Hey folks, Harry here with our first April 2010 column! And look, you can tell it is going to be a wonderful April due to how early in the day I got the column up! Woo-hoo! As usual the pics and titles are linkable to Amazon – where if you purchase the item, a small portion of your cost goes to help support this column, which it seems many of you love. And those that queue this titles up, I’m glad to help guide ya through the terrain of releases. Enjoy the column…
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
THE LORD OF THE RINGS (1978 Animated Movie) Blu Ray
I love Bakshi’s LORD OF THE RINGS unabashedly! The voices, the score and especially the animation – it just does it for me. I know that those of you that have come to the second holy trilogy first – that you can’t stand how much was cut from Tolkein’s classic tale – but for me. It was in 1978 at a Drive-In theater that my love affair with Tolkein began. Now – if only Rankin Bass will release a Blu-Ray of THE HOBBIT and RETURN OF THE KING.
Now – as a fan of BAKSHI’s LORD OF THE RINGS – and as a retardedly in love with Peter Jackson’s LORD OF THE RINGS… I do have to say I am happier with the Bakshi release on Blu Ray. WHAT? HOW DARE I? Calm down bitches, the reality is simple - I’ve never seen Bakshi’s film look as good as this. It sounds amazing! And the making of documentary covers not just LORD OF THE RINGS, but Bakshi’s career to that point… and it is really good! If only it had Bakshi onstage at the Alamo cussing at Lars. Sigh, such sweet memories!
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE MOTION PICTURE TRILOGY (Theatrical Editions) (Blu-Ray)
You know. I’d fork over $200-$300 for some ludicrously correct Criterion Release with a Weta sculpted something – that had the Theatrical releases, the Expanded Editions, and shit tons of behind the scenes. But this cheapie release (if you can call $60, cheap) is just wholly unsatisfying.
It did give me an excuse to rewatch the Theatrical Trilogy – something that I didn’t think I’d do again – as I really and truly feel the Expanded Editions are vastly superior films. Now – the image quality is perfect, the sound is awesome – and I have watched these theatrical versions 3 times already (but that’s cuz I’m a huge honking RINGS geek) and if I wasn’t sent this release in advance… well… I still would have picked it up – just so I could see ‘most’ of THE LORD OF THE RINGS in Blu Ray quality. But I do have the disposable income to willfully be raped by Time Warner for a product that is in no way completely satisfying.
But right now – I can’t tell you when and if the Expanded Editions will hit on Blu. I’ve made some inquiries to see if I can get you a decent guestimate… I wrote Peter about this and the response I got basically said that the NEW LINE DVD team that he had a fabulous relationship is no longer the team handling the title. Instead TIME WARNER’s huge team is and he is not included in any of the decision making processes with the title. And if that scares the shit out of you, it scares the shit out of me. WARNERS – you had better get your shit together and get REAL FRIENDLY with the fans. You’re going to be counting on them very soon – and this release is no way to kick start that.
BAD LIETENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS
Within this rather ugly Blu Ray box is pure fucking magic – compliments of the bugnut insanity that was the magical alchemy of 1 part Nicolas Cage and 1 part Werner Herzog! In a far cooler world than the one we live in – there’s an alternative Academy Awards show that nominated Tom Hardy for BRONSON, Sam Rockwell for MOON and Nicolas Cage for BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS for best actor. Now The Dude still probably would have won for the sheer awesome that giving Bridges an Oscar was, but at least the category would have been AWESOME – and we could argue for years about where it should have gone. Not only is Cage great – but every actor in this is awesome. In particular – Fairuza Balk has a small role as a Highway Patrol type – and holy shit – I haven’t had the hots for Fairuza ever, but Fairuza in a Police uniform… crazy fucking hot! I always loved the original, but in terms of awesome – Herzog and Cage own the original!
THE NATURAL (Director’s Cut) Blu Ray
Dammit! I miss this Barry Levinson. Remember that period – when Barry Levinson was one our great filmmakers… DINER, THE NATURAL, YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES, GOOD MORNING VIETNAM, RAIN MAN, BUGSY…. Then there was TOYS, JIMMY HOLLYWOOD, SPHERE and other films that just didn’t equal the first half of that career. Now he seems to live on Television – and I’m awaiting one of the great “Nostalgia” directors. And I say that with love. Barry could capture a period and a time like very few other directors. His immaculate eye for detail was amazing. And with THE NATURAL – he knocked it up into the lights.
