What's new Rambu? A Look at Peter O'Brian and his time in the Indonesian film industry.

This is a small look at Peter O'Brian's time in the Indonesian film industry and his humble entry into film (reprinted with his permission). This a small preview of some of the stories we hope to hear in our upcoming interview with Peter (who is one of the nicest guys on the planet)!

I've been out here in the wilderness(Indonesia) for twenty years man. When I first came here on a teaching English throughout Asia mission, I had a ticket to travel the world and Indonesia was my second port of call. I was scheduled to stay five days in Jakarta, but after two days here I couldn't stand it, and took a walk down to UTA ( the French Airline I had my ticket with) when I was spotted walking the streets by film scouts. At the time they were looking for a Rambo look a like and there I was. They actually thought I was Sly, poor bastards. Anyway, the next thing you know, I'm down at Ram Punjabi's film studio ( Parkit Film) doing a fight scene with this Chinese fighter.

They stopped the fight scene after several minutes, and asked me into Ram's office to sign a contract as a leading man. I never did use that world trip ticket, in fact it ended up in the bin as I forgot about it and it just expired. That is destiny Ian.

Getting back to my story, so there you go Ian, from an English teacher to a Film star at the toss of a coin. Well, I wasn't going to let anybody step on my dreams; consequently, I signed the contract but not before scamming a role for my best friend as the Gangster boss, Craig Gavin ( real name Craig Smith). At first Ram, Gobin and Damu( the Punjabi Brothers) said, 'no we do not need a gangster boss especially one who looks like a gangster', and I said well, "either you take the two of us or forget it". They told me that they'd think about and let me know the next day.

We were best buddies on a world trip at that time, so we really didn't give a rat's arse about films or anything else for that matter. The next thing, I get the call saying, " OK, we'll keep him here as your manager and who knows, maybe we might find a role for him". On balance, the good old business, Indian minded producers put him to good use as a gangster boss where he shone.

We did two films together with the Punjabi Bros, and then Craig decided to stay back in New Zealand where we come from, not The USA as is wrongly stated here and there.

After getting a taste of Indonesia and its rich culture, gorgeous women, and exotic places, I decided to stay on and do another film with The Bros. I ended up playing the bad guy in my next film, called 'Forceful Impact', which stared an American Italian guy. It was fun raping and killing and not going to jail, so all in all it was a grand experience. Besides that, I'm not naturally an evil, or should I say bad guy; consequently, it was a real challenge to take on this role as a mafia boss.

After acting in seven movies I got married to the girl of my dreams.

We lived very humble lives there for three years before coming back to Indonesia. A year after being back, I ran into Gope Samtani, who is the main Producer from Rapi films. In our discussions, he asked me to make a come back in a film called "Time Game", which is basically a copy of Die hard one, but done in an apartment building through a terrorist genre. I was the hero, and did all my own stunts which is what I always do, and always enjoy doing.

Since a young boy, I've always loved danger and constantly found myself in hospital wards with broken arms, a back injury and some pretty serious cuts. Still, my principal is, you only live once, and after all, dying is easy; it's living that is hard. I've always believed that God will give me a good day to die, and when he's fit and ready to do so. I don't like living in fear and be robbed of some exhilarating moments.

By the way, that is not my voice in any of those films. They were all dubbed unfortunately.

I know readers can't wait to hear more about Peter's career and thankfully he seems blessed with not only great kindness and charm, but a great memory!

POE BICENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY BASH IN BALTIMORE

From actor/filmmaker Mark Redfield's MySpace blog:

The Commission for Historic and Architectural Preservation, The Baltimore City Department of Planning, and The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum announce the world-famous Edgar Allan Poe Special Bicentenial--a two-weekend birthday celebration and Baltimore tradition since 1982--on Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18, 2009, plus a second weekend of performances on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, 2009.

