Hey folks, Harry here - this is last week's DVD picks and peeks. I'm still working on this week's - which simply has too many John Wayne titles for me to get done tonight. So I'll continue to work on it today and hopefully will have it done by tonight. As for now, I must go watch HEROES with Yoko and cuddle. As always - you can click on the DVD art or titles to check out Amazon's info on the same title - and either buy it, or add it to your DVD list of to be watched items. As always, this is my interests and ranges from the films I'm curious about to having watched the release and recommend. To warning you about.

Here ya go...

Tuesday May 15th, 2007

PAN’S LABYRINTH

The Best film of 2006 is finally out on DVD. This 2-disc Platinum edition is worth every single red cent. This edition is loaded with extras – from the video prologue with Guillermo to his audio commentary – which is a delight to listen to. Then there’s the Featurettes covering just about everything you’d like to have revealed – the Charlie Rose Show, Storyboards and more. I have to say – I’m delighted to see this sold out everywhere I’ve gone since returning from Bucharest – as it seems to indicate that the film is as beloved by others as it is by me. As a bit of trivia for you. PAN’S LABYRINTH is the highest grossing film in the history of the ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE. Which just goes to show you, how wonderful the taste of those that frequent the Drafthouse is! Heh.

THE FOUNTAIN

I deeply love THE FOUNTAIN. I got my screener copy about 3 weeks ago and have watched it 3 times – the first time with my fiancée, the second and third – because I thought I could watch it as eye-candy in the background as I worked, but each time, it pulled me away from my work, consuming my attention. The extra features is kinda awesome. It tracks the pre-history of the film… the alternate universe version – and continues through to the one we did get. The only disappointment? There isn’t a featurette on Clint and his amazing score for this film. I’d love a revealing look on his process – as he’s an incredibly colorful character. My favorite revelation on this disc? The vomit foliage gag was practical. Fucking amazing!

BECKET

It should be bought for the Peter O’Toole commentary alone. To listen to O’Toole tell stories about this amazing production… well, it is bliss. That said – you really ought to get this because BECKET is just a fucking amazing film featuring not only a brilliant performance by Peter O’Toole… but Richard Burton and John Gielgud – and it is a toweringly brilliant film. Now – the dvd also has interviews with the editor, composer and… Richard Burton – from long long ago. O’Toole is Henry II – and always shall be. The role is his forever. Behold a masterpiece.

ARMY OF SHADOWS – Criterion Collection

Jean-Pierre Melville’s ARMY OF SHADOWS has always been a difficult film to come by. It wasn’t shown in the United States in any releasable form until last year. But for those that sought it out, it has always been known as arguably his best and most passionate work. It’s Melville’s amazing story of the French Underground during Nazi occupation. This is not a heroic film, but a necessary film. It is not about the triumph, but the cost to the French soul. It is haunting and matter of factly told. If you love Melville’s other work like LE SAMOURAI or LE CERCLE ROUGE.. then you absolutely owe it to yourself to see this film. As usual – Criterion does their masterful job.

TEX AVERY’S DROOPY – The Complete Theatrical Collection

Tex Avery is arguably – along with Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones and Dave Fleischer – my favorite animated short director of all time. And his Droopy series is kinda genius and this is all of them. Here’s what’s on the set – THE SHOOTING OF DAN MCGOO, DUMB-HOUNDED, NORTHWEST HOUNDED POLICE, WILD AND WOOLFY, SENOR DROOPY, WAGS TO RICHES, OUT-FOXED, THE CHUMP CHAMP, DAREDEVIL DROOPY, DROOPY’S GOOD DEED, DROOPY’S DOUBLE TROUBLE, CABELLERO DROOPY, THE THREE LITTLE PUPS, DRAG-A-LONG DROOPY, HOMESTEADER DROOPY, DIXIELAND DROOPY, DEPUTY DROOPY, MILLIONAIRE DROOPY and then there’s all those Michael Lah Directed Droopy’s in Scope that just do not satisfy in the least. That said – All the ones that I named – those are the Avery directed Droopy’s – and they’re all 100% awesome. These are classic old school theatrical toons – rude, crude and funny as hell.

ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLES

This is a wonderful film that was overlooked by too many. Luc Besson’s children’s tale is a really great children’s tale – the CG is beautiful and completely unlike anything we’ve seen so far. It uses the JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH structure of being live action – but then through magic, turns into animation – this time CG not stop-motion. Of all the voices – my personal fave is David Bowie – as hearing him with the character he plays – it just is wonderful. So, whether you have kids or not – check this out. The transfer is beautiful.

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE – Season Two

One of the sad realities of existence is… they don’t make Steve McQueen movies anymore. But you know what? Before Steve was the amazing movie star we all know and love – he was a bounty hunter in WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE – and I’d never seen a single episode til the first season hit DVD. And this show kicks ass on every level. It’s just thrilling to see Steve McQueen in something that I’ve never seen – and getting this set was yet another dose of McQueen – which is exactly what we all need. More Steve McQueen!

VENGEANCE IS MINE – Criterion Collection

One of the great aspects of the modern world we live in is that we’re lucky enough to have a format like DVD that allows us to discover gems that we would otherwise never see. This is one of those times. This is a brutal look at a psychopath. If you love hard films, this is amongst the hardest films focusing upon a killer I’ve seen. Think – HENRY, PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER hard. Criterion finds yet another jewel!

CREEPSHOW III

They bought ads on AICN. They sent me a screener. I have to warn you. This is one of the most horrifyingly awful films of all time. I watched the whole thing. Knowing that it was episodic – and knowing the greater glory of the name of CREEPSHOW – but reasoned by the knowledge that Stephen King and George Romero had nothing whatsoever to do with this piece of flaming shit… yet I hoped. And it’s fucking dreadful. A complete waste of time. Total shit!!!! STAY CLEAR!!!!!

LA REVUE DES REVUES

This and the next item are two of my personal favorites for both this week and next week. Watching Josephine Baker in all her glory is something I just never thought I’d have the opportunity to see till the advent of DVD. This film is from 1927 and is basically the trendsetter for the following 80 years of behind the scenes musicals. It’s a joy to watch one of the greatest follies performers of all time do her thing as only she could. Enjoy this.

THE JOSEPHINE BAKER COLLECTION ( ZOU ZOU / PRINCESS TAM TAM / SIREN OF THE TROPICS )

These 3 films span from 1927 to 1935 in the film career of Josephine Baker. They reveal a beautiful and talented musical, dance and dramatic performer. One of the first genuine musical film stars – period. In another era – she would have made a great deal more films – but she was amazing in a period where her skin tone did matter. These rare films have been brought to us by the wonderful folks at KINO – and you absolutely should experience them. They give you a glimpse at a period in film, music and dance that is stunning. Not only that, but experience the glory of Ms. Josephine Baker. One of the jewels of all time!