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Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 2nd wk of Mar 2011: Zombies, Miyazakis, Pot Advocating Porn, Korean Badassery, EXCALIBUR!
Hey folks, Harry here… With yet another column written in the hospitality of my hospital stay… that said, I’m being released today – which gives me such an amazing delightfully happy experience writing this particular column, knowing – it’s my last on a small screen, not in my native environment. I’m well enough to leave here, but I’ve still got months of hard work ahead of me, if I’m to walk again. But that’s fine. From here on out, I’ll be working out constantly in my living room as I watch these new releases – and I’ll even pedal as I write some of the future columns. That said – thank you for reading and supporting these columns – they gave me something to continue to contribute during some of the most painful and exhausting days I’ve lived through thus far. Providing me with quite a few smiles. So thank you. As usual, the links and pictures link over to Amazon – where you can learn more on these titles or purchase them if you feel like it. If you do, a percentage of that purchase will continue to help keep these columns coming – especially in the darkest of times. SO thank you again!
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 – Harry is free from the Hospital Day!!!
Chris Morris’ satiric comedy about Suicide Islamic Fundementalist Terrorist Bombers is an exceptional biting look at something that seems incredibly dangerous and forbidden to joke about… and yet… we all need to lighten up about. Many critics, not just me, compared the film to DR. STRANGELOVE – I made the caveat that FOUR LIONS wasn’t as iconic as Kubrick’s run at the absurdly dark humor… but it doesn’t fail to show the absurd truth of the matter… humanizing these modern day kamikazes as pretty much the biggest losers imaginable. As a result – the film is affecting, hilarious and gives you quite a bit to talk about after the fact. Also – the first film distributed by ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE FILMS! Hopefully the first of many! Great stuff!
I love Matt Damon as an actor – he’s just so fucking good. I watched him in THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU and didn’t once see the great character he played recently for Soderbergh – nor Jason Bourne or any numbers of other characters he’s played. His roles involve smart acting. Then he takes the time to lend a brilliant and biting narration to this Academy Award winning documentary about - essentially what exactly is fucking our country in the ass. This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats – it’s about how they’re both fucking us regularly. The documentary – while surely outlining exactly why we should all be crying, managed to entertain as well as outrage me. This just won the Academy Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY this year… Consider it a must see! In fact, I suggest you buy a copy – watch it – and then send it to your Senators and Representatives. They should be inundated with this film – from their constituents. It is that important.
THE WALKING DEAD: Season One (Blu Ray)
I loved the first season of this – and thought the suggested retail for the Blu Ray is $49.99, Amazon is currently selling it for $22.99 – so over half off. So this is very definitely the way to score it. Now why get the Blu Ray? To be honest, KNB. Their Zombie work in this show is stunning. There’s a brilliance that one can not fully appreciate, until you see it in the superior HD image that full 1080p, delivered on Blu Ray delivers. I’ve a lot of reasons to be in agony right now – but the key one is having to wait forever for the next season. Of course… perhaps this year – once I’m walking – KNB and Frank will let me film my first upright cameo in years on this show. Just so long as the make up takes at least 7 hours to apply. I want epic makeup – I think Ginger Zombies are under represented in cinema. I’m just saying. OH – anyways… there’s a good deal of extras, but mainly – I just want to watch Season 2. Soon. I’ve no idea where it is headed.
I like this movie – it was far more enjoyable than CRASH… I love the story – and there’s a holy fuck moment in the film that scared the fuck out of me. I can totally bond with this film, because I can totally imagine having to break Yoko out of jail someday. Seems likely. She’s just violent. It’s the South Korean in her.
Wish I’d seen this in theaters with my wife. JJ Abrams produced it – and frankly – the grumpy pissed off indignant former great anchor… played by Harrison Ford – just made the movie for me. I liked to pretend he was playing Dan Rather – who was totally fucked over by CBS. A decision that made me forever decide to no longer watch CBS Nightly News – which I had watched my entire life. ANYWAY – there’s more to the movie than Harrison’s part – and as a huge smitten Rachel McAdams fan – and as someone that has loved Diane Keaton from her early Woody Allen days… And I’ve now seen Patrick Wilson in a few Romantic Comedies – and I like him in these types of films. It isn’t close to being as great as BROADCAST NEWS or a film like NETWORK or even a hair of the ass of ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN, but it isn’t trying to be any of those. It’s just a sweet story. And it is sweet. Watching Harrison Ford being mean to Rachel – just made the movie for me.
I’m saving this Blu ray for when I get home on Tuesday. I can watch EXCALIBUR for a week, non-stop. I love the film that much – I love that it is PG – and that there’s no other PG film like it. I mean – the fucking is brutal, the nudity explicit – and it is PG? Limbs hacked off. Brutal violence… and the MPAA of 1981 said – “Yeah, Kids totally should see this shit!” and I agree. This is the definitive Knights in Armor film. Nothing comes close. Ever. It also helps that as a kid – when this movie came out – my girl friend was the daughter of the people that made Merlin’s skull cap and the jewelry in the film. And she made me this Stained Glass window with flowers pressed inside of it – that we picked together at the Renaissance Faire we met at. When I was 10. She was my first kiss and my first Skinny Dipping partner. If you’ve never seen EXCALIBUR – you must. It is far better than any fantasy knights in armor film ever made. Just amazing. Just writing about it makes me want to watch it now – but I won’t. I’m saving it for my big projection screen at home – and I’ll bike as I watch it. As I will while working on watching the titles from now on.
NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (Blu Ray)
Another great Miyazaki feature animated classic. The excellent US Dub, might annoy you – but that’s ok – cuz Disney did the right thing and has the original Japanese soundtrack in place as well! Along with the French Dub track as well. I’ve never seen NAUSICAA in a theater – so being able to see the crystal clarity of this animation on BluRay was such a delight. Disney’s also done a great job with special features – take a look:
BD:
• World Of Ghibli: Visit Nausicaa's world in this enchanted interactive experience.
