Hey folks, Harry here… On Time this week and I hope you enjoy it, there’s some really good stuff this week, and I’ll let you get to it, so I can finally go to sleep… ugh… As usual, the box art and titles are linked to their corresponding AMAZON page where you can learn more about the title in question and/or purchase it. If you do purchase it at Amazon through a link, you should know that you’re going to support this column with a small portion of that price, so by all means… Help America’s Economy! Here ya go…

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY

I received this on Halloween of this year. What an awesome Halloween piece of mail! I have my little Golden Army guy on my desk with a color changing LED shoved up his backside so his “mechanical guts” glow from fiery red – to the cool blue that our possessive spirit gave them. Its pretty damn classic. I also love the reproduction of Guillermo’s notebook that comes with it – and then the film in Blu-Ray is just exquisite. With PAN’S LABYRINTH, Guillermo turned a visual corner. His films suddenly looked as magical as the stories he was telling. Being able to watch the Elemental scene here at home in 1080p is seriously one of the high water marks of the format in my opinion. Just transcendently beautiful yet tragic all at once. It is strange watching this film knowing that THE HOBBIT is next. For the last two films, Guillermo has moved more to the Fantasy realm, joining it with the earnestness of his horror. Making them emotionally resonant. It will be very interesting to see Guillermo make a Huge film without the goofy self-awareness of HELLBOY, his most successful large budget work to date. That said, it is truly great to have this here at home – and with a most excellent Golden Army bastard!

BAND OF BROTHERS (Blu-Ray)

I haven’t received this set yet, but I can not wait to get it. BAND OF BROTHERS is one of the best things that HBO has done, and frankly that’s really saying something. I anticipate that watching it in this format will just further my appreciation for the attention of detail and care that went into every second of this fantastic telling of Easy Company’s historic journey through the gut of World War II. This is one of the jewels of the week.

DR. SYN: THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH (Walt Disney Treasures)

I was completely unexposed to THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH, but I had heard of it. So when this latest set of three Walt Disney Treasures arrived, I ripped open the tin and cracked the box and placed it in my player. I’ve known the words to the Theme song for this over a decade. It was that laugh in the theme song that had me giddy to put this in, that laugh… that laugh and the knowledge that Patrick McGoohan was Dr. Syn.

Ok – you know Christian Bale’s Batman voice. That primordial scream of a voice belched from Hell. Now, I’ve never sat Nolan down, nor Christian Bale, but after watching THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH, and hearing that ungodly horror emanating from that Scarecrow’s lopsided maw. Well, you can’t help but think… just maybe, that perhaps – someone on the team is a fan of McGoohan’s SCARECROW. McGoohan as Dr Syn is mesmerizing – as he is in everything that Patrick has done, but when he’s in that Scarecrow garb, those stiff shoulders, the way the mouth in that costume works – and combined with that voice. Dear God, it’s hell unleashed. And it absolutely rules.

The prints are pristine and right before I played it, I had to change my bulb in my projector (took about a year) and to have this be the first thing to come out of my new bulb, it was as if it was just brilliant. So glad to have this at last!

Walt Disney Treasures: THE CHRONOLOGICAL DONALD, Vol. 4 – 1951-1961

I love Donald Duck. Actually not as much as Mickey Mouse, at least the old Black & White Mickey. Before he became too valuable of an icon to play with, nevermind that we’re talking about Donald Duck, specifically Donald of the 50s – This became Suburban / all-American Donald Duck. This is Donald with the nephews and the Chip & Dale and Humphrey the Bear. This is Donald in Cinemascope, Donald in Mathmagic Land and more. This actually has a pair of my favorite Donald cartoons – LUCKY NUMBER and TRICK OR TREAT. But the real treat is to finally have the Cinemascope Donalds. Here’s the complete rundown of what’s in this set:

1951
DUDE DUCK (new to DVD)
CORN CHIPS w/ Chip & Dale
TEST PILOT DONALD w/ Chip & Dale (new to DVD)
LUCKY NUMBER w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie
OUT OF SCALE w/ Chip & Dale
BEE ON GUARD (new to DVD)

1952
DONALD APPLE-CORE w/ Chip & Dale
LET'S STICK TOGETHER (new to DVD)
UNCLE DONALD'S ANTS (new to DVD)
TRICK OR TREAT w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie

1953
DONALD'S FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie
NEW NEIGHBOR (new to DVD)
RUGGED BEAR (new to DVD)
WORKING FOR PEANUTS w/ Chip & Dale
CANVAS BACK DUCK w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie

