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Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 1st Wk of March: Australia, Wonder Woman, Avant-Garde, U.N.C.L.E., Lecter & Phish!
Hey folks, Harry here with our first DVD PICKS & PEEKS of March 2009! This is a bit of a light week, but next week is furiously packed with cool stuff. As usual, the titles and boxes are clickable to AMAZON where you can learn more on the title in question, as well as purchasing the item if you feel the urge. A small percentage of the purchase price goes to support the ongoing efforts of this column. Thanks so much for your support as always, here’s this week’s releases…
Tuesday, March 3rd 2009
AUSTRALIA
I’ve heard the severly mixed word of mouth on this film, I still haven’t seen AUSTRALIA. Yoko and I kept meaning to see it, but it just never happened. So I’ll be picking this disc up first thing today. Baz has never let me down, and I’m hoping this film works on me. Now – when do we get the rest of Baz’s films on Blu Ray?
BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA
Yes, I’ve seen this. And unlike SPACE BUDDIES – it’s a far better film than it deserves to be. But that’s due to a fun cast – and the ridiculous nature of Chihuahuas. That said, I hope to god never to see the film again- or a trailer or commercial for it again. That said – you must realize there’s a world of difference between this movie and the two BABE flicks. This is disposable entertainment. BABE and BABE: PIG IN A CITY are transcendent works of joy & cinema.
WONDER WOMAN
You can read my full review: Here! But since that review, I’ve learned that the reason the film felt adult was that this is actually a PG 13 animated movie! Pretty cool to see Warner animation allowing these things to get rougher. Wonder if we’ll ever see an R-rated KILLING JOKE animated film? The GREEN LANTERN preview is pretty damn cool too! That wasn’t on my earlier preview disc. Nor were the great history of WONDER WOMAN features and more. DC is continuing to do a first rate job with their animated film line!
WATCHMEN: THE COMPLETE MOTION COMIC
It takes over 5 hours to watch it all, and I did it in a single sitting. Now – you must realize this isn’t really an animated film. Imagine this as being the BOOK ON TAPE with Marvel Super Heroes (sixties animated series) level of animation. Meaning one person is doing all the voices, mouths don’t move. But it is every frame of Gibbons artwork and every word of Alan Moore’s writing – and I found it absolutely compelling. There’s sound effects, a score… and overall, it’s a really fun experience, I thought. It shows you the inherent cinematic nature of this story and the enormity of what Zack Snyder and the other filmmakers faced in adapting this story to a feature film’s running time. You want Squid – it’s here, you want the entire psychiatrist plot with Rorschach? It’s here. It is all here.
THE RETURN OF MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
This isn’t really a successful relaunch of this classic series, as much as it is a bittersweet farewell to what was once great. For those of us that never cry U.N.C.L.E. while watching the classic show, this is a must from a completist standpoint. On the otherhand, it’s nice to see Solo and Kuryakin doing anything. In some ways, it reminds me of the latest X-Files movie.
TREASURES IV: AMERICAN AVANT-GARDE Film, 1947-1986
The TREASURES series has been one of the GREAT sources for amazing cinematic history on a regular basis. This time, they’ve turned their attention to the Avant Garde of U.S. art films. Just take a look at the description from AMAZON:
“26 Major Avant Garde Films Never Before on Home Video! 27 artists from Bruce Baillie to Andy Warhol who worked outside the mainstream and redefined American cinema are collected in this stunning, five-hour set sampling an array of film types and styles. An array of film styles from animation to documentary are showcased in this collection of classics and rediscoveries, selected from five of the nation's foremost avant-garde film archives.
