Hey folks, Harry here… sorry this was late. This time I honestly had it ready, I just couldn’t get online due to MCI’s entire Austin Network apparently going down and knocking out my WIFI here at my Fortress of Solitude. There’s some wonderful stuff this month – and quite a list… let’s get right to it…
March 1st, 2005
99 WOMEN
With Herbert Lom and an evil Mercedes McCambridge – this women in prison flick has the right amount of lesbianism, T&A, sadism and other rampant acts of depravity. As with all great BLUE UNDERGROUND releases – this one is worth every penny. They really do have a habit of find the best cult flicks that I haven’t seen. But if you like your prison chicks yummy, sweaty and horny. This is a women in prison flick that’s well worth it. Seeing actors of Lom and McCambridge’s talent is just delightful. Her sadistic warren is great – and Lom’s leering eye is to be relished. But the women are the stars and they’re some of the hottest Euro-babes from the era.
BAMBI (Special Platinum Edition)
One of the true Disney masterpieces. This film, I’m willing to bet, over all others gave birth to the whole don’t eat venison wrong-headedness that just keeps Deerburgers from sweeping the nation alongside BabyBack Rabbit. This is one of the great works of animation… from Bambi’s earliest attempts to walk, to skate… and then of course the most amazing part… the fire. However, when you first put in this must own DVD – you’re bombarded with the modern bad taste of Disney’s modern mediocrity. You’ll see a trailer for the sequel to Bambi which has lush looking backgrounds and animation – but every bit of dialogue sucking like the vacuum of space itself. Then there’s the LILO & STITCH trailer… Only the CHICKEN LITTLE spot shows any promise, and that’s a very faint promise at that. The documentaries and behind the scenes are as expected on Disney’s premiere film releases. Absolutely exceptional! Put this on, call in your mate of choice and get all twitterpated with BAMBI!
BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF 3-Disc Special Edition
While we all count the seconds till Christophe Gans’ SILENT HILL, let’s revisit this wondrous film, BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF!!! Now, I’ve had the 3 Disc edition of BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF, since long before the film was released theatrically here in the United States… but though I could stare at all the wonderful special features, I never could understand them without hours and months of studying French, and being the fashionably ignorant American – I knew I could just be patient till finally we’d get this edition, which essentially takes all that content and realizes it for us Americans. This is an exceptional DVD for all those that love and worship this film of Gans. Outstanding!
Classic Comedies Collection (BRINGING UP BABY 2 Disc Special Edition / THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 2 Disc Special Edition / DINNER AT EIGHT / LIBELED LADY / STAGE DOOR / TO BE OR NOT TO BE)
Now here’s a jewel of this month’s selections. What a collection of classic Howard Hawks and George Cukor comedies. Let’s start with that pair of two disc sets: BRINGING UP BABY and PHILADELPHIA STORY. On the first you’ve got Bogdanovich’s wonderful commentary, 1 doc on Grant and the other on Howard Hawks… and a fun short and toon. In addition to the utter brilliance of BRINGING UP BABY. Then with PHILADELPHIA STORY – you’ll get a wonderful look into Katharine Hepburn that perhaps THE AVIATOR stimulated in ya. And a great look into Cukor. Not only that but a pair of radio adaptations with the original leads! Now – while those two-disc sets are great… the remaining discs in this box are no less wonderful. In fact, while I love both of these films, I actually prefer DINNER AT EIGHT and the hilarity of LIBELED LADY. And I’ve never had a chance to catch STAGE DOOR or TO BE OR NOT TO BE, but am well aware of those films on reputation alone. This is a set to discover that laughs don’t have an expiration date, especially not these.
HOOSIERS - 2 Disc Collector’s Edition
For quite some time MGM had a barebones dvd, but the outcry for more from fans of this brilliant sports film, has finally emerged victorious in getting a 2 disc jam packed telling of the making of this wondrous movie. From where the kids came from that played in the film, how Gene Hackman set up “acting camp” for them to even having the entire classic basketball championship game that inspired the film. Learn what Dennis Hopper did before walking out during that one game smashed, to emulate complete and utter drunkenness. I loved this set!
LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY
One of the heights of Pickford's silent career. Here she plays two roles in this classic story. The size and scope of this film was tremendously realized. This story has been told many times, but as a silent it found its pinnacle. Like THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA... it never got better with sound. It is tremendous to have this on DVD.
