Hey Folks, Harry here with this the final week of October and its fantastic run of DVD titles! Very sorry about the tardiness, and I assure you, I've already begun work on November's Picks & Previews so that I don't get behind like this. So let's get to it...
Tuesday – October 25th,2005
THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE
Finally a great edition of this Argento classic. I’ve always been a worshipper of this film and DEEP RED in Argento’s filmography, and it’s nice to finally have a great dvd of it. Interviews with Argento, Morricone and DP Vittorio Storaro are fantastic. Multiple Italian and English tracks each done justice. Really well done! Great Argento Discs!
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
You don’t have the balls to take this movie! This is unflinchingly brutal. Banned… just about everywhere. Tougher than just about anything you’ve ever seen. You want a dare film for Halloween, a movie to see who can take it all, the most brutal gut-turning stuff you’ve ever seen. This was the film that inspired BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, only – you’ll see every single second and it’ll leave you queasy, at least. They’ve fully restored this sadistic fucking nightmare of a film. And did the ol 2 disc job to it and this has a one hour Italian documentary that is… in and of itself amazing. Films don’t get much tougher than this.
DETECTIVE STORY
One of the best Kirk Douglas movies of all time. Go in green if you can, this is a movie packing an awful lot of power. One of the great crime/detective films made. For the longest time, Kirk Douglas was arguably the coolest actor alive, this is one of the films that proves it.
DOMINION – PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST
This is a real film. A really good one. And it is atmospheric as hell. You see Schrader is a fan of the Val Lewton world of scares, and it not only shows in his Lewton remake of CAT PEOPLE, but in this film too. We are truly blessed that we get to see his film. There was a time, when something like this would never have seen the light of day… like, oh… say the original editions of STAR WARS. But thankfully the powers at be decided to make money and release this. Can’t wait to add this to my collection.
GUS VAN SANT’S LAST DAYS
This isn’t for everyone, but damn if this isn’t a portrait of a disturbed mind circling the drain. Great, because it illustrates brilliantly the sort of existence that a famous star could have that would lead one into a continual cycle of despair. He isn’t asking for help, but he’s thinking about it a bit more every day. You can see him erode over these last days. Michael Pitt is extraordinary in the film. Another great one for Van Sant!
KILL! – Criterion Collection
Based on the same source material as what Akira Kurosawa based SANJURO on, only this time it’s done as a very black samurai comedy, and ya know what… it totally works. Not only that but it’ll make you laugh and you’ll get caught up in it. Now, it isn’t nearly as great as SANJURO, but it is completely Criterion worthy – which in and of itself is a quality watermark!
KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK
Ok – a real piece of camp shit, but ohmygod fun. If you’ve never seen this, it’ll make you pee your pants laughing. Right up there with the STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL and the LEAGUE OF SUPER-HEROES show. Must be seen to be believed.
LE SAMOURAI – Criterion Collection
Amongst the coolest goddamn films of all time. This is THE Jean-Pierre Melville badass French Noir crime film of all time! Just exquisite. And Criterion has done the whole deal here. New interviews, archival interviews… everything. Could very well become one of your favorite films. GREAT!
LOONEY TUNES – GOLDEN COLLECTION, Volume Three
Why should you get this? Try this on, Doc!
