Hey folks, Harry here – first time in a while that I got this out in advance of the actual day of release… but I said I would – and I did… just not as ambitiously early as I thought. As always – the dvd art and titles are clickable to Amazon where you can learn more about the titles, purchase them – and this column will be thankful by continuing to searching out the interesting works being released each and every week. Some great stuff this week.

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2-Disc Special Edition)

This is a complicated film to write about – because it doesn’t work as a movie. It is a film of vignettes and sequences… yet it never comes together as a whole. The reason? I love the look of the film, I love the music as it’s sung in the film. But for me, this is an awesome “background” feature. As I sit here – I often have Concert films playing in the background… and from time to time, I’ll look up and be mesmerized, but at the end of a song, I can get back to what I was writing… Right now, I’m watching Scorsese’s THE LAST WALTZ… it’s on Blu-Ray and the sound coming through the 7.1 is amazing – and I have my fave moments to look up at. Now that film is a complete movie and I can sit down and just veg to the awesomeness that it is. Here – with ACROSS THE UNIVERSE – it kinda needs you to be distracted and let it capture your attention when it is amazing to look at. It will have high rotation in that function – but this was the biggest missed opportunity of the year for me – but what was there is still enough that I’ll pick it up.

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD

Easily in my top 5 films of 2007 – and absolutely hypnotically absorbing in 1080p… is this title. The Best Supporting Actor race is a bitch – because there’s easily 4 brilliant performances… and while the most iconic may be Javier Bardem… but I feel the best performance was Casey Affleck as the coward, Robert Ford. The film was criminally mishandled by Warners… it deserved a massive campaign and the full support of the studio in WIDE release. However, for all the parts of the country and world that never had an opportunity to see this epic film by Andrew Dominik – here it is.

ELIZABETH – THE GOLDEN AGE

I think it is a real mistake to COMPARE this film to the original ELIZABETH… the story of how Elizabeth came to power – and the fear and the massive intrigue in that part of her life…. Well… it is easily one of the great biographic stories to tell. However, ELIZABETH – THE GOLDEN AGE is an incredibly satisfying and thrilling tale. I love Clive Owen in this – and I love seeing the flaming of the Spanish Armada. If Elizabeth’s great feat was surviving to become the Queen of England… The defeat of Spanish – which began to symbolize and embody the beginning of the end of the Inquisition… that all happens here. Here with this film, we see England stand up and literally take its first step to being the power it became and is. I love that Shekhar Kapur is telling this story – and I hope it continues! An excellent film that’s only real fault is that it is not the first.

THE ARISTOCATS

The film came out the year before I was born – and as a result of my father’s general dislike of cats… I had never seen THE ARISTOCATS – until about 5 nights ago when Yoko sat me down and put this screener on – and I watched it. This – like 101 Dalmations – is the height of the Xeroxing the pencils onto cels which to me always made for messy animation – that said – watching this on my screen was pretty glorious. I love me some Phil Harris and Eva Gabor – and their voices really sell this film – and the animation is so adorable. It’s a Disney classic… that, I cannot deny. Favorite extra is the FIGARO short. I’ve never seen a FIGARO cartoon before, just heard about them in Maltin’s OF MICE AND MAGIC. What a cat nightmare! Figaro – the cute cat from Pinnochio – apparently has been kit-napped by a giant female mouse (Minnie) who torments and tortures him with a bath. It’s classic!

THE BRAVE ONE

Oh – I really liked this movie. I missed it in theaters – but it is essentially a female DEATH WISH with Jodie Foster in the Charles Bronson role. And the relationship between her and the police detective assigned to solve these vigilante killings (played by the amazing Terrence Howard) is really really good. It was also nice to see Nicky Katt having a really fun role to play. I’m tired of him just getting cameos – he’s the real fucking deal. Whoever bets the bank on him is gonna get some real dividends. That said – for a Neil Jordan film – it feels like a lessor film. Neil is capable of far better stories than this one, but I have to admit – I love the idea of Jodie Foster kicking ass in New York.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – THE FINAL SEASON

God I love this series… Going back and rediscovering it on DVD has been a joy. I mean… really, think about it… You get 543 minutes of Ron Perlman in awesome makeup – and well, in this season, not nearly the same amount of time of Linda Hamilton being in love with him. There was a twist in this season that PISSED FANS OF THE SERIES OFF FOR A VERY LONG TIME. They’re still pissed. Me, I thought it was the balls – and … well, if you’ve never seen it – just watch and see where you come down.

