Cool News
Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 2nd wk of Aug: Bromance, Satan, Wonder Twins, Starman, Turtles and much more!
Hey folks, Harry here - This is an interesting week, especially for you Blu Ray owners – as there’s some pretty cool stuff available this week. As usual, you can click on the images or links and you will goto AMAZON to learn more on the title – or you can purchase it – thus providing a small portion of the offering price to help keep this column coming. Thanks for the support and I hope you enjoy this weeks Picks & Peeks…
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
I LOVE YOU, MAN
A modern bromantic comedy that I enjoy quite a bit. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are both great, but I kinda feel the movie unravels a bit at the end. So it is flawed, but funny as hell. BTW… what’s up with all the RUSH love? First FANBOYS, then this? Do people really worship RUSH?
17 AGAIN
Never again.
THE NINTH GATE (Blu Ray)
I remember when this film came out and got shat upon by just about everyone and their brother. But god damn Polanski made a pretty freaky film with THE NINTH GATE. Depp’s performance, Langella… jeez – it is a fun flick. That said, the photography on the film was incredibly lush – and that has never been sharper than on this Blu Ray. But then, I’ve always been a sucker for “Dealer” movies that involve supernatural elements. I like watching this with NEEDFUL THINGS personally.
THE CLASS
Academy Award nominee for Foreign Film. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year. And a film that most of you haven’t had the ability to see – as it never received a truly wide distribution – nowhere near like what it can enjoy now on DVD and Blu-Ray. This is extremely well made story about an incredibly diverse French Class. Fantastic film.
SUPER FRIENDS: The Lost Episodes
While all obviously Super Friends episodes, these 24 episodes were never shown as a part of SUPER FRIENDS, instead they were packaged into THE SUPERMAN/BATMAN ADVENTURES – which is where I originally saw them. But hey man… I take my WONDER TWINS seriously (well kinda) and I love the Super Friends! This should complete your collection, if you’ve been buying them thus far. Glad to have these.
CUTTHROAT ISLAND (Blu Ray)
The film that killed Carolco, for all intents and purposes. And it should have. Do you realize that it is for this film, that we never got Paul Verhoeven and Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s CRUSADES? Literally one of the greatest unmade films. Arnold in his prime. Verhoeven… well, is always a good thing. Instead we get Matthew Modine and Renny Harlin. Now – at the time this got the go ahead over CRUSADES… it starred HARRISON FORD, who apparently read the script late and realized he should walk off the project. That said, I kinda enjoy this film. It’s pretty, has a damn fine score… and Geena Davis is a lot of fun in it… especially Langella! But this movie is why everyone thought PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN was going to bomb in advance of release. “A pirate movie? Nobody’ll see it!” No, we just want our pirate movies to rock!
STARMAN (Blu Ray)
Probably the most out of character feeling John Carpenter film ever… but it works at every level. STARMAN is great. Jeff Bridges delivers an oscar worthy performance… and Karen Allen is spectacular. A completely different take on aliens visiting Earth and how that would work. There are many people that consider this to be Carpenter’s best work. Those people are pussies that can’t take THE THING, and they should be forgiven their wussitude, but they should also be commended for thinking outside of John’s more popular titles. This looks great on Blu. So glad to have another Carpenter bit of perfection.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Film Collection (All Four Films) Blu Ray!
Ok – you get TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, SECRET OF THE OOZE, TURTLES IN TIME and the cg flick TMNT – all in Blu Ray! You also get “collector items” like a Beanie Hat, character cards, a miniature comic book and reproduction sketch with a reproduction Peter Laird autograph. Woo Hoo, right? Not really. This box set is outstanding in terms of the Blu Rays themselves. Top of the line. I mean, I’ve never seen the eye slits that the actors could see out of the turtle costumes in TURTLES IN TIME before, but now… they’re painfully clear. The quality and the extras are all solid. What isn’t so solid is the packaging. I hate the box. It’s a cardboard box (think Pizza box material) One of the flaps in the box already broke loose on mine – and there is no case inside the box that you can transfer your pizza decorated discs in. So you have to keep this overly thick box which takes up way too much space and is not particularly attractive. Companies… if you’re doing these sorts of box sets – include a case that the discs go in that can be taken out – just in case we don’t wish to be stuck with the box.
KATYN
A truly tremendous film by director Andrzej Wajda – about how in 1940, after the Nazis ran roughshod over Poland, the butcher Stalin took 22,000 Polish officers out into Katyn Forest and ate their hearts and gained super powers. Ok. It wasn’t Stalin taking them to the forest, but men that Stalin ordered – and they were just killed and disposed of. This was nominated for Best Foreign Film – and one viewing and you’ll totally get why. It is a tremendous film. Highly recommended.
GIGANTIC
I’m not sure if I agree with Ain’t It Cool News, that this is a “Perfect Love Story,” but it is a very damn good one. Maybe it is because I’m hopelessly infatuated by Zooey DeSchanel. It goes beyond her films to even her music career. Her eyes. The families are a bit zany for me, but dammit – having John Goodman, Paul Dano, Ed Asner and Jane Alexander? They’re all very funny and very good in GIGANTIC. Definitely worth looking at!
BLUE THUNDER (Blu Ray)
Roy Scheider, Warren Oates, Malcolm McDowell, Daniel Stern and Candy Clark? And do you remember BLUE THUNDER? Ok – sure, BLUE THUNDER was no AIRWOLF, but it definitely had the cooler pilot. Rewatching this on Blu, I realized first… how much I really like this movie, but secondly… I discovered how small this film is. That said, the aerial chase through the city is HOLY FUCK great on Blu. Besides… how could you not get BLUE THUNDER on Blu. Right?
