Cool News
Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 5th week of Sept DVDs: Iron Man, Chainsaws, The Thing, Zombies, Ghosts, Space, Spies, Sex & More!!!
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!
-
+ Expand All
-
I expected something funny and all I got was a couple-sticom on the big screen.
But The Thing on the other hand is a masterpiece! I saw the movie for the first time when I was 21 and it seriously managed to keep me awake at night! I still think it's the scariest movie ever and whenever one of these pseudo-intellectual critics says something like: "Good horrormovies aren't bloody or violent", I always reply with: "You obviously never watched Carpenter's The Thing." -
Ohmygod! I discovered this on cable late one night and LOVED it! You can't get more attractive than the woman in that film. The hairdresser. She gives great head ... washing. Seriously, I can't even think of her and the film without feeling a little twitch below the belt. Thanks for giving the film some love, Harry. What a great week for DVD/Blu-Ray!
-
Fucking UK! Also got to wait longer for Incredible Hulk
-
A great, great film... the one I point to when people accuse Harrison Ford of being a sub-par actor. I find it interesting that Peter Weir is responsible for two of Ford's best performances (the other being the equally great WITNESS). Incidentally, I recently saw GALLIPOLI for the first time and was blown away. Mr. Weir is quite an extraordinary filmmaker...
-
Do eeet! Do eeet now!!!
-
is an amazing, demented movie that Harry serously doesn't hype up enough in this column
**** spoilers ****
Adjani making love to an octopus creature
Adjani getting ab-so-lutely mental in a subway and having a bloody miscarriage
A totally freaky movie about a relationship falling apart (Zulawski's just had) -
It's a tragedy that Ford hasn't gone back to this kind of work since then. What the hell is wrong with him?!
-
He used a pseudonym, Cordwainer Bird. He wrote about all his problems with the series in the essay "Somehow I Don't Think We're In Kansas, Toto."
-
Hate to be an editor Harry, but when you said "there isn't a single thing that could be approved", I think you mean that there isn't a single thing that could be IMproved.
"Approved" kind of changes the whole meaning of the sentence, and contrary to the tone of the preceeding article.
Unless you mean the THING monster is so horrific that it has no redemeing qualities what-so-ever, and therefore an asset to the horror of the movie.
Not much of a tag line though: "Featuring a monster so evil nobody would ever approve of it." -
Fun to see America behind for a change.
-
...is a fantastic Carell performance but his best is Brick Tamland 100%
-
...than the IRON MAN DVD release.
-
with Marvel taking more control, a la Iron Man.
Guess who the studio originally suggested as Matt Murdock? - Vin Diesel! -
Featuring John Favreau, director of Iron Man, as Sean Astin's fat tutor.
-
"Yoko goes through the 9 month incubation period."
Your going to be a DAD!! Hey, congratulations!!! -
Damn Harry! You don't want Yoko off joyriding with a bunch of delinquent high school girls. That's, like, the number one cause of death for young Japanese women in the U.S. Lock that down, sir.
-
One of the funniest I've seen in a while. The sequel is on tis way and I really cannot wait.
-
Was created by Harlan Ellison. The story is OK but the effects are dreadful. The show is videotaped, not filmed (If I remember correctly). Alas, I doubt you'll enjoy it much, Harry.
-
Sorry. It is.
-
I suppose on the one hand its kinda creepy and weird how Harry is so open about his love for exploitation and porn...but on the other I suppose its a good sign of real security in his sense of self.
Personally, I think porn should always be kept on the low-down...part of the allure, I think, is that it IS taboo and primal. When people become open about it and accept it seems...well, not as exciting...
btw, I realise the irony that I'm also talking about it in an open forum...sue me -
But why is Universal releasing these awesome Hitchcock titles again but not releasing them on Blu-Ray?
-
I couldn't wrap my brain around how a man could want to leave society to go live in the jungle. All I could think to myself was "but how is River Phoenix going to play Nintendo out there?" I was very much just a kid when it came out on HBO. To say that what happened out there in the jungle freaked me out a bit is an understatement. And Harry... I pretty much agree. It's one of Ford's best films. While his genre work as a whole is amazing, his PERFORMANCE here is aces.
-
Sorry. It really isn't.
-
"Guess I must've dropped some. Heh heh heh..."
-
I've had Iron Man since september 19th.
Fun to see the rest of the world behind for a change.
-
C'mon HoboCode, you are joking right?? The Happening may have been the most insulting movie going experience I have had in a long time. If M. Night was trying to create a comedy, then I would say he knocked it out of the park, but because he didn't, this movie is pure shit.
-
Oct 01, 2008 8:44:32 AM CDT
I just can't understand how THE THING was originally panned by c
by bobparr
It's the perfect horror movie. A blend of psychological, paranoid horror with innovative gore and special effects. What part of it didn't they get? I would find it hard to believe that these snoby critics weren't on the edge of their seats during the blood test scene. BTW, that scene was perfectly parodied on SOUTH PARK.