1954
SPARE THE ROD w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie (new to home video)
DONALD'S DIARY w/ Daisy
DRAGON AROUND w/ Chip & Dale
GRIN & BEAR IT w/ Humphrey Bear (new to DVD)
GRAND CANYONSCOPE (in CINEMASCOPE)
FLYING SQUIRREL (new to DVD)

1955
NO HUNTING w/ Humphrey Bear (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to home video!)
BEARLY ASLEEP w/ Humphrey Bear (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to DVD)
BEEZY BEAR w/ Humphrey Bear (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to DVD)
UP A TREE w/ Chip & Dale

1956
CHIPS AHOY w/ Chip & Dale (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to DVD)
HOW TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT HOME (new to DVD)

1959
DONALD IN MATHMAGIC LAND (new to U.S. home video)
HOW TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT WORK (new to DVD)

1961
DONALD AND THE WHEEL (new to DVD)
THE LITTERBUG (new to DVD)

Bonus Features:
"Donald Goes to Press",
"The Unseen Donald Duck: Trouble Shooters",
Leonard Maltin and Jerry Beck audio commentaries on 2 shorts,
10 Mickey Mouseworks Cartoons

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Yeah, I know – This film really got my ire up. The series on CARTOON NETWORK is infinitely superior – and despite the overall shit of it all, there’s moments where it’s pretty. I have it, because it got sent to me – and more so, I have it because my nephew actually likes it – and only a grinch would tell a child they’re wrong to like shit.

QUO VADIS (2-disc Special Edition)

I love Peter Ustinov’s Nero. This is like the evil brother of the other epics. I have always loved the permission for gore in religious flicks, because… well, it is the truth… it really happened, we must underline the suffering. And boy did Mervyn Le Roy let it all hang out here. There’s a glee to having the man who shot LITTLE CAESAR this bloody affair. The film is epic – of course, and while not the greatest of Epics, it is one helluva flick. There’s a good documentary on the making of the film which is quite something all on its own.

FIREFLY: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Blu-Ray)

Alright, now it’s my time to join the Whedonites! I’m picking this up tomorrow and will be watching it through. SERENITY has grown on me, though it still isn’t a blow between the shoulder blades that fans of FIREFLY express it to be. Well, I’ll be giving this a shot. And I genuinely look forward to it.

Walt Disney Treasures: THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB Presents Annette – 1957-1958 Season

I don’t know the fascination with Annette Funicello, I think it was something from the era – something to have been experienced and how can you ever recreate that? Why, right here on this set, that’s how. I haven’t put these in yet. I’m looking forward to it. But here I’ll discover Annette as she was and see if there really was magic that transcends an era. I’m looking forward to seeing what the hub bub is all about.

NIGHT GALLERY: Season Two

I remember NIGHT GALLERY as a child. I’m not sure when in my youth I saw them, but my parents loved the show – and if you saw this show as a young one, oh my did it weave serious magic upon you. Like Clint Howard’s THE BOY WHO PREDICTED EARTHQUAKES – the first episode of season 2 – DAMN. First Clint is just a creepy child. In every way that Ron was adorable, there’s something unhinged about Clint. Maybe it is how his later work colors this dwarf version of himself, but it’s just eerie. Or CLASS OF ’99 with Vincent Price – this thing is genuinely disturbing. The power that Price has over his students, what he makes them do. It is classic! Then there’s just the paintings themselves – they’re lurid little nightmares made of garish colors – and sometimes the episode that is allegedly tied to the painting… well, it makes the painting all the creepier. You’ll also find 3 commentaries by Guillermo Del Toro – who is a HUGE – NIGHT GALLERY fan. And I really do hope that his own Mexican TV Series someday finds release subtitled in the US. Guillermo showed me a few, and they very much felt like episodes of NIGHT GALLERY – and that is a high compliment. Here you get 5 DVDs of NIGHT GALLERY weirdness and scares. Fantastic series.

THE SOPRANOS – The Complete Series

I can’t really add anything to the discussion of THE SOPRANOS. It’s a great series – and here it is, all of it.

JFK (Blu-Ray)

This stunningly brilliant film isn’t about John F Kennedy… it isn’t even really about answering any of the myriad of questions about JFK’s death… More than that, it is simply about acknowledging that there ARE questions. That it all STINKS. That the evidence and the following stonewalling seems to point to a greater conspiracy. Oliver’s film is a fever dream of evidence, theories and smoking guns. The assassination of JFK has been a conspiracy theorists wet dream, JFK brought that conversation to the lips of our nation. The film is spectacular and they’ve done a tremendous job on this Blu-Ray.

