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Harry's DVD PICKS & PEEKS - April-May 2012: THE ASPHYX, Astaire, Kelly, Rodriguez, OZU, Cardiff, SHOGUN ASSASSIN and much more!!!
Hey folks, Harry here with the catch up on my DVD PICKS & PEEKS – and yeah, I’m struggling to keep up with everything, but I’ve gotten a bit ahead on episodes of the show – so even though I personally sacrificed seen AVENGERS (which kicks an unholy continent of ass) for a 2nd time to make sure I finished this. So that tomorrow I could write my AVENGERS review – so everyone can relax – that is coming soon. As usual, the images and links take you to Amazon, which can give you more info on the title, but also you can purchase it through the link, which helps to keep this column going. For that I thank you. Here we go…
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
THE ASPHYX: REMASTERED EDITION Blu Ray
I love seventies British horror – specifically, I really love just about any film that attempts to quasi-seriously examine the world of the supernatural. Be it a film like THE HAUNTING or even something as absurdly delightful as GHOSTBUSTERS… THE ASPHYX is about that fascinating time in history where photography was new thing… The film even covers the earliest days of… film photography…. And in particular – they have a chemical intense light which just happens to capture and hold The Asphyx – which is essentially our specific angel of death. They theorize that if you capture your Asphyx, you could live forever, they test it and it is accurate. I LOVE THIS STUFF. Now for a warning. There is an unfortunate truth to this film which makes it the greatest film ever to show your Beavis & Butthead-esque friends. The title. It is pronounced, “ASS-FIX” – and with a British accent – you will hear these men longing to capture and hold their ASS FIX. Yeah. So this is a serious and fascinating film – that will cause the room to explode into inappropriate giggle fits – and that’s completely ok. You’ll love it! The Blu Ray is great. HIGHLY recommended!
Ok – so this could be a problem for Universal, because when they go this awesome on BUCK PRIVATES – I’m wildly curious how they’ll top it for the even great Abbott & Costello films that are yet to come. First off, the print & transfer are outstanding. Seriously great. Then you have the whole Blu-Book presentation, which is my favorite kind of Blu-Ray. Love the Blu-book format. Then there’s the extras, beginning with the ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET JERRY SEINFELD thing, which is a whole lot of fun. From there though – they drop the ball, putting on their UNIVERSAL 100 Years propaganda pieces. I like that these exist – and I do like THE CARL LAEMMLE ERA piece and the UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS – but I could have used something more on Bud & Lou. Or THE ANDREWS SISTERS which are amazing to watch in these long uninterrupted numbers. This is a wonderful film and it is amazing to watch Bud & Lou doing there thing in this level of quality.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE GHOST PROTOCOL Blu Ray
Now as great a Blu Ray as this is. If you really love Brad Bird’s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE GHOST PROTOCOL this Blu Ray is not the one you want. It’s great, it has great extras – but the one over at BEST BUY has a whole extra hour of behind the scenes content. And as a geek, I wanted that hour! Extras aside – GHOST PROTOCOL is a riveting action adventure – however, no home version of this film will fully reflect the awesome of seeing this on an IMAX screen. The filmmaking in Dubai is just exquisite. Brad Bird had me a long time ago, here he just makes it look breathtakingly easy. But then logic breaks down what they did – and watching the extras… you’ll crave that extra hour – so get this one at BEST BUY!
A riveting film. It is impossible to look away during this movie, the performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan are just electric. I just, it is hard for me to watch such broken people. They’re out there. This is absolutely real, it’s just not my reality. The guilt and self-degrading nature that they imbue sex in this film is just well… SHAMEful. Because I can tell you, this film has given a lot of talk amongst my film friends that would love to just be one more notch in Fassbender’s headboard. Steve McQueen crafts a film that focuses on some pretty, broken, charismatic & fragile souls. It isn’t an easy watch, it is one you get lost in, some will love that journey… others have found it pretentious. Personally, it is pretty great work.
This is the David Attenborough Narrated Version – which means, it is the only version worth picking up. I love Attenborough’s voice – and there’s something that makes it just note perfect when talking about the Arctic regions. In particular I really quite enjoyed the special feature on a look at the scientific wonders & work that are going on these desolate frozen corners of our planet. As is typical – the image is everything and the BBC’s folks know how to capture what seems to be absolute magic. For me, it is a must pick up – and I’m glad I did.
This is pretty much the worst case scenario. Not only is the apocalypse going on outside, but you’re surviving it in a bunker with the worst pieces of shit fuck heads the world ever decided to lodge together in a single spot. And yeah, we get to see a story in that situation. It’s fucked. Literally. If you can’t take watching the worst things that people can do to one another. Well, that’s why you may not want to watch this. But if you’ve been given an edge by the anvil of cinema, then you could eat this shit and call it German Chocolate Cake. I love German Chocolate Cake. I don’t get to very often anymore, but when those occassions come, my eyes roll over and yeah… Michael Biehn as a hardcore survivalist in the most fucked foundation bunker of all time? And I love Lauren German. But there’s stuff that happens in the dark, isolated spaces of the planet where people just go FUCK IT ALL INSANE – and that happens in this – and I kinda love it, sick shit, but I can’t deny I do. I have very specific friends that will dig the hell out of this. They know who they are.
This is a generational thing, I think. But just about every kid I knew that was my age – we collectively saw this film with our parents on a warm perfect night of childhood and we all thought that Tom Selleck was the fucking man, and this was some daring shit. There was a point in time where people thought INDIANA JONES = TOM SELLECK, this film would like to argue for that… but really in the light of day and out of the haze of nostalgia… HARRISON FORD is in fact THE MAN and Tom Selleck can go suck it. But Brian Blessed’s Suleman Khan? So awesome. Hell… Jack Weston, Robert Morley, Wilford Brimley… they were kind of perfect. And it had the chick from JAWS 3D!!! Yeah, this is a special memory to revisit.