-
Never saw The Starlost - but from the description, it sounds like they took ideas from "Orphans of the Sky" by Robert Heinlein.
-
The comedy beats are infinitely tighter and delightfully free of the 'moral' message that Knocked Up sinks to
Shame on you Harry, everyone already knew this was a great comedy...get back to your Cloverfield BluRay -
am I the only person who wasnt impressed by the parts of the movie that surround him flying with jet-fighters? I mean, really? Im the only one?
-
Oct 01, 2008 9:05:20 AM CDT
POSSESSION is fantastic. saw it in a Polish Cinema class
by george newman
Director Zuwalski is a madman. he has crafted some incredible, visceral films
-
...I thought the movie pandered to the basest of fanboy instincts. I kept thinking that Favreau was saying to himself, "I bet the fanboys'll love this, I bet they'll love that!" It showed zero artistic risk. I got nothing out of that film that I didn't know about Iron Man already or had seen in the countless trailers. It was an empty experience for me.
-
Because THAT'S artistic risk.Yikes.
-
Maybe we'll get that with the sequel...
-
I will not leave my head.
-
Oct 01, 2008 9:23:50 AM CDT
The Last Laugh, The Mosquito Coast and Kinski... Yes, Kinski!
by sadcadillac
I remember watching Murnau’s “Last Laugh” in film school!!! Emil Janning’s muted laugh was as infectious as it was disturbing. On “The Mosquito Coast,” why isn’t this film being released on Blu-Ray? The mere setting in South America practically demands it. Let’s hope Weir is in the process of supervising a better HD transfer than what the powers that be came up with for “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.” The standard DVD release of that film, when up-converted, looks just as good. And while we’re on the subject of South American jungle epics, anyone know when we might expect the Herzog-Kinski Collection on Blu-Ray? Can I digress or what?
-
If you ever meet Harlan Ellison, don't mention this dvd. I can see him running into any story carrying it, yanking all the copies off the shelves and stomping them to shiny silver pieces. The essay that another poster mentioned above--"Somehow I Don't Think We're in Kansas, Toto"--can be found in his Stalking the Nightmare collection (as well as a few other places); and it's a fascinating story about how a great idea for TV (which Ellison himself admits was not wholly original) was turned to absolute shit...hence his usage of the "Cordwainer Bird" pseudonym, referencing both "for the birds" and "flipping the bird" and indicating that this is not worth any serious sf fans' time.
-
compared to the original theatrical version. It's not like a "director's cut", it's more like the 2nd last edit where things were still sloppy, scenes ran too long and everything was just slightly more flabby. Even the "You know how I know you're gay" scene is worse. The theatrical version is polished just that bit more and really works.
I sure hope this time around the lazy fucks (we didn't even get the option of the original cut last time) included the theatrical cut via seamless branching. Goddamn it! What's with the bullshit Lucas revisionist history where we don't even get the choice? -
...(the Prince tune) for Pepper, while he's drunk off his ass. That would be classic. Talk about "demon in a bottle"...
-
Oct 01, 2008 9:48:40 AM CDT
Critics called The Thing pornographic when it was released.
by knuckleduster
Kind of like they're going on about "torture porn" these days. No, I'm not saying that Hostel will one day be up there with The Thing. Just noting how the times (and opinions) are always changing.
-
in another two! Awww yeah!
Sometimes it IS o.k. to buy the same flick again... -
In the case of The Thing, the 'gore' (it's surprising how rainbow coloured and EC comics some of that stuff is) is absolutely integral to the story. Unlike the torture porn where the gore is the reason for the story/the story is the excuse for the gore. I think The Thing and torture porn are apples and oranges. I get your point though, re: critics can be dumb.
And really, how can you not laugh at the 'beartrap' scene? It's gory, but ridiculous - and AWESOME! They shoulda had the stomach literally growl slightly beforehand because it was "hungry"!! -
The main quote was that Carpenter was "a pornographer of violence"...
-
I don't recall ANY mainstream critics liking it at all. I also remember Kenneth Tobey stating after the premiere that he hated it, saying it was at the least, a good commercial for Jim Beam.
-
they totally butchered The Thing documentary and turned it into a PiP thing, apparently its even missing some parts. I was looking forward to finally owning that movie but when i found this out, i just went and bought the DVD, least then i get the documentary as it was meant to be seen and i dont have to watch the movie just to see the extras. i tell ya, PiP extras, especially behind the scenes type things is beyond retarded. i guess they wanna be all fancy and show off the technology but extras are called that for a reason, its something extra that goes with the movie.
-
How in the world did I miss the proper dvd release of Boss Nigger! I fucking love "The Hammer" and have been wanting this film (along with The Legend / Soul of Nigger Charley) for some time now. Thanks sooo much for the heads up. It's already in my cart as we speak!
-
At least Mosquito Coast is in widescreen. Fearless, another classic Peter Weir film is still only available in full screen. C'mon WB, how about a Peter Weir Blu-Ray week.
-
How was it insulting?