PICCADILLY
Made at the very end of the silent era in 1929 – this is a stunning film of design and elegant beauty. It deals with the growing acceptance of races, the basic jealousy of two women for a man… and of course the extravagance of the PICCADILLY. It stars Anna Mae Wong, who like Josephine Baker and so many of the beautiful silent sirens… is just absolutely captivating. Milestone has done a wonderful job of not just presenting the film, but creating through its special features an enlightenment in regards to Anna Mae Wong. Her story, as well as the film itself are reasons for any passionate cineaste to acquire this DVD immediately
THE RIVER – Criterion Collection
This is not only one of the most beautiful films ever made, but.. the first film of his in color.. and what color, Renoir captured India with such passion, such painterly driven eyes… that in my experience no other filmmaker has ever brought this country more to mythic life. The music, the visions… this is a film for which the word STUNNING was made. WONDERFUL!
THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE
My nephew and this film have turned me into the goofy goober that I was always meant to be. From some of the Daniel Clowes inspired designs – to the crazed Fleischer-esque valley of monsters… to the epic heroism that is defined in every cell of the man-god Hasselhoff. And even the hotness of Scarlett Johansson contaminating the world of ink & pant with her cuteness. Yes, my friends… No excuse me, I must paste a seaweed moustache in place to become a MAN!
WONDER WOMAN – 2nd Season
Ok – first let’s be really honest here guys… We’re buying this for nearly 16 hours of Lynda Carter in that Wonder Woman outfit. Just staring at them satin tights, cuz… they’re out of sight! I love this series, but I remember when the second season came on, I was a tad pissed at moving it into the modern day. I preferred the first season… but… um, it just comes back to those damn satin hot pants. And them… those… you know wonder full round succulent soft yummy blossoms of womanhood. Yeah, that’s how I’ll put it.
March 8th, 2005
CHARLY
Ok – this is just a brilliantly acted film. But looking at that DVD cover… it gives one the idea of a nice sweet innoculous love story. AHEM. This is a science fiction film – handled incredibly seriously. Charly begins in this film as a fellow with extreme mental retardation… who then has experimental brain surgery to make him smarter and… well it takes the story into a radical direction. The film has a lot to do with love, but not just between people, but of ideas, thoughts, notions and the pursuit of it all. There’s a point here in the film where it’s a lot like a man coming out of the desert dying for nourishment, contact, anything that would just transforms the lonely haze to a joining of society. Wonderful film, far more intense than the box would suggest, and just brilliant acting by Cliff Robertson.
DEAD END
Last month’s Gangster set? You went through it all too fast? Still hankering for more? Well, here ya go… DEAD END is a wonderful Bogie gangster. Also – here’s Sylvia Sidney at her most beautiful and vulnerable and caring. You may remember her part in BEETLEJUICE – here is her beginnings in film. Also, Joel McCrea… I first came to love him through Preston Sturges’ work, but here… he’s great. Bogart is at his menacingly evil best here. Love this movie!
DOLLS
Takeshi Kitano’s DOLLS is about the commitment of love. How it isn’t about the soft and easy side, but the responsibility of love through the hardest of times, and how out of that comes a beauty that stains everything you see with breathless beauty. I LOVE THIS MOVIE. Some may say it is slow and pointless…. But this movie was never for them. This film is a testament to the beauty Kitano captures on film. Be it in violence or in sadness. A wonderful film.
INCIDENT AT BLOOD PASS
It’s Toshiro Mifune as Yojimbo… the last time he played the character and once again – if you looked at that Gangster Box Set last month – then there’s an aspect of this film that plays a bit like PETRIFIED FOREST – and if the last listing of this week appeals to you, then you must get this too. Mifune samurai action rules, as does this!
MONKEY KUNG FU
I know nothing about this movie. However, it is called MONKEY KUNG FU and has a monkey man on the cover – and I don’t care how bad people claim this movie is, but it must have MONKEY KUNG FU in it and well – that means there’s MONKEY KUNG FU and who on Earth wouldn’t want a movie all about MONKEY KUNG FU. It’s MONKEY KUNG FU for Christ’s sake!
THE RING – Collector’s Set
For those that love love love this film, this set provides you with few extras you don’t have, including a short film made just for this dvd and a featurette. And of course a feature regarding RING 2 which is coming out any moment now!
STAGE BEAUTY
I really liked this DVD. It’s quite an acting showcase for both Billy Crudup and Claire Danes and features a look at that point in British Stage Acting at that point where all the female parts that were being played by men – suddenly were being played by women. And the trauma this meant for those cross-dressing men like Billy Crudup. Now this is a film for folks that love period acting and stage drama. Also on the dvd is quite a bit of history about this period and style of acting as well as how they came to perform it as they did. Really nice features.
