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Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 4th wk of May - Harlan Ellison, True Romance, Saturday Mornings, Costner & more!!
Hey folks, Harry here on Twitter and here giving you my weekly DVD PEEKS & PICKS! There are some fun items on the column this week, with my very favorite being first. As usual, you can click on the boxart or the title – and your computer screen will whisk you to Amazon where you can learn more on the title in question or you can purchase the item, which would be throwing a penance of the price to help support this column’s best efforts. Without further bs, let’s close out May for 2009…
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
HARLAN ELLISON: DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH
Harlan Ellison is one of the friends I’ve made in this life that had amazed me, all my life, until I saw this documentary – then, it all kinda made sense. Harlan is brilliant, cantankerous and is never ever afraid to speak his mind – and this documentary shows the man, warts and all – but celebrates that we have such a man amongst us. For everyone that loves him, hates him and especially those that don’t yet know him… This documentary is amazing because it captures one of the world’s most passionate men this world has ever conjured. My highest recommendation of the week!
TRUE ROMANCE
My very favorite Tony Scott film – and one of the best Tarantino screenplays ever. I love TRUE ROMANCE, I remember going to see it with my sister. She had a crush, like all little girls did at that time, on Christian Slater… and after many miserable experiences, I went into TRUE ROMANCE with no fore-knowledge of what it was going to be. Shocked the fuck out of me. I love this film. And now… well now we this fantastic edition with 3 commentaries. 1 with Christian and Patricia. 1 with Tony Scott and 1 with Quentin. It’s a pretty full disc and looks great!
POWDER BLUE
This isn’t a very good movie. It has a lot of talent. But there’s only one reason to buy this film on Blu Ray and that’s because it is the first time every that Jessica Biel has the exact costume that a lot of you pervs have been waiting for. And man, that’s one helluva costume.
MEGA SHARK VS. GIANT OCTOPUS
Because this shit is the kinda funky shitty shit that makes me giggle at the astonishing shittiness of it all. As retarded as that trailer was, it can not touch the blissfully terribleness of the full travesty. But you know what it is? It is MEGA SHARK VS GIANT OCTOPUS. And it delivers on the title, though little else.
THE SKY CRAWLERS
The first Mamoru Oshii film that just left me completely cold. Don’t get me wrong, it is absolutely stunning to watch. The aerial plane animation is jaw-dropping and the story is compelling, but I like the pieces more than the whole. Am I glad I own it? Yeah, I am, I just wish it was more consistently awesome.
CHILDREN OF MEN (Blu Ray)
An absolutely great science fiction film that is a technical marvel that doesn’t wear it on its shoulders. Invisible effects – all the more amazing by the clarity of Blu Ray. Watched this earlier last night and I’m really impressed by how much it still plays like it did the very first time. I still find myself surprised and amazed by it. Every bit as beautiful as the HD DVD.
THE UNIVERSE: THE COMPLETE SEASON Three
In addition to all the other brilliance – this season contains “SEX IN SPACE” – which is something we’ve all been wondering about. Seriously – we need to know how things work in space. I don’t know about you, but I love THE HISTORY CHANNEL and this is one of my favorite series on there. A must get for geeks like me.
SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS: 1960s Vol. 1
There’s a lot on this set that I had never seen before. I’ve seen an episode or more of pretty much all these series, but not these particular episodes. You get quite a few things, but let’s just let you know what is exactly on here:
Disc #1
TOP CAT - The Tycoon (Also on the Complete series DVD set)
ATOM ANT SHOW with PRECIOUS PUP & HILLBILLY BEARS - Up & Atom / Precious Jewels / Woodpecked
THE PETER POTAMUS SHOW with BREEZLY and SNEEZLY & YIPPEE, YAPPEE and YAHOOEY - Fe-Fi-Fo Fun / All Riot on the Northern front / The Volunteers
SECRET SQUIRREL SHOW with SQUIDDLEY DIDDLY & WINSOME WITCH - Sub Swiper / Way Out Squiddly / Prince of a Pup
THE FLINTSTONES - The Happy Household (Also on the seasonal DVD sets)
THE PORKY PIG SHOW - Often An Orphan/Mice Follies/The Super Snooper (Daffy Duck)
THE QUICK DRAW McGRAW SHOW with SNOOPER AND BLABBER & AUGIE DOGIE - Dynamite Fright/Outer Space Case/Growing Growing Gone
Disc #2
THE JETSONS - Rosey The Robot (Also on the season 1 DVD set)
MARINE BOY - Battle To Save The World {Anime}
SPACE GHOST/DINO BOY SHOW - The Heat Thing / The Worm / Zorak (also on the complete series DVD set)
HERCULOIDS - The Beaked People / The Raider Apes
FRANKENSTEIN JR. AND THE IMPOSSIBLES - The Shocking Electric Monster / The Bibbler / The Spinner
THE MAGILLA GORILLA SHOW with PUNKIN PUSS & RICOCHET RABBIT - Gridiron Gorilla / Small Change / Atchison, Topica and San Jose (Also on the complete series DVD set)
Bonus Materials:
THE QUCK DRAW McGRAW SHOW (with SNOOPER AND BLABBER and AUGIE DOGIE) - Dough Nutty / El Kabong Was Wrong / Gem Jam
Bonus Documentaries on QUICK DRAW McGRAW, MAGILLA GORILLA, FRANKENSTEIN JR. and THE IMPOSSIBLES.
SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS: 1970’s Vol. 1
Now this is what I grew up with… at least the Hanna Barbera side of my childhood. It is a sampling of their Saturday Morning slate in the Seventies. There’s some crazy memories boxed up here – and here’s some of it:
Disc #1
THE JETSONS - The Space Car (also on season 1 DVD set)
THE BATMAN TARZAN ADVENTURE HOUR
HONG KONG PHOONEY (also on complete series DVD set)
GOOBER AND THE GHOST CHASERS
SPEED BUGGY
WHEELIE AND THE CHOPPER BUNCH
Disc #2
YOGI'S GANG
AMAZING CHAN AND THE CHAN CLAN
ROMAN HOLIDAYS
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (also on season 1 DVD set)
THE NEW SCOOBY DOO MOVIES (also on a Best-Of DVD set)
FUNKY PHANTOM
Bonus Documentaries on THE FUNKY PHANTOM, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS and THE CHAN CLAN.
ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (Blu Ray)
I don’t hate this film. But I’m not really a fan. I think a lot of my problems with the film stem originally from the way Kevin Costner belittled the brilliant Errol Flynn version. He really pissed me off with that. I kinda can’t help but like the aspects of it that I like, because they’re inherent to the basic Robin Hood story… but the cast gives me hives. I haven’t seen this disc yet, so I can’t comment on the Extended Version yet, but I am picking it up today.
LAND OF THE LOST: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Ok. This rules. First off – you get the complete series in an authentic pressed metal LAND OF THE LOST lunchbox. That’s cool. Then you get this crazy off it’s ass series. I’m about halfway through the first season and it just gets weirder and weirder. So far my favorite crazy episode is this one where they meet an old civil war coot that’s mining giant jewels in this cave. He has an old cannon on big wheels that he uses to fight off the Sleestaks – but my favorite is this. The Daddy Marshall is telling his kids that the civil war guy has been eating mushrooms – and there’s some mushrooms that can make you see and do things that you wouldn’t otherwise see or do. It was hilarious. This show had funky effects, surreal family dynamics and Wah Chang designs! And I have to say, I’m very curious to see how this latest film adapts all this lunacy.
FIELD OF DREAMS (Blu Ray)
Great Great film. Great image and sound. FIELD OF DREAMS. Part of my graduation year, now 20 years ago. It is hard to believe it was that long ago, but not when you look at Ray Liotta’s Shoeless Joe Jackson. My god. He’s like 14 looking. You know what makes this movie for me? It’s James Earl Jones once he’s watching the game in the cornfield. He’s got that impossibly warm smile, his eyes shining like halogens. It is genius. This is a warm blanket movie. Great to have on Blu Ray!
SEABISCUIT (Blu Ray)
Directed by Gary Ross – this is a wonderful film and a wonderful story. And there’s a part of me that wonders when Jeff Bridges is gonna play Henry Ford. Or one of the other big Auto guys. Cuz he’s played 2 now. And I’ll always prefer the fetishistically wonderful TUCKER to this, but this film is a testament to the unlikely amazing story of a horse and a rider that both defied all logic, but were still the best! Lovely film on Blu Ray.
ZABRISKIE POINT
Ok – This movie is wonderfully bizarre, erotic and strange. Did I mention bizarre? Honestly – this is a film that should be given the Criterion treatment. Also God, I’d love this on Blu. However, whether you’re interested in purchasing this film or not – there’s something you have to click on the box or title for. That’s Gary Fike’s story about being a part of this film – which is in the user review section.
FALLING DOWN (Blu Ray)
A damn fine film from Joel Schumacher. One that is never more than it needs to be. This isn’t the outlandish Schumacher. This is a very good filmmaker at play. I just wish that Joel was consistent. Bad filmmaker or Good filmmaker – just be consistent so I know beyond any doubt how to govern my expectations. So I can stop guessing. Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall are both great in this film. I’m still not real sure why this has a book edition. I flipped through it, it’s very nicely done, but still strange.
CINDERELLA MAN (Blu Ray)
I love this flick. This and Seabiscuit are very similar stories set in the Depression Era – and I prefer this story. I really love Russell Crowe’s Jim Braddock. I love his story, I love Paul Giamatti – I love the look and the production design. I love everything about this movie. It’s one of the great sport stories and is gorgeous on this disc!
MARK OF THE WITCH / DEVIL TIMES FIVE
MARK OF THE WITCH is forgettable shit. DEVIL TIMES FIVE is fantastic! I saw this on 35mm at the Alamo Drafthouse and man, they don’t make psycho kid flicks like this anymore. It’s a film about people in the middle of nowhere dying – badly… via kids. It’s a whole lot of fun – and especially useful if raising psychopaths!
THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE
I love James Cagney in comedies and as a romantic lead. I can’t help but think he’s gonna smash something in the gal’s face, but he hardly ever does. But here, he’s just funny. And so is Olivia de Havilland, which I didn’t expect. When I heard about this movie, I expected her to be the “Straight” to Cagney’s antics, but they’re equally adept at the chuckles and guffaws. Also look for Superman! The one Ben Affleck played!
Euro-Western Double Feature: THE FIGHTING FISTS OF SHANGHAI JOE / ANY GUN CAN PLAY
So much better than SHANGHAI NOON. –In some ways it is actually funnier, but I just love how mean this film kinda gets. And Klaus Kinski as Scalper Jack? GENIUS and what about that song, “CHIN CHIN CHINAMAN”? This Spaghetti Western is pretty darn sweet, despite the sour parts. I can’t vouch for the second film, didn’t watch it.