-
for The Mosquito Coast? That new DVD cover sucks, but what else is new. If it ain't broke, make sure you fix it real good.
-
Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD is out this week! That's right, the bad Fox Made-for-TV movie starring the Hoff is available exclusively at Best Buy (at least that's what the sign at Best Buy said). No I didn't buy it, but only because I am intimidated by The Hoff and fear for my safety whenever in his televised presence.
-
A reason to doubt any decision made by the Foreign Press. Actually I believe it was for "Best Newcomer", so I guess it wasn't really to award her "acting".
-
Wow, you've had IRON MAN since friday!!!! Oh man, you are SO COOL!!!! Did you tell everyone you know so they could bask in your coolness? Or did mommy bring you back to earth when she made you scrub your fudgies with bleach?
-
They makes movies like Old School and 40 Year Old Virgin longer than they need to be and much less funnier. The theatrical versions always end up being better. I always go out of my way to avoid the unrated edition. But I love when they put both on one disc ala Harold and Kumar 2 and American Pie 2. My sister and brother saw only the unrated version of 40 year old virgin and they hated it and I understand why, it's far inferior.
-
Picked up Iron Man on Blu yesterday, watching him put the suit on for the first time, seeing all the moving parts in such fine detail is nice nice nice, sounds great too. anyway, fuck the critics who gave The Thing a bad review...its an amazing film and one of the best horror/suspense films of all time if you ask me...the clever alien concept,tension and trust issues, the sick / slimy / almost vomit inducing gore, and the location being a secluded base in the middle of nowhere add up to greatness. this is easily a Blu buy for me...but a little later, maybe next week...i try to limit my movie buying to one-a-week unless its a "must have this AND that" week...and it certainly isn't at the moment.
-
i never understood why the original Dawn of the Dead was heralded as this "gore that will make you barf" movie. i DO understand how at the time it was graphic...but now it looks like the zombies are biting into play-dough and the guts look like washed chitlins...it just dosen't hold a candle to the creative, blood and slime squirting, body splitting nastiness that is seen in The Thing.
-
Harry, just how many DVDs do you have in your collection? I have more than most people, well-adjusted people anyway, and used a free website called DVDSpot to keep track of them, have a record of their value, and have it available to others. A company called CNET has a non-free program called DVD Profiler that serves a similar purpose, and CNET has now bought out the DVDSpot website and announced it's closure, alienating many thousands of members. I thought that possibly you were a member, considering the large number of discs you receive every week.
-
S'good job it's all free!
-
Are they lower in picture quality or just have less extras?
-
OVERRATED TO FUCK.
I think comedy is wank at the moment, Harry. The last comedy to make me LMFAO was BORAT. I cannot wait for BRUNO. -
At the very least the theatrical version should be watchable when you buy the "unrated" version. I assume that's the case with all these "unrated" comedies hitting Blu-Ray this week. I have to believe it's all about marketing to stupid people who think "unrated" equals more boobies when all it means is the added footage was not submitted for rating. Films have editors for a reason.
-
Great stuff, even though our tastes, er, somewhat differ from time to time.
-
Harry, you aren't the only one to notice that the Blu-Rays look better than the HD television presentations. The streaming rate on Blu-Ray (and HD dvd)is higher and more consistent.
-
well Hi-Def television displays in 1080i anyway (at least around here it does)...and while the leap from 1080i to 1080p isnt nearly as big as the leap from 480p to 1080p, it IS noticeable.
-
That was mean and unnecessary. You hurt my feelings.
-
The current Iron Man has a couple of extras on the single disc, but a whole disc devoted to extras on the 2 disc.
-
try dvdaf, that's what i use.
-
...against my better judgement, but Harry's right, the Target release in the Iron Man mask is irresistable. Picture quality looks real good, not the best I've seen, but up there.
My reservations with the movie as a whole keep confirmed the more I watch it, however. The script needed more work, more development, and for that, Favreau takes the blame. Too many missed opportunities for subtext or added depth, which this film was sorely lacking. I didn't care for the flashback storytelling of the beginning, and felt there was too much extraneous stuff in those flashbacks. Why spend so much time on the awards ceremony sequence where Stark fails to show? After a few seconds, I get it already, tell Obadiah to shut the hell up. I don't care about his acceptance speech. I think a normal sequential development to the story would have served the film better. I did like the media montage of Stark with all the Rolling Stone and Fortune mag covers, and felt this would have been a better intro to Stark, in fact, perhaps lengthen it, where this is our first intro to the "character" of Stark, complete with video clips from news stories or talk shows, and perhaps when we first see the "real" Stark, he's already overseas. I felt Dr. Yensen should have had more of a hand in the development of Iron Man other than being a laborer and water boy. Too many story elements introduced were not effectively followed through. I could go on and on. I don't think "Iron Man" is a bad movie, I just think it's an empty one, with too many missed opportunities. -
If only this column was posted as reliably as "Scriptgirl."
-
is shown in The Thing. The violence and "gore" is weird and surreal. I seem to remember reading somewhere that more people cringed during the blood test scene, then the more extreme scenes.
