Hey folks, Harry here with another DVD Picks & Peeks. Pretty damn fine group of titles this week – for the second week in a row! Let’s get into it, shall we? As usual you can click on the art or the titles and it’ll send you to Amazon where you can learn more on the title or you can purchase them there – where a portion of your purchase will go to continue sponsoring this column. Much thanks to those of you who do – and to those of you who don’t… I hope you find the columns and links useful all the same. Here ya go…

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

HEROES: Season 2

An abbreviated season due to the writer’s strike and an obnoxious industry that abhors dealing fairly with any talent area… well, it cost us a few episodes and meant a rushed season, which to many was a blessing, as many hated this season. Having just watched the entire season 3 days ago on Blu-Ray for the first time. I really have to disagree. Sure – at a surface level it repeats many of the plot devices and themes from Season one – only – without it being as visually threatening or brutal. That said – I really am fond of Season 2. For one – I love Hiro’s Samurai Tale. Only – I do wish there had been 2 episodes dealing solely with the samurai tale – as I fear I’ll never see Wolverine in Japan, but getting to see Kensei fighting R-rated battles where an arm is cut off and grows back – and full on arterial sprays – and Hiro stopping time to behead 40… bliss. Alas – that’s not here. But I love the issues of dealing with meeting mythic heroes and them not being the hero you heard about as a boy. I also am quite fond of Peter Petrelli’s arc. Very different from the first season – and plays well to his naïve nature. Neutering Sylar, but showing how he’d continue his evil – was so much fun. By the time I got to the final episode of this half season – I was stunned at the developments. Let’s see how Season 3 goes – from the sneak peeks on the disc – and the spots during the Olympics – it looks really cool!

HEROES: SEASON 1 (Blu-Ray)

I love this season. Absolutely perfect. I had this season on HD-DVD, but here’s the chance for all of you folks that didn’t have this in 1080p perfection – well now you can. Both this and the above set have TONS of extras and it’s my favorite show on television (outside THE DAILY SHOW and THE COLBERT REPORT)

ENTOURAGE – the complete 4th season

This is a lot of folks’ fave show on Television, personally – I’ve never gotten caught up in it. Even when they parodied me. Seriously though – you guys should get your prostate stimulated by wanton women – you’ll cum like you won’t believe. How the writers of this show knew that about me, I’ll never know.

THE LITTLE MERMAID – ARIEL’S BEGINNING

The prequel to THE LITTLE MERMAID that we were all screaming for. Ahem. Another needless sequel/prequel to fill the coffers and empty our respect for the house of Mouse. The film isn’t dreadful. It’s actually quite entertaining – but it doesn’t hold a candle to the original. The songs are not there. The wit isn’t there – and the animation quality isn’t quite there. However, if you have a little lady in the house, she’ll probably never notice.

THE SHIELD – 6th Season

THE SHIELD has been a great show for quite some time now – and continues to prove that really solid talent disappears in the hands of Tim Story. Ahem. With this next season looking to be the end, this season certainly ramped it up a notch or two – let’s hope they can end it as well as they’ve prepared us for the end.

THREE STOOGES Collection 3: 1940-1942

In 1940 – they made 3 of my favorite Stooges shorts – YOU NAZTY SPY!, A PLUMBING WE WILL GO and BOOBS IN ARMS – and all are presented here. The second of those is generally considered by many to arguably be the 3 Stooges very best work on film. Of course, so much of the love for an individual Stooge short is dependent upon the theme of a particular short. Here on this set you’re moving towards the world heading into war – with America joining the fray – this and the next collection do reflect that mindset. This is an outstanding series – and I look forward to… collecting them all!

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Blu-Ray)

Probably my favorite film of my adult life. This is so fucking gorgeous in Blu-Ray that it is hard to communicate its perfection. I’ve watched it 3 times – just because I’m sick that way. In addition – you’re getting VINCENT in Blu-Ray and FRANKENWEENIE in Blu-Ray. And the FRANKENWEENIE has an introduction by Tim Burton talking about the Stop-motion 3D Feature version of Frankenweenie – including some of his production sketches for that upcoming feature. Yes, they’re sweet! There’s a new commentary by Henry Selick, Tim Burton and Danny Elfman – and in particular – my fave extra is a recitation of Tim Burton’s original poem, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS – which kickstarted this project – read by Christopher Lee and illustrated in a slightly animated Tim Burton style. It is hypnotic. This is absolutely the jewel of this wondrous release day!

TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: Collector’s Edition – Ultimate DVD Set & Digital Copy

Amazon is reporting that this item has been pulled by the manufacturer – but I’ve heard otherwise – the links above will take you to Amazon’s page – keep checking for availability – it has everything on the Blu-Ray version – but in Standard Def – and like the Blu-Ray you also get a disc that includes a Digital Copy for your various media devices.

SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM

Not a pleasant film experience. One of the sickest, most depraved and evil films to ever be called a masterpiece by most everyone that could stomach it. SALO is the Marquis De Sade by way of Fascist Wartime Italy. Probably the most obviously disturbing and disgusting work ever committed to Criterion’s exacting preservation process – and by that statement – I have to applaud the team that dedicated the time to do this sort of immaculate presentation and extras for this film. Fucked beyond all belief.

ERROL FLYNN WESTERNS COLLECTION ( MONTANA / ROCKY MOUNTAIN / SAN ANTONIO / VIRGINIA CITY )

It’s odd to see an Errol Flynn Western collection that doesn’t include DODGE CITY, THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON and SANTA FE TRAIL – easily his 3 best Westerns. That said – I’m quite fond of these 4. In VIRGINIA CITY you get to see Flynn show off with Randolph Scott and Humphrey Bogart, they’re all involved in either protecting or robbing a wagon train loaded with gold from getting to… Virginia City. SAN ANTONIO was shown to me often as a child, as it was my dad’s home town – and having a Flynn tale set there… helped to cement the legend of San Antone to me. Errol Flynn is my favorite movie star ever. He just embodies old fashioned adventure and cinema glamour. These films have him at his best, even if they themselves are not the best.

WARNER HOME VIDEO WESTERN CLASSICS COLLECTION ( ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO / MANY RIVERS TO CROSS / CIMARRON – 1960 version / THE LAW AND JAKE WADE / SADDLE THE WIND / THE STALKING MOON )

First you have two westerns by the great John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven) – in ESCAPE FROM FT. BRAVO and THE LAW AND JAKE WADE. The first stars William Holden as a man that has to track down the escaped Confederate Soldiers from Fort Bravo. Eleanor Powell co-stars as a femme fatale – you know – a double dealing dame. Then in THE LAW AND JAKE WADE you have the crazy handsome Robert Taylor as the titular character and one of my fave actors, Richard Widmark as a man set to hang, that Taylor’s sheriff character decides to break free. Another great film by Sturges. Then there’s the remake of CIMARRON by Anthony Mann – a brilliant western director in his own right. Now the original was a BEST PICTURE winner, but I prefer this one. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for Glenn Ford and I’m not a Richard Dix lover. This covers similar material to that ill-conceived Ron Howard / Tom Cruise Oklahoma land rush flick, that I’m not going to bother looking up, but that I think was called FAR & AWAY, but I might be wrong. This is much better than that. The only other in this set that I’ve seen is the Gregory Peck starrer, THE STALKING MOON. It’s about a man, Peck, who takes in a woman and her half-Apache son – who are treated pretty badly due to the sentiment of half-breeds at the time. But the good stuff is when Daddy comes hunting for his kid. Really underappreciated film – Ebert doesn’t like it, but he’s really off-base here. This is an excellent film.

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD ( Blu-Ray )

Along with the original 1933 KING KONG – THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD is my favorite film of all time. Directed (mainly) by Michael Curtiz and starring an incredible cast – headlined by Errol Flynn at his absolute best. And co-starring Olivia De Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Alan Hale, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Melville Cooper, Una O’Connor and Herbert Mundin. The film features arguably the best film score of all time – composed by the brilliant Erich Wolfgang Korngold – featuring the most lush and beautiful Technicolor that we’ll never see the likes of again. The film isn’t about reality or history… It’s a storybook film – a painterly vision of a dream of this tale. It’s adventure where you smile at death and laugh at certain doom. The dialogue is brilliant. And the swordfights – well, the fight between Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn is as good as it will ever be done. The most astonishing thing is watching actors getting shot in the chest with real arrows at real speeds. This was accomplished by using the most amazing Howard Hill (he’s the guy that Flynn is in the shoot off with in the Archery Tournament). He really did shoot all those men – with a long bow fired arrow. If you notice, and you can with this exquisite 1080p, every time an arrow hits – it will hit in the center of a crest. Behind which was a plank of wood wrapped in leather. He simply never missed, ever. Word has it that Howard hill could hit a flipped silver dollar in mid air with an arrow. He was… that good. If you’ve never seen this film – all I can say is – get ready for greatness. It was the most expensive film ever made at the time it was made. And it was the most successful of its year. It is… PERFECT!

AFRO SAMURAI: Season One – Director’s Cut (Blu-Ray)

Always dreamt of a badass samurai with an afro? Well, look no further. Sam Jackson shared your dreams and had them animated. This has 15 minutes of extra gore and violence that was too much for broadcastability. Co-voice-starring Ron Perlman and scored by the great RZA… what else could you possibly want?

