Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I don’t know what you guys did with your Labor Day weekends, but I opted to just hang out with the family and, well... labor. I’m busting out pages on RACE WITH THE DEVIL right now and putting together this column and my ELIZABETHTOWN review, all of this in preparation for my trip to Austin at the end of the week for QT 6, something I’m eagerly anticipating.
There’s a lot of ground to cover today, so let’s start with this week’s list of new releases. There’s some great stuff hitting the shelves today, 22 titles of interest by my count, some of which I’ve seen already, some of which I haven’t. As always, if I’ve actually got the disc here in the house, I’ve marked it with an asterisk. Check this list out:
3-IRON
Oh, man, if there’s any title you buy today without having seen it, please trust me and take a leap of faith on this lovely, lyrical film from Ki-Duk Kim, director of SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER & SPRING and THE ISLE. This is one of the best films released so far this year, and I’m glad Sony Classics isn’t dragging ass in releasing it to DVD. Told largely without any dialogue, this is the story of a guy who breaks into homes just so he can try on someone else’s life for a little while. During one of his break-ins, he meets a woman, and the two of them are launched on one of the most unconventional film romances I’ve seen in a long time. Don’t expect a film anywhere near as brutal as this director’s early BAD GUY, and don’t expect a Korean head game a la OLDBOY, either. This is a romance, first and foremost, and Ki-Duk Kim seems to be growing more empathetic to his characters as he grows as a filmmaker. If you can manage to buy the film and get it into the player without looking at the cover (which is a huge glaring spoiler, and someone in marketing should be slapped for it), you’ll enjoy the film even more. Trust me... this one’s a winner.
THE BELA LUGOSI COLLECTION
What self-respecting horror fan wouldn’t be willing to pay $20 to own five films starring Bela Lugosi, especially if we’re talking about THE BLACK CAT, THE RAVEN, THE INVISIBLE RAY, BLACK FRIDAY, and MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE? These may not be the absolute best horror films, but they’ve all got plenty to like about them, especially if you’ve got a weakness for mad scientists the way I do.
BUFFALO BILL: SEASONS ONE & TWO
Dabney Coleman had a glorious shining few minutes in the early ‘80s where people couldn’t get enough of watching him play the prick, and this short-lived series was one of the best showcases anyone ever devised for that particular pleasure. This was the first place I ever saw Geena Davis, and I thought she was great in the show, but overall, it’s Coleman’s series, and in some ways, this is an early precursor to SEINFELD or THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW, where there’s no growth, no warm fuzzy lessons, and the lead character never suddenly becomes a better person. Can’t wait to see if this holds up.
*THE COAST GUARD
Yep, that’s right. There are two Ki-duk Kim movies on the shelf today. This is the one I haven’t seen yet, and that I’m planning to watch immediately. So far, I really haven’t disliked anything I’ve seen from this filmmaker, and I love how each of his films feels very different from the one right before it. He makes challenging films, but I wouldn’t have the same problem introducing someone to his work that I do with Miike, which is to say that I think Ki-duk Kim’s films could actually play to a wider audience. Tartan sent me this one already, so I’ll try to review it very soon.
CRASH
Paul Haggis, eh? I know many of you genuinely adored MILLION DOLLAR BABY, and hooray for you. I still think his work plays like over-earnest TV, and all the good performances in the world don’t save it for me. I haven’t written a full review of this one, but maybe I will once I look over the Lions Gate disc. In the meantime, if you want to be lectured about how racism is bad, this is the film for you today.
*DEAD & BREAKFAST
I’m not sure I’d call this “the American answer to SHAUN OF THE DEAD,” as AICN is quoted as doing on the front of the DVD, since it’s not really in SHAUN’s league, but there are things to like about this silly little zombie film. Ever Carradine, for example. Yowsers. Is it just me, or does she bear a striking resemblance to Uma Thurman, and doesn’t that make the KILL BILL relationship between her father and Uma a little extra-icky?
THE DEER HUNTER: LEGACY EDITION
I hope that these “Legacy Edition” releases from Universal add real value to the titles and they’re not just another excuse to double-dip from the studios. There are certain films that people are eventually going to get tired of buying if they realize they’re being ripped off. I’ve always preferred THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT to Michael Cimino’s Pittsburgh-and-Vietnam epic, but I’ll pick this up since I don’t already have the film and I figure I might as well see if this new edition is worth it.