-
as the shitty compression.
-
It would be a much leeser film without his presence. It shares the same problem with most "origin" superhero tales, and is very close in structure to Spiderman. Hero tests abilities and strengths...upgrades "costume"...fights (another costumed) villian that is a known associate...I'm ready for the sequel to kick off with the ball rolling much like The Dark Knight did, coming from Batman Begins.
-
thing but, they're not ALL bad. Badder Santa is better with the little bit of extra stuff they wussed out on in the theatrical and gives better characterisation.
It's this thing of giving us the unrated WITHOUT the CHOICE of the original that shits me. Which is why I said the George Lucas thing. Speaking of which, while it seemed Americans got the last edition of E.T. with both the original and "Walkie-Talkie versions, only the new version was released O.S. I'll tell 'em where to stick those Walkie-talkies... -
so much on the Iron Man Blu Ray, I must have j/o like 50 times last night!!!
-
Considering Iron Man IS Batman, that's not unreasonable!
Although DK pretty much stands on its own, whether you have that little bit of lipservice scattered throughout or not. No-one I know who saw the 2nd film and not the first (old relatives, a pretty good litmus test) thought anything was amiss at all and didn't even really notice the nods to the 1st film. Having said that, pretty much everyone anywhere knows about Batman so... -
Will the world ever see the DVD release of the Generation X TV movie featuring Matt Frewer?
-
i respect your opinion and all about Iron Man...but i thought it was great, the humor, action, and FX were great and Robert Downey Jr. nailed it...i remember when Tom Cruise was in talks to play Iron Man...to think that may have happened causes me to shudder uncontrollably, he would have RUINED it. anyway, the ONLY gripe i have about the Iron Man blu-ray and its visual quality is the part where he suits up and escapes the terrorists...the scenes of him trudging through the caves were at times overly grainy and out of focus...but that was a 5 second tarnish on a otherwise 2+ hour visual feast...very sharp and clean.
-
Ewww. Dude, women everywhere just sensed they should move a bit further away from you. We don't need to know about your private little bukake party...
-
(it's region-free) and all the extras are only standard def anyway. So I'm hanging on to my old version for the dovo, but the film's the thing (to paraphrase you-know-who), and it looks so much better in HD, and it IS a 'visual' movie after all.
-
These movies are WAY too long and bloated to begin with. Just watched "Sarah Marshall" last night, and while I thought it was decent, I would have edited out about 20 minutes. I couldn't bare to watch the extras, considering that the film itself dragged terribly. and don't even get me started on "Superbad" and "Knocked Up".
-
was a TCM wrap party? As a huge TCM fan, I'd love a little more detail on this!
-
I used to be a full blown DVD guy but slowly realized I don't have the time for all these extras. And what is the point of a slip case? Might as well just get the cheapo version.
-
"There is not a single moment of the film that could be approved upon." Approved? So you disapprove? I think the word you're looking for is "improved."
-
is a must own.
-
"There is not a single moment of the film that could be approved upon." (in his review of the "The Thing" DVD).
Harry, you're supposed to be the head editor of this movie review website, and yet your command of the English language is fucking terrible. -
sorry for wasting your time. move along...
-
Apparently the wonderful documentary TERROR TAKES SHAPE is not on this version in its entirety. I heard that they cut it all up for use with the clunky U-Control feature. The HD-DVD edition DID have the complete doco. Maybe it'll be one of those things like JAWS, where there's an 'Anniversary' re-release where they'll give us the whole documentary un-edited.
-
So it's true.
-
FSM had a more low-key sense of humor that makes it less grating on repeat viewings, while Knocked Up starts to look like it's trying awfully hard all the time. Plus, there was nothing in that movie as brilliant as the Vampire Puppet Musical. I still love Knocked Up, but I definitely prefer FSM's vibe. And the deleted scenes of FSM are hysterical - especially one with Kristen Bell on a "runaway" horse. Had that been left in the movie, it would've by far been her shining moment of the whole movie.
-
John Book in Witness. Maybe not his best film, but his best role IMO. I think it's Weir's best film. Plus that barn building scene is truly magnificent.
-
For fucks sake, it's like I should just wait for fan edits of all of them.
-
A great film and Ford plays the gruff cop wonderfully. I just wish they'd give the film a decent transfer. Both DVD's have been lousy in terms of quality.
-
Hopefully the distributor who was hasseling you wasn't Music Box Films. As a chicagoan it would be upsetting to learn that the guys who are running it are dicks. I'm pretty sure they didn't have the rights two years ago though, so hopefully it wasn't them.
-
Isn't the expression "loaded for bear" as in it's a a hunting metaphor
-
Amazon describes it as 1.33:1. Is this correct?
-
THere, I said it. It suffered a very unfair backlash after it was such a smash hit and audiences loved it so much. But the film just gets better upon repeat viewings. The creepy atm,ososphere M.Night created was incredible. And the acting is fantastic. Osment delivered one of the very best performances by a child in history, and that scene with him and Collette in the car near the end of the movie...fucking incredible! Acting was off the charts. Don't buy this bullshit that it's all about the twist. There's so much more to it than that.