Celebrated at the Westminster Hall, Burial Place of Edgar Allan Poe (519 West Fayette Street, Baltimore Maryland). Start making plans to kick off the Poe Bicentennial and part of Poe history by attending the Poe Bicentennial Birthday Celebration!

SPECIAL GUEST JOHN ASTIN: Back by popular demand, actor John Astin will present his special and unique Poe Tribute as only he can. You've waited years for Mr. Astin to return to the celebration and now he's back! You will not see this performance at any other venue.For more info. about John Astin visit http://www.astin-poe.com/

In addition to Mr. Astin's Tribute to Poe, we are pleased to present three of Poe's most unusual stories for your enjoyment:
"HOP FROG"
On Saturday, January 17th, Mark Redfield (creator of the film The Death of Poe) will present a theatrical performance of "Hop Frog" using live actors, masks and life size puppets. "Hop Frog" is a horrifying tale of revenge upon a cruel king and his seven ministers.For more information about Mark Redfield visit http://www.redfieldarts.com/
"THE TELL TALE HEART"
Performed by Tony Tsendeas (The Wire, The Death of Poe).
"SOME WORDS WITH A MUMMY"
On Sunday, January 18th John Spitzer of Fraudulent Productions returns to the Westminster stage with "Some Words With a Mummy". This comedy revolves around an Egyptian mummy that is brought back to life through electricity (shades of Frankenstiein!) and proceeds to spar with the doctors and scientists that resurrected him. In "Some Words With A Mummy," first published in 1845, Poe created the history's first reanimated Mummy. Poe was always keen to capitalize on the popular imagination, and the Egyptian craze had been steadily building in Europe and America for two decades.

In addition, it gave Poe a perfect vehicle for his acerbic social satire. Surprisingly, comedy comprises fully one-third of Poe's tales, and he was possessed of an exquisite and robust sense of humor. "Some Words With A Mummy" is a compelling mix of thrills and comedy, and is believed by many to be Poe's finest satire. In his living Mummy, Poe devised not only another literary first, but also a brilliant device to satirize our culture, and human nature itself.

Other surprises will be announced as they are finalized! Baltimore will be celebrating the Bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poethroughout 2009 with many events!

visit: http://www.poebicentennial.com/ for more information!

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 4.0 -- DVD review by porfle

When the original CATTLECAR--excuse me, "BATTLESTAR" GALACTICA came out back in the 70s, I was among those who regarded it as nothing more than a candy-coated piece of sci-fi dreck. So when the Sci-Fi Channel came out with this jazzed-up remake a few years ago, I stayed away, recalling that old line about a silk purse and a sow's ear. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. After watching this BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 4.0 four-disc DVD set, which covers the first half of the show's fourth and supposedly final season, I could frakkin' kick myself for not being glued to the TV set from the very first episode.

Simply put, this series kicks major ass on every conceivable level. Surely one of the finest series ever produced for television, it might even be the best weekly sci-fi series of all time. Every aspect of the show--acting, writing, production values, special effects, music--is consistently excellent. The show's producers, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, have somehow managed to combine riveting adult drama with the best elements of pure space opera.

As in the '78 version, the story begins in a distant part of the galaxy where a human civilization known as The Twelve Colonies is decimated by an attack from the Cylons. Less than 35,000 humans survive, escaping into deep space in a ragtag fleet of ships protected by the battlestar Galactica under the leadership of Admiral William Adama. Their goal is to reach the fabled planet of their race's origin known as "Earth" before the pursuing Cylons can destroy them.

The Cylons consist of both robotic warriors and several series of humanoid clones which are essentially immortal, since they can download their shared consciousness into new bodies whenever necessary via an immense spacecraft known as the Resurrection Hub. Much of the fourth season's drama revolves around a civil war between the more warlike Cylons and the ones who wish to end hostilities with the humans, while a small group of these humanoid Cylons, known as The Final Five, actually live and work aboard the Galactica and until recently were unaware that they weren't human.

