Hey folks, Harry here with this week’s DVD PICKS & PEEKS. Lots of good stuff this time out. As always if you click on the title or the box you’ll go to AMAZON where you can learn more on the title – or if you’re feeling “the urge” you can purchase the title – and a small portion of the expense will go to support this column. I hope you find some gems, they’re certainly there this week… Check out that David Lean Blu Ray!

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

POLTERGEIST (Blu Ray)

One of the best horror films of the 1980s. A film that makes you afraid of the tree outside your bedroom window, the static on television and creepy fucking clown dolls. It teaches you to fear going into the light and to gracefully go into the light. It’s about evil Republican developers that move headstones, but not the bodies in the graves. It’s about bad acid trips in the mirror and have fun with the paranormal… so long as you wear a football helmet for safety. The film is POLTERGEIST and it just fucking rocks balls! This was Spielberg at the height of his Producer status. When he was hatching the ideas of a dreamer and working with excellent filmmakers to realize them. The Golden Era. And we were the children delighting at the terror he planted in our souls, the wonder of the dreams and… well, it just fucking rocked. Now it is here in BLU-RAY and it is gorgeous. The 30 minute doc is not in High Def, unfortunately – and I’m betting that in a good 5 years we’ll probably have a release that will have a great doc about the “curse of Poltergeist” that makes that new DIRECT TV ad where they use the Girl from POLTERGEIST to help sell connections even though she is no longer with us. This is the MUST HAVE of the week.

THE SUBSTITUTE

Ok, so one of the reasons we love POLTERGEIST is that they just don’t make movies with children that kick ass as well as they did in the early eighties. And mostly, that is true. Unless you look to foreign soil. THE SUBSTITUTE was one of the jewels of FANTASTIC FEST 2008, from Denmark – The movie is all about an evil alien Substitute Teacher that is probably up to no good. The kids see her evil side, but when they try to let adults know, she’s Little Miss Perfect Teacher. The threat is fairly awesome and the scares genuine. The effects are cool and the acting by the kids is extraordinary. And the score is exquisite. This is a fantastic foreign sci fi horror film. Very special movie. This is part of the GHOST HOUSE UNDGERGROUND collection. I’m singling out two of those films as being truly great, the others are ok – and I have the whole collection further down in this list.

MONGOL: THE RISE OF GENGHIS KHAN (Blu Ray)

This was one of the great films from BUTT-NUMB-A-THON 9 – This was directed by the Russian Sergei Bodrov and is the first of a trilogy of films about the life of Genghis Khan. This is the origin… It’s about him from his childhood, to his achievement as Khan. This film is epic & intimate. Truly remarkable, which is why it picked up a nomination as Best Foreign Film last year at the Oscars. One of my favorite films of 2007, that has only been available in 2008.

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

Contrary to the citizens of SOUTH PARK that while watching this film saw the RAPE OF INDIANA JONES, I absolutely was transformed into a little kid watching it. I’ve had the disc for 3 weeks now and have watched it repeatedly. First off, if I have a disappointment, it is that this is the only INDIANA JONES available in Blu Ray. It looks tremendous. The entire Alien stuff at the end is just epic on my screen. Upon multiple viewings, I do find that the movie could have been so much more – and that Indiana could have been more active in his situations, but I really do love the film. I love the Alien aspect – as ALIENS are a major ‘belief’ aspect of Human society, and that’s what Indiana has always been a part of. Relics of Belief Systems. Aliens are just another Belief System. That Indy has proven real… but has no lingering proof of. At the very least, it’s great of have Indy in the Blu… now bring us the other three!

THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION (Blu-Ray)

I have this in HD DVD and now in Blu Ray – and this was one of the reasons I went with HD DVD originally… they had this and Blu didn’t. It was literally the first item I bought from Best Buy. This is one of the titles I’ve been waiting for on Blu Ray. It is absolutely one of the best sets you can own, unless you hate the MATRIX. I’m really not fond of the middle MATRIX film, I feel the first is the best – and I really love the final. Also included is that ANIMATRIX, which was spotty, but brilliant when at its best. Great collection.