-
DUde is playing an MMA fighter and is ripped like you wouldn't believe. Litterally from one year to the next, the guy is either REALLY fat, skinny, or ripped. He's the white Luthor Vandross.
-
I remembered it incorrectly as only "Starlost" and I remember seeing a scene briefly on television. I remember my older brother telling me that Harlan Ellison disliked it so much that he had his name changed in hte credits.
-
I hope it does well at the Golden Globe nominations. Nominations for Stoller, Segel, Bell, Kunis and Brand. Bill Hader was LMMFAO funny as well.
-
Oct 01, 2008 8:01:40 PM CDT
So I see that the DNC has actually started to pay Harry for the
by pirateemery
By my counting, I have seen three or four different ad variants for Obama... Are all the ads going to be Obama-related until November 5th, Harry?
-
That was hi-larious.
-
Like I said earlier, UK version for everything on a separate disc. Region-free.
The extras are only SD anyway, and go all the way back to the LASERDISC version! It's pretty funny that fans will be all hyped to hear the commentary and then they mention "on this Laserdisc"...! -
They rode into a white man's town... ...bringing black man's law. He's black. He's brutal. He's Boss.
-
We're supposed to believe this hot young woman falls for a boring, ugly old man and then - - - - SPOILER WARNING - - - - - kills herself over him? That whole film was a dirty old man's fantasy, and not in a good way.
-
My Problem With MOSQUITO COAST lies in that the Harrison Ford chracter hated civilization and then went out and tried to create all of it's technology in the jungle. A freakin' ice machine in the jungle, give me a break. Hell, the UNABOMBER hated society and went and lived in a log shack with no creature comforts. Now time for a FLETCH 2 quote from the televangelist show: "I want CREATURE COMFORTS and lots of them." Almost forgot to say, MOSQUITO COAST sucked and most PETER WEIR movies stink.
-
Butterfly with Pia Zadora. I think her character is raped with garden hose. Pia movies are best avoided. She and her sugar-daddy husband bought the estate PICKFAIR and under the guise of remodeling torn it down. She should burn in HELL for that alone. Also, WITNESS being the exception to PETER WEIR's bad films dossier.
-
That whole scene had me in tears. But since FSM was the most under-the-radar of all the Apatow movies, I doubt it has a shot at any Golden Globes recognition, unfortunately.
-
NO FUCKING WAY!!! ARE FOR REALZ?!!!
-
I still believe to this day that the failure, both critically and box office wise, of Mosquito Coast is what killed Harrison Ford's career from evolving beyond just playing the central hero. And it's a damn shame too, because not only is his performance in Mosquito Coast probably his best ever, but it was a performance that at the time should have been recognised far more than it was, including by the Academy. Maybe if his efforts in Witness and Mosquito Coast had been more recognised and applaued then he would have continued taking on challenging roles rather than settling for just being action guy, or man-it-suit.As far as Possession goes, does anyone know which version of the film is on the dvd? Is it one of the severely cut (usually running under 90 minutes) american cuts of the film, or is it the full, uncut, approximately 2hr international version? If it's the latter, check it out, if it's the former, avoid it like the plague that that version of it is.Also Butterfly is notorious for being one of the biggest duds, and worst reviewed films, ever made, and killed Pia Zadora's career, thankfully, almost before it had even begun. She may look purty nekkid, but the girl is such a bad actress that I doubt she could even convince playing herself in a film. Only really worth a look for the morbidly curious film fans who love utter dud cinema.
-
I've gotta say that I highly disagree with Harry about Texas Chain Saw Massacre's transfer though, it's now too clean. The film was far more effective when it was grainy and rougher around the edges picture wise, as it added to the overall atmosphere, now with prints looking so sharp and clean it actually reduces the impact and atmosphere of the film by several degrees, at least in my opinion. One of the rare cases where better quality picture actually equals lower quality film.
-
rather than watch a "clean" version of Chain Saw.
-
I'm not a massive fan of Iron Man, but some of the shit that comes out of your mouth is unbelievable. I've just finished reading the Spiderman thread where you go to ridiculous lengths to defend that fetid wankfest and then on this board you criticise Iron Man for having extraneous bits that "go on too long"- what like, say, interminable song and dance numbers that last forever? "yeah, bad peter struts his funky stuff to show he's bad, I get it." It annoys me that I actually share your overall opinion of Iron Man's emptiness.
-
just how lazy Harrison Ford is in the typical "getting by with my good looks and crooked smile" bullshit roles he's been pulling for 20 years. The man is a formidable actor when he wants (or maybe is pushed?) but apparently likes 20 mil paychex more. And ya cant beat that with a bat.
