We’re in the throes of December and now’s the time to catch up on shopping before whatever Holiday you celebrate (I declare war on the lines clogging up my time). It’s also a good time to seek and destroy your abilities to get dates while you’re being herded into corrals that lead to the promised checkoutland. Someone once mentioned some good advice in order to succeed at such an endeavor, although I don’t quite remember what it was.
Leg ‘er down ‘n smack ’em yak ’em
Echoing the lives of many on our infamous Message Boards, Judd Apatow’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin (read Devin’s Rogen-centric positive review and his interview with Apatow here before entering to win a signed Carell DVD here!) has funny man Steve Carell finally realizing the need, the need for sexual intercourse speed. His highway to the danger zone has emerged: somehow missing the boat interacting with the opposite sex for well over three decades (I’m assuming most 10 year olds aren’t shacking up. Well, maybe not in the flyover states, but…). Maybe it’s the video game playing, or even the devotion to his action figure collection; these things should scare the base population of our website into the ever-loving arms of Las Vegas’ brothel population. Either way, Andy’s friends (the cadre of greatness including Seth Rogen – read Devin’s interview with him here, the one-and-only Paul Rudd, and wonderful Romany Malco) have vowed come hell or speed datingpalooza that they will get Andy laid, even if it involves getting him a gender-confused prostitute somewhere down the line. In the end, the one thing no one counts Andy on doing is mustering the courage to ask out "hot grandma" Catherine Keener, but not before he has his chest (rockwell) waxed into oblivion. I truly believe that The 40-Year-Old Virgin is one of the funniest films of the year, a riotous laugh-fest that everyone should check out for the onset of a comedic team that’s very special. Kind of like your fidgety, horny outsider status in the real world.
"Do you like to… do it yourself?" – with the semi-standard two editions (one being unrated, the other the rated fullscreen edition). The unrated edition is 17 minutes longer (we’re brushing off the fullscreen rated – forever!) and comes with audio commentary from Apatow and Carell, some deleted scenes with optional commentary, the features "You know how I know you’re Gay?", Andy’s Fantasies, and Cal & Paula – all with optional commentaries, 4 featurettes (Advice from Mooj, Waxing Doc, Date-A-Palooza, and Line-O-Rama), the Seth Rogen-esque feature "My Dinner with Stormy" (fulfilling most guys’ immortal want: to date a pornstar), and gag reels galore.
Michael Bay absolutely loves those sequences where debris flies off of the back of moving vehicles. He’s used it with intensive glee in several of his films (especially to the max in the über-bloated, yet satisfying Bad Boys II), and his recent exploit – The Island – has no shortage of Bay inspired lunacy (and a scene where giant chunks of concrete are lurched off the back of a truck at two hardbodied clones). But don’t get confused thinking this is Parts: The Clonus Horror. While the two share some similarities (like a little thing called the plot), The Island has Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) living his life in a Logan’s Run fashion; where the select few get to leave their underground dwellings for the more idealistic gorgeousness that is on the mythical Island. All’s for naught, though, as McGregor soon learns the truth of such a scandal (it involves master thespian and Janus-man Sean Bean!), quickly latching onto Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) and escaping into the outside world to find Steve Buscemi. That’s the first thing I’d do too. Soon after, they’re pursued by the Jean Valjean-like Djimon Hounsou, who has the right mix of low-angled hero shots jumping out of helicopters and high-octaned ones racing through various enclaves firing off rounds of bullets. Will the pair discover the truth? Or will they have to – as Johansson mused in the trailers – "ruuuunnnnnnnn!"? Quite easily, The Island is Bay’s most accomplished effort to date, and you’ll find yourself being caught up in the spectacle that is Bay when all of you hardasses just submit.
"That tongue thing is amazing!" – with: audio commentary from famed internet hate monger Michael Bay and a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s action sequences and stunts.