Featured Films include: "Here I Am" (Bruce Baillie), "Aleph" (Wallace Berman), "The Riddle of Lumen" (Stan Brakhage), "Eyewash" (Robert Breer), "Bridges-Go-Round" (Shirley Clarke), "By Night with Torch and Spear" (Joseph Cornell), "Peyote Queen" (Storm De Hirsch), "(nostalgia" (Hollis Frampton), "Fog Line" (Larry Gottheim), "Litlte Stabs at Happiness" (Ken Jacobs), "Hamfat Asar" (Lawrence Jordan), "I, an Actress (George Kuchar), "New Improved Institutional Quality" (Owen Land), "Necrology" (Standish Lawder), "Note to Patti" (Saul Levine), "The End" (Christopher Maclaine), "Notes on the Circus" (Jonas Mekas), "Go! Go! Go!" (Marie Menken), "The Off-Handed Jape... and How to Pull It Off" (Robert Nelson & William T. Wiley), "7362" (Pat O'Neill), "Chumlum" (Ron Rice), "Bad Burns" (Paul Sharits), "Odds & Ends" (Jane Conger Belson Shimane), "Film No. 3: Interwoven" (Chick Strand), "Mario Banana (No. 1)" (Andy Warhol)
Featuring newly recorded music by John Zorn, a 70-page book of program notes with a forward by Martin Scorsese, more than 200 interactive screens, and 2 postcards from the films.”
There’s stuff on here that will blow your mind and other things that you may find yourself hating passionately. But that is the nature of Avant Garde film. Great set!
ASHES OF TIME REDUX
Wong Kar Wai revisited the original film elements to make a great restored print – and out of that, came this beautiful, slimmer rendition of ASHES OF TIME. Brilliant work. Like with the Coen’s BLOOD SIMPLE work, leaner is actually better here!
SCARLETT JOHANSSON Collection
There really isn’t anything new here – other than the really reasonable price for these 3 Scarlett flicks – which you get for $14. Personally I love GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING and A GOO D WOMAN, but I don’t believe I’ve seen AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY. If you love her, this is a good deal.
THE CLIFFORD BALL
Annette Kellerman, when I met her, was a total Phish head. Following them in their Dead like followings. When this box came, I called her up and she emitted a hilarious squeal. She was at my house inside of twenty minutes and jumping up and down with glee. The word is now, that neighbors upload YouTube’s of her, covered in edible paint dancing in her living room in a manner that would have gotten her thrown into a river with a stone – back in Salem times. If you are a follower of Phish. This isn’t the funky bootlegs, but a beautiful 7 DVD set covering all the sets and even the sound check. Rhino did a truly great job with this set!
JOHNNY HANDSOME
Fuck You ARTISAN! I really don’t understand the point of holding a release as fucking great as JOHNNY HANDSOME by Walter Hill in your library. Then one day – you decide to put it on DVD – and you stick in your mint VHS print and transfer it to DVD giving us a blurry FULL SCREEN load of shit for our very own players! FOLKS! Get pissed, they’ve fucked over this title!
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Blu Ray)
I ordered this tonight. I don’t know if there’s a single extra on this edition, but just a great 1080p transfer of Tak Fujimoto’s brilliant cinematography and the DTS sound. Well, I’ll be happy. This is a brilliant film, immaculately put together, performed and ya know… I heard it won a buttload of Oscars too.
Next week we get MILK, PINOCCHIO (Blu Ray), RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS, TRANSPORTER 3, SOUTH PARK Season 12 (even on Blu Ray!), LET THE RIGHT ONE IN!!!!, HOWARD THE DUCK, ROLE MODELS, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, CADILLAC RECORDS, SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (Blu Ray), ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN, RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN, PRIMAL FEAR (Blu Ray), BATMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE Anthology (1989-1997), Max Fleischer’s GULLIVER’S TRAVELS (Blu-Ray), THE EXILE, STASH, THE BARON complete series, THIS JOINT IS JUMPIN’ and more! See you next week!
And in May:
“26 Major Avant Garde Films Never Before on Home Video! 27 artists from Bruce Baillie to Andy Warhol who worked outside the mainstream and redefined American cinema are collected in this stunning, five-hour set sampling an array of film types and styles. An array of film styles from animation to documentary are showcased in this collection of classics and rediscoveries, selected from five of the nation's foremost avant-garde film archives.