PORTRAIT IN BLACK / MADAME X

Two awesome Lana Turner Film Noirs for a low low price? ABSOLUTELY! Watching Sandra Dee as Lana’s daughter is unreal in PORTRAIT IN BLACK. Then MADAME X – though Lana was quite a bit older – she’s magnificent. Both of these films are just high quality atmospheric suspense, mystery, intrigue sorta flicks. I loved them both.

THE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 COLLECTION – Vol 10.2 ( THE GIANT GILA MONSTER / SWAMP DIAMONDS / TEENAGE STRANGLER / GIANT SPIDER INVASION )

I hate MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000. I know… I’m supposed to be the ultimate fanboy – and fanboys are supposed to love MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER – but dude… I hate talking during movies – and even more so – I hate talking during rare genre film efforts from the past. For example on this set – I love GIANT GILA MONSTER and GIANT SPIDER INVASION. I don’t need a puppet show at the bottom of the screen – I’d prefer to just see the films plain – and if my friends and I want to add commentary in the privacy of our home… fine. But for every chuckle they produced – there were 12 groans. That said – they are beloved – and this edition was delayed due to some trouble over getting a Godzilla film – which they replaced with GIANT GILA MONSTER (which notoriously played BNAT 1 right before PITCH BLACK’s World Premiere!!!)

CRIMSON TIDE ( Blu Ray )

My uncle was a commander on Nuclear Subs for years – and when I first saw this film – I was convinced… that’s how it would go down! Then that year at Christmas – he laughed and said… “There are no keys” – and that made me sad. There’s also not a little radio box, you could use the periscope which has all sorts of radio stuff. Anyways – I love the film. Sure, its bullshit – but its Bruckheimer bullshit – and that bullshit is cool. BTW – the pop-culture dialogue that Tarantino allegedly wrote for this is actually not him… he wrote a bunch of the straight dialogue that sounded realistic. FYI. This is gorgeous in Blu Ray!!!

TWO DAYS IN PARIS

Do you love Julie Delpy? Star of BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET and KILLING ZOE? I do. Fucking love her to death. She’s a lot more than another pretty face – and she proves it with this wonderful romantically fun film that she stars in, wrote and directed – in the city that we love her in. It isn’t up to the utter brilliance that Linklater gave us with BS BS… but just watching her walk around Paris feels like you should be drinking a very nice red wine and snuggling with the one you love.

TOOTSIE – 25th Anniversary Edition

No – Dustin Hoffman as a woman is not a prequel to White Chicks… and this film shows just how fucking terrifyingly awful those films are. Hoffman and Lange are stunning in this film – and goddamn I love me some Jessica Lange. This really is the best neurotic film about New York acting ever. And TOOTSIE is so much more than just a ‘drag’ movie. Here they delve into what it is that a woman is, what a business woman goes through – and much more. TOOTSIE deserves ever accolade it ever picked up – and it is very nice to see it get a nice treatment for its 25th anniversary… even if it is a year late. Ahem.

WALL STREET ( Blu Ray )

One of the great Oliver Stone films… Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gekko may very well be his defining role… other than when he was fucking Jeanne Tripplehorn violently in the ass in BASIC INSTINCT. Just kidding. Kinda. This film is every bit as great today as when it hit back in 1987. And the film was perfect for the beginning of the end of the years of Greed fostered by too many years of allowing the richest and most powerful to raid the country. The sad part is today – the people treating America like Jeanne Tripplehorn idolize Gordon Gekko. Gorgeous on Blu Ray.

THE APARTMENT ( Collector’s Edition )

Arguably my favorite Billy Wilder film… when I’m not watching the other most favorites of his filmography. Billy’s work was astonishing – and watching this film – and realizing that this was 1960’s version of the Romantic Comedy. And realizing just how much soul we’ve lost in this genre… how disposable the genre of love has become. Here – love hurts – and not in the light hearted way that film makes it out today… but in the way that makes you wince, because you’ve been there… you know that wound – and you love the honesty just spilling out of the screen. Miss Kubelik – we love you. And C.C. Baxter… damn man. Damn. One of the greatest films of all time.