• Behind The Studio: Discover the film's fantastic origins in this fascinating documentary, including an interview with Hayao Miyazaki!
• Enter the Lands: Explore the many worlds of Studio Ghibli through this interactive map!
• Studio Ghibli Trivia Challenge: You're your Knowledge
• Original Japanese storyboards
DVD:
• Behind the Microphone: With A-List Voice Talent
• The Birth Story Of Studio Ghibli Featurette
• Original TV trailers
THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (Blu Ray)
Remember when John Woo & Ringo Lam were making ungodly fucking awesome cool movies with soul out of Hong Kong? Well – THE MAN FROM NOWHERE is that kind of badassery – and I just fucking loved it. I had the opportunity to see this twice on the big screen during FANTASTIC FEST… and the second I got the Blu Ray – I put it on and watched it here in Rehab – and then showed it to a friend here – and they were blown away. The final… oh… 30 minutes… will just fucking knock your dick in the dirt. So fucking badass! This is a crazy violent film – and the knife fight you’ll see in this film – will have you squirming, squealing and way damn excited. It’s great. Just great. If you love films that raise your blood pressure – this is one of them.
I really love Miyazaki’s son’s adaptation of Ursula LeGuin’s THE FARTHEST SHORE novel out of the Earthsea series… It doesn’t quite equal his father’s work, but hey, he’s starting out. What I do want to see is a lot more work from him. Disney has done a really good job with this DVD – I just wish they released it on Blu Ray!
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (Blu Ray)
I love that EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP was nominated for Best Documentary – and I am very happy that it didn’t win – as the absurdity of it being nominated was enough for me. I don’t believe technically this was a documentary – strictly speaking. Instead it is a brilliant work of performance art. Banksy (Matthew Vaughn) has created an unsolvable mystery with this documentary – that goes far beyond who he really is – instead – it is a document about the artform of which he is king, but then in creating the definitive documentary about that genre of art – he not only documented it, but created the most absurd new artist of the form. If you love Orson Welles’ F IS FOR FAKE – that’s the kind of brilliance you have on tap here. If you held out for the Blu Ray – here ya go! By all means watch it!
I was actually shocked when this did not appear on the BEST DOCUMENTARY nomination list at the Academy Awards this year – not because any of the films nominated, didn’t deserve it. But because it is a GREAT documentary that does in fact cast an incredibly bright and new light at the horrors of the Nazi Propaganda department – in how they tried to portray the Warsaw Ghetto effort in a favorable light – and it is… shocking, stunning and just amazing. Seriously so. Can not recommend highly enough.
APHRODISIAC! THE SEXUAL SECRET OF MARIJUANA
This is… hilarious. It is also porn. But if you like the film REEFER MADNESS – this film similarly plays as propaganda – but as Pro-Pot propaganda that portrays Marijuana as an amazing Aphrodisiac that gets both men and women horny (kinda true) – but then it also professes in hilarious “FACTUAL” documentary-esque examples of Pot in action as an Aphrodisiac – and while these scenes are not particularly hot – they were crazy funny. Also – John Holmes performs in this. But my fave part is watching Billy Curtis (real Munchkin) talking about pot with a joint in his hand on Hollywood Blvd. Sort of reminded me of Jeff Mahler.
If you know of the infamous exploitation filmmaker, Joe D’Amato, and upon looking at this box art – you might think this could be good exploitation – and it really isn’t. There’s two moments of horror at the opening and in the ending scene… the rest is just mediocre sex. SO I can not really recommend this.
If you loved Edwige Fenech in HOSTEL 2 – learn why Eli Roth fell in love with her in her prime. Edwige Fenech was easily one of the hottest women ever in exploitation – and this very exploitive take on the novel, MADAME BOVARY is outstanding. This is sexy and hot. GOOD STUFF if the box art appeals to you – it gets better! Nothing like young horny Edwige Fenech to pass the time in Rehab – or wherever you need time passed.
Next week, we’ll be looking at THE FIGHTER, HEREAFTER, WASTE LAND, BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD – Season 1 – Part 2, GAMERA VS ZIGRA/GAMERA: THE SUPER MONSTER, YI YI (Criterion Blu), AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS (Criterion Blu), THE WILDEST DREAM: CONQUEST OF EVEREST, BATTLE OF THE WARRIORS (Blu), ANCHORMAN Blu, FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION, SHARKTOPUS, SNOOPY COME HOME, A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN, BLOOD (Blu), BMX BANDITS (Blu), CANDLELIGHT IN ALGERIA, INTERPLANETARY, SUGAR BOXX and THUNDER IN THE CITY.
Readers Talkback
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Harry's final hospitalized DVD PICKS & PEEKS is up!!!
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Oh well.
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I wasted my hard earn cash on fucking FOUR LIONS at the art house this weekend and it fucking drops this week? And its on Netflix no fucking waiting period! FUCK! I knew I should've gone to see Rango instead. Also I was a minute are two late. <P> Its a BLAH movie, nothing great, worth a rental if you are interested, definitely not worth paying to go see in a theater, especially when there's a 80 year old lady having a fucking heart attack over how funny just every single fucking line in the movie was. <P> The only remotely laugh out loud moment was maybe the Chewy/bear argument.
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In fact I didnt even know it was out yet. I could talk about Excalibur all day. Its like if you played D&D in the 80's , you loved you some Excalibur. Watching it now with Adult eyes theres a lot that doesnt work. (Like w/e Boorman was trying to do with green lighting in the forest scenes) But so very much of it works. I love all the performances in it still. So many actors you never saw or heard from again. Like the dude who played Perceval and the guy who played adult Mordred. When its all said and done you can usually measure your classics by how many times its been ripped off. That final confrontation has been swiped by everything from Fellowship of the Ring to Star Trek Nemesis
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Dan Rather didn't get fired because he was 'fucked over', he got fired because he was so intent on finding anything he could to try and discredit the President that he aired a story that no one in his own news department vetted and subsequently turned out to be completely false. Most local anchors would be fired for that, let alone the figurehead of a national news agency.
