Hey folks, Harry here with this week’s DVD releases – one day late. If I told ya why, you wouldn’t believe me. Crazy 48 hours. Seriously. And the list is rather lengthy. However, this has me all caught up and I’ve already started work on next week’s so I’m back on track – and with no festivals to distract me! Woo Hoo! As always, the titles and the box art is clickable to Amazon, where you can learn more on the title in question as well as possibly purchasing the item – which if you do that after following a link, a small portion of your purchase will go to support this column, which is much appreciated. Here’s the last Tuesday of September 2008!

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

IRON MAN (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition) Blu Ray

I fucking love IRON MAN – I got sent this Blu Ray about 3 weeks ago and I’ve watched it about 4 times since then. It just makes me so happy that an IRON MAN movie of this quality exists. Who would’ve thought? All editions of this disc are solid, but if you’re a hard core geek you may wish to head over to Target for the best version – which has an awesome IRON MAN mask that holds your BluRay! Tres Cool!

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL

It has been a really good year for comedy in 2008. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL came out right at the beginning of the summer period and honestly I felt it was grotesquely overlooked due to gargantuan success for the title above, but here on Home Video is your chance to really enjoy it. First off, it’s just fucking funny, but for me… as solid as the film is – the Dracula Musical With Puppets sequence is the deal-maker for me. And it really does whet the appetite for this creative teams future work with THE MUPPETS coming soon!

WHEN WE LEFT EARTH – THE NASA MISSIONS (4-Disc Set)

If you’re a geek… you love NASA. It’s simply a rule. If you don’t love NASA… well, fuck you. Seriously. To look up into the night sky, to stare at the moon… for me, it’s to think of NASA and dream of the possibilities. Discovery’s WHEN WE LEFT EARTH: THE NASA MISSIONS has been a great series – and sure DISCOVERY looks mighty good on HD TV, but am I the only one that feels the images look all the crisper on Blu Ray? Here you have 4 discs loaded to the gills with footage from Mercury to today. Great set!

THE THING - Blu Ray

I’ve loved my HD DVD of THE THING since I first bought my HD DVD player. It was one of the first 10 discs I got and one of the reasons I got HD DVD over BLU RAY. Well, now THE THING is on Blu Ray and it looks every bit as good as it did on HD DVD. This film makes me feel cold. Whatever the actual temperature is, this movie psychologically lowers it by 15 degrees. There is not a single moment of the film that could be approved upon. This one is perfect. Tons of extras!

Halloween Starter Pack (LAND OF THE DEAD / DAWN OF THE DEAD / THE THING ) - Blu Ray

These three titles hit today – I know for horror fans, the must buy is THE THING – and depending upon you’re interest on these other two – this is the best way to pick them up. That said, I’m a fan of both the remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD, as well as Romero’s LAND OF THE DEAD. Basically this is just a money saving offer on these 3 titles that I wanted to put in front of you guys.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – THE COMPLETE SERIES

I know there are a lot of fans of this show out there. For me, it’s where I formed my early love for Ron Perlman through this series, which in 1987 – was a wonderful thing to come home from High School to. It was achy romantic goth at its televised best. So much fun in the sewers, where true love blossoms.

DAREDEVIL – THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (Blu Ray)

I really like the Director’s Cut of DAREDEVIL – but the thing that’s just cracking me up right now is the little tag on the Blu Ray cover talking about Jon Favreau and IRON MAN. I mean – do you see Ben Affleck or Jennifer Garner’s name on the front of this? Nope. And does it say from the director of GHOST RIDER? Nope. But Foggy Nelson was played by Jon Favreau, who directed IRON MAN… and then notice the RED and then the yellow glow behind and in front… Our Film has Red And Yellow and Jon Favreau… just like IRON MAN. Wow. Ya know, this version of the film is much better than folks give it credit as. But folks love to beat up on Ben Affleck.