This is one of those titles you get because it is some of Caleb Deschanel’s mostly lovingly beautiful work… because Randy Newman’s score will get inside your heart and make you skip a few beats. You get it because our nation’s great pastime will never ever look as good as this again – and at 1080p – it is stunning! It is a crime that this longer, more textured and dramatically satisfying version is not seeing a Theatrical release. But studios still seem to not know they can get people into theaters for this sort of work – and with Digital projection – it is easy. Would love to see this with an audience.
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (Blu Ray)
I remember when this came out, nobody was looking forward to the film. McQueen’s original is such a triumph, and not necessarily commercial film – very arty very wonderfully. So the fear was that McTiernan would action it up a ton – and while that is there – this may very well be McTiernan’s most adult film. Beautifully put together and a film that reminds me just how much I love Rene Russo. Nice transfer – and a helluva flick.
ICONS OF SUSPENSE: HAMMER FILMS ( STOP ME BEFORE I KILL!, CASH ON DEMAND, THE SNORKEL, MANIAC, NEVER TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER, THESE ARE THE DAMNED )
Now here’s a fucking treat! Now I know – these aren’t “THE HAMMER TITLES YOU KNOW!” Exactly my point! Take for example, STOP ME BEFORE I KILL! Directed by the awesome Val Guest in 1960. It is all about a vacationing couple – where the husband begins wanting to strangle his wife. Knowing this is a wrong thought he sees a local psychiatrist who decides he should follow the couple back – then one day, the Hubby’s wife goes missing. And he thinks he might have killed her. WONDERFUL film! But the next, CASH ON DEMAND is an even better suspense flick, starring Grand Moff Tarkin himself, circa 1961! Then you see a title like THE SNORKEL and you may believe it’s a filler. But what you get is a great little film from a story by Antonio Margheriti – featuring one of those amazing fucking jewels of a villain performance by Peter Van Eyck – who died way too early. You won’t know his name, but he’s one of those faces that you see in a ton of weird import titles from the 60s and a few big things like THE LONGEST DAY – but he really and truly shines here. You’ll be similarly happy with the remaining 3 titles. This is a fantastic set of great HAMMER suspense titles. Not the flashy Horror titles, but great nevertheless. A real treat for this week’s column!
THE RELIC (Blu Ray)
I love Penelope Ann Miller. The crush began in High School when I caught a glimpse of her on THE FACTS OF LIFE. She kept showing up in cool movies that year and the next. Around the time I headed to college, I had a crazy crush growing with her performances in DEAD BANG and THE FRESHMAN. But then – damn – with AWAKENINGS, KINDERGARTEN COP, YEAR OF THE COMET, CHAPLIN, CARLITO’S WAY, THE SHADOW, and this THE RELIC… well, she may not have made the best movies, but she fucking looked amazing in everything. I understand I may be in some manner of minority when I profess an undying admiration for the lovely Penelope Ann. That said – Penelope is lovely – we can all agree on that. And Tom Sizemore is an insane man. But THE RELIC is a fun little monster in a museum picture. The CG is a bit dodgy. Actually, quite a bit so. There’s a part of me that wishes that every 15 years or so – a studio would go back and spend the money to update the state of the art CG they used at the time. But once you realize the monster isn’t going to be for real scary – but more of a “Boo!” movie – with excellent direction, cinematography with rich shadows… well – that’s THE RELIC. I like it quite a bit.
COCOON (Blu Ray)
All in love with COCOON raise your hands? Remember that swimming pool scene with Steve and the alien chick? FUCKING LOVE THAT. Alien foreplay. Awesome. What I love is how this is a silly situational film that gets very real. I love when the story turns and it becomes all about Old people holding on to the vitality of life. It is emotional and quality work that is not dated in the least. COCOON is the best version of “KICK THE CAN” that is out there.
