Blu Ray and DVD Geek Picks for October 23, 2012 - Vampires,Replicants,Monsters, The End of the World, Tattoo, Kubrick, and a BigFriendlyGiant

Hello, film geeks,

As is often the case since I was blessed with fatherhood, I never got the chance to see most of these movies in a theater. That's ok, though, because we live in a wondrous film economy where you can own films for less than a trip for two to the local cineplex. Plus, you don't have to deal with obnoxious phone obsessed teens and lackluster presentation by subpar staff.

Don't get me wrong. I still think a big screen is the way to see most films, but, unfortunately, I live in Midland, TX where the local screens are rarely worth the high cost and trouble securing supervision for my rugrats. So, until I live somewhere like Austin and can watch films at The Alamo Drafthouse (where they really care about presentation and audience control), I will be watching most things after they hit Blu Ray and DVD.

So, with all that in mind, I present the films I'm most looking forward to getting my hands on this week.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

I've heard mixed reviews on this one, but I'm really hoping it pleases the part of my brain that loves WTF cinema. I love almost everything that producer Tim Burton does (even PLANET OF THE APES - sue me) and I liked the director's film of WANTED, so I'm fairly confident I will enjoy this. I mean, c'mon - Honest Abe fighting creatures of the night- that's gotta be worth watching, right?

BLADE RUNNER (30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S EDITION)

It took me a long time to see this film. For years, all my sci fi geek friends would suggest it to me, but I just never got around to it until I was well into my twenties. I saw the director's cut, and was blown away. I know some people decry this cut, preferring the theatrical, but without any bias going into it, I thought that the cut I saw was spectacular. Somehow, I have still never seen one of the other cuts, but that will be changing very soon with the release of this set.

I know that it was released a few years ago, but I was a minimum wage slave back then, and could not afford to get the briefcase set. Good thing I waited, though, because this set has some all new special features along with every possible cut of the film. I'm really looking forward to showing this to the ladylove as I think she'll really enjoy the film noir aspect of it. This is an essential set for any film geek, and I think I will be watching it for years to come. I can't wait until my sons are old enough to start dipping their little toes into loftier sci fi waters.

This is a film to be, not only watched, but deciphered. I'm sure I will have a "Which Version" post up in a few weeks, so stay tuned...


UNIVERSAL MONSTERS

I have a confession. It's a shocking one, and may result in a loss of film geek cred.

I have never seen a single Universal Classic Monster flick. Not a one. The desire has always been there, but I just never got around to it.

Hopefully, all that will change with this treasure chest of classic monster movies. Frankenstein, The Phantom, Dracula, The Invisible Man, The Creature, and The Wolfman all get a spot. In particular, I can't wait to see Whale's Frankenstein films. I've always had a soft spot for that poor, misunderstood behemoth.

SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD

I love post apocalyptic movies and end of the world tales. I also like comedies with indie sensibilities. Therefore, I really think I'll enjoy this film with Steve Carrell facing the end of life as we know it, and wanting a little companionship when the time comes. I get a real LAST NIGHT vibe off of this, but done bigger than that little watched film from Don McKellar.

FANTASY ISLAND- SEASON 3

Smiles everyone!

This show is pure 70's cheese, and we love it around here. After getting Amberly into the first season sometime last year, we have both watched the available episodes many times. For years, it seemed that the powers that be were never going to let anything but the first season make it to disc.

Fortunately, Shout factory has started to remedy that. The second season was released just a few months ago, and now a third box is out, full of more amazing fantasy vacations with Mr. Rourke and Tattoo.

I don't know what it is about this show that draws me to it. Maybe it's the swagger of Montalban, or the crazy fantasies cooked up by the greatest guest stars the late seventies had to offer, or maybe it's the gorgeously lush tropical setting - Whatever it is, I will be picking up every season as they become available.


FEAR AND DESIRE

I'm a huge Kubrick fan, so I'm very happy to see that his (in)famous first film is finally getting to see the light of day. For years, I thought I would never get to see this war fable, but Kino has restored it and given it over to us Kubrick obsessives to see for ourselves if it deserves the derision heaped on it by Kubrick himself.

THE BFG

I'm a huge Roald Dahl fan. He was the first author that I felt the need to devour every word they wrote. One of my favorites was The BFG, a story about a girl who meets a Big Friendly Giant who puts dreams in kid's heads. That's why I'm very excited to finally see this animated version from 1989. There's just something so magical about Dahl's stories, and I really hope this film captures just a bit of that wonder.