THE SIXTH SENSE (Blu Ray)

Wow – watched this last night and ya know… I don’t think I’ve watched it in a very long time. It still packs the creeps – and Yoko left the laundry in the wash and didn’t move it into the dryer cuz she got scared last night. So KUDOS TO M NIGHT & CREW! My clothes are now moldy thinks to your creepiness. I love the film, but still prefer UNBREAKABLE & SIGNS – but watching it, helped to wash THE HAPPENING from my brain – and to let me hope that M Night pulls it together for THE LAST AIRBENDER.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (Blu Ray)

Of all the films hitting today on BLU RAY – this is the best film and the most extraordinary transfer. First off, the film was shot on Super 16mm – and then blown up to 35mm, this process always creates the most extraordinary grain and image quality – and I’ve never seen an immaculate print of the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. Till now that is. Oh my god, this is just unbelievably sharp looking. And it comes loaded to bare with extras out the wazoo! At $18, this is the release of the day for me. Of course, I live in Austin and this film is part of my city’s personal mythology – and that it’s wrap party was at my 2nd Birthday Party… where I was given a toy chainsaw and that Gunnar Hanson made an appearance with a de-toothed live roaring chainsaw… I LOVE THIS FILM. The bloopers are great on this!

KNOCKED UP (Blu Ray)

A BNAT 2006 Graduate with honors! I have a genuine piece of heart felt affection for KNOCKED UP. When it played Butt-Numb-A-Thon about 7 months before it’s actual release… I was pretty much in the dark about the whole Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen phenom. It was Moriarty’s film that he had arranged, and I didn’t really have any reason to be excited about it. It blew EVERYONE COMPLETELY AWAY! The audience roared – and as funny as the Theatrical cut was – this was a rough, unrated cut. This version of KNOCKED UP is pretty much this one and I honestly feel it’s even better than what hit theaters! I can’t wait to revisit this film as Yoko goes through the 9 month incubation period.

THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN (Blu Ray)

I didn’t see this on its initial theatrical release. Upon seeing it on DVD after I saw KNOCKED UP, I felt like such a loser for not checking it out with an audience, but the trailers just didn’t make me feel like making the effort. Oddly now, I’m a dedicated Apatowologist. This is, without a doubt, Carell’s best performance to date. It’s a great character, though I tend to see the film as a tragedy. Him selling off his collection is a damn shame. It makes me cry, every time I see it.

THE STARLOST: Complete Series (1976)

My favorite thing about this column is that I get to discover stuff that I’ve never come across before. This aired on NBC in 1976 – before Star Wars, before BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and around the time of SPACE 1999. It’s about the Space Ark that took the seeds of humanity out into space, upon the doom of Earth. An accident locks off each of the biosphere communities away from each other and centuries go by. They each develop their own cultures and societies – forgetting about the other societies and spheres that they are unaware of… and they’re on a path for a direct impact with a distant SUN… I love that. Never heard about it. Can’t wait to check it out – did any of you watch this?

POSSESSION

At first glance one might look at this, see the year of release and think that it was a late sloppy attempt at ripping off THE EXORCIST, but you’d be wrong. It’s directed by the Polish director, Andrzej Zulawski for one! The star, Isabelle Adjani (very hot) won for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival, a Cesar from France and at Fantasporto! As well as picking up the Critics Award at Sao Paulo International Film Festival! It also stars a young Sam Neill as Adjani’s Husband. And the film is absolutely terrific! This is far more than the HORROR label that it will probably be put into. This is a film about personal issues, horrific nightmarish items and then there’s the action component. The film is smart and harrowing and terrifying, especially to anyone married. A truly great undiscovered genre flick!

OSS 117: CAIRO, NEST OF SPIES

Two years ago at Butt-Numb-A-Thon everybody had a miniature Fez in their bags. Originally, the entire audience was meant to put it on their heads as this movie played. This is an absolutely awesome French satire of Spy films of the 1960s. Unfortunately the distribution company that owned the rights were fucking assholes that were impossible to deal with. I LOVE THIS MOVIE, wanted to really focus attention on it, but alas… twas not to be. However, I really and seriously can not possibly recommend this film highly enough. It is absolutely fun as hell!

THE LAST LAUGH

This is KINO’s 2-DVD release of F.W. Murnau’s THE LAST LAUGH starring the great Emil Jannings. They have included a restored German print and an unrestored export print of the film. There’s a new recording of the original score that’s really nice in 5.1. There’s also a great 40 minute documentary. This isn’t a film about some German expressionistic evil clown… nor is it about any sort of demon hell. No, this is simply a great and poetic story of a common servant… a doorman at an exclusive hotel who gets demoted to being a bathroom attendant. In some ways, there’s hints of this film in THE REMAINS OF THE DAY, only this is far far better. Murnau was a genius and Emil is one of those actors, who stuns me with mere expressions and eye contact. One of the greatest Silent performers.

THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND

Ok – if you have seen this movie, you love it – and everything else that Patrice Leconte has directed. Personally, my favorite of his films is THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE, but in terms of his best erotic work – THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND is miles and miles ahead of the others – and that takes some doing. It stars the amazing Jean Rochefort and this film will turn you on, even as it squeezes your heart. I love it. If you love great film romances, pick this up!

SCHOOLGIRL REPORT VOL 4: WHAT DRIVES PARENTS TO DESPAIR

It’s sad how much I love Christina Lindberg – of all the exploitation goddesses – she’s my favorite. She isn’t the focal point of this particular exploitation work, but she’s in it and I’m fine with that. These school girl films are not x-rated, but they’re always… arousing at the very least. This is pretty disposable and I only point this one out for all you Christina Lindberg addicts like me out there!

THE MOSQUITO COAST

I know it’s not the popular geek answer, but in many ways – MOSQUITO COAST is my favorite Harrison Ford character. I know the instant answers are Han Solo or Indiana Jones or Rick Deckard or Captain John Book or Jack Ryan or Richard Kimble… but those films seem less like a personal favorite – and more like a collective favorite. You can basically talk about those characters with most any movie fan, but Allie Fox, his character from MOSQUITO COAST directed by Peter Weir is just amazing. And the film written by Paul Schrader is every bit as on target today as it was in the mid-eighties. Harrison’s Fox is fed up with society, sells his house and just decides to head out into the jungle to make a life with his family far away from the world of fucked up society. The film stars Helen Mirren and River Phoenix as Ford’s family – and the fantastic Martha Plimpton is amazing in this. Ford was completely ripped off at the Oscars that year – fuckers didn’t even nominate this performance or Jarre’s fantastic score. Sometimes I have real anger issues with the Academy!

BUTTERFLY

This was adapted from James Cain’s novel, who also wrote the book, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE. Being honest, I’d never heard of this flick till it showed up in the mail last week – and when I saw Orson Welles and Stacy Keach’s names, my brain told me to put it in. Then I saw Pia Zadora’s name and I realized that was her on the cover and I thought… “Was she ever awesome?” And the answer is YES! This is a tremendous modern day noir-esque thriller. I was very surprised by this.

DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS

It’s weird – I literally can’t remember a time when I didn’t know about this film. And I know that sounds like bullshit, because it’s an obscure Vampire flick that never plays on Television, isn’t widly available on Home Video… but it just happened to be one of about 20 features my Mom & Dad had on 16mm when I was a kid. This is a film about the Countess Bathory – but staged as an erotic Vampire film. I love this film. It introduced me at a way awesome young age with the ideas of perverse European eroticism and lesbian vampires. As a child, I thought all Lesbians were vampires – and isn’t that a great thing to think? Blue Underground has done a great job on this dvd – there’s multiple commentaries – as well as interviews with cast and the writer and director. It’s a really good film.

THE MASK

This was such a weird flick from 1961. It’s kinda in 3D. You know, like in SUPERMAN RETURNS at the IMAX – only – everytime the guy in the movie puts on a mask, you were supposed to put your 3D mask on… and on original release the 3D was literally a mask, but with red and blue lenses. The film is kinda freaky – as far as early sixties weird gimmick movies go. Basically it’s a film that’s a metaphor for LSD abuse. This scientist gets this mask and the first time he experiences mild trippy effects, then as the film progresses it becomes more and more violent. And it’s always screwed up. I haven’t received the disc, so I don’t know if the anaglyph 3D is included with the DVD or not, I hope so – as it really is a great and fun gimmick to experience.

THE PERFUME OF YVONNE

The second Patrice Leconte is another hot adult movie that doesn’t have an ounce of sleaze in it. The sonics of this film will rock you. Fantastic music. And it’s great. Personally, I recommend that you see all of Patrice Leconte’s films.