Featured Films include: "Here I Am" (Bruce Baillie), "Aleph" (Wallace Berman), "The Riddle of Lumen" (Stan Brakhage), "Eyewash" (Robert Breer), "Bridges-Go-Round" (Shirley Clarke), "By Night with Torch and Spear" (Joseph Cornell), "Peyote Queen" (Storm De Hirsch), "(nostalgia" (Hollis Frampton), "Fog Line" (Larry Gottheim), "Litlte Stabs at Happiness" (Ken Jacobs), "Hamfat Asar" (Lawrence Jordan), "I, an Actress (George Kuchar), "New Improved Institutional Quality" (Owen Land), "Necrology" (Standish Lawder), "Note to Patti" (Saul Levine), "The End" (Christopher Maclaine), "Notes on the Circus" (Jonas Mekas), "Go! Go! Go!" (Marie Menken), "The Off-Handed Jape... and How to Pull It Off" (Robert Nelson & William T. Wiley), "7362" (Pat O'Neill), "Chumlum" (Ron Rice), "Bad Burns" (Paul Sharits), "Odds & Ends" (Jane Conger Belson Shimane), "Film No. 3: Interwoven" (Chick Strand), "Mario Banana (No. 1)" (Andy Warhol)
Featuring newly recorded music by John Zorn, a 70-page book of program notes with a forward by Martin Scorsese, more than 200 interactive screens, and 2 postcards from the films.”
There’s stuff on here that will blow your mind and other things that you may find yourself hating passionately. But that is the nature of Avant Garde film. Great set!
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It could have be a great live-action flick with a little expansion.
One question though, where the fuck did they get that invisible plane?
It just kind of appeared out of nowhere without any explanation... -
Harry, let us know what you think of Australia once you've watched it. It's no Romeo and Juliet, but I actually quite enjoyed it.
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My brother has not read the comic book yet, and he wants to do so before the pic is out.. so which should i give him to read.. this motion thingy or the original comic book.. and, are any scenes from the comic book cut from this motion book?? Thanks!!!
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honestly, I'd always choose to introduce WATCHMEN via book form.
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my wife likes comic book movies - dark knight, spider-man etc. - but wont even consider reading any of the actual source materials. so the onyl way she will experience watchmen is cold to the whole plot and concept. am i best off leaving her at home big guy?
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Mar 03, 2009 5:43:50 AM CST
So the Walter Kovacs psychiatric plot isn't in Watchemen
by righteousbrother
Darn - that was my favorite chapter of the comic.
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i'll be broke after hitting the store to pick up milk,role models,rachel getting married,and synedoche,ny which i can't wait to see.now i'm on the fence with johnny handsome.the quality is crap but i don't have a copy i remeber seeing this movie at a young age it's one of my first mickey rourke memories
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I just added your dad on myspace and my god that man has lived quite a life.
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Sweet
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It's in, just abbreviated.
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It sure looks like it.
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Thanks H! You're alright.
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Phish and Watchmen... Yummy.
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Isn't it a little late in the game to be doing direct VHS transfers to DVD?
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Any word on the quality of those films? I was hoping they would be covered here.
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my wife and I watched WB's animated straight-to-DVD Wonder Woman, which is surprisingly great. Not good, folks, great. The 70-minute feature introduces you to Wonder Woman, shows you what she's about, and gives lots of great character moments plus an empowering message to young girls to boot. There are several wonderfully animated action scenes, but my favorite moment isn't an action scene at all. It's this moment wherein Wonder Woman confronts this American chick about needing a man to move a desk for her. I won't spoil what happens, but it's great. You also get to see Wonder Woman pound tequila like an Amazon.
As we watched the movie, my wife and I began to dream up a major Wonder Woman film in our heads. Anne Hathaway would obviously be choice one to play Wonder Woman. As for the director, I would love to see Quentin Tarantino direct it, but we all know this would never happen. Then I got to thinking, which director loves comic books, can direct movies with big action and special effects, and can present a powerful and beautiful warrior goddess in a big budget action film without exploiting her as being merely a sex object?
I thought about this for quite a while. Then when I remembered the fact that McG directed both Charlie's Angels movies, he loves comics (he almost directed a Superman film on two seperate occasions), plus the fact that the Terminator Salvation trailer looks awesome, he could certainly be the man for the job.