-
Yeah, but to me, Raimi does those extraneous bits with flair, movement, and talent. And yes, I prefer movies that try something different rather than pandering to the masses and mindlessly giving them what they want, a la Iron Man. Or just call me a champion of the outcast and ridiculed. I prefer the company of movie and comic book geeks over frat boys. And I'll take Kirsten Dunst over Paris Hilton if it means I don't have to listen to the daily report of what's hot and what's not.
-
K-Bell can cuss with the best of 'em. ;)
-
If I remember correctly this had some lame creature by Carlo Rombaldi (who did the brilliant mechanics/design of E.T., King Kong '76, Alien)
-
The brilliant mechanics of King Kong '76 eh? What a joke. Read up, bunky. Especially interviews with the genius RICK BAKER on that one. And for God's sake, DEIGN on ALien???!
-
You're convincingly showing us how Harrison Ford is exactly like TOM CRUISE!
Aaaaah! -
Meant DESIGN. That one got away from me. Point stands.
-
Carlo Rambaldi did do all the mechanics on the 1976 King Kong which were brilliant at the time, what creature before that had all those emotive expressions? It even won an Academy award. Rick Baker was just the man in the suit. You can ask him. Didn't even sculpt it. As for A L I E N, research it out. Giger was pissed at some of the ways in which Rambaldi stretched his skins over the mechanics... Giger made fun of Rambaldi "this is not an ape" because of the apelike emphasis on the mouth of some of the alien suits after it went through Rambaldi's hands.
-
and by mechanics/design on ALIEN, I meant the mechanics and movement of the close up faces (lips, membranes, teeth, drips,with the second mouth) and on some of the full suits with limited movement on the face.
-
Kong - the most emotive expressions come from Baker in/and the suit! The full-size Rambaldi Kong mostly didn't work and the number of shots were DRASTICALLY reduced because of it. Rambaldi had actually originally promised a full-sized working robot (which I don't think anybody really believed but it was good for the publicity at the time). In a nutshell the animatronic 1:1 Kong shots were cut WAY down and Baker's suit shots increased a heap. Even so, they wouldn't let Baker do stuff like arm extensions which would have helped tenfold. Baker called the bipedal thing "the stupid ape walk". Initially De Laurentiis had BOTH of them making suits, and Baker's won. Baker sculpted, mechanised and fabricated multiple expression heads. Some say 3, some say 4, in addition to a generic lip-curling one. You can look it up - the DIRECTOR called Rambaldi's suit a "200 thousand dollar disaster". He did NOT do all the mechanics. Sorry.
De Laurentiis originally didn't even want Kong to be an ape but a Neanderthal man instead!
Yeah Giger and Rambaldi were at odds, but the way you wrote it at first looks like you attributed the design to Rambaldi, especially as you didn't even mention Giger, who is the reason an incredibly well-made but essentially gothic horror/ten little indians/b-movie is looked at as a masterpiece. I do love it - don't misunderstand. And I think Agatha Christie would have approved. That's why I criticised you at first, but thanks for clarifying.
And you didn't even get Rambaldi's name right at first!
Look, I'm not saying Rambaldi was a hack. He's fantastic. E.T. is brilliant. His weakness was just gilding the lily and promising things he couldn't deliver. Continuously.
In the end, I reckon if I was going to use 3 examples for Rambaldi, I'd say the Close Encounters 'spider'/long-limbed alien, Dune guild navigator, and E.T. (he's not responsible for Baker's screw-over there!)
I hope we're cool now. Cheers mate. -
As I remember it, it was made in Canada (Canadian actors mostly)and as already stated the effects were crappy even for 1976. The story was good and I am surprised no one has tried to bring it back again.
Main story was about a small group of people from one of the domes that discovered that they were actually in a giant spaceship. Once they go out the discovered the main computer which basically told them that there was an accident long ago and everyone on the bridge got killed. Now the ship was heading toward a sun in the near future. The small group of people decided to go forward and try to find the bridge and return it to the original heading. In their travels they meat up with people from different domes and that is how the show progressed during its limited run. I don’t believe they managed to end the show before it was pulled.
That is basically how the show went. Concept was good and there was many possibilities for stories as the small group neat up with peoples from different cultures. Some of which refused to believe they were on a spaceship, while others already knew this but were not aware the ship was in trouble.
Anyway, give it a look. I may not buy the collection, but I would probably rent it.
-
The design of the face, the squeaking cables, all that is Rambaldi's work. There was no design contest that Baker won! In other words the emotive expressions are Rambaldi. It was his personally drawn concepts. All of this is documented in photos and books. He designed the suit/face and all the masks and he made the big Kong which was not used except for two or three quick cuts. Baker was not given a chance. I'm sure he was frustrated. Actually he has gone on record to say he was frustrated. From all photos, interviews, and books, Rambaldi constructed the mechanics and design of all the Kong masks... Baker made the skins/ baked the molds and put it together. Let's not forget the big mechanical arm/hand featured as well.
Here is a photo of Rambaldi's concepts:
http://www.pulpanddagger.com/canuck/mask5a.jpg
http://www.pulpanddagger.com/canuck/mask3b.jpg
recognize Rambaldi's style? recognize his face?
