HARRY's DVD PICKS AND PEEKS Does The Final 2 Weeks of February 2007 - Even More Great Titles!

Hey Folks, Harry here, with the final two Tuesdays of the month of February, an incredibly busy month of releases. As always by clicking on the box art or the titles you’ll find yourself at Amazon looking at their page for purchases. You can do that, or read their further information. There’s some great discs yet to be released this month, here they are…




Tuesday, February 20th, 2007



BABEL

It has been wonderful to watch Alejandro González Iñárritu ‘s career continue so wonderfully on target. He’s one of the best filmmakers in the world at telling human stories realistically, emotionally and with a hint of that beautiful sadness that he has captured in all of his films. For me, the real discovery in the film is Rinko Kikuchi, she’s so incredibly tragic and alone in this film. The scenes in Japan just making all that light and sound mean nothing but a separation between her and everyone else that she cares about. It’s great. At every level – the film is amazing… The only real problem I have is with the three leads who we are familiar with. It isn’t that Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett or Gael Garcia Bernal are lacking. They’re wonderful, it’s just that they are familiar, they feel distracting in all these other stories. Each part was so rich that I wanted it to be the whole. Which is what makes having it on DVD so enriching. You get to explore it, over and over again.

THE PRESTIGE

PRESTIGE is such a wonderfully fun movie. From the production design to the wonderful David Bowie to Wolverine and Batman – to Scarlett (pant pant) Johansson. I loved watching this film play out. There were very few cooler films last year and it just keeps making Nolan look like the guy to watch. What he does next with BATMAN is exciting, what he does without Batman next is even more thrilling, don’t you think? Well this DVD is pretty nice. The Director’s Notebook is really nice and I loved checking out the behind the scenes art for the film. They could have gone more out there on this disc, sadly they didn’t go nuts on the DVD.

FLUSHED AWAY

Now this is a packed DVD. I know not many saw this film, but if you love AARDMAN animation – that this is CG, isn’t a reason to avoid it. Sure, I prefer the claymation that they do, but AARDMAN isn’t clay… it’s their humor, their quirks, their play. And I for one love what it is they do. Well on this DVD – you’re getting an insane amount of extras. Commentary, extra animated Slug Songs, the clay to CG documentary and more and more and more. This isn’t a potty humor film – in a lot of ways I think it was a mistake to sell the film that way. In reality – this film has hardly nothing to do with the potty – but rather a world we never see. Ian McKellen’s character is genius. Fantastic. You won’t believe how awesomely funny he is. A very surprising film.

GANDHI (25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition)

I’ve been waiting for years for the sequel, GANDHI 2, he’s back and he’s pissed. But barring that, I am excited about a really great edition of Attenborough’s wonderful film. This fantastic film absolutely deserves the amazing treatment it has here. Over 90 Minutes of Bonus Material – plus just a wonderful transfer of this gorgeous film. Ben Kingsley is just astonishing in this film – and for everyone that just thinks of him from SEXY BEAST or SCHINDLER’S LIST – this is his most amazing role ever. Definitely worth picking up!

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (Season 2, Volume 2)

I love VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. Why can’t we have subs as cool looking as the fucking SEAVIEW? They had the coolest looking equipment – and getting 672 minutes more of this show… just makes me a very happy boy. However – I do wish they had just released the seasons as WHOLE seasons instead of dividing them up. But doesn’t matter -

49th PARALLEL – Criterion Collection

One of the great Powell & Pressburger films… if you don’t know who Powell & Pressburger are… there’s no shame in that, but this is a good way to start off. They’re one of the great filmmaking teams in history. I have the one sheet for this movie, under its U.S. title of THE INVADERS. It’s about a Nazi sub crew that ends up stuck in Canada. And is about the Nazi true trying to make its way to the U.S. because they weren’t in the war yet and being hunted down in Canada. It’s an interesting variant in the illegal immigrant problem, heh, while also being a really great Nazi story. This is a Criterion DVD and is awesome. They’ve got an incredibly rare short that P&P did called THE VOLUNTEER and a great BBC documentary on the pair. Very nice DVD.

