Hey folks, Harry here and wondering how many of us survived this holiday weekend. I really want to be a hermit for the rest of the year, but I’ve got a busy cycle about to come up, I’m praying for a chill January. Anyway, here’s the rest of NOVEMBER’s releases. Some great stuff here. As always the pics and titles are linked to AMAZON, where if you feel the need, your order goes to help continue the efforts of this column to bring you the most comprehensive single article on DVDs & BluRays each week… or two. Sorry. Heh. Remember back when I did just one of these for a month. That was an insanely long column to write. Well, here ya go…
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
THE EXPENDABLES
Just a whole helluvalot of fun. When I got the Blu-Ray for this, I sat down my 10 year old nephew – and let it play. When Arnold & Bruce showed up, he exclaimed, “NO WAY – NO WAY! That’s ARNOLD & BRUCE WILLIS! NO WAY!” Oddly enough, that’s how I felt watching the film that first time. Intellectually I knew in advance they were all going to be on screen together, but there’s something so fucking cool about just seeing it happen. Stallone made a film that reeks of testosterone, I wouldn’t be surprised if my sister discovered Kubla’s first chest hair when he got home from watching this. The assault on the bad guy’s lair. This is a film to fully push your sound system. When Crews unleashes with that gun of his, the sub-woofer should shake your breastplate. Your balls should retreat and your… “WANNA FIRE THAT GUN”-gasm will start tweaking! Not a brilliant action film, but one that felt old-fashioned in the right ways. Very fun movie!
THE COMPLETE METROPOLIS (Blu Ray)
I had this in last week’s column, because AMAZON had it listed as being such, but it belonged in this week’s apparently. Hopefully you’ve already picked this up. This is the film that gave birth to a lot of George Lucas’ imagination. That motivated Ridley Scott to create his future in BLADE RUNNER – and that has amazed audiences for 83 years – and continues to just be an astonishing work of cinema that not only holds up, but easily bests most anything you’ll see in a theater this year and most any year. If you read this site, you must own this. Otherwise… well… I just don’t know what to say.
CRANK / CRANK 2 (Blu Ray)
Both of these titles have hit on Blu-Ray before… And there’s a host of 2-packs coming out around the Holiday season that are priced at $11 and frankly – I don’t have the finger endurance to write about all of them, so I’ll just highlight a few of them in this column. The CRANK series is such a breathless amount of kickass absurd ludicrious fun that eleven bucks for the double bill… well, it should not be passed up. It really is just shit tons of fun.
AMERICA LOST & FOUND: THE BBS STORY ( HEAD / EASY RIDER / FIVE EASY PIECES / DRIVE, HE SAID / THE LAST PICTURE SHOW / THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS / A SAFE PLACE ) (Criterion Blu Ray!)
This time of the year is the hardest time for a film writer, especially if you cover film and home video… The combination of all the Academy screeners that you get sent… and the incredible Holiday releases from companies… It’s a misery or riches. You just can’t dive into everything, there’s not enough hours in the day. I try to make the best of it – but the fact that I haven’t yet torn into this Blu-Ray set… disturbs me. Now, I already have EASY RIDER on a great Blu-Ray. But the rest of this set… Wow. BBS was a short lived production entity that felt the studio system was ignoring a very real and vital youth audience. And this is why the seventies ruled. Today, the studio mind set of the youth audience is to flood us with Vampire romances & Superhero films… Back in the early Seventies, there was a different class of youth. Experimental in nearly all things. Highly political. Fiercely intelligent. And hungry for something outside of the norm. I believe that audience still exists, it’s just so hard to reach given the sheer enormity of the marketing machine that exists today. But at this time, you had the wildly psychedelic and bizarre HEAD starring the Monkees in a wildly different light. There’s the classic EASY RIDER. The wonderful FIVE EASY PIECES starring Jack Nicholson as an oil rig worker & wanderer, with a great role with Karen Black. Then there’s the Jack Nicholson directed film, DRIVE,HE SAID. I’ve never seen this or A SAFE PLACE – and that’s mainly due to the fact they’ve never had a home video release before. But both have been films I’ve long desired to see. Bogdanovich’s THE LAST PICTURE SHOW has been a classic that I’ve seen a great many times – mainly due to the fact that it was one of my mother’s favorite films – and was filmed just 20 miles from our Ranch in North Texas. Brilliant performances, fantastic writing and Ben Johnson… wow. Peter had to pry the performance out of Ben, who had issues with the part, but wow what a performance. Can’t wait to check out the transfer on this one. If you love BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and if ya don’t – what’s wrong with ya… This is a more modern set version of the Mob in Atlantic City and stars Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Ellen Burstyn and the amazing SCATMAN CROTHERS – who – if he stars in a film – it becomes instant viewing in my household. Love the Scatman. This is a wonderful film – and moreso – this set is simply incredible. It gives a wonderful focus to one of the most vital early fires of creativity of the Seventies Independent movement. Well done, Criterion!
