Harry's DVD PICKS AND PEEKS Does January 2007 - Lots of Great Titles!

Hey folks, Harry here... Gotta do a short intro to this - as I have to get to transcribing the first half of the James Cameron interview to try to get that up by morning. Forgot these two from last week - and then - here's the rest of the month as I see it. Remember - use this list as a guide to what's coming out this month - Whether you click and buy from Amazon - or just use this for your Netflix order list... it's totally up to you. This isn't meant to be complete - it is merely what leapt out at me from this month - by all means suggest your own titles you know are coming out this month. Here ya go... January 2nd, 2007



EVENT HORIZON (Special Collector’s Edition) No fucking way… Harry’s recommending a Paul W. S. Anderson DVD for purchase? Well – this is the closest thing to a watchable film he’s made. And mainly that’s due to the production design and cinematography. Paul’s always griped about how he was fucked over and had the film manhandled by the studio. Well – I’m picking this up, not because of any love for the film, but I’m curious to see Paul make his case in the documentary and in the “unfilmed Rescue Scene” that he never got to shoot… to see if it was anything worth shooting, or if the studio saw a film that wasn’t coming together and just cut their losses.



SEVEN SWORDS I love Tsui Hark movies. He’s just the godfather of the modern Hong Kong film scene, went to college with my dad – and has directed and produced the fried gold of Asian cinema. This isn’t necessarily a great one, but I kinda love the funkiness of the film. The scope is gorgeous, the action is crazy fucking Tsui-ness. I really don’t think he’ll ever top his THE BLADE – which is sublime cinematic heaven, but that was kinda what I was hoping this would be – times seven, and in a whacked way it kinda is – but doesn’t come together in the end. The extras are totally worth it. You have commentary, making of featurettes and more. Neat film. January 9th, 2007



THE ILLUSIONIST Depending who you talk to this was the best “magician” film of 2006. I still haven’t decided. I need to watch this again – and I need to watch that other one a few more times as well. Neil Burger did damn good work on this and I loved Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti in the film. You get a commentary and a couple of behind the scenes, but by no means is this an exhaustive DVD, but then – I don’t think anyone was really expecting one.



CRANK This insane fucking double fisting of testosterone is just what a man needs that just went to a “Bridal Extravaganza” today. The amount of soft fabrics, candle stands and wimpy wedding cakes and Djs that can do Austin Powers impersonations… SCREW THAT – give me Jason Statham fucking Amy Smart in front of a busload of Asian Schoolgirls! That’s entertainment. Give me crazy insane shit. Make no bones about this – this is not a great film – but it is way entertaining. It feels like it was produced by Neil Moritz – though it wasn’t… at least I don’t think so. Basically – it’s the third remake of D.O.A. which was brilliantly done as a film noir with Edmond O’Brien – highly recommend checking that out. Then Dennis Quaid did a remake of it here in Austin. Now there’s this insane version. Or maybe just… an EXTREME version. This comes with a bizarre feature where you toggle a family friendly audio – so your kids can see the maiming and fucking with nice happy dialogue. It’s insaner.



IDIOCRACY Ok – check out one of the best films that Fox made last year. Sadly – you didn’t really have an opportunity to see this in theaters – because… well, the plotline of this movie – has already taken place at that studio. Mike Judge turns in a film that’s pretty damn funny. I wasn’t a huge OFFICE SPACE fan, but then… I’ve never worked in an office, but my friends that have – really love that film. Here, I’ve never been hibernated beyond the basic average laziness inherent to fatasses like myself, but I preferred this film to OFFICE SPACE. Oddly – there isn’t a Mike Judge commentary on this one, and I’m betting there won’t be one till Rothman leaves Fox. And given he signed a contract extension last year – we’ve got a bit of a wait. So this is the best version you’ll get of this for a while.



TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST Vol 2 Sadly I missed giving y’all the heads up on Vol 1, but I got your back this time. I admit, I haven’t seen this – but when I saw the title on AMAZON – I giggled for about 3 minutes – cuz I know good and well if I put this on here – there will be a whole group of you on Talkback that’ll take me to task for placing this on here… BUT c’mon… you know you want “TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST” right after T2 on your DVD shelf. Admit it!