For $15 you can gain a four movie working knowledge of the classic Corman Nurse films. This is important film geek knowledge. This is a KIND of film. A sort of movie that I feel everybody should develop a working comical knowledge of. Many of us experienced these as Skinamax late night features . I know for a fact I saw CANDY STRIPE NURSES that way – and yes, I did record it on VHS for my friends to appreciate. And yes, I’ve had a healthy love and respect for the profession. I have never developed a better appreciation for the profession after my time on deck this past year – but I’d lie if from time to time, I didn’t fantasize about the exact situations that these films had PROMISED Me. And, folks – in reality – there really are some amazingly hot nurses, though they’re all beautiful. This is one of the finest of works put to film. They were doing GOD’s work, all just so Wakoo’s HELLOOOOOOO NURSE exclamation years later… well it made me laugh very hard. These should be on Blu Ray though! The sinematography just screams for it.
OZU! You know, I love film. I never grow tired of giving a new genius a bit of my time – and in return, I feel sometimes as though my soul is the better for it. As though you gained perspective, knowledge of a manner that only a film at it’s best can do. OZU is one of those filmmakers. LATE SPRING makes me crave a daughter. To have a great relationship to form. It won’t at all be as beautiful as the one OZU captures in LATE SPRING, but I hope the soul is similar. The film has a peace to it that is just invigorating. Refreshing. A film to make others feel empty, that’s LATE SPRING. Print isn’t perfect, but this is the best we’re likely to ever receive. There’s not nearly enough of us that love on OZU.
Yeah, I know – I got sent the DVD in advance of complaining about no Blu ray. Then a week later I was in Best Buy and picked up the Blu. Now that Blu is available to all. ROADRACERS has an attitude that I can’t help but want to spend some time in. There’s a swagger to it all. David Arquette is cooler than he could ever possibly really be. Rodriguez puts a bite your knuckle hot Salma Hayek next to Arquette. The bastards are bastards and the fun is fun. This is the first real Drive In film of his career – and I love that Robert is trying to keep that genre alive and kicking – and he’s doing it. ROADRACERS was made on a song, Robert made it kick ass.
The most fucked up awesome Fred Astaire movie ever made. It begins with Astaire in a cockpit gunning down a Zero over the Pacific. He returns to a Hero’s welcome back home as greatest of THE FLYING TIGERS – yes, the real group. He jumps off the Train publicity tour to enjoy his stateside leave. He then becomes the most suave and debonair stranger in a city, stalking it’s prettiest available singe girl, Joan Leslie (George M Cohan’s lady), and it is actually kinda of creepy. He stalks her. Lies to her. And when he begins openly courting her with his musical and dance abilities… FUCK EDWARD, you want Fred. This guy is the ideal person to stalk you. Watch and you’ll agree.
Gene Kelly is a soldier that returns to the front to find his “wartime’ Bride has forgotten him and returned to her well-to-do roots of high society, now believing she’s too good for this ‘soldier’. The film then becomes about torturing this dumbass that would turn her back on the absolute perfection of humanity that is Gene Kelly. The musical numbers are amazing, in particular the one with Kelly and the Kids – where you realize, this really is the best man ever. It’s outstanding, so beautiful that it elicits tears of joy. Really great Kelly musical.
Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
SHOGUN ASSASSIN – 5 Film Collector’s Edition Blu Ray
ACK! Ok – this isn’t the original language versions. Dagnabbit! Well, ain’t nothing terrible about the way I’ve mainly seen this series my entire life, I was just hoping to hell this set would give us that other elusive thing that needs to not be so damn elusive. So here’s what we got… The first two LONE WOLF & CUB movies edited into an English Language film called SHOGUN ASSASSIN. Then the 3rd LW&C was turned into SHOGUN ASSASSIN 2: LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH. 4th LW&C became SHOGUN ASSASSIN 3: SLASHING BLADES OF CARNAGE. 5th LW&C became SHOGUN ASSASSIN 4: FIVE FISTFULS OF GOLD, leaving the final LW&C to become SHOGUN ASSASSIN 5: COLD ROAD TO HELL. This is the series as American Audiences have been given it – and as a kid, I saw these films a lot. My father loved Ogami Itto – and they released using these ultra-violent tales to teach me of the badass bond between a father and a son. The dubbing is something I find nostalgically pleasing, but having seen the originals as they were meant – I can’t deny I long for the pure form. Though I do love this too. Can’t wait to have Massawyrm over to watch the series!
GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE aka NAKED UNDER LEATHER Blu Ray
As a kid, (hey, it’s how I tell stories), my parents didn’t have Netflix, nor did they have Blu-Rays, DVD, Laserdiscs, Video Discs, Beta or VHS at the beginning. They collected FILM. 8mm, 16mm and 35mm. They were hardcore. Film prints were crazy expensive, that we could only add a few titles a year to the mix, but movie trailers in the format were very affordable. So Dad edited together these 50 minute reels of trailers on 16mm – and one of those on that I’ve seen countless times in my life, was the 60 second trailer for NAKED UNDER LEATHER, as this film was released in the United States. It was a striking trailer – there was psychedelic Circus style horseback riding as a leather costume was whipped from a girl’s body – as the horse trotted around the center ring. Strong imagery for a kid to hang on to, but years later I was in Los Angeles for something, and discovered that a 35mm print of GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE was playing at the Egyptian – and I cleared everything to be there. You see, in the time between child and that first viewing opportunity, I had read everything about this film. Those trailer reels became an odd rosetta stone for my passion to follow – trying to track down every film that I ever saw a piece of in those reels. I was ecstatic to see Jack Cardiff’s amazing GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE on 35mm. That screening was actually where I happened to meet John Williams, who knows a fine film when he sees it! Girls! This is a film for you. Jack Cardiff constructs a stunning portrait of a wife having an affair, the thoughts she thinks as she rushes to her lover, the misogynistic world that surrounds her – and the thrill of her lover. The girl is Marianne Faithfull, who is just a stunningly beautiful woman… but the man she’s rushing to be with… that’s Alain Delon – a MAN in a man’s world. Cardiff was one of our master cinematographers… capturing moments that we can never forget. Bogie & Bacall on the AFRICAN QUEEN, the ships on the fjords of THE VIKINGS, Rod Steiger & James Brown in the chainsaw fight of the millennia called DARK OF THE SUN. That Convent in the exquisite BLACK NARCISSUS or the whole of THE RED SHOES. Now I know, I named a bunch of old flicks, but he also gave us Rambo blowing that mutherfucker up in FIRST BLOOD: PART II. Every film I’ve seen from Jack Cardiff I’ve enjoyed. THE LONG SHIPS, DARK OF THE SUN, THE LIQUIDATOR and the absolutely insane THE MUTATIONS. But it is Cardiff’s THE GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE that I’m continually stunned by. I showed the film to Yoko the other day and she was absolutely riveted by it. This film gets in a girl’s head – and it is kind of wonderful to understand and discuss with your mate. This is great stuff – and the Blu-quality is fantastic! This is one not to miss!