PALE RIDER (Blu Ray)

The last of the “supernatural?” Eastwood westerns. This is Eastwood as a “god-sent” Father/Gunfighter that comes in on a prayer and leaves having answered. This one is about greed and the pursuit of Gold. I love the communal Rock breaking – and that one guy’s fate with the gold chunk – still fucking chills me. Love this movie.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN

A disappointing documentary that was a victim of it’s own pre-hype and title… It isn’t really about searching for Osama Bin Laden, as much as it’s about Spurlock clowning around purporting to search for Bin Laden. The sweet stuff regarding his wife and child to be… just feels vain – and not at all organically built into the documentary. However, if you like Morgan Spurlock’s work, it is fun.

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF – Director’s Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

One of my favorite cult films that has come out during the history of AICN. Christophe Gans knocked this one out of the park – with the help of the amazing Mark Dacascos and Samuel Le Bihan and pant pant – Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel. The improbable kung fu, period-set, fantasy-horror-mystery borrows from the history of badass cool stories and films. Equal parts HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, BEOWULF, LAST OF THE MOHICANS and GREEN HORNET – the film is gory, sexy, brutal and awesome all at once. And having watched this Director’s Cut tonight – I’m not entirely sure if I caught what was new – I’m not sure. But I still love what I saw – the second disc filled with extras is fantastic. My only question is to Universal/Focus… COME ON – WHERE’S THE BLU-RAY LOVE FOR THIS FILM?

THE LEGEND OF THE LONE RANGER

One of the most shameful jobs of DVD mastering that I have ever seen. There is a white artifact line across the top of the image throughout the film that bugs the fuck out of me. That said – I knew Clayton Moore as a child – so when this film came out in 1981, I was gung ho to see it. It doesn’t hold up to my childhood memories. But it is a noble attempt. I had no memory that Doc Brown played Butch Cavendish – and as I rewatched the film – I was discovering it all as though through new eyes. Shame about the fucking annoying artifact that there should be NO EXCUSE FOR!

VIRGIN TERRITORY

I once asked Elijah Wood – Why did you make that awful fucking FLIPPER remake? And he looked at me with those adorably big eyes of his and said, “I was a kid and it meant swimming with a dolphin for a summer!” and suddenly – I felt like an ass. That said, nobody need ever ask Hayden Christensen why he made this movie. It’s because he got to rub up against, make out, bathe and have sex with the hottest naked European Nuns EVER! HOLY FUCK this movie is a wonderful sex filled nunsploitation movie… with Tim Roth and Mischa Barton to boot. I thought this would be pure trash, but I came away very pleasantly surprised.

CHICAGO 10

Earlier today I was reading some article about some war protestor group that was calling itself RECREATE 68 – and all I can say is FUCK YOU! Who in their right mind wants to repeat anything from 1968. Much less the 68 Democratic Convention. But as I hear about Denver’s insane police control – All I can think is those that don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. This is a fantastic Documentary – that uses the court transcripts from the trial of the “protest movement leaders” that the city held responsible for the trouble that occurred in Chicago during that historic election. Look at that voice cast listed atop the DVD – this is very well done. Very cinematic – and intercuts actual footage from the events – along with the animated recreations of the utterly ridiculous trial. You owe it to yourself if you love history to check out this amazing doc.

PHANTASM 4: OBLIVION

Now here’s a sequel with a ton of balls! Seriously – Check it out!!!

DELICATESSEN (Special Edition)

One of the greatest Debut films from a filmmaking pair ever. I really wish that Jeunet and Caro had continued to pair up for all their films. Their two great films… This and CITY OF LOST CHILDREN are so exquisite, so unique – so breath-taking that it makes almost everything else you see plain by comparison. Here you have amongst the most whimsical and beautiful tales of Cannibal Survivor ever told. Starring the brilliant Dominique Pinon as an out of work clown – that gets a handy man job at the apartments from hell… it’s just classic. The bedsprings scene is comparable to the best from Keaton or Chaplin.

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST

Ok – you know all that stuff I said about the Cannibal film before this one? Whimsical. Beautiful. Brilliant. Well this is an entirely different animal. It could still possibly be qualified as Brilliant – but at the low budget, how did they do that, oh my god – I didn’t just see that – variety. CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST isn’t so much a movie as it is an experience. And it is an experience that bonds all who have seen it into this strange depraved cult of folks that can proudly proclaim their love and affection for every sick second of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. And I’m proud to count myself as a card carrying member of the Holocaust Society of Cannibals!

CANNIBAL TERROR

It’s got the offensive meter going full tilt, but it just isn’t CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. It still has decent gore and outrage going, but there’s no finesse – and once you’ve seen CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST – this just won’t cut it.