The Alice Faye Collection ( THAT NIGHT IN RIO / LILLIAN RUSSELL / ON THE AVENUE / THE GANG’S ALL HERE )

OH MAN! I’m so damn gay. You’ve no idea how excited I am about this box set. I don’t have a review copy of it, because it’s FOX and they never send me anything, but dammit… this set is incredibly exciting. First off, it has THE GANG’S ALL HERE – which is directed by Busby Berkeley – and THE GANG’S ALL HERE is one of the sheerest most insane pinnacle’s of Technicolor madness that has ever been seen. For one… Carmen Miranda’s astonishing cavalcade of phallic monkey attractants is something to be beheld. Then you just have the other wonderful films of Alice Faye, a too oft forgotten siren of the classic era. Fox really produced these films the way you’d love them to be produced. If you were gay like me. In addition to the films – you’ve got Carmen Miranda on the Ed Sullivan show, Johnny Carson’s Bananas Musical Number, Chiquita Commercials and much more. This is an incredibly delightful set for musical fans. Wonderful!

WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS – Criterion Collection

If you liked MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA – you really owe it to yourself to see this amazing film. This is the vastly superior film. Takamine Hideko is just one of the saddest creatures you’ve ever seen. She plays a Geisha that must find a husband that won’t consider her past or see past it… OR she must get her own bar and be Madame to the next generation of Geishas all while her money grubbing family torment her. The film is filled with heartache and sadness. If you want a good cry, this is a very good cry.

WALKING TALL – THE PAYBACK

OK – first off… where the fuck did this come from? Kevin Sorbo in the second WALKING TALL movie of the ‘aughts? First impression – this has got to be a disaster, but can it really be that much worse than The Rock’s terrible WALKING TALL movie? And isn’t there something bizarre about the fact that Buford Pusser – or characters based upon Buford Pusser – have the first film played by one actor: Joe Don Baker and The Rock… and then the sequels played by Bo Svenson and now Kevin Sorbo. Well Bo Svenson is Buford Pusser as far as I’m concerned, with Joe Don running a close second. And I’m morbidly curious to see just how horrible this is. Ain’t you?

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DORKS

This is an awesome film. The title is awful. The idea of a German Zombie Comedy just doesn’t sound all that wonderful. When this got programmed at FANTASTIC FEST 1, I rolled my eyes. I just kinda felt like it had to be desperate filler. I don’t remember who programmed it, but I kinda thought it’d be lame. THEN – I saw it, fell in love with it and have been craving to show it to friends that didn’t attend Fantastic Fest 1 – and it’s been far far too long – and now the wait is over. I’ve had the DVD for the last two weeks and oddly – none of my friends’ schedules have overlapped properly so we can unleash this film – the way it needs unleashing. This is a blast!

The Cuban Masterworks Collection ( THE TWELVE CHAIRS / THE ADVENTURES OF JUAN QUIN QUIN / A SUCCESSFUL MAN / CELIA / AMADA )

This is one of the great curiosities of this month for me. I haven’t seen or heard of any of these films, but what I have read upon the films in this collection – they sound like something to discover. I don’t know much about Cuban cinema and they are a passionate artistic peoples and discovering this collection sounds like a good time. Honestly, this one’s for me.

THE WANDERING SWORDSMAN

This is the Shaw Brother telling of ROBIN HOOD – as if Robin Hood had been in China and had martial arts prowess. What I love is this is David Chiang doing ROBIN HOOD – and that’s just awesome. Not only that, but it’s brought to us by the brilliant Chang Cheh. I’m a Robin Hood geek, I’m a Kung Fu geek… two great tastes that taste great together.

DREAM FOLLIES / DREAMLAND CAPERS

Exploitive fun and a rare early early… hell, it’s his first film appearance… of Lenny Bruce in a sleazy club. This isn’t something great. It’s a curiosity. An collection of exploitive sub-film film. Worth picking up for the too brief Lenny Bruce performance. Check it out.