Ti West has now earned the right to make anything he damn well wants to. I love HOUSE OF THE DEVIL – and I really do love THE INNKEEPERS. Ti West is playing with the occult genre right now – and he’s doing his own thing with it. THE INNKEEPERS is a wonderful movie just because the acting is solid – and the story telling is fun. You’ve got a very mousey and cute Sara Paxton as the only other employee in the building besides the older manager. They’re both single, he’s smitten with her. The Hotel is having it’s final weekend open. They’ve a couple of guests… and they’re Ghost Adventuring in the Hotel – as the Hotel has a legend. For quite a bit of time – the film doesn’t necessarily feel like it is going to be anything remarkable, but then things start getting introduced… a final guest… a crystal… the basement… and everything gets a shitload more intense that Mr Sharkfin deals with on TRAVEL CHANNEL. Ti West is seriously one of the classiest and scariest filmmakers working on the independent horror scene and bless him. Can’t wait to see what’s next! Already shown this to two different friends and got another lined up. Really good spooky flick.
If you want to know why Lando Calrissian is such a bad ass – watch HIT! Seriously – just check this film out. Billy plays a Federal Agent assembling a team of badasses that don’t know each other for a very specific HIT! – In some ways this is a 70’s AVENGERS and he’s Nick Fury. When he recruits Richard Pryor – they have a conversation – as that conversation continued I found myself with this unmistakable shit-eating grin on my face. The dialogue was amazing. The delivery beyond perfect – and it was Lando and Pryor – and they were AWESOME! I mean, this series of scenes with them… they’re brilliant. We exist in a time and place where that conversation is on Blu Ray. Fuck Yeah!
EXCALIBUR at such a young age meant that CAMELOT would take a lifetime to come back to, everytime I tried to watch it, I took it out and put in EXCALIBUR – because when I wanted to see Arthur’s tale – that’s what I really want. But the day this disc came, I just thought – I’m gonna turn the computer and the phones and disconnect from the world. I am gonna watch the fuck out of CAMELOT. Poured some wine, relaxed and yeah… I loved it. Sometimes that’s all that stands between love and a film you’ve never quite dug. Sometimes, you just loosen up a bit and dedicate a night to it – and suddenly WOW, I love CAMELOT! I have climbed a lot of stairs to the music now. The film is just beautiful to look at – but man… Lancelot bugs the fuck out of me in this. He’s a bit Dudley Do-Right. Don’t ya think? This is a gorgeous disc.
Delmer Daves unleashes Edward G Robinson in this scary Noir – best seen alone, with all the lights turned off and perhaps turn the temperature down a little bit more. A film to shiver with. Max Steiner’s score is fantastic – and this is one of those Noirs that people don’t scream about, because they just haven’t seen it yet. Hopefully this release will change that, it is just an amazing flick. Unfortunately it has been very digitally ‘cleaned & scrubbed’ but it’s our only real choice for being able to see this great film.
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Blu Ray
Watching this taught me just how brilliant the theatrical release last year was. This is outstanding. Alec Guinness is magic… but as I was working my way through it all, I did stop for a watching of Gary Oldman’s version of Smiley – because I just missed him. But for some of you folks that somehow found that version confusing, this fully told tale is probably what you were missing. As great as Alec Guinness’ performance was – I just am genuinely in love with the Oldman’s take. I’m as shocked as anyone. But if you want a fuller telling of the Le Carre’s tale – this is absolutely the way to go!
This enormously successful Chinese film is just fantastic, mainly due to director and star Jiang Wen – who is charismatic as all hell. Chow Yun-Fat ain’t so bad himself, but this Jiang Wen – I couldn’t take my eye off of. It is a bit of a Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham tale – but all kinds of mixed up. The only thing flying faster that fists, blades or bullets is the dialogue – so be prepared to speed read like a maniac. So fair warning. But it is so funny, exciting and thrilling – you’ll be quite rewarded.
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
The very first film I ever recorded on VHS personally was JEREMIAH JOHNSON. I forget what it was that they had to leave the house for that night, but had just reached the age where they trusted me to be home alone, and I recorded JEREMIAH JOHNSON for them and even did my best to edit the commercials out. It was a big deal for me at the time, but as I sat there that night watching JEREMIAH JOHNSON – I just knew that I loved it. I didn’t see the politics of the film. I just saw Redford as a hero for my parents – and my mom really loved him. I scored huge points. BUT – as an adult looking at JEREMIAH JOHNSON, I’m amazed that it captured me the way it had. This is what a PG film used to be. Just brilliant. Breathtaking photography – this is one of Sydney Pollack’s great flicks. Love this film.
It’s just insane fucking casting – and Gina Carano… well she’s not out and out bad, but she needs to loosen up a bit on camera. I swear her jaw is locked for the entire film. But this Rogue Spy/Operative tale just isn’t in the BOURNE league – and that’s what it wants to be. That said – it isn’t bad, it just isn’t very great at all. With the talent involved, I wanted something that kicked up the charm more. There’s something missing in this film – and I think it is lead actress charisma – but goddamn is she awesome in the action scenes. It’s a curiousity that won’t leave you overly satisfied.
