Hey folks, Harry here… I was a bit paralyzed from rehabitis last week. Brain was just tired and wasn’t in a place where I felt decent about sitting still in front of the computer and compose thoughts. It was aggravating, because I did sit down to begin it, but the noggin was lagging. So I dedicated today to getting this written up – without cheating y’all. So here it is – last week’s and tomorrow’s. As a bonus – I’ll throw in a new Cartuna animation to commemorate one of the Blu-rays below! As usual the images and links take you to AMAZON where you can order or learn more about the item in question. If you do order, a small percentage of the purchase price does go to support this column and it’s nearly decade long history of covering home video. For that, I thank you. Here we go… Let’s start with T&A!
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
The Women In Cages Collection (THE BIG BIRD CAGE / BIG DOLL HOUSE / WOMEN IN CAGES ) Blu Ray
Corman’s Women in Prison series of movies may represent what I consider to be… the perfect genre. Now – some might see this as an overt act of sexism, except that usually in the end – the women are on top – having reached the breaking point of being personally exploited and have struck out against their oppressors and have, to some degree, recaptured their dignity – but along the way – you’ll see beautiful and stunning women – like the amazing Pam Grier – singing, sweating, fighting, having sex and being a badass. These three films represent an immense amount of fun. Then there’s Judy Brown, Jennifer Gan, Anitra Ford and Carol Speed – which all are just wonderful in these films. As is my personal hero, Sid Haig – who literally may be the actor having the most fun in the history of cinema. Watch how much fun he is having, how much relish he spoons on to every scene he has. The best two films here are the two by Jack Hill… His BIG BIRD CAGE and BIG DOLL HOUSE are just terrific movies. The transfers are beyond satisfying. I’m actually a little in shock that prints this good were available to render thise digital transfers. I don’t believe they’ve ever looked better. ALSO – you get some pretty great extras:
Big Doll House
Audio commentary with Director, Jack Hill
Leonard Maltin interviews Roger Corman
From Manila With Love – new documentary on the making of Big Doll House and The Big Bird Cage featuring interviews with Director Jack Hill, Screenwriter, James Gordon White, Actors, Sid Haig, Judy Brown, Anitra Ford, Roberta Collins, Candice Roman and Teda Bracci, and Producers, Roger Corman and Jane Schaffer
Trailer, TV spot and radio spot
Women In Cages Trailer and TV spot
The Big Bird Cage Audio commentary with Director, Jack Hill Trailer and TV spot
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK Remastered Special Edition
If you’ve seen the remake of this rather powerful direct to tv Horror film, that hit this weekend, you’ll see a movie that is supremely crafted. The production design and atmosphere and evil little fuckers… well it’s spectacular, but the original film has a resolve that is superior in my opinion. It might just be that I prefer Kim Darby to Katie Holmes… but this movie is disarming in the sense that you don’t expect it to be as downright vicious, creepy and mean as it is. Watch this alone, in the dark, at your own risk!
I do have a weakness for Jim Varney. It is a weakness that I’m not particularly proud of, but… to me, he’s a 1000 times less offensive than Larry The Cable Guy – and far superior a performer. This film has always been joined to KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE, which is a vastly superior film… but the difference is… this you can show to your small kids in the month of October, while KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE… well, I’d show it to kids, but I’m fucking evil. This Blu is on sale at Amazon at a mere $5.99 so it isn’t a big loss, but it is a lot of fun.
Here’s a Fantastic Fest luminary, that for me, is a movie of moments. Personally, I just wish they’d shot this as a narrative film, and dropped the bullshit “faux documentary” structure. Had it just been a movie about a team that was trying to document what was going on – but here, there’s extended sequences that are repetitious, albeit beautiful, that is essentially hanging the camera out the window of a car – and I’d prefer a tighter film. That said, the TROLL sequences are simply spectacular. Personally, I wish that someone like Viggo was out there fighting them. Best case scenario would revolve around a team of vikings that are tracking a troll for revenge, after a settlement attack. But the film has a lot to recommend. It really blew Massawyrm away, for me, it is a movie about sequences, not the whole!