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I'm pretty certain it was R.
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So I'm dying to see Walking Dead on Blu-ray!
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Excalibur is rated R! What made you think it was PG?
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Amazon has Excalibur listed as a PG movie. They are wrong (or its an edited print of the film).
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And In The Valley of Elah is a pretty engrossing flick as well, Haggis is quietly building up a good resume post-Crash. Also, I really wanted to like Morning Glory, but Harrison Ford mumbling his way through the movie didn't work for me. Rachel McAdams is throughly charming though, with a stronger script I might have been able to get over Ford's grumbling. Also, it needed more Goldblum.
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I came to read about the New DVDs being released this week but then Harry has to go on about skinny dipping or in his case obese dipping and just the mention of Harry nude is horrific. All proceeds from peoples clicking the links to Amazon should go to the young girl traumatized from seeing Harrys baby penis
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There were two versions of "Excalibur" that were released in 1981: an "R" rated version, which was 140 minutes and a "PG" rated version, which was 119 minutes.
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March 7, 2011, 11:52 p.m. CST
I'm trying to think up words grand enough to describe the majesty and sublime beauty of Excalibur...
by The Krypton Kid
but mere words simply aren't enough.
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Is almost enough for me to finally break down and get a player.
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You do know that there was a PG and R rated version released in the theater at the same time, right Harry? The one that is 144 minutes is R, the one that is 119 min is PG. The one with the extra violence and nudity is R. So the MPAA wasn't THAT daring. But still pretty good for a PG. And it's a good movie. Can't wait to see it on Blu Ray
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...I don't usually care to comment on the goings-on here at AICN but something you mentioned here has piqued my interest. Specifically, it's the name you dropped for Banksy. I'm not sure how you think you know who he is or why, but dropping what you think to be the name of an artist who's mystique is built partly around his anonymity doesn't seem to serve a purpose other than to "show off". Maybe you've given a lot of thought to his artistic movement and you feel it's best served, in some round about way, by supplying a name to the persona. Or maybe you didn't think about it at all and just felt like claiming to know the secret. Either way, unless somehow you know Bansky personally, this doesn't seem in keeping with someone who truly respects the work he's doing and understands that the mystery is more important than the truth.
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Banksy is NOT Matthew Vaughn.
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Because zombies crave BRAINS!!!! And Rather DID screw himself. He did not check his sources - but he did man up and take his beating. That is what happens when actual JOURNALISTS get something wrong. They get fired. If he were on FOX news he'd still be going stong. All hail the house opinion built! And Excalibur is just the best. Dame Helen in all her glory as Morgana. The whole cast just ruled - that is THE must-buy on Tuesday! Walking Dead needs to pick up the pace. They have a lot of very entertaining ground to cover. The characters are only ankle deep in shit - they should at least be waist deep by now! Here is hoping season 2 brings it!
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in 1981. It was most definitely rated "R". Only on cable, they out out an edited PG version, which to this day I have never seen. FIX THE ARTICLE. Neither this nor Conan the two best sword and sorcery fantasy movies made yet were anything but rated "R".
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and it's about time, I think I've had my Excalibur blu-ray on preorder for 5 months now!
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His "documentary" sucked and graffiti is well, graffiti. His gimmicks are no more serious than that of any reality t.v. show. Please let his five minutes of fame (in the film world) be up and let us move on.
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March 8, 2011, 1:06 a.m. CST
Walking Dead 1/2 great, groundbreaking TV, 1/2 boring, messy, crap TV.
by Pop_aristocrat
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Harold You really shouldn't fuck with the American mind. Most of the US readers here will think this true. And evryone should see 'Four lions' Chris Morris is a genius. Like all of his output it gets better with repeat viewings.
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I happen to believe Banksy is an absolutely amazing artist, regardless of genre. For the record graffiti and street art ARE forms of art everybody ;) Harry, I agree with everything northernsoul said. If you knew who Banksy is, you would have the respect to not say his real name. This just makes you sound silly. Love the Walking Dead, can't wait for season 2!
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Fuck yeah, any word on the quality of the transfer?
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My uncle produced Aphrodisiac! I'm so excited this is coming out!!!
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Why does Harry review that shit? I mean, no one's interested.
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'I'm kidding. I know GUY isn't BANKSY - as I just got off the phone with a friend that has met BANKSY and while he told me Guy isn't BANKSY he said that was a very smart guess... So I suppose it could be MATTHEW VAUGHN.' review of Exit Through the Giftshop from AICN Harold doesn't know Banksy's 'real' name it's an 'in joke' to get the weak minds of talkbackers to buzz. Everyone in the UK knows that Banksy is really someone called 'Edgar Wright'
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Excalibur and Nausicaa on the same day! I still need to see Four Lions as well. Btw my dvd version of Excalibur is definitely rated R. On a similar note, Clash of the Titans is rated PG and there's definitely tits in the first ten minutes. I was super surprised the first time I was watching that movie, sitting on the train next to a bunch of senior citizens and all of the sudden there's a naked woman on the beach. Still, it's tame next to the sex in Excalibur.