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Do you wait for the film in an advanced copy type thing, purchase the film, guess?
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as I really don't see the appeal in Scarlett Johansson. In fact, I don't see why women who have eyes that go in opposite directions (Johansson, Kate Bush, etc.) are considered hot. But then again, people thing pugs and chihuahuas are cute, too for similar reasons.
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Mar 03, 2009 7:23:09 AM CST
Augh did I say Kate Bush? I meant Kate Moss...
by shut the fuck up donny
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Harry, what happened to it?
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Mar 03, 2009 8:34:37 AM CST
Talkbackers!Does Anybody Know If The Watchmen Motion Comic Is Wo
by what the duck
Im a huge fan have the book. This looks very cool just want to know if anybody has seen it yet! Let Me know
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Harry do I purchase the Blu-ray or Netflix it ? Got the feeling this one is a keeper for the library. Guide me brother.
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There is a scene in the middle of the film that takes us out of the action for a moment, when Jean Claude addresses us directly. And it's such a raw, honest scene, it's hard to view Van Damme the same afterwards.
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I was just at Target and they had a Lambs blu-ray for $23.99 with a different cover but it was loaded with special features. Sadly the Criterion commentary isn't on there but I think it's just all the other special features from that last Lambs SE that came out on DVD a few years back.
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for around 2.5 years( was buying a couple a week) because of the soon to be/ presently released formats, so i've been saving money watching my movies via the mail-in Blockbuster Online... I still don't have a high definition tv but I do have a Ps3. I am probably going to buy Let The Right One In and let it be my first movie purchase in quite some time. The movie is special, man, and I don't really see another movie that is without a doubt worth the purchase as that one is.
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I would go there. Well, in slightly hyperbolic fashion. My cousin walked out after about an hour, and once I realized he wasn't coming back I sat there for the rest of the movie fuming because he hadn't made his intentions clear, or I would have gone with him instead of having to wait for the rest of the family for a ride.
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has always let me down.
http://tinyurl.com/pv8do -
Christ what the fuck. Why don't you promote Citizen Kane the audio book while you're at it?
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Is it just me, or is Amazon really, REALLY cheap for DVDs these days ? Serioulsy, there are some huge bargains there - I've built up my collection of Hammer movies for practically peanuts.
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I remember seeing that movie, I taped it on VHS when it premiered many, many moons ago. It was good to see Lazenby reprise his Bond role cheekily as "JB" who just happens to drive a heavily armed & gadgeted Aston Martin DB5. That chase in Vegas was pretty good for the TV movie. As I recall, there was a bit of controversy over the whole JB thing - not that it bothered Lazenby, he practically played the same part again a few months later in an episode of the Lee Van Cleef/Sho Koshugi ninja series "The Master".
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Mar 03, 2009 10:37:02 AM CST
You're gonna burn for this, Artisan! In Hell!
by the reluctant austinite
How many films have they done this to? I know I have a couple. Just transfering a full screen VHS copy is no better than selling a bootleg. They're just taking advantage of Micky Rourke's recent Oscar buzz to steal a few bucks. Shame!
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The Watchmen Motion Comic is really great. It's well done, has good music and the voice actor is good (just know that he does the female voices too, which is offputting for some but I didn't care at all.) But like Harry said it's all there, every word, every frame and it moves (somewhat.) I love it.
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I watched JCVD last night (you can rent it at blockbuster only until it comes out in late april I think) it was really, really good. The scene you mention skimn, is incredible, really long take and incredibly genuine emotion. I didn't know Van Damme had it in him!
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God gave you eyes. READ DAMN YOU READ!
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Mar 03, 2009 10:54:58 AM CST
Used to be a big Phish head, but have to really not care for the
by kinghenryviii
In the day, man, I would by every live CD I could find - the ones that are designed to eventually go into the giant Phish notebook / trapper keeper thing (still enjoy Hapmton Comes Alive just for Possum). But the jams they do .... not like the Dead where they take you out, you have fun, then bring ya back in again - or even like String Cheese (big love for SCI - still pissed about the break up). I actually think the dislike I have for them now comes from Trey - pompus cocky "It's all about me" attitude. Wanna hear something great, check out Mike Gordons stuff. Waaaaay better the Trey!