ALIEN TRESPASS
Do you remember R.W. Goodwin’s hilariously camp and awesome episodes of THE X-FILES? If you do… you will not hesitate for a half second picking this up. This time, Goodwin decides to make a 50’s Alien terror flick with a wink and a nod and an elbow to the ribs to join the guffaws you’ll have watching this film. Plus it has the T-1000 in it! That’s right, the Coach from the FACULTY! And he rules! If you’ve ever been as MST3Ker – or a fan of 50’s horror/sci-fi – this is a very loving film that happens to rock! I love it.
ST ELMO’S FIRE (Blu Ray)
Joel Schumacher’s Brat Pack opus! The theme song for the film is better than the film, and I actually get goose pimples when I hear it. I have to sing along. But the film’s characters are older versions of THE BREAKFAST CLUB – and frankly they’re no where nearly as well drawn or textured. Lovely transfer – and the film is fun to watch and laugh about the mid eighties in which it was hatched.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT (Blu Ray)
Ed Zwick’s first directorial feature film… based on a David Mamet play… Starring Rob Lowe and an impossibly young Demi Moore. What went wrong? It just wasn’t that good. It’s an ok film. If you watch it, you’ll finish it… most likely, but I’m not sure who would end up buying this. It just isn’t that good of film. Unless maybe your name is Jeff.
REPLICANT (Blu Ray)
Starring Van Damme and Michael Rooker – and it was directed by Ringo Lam. I really like this Van Damme flick. I think that’s mainly because of Ringo Lam, who I love… It isn’t at all like BLADE RUNNER, which the title instantly reminded people of. Instead, you get a grade b better than average Van Damme flick and a bunch of hokey sci fi. You’ll wish it were better, but it’s really fun as is.
BAD BOY BUBBY (Blu Ray)
A simply incredible film and performance. This is a really fucked up, in the right ways, kinda flick. Nicholas Hope plays the titular character – and he is indeed a Bad Boy. You see, just like in BEING THERE – we have a man child that hasn’t really had any contact with the outside world. So – just imagine BEING THERE… if it went terribly wrong. I’ve only ever seen this on DVD, so seeing a gorgeous print like this was a real treat. The extras are basically the same as the DVD from a few years back, but with a far better image quality of the film, due to the wonders of Blu Ray.
THE WEEKEND MURDERS
Originally this was double featured with NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES – I’ve never seen this film. But I’ve seen this trailer about a million times. NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES is kinda crazy fun, so I’m pulling for THE WEEKEND MURDERS. I just know I’ve wanted to see it for some time now.
CLASSIC 1940’s ACTION BOX SET
I haven’t seen JESSE JAMES RIDES AGAIN, but I have seen the other two serials that are a part of this set. G-MEN VS THE BLACK DRAGON is held in very high esteem amongst Serial junkies like me. But KING OF THE ROCKET MEN. Crack! “Controls so easy a Child could use them!” This my friends is the daddy of the Rocketeer – and I love the serial. It really doesn’t get much better than this. That said – this set is low low low on quality. It is nowhere near the quality that I find acceptable. Just wanted to warn y’all.
Next week we’ll be looking at HANNAH MONTANA THE MOVIE (really), THE SIMPSONS 12 season with my doppleganger as the cover, THE LAST STARFIGHTER (Blu Ray), LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT remake, ICONS OF SCI FI Toho Collection, KAGEMUSHA Criterion Collection Blu Ray, DONALD IN MATHMAGIC LAND, TYSON, PETE’S DRAGON, HUSBANDS, PLAYTIME – Criterion (Blu), THE 5 DEADLY VENOMS, GO (blu Ray), THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Vol 1-5 and 6-10, INGLORIOUS BASTARDS 2: HELL HEROES and that’s about it. See you next Tuesday!
-
+ Expand All
-
Honestly..shouldn't a movie that's an homage to 50's sci-fi movies NOT have a poster that's a horrible Photoshop headshot collage? They should have gone for a retro, PAINTED cover. Arrrgghhhh....
-
starman, st elmos fire, about last night, and the cleanse the palate a little chaser of blue thundah!!!!
-
It's a sad day indeed when Paul Dano gets credit on a DVD box cover and not the great Ed Asner. F Young Hollywood.
-
you have been recruited by the star league to defend the fronteir against xur and the kodan armada!!!
-
It's awful.
-
...and Belushi is actually pretty good. I remember when it first came out and thinking that Lowe was a better actor than I thought. Pretty hot sex scene too.
-
...are the same people who say that about Smith's "Chasing Amy". They are not bad movies, but I hate how some people think that great movies MUST include romantic feelings and some director's are worthless, unless they make a movie about them.
-
The next person to use that word is going to get kicked in the face. Anyways: Nothing quite fills up an 80s cheesefest guilty pleasure void like St. Elmo's Fire. As for the Ninth Gate: That movie was just bad. It's easy to forget that Depp has starred in a few stinkers in his day.
-
...but I'll probably pick it up just to see the nude yoga scene on blueray.
-
Aug 11, 2009 8:18:43 AM CDT
If you haven't watched the DVD, DON'T INCLUDE IT IN THE REVIEWS
by fireclown
Is that so much to ask? If the closest that you can give to a recommendation/warning is what it is paired with, just leave it out.
-
is a cutie pie!
-
Makes me angry to hear that bit of news
-
brilliant musicians, intelligent lyrics...one of the top 5 or 10 selling bands in history. they can fill stadiums anywhere in the world.
-
Back to sleep Lewis or i'm telling mom about your Playboys!
