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Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - Last Wk of April: Trek, X-men, naked Winslet, Mission Impossible, Cult stuff and More!!!
Hey folks, Harry here… a brief trip to L.A. delayed the column a tidbit, but here it is – as quickly as I could. There’s some nice items this week – as I hope you’ll notice. As usual, the images and title links will transport you quickly and quietly to Amazon where you can learn more and even purchase the titles in question, usually at a decent discount while also throwing a bit of the purchase price towards the continuation of this column… which I hope you enjoy. Here ya go…
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES – Season 1 (Blu Ray)
When HD-DVD was the rage that fueled my purchasing insanity – that it had the Original Series on HD… well it made me very happy. That said, this is clearly a superior product. Not in Image, but in content. The image is as far as I can tell – every bit as sharp and hot. But the HD DVD only gave us the new fangled special editions. Here on the Blu Ray – branched perfectly – you can angle switch from the original episodes and the new spruced up versions. Meaning, if you’re watching the classic original – and you want to see the new effects for a sequence you just watched, you can switch over, back up and there it is. VERY COOL. They’ve done a fantastic job with this set. Exactly what we Star Trek geeks have been clamoring for. Special Editions and Originals – in 1080p. Sweetness. And god, reviewing the first season really got me fired up for seeing JJ’s in IMAX soon!
X-MEN, Volume 1
In my opinion and a lot of yours as well… the best X-MEN cartoon has finally come to DVD in a proper release. Here’s what on Volume 1:
Disc 1
Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)
Night of the Sentinels (Part 2)
Enter Magneto
Deadly Reunions
Captive Hearts
Cold Vengeance
Slave Island
The Unstoppable Juggernaut
Disc 2
The Cure
Come The Apocalypse
Days Of Future Past (Part 1)
Days Of Future Past (Part 2)
The Final Decision
Till Death Do Us Part (Part 1)
Till Death Do Us Part (Part 2)
Whatever It Takes
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Marvel X-MEN Volume 2
Some day, we fans of X-MEN will hopefully get a reboot of X-MEN theatrically that actually endeavors to give us the films we all really have been clamoring for. That 5 part Phoenix Saga would be astonishing to watch adapted well. But at least we have this and our original issues to sate our desires. Here’s what is on Volume 2:
Disc 1
Red Dawn
Repo Man
X-Ternally Yours
Time Fugitives (Part 1)
Time Fugitives (Part 2)
A Rogue's Tale
Beauty & The Beast
Mojo Vision
Disc 2
Reunion (Part 1)
Reunion (Part 2)
Out of the Past (Part 1)
Out of the Past (Part 2)
The Phoenix Saga (Part 1): Sacrifice
The Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Dark Shroud
The Phoenix Saga (Part 3): Cry of the Banshee
The Phoenix Saga (Part 4): The Starjammers
The Phoenix Saga (Part 5): Child of Light
THE READER
A very strong film, not quite worthy of edging out some of the Best Picture nominees that should have been, but Kate is amazing in the film - and that isn't just because she's naked and awesomely hot and real. This is an erotic and disturbing story about a May / December romance between a young student and an ex-Concentration Camp guard for the women's area. It is disturbing material - make no doubt, but it is a compelling story. Kate's performance is worth purchasing all on its own. Wonderful film
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: The Sixth TV Season
I love this series so much. This season featured the oh my god hot Lynda Day George! But we also get Kirk in an episode! Yes, William Shatner is tricked into believing he’s traveled into his own gangster past! Also this season we have Joe Don Baker walking tall! The writing and the music are tops as always on the series. The cast is really really popping here – which is so strange. This was truly a show that got better season to season – and it started out great!
THE DA VINCI CODE (Blu Ray)
I’m not entirely fond of this film. It has a lot to like, but from everything I’ve heard – it is a very apt adaptation of the original book – which many say is lacking as well. But I’m looking forward to ANGELS & DEMONS and as such, I’ll pick this up today and check out the “extended edition” to get me back in that universe prior to checking out this new chapter of the story.
IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (Blu Ray) Criterion Collection)
Wow. If you’ve never seen Oshima’s IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES you’re in for an experience. Banned in its native country of Japan for a time, and still heavily censored, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES purports to tell us a true story of excessive erotic decay in pre-WWII Japan. Criterion has done an amazing job with the image on this Blu Ray release on the title. It tells the story of a man of some means in Japan. He’s married, but develops an affair with a servant woman that becomes all-consuming. The sex is graphic and perverse at times. And where it goes in the story is definitely not where many of you will be able to stomach. But… it happened. A true Adult erotic masterpiece. Something that is more often than naught – a rarety. Great job Criterion!
