Hey folks, Harry here with the first DVD PICKS AND PEEKS of September 2008! All sorts of treats lay in wait for you. I hope you enjoy the list as much as I had watching and making it. As always if you choose to click on a DVD or Title you’ll be taken to AMAZON where you can learn more on the title in question – or you may purchase it, which would in turn go to support this column in its efforts to bring you the best DVD preview there is out there. At least its me personal goal.

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

THE OFFICE: SEASON FOUR

I know the series has its fans, and I’m sure for many it is wonderful, but for me – I’m in love with the original and just prefer those characters, performers and that version. This season was cut short due to the Writer’s Strike, but I understand that it was quite a solid season, if you agree, you’ll probably want this.

TRANSFORMERS (2-Disc Special Edition) Blu-Ray

Essentially the Blu-Ray version of the HD-DVD release of TRANSFORMERS, so now Michael Bay can tone down his bellyaching, as he finally has his Blu-Ray disc (or two) to call his very own. The film does play better on a smaller screen than in theaters in my opinion. By shrinking the image – it makes more sense – whereas on a giant screen, I felt the last 40 minutes were just a headache. Still not the movie I wanted, let’s hope the next time out – they actually treat the stars (aka the robots) as characters.

SUPERNATURAL – 3rd Season

I’d never heard of this series until the Fangoria Convention here in Austin earlier this year which had Jared Padalecki showing up on the second day of the festivities – and suddenly from the ground sprouted and infinite amount of teen girls screaming and crushing something fierce. SO my question to all of you is this – is this something I should check out, or is this series something that only appeals to the Training Bra set?

ROAD HOUSE

No – not the Patrick Swayze movie – which is the most fun movie with the title ROAD HOUSE. However, not the best. This film stars the gorgeous and criminally talented Ida Lupino… along with two of my fave character actors – Cornel Wilde and Richard Widmark. This film is a true triumph of shadow & light. The cinematography will truly take your breath away, even for veterans of Film Noir collecting and viewing. While Widmark isn’t up to his gold standard of Tommy Udo, his villainous turn here is not to be missed. This is gold!

ERASER (Blu Ray)

Probably the last film that Chuck Russell did that I enjoyed. That said – the only thing that keeps this out of the truck stop toilet of funky Ahnuldt films is the grovy fucking guns and a bad ass named James Caan. That said – the super guns in this are just neato torpedo. And in Blu-ray you can admire their exquisite neatness. I know it sounds retarded to be as giddy as I am over these guns, but as a kid that collected rayguns from the 50’s & 60’s & 70’s – well… it’s just so cool to see these guns do their thing. I just wish I had one.

MOONTIDE

Another Fox Noir starring the exquisite Ida Lupino – this one comes at us with a fantastic cast. You may not know the French acting sensation – Jean Gabin ( PEPE LE MOKO, GRAND ILLUSION ) – but that’s cuz most of his work is in early French cinema – and he hardly at all worked in U.S. films. However, in addition to those two you get the amazing Thomas Mitchell and Ralph Byrd – and most of all… literally one of my fave fave actors of all time… Claude Rains. This is a film with an equally amazing team behind the scenes. You had director Archie Mayo – then Fritz Lang directed a bit of this – and most importantly – Salvador Dali handled the aptly surreal drunken masterful sequence. Seriously – this is a forgotten jewel filled with talent and spilling over with style and cool!

OUTBREAK (BluRay)

Remember when there seemed to be a half dozen bio-terror flicks rushing the development bleachers to reach the top of the box office? Well, Wolfgang Petersen’s OUTBREAK was one of the less nonsensical ones. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo – probably the most striking image of the film was that fucking screaming monkey of death! Bio-terror is a creepy fucking thing and in a post-9/11 environment where we’ve been conditioned for the worst case scenarios… the film actually punches better than it did at the time. Oddly – watching New Orleans emptying out on the news channels the past couple of days – kinda echoed imagery from this. And they didn’t even credit Wolfgang. Poor guy.

THE NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW

When this came in the mail – I almost tossed it. Just looking at the art on the cover made me want to write it off. But I’m a kid at heart and figured… what the fuck, you can always turn it off. In a very odd way this is absolutely the best of the Lionsgate Animated features based on Marvel properties. Basically – the SKYNET / MATRIX Armageddon of man has happened to the Marvel Universe. Just about everyone in the United States, South America, Europe & Africa have been wiped out by ULTRON and his technology. Tony Stark has been raising a group of kids – the offspring of characters like Thor, Captain America, Black Panther, Giant-Man/Wasp and Hawkeye. They’ve been hiding in a secret location that gets fucked up early – and the kids… not nearly as powerful as they should be are forced into the post apocalyptic nightmare of facing the creation that destroyed their collective parents. And yes, it’s kind of that Dire. I found the animated film strangely effective – and absolutely loved the old age Bruce Banner as a crazed man in the desert scared of contact with anybody for fear of releasing the beast within. It was Banner by way of Ben Gunn. Very cool. And ULTRON is a badass. Way better than it had any right being.