ZATOICHI – THE BLIND SWORDSMAN Set
This set has 7 of the Zatoichi films including:
Ahhhhhhh, now this is a fun set! Watching Katsu Shintaro fight Toshiro Mifune in ZATOICHI MEETS YOJIMBO… or fighting the One-Armed Swordsman or… hell all of these rule and it’s a great way to kick off your Zatoichi collection. There’s 27 of these suckers and these are some of the best. You’ll be a little stunned how fast his blade is. Seriously, it’s real real fast.
March 15th, 2005
800 BULLETS
Couple of years back this made my top ten list. Alex De La Iglesia’s 800 BULLETS is simply a dream for anyone that ever loved the spaghetti westerns. Shot in Spain in the shadow of Leone and Corbucci… This movie is simply touching, hilarious, thrilling and perfect. This is one of those movies like PING PONG that I constantly sit friends and acquaintances down and force them to discover. Without exception every last single person I’ve shown either of those movies to, they’ve loved with all their hearts. This movie is simply perfect. If you have ever found a wonderful film you’ve loved based on my recommendation, then see this film.
CALL NORTHSIDE 777
This is one of two Fox films that are hitting this month that were a new discovery for me. Contrary to the label of FILM NOIR – this is not a film noir, it meets none of the criteria for that classification. HOWEVER, it is a really wonderful Newspaper Investigation film. Lee J Cobb as Stewart’s editor forces him to investigate a claim that an alleged cop killer is innocently stuck in prison for life. Well, it’s amazing. Jimmy doesn’t want any involvement in the case and is forced into it by Cobb, but that’s exactly what the investigation needed… a stubborn man fighting against the truth, while struggling towards the truth. Really great flick!
THE Classic Musicals Collection – Broadway to Hollywood – (EASTER PARADE 2 Disc, THE BAND WAGON 2 Disc, BELLS ARE RINGING, FINIAN’S RAINBOW / BRIGADOON)
Here’s the second wonderful box set from Warners this month. First is that classic comedy collection, this one… is musicals. Some really wonderful ones. My favorite of this set is BRIGADOON – this musical Lost Horizon is great. I’m only a bit ticked that it doesn’t have the 2 disc treatment like BAND WAGON and EASTER PARADE – and sure I know those are usually far more beloved by the audience in general. Now both of those films have great commentaries, full documentaries and outtake musical numbers – which I can’t wait to see. Now that doesn’t mean the others don’t have extras – they definitely do. Hell FINIAN’S RAINBOW has a commentary by Francis Ford Coppola. Now – I’ve never seen BELLS ARE RINGING – but the mere fact it is with these others makes it guilty of quality by association!
THE INCREDIBLES 2 Disc Edition
One of the best movies of 2004, winner of just 2 Academy Awards though I would have loved had it picked up many more. Now… apparently this dvd has an all new short film called “JACK JACK ATTACK!” – and if you know the film. I literally can not wait, can not wait… CAN NOT WAIT to see that! This also has Commentary by Brad Bird along with bloopers and outtakes, deleted scenes are 9 featurettes, BOUNDIN and some cartoon called “Mr. INCREDIBLE & PALS” featuring commentary by Frozone and Mr. Incredible. Must own now!
L’ECLISSE – Criterion Collection
My second favorite Michelangelo Antonioni flick, right after BLOW UP. One reason. Monica Vitti. Yummy. She plays the lady seeking love after having lost it. Beautiful film in terms of its themes (albeit eternal Antonioni themes) of love and loneliness – themes of interest to any and all living human beings for the duration of humanity. Wonderful film, and god damn Alain Delon is a great performer.
LAURA
Now here’s a friggin Film Noir! Dana Andrews plays the flatfooted detective who falls in love with a murdered woman he’s trying to solve. Gene Tierney as the portrait above the mantle is amazing. This is a great noir. Simply great. Watching Vincent Price playing an effete male on the make – is just amazingly off type – but because of all his later films you’re sure he done did it. Oh yes, also on this dvd are a pair of A&E Biography features on Gene Tierney’s tragic life and Vincent Price’s triumphant life. Great film, great dvd.
PANIC IN THE STREETS
Here’s that other Fox Film discovery for me this month. PANIC IN THE STREETS is fantastic. Richard Widmark plays an officer in the Department of Health that’s job is to keep epidemics from spreading. When a dead body turns up with the BLACK PLAGUE in Elia Kazan’s black & white rotting New Orleans. Widmark must push the police and Paul Douglas the lead detective into solving the murder of the man within 48 hours before the Black Plague sweeps the city and possibly the nation. Jack Palance is fantasticly slimey and self-motivated in this flick. GREAT FILM! Really loved this one.