THE UNINVITED
Quint and Moriarty both dismiss this film. I disagree. It feels like a horror film for kids that are still reading NANCY DREW and HARDY BOYS books, but with a slight kink to it all. The film is about sisters. One had been in a sanitarium, after a tragic incident that took her mother’s life. She returns home with her memory still clouded and a sister to help navigate her way to a new mom and a sexually satisfied pops. I found the film oddly more adult than I was suspecting, but really it’s the type of film where sisters would sit in the bathtub together to have a private discussion of suspicions. In particular I like David Strathairn as the grieving in the bedsheets Dad.
MARTYRS
Ok – if THE UNINVITED is a tweeny horror – this. Well, I would personally double bill it with THE UNINVITED for kids all day long. Because THE UNINVITED is Nerf Horror. MARTYRS is similar in many ways. It plays with Traumatized surviving girls that grow up to seek retribution, but find themselves in the midst of something so incredibly fucked up that it has left many vomiting. Seriously. MARTYRS isn’t a “ferocious horror film” as the box states. It is brutal. It is hard to watch. However, it is also oddly and disturbingly beautiful. The film is twisted beyond much that I’ve seen. This is easily one of the most disturbing and horrifying films I’ve ever seen. It is more than most can take. Even those that purport to have iron stomachs for cinematic wrongness. Be thankful this isn’t on Blu Ray yet.
THE HIT Criterion Collection
Do you like a side of existentialism with your British gangster flicks? Well, look no further than THE HIT – a tremendous film by Stephen Frears starring John Hurt, Terrence Stamp, Jim Broadbent and the wonderful Laura del Sol! Criterion has again pulled out the treats for this much needed release. Here’s what you get: Commentary featuring director Stephen Frears and actors _John Hurt and Tim Roth_Parkinson One-to-One: Terence Stamp, a 1988 television interview with the actor_Original theatrical trailer_PLUS: A booklet featuring a new essay by film critic Graham Fuller
JCVD
The unheralded performance of JCVD is that of director Mabrouk El Mechri. I can’t really credit Jean-Claude Van Damme with the full credit for this performance, because I’ve seen all of his films – and he has never been so much as on the same continent of performance ability exhibited in this film. And Van Damme has had many talented directors trying to crack that thud that accompanies his dialogue. In JCVD, we’re shown a post-modern performance from Van Damme which is quite startling. Do not watch this if you just want to see him doing split kicks and high kicks. This isn’t the typical Van Brain Dammage spectacle. Instead, this is a vastly superior film. Purporting to be the real Van Damme. I don’t know much of anything about Mabrouk El Mechri, but he’s a director that we should keep our eye on. If he can get this performance out of Van Damme, imagine what he could do with a real actor. Highest possible recommendation!
JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN
Directed by Dalton Trumbo, the year I was born, comes one of the most brutal war stories you’ll see. A tale too often not told in the wake of war, but seen by the families that welcome home their injured loved ones. Timothy Bottoms plays a survivor of World War 1, who no longer has his arms or legs… but he’s also missing his eyes, ears, mouth and nose. This is an adaptation of Trumbo’s own brilliant anti-war novel of the same name – written in the 30s. This has been released outside of the U.S. for years – but is just now finding release here – and it is a worthy release. There’s a DALTON TRUMO feature length documentary. An interview of Timothy Bottoms. Metallica’s ONE video and the 1940 radio adaptation which starred JAMES CAGNEY! A great release.
JETSONS: THE MOVIE
Ok – confession time. This came out the year I graduated High School. Class of 89! Yup, it’s my 20th High School reunion this year. Jesus. Time flies. Anyway – believe it or not, I was really excited about this release that year. It wasn’t nearly as much anticipation as I had for BATMAN or HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS – but you see… It had Tiffany, and at the time – I had a schoolboy crush on Tiffany. And I had fun with it. Watching it today – it isn’t what it used to be in my brain. Instead, I see it as less than the series, but still amusing.
THE LOONEY, LOONEY, LOONEY BUGS BUNNY MOVIE
I was 9 when this compilation film came to theaters. The new animation was fun and the old animation is classic. I actually have a gorgeous 16mm print of this – and as a result after watching it, gave this to a friend with a 4 year old. And ya know what – that lil fella didn’t know who or what Bugs Bunny was! Holy shit! That’s possible? Now look, I’m gonna speak real serious like to all you parents out there. Please educate your children beyond Cartoon Network, Nick, Disney, etc. Pick this up, and raise your kids right. Bugs, Daffy and crew are necessary in the hearts, souls and dreams of every child. So… hop to it. Get this for the kid in your life!