-
it's a very honest film about relationships...plus is very funny. Starman probably not JC's best.
-
Aug 11, 2009 8:35:29 AM CDT
My favourite Carpenter movies are The Thing and Assault on Preci
by knuckleduster
And my favourite Kevin Smith movie is Chasing Amy, because I think it's by far the funniest. Black Rage!
-
fuck that tv show airwolf...blue thunder is a cool flik
-
is just awful. what the fuck was wrong with the very nice original poster? it's pretty tragic how studios are hurting their own sales by slapping unappealing and even horrendous artwork on some of these blu-ray discs.
-
The problem about this movie is that it falls completely apart at the end - i think you just can't really make a movie about enlightenment (if you're not Jodorowsky) that's not completely anticlimactic.
-
"Verhoeven… well, is always a good thing."
Ummm... no. not really. -
Imagine there was a time when there were 2 combat helicopter shows on tv.
-
I would've said "HARRISON FORD, who apparently read the script late and realized he should walk the PLANK."
-
John Hughes' recent passing deserves at least a decent Harry-written paragraph or two. Seems like Merrick has taken over your site for the day to day news items, and I for one miss getting your 2 cents about something other than the latest popcorn blockbuster or carelessly written, DVD Amazon-linked reviews. Remember your LOTR site visit articles? Those were the days, man.
Anyway, please make time to write and post more (on substantive topics) as you did years ago. After all, that's the reason why many of us (including me) started frequenting AICN originally. And especially now that Drew is gone, the site could use a bit of the old magic again. -
It's one of those words generated by some lame-o in the media trying to be cool. Something Cody Diablo would use in one of her scripts.
-
Johnny, yes please keep fucking my wife while I make it look like hell is coming to earth. I never understand how directors can film sex scenes with their wives.
-
How dare you sir.
You are the See you next Tuesday here . Not I . -
of The Thing that Carpenter direct an "adult ET with sex", since it was ET that helped kill The Thing at the box office. And it's possibly his most audience friendly film.
-
Was ok. Worth a rental, but that whole slapping the bass line got old the second he said it....10 minutes later it was still not funny.
-
It's very simple...young, naked Demi Moore. Lots of young, naked Demi Moore...before her cartoonish plastic tits. The damn thing is soft-core porn starring (then) A-List actors.
-
In an otherwise funny film (c'mon Jon Favreau is priceless, as is the beer drinking scene), I wanted to stand up and yell in the theater "OKAY, YOU CAN STOP NOW!!" during the slappin da bass scene. And with this and 17 Again (did not, will not see), its Thomas Lennon week.
-
from About Last Night is Jim Belushi's line to Rob Lowe, "The best thing that could happen to you would be an industrial accident.." Yes, I can second that. With this and Salvador and even Red Heat, remember when Jim Belushi could be called an actor? Ahh the '80s...
-
There's gotta be a rumble for that look that's gonna go down one of these days.
-
Postmodern Betty Page. Give me more. Lots more.
-
... it's just a word. Chillax, man.
-
Stupid superhero joking around about Stalin and the purges? Really?
This site has gradually become my 3rd read after CHUD and iO9 – it’s a move site for dummies.
-
1. Harry this column is a terrible terrible joke, but no surprise there. 2. I Love You Man was a terrible, terible film that could only exist in an a post Apatow world were the word "bromance" is an actual term that will cause people will watch it(kill me) 3. Zooey is the one you marry (cause she's the perfect woman), Katy is the one you screw for 2 hours in a drunken stupor and never call her back.
-
"Chillax" >> "Bromance"
Chillax is just a spoonerism to combine two like ideas. "Bromance" is like "metrosexual." They're words that guys who are insecure about their (perceived) sexuality to insist that their relationship is platonic. It reeks of overcompensating. -
damn, i honestly thought they made up that word. you know to make fun of the fact J.D. and Turk are practically in love with each other and yet are still straight. i didnt realize it was some "pop culture" thing. man. as for Chillax, first place i ever heard it was a chocolate bar commercial (Kit Kat i think) so i always associate it with that.
-
...loves Rush. They just do. We are the Priests of the Temple of Syrinx. We don't fuck around.
Toss up between Rush and King Crimson for the win, although Rush are always way better live than on record. Just buy Exit...Stage Left and thank me later. -
Since when have they been putting Super Nintendo games on Blu-Ray?
Being facetious, but Turtles in Time is the subtitle of the Super NES game, not TMNT III. -
What exactly ARE the extras on the DVDs? I've heard that it's just the theatrical trailers, but haven't found anything confirming or denying that. That's really the only thing stopping me from dropping cash on this set.
-
Thanks for the KING CRIMSON shout out.Good on you!STARMAN ROCKS, but,THE THING RULES!
-
was pretty decent, but the last 5 minutes DESTROYED the entire movie. I don't need to ever see that movie again. I still remember people in the audience, including me, going "WTF?" and I'm no 'fun popcorn movie' moviewatching mouthbreater either. I've got smarts!
-
The TMNT box set coming in a pizza box is awesome, if you wanted cases and not speacial packaging why would you get that in the first place? I applaude anycompany that goes the extra mile to make specail/collector's packaging.
As far as Chasing Amy goes, you guys saying it is Smith's best, well for starters that isn't saying much. I love me some Jay and Silent Bob but all of Smith's movies are not really that good. There are some clever ideas and dialog sometimes but over all they are kind of crappy. They don't stand up over time, try watch Clerks and Mallrats again. They are hard to get through and the rest of Smith's movie in time will be the same. But Chasing Amy his best??? I gues if you consider a movie that is nothing but screaming and crying, about dysfunctional people good you might be right. Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back are far superior in story and entertainment value. If you want to compare more serious work Jersey Girl is by far a better movie that Chasing Amy. -
Too bad the movies are not. Great comic, though.