Meanwhile, Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Laura Roslin (DANCES WITH WOLVES' Mary McDonnell) struggle to maintain military control over the fleet rather than hand it over to a group of civilian politicians headed by Vice President Zarek (original '78 castmember Richard Hatch). Religion plays a major role in the stories as well, with one-God proponent Gaius Baltar (James Callis) and his worshipful followers clashing with polytheists who maintain belief in Zeus and other gods. ("Gods damn it!" is a commonly-heard expletive on the show, second only to the ubiquitous "Frak!")

A major event which really sets the fourth-season storyline into motion is the disappearance of fighter pilot Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) during a battle with the Cylons. After being declared dead, she and her "raptor" ship suddenly turn up several weeks later, both without a scratch. Starbuck insists that somehow she's been to Earth and now knows the way back, but no one believes her at first--in fact, she's suspected to be a Cylon replicant. Eventually, however, the ultimate fate of the entire fleet will depend upon the knowledge that has been mysteriously implanted in her mind.

Having missed out on all the previous episodes, I had to piece together much of what goes on during this season on the fly. But it was definitely worth it. There's a wealth of intense human drama, not to mention political and religious intrigue, all interlaced within a rock-solid story arc featuring a fascinating cast of characters. The plight of the Final Five is especially compelling as they deal with the shock of discovering that they're not human and the constant fear of being revealed as "alien." The growing romantic relationship between battle-weary leaders Adama and Roslin is explored, and made more poignant by her terminal cancer. And the conflict between the warring Cylon factions is full of surprises.

As space opera, the series often reaches epic proportions. The battles between human and Cylon forces are depicted with some mouth-wateringly good CGI--not as sharp and weighty as model work, but with a sweep and grandeur comparable to STARSHIP TROOPERS and the opening sequence of STAR WARS III: REVENGE OF THE SITH--while the potentially distracting use of Shaky-Cam is handled well, giving the battle scenes a somewhat documentary feel. The show also boasts top-notch production design and excellent sets that create a believably realistic atmosphere.

Old pros Olmos and McDonnell head a fine cast that also includes BAND OF BROTHERS' Jamie Bamber as soldier-turned-politician Lee "Apollo" Adama, Tricia Helfer as the beautiful and mysterious Cylon known as Number Six, Michael Hogan as Colonel Tigh (who is not only Adama's most trusted officer but also a member of the Final Five), and the great Dean Stockwell as Cylon leader Brother Cavil. Another welcome presence is Lucy Lawless in an awesomely cool turn as D'Anna Biers, a Cylon who becomes the focal point of an intense standoff between the opposing forces which will determine the outcome of the entire saga.

In addition to the ten episodes in this set, the first disc contains a stand-alone movie called RAZOR which stars Michelle Forbes as Admiral Helena Cain of the battlestar Pegasus. Forbes, who played Ensign Ro on "Star Trek: The Next Generation", is outstanding in this gripping tale of a ruthless commander who resorts to terror and the execution of civilians to ensure the survival of her ship and crew. Both the broadcast version and the unrated extended version are included.

Each disc also contains numerous bonus features--commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes docs, deleted scenes, trailers, minisodes, podcast commentaries, video blogs, and more--offering hours of added material. The visual and sound quality are fine, with 1.78:01 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are in English and Spanish.

As a longtime sci-fi fan, and especially as a diehard Trekker, I enjoyed the hell out of this set and will definitely start seeking out more of them. Although BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 4.0 ends halfway through the fourth season--to be continued in 2009--it does come to a satisfying conclusion. I can't wait to see the rest!

Available at Amazon.com

"King of the Hill" -- Nightmarish Psychological Thriller Debuts 1/20

Are you ready to think twice about your next long drive?