WHILE SHE WAS OUT
Not a great film, but a really fun one. I love movies with Lukas Haas. He’s a fellow Austinite, grew up here in town around the same time as me, but I’ve loved following his career. Here he plays a thug bastard gang leader that’s out to ruin Kim Basinger’s Christmas Eve. The initial encounter was enough to cause Yoko to go to bed early, parking lot encounters are a major phobia of hers. So warning to you ladies with similar phobias – but let me tell you something… this is actually a crazy cool woman empowerment flick. Kim doesn’t pull a Clayton Williams, she’s tough, smart and resourceful. This is a superior, smaller film that is at times unbelievable, but in a very fun and entertaining way. You might have read Capone’s full review earlier this month, if so, you know this is one to catch!
THE SHE-BEAST
As a card carrying member of the Bava-Believers – I, of course, worship Barbara Steele. Here she plays the victim of an evil witch in 18th century Transylvania that captures our dearest newlywed. Her newfound hubby must team with a distant relative of Van Helsing to bring the She-Beast down. Love it!
THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND
Patrice Leconte is one of the great filmmakers out there making films. His GIRL ON THE BRIDGE is easily one of my favorite films I’ve seen in the 13 years AICN has been putting movies in front of my eyeballs. When you see a film like GIRL ON THE BRIDGE it makes you seek out the rest of the auteur’s work – and Leconte is indeed deserving of an auteur title. RIDICULE, PERFUME OF YVONNE, GIRL ON THE BRIDGE and this… all absolutely fantastic works. This one stars one of my fave foreign actors, Jean Rochefort. Leconte also has an amazing eye for wonderful actresses – and Anna Galiena is amazing. A fantastic release.
GLEN AND RANDA
I love post-apocalyptic cinema. This is a relatively unseen film, but it is actually quite an intriguing look at the time after the sky rains death. Glen and Randa are Post-Apocalyptic children… all grown up and searching for something. Glen finds a comic book and comes to believe that Metropolis is a real and true place – and Randa head off across the wastelands for their four-color Shangri-La. There is X-rated content here. But this isn’t your typical X-rated sort of work. Of note – Randa is played by Shelley Plimpton, mother of Martha Plimpton… who we all had a goofy crush on, right?
THE PERFUME OF YVONNE
This is the other great work of Patrice Leconte that is available this week. This is another just flat out hot films. Leconte has the capacity to just make you turned on. It isn’t a matter of showing a bit of nudity, but in how he catches intimacy with his lens. He has an amazing quality of intimacy in his films. Not because it is two characters in a room, but because there is something in their eyes, something in how they are with each other. Something that we recognize as being hot, real and most importantly… honesty! A superior film for mature minds.
WAR GODS COLLECTION ( SON OF SAMSON, HERO OF ROME, WAR GODS OF BABYLON, THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD, SON OF CLEOPATRA, INVINCIBLE GLADIATOR, WAR GODDESS, DAY THE EARTH FROZE )
A series of cheap moderately entertaining sword and sandal films from Italy – where in the wake of the American Sword & Sandal flicks – they sprung forth like Old Faithful. These are of varying levels of entertainment. Personally I like the third, fourth and fifth films most in this set, but there’s nothing particularly awesome about them. If you’re a fan of the genre, the $18 bucks for 8 films should be enough reason to pick them up. The picture quality isn’t amazing, it’s what you’d expect at this price range, but you do have a selection of “ok” sword and sandal flicks that most likely you’ve never seen.
British Cinema Volume 2 – Comedy Collection: OUR GIRL FRIDAY, DENTIST IN THE CHAIR, RUNAWAY BUS, CARRY ON ADMIRAL & TIME OF HIS LIFE
I don’t know about you, but I love late 50’s British comedies. There’s just something about the odd, weird characters that appeals to me. With a cast of folks like Joan Collins, Peggy Cummins, Frankie Howard, David Tomlinson – we have here a series of late fifties and one early sixties British comedies that are very simple, yet amusing comedies. These are neat little films with light-hearted premises and they are by no means the best of type. These are no where near the top of British humor. They’re just fun films. Not greatly memorable. But fun for the time in which you give them.