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Below is a review from BluBrew on the EXCALIBUR Blu Ray... VIDEO QUALITY Quite good. While Excalibur will never truly jump off the screen due to its highly-stylized, diffused photography – I have little to complain about Warner’s transfer. The overall image looks very natural with a pleasing layer of grain and adequate detail. Colours look lush and accurate, without artificial boosting present on other Warner catalog titles. The AVC-encode is quite competent without too many obvious issues, although the heavy grain can be a bit much for the compression at times – causing some slight blocking and mushiness. The transfer loses a few points, however, as a result of the inexplicable cropping of the image from the original aspect-ratio of 1.66:1 to 1.78:1. The unnecessary cropping causes the framing too look noticeably tighter (here for example), with heads often ‘cut’ in half near the top of the screen. Overall this is a good transfer, hampered by unnecessary cropping. AUDIO The DTS-HD 5.1 track presented on this disc is competent, but hardly recognizable as a dynamic mix. John Boorman famously preferred the film to be presented in mono – and that choice is quite clearly identifiable in the mix on this disc. The overall track lacks pretty much any use of surrounds, being nearly completely focused on the front channels. Dialogue and effects, however, are always clear and distinctive – and the track is void of intrusive issues. Optional subtitles are available in the following languages: English, Danish, Czech, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Catalan and Swedish. EXTRAS The extras present on this release are: -A feature commentary by John Boorman -Theatrical trailer (SD) The extras on this release are quite disappointing considering the relative popularity of the film. The commentary by John Boorman isn’t particularly exciting, but it is thoroughly informative nonetheless. A theatrical trailer is present in SD-quality. FILM John Boorman’s Excalibur is an absolutely intriguing piece of film. Easily the most mature and philosophically-themed adaption of the infamous legend – Boorman’s daring (almost Shakespearean) approach to the picture offers its viewers a magnificently dark middle-age fantasy, which is as strong as it occasionally messy and confusing. Loosely retelling various episodes in the legend of King Arthur, Excalibur’s narrative sometimes collapses under its own ambitions – while still managing to be perpetually interesting. Stylistically the film is an absolute masterpiece, offering a continuous feast of breathtaking cinematography and beautiful production-design. Influences of Ingmar Bergman are quite distinctive throughout - the film noticeably ‘borrowing’ elements from films like The Seventh Seal. The acting is quite diverse, with now household-names delivering a wide variety of performances (Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson). Nicol Williamson is mesmerizing as the slightly off-kilter Merlin, giving the character an alternation between lovability and menace. In the end, Excalibur succeeds because it treats its source material with respect and serious fascination. The film is truly unique entry into the fantasy-genre, and a wonderful piece of 80′s nostalgia. A highly recommended watch.
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I've become a bit of a copy and paste king today... but just saw the very first BATTLE: LA review is in (at Denofgeek.com) and so here it is... (I'd say it contains mild spoilers so if you want to go into this movie totally fresh then stop reading now)...<p> Yet again, America's been invaded by aliens, who rain from the sky like meteors to terrify an unsuspecting populace. This time, the aggressors dominate not because of their superior intelligence, but because their guns are cooler than ours. Battle: Los Angeles is an invasion movie for the Call Of Duty generation, a cinematic version of a console shooter with wok-headed invaders who bleed cola and fire pew-pew laser guns from rooftops. Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez are the two recognisable faces among a group of otherwise anonymous soldiers dropped behind enemy lines as the occupation begins. Within seconds of their arrival, much of Los Angeles has been reduced to a smoking pile of concrete and knackered tanks, and invaders prowl the ruined streets of Santa Monica. Their ranks decimated, Staff Sergeant Nantz (Eckhart), Technical Sergeant Santos (Rodriguez) and their compatriots fight a street-level war with heavily armed aliens. Not that names particularly matter, since writer Christopher Bertolini wastes little time with introductions on either side of the fence. Director Jonathan Liebesman, meanwhile, provides even less room for pause, ensuring Battle: LA's lengthy runtime is essentially an unceasing string of action set pieces. This is just as well, since the rare moments of reflection raised audible titters among my fellow viewers. Aaron Eckhart turns in an admirably stoic, stony-faced performance, but is saddled with some desperately inane, clichéd dialogue. At one point, he delivers a monologue about the tragedy of war and the horrors he's witnessed, only to sum up everything he's just said with a dismissive, "But that's not important right now." You also have to admire a film has Eckhart say to a small boy, "Hector, you're the bravest damn Marine I ever met" before launching himself into battle with a macho roar. In this respect, Battle: LA is a B-picture movie with A-picture cinematography and special effects. Battle: LA's biggest problem, in fact, is its decision to take itself so seriously. Despite the inherent daftness of its premise (why would aliens with such advanced technology even bother to engage in street-level combat?) and the half-arsedness of its script, the film insists on ramming home the tragedy of every human loss, with lingering shots of fallen heroes, slow motion montages of weeping children, and a mournful orchestral score that murmurs constantly in the background. It's a film infinitely better made and more exciting than last year's suspiciously similar Skyline. But it's less goofily fun than the glossy spectacle of Independence Day, or the quaint brilliance of Earth Versus The Flying Saucers, or any of that first wave of invasion movies from the 50s. Battle: LA instead presents a tidal wave of shrieking action, and in the place of a three-act story, the movie is split up into videogame-like levels. There's a tower defence section, a bit that involves both driving and shooting, and even a sequence that cheekily recalls the Hammer of Dawn weapon from Gears Of War. The videogame connection is further compounded by the sneaky inclusion of a billboard poster for Resistance 3, which makes a prominent appearance during a pivotal firefight. The result, then, is a film that's heavy on theatre-rumbling big bangs, but low on emotional impact. Its human protagonists are entirely two-dimensional, while its invaders are little more than tin ducks at a funfair, moving targets for the heroes to take panic-stricken pot-shots at. Battle: LA rallies for a final, epic boss battle, but the film's over reliance on computer-generated set pieces and soulless heroics means it seldom feels like anything more than an extended version of its own trailer, a feature-length advert for a series of tie-in games and action figures, with the jingoistic atmosphere of a US Marine Corps recruitment video thrown in for good measure. Having said all this, you might think I didn't like Battle: Los Angeles at all, which is by no means the case. There were moments where the film had me truly gripped, particularly early on. Eckhart convinces, too, in his numerous action scenes. He may have been saddled with some cheesy lines, but he looks good in combat fatigues and has a world-class grenade-throwing arm. Had the film channelled some of District 9's writing as well as its gritty visual style. Battle: LA could have been a properly memorable popcorn epic. Instead, it's an entertaining but ultimately vacuous assault of explosions and special effects. 2 stars out of 5.