DEADWOOD: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Blu Ray)
Did you know that the complete DEADWOOD was available on BluRay? Holy shit, that’s a pickup right?
BATMAN BEYOND: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Limited Edition)
I love BATMAN BEYOND, now I prefer the original BATMAN series that this crew did, but that’s because I’m a deeply entrenched traditionalist at some very basic levels when it comes to my favorite comic characters, but I do love a great take – and the idea of a grizzled old Bruce Wayne training and using a young man to be his surrogate in the field, that he is no longer capable of kicking ass quite like he used to… well, I love it. For a while, they were looking at turning this into a live action feature – and I found myself praying for Clint Eastwood as the old Wayne and who could play Terry McGinnis? Anyway – this amazing set has all 52 original episodes, including the one with me in it (you’ll know it when you see it) – but you’ll get commentaries, seasonal retrospect’s, lots of special features and artwork to look at. Very nice!
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED
I’m really quite hung up on Gemma Arterton. She is just beautiful and she glows on camera and off. That said, her big mainstream films… CLASH OF THE TITANS and PRINCE OF PERSIA – just haven’t fully taken advantage of just how good she can be. Check out this and right now in theaters check her out in TAMARA DREWE. There’s so much more than a pretty face at work here. In this, she is kidnapped and held for ransom by a pair of chaps that have it all worked out. I really don’t want to say too much, because the twists and turns that this thriller has worked out are outstanding. I really really loved it.
SALON KITTY (Blu Ray)
The Nazis were some really and truly sick fucks. And Tinto Brass has no shame in showing us just how fucking depraved and crazy these fuckers were. SALON KITTY will show you images that you can’t unsee. Helmut Berger is great in this, but even more so – Tinto Brass’ audacity is the star of this fucked up flick. There doesn’t seem to be a 35mm print available to show in the world, or else this year’s BNAT audience would’ve seen this around 4am. Oh well. Blue Underground finds another wonderful cult title for us to shock with!
I’M STILL HERE
Casey Affleck directs this hilarious performance art role from Joaquin Phoenix that never fails to crack me up. Reminds me of something that Andy Kaufman might’ve pulled off. But I have to say, I just love Joaquin in this. Check it out!
SPACE PRECINCT: THE COMPLETE SERIES
I never caught a full episode of this show when it was on the air. Everytime I came across it, it was in the midst of an episode and I just never groked it. But today, I opened up a parcel of mail and there in my hands was the entire SPACE PRECINCT and the thought hit me… This would be a great thing to dive into. I’ve never met anyone that watched the show that wasn’t in love with it – and the notion of a cop series with aliens in the future sounds like a blast – and so I find myself on the verge of discovery. After I get through this month, I’ll give it a shot… I wager I’ll be a drooling geek for this show.
ANGEL HEART / JOHNNY HANDSOME (two pack Blu-Ray)
There’s a group of us film writers that will love Mickey Rourke till the day we die – and here are two of the great reasons why. Alan Parker fucking nailed sweaty mystical New Orleans with ANGEL HEART and Walter Hill’s JOHNNY HANDSOME is one of those great overlooked movies for both Morgan Freeman and Mickey. This is a great double feature. I recommend playing JOHNNY HANDSOME first, then seque into ANGEL HEART. If you’re on a date, ANGEL HEART could get you laid. Talking from experience here, guys!
ATLANTIS, THE LOST CONTINENT (Remaster)
There are few cinematic creators that I love more than George Pal. From his Puppetoons through his brilliant run of live-action entertainments, he and the work coming from Ray Harryhausen kept the genres that we geeks love alive in a time and place in cinema where to get that kind of spectacle on screen was decidedly difficult to an extreme. The reason I have had a life long obsession with Atlantis can be drawn to this, AQUAMAN comic books and SUB-MARINER comics. That trio lit my imagination. The idea of the Atlantean heat ray… TOO COOL! This is the first time we’re getting this on DVD and it has been a long time in coming. Time to celebrate!