LUST, CAUTION (Blu-Ray)

This is an import BLU-RAY – but it is Region 1, so it will play on our Domestic Blu-Ray players. Directed by Ang Lee and seemingly feeling like a response to Verhoeven’s superior BLACK BOOK – but hey – I can never get enough of stories about hot beautiful women that fuck for their countries during the darkest of times! Starring the awesome Tony Leung and the stunning Wei Tang and Joan Chen – This really is a spectacular film that earns it’s need to be 1080p with gorgeous cinematography and hot sex. Fantastic adult cinema made by a great filmmaker!

A/K/A TOMMY CHONG

Here is the utterly ridiculous case against Tommy Chong – when the government arrested him for making beautiful art bongs which you could use to smoke the SHOULD BE LEGAL Marajuana – or any number of tobaccos. This documentary will spin your lid – as you try to understand exactly why the Government is spending time arresting Tommy Chong – instead of taking care of any number of other activities.

FAT ALBERT’S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

You either get FAT ALBERT or you’re just not cool. FAT ALBERT is, by definition, the coolest thing around. Well, the coolest thing was the Brown Hornet, but FAT ALBERT was just amazing good fun. That said, he had a lot to do with why I didn’t start kicking my fat ass into shape as a kid – cuz he was such an awesomely cool fat kid. Just like me! Here you have his Halloween special which will be quite a bit of fun, while also teaching your young’uns a valuable morale lesson!

MIDNIGHT BLUE COLLECTION BOX SET

This 5 Disc set includes THE DEEP THROAT SPECIAL EDITION, THE PORN STARS OF THE 70s, CELEBRITES of the Seventies, PORN KING and FREAKS & GEEKS set. This was a Cable show that was hosted by the publisher of SCREW magazine in the seventies that featured everything from Porn Stars to Celebrities that openly talked about sex and basically awesome deviancy. These are hilarious and astonishing. I actually find the commercials for everything from Porn Stores to Escorts from 70s New York to be hilarious. Definitely a peek at a side of the world we just don’t see anymore.

CLOAK AND DAGGER / THE WIZARD

I love CLOAK AND DAGGER – and am too old to enjoy the retarded joy that THE WIZARD gives its fans. But I can’t argue that this isn’t a pretty amazing double feature DVD. Now they’re on the same Disc – and I haven’t seen this in advance, so I can’t vouch for quality. But hey – where else you gonna score your copy of THE WIZARD!

LINDA LOVELACE FOR PRESIDENT

This isn’t x-rated – but it is INSANE! You kinda need to see this just for Scatman Crothers’ SUPER BLACK character! I’m serious. This is seriously one of the most absurdly awesomely awful films I’ve ever seen. Meant to kickstart Linda Lovelace’s legitimate career – but frankly – it comes across like a lot of the early post-sex film Paris Hilton roles where the parts all seemed to be about making a reference to her sex tape. Here – she’s really into innuendo about deep throating and sexual freedom and promiscuity. But it’s an absolutely crazed flick.

NUDE FOR SATAN

I blame Nixon for this. Throughout the time that Nixon was President – there was this odd movement toward Satanism that was oddly prevalent within softcore and hardcore cinema. I don’t understand it. I don’t get it, but damn if it isn’t fascinating to watch hot Italian chicks getting off on the power of Satan. Go Nixon!

THE TAKASHI MIIKE OMNIBUS (8-Disc) (FULL METAL YAKUZA, SABU, SHINJUKU TRIAD SOCIETY, RAINY DOG, LEY LINES, YOUNG THUGS INNOCENT BLOOD, YOUNG THUGS NOSTALGIA, OSAKA TOUGH GUYS )

Ya know – this is a damn fine set – and the largest set of Miike films I’ve seen offered in the U.S. Definitely a must have for Miike disciples.

MR. CINEMA

This was apparently a Hong Kong tribute film of CINEMA PARADISO starring ANTHONY WONG!!! Now – I’ve never heard of this film – but damn if this doesn’t sound like it’s worth checking out! I’ve researched and found several solid reviews of the film – and it is about a Projectionist and movie theater that takes place over 40-50 years in Hong Kong! And damn that has to be worthwhile! This is my, wanna see of the week!

Well that’s it for this week folks! See you next month for the first column of September where we’ll be looking at Season 4 of THE OFFICE, TRANSFORMERS on Blu Ray, SUPERNATURAL’s 3rd Season, ROAD HOUSE, ERASER bluray, MOONTIDE, OUTBREAK (Blu Ray), HONEY WEST: The Complete Series, THE NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW, UNDER SIEGE 2, THE PROMOTION, SHELLEY DUVALL’S FAERIE TALE THEATRE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE, THE GAUNTLET (Blu Ray), EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE (Blu Ray), FIST OF LEGEND, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (Blu Ray), IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN, BLACK MASK (Blu Ray), TIME AFTER TIME, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1936), BAVARIAN SEX COMEDY COLLECTION, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (1939) and much more!