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Or.........buy it on Blu Ray......argh is the picture quality on the blu ray worth shelling out the extra dough for? Oh and Harold, what did you mean Banksy(Mathew Vaugh) and also edgardevice Banksy is not a hack, that was an extremely stupid thing to say.
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March 8, 2011, 3:59 a.m. CST
"This just won the Academy Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY this year… Consider it a must see!"
by Bandit 37
WTF? Who buys into this? It won so it's a must see? Who gives a shit about the Oscars. How can you even comare those movies, and call one the best? You are retarded for even putting it out there like that.
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That's one of the great things about animated films, there is no need for subtitles. Just dub it. It doesn't matter as the mouths just open and close regardless.
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Prior to the introduction of PG-13 there used to be brief amounts of boobage and more violence in PG films. Also drug use (cf Poltergeist - which always was plain PG).
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But American dubbing just sounds so awful most of the time. The actors can be terrible. And Excalibur is most certainly R (unless you are watching the PG version). A hard R. Rape in armor, limbs hacked off, nudity....and hasn't it been out for a while in bluray format, or is this a new version?
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I pity the fools who don't like this movie.
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March 8, 2011, 7:09 a.m. CST
"Morning Glory" was produced by Jar Jar Abrams? I knew that movie had a pudrid stench of retard idioticy about it. Now i know why. I should had guessed.
by AsimovLives
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March 8, 2011, 7:38 a.m. CST
Harry, I wish you the best of luck now that you are being discharged today.
by Zombieflicker
Although I will miss the "on time" DVD review columns that we've had these past few weeks. I'll bet five bucks that we won't see one next Tuesday morning.
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"Anál nathrach, orth ' bháis ' s bethad, do chél dénmha." These were almost the first words my wife said to me, and it impressed the hell out of me. On our tenth anniversary I hunted down this DVD (still in shrink wrap) and presented it to my queen. Man, they don't make movies like this anymore.
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dark doom, I just hope she didn't become a human dry ice machine and transform into an old crone!
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one of the reasons which added to the movie's standing popularity. now where did you see the PG rating only God knows.
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It really depends on the voice actors/actresses. A lot of films (both animated and live action) have good to great dubbing... in fact, I would say that all of the Miyazaki Disney dubs BUT the Disney dubbed NAUSICCA have really good dubs (when you watch the movie and forget that it was made in a foreign country, that's usually a good sign). <p> NAUSICCA on the other hand has one of the worst dubs I can think of. While Patrick Stewart has a great voice, it is almost too recognizeable to be used, as all you can think of is "that's Patrick Stewart". Even so, most of the other voices are decent (emotion given when expected, etc), but Alison Lowman? Jesus Christ, it sounds like she's reading off of a cue card! Pretty much ruins the movie because of how lifeless she is (well, that is until I switch it over to the original Japanese). <p> Believe it or not, I can't watch HARD BOILED in the original Cantonese.. I can only watch it with the original English dub... a lot of which has to do with the emotional inflection with some of the dialogue (particularly the scene where Tequila is telling his undercover partner in the elevator he didn't kill a cop. I always felt the Cantonese voice didn't match the emotion on Chow's face... which is weird, since that is his real voice). <p> Anyways, on the EXCALIBUR blu? I have the HD-DVD and it looks excellent. There is grain, but it is minimal (along the line of film grain, as opposed to print damage or lack of clarity). Even the night shots have a lot of detail to them. Even if Warner just ported the HD-DVD print over to blu, it would be worth getting.
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Sadly, Robert Addie (Mordred) died 8 years ago, but can be seen in the excellent Robin Of Sherwood (out on Blu-ray!). Coincidentally, Paul Geoffrey (Perceval) also shows up in one episode.
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The first word your wife said to you was "Anál" No wonder you married her. Anyway, I loved Exacalibur. The only thing about it that was laugh out loud unintentionally funny was that they never took those damned suits of armor off. They're sitting around a feast in their armor? Perhaps it all works as some kind of metaphor, but it is just ridiculous to think that warriors of that time would think about relaxing encased in metal. If you read any of the literature of the period, the first thing any knight does when off the battle field or done with a quest is get out of that freaking armor.
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The Man From Nowhere is fucking awesome, Top 10 movies of 2010 for sure...
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March 8, 2011, 9:18 a.m. CST
Harry was in the hospital while posting this dvd column for fucksakes!!!!!!
by samuraiyao
Give the big man some fucking slack...
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I'm just curious. I know there are a lot of posts filled with anger and Bob Lawblaw, but do you get a kick out of them overall?
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I love Talkbacks - never ceases to make me giggle
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http://www.impawards.com/1981/excalibur_ver4_xlg.html
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The bluray comes out today, why leave it off the list?
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March 8, 2011, 10:30 a.m. CST
Who do we have to kill to GET NEW "Excalibur" cover art?
by The Reluctant Austinite
Here's one thing I think we can all agree on: the cover artwork on "Excalibur" is a shitty Photoshop abomination that looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like the film and conveys NONE OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND TONE of the film. This crappy artwork showed up on the DVD years ago, and I was shocked, but I think most of us have just gotten used to looking at it. I can't believe they used it again for the Blu-ray when some amazing promotional artwork exists for the film. There are a couple of fantastic theatrical posters that actually feel like the film they are advertising. There's nothing sunny, bright and clean about this film. It's a gritty, dark and dirty telling of the Arthur legend. I believe at the time of the first release of this cover, the bad Photoshop image was an attempt to make the film look like something being released at the theater at that time. It may have been "First Knight" or something like that. I can't remember. Anyway, I have the DVD, and I'm NOT GOING TO BUY THIS BLU-RAY with that cover. Let's face it, physical media is becoming a medium for collectors, not renters, downloaders or streamers, and the packaging matters for collectors.