THE POWER (Remaster)
Produced by George Pal, this is an Agatha Christie style whodunit with Telekinesis as the wrench responsible for the killings! THE POWER feels like an early Michael Crichton story, but it was taken from the novel by Frank Robinson. Starring the always tan, George Hamilton, Suzanne Pleshette and the man that fought The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Richard Carlson, the cook from FORBIDDEN PLANET – Earl Holliman, Lily Munster – Yvonne De Carlo, Klaatu – Michael Rennie, the amazing Aldo Ray and more. This is a very fun psychic mystery.
THE ANIMAL WORLD
Ok – How many here knew that Irwin Allen made a film with Ray Harryhausen? That should instantly identify you as an old school geek like me. Now – if you look at that poster, you might get the idea that you’re going to see a movie that is 100% Dinosaur awesome. But look at that title. ANIMAL WORLD, yes there’s a breathtaking 12 minute Ray Harryhausen animated sequence that makes you yearn for Ray’s dream of a feature length Dinosaur in Nature feature… but alas, nobody ever financed it. Instead, this is what we get… along with ONE MILLION YEARS BC and GWANGI… this represents DINOSAURS in the Harryhausen filmography – but let me ask you this. How many of you have ever had a chance to actually see this movie? To see Harryhausen’s 12 minutes of frame by frame 24 frames a second animation. But the majority of the film will be nature footage of less… spectacular creatures, but lovely still. But let’s be real, you want this – like you want all Harryhausen films… for the Harryhausen of it all!
CLEOPATRA JONES AND THE CASINO OF GOLD
This is amongst my favorite titles in the history of film. Not that the film lives up to the awesome that title has when spoken aloud with a flair for the dramatic. That said, Tamara Dobson is perhaps the hottest lady of the Blaxploitation genre. She’s just… the female equivalent of Ron O’Neal. Just a gorgeous example of the human form. I actually think that Beyonce was channeling her for her AUSTIN POWERS gig, but Cleopatra Jones was the most outrageous Black Heroine of the Blaxploitation genre and in this sequel, it’s played for kicks. The dialogue, costumes and action are all fun. Definitely a must if you ever throw an Exploitation party – for you ladies, there’s easily a dozen or more costumes to emulate!
HIGH WALL
This is an awesome Noir. You start with the character played by Robert Taylor admitting that he killed his wife, yet he doesn’t know the particulars. He then goes on a mission of self-discovery to find the memory of what happened. That’s when the German Expressionistic use of shadows and cocked camera angles begin to kick in and you find yourself in an awesome film. Seriously! If you love Noir, this is one I know you haven’t seen, but should!
THE SEA AROUND US
This is really a spectacular looking environmental advocacy film – long before Al Gore started warning us, Irwin Allen was with this adaptation of Rachel Carson’s book warning of dangers facing us, that have only increased in subsequent negligent years. This retro-environmental awareness film is priceless. For one, though the photography techniques of today are far advanced, this was upon Technicolor’s most brilliant film stock, so though you’ve certainly seen the sea, you haven’t seen it like this… and in Cinemascope! Awesome.
INSIDE OUT
I haven’t seen INSIDE OUT. But it stars Telly Savalas, Robert Culp and fucking James Mason in the following plotline. Apparently there’s this secret stash of over $6 Million of Hitler’s personal gold, and there’s only one man that knows where it is, and that man is in prison… and Telly Savalas and Robert Culp have to break into a prison, to get James Mason out – then quest for the fortune in Hitler GOLD! HOLY SHIT I WANT TO SEE THIS! How about you?
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
FANTASIA / FANTASIA 2000 (4-Disc Blu-Ray / DVD Combo)
Just fucking wow. I love FANTASIA. As a kid growing up, this was the only feature animated title that my family owned in 16mm film, so for the earliest days – my parents would get stoned and put on FANTASIA and I would sit amongst the settling smoke, and watch the mushrooms dance, the dinosaurs fight, Chernabog delight in his evil minions and a hippo perform ballet. Oh – and Mickey using magic to avoid personal labor. I love FANTASIA. I probably know more about FANTASIA than any other film. You see, growing up, the collection that my parents built for me was that of Animation art – and I was raised to believe that FANTASIA was the pinnacle of the form of animation. I’ve owned quite a bit of animation art from Fantasia – and the amazing thing about FANTASIA was how it essentially animated using every form of art there was. Pastels, watercolor, cels, oils… everything was fodder for the animation. As a result, the original FANTASIA is literally one of the most essential films to get on Blu-ray. Only there can you fully appreciate the breathtaking artistry.