HONEY WEST – Full Series

Ok – All those with an Anne Francis fetish raise your hands! Ok – the rest of you – go watch FORBIDDEN PLANET and develop a lifelong crush. NOW – here – she’s a tad older, just as lovely and adorable and a female private eye that was badass. She was a hard powdered nosed gal that carried a gun and got in fights while most all other televised femmes were worried about their nails and hair. Honey West was a tough lady long before we got a peek at others. This is an outstanding set – and again – for those of us that love Anne Francis – here you get a really great series starring her.

THE BOYS IN COMPANY C

R Lee Ermey’s first Film role – wasn’t in FULL METAL JACKET, but THE BOYS IN COMPANY C – and over all – this film does feel a bit like FULL METAL JACKET, but rougher around the edges. This is a very good Vietnam flick. If you like the films about Nam, this is a solid one to check out!

THE PROMOTION

I wrote up a full review of this film in advance of its screening at SXSW in March of this year. Sadly the film by Steve Conrad sort of came and went with all the fanfare of a whispered “psst” at the Super Bowl. Released around the time of the big films at the start of the summer, it really had no chance to be noticed – and it is a shame as it is the best film that Seann William Scott has made so far – and features a wonderful performance by John C Reilly… as an inept Canadian with baggage – as the two characters battle for the same promotion at their Grocery Store. It’s a lot of fun!

UNDER SIEGE 2 – Dark Territory (Blu Ray)

You know – having read Vern’s book on the almight Seagal – it’s required now that I must go out and buy and own all Steven Seagal films. I stopped checking his movies out around the time he made that one with the painful Environmental messages. I never caught the sequel to UNDER SIEGE, which I like quite a bit. I haven’t been sent this disc yet, but I plan to pick it up Tuesday.

Shelley Duvall’s FAERIE TALE THEATRE: Complete Collection

Do not watch these while on a psychoactive substance. For example – say you were to take a fistful of shrooms and watch HANSEL AND GRETEL – at one level you’d think… AH it’s a children’s tale, this should be innocent. But in this version – you realize that Hansel and Gretel were running away because their father was remarrying a woman they didn’t approve of… and then – Shelley being a sick twisted genius making these tales… cast the Witch and the StepMother as the same actress – and when the kids are safe with their father at the end… there’s not StepMother anymore because the kids fucking COOKED HER! THIS SHIT IS TWISTED – You’ll need all your wits about you as you watch this. They’ll sneak up and fuck your mind! Especially if you’re on crazed hypersensitive space mode. Let this be your warning, from someone that… read about this experience … yeah. That’s what happened. Yeah. That said – here you’ll get 26 awesome faerie tales with folks like Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, Mich Jagger and James Earl Jones!!! A great set!

THE GAUNTLET (Blu Ray)

You see that Frank Frazetta cover art for this Blu Ray? Doesn’t that look like the absolute best movie ever made? It isn’t. But it doesn’t suck either. This is a kinda future world detective film, that just is never as magnificent as the dream that fucking Frazetta art makes you hope for. But for those of you that believe that UNFORGIVEN is his best Western (not me) then you may feel this is his best “detective” film along those same lines. Of being burnt out and nihilistic. In particular – look out for Bill McKinney!

EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE (Blu Ray)

I love this film – though I feel it distracted Eastwood’s career for about a decade of silliness. But dude. That monkey/ape thing… Clyde. He fucking owns this movie. When Eastwood shoots him with a finger gun and he collapses. I want a monkey that’ll do that. You could rule the world. Become President. Cure any disease if you had a simian assistant to would die by finger gun on command. It would cease wars. Settle disputes. Make the infertile fertile. It’s that good.

ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE

This is a fun Lesbian film from the maker of the very fun BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER. And Daniela Sea is… um… wow. And there’s girls that kiss and that’s just awesome. But this isn’t a great film. The spark isn’t quite there for me, it was nice to watch, but isn’t as great as I hoped.

FIST OF LEGEND

This is a remake of Bruce Lee’s FIST OF FURY (known in US as CHINESE CONNECTION) – and while it is fucking unbelievably great… Bruce Lee’s original FIST OF FURY in Mandarin is even better. I didn’t used to feel this way. When I first saw FIST OF LEGEND, I had only seen the American version of Bruce’s film. But when Tarantino screened his original Mandarin print of FIST OF FURY – HOLY FUCK – suddenly you could watch and hear Bruce’s full performance – and the missing scenes were everything. That said – I LOVE FIST OF LEGEND. Easily one of the great Jet Li movies. If you’ve never seen it. I can not possibly recommend it highly enough!