THE BOOBY HATCH
From John Russo, one of the guys behind NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD – and the principal fella behind the wretched loathsome turd bath that was the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD SPECIAL EDITION, comes THE BOOBY HATCH. It’s a light hearted forgettable sexual farce that isn’t really worth picking up, even as an antiquated piece of masturbatory material. It’s just lacking in every way. So you shouldn’t pick it up.
NAKED RASHOMON
I haven’t seen this. There’s no record of this 1972 film, but ya know. I’m curious as fuck. Plus this label has put out a lot of very fun, risqué material – I look forward to picking it up! Meanwhile – have any of you seen this yet?
COLD EYES OF FEAR
From the director of INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, comes COLD EYES OF FEAR… This is an Italian Giallo. Not one of the best, but an ok run at the genre. It has a very fun score by Morricone, but the real treat is the fun, keep ya guessing narratie of a giallo. For fans of the genre only.
SHIFTING SANDS
A Pre-DeMille Gloria Swanson – not quite ready for her close-up, however, I love silent cinema – and I try to pick up as much of it as possible. She sort of gives off a Mary Pickford like innocence, but doesn’t quite have that level of cuteness going for her. This is a propaganda silent film about a German blackmailing an American into helping those in the service of the Kaiser… back stateside. Pretty interesting silent really.
THE CHICK’S ABILITY
I’ve really enjoyed my education into the utter hotness that is Helena Ramos. Since working on this column, I’ve discovered three of her erotic escapades and this Brazilian hottie definitely scores high marks for being way fuckable. Here, she’s playing a gal with child that needs intense medical treatment and as the mother – she sells her body in a brothel to pay for the medical treatment necessary. This isn’t just an exploitation film – it is that, but it is more. Nice release, frankly.
MISTRESS OF ATLANTIS
This is the only other film, that I’ve ever seen the gorgeous, intriguing Brigette Helm aka Fritz Lang’s MARIA in. This is a very interesting early sound film – that has more than a passing resemblence to the work of H Rider Haggard. However, I’m ok with that. Mainly because I’m so fucking happy to see another film with Brigette Helm in it. Worth checking out, seriously!
SILENT ENEMY: An Epic Of The American Indian
While this is no NANOOK OF THE NORTH – this is a solid film about Native peoples of North America. Played out by an all Indian cast – and is a picture that truly seems to be authentic. I found it fascinating. If you’re in love with Indian culture, you might as well.
Next week is our first of May 2009, and as such we’ll be looking at BENJAMIN BUTTON, ENCHANTED APRIL, GREASE (Blu), Dexter 2nd season (Blu), Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict: Season 1, DOG SOLDIERS (Blu), FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (Blu), SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (Blu), Mythbusters: Collection 4, ROXANNE (Blu), WENDY AND LUCY, AMAZON (Blu), JOURNEY INTO AMAZING CAVES (Blu), CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA, RED CLIFF 2 (Blu), GIGANTOR: THE COLLECTION Vol 1, MUM AND DAD and more. See you next Tuesday…
Disc 1
Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)
Night of the Sentinels (Part 2)
Enter Magneto
Deadly Reunions
Captive Hearts
Cold Vengeance
Slave Island
The Unstoppable Juggernaut
Disc 2
The Cure
Come The Apocalypse
Days Of Future Past (Part 1)
Days Of Future Past (Part 2)
The Final Decision
Till Death Do Us Part (Part 1)
Till Death Do Us Part (Part 2)
Whatever It Takes
Disc 1
Red Dawn
Repo Man
X-Ternally Yours
Time Fugitives (Part 1)
Time Fugitives (Part 2)
A Rogue's Tale
Beauty & The Beast
Mojo Vision
Disc 2
Reunion (Part 1)
Reunion (Part 2)
Out of the Past (Part 1)
Out of the Past (Part 2)
The Phoenix Saga (Part 1): Sacrifice
The Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Dark Shroud
The Phoenix Saga (Part 3): Cry of the Banshee
The Phoenix Saga (Part 4): The Starjammers
The Phoenix Saga (Part 5): Child of Light
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+ Expand All
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criterion baby
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Time to get out more
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Do we get to see the same sex scene from several different perspectives? First-person from the guy's point of view, a wide shot, and of course the extreme close up.
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Apr 29, 2009 6:10:48 AM CDT
No Hotel For Dogs? I wanted to know your opinion about it.
by derlanghaarige
It's written by Bob Schooley & Mark McCorkle, who wrote Sky High and created Kim Possible. They are for me what Joss Whedon is for most others (in the positive sense), but I haven't seen this movie yet and don't know many people who saw it. All I know is that the folks at imdb hate it, because they have some personal problems with one of the kids actors (don't know who).
