Hey folks, Harry here and the number one blockade in getting the column done this week, was getting an early copy of the first two episodes of Frank Darabont’s THE WALKING DEAD - which has just made me just about the happiest zombie boy on the block. LOVE IT SO MUCH. Anyway, you got a really fun group of great releases this week. As usual the images and titles link to Amazon where you can learn more on the title, or you can just out right purchase it there, which helps keep this column going.
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
HOUSE (Criterion BLU RAY)
Buy this now, choose the fastest method of shipping – and make sure that Sunday – when you’re getting together with your friends for a celebration of HALLOWEEN, that this is the film that plays when things are ready to get kicked up a notch. The cover you see for the Criterion edition – is not necessarily out of line with the actual vision of the film contained within. HOUSE is amazing. How amazing? Well, it was directed by the man that directed Charles Bronson in the greatest Men’s Cologne Commercial of all time, just youtube search MANDOM, and be a cult member. But this is a seriously psychedelic whacked out Japanese bit of hyped up insanity that you just can’t possibly turn off. It is awe-inspiring. THE RELEASE OF THE WEEK – and yes – I’m aware of the releases that follow – but as a movie fan, is it really all about the favorite films that you’ve known about your whole life – or is it about the things that blow your mind that you know next to nothing about? If so. THIS IS THE RELEASE. First off, the transfer is beautiful – and if you remember that insane lush seventies studio pretty out of Japan… and you apply it to the insanity of Japanese Haunted House – and remember, this was made to be FUN! The girls are so much fun. Trippy and close to being from another dimension. As a result, I can seriously recommend nothing higher this week. This is the sort of title that Criterion introduces you to, and you introduce to your entire world of friends and film lovers. Have a very Happy Halloween! Here’s the Criterion features:
New, restored high-definition digital transfer
Constructing a House, a new video piece with director Nobuhiko Obayashi
Emotion, a 1966 experimental film by Obayashi
New video appreciation by director Ti West (House of the Devil)
Theatrical trailer
New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: An essay by Chuck Stephens
PATHS OF GLORY (Criterion Blu)
KUBRICK. That name means… ADD TO THINE COLLECTION IMMEDIATELY. PATHS OF GLORY, for me is the first fully realized STANLEY KUBRICK film. I love THE KILLING & KILLER’S KISS – but they are small films. With PATHS OF GLORY, Kubrick made the world take notice. It teamed him with the great Kirk Douglas, which led him to SPARTACUS, but when you watch Kubrick’s eye in the trenches, on the battlefield, in the command headquarters – it reveals with perfect clarity a clean vision of the insanity contained within. His first attempt at revealing the insanity of war – a lesson that the world still can’t see and hear. This is where it became clear that Kubrick was incredibly special. Criterion’s print is gorgeous. The crispness is as it should be. Here’s their extras:
New, restored high-definition digital transfer
New audio commentary by critic Gary Giddins
Television interview from 1979 with star Kirk Douglas
New video interviews with Jan Harlan, James B. Harris and Christiane Kubrick
Excerpt from a French television program about real-life World War I executions
Theatrical trailer
PLUS: An essay by Kubrick scholar James Naremore
BACK TO THE FUTURE: 25th Anniversary Trilogy (BLU RAY)
Only complaint… Would love to have seen EVERYTHING that Eric Stoltz shot. Because, well… I find it utterly fascinating to watch. BUT – that’s just because I’m a spoilt brat that is addicted to the trivial history of cinema, especially when it comes to something as key in my little primate skull like BACK TO THE FUTURE. I spent a day watching the 3 films and then watching as many of the extras as I could – and I still didn’t get through it all. The film prints are great, though – the image is so good for the first BACK TO THE FUTURE – that you can really see how shoddy the make-up work was. This clears up with the second and third films. Now – here’s what you get on this truly awesome box set:
Blu-ray Exclusives
U-Control
Setups & Payoffs: Note key scenes and see how they play out as you watch the movies
Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.
Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies.
Pocket BLU: Experience Blu-ray in an exciting new way with the app for iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, Android and more
BD-Live: Access the BD-Live Center through your Internet-connected player and download even more bonus content, the latest trailers and more
My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movies
Bonus Features
"Tales from the Future:" 6-part retrospective documentary featuring all-new interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg
"In the Beginning..."