ICONS OF HORROR: HAMMER FILMS - ( THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB / THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL / SCREAM OF FEAR / THE GORGON )

I love these four HAMMER films. In particular THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB and THE GORGON and THE TWO FACES OF DR JEKYLL. SCREAM OF FEAR is solid, but I’ve always loved Hammer’s take on the classic tales… like Dr Jekyll, Mummies and Snake-headed ladies that turn folks to stone. There’s a lurid quality to the films which are presented on two Discs. This is great material for Halloween!

AMERICAN GANGSTER (Blu Ray)

While I don’t think this is a great film, I do think it is ok. I love Denzel’s character and Brolin’s character – and I just don’t feel Russell Crowe’s part of the story is very compelling. But the film is still quite watchable, it could have just been a tighter film. However, I know a lot of you really love this film, I’m just not there with ya.

THE UNIVERSE – THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO

I don’t know about you, but I love the HISTORY CHANNEL – and moreso, I love THE UNIVERSE, it’s such a wonderful way to become familiar with interstellar matters. I can’t wait till it contains history of alien civilizations once we make contact and learn their history. But for now, just all the types of phenomenon… well, that’ll have to do.

THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Third Season

If my wife were left to her own devices my future children would probably be more like THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY than The 60’s Marvel Bullpen. Personally, I just watched the show dreaming of Susan Dey… This season has folks like The Tin Man and the Head of the Addams family show up. It’s a fun season, if you like THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY.

YO GABBA GABBA!: THE DANCEY DANCE BUNCH

Probably the best Shroom & Pot show on Nick these days. Only thing better is to light up, enjoy the show and play with this: The Dancing Brobee. I know it’s wrong to think of this show this way, but seriously… doesn’t this just look like the most fun?

ALFRED HITCHCOCK PREMIERE COLLECTION - ( LIFEBOAT / SPELLBOUND / NOTORIOUS / THE PARADINE CASE / SABOTAGE / YOUNG & INNOCENT / REBECCA / THE LODGER )

This will probably be the last round of HITCHCOCK releases pre-Blu Ray. This is really nice DVD work though. You’ve got LIFEBOAT, the brilliant film set in a lifeboat… with all the action, drama and intrigue in a single lifeboat. Wait till you see how Hitch worked in his cameo. Brilliant. Then there’s THE LODGER, one of the great early works of the master. This has a commentary with Patrick McGilligan, a great making of, the 1940 radio play of the story that was helmed by Alfred, a Bogdanovich interview and a truffaut interview. Outstanding. With YOUNG AND INNOCENT – you get isolated music and effects, the interviews and more. The same goes for the great SABOTAGE and THE PARADINE CASE. Then there’s 3 of my very very favorite films of Hitch’s career… SPELLBOUND with Peck and Bergman and that Dali dream sequence… NOTORIOUS with Bergman & Cary Grant & Claude Rains – a great film of marriage, betrayal and some of the creepiest most awesome scenes of Hitch’s career. Then there’s REBECCA with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine… as perfect a film as the master ever directed. Brilliant to the last frame. This is truly a great collection

CASINO (Blu Ray)

I know I’m in the minority when I say I prefer this film to GOODFELLAS, but I am. I love how lush looking this film is, I prefer these characters and the story of these three, insane people in Las Vegas. And it felt, to me, every bit as honest a story as GOODFELLAS. It’s just, GOODFELLAS makes me feel dirty and like I need to shower. This film just affirms my general dislike for Vegas and the people that profit from it. All the while, it still is thrillingly entertaining.

CONSTANTINE (Blu Ray)

I oddly like this film. I think it probably helps that I never read the comic, but I just like the look and feel of the film. Keanu is fine in it, but it has Rachel Weisz… and frankly anything and everything with Rachel is awesomely watchable. Especially at 1080p. It’s just a guilty pleasure of mine.

ROMANCING THE STONE (Blu Ray)

God I love this movie. That it is going to have it’s 25th Anniversary next year is kinda astounding. This is also the second hottest performance of Kathleen Turner, right behind BODY HEAT… Her Joan Wilder (look for the reference in ASTROPIA) is amongst my favorite film ladies. It also helps that they shot the film in areas that I traveled as a kid. Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito and Kathleen Turner are perfection in the film. A fun romantic comedy. And I love Pepe, the little mule and his master. This is gorgeous in Blu Ray.