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Now that you have seen Martyrs do you still think Donkey Punch is disturbing?
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Apr 29, 2009 6:46:26 AM CDT
Or is "positive sense" right? Damn, my english sucks today.
by derlanghaarige
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Stop babbling inanities, man! I have no idea what you're talking about.
(Positive sense is fine, HerrLanghaarige). -
is easily the most disgusting and fucked up film i think i've ever seen and i really don't mean that in a good way. It really is revolting.
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tries to draw out the cranks in the talkbacks. That's the only explanation I can think for his comment about showing Martyrs to children. I wouldn't show that one to most adults, even if they have a penchant for sick shit.
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running that is basically one big giant cut and past from Amazon? I'm serious? Can I not do a freedom of information request here? Any chance to check the income generated on this column in your yearly financial report?
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I should be in fucking bed, but some cunt has flooded my cabin. That explains the crankyness.
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Yep. I got me the box set and it's georgeous. Wonderful 1080p goodness. The yanks here have to wait anothe couple of weeks which is odd, but the Trek movies with the original cast is superior BD entertainment.
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Oh, and I really, really like 'The Da Vinci Code.' I'm that ONE who thinks it's underrated!
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but for Atheists.
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both gorgeous and scary at the same time. I fell in love with her and she gave me a lot of nightmares as a kid.
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...the penis. Thanks Harry.
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Torture porn at it's worst/best.
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MOVIE X - "Now, I know this movie has a mostly-naked woman on the cover and a title like A LITTLE LUST, but, seriously, there's so much going on here that's so much more than a half-baked Skinemax porno. This has passion, drama, pathos and a two-hour titty show. Seriously, it's got depth. Really. Honest. And French/Italian actress Mariona Vanderskunk is a talent the likes of which will never be seen on this Earth again, and her tits. No, really! It's a real, legitimate movie!" Every week!
Oh, and Doctor - HOTEL FOR DOGS is fun. I'm kinda surprised Harry did not review it. I thought it was quite entertaining - and recommend it for no other reason than to convince AICNers to relax a little and have some fun with a movie that's not a FILLLLLLM. -
... is an unpleasant mess that can't decide what it wants to say and meanders for hours over the same material. Repetition isn't a test for the viewer - it's just repetition. I got the point of the movie after the first couple of minutes of torture. There's much to be said for efforts at immersive storytelling in movies, but MARTYRS is flat-out torture porn and there's no reason to watch it except if you get a thrill out of that. I don't. It didn't shock or upset me - it just annoyed me, because I hate seeing horror turned ihto the exact criticism people levy against it - "It's nothing but wall to wall violence with no point."
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...but she was a customer at my video store in NYC and she was a drunken pig, and a waste of space. Seriously, she was a dreadful person.
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Just release the entire season or series and be done with it. This whole Volume One shit is just obvious milking and for some reason they do it most with cartoon box sets.
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I have hung out with Martha Plimpton on several occasions in NYC and think she is wonderful and quite lovely. Tough to judge a girl based on seeing her drunk in a video store, no?
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Watched this last night and was very plesantly surprised. Harry mentioned it in a column a couple weeks ago and I added it to que. Really cool flick for monster movie horror fans with great effects and genuinely creepy stuff. A bit too much of the shaky cam during creature attacks but still well worth getting.
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you and Yoko gonna sit down and watch Booby Hatch together?
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The producers seemed to work hard to keep it under wraps, but it's a remake of 'Tale of Two Sister'. He really should see the original if he hasn't already.
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about the post apocalyptic film? it sounds kinda interesting and has some x ratedness and comic books to boot? What's the story here, any good>?
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Keep up the good work!!!
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The scenes dealing with the history and mysteries of the movie worked for me; I found the action sequences a bit flat and everything in between came off as filler. I enjoyed the book more. To me it had a more consistent pacing than the film.
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It gets a lot of hate around here, and I can see the whole Forrest Gump thing, but that doesn't really bother me, it's still a really good movie, hummingbird not withstanding.
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The greatest cartoon and some of the best times of my life, X-Men the animated series has been released!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK YES!!!
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A movie that should be showed in every school in America. Fucking great. Nice release too with the Metallica video and the documentary. I saw Trumbo off-broadway in NYC and it was excellent as well.
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How come that one hasn't been found on the island yet?
