Hey folks, Harry here with this Tuesday’s DVD PICKS & PEEKS! Criterion in particular has some great stuff for us – and there’s a lot to check out. However, as I’ve written this column, I’ve been watching the GODFATHER trilogy on Blu Ray, due out next week – and DAMN. DAMN it’s magnificent! As always – the box art and the titles are all clickable to Amazon, where you can learn more on the title in question, as well as purchasing the item in question – which gives a small portion of that price to help support the on-going efforts of this column to seek out and find the best and weirdest and coolest stuff hitting every Tuesday. So let’s get on with it, shall we?

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

CHARLIE CHAN Collection, Vol. 5 ( CHARLIE CHAN AT THE WAX MUSEUM / MURDER OVER NEW YORK / DEAD MEN TELL / CHARLIE CHAN IN RIO / CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA / MURDER CRUISE / CASTLE IN THE DESERT )

Amongst the first series of films that I was addicted to… well it falls upon this CHARLIE CHAN series and the Rathbone/Bruce SHERLOCK HOLMES films. Now I know for many – they prefer the great Warner Oland as Charlie Chan, but as a kid, I grew up with the Sidney Toler Charlie Chan films. Specifically I love CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA and CHARLIE CHAN AT THE WAX MUSEUM. Mainly because these are less about world travel and more hardcore mystery solving stories. These later Chans really showed Sidney growing into the role and making it his own. On another note – if, like me, you’ve been acquiring all the Charlie Chans – this set completes the run at Fox for you. For you Three Stooges freaks – in MURDER OVER NEW YORK – you’ll find none other than Shemp Howard as a scammer! How cool is it to see a Stooge, not as a Stooge, but trying something different? I think it’s pretty awesome myself.

SPEED RACER (Blu Ray)

This is a Gold Standard BLU RAY experience – the larger, the sharper your screen, the more pure amazement you’ll receive. Grotesquely abused by folks with zero sense of fun, the year’s singularly most viscerally fun movie has been instead labeled as one of the worst disasters in the history of Hollywood. I feel it will gain a tremendous following on DVD – where families and kids will devour the film, which truly is one of the most stunning visual experiences and playful films that I’ve seen in years. Must own on Blu Ray. The film is literally all the drugs you need.

THE MIST (Blu Ray)

This 2 Blu Ray set is how to see the film – the film is in 1080p beauty in both Color and Black&White, which in particular is quite lush in this perfect resolution. Essentially this is the best way to have Darabont’s MIST – I love the film, I’ve seen it twice since getting it on Blu Ray. I find the film is getting stronger upon each viewing – just the performances and the background performances are all so solid. And all the effects look stronger here. This is one of the jewels of 2008!

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN TRILOGY (Blu Ray)

I didn’t have the previous Blu Rays of this set – the big thing is that apparently there are 2 Blu Rays per film, but in looking at the extras, I seem to think these are essentially the same as the other BLU RAY, on CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL and DEAD MAN’S CHEST – the extras are in 480i, but on AT WORLD’S END they’re in 1080i. Personally, upon rewatching the trilogy – I find the first film growing tired, whereas the latter two films just enthrall me. It’s the mixing of Lovecraftian imagery with Gilliamesque logic and imagination that I find so powerful – especially in that final film. I’m very anxious to see what Disney does with this series, but with Gore Verbinski setting up house elsewhere… how long will it be till we see Johnny back – and will Disney wait for Gore – and will Johnny make future films without him? Curious. Definitely worth picking up without owning the first set, I don’t think there’s anything particularly desperately needed if you have the single disc set.

THE HULK (Blu Ray)

I adore Ang Lee’s original HULK movie. While it seems everyone likes to take a steaming load on it, I’m not forgiving, but rather, I enthusiastically enjoy the movie greatly. Is it more fun than THE INCREDIBLE HULK that came out this year? No. Just flat out, no. That said, is the new one smarter than the original? I don’t think so. Sure there’s the Hulk Dogs and crazy ass Nick Nolte, but I love the look of the HULK here, I love his desert scenes. I love how batnuts he gets on that tank – and I love how crazy Nick Nolte is. The problem with the Hulk movies thus far is that he just hasn’t had nearly enough cool shit to smash. I really wanted a LEADER movie with crazy science experiments and technology unleashed on the HULK. And when anyone figures out the end of this film… let me know. It gets real insane. The film looks fantastic on Blu Ray – just about a mirror copy of my old HD DVD.