THE JEWEL OF THE NILE (Blu Ray)

This is a fun sequel, just not as great as the original. Everyone is back, the movie just doesn’t have the initial joy of discovery that we had when the first film unfolded. That said, as far as formulaic unnecessary sequels go, this is a pretty good one. The best thing about this and the release of ROMANCING THE STONE is… The last DVD release was a bad transfer and this is clean as can be. Really nice to have great transfers – but with a 25th Anniversary waiting to be celebrated next year, don’t be surprised if Fox does a much better release with new extras and frills next year.

EASTERN PROMISES (Blu Ray)

Cronenberg knocked this out of the park, as did Viggo – and I hope they just continue making films together because they could so pull a John Wayne & John Ford thing… a Kurt Russell & John Carpenter thing. I just want to see film after film with these two. That naked fight in the steam room is fucking harsh in 1080p…. Really great work, now lets get the rest of Cronenberg in Blu!

CHAPLIN (15th Anniversary Edition)

This was so much fun to watch again. I’d forgotten how much I liked this. Remember back 15 years ago when this came out and Robert Downey Jr amazed you? And do you wonder if the release of this DVD was planned before or after every knew that Downey was about to blow his shit up big. Sure, it’s the 15th Anniversary, but do they really celebrate those? This is one of those films that was loved, yet over criticized by an awful lot at the time, but has aged extremely well. The attention to detail that Attenborough poured into this is truly amazing. Downey’s performance is just one to gawk at, his timing, his comedy… it really is a loving tribute to the wonder that was Chaplin. It’s nice to have this back on DVD.

DANCE OF THE DEAD

Yeah, this carries an AICN quote on the cover, so of course we’re gonna shill for it. The quote, I believe is from Quint’s review during SXSW and that boy LOVES this movie. He was on me to see it, throughout the fest, but it just never hit with my schedule… So when this DVD came in, I had to check it out instantly. I’ve seen some people equate it to the indie flick DEAD AND BREAKFAST, but frankly this is much better. Sure you can see the budget limitations, but this film is solid throughout. This is really good indie horror, and now for those that didn’t catch it at all the festivals… it’s ready to come home for your convenience.

HOLIDAY INN

It’s got Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby and it is all about Christmas… And then there’s that moment where WHITE CHRISTMAS is sung… and your heart swells up 3 times too big and there is that inner warmth and glow that feels oh so good. This is a great triple featue with WHITE CHRISTMAS & THE BISHOP’S WIFE (the original). Watching those three in a row will make you buy bubble lights for your tree and you’ll instantly start shopping for your loved ones with the knowledge that they’ll love you even if you can only afford a card. But they’ll love you more if you get a life size ROBBY THE ROBOT… ok, maybe that’s just me.

THE NEW WORLD – The Extended Cut

If ever there was a filmmaker that desperately cried out for Blu Ray, it is Terrence Malick. His eye and the soul of his films is often about the beauty of the natural world – and in a lot of film schools when they’re teaching Cinematography – Malick’s films are often highlighted as being some of the very best. This film is stunningly beautiful. The extended cut is only 15 minutes longer, I do think the film is better for it, but honestly had they not sent it to me, I would have waited for the high def release…. Of course if this release doesn’t do well, it could be forever til that happens.

FIGHTER PILOT: OPERATION RED FLAG (Blu Ray)

I think that before Michael Bay has sex with 4 Playmates, he watches this Blu Ray to get in the mood. Seriously, if you’re a military tech fetishist, this is the absolute shit. Essentially, this is a gigantic massive aerial war game that IMAX was allowed to shoot and damn does it look cool. It isn’t the most interesting thing ever, but it is great friggin’ eye candy. If you love this stuff, this is definitely for you.

THAT 70’S SHOW: Complete Giftset

27 discs – all 7 seasons. I’m not a huge fan, but it’s one of those shows that sometimes finds itself on in the background of my work day. I find it funny because… dude, that is so not the seventies. Watch DAZED & CONFUSED if you want Teenagers from the Seventies in a nostalgic laugh riot. However, if you have a crush on that guy that has hooked up with Demi Moore… this is the show to get your fill.

