Hey folks, Harry here with today’s DVD PICKS & PEEKS. Lots of great stuff this week & next for that matter. As usual you can click on the box art or titles and go to AMAZON where you can learn more about the title in question or if you’re feeling motivated, you can purchase it – which would send a small portion of the purchase price to help keep this column going! Mucho gracias mis campaneros! Here ya go…

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

STAR TREK: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE Blu-Ray Collection ( THE MOTION PICTURE / THE WRATH OF KHAN / THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK / THE VOYAGE HOME / THE FINAL FRONTIER )

Oh Fucking Yeah! Alrighty – so here we go… The Original Crew’s 5 in Blu! I’m jazzed to get this set – but I’d be lying if I said it couldn’t have been better. I don’t want a Blu-Ray of just the Theatrical version of STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE, it’s the Director’s cut I want. The miracle disc here is the WRATH OF KHAN – I fully understand giving KHAN the greatest treatment – It is unbelievably gorgeous. It was given the very best treatment possible. And this set is completely worth picking up – you’ve never seen these films look this good before. But I could have waited for this set to hit when the new STAR TREK hits Blu Ray – and have all the films given the same treatment as Khan. That’s what the films deserve and what the fans deserve. That said – I love having the first 5 on Blu, but I will be looking to upgrade to better discs on 4 of the 5 features.

TAKEN

What would it be like if James Bond was Liam Neeson… and let’s say Bond retired, because he found out he had a teenage daughter with one of those ladies that lived. And let’s say some slaving fuckers in Paris took her – and just how much would you not want to be one of those guys that got her? Because Liam is a bad mutherfucker and he doesn’t give a shit. He’s in top form in this Luc Besson produced piece of badassery. Lesson 1: Don’t ever fuck with Liam. Seriously! Nicely done disc.

UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS

This whole series has sucked. Here, Patrick “ID4, GODZILLA,ETC” Tatopoulas took the reigns. He’s been doing the creature and assorted other design on this series from the beginning and I figure he convinced someone that he couldn’t do worse – and this is just as forgettable as the others in this series. This series is just dumb as fuck. I’m surprised the Mafia hasn’t put a stop to this series… as they’re giving the Underworld a bad name.

TAKING CHANCE

A deeply affecting film about IRAQ part 2. This made for HBO film starring Kevin Bacon as a soldier that escorts the body of a young man killed in Iraq, who was born in the same small town in Colorado as him. This is a wonderful and powerful film. HBO has another winner! And Bacon brings it home again!

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY ( Blu Ray)

Great transfer, 5.1 DTS – loaded with extras and the best thing you’ll get is one of the greatest movies ever made on the best format around. I’d kill for a commentary by Wallach and Eastwood – but such a miracle does not yet exist. I saw this movie once with Eli Wallach – and the Q&A afterwards - that man had some great stories. Thankfully we get a lot of the both of them on the various docs, but I still would love a Clint & Eli chat through the movie. Wouldn’t that be fascinating?

FARGO (Blu Ray)

Bloody snow has never looked so awesome! Some people consider this the Coen’s best film. Those folks are wrong, MILLER’S CROSSING is their best film (to me), but we all have our faves. That said – FARGO is a great Coen film – and the performances are as sharp as the writing and the filmmaking.

SETH MACFARLANE’S CAVALCADE OF CARTOON COMEDY

Silly juvenile raunchy fun and a lot of it. If you’re a fan of Seth’s work, this dirty run of perverse jokes and goofy humor will keep you cackling like everything else he’s done.

BIG (Blu Ray)

At the time BIG came out – I’m sure you could claim that Hanks had never been better, but I’d argue he’s been far better since this film – and well, I love SPLASH much more than this, though I’d say the character he plays here is a stronger character than his part in SPLASH, but SPLASH is the better film. This is as solid a release as you’d want on this title. Of note: The retail price at Amazon is Half of the list price, so it’s a nice deal.

GALAXY QUEST (Deluxe Edition)

Sigourney’s last live action Science Fiction film prior to contributing to fucking our eyeballs this holiday with AVATAR – although she was the ship’s voice in WALL-E. But really – this is just a superb parody film that goes so far and beyond what has become of that genre – and it does it in just the way that the best Mel Brooks films did it. By creating characters that we not only laugh at and with, but that we care about. That said, while this is a great DVD of that title… WHY THE FUCK IS THIS NOT ALSO A BLU RAY!?!?!? I’d wait if you’re a Blu-lover like me!

