Hey folks, Harry here with the latest DVD Column. There’s some very fun titles this week and I’m working to get next week’s up before Saturday, as I’ll be leaving for Berlin for a few days next week and would like to have this go up before I leave. Anyway here ya go… as usual the titles and art are linkable to their corresponding pages on Amazon, where you can learn more on the titles or purchase them, where a portion will go to support this column. Now, let’s hop to it…

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 (aka Father Geek’s 64th Birthday!)

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

One of the best films of 2008, directed by Woody Allen and an entirely involving and adult feature about the creative spirit, muses, sexual exploration, the madness of passion and the fury of love. The film is set in Barcelona, one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world… AND it features Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall and Penelope Cruz all looking like the hottest in heat ladies you’ve ever seen. And if you ever need to see what THE SCARY GIRLFRIEND LOOKS LIKE – check out Cruz here. RUN! Another great film from Woody Allen.

THE BOURNE TRILOGY (Blu Ray)

I have the trilogy on HD DVD, but got sent this just a few days ago. The extras are really solid here with a commentary by Doug Liman and two by Paul GreenGrass. In addition there’s stuff from Ludlum, Tony Gilroy and docs galore. These three films kick a lot of ass. And look great on Blu-Ray – just like they looked great on HD-DVD. If you have an internet enabled player, you can record your own Video Commentary which can be shared with folks… because that’s what you want to do. Create your own MST3K version of these films… right?

Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection ( PALM SPRINGS WEEKEND, PARRISH, ROME ADVENTURE, SUSAN SLADE )

These aren’t a set of my favorite romance flicks, but they’re extremely popular films from the Sixties and these films are an idealized version of love in the early pre-Vietnam sixties. Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Claudette Colbert, Karl Malden, Angie Dickinson, Suzanne Pleshette, and more. They’re all romantic tales featuring Troy Donahue. So… Grab a dinner tray and your loved one… syrupy romance is coming to a player near you… and it doesn’t get much sweeter.

PRIDE AND GLORY

I’m not sure if I like this film. It just really makes cops out to be the scurviest lot on the planet earth, but the story is solid once you get past that… the acting is good, but to me… to me, the thing that makes this film amazing is a single moment of Colin Farrell with an Iron in one hand and a baby in the other. It made me laugh and giggle and scream, “HOLY FUCK” here at the house and … ya know, that was worth the viewing experience all on its own.

THE INVADERS-SECOND SEASON

If you liked X-FILES, you’d LOVE THIS! THE INVADERS is that alien conspiracy ramped up to “holy shit, what is going on,” levels. It’s great. Roy Thinnes as our lead, who has been on a run ever since the very first episode of Season 1 – is great. He knows the secret conspiracy that’s got a stranglehold on the future of humanity, but the Aliens know… and they’re everywhere. Who do you tell? How do you fight them if they look like us and are everywhere? Imagine the most straight forward version of THEY LIVE, that’s told stylistically and with a longer sense of dread. FANTASTIC SERIES. Absolutely top notch!

HULK VS.

This is the first of the produced Lionsgate Animated films that didn’t get sent to me early? What does that mean? Nothing, just a snafu somewhere in the processing side of things. I’m really curious about this, you see… Most of these Animated films have been really solid. Perhaps not animated at the level that I wish they’d be, but they’ve all been fun. Even if they looked like they sucked. This is likely one of the last times we’ll see the Hulk till an Avengers feature, and I’m a Hulk fan. Definitely going to pick it up.

GOODBYE MR CHIPS

Peter O’Toole takes on the role that won Robert Donat an Oscar back in 1939, in a much better film. I like this one, but I love the Donat one. The musical nature of this film just kinda rubs me wrong. The film has some fans that really really love it. To me, it’s another remake that’s adequate, but doesn’t do it right.

MARY POPPINS (45th Anniversary Edition)

Great great Disney film, BUUUUUT – frankly I prefer the 40th Anniversary Edition which had, in my opinion, superior extras. Besides – at this stage, I’d wait for the Blu Ray, though you may have to wait till 2014.

ROCKNROLLA

Guy Ritchie back in top form for this flick. We’d lost Guy for a bit, but ROCKNROLLA was a thundering return to form for him. I love this flick. Gerard Butler is hilarious here, and the film has a great vibe to it. It is a shame it never got the big release that I wish it achieved over here, as I’m still waiting on Guy to really break into the U.S. pop consciousness as something other than… tabloid fodder. He’s talented. And we’ll see Guy break out big with his SHERLOCK HOLMES. Here you get a commentary, an additional scene and a pair of docs on the film and this style of film from Guy. Nicely done!