I could watch Matt Damon and Edward Norton and John Malkovich and John Turturro play cards all day long. I’m really fond of ROUNDERS – this was one of those early Damon films that solidified my fandom of his work – but also – it did the same for Ed Norton. I love these two actors because they give of an air that they know what the fuck they’re doing. And in this film, you get a very strong vibe that Poker is a skill. Something to be learned. Something safe. The film is a trap, stick your finger in, buy into the con of the film and your finances are at risk, but if you love poker for the observing of your opponent. This film is a true delight. Great flick. Nice to revisit it.
Found the film to be tedious & boring. I like Statham, but this film was just a waste of his considerable talents. No need to check this out.
THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD Blu Ray
Do you want to be afraid? Morgan Spurlock’s documentary studying PRODUCT PLACEMENT by attempting to make a movie completely financed via product placement – well it results in discovering some fairly disturbing practices by the advertising world. The brain scan – crazy. But the most important reason to see the film is to discover MANE & TAIL. It is amazing. This doc is insightful and incredibly entertaining. Check it out to learn how we get brainwashed into loving POM WONDERFUL and other products that otherwise we might have zero interest in.
SWINGERS is a culture film. A vibe. Favreau and Vaughn are amazingly fun as these characters. But it is realistic. I remembered the movie as being a bit of a party film, but rewatching it – there’s a real sadness to the film. Vaughn and Favreau aren’t quite the smooth badasses that I used to think they were in this film. Instead, they’re at a sad point in their lives. Unhappy. Sometimes clueless, but they all want at a better place. I miss this kind of film. Be it from Favs and Vaughn or even Doug Liman, who has graduated to pop-cinema, much like everyone in this film. There’s just something simple and beautiful about SWINGERS that absolutely holds up. Looks great on Blu. Here’s the extras:
• "Making it in Hollywood" Original Documentary
• Art Imitates Life: Writing the Story
• Life Creates Art: Getting “Swingers” Made
• Life Imitates Art: “Swingers” Culture
• Art Creates Life: Life After “Swingers”
• The Cutting Room Floor
• Audio Commentary
• Illustrated Action Commentary
• “Swingblade” Short Film
• Original Theatrical Trailer
If you want to see why I was so ecstatic about LORD OF THE RINGS – watche these four films and realize – this was the state of Fantasy filmmaking throughout the 80s. Variations of these. Now they’re fun, hokey – but not at all the awesome that we’ve begun to see fantasy mature into. Although, I’d kill to see this type of FANTASY done, but badass and fully realized. Hard R fantasy is something that has never properly been handled. The latest CONAN is the biggest expense put to this particular genre, but they wasted it with a crap director – so it will likely be quite some time till it is done with the greatness that it needs. That said – these 4 films are absolutely time trips back to a period of filmmaking that really delivered tits and crazy fucking moments that require a rewind and a watch over… just to believe you saw what you think you saw. It’s hokey, but fun! And look at these fabulous extras:
Deathstalker: New anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.78:1)
Audio commentary by Producer/Director, John Sbardellati, Special Makeup Effects Artist, John Carl Buechler and Actor, Richard Brooker
Theatrical trailer
Photo gallery
Deathstalker II: New anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.78:1) of the Director’s approved cut of the film
Audio commentary by Director, Jim Wynorski, Actors, John Terlesky And Toni Naples
Theatrical trailer
Utter dreck
A middle-of-the-road predictable and forgettable thriller – that I absolutely can dig watching because I just have a complete fondness for Bruce Willis. But yeah – there’s far better films with the Bruce, but any movie with him, in my book, is worth a watch! Even HUDSON HAWK – or especially HUDSON HAWK.
Tom McCarthy is a fellow due our attention. If you haven’t made note of the name – as the writing directing phenom behind THE STATION AGENT and THE VISITOR – along with being the screenwriter for UP… the work he’s done to date has been humblingly intimate and great. Here’s a film with great actors like Paul Giamatti, Burt Young and the awesome Melanie Lynskey. It’s one of those stories about misspent youth discovered and set upon a righteous path by those most curious of professionals… a Coach. Not just any coach, but one that is a Wrestling Coach… But this isn’t about tearing your shirt up, pile drivers and sleeper holds, this is that less splashy form of wrestling – and it is a very strong work. Absolutely worth checking out, don’t miss this.