Alicia Silverstone bugged me too much at the time – so I chose not to see CLUELESS when it was released. But then, I’ve known a whole lot of Geek Girls and they all loved CLUELESS – so far as I can tell. That includes my own Yoko. SO – I watched CLUELESS and Amy Heckerling’s modern telling of Jane Austen’s EMMA is just kind of perfect. Fans are going to love this Blu-Ray, as CLUELESS has never looked better – everything just pops. So nice.
I fucking hate this Blu Ray art! My god, so embarrassing to own a copy of this – except this becomes a case in point about not judging a film based upon its cover. MEET JOE BLACK is a fantastic film. When the film hit the critical mass seemed loaded for a demolition job. The way it was executed had all the precision of a Richard Burton gig… The film is over 3 hours long, but for me, I don’t feel it. Not at all. MEET JOE BLACK is a great performance from Brad Pitt – and Claire Forlani is kind of magical in the movie. Hopkins was great, but the tale seemed a bit too much for some. They wanted something simpler, funnier and without the pathos. Well, fuck them I say. It is quit nice to have this lovely film on Blu!
Absolute bliss. The Technicolor on this Blu Ray – just watch the opening titles / pillow toss – those satin covers just like absolutely great. And it was while watching this the other night that I have made a commitment to watch as many Rock Hudson flicks as I can, I’d avoided his romantic comedies, mainly focusing on the action work. But damn he’s charming as hell in this. However, any film with Thelma Ritter is worth owning. RULE!
This is Tim’s WARNER BROS Collection – and it’s a helluva slate of fanciful flicks. With only CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY falling significantly short of great. You get all 7 titles for $48 via this AMAZON EXCLUSIVE – which also has a book! If you haven’t picked up the titles before – this is the cheapest way to do it – and it’s a pretty nifty box set!
Joel McCrea falls in love with Dolores Del Rio – and really who could blame him, she’s Dolores Del Rio and Native Royalty upon this island. All seems so pleasant until it’s time to sacrifice her to the Volcano God. I love King Vidor flicks – there’s a majesty to them. This is something really special! Great job Kino!
WIZARD OF GORE / THE GORE GORE GIRLS Blu Ray
I’m waiting to crack my Blu Rays until the right group of unsavory friends assembles to watch something old school gore… by the godfather of gore himself, Herschell Gordon Lewis! Just $11!
I don’t know a thing about it. I put it on here because I love the cover art – the film was shot in Texas – and it is apparently set in and around a DRIVE IN – that’s enough for a cold buy for me!
See if you can out last Mr Beaks, FALSTAFF: CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT killed Mr Beaks – who snored so loudly that we all think of him as the very Chimes at Midnight themselves. All kidding aside, he had a marathon bit of travel with no sleep and was in the midst of a BNAT beyond compare – and when he realized he’d fallen asleep – he cursed himself, because the opportunity to see FALSTAFF is a rare one indeed. We had the only known 35 mm print playing and it felt like the kind of badass awesome miracle work that just makes for learning how to grow old and awesome like FALSTAFF. One of my favorite Orson Welles films – I love how he stitches the story of Falstaff together. It is brilliant – and I just can’t sing its praises high enough. This import is All Region – so world – have at ye!
Next week we’re looking at UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING, THE VOW, GREMLINS 1 & 2 on Blu, WESTWARD THE WOMEN, MOTHERS DAY Blu, 42nd STREET FOREVER Blu Ray, LA HAINE Criterion Blu, FRONT LINE Blu, MURDER OBSESSION Blu, DIRTY DANCING Blu and frankly not much else… Till then…
Readers Talkback
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Will Geer is a funny man.
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cos he was also Django! C'mon Harry!
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Such a good comfort film. Just lay back and revel in the niceties.
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May 1, 2012, 4:27 a.m. CST
Anyone who thinks Shame is pretentious could only be pretentious themselves..
by quantize
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May 1, 2012, 4:28 a.m. CST
Haywire -> David Holmes Bond-esque Casion Royale music was the totally distracting and innapropriate...and i like his music!
by quantize
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May 1, 2012, 4:29 a.m. CST
Harry finally admitting to yet another ERROR...sorry enthusiasm isn't an excuse for bullshit
by quantize
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May 1, 2012, 5:10 a.m. CST
Thanks Harry! Wasn't sure you were going to have time to keep doing this with the show and all
by iamnicksaicnsn
It's always enjoyable to see these every week (or when you have time, of course).
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This is a half-assed column. I expect more from you Harry.
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Some great films there my man but.... I'm drunk but I've been coming here since your godzilla review and have never given you shit about your writing skills. But good god man, some of that was incomprehensible.
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was one of the films that made me who I am today but it was also sort of awful... which explains a lot.
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I miss adult focused films but tend to miss many as they portray themselves as either pretentious or exploitative. Shame was definitely neither - every scene had a point about its characters. Great film making.
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..seriously. I'll never understand the enthusiasm for this movie.
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May 1, 2012, 6:48 a.m. CST
The Nurses and Wizard of Gore. Low budget for those on a budget. Sold.
by adeceasedfan
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May 1, 2012, 7:14 a.m. CST
ASPHYX was awesome! Deffinately had something to do with how Ghostbusters turned out
by wattos new hat
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May 1, 2012, 7:21 a.m. CST
Oh and Mel Gibson confirms doing the Viking movie on Leno the other night!!!!!!!!!!!
by wattos new hat
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May 1, 2012, 7:28 a.m. CST
Why not add the reviews and amazon links to your Youtube show?..
by LeonardsBellbottoms
..somehow.. At least you can do the new show which you obviously enjoy..and get some kick back.. Just an idea, I'm sure we'd follow such a transition..