This week is all Kong, all the time, as King Kong – Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries (read Devin’s three hour review of Kong here) streets the day before his long gestating simian flick arrives to pound your dollars into the NYC pavement. But back to the 54 diaries, which are primed to turn Jackson into even more a household name, just the way you Derricks like it. Most of you have seen these diaries posted online at kongisking.net throughout the past year, so what makes this a required purchase? Since you can’t view those anymore (down since October), it’s to relive and relish the care they’ve taken into including you into their filmmaking world; from the production process all the way down to the little minutia that those unfamiliar with filmmaking will be enriched for a lifetime. Almost all bases are covered in a terrific fashion, brought forth by a wealth of crewmembers, cast, and technical craftsmen. It’s also since Universal and company has spiffed up your Kong experience with better video quality and a wealth of extras, all to make you rip through this set, salivating with tickets in hand for Kong the next day. You all know the care Jackson and crew put into making your viewing experience better, and the sensation down there is a welcomed side affect, since word on the street is that you’ve been dormant for a while.
You’ll get all 54 Production Diaries (viewable by production date or location) in a Limited Edition Boxed Set spilled out over 2 discs. Also featured are 4 exclusive production art prints, a letter of authenticity, and the gigantic 52-paged scrapbook of designs, photographs, images, and notes from everyone’s favorite director of late.
All you suckers who didn’t heed the warnings that the Sin City: Recut, Extended, and Unrated Edition have only yourselves to blame. Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s ode to all things Pulp Frankenstein (read Nick’s review, then mosey on over to Devin’s here) is a visual treat for your eyes, the answer to whether you can mold these types of technologies together for maximum effect (although it couldn’t save Michael Madsen’s warbled and stiff performance!). Most of us already know the story behind Sin City, so I’m not here to regale you with my garbled prose again. What has been enlarged since the last time we spoke (besides Grandma’s goiter) is the running time of the film itself, a full 20+ minutes of new footage. However, each segment has only been extended a couple of minutes, mostly for more flourishing title shots and credits after each segment. In essence, there’s not much new to savor film-wise, unless you’re a credit fetishist. The rest, in terms of extras, is where most of you followers will spend the bulk of your lazy lives, spilling through a plethora of features designed to steal away your precious hours and clue you into the process of making such a film with people as storied as Tarantino, Willis, Miller, Rodriguez and Mickey fuckin’ Rouke, dudes. So, say the hard goodbye to your last barebones set, and as it sails into the circular file for dirty pastures out in NM next to the E.T. game, you can plunk down and be smitten by a fairly good film.
"Would you hurry it up? I haven’t got all night." – with: all-new feature commentary tracks with Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino, on top of an audio track with a recording of the Austin premiere audience reaction. The other disc has the infamous 15-minute film school with Robert Rodriguez, the movie in high-speed green screen feature (which speeds by in 12 minutes), The Long Take: 17 uninterrupted minutes of Tarantino’s segment (in which you can hear him directing his actors, so watch, watch, watch!), Sin City Night at Antones – filmmakers, cast and crew party, a 10-minute cooking school with Robert Rodriguez, some bloopers, the feature: Special guest director: Quentin Tarantino, 6 featurettes (A Hard Top With a Decent Engine: The cars of Sin City, Making the Monsters: Special effects make-up, Trench Coats & Fishnets: The costumes of Sin City, Booze, Broads & Guns: The props of Sin City, How it Went Down: Convincing Frank Miller to make the film, and Giving the Characters Life: Casting the film), a Sin-Chroni-City interactive game, and the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers.