That completes May in terms of DVDs. Next week we’ll kick off June with Season 4 of WEEDS & PRISON BREAK. FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVEN CHILDREN COMPLETE (Blu Ray), DEFIANCE, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, THE GRADUATE (Blu), GLORY (Blu), AIR FORCE ONE (Blu), INSIDE MAN (Blu), ROAD HOUSE (Blu), TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (Blu), THE JETSONS: SEASON 2, UNE FEMME MARIEE, FLETCH (Blu), ANACONDA (Blu), BRUCE ALMIGHTY (Blu), THE LEGEND OF THE BLOOD CASTLE, SHINOBI NO MONO Vol 4, TENDER MERCIES, THE SWEET PUSSYCATS, DIRECT CONTACT, ROLLERBALL (Blu), PUNK ROCK/PLEASURE PALACE, RETARDEAD, DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG and much more…
Disc #1
TOP CAT - The Tycoon (Also on the Complete series DVD set)
ATOM ANT SHOW with PRECIOUS PUP & HILLBILLY BEARS - Up & Atom / Precious Jewels / Woodpecked
THE PETER POTAMUS SHOW with BREEZLY and SNEEZLY & YIPPEE, YAPPEE and YAHOOEY - Fe-Fi-Fo Fun / All Riot on the Northern front / The Volunteers
SECRET SQUIRREL SHOW with SQUIDDLEY DIDDLY & WINSOME WITCH - Sub Swiper / Way Out Squiddly / Prince of a Pup
THE FLINTSTONES - The Happy Household (Also on the seasonal DVD sets)
THE PORKY PIG SHOW - Often An Orphan/Mice Follies/The Super Snooper (Daffy Duck)
THE QUICK DRAW McGRAW SHOW with SNOOPER AND BLABBER & AUGIE DOGIE - Dynamite Fright/Outer Space Case/Growing Growing Gone
Disc #2
THE JETSONS - Rosey The Robot (Also on the season 1 DVD set)
MARINE BOY - Battle To Save The World {Anime}
SPACE GHOST/DINO BOY SHOW - The Heat Thing / The Worm / Zorak (also on the complete series DVD set)
HERCULOIDS - The Beaked People / The Raider Apes
FRANKENSTEIN JR. AND THE IMPOSSIBLES - The Shocking Electric Monster / The Bibbler / The Spinner
THE MAGILLA GORILLA SHOW with PUNKIN PUSS & RICOCHET RABBIT - Gridiron Gorilla / Small Change / Atchison, Topica and San Jose (Also on the complete series DVD set)
Bonus Materials:
THE QUCK DRAW McGRAW SHOW (with SNOOPER AND BLABBER and AUGIE DOGIE) - Dough Nutty / El Kabong Was Wrong / Gem Jam
Bonus Documentaries on QUICK DRAW McGRAW, MAGILLA GORILLA, FRANKENSTEIN JR. and THE IMPOSSIBLES.
Disc #1
THE JETSONS - The Space Car (also on season 1 DVD set)
THE BATMAN TARZAN ADVENTURE HOUR
HONG KONG PHOONEY (also on complete series DVD set)
GOOBER AND THE GHOST CHASERS
SPEED BUGGY
WHEELIE AND THE CHOPPER BUNCH
Disc #2
YOGI'S GANG
AMAZING CHAN AND THE CHAN CLAN
ROMAN HOLIDAYS
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (also on season 1 DVD set)
THE NEW SCOOBY DOO MOVIES (also on a Best-Of DVD set)
FUNKY PHANTOM
Bonus Documentaries on THE FUNKY PHANTOM, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS and THE CHAN CLAN.
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+ Expand All
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Bale be praised
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THAT WE GET TO SEE BIEL'S BARE ASS, THAT KIND OF SHIT CAN TURN EVEN A BAD MOVIE INTO A 100% AWESOME ONE
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In ten years, this will be seen as a much more important movie than is realized today. It's better than your brains can yet comprehend.
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I supremely regret skipping it when it was in theaters
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I think Sky Crawlers is supposed to leave you cold... explanation in an AICN Anime review going online this afternoon.
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Is hands down the greatest film I have ever seen. The scene in the car is one quite possibly the greatest set piece of all time.
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I just watched Mamoru Oshii's Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade last night
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The movie tries to be provocative, but stays toothless over its whole runtime. (Wow, he ocmplains that burgers never look like in the ads and protects himself against a street gang and a Neo Nazi.) And as soon as the police man shows up, they seriously start to paint everything by numbers. Although I love the scene where the kid shows him how to use the Bazooka.
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Anyone know what Ellison pitched for the first Trek movie back in the late 70s?
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..."pull my finger" children of men talkbacker.
It was a great movie to see in the theater and holds up nicely over repeated viewings. -
It started off compellingly, being about an ordinary man angry at society. You could really feel his rage. But that last Act of the movie ruins everything by force-feeding the audience an explanation that Michael Douglas' character is simply a psychotic nut case. The film is handsomely directed, but ultimately the makers of this movie didn't have the balls to portray anger for anger's sake.
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Wonderful film that I loathe because of the portrayal of Max Baer Sr. I got the feeling they made him an unlikable, cocky showboat that got his rocks off by beating men to death in the ring because they needed a cheap "bad guy" for Jim Braddock to fight at the end, thinking we wouldn't root for him otherwise. You know, because a good man trying to raise his family in the depression era isn't enough conflict.
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Sad but true.
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It's Rocky, but with a horse!
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Go the distance!
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May 26, 2009 10:05:01 AM CDT
Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus sucks
by i_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looking_for
All the hilarious bits are in the trailer.
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Did Sarah Jessica Parker get an Oscar for this?
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is one of my all-time favourite movies. And the scene where he hoes back to 1972 to meet Burt Lancaster is all kinds of awesome. Great, great movie, truly magical.
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Pull my finger.
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are on the old DVD special edition too.
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...but I was hoping for Mighty Man and Yuck!
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What are you some nutjob? Anger for anger's sake? Yeah why get to the root of anger. Let's just kill shit. Fuck you.
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Offensive movie in many ways.
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May 26, 2009 10:30:58 AM CDT
I can't wait to get those 70's Saturday Morning Cartoons!
by the reluctant austinite
There looks to be a treasure trove of obscure gems from my childhood in there! Funky Phantom and Goober and the Ghost Chasers were just Scooby Doo knock-offs (like Jabber Jaw and Captain Caveman), but I can't wait to see them again. I esspecially loved the Filmation Tarzan show and I hope there is at least one full episode in this set.
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James Cameron is doing a Q&A screening of his personal 70mm prints of Aliens and The Abyss on 29th May (this Friday) - any chance of some coverage?
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I thought it was a great film too until the climax which indicates Douglas' character was already a violent nutjob before his breakdown. It doesn't have the guts to let a normal man just lose it in modern society. It was likely afriad of being blamed for copycat meltdowns. By backing down in the third act, the film loses all of its power.
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Fuck. At least it isn't a photoshopped floating-head deal, but come on. The shot they picked looks sloppy.
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Yeah maybe you guys are right. Fuck it.
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Not really. I revere the man. I was just surprised that some other fanboy-hater hadn't said it yet.