Well, that's my picks for this week. I have a huge backlog of Blu Under Ten entries to do, so look for those in the next few days.

Until next time,

Blu Ray and DVD Geek Picks for the third week of October - KhakiScouts, Na'vi, A Dragon, and Looney Tunes!

Hey, fellow film collectors,

I'm running late this week since I just had a new baby boy. Hence, no weekend Geek Picks last week and very little film blogging goodness in general. But, in an effort to get back on track, here's this last Tuesday's disc selections. By next week, I hope to have this column linked to Amazon to aid in purchasing (and to help support the blog with small commissions). This week, though, it's still just my picks for must own titles with quick rundowns. So, without further ado:

Top Pick:
MOONRISE KINGDOM

At this point in his career, you either love Wes Anderson or you hate Jim. Either way, it's hard to deny he has a style that is all his own. His latest offering is MOONRISE KINGDOM- the tale of two young lovers from the island community of New Penzance, who run off together into the wilderness. It stars Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton, and many more. I loved this movie, and was very upset that I had to wait so long to see it. Midland, Texas is not kind to films like this, and it was impossible to find in a theater.

PETE'S DRAGON - BLU RAY

I absolutely loved this when I was a kid. I'm pretty sure Elliot was one of my imaginary friends. As an adult, I find Jim Dale to be a major highlight. I just adore his voice after listening to the Harry Potter audio books. I'm pretty much guaranteed to have "Candle on the Water" stuck in my head for days after viewing this. 

AVATAR 3D

I really liked AVATAR, but I never bought a copy because I wanted to future proof myself with a 3D copy. For some reason, the movie that made 3D a major thing in cinema decided to make the 3D home video version only available as a promotion if you bought the right TV. Now, they have remedied that, and /I can finally watch this flick again. Now, if they'd only release a 3D version of CORALINE into stores...

LOONEY TUNES PLATINUM COLLECTION - VOL. 2

Lots of great toons on this collection, but the real highlight for me is the bunch of Tex Avery MGM toons. Those have been hard to get for years. If you like LOONEY TUNES and Tex Avery, this is a must own.

Alright, that's my late rundown for this week. Sorry for being so brief. Hopefully, next week will be back in better shape.

Blu Ray and DVD Geek Picks for the second week of October: Aliens, Engineers, The Beatles, Cruiseliners, Killer Plants, and Mouse Detectives,

Greeting, fellow movie collectors. This week is a pretty big one, so let's get right into it...

E.T. : THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (BLU RAY)

When I was a kid, this movie made me want to have an alien friend all my own. I love everything about this flick, and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. When Drew Barrymore breaks into tears when E.T. is dying - damn, that gets me. Now my inner child can cry happy tears over this new high definition presentation of Steven Spielberg's masterpiece.

PROMETHEUS

I really liked this film. A lot of the problems that others had just didn't effect me that much. Sure, some of the characters do stupid things, but, y'know what? People do stupid things. I also had no problem with the lack of Xenomorphs for most of the film. I wasn't expecting ALIEN 5, and I was pleased with the deep, philosophical kind of sci fi that Ridley Scott delivered. Expect an "In Defense of..." article soon.

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

The Beatles made a few wonderful masterpieces in the world of film. This...well, this is not necessarily one of them. However, I have always had a soft spot for this trippy offering from the Fab Four. The songs are great, and the weirdness is really something to behold. This movie has needed an official release for years now, since the only way to get it on DVD was to pay too much for a near bootleg quality release.


THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (BLU RAY)

This may seem like a weird one to get all excited about, but 14 year old me loved the hell out of this movie about a cruiseship turned upside down. The remake, POSEIDON, was ok, but it never touched the greatness of the Gene Hackman original. The TV miniseries with Steve Guttenberg is a whole other debacle. This is the real deal, folks, and it's finally on Blu Ray.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: DIRECTOR'S CUT

One of the greatest modern musical ever made is finally on Blu Ray with the option to watch the original "downer" ending. There was a time when I knew every word to every song in this movie, and I'm looking forward to revisiting it in HD. I'll probably pick the theatrical ending more often than the director's cut one, but I still think it's super cool to be able to see those original scenes, fully restored and put back into the movie.

THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (BLU RAY)

I have  a bit of a Sherlock fascination these days. What with BBC's wonderful SHERLOCK series, and my recent viewing of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, as well as the fun Robert Downey, Jr. films - well, I'm really into Doyle's famous detective. I'm even reading the original stories currently. My first exposure to that world, however, was this wonderful Disney film. I remember going to see this with my grandma when I was a wee one and being terrified of the bat. Now, when I watch it, it's all about Vincent Price voicing Professor Ratigan. Pure childhood Glee.

Blu Under Ten: Joseph Gordon Levitt ties the knot in 'HOLY MATRIMONY'

   This weekend, one of the films I've been looking forward to all year, LOOPER, hits cinemas. In honor of Joseph Gordon Levitt, who plays a younger version of Bruce Willis through the magic of makeup and vocal impersonation, I thought it would be fun to look back at one of Levitt's earliest film roles in a movie that can be had on Blu Ray for just five bucks on Amazon.

   HOLY MATRIMONY came out all the way back in 1994, and then quickly fell out of the public consciousness. Not because it was a terrible film, but because it was one of those films that just kind of existed. Directed by everyone's favorite Vulcan, Leonard Nimoy (sorry Kirstie Alley), the film told the story of two thieves hiding out in a Hutterite community in Alberta.

   The wannabe Bonnie and Clyde, played by Patricia Arquette (very much in her hotness prime) and Tate Donovan, steal a large sum of money from the carnival they both work at and have big plans to move to Hollywood. First, however, they have to lay low until the heat dies down. Fortunately, Donovan's character Peter is a former Hutterite so they decide to go back to his home - a small farming commune that is ruled by strict religious tradition.

   From the outset, Arquette's character Havana is looked down upon by the stodgy traditionalists. Whereas they are all modest, simple folk, she is a very modern material girl. Her midriff shirt and short shorts stand in stark contrast to their modest handmade dresses. She is definitely the proverbial fish out of water, and this is what a lot of the film's initial humor derives from.

   In order to stay, Peter has to convince the town elders that he and Havana are husband and wife. His uncle Wilhelm (Armin Mueller Stahl) is somewhat displeased with his nephew's choice in bride, but after a traditional Hutterite wedding ceremony the pair are welcomed into the community. Peter hides the money under a baseboard, and they try to live the Hutterite life, much to Havana's chagrin.

   She's not the only one who hates the new arrangement, though. Peter's little brother, Ezekiel, is happy his brother has returned home, but is distrustful of the girl from the outside world. He finds her immodesty challenging, and often faints in her presence. Joseph Gordon Levitt is very good in the role, and is quite amusing in his disdain for Havana.

   One day, after going into town for ice cream, Peter flips his car, throwing Ezekiel from the vehicle and killing Peter. Havana decides to take the money and run, but, alas, she doesn't know where Peter stashed it. Then, Wilhelm and the elders present her with one of their quirkier traditions.

  Apparently, when a Hutterite man dies and leaves a childless wife behind, tradition dictates that she must marry his brother. She can refuse to wed the twelve year old Ezekiel, but then she must leave the community (and the hidden money) behind. She agrees to the arrangement, and the film takes a turn for originality in concept.

   A lot of the fun in this film comes from that odd conceit. Not only is she a modern girl forced to be subservient to her husband, she is bride to a nervous child who hates her. Things really take a turn when Ezekiel finds the money and uses it to make her fall in line, before discovering it was stolen and choosing to return it to make amends for his brother's sin.

   All considered, this is a decent film that never really rises above being merely charming. It's the kind of movie that you find playing on a local affiliate on a Sunday afternoon.

   The best parts are the interactions between Arquette and Levitt. Their situation seems like it could have been mined for more laughs, but it pulls a lot of punches - especially for a film that marketed itself as a "sexy comedy".

   Other than that, it was nice to get a glimpse into a little seen and often misunderstood North American sub culture. A lot of people mix up the Hutterites, the Mennonites, and the more famous Amish. The big difference between the three seems to be the varying levels of modern technologies they dabble with. While the Amish shun almost all modern conveniences, the Hutterites use certain things like mechanical farm equipment while still living simply. I think the film could have used a few scenes of clarifying exposition to make these differences clearer to the average audience.

   The Hutterite setting also gives the movie one if it's big drawbacks in the Germanic accents that are prevalent in the film. While Levitt and Stahl maintain their accents effectively, others (especially Tate Donovan) seem to fall in and out of theirs. There are times when the thick accents are a bit hard to understand, and the Blu Ray has no subtitles to help out in catching what some characters are saying.
 