Ray Harryhausen is well-known enough for all those uninitiated to just go out and watch his most seminal films (such as Clash of the Titans, Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, and Jason and the Argonauts to name a few) without much fuss. In fact, purchase his Legendary Monster Series here from CHUD, his spectacular Early Years Collection here, and the Legendary Science Fiction Series here, the latter of which you might consider purchasing instead of this set. You’ll thank us. Speaking of the man behind so many indelible stop-motion animated creatures, the Harryhausen Gift Set with three of his amazing films – 20 Million Miles To Earth, It Came From Beneath The Sea, and Earth Versus The Flying Saucers – arrives (again, repackaged) with much fanfare on my end. His skill and artistry, one as impressionable to me as a young spawn growing up, relishing the simple spectacle of such stunning creations from his talented imagination still inspires young and Mothra old. Not only would ya’ll be foolish not to consider such a set a worthy place amongst your other schlock, you’d be foolhardy as well. So, take that Peck! All joshing aside, Harryhausen’s legacy is not one for the forgetfulness of time, rather for your terror-filled eyes to continue to delight in such feats of ‘hausen fancy. Enough said.
Extras include – a collectable scrapbook! But consider purchasing the Legendary Science Fiction Series for the same films at a rock-bottom price.
The State‘s Michael Showalter had always wondered about the guy who got stood up at weddings while his fiancé ran off into the arms of another man (prime example: Walken in Wayne’s World 2). The end result being the guy in question is left alone to wallow in self-pity, the world against him, including ytmnd.com. That guy has a name, and it is The Baxter (read Devin’s Yiddishisms in his review here). Showalter is an accountant of all things (I usually see no excitement in this job) engaged to an attractive magazine editor who just happens to be Elizabeth Banks. Like the good neurotic person he is, he’s consistently wondering if she’s too good for him, a thought put to the test once former flame Bradley Lake (Justin Theroux) comes back into her life with the intention of wooing her away, doves and all. With their wedding plans in question, Showalter draws his plans against Lake, slowly but surely vowing to fight for the woman he loves. Goading him on is Michelle Williams, whose charm has seemingly endless possibilities, especially if Showalter can see through the fog of love clouding his vision. Clouding yours, besides Alec Baldwin, will be your desire to check out this independent film, one being billed as a charming romantic comedy that is guaranteed to make you cry and laugh and be depressed at the most wonderful time of the year, ding dongs or not.
The only extra on this disc are some bloopers. Jilted!
It’s tough to go easy on Richard Linklater’s remake of the seminal Bad News Bears. That’s because it’s one of the worst movies of the year, sharing its company with Be Cool and a host of others whose modus operandi is nothing short of destroying your time with half-baked ideas and terrible realizations. And while the original isn’t gospel or anything around these parts, it does contain a wild streak of excellence, embodied in Walter Matthau’s argumentative presence versus Tatum O’Neal shepherded by Michael Ritchie’s deft understanding of their frazzled bonds. Linklater, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to fully grasp the complexities of such characters, preferring to have Billy Bob Thornton wandering around in Bad Santa mode, throwing off dull one liners while guzzling down the shoddy plot developments that bring his drunken buffoon towards coaching a little league team and learning something in the process. It’s a shame too, as Linklater’s School of Rock is tremendous fun, and his other films, such as Slacker should come as no surprise to seeing his talent. But The Bad News Bears renders everyone on autopilot, at the mercy of such entertainers who have no one to entertain but themselves, since you’ll most likely have vamoosed less than halfway through.
"Sometimes bird poo tastes like candy" – with: audio commentary with Linklater and the co-writers, 4 featurettes (At Bat With the Bears, Writing the Bad News Bears, Scouting for the Big Leagues, and Spring Training), some deleted scenes with optional commentary, some outtakes, video baseball cards of all the major players in the film, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
When (not-so Lil’) Bow Wow and Nick Cannon team up, the results must be nothing short of stupendous. Especially if there are roller skates involved. The paradoxical equation of such brilliance is palpable in Malcolm D. Lee’s (of Undercover Brother fame) film of Roll Bounce. Not only does this duo bound throughout the skating rinks of the 70’s, but they must grapple with the onset of their local rink closing, ankling them for such hot pursuits as the bigger one mere towns away. It’s there where X (Mr. Wow) must contend with being the little one amongst the fields of men, that is, until he can rightfully claim his status by necessary roughness (minus Kathy Ireland). The simple pleasures of rolling and bouncing cannot be undone by even the most shocking of all, as X’s family life is breaking down around him – including the scene where I’m sure one of his parents demands to know what he’s going to do with his life. If he’s anything like our Twisted Sister brethren, he wants to rock and roll (and bounce, of course).