THE BUSBY COLLECTION, Vol. 2 ( GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937 / GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS / HOLLYWOOD HOTEL / VARSITY SHOW )

Now – don’t get me wrong – I’m absolutely beside myself with glee that we got this set. I hadn’t seen GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS, HOLLYWOOD HOTEL or VARSITY SHOW before getting this set – and as a card carrying founding member of the I FUCKING LOVE BUSBY BERKELEY SOCIETY OF AUSTIN – getting these films was such a joy. But frankly, there isn’t a single film on this set that can touch WONDERBAR which is another Busby Warner title that we still haven’t seen on DVD or FASHIONS OF 1934 or IN CALIENTE or STARS OVER BROADWAY… not to mention all those awesome Eddie Cantor films that he did amazing choreography for. That said – I guess I should be patient. I just want all these films now. Busby’s sense of choreography and camera placement rule supreme in the history of musicals. If you’ve never experienced his genius, then check out the first set, then this one.

STAR TREK: ALTERNATE REALITIES

As you can tell from the art above, this set has to do with the Alternate Realities that have popped into the Star Trek universe from time to time. Our favorite of which has been and always will be MIRROR, MIRROR from the original Star Trek. In addition you’ll have MIRROR DARKLY part 1 & 2 from ENTERPRISE, Next Generation’s YESTERDAY’S ENTERPRISE – one of my all time favorite episodes from SNG and… well here – this is the whole list:

1 - Star Trek: The Alternative Factor
2 - Star Trek: Mirror, Mirror
3 - Star Trek: The Enemy Within
4 - Star Trek: Turnabout Intruder
5 - Star Trek: The Next Generation: Yesterday's Enterprise
6 - Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Inner Light
7 - Star Trek: The Next Generation: Frame of Mind
8 - Star Trek: The Next Generation: Parallels
9 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 43: Crossover
10 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 66: Through The Looking Glass
11 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 76: The Visitor
12 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 92: Shattered Mirror
13 - Star Trek: Voyager: Before & After
14 - Star Trek: Voyager: Timeless
15 - Star Trek: Voyager: Course: Oblivion
16 - Star Trek: Voyager: Shattered
17 - Star Trek: Enterprise: Twilight
18 - Star Trek: Enterprise: E_
19 - Star Trek: Enterprise: In a Mirror, Darkly, Part 1
20 - Star Trek: Enterprise: In a Mirror, Darkly, Part 2

All for $28

GIGI (2-Disc Special Edition)

While I’ve been writing this week’s column thus far, my wife has had on the big screen – GIGI. I’m fond of this extremely pervy musical about an older man and a way too young for him girl (yes, I’m a hypocrite) – but I suppose I just wasn’t in the mood for it, so instead I’ve had my awesome headphones on as I’ve been listening to Metallica’s DEATH MAGNETIC – and you know DARK SIDE OF THE RAINBOW? As I watched GIGI and listened to DEATH MAGNETIC, I realized that at NO POINT WHATSOEVER, do the two sync. HOWEVER, the animation in the corner of Ted playing air guitar to DEATH MAGNETIC… well it is simply awesome. GIGI is considered widely to be the last great MGM Musical of the classic era. And it is exactly that, a lovely film.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (2-Disc Special Edition)

S’WONDERFUL S’MARVELOUS!!! The final 17 minutes of this movie are a lesson in the possibilities of imagination and film. Simply bliss. The entire film, everything about Gene Kelly is magic. This is a must own for lovers of the American Musical. A great release – it is only sad that this and GIGI are not available in Blu-Ray.

EARRINGS OF MADAME de… Criterion Collection

Do you love movies that reach into your chest – you’re your heart and inject 2,000 cc’s of pure romantic yearning with an IV of pure love? That’s this film. This is Max Ophuls’ masterpiece – an incredibly heartwrenching work. Tremendous. Charles Boyer is incredible, but it is Danielle Darrieux with whom you’ll fall hopelessly for. The film is about a pair of earrings that Darrieux’s character sells to take care of some problems, but the results of that action set into motion a series of events… well, that you absolutely owe it to yourself to discover. A thousand blessings to Criterion for bringing this film to my attention. They’ve done their usual great job in presentation, more than anything though… I’m betting most of you have never heard of this film. Now you have, do something with that knowledge.

1408 (Blu Ray)

I like this film. The film plays two ways though… when you see it with a crowd, it can play as ridiculous. However, when you’re watching it alone, late at night… it can give ya the heebie jeebies. Now… word is that Stephen King based this story on a real room in a real hotel. Well, recently – I was in Boston for the Wedding of a long time AICNer… It was a grand affair, but the Hotel that Yoko and I stayed in, along with most of the wedding party… was apparently the Hotel that had the room in question. It’s the Omni PARKER HOUSE in Boston. The room in question was the room next to ours – and every member of the Hotel asked us if we saw or heard anything. Upon returning home from BOSTON, I had this disc waiting for me. Upon watching the film, I found myself extremely happy that I was watching the film, after being at the hotel, cuz man… there was a slightly creepy feel to the hotel, that would have been much worse coming right off of seeing this thing.