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On the Sundance channel: regardless of his hyperbolic claims of having come up with every sci-fi concept in the last half-century, he's obviously hugely influential and entertaining on his own. The only problem is that he made friends with Robin Williams, who provides about eight minutes of forgettable, annoying commentary and schtick.
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It's been 3 days since i saw T4 and im still angry at how awful it was.
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from now on in any action movie when you see a long take ignore the little soul patch wearing douchebag who tries to be clever and says he was referencing hitchock's rope. no. every director on the planet WISHES they had the giant fucking plump cojones of one alfonso cuaron.
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Sure, Harlan's a bit of a drama queen, but take him out of the history of sci fi for the last half century and there would be a very different landscape indeed (including his instrumental role in keeping the original Trek alive, see his "City on the Edge of Forever" book). Hugely influential? You betcha.
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the dude's ego is out of control. it is. seriously. he's just insufferable now, clever or no.
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you've been robbed
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All Biel. All the time. "Retardead". I laughed. It's funny.
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Children of Men was probably the last time I left a theater in awe. Now, I seem to walk out numb. Fuck Hollywood and their bullshit.
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That's "Children of Men." The action sequences are breathtaking and brutal. The vision of a truly nightmarish, endlessly thought-provoking future is unforgettable. And the film has an emotional pull to boot. You're not just rooting for individual characters. You're pulling for humanity itself.
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As mentioned before, all the best bits are in the trailer. Save your time and money.
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A sci-fi action movie that has the flat-out balls to do everything it can to tell the fucking story and tell it through movement. It's a significant achievement purely in dramatic terms, it packs an emotional punch and the offhand technical genius on display is so good it doesn't sink in some time later, because you're with the characters, not with empty spectacle. The likes of Mr Sommers, McGinty, Cohen, Bay and the others should be sat down and made to watch this on repeat until they get the message and quietly, but absolutely, retire from moviemaking.
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Another of the few movies that were better than the book. Don't get me wrong, I thought the book was quite good, but the movie is exceptional. I have to disagree about Falling Down wussing out at the end. The film does need some explanation as to why this man did what he did while everyone else doesn't. Sure, they may cheer for him in the beginning because he does what so many have wanted to do but never did. But they never did it because they know you can't act like that. Standing up for the little guy, not taking society's bullshit, is how he starts out, but it is a fine line between crusader and vigilante.
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A batshit egomaniac, certainly, but a genius. I remember reading a review of his on OUTLAND years ago: merciless in his destruction of the movie and in the legion of dumb choices it made and bad science it displayed.
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They are all RIGHT. I think that CHILDREN OF MEN is definitely one of the best Hollywood studio movies of the decade, and muted critical and box-office reception must have been devastating for everyone who worked on such a dynamite film. I cannot believe that we've not had a film from Cuaron since - Jesus, even another Harry Potter would have been good, and he should certainly have seen his star rise like Del Toro's...
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"that makes me giggle at the astonishing shittiness of it all." This from a man who claims he doesn't get the humor of MST3000.
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...it came out...it just smelled like reheated lukewarm leftovers from a meal you really didn't like that much in the first place. Finally saw it out of some sort of sense of duty and loved it. And that's what I have to say a bout that.
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Am I the only one who thinks that the grumpy 'ol man Michael Douglas looks like the main character in Up?
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Tried watching it three times. Ended up fast-forwarding through it the first time and the second and turned it off the third. But yeah, there was some handheld stuff in it... And I loved fast-forwarding over the "baby in the battle" scene. Hilarious shit.
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Were some of the best ensemble line up of cartoons ever put to programming...
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TRUE ROMANCE is a fucking masterpiece, man. instead of making most of the shit they make today, just keep re-releasing that fucker, it is fucking ace.
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The movie (and only movie) that made me actually think of Bronson Pinchot as an actor...don't forget the stoner Brad Pitt (the seed of the idea behind Pineapple Express) scenes.
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for the an upcoming Star Trek sequel.
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Both box-office failures in their time. Both made under $40 million at North American box office. Both are pop masterpieces.
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On the plus side, I get to save a bit of money... Besides, the purchase of AC:Complete next week will easily make up for it.
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It's the same design as the original VHS box... not as cool as the special edition DVD design they did later, but still... it's the "classic" design, hard to go wrong with.
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...they are directed by someone else.
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"Oh, who the fuck is dick" One of five funniest lines ever. True Romance has got to be one of the most quotable movies ever. "Is this White Boy day?"
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Care to explain why Seabiscuit was an "offensive film in many ways"? I'm actually really curious...
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I'm the Anti-Christ. You've got me in a vendetta kind of mood. I want you to tell the Angels in Heaven that you never saw evil so singularly personified as in the face of the man who killed you." Classic QT. Walken and Hopper ... of the great scenes of the '90s.
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Walken and Hopper ... one of the great scenes of the '90s.
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I'll never have his gift, but he showed me how someone as out of control as I can be, can control the words I put on the page. And, as great a fiction writer as he is, he's even better with essays, reviews, and memoirs. And, if you catch him in the right mood, he's a great, generous, guy who'll encourage your writing. Of course, if you catch him at the wrong moment he'll call you an asshole and rant (as he did the first time I spoke with him). The five minutes of ranting was worth the 35 years of pleasure he's given me. Though he really does not to announce that he has given up on "The Last Dangerous Visions."
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fucking lack of edit function. Harry, give us edit!
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I heart TRUE ROMANCE.
However don't know if I'm bothered about upgrading to a Blu Ray copy, the whole film's got such a wonderfully smoky visual look to it that Blu clarity might actually work against it.
Anyone actually seen it can comment? -
May 26, 2009 1:55:56 PM CDT
when it comes to the movie Falling Down a friend of mine thinks.
by castaway
it is the most unintentionally funny movie ever. He still thought it was a well-made movie but still found himself laughing his ass off throughout the whole affair. He'll never forgive Schumacher for the shitstorm that was Batman and Robin, but then again that friend of mine was never a big fan of the Bat anyway. I also can't wait to see that Harlan Ellison documentary. I only know a little bit about him.