Time to Go
Keeping Time
Time Flies
Third Times the Charm
The Test of Time
The Physics of Back to the Future
16 Deleted Scenes
Michael J. Fox Q&A
Archival Featurettes
The Making of Back to the Future Parts I, II & III
Making The Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three
Back to the Future Night
The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy
Behind-the-Scenes
Outtakes
Original Makeup Tests
Nuclear Test Side Ending Storyboard Sequence
Outtakes
Production Design
Storyboarding
Designing the DeLeorean
Designing Time Travel
Hoverboard Test
Designing Hill Valley
Designing the Campaign
Photo Galleries Including Production Art, Additional Storyboards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits Music Videos
"The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News
"Doubleback" by ZZ Top
Back to the Future: The Ride
Q&A Commentaries with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale Feature Commentaries with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
This trilogy, along with THE RED RIDING TRILOGY – has seriously been one of the absolute highlights of 2010 for me. I love both Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist as the lead characters in the story, but I have to say – I just love the story, I’m a sucker for mystery-suspense stories, and I find Noomi’s character to be the most intriguing screen characters for an actress to play this year. From the Suicide Girl look – to just the quiet brilliance, insanity and patience that she exhibits… I love her. She’s hot, quite a bit scary, intimidating and tantalizing. The second film’s overall mystery isn’t as classical as the one in the first film, but as a result – I liked it more. Because it wasn’t the typical mystery. Really great series!
ALIEN ANTHOLOGY (BLU-RAY)
If you’re a geek. You’ll read reviews, but in truth – you’ve already ordered. Looking at the extras, just look:
Disc 1: ALIEN
**1979 Theatrical Version
**2003 Director’s Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction
**Audio Commentary by Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O’Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt
**Audio Commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott
**Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
**Composer’s Original Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
**Deleted and Extended Scenes
**MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc 2: ALIENS
**1986 Theatrical Version
**1991 Special Edition with James Cameron Introduction
**Audio Commentary by Director James Cameron, Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Alien Effects Creator Stan Winston, Visual Effects Supervisors Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak, Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung, Actors Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn and Christopher Henn
**Final Theatrical Isolated Score by James Horner
**Composer’s Original Isolated Score by James Horner
**Deleted and Extended Scenes
**MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc 3: ALIEN 3
**1992 Theatrical Version
**2003 Special Edition (Restored Workprint Version)
**Audio Commentary by Cinematographer Alex Thomson, B.S.C., Editor Terry Rawlings, Alien Effects Designers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., Visual Effects Producer Richard Edlund, A.S.C., Actors Paul McGann and Lance Henriksen
**Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Elliot Goldenthal
**Deleted and Extended Scenes
**MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc 4: ALIEN Resurrection
**1997 Theatrical Version
**2003 Special Edition with Jean-Pierre Jeunet Introduction
**Audio Commentary by Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Editor Hervé Schneid, A.C.E., Alien Effects Creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., Visual Effects Supervisor Pitof, Conceptual Artist Sylvain Despretz, Actors Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon and Leland Orser
**Final Theatrical Isolated Score by John Frizzell
**Deleted and Extended Scenes
**MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc 5: Making the Anthology
The Beast Within: Making ALIEN
**Star Beast: Developing the Story
**The Visualists: Direction and Design
**Truckers in Space: Casting
**Fear of the Unknown: Shepperton Studios, 1978
**The Darkest Reaches: Nostromo and Alien Planet
**The Eighth Passenger: Creature Design
**Future Tense: Editing and Music
**Outward Bound: Visual Effects
**A Nightmare Fulfilled: Reaction to the Film
**Enhancement Pods
Superior Firepower: Making ALIENS