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Mar 03, 2009 10:55:46 AM CST
Star Trek Blu-Rays are a double dip and a ripoff Harry
by allpowerfulwizardofoz
These contain the theatrical versions of the films only and are missing commentary and other elements from their DVD counterparts.
An obvious set up for an eventual double dip by Paramount. So fuck the Star Trek blu ray set. Wait for the real release with all the trimmings and keep this one as a rental in your netflix que.
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...so I guess i have to buy this. Right?
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Is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcOdNc_seyM -
C'mon, Harry. The Village Barbershop won Audience Award at Cinequest last year! Where's your review of the DVD that dropped today???
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Its Johannson's role in Lost In Translation that made critics and producers notice her, the role of a middle aged man's fascination. The same role critics and producers continue to play. Woody find another blond muse. The woman can't act her way out of a paper sack, even with directions.
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when the most interesting things are Wonder Woman or a someone reading a comic book... buy used or not at all.
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And Ashes of Time Redux was wonderful.
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Not being a great actress. She was the weakest link in VickyChristinaBarcelona. Also, do not understand why a natural redhead would choose to be bleach blonde. I bet she totally shaved too. Don't these girl's understand some guys love RCH. On another note, I'm so over Woody Allen's obsession with infidelity. We get it Woody, you're an unfaithful person, you don't have to justify your character flaw in every movie you make.
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a role that did not rely on fashion and cleavage. I think she is being cast in, and accepting, roles that play more on her looks and glamour since then, which is a shame.Her performance in Lost In Translation was subtle and smooth, and I think Girl With A Pearl Earring and A Love Song For Bobby Long are two terrific showcases of her acting talent.You gotta put up with Travolta retreading his Bill Clinton vibe as Bobby Long, but it's worth it.
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She was actually good in Love Song for Bobby Long. Maybe she just needs a good director. Not saying that Woody isn't a good director, but many actors have said that he doesn't give them much directing and basically just let's them do their thing.
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The scene in VCB where Scarlett and Penelope got it on should have been hot as shit and yet it fell flat. What a wasted opportunity to make lesbian scene history.
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If someone doesn't know comics, there's no point in having them read Watchmen. To understand it's greatness, you have to first understand comics. It's a horrible book to use to introduce someone to that world.
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Not me. Johnny Dangerously....Johnny Mnemonic. Maybe.
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Early Uma
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Overall, it's okay. The story is weak. But there are some good set pieces, and most importantly, Baz captures some of the feel of an old school rousing Hollywood Epic Entertainmant. You'll probably get a kick out of it, Harry.
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it's gayer than Milk
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That movie was trash. Babe not so bad, but the sequel was God awful.
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I'd rather have the Jessica Alba collection.
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Johnny Handsome. Damn. I´ve been waiting quite some time. Artisan, pffffft.
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some good shrooms with the graphic novel and you are good to go.
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a dollar a chapter. You could preview one and see if you like it.
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I was thinking the same thing. If Chris Ware didn't do the packaging for the PHish box set, it is a great rip off.
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Mar 03, 2009 2:07:02 PM CST
Babe: Pig In The City Is a MASTERPIECE and I appreciate Harry sa
by fassbinder79
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George Miller's direction added alot.
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Mar 03, 2009 2:20:58 PM CST
** Harry: for your future review on GULLIVER'S TRAVELS **
by angry white baby
PLEASE let us know what the image quality is like. I heard Koch Entertainment took the full frame presentation and cropped it to 16:9 for the blu-ray. Even so, let us know how it looks and if it's worth buying. Now if they would just put out that wierd Japanese JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (1976) on blu-ray...
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any chance the watchmen motion comic might be included with the 3 hour directors cut blu ray set of the movie? - have you heard anything?
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one of hills best - my favorite hill movie - bronson bare knuckle ass kicking - the dvd is crap - full frame and piss poor pan and scan - in some scenes the actors arent even visible - theyre just out of frame to the left and right - pan then scan then center and lose the actors entirely
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I checked out the first Watchmen Motion Comic, but I asked myself what was the point. I already have the graphic novel, why would I need to poorly animated version of that.