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Harry, is there any tentative list out there regarding the rundown of films Universal is releasing for blu and especially remastering. So far I've gotten Mockingbird, Buck Privates and All Quiet On the Western Front (first time seeing it and it blew my mind...can't believe that film is 82 years old and still packs a punch!).
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Characters with no personality doing pointless self-defeating things in the most complicated way possible up until they are handed a resolution that makes no sense. Bloody awful film.
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Fantastic movie. It actually makes you pity a rich handsome guy who gets loads of women.
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Haven't seen any of those, and perhaps they'll help me writing my own medsploitation flick.
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This is normally a genre that hits it. This didn`t, the acotrs have little to do and needed to have chemistry and they didn`t. Genre or plot points aside, it just doesn`t come together as fun, scary or anything else. The idea was sound but the execution is lacking big time.
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How did this one sneak by me? I have this movie on a crappy VHS tape that I swear will go POOF! if it even sees a VCR. It's one of those American Graffiti wannabes, but also works on many levels, especially the movie-within-the-movie that is a parody of disaster movies of the time. A must-buy for me.
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May 1, 2012, 8:18 a.m. CST
Will Lone Wolf ever be blu ray-ed ? Hanzo out of print because of the fire at Fox DVD warehouse...
by higgledyhiggles
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May 1, 2012, 8:22 a.m. CST
MI: GhostP....enjoyed but I can`t remember anything except sandstorm and the Burj. What was it about ?
by higgledyhiggles
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Even though sex is depicted and it's between consenting adults, the disconnect Fassbender has between sex and emotion extends to the audience by the continual build up of little insights into his life. Even when he goes for that long unbroken run after Sissy starts banging his boss you learn about his character. <p> When he goes with the two women in the hotel room at the end, I'd be pretty suprised if anyone over the age of 14 could view that scene with anything other than pity for the character let alone get sexual excitement from it despite them being naked giving him a lesbian three-way.
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And Fassbender deserved the nom and win. Check this film out. It'll linger long after The Artist has been enjoyed and forgotten.
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Jesus Christ, man.
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It's been a while, but I loved that movie when it came out too...I thought I was the only one. Playing death on holiday perfectly suited Pitt's emotional opacity and pretty boy image at the time. You're not Death. You're just a kid in a suit.
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Despite you feeling pity and sadness for the characters towards the end, it is better than most films in this kind of genre because it doesn't set its stall out to 'be' depressing or melancholic. <p> Some films may as well have a sticker on them saying 'we aim to deliberately depress and manipulate you into feeling this way or your money back'. Shame does not do this - it lets its characters do the talking and they come across as honest. Fassbenders character could be any guy in your office or work right now. <p> As long as you understand films exist that don't hold your hand I'd be suprised if anyone found it pretentious, even in light of the long unbroken shots in the film of the characters seemingly doing little. It's a testament to the actors and the skill of the director that these scenes tell you more than any dialogue could.
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The show? Not such a good read, if you catch my drift. I'm not against your pursuit of video stardom (even though I personally don't watch it) as long as it doesn't fuck with your bread and butter, which thus far, it has.
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May 1, 2012, 8:55 a.m. CST
Been hearing about "The Divide" from a friend for months now...
by ufoclub1977
and the blu-ray is here from Netflix. I think I'll watch it today. It's rainy and overcast.
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Not Steiger Very, very, very big difference between the two
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It's Brian Cox.
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May 1, 2012, 9:20 a.m. CST
mr.underwater regarding Dark of the Sun- Yvette Mimieux has always been most fuckable - loved her in The Time Machine- wonder if there are any nude shots of her anywhere?
by Michael Lunney
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May 1, 2012, 9:39 a.m. CST
found some Yvette Mimieux titties, kiddies - pics and clips! but it's a rape scene- bummer
by Michael Lunney
http://ancensored.com/nude-appearance/jackson-county-jail-dinah-hunter
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Sadistic film with absolutely nothing new to say. If you have seen any post apocalyptic film or people going crazy film you've seen this. And then there is the giant plot holes with mysterious people outside the vault.
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May 1, 2012, 9:58 a.m. CST
Best Pitt performances: 12 monkeys, fight club, meet joe black, tree of life
by UltraTron
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May 1, 2012, 10 a.m. CST
Yeah, try telling a guy who has been trying his damndest to get laid for a while and say "I have a sex addiction!" It is the most condescending douche baggiest thing you can ever say.
by Cureguy
I love Fassbender as an actor but don't ask me to have sympathy for a character with a fake affliction. The only people who are "sex addicted" are people who are unbelievably lucky enough to have access and the opportunity to have sex on a regular basis. The truth is the majority of guys,even those who are good looking, struggle just to find one girl to have sex with. The whole premise of this film talks down to them. Pass.
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May 1, 2012, 10:01 a.m. CST
Forget Abbott and Costello. Where's the Bowery Boys films Warner Bros.?
by elsachmo
Abbott and Costello are great, but can't hold a candle to the amazing run of films by the Bowery Boys that were supposed to be getting full restoration and release almost 5 years ago! The world is really worse off without more people discovering the greatness of Huntz Hall and Leo Gorcey.
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So, do you really watch these releases before you "review" them, because that seems like a shit ton of movie watching. <P> Get outside man!
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May 1, 2012, 10:05 a.m. CST
The Asphyx, The Innkeepers, Wizard of Gore/Gore Gore Girls
by SoylentMean
Will all be purchased before Halloween. Of the three I'd be more concerned about picking up the Asphyx, as it's most likely to go OOP. <P> I've always wanted to see The Asphyx after seeing it recommended by Stephen King in his lengthy appendix for Danse Macabre.
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I already planned on blind buying it, now even more so!
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I would love to have the original Lone Wolf & Cub films in a companion Blu-Ray set (one can never get enough Ogami Itto), but I do enjoy the English dubbed mashups.<P> I also want a complete Zatoichi Blu-Ray set, as those films are friggin' amazing!<P> Hell, we just need more Asian cinema in general to be on high quality Blu.<P> And Jeremiah Johnson is one helluva "leave the world behind and survive on your own" type of film.