**57 Years Later: Continuing the Story
**Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction
**Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization
**This Time It’s War: Pinewood Studios, 1985
**The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action
**Bug Hunt: Creature Design
**Beauty and the Bitch: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien
**Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
**The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound
**The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects
**Aliens Unleashed: Reaction to the Film
**Enhancement Pods
Wreckage and Rage: Making ALIEN3
**Development Hell: Concluding the Story
**Tales of the Wooden Planet: Vincent Ward’s Vision
**Stasis Interrupted: David Fincher’s Vision
**Xeno-Erotic: H.R. Giger’s Redesign
**The Color of Blood: Pinewood Studios, 1991
**Adaptive Organism: Creature Design
**The Downward Spiral: Creative Differences
**Where the Sun Burns Cold: Fox Studios, L.A. 1992
**Optical Fury: Visual Effects
**Requiem for a Scream: Music, Editing and Sound
**Post-Mortem: Reaction to the Film
**Enhancement Pods
One Step Beyond: Making ALIEN RESURRECTION
**From the Ashes: Reviving the Story
**French Twist: Direction and Design
**Under the Skin: Casting and Characterization
**Death from Below: Fox Studios, Los Angeles, 1996
**In the Zone: The Basketball Scene
**Unnatural Mutation: Creature Design
**Genetic Composition: Music
**Virtual Aliens: Computer Generated Imagery
**A Matter of Scale: Miniature Photography
**Critical Juncture: Reaction to the Film
**Enhancement Pods
**MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience to Access and Control Enhancement Pods
Disc 6: The Anthology Archives
ALIEN
Pre-Production
**First Draft Screenplay by Dan O’Bannon
**Ridleygrams: Original Thumbnails and Notes
**Storyboard Archive
**The Art of Alien: Conceptual Art Portfolio
**Sigourney Weaver Screen Tests with Select Director Commentary
**Cast Portrait Gallery
Production
**The Chestbuster: Multi-Angle Sequence with Commentary
**Video Graphics Gallery
**Production Image Galleries
**Continuity Polaroids
**The Sets of Alien
**H.R. Giger’s Workshop Gallery
Post-Production and Aftermath
**Additional Deleted Scenes
**Image & Poster Galleries
**Experience in Terror
**Special Collector’s Edition LaserDisc Archive
**The Alien Legacy
**American Cinematheque: Ridley Scott Q&A
**Trailers & TV Spots
ALIENS
Pre-Production
**Original Treatment by James Cameron
**Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics with Commentary
**Storyboard Archive
**The Art of Aliens: Image Galleries
**Cast Portrait Gallery
Production
**Production Image Galleries
**Continuity Polaroids
**Weapons and Vehicles
**Stan Winston’s Workshop
**Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras
**Video Graphics Gallery
**Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers
Post-Production and Aftermath
**Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned
**Deleted Scene Montage
**Image Galleries
**Special Collector’s Edition LaserDisc Archive
**Main Title Exploration
**Aliens: Ride at the Speed of Fright
**Trailers & TV Spots
ALIEN 3
Pre-Production
**Storyboard Archive
**The Art of Arceon
**The Art of Fiorina
Production
**Furnace Construction: Time-Lapse Sequence
**EEV Bioscan: Multi-Angle Vignette with Commentary
**Production Image Galleries
**A.D.I.’s Workshop
Post-Production and Aftermath
**Visual Effects Gallery
**Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
**Alien 3 Advance Featurette
**The Making of Alien 3 Promotional Featurette
**Trailers & TV Spots
ALIEN RESURRECTION
Pre-Production
**First Draft Screenplay by Joss Whedon
**Test Footage: A.D.I. Creature Shop with Commentary
**Test Footage: Costumes, Hair and Makeup
**Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Rehearsals
**Storyboard Archive
**The Marc Caro Portfolio: Character Designs
**The Art of Resurrection: Image Galleries
Production
**Production Image Galleries
**A.D.I.’s Workshop
Post-Production and Aftermath
**Visual Effects Gallery
**Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
**HBO First Look: The Making of Alien Resurrection
**Alien Resurrection Promotional Featurette
**Trailers & TV Spots
ANTHOLOGY
**Two Versions of Alien Evolution
**The Alien Saga
**Patches and Logos Gallery
**Aliens3D Attraction Scripts and Gallery
**Aliens in the Basement: The Bob Burns Collection
**Parodies
**Dark Horse Cover Gallery
**Patches and Logos Gallery
**MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience
Seriously – this is one of those series that strikes to the heart of who we are as geeks. Be it the simple awesome of Ridley Scott’s ALIEN or the utter brilliant action of James Cameron’s ALIENS -- and then even the two failures of the series – from the likes of David Fincher and Jean Pierre Jeunet are fascinating stories in and of themselves. These two are amazing stories of artists being hamstrung by wrongful executive interference. The great thing about this set is you’ll see all that and more. This is such a great series – let’s hope FOX gets the fuck out of Ridley Scott’s way so he can up the ante, yet again.