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One that's actually anamorphic.
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Is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen. That's all I know. She is pure 100% sex on a stick. So that's her major selling point so far, so what? Ever heard of an obscure actress named Marilyn Monroe? That kind of killer sex appeal doesn't just come along every day, assholes. Yes, her movies are a mixed bag - she is fantastic in LOST IN TRANSLATION and MATCH POINT - but she will hit her target eventually with a career-defining role. Just wait and see. Meanwhile, I like watching her, so fuck you.
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That link is to an older version of the film (it's even got an Artisan logo on it). Isn't there a newer one coming out in May? I wish to got Lionsgate would give us good extras-packed versions of that, EXTREME PREJUDICE and MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON, all 16x9 encoded.
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She slept with everyone.
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Does it have the "Behind the Cape" sections?
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Agree with you about Trey, kind of. I'm sure a lot of his lame behavior was due to all the smack he was shooting. Hes supposedly clean now, with a brighter outlook on life. Their post 2000 shows were definitely not great. Hopefully, this reunion has them back on track.
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on her looks. She would not have been the most attractive girl in my high school and there are many B-level actresses much hotter than she is. She is probably only an 8.5 at best on a scale of 1 - 10. However, it is precisely because she is such a good actress that she can project a sensuality, intelligence, and vulnerability that I personally find attractive.
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That is all. I hate neohippies more than I hate hippies.
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Has dead, empty eyes. Is she even aware of what's going on around her? It just looks like nobody's home behind those pretty orbs.
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Amen, JimmyJoe. That P&S POS is horrible to look at. What a kick-ass film. Bronson, Coburn, Strother Martin. Great fight at the end. Nobody crafts a touh guy film like Walter Hill. The only REALLY bad thing he ever did was jack up the Warriors with that goofy Director's Cut a few years ago.
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Check out "Ghost World" and Coen Bros "The Man Who Wasn't There"
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Check out this video someone did using the Motion Comic to recreate the WATCHMEN trailer. Pretty cool stuff!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzeqJ0SXRHI
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And, uh, the movie isn't actually good. Have you seen it lately?
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Buy her collection, losers.
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I hated that damn movie. And I loved MOULIN ROUGE! and those actors, so it's not like I was biased against it. It's like PEARL HARBOR's retarded sister.
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Not a good DVD in all the list! ASHES OF TIME REDUX more like a ASS-ING WAST OF MY TIME! this movie was shit to begin with they should have burned all the copies of this turd.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON dose not deserve a Collection bitch hasn't mad enough good movies to put together in to a collection, and that cover art, shit they only use that kind of art for people who've died. Maybe it's a sign that it's finally over, thank god! -
I continue to be amazed by how many people give this disaster a pass. What set-pieces? The stampede scene with the sub video-game quality CGI? Or the final droving scene where there is no sense of clarity, just random shots of people riding horses. This should have been a no-brainer...any hack director in Hollywood could have made a passable film out of this story, especially for 130 million bucks, but Luhrmann seems to have lost of a few french fries off his meal. I'm glad to see there are other people who agree because down here in Oz every person I run into is like "Oh, I thought it was great. You're too fussy!" Well I lived through Bride Wars without a scratch, but Australia scarred me for life!
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im so glad i got the warriors dvd that came out years ago before the directors cut with the comic book overhaul - i actually bought that later version and hated it so much i gave it away - what was hill thinking - "the driver" is another great hill movie that you never hear much about - very tight little minimalist action movie - ryan oneal and bruce dern dont even have names in the movie - the detective and the driver - im also fond of "extreme prejudice" - kinda cheesy but in a good way - its like hill made a tarantino movie before tarantino
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The Clifford Ball artwork was done by Jim Pollock. He's been doing that style of art for Phish for 20+ years.
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very very slightly. I noticed it for the first time during chapter four, where the dialogue explaining why they couldn't shut down the IF field generator was missing. Plus, no supplemental features.