Then there’s FANTASIA 2000. Again, beautiful. A passion project of Roy Disney’s… and this Blu Ray also includes the stunning DESTINO, which Roy was obsessive compulsive about finishing. What is DESTINO? Well some of the videos below will give you an idea about it, but in short… it was a project that Walt Disney hatched with Salvador Dali… and that combination absolutely does not disappoint.
Walt Disney may have been a ruthless business man, but FANTASIA stands as testimony to his love of animation and where he thought it could take the public. He wanted to bring fine classical music to the masses in a way that would make it utterly accessible to all. He used it as an excuse to push the limits of what we knew as animation. It stands as the supreme artistic achievement of the Walt Disney Company – and I don’t see anything on their docket that approaches it’s vision or artistry. That is a shame.
Meanwhile, Disney has provided a series of shorts for you to watch to give you a taste of what to expect from these astonishing Blu-Rays!
SPACE: 1999: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE (Blu Ray)
You might wonder why Merrick covers SPACE 1999 with such passion, but as a similarly aged fossil of the 70s, I too dearly loved SPACE 1999. My 4 year old brain could barely grasp most of the plot of SPACE 1999, but as I’ve revisited the series in my life, I’ve found it to be even more outstanding than what a 4 year old could ever have appreciated. I was not sent this set, but if you’ve seen Merrick’s postings showing the restoration that went into this set, you’re dying for it. This is another thing I hope I get for either my birthday or Christmas. I can’t even fathom the glory of 1080p Moonbase Alpha! Can’t wait to check this out!
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
This is my favorite of the series thus far. That’s a moderate level of praise, but I do have the feeling that each film has been superior to the one before it. That said, I’m positive the next two will be at an entirely different level due to the input of Bill Condon. Here’s the extras you get:
On both DVD and Blu-ray sides:
Audio Commentary with Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart
Audio Commentary with Stephenie Meyer & Wyck Godfrey
Six-part "Making of" documentary (Picture-in-Picture feature on BD side only)
On Blu-ray side only:
Deleted & extended scenes
Photo gallery
Music videos
Fast-Forward: Edward (Jump to all your favorite Edward scenes)
Fast-Forward: Jacob (Jump to all your favorite Jacob scenes)
Fast-Forward: Love Triangle
Fast-Forward: The Cullens
Fast-Forward: The Wolfpack
Fast-Forward: The Humans
Fast-Forward: Victoria's Army
THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE
It is strange, ordinarily I get sent every Disney release on BluRay, but I did not get this title in advance of release… Just as I was never invited to a critic’s screening, although according to Amazon it is rated 4 out of 5 stars based upon a single customer review. I kind of love that it stars Jay Caruchel, because as everyone knows… “Holy Shit, Harry Knowles is kicking Windows’ ass!” So it is on record that I can kick the Sorcerer’s Apprentice’s ass. But that’s ok, Nicolas Cage can kick all of ours asses. This has always looked like a fun film at least.
KNIGHT AND DAY
This is just a fun flick. Completely disposable in the sense that there’s not a lot of it that will hang with you, but it is undeniably fun. That comes mainly from Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, both of whom have charisma to burn. Also, I quite liked Peter Sarsgaard in this crazy romantic comedy action thriller. It’s a little to silly to quite be the NORTH BY NORTHWEST type of film. I think too often, the amp-ing up of the action actually takes away volumens in terms of believability. But as a fantasy of that genre, where physics and basic laws of survivability are not a thing to be concerned about… well, this is a plenty fun, and very light film. Very enjoyable though.
WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY
If you love what is often times called, the second Golden Age of Disney animation, which tracks from THE LITTLE MERMAID through the release of THE LION KING… one, you’re not alone. Two, this documentary is for you. It is no accident that that period was so fruitful. There was a perfect storm of talent and executives in play that put a new focus upon animation, and began to really listen to the artists and the talents they had there all along. It was a huge shift from the old guard to the new guard and watching the documentary, you see how amazing it was to be an animator working at Disney in that period. One, it was scary and terribly stressful. But the results were amazing and completely revitalized the company heading into the 21st Century. This is a fantastic documentary which could very well produce tears in the most callous of folks.