*FRAGGLE ROCK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
Y’know, I actually think that if you want to get into issues of race, cultural understanding, and appreciation of the contributions different groups make to society, skip CRASH altogether and just revisit Jim Henson’s bid to creat world peace, FRAGGLE ROCK. This series is one of the reasons I would nominate Henson as one of the most important artists to work in mass media in my lifetime. I’ll review THE MUPPET SHOW: SEASON ONE later in the column today, but this is a very different type of show. This can be silly and fun and entertaining, but underneath, it’s about something. Henson created a world where he shows children how people depend on each other to survive, how you may not understand or even like someone, but we all contribute different things to the world. The music here is frighteningly hummable, and I think the discs look as good as they’re ever going to. Looking at the show, I was also reminded of how early Henson adopted digital technology as a way to help create the worlds he imagined. If he had lived longer, I’m sure he would have been on the cutting edge of CGI, and might well have been one of the only companies capable of giving Pixar a consistent run for its money. At any rate, pick this up and send the message loud and clear: releasing Henson’s work to DVD in complete form is a good thing, and will be rewarded.
*GARBO: THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION
Once again, Warner Bros. proves why they are Warner Bros. When people used to ask Harry and I why we picked on Warner Bros. so often, it’s because of their history. They have always been one of the great studios, and that Warner shield means something to film fans. Their vaults are the deepest in town, and it’s appropriate that they would have the most aggressive schedule of catalog titles out of all the major DVD companies. Today’s treasure is a box set full of the films of Greta Garbo. Six features films and a disc full of silent-era shorts should be enough to educate anyone on why Garbo continues to be one of the standards of movie stardom. The title I’m most excited to finally have in the house is NINOTCHKA, but QUEEN CHRISTINA runs a close second. This month is the hundredth anniversary of Garbo’s birth, and I’ll be sure to review all of these titles before I’m done. For now, just now that this is a must-have for anyone who is a fan of the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking.
HARRY AND TONTO
Art Carney? Hilarious. HARRY AND TONTO? Deeply underrated film about the relationship between a man and his cat. This DVD? In my house today, damn it.
HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL
Yes, Fox put the colorized version of this film on the disc, and that’s the one they make the big deal about on the cover. But just below that, you’ll see it also says, “Also includes original B&W restored version,” and that’s a good thing. This is a cheesy William Castle horror film starring Vincent Price, and that’s exactly why I’m looking forward to picking it up. Castle’s films aren’t scary, but they are endlessly entertaining in their own way. Castle was pretty much the Lloyd Kaufman of his day, and I’m pleased to see Fox put this one out.
THE INNOCENTS
Unlike HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, this is a dead serious ghost story, perhaps the definitive film version of Henry James’s classic TURN OF THE SCREW. Deborah Kerr stars in this one, and it’s a movie that holds up forty years after it was made, much like Robert Wise’s THE HAUNTING. Jack Clayton directed THE INNOCENTS from a script that was co-written by Truman Capote, and there are many who would rank this among the most sophisticated horror films ever made. Pick up this Fox disc and find out if you agree with that description.
THE LINA WERTMULLER COLLECTION
One big box set after another these days, it seems, all of them allowing you to parse a movie star or a director’s work in one easy set. In this case, the person being celebrated is Lina Wertmuller, a pioneering director who was the first woman ever nominated for an Academy Award as Best Director. Her film SWEPT AWAY (included in this set) was remade disastrously a few years ago, but don’t hold that against the original. If you want to know why her work is important, check out SEVEN BEAUTIES, a great film. Many of the titles included here are new to DVD, and Koch/Lorber deserves credit for putting this one together.
*LOST: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
I hate being redundant and stepping on the toes of Hercules, our resident TV geek, but I’m a massive fan of LOST, and having worked my way through this entire box set now, I have to pass along at least a few quick impressions. The commentaries are great, particularly for the two-part pilot. I love how JJ Abrams will be talking and say, “Can we stop the film for a minute?” and then the film actually stops. I haven’t really seen that on a commentary before. Then after we see some bit of behind-the-scenes footage to illustrate some point Abrams was making, we’re back to the show, picking up right where we left off. The bonus disc is packed with great material. If you’re looking for hints about the upcoming season, this box will frustrate you all over again, but if you want to see an expert piece of mythmaking in progress, check this out and warm up for Season Two.