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May 1, 2012, 10:15 a.m. CST
Is Let the Bullets Fly anything like The Good, The Bad, & The Weird?
by SoylentMean
If it's anything like that crazy as fuck film I will love it! Very much looking forward to seeing Let the Bullets Fly!
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"Mars Attacks" falls seriously short of awesome, far shorter than "Chocolate Factory".
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"This import is All Region – so world – have at ye!" Yeah, but it's PAL, so you still need a player that can convert it.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. A lot of us have inifinite opportunities to get laid and have to make an effort to keep our dicks in our pants so we don't end up getting divorced.
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Like roasted with garlic and onions? What an odd statement
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Have you actually seen the film or just summarising from the premise? <p> The sympathy i get for Fassbenders character is that he cant connect emotionally to either his sister or lovers. His failure to perform when this is presented with the girl from his office he tries to date is an example of this. <p> If you cant sympathise with a guys emotional state just because he's getting more pussy than you we'll have to agree to differ
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For what? breakfast?
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for being 30 minutes wittier than me
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Agreed. Do this every DVD column.
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I know G 2 is new but G1? That Blu is old. Unless it's a new transfer which would be awesome! But I doubt it.
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May 1, 2012, 12:19 p.m. CST
I'll keep my ratty Lone Wolf & Cub Chinatown DVD originals, thanks!
by obijuanmartinez
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I actually saw this movie when I was a kid. Can't remember if I saw it at the drive in or on HBO. I remember liking it, but have no actual memory of the movie itself. I think it was kind of a Porkys movie, or else a cheap American Graffiti rip off.
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Kalifornia
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Checked it out, and now I definitely remember the movie being shown at the drive in, which was called Disaster '76. It was hilarious, though not up to Airplane standards.
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I wanted that movie to go farther, more depraved... getting caught jacking off by his sister is just embarrassing not really shameful.
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May 1, 2012, 12:26 p.m. CST
Came across an old interview with Chris Rock around the time he hosted the Oscars, and was asked
by openthepodbaydoorshal
what is his favorite movie that no one else likes. He admitted he loved Mars Attacks, and mentioned how Burton looks at him like a crazy person or it its a goof, when Rock has told him. Have to admit, it does go wrong it a lot of ways, sp. following the mega-smash Independence Day that came out months before. But, so much is pure Burton, I have a soft spot for it. And any movie that showcases Pierce Bronson's comic side (his pipe smoking scientific expert is a hoot) is a plus.
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...The blow job in a gay club, meant to depict his lowest point, came across as offensive. I'm not gay, so I can only image what a gay man must have thought of that scene. And the crying during the three way scene was a bit much. A truely low point would have been Fassbender's character coming close to raping someone
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Sorry you're having trouble getting laid, but I don't think that Shame is talking down to you. People who are sex addicts are genuinely sick, and Shame does an amazing job of showing it. These people lose everything for a quick blow. By the way, relentless masturbation is also a form of sex addiction. That being said, I just watched the great 70's porn film Pretty Peaches (with Desiree Cousteau) and it remains one of the hottest ever, especially the enema scene.
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It had the Phantom Menace teaser trailer attached to it. I didn't know people actually liked that film.
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No one else saw this as a tragic love story? Fassbender's character and his sister are in love, and their inability to explore it, or even admit it, poisons them? I thought that was the main aspect of the story, with everything else, including emotional detachment, as offshoots. Never even occurred to me that the story wasn't about the two of them wanting each other.
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Black Joe's Meat
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May 1, 2012, 12:52 p.m. CST
Harry actually speaking out against DNR on The Red House write up
by Samuel Fulmer
Wow, I always thought he was an advocate for the DNR shiny rubber no focus hack jobs after his Predator Ultimate Hunter edition rave. Good to hear Harry speak out against this for once.
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Good description, there, of High Road to China. John Barry had a lot to do with creating that atmosphere, though. One of his lesser known scores, but great.
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sex is not hard to come by... AT ALL. i guess it's some kind of a revelation for you, but, people actually like sex and do it quite a bit. worst case senario, an addict would pay for sex.
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is a guy that jerks off eight times a day then fucks a 200 pound hooker as a nightcap. Not to be confused with a guy that gets laid a lot
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May 1, 2012, 1:22 p.m. CST
Meglos, well, at least Bacall was present during filming, anyway...
by MisterManReturns
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Well done, sir!
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Wow. I have been a Harry defender for years, but your synopsis is too damning to ignore. Painful. Normally I don't notice the faults as I am reading them, but taken out of context they were very hard to read. Good work! Yikes.
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Number 2 made me laugh a lot, thanks man <p> 2. I forget what it was that they had to leave the house for that night, but had just reached the age where they trusted me to be home alone, and I recorded JEREMIAH JOHNSON for them and even did my best to edit the commercials out <p> OH GOD MY EYES
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Seriously, without him there'd be no AICN. So what if he writes in a conversational, free-flowing manner? This is a glorified, extremely successful blog, not a master's thesis. So what if you don't always agree with his opinions? The sheer amount of backlash against someone who's doing what he loves and sharing what he's passionate about is pathetic. That goes for the trolls on other writer's posts as well. You don't like AICN or what it does? Go ahead and look elsewhere or, heaven forbid, do the work to start your own site and keep it running. It's one thing to make a respectful suggestion or bring valid feedback/constructive criticism to the table. But what many of you are doing is the equivalent of the playground bully picking on other kids so he can feel cool. It's juvenile. It's asinine. Most of all, it's sad. Do something with your lives, and you won't feel so entitled and bitter. Harry, you and I have very different tastes, but I appreciate what you do here. Thank you for this site.
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...as that "top ten list" seemed to fall more under the category of affectionate teasing. But there are some seriously disgruntled people here who troll every post they can.
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Or someone does anyway. I know I have seen them several times before in top ten lists.