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Well my main problem with the film (other than it being maudlin tripe)is that it is historically and intellectually dishonest. The film strains at every point to nail home the myth that Seabiscuit and the three men in the film were some sort of underdog, came-from-nothing, populist heroes triumphing against the blue blood East Coast banking establishment. Hardly. Since when is being a successful jockey, a rancher, and an autmobile tycoon a recipe for an underdog story? Only in the director's revisionist mind perhaps. The film does very little to show the true victims of the Depression and the real heroes that arose from one of the darkest periods in American history, and in that respect it does a disservice to the will and strength of the actual "common man."
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Harry, you left something out there. It should read-
"but the cast gives me hives.Except for ALAN FUCKING RICKMAN that is." -
Please stop berating Harry!
by FATHER GEEK Sep 7th, 1998
09:21:47 AM Greetings geeks! Father Geek here. I would just like everyone to know that these Readers Forums are for serious use only. Please stop abusing the privelege. When Harry gets his new authentification software next week, you're all fucked (pardon my French). Thanks and enjoy! Father Geek
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But it's not a bad film. And "movie of the decade", definetly it ain't! Only some aicn talkbackers would claim CoM to be it. Now, True Romance is a great film!!!!
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Falling Down does fade in the end, not because they portray "D-Fens" as an already cracked pot that just tips over the edge (they simply portray him as a guy with anger management issues... he's still very sympathetic to the last scene), but because they choose to focus on the adventures of the World's Most Boring Cop. All of his backstory adds little to the ending and, as much as I love Robert Duvall, detracts from the overall movie. Sure they could've gone further with the "normal guy taking revenge on an unfair world", but the movie was already bordering on parody. Any more ethnic stereotypes and the movie would've broken out in to a Mel Brooks musical number.
Prince of Thieves is unwatchable crap outside of the Rickman.
And Mega Shark was practically made for DIY MST3k. The fact that Harry is still in a snit because MST made fun of This Island Earth is so sad. Any real film geek should be able to laugh at the ridiculousness of bad cinema. In fact, MST should be shown as part of the curriculum in film school. I learned so much about the art and history of moviemaking (both what and more often what not to do) from watching that show it's hilarious that some people (not just Harry) can't get past the fact that they're mocking old, frequently bad movies that they hold dear. -
Christ, the Matt Dillon scenes were more convincing in "Crash". Michael Douglas put in a fine performance but, the safeness of most scenes was stultifying and somewhat mawkish.And, the Keystone Cops-like drug dealers made me laugh my ass off.
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...than the TV show. They wrote the film for the people who saw it as kids and are now in their 30s. Very fucking funny. I hope they don't cut out all the 'adult themed' humor, or it will suck. So much better than the horrible commercials suggest.
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I think in years to come it'll be the film that ages better than anything else released this decade. I wouldn't be surprised to see it become the BLADE RUNNER of our day. It'll be a film that filmmakers appreciate more than audiences.
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What, no love for Rourke, Gordon-Levitt and Lane?
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THE most underappreciated film in the history of cinema.
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It's true it's true it's true it's true. Coulda been great, but the ending sucked. Motherfucking chickens.
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Did you read "Deathbird Stories"? I think you might get something good out of that.Ellison's prose “…reads like an 11 year old has written it…"? Don't think many 11 year olds are as sensitive to the intricacies of sentence construction or with a vocabulary as extensive and detailed as Ellison. Not to mention that his ideas are now considered standard tropes for SF, even if they are no longer considered 'dangerous'. A hack? Nosir, not in the least. I believe that statement is absolutely arse about face. And at the very least he gave us Dan Simmons and the "Hyperion" series.
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And you can't go wrong w/ a documentary on the Funky Phantom(TM) despite itself. I'm there.
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Everything about that movie was just awesome. And Brad Pitt's stoner impression was the best one in cinema history. I will definitely pick this up on Blu Ray.
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I'm really fucking sick of people shitting on him. He's responsible for Lost Boys, Falling Down, and 8mm, and people hate him because of the two Batman movies. Yet, as he tells it, he was coerced into making toy movies by the studios. It's amazing how many people are unaware of how little control some directors have over their movies in mid-production.
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May 26, 2009 5:15:23 PM CDT
Anybody know what Harlan Ellison thinks of the new STAR TREK mov
by snapt
I'd pay to read a book about that.
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Yeah I like it but it def. peters out towards the end(he said 'peter')that is true. Kevin Costner's Robbing Hood was a disappointment back in '91, don't see much reason to see it again. I liked both Sea Buscuit and Cinderella Man, though I'd say sod both and go watch Lonestar again.
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You know it's true.
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i don't think harlan wants to take a trip into the mind fuck again!
As to the earlier posters query re: ellison's 70s script (or outline) for Star Trek before the abomination of The Motionless picture. As I recall, it was supposed to be this massive, expensive, brilliant things having to do with changes to the primordial ooze know as us, and how moments of history were either being changed (or didn't exist at all!) from what i remember this was around the time of von danican and his stupid chariots of the gods nonsense (which also obviously influenced glen larson and his original (?) BG. The suit harlan was talking to wanted Mayans to be put in there and as ellison patienctly explained that there were no Mayans at the dawn of time, the guy just keep yammering about how cool it would be. So a potentially dynamite script was halted by yet another overpaid bean-counter (which keeps happening which is why for every Ron Moore, you get Ortiz-Kurtzman or the ding-dongs who produced the star gate shows.... -
how can i say i would let her piss in my face without sounding creepy or perverted?Oh well call me crazy..
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I know a lot of you guys love Romance, but it never did anything for me. To me, it was way to obvious that it was a geek-boys escapist fantasy - movie/comic book geek gets how girlfriend, rescues her ala Travis Bickle/Taxi Driver style, then goes to Hollywood and sells a bunch of coke to big shot Hollywood producer while impressing him with your ability to analyze his films.
Yeah, that could happen. -
There, I said it. You watch Qts own films and they feel so mercilessly outdated due to the direction, the art direction, the so very 90s feel of things.