THE SWORD OF DOOM – Criterion Collection
This film just kicks samurai ass. Violent as hell. Incredible swordplay. This is ultimately about a homicidal maniac that’s essential a rabid dog of a samurai… leaving behind all aspects of the Bushido code. Fucking great film. Absolutely unforgettably brutal. Fantastic samurai film.
March 22nd, 2005
BATMAN & ROBIN – The Serial Collection
Not one of the best serials. In dreams of mine, I like to imagine this being made by Republic and William Witney like SPYSMASHER… However, it is fun. And MUCH better than the Schumacher film of the same name. The baggy costumes and lame stunts undermine the basic coolness of… a black & white BATMAN serial.
BEING JULIA
One of the better films of last year, featuring great performances from Annette Bening (nominated for Oscar) and Jeremy Irons and Bruce Greenwood. Take from Somerset Maugham, it has the appropriate amount of melodrama. Fairly barebones dvd, but a really good movie.
BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA
Ok – so here we have a bad ass film by Sam Peckinpah and starring Warren Oates in perhaps his absolute best film. Though he did lots of great work. Here, in what feels like a Donald Westlake character on an unstoppable improbable mission that was brilliantly handled. One of the best films in Peckinpah’s amazing filmography. Rough and brutal and bloody and unforgiving.
British War Collection: (THE CRUEL SEA / THE SHIP THAT DIED OF SHAME / WENT THE DAY WELL? / THE DAM BUSTERS / THE COLDITZ STORY)
Now none of these are particularly great. However, they are each and everyone of them – solid quality war films. The casts feature a who’s who of British cinema of the late 60s. I’ve only seen THE DAM BUSTERS and THE CRUEL SEA – but after doing a bit of reading on the other 3, I’m quite curious about them. Especially THE SHIP THAT DIED OF SHAME. It sounds wonderfully brutal. 3 weeks till I get to check it out.
ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE
Ok – so right now, I know how impossible it is to say much positive about Robert Blake without being slammed by what has become of his personal life. However, beside all that… ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE is fucking amazing. Here you have Blake as a short motorcycle cop in Arizona. He’s amazing. First saw this film at one of Quentin Tarantino’s Film Festivals and folks – it blew the hell out of the audience. I don’t want to go into it. Give it a look if you have a chance. Great little below the radar film.
FINAL CUT
One of the best films, I’m betting you didn’t see last year. By a first time director and starring Robin Williams, Mira Sorvino and Jim ‘jesus’ Caviezel. This science fiction film is all set on the premise that in the future, a company will create an implant device to record your every moment through your eyes. Then – when you die, a life editor will edit your film at your funeral, cutting out all the bad parts and summing up the best of you for eternal posterity. Of course parents are making this choice for their children as babies – and there ends up being a part of society that resents it and fights against it. This is the story of one of the best editors, played by Robin Williams. Who has his own problems too. Really liked it.
FINDING NEVERLAND
A film starring two of my favorite actors… Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet in the story of J.M. Barrie and the true story behind the inspiration for PETER PAN (or maybe it wasn’t so true.. hehehehe) Then there’s Julie Christie and Radha Mitchell… damn what a set, eh? I love the look of this film, the theatricality of it all – how it comes out of a kid’s imagination to me. Really cool decisions behind this wonderful film.
THE GAME IS OVER
God, to be Jane Fonda’s stepson. This is one of those adult relationship fantasy flicks that turns very dark. Some consider this the best of the Fonda/Vadim films. I’m not entirely sure of that. It’s a wonderful film and very TITillating. But this is the year Fonda returns to our screens and I’m rewatching her early work in the process. This is one, where she played a mother… it’ll be fun to watch again!
THE MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE
This isn’t for television – this was the theatrical movie staring Fred Flintstone. Because it came out in 1966, spy movies were everywhere, including in the stoned age. This is a very odd, but funny feature. More adult than kiddy in nature, much like the cartoon was meant to be for. If you love the Flintstones, you’ve got to check this out.
THE PIRATE MOVIE
Gleefully wonderfully hilariously awfully funny. If you’re kids love SPONGEBOB – they’ll dig this. I’ve noticed that my nephew’s addiction to Mr Squarepants has created a by-product of fascination with all things pirate related. And after showing him the Flynn pirate flicks, The Crimson Pirate, Treasure Island… well, I know good and well, he’ll dig this one most of all. This is hilarious fun campy stuff. The serious pirate lover in me hates it, but the kid in me loves it.