-
is a woman.
-
is a great little album. Zooey Deschannel is cool.
-
Surely that should be in your top ten of the year so far as well.
-
And, yes, Chasing Amy is Smith's best movie. That's saying quite a lot considering he made Clerks and Dogma(and come on, we all know he probably wrote most of Good Will Hunting). His others are fun, but I wouldn't call them great movies.
-
dvdtalk.com has TMNT review...that should clear up the extras for ya.
-
In the face, The Way of the Gun Sarah Silverman style? She fucking needs it, I don't get her appeal. I mean why would you want to hang around a bitch all day?
-
. . . but it still rocks. I absolutely LOVE the score.
-
And not just because of a naked Demi Moore. It's Joan Cusack. Meow. Not really.
-
And that's all you ppl need to know.
-
And yes, WTF is so big about Rush?
-
...Hardbodies and Screwballs when they come out on DVD in the next two weeks!
-
That said, I'm declaring his writing style to be fucking annoying. And I'd like to add my name to those who say you shouldn't include movies you haven't watched yet. That said, I still like to see what's coming out each week via this column.
-
Haven't watched it yet. Rented from Redbox for a dollar and ripped to my hard drive. Sorry to say that yes, people have huge hardons for RUSH even when spagetti sings like a girl.
-
I understand all the hate towards it, but I enjoy the hell out of it anyway. It's a nice little mystery for a while then turns fucking nutty. Best part for me though is Langella's scream at the end. Actually sounds like he's crying with pain, rather than dramatically "screaming"
-
Actually Harry, it was Michael Douglas who was going to be in Cutthroat Island - which is hard to imagine! He dropped out because he thought Geena Davis' role had been increased too much at his expense.
Harrison Ford was attached to a rival pirate film that Paul Verhoeven was attached to, called Mistress Of The Seas. If I recall, it was written by Michael Cristopher, who wrote Witches of Eastwick, Gia and Bonfire of the Vanities. That was based on the true story of female pirate Anne Bonny and was rumoured to star Michelle Pfeiffer as Bonny.
At the same time, there was also talk of a Captain Blood remake, with (I think) Tom Cruise involved.
Cutthroat was the one that got made. I got it in the mail today, kind of looking forward to seeing it again. I always thought Pirates of the Caribbean was pretty much Cutthroat Island with supernatural elements, Johnny Depp and an unnecessary 20 minutes added on!
(I used to read Variety at the time... way back before the internets... and I remember following all this.) -
Of course, it wasn't his best, but it was his last excellent movie. Up to that point, Carpenter had a fantastic track record. The titles of the films leading up to STARMAN still give chills - HALLOWEEN, THE THING, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. Even his weaker movies - THE FOG, CHRISTINE - were exceptional and memorable.Things changed with BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA. That was when Carpenter started to go the way of camp. It was as though he didn't take his own films seriously anymore. STARMAN had at least shown that he was capable of making different kinds of movies, but after that it was one disappointing flop after the next. I absolutely cringed when I saw THEY LIVE, and it only got worse after that.ESCAPE FROM L.A. was the ultimate disappointment.
-
. . . and chew bubblegum.
-
...if he hadn't made Halloween, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, and Escape From New York. That said, Starman is a pretty great film.
-
for STARMAN. And AIRWOLF was the BLUE THUNDER TV rip off. So, no comparison needed.
-
Bubba Smith, Dick Butkus, and Dana Carvey
-
Aug 11, 2009 12:53:59 PM CDT
If someone punches Zooey....well they just jump-started the murd
by earl of sandwich
I will find you.....and I WILL kill you.
-
Stupid fucking talk back. Christ is a edit function too much to ask for?
-
Just look at Matthew Modine's cheesy grin on the cover of the blu-ray. What a shitty film. I still remember seeing it opening night back in 1995, thinking "they spent 100 million dollars on THIS!?"
-
...is when Belushi tells Elizabeth Perkins "If you didn't have a pussy, there'd be a price on your head." And I agree, I think Belushi was pretty good in a few movies. And, while it was a dopey movie, I liked The Principal as kind of a guilty pleasure. Wouldn't mind seeing that and The Substitute as a double feature.
-
Harry Knowles you shouldn't probaly go fuck yourself. Harry Knowles is a bitch.
-
Bromance and Rush concert ensues. We burn a unity candle during 'Ghost of a Chance.'
-
Zoe is a really fine actress and has an amazing voice. Her CD, Me and Him, is excellent, and required listening in my car. She first caught my eye in Elf, in which her rendition of Baby, It's Cold Outside make you stop and say, wow, what an amazing singing voice. She has since pretty much stolen every film she has been in, and saved many bad films from complete suckiness (see Yes Man). Her style is such that you either love her or hate her, with her seemingly blank stare and monotone delivery, but, like Harry, I have a major crush on her, and will follow her anywhere. I hated St. Elmo's Fire when it came out. It was just a retread of the great Big Chill, and was no more realistic in its portrayal of that time than 90210. About Last Night was a complete disaster, watchable only if you are familiar enough with the great Mamet play that you can ignore exactly how much they mangled it. Still, some of the bitterness and cynicism leaks out from time to time, but if you want a lesson in how to destroy a great play, watch the film, and then read the play afterward, and you have essentially taken a film class in how to fuck something up. It should be a required exercise for film students. Mamet is one of the true geniuses of American Theater, the equal of Williams or O'Neil, and his work is often mangled beyond recognition. The absolutely great exceptions are, of course, Glengarryglenross, with the Baldwin scene (not in the play)standing out as one of the great moments in film. I also really enjoyed Oleana, which is just about as frustrating as you can imagine, and which can produce strikingly different responses for each viewing. Also great was Edmond, which, if you haven't seen it, must be seen. Forgive me it I seem purient, but the scene with Rebecca Pidgeon in her black bra and panties is just so hot. Interesting, American Buffalo (which I saw on Broadway with Pacino) sticks very close to the play and yet doesn't work at all, so go figure.
