Hey folks, Harry here with another week of DVD titles. There’s some good stuff here, not a ton of titles, but a healthy group. Hope you enjoy the list this week – as always you can click on the box art or titles and it’ll take you to Amazon where you can learn more on the titles or if you wish, you can purchase them – and this column will get a small kick back to help keep the column going. Well… let’s get to it…

Tuesday, May 18th, 2008

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – SEASON THREE

I know what you’re thinking – I bet you believe I’m going to talk shit about how I haven’t been able to make my way through an episode and I can’t stand this new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, but I am offering this out there for the ignorant bastards that like shit television like this show. Right? Wrong. The last time I talked about BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – it was after watching the standalone RAZOR – which just didn’t do anything for me, but I did mention that I was going to attempt to give my Season 1 HD-DVD a try. Thinking that perhaps – starting at the beginning might make a difference.

Some of you thought it would. Others thought I was far too unreasonable a rat bastard. Well – Fucking A – I was wrong and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is great – and it really really needs to be seen from the beginning. Have I watched Season Three yet? No, I have the set – but I don’t have Season 2 yet, and I’m refusing to check out this new season till I’m caught up. I will say – I get it now. I was totally talking out my ass. This show kicks ass (at least the first season)

ENCHANTED

I know ENCHANTED isn’t for everyone. But it is… 100% up my alley. I love ENCHANTED. In many ways it is amongst my very favorite films of last year. Absolutely exactly what I had hoped for. Amy Adams should have pulled down a nomination for her character – easily. That and James Marsden could’ve picked up a nomination for his Prince Edward – he was note perfect in his supporting role. The Blu Ray has a special feature not seen on the standard def models – that is a feature that highlights all the “Disney” references in the film… they are legion, btw. And an incredibly great trivial look at the film. However, if you didn’t enjoy this film, there’s nothing anyone can say to swoon you otherwise. However, for those of us that fell under the spell of ENCHANTED – this disc is a great treat.

I AM LEGEND

Nearly half brilliant and half daft. The first half of the film is about as perfect as one could hope for. However, when the second half transforms into a video game… I found the graphics lacking and the drama wanting. That said – Will Smith continues to impress. Taking his craft more and more seriously and making my estimation of him rise and rise. The other day I was watching from FRESH PRINCE stuff and it was very nearly impossible to see him. Oh sure… you can see the FP in Will’s performances – but not in films like PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, ALI or this. There are two cuts of I AM LEGEND here – one with a completely different ending – and while this isn’t the greatest version of this story, no where near, it is an acceptable rendition – and had they not pixel cast the “creatures” I think this film could have been very nearly unassailable. Tis a shame. Almost Greatness.

ATONEMENT

Ouch. Remember that song, Love Hurts? Yeah… That’s ATONEMENT. I wasn’t prepared for what a twisted, torturous romantic masochistic trip this film had in store for me. The way it is told, the passion, the music, the performances – everything is perfect. It reminds me of the best of the Merchant Ivory tales – and it is by far the best film of Keira Knightley’s career thus far. Heartbreaking and captivating.

THE WILD WILD WEST – THE FOURTH SEASON

The final season of this fantastically imaginative series that Jon Peters so fucked up the ass. In this final season you’ll see Jules Verne-esque fun – as well as Poe-influenced escapades. There’s Phantoms and Fountains and we even lost Artemus Gordon a bit here and there due to a real life heart attack – but we get folks like Alan Hale Jr and Robert Conrad and others. This is it – complete the set!

SOUTHLAND TALES

Probably the most devisive film of 2007. The film has its fans, like me – and it has those that just hate it with a passion. I feel it’s a film in the tone and style of movies like CASINO ROYALE (the original) or CANDY – a film brimming with esoterica and weirdness. It’s funny, fucked up and to me an alternate history path, that I feel we’ve avoided, but there’s always a chance that it’s just one more election from reality. You never know. Examining this film at length will be a virtue of home video.