STAR WARS – CLONE WARS, Volume 1
Ya know. Watching this DVD the 5 times that I have – I realized something. This was made by STAR WARS fans that loved Star Wars even while they were disappointed by the Prequels that were heart-broken by the Star Wars fans that were leaving the fold… So much so they did everything they could to get George Lucas to let them animate that which every Star Wars fan was dying to see… The CLONE WARS. They’ve edited them altogether into one 60 minute feature with no interruptions. It plays brilliantly. There’s more development in Yoda, Obi Wan, Anakin, Count Dooku and Mace Windu in these than in the entirety of the prequels thus far. Using designs that never felt Starwarsy, they’ve made them cool. Even those “roger roger” robots. It’s stunning work. Genndy does brilliant work here. The BRIDGING THE SAGA extra shows behind the scenes on the next five 12 minute long episodes of CLONE WARS which is actually meant to directly lead into STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH. On that feature, when you see Lucas admit that he never really wanted to deal with the Clone Wars… you realize how lucky we are to have these. Also you’ll see about 10 seconds of the opening battle from ROTS. Pretty spectacular stuff. Unfortunately the trailer on here is the one we already have. Even though the new one will be debuting in 9 days – prior to the release of this dvd. Oh well. Fantastic DVD though!
March 29th, 2005
ASTRO BOY – The Complete Series
50 episodes of ASTRO BOY are on this DVD! And if that isn’t a reason to get this, then you obviously just don’t get ASTRO BOY. Then the special feature on Tezuka Osamu should. This is a must own for true Anime lovers!
CLOSER
I was rooting for Clive Owen to win for his coldly quiet and analytical confident doctor to win the supporting Oscar. Sure Morgan deserves an Oscar, but damn if Clive wasn’t just brilliant in this part. From his IM sex chat with Jude – to his final scene with Jude where he twists the knife like a surgeon… Exquisite work. I mean, the scene between him and Julia… hell the scenessss. Every scene he’s just amazing in. Great performance in the midst of great performances.
DESPERATELY SEEKING SEKA
If you’re excited by the prospects of getting INSIDE DEEP THROAT, then DESPERATELY SEEKING SEKA is anotheryou’re your list. While INSIDE DEEP THROAT is about the insanity surrounding that film… this is about the early days of the porn industry as a whole, while Stefan Nylen attempted to find Seka for an interview. Does he find her? Well this UNRATED doc really gets inside with the folks that created porn that played in theaters instead of computer screens. While not a great documentary, an entertaining one.
JULES AND JIM – Criterion Collection
Brilliant Truffaut film (I know … redundant) Jeanne Moreau’s Catherine is the entire riddle of womanhood rolled and poured into this cinematic concotion of Truffaut’s. Her relationship with Oskar Werner and Henri Serre is fun and heartbreaking all at once. She’s her own woman as each man longs to possess her only to learn she is not a domestic animal… that she is not one to be possessed. She is Catherine and to know her is to want her and lose her. I’ve had the film for years, but now Criterion is giving it their treatment, which means… it’s time to upgrade!
KAGEMUSHA – Criterion Collection
Damn fine month for Samurai films. It’s a coin toss as to which is better, KAGEMUSHA or SWORD OF DOOM. Technically this is probably the better film. At least more critics would agree on that, but then… My bet is they haven’t seen SWORD OF DOOM. That’s not to say this isn’t great. It’s utterly fantastic! I’m glad to see this finally with a solid date of release. Great film.
ORGAZMO (Unrated Special Edition)
I’ll never forget the sticky dick this movie gave me to place in Quint’s snoring open drooling mouth in that hotel room in Atlanta. Sigh. Well, Matt and Trey have done up an Unrated Special Edition of this movie, that’s hilariously wrong at every turn. Curious to see what’s new.
SWEDISH WILDCATS
Ok – so this shitty as hell DVD cover… all that crap – that’s from the utterly awful “extra” starring Mity Mundae called NEW YORK WILDCATS. That film is 1/100th the coolness of Joseph Sarno’s original SWEDISH WILDCATS. For one – the astonishingly hot Cia Lowgren and Christina Lindberg star in this with an incredibly sleazy mommy/madam played by Diana Dors. The opening twenty minutes of this is pretty cool, the rest of the film never lives up to that, though it does get weird and plenty sleazy. There’s hotness here at the beginning – for fans of Sarno’s work.