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I agree, the script for True Romance is really sad in a lot of ways, very very lonely and masturbatory. But I think great dialogue plus that cast (the first real James Gandolfini moment!) elevates it. Wish it had kept the original ending though.
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I will say I understand why people love it. Great dialogue, some really great scenes (Walken/Hopper is a classic), some great characters (Pitt's pothead is a classic even if he is only in it for a couple of minutes) but the artificial nature of it is just to obvious for me. I prefer the gangsters of Reservoir Dogs who are authentic tough guys than the posing of Christian Slater's character.
I also agree that the original ending was better in the script. -
I've never embraced TR even though I've enjoyed watching it the 2-3 times I've run across the film. I think it's an entertaining hodgepodge of scenes, but the overall story is pretty shallow and forgettable. It's not "shit" for the reasons you've cited. But the actors really elevated the material- especially Walken and Oldman.
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Can we just get the full series of Quickdraw McGraw? Is that too much to ask? I've pretty much given up on ever seeing Count Duckula get the full series treatment stateside, but at least they're not putting random cartoons from that series on compilation sets and then waving them in our faces like these Saturday Morning Cartoon sets are!
Dammit! -
Say what you want about his often abrasive personality, but the man is a fucking brilliant writer and I consider myself fortunate for having read some of his work.
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That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. It's really hard to believe that we've got one more year before people will start creating their "best of the decade" lists. Holy shit time IS relative!
Damn you Einstein! -
The movie has no action beats, no moments of melodrama, no outward displays at all really besides JEJ's opening outburst. That said the movie is beyond enganging, even mesmerizing. Costner's generally inhibited low-key acting worked perfectly with such a shy, introverted character. Great understated acting all around... contrast that to today's constant mugging and histronics. Also when accepting a Hugo award for CotEoF, the only thing Ellison said at the podium was "Don't let the bastards re-write you" while glaring solely at Roddenberry in the crowd. Roddenberry re-wrote EVERY ST script, not for dramatic reasons, but just to collect a percentage of the writing royalties. Essentially stealing it out of the writers pockets. This lead to the exit of Trek's best writers like John D.F. Black, Gene Coon, and D.C. Fontana, who could not, take Roddenberry's stealing anymore.
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so that the story fit with his Trek universe. That's not fucking hard to understand.
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Probably the most important sci-fi film of the last ten years. In the future people will be watching it as a potrait of our current time and the climate we were facing
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YES!!! She almost won the OSCAR for Seabiscuit. OMG I laughed SO hard at that one.
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Did Harry just call US pervs?
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gary oldman was awesome in this film!!! a brit playing a white guy pretending to be black. amazing. i love this film so much michael rappaport looks good in it.
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..but that's probably because it's the best directed and acted Tarantino-scripted movie.
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...because I don't remember it being anything special.
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Then you know fuck all about film. It's strange how Clive Owen's career went downhill after 'Children Of men'.
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Another classic example of why I fucking hate dvd. I've had this movie for like close to 6 years now on DVD. Did it really need a new version? Is their any point to this new one? Why do they do this shit. Also when is Sly's directors cut Rambo ever going to happen?
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May 26, 2009 11:04:39 PM CDT
"I know I'm pretty...but I ain't as pretty as a pair o' titties!
by nasty in the pasty
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Nice try, troll
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Ellison is your fanboy god!!!! I wanna see this doc!!!!
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You phone your home number by accident...And to your surprise you answer yourself.... Have you ever been this incredibly inventive for a character study?
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It would have been funnier if you used "Bastard_From_A_Basket"
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None of the stories he ever wrote resemble James Cameron's The Terminator in any way at all! I have read them and there is virtually zero similarities. If any of you can prove it otherwise show me proof!! His threat of lawsuit is bullshit, Cameron should have told him to go fuck his own mother. Harlan Ellison has threatened to sue many different people in the past in the hopes that they would get scared and settle. He has never actually won, or went through a real lawsuit. This is not a good person IMHO.
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That show is awesome!!! Reading the talkback and checking out the article at the same time.... Forget Lost. I'm getting my hands on that 3rd season
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written by Ellison... The man was far more prolific than some may know
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Outer Limits.... Big influence on James Cameron, Stephen King, a few others....
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Ellison was the Editor in Chief on the anthology... He only wrote one story in it... Like a say far more prolific than some know
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Architects of Fear.. For the Watchmen... Book or film
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You play with Dragon's Balls....fucking children
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Harlan Ellison claims that James Cameron borrowed ideas from his Outer Limits screenplay of "Soldier" and "Demon With A Glass Hand." I have read both of these and can say with 100% certainty that NOT A SINGLE THING WAS BORROWED BY JAMES CAMERON FOR THE TERMINATOR!!!! You guys keep writing all this bullshit, show me proof!! What exactly was in The Terminator that was in those 2 works by Ellison? If you can't show proof, then shut the fuck up and fuck off from this board! This man threatens to sue for bullshit constantly and hopes for a settlement. Someone should take his fake ass to court for real and see what happens. He has never actually went through with any of his lawsuits.
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This is a good read, right on the money:
http://www.entertainmentbuff.com/terminator-ripoff/
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I wanted to like it but there was nothing there just people running around pretending to be in the future.
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Because the premise of a soldier going back in time... Go look up a court docket if you need proof
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May 27, 2009 12:47:00 AM CDT
Prisoners of Gravity.....find it on youtube or something
by darthsaul666
Starlog magazine was prime witness
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The 70's cartoons were pure shit compared to the 60's. Space Ghost and the Herculoids fucking rule.
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But that was an off shoot of some 60's solo cartoons.... But still, The Superfriends rocked
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The internet has proliferated many opinions....doesn't mean that they are informed.....
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That show is the best, awesomest, most informing show about reality. I highly recommend it!!!
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Harry immortalized was totally awesome!!!!!
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You are a liar. Ellison never actually sued James Cameron. He threatened to sue and Cameron settle out of court. You spread misinformation. Just because a soldier, in "Soldier," travels through time, it's not a good enough reason to sue. "Soldier" has nothing to do with "The Terminator" at all! Next you're going to tell me that Harlan Ellison invented time travel? Right?