Set in the treacherous mountains of Spain, where it’s every man for himself, KING OF THE HILL has been hailed by critics as a “sly, deceptive gut punch of a picture” (Twitchfilm.net) that is “gripping from beginning to end” (filmfreakcentral.net). Directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego (Nomadas) with a cast that includes Goya Award winners Leonardo Sbaraglia (Intacto) and Maria Valverde (The Anarchist’s Wife), KING OF THE HILL also picked up laurels for Best Cinematography at the 2008 Screamfest Awards.

After a steamy gas-station liaison with pickpocket Bea (Valverde), thirty-something Quim (Sbaraglia) continues his drive through the Spanish mountainside. Before long, a gunshot rings out and they are each forced to abandon their vehicles and run for their lives in order to escape the wrath of an unknown killer.

Basics:

Price: $19.97

Street Date: January 20, 2009

Rating: R

SURFER, DUDE -- DVD review by porfle

SURFER, DUDE (2008) is one of those films that isn't exactly "good" as much as it is "good-natured." Not particulary well-made, but somewhat pleasant, easygoing, stupid--in other words, a painless way to waste and hour and a half.

Matthew McConaughey plays famous surfer Steve Addington, who lives only to surf. He supports this lifestyle via celebrity endorsements, with the help of his perpetually-stoned manager Jack (Woody Harrelson). When a business deal puts his contract in the hands of ex-surfer Eddie Zarno (Jeffrey Nordling), who has sold out and become a money-grubbing TV and videogame executive, Steve (or rather, "Add" as he's known to his friends and fans) is expected to participate in the development of a virtual-reality videogame while also joining the cast of a sleazy reality TV show in which celebrity surfers live in a beach house filled with half-naked babes.

Add balks at such soulless activities and spurns Zarno's offer, preferring to stay in his tiny beach hut and spend his days getting high and surfing with his bros. Unfortunately, a wave drought of epic proportions has just hit the California coast, turning the entire oceanfront into a giant placid lake for weeks on end. While fasting and praying to the surf gods for some waves, he falls in love with former Zarno employee Danni (Alexie Gilmore) and fights to regain his good name after Zarno releases a doctored video which falsely depicts him badmouthing surfers as "lame."

It took McConaughey and his associates seven years to get this story in front of the cameras, but it's so slight and so casually put together that you might wonder what took them so long. Storywise, it never really builds up to much. The dialogue isn't particularly funny, and Add's running buddies are a rather uninteresting bunch of ne'er-do-wells. Some of the shots are pretty nice, and the scenes in Zarno's decadent reality-show funhouse are well designed, but much of SURFER, DUDE looks as artlessly zoned-out as most of its characters--I suspect the filmmakers were smoking just as much weed as the actors.

McConaughey himself can't decide whether he wants to play Add as a lovable doofus or Mr. Cool--he often comes off as a Marlboro Man-type with a joint hanging out of his mouth instead of a cigarette. What the character really needed was a touch of Sean Penn's "Jeff Spicoli" from FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, only older and a tad more wizened. Or maybe he should've been played by Harrelson, who seems better suited for it. As Add's manager, Woody does provide the film with its brighter moments.

Alexie Gilmore is likable as Danni, while Sarah Wright, as her bubbly blonde girlfriend Stacey, is cute as a button. Gorgeous K.D. Aubert lends plenty of sex appeal as April May, whom Zarno uses to try and lure Add over to the dark side. If I were the editor, I'm sure I could've managed to shoehorn her rather stimulating shower scene in there somewhere, but you'll have to check out the deleted scenes if you want to see it. Zarno himself is portrayed with sufficient sleaze by Jeffrey Nordling. In cameo roles, Willie Nelson grins his way through the part of Farmer Bob (I'll give you one guess what his main crop is), while Scott Glenn, looking particularly scary here, appears briefly as Add's surfing mentor.

Speaking of surfing, there's surprisingly little of it in SURFER, DUDE. The wave drought begins early on, and only in the last couple of minutes do we see some halfhearted surfing footage which is hardly more impressive than Greg Brady's watery exploits in the Hawaii episodes of "The Brady Bunch." Some dialogue is inserted here and there to convey Add's reverence for the sport and the lifestyle, but it's rather perfunctory.