As most devout followers of modern Korean cinema will attest… the best consistent filmmaking going on right now cross genres. I’ve seen brilliant mysteries, crime films, horror films, dramas, art films and even comedies out of that country. The explosion of talent is quite impressive, but the films that just destroy me – are the HUMAN films. The movies that are just concerning moments and phrases of life. Here, we have a recently widowed piano teacher with a lil kid that decides to pick up from Seoul to get a fresh start in the more rural birthplace of her departed husband. The film is a salve for the soul. Very real, very emotional in small strokes. Fantastic work. It’s these titles that Criterion gives us that really make them a remarkable company. This is a film that needs to be seen. Thankfully through their release, we will. Here’s the extras:
New digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Lee Chang-dong and cinematographer Cho Yong-kyu, with DTS-HD Master Audio
New interview with Lee On the Set of “Secret Sunshine,”
a video piece featuring interviews with actors Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho,
as well as behind-the-scenes footage U.S. theatrical trailer New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim
I’m not in love with this Jackie Chan film as much as I was with SHINJUKU INCIDENT, which I believe is the film from Jackie that has most kicked my ass recently. But it’s an ok flick. Chan plays a fool farmer, who essentially JarJars his way – as only Jackie can, through very perilous situations. This is a solid outing from Jackie – and it is a film he wanted to make for about 20 years. But it plays to Jackie’s established strengths – whereas, I loved the casting against type that Jackie did in SHINJUKU… Definitely worth checking out. If you ever loved Jackie – this is his best original work that he’s had this type of control over, in quite some time.
I love old Korean War films because psychologically, they tend to be a bit more complicated than the WWII flicks. Plus – it is a friggin Robert Mitchum flick – which always means it is at least very interesting to watch, because Mitchum is such a unique tone of actor. This also has the most interesting singing performance from Mitchum’s entire filmography. Something I never imagined I could say after THUNDER ROAD. If you like War pics, this is one not to miss.
Terribly subpar at nearly every level. When I got sent the BluRay I was excited, because I love Vehicular Horror flicks. I mean – who hasn’t felt like a car was trying to kill them at least once in your life? I’ve had a couple of these traumatic incidents. Then I saw Oded Fehr’s name – and he’s one of them actors that I actively root for. I don’t know him, but I like him on screen. I just wish he’d get better parts. Because in this film, he has no choice but to suck. Everything about the film just blows. The car is fucking totally shit. The way it kills – kinda funny in a HA HA once kind of way, then a yawn any other time. Stick with CHRISTINE or DUEL or DEATH RACE 2000 – deal?
Straight up crappy release quality – but in some ways it kind of fits the material. But this is a shit release of two movies which definitely deserve better. I personally like BILLY THE KID VS DRACULA – would love to see it get remade with Emilio Estevez & Gary Oldman. For me the original was always fun for John Carradine’s contribution to the annals of cinematic Vlads. Hokey, cheesey, cheap? Yup, but if you love the funk of film history, this funks for you!
So the New York Times says this veils sharp social commentary with irreverent humor and corny romance. Just saying. I mean – look at that cover and if THE NEW YORK TIMES has seen it – and you haven’t – you feel that shame? I’m blind ordering this one. I’ll leave it on top of stacks of DVDs and BluRays and it will be put on, when a brave soul says to me, I want to see this! And at that point, I will discover the sharp social commentary of THE CALAMARI WRESTLER!!!
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
I just love this film. Matt Damon’s Will Hunting and Robin Williams’ Oscar Winning Supporting Actor part are just so great. The funny part for me is that 15 years ago I was all about Damon’s character, but in awe of Robin Williams’ part. Now – I actually associate with Robin – and thank god. Right? I mean after the “Bench” scene – as broken and vulnerable as Williams was – how did any of us not envy his life, his memories and feel shame for our cynical outlook at the world. This film commands that you engage your life. That you discover and pursue your passionate purpose. It’s about letting go of the comfortable life, to pursue a REAL LIFE. Love this movie – and hopefully the black hearted bastards that turned on this film. Hopefully they’ve seen the light.