RISKY BUSINESS (Blu Ray)

God I love this movie. I saw this at a Drive In in 1983 – for years I thought the film was just another sex comedy fantasy, but then about 6 years ago I revisited the film and man… it is amazing what the difference is watching this film from being a teenager, to being in your 30s. As a kid, I just loved the fantasy of running a brothel out of my house… what kid wouldn’t? Especially if the gals looked as hot as Rebecca De Mornay circa 1983. However, watching it older… you begin to see the film from Paul Brickman’s eyes. You see the seduction and the adultness of the film. That Train sequence… that’s erotic filmmaking at its absolute best. The cinematography and the type of lighting is exquisite in 1080p. They’ve really done a great job with this film here!

BLOOD SIMPLE – Director’s Cut

Shot in Austin and it birthed the Coen Brothers into the film scene. This director’s cut is great, only complaint is that it isn’t a Blu Ray. The film is a classic Film Noir/Violent Crime story, probably the closest film they had made to NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, prior to that film. M Emmet Walsh is a God in this film & Frances McDormand… in her first film role is crazy young and crazy great. This is a portrait of a director’s cut and a satire of one. They made the film fly again by taking stuff out rather than adding things that they dropped initially. Great film.

LA RONDE – Criterion Collection

Max Ophuls was a filmmaker of such power and vision that he has inspired the very best in cinema. LA RONDE is a film about love and lust, the realm of infidelity and the joys of the frivolous pursuit of the flesh. The movie is such a happy, non-cynical affair of affairs. I absolutely love it. In particular I lust after Simone Simon in this wondrous French romantic comedy. Again expect the almost clockwork level of quality that Criterion dishes out, they’re as consistent an atomic clock in the work they do.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS

The legendary punk film sensation, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS is finally available on DVD. It came out with a whisper in 1982... remember that great year? Well this is something spectacularly great that none of us saw back then. It starred Ray Winstone and Diane Lane and it's been invisible for about 26 years - only... a few folks did see it... and they were fanatically in love with this crazy film - and they were right to love it. It's fantastic!

THE LOVE GURU

After a great deal of thought and consideration, I finally figured out how I could recommend this film. If you’re one of those folks that throws little get togethers from time to time. And ya know that friend, that friend that just never leaves, that can’t take a hint? Well, this is the film you can put on, that will get rid of them. You put this on and he or she will remember something important that they have to do. That’s a very useful purpose. It’s like the opposite of anything cool. It is the dis-inviter. Back when I was a child, my father threw many film parties with friends, he’d hang a sheet on the second floor of our house and when he wanted folks to go home, he’d put on this 45 minute reel of PEPSI commercials in 16mm. Now, today… that reel of Pepsi commercials are infinitely entertaining. That will not be the case with THE LOVE GURU. This is an evergreen turd. It will be like taking a shit in the living room and asking everyone to clean it up or get out. If you’ve ever wanted a high definition turd at 1080p quality, this is the film.

LE PLAISIR – Criterion Collection

What a treat we have this week from Criterion. These films from Max Ophuls are a true treat. Here’s a film with Jean Marais and Simone Simon. This is a film made up of three stories, each brilliantly told – each concerning different paths of love and passion. The cinema on display in these three Ophuls films are amazing and for any true fan of film, these are an absolute delight.

BEETLEJUICE (20th Anniversary)

Ok – first off – let me tell ya something. On October 7th, BEETLEJUICE is coming to Blu Ray. So, if you have a high definition system, you’ll probably want to hold off a few weeks. Meanwhile, this is a really wonderful 20th Anniversary DVD. They’ve done a great job on it. Nice work all the way around, but I’m just going to hold off for the Blu Ray in October.

SNOW ANGELS

I love David Gordon Green and I wonder if SNOW ANGELS will be the last of a type of his films. Prior to PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, David has made strikingly powerful personal films, like this one, but he met far more financial success with PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, perhaps what we’re going to see is David doing the Del Toro thing of Big Films, Small Films and back and forth. At least that’s what I hope happens. I don’t want to lose this version of him as a director, but I also want to see him making films that do very well for him and our at a larger scale, if that’s what he wants. But if you like Kate Beckinsale – you have to see this film, it is easily her very best film performance… easily.

HIGH SCHOOL FLASHBACK COLLECTION ( THE BREAKFAST CLUB / SIXTEEN CANDLES / WEIRD SCIENCE )

This is the umpteenth release of these movies. I suppose re-releasing them every year around the time that school starts is a clever way to do it, and frankly at this point, all I want is a Blu Ray release of the movies. However, the coolest thing about this release is in addition to getting the 3 movies at $30 bucks, they come in a nifty metal lockerbox. It’s kinda cool. I gave my nephew the box to hold his school supplies at home in. Somehow, that makes me smile.