-
You know this to be true!
-
I remember seeing Ninth Gate in cinema, I was maybe 15 years old and fall in love with that quiet girl who plays angel or whoever it is. She was so cool in the movie and I think there is one scene where she is flying. But yes, the end is a bit anticlimactic. Anyway I think I will pick this one in HD.
-
It has come down to this. Each time you write "That said" I will burn Zooey Deschanel with a cigarette. She's not going to make it more than 10 minutes, is she?
-
The alley fight and the Reaganite yuppies as evil aliens premise, They Live is one big slice of Velveeta. And if I want to see Rowdy Roddy Piper emote...well, I don't want to see Rowdy Roddy Piper emote..I hope Carpenter is taking notes and watching District 9 this weekend, cuz that looks like what They Live wanted to be. Can't wait for Friday.
-
I just got back from buying it and yeah, the first 3 movies simply have the trailer and TMNT has all the same extras as the previous release which wasn't much. but i've read reviews complaining that the beanie it comes with is too small and for kids but ummm, they are wrong. it fits my head pretty tight and snug as it should and i have a big-ish head as well. although in their defense, when you take it out of the packing it does look really small. so maybe they saw that and never bothered trying it but yes, it fits an adult. not that i'd walk around with that in public because well thats just asking for trouble plus i dont wear any type of hat but yeah. as for the box itself, i was lucky and its nice and sturdy and undamaged and it closes pretty tight. and even with the beanie out, the enveloppe holding the "collector cards" is big enough that if holds itself and the comic in place pretty good. everything isnt bouncing around. oh and the comic, i thought it be the first issue of the original 1984 comic but its just Eastman and Laird's comic adaption of the first movie. still cool to see their art style though.
-
..was near the end after the protagonist (piper) is gunned down but not before taking out the Aliens' cloaking device.Then as a last gesture, he flips the bird. I'm sure that's how carpy felt about the Reaganites....I know I did.
-
Why the fuck do they do that with the names? Just like the poster for No Country For Old Men. Sure maybe its a contract thing about who's name comes first but as an actor would you be pissed if on the poster your name was over another persons floating head?
-
You left one of the better picks of the week off your list Harry. I found WildMan to be a damn cool little drive-in style creature feature. Guaranteed better than Alien Trespass at least, sheesh!!
-
Jeez.
-
words i cant stand. yes i said panties.unless your a lady im about to have sex with, just please say underwear because panties sound wrong coming out of a grown mans mouth.
-
Kinda dissapointing. Two funny leads, in an otherwise unfunny movie. Jon Favreu was good, as was Thomas Lennon.
-
although the cliche line "don't get your panties in a bunch", is a classic line...
-
But Manhunt in the African Jungle is BETTER! :)
-
Can I add Twitter to your list? Anytime I hear someone mention twitter, I want to punch someone/something fast and hard.
-
Yeah yeah its fun and to bash it I'm sure. But I would much rather have it over Pirates Of The Carribean in suckitude. I'm actually really excited to buy Cutthroat on Blu Ray later this week. Knock the flick all you want but it has some amazing action setpieces that rival quite a few films made in recent memory. And every penny showed up onscreen.
-
to the list.
-
Incendiary. In print it's pompous, but if I ever heard a actual person utter the words to describe a band or movie, I think I'd lose it.
-
The cover art for the 25th Anniversary version of 'The Last Starfighter' is no better. Shitty as all hell, no originality and a crappy font that looks the same as the one on the STARMAN reissue. I actually went out of my way and got the Region 2 STARMAN disc in Widescreen with a 'Making of' segment, commentary, a featurette and a "All you have to do is Dream" music video with Bridges and Karen Allen singing a duet. No bullshit!
-
I got a pass to see a preview of this movie, and I went. The theater was packed and about half of them were a local pirate group called "The Corsairs" who sung sea shanties and dueled in the aisles for the rest of the crowd, it was a great time!! Then.....the movie started......and about a half-hour into it, ALL the Corsairs and half of the rest of the crowd walked out.....best free preview I've ever been to.
-
I wish I had been there.
-
haha. Sounds like a Serenity screening.
-
Yes damn it Carpenter needs more love. He is one of the best directors ever in my opinion because he made awesome ahead of their time and FUN movies that people still love today. I mean not often today I go to the theater and see a flick and love it so much I wanna see it again and again. But pop in The Thing oh yeah or Halloween or Big Trouble in Little China or Escape From NY and just enjoy. Have seen them each dozens of times and will see them dozens more thats why they are called CLASSICS. Has he done anything good or great since oh lets see They Live....maybe not but James Woods was cool as fuck in Vampires. Point is today and here especially on AINTITCOOL But only if I say so...well if you haven't done something good lately then you suck....amazing movies way back in the day...ahh but nothing now nothing lately so fuck him...as if time passing somehow diminishes the classic status of JC's movies. That would be like saying once a director dies they are meaningless. Like the late great John Hughes...he may not have made classics after a certain point....he owned the fucking 80's however....but the point is he did make fucking CLASSICS and that is always gonna be fact. Time doesn't change that. So yes Carpenter deserves the love and his flicks do kick ass. enough said.