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Maybe you should go read "Soldier" and "Demon With A Glass Hand" like I have! Then you can tell me exactly what Cameron borrowed! I cannot for the life of me find any similarities at all! Not even something small!
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FANTASTIC download. It even made my Internet connection faster and sped up all of my other downloads... ahem....I mean, it allowed me to steal food from the mouths of children faster while I atrophied (by osmosis or some other magic devised by lawyers) the muscles of movie studio executives as they strained to begin their new day of hard labor. Nah, I'm a fan. Great heroes are flawed. Truly great heroes are fucking batshit insane and out of touch. And I will be BUYING this DVD like all the other schmucks who "didn't need the internets before.. why would I need 'em now?". Ellison is a genius. And when he's not busy doing that, he's entertaining as hell. He just thinks copyright came down from heaven on the wings of angels instead of how we really got around to it. (you know, stuff like wanting to ensure only certain people were able to print using printing presses) But I digress.
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I ended up picking up True Romance and Falling Down today. I haven't really seen these movies in at least a decade so these were still a little fresh for me. I thought Falling Down was pretty good. Unlike some here, I don't think it fell apart in the third act. The scenes with his ex-wife throughout the film made it clear that D-FENS was known to have a bad temper. I'm with 100Proof, the movie does suffer because of Robert Duvall's character, but less because he is a boring cop, but more because he is afflicted by two of the worst movie cop cliches: a cop having a really bad last day on the force and the desk jockey making good. These cliches are much better played in Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, respectively.True Romance was more of a favorite of my brother's, but it is still pretty good. I agree with QT though, the ending in the movie make more sense giving the film Tony Scott shot, but it did touch on one of the more interesting conflicts of the movie, whether Alabama actually loves Clarence, or whether she was just using him to get out of the situation she was in. To be honest, Christian Slater often has that "Sucker" look on his face.
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james cameron was willing to take it to court, but hemdale was not so they settled out of court and ellison got his name on the credits. and you know what ellison? FUCK YOU cause Chris Marker made La Jetee before you wrote demon with a glass hand, and you know yourself you rip shit off from obscure sources, you said so yourself in the intro to gaiman's sandman.
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you don't know shit. too many times you raved about mediocre transfers. go to bluray.com for proper reviews.
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sad that they dont exist anymore..tragic really. but these discs only give you one or 2 saturday mornings no?
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Jesus FUCK I give you proof of docket and you still cry like a pack off whiney assholes like they fucked up a Jem movie......Fuck U To quote Pantera"FUCK YOU ALL..... Like I said once, I'm a recovering X3 plant..... you fucking children...JC admited to ripping off HE in a SL transcript and HE won the fucking suit!!!!!....I ask, why HE is good????? HE was doing shit 30 years before it was cool ( u watch BABALON 5) you faggot dumasses...(you wanna insult toe to toe with me... I have a fucking team of collaborators waiting to go to work) .....why look at me for answers..........you douche fuck!!! after the cleaning, Shit fucking sakes you pack of fucking fanboys.....like Kiss "I sure know something" but you suck too much for me too share!!!
Keep your mouth shout until there is a dick in front of it -
... I'll fuckin kill ya man
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If you not into that................................................yoo maybe you are dummer than
you let on -
I watched it back in the early 70s, and I remember not a whole lot of it other than the bad assedness of sleestak.
I watched some of the memorial day marathon, and there was a good deal of sleestack religion, time travel madness, cultural comparison and big picture teasing than I remembered. It suffered by being done in the 70s on a soundstage for sure, but I was shocked at how much good stuff could be pulled out of it. The Will Farrell movie will be played for nostalgic laughs, but there is a lot that could be salvaged.
Also, the kid who plays the older brother is doing a simultaneous impression of Luke and Han. It's crazy. -
May 27, 2009 7:26:03 AM CDT
I miss Ellisons Crazed Rantings in the early days of the Sci-FI
by fireclown
Early on, they would have these short segments where Ellison would go on and on about some thing, like how he had told his family to burn all of his unfinished manuscripts when he dies.
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I always figured there was a little 'I Have No Mouth...' involved in the copyright issue (you know, superpowers turn over control of all their weapons to a massive supercomputer who instantly wacks all of humanity). I remember when I saw T1 on video and 'We gratefully acknowledge the works of Harlan Ellison' had been added to the credits - figured that was about the extent of the action.
Big fan of Harlan who has really maintained his creative edge his entire career (even though his crankiness has escalated).
Got to get Dreams into my queue. -
Hey Harry!
I definitely agree with you on your reviews of pretty much every single Movie you mentioned here that I too have seen (True Romance, Children of Men, Cinderella Man, Sea Biscuit & Field of Dreams...hell even the Land of The Lost series! Loved that as a little kid! :) )
Although I DO have to take "issue" with the bit about Harlan Ellison..sorry, but I totally disagree..yeah he is an excellent writer, but I was so fucking sick and tired of his rantings and ravings and just all around dick-headedness back when he was on the old Sci Fi channel and did his op/ed commentary pieces (Not sure if a lot of you guys remember when Sci Fi was actually a decent network to watch back in the day..there was a Sci Fi show that was pretty cool to watch because it was dedicated to the fans/geeks out there who loved all things sci-fi/fantasy and it had a very cool cheesy fun vibe to it too...I miss that show tremendously (the name escapes me right now)
The guy just seemed like a raging prick with nothing good to say and was always downing the Sci Fi genre and the fans too
You make call in "cantankerous"? I call call it petty and rude...and disappointing...kind of like when I met Ray Harryhausen in person as a little kid at a sci fi convention and asked him for his autograph and a question about stop motion animation...he was incredibly rude to me and I never forgot it either
Just my humble opinion -
May 27, 2009 10:47:10 AM CDT
Arcangel2020, Harryhausen was rude to you because you're not...
by soylentmean
made out of clay. If you were a Golem he would have made you dinner and breakfast, if you know what I mean...