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It was better than I think a live action movie would have been. A movie now has no excuse to suck, this movie showed them EXACTLY how to make it right. It was a little short, but it did not feel rushed like New Frontiers. If this were live action, I think they'd only need to expand on the origin of the invisible jet (I assumed it was related to Trevor's jet) and probably more on Trevor's debriefing and the authorities of the world of Men. He'd have a lot of questions to answer for surviving the way he did, and as it is the stuff with the President in the movie feels disconnected from the world that Trevor and Diana are in. Besides all that, I'm wondering of Joss Whedon didn't do something with this script during those 2 years of nothing he spent working on the live action movie. Maybe just anything that comes out of Nathan Fillion's mouth will sound like Whedon, but there were lots of jokes that felt Whedon-ish. Of course Whedon's jokes can still fall masterfully flat (Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning?), so even then the voice acting and directing is outstanding. I really hope that DC tries this hard and is this successful when it finally gets off its ass with its movies. ************************ That is so Dionysus and NOT Hades in this movie. I know they call him Hades, give him Hades job, but they shamelessly drew Dionysus.
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Just picked up the 'Watchmen Animated Comic' DVD. Wasn't familiar with the book (film guy, not comic guy), but loved seeing it play out. Simple, but very well done. Inspiring for a budding animator. Extremely curious about the live-action film now. Definately worth picking up the Animated Comic.
*taking credit if the word catches on -
You want a good ol' dose of kickass Walter Hill, go for the region 2 edition released by Momentum Pictures on dvd under their "Take One" brand. It's bare bones, outside of a trailer, but it's got a great anamorphic transfer in 1.85:1. It's pretty cheap to pick up too, or at least it was when I imported it last year. If you can play r2 discs and like the movie as much as I do, then that's the one to go for. At least from the current versions available. Not Hill's, or Rourke's, best film, but still pretty damn good, and a really great supporting cast - Henriksen as a sleazy badass, Freeman back before he got bored and generic, Ellen Barkin in the midst of her career highpoint Down by Law/Big Easy/Sea of Love period, plus Elizabeth McGovern, Scott Wilson and Forest Whitaker all bringing their a-game as well. Definitely a must own in my books. I also recommend getting the r2 of Hill's under-appreciated action classic Extreme Prejudice, it's uncut and widescreen, and again, far superior to the version released on dvd in region 1.Damn it, Hill needs to start directing again. His films had something that modern so called action films sorely lack, and that's balls. Hard Times, The Driver, The Warriors, Southern Comfort, The Long Riders, Extreme Prejudice, 48 HRS, Streets of Fire, Johnny Handsome, Crossroads, Geronimo, that's one hell of a lineup of films. Even his lesser efforts like Red Heat, Another 48 HRS, Trespass, Wild Bill, and Last Man Standing are head and shoulders above most of the limp pg-13 action films that we see these days.
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Hits the nail on the head. I like how Baz usually treats Kidman (thus Moulin is in my top 5), and I do enjoy the hell out of Jackman.
Too bad, really... -
Just went to DVD Empire and saw the new reissue-- yep, it's full-frame. Fuck you, Lionsgate.
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Alas, it looks like the Take One Johnny Handsome is OOP -- and going for £30 new. Damn. Again, fuck you, Lionsgate.
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but then, this is the same jabbering jelly that shot goo over Phantom Menace and Cloverfield amongst other depressingly flat or goofily dumb movies..
Goofily dumb can be endearing..those examples are not -
But as an actress she dosn't do anything for me.nothing she's ever done has impressed me.i can't to this day understand what all the fuss was about for lost in translation
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I watched the first couple episodes of the motion comic and absolutely hated it. This is the most useless contrivance I've ever seen. The fill in art is horrid and Gibbons' natural flow of story is curtailed and maimed. It only serves to show how UNCINEMATIC this story really is. And please, don't let this be anyone's first exposure to Watchmen. This thing is wretched.
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There are a few lines missing here and there, also the appendices on the end of each chapter are gone. Of course Harry would know this if he actually paid attention to what he was reading/watching.
