Hey folks, Harry here – had a crazy period of BNAT insanity and just now have finished the column – sorry to have it so late. As usual you can click on the boxes and links to go to Amazon where you can find out more about the titles and order them. It’s a fantastic set of titles – enjoy…

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN – AT WORLD’S END

Contrary to the popular opinion – this is my favorite of the three PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN films. It is epic. From Shanghai to the Afterlife, to a Maelstrom and that amazing Shipwreck Isle. This film is the craziest gi-normous budget film we’ve seen from a studio like Walt Disney. The surreal visions of the film have only ever been the calling card of Terry Gilliam, but he has never been afforded the budget to bring it to this scale of beauty. If you’re confused, just realize – you only ever need to follow what Jack is doing, he’s the key to it all. You can get this film in the BLU-RAY form above or in Standard Def 2 Disc Box Set! Also today came an amazing Box Set of all the music from the PIRATES trilogy The set has 4 Music Cds and a DVD that has the exclusive look at Hans Zimmer’s work on this amazing series. And let’s hope this is just the beginning, I love this pirate universe and can’t wait to see where we go from here.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – RAZOR (Unrated Extended Edition)

I’m not a fan of the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. I’ve watched this twice – once before reading reviews and once afterwards and I hate that I don’t love it with the passion you guys and gals have for it. It just doesn’t click for me. I hate the music on the series, love the effects – and just don’t like the stories and characters. At first, I thought it was just my nostalgia for the original series, but it runs deeper than that. It just plain bores me. That said – I’m in an extreme minority – and honestly, I know I’m wrong by all of your standards… but I just don’t like it. It just isn’t exciting, thrilling, fun or involving to me. I really, truly wish it was.

SUPERBAD

I fucking love this film. If you don’t, it probably means you just haven’t seen it yet… well now’s your chance. Don’t expect a ton of nudity here, this is unrated for the unhinged language and situations. Now – just serve me up a feature sequel of MCLOVIN!!! That’s what I want. There’s tons and tons of extras on the BLU RAY – and the Standard Def 2 Disc Unrated DVD - This is the best comedy of 2007 – hands down. Hilarious fun!

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON

I’ve had this for a couple of weeks now and still haven’t managed to get all the way through it all. But damn I love having THE ENTIRE episodes in order – rather than just the “best bits” separated and culled in a collection. It allows you to relive those long past Saturday nights – Watching this set will lead you right to the weekend before STAR WARS hit – so in a way – this was that quiet year leading to the bang that turned us all into light saber wielding junkies… I mean Jedis. And I love that on my birthday episode in 1976… Zappa played. That’s way too fucking cool. The video quality is what it is for a live broadcast show from that era – and is as perfect as it’ll ever get. My one quip? I kinda wish the original broadcast commercials were in – just to complete the history.

ROCKY – THE COMPLETE SAGA COLLECTION

This is still not a worthy set for the ROCKY saga. One day – we’ll get complete commentaries, an intense special new documentary on the making of and release of each of the Rocky movies – and at HD quality… if we are just patient. If you’re not able to wait – blow your money on this, but then you probably already have a set of these films – in which case – hold off till the better day comes.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – SEASON ONE (HD DVD)

I just got this – and as above, I’ve stated that I’ve never been able to get caught up in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – this new series. That said, I never watched the series in order – and lost interest. I’m going to try to give it a fresh start from the beginning. I was a BUFFY hater, till I gave it the same treatment – and I really do want to be a fan of the show – most of my friends are – but this’ll be the final run at this.

ARCTIC TALE

From the creators of MARCH OF THE PENGUINS – this film is a shadow of that one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful film, but MARCH OF THE PENGUINS was a genius of a story captured. This is a sad tale, one that doesn’t have the loving warmth of lifelong bonds and parental care. There’s elements of that here… but then there’s fear of cannibalism, the starvation issues and the changing environment that is making their life, that much harder. The big disappointment is that Queen Latifah provides the narration and frankly – her voice doesn’t fit the material – nor does the FART MONTAGE. That said – this is a beautifully captured film. One that should be watched by families and those with a care about our changing world. Also available in Standard Def

FORD AT FOX – THE COLLECTION: The Grapes of Wrath, How Green Was My Valley, My Darling Clementine, Drums Along the Mohawk, Young Mr. Lincoln, Tobacco Road, The Iron Horse, Wee Willie Winkie, The Prisoner of Shark Island, Up the River, Four Men and a Prayer, Judge Priest, When Willie Comes Marching Home, Steamboat Round the Bend, 3 Bad Men, Hangman's House, What Price Glory, Doctor Bull, Four Sons, Pilgrimage, The World Moves On, Born Reckless, Just Pals, Seas Beneath

A Towering Box Set featuring 17 John Ford films that I have never seen – plus 7 of my all time favorite films like GRAPES OF WRATH, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, YOUNG MR LINCOLN and WEE WILLIE WINKLE. Here – gathered for the first time in any form anywhere. John Ford is easily one of our greatest filmmakers of all time and to have a collection like this unleashed upon eager film lovers is indeed Christmas for us all – a great gift. It is expensive, but the sheer work that went into this set and the documentary and extra features should be rewarded by our patronage. This is a brilliant set. Stunning!

QUEEN: ROCK MONTREAL & LIVE AID (HD DVD)

QUEEN is easily one of my favorite bands of all time and here in HD, Blu Ray and Standard Def performing at a Live Aid concert. Now this is the first time that QUEEN’s entire performance at that concert has been released. They performed 25 works on that stage and here it is in absolute aural and visual perfection. This will rock you!