REVOLVER

I haven’t seen this yet. I loved pre-Madonna Guy Ritchie – the Matthew Vaughn produced Guy Ritchie… but right now, I’m not sure Guy’s got a real strong hand anymore. I’ve heard that some have enjoyed this and some haven’t – but I’ve not heard any that lumped it in the pile with LOCK STOCK or SNATCH…. But then, I haven’t heard anyone lumping it with SWEPT AWAY – either. It’d be nice to see Ritchie back in top form.

THE ICE STORM – Criterion Collection

In my opinion – still the best film of Ang Lee’s amazing career. THE ICE STORM is such an amazing time capsule and character piece – and to have this film be given the Criterion treatment… the HD transfer – the audio commentary, the documentary – the video interview with Rick Moody, deleted scenes – the MOMI footage, designs, sketches and more. This is outstanding. As for the film… Rewatching it shows just how amazing a cast he put together – with Kevin Kline, Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire… then Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen and Christina Ricci. Brilliant cast. A really great film!

ANTONIO GAUDI – Criterion Collection

A hypnotic visual poem to the work of Gaudi – the brilliant architect whose work in Barcelona and the other areas of Catalunya in Spain are shown off here by Hiroshi Teshigahara’s film… well it is mesmerizing. The cathederal in Barcelona is the only ALIEN BUILDING that I’ve ever actually seen with my own eyes. And here – we have it in a high def transfer – as usual – Criterion has pulled out the stops – my fave extra being the short film by Ken Russell on Gaudi. But there’s more. If you love brilliant architecture – look no further!

THE PEBBLES AND BAMM-BAMM SHOW – The Complete Series

I can’t hide my fetishes… but it is true – I had a very hard crush on Teenage Pebbles from The Pebbles And Bamm-Bamm Show. I suppose it was the same for Hanna Barbera’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Veronica – but Pebbles spoke to me. I guess it was because I thought I grew up with her. Now Bamm-Bamm was a chode. Seriously – What a turd. I really didn’t like him.

STEVE CANYON

Wow – Somebody has found and restored Milton Caniff’s STEVE CANYON tv show from 1958… I’ve been wanting to see some of these my whole life, as I loved Steve Canyon as a strip. And here we have 4 full on episodes to check out. These have been near impossible to locate till now and a real treat – and hopefully an indication that we may one day get a whole season… Dare we hope?

THE DRAGON PAINTER

One of the first silent Japanese style film that brought Japanese culture to the general American film going scene – back around 1919. The film is just under an hour long and beautifully tinted. This is…. A stunning work of silent cinema and well worth every second you give it. A true early cinema jewel.

PRIDE OF THE YANKEES

This is my personal favorite all time Baseball film. I love Gary Cooper’s performance of Lou Gehrig… more than that – I love getting to see Babe Ruth on film… for real. I remember showing this film to my nephew when he was 4 and the film grabbing him – and when it turned sad – he knew it was sad. It was heartbreaking… and he cried – just how you should cry. This movie is tremendous. And finally – a non-embarrassing edition. There’s a making of, Lou Gehrig doc, a look at the Gehrig memorabilia at the Baseball Hall of Fame, a look at the disease that took Gehrig and still more. This is the great baseball film.

JACK KETCHUM’S THE LOST

A brutal (is there any other kind) Jack Ketchum adaptation. This is based on a true story that Ketchum adapted and terrifying. Marc Senter, who plays the lead character is somebody to watch – and this film will fuck with you. Ketchum didn’t pussyfoot around with this story – and neither did the filmmakers behind it. Excellent work.

That’s it for this week. Next week we’ll be taking a look at THE KITE RUNNER, THE MIST, LOST HIGHWAY, KINGS OF THE SUN, TARAS BULBA, BONNIE & CLYDE (Blu Ray), Warner Gangster Collection, Vol 3, SOLOMON & SHEBA, THEM, MR. WONG – DETECTIVE: Complete Collection, Alain Delon – 5 Film Collection, JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS, BOB HOPE COLLECTION, Eclipse Series 9 – THE DELIRIOUS FICTIONS OF WILLIAM KLEIN, PU-239, THE SASQUATCH GANG, BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL, THE SISTER OF URSULA, HUMAN BEASTS and more…