HOLLYWOOD SINGING AND DANCING: A MUSICAL HISTORY (2-Disc)

The only thing annoying about this is the cover which puts the stars of CHICAGO up front and center. Now don’t get me wrong, I love CHICAGO… It’s a graduate of BUTT-NUMB-A-THON, but When your documentary is about the history of singing and dancing in Hollywood film… That said, this 2 DVD set gets it otherwise and don’t judge it by the box cover. Director Mark McLaughlin obviously shares my love for the Hollywood Musical – he’s interviewed so many folks that were a part of that history, but then has gathered old school interviews with the likes of Ruby Keeler along with fantastic Musical shorts. He even has Nikita Khrushchev on the set of the late fifties production of CAN-CAN with Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine. If you love musicals, you’ll love this film and this DVD.

STUCK

I love Stuart Gordon, but he does have films that work for me and those that don’t. STUCK worked tremendously last night when I watched my Blu Ray. Mena Suvari plays a Nurse’s Assistant, who after a night of clubbing, hits a freshly Homeless man on his first night on the streets. He gets “Stuck” in the windshield – hurt badly… and she decides not to report it… and not to help him back to health. The following day and a half or so is just brutal. I love where this film goes – and it could easily be a Stage Play, but Stuart makes a very strong film out of the story. Brutal and honest. I love Stephen Rea as the man in the windshield. And is it just me, but every film I see with Stephen Rea, I fool myself into thinking is a Neil Jordan film?

DRIVE-IN CULT CLASSICS 3 – ( THE BABYSITTER / WEEKEND WITH THE BABYSITTER / THE PINK ANGELS / BLOOD MANIA / SINGLE ROOM FURNISHED / VAN NUYS BLVD / THE POM POM GIRLS / MALIBU BEACH )

You know – look at those titles. Think 70s exploitation films that extend from those titles and you’ve got it. You have two seductive babysitter stories to help motivate you towards procreation. You have a Transvestite Biker Flick, Jayne Mansfield as a preggers street whore, an innocent kid on a wild run with deviancy, a contest to nail the most high school chicks and beach action. Fun stuff in the exploitation realm, the dirty side of the ID.

HALLOWEEN: 30TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET

The surprise that I discovered when I opened up my box was that they had a Blu Ray of HALLOWEEN inside – to go with all the other Standard Def Discs. First off, the packaging is outrageously fun. Yes, that’s a Latex mask, which over the next 5 years depending the temperature and humidity of your home… you can watch rot, which’ll be cool. Then there’s what you get inside. You get the BLU RAY of HALLOWEEN, which is essentially the same disc that you may have already bought. On Standard Def they give you the Restored 1978 film, the Extended Edition, Halloween 4 and Halloween 5 – along with the HALLOWEEN 25 YEARS OF TERROR. Frankly, I’m fond of the set, but it is an example of just repackaging pre-existing material to cash in. But hey… I like the mask gimmick. Now they need an edition that comes packaged with a SIDESHOW sculpture of PJ Soles flashing her boobs in Pigtails! That’d get my money.

SPACE STATION / MISSION TO MIR Imax (Blu Ray)

I don’t know about you, but every new film in the IMAX format, my wife and I head out to see, sometimes several viewings. I just love the format. These BLU RAY discs are not quite IMAX amazing, but with a great HD 1080p projector and a big enough screen – and if you sit close enough… like me, you can almost full yourself. Now, my Austin Friend, Richard Garriott is heading up to the International Space Station at the price tag of tens of millions of dollars… and while he’s taking Stephen Colbert and My DNA with him, I doubt I’ll be personally making the trip just so I can live out my fantasy Halloween costume from DUNE. Instead, I have this BLU RAY. It doesn’t quite make up for it, but it keeps the dream alive. Hey… at least my DNA is headed up there as part of PROJECT IMMORTALITY!

LIVING SEA (Blu Ray)

You know, the underwater IMAX documentaries are amongst my favorites. This one is dreamy due to Sting and Meryl Streep does an excellent job, but the real gold is the photography – as with all things IMAX, it just stuns you. Beautiful film.

ARCH OF TRIUMPH

From the director of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT comes this fantastic film starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer as tragic tinged lovers that must deal with an evil fucking Gestapo officer in Paris played by the Great CHARLES LAUGHTON. I often dream of seeing the unmolested intended cut, but I’m afraid we’ll never see it. That said, just for Laughton’s Gestapo performance, I’m there for every minute!.