-
It's alright, but for the same kind of homage feel, Lost Skeleton of Cadavera destroys it, hands down. I hope their new flick Trail of the Screaming Forehead makes it to DVD soon.
-
for THEY LIVE
-
He, Spielberg, Lucas, Donner, Zemeckis.
-
What's the story with the "Ichi the Killer" blu-ray? Twice now it's been pushed off it's release date.
-
I always wondered what she was supposed to represent, but I think she is actually evil, maybe even a demon. She seems to love it when Depp kills that black guy by pistol whipping him, has a tendency to appear and disappear with ease, and has very evil, satanic-looking eyes when she is humping Depp outside the burning castle. She is also the "siren" on one of the woodcut illustrations. . I think she is really an avatar for Satan, and for whatver reason is enably Depp, not the others, to figure out how to open the 9th gate. Or more simply, don't fuck freaky French girls that kick ass and may be agents of Lucifer
-
I remember going with a bunch of people to see that in the theater, having talked it up as having to be great, since it was directed by Polanski. I loved it and thought it was fun, it just didn't resonate with my friends. Of course they almost universally shun books.
I think you have to be somewhat of a bibliophile to appreciate The Ninth Gate. -
Aug 11, 2009 5:11:03 PM CDT
skimn, im sick of hearing about twitter, but the word...
by supercowbell5thecowbellhasspoken
tweet is even worse. "did you she what she tweeted?" "go to my twitter and check out my tweets." kill them all.
-
my favorite apatow produced movie is still forgetting sarah marshall though. i just wish aicn would stop shoving apatow news down our throats. drillbit taylor sucked!
-
The box has been a point of contention on the internet for months, but it's easy to just make custom art and buy empty cases, and the set itself is just to good to pass up..wish there were extras though..i smell a bouble dip around the time the new films comes out, but thats 2 years away, i can't wait that long
-
Every time I go there, there's so many damn models typing "I'm getting my hair done" Eff that.
-
was OK until the last 10 minutes or so. It didn't really end, it just stopped.
-
That just feels right.
-
on there, it pretty much is.
-
There's about five minutes of David Mamet's play SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO in this movie, and the rest is practically the antithesis of the the very smart and cynical play.
-
The International was a fucking bore. Except for the mildly exciting sniper scene there was nothing that got your pulse up at all in this 'thriller'. Doesn't help that there is not a single scene in the movie that hasn#t been done before a zillion times and better. Pff. The International... but to each his own
SoylentMean, are you an American? -
Does indeed look excellent. Great transfer and it's been selling for $20 bucks. The last great collaboration between Carpenter and Russell.
-
Aug 11, 2009 6:10:58 PM CDT
re:Le Vicious Fishus- Here's Harry's John Hughes eulogy!..
by little beavis
Since Harold can't be bothered to write EVEN ONE WORD about Hughes' passing, much less a proper eulogy, despite our most desperate pleas, I'm just going to write it for him:
To my dear John Hughes fans and anyone to whom his movies meant something special- go fuck yourself. And please click on this link for this piece of shit film with Zac Efron so can I get my 10 cents.
Love, Harold Knowles -
That always cracks me up when that's the best they can do, I liked the dvd cover for Cutthroat Island better, that looks like POTC rip. Inline with those porn knock-offs.
-
for all of the impact they have had over the last 30+ years. They have never been the cool band to like, but they have always been cool.
-
Agreed on Twitter and Tweets, they should all die. Check out this link for further proof! http://tinyurl.com/kprfrb
-
You say that like it's a bad thing, Harry. Sheesh!
Whereas I don't worship them per se, they are my favorite band and inspired me to become a musician. Moreover, they continue to inspire me to become a better musician! -
'cause that's kinda weird.
-
A bore? You didn't find the fucking scene in the Guggenheim to be tits? Or the climax in which the bank's CEO gets plugged by the Calvivi twis' goon? That's as good as it gets. Tykwer owns.
-
Aug 11, 2009 7:08:00 PM CDT
Ninth Gate is highly underated. Starman is a gem of a film
by juansanchez
BTW, Harry - do you ever come back and review films you hadn't seen by the time you "go to press" with this column?
-
i've discovered a few releases thanks to this column but i gotta admit, i've never once clicked and gone through amazon that way. i always simply open a new browswer window and find the movie that way. not sure why, just a habit i have i guess but does anyone really contribute here? just wondering.
-
Fuck yeah. I've seen them 25+ times live. A superb live band. Great musicians and songwriters. You're quite ignorant about music, Harry. Follow your wife's lead and delve in. Music is as fun as movies, if not more so. Do yourself a favor and go buy "Moving Pictures." I can't think of a better album than that for you. Try "Red Barchetta" for a cool-ass cinematic rock tune.
-
Can't they try a bit harder? P.S. Bromance=chillaz=bugnuts=people who use these words=assholes
-
Aug 11, 2009 8:24:59 PM CDT
you know what old rock band i worship?
by supercowbell5thecowbellhasspoken
the fucking clash. now theres a band who wouldve made a song about how much twitter sucked.
-
i have a twitter...*sigh*...i sold myself out to talk to ladies. im a failure
-
timecrimes too i think
-
London Calling is not one of the greatest albums of all time.
-
I First Saw Zooey Deschanel when she played the HOT BLONDE girlfriend in Jimmy Fallon's IDIOT BOYFRIEND music video. It still makes me laugh to see JF parody Bobby Brown in bicycle shorts and Justin Timberlake in a silver spacesuit in that video, among others music acts. It is still on youtube.