   The only other real issue I have with the film is how underdeveloped the subplot of the FBI agent tracking Peter and Havana is. We get one initial scene of him taking the case, and then he is completely absent until he comes to the community near the end of the film. Just one more scene of him figuring out they went there would have given his character a little more weight. As it stands, he feels like a stock 90's brash cop archetype.

   There's a bit near the end that kind of gets my goat, too. It involves some of the worst impromptu fake laughing I've ever seen from a group of cops. Trust me, you'll know it when you see it. It just comes off weird and reminds me of the end of JONNY QUEST episodes when everyone laughs at something Hadji says before going to credits.

   Overall, this movie is really only of interest to people wanting to see Levitt as a talented youngster, or wishing to see a bit of Hutterite culture. It's a cute little film, but it could have been better.

   The Blu Ray itself is very light on extras, by which I mean to say it has none at all. Just "Play Movie" and "Chapter Selection". A trailer, at least, would have been nice, but for five bucks I guess you can't always expect a lot.

   Anyone else remember this film? Did you find it charming and funny, or was it a waste of an hour and a half?

Previous "Blu Under Tens"
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Blazing Saddles

Blu Ray and DVD Geek Picks for the Fourth week of September

  Hey, fellow cinephiles! Will here with a quick roundup of all the glorious Blu Rays and DVDs that tickle my fancy this week. It's a pretty big one for us geeks. I'm not sure my pocketbook can keep up.

BOND 50

   I know for most of you, this week is all about THE AVENGERS, but, for me, this is the big win for movie collectors tomorrow. I have had this preordered for months now, and I'm counting the hours until I can inundate my evenings with everyone's favorite gentleman spy.

   I've been a HUGE fan of James Bond since 1995, when I saw every film in a matter of months in preparation for his big return to the silver screen, GOLDENEYE. Since then, I've seen all of these films multiple times, and have bought them all on two different occasions. Hopefully, this will be the last time. Well, until the inevitable 3D set, or the holographic projector set, or the brainjack set, or whatever other kinds of formats the future brings us. For now, though, this is the most perfect collection of all 22 James Bond films - From DR. NO to QUANTUM OF SOLACE. Some may be confused by the lack of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, but I feel the need to remind them that that film was never part of the canon. Same for the David Niven version of CASINO ROYALE (which is, incidentally, available in its own glorious Blu edition).

   From what I've read, this set includes most of the special features from previous sets as well as some new stuff. The real star of the set though is the films themselves, all gloriously restored in high definition. I'm particularly curious how the Connery films look in the format. Same for ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, which has always been one of my favorites.

   Of course, if there is one caveat, it's that I will have to buy SKYFALL when it hits Blu next year, and it will look a little lonely on the shelf next to its siblings all in one box. I have heard a rumor, though, that there is an empty slot for that film in the box, but we shall see.

   I got my copy on Amazon for $149.99, and it comes with a hardcover book featuring posters from the series. Christmas may be months away, but mine is coming this Tuesday.

THE AVENGERS

    Now, for those of you immune to Mr. Bond's charms, this is the big title of the week. Even though I'm giving my money to the Bond box, I assure you I will be getting this next week. Personally, I'm going for the four disc set with the 3D disc.

   This movie seemed impossible years ago. It seemed unthinkable that anyone could manage to make a superhero film that took characters from different films and put them together as a team. Sure, it worked in the comics, but what works on the page doesn't always translate well to the screen. Our fears were unfounded, however, since Joss Whedon totally knocked this out of the park. It was big, explosive comic book fun and audiences rewarded it with tons of ticket sales.

   For me, and a lot of others, the highlight of this movie was Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk. The character had been done on film before, but never as successfully as in this film. I really liked the Ed Norton take on the character, so I was resistant to the switching of actors. Once seeing it all play out, though, I was very happy with how it all turned out.

   Overall, this movie was an excellent thrill ride kind of flick. As my boys get older, I'm sure this will get played a lot. We're still raising them DC, though. Speaking of which...

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, PART 1

   One of the greatest Batman tales ever has been adapted into an animated feature. I love these animated DC flicks almost as much as I hate the new DC logo. My favorite so far has been ALL STAR SUPERMAN. My only problem with that tale, however, was how much of the comic story got excised to fit in the film's run time. I am hopeful that splitting Frank Miller's future based Batman story into two parts will allow for more of the story on the page to make it into the film. 