GROUNDHOG DAY (Blu Ray)

A New York Times film critic named GROUNDHOG DAY to his top ten films of all-time. Now, I love this film, but I don’t think in a million years I could go there. My current Facebook profile shot is me with Bill Murray on the edge of a cave at the post-premiere party for CITY OF EMBER – and while we sat there for 35-40 minutes chatting… I couldn’t allow myself to think of this film or GHOSTBUSTERS or CADDYSHACK or STRIPES or the Wes Anderson films… I couldn’t because Bill Murray is just perfect in these films – and GROUNDHOG DAY is truly great. I love the idea of reliving one day repeatedly until you get it right. And I love that we never ever explore WHY this happening or how this is being explained. In an odd way, the movie reminds me of a tender and loving DUCK AMUCK. The world is taunting him. And I love that his reaction to living a new day isn’t… “Let’s get out of here,” but “Let’s live here!” Just a perfect film. The transfer is beautiful, to be honest I didn’t check out the extras. But here, the movie is enough!

CANNERY ROW

I have the weirdest reaction to Debra Winger in this movie. I don’t know why, it’s a completely different character for her, but I just keep waiting for Richard Gere in his whites to carry her off. This isn’t a very good film, the director was a total hack – but the film is watchable solely for the work that Nick Nolte and Debra Winger turn in. They work for me. Not much else does.

WATERLOO BRIDGE

Ok – so I know you’re excited to see Vivien Leigh… and your Grandmother is all about Robert Taylor, but me? When I see Maria Ouspenskaya’s name I light up like Christmas morning. She played the old gypsy lady in THE WOLF MAN, and she’s one of my favorite character performers ever – and I’ve only ever seen a handful of them. She’s great here under Mervyn LeRoy’s great direction. The photography is so beautiful in this film that you’ll want to touch Vivien’s cheek. She’s stunning in this film. This is one of those impossibly heartbreaking romances that makes you want to love and terrified of love… ALL AT ONCE. This is classic hardcore tragic love, the sort that just makes you ache and pine for love. A truly great classic gem from LeRoy!

ZODIAC (Blu Ray)

When ZODIAC hit DVD – Paramount was just at the beginning of the transfer from HD DVD to Blu, so they stalled the release of ZODIAC in high def, till they got their Blu Ray maching rolling – and it’s worth the wait. This is a film for police and journalist procedural nuts. I’m pretty sure that no film set around the killings of a serial killer has ever been done with level of passionate attention to detail. That caused some to disconnect, but for me… I marveled at the filmmaking and the details. I like how this is a police film for a while, but then it becomes the passion of an amateur obsessive compulsive novice. This Blu Ray looks amazing – and ya know what? I’m dying to see the rest of Fincher’s work hit on Blu.

THE ALL NEW SUPERFRIENDS HOUR

Wonder Twin Powers Activate! Yeahhhhh… I’m a deeply passionate lover of the SUPER FRIENDS. These were MY cartoons when the Saturday Morning block was the reason to do good in school, the reason to wake up early… and the reason to be a kid. I didn’t know that was supposed to hate the Wonder Twins and their Space Monkey. I’m told I’m supposed to, but I love them dearly.

The Sidney Poitier Collection ( EDGE OF THE CITY, SOMETHING OF VALUE, A PATCH OF BLUE, A WARM DECEMBER )

My favorite of the set is EDGE OF THE CITY – a great film about a pair of Big Apple longshoremen and is absolutely brutal. Poitier and John Cassavettes play best friends. Jack Warden is amazing in the film. Now the film, SOMETHING OF VALUE with Rock Hudson and Poitier in a Kenyan Independence film where friends fight friends. Really good film. The most loved of the films is PATCH OF BLUE, where Poitier befriends a blind girl and has to deal with one helluva mom played by Shelly Winters. Great film and considered one of Sidney’s best. I haven’t seen A WARM DECEMBER, which is directed by Poitier himself – I’m curious to get to that film. Good job from Warners to put this set together at last!

IN BRUGES (Blu Ray)

FUCKING GREAT FILM! GET IT!

DEAD & BURIED (Blu Ray)

I’ve always had a soft spot for this absolutely creepy as hell movie. Here you have an early eighties genre film… co-written by Dan O’Bannon, make-up effects by Stan Winston and starring a very young Robert Englund. Not only that… but the movie is fucking great! I love messed up towns. I think it is because I’m a Lovecraft and Stephen King fan, but DEAD & BURIED actually is different from both of those writers… this is a wholly original horror film that Blue Underground has done a great job with here. 3 Commentaries, separate features on Stan Winston, Robert Englund and Dan O’Bannon. This is a jewel worth picking up!