SIBERIADE Ok. Ok ok ok… So I showed my juvenile side with that TIT QUEENS OF THE PAST - well – how’s this. I absolutely love the work of Andrei Konchalovsky, the director of one of my all time favorite films, RUNAWAY TRAIN – which was written by Akira Kurosawa and starred Jolie’s pops as the greatest escaped con this side of Cody Jarrett. Well, prior to RUNAWAY TRAIN – Andrei directed SIBERIADE – which got cut to fuck stateside, but now… thanks to KINO is complete and uncut for the first time stateside! If you’ve ever wondered what life in Siberia was like… perhaps the hardest land and the hardest people on the planet. This film is an absolute triumph – as it tells the stories of three separate generations and their individual struggles in Siberia. To build a road, to build communism and to build an industry of OIL. Brilliant film. A must see. January 16th, 2007



DOCTOR WHO – THE COMPLETE SECOND SERIES I’ve never been a fan of any of the versions of DR WHO – not even the Peter Cushing version. I love the kitsch of it, but not the reality. I’ve been told this series is really something cool – and I have to admit – I haven’t seen an episode – but I saw a trailer for some episode with like a billion Daleks filling the sky and it did make me giggle. I do have a set from the UK that a friend in Manchester gave me, I should give it a look see and try it out. What do you think?



THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE – THE BEGINNING (unrated edition) Saw this a couple of times. Once in advance of FANTASTIC FEST for programming needs – and then once at FANTASTIC FEST. Personally – I really enjoyed the film. I like that it’s very nihilistic. That it is gritty and mean. Some of the other staff folks at AICN were not so kind. And VERN just absolutely ripped it. To me – the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is untouchable. Sheer brilliance. Something on another level of existence. To me, these are just the Hollywood versions – and as such, I think they’re pretty damn good – and a helluvalot better than the SAW films. But to each their own – This version shows more gore, especially at the end – if you’ve seen the film – you know the scene – here – it’s a bit tougher. Quite a bit. You’ll see.



THE PROTECTOR This has both the domestic and the foreign edit in play. It has a TON of extras – thus the 2 disc set. You get tons of behind the scenes Tony Jaa stuff – as well as just Tony Jaa Martial Arts Demonstrations – and a making of – which includes some glimpse at how they did that amazing “one take” sequence that was just mind-blowing – till Cuaron upped the ante by 7000% for one takes. One of the great entertainments of last year. A must own for any Martial Arts geek.



THE ANIMATION SHOW (Vol 1 & 2 Boxed Set) Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt’s tribute to the great eclectic Animation Shows of yesteryear is alive and well – and if you love the form known as The Animated Short… not so much the “cartoon” but the animated short. Not necessarily meant for children and not really a goofy bit of juvenile lunacy. It’s just amazing work done through the art form of animation… be it cg, stop motion or hand drawn. The only drawback on these sets is that the DISNEY bits that were a part of the theatrical run, don’t appear here. But frankly - if you’re an animation freak – you’ve got those on your Walt Disney Treasure sets. However, what is here are the brilliant shorts that we did get to see – that are so so so good. This is the highest quality theatrical animation touring show out there right now. And it reminds me of that FANTASTIC ANIMATION SHOW that I loved so much as a kid of the seventies. Simply fantastic. January 23rd, 2007



SAW III I’m not the biggest fan of this series. However, the kills have always been very fun – and very inventive. The best thing about the series has always been the posters… which just have kicked the most ass. Those three pulled teeth… That said – this is a nice DVD, but both you and I know that around the release of SAW IV, there will be a better DVD. I’m just saying.



INVINCIBLE IRON MAN I haven’t been the biggest fan of these Marvel / Lionsgate Animated Movies – but they have been fun, and I do enjoy them for the low budget attempts at entertainment, I just feel that Marvel is shorting themselves with the cheap animation route. If MARVEL FILMS sunk real money into theatrical quality animation, written by the best of screenwriters – they would have amazing films. BUT we don’t have that happening anytime soon… so, we have this and hell… it’s better than nothing. It will make you drool for what Jon Favreau has in the works.