LICENCE TO KILL (Blu Ray)

I’m really quite fond of the two Timothy Dalton Bond films. In particular, I’ve always been fond of this one. Maybe it was Robert Davi, or the hilarious Q turn… oh, who am I kidding, the film has fucking Wayne Newton. How could you not love Wayne Newton? He’s Wayne Newton! This is a bittersweet film for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that it was the last Dalton play with the character. Personally, I prefer a deadly Bond, to a jokey Bond. How about you?

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (Blu Ray)

This is one of the key Bonds that I wish to God was a much better film. Why? Well, it has a great cast… Maud Adams, Britt Ekland, Christopher Lee. I love that song! And it’s a fun premise. It just didn’t work as snappy as I wanted it to. That said, I have a replica of the Golden Gun and a bullet. And yes, it is cool in a funky kinda way!

WISE BLOOD – Criterion Collection

Brad Dourif has perhaps never been better than in his role as Hazel Motes in John Huston’s adaptation of Flannery O’Connor’s first novel about an ex GI that tries to open an unorthodox church in the south! Fantastic film that isn’t very well known really – which is why Criterion rules for putting it out. Perfect material for John Huston’s gifts and the role of a life time for Dourif. Criterion has done a great job on this – here’s what you get in addition to a great film: New, restored high-definition digital transfer • New interviews with actor Brad Dourif, writer Benedict Fitzgerald, and writer-producer Michael Fitzgerald • Rare archival audio recording of author Flannery O’Connor reading her short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” • Creativity with Bill Moyers: “John Huston,” a 28-minute television program from 1982 in which the director discusses his life and work • Theatrical trailer • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by author Francine Prose

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

An incredibly funny film. And no matter how many times I put my semen in my hair, it never sticks up like that. But now – you can see every stuck follicle on Cameron Diaz’s head. This is the Farrelly’s funniest flick – and is definitely worth picking up on this format.

MAJOR LEAGUE (Blu Ray)

The only MAJOR LEAGUE you should own – especially if you’re a fan of Baseball comedies. I’ve just never really been a fan of this film – I prefer BAD NEWS BEARS (the original and GOTO JAPAN) and BULL DURHAM – this one is just a little too much for me. BUT it is a very nice transfer for those of you that love it.

NORTHWEST FRONTIER

This is a damn fine action adventure set turn of the last century in India – and the film stars the lovely Lauren Bacall, Kenneth More and the always amazing Herbert Lom – all on a train that’s gonna go through a whole lotta rebel trouble. And you’ll love Herbert Lom in this! He’s great!

TIME LIMIT

A Treasonous Cargill? What else is new? This is a tremendous film that is just not known at all. It’s one of those Korean War films – which was all about Koreans brainwashing G.I.s and folks, I’m here to tell you – Koreans can do it, my wife is an expert “RED QUEEN”! ACK! Seriously though – this film was directed by Karl Malden, produced and starring Richard Widmark. You’ve also got Martin Balsam, Richard Basehart, Rip Torn and the amazing June Lockhart! The film is great – as an investigation tries to dig into who did what when in captivity and after. The results are fantastic! Definitely worth picking up!

S DARKO: A DONNIE DARKO TALE

It exists, but I have no interest.

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS

Directed by the great Raoul Walsh and starring the aging Clark Gable – but make no bones about it – this is no where near their finest work. Or even their very good work. At best – this is OK work, but ya know what – watching Clark Gable trying to seduce 4 beautiful daughters in a Ghost Town all to find precious gold… well that’s worth at least one viewing, right? I thought so. And was moderately entertained. FYI.

PASSENGERS

A serious waste of time. Patrick Wilson and Anne Hathaway are fun to watch in this film, but the story is just big gobs of gooey gorilla shit!

ALEXANDER KORDA’S PRIVATE LIVES – Criterion – ( THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII, THE RISE OF CATHERINE THE GREAT, THE PRIVATE LIFE OF DON JUAN, REMBRANDT )

I absolutely devoured this set. I started with the one I hadn’t seen – REMBRANDT starring Charles Laughton – and holy shit is it great! One thing you need to know about the work of Alexander Korda – if you know nothing at all – is that he was one of the most brilliant directors with an exquisite eye for production design, costume design and cinematic beauty. His Amsterdam at the time of Rembrandt is beautiful. Rembrandt’s father’s place… amazing! This is also another of those great Laughton films that also stars his wife, Elsa Lanchester aka The Bride of Frankenstein! They’re also both in THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII – which is very well shown on cable. But also getting THE RISE OF CATHERINE THE GREAT and Douglas Fairbanks Sr’s swan song of THE PRIVATE LIFE OF DON JUAN… what a great collection – again brought to us with the highest care by Criterion! 4 truly great biography films!

FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE (Blu Ray)

So – Han Solo and Quint took on the goddamn Nazis to blow up a fucking Bridge and the movie is nowhere near as great as THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, but you know what it is? A DAMN FINE ENTERTAINING FUN FLICK! I remember seeing this movie in 78 when it came out – and a friend of my parents had a scope print of GUNS OF NAVARONE – and I had that GUNS OF NAVARONE play-mountain toy – and man – you better believe Han Solo played in it! This film was maligned for years – but it seems that my generation is inflating its deserved awesome status. Any film with Ford and Nazis rules – right?

Disney Animation Collection 5: WIND IN THE WILLOWS

I’m really fond of these sets – though obviously I wish they were on Blu, but here’s what you get on this one. Obviously you get WIND IN THE WILLOWS, but you also get THE UGLY DUCKLING, THE ROBBER KITTEN, THE WISE LITTLE HEN, THE GOLDEN TOUCH and last but not least – THE GRASSHOPER AND THE ANTS – which is also on the Blu Ray of A BUG’S LIFE coming later this month! WIND IN THE WILLOWS is the best – show it to your kids then take them on MR TOAD’S WILD RIDE at Disneyland – it’s the best ride there!

Disney Animation Collection 6: THE RELUCTANT DRAGON

I’ve never been a big fan of THE RELUCTANT DRAGON – it’s a soft Disney short. One I don’t love. I’ve also never really loved GOLIATH II. However, FERDINAND THE BULL is one of my all time favorite Disney shorts – and though I’d never seen JOHNNY APPLESEED before – it charmed the hell out of me – and afterwards I sought out a glass of Apple Juice after watching it! But if I was penny pinching, this would be the collection I’d hold off on. Not as solid as the other two.

WAYNE’S WORLD (Blu Ray)

It’s Excellent!

Disney Animation Collection 4: TORTOISE & THE HARE

The best of the 3 sets out today – this one has THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE which is an absolute classic. Then in TOBY TORTOISE RETURNS – you have a boxing match between him and the Hare – with the audience made up of other Disney funny animals! It rocks! You also get THE GODDESS OF SPRING who gets seduced by SATAN! Love that toon! Then you get BABES IN THE WOODS which is great. But you fear for them when you behold the most politically incorrect of all Tall Tale heroes – PAUL BUNYAN! And last – you get the Tall Tale called THE SAGA OF WINDWAGON SMITH – which is later Disney work, but damn if I wasn’t fascinated. Is this a real Tall Tale? Cuz it had me wondering why there weren’t wind swept wagons across the plains!

WAYNE’S WORLD 2 (Blu Ray)

It’s more Excellent than the Excellent first!

THE FOG (Blu Ray)

Gorgeous. I had the HD DVD of this and it is absolutely equitable to the quality of that. One of the best Ghost Story HORROR films ever made. That’s flat out horror. And if you ever want a Horror 101 – just watch that John Houseman camp fire ghost story opening! So great!

That’s it for this week, next week I’ll be getting into TRUE BLOOD 1st Season, 24: Season 7, VALKYRIE, PAUL BLART: MALL COP, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY Skynet Edition Blu, FANBOYS, A BUG’S LIFE Blu, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, MAN HUNT, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, OUTLANDER, BATMAN (Blu Ray), ENEMY AT THE GATES (Blu), 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR (Blu), THE MACHINIST (Blu), PIGS PIMPS AND PROSTITUTES, SPY GAME, NIGHTMARE CASTLE, PAYCHECK (Blu), BILLY JACK, THE LAST HORROR FILM, GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE, THE LEGEND OF BLOOD CASTLE, CIRCLE OF IRON (Blu), CHANGING LANES (Blu), DETECTIVE BUREAU 2-3: GO TO HELL BASTARDS!, THE SWEET PUSSYCATS, 3 SECONDS BEFORE EXPLOSION, WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY, WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE-CAT GAMBLER and much more!!!