AMERICAN HORROR STORY

   I haven't seen a single frame of this, but I hear really good things. I'm typically anti-horror, but I like the idea of a horror tale getting a whole season to flesh itself out. Here's hoping this is one of the rare scare fests that breaks through my resistance to the genre.

FREDDIE MERCURY: THE GREAT PRETENDER

   I've been a huge fan of Queen for as long as I can remember. That being said, I have heard very little about this doc. I do know that it focuses more on what Freddie was doing outside of Queen - solo projects and such. Looking very forward to giving this a spin. Hopefully, it paints a complete portrait of the greatest frontman to ever make love to a microphone stand. I do expect to be saddened near the end, though. Mercury's passing is up there with Lennon's assassination as far as music tragedy goes.

ARACHNOPHOBIA

   I haven't seen this since I was very young, but I remember really liking it. As a kid who was never big on horror, I always enjoyed a movie that delivered soft scares and laughs. Movies like GREMLINS, or GHOSTBUSTERS. I also liked pretty much anything with the word Amblin on the poster, as it indicated involvement from Steven Spielberg. The main thing I remember about this film was that John Goodman played an exterminator and there were tons of spiders. The film has been on DVD for years, but is getting the Blu treatment for the first time this week.

Blu Under Ten- MISSION IMPOSSIBLE : GHOST PROTOCOL is the Best of the Bunch!

 

    Recently, theater goers were treated to another movie in the Bourne franchise, THE BOURNE LEGACY. Those of us who spend too much time on movie news sites were then treated to a few weeks of the tired Bourne vs. Bond argument. For me, it's always been a FACT that Bond is so much better than Bourne, but I've also always felt that the Bourne or Bond discussion was misguided. They are very different series that just happen to have secret agents as central characters. Whereas Bond is about an agent working for the government with the help of crazy gadgets, the Bourne films are about former agents running from/getting revenge on their government overlords.

    No, I've always thought that if any franchise was trying to take the Bond crown, it was the Mission Impossible films. They are closer to the Bond formula than the Bourne movies, what with the insane stunts, gadgets, and extreme globetrotting.

    I still think Bond wins hands down, but that's not to say the M:I films don't have their moments. I rather enjoyed the first film for what it was, and the second film was - less good. After all of the ridiculous slow mo dove craziness of that second outing, the series reached a new high with the J.J. Abrams helmed third film. It returned to series to more of a team effort than just "Ethan Hunt: Super Spy", which was good since that's what the source material was all about.

    Last year, Brad Bird (in his live action debut) brought the world another IMF adventure with GHOST PROTOCOL, and now I'm here to tell you that it is hands down the best one so far.
I got my copy of the two disc Blu Ray/DVD combo brand new on Amazon for $9.99, which not only falls under my magic price point of ten bucks, but is also way cheaper than I've seen it anywhere else. I never got to see the film in theaters, so this was a blind buy. I was confident in the gamble, though, because I love spy films and the price was just so nice. On top of that, director Brad Bird has earned my loyalty over the years with his phenomenal animated work. THE INCREDIBLES is probably my favorite superhero flick to date, and THE IRON GIANT is an amazing work of retro science fiction.

   Now, then... I really enjoyed this outing for the IMF team. From the first scene with Josh Holloway running from baddies, I was completely pulled into the world of  MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. The plot centers around the whole of IMF being disavowed due to being framed for an act of terrorism. This makes Ethan Hunt and his small band of four the only remnants of the agency, so it's up to them to clear their names and save the world from a fanatic that wants to force nuclear war on the planet. I don't want to get into too many of the particulars since a lot of the fun of spy flicks is all the twists and turns the stories usually take. Instead, I will focus on the things I loved about this movie.

   First off, the stunts are spectacular. In particular, there is a sequence filmed on the tallest building in the world in Dubai that makes you feel the adrenaline in your veins. Seriously, it is amazingly high, and shot in a way that really  makes the audience feel like they could fall to their doom any second. One of the special features on the Blu-Ray focuses on this crazy outside the building climb, and it is amazing to see how much effort went into doing it as real as possible. There's also an insane chase/fight in a parking garage that was another highlight. Oh, and that sandstorm chase... just sublime spy chase gold.