I actually became a little irritated with his character after awhile, baffled by his dogged refusal to easily earn heaping gobs of cash in exchange for doing a few simple things like performing motion-capture moves for Zarno's surfing videogame and spending a few weeks in a luxurious beach house filled to the gills with promiscuous bikini girls. I mean, dude--lighten up. You're killin' me here.

Like I said, though, the movie does provide a certain amount of mindless fun along with some dandy eye candy. (Not counting the obligatory McConaughey naked shots, that is.) Ramon Rodriguez is funny as Add's nemesis, Lupe La Rosa, a bad-guy surfer who gleefully wallows in Zarno's world and manages to effectively "punk" our hero in one amusing sequence. An early scene in which Add goes through customs upon his return to the States is funny as well. And the whole movie has a certain laidback charm that is somewhat enjoyable once you've passed the point of expecting much more from it.

The DVD is 1.85:1 widescreen with Dolby Surround 5.1. McConaughey does a solo commentary which is enjoyable because he's having a good time doing it, although much of it consists of him watching the movie and forgetting to say things about it. Extras include about twelve minutes of deleted scenes (don't forget to catch K.D. Aubert's shower scene), a making-of featurette called "Surfer Dude: The Real Story" which is actually more fun than the movie, a theatrical trailer, and a 12-webisode promotional series that originally appeared on the film's website.

Definitely not one of the better films I've seen lately, SURFER, DUDE does manage to be mildly diverting in a goofy, aimless sort of way. And if you're sitting out some of that cold winter weather like I am, there are worse ways to spend some time than hanging out in Malibu watching some stoners smoke copious amounts of weed and cavort with beach girls, waves or no waves.

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TRAITOR -- DVD review by porfle

With two of my favorite actors in the lead roles, TRAITOR (2008) starts off with a couple of points in its favor right off the bat. And with a cracking script that sizzles like a burning fuse all the way to the exciting conclusion, this action-filled and intelligent political thriller kept me interested from beginning to end.

Don Cheadle brings his usual soulful quality and depth to the role of Samir Horn, a Sudanese-born Muslim selling explosives to Arab terrorists in Yemen. After FBI "advisors" help local police bust one of their deals and send the lot to prison, Samir befriends one of the terrorists, Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui), and is included in the group's daring prison escape. He then becomes a trusted member of the group, and his knowledge of explosives makes him an integral part of their plan to use sleeper agents in the US to blow up thirty passenger-filled buses simultaneously on Thanksgiving Day.

Meanwhile, FBI agents Clayton (Guy Pearce) and Archer (Neal McDonough) are hot on Samir's trail as they try to track down the terrorists and stop whatever dastardly plan they're setting into motion. Complicating things are the presence of an information-leaking double agent within their own ranks and the fact that a high-ranking agent named Carter (Jeff Daniels) has his own secret scheme for catching the terrorists, with the help of an inside man. Is it Samir?

I was surprised to find that this story was written by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin), who apparently has a flair for political intrigue and action-suspense that I was unaware of. The fact that the terrorists aren't portrayed as snarling stereotypes gives added realism to the story--Omar seems to genuinely believe in what he's doing and his warm friendship with Samir makes him an almost sympathetic character. (Not quite, though, since he's still a terrorist whose goal is to slaughter dozens of innocent people.) Cheadle is able to keep us guessing about Samir and whether he's really one of the bad guys, or else has his own hidden agenda--even when we see him plant a bomb that kills eight people. There's a kind of DONNIE BRASCO quality to his story that makes for several scenes of gripping suspense.