COEN BROTHERS COLLECTION ( BLOOD SIMPLE / FARGO / MILLER’S CROSSING / RAISING ARIZONA ) Blu Ray
I’m writing these up separately below – but man… MILLER’S CROSSING is my fave Coen flick – and all 4 of these films are highlight stand-outs from their career. But if you buy them like this you save nearly $23. So that’s the main reason to click, besides the awesome box art!
COUGAR TOWN: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Ok AICNers – if you want to support a successful AICNer, enjoy COUGAR TOWN – and realize that a former AICN writer & spy… chatroom and talkback occupant – created COUGAR TOWN – and this is his SECOND SEASON of his major network show – and holy shit is it a lot of fun. Long Live The Biegel!!!
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS BluRay 3D
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was in many ways the proof of concept when it came to 2d-3D conversion – and Disney has decided to release it in the best home video 3D format around. Personally, I’ll stick with my standard Blu… NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a beloved film, but I do not have the vaunted 3D Blu set up. Do you? How is it?
I thought this BluRay just looked stunning. Of course, Tony Scott is a helluva shooter – and whoever handled the mastering of this disc – I adore the image quality big time. I love TOP GUN. This was the first film I heard in a THX auditorium. And when I cranked this sucker up in my home system – I rattled the frames. There’s no doubt a pure nostalgic vibe that helps this movie for me. I drove so fast to the soundtrack of this film. It made karaoke seem smooth. It taught me my preferred high five, low five technique. It’s why so many friends in my generation wanted to be fighter pilots. It is also a hilarious film to party with. So many quotable moments. With this, you’ll never get that lonely feeling again! The slight bummers are mainly that the nearly 2 and a half hour doc isn’t in 1080p, but this is a loaded disc. Lots to explore and enjoy. And like I said – fuck it looks and sounds GREAT!
Fox titles usually don’t show up until after this column is due – so as of this writing, I do not have this highly covetable Blu Ray. I mean. We all agree, this is the Coen Brothers’ best movie… right? I know – you watch BIG LEBOWSKI as though it were a crack pipe… and it is very addicting, but MILLER’S CROSSING is a taste of absolute cinema perfection. Gabriel Byrne? Albert Finney? John Turturro? That forest. Under the bed. That ugly screaming lug in the corner? The dialogue, the lighting, the atmosphere, DANNY BOY, how fucking hot is Marcia Gay Haren? I mean everything about this film is a perfect moment in cinema history. This is a movie that updates and surpasses the entire genre from which it is ripped. It’s the skeleton in BOARDWALK EMPIRE’s closet – and is why – I usually prefer to just watch MILLER’S CROSSING. This is spectacular cinema. I can close my eyes and see whole sequences play out, but when I put this disc in – if it lives up the impossibly great potential that this title on this format promises – then holy shit I’m gonna smile the whole time!
THE COMPLETE JEAN VIGO ( A PROPOS DE NICE / TARIS / ZERO DE CONDUITE / L’ATALANTE ) Criterion Blu
If you like cinematic surrealists like Bunuel, Gondry, Jeunet and Cocteau – and you don’t know the name of Jean Vigo – then saddle up for a treat. These are highly influential and amazing treats – that again we owe a great deal of debt to Criterion for bringing out. Vigo had a short by amazing career, cut short by TB. What we have here is a fitting tribute to his brief genius. There’s some amazing work here!