   For that matter, all of the action was very well done. Even the less splashy stuff was pulled off with the proper level of tension. There's a scene where Cruise and Pegg are trying to secretly move down a hallway that was pitch perfect. Any time these guys were using gadgets, I was happy with the results. One big change from the previous films, however, was a lot less use of the famous masks. There's a reason for it written into the script, and the inability to use one of the series go-to tricks only serves to put our heroes in bigger predicaments.

   Another thing that was really well done was the casting. Simon Pegg returns from the third film, and still serves as a kind of comic relief character. However, unlike other movies that have a similar archetype, Pegg is a capable agent who gets out from behind the computer screen and helps in the field. I thought his character was utilized very well. Jeremy Renner plays an IMF office drone who has field skills of his own. There is a sense that maybe they are starting the process of having Renner take over the franchise from Cruise, and I think his character can do it. Of course, he is also taking over the Bourne films (maybe... I hear all kinds of things), so it might be kind of weird if he has too many spy irons in the spy fire. A real surprise for me was Paula Patton, whom I hadn't heard of before. She really kicks ass in this, and at no time did I feel like I had to suspend my disbelief that a girl could take on the thugs she fights.

   So that's how I feel about he supporting players, but what about the biggest name on the poster? Well, Tom Cruise seems to have taken a lot of things said about his onscreen ego to heart, and he seems like he's really trying to let the others play too. That is the biggest plus for this movie. Some of the other ones had moments that felt like they only existed so that Cruise could check something off of his extreme sports to do list or otherwise stroke his inflated ego. The only real ego in this one came in the last scene, and that was just how a few closeups were shot. Of course, maybe that's just me.

   I would be remiss if I didn't give special mention to Michael Giacchino. His music is always spectacular, from THE INCREDIBLES to his TV work, and he really gives this film his all. It reminded me of some of the better Barry scores for the Bond films. I really think he's one of the best composers working today, and I always perk up when I see his name in the credits. The last score I really loved was his work on JOHN CARTER,  a film that I feel was very wrongly derided - but that's a post for another day.

   Overall, this was a really good action packed flick. I'm really glad I got a copy, because i feel that it will be revisited often in the coming years. In a way, it also makes the previous films have more of a draw for me now, so I fully expect to grab that three pack Blu box that's available. I really can't wait to see what Brad Bird does next, because I feel that he has really proven his ability to move from animation to live action.

Previous Blu Under Ten posts:
Blazing Saddles

Blu-Ray and DVD Geek Picks for the Third Week of September

   Howdy Hey, fellow film geeks. Tomorrow is Tuesday, and you know what that means- a whole new batch of discs to put on the ol' movie shelf. Below you'll find my picks for the week. As always, this is far from a complete list of what's coming out, just the things that tickle my fancy.

Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures (Blu-Ray)

   Here it is, folks. All four Indiana Jones films in high definition. I'm a huge fan of all of these films. That's right, I said ALL. I know it may make me lose some geek cred in the film community, but I never had the same problems with KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL that others had. Just as the first three films were a tribute to the RKO adventure serials of the 30's, the last film was a loving send up of the drive-in sci-fi of the 50's. Sure, there are a few unbelievable moments, but I feel that if anyone can survive being nuked n a fridge, it's Indiana Jones.

    There are some new extras on these discs, but I have heard that not all of the special features from previous sets carried over, so you'll have to make the decision for yourself to keep them or pass them on.
    All in all, this is an essential piece of any film geek's collection. My girlfriend has only ever seen RAIDERS (at my insistence), so I'm looking forward to showing her the rest of my favorite archaeologist's great adventures. Furthermore, when my sons grow up a little bit more, I know this box will be well used. This is definitely the biggest release this Tuesday.

Modern Family : Season Three

When I first saw promos for this, I rolled my eyes. It looked like a major failure in the making, but -you know what- it's pretty darn good. I'm particularly impressed by the cleverness of it all and Ed O'Neill as the patriarch of the clan. The biggest surprise for me was how much I liked Cam and Mitchell. Their relationship is comedy gold.

Steve Martin : The Television Stuff

    I cannot wait to get my hands on this. Ever since I saw THE JERK (edited for TV, no less) in junior high, Steve Martin has been my main comedy idol. I still remember finding an old 8 track player and a copy of WILD AND CRAZY GUY shortly after my obsession began. The tape broke after one play through, but the album was a revelation. Here was a guy who found out how to play an idiot while being extremely highbrow. After that, I tracked down all of his albums on vinyl, listening to them repeatedly until I knew every word. The whole time, however, I really wanted to be able to see what sounded like a fairly visual act.
    Now, that dream is reality. This set contains some of the only filmed performances of his stand up act, as well as some TV specials and talk show appearances. I'm super excited about putting this on, getting "small", and laughing my ass off at one of the greats.

