THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE PICTURES! I love to see box art. Harry's DVD picks usually alert me to a gem I didn't know was out yet, or...didn't know existed.
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Are people actually debating what was better? Only one of these films was brilliant, and it's not coming out on DVD this week...
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... There was a Vol 1?
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The three films cited in your post prove that the 80's, and not the 70's, were American cinema's last golden age. The acting in Megaforce alone - acting at the Slomin's Shield commercial level - is something to behold. Let's start the petition to get it on DVD!
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Man, seeing that box for The Marine suddenly gave me an enormous quasi-heroin jones to see Rolling Thunder! Why the hell is that movie still unreleased on dvd? Harry, can't you use your magic to get QT to release the film, or at least make a decent bootleg and sell it on ebay? I mean he named his own company after it for Chrissakes, what gives? Arrrghhhh!!!! Man, I am so picking up that Almodovar box set, what a deal. Those cult flicks toward the end look pretty sweet-ass too...Im fixin to flix...net style.
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You can get This Film is not Yet Rated on NETFLIX. I have given up on Blockbuster. No longer will they get my money. Geez, but no Tit Queens though. Damnit, what is this world coming to.
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Well, don't get me wrong I'm not trying to start an argument. I knew you weren't attacking the movie but you were attacking Harry for recommending it. You said don't buy that, buy the original, but if you had read Harry's little paragraph you would know that buying the crappy cut up version IS buying the original (unless he's wrong about that but I don't think you're saying he is). I wouldn't have said anything but you compounded the error by giving another bad (but not as bad) Americanized title as the original title.
I agree with you though, I hate what the Weinsteins do to these movies. I've been ranting about this for years. I still can't get over them releasing MY FATHER IS A HERO as THE ENFORCER and not even showing the kid (the main character) on the cover or mentioning him on the back. With TOM YUM GOONG I was especially mad that they changed it to a RZA score that DOESN'T SOUND LIKE RZA! They were both changing the original intention of the movie and ripping off RZA fans by exploiting his name for spending an afternoon making a generic score. -
Ahhh, but I am all too aware of the genius of both Spacehunter (jailbait Ringwald!) and Reb Brown's finest moment in cinema. I neglected to mention them merely out of a well-founded fear of overloading talkbackers' synapses with too much 1980s filmic goodness.
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Those pics of Diora really inspired me today to do the best I can! I will definitely be pissing excellence today....
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I dig what you're saying, but I believe it has more to do with the context of the movie. THE PROTECTOR, on the other hand (with QT's name in front!), is generic as hell, and was been there/done that by Jackie Chan years ago. I'm not certain but I read online that TOM YUM GOONG translates as "Shrimp spicy sour soup" and was the name of the restaurant in the movie where the bad guys were located. Oh, and Zarles, I have nothing against tits. Who doesn't appreciate looking at Gong Li in that CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER ad?
Thank your lucky stars for Amazon, because I wouldn't go into FYE, Best Buy or Barnes and Noble and ask for
TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST. You'll either get slapped, a dirty look telling you to go to the nearest porno shop, or an old stripper looking for a date. You take your chances. -
The classic series that is. I'm alternatively hot and cold for the new show. Will definitely be picking up the Yojimbo/Sanjuro release...
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It plays like a GTA video game. On purpose. Hysterical, dumb fun. Only once does the look-at-me-I'm-QT dialogue get in the way (in the drug dealer's backroom scene). Small price to pay for the rest of the cinematic greatness.
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This movie was ahead of its time with all the scum and villainy in it. Fred Williamson starts the movie with an awesome speech. While watching the movie you really feel like joining up with Fred and Robert to free the streets of scum. An underrated movie. Glad to see a re-release with extras. Fred Williamson rules and not because he was in From Dusk Till Dawn but because he was in Vigilante.
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Being a Queen is not an easy job, with great tits comes great responsibility
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and just having great fun bags. Oh, and it helps to know the right people.
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That shit gave me a headache. I actually thought it looked watchable from the preview but then when I got around to seeing it, I nearly had a seizure. The rapid cutting is just too much, the characters are all degenerated hybrids of Guy Ritchie and Tarantino knock offs, the special effects are terrible, and the concept becomes utterly ridiculous (when it seemed somewhat plausible in the trailer). It had some hee haw moments like the sex in public scene, enough swearing and tough guy machismo to keep undiscerning action fans satisfied, but the most godawful editing this side of a paul ws anderson movie. i get my paul andersons mixed up, so to get it straight i'm referring to the AVP guy and not the magnolia guy. some shots, like the one where he's hanging out of the copter punching some guy in the head, could have been brilliant if they didn't fuck around with the stop start slow motion and nauseating editing. This movie is literally a video game, so if that's your thing go nuts I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
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OH LAWD how I have waited to get his movies on DVD! Would have missed this without this collumn because I had already given up on it ever happening. VERY curious to see what quality the prints are when compared to my UK VHS tapes.