Disc #1: Bugs Bunny Classics _1. "Hare Force" (Bugs Bunny; 1944) _2. "Hare Remover" (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd; 1946) _3. "Hare Tonic" (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd; 1945) _4. "A Hare Grows in Manhattan" (Bugs Bunny; 1947) _5. "Easter Yeggs" (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd; 1947) _6. "The Wabbit Who Came to Supper" (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd; 1942) _7. "Bowery Bugs" (Bugs Bunny, Steve Brody; 1949) _8. "Homeless Hare" (Bugs Bunny; 1950) _9. "The Case of the Missing Hare" (Bugs Bunny, Ali Bama; 1942) _10. "Acrobatty Bunny" (Bugs Bunny; 1946) _11. "Wackiki Wabbit" (Bugs Bunny; 1943) _12. "Hare Do" (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd; 1949) _13. "Rebel Rabbit" (Bugs Bunny; 1949) _14. "Hillbilly Hare" (Bugs Bunny; 1950) _15. "Duck! Rabbit! Duck!" (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd) __Audio Commentary by: _Jerry Beck ("The Wabbit Who Came to Supper" with Martha Sigall) _Michael Barrier ("Bowery Bugs" and "Hillbilly Hare") _John Kricfalusi ("Wackiki Wabbit") _Eric Goldberg ("Duck! Rabbit! Duck!") _Greg Ford ("Hare Remover", "Hare Tonic", and "A Hare Grows in Manhattan") _Eddie Fitzgerald ("Wackiki Wabbit")
Disc #2: Hollywood Caricatures and Parodies _1. "Daffy Duck in Hollywood" (Daffy Duck; 1938) _2. "Hollywood Capers" (Beans; 1935) _3. "The Coo-Coo Nut Grove" (1936) _4. "Porky's Road Race" (Porky Pig; 1937) _5. "The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos" (1937) _6. "She Was an Acrobat's Daughter" (1937) _7. "The Film Fan" (Porky Pig; 1939) _8. "Speakin' of the Weather" (1937) _9. "Thugs with Dirty Mugs" (Edward G. Robbemsome; 1939) _10. "Goofy Groceries" (Jack Bunny; 1941) _11. "Swooner Crooner" (Porky Pig; 1944) _12. "Wideo Wabbit" (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd; 1956) _13. "The Honey-Mousers" (1956) _14. "The Last Hungry Cat" (Tweety, Sylvester; 1961) _15. "The Mouse That Jack Built" (Jack Benny; 1959) __Audio Commentary by: _Jerry Beck ("Hollywood Capers" with Martha Sigall) _Michael Barrier ("The Coo-Coo Nut Grove") _Greg Ford ("Daffy Duck in Hollywood" and "She Was an Acrobat's Daughter") _Daniel Goldmark ("Swooner Crooner") _June Foray ("The Honey-Mousers")
Disc #3: Porky and the Pigs _1. "I Haven't Got a Hat" (Porky Pig, Beans; 1935) _2. "Porky's Romance (Porky Pig, Petunia Pig; 1937) _3. "Porky's Party" (Porky Pig; 1938) _4. "Porky in Egypt" (Porky Pig, Humpty Bumpty; 1938) _5. "Porky and Teabiscuit" (Porky Pig; 1939) _6. "Pigs Is Pigs" (Piggy; 1937) _7. "Pigs in a Polka" (1943) _8. "Porky Pig's Feat" (Porky Pig, Daffy Duck; 1943) _9. "Daffy Duck Slept Here (Porky Pig, Daffy Duck; 1948) _10. "Bye, Bye Bluebeard" (Porky Pig; 1949) _11. "An Egg Scramble" (Porky Pig, Miss Prissy; 1950) _12. "Robin Hood Daffy" (Daffy Duck, Porky Pig; 1958) _13. "The Windblown Hare" (Bugs Bunny; 1949) _14. "Claws for Alarm (Porky Pig, Sylvester; 1954) _15. "Rocket Squad" (Daffy Duck, Porky Pig; 1956) __Audio Commentary by: _Jerry Beck ("I Haven't Got a Hat") _Mark Kausler ("Porky's Romance") _John Kricfalusi ("Porky's Party") _Daniel Goldmark ("Pigs in a Polka") _Joe Dante ("Porky Pig's Feat") _Eric Goldberg ("Robin Hood Daffy") _Eddie Fitzgerald ("Claws for Alarm") _Paul Dini ("Rocket Squad")
Disc #4: All Stars Cartoon Party _1. "Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur" (Daffy Duck, Casper Caveman; 1939) _2. "Super Rabbit" (Bugs Bunny, Cottontail Smith; 1943) _3. "Daffy Duck and Egghead" (1938) _4. "A Gruesome Twosome" (Tweety; 1945) _5. "Draftee Daffy" (Daffy Duck; 1945) _6. "Falling Hare" (Bugs Bunny; 1943) _7. "Steel Wool" (Ralph Wolf, Sam Sheepdog; 1957) _8. "Birds Anonymous" (Tweety, Sylvester; 1957) _9. "No Barking" (Claude Cat, Frisky Puppy; 1954) _10. "Rabbit Punch" (Bugs Bunny, Crusher; 1948) _11. "An Itch in Time" (Elmer Fudd, A. Flea; 1943) _12. "Odor-able Kitty" (Pepe Le Pew; 1945) _13. "Walky Talky Hawky" (Foghorn Leghorn, Henery Hawk; 1946) _14. "Gonzales Tamales" (Speedy Gonzales, Sylvester; 1957) _15. "To Beep or Not to Beep" (Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote; 1963) __Audio Commentary by: _Jerry Beck ("Birds Anonymous" and "Gonzales Tamales" with Art Leonardi) _Paul Dini ("Super Rabbit") _John Kricfalusi ("A Gruesome Twosome", "Falling Hare" and "An Itch in Time" with Bill Melendez) _Michael Barrier ("Odor-able Kitty" and "Walky Talky Hawky") _Milt Gray ("A Gruesome Twosome
Known Bonus Features:
*"Philbert" - a rare 1963 TV pilot (Theatrical version)
*Private Snafu in "Gas" *Private Snafu in "Rumors" *Private Snafu in "Spies"
*"Point Rationing of Foods" (a rarely seen wartime short released 2/25/43)
* "The Bear That Wasn't" (the 1967 MGM Cartoon by Chuck Jones, based on the book by Frank Tashlin)
* THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW - "The Honeymousers" (Production #1822 telecast 7/24/62)
* STORYBOARDS (includes deleted scenes): _1. "Falling Hare" _2. "Porky's Party"
* FROM THE VAULTS: _1. "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (1930 - first Looney Tunes cartoon) _2. "It's Got Me Again" (1932 - the first Warner Bros. cartoon nominated for an Academy Award)
* New Documentaries on: _1. Frank Tashlin _2. Black & White cartoons _3. Restoration of cartoons _4. Pepe Le Pew _5. The Bugs-Elmer-Daffy Trilogy _6. Looney Tunes Go To War _7. Birds Annonymous tribute… ba de ba de ba de, ba dat’s all folks!