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May 1, 2012, 3:32 p.m. CST
Sex is easy to come by for some people, almost impossible for others.
by frank
I would feel sorrier for a sex addict who was also unable to find sexual partners (unrequited sex addict?) than someone whose sex life was out of control, like Tiger Woods or Charlie Sheen or the dude in Shame.
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I meant to say.
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May 1, 2012, 3:50 p.m. CST
The only reason to see Meet Joe Black was to catch The Phantom Menace trailer....
by The_guy_in_the_rated_R_movie
ahh, memories. There was an actual time when people heard Phantom Menace and actually got excited....
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we have a six screen drive-in and I remember seeing Drive-in the movie there. The film had fake Blockbuster spoofs playing in the background. Its in there with the BIG BUS kinda dumb movie, some good parts but some really bad ones. I was wondering if this was ever coming out on video.
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on the contrary - Harry is like fucking Anchorman in his reviews. Or even the best Airplane has to offer <p> They've done studies you know...60 percent of the time it works everytime <p> Well, we had a choice of steak or fish - Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna. <p> I could see them as a straight up lines of his! Maybe he's some kind of ironic genius but I like to think he's just Harry. It's a better site then 'normal' po-faced movie review sites because of them.
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May 1, 2012, 4:11 p.m. CST
This girl I'm seeing brought Meet Joe Black over to my house in February
by Autodidact
I refused to watch it. I'll never watch that fucking movie!
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I watched this movie constantly in the early days of HBO! Diddle Brown FTW!
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May 1, 2012, 4:18 p.m. CST
To parse through Mr. Knowles' reviews merely for reasons to negatively criticize him would be a mistake.
by ChaunceyGardiner
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May 1, 2012, 4:19 p.m. CST
For example, Harry's love for movies so imbues his prose that his comments often contain quite salient observations.
by ChaunceyGardiner
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for LONE WOLF & CUB that's coming out soon enough on Blu-Ray. You have been warned.
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May 1, 2012, 4:25 p.m. CST
MEET JOE BLACK... I've never seen it, but does that movie really need to be three hours long?
by Mr. Pricklepants
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May 1, 2012, 4:29 p.m. CST
His "Jeremiah Johnson" review has one of the best and bravest statements I've heard in film criticism this year...
by ChaunceyGardiner
One that runs contrary to the current parlance and the thinking that "PG" is bad and "R" good. With a simple earnest statement he has made that whole arguement look foolish. Of course, a "PG" film, even now, even in the 70s when films were as opposiitonal to their times as they could be, were purposefully subversive and thoughtfully gratuituous, were branded as such even more so than now, even then a "PG" could come out and be marvelous and brilliant and awe-inspireing - even challangeing, as I feel "Jeremiah Johnson" is. Thank you Harry for your heartfelt love of film - because of that, you move past the sensationalism that enraptures so many viewers of film and become something of a connoisseur. I do not believe you to be a pack animal - there is so much of the child's honesty in your words. And you now have the wisdom of years to accompany it. I, for one, am thankful for the glimpses we get at times of your incredible wealth of film knowledge. And thank you for realizeing that film does not have to be graphic to be powerful - then haveing the bravery to post so, even if hidden in a film little remembered by most outside the adamant..
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May 1, 2012, 4:39 p.m. CST
Thanks Frank Television for getting my point. The whole premise of Shame is condescending for 90% of guys who regularly get shot down by women. Even the most successful men are rebuked far more often than not. Just like a cheetah is only successful about
by Cureguy
This film really can only be realistic to those guys like Tiger Woods or Charlie Sheen. Industry professional who have endless access to women because their fame or power. The majority of guys if they are honest cannot relate to this film. And I would say I have been moderately successful with women. No Don Juan, but no slouch either.
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We heard you the first time - you miss the point in that virtually all of the women we see Fassbender with in the movie apart the girl from the office are prostitutes. <p> He only fucks one other non-paid girl (the girl his boss unsuccessfully tries to pick up in the bar) as far as I recall. He only flirts through eye contact with the girl on the train. <p> Again, did you actually see the film?
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May 1, 2012, 5:06 p.m. CST
Cheetahs are successful only 1 in every 10-15 chances. No one told me about the prostitutes. That changes the game entirely.
by Cureguy
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May 1, 2012, 5:26 p.m. CST
My copy of "Drive-In" is ordered and on the way. I've never seen it, but if nothing else, the box art will look great on my shelf!
by The Reluctant Austinite
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Just correcting since it was specifically mentioned in the review; it is a great film score. Intrada is releasing a recording done by the Royal Scottish National Symphony soon.
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I wonder if Buck Privates was damaged in that fire of a few years ago. The quality of the film varies greatly between reels. Also Universal's DNR is way too heavy handed. "Pillow Talk" also suffers from the DNR, leaving the film looking unnatural. Trust Universal to make their 100th a half assed affair.
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May 1, 2012, 6:39 p.m. CST
cureguy Yep. Prostitutes are the fuel of sex addiction.
by Bedknobs and Boomsticks
Move to Plano TX. You'll get laid there for the right price. Highest number of prostitutes in the US. Seriously, though, lax your standards and you'll get sex.
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May 1, 2012, 6:54 p.m. CST
So now we know that BEST-BUY is another "sponsor" of AICN . . .
by ShavedLeatherPig
..we can expect Hairy to mention them at least three times in every DVD column from this point on......
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May 1, 2012, 7:08 p.m. CST
'Crave a daughter.' Wonderful. That's ok, I didn't need sleep without horrifying, forum-induced nightmares.
by 3774
For the curious, Asphyx in available in full on you tube. Along with a *lot* of other old-school horror films. Frankly the amount astounded me. Pillow Talk is indeed a great, great movie.
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Yeah, Gina is a little wooden as a lead. But it's a b-movie, nothing more, nothing less, and as a B-movie, it's incredibly fucking effective.
