Hey folks, Harry here - and right from the get go, I’ll apologize for missing the past two weeks. The first week I missed was due to just a general writer’s block that I had. The second week was a victim to being really really ill. I was sick as a dog. And the medication had me loopy as hell. I’m just now getting out of the funk I was in, but I feel comfortable writing again, so you’ll have your column on time over the coming weeks, unless I get sick again. Which is NO FUN. As usual, the pics and titles are linked to Amazon, where you can learn more upon the titles in question – or you can purchase them which would help to continue this column’s existence. Once again, sorry for missing two weeks – and let’s get on with it, you’ve waited long enough…

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

KNOWING

I absolutely love KNOWING. I know mixing religion and science fiction are big no-nos – but I can’t help but love it. I mean, what if it is all connected, and there’s some document sitting in a time capsule that’s warning all of us that we’re fucked. I love that. I like the creepy people, I love the gobsmacked Nick Cage! I love Alex Proyas’ new film – and I love that it has a growing audience of folks that are digging on it as well. That’s cool. Try to turn your inner cynic off and just enjoy this one.

PUSH

Comes across like a bad TV pilot that never would have gotten picked up. The powers are lame, the scenario is oh so cute – and I found the whole thing fucking annoying. Worth a rental at most, and that’s just to support the genre, but I doubt you’ll be happy with it.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XV

In this box set you get the immortal THE ROBOT VS THE AZTEC MUMMY, THE GIRL IN LOVERS LANE, ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE and RACKET GIRLS. In addition to their MST3King of the films – you’ll get other extras in this 4 disc set. If you’re a fan, this is something required of you. Enjoy.

THE UNBORN

This film dances upon the edge of being cool, but just doesn’t quite get there for me. The idea of being haunted by the spirit of your unborn twin brother, who was in turn the born again demon of a distant twin GrandUncle. Well, I like the premise. I like most of the cast and most of the scares – but it just never really gelled for me. Odette Yustman is yummy eye candy. And I really like Gary Oldman, because it is impossible to not like him, but I found myself wishing that this became his movie and not the girl’s. That never happens. Not a complete waste of time, worth checking out at the very least.

LONELY ARE THE BRAVE

A BUTT-NUMB-A-THON graduate. This is Kirk Douglas’ favorite film of his career – and I get it. In a way it is an incredibly defining film about the end of the West. About the end of the free spirit, the death of the cowboy and the end of what used to be manhood. LONELY ARE THE BRAVE is often credited as being the direct forebearer of FIRST BLOOD and the John Rambo character. This film is amazing. Kirk Douglas is jaw dropping in the lead role – as is Gene Rowlands as a friend. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

THE DEEP (Blu Ray)

I’ve watched this Blu Ray 3 times now. It is a fave film of my youth. 1977. I saw this PG film at the Drive-In about 9 times as a kid. My parents loved this movie, and God bless them for it. A life long obsession with nice tits followed! Why can’t we have more PG films like this one? Sure – let Alba and Beal keep their top on – but give them a white wet t-shirt and 30 minutes of on-screen dive time. Watching this film – you can’t help, but to marvel at how wonderful it is. How the underwater sequences… long and uninterrupted by unneeded dialogue just hold us with their beauty and majesty. This is an amazing film to just look at, but add to that the wonderful documentary on the making of THE DEEP hosted and narrated by Robert Shaw himself… it is bliss! This is my fave release of the week.

ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES

If you’ve never been a fan of Jon Hall and Maria Montez – you’ve been missing out, but jumping on board for this release of ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES – you get a beautiful Technicolor film, when Technicolor was an absolute marvel to behold. My personal favorite of their films is ARABIAN NIGHTS – but even though they never rised to the level of the great THIEF OF BAHGDAD – they did make lovely lush films that yearn for yesteryear with every frame. I love it!

GRUMPY OLD MEN (Blu Ray)

I love just anything that has Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in it. But I do have this unbridled fear that Travolta and Denzel will remake GRUMPY OLD MEN in 30 years. And that really does scare me. With Winona Ryder as Ann Margret. UGH! Nightmare, go away! The snow has never looked so good as it does on this Blu Ray. A warm blanket movie.

THE UNIVERSE: The Complete Season Two (Blu)

Amongst my favorite series. THE UNIVERSE. Like those of you with my illness, I do have the 3 seasons that are on DVD. But man, I much prefer this series in Blu Ray form as the graphics and the beauty are all enhanced by the massive leap in resolution. This is a pure geek show and as a pure geek, I loves it.

NEAR DARK

I can’t stop laughing at this video box. Look at that. Golden eyes – that white white skin. Yes, all you lovers of TWILIGHT come and gather around this DVD box. Take it home with you. And discover one of the most badass Vampire films in the history of badass Vampire films. But the thought of the Twilighters discovering this way cooler film is but a small dash of the glee that the video box gives me. It’s just way too funny. Way too hilarious!

John Barrymore Collection ( SHERLOCK HOLMES / DR. JEKYLL AND MR HYDE / THE ROGUE / TEMPEST )

Pretty much everyone I know has seen Barrymore’s brilliant performance in DR. JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, but for me – I got giddiest about the 1922 SHERLOCK HOLMES which co-starred an incredibly youthful William Powell and Roland Young. I love it. Then there’s THE BELOVED ROGUE and THE TEMPEST. I haven’t put either in yet, but THE BELOVED ROGUE is the one I’m dying to check out. It is supposed to be an adventure romp for Barrymore – and that’s cool. This is a set that I’m quite anxious to get through. Barrymore was one of our first GREAT actors. And I can vouch for 2 of the 4 films in this set as being Barrymore at his best. Check this out!

Ok – that’s it for this week. Here’s what I’ll be checking out next week: GI JOE season 1, Criterion FOR ALL MANKIND Blu Ray, THE TOWERING INFERNO (Blu), THE EDGE OF LOVE, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON / CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS on Blu Ray, BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT, REC, I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (Blu), DON’T TOUCH THE WHITE WOMAN and more…