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The French horror-makers are starting to make the Japanese look
like normal, well-adjusted people.....if nothing else, the film's last 25 minutes makes it unique in splatterfest annals...I thought the film's villains aren't all that different from the aliens in '2001'...dispassionatley, randomly putting a human being through a transcending, metaphysical journey....glorified fanboys like Tarantino and Roth should simper in admiration...because at least the looney Frenchmen who concocted this movie and "Inside" aren't
merely fueling their own fevered
wet dreams....they're the real deal...profoundly sick bastards who've got the courage of their own warped convictions.
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Zoomed in on Amazon and it's Freats.
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look it all that garbage
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and a pretty lame one at that..
shameful...he aint no geek, just a slob. -
Of course when Harry says X rated content he means X rated by 1971 standards so don't get too excited think Midnight Cowboy X rated
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You've got to admire Harry's commitment, he actually watched all that shit in this week's column.
Rather you than me bro. -
If I'd directed "The Grifters," I'd change my name too. Just kidding. But seriously, that's a big-time fuckup, especially considering it's from Criterion. Oops.
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July 6, 1990. Dumb ass.
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never heard of it before, but I like post-apocalyptic movies. Will check it out. And I always wanted to see Johnny Got His Gun because of the Metallica video.
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So nobody who works on this site reads books? Just reads comics and watches movies? So Harry never read DaVinci Code. Not a big deal but it makes him sound like a moron when saying things like "I heard it was not like the story" or "from what readers of the story say..." And someone like Moriarty I think posted shit on Game of Thrones for HBO saying "I hear it is like a fantasy story with adult themes." Can you sound any dumber? No movie has ever been better than the book it was based on. Just read once in a while. And not a comic. Something with a bit more to it. Sheesh. How dumb do you want to sound?
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on the cover of The She-Beast?
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What an awesome film, with an awesome performance by JCVD. I can't believe Harry just tried to discredit Van Damme for his acting in this film, even saying he's no real actor. The whole film relies on Van Damme's performance, without it, the film would be an average thriller. Van Dammes personal investment and his beautifully honest performance elevate this film in to stratosphere. Well if you ask me, Van Dammes acting was second only to Mickey Rourke's in The Wrestler last year. And by not that big of a margin. And why? Because JCVD's story is more personal for Van Damme than The Wrestler was for Rourke. It's a much braver performance, but acting-wise it requires less skill. Im not trying to discredit the director in any way here though, he did a great job with Van Damme, but apart from that and the opening scene, he did nothing really special with this film.
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Apr 29, 2009 12:03:18 PM CDT
"No movie has ever been better than the book it was based on."
by big jim
I disagree. It is rare but it happens. Two I can think of off the top of my head are The Godfather and Forrest Gump. Speaking of books made into movies, any news about The Road? A teaser, a trailer, a release date, something, anything?
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Harry, we all love this column, but some of your pics are definitely NotSafeForWork. Any chance you could make two posts? The first one would be for film geeks, who appreciate quality cinema. The second will be for professional masturbators who are looking for new material to watch when they spew into tissues. Thanks for considering.
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with A Game of Thrones, and I can see how many probably won't bother reading it before seeing the movie as it is something of a weighty tome. It does require a certain amount of commitment to find the time to get through. But The Da Vinci Code is light reading. I blew through it in less than a week. His earlier stuff is even easier. Deception Point and Digital Fortress made me realize that Dan Brown is the John Grisham of the Tom Clancy novel.
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I would also add Fight Club to the list. I fucking love the movie, but the writing style of the book annoyed the shit out of me.
And maybe Lord Of The Rings, but this is a very complicated topic, because I don't like about the books what made them popular. (The overlong and unbelievable detalied descriptions of middle earth. It just hurts the pacing of the story when it's interrupted by 5 pages full of how a tree looks like.) -
Thanks a lot, Harry.
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Not 89.
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I second "Fight Club" and also add "Jaws". The book was good, but the movie is better simply by making the 3 men friends instead of somewhat adversarial. Hooper was a bastard in the book. Also "Silence of the Lambs" was better as a movie, I thought. But yeah, it is a very rare phenomenon.
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Apr 29, 2009 12:49:59 PM CDT
disregarding Harry's undeserved belittling of VanDamme
by t 1000 xp professional
let's celebrate something really big, fellas.X-Men finally freaking came out. A joyous week already. Now, that's a release.
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I always preferred "The Secret of NIMH" to the dull "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." That book was such a disappointment (in 4th grade). The crazy thing was I remember the film edition of the novel that had images from the movie of scenes that didn't even happen in the book! Also, I honestly preferred the movie version of "The English Patient" over the novel.
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Blade Runner
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...sometimes I don't even know who you are anymore.