The rest of the cast is excellent, especially Guy Pearce as Agent Clayton. He doesn't get a lot of screen time or character development, but Pearce is a fascinating actor to watch as usual. Neal McDonough is effective as his less-experienced partner, who provides most of what little humor there is. Jeff Daniels (PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, DUMB AND DUMBER) does a good job as the furtive Carter, whose plan to stop the terrorists may be a little too close to the vest for his own good.

Director and co-scripter Jeffrey Nachmanoff's visual style is lean and efficient, keeping the story moving along smoothly with few distractions and staging the action scenes in a hard-hitting and straightforward manner. The movie looks good and boasts several international locations including Morocco, France, London, Canada, and Chicago. Mark Kilian's musical score is a beautiful mix of electronic New Age and Middle Eastern influences.

The DVD is 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby surround 5.1 sound, both of which are fine. English and Spanish subtitles are available. Bonus features include an entertaining commentary from director Nachmanoff and star Cheadle, two brief featurettes entitled "Action! The Stunts and Special Effects of TRAITOR" and "International Espionage: An In-Depth Look at TRAITOR's Exotic Locations", and a trailer.

I've given away about as much of the story as you get in the trailer--any more would be too much. But there's a lot more going on than you might originally suspect, and it's all pretty exciting. Before it's over, there are thirty terrorists on buses, all waiting to set off their explosives at a certain time, while the FBI agents race against the clock to keep it from happening. And, true to the title, Don Cheadle's Samir is definitely a TRAITOR--but to which side?

"SUPERCOP" -- JACKIE CHAN AND MICHELLE YEOH LAY DOWN THE LAW IN TWO-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION

Dynamic Action Duo Joins Forces On DVD January 13th From The Weinstein Company And Genius Products’ Heralded Dragon Dynasty Label"A super-charged, bang-up action flick the likes of which most Americans still have never seen.
– Boxoffice Magazine

SANTA MONICA, CA – Martial arts titans Jackie Chan (The Forbidden Kingdom, Rush Hour) and Michelle Yeoh (The Mummy 3, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) go undercover to infiltrate the region’s most nefarious drug ring in the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition of SUPERCOP, arresting audiences on 2 Disc DVD January 13th from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company. The latest entry in the celebrated Dragon Dynasty line of adrenaline-fueled martial arts films, SUPERCOP tells the story of a Hong Kong police officer with a knack for improvisation who meets a beautiful but strait-laced Chinese agent and teams up with her in order to bring down the largest drug syndicate in the Pacific Rim. Along the way, they are regularly forced to unleash their spectacular arsenal of exciting, high-flying kung fu.

Directed by Stanley Tong (Mr. Magoo) and co-starring Maggie Cheung (Jet Li’s Hero), the historic success of SUPERCOP in theatres paved the way for a new wave of Asian action films and heroes in the United States. Regarded as one of Jackie Chan’s most beloved films, SUPERCOP has been lauded as a sharp "mix of stunts, martial arts and Chan's own brand of breathtaking slapstick comedy" (Film.com). The film also garnered Hong Kong Film Award nominations for Best Actor (Chan) and Best Action Choreography. Boasting all-new bonus features, SUPERCOP will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $19.97.
Synopsis
Kevin Chan (Chan), a Hong Kong Police officer, teams up with beautiful but dangerous Chinese agent Jessica Yang (Yeoh) who poses as his sister as they go undercover to bring down the region’s predominate drug cartel.
Special Features:
Flying High: An Exclusive Interview With Star Jackie Chan
Dancing With Death: An Interview With Leading Lady Michelle Yeoh
The Stuntmaster General: An Exclusive Interview With Director Stanley Tong
The Fall Guy: An Exclusive Interview With Co-Star And Jackie Chan Bodyguard And Training Partner Ken Lo
Commentary By Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
Basics
Price: $19.97
Street Date: January 13, 2009
Catalog Number: 81700
Rating: NR
Run Time: 91 minutes
Languages: English Dolby 5.1, English DTS, Cantonese Mono
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Closed Captioned

The Best of Dr. Katz DVD Review by Jessica Friedman

The Best of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist

Jessica Friedman

In its early days, the budding network of Comedy Central offered little by way of original programming. Aside from Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the Daily Show with Craig Kilborn, Comedy Central’s schedule mainly consisted of a variety of old taped comedy acts and SNL reruns. Once South Park arrived, however, this clearly changed everything and Comedy Central became the force to be reckoned with in the world of cable television that it is today.