"Rick Baker was hired, along with his own gorilla costume, but it was quickly recognized that Baker's costume, as impressive as it was, couldn't possibly come close to providing the range of emotions which De Laurentiis demanded for his Kong. Enter from Italy a mechanical effects wizard, Carlo Rambaldi. " -
It wasn't Rambaldi so much as Dino who pushed for a 40 foot working Kong, and tried to use it to gain anticipation and publicity. Years later American Cinematographer reported the same kind of bullshit when they said that in Jurrasic Park, a full size Tyrannosaur was created that ran after a jeep. Check the issue and article... its crazy.
Random credit... Craig Reardon painted the E.T. faces and skins to look as good as it did. -
Well if my books contradict your books I guess we'll never know for sure.
And I think (this is memory though) that "Enter from Italy" which intimates Rambaldi was hired AFTER Baker's inability to deliver the goods, is inaccurate. Rambaldi's suit was made with black bear skins stitched together over the top. That looked bad, so he cut it short, which supposedly looked worse. So much for hand-punching, not to mention the wearer (Baker). According to the director, a complete failure. There's a documentary I have (that I just can't find at the moment but I'll let you know if I do) about Kong that goes into the whole thing which might help. A discovery channel thing done before Jackson's Kong. I sure don't know how you discount the director's quote though. As for the 'design contest' maybe I wasn't clear enough. It was Di Laurentiis that pitted them against each other. Baker had 2 assistants and one month, and Rambaldi 20 and was a month LATE. That's why I make the 'gild the lily' comments. There definitely was a 'contest' before they started working together.
Your assertion that Baker "was just the man in the suit. You can ask him. Didn't even sculpt it." is garbage. Garbage garbage garbage and obviously I can't disagree more. As is the "Baker made the skins/baked the molds" rubbish. Baker wasn't allowed because of union issues. He was allowed to supervise, but not do it himself. He SCULPTED them though. And the big mechanical arm/hand? I can't remember if the thing about Jessica Lange almost being crushed because it malfunctioned is real or another pub stunt. Do you recall?
Yes Baker was treated like shit. Waiting around in full suit, with scleral lenses in, and no-one would tell him even if he wasn't needed. That's from Baker's mouth in an interview.
Yeah like I said the 1:1 working robot was ridiculous but good press - wasn't there like a full page Variety ad or something? Or a newspaper? My memory's pretty rusty on that. I'd also forgotten the full-size working t-rex silliness.
And your Reardon thing is way cool. Thanks for that tidbit - I'd forgotten! I like that Reardon has always been a craftsman and artist who is committed to excellence without necessarily feeling he must have his own shop or direct or something to be viewed as "successful". Another guy like that is Jon Berg. And there was some other guy who designed the heartlight, but I can't remember his name. Not Rambaldi though.
You know, I think my main problem is that you don't make the distinction between design as in drawing/sculpting, and design of the mechanism, which is something else ENTIRELY. You don't say visual design as opposed to mechanical design. That's what is tripping you up and setting me off. You've done it again there with the Kong "design of the face" thing. And you say "personally drawn concepts" again, - for the mechanism maybe, but not the external design of the face. Baker definitely sculpted those heads. You can't have the second (mechanism design) without the first (character design and form), and although a well-designed mechanism is super important for the performance, the look is THE most important thing. A simple hand-puppet like Yoda proves that. Bugger-all/not much articulation especially in the mouth, but people swear he could make phonemes (and yes I know that's Freeborn). You know what else proves that? Rambaldi's own work! The Close encounters alien's movements are actually pretty awful and mechanical if you look at it objectively - but the awesome visual design colours your perception and makes the movement seem 'otherworldly'. Same with E.T. Even his eye blink mechanism is very 'robotic', but it's fast enough and those big Einstein eyes so expressive (Rambaldi's CHARACTER/VISUAL design is a masterpiece on the same level as Yoda), that we tear up anyway.
Things have changed, but why do you think separate expression heads were sculpted in the 70s and 80s? Because the mechanisms weren't sophisticated enough, and the materials as pliable to allow movement in different directions. That was the time of cable and pneumatic controls, which have movement in one axis. The best characters are still designed with a level of expression and caricature rather than completely 'default'. Look at Hoggle. An example of a completely 'default' expression/look that was supposed to be carried by the Henson mechanism. It's not completely successful, technical leap forward or not. Even Kermit has an 'expression' built in.
What's so great about Rambaldi is that his interest was in all the cable-controlled stuff, but he was initially a sculptor. Baker I think comes from being more sculptor than mechanic and hired/hires great guys for that part of it. Don't you find it funny though that language aside, you can't find interviews with Carlo?
I'll try to find more accurate stuff that can confirm or dismiss what we've both read. Cool? Oh and P.S. - VadER. ;) -
it occurs to me that BOTH Baker and Rambaldi would have done drawings and maquettes for the thing. Whoever 'won'. So to be clear I don't contest that that picture you linked to is Rambaldi's at ALL. But showing that one doesn't actually 'prove' who did the look used in the film of Kong's face at all. Let me put it this way - why WOULDN'T you do your own drawings? And especially in terms of measurements for mechanisms?