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why isnt killshot on this list?Ive been waiting years to see it,has aicn dropped the ball on thisI wonder?Maybe jessica's boobies have overshadowed it...either way I am glad to finally see those things...well worth the wait and damn fine at that! The boobies I mean,the rest of the movie was ok but good lord those tits...
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I will not see that abomination. I'll stick to the show.
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Why are all of you so angry all the time?
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I read the Leonard book years ago and thought it read like gangbusters. It must be a real dog to sit in the shelf for years and get a VERY limited release this past winter. But for what passes as thrillers nowadays it can't be that bad, can it? Anyone see it??
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I do so enjoy listening to Ellison rant. Strangely enough, I've always preferred reading his essays.
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"...because it is the first time every that Jessica Biel has the exact costume that a lot of you pervs have been waiting for. And man, that’s one helluva costume."
It continually amazes me that people actually read and comprehend what Harry writes. -
It's true you fellas... he turns 75 today. So not only is he an overrated midget prick, he's an elderly overrated midget prick.Someone be a sport and drag his crusty ass to a matinee of Terminator Salvation today, and remind him that he had fuckall to do with the genesis of this series.
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does anyone know if he wrote any of the eps besides being a "creative consultant"? I know JMS was doing his Rod Serling impression and wrote most of em, but where any of em written by anyone else? (it's one of the last supposedly epic series that i don't actually own. should I?) At the moment, i'm working on completing my Twilight Zone collection (both the original and the 80s version). also looking forward to Land of the Lost (i smile every time i hear Farell says "this ba-lows" on the clip). oh, and Harlan: Happy Birthday ya geezer! (i'm right with ya--my birthday is in june and i'll be 52--now that ba-lows! ) and i've had this massive arm/hand pain for weeks that no one i go to can explain. sux to git old!
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...was made eventually. Sort of.
If Stephen King's account in "Danse Macabre" of Harlan Ellison's pitch to Paramount is to be believed, the basic premise was a bit like that of ST: First Contact, except with a snake-like reptilian species instead of the Borg going back in time to "fix" things top their liking. Of course, Ellison's moral quandary WRT wiping out said species was replaced with Picard doing his Captain Ahab impression and Data getting laid... -
I'm not sure what the Weinsteins thought was wrong with it though. The film had solid performances (Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a stand out) and the story is a messed up "wrong place, wrong time" kinda scenario.
I thought it was worth the watch. I'm not sure I'd buy it until it seriously drops in price, like under $10. -
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! urethra.
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thought i smelled some brimestone coming from there! so wait, i received it on the guys birthday? weird. hilarious dvd, especially the pizza clatch with gaiman. priceless!
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Any of my fellow Gen X'ers that consider themselves science fiction fans yet don't know of (or hate) Harlan Ellison, don't know a shit. Harlan represents quality science fiction. He fights for creators rights. He's created so many concepts in science fiction and fought so many battles and helped so many careers. On top of this his non-fiction is fucking brilliant too. Maybe if we appreciated this guy more and paid attention to what he's trying to say we wouldn't have so much dreck. Read his introduction to Approaching Oblivion and tell me this dude isn't epic...
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If ANYONE but Kevin Costner starred in this thing, it would be a classic. C'mon now, Morgan "easy reader" Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mast"urbate to"antonia, Alan "Hans" Rickman, Michael "The Crow" Wincott, Christian "Fuck me, he cleared it!!" Slater......only Kevin Costner fucked it all up. Why oh why didn't they get Cary Elwes? He was the best part of Robin Hood: Men In Tights.
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Yes, Ellison is a dick. Sure is likes to sue people. But that does not take away from the amazing work he has done. That would be like finding out Shakespeare was an asshole and then negating all he did for literature.
To call Ellison a hack is just ignorance of the highest order. You don't have to like him as a person. You don't have to like his writing. But you have no grounds to call it poor.
Also, I am not saying he is the Alpha and Omega of Sci-Fi writing, but he is certainly one of greats and deserving of his Grandmaster status. -
May 28, 2009 8:41:45 PM CDT
I just watched "Tarzan: Lord of the Jungle" from the 70s!
by the reluctant austinite
I just watched the "Tarzan" cartoon from the "Saturday Morning Cartoons of the 70's" dvd, and I'm now 7 years old again! Whoo Hoo!
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other writers! (just kidding, i read him too) but i read the sequel to slan on his recom--brilliant. now reading jack mcdevitt--also brilliant, and now planning to get Dan Simmons and this guy namned Borges that the L man used to gush over! Ellison has taught me that reading is fundamental (and doesn't require any plug-ins, memory cards, etc.)
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Isn't that the movie where Johnny Knoxville was completely edited out of the film? Yet having a pretty significant role.
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May 29, 2009 7:25:11 PM CDT
The Land of the Lost set is missing all the features...
by bob loblaw law blog
from the 2004 set that RHINO released. That's a shame. I bet Universal just wanted to save cash, so they didn't buy the rights to the RHINO-produced features and commentaries.Looks like I'll be hanging on to my original DVD set. The Lunch Box is damn cool, though.
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Your ignorance of all things Ellison is truly amazing. Hemdale settled with Ellison because Cameron stated, in print, the influence of the Ellison stories. I know, because I read it in the Starlog interview with Cameron at the time it was published. No sympathy for James Cameron, mate. As for your opinions of Ellison as a writer - print the listing of the literary awards that you have given out (as if anyone would care).
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yea, it wouldve been cool seeing Gerrold, Niven, Fontana do the spin explaining why they are writing for a kiddie with virtually no budget. oh wait-mid 70s. all they had were those bionic shows, not the new version of BG! haww-haww!
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i dont know about you faggits, but id rather have a director thats sometimes godawful and sometimes brilliant than one whos just ok all the time. and you know what, cocksmokers? you cant be fucking be brilliant without being shitty SOMETIMES. unless you wanna make one film every fucking 20 years. and even then you still get eyes wide shut sometimes.
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so far based on 5 critics. Wouldn't be awesome if it stayed at 0% ?
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