Now you might be asking yourself, why is she discussing the development of Comedy Central when this review is about an animated tv show? The reason for this introduction is that amid the many comedy shows and very few original programs available on Comedy Central during its infancy, there was one shining gem that is as funny today as it was a decade ago: Dr. Katz.

When my family first received Comedy Central on our cable in 1999, Dr. Katz reruns were one of my favorite programs to watch. I loved almost any animated show at that age (I’ve been a Simpsons fan since the age of 7, for example), and the inclusion of comedians being animated was a bonus to me. What I disliked about the program—the whiny Ben character and the bitchy Laura character—is what makes this DVD so awesome for me personally. I always wanted to skip over the incessant and tedious Ben/Laura scenes to just get to the comedians telling jokes and Dr. Katz wittily replying to them.

Now, with the beauty of DVDs, my wishes have come true and The Best of Dr. Katz is just that—everything we all loved in the show (the comedians) and nothing we disliked. The disc includes segments from a variety of comedians who have talked to Dr. Katz on the couch over the years, and you can choose to either watch them one-by-one or watch them all at once. Some of the comedians were well known to me when I saw these episodes the first time. For example, the David Duchovny one was my introduction to Duchovny being funny and not just obsessed with aliens. Others I had never heard of before (Susie Essman) or I slightly knew of but know MUCH better now (Kathy Griffin, Louis C.K., Patton Oswalt, and many more). I found the David Cross segments to be particularly hilarious, but I am still mourning the loss of Arrested Development and this was the form my grief had taken (inside joke to AD fans). One of the most surprising discoveries for me when watching this DVD was that Ray Romano was featured in one of the episodes. I remembered his segments clearly from having seen them many years before, but it was funny to see a guy who would become such a juggernaut in the sitcom world (Ian’s mother still watches Everybody Loves Raymond all the time) in one of his earlier performances.

All in all, this is a great DVD for anyone who likes clever animated shows from the ‘90s. As long as you can get used to the signature Squigglevision style of animation (which I think is cool, but Ian dislikes), I think you will enjoy it. If you actually do miss the Ben/Laura interaction scenes, this dvd even has extras that feature Dr. Katz’s favorite moments involving those two characters. There’s something for everybody!

Final grade: A

Prince Sirki Claims Fandom's Main Man

Our beloved Uncle Forry--Forrest J. Ackerman--has passed on at the age of 92.

While some of us are at a loss for words at this time, thankfully others are not. Therefore, we will leave it to FJA's friend and caregiver Joe Moe, plus his devoted friends and fans at the Classic Horror Film Board, to put our feelings into words...

Dearest friends.

At 11:58 last night. Thursday Dec. 4th. Forrest J Ackerman passed away quickly and peacefully. I am struggling to give you this information between bouts of profound grief of the sort that you will all be experiencing at the sight of this news. I will give you more details as I'm able. For now, trust me when I tell you he left us gently, in complete lucidity and with as much dignity as any of us could have wished for our beloved Uncle. Thanks for all of your support. We'll talk again soon. Love, Joe Moe

That of course is very sad news. But 92 years is a long life, especially if one has lived his life as well as Mr Ackerman. He was able to make his passions his life work, something not many people get to do. --catmandu7

In a way we should find some comfort in that this news did not just arise out of nowhere, and we all knew that Forry was not well. So there was a lot of time for everyone to collect their thoughts, and to be able to let the Ackermonster know that he meant so much to so many, and that he had many fans who cared. That's really a very special thing, that he got to experience that sentiment. It's always sad to see someone pass on, but when someone has lived a full life of 90+ years and had a good time, this makes the situation somewhat easier to bear. --Joe Karlosi