COSMIC VOYAGE / DESTINY IN SPACE (Blu Ray)

Let Morgan Freeman take you on a journey through the Cosmos – on the largest scale and the tiniest. The visual effects are fun and the knowledge is outstanding. Then you also get the Ben Burtt helmed DESTINY IN SPACE – it’s over 8 years old at this point, but it is absolutely gorgeous to watch. Again, you dig this IMAX stuff – and the transfers they do on Blu Ray are outstanding, but wait till you see the release of BARAKA that’s coming soon. Holy shit is it stunning.

CAPRICORN ONE

I don’t know about you, but I love CAPRICORN ONE – which is 30 years old this year. It’s odd that I put it on today upon getting home from W, because I really wasn’t thinking of the Brolin connection, but there it was. Just that random universe working for me. It has a great cast with James Brolin, Sam Watterson & OJ Simpson as the wayward astronauts in peril. You’ve got Hal Holbrook as the corrupt Missions Control guy, then there’s Elliott Gould, Telly Savalas and Karen Black. This is a crazy awesome film. Which some crazy friends of mine feels is closer to the truth about our Moon Missions, than our future Mars Missions.

GHOST HOUSE UNDERGROUND EIGHT FILM COLLECTION: ( DANCE OF THE DEAD / NO MAN’S LAND: THE RISE OF THE REEKER / THE SUBSTITUTE / DARK FLOORS / TRACKMAN / ROOM 205 / LAST HOUSE IN THE WOODS / BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD )

I’ve only been able to watch 2 of these titles thus far – THE SUBSTITUTE and DANCE OF THE DEAD – which I’ve listed above. Then there’s the fact that Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert picked these films out personally. I’m quite interested in giving them all a looksee. But I can only personally vouch for the two I’ve seen, both of which are excellent.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Blu Ray)

David Lean’s amazing GREAT EXPECTATIONS… on Blu-Ray!!! HOLY SHIT AWESOME!!! Lean’s film is layered with details and nuance that can only be appreciated in 35mm and in 1080p. I’ve always thought of this film and story as the ultimate BRUCE WAYNE non-super hero tale. Ok, maybe that’s just me. This is a jewel to behold and the best film released today.

THERE’LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND

Do you love THE SEX PISTOLS? Hmmm? This release comes from Rhino Records – and is an over two and a half hour performance that took place in 2007 with Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock – and while I’d love to see the original incarnation complete – there’s just a great energy on this DVD that I can’t help but to enjoy the hell out of.

SHOGUN ASSASSIN: 5 Film Collector’s Set

Here’s the complete collection at a decent price. I love the Babycart films – the Lone Wolf & Cub series – and this story of Ogami Itto and his son is simply one of my most favorite things on Planet Earth. And every good geek father must give his baby son the option between a ball and a sword… Cuz at that choice, at that moment. The Father will learn everything about his infant son. It is simply history. Greatness!

UNDERSEA KINGDOM

Ya know – this is just a repackage, nothing particularly special has been done to this, but if you don’t have it, if you’ve never heard of it – this is one of the most opulent science fiction serials ever made. It stars the great Ray “Crash” Corrigan. Serials are one of the foundations of my geek love for cinema. Bite sized adventures into the fantastic. Art deco action and thrills? I’m there. And maybe you should be as well.

DARK KNIGHT is coming December 9th!

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, cuz next week we’ll be looking at: THE INCREDIBLE HULK, LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION Volume 6, (DR NO, DIE ANOTHER DAY, LIVE AND LET DIE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and THUNDERBALL) on Blu Ray, The Complete Series for THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., THE STRANGERS, SWEENEY TODD on Blu Ray, Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN, Collector’s Edition of CASINO ROYALE, The Complete Collection of FAMILY GUY, 5th season of THE INCREDIBLE HULK, Kenji Mizoguchi’s FALLEN WOMEN, DIARY OF THE DEAD (Blu Ray), MISSING, THE AMAZING DR CLITTERHOUSE, INVISIBLE STRIPES, KID GALAHAD, LARCENY INC, THE LITTLE GIANT, KNIGHT RIDER – Complete series, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and much much more!!!