BOSS

This was originally released under the title BOSS NIGGER. Directed by Jack “Creature from the Black Lagoon” Arnold and written and starring Fred Williamson as the titular, Boss Nigger. He’s a bounty hunter along with his partner Amos, played by D’Urville Martin. And they’re trying to put a lid on a bandit played by Mr Fucking Awesome aka William Smith (no, not Will Smith). From the song that screams out Boss Nigggggerrrrrrrr to the very end, this film is fun. It’s not very extreme, but it is a very solid film and has a good deal of fun humor. On a side note, I actually have this one-sheet autographed to me by Fred Williamson – which I had signed in the front lawn of Governor Bush’s mansion – back when he was harmlessly the Governor of Texas.

THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE

Well, we have the Countess Bathory flick earlier in this list, now it’s time for the Carmila legend. Quentin Tarantino has shown this film twice during his history of QT FESTS at the Alamo Drafthouse – and you know what? I totally get it. This is a great flick. Blue Underground has done a great job getting a great print together, but it is awfully light on the extras. Sadly. I’d love a QT commentary on this film, cuz he can talk – easily for an hour on the film.

SEVEN SWORDS (Blu Ray)

Oh yeah! Tsui Hark on Blu Ray. Sure, it isn’t BLADE, but SEVEN SWORDS is a pretty damn cool flick. It stars Donnie Yen and is absolutely beautiful! Sure it isn’t as polished as films like CROUCHING TIGER or HERO or HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS… but it harkens back to films like A CHINESE GHOST STORY or THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR – and to me… that’s awesome. I’ve never seen this film theatrically, so this print is like a revelation to me. Outstanding!

YETI: LOVE STORY

A gay Yeti romance epic being offered by Troma? Fucking A, that sounds fun. Haven’t seen it, but I’m thinking I must – so it is on the list – and I’m ordering it tomorrow!

FIVE ACROSS THE EYES

Here’s a film that played at last year’s FANTASTIC FEST – and I’ll be totally honest, most people I know absolutely hated the film… but I liked it and my wife, Yoko, flipped the fuck out for it. So much so that she ordered the UK DVD of it a few months back, because she had to share it with some friends. So why did the people I know that hated it, hated it? Well, it’s handheld video camera shot – and is about a group of girls out on a joy drive one night that end up in a very fucked situation. And the girls are very much – like the sort of girls that are in high school and do the joy ride type of thing. As a result, most of my friends can’t associate with them. Yoko… well, she’s one of them. And because I joyride with Yoko… I’m the camera. You see, the camera is a character that exists in the car – not being operated by any character, but is omnipresent in what felt to me like one long continuous take. If the style of the film doesn’t lose you – you’re in for a film that has earned the pull quotes it has garnered. It is intense, scary and very fucked up and with an ending that’ll fuck you up and either make you angry or will leave you cheering. Just depends where your head is at. But I will say, this is not a film for everyone – so put it in a Netflix queue and upon seeing it, buy it or not. It’s a very smart low budget effective horror flick.

Next week, the column will be on time and it’ll lead off with SLEEPING BEAUTY (BluRay), 11th Season of THE SIMPSONS, 3 Stooges Volume 4 1943- 1945, THE HAPPENING, 5th Season of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, THE VISITOR, ROBOT CHICKEN Season 3, THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (Blu Ray), BEETLEJUICE (Blu Ray), ZOHAN, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (Blu Ray), PSYCHO, LE DEUXIEME SOUFFLE, FEAST 2: SLOPPY SECONDS, REAR WINDOW, LE DOULOS, TOUCH OF EVIL, SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (Blu Ray), VERTIGO, THE SMURFS Season 1 volume 2, YOU’RE NOT ELECTED CHARLIE BROWN, BODY HEAT (Blu Ray), THE MUNSTERS Complete Series, SOUTH PARK: THE CULT OF CARTMAN, WATERSHIP DOWN, ALICE FAYE COLLECTION 2, RAY HARRYHAUSEN COLLECTION (Blu Ray), CARRIE (Blu Ray), JACK BROOKS MONSTER SLAYER, THE OMEN COLLECTION (Blu Ray) , FACES OF DEATH (Blu Ray), SPEED RACER: THE COMPLETE CLASSIC SERIES COLLECTION, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (Blu Ray), WWII: A FILMED HISTORY and how could any list be complete without: OVER SEXED RUGSUCKERS FROM MARS. See you next week!