DARK STAR – THE HYPER-DRIVE EDITION
In my opinion, if you can’t do at least two quotes from DARK STAR – you’re not yet a real geek. DARK STAR is a geek perogative film. It gives us some of the same short cut talking points. We all know ALIEN never would have happened without DARK STAR. We all love this because we love Dan O Bannon, John Carpenter and mostly because we love a sentient bomb. BRILLIANCE! I love this film dearly. Here’s the extras you get on this edition:
LET THERE BE LIGHT: THE ODYSSEY OF "DARK STAR" An all new, feature-length documentary exploring the controversial making of the John Carpenter (HALLOWEEN) and Dan O Bannon (ALIEN), Exclusive interviews with actor Brian Narelle, cinematographer Doug Knapp, art director Tommy Lee Wallace, visual effects artist Greg Jein, voice artist Cookie Knapp, film director Jack Harris, Diane O Bannon, USC alumni/director Jeff Burr, as well as archival interviews with John Carpenter and many more!
Plus the final interview with Dan O Bannon, Directed by Daniel Griffith, 2010, Interview with Sci-Fi author Alan Dean Foster, 3D guide to the DARK STAR ship, Full-length audio commentary by super-fan Andrew Gilchrist, Written Intro by Dan O Bannon, Trivia.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO
Once the first season got its legs, it started kicking ass pretty solid. This second season, just nailed it right from the beginning – and serves as a reminder that the further STAR WARS gets from George, the stronger it seems to get. Ya gotta love some Aurra Sing / Boba Fett action. This is really good stuff. I’m looking forward to watching these in a non-stop watching orgy.
WINTER’S BONE
Easily one of the best films of 2010 is this movie, WINTER’S BONE. I remember hearing about it at SUNDANCE this year, where it took home the Grand Jury Prize – and at the time, I remember thinking… A John Hawkes starring film won the Grand Jury Prize at SUNDANCE? Awesome. I’m a John Hawkes fan going way back to his role in Daniel Erikson’s SCARY MOVIE back in the day. A role that I felt was criminally underseen. The paranoia and fear that John gave off in that film was so delightful that it reminded me of the best kind of insanity that you’d see out of Peter Lorre. And that’s a great thing. SO – finally this BluRay showed up and I put it in and wow. WINTER’S BONE is, no fooling, a great thriller. Really outstanding. You should also keep focused on Jennifer Lawrence, she’s gonna go places. But for me, this is John Hawkes’ film. BTW – folks – fuck METH. Stay the fuck away from that crap.
EVENING PRIMROSE
Want to see a feature length TWILIGHT ZONE-esque musical starring Anthony Hopkins singing 1966 era Sondheim songs – and it was made for Television, aired once and then hidden from the eyes of man for being just too goddamn good. Now – now you can have it. Love this! Don’t try to find out too much on this, just… trust me.
MANIAC (BLU RAY)
I’m on record as lusting after Caroline “sweaty titties” Munro like nobody’s business. This is mainly because of GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, but every other film I’ve seen her in, my desire kicks in again, even if that film is the utterly disgusting, seedy exploitation of William Lustig, with amazing gore effects by Tom Savini – all in 1080p!!! You just have to celebrate this kind of film hitting Blu. I love it, like I love BLUE UNDERGROUND. Sometimes, the red, must be that clear!
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Oliver Stone shot this documentary which is a series of sit downs with a “rogues gallery” of South American leaders. These are pretty much all the bad guys that FOX NEWS vilifies often & with gusto. Yet, with Oliver Stone – there doesn’t seem to be any tongues being ripped out, now – there is an occasional chewing of the coco leafs. Which, I must admit, is a curious thing to watch a sitting leader of a country doing, but as they say, at those altitudes… when in Rome. Right? The interesting thing that comes through in the documentary – is a desire to rule their own countries without imperialistic influences. At least that’s the line that is toted. It is a fascinating doc, if for no other reason than to see how these folks come across in a frank conversation about realities.
CHAPLIN AT KEYSTONE: AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION OF 34 Original Films
With all the talk about the Time Traveler that was found in footage from Chaplin’s THE CIRCUS world premiere… well, it got me to crack open this set and start diving into Chaplin’s classic Keystone Comedies work, most of which are short two reelers – but here you watch as Chaplin refines his TRAMP character, and if you watch them all – you’ll find yourself in a higher plane of existence, simply because the pathos of Chaplin will brighten your soul. This is an absolute certainty. This is a fantastic set. I love LAUGHING GAS. But DOUGH AND DYNAMITE is my fave. I had the original one sheet for this film, for pretty much my entire life. Mom & Dad came across it somewhere, but I remember when I got into College, got my first video card – I sought it out. And this was just magic. I recognized gags from the poster – and it delighted me. Big love for this set.