"I’m the king of this here flo’, ya dig?" – with: audio commentaries from Malcolm D. Lee, Bow Wow, Mike Epps, Norman Vance, Jr. and Robert Teitel, 2 featurettes (Forward Motion: The making of Roll Bounce and 70s stylin’: The look of Roll Bounce), 12 deleted scenes, an Inside Look, a gag reel, a Bow Wow profile, a music soundtrack spot, the music video for Boogie Oogie, performed by Brooke Valentine with Fabolous and Yo Yo, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
It wouldn’t be a year of DVD without a film with James Woods, and this week has him scrappin’ it up with young’un Evan Rachael Wood in Pretty Persuasion, music video director Marcos Siega’s debut film (- no disrespect to Underclassmen. On second thought…) Here he plays a babbling anti-people person, keeping it real for all those hardcore Woods fans who demand their man to play a variety of characters even they might cringe at. The real crux of the story has naughty 15-year old (I anticipate Dave Davis is gonna come runnin’) Wood using her skills as a haughty bitch of the highest order, manipulating all those in her path who dare cross her. And by the beginning of the new school year, she has a new target: the innocent Ron Livingston, surely just passin’ time checking out his young student bodies in the worst way possible before Initech finds him. So, along with her newly crowned best friend/exchange student, Wood fabricates a story involving the dirtiest of minds, fully expecting it to explode into infamy and a local scandal. When it does, the shit hits the fan, wafting out over everyone in her exclusive Beverly Hills high school. The results I heard were less than pleasant, downright mixed. But the power of your own mind to judge such a predicament or fawn over your pre-pubescent desires lies within, and Pretty Persuasion might bring it out.
The devil wears a gray skirt – with: previews (for such films as Oliver Twist and Into the Blue) with nothing else!
Ah, Godzilla. The scaly creature responsible for so much of my own appearance in the morning celebrated his 50th Anniversary in style: chomping down on massive budgets while buildings were pummeled into dust around him. In Godzilla: Final Wars, the Z man is encased beneath the frigid ice of the South Pole (allow me to be surprised of such a development, having not followed ‘zilla lore for a few years). However, such a development is not without peril, as beforehand all of his nemeses have returned, wrecking havoc on the unsuspecting population of cities the world over. It’s only then where logic gets chucked right out your window, as Aliens suddenly find themselves on our planet, quickly zapping all of these monsters into nothingness. Once Earth comes out to congratulate their help, the real problem emerges; that of these human-like ‘Xiliens’ wishing to enslave its people. Humans, not wishing to go gently into the night, find themselves de-freezing Godzilla in order to have some leverage once the war begins. Godzilla, not one to be taken lightly, finds itself wishing that everyone would just leave him alone. Personally, I’m flabbergasted at this turn of events, and if the trailer was any indication, Godzilla’s newest rampage is going to be seriously weird, campy, and downright insane. That might be a good thing. Question mark?
"I knew that tuna eating lizard was good for nothing!"- with: a B-roll of special effects sequences, a promo reel, some TV spots, and Final Wars‘ teaser trailer, surely to make you smile and say ‘wtf?’