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (BluRay)

Wow – Favreau really took the wind out of this movie. I liked it quite a bit when I saw it earlier this year, but it just is hard not to compare the origin stories – and Jon’s is just so much better. That said, I like the film, I just wish it didn’t involve Iron Man’s Origin. It just fails to compare.

IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN

I can’t possibly calculate the number of times I’ve seen IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN. I mean – it’s easily at least 36 times. Once a year for the duration of my life thus far. But possibly 72 or 90 times, cuz I love it – and I seem to remember a couple of Halloween pumpkin carving parties where it played on heavy rotation. But Linus’ GREAT PUMPKIN waiting… hanging out in a pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin… the world calling you a fool. Possibly the very meaning of being a believer. I LOVE THIS CARTOON. A great toon.

BLACK MASK (Blu Ray)

Sigh. FUCK THIS RELEASE IN IT’S BLU-RAY EAR!!! Can someone explain to me why Lionsgate would release this with out an original language track – and instead – only have the SHIT FUCK ROTTEN ASS BOOGER ENGLISH DUB TRACK??? I couldn’t believe it. Infinite storage and capacity and they don’t put the original fucking language track on here? Fuck YOU! FUCK THIS RELEASE! FUCK!

TIME AFTER TIME

Very Possibly my favorite Time Travel film ever made. I love Pal’s THE TIME MACHINE, but frankly – this story is even better. The idea of H.G. Wells tracking Jack The Ripper to modern San Francisco – falling in love with a feminist bank teller and doing battle with the ripper. BLISS. Bliss because David Warner is fucking depraved evil. Bliss because Malcolm McDowell is the cutest possible version of H.G. Wells ever. And BLISS because Mary Steenburgen was a woman you’d risk it all for. She’s a woman that the idea of losing would break your heart, that would make you humble yourself before others for. Also – the commentary by Malcolm McDowell, David Warner and Nicholas Meyer… yeah. I’m not big on commentaries, but this is one of them that I couldn’t resist and was rewarded for. Brilliant little film. Absolutely fantastic.

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS – Special Edition (1936)

I love Michael Mann’s LAST OF THE MOHICANS – but watching this version starring Randolph Scott in the Daniel Day Lewis role – is quite striking and this dvd is remarkably well put together. In particular look for Bruce Cabot (Jack Driscoll from KING KONG) as the evil revenge craved Magua. He’s pretty great in the role. By no means is this better than Mann’s – but it is very much a great film for its time. And one you’ll love a lot about.

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (1939)

Directed by the great James Whale ( FRANKENSTEIN, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN & THE INVISIBLE MAN ) – this is the best version of THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK! Aided by a fantastic score – and just Whale’s tremendous attention to detail. I’ve watched this film my entire life. I’ve always been drawn to heroic tales and my parents recorded this off TV in about 1977 for me. Louis Hayward’s Philippe of Gascony captivated me. That it also featured the famed Four Musketeers on their last adventure – was also a strong selling point for me. And that Alan Hale played my favorite version of Porthos… well all the better. Besides – Joan Bennett is a lovely Princess Theresa.

BAVARIAN SEX COMEDY COLLECTION ( RUN VIRGIN RUN, INN OF 1000 SINS, BOTTOMS UP & I LIKE THE GIRLS WHO DO )

You know – who doesn’t love a bit of hilarious German Sex Comedy when you get a chance. First off – Bavarian women are so yummy. This isn’t hardcore, but softcore. Which just makes it sweet, silly and a tad innocent. That said – higher percentages of tits than any R-rated films we see these days. Fucking prigs.

That’s it for this week – next week we’ll be looking at SMALLVILLE’s 7th Season, THE BIG LEBOWSKI’s 10th Anniversary Limited Edition, THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, BABY MAMA, THE FALL, RODAN/WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, HOW THE WEST WAS WON – Blu Ray, FOX HORROR CLASSICS COLLECTION VOLUME 2, JERRY MAGUIRE (Blu Ray), COOL HAND LUKE (Blu Ray), CHILD’S PLAY, THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, RUDY (Blu Ray), LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES vol 3, NIGHT WATCH/DAY WATCH (Blu Ray), PUMPKINHEAD, BLOODY MOON, KILL BILL Vol 1&2 (Blu Ray), LORD OF THE FLIES, ZOMBIES! ZOMBIES! ZOMBIES! – STRIPPERS VS ZOMBIES, Zombie Blu Ray Gift Set, KIDNAPPING OF THE PRESIDENT, TAE GUK GI – Brotherhood of War (Blu Ray), WILD STRAWBERRIES, GRAND ILLUSIONS, FRIDAY THE 13th, ESSENTIAL ART HOUSE Volume 1 and much much more!