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Harry, during your hospital stay, the DVD column has been on time each week! :D Good luck on your continuing recovery!
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A few years ago I was at a party in West Hollywood standing outside with friends and who walks up: Gabriel Byrne. I was a bit in shock to see this great actor suddenly appear. Usually when I meet an actor the first words out of my mouth involve their early work and with Byrne it was no different. I said something like "You were great in Excalibur, I love that movie" or something like that. It had to do with Excalibur that's what I'm sure of. He thanked me and I basically stepped out of his way so he could proceed to the party. Cool guy. Excalibur is probably in my top 5 movies of all time. Brilliant, brilliant movie. It has everything I want in a movie: drama, action, comedy, sex violence and magic. And a still relatively young Helen Mirren naked in a fishnet dress. Anyway, oh and also Harry that's a beautiful story of your girlfriend, the stained glass and the Renaissance Faire. ^_^
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What's the deal with that? Because it's "artful"?She's totally nude while the dude skeches her in that necklace. Fucking MPAA is backwards
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Honestly, the first season of Walking Dead wasn't that great, but I watched it because it is zombies and I like the potential of where the series could go.
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CBS did what it had to when Rather embarrassed the SHIT out of himself and his network.
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March 8, 2011, 11:28 a.m. CST
I'm as liberal as they come, but Dan Rather deserved to be shit-canned.
by D Ropaela
Still, why is it that the "journalists" on Fox News get to keep their jobs. (And, yes, assholes, I'm talking about the people who anchor the actual "news" shows during the day, not the blowhard fucktards at night.)
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It's because there's an institutional mandate at Fox to spread propaganda.
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you're naive, ignorant or dishonest. Or perhaps all three.
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March 8, 2011, 11:49 a.m. CST
ALL corporate-owned "news" in the U.S. is suspect, for that matter.
by D Ropaela
Even when it comes from the network that employs Rachel Maddow.
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Interesting read basically saying that if they don't get their act together, they're going to end up being the next Circuit City. It made me think of when I really stopped buying from there, and when I thought about it, it was when they basically reduced their dvd section to recent releases and tv shows. I remember for years I would go in there and even though they didn't have a massive selection, they still had a sizable amount of back catalogue dvds. Now you're better off going to Wal-mart for an old movie. When Best Buy slashed their dvd section, I really didn't have no reason to go in. Even with Amazon around, it was still a place to impulse shop. And now that their focus is becoming more and more stictly televisions and computers, I can go just about anywhere and find a better deal.
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But the guy was obviously duped by someone. I wonder if it was a crazy person from the left, or the right. Has the source ever been found for the false documents of Bush in the NG?
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It's basically become the old PG rating, just with maybe a tiny bit more violence. How many movies actually get rated PG now?
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Does anyone even bother watching it anymore after Rather, Jennings, and Brokaw left?
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Yup. Always thought it was R rated
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Harry, You don't need the makeup to terrify us Walking Dead viewers. Love, Thefetusnowdotcom
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The cat on Kiki's Delivery Service: sounded like Pikachu in the Japanese original, dubbed by an ad-libbing Phil Hartman in the American release.
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PG? No way.
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They were that big-box place that actually had some pretty cool shit on their DVD shelves, and they didn't charge the full list price like Barnes and Noble does (fucking shit pisses me off). Now, with all that space cut back, there's a whole lot less impulse buying going on, as you said, and there's more space taken up by more expensive stuff that just doesn't move as quickly. If they were smart and they truly wanted to shrink in-store inventory, they would have sold their bigger storefronts when the getting was somewhat good on the commercial real estate market and moved into smaller, more-efficient shops. But no, they managed to fuck a big part of their customer base and themselves in the process.
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Wiki: Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis’s bethad, do chél dénmha In modern English, this would be translated as: Serpent's breath, charm of death and life, thy omen of making. But (heh) life is still good, my wife is a witch or something she looks as young as we first met, humm.. maybe there is something behind her saying the "Charm of Making" so many times..
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-- Mark Millar.
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Um, Racist..Very, very racist.
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Megamind! Cumon! Who loves Megamind?! Speak up! You know you love him and his little minion. Would have rather had 4 Megamind movies over the years instead of shrek- jeeeeesus fucking milking christ. Megamind gets more play than toy 3 even with it's riddled with aliasing blu-ray
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Saw this was coming in next weeks column, but I've had a copy for some time. Still funny as hell, comes with the Wake Up, Ron Burgundy extra movie they assembled from unused footage.
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So that on can't be really recommended, but do you know more black_magicploitation/sexploitation movies that are cool? any of you guys?
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I taught that fucker everything he knows. But I kept the best stuff for myself. Fuckin' amateur. CHOPPED.
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Congratulations on getting out of the hospital!
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During the last battle at the end of the movie we see Mordreds army and there are what appear to be knights wearing masks that appear to be old men with completely black skin. I always thought that was the coolest shit ever because it was so bizarre. So what were they exactly? Helmets? Masks? Old men??
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Swamp Thing - Adrienne Barbeu Case closed!
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...misses the point of enjoying the brilliant Japanese voice characterisations, Spirited Away being a most obvious example e.g.Yubaba. Can you imagine Grave of the Fireflies dubbed into American accents? It would be an insult to those who lost their lives as a result of America's indiscriminate incendiary bombing.
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How many weeks was Harry in the hospital? 3 weeks? 4? Dude, your hospital bill is going to be insane. I once paid $700 for an ER visit and all the doctor did was prescribe Motrin. It's amazing that someone who is only 39 is having so many medical issues. I'm 40 and I've never spent a single night of my life in a hospital. If there weren't so many obese Americans, the US healthcare system wouldn't be the piece of shit that it is today.