THEE FILMS 1950s-1960s

oooooOOooOOooh, I can’t wait to see what the hell is on this DVD. THEE FILMS – as I know them are the series of films that William Burroughs collaborated on with Brion Gysin and Anthony Balch. Amazon hasn’t stated what’s on this DVD, but the films that should be included in this set – the films that they made were WILLIAM BUYS A PARROT, TOWERS OPEN FIRE, THE CUT UPS, BILL AND TONY and GHOSTS AT NO. 9. These were the short films that I know of that they made in that period – totaling about 90 minutes. But again – there’s no details on this DVD, so that’s just my best guess, given what they should have on the DVD. If you love experimental film, this is for you.

Tuesday, February 27th, 2007



TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY

Naysayers be fucked, TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY owns your ass! And this DVD – is the greatest DVD of all Time. Why? Because Jack Black and Kyle Gass have a commentary. Because there’s 14 Deleted and Extended scenes. Because there’s a jump to the songs feature – and tons of making of stuff. This is the DVD to make Satan shit a steamer! AWESOME!

Bob Dylan – DON’T LOOK BACK (1965 Tour Deluxe Edition)

D.A. Pennebaker is a brilliant documentarian. Bob Dylan is just plain brilliant. Together – they made one of the great documentaries of a blisteringly intense artist as he was soaring. This is what you get in this amazing edition. Here ya go: 0. Disc 1: Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back 0. Commentary by director D.A. Pennebaker and tour road manager Bob Neuwirth 0. Five additional uncut audio tracks 0. Alternate version of the "Subterranean Homesick Blues" cue-card sequence 0. Original theatrical trailer 0. D.A. Pennebaker filmography 0. Bob Dylan discography 0. Cast and crew biographies 0. Disc 2: Bob Dylan 65 Revisited 0. A new work compiled by D.A. Pennebaker from over 20 hours of never-before-seen footage 0. Commentary by director D.A. Pennebaker and tour road manager Bob Neuwirth 0. Also includes: 0. 168-page companion book including a complete transcription of the film, over 200 photos, and a new forward by D.A. Pennebaker Collectible "Subterranean Homesick Blues" flipbook This is a jewel.

ALEXANDER – THE FINAL CUT (2-Disc Collector’s Edition)

Wow. I watched this version on my 9’ by 12’ screen with the volume up and holy shit is this a ride. I don’t believe this will win any detractors over. But for me, I loved this film’s original Theatrical cut. The film is essentially – completely restructured. Far more intense. The battle scenes are insane. The intensity is off the chart. And frankly – I really do feel the restructuring of the film helps intensely in building the strength of Alexander. By starting with perhaps his greatest moment as Alexander – then bringing in how he came to that point, then showing how it fell apart and came to an end… I feel the film grabs you faster. The added scenes with Roxanne help to flesh out Dawson’s character and performance so that it isn’t so out of the blue. I don’t expect those that hate this film to give this film another chance, but for those of you that saw the brilliance in this movie, this is an even stronger version. Absolutely unrestrained. It gets more insane, but that makes those scenes feel more real. The butchery of bladed warfare has never been so ginsu, if you get my meaning. This is 45 minutes longer – and to me, didn’t feel a minute longer. A truly great job.

TIDELAND

My fiancée hates this film. And I absolutely love it. This is a film about a survivor that has never been raised with the capacity to understand or survive the real world. Everything is room for fantasy in her world. It’s haunting, scary, tragic and terrible. This is a brilliant film with a performance by Jodelle Ferland that is the best performance by a little girl that I believe I’ve ever seen. It’s just stunning. And the imagination on display is pure Terry Gilliam. What a wonderful film.

SUPER FUZZ

From director Sergio Corbucci comes… SUPER FUZZ. Ok – so HOT FUZZ is coming, but long before there was a Simon Pegg and Nick Frost – there was a whacked out Italian team of Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer. They made the TRINITY movies… and sadly – Bud isn’t in this film, but TRINITY aka Terrence Hill is and he’s hilarious as a super powered copper. This is a hilariously low budget terribly done special effect yuck fest – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love SUPER FUZZ. I love FUZZ. And I can’t wait to see HOT FUZZ. Btw, I need to shave too.