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...and a couple of the movies are watchable.
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...I think bad books are perfect for film adaptation...it's adaptations of great books that almost always disappoint (with notable exceptions).
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Its 90 minutes of the rape scene told from each perspective. That's all. No murder, no trial. Just rape. My guess anyway.
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jetsons meet the flintstones which came out in '87 i think. btw, it's a better movie that they recycled some storylines from for the later jetsons movie.
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Like I said, it's a complicated topic and I know that my opinion is definitely not the most popular and kinda feels like hating Hitchcock for his ability to build up suspenseful movies, which is why I definitely won't fight for it.
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It would make a great double feature with Idaho Transfer. There's full frontal nudity in Glen and Randa but it is just the two of them innocently frolicking around naked. The end is a little weak but it is still a worthy watch.
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and would make an awesome double-bill with THE LIMEY.
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yet Coppola got TWO awesome films from it. Ron Howard took a mediocre yet insanely profitable thriller and filmed it as a mediocre yet insanely...you get the idea.
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Apr 29, 2009 2:23:25 PM CDT
DerLanghaarige, you make a good point about Lord of the Rings
by big jim
I recently re-read The Hobbit and found the pacing very frustrating. Like Lord of the Rings, it has beautiful flowery prose but the story does at times get bogged down by it.Jack Burton, I agree about Jaws (haven't read Fight Club). The Hooper/Ellen affair in the book is too Primetime Soap for me.P.S. That Wolverine pop-up is really pissing me off. I think I'll wait until next week to go see it just for spite.
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It seems slow in general for DVD titles.
See our edgy web comedy at http://www.koldcast.tv/video/forked_up
have a look sometime
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Yet again, Harry drops an E.
Noooo! What? Yeeeeees!Titter ye not missus, etc etc etc. -
maybe Harry meant he attented his last year of school during the 89-90 season and thats why he said graduating class of 89. granted that would make him a graduate of the 1990 class but hey we all make mistakes and math is evil anyway.
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Two of the titles "The Magic Voyage of Sinbad" and "The Day the Earth Froze" are big budget Russian fantasy films from the 1950's. The versions released in the US where edited and dubbed like the majority of imported films for general distribution. Since anything associated with USSR was considered anti-American they were credited as Finnish or European productions.
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I had no idea David Bowie was in an Italian horror film.
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I remember when it came out, some theater chain was saying you get a free cool Jetsons toy if you see the movie. I wanted that toy so bad, but when we went to see it they were all out! So pissed, still am, I need a cool Jetsons toy.
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Probably means that he really doesn't care about dogs. That movie is the equivalent to a puppy mill. Its such a horrible worthless thing that everyone involved should go to jail for being neglectful money grubbing whores. I can't believe anyone likes Marley and Me? Was it that Life Comes At you Fast 10 minute montage? Or the fact that they try to make you give a shit about the dog in the last 10 minutes while throughout the rest of the movie you gave less of a shit about the dog then the career minded owners did? Also we were reminded 100 times what great reporters they were, for reports they didn't seem to question anything in their life. When told about her mis carriage they just sat there like, OH OK I don't really care why the doctors are being all awkward. Also how old was that dog when he died? 40? Seriously yeah the main characters didn't age one bit, too bad no one told that to the set designer, like at the start of the movie you see a news room full of Apple TGS's, half way through you see like some IBM's towards the end you got those fancy new Apples and Vista? Added on top of the fucking most overused dog gag repeated 50 times. So its no wonder why Harry wouldn't see a fun dog movie doing something sort of different with dogs, he likes his movies to be made of crap and aborted babies. God I hate Marley and Me, but what gets me the most is that the writer of that book is laughing his ass all the way to the bank just for being a lazy pet owner.
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I found the main difference between the movie and the novel to be the tone. There was a real element of charm about the novel that didn't find its way to the screen with this one. Ron Howard's movie was a lot more gloomy and dark. I wouldn't describe this as "a very apt adaptation" (as Harry puts it). It was certainly faithful plot-wise, but the atmosphere was unpalatably cheerless. That said, the film did have its moments. And the French locations were cool. The dark atmosphere of the first film will be more "apt" for the second film, ANGELS&DEMONS, I think.
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One of the worst movies ever made. I'm sorry the book sucked but its one of those unfilmable books. Literally in the book there is only like 20 minutes of action in the whole thing and then hundreds of pages of history lesson. This film is right behind Marley and Me in how terrible it is. The first time I saw a Tom Hanks film I didn't like.