Roger Corman is largely considered to be one of famed pioneers of B-picture making, ushering forth a who’s who of Hollywood history from his loving producers arms. Scorsese. Demme. Bogdonovich. Coppola. Howard. Sayles. Cameron. The names speak for themselves, although this week is most notable for the explosion of some Corman titles onto DVD in Special Editions, this time brought to us by Disney, who recently acquired Corman’s company into their own. The first is Corman’s Bonnie and Clyde knock-off Big Bad Mama, which has Angie Dickenson using her luscious charm against tricky Texans (including Tom Skerritt and SHATNER) in order to bilk them out of their cash. This hap-dash nature of the film adds to its charm, firmly fitting into the world of Corman. Loads of nudity (that was a selling point for some, I’m sure!), violence (point numero dos!), and amateurish atmospheric qualities will encapsulate you …when you’re not waiting for the nudity, that is.
Next is Stallone and Carradine’s Death Race 2000 (await Russ’ DVD review!), which has the later going up against his nemesis the former. This modern racing fable blindsides you with its excellence in all things bad, from the stodgy acting and character names (Carradine is Frankenstein – half man/half robot! Harriet Medin is revolutionary leader Thomasina Paine!) to the point valued pedestrian game (one some of you might currently play). Like the Running Man, this race is primed for gore, as helpless pedestrians all across our good nation are at the mercy of these madmen enraptured in their sadistic bloodletting sport. Just make sure to show this to Grandpa before you go out driving with him. He’ll understand.
Extras on Big Bad Mama include audio commentary, Mama Knows Best: A Retrospective – A compelling look back at the Corman classic featuring current interviews with Roger Corman, director Steve Carver, star Angie Dickinson and writer Frances Doel, and the film’s original trailer. On Death Race 2000 expect audio commentary from Corman and Mary Woronov, the feature Playing the Game: Looking Back at Death Race 2000 and the film’s original trailer.
Vince Lombardi High School is a place where memories are made. Even if you’re The Ramones and you’ve got one of the most neofascist principles breathing down your neck. Fear not, as Joey and his crew overtake such an uptight place with their riffs of punk fury, culminating in events only you and Alice Cooper can fully appreciate. And while school might not be out forever, it is rocking strong, as the kids of the newly christened Rock and Roll High School explode their stacks into a million and one ways to teach the man a thing or two about life.
Finally, there’s Dinocroc, one of Corman’s more recent films. I know nothing about it, other than the title. Sometimes, a fearsome title and a little cover art is a good way to go. Especially since I understand the plot deals with something like a Jurassic dino mixed with a crocodile tear-assing around, eating everything in sight: from humans to Kevin McCarthy (granted, he’s not even in the film). Charles Napier is in the film, and one can only imagine where that goes.
On Rock and Roll High School, there’s audio commentary from Corman and Dey Young, commentary from Director Allan Arkush, producer Michael Finnell and screenwriter Richard Whitley, Audio outtakes at The Roxy: Original recordings of The Ramones during the shooting of the final scene, some original radio ads, Back to School: A Retrospective: The making of the movie with all-new interviews with Allan Arkush, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Dey Young, Marky Ramone, Loren Lester, and the film’s original theatrical trailer.
Finally, on Dinocroc, there’s nothing! Zip! Zilch! Nada!
Then there are these, immortal titles like F.I.S.T. and The Simpson’s Seventh Season (which comes in two packages this time, since Fox has heard your outcries). Valiant streets, although word on that was positively mediocre (read Devin’s negative review). Additionally, James Foley can expect a CHUD DVD review on his Yards: Director’s Cut sometime in the near future.
I Forgot!
A while back, I mercilessly beat my Research Assistant into a pile of Deer Woman mush for even suggesting that I missed a title or factoid of information (something Mr. Brigden clued me into – thanks!). The fact remains that no matter how many titles are released per week (the end of this year has been particularly brutal and frontloaded to no end), I’m going to accidentally miss one or two. In order to make up for it (and repent for my atrocities), here they are.