ERIK THE VIKING

Beware – 25 minutes have been removed, it isn’t the other way around – and if you’ve always wanted a truncated version – well here ya go…

BOB HOPE MGM Movie Legends Collection (ALIAS JESSE JAMES / BOY, DID I GET THE WRONG NUMBER / THE FACTS OF LIFE / I’LL TAKE SWEDEN / THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE / THE ROAD TO HONG KONG / THEY’VE GOT ME COVERED)

Here’s another example of a Home Video department doing it right – This is a superior set of Hope’s work from the period during which he was amazing. PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE has always been one of my absolute favorite films of his… right there with SON OF PALEFACE… but damn… ALIAS JESSE JAMES and BOY, DID I GET THE WRONG NUMBER tickle my funny bone. This is a great set.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

This spectacular adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is fantastic horror. The sort of horror that you’d turn away from and would give you nightmares. Director Gregory Wilson is a talent to keep your eye on – this was one of the faves from FANTASTIC FEST this year and now you can finally give it a look for yourself. Absolutely gruesome and terrifying.

20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (50th Anniversary Edition) (Blu Ray)

Harryhausen in High Definition is something to be aware of. Now – I’m not sure if the ORIGINAL B&W version is on this BLU RAY – so hopefully someone in the talk back below will clarify that. The remastered Color version was an interesting take on it, especially given that Harryhausen apparently oversaw the process… but I really hope its HD in Black&White too.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (30th ANNIVERSARY Edition)

A 30th Anniversary edition of this wonderful Scorsese film. His take on the Musical genre is very specifically Scorsese. DeNiro on Sax and Liza on mike is just wonderful. I really wish that Marty would again turn his eye to a musical – he had such an amazing hold on the genre with this film. The visual flair of Scorsese has grown with time and with this genre, I would just love to see what he had up his sleeve. The moments in THE AVIATOR stirred it up in me. I have not seen this disc yet, but plan to check it out.

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

Though it was remade with Heston and now this year with Will Smith – this will always be the BEST version of this particular story. Richard Matheson’s brilliant novel, I AM LEGEND is a somber affair – not nearly the action films that it is adapted into. There are action elements, but the atmosphere of the novel… it’s here in this film, one of the great performances by Vincent Price. He’s a man that’s just going through the steps, and the desperation when he sees a live dog… and later a live woman – the scenes had genuine sadness, hope and despair all wrapped up together. This release is taking advantage of the proximity to I AM LEGEND being released… I recommend picking this up, buying THE OMEGA MAN and also checking out Will Smith’s version. It is a great story – and one that I frankly, can never get enough of.

Lubitsch in Berlin ( THE DOLL / ERNST LUBITSCH IN BERLIN / THE OYSTER PRINCESS / I DON’T WANT TO BE A MAN / SUMURUN / ANNA BOLEYN / THE WILDCAT )

Ernst Lubitsch is one of the great directors – much like John Ford, Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock. You may be familiar with his wonderful films in our country like HEAVEN CAN WAIT, TO BE OR NOT TO BE, THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, NINOTCHKA, THE MERRY WIDOW or my fave, TROUBLE IN PARADISE. Lubisch wasn’t one of the great directors like Fritz Lang and Billy Wilder that left Germany and Europe during the rise of the Nazis. He left in 1922 – at the invite of one of the founders of United Artists, Mary Pickford. Here we see his amazing talents in the silent era of Berlin that made her make that invitation. A great set!

EXILED

The latest fantastic work by Johnnie To – is… well Fantastic and another veteran of this year’s Fantastic Fest which Variety just named one of their Top Ten Favorite Film Festivals In The World… and we weren’t even #10. Amazing! Anyway – This feels like an old fashioned badass Hong Kong film. And who doesn’t love Anthony Wong? Wonder how long till Hollywood remakes it? At least until they solve the Writer’s Strike.

BATTLING WITH BUFFALO BILL

Tom Tyler… Captain Marvel & The Mummy (later on) himself… in his own 12 action packed serial where he plays BUFFALO BILL. Earlier this year I went to Cody, Wyoming and checked out the Buffalo Bill Museum and damn it was awesome. I love this period in history – and this 12 Chapter Serial is great! Especially for folks like me. You know – Film freaks that look past their own lifetime and enjoy all corners of cinema.

CANNIBAL LUNCH BOX Triple Feature

It’s the Tuesday before BNAT – so how appropriate that one of the sneaks from BNAT 5 come to haunt our DVD collections – that’s right BLOOD FEAST 2 has been paired up with the wonderful MAN FROM DEEP RIVER and something called WARLOCK MOON. This could be your first step towards a larger and more significant Cannibal Collection – and while those crazy sports lovers are watching the SUPER BOWL – host a CANNIBAL party and watch 3-4 Cannibal movies while chowing down on BBQ and beer – so you take advantage of those specials, but turn America’s addiction into something for you!

THE KILLER SNAKES – Shaw Bros Special Edition

You better believe you should check this out! 20 million times better than SNAKES ON A PLANE, and I really really liked that too. If you love sick fucked up crazy cult weird shit – then THE KILLER SNAKES will slither into your filthy evil mind and make you fall in love with it as one of the more twisted sleazy films in the history of the Shaw Brothers.

That’s it for this week! Next Tuesday is Harry Day, December 11th, My Birthday!!! And we’ll also take a look at HARRY POTTER on HD and Blu Ray and the new ORDER OF THE PHOENIX episode, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, LOST season 3, United Artists 90th Anniversary Prestige Collection, the trio of Walt Disney Treasures, Voltron, SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT, EMANUELLE: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS, SHANGHAI TRIAD and much much more!