Hey folks, Harry here with the first DVD column of August. This isn’t nearly as good as last week, but there’s still some good stuff to be had. As always the box art and titles are clickable to AMAZON where you can learn more on the titles as well as purchase the title to help support this column. I’ll go ahead and let you get to it then, if you want to pick just one title – I’d say THE COUNTERFEITERS. You’ll see it below…

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

GET SMART – Season 1

Would you believe you could own this whole set for under $17? You’d be right if you said, “yes!” I love the original GET SMART tv show – the feature film, THE NUDE BOMB, just wasn’t as good as the average episode – the series was paced the the perfect amount of funny stupidity for an episode, but in a dose the size of a feature – too much and too little, for TV – just right.

NIM’S ISLAND

A very solid children’s film. Clarice Starling and King Leonidas do quite well in this film as the adult entertainment – and lil Abigail Breslin is well – exactly what a cute, curious 11 year old adventure starved kiddo should be. The adventure and excitement is quite something and is another solid family entertainment from Walden Media.

STARSHIP TROOPERS 3: MARAUDER

Written and Directed by Edward Numeier – the original screenwriter behind Verhoeven’s original – does a very good job with the micro-budget threequel to the original. I’d say he probably made this for less than a 10th of the original’s budget, but the film we get is a smaller film with the same spirit. The effects aren’t where you’d wish for them to be – the cast isn’t as solid as you want – but the subversive fun, the twisted sense of humor, the quirkiness… it’s dead on. That… and you finally get POWER ARMOR!!! And it does rock, for the little bit that it’s in there – though they couldn’t afford to go balls out with it. It is very much worth checking out, just don’t expect it to be on the production scale of Verhoeven’s.

STARSHIP TROOPERS (Blu Ray)

Yes, I’m aware that there is a previous edition of STARSHIP TROOPERS on BluRay – well this does have some fun new tricks up its sleeve – mainly the FedNet Mode which is basically a pop-up video feature thing – and if you have an internet connection for your player you can upload yourself into the movie – however, this is kinda funky. And it has all the features from the previous edition. It is also still a really fucking kickass fun film – if nowhere near as great as the book could have been. I kinda hope that in 25 years we’ll see a great – totally different approach to the material. That said – if you want all 3 STARSHIP TROOPERS films – Click Here

THE COUNTERFEITERS

It is a truly great film. Check it out – realize that the film is about a Jewish counterfeiting operation during Nazi Germany. It is suspenseful, gripping and an amazing story. I completely get why it won, it plays as great entertainment, intense storytelling and profound human drama! .

LONESOME DOVE (Blu Ray)

Whatever HOUSTON CHRONICLE retard said that this was “THE BEST WESTERN EVER MADE,” has about 90 Westerns he/she needs to see to reevaluate that fucking quote. However, had they said, “THE BEST TV WESTERN MINI-SERIES EVER MADE” – that I could except and agree on. It just doesn’t look as awesome on the front of a DVD box. LONESOME DOVE is a fantastic mini-series. Absolutely fantastic. And being able to own it on BLU-RAY is indeed great. But I just wouldn’t call it the best western ever made… nowhere near that good.

STAR TREK – THE ORIGINAL SERIES – The Complete Remastered Second Season

This kinda pisses me off – I have the original first season in HD DVD – and then there’s this edition that’s stuck in regular definition. WHY ISN’T IT IN BLU-RAY? DAMMIT! Very frustrating. I imagine at some point around the release of JJ’s STAR TREK – we’ll see the entire 3 seasons unleashed on Blu Ray… at least I hope so. I really hope so.

THE KILLING OF JOHN LENNON

I really wanted to hate on this film. I hate the idea of glorifying this cocksucker – but that isn’t really what the film is about. It’s more about understanding the mindset of this fucking cocksucker. And the film does that exceptionally well. Don’t worry – you’re not gonna get on his side – you’ll accept he’s a cocksucking bastard deserving to rot for all eternity in iodine. BUT this is a really really good movie. Just one that you’ll kinda wish wasn’t based on a true story

THE BBC High Definition Natural History Collection (PLANET EARTH / WILD CHINA / GALAPAGOS / GANGES ) – Blu Ray

These are 4 absolutely fantastic BBC documentaries on gorgeous subject matters shown in pristine beauty and presentation. These things are absolutely hypnotic and irresistible. Amazon is selling this at over $50 off the list price and even more had you bought the titles individually. The newest title, WILD CHINA is really wonderful. Great to zone out to.

JOY HOUSE

Never seen Rene Clement’s JOY HOUSE starring the ungodly handsome Alain Delon… and the 1964 young Jane Fonda and Lola Albright in a romantic erotic suspenseful film that’ll capture you from the moment it begins till the very end all beating to an astonishingly great beat created by Lalo Schifrin! This is the best treat this week on this list. A true classic French crime masterpiece. Get it!

KRULL

The other day when South Park’s Jesus wielded a Glaive I cheered. Then on my second viewing of PINEAPPLE EXPRESS – in James Franco’s apartment – when he’s watching THE JEFFERSONS the other tv, which is on mute, is KRULL. And then I get KRULL! Of all the movies needed to be remade well – KRULL is one that could use it. There’s magic and wonder in Peter Yates’ movie. I would love to own a Glaive – it’s one of the great designed props in movies – but I love the look and the score and even the basic story. There’s just lots of stuff that just doesn’t work well – the romance could be SO MUCH BETTER. The casting could have been so much better. But damn if everytime it’s on cable – if everytime I come across the video tape or this dvd – I’ll probably put it on. KRULL is the shit.

POPEYE

There’s nothing new on this edition. It’s just a repackage along with about 40 other 80s hits that have come out this Tuesday. Lots of great titles – but they’ve all been previously released with far superior editions. This title hasn’t been re-released since 1993, I believe. And the only reason I’m putting this title on this week’s column is to advocate for an astonishing edition. With the passing of the brilliant Robert Altman – it is way past due that this undeclared comic masterpiece be given the treatment it needs. A long time ago – I spoke with Robert Evans, who told me he had a 3 hour film print of POPEYE that was the true version of POPEYE as Altman originally conceived the film. Let’s get that print into some hands where it can be restored to the glory that the late great Altman had intended. That’s the edition of this film that I want! Come on Robert Evans – do it because you’ll make a shitload of money with the DIRECTOR’S CUT! Do it because we all want to see it!

Next week we’ll take a look at the 5th Season of THE WIRE, THE SECRET, 11th Season of SOUTH PARK, DC SUPER HEROES: THE FILMATION ADVENTURES, SMART PEOPLE, BRAND UPON THE BRAIN!, THE DOORS (Blu Ray), THE GLITTERING PRIZES, CJ7, IRINA PALM, MULAN/MULAN II, DRIVE-IN CULT CLASSICS 2, LEGEND OF THE SHADOWLESS SWORD, BETWEEN THE COVERS/ SWINGING WIVES, NINJA CHEERLEADERS, I’M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS and more!