YOJIMBO & SANJURO – Criterion Collection If you don’t know why you should pay the $50 or so dollars that this Criterion Double Feature set – then you definitely NEED to buy it. YOJIMBO and SANJURO are works of stunning brilliance. This is high quality brilliant filmmaking unleashed. Of the two – I’ve always been a Yojimbo man, but Sanjuro is right there knocking. The extra features are up to the exemplary standards that Criterion has always done. Really great work. BUT more importantly – brilliant mastering and sound. It doesn’t get much better than this.



JESUS CAMP The Scariest Film of 2006. This is a very intense and disturbing film. I’m not someone that “hates” Christianity. Hell, I’ve been working to get my nephew into a Religious Private School for quite some time and he is attending one. BUT – you have got to research these places before just sending your child to one. This is, by no means, the typical “Jesus Camp” – but it is a real place – and it most likely isn’t unique. Now – why own this? Is it really something worth owning? Well, if you love documentaries, this is a great one. A great Halloween film.



ROBERT MITCHUM – THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION ( ANGEL FACE / MACAO / THE SUNDOWNERS / HOME FROM THE HILL / THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS / THE YAKUZA ) I love Robert Mitchum – and Warners has done a brilliant job with their “Signature Collections”. Now – these aren’t necessarily THE Robert Mitchum films… Like THUNDER ROAD and NIGHT OF THE HUNTER – but these are great films on their own right. I love THE YAKUZA, it is gritty and tough. Never had a chance to see HOME FROM THE HILL, but with a cast including George Peppard and George Hamilton in their prime as adventure-thrill seekers. I can’t wait. THE SUNDOWNERS is an early Australian outback adventure that is pretty damn great. See Robert with Deborah Kerr – Very good. ANGEL FACE is fantastic. Directed by Otto Preminger – and co-starring the luscious Jean Simmons – no, not the rocker. Very Film Noir and very dark dark. MACAO is another fantastic Mitchum film noir – this time upon a boat with Ms. Heaving Chest – JANE RUSSELL and the fantastic William Bendix. Add to that the brilliance of Josef von Sternberg’s direction and way with the lens… and you have a film that just steams off the screen. I’d never quantify THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS as a “great film” but with a cast joining Mitchum like George Kennedy, Martin Balsam and David Carradine – shit. It’s worth it just for the personalities on screen. As usual on the Signature Collection – they’re loaded with just enough extras to keep ya smiling.



THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED When you watch Kirby Dick’s investigative documentary into the unsavory realm of the MPAA – and their shroud of mystery and deception – you’ll find yourself as a film fan getting angry, emotional and ultimately cheering for what you see happening in this film. This film is AWESOME entertainment and the DVD is a classic DVD to add to your collection.



THE FILMS OF KENNETH ANGER, VOL. 1 In the realm of experimental and controversial film – there are few as bizarre and captivating as Kenneth Anger and his films. Here is a treasure trove of films – you just can’t see any other way like FIREWORKS, PUCE MOMENT, RABBIT’S MOON, EAUX D’ARTIFICE and INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME. These films have influenced the most influential of filmmaking artists as well as high art artists. Not for everyone, but it is for the daring viewers out there.



Monsters And Madmen (THE HAUNTED STRANGLER / CORRIDORS OF BLOOD / THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE / FIRST MAN INTO SPACE ) - Criterion Collection And here is where we all sing the praises of Criterion. That they do the loving detailed work that they do on Kurosawa films or the works of Renoir… well, that’s one thing. But that they also give that same glorious treatment to these films… well it tickles my balls! Too often these titles have been put out on dupey fuzzy nasty looking DVDs – but here they are given the great treatment that – well nobody but folks like me desired. None of these films are great – but they are works of Psychotronic mayhem – and star such gods as Boris Karloff, Bob Steele and Anthony Dawson. So if you like your films with head scratching plots and gigglicious visual effects and make-up. Look no further – you’ve reached your Briar Patch!



FIDDLER ON THE ROOF ( 2 Disc Collector’s Edition) Piotro Pinkie’s favorite film given the full treatment! This has been a bare-bones title for long enough. Here – you’ve got two discs – loaded with a Commentary, Dolby Digital 5.1… Deleted scenes – including the song “ANY DAY NOW” – a full fledged documentary, interviews with John Williams – the cast and much more. This is a fantastic double disc for those of us that have loved this film for so many years. About time! Now I can finally buy it.



DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK / ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK I love early Rock n Roll musicals – these fast and dirty flicks – with nonsensical plot lines set more to the fact that they had this new crazy music called ROCK N ROLL to unleash on the poodle skirts in the audience. It is a lost art form. Gone the way of Music Videos. Bands never seem to have the personality today to sustain a feature film. So instead we have actresses becoming singers and vice-versa. Of the two, my fave is ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK.



DON’T KNOCK THE TWIST / TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK And then we have the TWIST double feature – taking Chubby Checker’s outrageously popular song and dance and twisting it into the mold of the Rock flick. Don’t expect brains – but do expect to learn to twist properly and to have a lot of fun with this classic rocker and roller when he was in the early days of the twist.



THE PUFFY CHAIR A wonderful little indie film that did damn good on it’s own. It’s a beloved film around the Austin area – but it won high praise at last year’s Sundance and it took the Audience Award at last year’s SXSW film festival. Well, now you can see this film without having to stand in the uncertain lines of a film festival – and you can laugh and cry at this tale about a big puffy chair that a character remembers from his childhood and finds another of – that he gives his dad as a surprise gift – only to find… oh no, I wouldn’t spoil that… maybe Apocalypto, but definitely not this. January 30th, 2007



FLYBOYS ( Two Disc Collector’s Edition) I love biplane flicks. Movies like WINGS, THE DAWN PATROL, THE BLUE MAX… maybe it is because I love King Kong so much and just like I love Dinosaurs and Monkeys… I also love these planes… and the Empire State Building, Blondes and New York. That said – this has some of the finest aerial battle footage ever captured on a computer – I even kinda like the story. The acting wasn’t my fave – but as someone that loves this period and type of film – it makes me very happy. You might feel a two disc set is ludicrous on this title, but you’ll be a giddy kid at how they made some of these scenes. Check it out on Netflix if nothing else.



Viva Pedro – Pedro Almodovar Classics Collection (TALK TO HER, BAD EDUCATION, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, LIVE FLESH, FLOWER OF MY SECRET, MATADOR, LAW OF DESIRE ) Ok – if you’re a bit stunned by the Latin film boom of this year – with PAN’S LABYRINTH and CHILDREN OF MEN and BABEL – and you’ve decided that perhaps Spanish Language film is where it is at and you want to just dive in…. Well this set is about as great a way to start as any. Almodovar is the Spanish Fellini. His films are joys of life and cinema. They worship women, sex and family. They’re sensual and above all else they’re films about the human existence that have souls of their own. Viva Pedro indeed. The first film of his I saw was WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN over at Hogg Auditorium at the University of Texas campus. It blew my mind it was so good. Get yours blown!



DO NOT DISTURB Ok – Remember the Stallone Q&A? Remember the question about if he was tougher than Rod Taylor? Remember Stallone avoiding that comparison? Well – find out why! This film isn’t really going to help you. As this isn’t that type of Rod Taylor film – just like how Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, etc all do their romantic comedies and fun flicks – Rod Taylor did in his day as well. Co-Starring with Doris Day. Contrary to most of the modern tough guy attempts to soften and be funny – Rod Taylor did so effortlessly. This is a very good film. Love the look back with Rod Taylor extra on here!



BAND OF ANGELS This is a latter film for Raoul Walsh, one of the greatest directors ever… btw. And it stars Clark “I was Kirk First” Gable and Yvonne “You ain’t painting me green” DeCarlo. This is a Civil War epic starring the man that made that a good thing. In addition – you’ll see an impossibly young Sidney Poitier and at the end of the day – you’ll kinda love it all. Gable is great as always – and the sexual tension in this is throughout. Definitely worth a watch!



THE MARINE (Unrated Edition) I never got around to seeing this while it was in theaters – but I am definitely going to find it at a used DVD store – where I’ll trade something that is unwatchable for this film – just so I can finally give it a see. And I have to say, I’m looking forward to oogling John Cena fighting Robert Patrick. Should be moderately entertaining at… at least a good heckling level.