THE BOYS: THE SHERMAN BROTHERS’ STORY
Have you ever sat on IT’S A SMALL WORLD at Disneyland and wanted to curse someone for the most insanely catchy tune ever? And, is the longest word you can spell Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious? Me too. This and hundreds and hundreds of other songs, from CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG to a ton of other films – the Sherman Brothers did that. Not only that, but you remember that brilliant Disneyana documentary, FRANK & OLLIE? Remember how heartwarming and gosh geewhiz killer cool their life was? Not like that here. These two seemingly hated one another, but through that relationship, they found amazing inspiration. Excellent story!
WALT & EL GRUPO
I haven’t gotten to this doc yet. I’m hankering to watch it with my dad, because he knew some of El Grupo from his early San Diego Comic Con days. I wonder if the Donald Duck Stag film will ever see the light of day, but this documentary on Walt Disney’s South American efforts for the United States and his own business… well, It’s all kinds of fascinating. The U.S. Government underwrote a trip for Walt Disney and his team of animators, musicians & artists for the purpose to win the hearts and minds of South America, so that they would not go along with the Nazis. This is fascinating. The doc is a host of footage and stills – and tells an amazing artistic journey that may lead to you looking into air travel to exotic locations and a time machine. I really wish these documentaries were being released on BluRay. I’ve seen a 35mm print of WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY – so as they scan art, I find myself slightly aggravated at not having a superior image, so I could more fully appreciate the art. That said, these are excellent dvds and all have great special features like this one:
Audio Commentary - Director Theodore Thomas and Historian J.B. Kaufman
• Photos In Motion - How the photos literally came to life
• From The Director’s Cut – 3 different segments taking you deeper into the story
• Saludos Amigos – Original theatrical version
• Original Theatrical Trailers: Saludos Amigos (1942); The Three Caballeros (1944)
And yes, that is the full SALUDOS AMIGOS animated film starring Donald Duck and it rules!
MARVEL KNIGHTS: IRON MAN – EXTREMIS
I hate to call this an animated movie, so much as a dramatized painting. Less fluid and expressive, but deeper sense of purpose. But no matter how it is being told, the story by Adi Granov was dead on perfect. Really great little Iron Man tale. I find this a fascinating storytelling form though. It absolutely works.
CAIRO TIME
This is exactly the kinda film that Alexander Siddig was meant to star in. I love when he’s being a nice person on film. He’s so charismatic, fiercely intelligent and well, there’s no way to avoid it. The guy has some smoldering eyes on him. Seriously. You know the ladies go for this guy. Thus he’s perfect in this romantic endeavor. There’s not nearly enough films out there that just take the time to tell a flirtatious mildy erotic smolderingly romantic tale… So relish it when the do one as well as this. Plus, the sights and sounds this happens in, they’re amazing!
HAIR HIGH by Bill Plympton
HAIR HIGH is like an animated parody of GREASE & CARRIE if meshed perfectly, hilariously together . Plympton put together a fantastic voice cast for this thing, including Sarah Silverman, Ed Begley Jr, Tom Noonan, Martha Plimpton, Keith & David Carradine, Beverly D’Angelo and Dermot Mulroney! That’s not even all the main characters! Bill is amazing, as he’s the soul animator, writer and creative force on his films, and they’re amazing. If you love animation, you need to have all of his movies. They’re fantastic!
MAKE-OUT WITH VIOLENCE (Blu Ray)
A very compelling first film from the Deagol Brothers, which is a unique look at the “living dead” phenomenon. Not at all like any other film in the genre, but fascinating for that difference. It didn’t blow me away, I think simply because I’m almost overdosed on the independent Zombie movie initiative. You really have no idea how many new zombie movies I see in a year these days. And they’re no where near all great. In fact, quite a few are simply dreadful. This one mostly works though and has some strikingly original takes on the genre.
Next week, we kick off December with INCEPTION, The Boxed SHREK collection, RESTREPO, LENNON NYC, CRONOS: THE CRITERION BluRay, LOST IN TRANSLATION BluRay, VIDEODROME Criterion Blu-Ray, LADY IN RED / CRAZY MAMA, BIG BAD MAMA / BIG BAD MAMA II, ABSENCE OF MALICE, RUSH HOUR (Blu Ray), THE BOB HOPE COLLECTION, FOX 75th Anniversary Collection, THE DEEP Blu Ray, HUNTER PREY and more!