42ND STREET FOREVER Vol. 4

I love trailer compilations. This is a very very fun one. Here’s what’s on here:

THE SYNDICATE: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY,
COMBAT COPS,
IT CAME WITHOUT WARNING,
NO BLADE OF GRASS,
YOR: THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE,
SIMON KING OF THE WITCHES,
THE PSYCHIC,
SCHIZOID,
TENDER FLESH,
DIE SISTER, DIE,
SILENT SCREAM,
NEW YEAR S EVIL,
MORTUARY,
HUMONGOUS,
EMBRYO,
THE BOOGEYMAN,
THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK,
THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN,
GRAY EAGLE,
SHADOW OF THE HAWK,
RUTUALS,
AMERICATHON,
CAN I DO IT... TIL I NEED GLASSES?,
DIE LAUGHING,
IN GOD WE TRUST,
UNDERCOVERS HERO,
THE JEZEBELS,
FIGHTING MAD,
MOVING VIOLATION,
BONNIE S KIDS,
WALKING TALL PART 2,
THE KLANSMAN,
MONKEY HUSTLE,
THE SOLDIER,
BLACKOUT,
SHOUT AT THE DEVIL,
MARCH OR DIE,
HOG WILD,
THE HARD HEADS,
THE CHICKEN CHRONICLES,
BEST FRIENDS,
OUR WINNING SEASON,
COACH,
GOLDENGIRL
And MORE!

SPECIAL FEATURES :
- Audio Commentary featuring FANGORIA Managing Editor Michael Gingold, Film Historian Chris Poggiali and AVMANIACS Editor Edwin Samuelson
- Bonus Vintage Television Spots

M.A.N.T.I.S.: Complete Series

Ah… M.A.N.T.I.S. I am very fond of this show that was produced by Raimi. It was one of the TV shows I was in love with in the earliest days of this site, and here they all are! Good job!

ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED

Think you have Polanski convicted in your mind? Here’s the facts and the reality. An incredibly compelling documentary on one of the great directors, who the press and courts fucked. Great documentary!

DOWNFALL (Blu Ray)

The very best Hitler movie yet, with a stunning performance from Bruno Ganz as Adolph. This import Blu-Ray is All Region, so it will play on your player as far as I can tell. Plays on mine. A truly great film.

THE STEWARDESSES 3D

3D softcore porn from a year that screamed for 3D porn… ’69! I’ve seen this theatrically – and it seems to now have an R rating. Oh how the times have changed. It’s a fun bit of titillation… in 3D! Shitty 3D, but it is comin’ atcha!

SHARKS IN VENICE

This has to be worth a six pack and your time!

FANTASTIC FLESH: THE ART OF MAKE-UP EFX

This is one of those produced STARZ documentaries. They interviewed Quentin Tarantino, George Romero, Josh Brolin, Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger, John Carpenter, Simon Pegg, Eli Roth, Rob Bottin, Robert Rodriguez, Tom Savini, Wes Craven, John Landis, Mick Garris and Dick Smith… and they’ve got tons of footage of more modern make-up effects. It’s a solid doc, though I wish it was actually feature length, but alas it is just under an hour.

FEMALE PRISONER: CAGED!

This is really weird and tough stuff. This isn’t great, but if you’re a fan of the eighties Nikkatsu Erotic cinema, it’s right up your alley.

STARBALLZ

Yeah… this is that famous Hentai parody of a certain film that you probably can guess. It’s pretty hilarious. And George knows how long this will be available as legal papers have been served on this title before. It is hardcore and not something for the kiddies. It’s also very geeky.

Next week we’ll be getting into YENTL, Volume XIV of MST3K, ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, SPACE BUDDIES, MADAGASCAR 2, FRIDAY THE 13th Blu Ray, FRIDAY THE 13th part 2 & part 3 in 3D, NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST, HIS NAME WAS JASON, HOUNDDOG, OUR MAN IN HAVANA, OFFICE SPACE (Blu Ray), Natalie Wood Collection, OLIVER AND COMPANY, VIBES, BEING THERE (Blu Ray), SIDEWAYS (Blu Ray), TCM Romantic Comedies Collection, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Blu), CLERKS 2 (Blu), INSIDE MOVES, SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL, GUMSHOE, FIVE, XANADU, PAURA, BRAINSTORM, THE WIZ and more…