THE PROTECTOR (Blu Ray)
For those that think the Tony Jaa films are all about Tony Jaa with no other discernable talent of substance – I offer forth THE PROTECTOR. Prachya Pinkaew’s direction is amazing here. The sensibilities are very non-Western in terms of plot and story – but his conceptualization of some of the scenes in this movie are nothing short of miraculous. The famed multi-story continuous shot martial arts spectacular that begins the end sequence of this film is something that should be taught in every film school in the world. The stunt work, the tenacity of the actor and the elegance of the camera work – the advance lighting – it is just jaw-droppingly impressive. Truly amazing and gorgeous on Blu Ray!
POSEIDON (Blu Ray)
My initial rage filled review for this movie aside, rewatching this the other night proved to be far better than my initial viewing. If held next to the original POSEIDON ADVENTURE – Wolfgang Petersen’s effort seems to be a laborious bore. But if seen on its own terms, it’s just not entirely satisfying, but there’s good work to be seen. I still can’t believe how much they spent making a TV movie version of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE. It seems small, even in 1080p.
JADE (Blu Ray)
Remember the glory days of NYPD BLUE – when David Caruso was being talked up as being the inheritor of the Al Pacino seedy awesome leading man award? Well, here you had a Joe Eszterhas excessively limp erotic script, a whole lot of actors that just didn’t snap with the material or each other – and a William Friedkin – that just didn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders. This was the ‘third’ strike, following THE GUARDIAN and BLUE CHIPS – which nearly felt like the end of Wild Bill’s run. Thankfully, he bounced back with RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, THE HUNTED and his best modern work, the absolutely sizzling BUG. But JADE is a riveting artistic failure at just about every level. Linda Fiorentino just wasn’t hot in this. Even the impossibly hot Angie Everhart doesn’t tingle the nethers. Yet, the second it arrived in my mail I put it in. It is a train wreck that I can’t help but watch in wild fascination. It really doesn’t work.
DREAMSCAPE (Blu Ray)
DREAMSCAPE is a wonderful Eighties oddity that I just dig the living shit out of. It is one of those films that had crazy stop-motion effects for a live-action integration… wild weird compositing… and a cool as hell premise. I love the idea of a government funded psychic experiment that was about hooking a psychic into another person’s dreams so that Dream Walker could assassinate you in your dreams, thus killing you. This came out in 1984… earlier in the year… in August. Then that November, we were introduced to Freddy Krueger in Wes Craven’s A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET – but DREAMSCAPE was first – and was frankly my favorite of the two. First off – the high brow talent of Eddie Albert, Christopher Plummer and Max von Sydow just kill their respective roles. Kate Capshaw was never so hot. George Wendt was awesome as the guy trying to uncover the Government conspiracy that Christopher Plummer was planning. And Dennis Quaid is note perfect as the rogue psychic that uses his psychic powers on a con game. BUT… The most fucking awesome of awesome in this awesome little movie is the creepiest little fuck in little fucker fucking with you cinema history… DAVID PATRICK KELLY’s Tommy Ray is EWWWWWWWWWW! His voice, his eyes, his rodenty looking face. Why this guy hasn’t played the scariest vampire ever is beyond me. But Tommy Ray is one of those great 80s super villains. I love Chuck Russell’s script. Maurice Jarre’s score. And Dream Quest’s special matte paintings. It is ambitious beyond the capabilities of the time, but I love the look they generated in a pre-Digital age – even if the plot really was something screaming for the effects of today.
THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT (Un Chapeau De Paille D’Italie)
All of Rene Clair that I knew prior to watching this awesome silent era Comedy – was his direction of a little fave flick of mine, I MARRIED A WITCH with Fredric March and Veronica Lake. And I love I MARRIED A WITCH. Well, I also knew his work from the forties Agatha Christie adaptation of AND THEN THERE WERE NONE… another film I loved. Rene Clair did not have a long Hollywood career – but I had heard amazing things about his work overseas… I just never had a chance to see some of it till now. THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT is no where near as good as the two other films of his that I know, but it is absolutely mesmerizing in that it kind of reminds me of a Jeunet film, but of another era. It is a bit stagey – but delightful all the same. For fans of silent films!dirt
DIRT! THE MOVIE
Remember when you were a kid and playing in the dirt was about as fun as it could ever get? Did you ever ponder how important dirt is? How far reaching the ramifications of good dirt and bad dirt could stretch? Me either. But this rather awesome documentary – narrated by the narrator of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK – comes DIRT! THE MOVIE. They speak to Nobel Peace Prize winners and all sorts of experts in DIRT and how important it is. DIRT! Is one of those docs that does scare you a bit, but then pays off with a shitload of hope and reasonable options that we should all agree on. Isn’t it time you knew more about DIRT!?