Puddle Cruiser (read Wade’s DVD review) comes with audio commentary from the Broken Lizard Guys (much to Russ’ dismay), a 17-minute Broken Lizard documentary, the featurette "Rodeo Clowns" and trailers for Super Troopers and Club Dread. 9 Songs comes in Uncut Unrated and Edited Unrated versions (considering the copious amount of sexual activity throughout the film – read Devin’s review), but you most likely won’t find it at your local retailers.
Doctor Detroit has no special features other than the great feeling you’ll get from the insanity. Scarlett Street, one of Fritz Lang’s finest, sees itself getting updated via a print from the Library of Congress’ archives, along with an audio commentary from David Kalat, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Mabuse and a photo gallery.
Coincidentally, I think CHUD is the only place you’re ever going to see these two titles coupled together. Ever.
Digitally Illuminated
One of the best films of the year (most likely the best) was David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence (which streets on 2.28.06, a long ass time away). Even Russ called him "a monster" in his review, but he did it with respect for the man responsible for bringing such a unique perspective to the cinematic table. The script has Viggo displaying a series of uncommon heroics against a duo of would-be robbers: men who also happen to be uncommonly deadly. Without even blinking an eye, Viggo dispatches them with furious aggression, quickly becomin a local hero with the onslaught of media coverage. But with the good comes that bad, via the guise of the scarred Ed Harris and his goons, insisting that Viggo return with them to Philadelphia to rendezvous with his brother. Resistant to all ends, Viggo just wants to lead his normal life, which as everything unravels, might not have been as normal as we’ve been lead to believe. Absolutely everyone in this film, from Harris to Mortensen to Bello as his wife turns in some of their best work, filled with emotional resonance to the unpleasant discoveries that are about to unfold. A History of Violence is Cronenberg working at his highest capacity, a film so questionable in delving into the causes of aggression and the aftermath of fury that you’ll confront your own feelings towards the narrative. Even if it involves killing a whole hell of a lot of disrespectful people.
"In this family, we shoot them!"- with: audio commentary with Cronenberg, some deleted scenes with optional Cronenberg commentary, the documentary "Acts of Violence", a featurette examining the international cut versus the domestic one, 2 more featurettes (The Unmaking of Scene 44 and Too Commercial for Cannes), along with the film’s theatrical trailer.
The socially relevant film gets another shot in the arm via Nikki Caro’s North Country (read Devin’s review) – out on 2.21.06, as Charlize Theron tackles the issue of sexual harassment in her small hardcore masculine town. Fleeing her abusive husband places Theron back in the thick of things, and by chance she starts making ends meet at the local iron mines, a place where women have been able to work alongside fleshy meat sweaters for well over a decade. However, such a situation is beset with a bunch of Neanderthals getting uncomfortable with the intermingling of the genders, still unable to accept change years later. Not only do they make Theron’s life a living hell, but the subjected torment of erratic jokes and unacceptable behavior quickly go way past the line, straight into the negative zone. Representing her in her landmark sexual harassment case against the corporation that allowed this is Woody Harrelson, a man still beaten down by time since he defied Ohio. Director Nikki Caro, who last brought you Whale Rider, goes into darker territory here than ever before and what benefits her film is the superb actors bringing this situation to life, even in the face of such nasty business.
Wonder where Sean Bean’s accent is from – with: some deleted scenes and some documentaries. Be aware that these extras haven’t been finalized yet. I hope there’s a commentary track and some other good stuff.
Liev Schreiber makes his directorial debut with the adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s Everything Is Illuminated (read Devin’s positive review), which arrives on 3.21.06. Oddly enough, Boris Leskin, who plays Grandfather in the film, was my Acting teacher for one semester many months ago. So I feel a tiny connection with the film, considering Leskin gave his students a glimmer of the acting process. It’s not quite as large as Schreiber’s own, as he’s written the screenplay and concocted one of the best films of the year, an ode of the search for an era that is slowly fading away. Elijah Wood is Jonathan Safran Foer, a young man who goes in search for the woman who saved his Grandfather’s life while the Nazi’s exterminated his village. It’s in the Ukraine where he encounters Grandfather, Alex (played indelibly by Eugene Hutz), and Sammy Davis Junior Junior, Grandfather’s "seeing eye bitch." The foursome set out to figure out the answers to Jonathan’s questions, made even more immediate with each passing moment. Schreiber’s film is equal parts melancholy, sadness, tragedy, and comedy, all things that combine to form a great narrative tale. And that’s all that you should know before checking it out!