MADAME CURIE I assume most of you have never seen a Greer Garson movie. She was beyond lovely. And Mervyn LeRoy sure as hell knew how to direct her. Also – it stars Morbius from FORBIDDEN PLANET, but long before color started saturating planet Earth – you know, back when the world was love shades of gray. This is a romantic drama about how Marie Curie and Dr Pierre Curie found each other, love and the amazing powers of radium! The film has its extras and is beautiful to watch with a snuggle-goddess.



THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Collector’s Edition) Ok – I’ve been pissed ever since I ordered the SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Criterion DVD online – only to be sent the barebones. I’ve wanted a fairly loaded version of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS ever since and here we go with a nice one. There’s a 3 part documentary, a scoring featurette, a 1991 making of. Deleted scenes, outtakes and an Anthony Hopkins Phone Message… pretty ace, if you ask me. Sadly – no Lecter commentary – which is my real dream for a Silence – DVD. I love this film – and it’s nice to have a really good – available to all – version.



ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (Amazon Exclusive Offer) No – not that craptacular version that Disney made… no – this was done back in the day and I love this version of the film. It’s probably that I love Janet Leigh…. Or that the girl that see’s the angels – well… she’s just perfectly angelic herself. Or maybe it’s the wonderful Paul Douglas. Whatever. I love it. Now – this is an exclusive on Amazon – so click the link above if you want this film – it’s literally the only way to get it!



LOOKER I love LOOKER. I’ve been a fan since I first saw it at a Drive In with my parents back in 1981. It was written and directed by Michael Crichton – and is one of my favorite films that his name is attached to. First off… There’s the brilliant Albert Finney at work. Then there’s James Coburn. But more than that… honestly – it’s all the honeys on display in this miraculously yummy sci-fi fare. Susan Dey was so hot in this film. As were all the girls in this film. It’s very dated, but now it plays more like a period Sci fi film. And that’s a good thing. Crichton did a bang up job on this one.



GYMKATA From the director of ENTER THE DRAGON and BLACK BELT JONES come GYMKATA – the magnificent blending of Fake-Fu and Gymnastics! It is the future fighting skills of mankind… a mankind that will have strategically placed trampolines and swinging pole things. OK – truth time. In the late seventies when Kurt Thomas was the fucking MAN in Gymnastics – I was dreaming that somebody would cast him as Captain America so my dream of a great Captain America movie would come to pass. Then – around the time I was 14 and that dream had mostly died – I saw the trailer for this… STARRING KURT THOMAS!!! I got so excited. The day I saw this film, the dream of Kurt Thomas playing Captain America… died. D.O.A. That said – this is one of the most amazingly hokey alleged American martial arts flicks ever made. And it has ninjas versus a gymnast. You kinda have to see it for that alone.



THE ARRANGEMENT By no means is this the best film of Elia Kazan’s career – nor is it a particularly wonderful film. It is – however, completely an Elia Kazan film. Best seen alone or with someone very respectful of film. Douglas is good in the film, though mis-cast. It should have been Brando – you can feel that it was meant for Brando – and Kirk should never attempt to be Brando, because Kirk is Kirk and Brando is Brando -- But if you ever wondered how Kirk Douglas would do in a role meant for Marlon Brando… check this out. It’s good – tragically flawed, but still good. Kazan was really that good.



COMEDIANS OF COMEDY This is fucking funny. That’s all.



VIGILANTE I’ve never seen this. It’s directed by William Lustig and stars Robert Forster and Fred Williamson – is loaded with extras and has that cover art. I’m there.



SAYONARA JUPITER Toho’s answer to Peter Hyams’ 2010. I’ve never heard of this film – but this DVD is tricked out and look at this description

In the 22nd Century, the United Earth Federation has begun colonizing neighboring planets in the solar system. While attempting to extract water from Mars' polar ice caps, a UEF science team uncovers ancient carvings that describe the crash of an alien spacecraft on the planet Jupiter several millennia ago. The discovery postpones the initial phase of the Jupiter Solarization Project, a plan to transform the gas giant into a second sun, providing both additional solar energy for Earth and making the outer worlds fit for colonization. From Minerva Station in the orbit of Jupiter, Dr. Eiji Honda (Tomokazu Miura, Survive Style 5+, Taste of Tea) is dispatched to ensure that alien life does not exist on Jupiter before the planned mission is to commence.

Yeah – I’m VERY CURIOUS!