Ed Wood (Blu Ray)

    I've only seen this once, and I feel it demands another viewing. Now, it's coming to Blu-Ray for the first time, so it seems like a good opportunity to revisit what is surely one of Tim Burton's most personal films. I have such foggy memories of this, so it'll be good to get them all straight in my head. In particular, I remember liking Martin Landau a lot, and Sarah Jessica Parker not so much. I also seem to remember Bill Murray having a short bit that was pretty funny.

Blu Under Ten - BLAZING SADDLES

   I love collecting movies. In the heyday of DVD, I acquired more films than anyone I knew. Unfortunately, some if them had to be sent back into the world during a few years of low income, but now that I have a Blu-Ray player (finally), I can slowly but surely rebuild my collection to its former glory.
   One of the great things about being a somewhat late adopter to the superior format is that so many formerly expensive titles are now available at an agreeable price.
   I remember the first time I saw a DVD bin of movies for five bucks. To someone who thought his fifteen dollar copy of SUICIDE KINGS was a good deal in 1999, this was amazing. Now, with Blu-Ray, I have set the magic number at ten - about the cost of a movie ticket.
   Those of you with a Wal-Mart nearby may have noticed that they now have bins of Blus for $7.88, and, very recently, have started to have five dollar Blu bins. Add to that the hundreds of Blu titles available on Amazon for less than ten bucks, and you have the makings of a golden age for collectors of pristine copies of their favorite films.
   With all that in mind, I hope to start a regular column here on Geek Flix that highlights some of these essential (and not so essential) films you can pick up for a tenner -or less- starting with Mel Brooks' classic send up of the western genre: BLAZING SADDLES!
   I got my copy from Wal-Mart in one if those $7.88 bins I mentioned above. A quick look at Amazon shows that they are currently letting it go for $7.99.
Now then, on to the movie itself:

   First off, I love this movie! From the Frankie Laine theme song, to the menace of Mongo, I have always felt it was one of the funniest flicks I've ever seen.
   I first saw this when I was in junior high, smack dab in the middle of my spoof phase. Since then, the spoof genre has devolved into a sad shadow of the glory days of Mel Brooks and the Zuckers. Nowadays, most spoof films are just regurgitations of scenes from trailers of other films with the occasional "popular character dancing to hip hop" scene thrown in. I'm looking at you, DISASTER MOVIE, EPIC MOVIE, DATE MOVIE, etc.
   If you want to see how a spoof flick should be done, BLAZING SADDLES is a good place to start. In it, Brooks sends up the beloved old school westerns of previous decades while placing a heaping helping of social commentary front and center.
   It stars Cleavon Little as Bart, a black man who becomes sheriff of Rock Ridge- a town full of racists. The role was originally intended for comedian Richard Pryor (who helped write the screenplay) but the studio felt he was too risky. I, for one, am glad things worked out the way they did because Little is dynamite in the role. Joining him onscreen are Harvey Korman, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, and Mel Brooks himself (in multiple roles, no less).
   All are great in their roles, but, for me, Gene Wilder is the most likable as The Waco Kid, a boozehound gunfighter that acts as Bart's deputy. To a kid who mostly knew Wilder from his brilliant turn as chocolatier Willy Wonka, it was great to see him in a more adult role.
   The jokes are sharp (if cheesy),and never feel as dated as other spoof movies - focusing on making fun of the western genre as a whole instead of specific films. Even AIRPLANE (another top notch classic spoof) fails in that regard a few times. One notable gag is a symphony of farts around the campfire in a scene that may be the first instance of audible flatulence in film history.
   Some may be turned off by the blatant racism perpetrated by some of the characters, but I think they may be missing the point entirely. Sure, it's a little uncomfortable to hear the dreaded N-word but, by making the racism so blatant, Brooks manages to push America's dirty little secret front and center. I don't think anyone else managed to use the word so effectively as a mirror for siciety until Dave Chappelle and his "Blind Klansman" sketch.
   Still, you'd have a hard time making this movie today. Amidst all of its silliness, there are real issues being addressed and a lot of them would get buried under the modern world's tendency to sensationalize small things in the pursuit of creating ratings making controversy.
   One thing I was impressed with was how cinematic some of the scenes are. Some of Brooks films feel "closed in", obviously being shot on sets. I'm thinking, in particular, of ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS. With this movie, however, he makes use of the vistas of the west to add to the overall atmosphere. This and HISTORY OF THE WORLD : PART ONE are the only two movies he shot this wide, and it really helps make such a goofy movie feel like more than it could have.
   The Blu-Ray itself looks spectacular. In fact, it was the first full movie I saw in the format, and it made me a Blu believer.  There are plenty of special features, including a director's commentary (although Brook's barely whispers it), a making of, and the pilot episode of "Black Bart" - a spinoff TV series that never came to be. The pilot shows you why a full series never materialized, as it pales greatly in comparison to the way funnier film. There is also a small tribute to Madeline Kahn, who's Marlene Dietrich inspired Lili Von Shtupp is one if the film's highlights.
   For under ten bucks, BLAZING SADDLES is an essential comedy that should be on any film collector or comedy lover's movie shelf. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem.