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Disney is all fuckin ass backwards on this shit. As everyone is probably painfully well aware: that fucking miramax Mononoke dvd sucks big donkey dicks! Its like the worst dvd transfer of an animated film ever. Theres a region 2 dvd that supposedly kicks all kinds of ass I think Disney is afraid Mononoke doesn't jibe well with their Okeily-Dokeily Ned Flanders image
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What happened to him? He was an A lister actor a few years ago, now I dont see him starring in a good movie since forever. And thanks for letting me know about The Man from Nowhere, which led me to Cruel Winter Blues, A Bittersweet Life and Outrage, the latter with the great Takeshi Kitano!
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Um... Where is the Jackass 3 release info? You can write up multiple softcore porn crap but nothing on a release a few people may actually purchase?
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Never saw the original, but that new one was good and it was visible that Crowe was having a blast, truly a bad ass.
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It's mostly about obesity. The US spends 344 billion in healthcare costs on the obese every year. 8 out of every 10 deaths in America is from an illness related to obesity. You can come and find me at North Austin Medical Center (where I work), and I'll be glad to give you a pamphlet on controlling your weight, so you won't add to the burden of society.
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Ahh Excalibur! Such a great flick! Though my childhood self was hoping to actually see the dragon Merlin spoke of, the very adult musings throughout the movie totally weirded me out as a kid (in a very good way) and this movie made a lasting impression on me. Also, I had seen, of all things, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' around the same time and even had certain memories of both films interchanging when relating certain scenes. Where that highly creepy and great scene of the portculis opening slowly and the grail being revealed interspersed with the knight hanging from the tree and choking only to be mixed with scenes of John Gleese kicking the bride in the chest and the French launching cattle and produce at the knights outside. "Brave, brave Sir Robin!" I'm also very sad for the what would seem to be totally dead "At the Mountains of Madness"...hopefully GDT will find the financing and get that puppy made - I'd love to see any of HPL's work brought to the screen with modern cinema tech and someone who loves the original work...would be sweetness incarnate!
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Both of you are on time out, as of now. Peckerwoods.
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Ok fattie, I'll be watching for you to come wobbling through the ER doors. I hope you don't run out of breath before you find me.
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It's the best fantasy movie of all time. Even better than all the LOTR movies combined (and I love the LOTR movies.) Brilliant.
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BEST film of last year, next to GIFT SHOP.
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And you sure as shit forget about car privileges for a whole MONTH, mister!
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I love these people who like to talk tough on the internet. Probably a tea-bagging Sarah Palin supporter.
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You better get out of your basement, stop looking at porn, hide your sperm-stained kleenex, and wobble your obese ass up there and see what she wants.
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March 8, 2011, 4:51 p.m. CST
The only movies rated PG these days are CGI animated features
by Nasty In The Pasty
And just so they can throw in just enough off-color gags to keep the parents interested. Otherwise all kid's movies are rated G, and EVERYTHING ELSE is rathed PG-13 except the occasional Saw sequel.
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Actually, no, I just walk for 30 minutes a day. You'd be surprised that if you get up and move around, you can avoid becoming obese. Geoffrey has probably become so obese, he makes Kevin Smith look like the Schindler jews.
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The Schindler Jews were actually very well fed.
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Did you marry her?
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March 8, 2011, 6:52 p.m. CST
What the fuck!? No one talking about the utterly badass "The Man from Nowhere"?
by reise reise
Oh yeah, because it's a Korean movie. To be fair, some foreign movies generate a lot of interest on AICN, but more often than not no one gives a shit when awesome stuff like "Elite Squad 2" and Takeshi Kitano's "Outrage" is covered here. Meanwhile, the latest hyped-up Hollywood blockbuster generates huge discussion, which is perfectly understandable, but it's still kind of depressing when so many cool movies from around the world that are just as worthy are practically ignored. "The Man from Nowhere" is exactly the kind of movie that many AICN readers would probably love if they actually gave it a chance; it's a brutal, badass action movie with some of the best fight sequences I've ever seen. It has been compared to "Taken" and "Man on Fire," among other well-known work, but it's far superior to either of those.
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Awesome. Also can't wait to check out Tales from Earthsea. Man from Nowhere sounds right up my alley from your description!
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I'll chime in - this is a truly badass film. Saw it earlier today, actually. Must see. (Oh, and nice Rammstein reference in your name)
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Google it......HOT DAMN!
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but, please, let us know when something is NOT being released on DVD. thanks
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Is a hack. Two bit artist. More a marketer than an artist. Sad state of modern culture that anybody would think otherwise.
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Can't wait to see it with some clarity.
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Yes, because the USA was the bad actor in WWII.
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wait a minute, I thought Alex Jones was crazy and paranoid, why is his movie Fall of the Republic almost the same as Inside Job? Infowars.com google Fall of the Republic and watch it for free.
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March 9, 2011, 8 a.m. CST
That's a photoshopped bra on Edwige on that Madame Bovary cover, correct?
by D.Vader
There's a photo of this same still on the net but she's completely nude in it. Or is THAT one the photoshopped pic? Looks real to me.
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His story about Bush was based on a document by a man who was deceased. Bush' people were trying to say the the documents were forgeries, but there is no evidence that they were forgeries. There is also no evidence that they are not forgeries and therefore no one other than the dead man could substantiate the claims. But, Rather did show the documents to the man's secretary and she said that it looked like his writing and pretty much authenticated them. The problem was that the story originally came from a shady source, but that does not mean it wasn't true. I think it's pretty much established fact that Bush was given National Guard duty because of his father so he could avoid going to Nam and that once there he was negligent in hi duties. I don't think anyone would dispute this.
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March 9, 2011, 12:01 p.m. CST
Even Dan Rather isn't claiming that the Bush documents were real.
by Man in Suit
AICN is the home of the last pro-Rather hold-outs. How strange! I don't like how this debate has distracted me from the picture on the Madame Bovary dvd box.