New high-definition digital restorations of all of Jean Vigo’s films: À propos de Nice, Taris, Zéro de conduite, and L’Atalante, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
Audio commentaries featuring Michael Temple, author of Jean Vigo
Alternate shots from À propos de Nice, featuring footage Vigo cut from the film
Animated tribute to Vigo by filmmaker Michel Gondry
Ninety-minute 1964 episode of the French television series Cinéastes de notre temps on Vigo, directed by Jacques Rozier
Conversation from 1968 between filmmakers François Truffaut and Eric Rohmer on L’Atalante
Les voyages de “L’Atalante,” Bernard Eisenschitz’s 2001 documentary tracking the history of the film
Video interview from 2007 with director Otar Iosseliani on Vigo
New and improved English subtitle translations
PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film writers Michael Almereyda, Robert Polito, B. Kite, and Luc Sante
WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE Blu Ray
Listening to a hip & cool British professor like Brian Cox giving me lessons on the wonders of the universe on Blu Ray – was such a wonderful way to spend a Friday night this past Friday. I’m giving this Blu to my nephew – he’s a budding science nerd – and I find it very important to give him the right role models to geek out about – and this 4 part series which is equal parts hard facts with poetic ruminations keeping it poignant. I loved this series. I’m really looking forward to Betelgeuse going Nova. Sounds cool.
My second favorite feature film that heavily features a baby. First being Altman’s POPEYE, although I could argue a strong case for BRINGING UP BABY – but given technically… there’s not a baby… really… Seriously though – this is one of the greatest Nick Cage movies ever. One of the most hysterical films created by the Coens – while also being uncompromisingly sweet and twisted. It’s the amazing way that the Brothers play with tone and mix genres that makes them the consummate filmmakers of our lifetime. They’re just amazing. The camera is magic in this movie!
THE TWILIGHT ZONE: Season 5 Blu Ray
Other than that one Star Trek episode where Kirk kinda went Hippie… The TWILIGHT ZONE season 5 episode, NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET, marks William Shatner at his absolute craziest. Although that 70s video of him singing RocketMan is in the running. Though nowhere near as crazy as Nimoy’s awesome BILBO BAGGINS song! Anyways… this is the 5th and final season of the best television show ever. THE TWILIGHT ZONE. This final season reverted to the half hour format, which TZ owns in. I love LIVING DOLL, but AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE is one of my favorite works of any format ever. I love it. Absolutely love it. It is just incredible story telling. This is it. With this set I complete my complete TWILIGHT ZONE on BluRay collection – and they have each been utterly fantastic discs. As I’ve said before – I’ve been conditioned my entire life to think THE TWILIGHT ZONE was a fuzzily shot show. The quality of the episodes just destroyed by the video medium. But remastered from the film negatives – suddenly the show comes to life in a brilliant sharp way. So great! Now let’s get NIGHT GALLERY on Blu the same way! Here’s the extras:
20 new audio commentaries, featuring The Twilight Zone Companion author Marc Scott Zicree, author/film historian Gary Gerani (Fantastic TelevisionTwilight Zone directors Ted Post, Richard Donner and Robert Butler, writer Earl Hamner, actors George Takei and Peter Mark Richman, author/historian Martin Grams, Jr. (The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic), authors/historians Jim Benson and Scott Skelton (Rod Serling's Night Gallery: An After Hours Tour), author Bill Warren (Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties), writer Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Coraline), writer/director Michael Nankin (Battlestar Galactica, CSI) and radio host George Noory (Coast to Coast AM).
Conversations with Rod Serling Vintage audio interview with director of photography George T. Clemens 22 radio dramas featuring Louis Gossett, Jr., Adam Baldwin, Peter Mark Richman, Beverly Garland, Adam West, Bill Erwin, Luke Perry, Mariette Hartley, Ed Begley, Jr., Kate Jackson, Mike Starr, Stan Freberg, Jason Alexander, Jane Seymour, James Keach and Karen Black Audio commentaries by Bill Mumy (In Praise of Pip), Mickey Rooney (The Last Night of a Jockey), June Foray (Living Doll), Mariette Hartley (The Long Morrow), Marc Scott Zicree (Number 12 Looks Just Like You), Alan Sues (The Masks) and Martin Landau (The Jeopardy Room) Video interviews with Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Earl Hamner, Bill Mumy, June Foray, Carolyn Kearney, Michael Forest, Nancy Malone and Terry Becker
Isolated music scores featuring the legendary Bernard Herrmann, Van Cleave and Rene Garriguenc
The Mike Wallace interview (September 1959)
Netherlands sales pitch
Excerpt from Rod Serling's Sherwood Oaks Experimental College lecture
Alfred Hitchcock promo
Rare George Clayton Johnson home movies
Rod Serling promos for "Next Week's" show
Twilight Zone Season 5 billboards
And much more!