Blu-Ray and DVD Geek Pix for the second week of September

Even in the age of digital media, there's something almost magical about owning some of your favorite films in a physical format. Having a disk to go to any time you want to revisit something will always be the way to go for someone like me. So, with that in mind, here's a a few things to look forward to this Tuesday.

Titanic 3D

     Since my exile to West Texas, I haven't been able to see as many movies in theaters. This 90's epic was one of the big re-releases I was looking forward to seeing on the big screen. I've only seen the movie once, and that was back in '97 at the Northpark 1&2 in Dallas (God rest its soul). It was one of the most impressive theatrical screenings I have ever seen. Projected in glorious 70mm- with incredible sound- I was captivated by this film.
     Of course, this was several weeks after it had come out. The initial night of its release, I went to an epic of a different sort, Kevin Costner's postapocalyptic The Postman with my dad. I remember being confused by the long lines around the building full of teenage girls waiting for Titanic. Everything I had heard about the film was that it was going to be a disaster, but the lines seemed to indicate a major hit. And it was...it really was.
    The rest is history. The movie went on to become one of the biggest films of all time, giving Leonardo DiCaprio true superstar status and filling all of our ears with Celine Dion for months on end.
    Having not seen it for myself, I can't speak of the 3D quality on this film, but the word is good. I can't wait to give this a spin and see Titanic in all it's Blu-Ray glory. 3D re-releases in general seem to get a lot of hate, but this geek thinks the technology is actually kind of fun. I never thought I'd enjoy The Phantom Menace as much as I did when that came out in 3D, but I loved that particular revisit, so hopefully this one will be even better.

Terra Nova

    I only got the chance to see the pilot for this show when it was airing, so I can't speak to how the series played out. All I know is that Spielberg and dinosaurs are involved, so it deserves my attention - even if it does wind up being crap.
   The story of Terra Nova starts in the future, when the world has become unlivable. Certain people are chosen to go back in time to start a new human colony in the time of the dinosaurs. Doesn't look like this show is coming to Blu Ray - yet.


Produced by George Martin

     Confession time - I am a fanatic when it comes to The Beatles. So it is with great glee that I discovered this documentary on their longtime producer George Martin. Of course, George Martin did so much more than just sit in the booth during the recording of some of the greatest songs ever laid down. He produced comedy albums for the likes of Peter Sellers and even scored the adventures of 007 in Live and Let Die.
     Of course, I haven't seen this, but I would hope such a legendary man would get a top notch doc.


Tim Burton Collection -  wide release

     This set has previously been available only on Amazon bundled with a book. This week, the set goes out for wide release, losing the book and about ten dollars on its price tag. For around forty bucks you get seven of Tim Burton's movies in glorious Blu-Ray. Here's the lineup:

Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985) 
Beetlejuice (1988) 
Batman (1989) 
Batman Returns (1992) 
Mars Attacks! (1996) 
Corpse Bride (2005) 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

     Those first five are worth the cost for me, with Corpse Bride and Charlie as nice bonuses. (that's how I see it, anyway.) I know some will deride the fact that it is missing some big titles like Edward Scissorhands, but that is from another studio. Same goes for the rest of the missing flicks. These seven are all from Warner Brothers.


Well, that's all for this week. Happy shopping, disc collectors!