-
Great Movies this week: ABOUT LAST NIGHT, STARMAN. I haven't seen many of the others. KATYN looks promising. Didn't Stalin say "a single death is a tragedy to the world while a million deaths is merely a statistic"? He certainly had the killing numbers to speak from fact. Stalin was a nutty paranoid mass murderer. Tens and tens of millions dead from his orders. PURGE, anyone?
-
Jenni Baird is hot though. So was the chick who played Lana.
-
I'm sorry I just can't watch any Polanski film after learing what he did. I can't support a fucking child rapist.
totally agree on King of the Rocket Men though! -
is the right one, in my opinion. The idea of Johnny Depp succumbing to temptation and the forbidden knowledge of "The Ninth Gate" is much more exciting than some inevitably-unsatisfying depiction of Satan. It would be like seeing the baby at the end of "Rosemary's Baby". Or seeing in the spaceship at the end of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Oh, right. Sorry, Steven. Or how much of mystery-killer would it be to learn the truth about the "Alien" Space Jockey? Oh shit, they're doing that, too. But the point is what you imagine being behind "The Ninth Gate" is much scarier.
-
Roy Scheider, the OG, RIP. Baddest mofo ever! Respect.
-
"having said that," *** "setting that aside for a moment," *** "but aside from all that," *** "but none of that matters because," *** "with that out of the way," etc. etc. ... invent your own! :)
-
...try out Gentle Giant sometime. Although they're a good bit weirder they're just as funky, symphonic, melodic and dynamic and have seemingly become their own mythology. The Power & The Glory is essential for any prog lover. Then try Focus (Focus 3) and Camel (Mirage) if you like.
-
I will check them out. If you're not familiar with Porcupine Tree (I know, silly name) then give them a listen.
Oh, and bless you for not recommending Coheed & Cambria! ;> -
...I would in my shite recommend them! It's like they're trying to mix Rush sensibilities with horrible post-punk and a dab of nu-metal...I admire their efforts but it's not for me at all at all.
LOVE Porcupine Tree: In Absentia, Deadwing & FOABP especially. Before Gavin Harrison came aboard they were still pretty good but not quite edgy enough - their Pink Floyd fascination shone through whereas now they're their own beast. Might I also recommend Beardfish (Sleeping In Traffic Pt. 2 especially) as a good new sound yet old school prog band. They wear their influences on their sleeves but when their main influences are Zappa and Gentle Giant it's all good.
PS. Love ya Neil, you machine you! :-D -
If it were really cheap I'd probably buy it to add to the collection. It's right there behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall (with thankfully no Segel nudity).
-
I mean store shelves this time, not stupid studio shelves. If you try typing it in at Amazon you get everything but that movie to pop up.
-
Didn't know she actually could act.*shurgs*
-
Learn it, Love it, Live it.
-
The end is nigh.
-
That is all.
-
Aug 12, 2009 11:32:49 PM CDT
Carpenter's 'They Live' has the greatest line of any movie
by chuck_chuckwalla
"I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass ... and I'm all out of bubble gum."
-
on my video porjector system and it was great. Night prior I watched JC's The Thing on HDDVD (bought one about 6 moths prior to the end of the format war). Maybe it is the 3/4 liter of burgundy I drank while watching it, but damned if watching Starman wasn't on par with a damned religious experience - a testament to the beauty and stupidity of humanity all at once. Bridges's performance was great, and the practical effects put most modern CGI to pure shame. The helicopters flying over the lake, the map of the USA in the Mustang...not to mention a team effort from Stan Winston and Rick Baker! I held my wine glass high during the end credits, creating a brilliant spread of broken light on the screen. JC, you are tops in my book. Right there with Scorcese, Lucas, and Herzog. Bravo, sir. Bravo.
-
Yes, the more love for Carpenter the better. Starman is a revelation. And that HD-DVD of The Thing is damn clean looking. Got Escape From New York off HDNet Movies in beautiful HD. Love it. I include Carpenter's 79' Elvis flick among his best as well (first collaboration with Russell). Also, there was mention above regarding Roy Scheider and Blue Thunder. One of Badham's best next to WarGames. Roy Scheider is a God. Much love, much love.
-
I remember because I completely agreed wth his position. And I still believe Harry, the Polanski apologist that he is, should make a statement defend his own position.
-
This column and thread are highly amusing. Everyone I know under age 30 says "chillax," but I have never heard anyone say "bromance" in real life.
Chasing Amy is actually the only Kevin Smith movie that could really be called "good." All the rest are either hit-and-miss hot messes (Dogma, Jay/Silent Bob, Clerks 1/2) or outright wretched. (Zack and Miri, Jersey).
Paul Verhoeven is a good thing? Well, yes, for those of us who are ironic and enjoy camp. I would defy anyone to name one single good movie by Paul Verhoevn that isn't campy. Too lazy to imdb him, but Showgirls, Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers, that Arnold movie from 1990. All hilarious campfests.
Carpenter used to be good, but now,,,what if he made Halloween 2 instead of Rob Zombie? I tried to watch the original H2 last weekend, but it was too terrible, coudn't get through it. Zombie's actually couldn't really be worse. What was Carpenter's last good movie? I'd say In the Mouth of Madness. -
If you didn't like how it ended, and I didn't much, read the book.
-
Seriously... enough of this Photoshop junk. GET THE ORIGINAL POSTER ART!
-
Holy shit. That is all I have to say.
-
I would call Robocop satire and have you seen Black Book, or any of his pre-hollywood work?