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HBO ran the "R" version...with an intermission...when it hit cable. Have never seen it since; hoped this was that version, but bought it anyway.
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Yeah, bought it as well. Have a fairly current SD version on DVD, but got a high-end BR player for my XMAS present to myself, so I'm slowly going broke buying BRs of stuff I have on SD.
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Amazon says: Rated: R (Restricted) Studio: Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: March 8, 2011 Run Time: 140 minutes This IS the Extended R version!!!! Joy.....
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Drop whatever you're doing and go buy this movie now!!!
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Seriously surprised more people haven't seen it, easily the best action film to come out in 2010. Easily.
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I liked, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" but the fact that the man behind Banksy who prefers to be anonymous, is a fucking coward and a douchebag. Why hide Banksy?
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Thought that was kind of weird as it was the really big release for this particular week. The one that I was waiting for though was the Excalibur blu-ray. Should be picking that up on payday Friday.
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Seen it today and it does kick ass; reminded me of Taken. The knife fight was brutal and beautiful but thinking about the ending, it would be even more realistic - or satisfying - if the kidnappers had taken the girls eyes out and Chad ultimately would have to take care for this girl for the rest of their lives.
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I remember watching "Excalibur" on The Movie Channel back in the early 80's. Since it was on in the afternoon, they were showing the PG version. My mom freaked out, claiming it was an R movie, but I calmly showed her the PG in our cable guide.<br /> <br /> "I could have sworne it was rated R," she said.<br /> <br /> Since then, I've only seen the long version.<br > <br /> It's still one of my favorite movies of all time. I LOVE Nicole Williamson's performance as Merlin. No one else who's ever played the role even comes close to him. The sound of his voice makes you feel like he's not of this world. It was the type of acting only a classically trained performer could pull off<br /> <br /> I'm looking forward to seeing Joseph Fiennes take on the role. Ironically, Jaime Campbell Bower, who plays Arthur in the new series, will also appear in the pilot of "A Game of Thrones" as Ser Reymar Royce.
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Does anyone else have the 4 LP set of The Hobbit being read by Merlin, aka Nicol Williamson? My parents gave it to me as a Christmas present when I was about 8, and I still have it 31 years later. It's fantastic.
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The whole moaning woman in the fog music and all. But it has great moments as well.
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Dude can't go an article without talking about chicks from his past...and if hes as monsterous now as he was back then then i call bullshit on all of it.
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Scrolled right down to the Excalibur blurb and now I have to think of Harry skinny dipping. BARKEEP BRING MORE BRAIN MEDICINE lulz thanks for being consistent on the DVD column big guy!
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March 10, 2011, 7:04 a.m. CST
Yes, it is amazing that Excalibur is best Arthurian film to date.
by parissun
You would expect with the tech upgrades that no one has touched this film yet. Come on Cameron, give us the definitive Camelot.
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March 10, 2011, 11:21 a.m. CST
Yes, Stewart was in it. Like several other actors it
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
was one of his earlier screen roles, although he had been doing stage for many years. Liam Neeson as Gawain, and Gabriel Byrne at Uther Pendgragon. Even then Stewart was a scene stealer. After Arthur puts the sword back, and draws it, Stewart, who moments before kicked everybody's ass in the jousting tournament for the right to draw couldn't do it says if the boy has been chosen, then the boy has been chosen. One of his fellow knights is completely opposed, and asks if are you with us, or against us. "Against you," he yells, then rides off. I dont' recall seeing him in any more scenes after his castle is saved, and at the last battle when England is united. This is the best adapatation of Arthur hands down, but more Stewart would have been epic.
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March 10, 2011, 11:22 a.m. CST
No CGI, no other update, Clive Owen, etc. will ever defeat
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
the perfection that is Excalibur.
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March 10, 2011, 11:24 a.m. CST
Rumor mill has it, and I think IMDB posted too that
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
Nicol Williamson and Helen Mirren had just recently completed a Macbeth production that was just terrible, and were at each others throats, hence the director's idea to keep them in their perspective roles as enemies in Excalibur.
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Williamson is included in John Boorman's director's commentary on the original HD-DVD, which is a good clean transfer by the way. I assume the Blu-ray will feature the same master and the commentary as well. It's a good one. I believe that Helen Mirren and Nicol Williamson had an affair during that stage production that didn't end well. That, combined with the failed stage production made for an interesting shooting experience between the two actors. Now it's been a while since I listened to Boorman's commentary, but that's what I recall. They had to change cinematographers as well because the original guy had some sort of breakdown when the first dailies came in too dark. His light meter equipment was miscalibrated or faulty and it ruined all the first scenes shot for the film. It happened twice in a row so he bailed. It's really worth a listen.
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Remastered, nothing more - let a whole new generation experience the majesty on the big screen. I don't know who I'm talking to - it's just a wish.
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He chunky dunks!
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March 11, 2011, 10:36 a.m. CST
As much as I love Excalibur and the awesome use of music..
by kidicarus
It does have shortcomings, particularly for me that the scale feels so small and a lot of the fighting hokey. I'm dying for someone to come along and do an Arthur with a massive budget, two movies, and keep it grounded in myth and magic.
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After heaping the praise upon A Serbian Film.
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seriously, Miyazaki & Excalibur releases alone
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OMFG I just squealed like a little girl! Excalibur on Blu-ray! I fucking LOVE that crazy, brilliant film!
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When I was a kid I saw Excalibur during its initial run, and it was most definitely R-rated. My mom even had to take me, but she walked out. Wasn't into all that sex and blood in shining armor stuff.
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Though if the blu ray is rated PG, its just one more reason why Blu Ray BLOWS BALLS! Harry if you've only seen the television PG version of the film do yourself a favor and watch the proper version immediatly...even if you have to pull it out of a box of VHS tapes.
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