ALTITUDE
Ok. It is very important to look at the image on that BluRay box cover. That is a small plane in a stormy sky, there is a body hanging out of the open door as fucking tentacles are swooping after the plane. The AIR PLANE – in a movie called ALTITUDE… there are TENTACLES IN THE SKY! And thus began my stupid love for this utterly retarded film. But ya know what, it delivers on that image. The film is all kinds of fucked up. Seriously. You won’t necessarily like any of those names that you don’t really know on the box cover. That’s fine, this isn’t a film about attachments. It’s about TENTACLES IN THE SKY. This is essentially a bugnuts Twilight Zone episode, that has relentlessly fed upon lead paint chips beginning at an early age. This is MST3K worthy – and an epic one at that. The silly goes far beyond the mere image you see on the cover. It goes to the root of relationships – and just… these teens do some amazingly stupid shit. The kind of stupid shit that gets you yelling at the screen. SO, do I recommend it. Yeah, to those that love FUCKING ABSURDLY AMBITIOUS RETARDED BULLSHIT INSANITY. Yeah, for you folks, this shit is crack.
SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE (25th Anniversary Edition) BLU RAY
Ok, so this was magic in the 80s – I swear it was. There’s a bizarre experience awaiting those that haven’t seen this in ages, but I still say I still love the ILM work on this movie. That’s really why I loved it, I read about it in STARLOG – and I had a habit of loving almost every movie I ever read about in STARLOG.
PSYCHOMANIA
This is that British Occult Black Leather Bikers of the Living Dead film where they crush the Hippie movement – and it stars GEORGE SANDERS and is actually incredibly watchable. I dig the hell out of this thing.
LEGEND OF THE BLACK SCORPION (Blu Ray)
Known as YE YAN aka THE BANQUET, this is a very loose Chinese adaptation of Shakespeare’s HAMLET – but into a total Chinese interpretation. It’s amazing. Zhang Ziyi has perhaps never been more beautiful – and the art direction and cinematography are jaw-dropping, seriously – I have a nomination for most beautiful decapitation in this film. I also love the music by Tan Dun. Seriously. Wow. Not real sure how I missed this for the 4 years it has been in existence, but I’ve watched it 3 times now since getting it on Blu. Amazing film.
TROPIC OF CANCER
Hey, it’s Henry Miller’s TROPIC OF CANCER, shot in a very frank and explicit manner in the 70’s – with Rip Torn and Ellen Burstyn in the key roles! This is amazing. You’ll still probably prefer HENRY AND JUNE, I do, but I am kind of amazed by TROPIC OF CANCER! It’s amazing. Definitely worth checking out!
CHASER
I have mad love for THE CHASER, in fact it is one of my favorite Korean films – and that’s saying a lot. The story is focused upon a Pimp, who used to be a cop, but is now a pimp. He begins to have a shortage of girls working for him, and he realizes that some of the missing girls all saw the same last client, so he decides to investigate – and sure enough – BADNESS. This is a great KOREAN film. Absolutely brutal, feels like an old William Friedkin film or an old Paul Schrader script. Just a great great film.
FOUR IN A JEEP
This is kind of like a Cold War Film Noir Intrigue kind of film, about a patrol jeep in Berlin that had various representatives from each of the western governements that divided up BERLIN – and – yeah – this is just awesome. Stars a fave actor of mine, Ralph Meeker. Watch his films and learn why.
SCORE (Blu Ray)
This is a very Bi-Curious Softcore Seventies Porn about an older married couple that is trying to seduce a younger married couple and they have these various side bets, about what they can get the couple to do – and well… things pretty much go as planned, otherwise… it wouldn’t be at all satisfying would it? Pretty amazing little film.
That wraps up October, next month kicks off with TOY STORY 3, THE PACIFIC, TOY STORY TRILOGY 10-Disc BluRay Set, THE SOUND OF MUSIC BluRay, BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI BluRay, The final season of THE FUGITIVE, The Complete LARRY SANDERS SHOW, WHITE CHRISTMAS Blu, THE GOONIES Blu, HIGHLANDER 1 & 2 on Blu, CENTURION, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Blu, Bing Crosby Collection, NOT ON THIS EARTH, I AM, THE WIZ Blu, TERROR WITHIN/DEAD SPACE, WINNEBAGO MAN, THE VISITOR, DESTRICTED and that’s about it. See ya then…