-
borrowed the climax from the low budget flick WAVELENGTH made the year before.... very similar.
-
Mike Gray who made WAVELENGTH went on to work on the TV series version of STARMAN. Weird.
-
My absolute favorite film. It has it's misfires. Nixon's big glasses. Wire Fu Lu. Otherwise, I love the film. Love it. Can't wait to pick it up on Blue Ray.
-
I am buying that mother fucker today. I had no idea it was a book. I actually like this movie so much I think I'd pay for a print copy of it.
-
I don't think you're a pussy if you think it's Carpenter's best...you're not correct but you're very very close. I love this movie..still have a huge crush on Karen Allen (started here and then cemented with Raiders) and this was the movie that cemented Bridges as one of my favorite actors.Yes the box cover is terrible terrible shite but I dare anyone with true empathy to watch the "deer" scene and not get a throat lump...plus I love Jenny Haden's definition of love.Also, Allen and Bridges did indeed do a studio recording of The Everyly Brothers "Dream" which is on the soundtrack. Which I was fortunate enough to purchase back when you could actually find Varese-Sarabande in stores (I also own the VS soundtrack for 'The Thing', 'Firestarter', 'Escape from NY', etc, etc..all brilliant stuff. Carpenter did great stuff with Alan Howarth and also recognized genius like Enio Morricone, Tangerine Dream, etc, etc...And shame on the guy knocking 'Big Trouble in Little China' for being 'camp' in a bad way. That movie truly is Carpenter's last great film and 'They Live' is his last good film...with an excpetion here and there, the rest are total shit (the worst being the horrid "Ghosts of Mars").Altho I will say that Carpenter's rock song "We got BIG trouble...in little CHINA" is fucking horrible. My old sd-dvd has the video they filmed for it...we're talking not to far above Dirk Diggler "He will rock you, he will roll you" kinda stuff...hilarious indeed.
-
The BluRay has the same features as the DVD from a few years ago including the cheese-tacular music video. Love how they try to sell Carpenter as a cool "rock star" with his collection of rockin' sunglasses, and the integration of movie footage and monsters into the video. I have to admit tho, as schlocky as the song is I find it kind of catchy...
-
Book is actually called "The Club Dumas", just in case. Pretty good. Major subplot cut from the screenplay but I think it works. Also, the BluRay erroneously lists the run time as 93 mins - I was worried they'd cut it to shit, but it's just a misprint. It runs the full 133
-
If you like Karen Allen in Starman and Raiders, check her out in Animal House when she was, I think, 19. MMMMM-good!
-
If you like Karen Allen in Starman and Raiders, check her out in Animal House when she was, I think, 19. MMMMM-good!
-
sorry for the double post above...Fight Club hits blu-ray November 17!!! Here's hoping Se7en isn't far behind...
-
Oh yeah? Hadn't checked (of course i got the BTiLC blu...I love that movie!). I really like the intro "rock" song in the opening credits...I don't think it Carpenter but it might be him and Howarth working together.If you don't have the video...its the first song that's played over the ending credits.The Starman soundtrack however, is pure genius...but so is Enio's The Thing...what happened to Carpenter? Even with his rockstar stuff for BTiLC, he used to have what i could call impeccable taste in music chosen for his movies. Even if he did much of the composing himself...after all, he along with Howarth wrote the original Halloween theme...I think anyway...
-
Lovely little booty shot! And she played strip poker in 'The Wanderers'...I think there's a momentary boob shot...She's just like the perfect girl next door and something about a girl with a little rasp in her voice...haHAH! Same reason I freak on Demi Moore in that awful Indecent Proposal movie...crazy hot and beautiful with the little rasp...almost worth the purchase alone...almost!
-
must want to punch a wall every day they see what Pirates of the Carribbean accomplished. They blew it with the casting on that movie though. I remember Michael Douglas being attached and then when he walked they got Modine...who is fine enough but was not going to lead where it should have gone. It's a huge movie though with some pretty serious practical effects and stunt work. Worth a look if never seen but yea a huge miss regrettably.
-
Pretty cool. I remember the cast and etc thought it was pretty good at the time. Airwolf I also liked, what WAS it w/ the 80's and copters?! Anyways. Now as to some of these others-About Last Night was OK, watching Demi in action is why you watch it. I enjoyed the Rob Lowe Giant Robot in the final act. The CGI there could have been improved but HEY it was the '80's what kin ya do?! Starman is a fine fine movie, one I haven't seen in some years. I liked the '77 Mustang she rides around in. St. Elmo's-again if you like Demi...
-
Is low, low quality because it's just unlicensed bootlegs of the Republic Home Video VHS tapes released in the 90s. That they can get away with that just shows how little the current rights owners care about these serials.
-
can't wait to see the naked yoga scene in HD, catch ya later!
-
aJxHINwq WidqrV
-
dOdqKwj HvHOUH
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 142 total posts 131 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 465 total posts 126 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 124 total posts 124 posts
- Wanna smell like the Hulk? What about Cap? Consider yourself a Thunder God or a unisex God of Mischief? -- 69 total posts 68 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 60 total posts 60 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 111 total posts 46 posts
- AICN Legends: Quint talks with Paul Reubens about all things Pee-Wee! Including the 3 (!!!) Pee-Wee movies in development! -- 37 total posts 37 posts
- Rest In Peace Bethesda’s Adam Adamowicz -- 88 total posts 37 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 174 total posts 33 posts
- The Sensorties Revisit The Friday Docback (And Still Smell)!! DOCTOR WHO Story #7 Again, The Coming Of Season/Series 7, And More!! -- 83 total posts 32 posts