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I'm a HUGE fan of the character and this movie is missing a lot, which is funny since the JL series got her almost perfect, by the same creators. first off - she doesnt kill or condone killing, like batman or superman. so why does she stand by when Trevor is killing the guards? She gets her powers from the greek gods, so she's much more than a trained amazon warrior. She's supposed to have the power to fly so the invisible just is useless, and not even explained in this movie. I was so awaiting this film and it's not that great.
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"she doesn't kill or condone killing" -- sez who? she's a warrior woman from a society of warrior women. just because the Superfriends version doesn't kill, doesn't mean this version won't.
"She's supposed to to have the power to fly" -- sez who? They eventually gave her that power in the comics but that doesn't mean this version has that. And they consciously chose not to have her fly on her own. Cool with me.
"the invisible just (sic) is useless and not even explained"-- yeah, they did need to throw in a line explaining that. i went back to the commentary over that, and they just decided to gloss over that. still, a darned good movie.
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and it fucking kicked ass. I'm not kidding. I've seen a lot of shit lately and it was a breath of fresh air. I'm wondering if it's cool for my 5 yr old daughter? I think maybe most of it is- she's seen Iron Man and King Kong so I dunno. The movie rocks anyways, and regardless of violence, I can hardly wait to show it to her based on the strong female characters alone. Give me more kid's movies that have strong female protagonists instead of these fucking giggling consumer doll cartoons! I want my girl to want to be Wonder Woman, not a fucking Bratz doll!! Who's with me?!?!
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I dig a little what you are saying. They went with Old School WW which means she can't fucking fly. The jet came out of nowhere (though it was nice to see old school), which was a complaint of mine, another complaint of mine was that they went from the street fight in NY to some unknown location EXTREMELY abruptly, and that was pretty gay. Some of the shit in this movie felt like they had made it much longer, but some jerk used the short story technique to cut a lot of shit they thought was irrelevant, but the story needed some of the things they had cut.
For example, between the NY scene and the Ares army/temple sequence:
Pilot Feller: "Where's this belt from" Diana: "Well it's from the cult of Ares who live in the mountains of Afghanistan" Pilot: "What do you suggest we do?" Diana: "Beat their asses. Let's get in the jet."
Okay. Forgive my bullshit dialogue but I hope you get the picture. We needed a better transition than Pilot and Diana hiding behind some goddamn rocks.
About the killing? They are Amazons. It's fucking written in stone that every one of their legendary peers kills on a whim or they impersonate goats to fuck unwilling preteens, so I don't see a problem.
I dunno, Omar explained it shorter and better than I could. Anyways, Wonder Woman fucking rocked. -
funny , i will uploaded this to tall dating site ___Tallmingle.com___ to share with my best friends,especially the hot models.
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The current running WW series is a great take on the character, the JL cartoons were also great, the Messner-Loebs stuff in the 90's was phenomenal too, but my fave version is probably the "League on one", such a great graphic novel, I'd love to see that as a movie. as for this animated movie, it coulda been longer yeah, the idea of her getting her super-powers from the gods should've been elatorated on. she just seemed "super" all of the sudden without a real reason. I can dig the old school-no flying thing, sure. I guess I just prefer Timm's JL version of Diana more than this movie version. The voice, the naivete, and the raw power when she needs it...it was all there in those cartoons.
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She's a hottie, Harry.
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http://tiny.cc/OoYs8
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I must admit that I'm not that familiar with her as a comic book character but this movie convinced me that a live action version would kick serious ass. This movie had great action and wit to spare. They fit a lot into 75 minutes despite the fact that I wanted so much more after it was done. Great voice acting, too.
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saw it a few days ago. Quite lame. Lame as lame can be. Just a bad, bad story all around. I go into it in a bit more detail in Harry's WW review. Just couldn't stand it at all. Would never work as a movie. Wonder Woman needs a complete reimagining, imho.
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Rucka did a good version, of her as ambassador of Paradise Island. For some reason, I bought that. The movie is all emphasizing the "man vs woman" and "men are evil... well I guess they're not as bad as I thought" thing in a very ham-fisted manner.
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