PARADISE LOST – THE CHILD MURDERS AT ROBIN HOOD HILLS
One of the most horrifying documentaries ever made. Chilling as hell. Put Joe Berlinger on the map. One of the great documentaries. As haunting as the scariest horror film. By no means is this light entertainment, but is simply one of the great hard documentaries made.
SEVEN DEATHS IN THE CAT’S EYE
I love Giallos, I especially love them when they star a European sexpot as hot as Jane Birkin! There have never been more beautiful women than the European women of this particular era. There’s just something other-worldly about them. I’m sure it’s got to do with the hairstyles and the cinematography… It doesn’t hurt that they were comfortable not only with their bodies, but their sensuality. Now, this isn’t some whack job film, this is a full fledged wonderful Giallo with all your favorite operatic style deaths and investigations and mayhems. In particular this has a fantastic score and… well, it’s definitely worth checking out!
SWORD OF THE BEAST – Criterion Collection
The 2nd Film directed by Hideo Gosha, who became one of the most celebrated “Chambara” Directors in Japan. The film is filled with a loathing for the way Japan in this era was run – of course in 1965, everyone was beginning to be dissatisfied with the establishment, and this Samurai film reflects that through an incredibly well thought out action plot involving the killing of a clan minister. Wonderful film. It is done the typical great justice by Criterion!
TALES FROM THE CRYPT – THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Well, this got here just in time, eh? Halloween with scary fun like what this set provides is just awesome. One of my fave episodes from season 2 was that Gov. Schwarzeneggar directed episode starring William Hickey as an old fart wanting to be young for his hot girlfriend (KELLY PRESTON!) and I just love it. Oh and then there’s CUTTING CARDS with the two poker addicts that never cease to raise the bet. Quint could learn something watching this. Then there’s KORMAN’S KALAMITY with Harry Anderson as a Comic Artist with a special power. Love this episode, but not as much as I love the absolute classic of EC classic stories, LOWER BERTH – one of the great carnival macabre stories. Just great. It’s the whole season with extras. Can’t go wrong here!
TITANIC – SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION
I know it is hip to hate on this film, but screw that noise, I love TITANIC. It’s spectacle and melodrama and romance and action all thrown into one busting at the seams film. The shame is that this is here and we still don’t have the next feature film from James Cameron. There’s a lot of extras on this disc for fans of deleted scenes (29 of them), an alternate ending and a series of sharp featurettes… But unfortunately – the big missing piece is a documentary as enthralling as the one done for Cronenberg’s THE FLY disc. I mean, look at Cameron’s treatments of TERMINATOR 2 and THE ABYSS and his other films, there’s always a fantastic no-holds barred tell all documentary. Of all of Jim’s films this one screams for it more than any other. Oh well, maybe for the 25th Anniversary holo-edition.
WAGES OF FEAR – Criterion Collection
One of the greatest films of all time. That spawned one of the great remakes of all time in William Friedkin’s SORCEROR. I love both versions. However, the sweaty black and white and the performance of Yves Montand and Charles Vanel are just towering. The direction by Henri-Georges Clouzot is exquisite. One of the most tense and capitivating films ever made. Criterion’s new edition is a 2 disc set with New Interviews and old archival interviews. But more than anything, it’s owning this tremendous suspense thriller. Brilliant film!