BROTHERS FIVE (Blu Ray)
I haven’t seen this one, but it is my intention to have all Shaw Brothers films on BLU RAY so I may gleefully spend my life in the kung fu shenanigans they have produced! I know Sammo Hung is in it – and that the film reportedly is action packed with very long fight scenes that entertain. So that is pretty much all I need to know.
THE DELIGHTFUL FOREST (Blu Ray)
As a rule – anytime you see the name Chang Cheh as a director of a Shaw Brothers film – you should just automatically get it. I have yet to be let down – and THE DELIGHTFUL FOREST is no exception to that rule. I really like Ti Lung, and his character of convicted murderer, who makes a friend out of a prison guard, who then gets out to help get that Prison Guard’s restaurant back from the Thugs that took it. Well. You have a movie where your hero is a convicted murderer of his Sister In Law and a thug. Well that’s just fun! You’ll really dig this.
THE HEROIC ONES (Blu Ray)
Ah!!! Here’s a really good one! THE HEROIC ONES is not just directed by the great Chang Cheh, not only does it have the great Ti Lung – but my favorite Shaw Brothers actor, besides Gordon Liu, is David Chiang. He’s just so fucking charismatic. His eyes dance the way Han Solo’s and Indiana Jones’ did at their best. That Errol Flynn spark. You know what I mean? He has that. This is a great historical costume epic – and it has one of my fave Davd Chiang fights – between him and Bolo Yeung – which is incredibly unlikely – but deliciously so. What can I say, I love Shaw Brothers flicks.
TAXIDERMIA (Fantastic Fest Vet.)
TAXIDERMIA is best left undescribed. Instead – this is one of THE FANTASTIC FEST brilliant what-the-fucks in Fantastic Fest’s long long history. (LOL). Imagine meshing Jeunet, Cronenberg, Del Toro, Peter Jackson and Jörg Buttgereit. All at their most ‘whoa’ and you kind have an indication. But make no bones about it. You’re probably ill-prepared for this sort of entertainment. You know deep down you’re a pussy and you would run screaming about half way in. But that’s ok. You know your limitations. You chickenshitted out of MARTYRS – or you just got yourself offended. Then skip this. It isn’t for you. You’re either too mature or not nearly enough. Whatever your condition, I weep for you. Because you my friend will never, no matter your effort, see the brilliance of TAXIDERMIA.
THE DAM BUSTERS
It helped to inspire STAR WARS – Peter Jackson is producing a remake – and the film is absolutely beloved by millions who have seen it with that ‘family’ member. The one that was most dear and influential at a key point in their life. This is that type of movie. A crazy absurd notion tried because nothing else could possibly work – and it kinda fucking miraculously works. That is this film. It is seriously one of the great films of great films. This is merely the latest release. If you haven’t seen it – you really no longer have an excuse. Watch this awesome movie!
Next week we’ll be looking at the Blu Ray release of APOLLO 13, THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET Blu Ray, PIRATE RADIO, DEFENDOR, GONE WITH THE WIND (Scarlett Edition) Blu Ray, THE SLAMMIN’ SALMON, Essential Art House: KAPO, THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON, ONE LAST DANCE, OH MY GOD, ST. HELENS, 8 ½, BRIEF ENCOUNTER, DAISY CHAIN, LOVES OF A BLONDE, JULES ET JIM, THE KOREAN and it looks like that’s it. BTW – are any of you folks that have that top Samsung model Blu Ray players – are any of you having trouble with Paramount’s titles that are being handled by Lionsgate? My player is giving me fits with those discs?