"What about the sausage?" – with: some additional scenes and the film’s theatrical trailer. Considering this was a labor of love for Director Liev Schreiber, I wouldn’t rule out some more extras, especially a commentary track. So I hope.
What I am isn’t important. Region Free is important.
Want to see Sympathy for Lady Vengeance before all of your other friends on the block? I’m sure Tartan doesn’t want you (or I) to even mention such a no-no, but Park Chan-Wook’s other revenge films (Lady Vengeance is the third) were so insanely powerful in terms of story and filmmaking that it’s impossible to keep a good man down, so-to speak. First off, read Devin’s news item about the US retitling (to Lady Vengeance) here, where he lets his opinion for the film fly, calling it "the bleakest of the whole trilogy." But what’s the film about? Well Dan Rather, like Oldboy, Lady Vengeance (played by Lee Yeong-ae) is released from prison, only to seek the utmost revenge on those who have imprisoned her. Using those hardened skills learned in the clink, our Ms. Red Eye Shadow seeks to extract such pleasure from her carefully planned desires. Only one problem, as the morality of the situation takes a quick detour, forcing her to discover items that make "no revenge [seem] fitting." If Chan-Wook’s films turn you into Fahrenheit 451, now’s the chance to purchase the Korean 2-disc DTS Special Edition before the US theatrical release. Not only will you be privy to such amazing visual flourishes, but also the continuing saga of a master at the top of his craft. Good enough for ya?
The initial press is limited to 9,000 copies, but expect English subtitles (on the physical movie), along with audio commentary from the filmmakers (might not be in English, though), along with a color version and a black & white version, the making of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, the feature Character for Lady Vengeance, some alternate scenes, a snapshot, and a promotion all on Disc One. Disc Two has the features – Park Chan Wook. Mr. Vengeance, Style for Lady Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance in Venezia, and something called the Director’s Choice. This is a Region 3 NTSC release requiring the use of a Region Free DVD player.
Continuing with our Asian films, HKFlix.com has the anthology film of Three …Extremes ready for purchase (a movie that you might have seen if/when it ever rolled through your small town). In Dumplings, Director Fruit Chan Goh delves into the obsession with being young in the entertainment industry, as a young starlet finds herself drawn to the mystical healing powers of Aunt Mei’s dumplings (containing a secret recipe that should make you happy!). In Takashi Miike’s Box, the main protagonist Kyoko finds herself suffering from intensive nightmares that rip apart her sleeping patterns. It’s only when given an antique box that the real nightmares start to emerge, kind of like when you dream of being ravaged by Rene Auberjonois. Finally, in Park Chan-Wook’s Cut, a film director finds himself, his wife, and child kidnapped, all shuttled off in front of the camera against someone’s sadistic purpose driven life. And unless the Director kills his daughter, his wife’s fingers will be sliced off, one by one, over the period of five-minute increments. These feel good series of shorts should have you content with all that is right in this harmonious, happy world. I can’t wait to subject myself to these films!
Extras include: anamorphic widescreen, an English subtitle track, and Dolby Digital and DTS-ES Surround Sound. This is an ALL Region disc playable on Region Free DVD players.
Keep The Change, Ya Filthy Animal
Yes, I went there. You should go where the links tell you to.
12/06: Cinderella Man (await Eileen’s DVD
review), Fantastic Four, Dukes of Hazzard: Unrated (read Dave’s DVD
review), Star
Wars: Clone Wars – Volume Two (read David’s review), Dirt