INFERNO

Some people call this a sequel to SUSPIRIA and I suppose it could be. It’s even more of a self-indulgent mess than SUSPIRIA, but I’m told that’s a good thing. And that my passion for his more straight forward Giallos like DEEP RED and THE BIRD WITH A CRYSTAL PLUMMAGE is delusional. I can’t deny loving the lurid look of this and SUSPIRIA – and indeed I am buying this because I do so endeavor to better understand the more nonsensical descents into madness of Dario Argento… I’ve been told I need to get stoned and be tripping on shrooms to better understand these films. At least that’s what a well known man once said to me, and who am I to argue with that. Now, where do I get those movie snacks and at what theater. Hmmmm…. This DVD has a great interview with Dario – and it’s about frigging time a great disc on this film hit.

LAURA’S TOYS

I love 70’s Sexploitation. Here you have a classic Joseph Sarno crotch tickler. It’s a helluva seductive tale, never going full on x-rated – rather it’s softcore, but good softcore. You see – Laura is married to this archaeologist – who has a hot assistant. Now Laura has a nymphomaniacal lesbian past that she’s trying to escape. She can’t get enough, except that her husband gives her all she wants, till well – things get sexually complicated – with all sorts of desires and situations. The film isn’t pornographic, it’s erotic, that’s a different thing. And this is a pretty damn good one.

CRIME BUSTERS

Now this is what I was talking about. Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer comedy. Directed by the great Enzo Barboni. Motorcycle cops. And fun fun. The tagline was, “Hill and Spencer! They're a pair of car-crashing, womanizing, rough-housing loudmouths... and they're the good guys!” And that’s exactly what we get! It’s wonderfully hilarious. You should definitely pick this and SUPER FUZZ up if you’re looking forward to HOT FUZZ. It’ll get you oh so in the mood.

ALICE IN CARTOONLAND: 35mm Collection

Before there was Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney had his first star… ALICE. She was a real girl unleashed into the realm of animation in a whole series of animated shorts in the 1920s. It was a reaction to what Max Fleischer had done with the KoKo the clown animated delights, where KoKo tended to react to the real world and interact with the physical in a toon-y way. Well, Alice is a dramatic foreshadow to the joys he’d bring in films like MARY POPPINS… long before. This was when the animation giants worked with Walt – like UB Iwerks, Rudolf Ising and Hugh Harman. These are classic animated films from an era where very little has survived. If you’re a lover of animation, this is a must.

DON’T TORTURE A DUCKLING

Fulci… Giallo… Oh Yeah Baby! Did I mention Barbara Bouchet? You may not have heard of her, but the mere mention of her name made your loins twitch – she’s that yummy. Getting this early work of Fulci’s is a delight. He’s known for being one of the foremost practitioners of stunning gore. Here you have a serial killer killing young boys. No, it’s not the king of pop, but there’s a host of colorful suspects. Can’t wait to add this classic to my collection.

Studio Classics Collection Boxed Set

This is a terrific deal that AMAZON is offering on this final week of February. They’re all titles that have been out there, but if you have the extra cash – it’s an excellent opportunity to pick up the best of 20th Century Fox’s past. Getting all of these titles would normally run right at about $600, but they’ve got them on sale for a collective $240 – saving about 60%. That’s a helluva savings. Now what do you get? Here ya go: The Day the Earth Stood Still All About Eve The Grapes of Wrath An Affair to Remember The Diary of Anne Frank How Green Was My Valley The Ox-Bow Incident Peyton Place Return to Peyton Place How to Steal a Million Zorba the Greek My Darling Clementine The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Gentleman's Agreement Two for the Road Anastasia Titanic Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte A Letter to Three Wives The Ghost and Mrs. Muir The Three Faces of Eve The Song of Bernadette The Black Swan The Razor's Edge Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing Three Coins in the Fountain Desk Set The Mark of Zorro Leave Her to Heaven The Snake Pit The Inn of the Sixth Happiness The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Alexander's Ragtime Band The Keys of the Kingdom Anna and the King of Siam The Best of Everything In Old Chicago The River's Edge The Rains Came Orchestra Wives These are, without exception some of the finest films in the entire history of FOX films and an excellent addition to anybody’s collection. Just wanted to let you good folks know about this opportunity.

Until next month, this is Harry hoping that this DVD Picks & Peeks has been the slightest bit helpful in navigating the complex labyrinth of releases.