THE FILMS OF SERGEI PARADJANOV ( SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS / THE COLOR OF POMEGRANA TES / THE LEGEND OF SURAM FORTRESS / ASHIK KERIB )

The brilliant work that was being done by Sergei Paradjanov is ust now being introduced to my hungry eyes and ears. I’m not an expert on him – as I’ve just seen clips from Sergei’s films – but in those clips – genius. The photography and imagination was towering. I put my order in on this pricey – but apparently awesome set – and can not wait to dive in and learn more. Read up at the Amazon link above and you’ll be intrigued. I am.

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES – Vol 2

I never dreamt that I’d get to see LEGION OF SUPERHEROES cartoons with a BOUNCING BOY main character. It’s just mind-numbing for this kid that read all his ADVENTURE comics and dreaming of joining the Legion and getting his very own Flight ring. My only complaint is that I want more members to the Legion. But as long as they keep this series going, I’ll be watching.

TUROK: SON OF STONE

I did a full write-up of this amazingly fun and adult adaptation of TUROK at this link - but I just have to say – I’ve shown this to my father and my nephew now – and it’s “grandfather” and “nephew” approved – as well as Uncle Harry approved. And folks – it just doesn’t get much better than that!

MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

You ever thought you’ve been in a shitty situation? Life sucked? You know – I was paralyzed below the waist for 6 months. That sucked. But dude, that was sunshine and clover compared this this fucking nightmare. Written by Oliver Stone and directed by Alan Parker – this way meaner than HOSTEL – bit of toture porn is without equal. This is hardcore badness to be stuck in. This is just great filmmaking and a great film to have on DVD

BLONDE AND BLONDER

However, if it’s real torture you want… and you want an excuse to be bitter about the existence of film as art – and life in general – there’s this Torture Porn. It’s something special… I made it through about 7 minutes before turning it off.

WEIRDSVILLE

Aha! Another Fantastic Fest film that actually got some theatrical play around the country in a few spots and was well received. Somehow – I missed it on all those chances – but I caught it on DVD and damn – this is a fucking weird (‘natch) fun film. What’s it about? Let’s just say it has just a bit about everything – and comes across as a comedic riff on some twisted dark universe that David Lynch gigglesnorts at the thought of, before having his teeth worked on.

DRIVE-IN CULT CLASSICS ( THE TEACHER / PICKUP / TRIP WITH THE TEACHER / BEST FRIENDS / THE STEPMOTHER / THE SISTER IN LAW / MALIBU HIGH / CINDY & DONNA )

Here’s 8 features for under $10 that feature tons of fun sexually risqué 70’s naughty naughtyness. You have sister sex, teacher/student sex, stepmother sex, sister-in-law sex, hitchhiker sex, best friend sex and just plain ol High School sex. That’s a lot of sex for under $10.

THE PHANTOM EMPIRE

I don’t know about you, but I love Gene Autry – and the one thing that puts him as cooler than Roy Rogers, Whip Wilson, Hopalong Cassidy and all the other B-Western Gods in my book is… well besides Rudolph and Frosty…. Is this. THE PHANTOM EMPIRE is easily one of the coolest bizarre genre riffs ever made. Somewhere around Melody Ranch was a mountain with a secret entrance to an amazing scientifically funky advanced civilization with robots, mind control, subterranean flying ships and so much more. But ol Gene Autry and Champion are taking them on… Saving the Phantom Empire from the corruption within – as well as saving the whole of mankind… and singing as he does it. I want the toys!

SLAVE GIRLS OF THE S.S. / WOMAN OF VENGEANCE – Grindhouse Double Feature

I know nothing about this. But holy fuck – I want this DVD. That cover has everything a depraved looney like me wants in a DVD. You probably disagree… but then that’s why I’m cooler than you. Heh.

Next week we’ll be looking at BECOMING JANE, GONE BABY GONE, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, WE OWN THE NIGHT, the 4th CHARLIE CHAN collection, Lubitsch Musicals, a Joan Crawford collection, Stanley Kramer Film Collection, BLADE the TV Series, ZAPPED!, THE BUBBLE, WARNER BROTHERS HOME ENTERTAINMENT ACADEMY AWARDS ANIMATION COLLECTION, THE WIZ, Stephen Chow’s THE ROYAL TRAMP collection, The Robert Donat Collection, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE and much more! Till then – enjoy…