MILLENNIUM: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON
I’ll admit I dropped out of watching this show midway through the second season, but it was more because I wasn’t watching TV at all than it was because of any problem with the show. In many ways, I prefer the story this series told to the one told by THE X-FILES, because it seemed to have an actual idea of where it was headed, a goal in mind. I’m looking forward to going back and finally finishing the story for myself as soon as possible.
*THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN’S CREEK
You’ll find a full review of this one further down in today’s column, but all you need to know is that it’s a great Preston Sturges comedy, and if you don’t buy this, you are a bad, bad person.
MR. HOBBS TAKES A VACATION
Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O’Hara take the family to the beach and hilarity ensues. This isn’t a particularly sophisticated comedy, but it’s a genuinely funny one, and I loveses me some Jimmy Stewart movies. Count me in.
RED LION
Toshiro Mifune plays a guy who gets caught up in a massive series of misunderstandings thanks to a red ceremonial headdress that he “borrows” in this strange but fascinating period samurai comedy of manners. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this film, probably 15 years or so, since my Toshiro Mifune obsession first kicked in, and I’m looking forward to picking up the Animego disc so I can finally see it again.
ROCKY & BULLWINKLE AND FRIENDS: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON
I love these cartoons by Jay Ward, and I’m amazed at just how much entertainment is packed into each of these seasons. You’re looking at 740 minutes of comedy, and for fans, it’s just heaven to be able to wade into these collections and rediscover all the great stuff that Ward filled his shows with. This is one of those collections that I really look forward to watching with my son when he’s finally old enough. Until then, I’ll enjoy it myself.
THE STING: LEGACY EDITION
Another of Universal’s vintage releases today. It’s hard for me to believe that there’s probably a generation of viewers (or maybe even two by this point) that have never seen this movie, but let’s fix that. If you’ve seen it, then you’re well aware of the slick comic thrills of David Ward’s script and the performances by Newman, Redford, and the remarkable Robert Shaw. If you’re not, you should be. Now. And the less you know ahead of time, the more you’ll enjoy yourself.
TALL TALES & LEGENDS: THE COMPLETE SERIES
This is a massive nine-disc set which collects one of the great children’s shows produced by Shelly Duvall in the ‘80s. This wasn’t quite as beloved as FAIRY TALE THEATER, but I’m a huge fan of the way Duvall brought to life these classic stories of Americana. Koch/Lorber’s released some of these individually in the past, but here’s your chance to get them all at once.
*THUNDERSTRUCK
I haven’t seen this Australian comedy that’s been described to me as a cross between DETROIT ROCK CITY and GRAND THEFT PARSONS, but I hear it’s better than either of those movies. I went through my AC/DC phase (the band, you perverts), and hearing that this is about obsessed fans of that particular band already has me laughing. AC/DC is perhaps the least deep band to ever rock, and that’s what makes them so great. To craft a sentimental story about four friends trying to honor the request of a dead buddy who wanted to be buried next to Bon Scott... well, that takes “big balls,” indeed. Anchor Bay always surprises me when they release titles like this, but I’m intrigued.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: LEGACY EDITION
The last of the Universal “Legacy Edition” titles being released today, but perhaps the greatest of the three. There’s a reason this film is so influential, and again... not to keep harping on Paul Haggis... but this is message filmmaking that never feels like it’s about a message. Instead, it’s about gripping characters and a dramatic situation that illuminates some of the best and worst things about human nature. For extra added fun, watch this then go see CAPOTE in theaters to see how the young characters in the film turned out as adults.
*TOY STORY: 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
I got this in the mail the day before Joe Ranft died, and when I heard the news, this was the first DVD I watched. A hundred years from now, no matter what the advances in technology are, no matter how sophisticated computer animation eventually becomes, people will still be watching TOY STORY, and they will still be enjoying it. This is classic storytelling, filled to bursting with great characters. When I saw this in 1995, I said to anyone who would listen, “This will be the most influential commercial film since STAR WARS,” and now, a decade later, it’s impossible to overestimate the impact it had on the entire industry. Even if you already own the ULTIMATE TOY BOX edition that came out a few years back, this is worth picking up for the new retrospective documentary and the stunning new transfer.
I was going to include more in today’s column, but since it’s late Tuesday afternoon already, and I’ve been dealing with family business all day, I’m going to post this half now and the rest tomorrow. I’ll be back with actual reviews at that point, and right now, I’m going to go figure out which of us is going to put up that Bob Denver talkback. Until then...
"Moriarty" out.