Warner Bros. And the Homefront Collection ( Irving Berlin’s THIS IS THE ARMY / THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS / HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN )

Ahhhh… I love these spirited war-time musical rah-rah pieces that Warner Brothers put out during World War II. It wasn’t merely American Propaganda, but Hollywood Propaganda – to show not just the soldiers, but the people of the United States that Hollywood, that Tinseltown cared about America, its soldiers and their sacrifices. These movies are loaded with stars. And this set is loaded with outtakes, patriotic shorts, cartoons, newsreels, trailers, a documentary on War Time Warner Brothers. All this and more.

SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO

I do believe this is the first Takeshi Miike film on Blu-Ray… I will quietly rock back n forth in the corner of my room awaiting many more. This isn’t the best Miike – and some will hate it, but for me… to see an Eastern flavored run at Corbucci’s great Django… it is a blast. Now, I like Quentin as an actor, but here… I do feel he was distracting. This is really a treat in 1080p!

THE LONE RANGER: 75th Anniversary – Seasons 1 & 2

Over 30 hours of thrilling tales of yester year. Do you love Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels? The purity of a silver bullet, not for lycanthropy, but for truth & justice? I do. I eat this stuff up. A true Western superhero. Soon to be a Disney feature film franchise!

Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas

I love fun Christmas collections – and nothing quite says 70’s Childhood Christmas quite like Johnny Carson! This is 3 of his Christmas themed shows featuring folks like Robin Williams, Tony Bennett, Garry Shandling and even Bob Hope.

THE STORY OF O (Blu-Ray)

This is hot, kinky and a bit twisted, but having said that it wasn’t nearly as sensual or sexual as I was expecting. This is a legendary title, a film of great rumored power. It isn’t a complete loss. In particular, some of the bondage and S&M moments are effective – and the lead, Corinne Clery is simply breath-taking. And Udo Kier is… well, he’s Udo Kier and always will be particularly Udo.

THE GENERAL (Ultimate 2-Disc Edition)

One of the greatest films of all time – and Kino is doing yet another bang-up job on a title, oh so deserving. A film of pure magic. It is the power of Keaton bottled up in a brilliant film. Here’s what Kino has in store for us on this disc…

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Three musical scores to choose from:
(1) Music composed and conducted by Carl Davis, performed by The Thames Silents Orchestra (in 5.1 Stereo Surround or 2.0 Stereo)
(2) Music arranged and directed by Robert Israel
(3) Theatre organ score by Lee Erwin
- A video tour of the authentic General, presented in association with The Southern Museum
- A tour of the filming locations, presented by John Bengtson, author of Silent Echoes
- Behind-the-scenes home movie footage
- Filmed introduction by Gloria Swanson
- Filmed introduction by Orson Welles
- The Buster Express, a brisk montage of train gags from throughout Keaton s career

BLACK CHRISTMAS (Blu-Ray)

The second best Christmas film ever made by Bob Clark. I once had the privilege of watching this film with John Saxon at the Alamo Drafthouse. That was a good night. And this film is outstanding. It’s essentially a standard killer in your midst flick, but it’s downright creepy and fucked up. Olivia Hussey is yummy, Margot Kidder is crazy young and the film is just tremendous. The Blu-Ray is a gorgeous print. And I believe it’s the highest res’d twisted Christmas film available for those of us with Blu-Rays. So that kinda makes it a must own!

I DREAM OF JEANNIE: The Complete Series

Out of curiousity – those of you that handed out candy at Halloween this year – did you notice a disportionate amount of Jeannies this year. I literally had like 12 little girls dressed as Barbara Eden from I DREAM OF JEANNIE and it kinda took me aback. Is there a modern retro craze for Jeannie? Or is it just the universally recognized awesomeness of the Jeannie costume? Here’s every episode ever – all put on 20 DVDs ina very clever and fun box set. That’s all 139 episodes telling the entire epic story of a slave and her master. Sigh…

M SQUAD – The Complete Series with Bonus CD: The Music of M Squad

I’ve never seen a single episode of M SQUAD, but my Dad is screaming his head off dying for this box set, as when Father Geek was a young man, Lee Marvin made his way into his tiny Black & White TV in his bedroom and told him gritty Noir-esque tales of Chi-Town. And he’s excited as hell to get the collected badassery of Frank Ballinger aka Lee Marvin!