British Cinema Classic B Film Collection, Vol 1 ( TREAD SOFTLY STRANGER / THE SIEGE OF SIDNEY STREET / THE FRIGHTENED MAN / CRIMES AT THE DARK HOUSE / THE HOODED TERROR / GIRL IN THE NEWS )

I haven’t seen any of these yet, but there’s a film by Carol Reed, director of THE THIRD MAN. There’s a pair of Tod Slaughter films. There’s a film starring James Mason and ya know that’s enough to raise my curiousity. These films are all thrillers, noirs and crime films. I’m very much looking forward to picking this up.

BEYOND THE DOOR

Alright! I’m a fan of the Exorcist ripoff genre. I own a 16mm print of ABBY, the “Black Exorcist” – and I’ve been a fan of my video copy of BEYOND THE DOOR for years. This is 7 grades below THE EXORCIST, but it’s trashy funky fun all the same. The acting is over the top. The ‘Fx’ are pretty funky. But it is fun and it finally has a solid DVD release.

WOMAN TIMES SEVEN

Ok – it stars Shirley MacLane, Peter Sellers, Michael Caine, Anita Ekberg, Alan Arkin, Robert Morley and a bunch of others. It’s directed by the great Vittorio De Sica and is a hilarious film about 7 different version of Shirley MacLaine with different lovers, boyfriends, etc. The film is hilarious and an amazing showcase for Shirley – while pitting her with some of the best actors around. And this is, most likely, the first chance most of you will have to see this. It is well worth the look.

SURRENDER – HELL!

First off… How fucking awesome is this title for a true life World War II story about a soldier in a hopeless situation, that rather than surrender… he gathers up natives and headhunters and organizes them into a fighting force against the Japanese, rather than becoming a prisoner of war. In addition, this has crazy awesome extras from directors like John Ford and John Huston – as well as a Doc short narrated by Ronald Reagan. This shit is the bomb! SURRENDER – HELL! Love it!

THE MAN ON THE EIFFEL TOWER

How cool is this? A film noir style movie directed by Burgess Meredith – where he plays a knife-sharpener, who is one of several folks being investigated by Charles Laughton’s Inspector – seeking out a murderer. The film is gorgeous, shot by the cinematographer of NIGHT OF THE HUNTER and the color is wholly unique and moody. Very painterly. KINO has done a wonderful job with this dvd.

ADVENTURES OF TARZAN – Serial

Wow. The whole ELMO LINCOLN Tarzan serial from 1921! I’ve been a fan of Elmo Lincoln, pretty much my entire life. My parents had a film called TARFOOT OF THE APES, which was done by the crazy folks associated with Jay Ward’s televised lunacy. They edited footage from this serial with goofy and hilarious sound effects – and I delighted non-stop to it for basically… my entire youth. And when a flood destroyed that 16mm film can holding it, I was heartbroken. As it is literally one of my favorite things ever. But I’ve ALWAYS wanted to see the whole serial. I think my copy arrives tomorrow!

THE LOST SERIAL COLLECTION – Clips And Chapters from 35 Extremely Rare Serials

This is a crazy collection of bits, trailers, a chapter here and there, some scenes… all from silent chapter plays. I’ve no idea what’s on this. Well, I do, over at Amazon they have a list of everything on this, but I’m so curious to see clips from these serials… and silent trailers for serials. What a treasure trove!

Next week we have a look at the Blu Ray I’ve been watching as I write this… for THE GODFATHER TRILOGY!!! Folks, it’s unbelievably great. I’m finishing up GODFATHER PART II right now. I’ll watch Part III tomorrow. But what else is next week? There’s SEX AND THE CITY The Movie, LA CONFIDENTIAL on Blu Ray, LEATHERHEADS, Peanuts Holiday Collection, FRIDAY THE 13th The Series – First Season, RUN FAT BOY RUN, MADAGASCAR (Blu Ray), BLOW (Blu Ray), THE ANDERSON TAPES, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK: THE ELECTION COLLECTION, THE NEW CENTURIONS, DOLLARS, AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD, Aki Kaurismaki’s Proletariat Trilogy, SAVAGE STREETS, SUNDOWN: THE VAMPIRE IN RETREAT, Ken Russell at the BBC, THE GARMENT JUNGLE, DEVIL HUNTER, IN THE FOLD OF THE FLESH, BLOODY MOON, FINAL EXAM, RONIN (Blu Ray), SEXUAL FREEDOM IN DENMARK, SEXUAL LIBERTY NOW!, MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS (Blu Ray), THE SINGING DETECTIVE, BLOOD SUCKING CINEMA and more!