And to show I'm not just out to attack you - one of my favourite pics is Rambaldi 'drawing' a picture of E.T. (I love those cheesy after-the-fact shots!), with the actual E.T. over his shoulder. I also loved that cheesy ride they had at Universal. Too bad they pulled it down, my kids woulda loved it.
And is that your site? -
will totally netflix that
-
(compared to the other version) it was fucked with! For the Blu-ray they used the same master as the HD-DVD, but they've fucking scrubbed it with automatic digital noise reduction. So they goes the high-frequency detail. Screengrabs prove it. Goddamn it - I already ordered mine. And after they did such a great job with 03 Hulk! Idiots.
-
...Harry's segments on that vampire doc? Jeez what a creepy mother he is. Fey as hell with the red beard, long stringy hair... And they can only film him from the neck up because he's so obese... Someday aliens are gonna look at late 20th century/early 21st century pop culture, see people like Harry, Kevin Smith, Simon Peg, Jack Black et al and scratch their heads...
-
I would love to see this documentary. Of course nothing settles things like direct information that hasn't been skewed to fit a format or audience. I suppose it would only be made clear if one of us asks Rick Baker directly (cuz I don't speak Italian), and I did find him online in a forum, but of course since he's a celebrity, the option to communicate with him was shut off unlike others. That isn't my site with those Kong photos. oh...completely unrelated:
http://www.vimeo.com/1707304
-
LOVE the Thing, I don't understand the absolute hatred for Daredevil beyond irrational Affleck hate (he can be annoying at times but jeez he's not the anti-christ)Love 40 year old virgin, dislike Knocked up (don't know why but I just didn't think it was funny...) and some of these others sound really interesting.
-
i got the regular one disc edition of the iron man dvd and the nick fury scene after the credits was missing! it wasn't even in the special features. are they backing out of avengers or something? WHAT THE FUCK!!???!?!?
-
I found the doco. It was called animal icons. But unfortunately not as enlightening as I thought. One interview bit with Baker, but he only talks about how he desperately tried to get them to go for a quadruped walk rather than the 'stupid ape-man walk'. The rest of the stuff about Kong '76 skewed too much to Baker to be reliable. Jeff Bridges just made fun of Rambaldi's big version and mentioned the (in)famous incident of Jessica Lange almost getting crushed which seems to have as much to do with stupidly operating the thing while looking at the director instead of the actor, and the language barrier. Oh well. I do have another doco called the Sci-Fi Boys, which you'd love. Lotta Baker stuff but not really anything of note on Kong '76. But Octoman in colour!
Yeah I know all about "Monstermaker"/"Monsterbaker" on various boards and I bought his zbrush tutorial of the old woman. Man, he may not have been at the digital stuff for all that long, but his 3d sculpting was instantly streets ahead of most 'tech-heads' due to his voluminous knowledge and eye for (important) detail. I love how he turned the bust of his Dad into Popeye!
Just realised I have nearly a complete collection of Cinefex (duh!) - if anything can be relied on for accuracy that'd be it I reckon. I even remember there was a special Baker issue about the time of Greystoke. Time to go digging... -
shoulda been - and the language barrier... AS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A (non-)FUNCTIONING MECHANISM. Man, I wish we had italics, too.
-
maybe because the sharp/abrupt ending worked fantastically well and the Nick Fury scene doesn't really add anything story/structurewise? ;)
It's just a little novelty thrill for fanboys and an ad for more Marvel product at the cineplex in a few years time. Storywise all it really does is tease, and dilute the strong stuff that happened before the credits. Laaaame-o. I'd RATHER have it without, myopic ultimate crossover-type fanboys be damned. Actually, they are! -
wow, Vader, you got me to google the Baker cinefex, and it's orderable! I need to see what all is available directly from them.
Quien es muy macho, Baker o Bottin? -
excellent, funny-as-hell movie. that Dracula song / play with the puppets is PRICELESS... one of the funniest movies ive seen so far in 08...easily.
-
Can't wait for the second wave of The Happening apologists to come out of the woodwork...
-
Hooray for Cinefex! I just wish I could get the few early ones I'm missing, 'cause I sure don't want to break the bank buying someone's complete collection on ebay. But hey! I dug it out and yeah #16 is a whole Baker issue! I also have the original E.T. issue (#11). Cool stuff. I seem to vaguely recollect there might have been a later update on Baker too. And a Dick Smith retrospective? Anyway, some fun re-reading ahead. But My God, I've gotta get back to an actual movie I'm supposed to be working on!
-
It will be called: "Rio ne répond plus".
Which meens 'Rio don't answer" or "No news from Rio" etc...
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 273 total posts 271 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 92 total posts 92 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 69 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 151 total posts 63 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 67 total posts 59 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 60 total posts 57 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 484 total posts 49 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 69 total posts 42 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 120 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 183 total posts 24 posts