If you’ve only ever seen Cocteau’s BELLE ET LA BETE – surprise… Cocteau did other great work – like ORPHEUS, which stars the Beast… Poet Jean Marais in the lead. Well it is just too good. Cocteau takes us and Marais to the land of the dead – and you’ve never seen it quite like this before. Cocteau was a stunning artist and his films are not reality – but capture the domain of the ID, of the subconscious mind. And these images are powerful and beautiful. This is a must own for all serious cineastes. Criterion has gone above and beyond on this disc:
New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Audio commentary by French film scholar James Williams
Jean Cocteau: Autobiography of an Unknown, a 1984 feature-length documentary
Video piece from 2008 featuring assistant director Claude Pinoteau on the special effects in the film
40 Minutes with Jean Cocteau, an interview with the director from 1957
In Search of Jazz, a 1956 interview with Cocteau on the use of jazz in the film
La villa Santo-Sospir, a 16 mm color Cocteau film from 1951
Gallery of images by French film portrait photographer Roger Corbeau
Raw newsreel footage of the Saint-Cyr military academy ruins, a location used in the film
Theatrical trailer
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by author Mark Polizzotti, selected Cocteau writings on the film, and an essay on La villa Santo-Sospir by Williams
Got a rebellious kid on your hands – this may not be the movie to show them. IF… is a brutal movie for Malcolm McDowell… He’s just brilliant in the film. It was nigh impossible to get in the U.S. for years. Only found on dupey bad prints at conventions, but those days are long over. Now we can finally see it pristine. Long before there was Alex in Kubrick’s A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, there was IF… - You see – the real credit for Alex must hang around the neck of Lindsay Anderson, the director of this film which Kubrick saw and found his Alex in. After this film – you have a great treat in store for you – you’re going to track down all the rest of Lindsay Anderson’s filmography and just be a very happy camper as you discover the treasure trove of his work. Here’s the extras you get:
CAST AND CREW, which was a BBC Scotland show that Stephen Frears was involved in that brought cast and crews together to discuss the making of their films. It’s 43 minutes long and fascinating.
Video Interview with Graham Crowden
THURSDAY’S CHILDREN – a documentary short (23min.) about Children at a School for the Deaf. It’s narrated by Richard Burton and directed by Lindsay Anderson.
Commentary is between David Robinson and Malcolm McDowell.
If you have never heard of this brilliant boarding school film – you’re in for a treat. It is one of the greatest films in UK history. And it absolutely holds up better every year.
This was one of the first films that I knew about as it was being made, because an artist friend of my father’s was working on it. So when BLOOD SIMPLE came out, my dad made sure to take me and tell me that BLOOD SIMPLE was shot in Austin. And that was a big deal, because nobody made movies at the ranch I was stuck at. Of course Bogdanovich did shoot LAST PICTURE SHOW a stone’s throw away. But Dad wasn’t pushing that narrative. M. Emmet Walsh is so awesome in this film. That said – like the other Fox Coens – I haven’t received this yet – but I have noticed something curious. The running time on this is apparently 95 minutes, a minute shorter than the Coens’ Director Cut which was 96 minutes. Is something up with this release?
One of my favorite all time science fiction films of the fifties. It’s as close to an ATOM or ANT-MAN movie as we’ve got – and in some ways – THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN is superior to both. The infinite saga of reduction is amazing. It really is! I just wish that they would put a deluxe BluRay together for this title. I’m afraid that is only going to happen if someone eventually remakes it without Lily Tomlin and Joel Schumacher.