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His writing style sucks. Every perilous situation that is meant to have a little cliff hanger is written as;
Robert was stuck in the well with no hopeful means of escape and it was filling up fast. Little did he know that he would get the miracle he was hoping for....
Thats just terrible writing. I used to get hit for writing like that. -
Exploitation films more often than not are just trash, seems to be more and more working their way into this column.
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It turns out her sister is really Bruce Willis.
Seriously though: this film is retarded. It pulls the whole "they were a ghost all along" sham. The problem, though, is that when they reveal the sister is a ghost most of the events of the film don't make any sense.So how do they get around this? They do a flashback montage (ala 6th sense).....and completely change all the events that happened retrospectively. For example: originally we see a girl try to stab her step-mum, only to have the knife taken from her. The girls sister then sneaks up and stabs the step-mum in the back. In the flashback, though, the girl just grabs the damn knife and stabs her step-mum. Since when are u allowed to change what's already happened in a film just to suit a shitty last minute plot twist? The directors try to pull the whole "the girl was crazy and probably hallucinating shtick", but geez, u cant jst show a viewer something than pretend it never happened.
Also: not a single attractive set of breasts revealed in the whole damn thing.
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I've loved the movie since I first saw it on TV as a teenager in the early 90's, and I didn't read the book until much later, but I thnk both versions are very strong. The one thing that bugs the hell out of me about the book was...if Mrs. Brisby was so determined to find a way to save her son, Timothy, from leaving their home and catching pneumonia...then WHY IS HE SITTING OUTSIDE THE HOUSE when the rats of NIMH arrive to move it?! Yeah. he's all bundled up against the cold, but, why didn't they just do that and avoid half of the book's plot? The movie's ending is SO much more dramtic and emotionally satisfying and LOGICAL (albiet with a "magic" stone that's not adequately explained).
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It may be a disturbing film. It may be a fun film. Frankly, I'll never know.....because I've read Harry's write-up 5 times over and still can't understand the damn thing
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Great to see X-Men get a mention Harry. I grew up with cartoon and its still a classic. Sits alongside the animated Batman series as the greatest comic-book based animated series ever (prbly the only 2 that ever took the source material semi-seriously)
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I love how the press freaked out about the CG.
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Sort of, at the dollar theater. It smells like a zoo in there.
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http://tinyurl.com/dyaw9q Oh, and anyone who thinks that the "new" Jetsons are anything other than unwatchable crap is an ignorant douche.
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All I see here is ads for smut.
Bale be praised--T:S in less than a month -
...and every young man should be so lucky.
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HELL FUCKING YES
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and super-hot at that...
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JCVD was AWFUL! I can't believe I sat through that garbage, in the theater no less. It makes the EASIEST jokes about Hollywood and Van Damme, it's full of ridiculous expository dialogue, and more than that, it is boring as all hell. Just a putrid, putrid film that should be avoided at all costs. It was also one of the ugliest films of the year with terrible cinematography, AND they don't even bring up that huge goiter on Van Damme's forehead. Fuck that movie.
And Kate Winslet looks like a dude. Any guy who gets off on her needs to find out if they are indeed a repressed homosexual. I can't think of anything more unappealing than that zitted linebacker. -
Finaly the day has come!!!I've wanted to see this since i was 8 years old growing up watching the video for one.Jason Robards was such a great actor
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or maybe dude you're from bizarro planet where all girls look like guys, because if there's anyone that does NOT look like a guy it's Winslet. God knows we've seen enough of her (geddit?) in enough movies to know that you don't get those curves and boobs on guys. And there's the talent, and intelligence. And I'm not counting the fashion shoots where she doesn't even look like herself and that one in particular where they photoshopped the curves off her body (and forgot to also take them out of her reflection in the mirror).
But hey. Maybe it's true she looks like a 'dude', - and maybe you're conflicted as much about her as what constitutes a 'dude'... and what's with this phobia about zits and goiters (& you don't get them on foreheads btw)?!
O.K. I'm just pissing about. But really man. WTF?! If you were talking some androgynous thing like Tilda Swinton you might have a point... -
squirting really far?
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This is dead now, but it needs to be hollered anyway - Martyrs is NOT torture porn. It's quite clearly set up as, if anything, an interrogation of torture porn (which i don't believe exists, but i know what you're talkin about, so...) - there's a reason Laughier has called it the anti-Hostel. more words on it - mondoirlando.com/words.html But yes. If it's derivative of anything, it's The Passion of Joan of Arc - certainly nothing that Aja or Roth have crafted.
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