STUDIO ONE Anthology

Once upon a time, Television dared to be great. To put on amazing dramas – and the absolute gold standard of all of them was STUDIO ONE – here you get 17 of those produced dramas. In all – this is what you get:

Embracing the work of some of television's most iconic writers, directors, actors and technical artists, the Studio One Anthology features the complete 1954 original television production of "Twelve Angry Men" and is highlighted by early performances by Charlton Heston, Art Carney, Jack Lemmon and Leslie Nielsen as well as teleplays written by Rod Serling and Gore Vidal. Also included as part of this 6-DVD release are all the original Westinghouse commercials as well as extensive archival interviews and other rare bonus materials.
INCLUDES 17 RESTORED ""STUDIO ONE"" DRAMAS: _"1984" (original broadcast: September 21, 1953) _"An Almanac of Liberty" (original broadcast: November 8, 1954) _"The Arena" (original broadcast: April 8, 1956) _"Confessions of a Nervous Man" (original broadcast: November 30, 1953) _"Dark Possession" (original broadcast: February 15, 1954) _"The Death and Life of Larry Benson" (original broadcast: May 31, 1954) _"Dino" (original broadcast: January 2, 1956) _"Julius Caesar" (original broadcast: August 1, 1955) _"June Moon" (original broadcast: June 22, 1949) _"The Medium" (original broadcast: December 12, 1948) _"Pontius Pilate" (original broadcast: April 7, 1952) _"The Remarkable Incident at Carson Corners" (original broadcast: January 11, 1954) _"The Storm" (original broadcast: October 17, 1949) _"The Strike" (original broadcast: June 7, 1954) _"Summer Pavilion" (original broadcast: May 2, 1955) _"Twelve Angry Men" (original broadcast: September 26, 1954) _"Wuthering Heights" (original broadcast: October 30, 1950)
Featuring Rare Performances From:_Eddie Albert, Art Carney, Robert Cummings, Norman Fell, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lorne Greene, Charlton Heston, Marsha Hunt, Jack Lemmon, Sal Mineo, Elizabeth Montgomery, Leslie Nielsen, Barbara O'Neil, Lee Remick, Eva Marie Saint
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES: _-The Paley Center for Media's "Studio One Seminar" _-Excerpted interview with director Paul Nickell from The Paley Center for Media's "Studio One Video History" _-Voices from the Archive: Studio One-related footage from the Archive of America Television _-Studio One historical overview and rediscovery featurette
ALSO INCLUDES: 52-page book featuring written contributions by Gore Vidal, the Archive of American Television and Larry James Gianakos (author of Television Drama Series Programming: A Comprehensive Chronicle)"

Operation Valkyrie: The Stauffenberg Plot To Kill Hitler

This is not put out by MGM as pre-hype for the Tom Cruise film, but rather a documentary about the real life incidents as told via many eyewitness accounts. For me, I’m just fascinated in the story, ever since reading McQuarrie’s script for VALKYRIE, so I’m looking to learn more about the real life, before the movie hits later this year!

Well, that’s it for this week. I noticed that this title is coming up the first week of December…

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

However, that’s for discussing at a future date. Next week we’ll be back with WALL-E, TROPIC THUNDER, THE WHO at Kilburn 1977, 5th season of HAWAII FIVE-O, GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR HUNTER S THOMPSON, DOG TAGS, HANNAH MONTANA 1st Season, STAR TREK original series 3rd Season ReMastered, THE THIRD MAN Blu Ray, THE UNIVERSE Season 1, Monty Python Holy Trinity, ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, HEATHERS Blu Ray, SOUTHLAND TALES Blu-Ray, 300 Limited Collectors Edition, DAVID LYNCH THE LIME GREEN SET, MIRRORMASK Blu-Ray, Forgotten Noir, PRICELESS Blu-Ray, FANFAN LA TULIPE Criterion, THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME, THE TEXAN, THE ODD COUPLE Complete Series, REVOLVER Blu-Ray, DW GRIFFITH Masterworks 2, The Complete Monty Pythons Flying Circus, PARIS JE T’AIME (Blu-Ray), Victor Borge Classic Collection, THE STENDHAL SYNDROME (Blu-Ray), CANNIBAL! The Musical, LAST EMPEROR Criterion, JOHN HOLMES AND THE ALL-STAR SEX QUEENS and much much more!