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I agree that Jesus Camp was the scariest movie of the year. Especially when a cackling, male-hooker-banging, meth-dropping Ted Haggard boasts about Evangelicals deciding every election from now until the end of time (or should I say, End Times). Scary!
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The first time I saw it I thought it was cool. 5 years later I saw it again and it was major suck city. Can't wait to see it again with 2 friends of mine who recommended that "wonderful"movie to me years ago. They won't hear the end of it.
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Cant wait to catch that flick with whatshisname. Think me likes that one.
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He's got the moves. I'm tellin' y'all!
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I sold my copy of it when I heard an uncensored version was going to be released. It's a been a few months and nothing...anyone know what's going on with that?
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well, i got my eyes on the illusionist. loved norton and giamatti in the movie. jessica biel... eh, i forgot she was even there. hahah.
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Jan 10, 2007 10:23:37 PM CST
Hey, maybe one of you old timers can answer this for me
by cotton mcknight
I have never thought to ask this before but EVERY time I hear the twist, the question pops up in my mind. Chubby Checker had a followup called "Twist again", and what I want to know is, what era did that come out in? Was that actually in the 50s/60s? Was that an 80s creation? I remember first hearing it on an "oldies" station back then, and it confused me because it sounded relatively new. I could look it up but since I doubt it was on an actual album, i'm sure I will run into dead ends. Thanks.
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All in one week... holy lord god. Tit Queens Of The Past. Vol 2, no less. That's just the best title for anything i've ever heard.
With regards Almodovar, I've seen a few of his films, and everything bar All About My Mother has been sickening. I'm still waiting to see this love for women he suposedly exhibits every fart's end in anything other than A.A.M.M. Certainly Pepi Luci Bom, for example, had little of that.
www.mondoirlando.com -
Well, of course Honor of the Beast isn't as bad as The Protector, because it's not as generic. But who considers a cute baby elephant a beast? I just don't think it fits. At least he really is protecting the elephant, so he's a protector. I really don't understand the original title, but it is the original title and at least it's distinctive.
By the way, another thing about those bastard Weinsteins that we didn't even cover before. They signed an exclusive deal with Blockbuster so all their movies can only be rented at Blockbuster. Of course, legally this is complete bullshit, they have no right to stop independent stores from buying and renting The Protector. But only a lawsuit stopped them from releasing the movies with a 1-800 number asking people to report if they rented it at a decent video store, to trick people into thinking the other stores are breaking the law. An innovative new way of harassing and bullying mom and pop businesses.
I'm not sure what the Weinsteins even get out of this deal other than making it a huge pain in the ass to rent their movies so that people will get lazy and shell out the money to buy it. -
I think i have a weinsteins between my legs. Whenever i need to arouse myself and shoot out a load of producers gizz, i'll start stroking it!!!
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I didn't know the Weinsteins were up to all that.
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someone really needs to GYMKATA! their asses. And while they are at it, burn all the Blockbusters to the ground.
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The best scene in "Gymkata" is easily the "Village Of the Crazies." Ah, the guilty pleasure movies; what would we do without them?
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EVER! Christ, it's considered a classic, is one of only 3 films ever to sweeep all the top Oscar categories. Am I missing something? I'm not saying it's horrible, but it's an above average thriller, nothing more, nothing less.
I was just as entertained watching Manhunter, Hanibal and Red Dragon. -
nice taint
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Is the Yojimbo DVD any different from what's already out there? Is the picture better? Are there more features? Anything other than Sanjuro as well? Short version of this question: Is this a double dip? Is it worth selling my copy of Yojimbo for this?
Also, Harry, I'm really surprised you never watched Doctor Who. It's a really good show. -
I'm embarrased to say I was thinking about this movie this week. Can't remember why, I think it was for the time-lapse gun thing. Anyway, can't wait to see it again to see if it's as good as the 8 year old part of my brain remembers.
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Better to just not buy either and get a videogame instead.
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Uhhhhh.....How does Volume 1 hold up?
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tittie queens of the past. There was drama, humour, and action. And of course tits. That movie had it all, and then Volume II was a letdown. It was the Temple of Doom in the series.
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God I hate his films. This is saying alot because I really like artsy films, especially ones with tons of gratutious nudity. And it's not the language thing. Fucking Y tu Mama Tambien and Amores perros are two of my all time favorties. I just fucking hate this guy's movies. Don't know why. Probably because I find them painfully void of any kind of coherent storyline. I haven't seen Volver yet but I think I may have learned my lesson finally. Oh who am I kidding? I love naked boobies.
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Hooray!
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Yo Harry, film geek - my ass. Its not Anthony Dawson its ANTONIO FUCKING MARGHERITI you dick.
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...and anybody that doesn't agree is, well, an idiot.
Seriously, it was really fuckin' bad.
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