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and I gotta say, it was f#cking awful
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May 1, 2012, 8:42 p.m. CST
prostitutes aint shit! *hit* cause they dont give credit *hit* *hit* i need another hit *hit* *hit* *hit*
by rosetta the stoned
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May 1, 2012, 9:06 p.m. CST
cellarrat, that shit *hit* aint righ bro *hit* I spent all my cash *hit* on weed *hit* she wouldnt give me no *hit* credit *hit* or nuthin *hit* wanna hit? *hit* *hit*
by rosetta the stoned
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May 1, 2012, 9:35 p.m. CST
Rosetta, you sure watched that Billy Dee Williams movie a lot while writeing your headline. Maybe you should find a new writeing style.
by ChaunceyGardiner
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May 1, 2012, 9:44 p.m. CST
chauncey *hit* I honestly *hit* have no idea what you are talking *hit* about. maybe i had too much shit
by rosetta the stoned
nah no such thing as too much shit *hit* wanna hit bro?
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“He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.” - Albert Einstein
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is it bare bones? or are all the special features in tact?
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These films are not well enough known, not on Netflix, not at most video stores. Check your local library network.
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May 2, 2012, 9:16 a.m. CST
Nah, you're an idiot if you think Haywire was actually BAD, its pretty good..its just messy and not cohesive..
by quantize
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I loved one, hated the other. http://thecrat.com/reviews/adam-isnt-divided-on-the-divide/ http://thecrat.com/reviews/adam-calls-shame-a-masterpiece/
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i used to frequent BB, about 2 - 3 times a week. now i'm in there maybe once every 2 - 3 weeks. last time i was in there, poor selection, looks like inventory is down, but not because they can't keep stock on the shelves. same old "customer service" and at least at my local stores, they don't honor the nationwide DVD buy-back promo, allegedly because of "local laws," even though an FYE in town buys back movies and music on a regular basis. easy to see why the company's tanking.
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But with less camp, and this Carino actress is fucking Hott! Not only is she good to look at, but she does her own stunts and kick ass moves. The Bourne films came off as too pretentious so no, there's no comparison between Haywire and the Jason Bouring saga. I bet my life that Gina can kick Matt Damon's ass without breaking a sweat.
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It is beautiful movie. So wonderful. And the movie is very much about man loving his sister. Those who say it is not about that simply block that out of their mind because they dont want to deal with it, but he loves his sister and wants to make love to her, but he knows its wrong. Thats why he cries when he watches her sing because he knows how much he loves her and that he can never have that love. They are probably abused and she cuts herself so she is also borderline but apart from sex addiction there is a love story there. So beautiful movie.
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He is sooooooo jealous of Fastbender because Fastbender is handsome and cureguy is probably fat and pale, and sits at home crying while listening to Love Cats while feeding his cat some milk.
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May 2, 2012, 7:11 p.m. CST
The Innkeepers was super boring and had a horrible ending ...
by Judge Briggs
I got into a sneak preview movie and pumped because I loved House of the Devil. I kept thinking, wow, there is build up for this movie! It's going to be great ... wrong! The movie was boring and the ending was non-sensical. Not to mention, me and my buddy got there late and had to sit in the front row too. That sucked worse. Anyway- I wanna peep The Divide ... sounds like a brutal film!
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What is the point of making a blu-ray out of the shortened, television version of this film when the 2009 DVD of the uncut film is still available? Guess there was less to "remaster" with the 83 minute version verses the 99 minute DVD cut--or it's a rip off! Hey Harry! If you want the Best Buy hour of Mission Impossible shit, you surely want an uncut version of The Asphyx!
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May 3, 2012, 1:26 a.m. CST
Re-read that Mission Impossible review... WTF is that?
by Disgruntled_Chinaman
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Seems like a lot of people write the movie off by saying something like "Most guys struggle to get laid so how can I feel bad for this guy..." Just watch the movie... You'll feel bad as fuck. It's not about the sex. This guy can't connect to anything except one person... It's a fantastic movie. Also... Hate on Mission Impossible:GP is predictable and lame. Haywire is pretty cool. The blind hate I feel comes from people who never saw the movie but hate women action heroes. Is the movie perfect? Nope. Is it different and have solid action? Yes.
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May 3, 2012, 5:08 a.m. CST
If you write SHAME off because you can't relate to the main character's problem, you haven't seen the film.
by brokentusk
It really is as simple as that. How do I know this? Because I didn't fully understand sex addiction either before watching the film. I thought sex addiction to be nothing more than an imaginary affliction created so that celebrities and people in high-powered positions would have an excuse for their indiscretions. The film painted a very, very different picture and opened my eyes. Yes, Michael Fassbender’s character finds it easy to attract and sleep with women, but his life is coming apart at the seams because of it. He is unable to form a relationship, he can only perform when he is emotionally unattached, his work is suffering as a result of his addiction to pornography and having to leave his desk to masturbate in a toilet cubicle, and he is so focused on his own desires that he pays no regard to the lives he destroys by pursuing them (his sister, the woman on the train that he might commit adultery with, his OWN life when he tries to pick up the woman in the bar and her boyfriend beats him up, etc.) One of the best films of last year that everyone should definitely watch. It stayed with me in a way that few films do and in some ways reminded me of REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, a film I own but hardly ever (if ever) re-watch. I'm sure it will be the same with SHAME.
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The film is mega creepy, and the idea of having all sorts of bad things happen to you, but not be able to die seems a bit more horrific than what the modern audiences are used to with the SAW and FINAL DESTINATION films.
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The Bourne films suffer from the worst fucking action editing in movie history. The Haywire fights are some of the best shot and most intense ever put on screen. And Meet Joe Black is HORRIBLE. I saw that movie on opening night with a girl and it literally felt like a 6 hour movie. I've never even dared to go near Meet Joe Black again. Truly awful film. And I am a Pitt fan and loved Tree Of Life.
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the opening of Unleashed where Jet Li just kicks the living shit out of a room full of people. It was just brutal.
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The lead in DRIVE-IN is none other then Super Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce from "24"
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May 8, 2012, 4:56 p.m. CST
High Road to China was not a "Generational Thing" it was mediocre even then
by MST3KPIMP
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