HERCULOIDS: THE COMPLETE SERIES
I would have KILLED for toys of these characters, when I saw these cartoons back in the 70s. I was so aggravated that there were not toys. HERCULOIDS rocks! Mainly because Alex Toth rocks – and his sense of design just catapults this fun little series into being pure fucking genius! As a kid, I thought Gloop and Gleep were the best names ever, and complained incessantly to my father that they should make stretchable Gloops and Gleeps like STRETCH ARMSTRONG… that GLOWED IN THE DARK! I thought about the toys for this show a lot as a kid, because that’s what it does for you. I believe the greatest unmade live-action adaptation of cartoon tv series to Film would be the Michael Bay HERCULOIDS. I mean, it was constant shit blowing up – but with way cooler designs than Bay has played with. Here you get all 36 original episodes.
PROM is a pre-pubescent wish fulfillment that will play to most adults like porn with the good parts cut out. BUT… if you can see past the brutal anti-Disney mind-control teen existence – you’ll find a pretty sweet fantasy of PROM that is done far better in Brian DePalma’s CARRIE. I’m just saying. IF you are in High School – and you’re nervous about the notion of PROM… don’t watch this film. It will paralyze you with fear. I mean – the way kids ask kids to PROM in this film – is just intimidating as all hell. Not to mention dangerous. It feels absolutely alien though. Zip to do with my High School prom memories. I was on the Prom Design team. Painted Medeval Banners with designs cribbed from my Dungeon Master’s Guide. And we made a balloon filled CINDERELLA carriage for the photo op. Yeah, I was all about PROM back in the day. In particular, my favorite stroke was putting HAPPY TRAILS as the final song of PROM. Those were good days. We had a tire blow out and no jack on the way home with our dates. There was a thunderstorm. We broke into a grain mill and took supplies (that we returned) to brace the car as we attempted to change the tire. In our TUXs. We made it back to the house – I had a hot tub, a pool table and 3 empty bedrooms. My PROM totally beat this PROM. I loved PROM. Just not this one.
This is such a disturbing film. Waking up in a crashed car, pinned in, bleeding, thirsty, hungry, scared… This movie just is a terrifying fucked situation. Adrien Brody has seen happier days… and thanks to Polanski, he’s seen more fucked situations too. But I feel the movie just doesn’t quite sustain it. It’s great till it gets tired, if that makes any sense. The narrative just kind of runs out of steam for me, but what works, works fantastically. Worth a look, if for no other reason than to watch Brody just kick a lot of ass.
Eisenstein, the man behind POTEMKIN & ALEXANDER NEVSKY – well his first film was equally brilliant. STRIKE, which is a film that commissioned by the government to honor the first Bolshevik revolution which failed to take hold, but that gavinized a generation. Eisenstein was operating at an entirely different level at this point in history. The rest of the world just was pointing the camera at shit. Eisenstein was inventing the language. How did communism come about in Russia? Watch something like this and you begin to see how. Powerful electrifying filmmaking at its best! KINO does wonders!!!
Yeah, AINT IT COOL NEWS called this BRILLIANT! And we damn well meant it. This is the movie that dares to ask what would you do if you found an undead hottie in an abandoned building and you were a really sick horny teenage boy with notable disregard for personal health? I like to think that at that point I would still know better than throw a dick to a zombie – but the story had to be told. To warn future generations that there are RAMifications to fucking the undead. This film handles all of this in a manner that is stomachable, pretty much. Some of the sounds are… intense.
Well, that finishes up August – Next we head into September which kicks off with the undeniable awesome of X-MEN: FIRST CLASS on Blu and SCARFACE on Blu! Then you have HANNA, DePalma’s DRESSED TO KILL on Blu! Oh – and Peckinpah’s STRAW DOGS on Blu, the utterly depressing EVERYTHING MUST GO, POLICE STORY, GHOST ADVENTURES: SEASON THREE, HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II Blu, THE CAINE MUTINY on Blu, THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake, AIRWOLF: THE MOVIE, UNITED 93 Blu, HELLRAISER Blu, HOUSE, TRANSYLVANIA 6-5000, HOUSE II, DRAK PACK, IN NAME ONLY, CLASH OF EMPIRES, THE HUCKSTERS, SIGMUND & THE SEA MONSTER Season 1, A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE Blu Ray, SECRETS OF ISIS, ADVENTURE, LONE STAR, SINGHAM and just a week later…