Without Forry, a lot of us would have been different people... --Scoundrel

The best I can say is that he left knowing he was well loved. --Jelly Roll Norton

I knew this would come someday, but I never wanted it to be today. --blackbiped

So today begins the first day of my living in a world without a Forrest J. Ackerman. That is going to take a lot of getting used to. I don't like it already... --GhostofChaneysLiver

A sad day, following so many happy ones. I think we'll be alright. --Jimchig

Goodbye, dear Uncle. The impact you have had on my life is profound. --Frank Dietz

Truly an end of an era. At least we had Forry this long and he lived his life to the fullest and to the end ... and he did it (to paraphrase the song) "his way." --Don Glut

David "taraco" Colton of the CHFB conveys this message from horror historian and author David J. Skal:

Forrest J Ackerman gave me both my childhood and adulthood. In the early 1960s, there was no home video of any kind, and the only way to access the old classic monster films was to wait for them to sporadically show up on television, or, better yet, read "Famous Monsters of Filmland," where the creatures came to life and cavorted every time you turned the page. Every eight weeks I haunted the local drugstore newsstand with rapt anticipation. His playful use of language and awful puns taught me more about writing than any English class. Ackerman's impact on American popular culture through his influence on major filmmakers like Spielberg, Landis, Dante, and others is inestimable. -- David J. Skal

(Thanks to Frank Dietz and David Colton for the photos. Read and contribute your thoughts to the FJA tribute thread at the CHFB.)

"EDEN LAKE" -- Chilling And Brutal Horror Dives In Onto DVD 1/6/09

THEY WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL. INSTEAD THEY FOUND…EDEN LAKE.

Two adults are plunged into a nightmare where children have the upper hand when the provocative and suspenseful thriller EDEN LAKE debuts on DVD January 6 from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company’s Dimension Extreme label. Starring Kelly Reilly (Mrs. Henderson Presents) and Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Bastards), EDEN LAKE is an unsettling thrill-ride and directorial debut from James Watkins (producer of the upcoming The Descent: Part 2).
Schoolteacher Jenny and her boyfriend Steve escape for a romantic weekend in a water-filled quarry surrounded by woods and hidden in the English countryside. Their peaceful stay is cut short by a gang of obnoxious teenagers, which leads to a confrontation and a shockingly violent attack. The EDEN LAKE DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.

"PULSE 3" -- Technological Terror Returns To Wreak Havoc On DVD December 23rd

SOME FREQUENCIES WERE MEANT TO REMAIN UNFOUND

From The Weinstein Company And Genius Products Under The Dimension Extreme Label

SANTA MONICA, CA – In a world now void of the deadly electronics that once nearly destroyed it, the horrifying nightmare is about to begin again as PULSE 3 signals its way onto DVD December 23rd under the Dimension Extreme label from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company. From director Joel Soisson (Pulse 2), the pulsating supernatural fright-fest stars Rider Strong (Cabin Fever) and Brittany Finamore (Silent Night, Deadly Night) as Justine.

A sequel to the fan favorite film Pulse, PULSE 3 takes place seven years after the phantom invasion, and the survivors on Earth have settled into a primitive lifestyle completely void of technology. That is, until sixteen year-old Justine is lured into the city where her curiosity gets the best of her as she unwillingly unleashes the deadliest digital invasion yet. ThePULSE 3 DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.

Synopsis
In a desperate and grave world, Justine is a sixteen year-old girl rebelling against the drab, post-apocalyptic world left behind. When she finds a working laptop, she curiously turns on the forbidden machine and unleashes a deadly nightmare.

Bonus Materials:
Pulse 3 Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
Commentary By Writer/Director Joel Soisson, Producer Mike Leahy, Ac tress Brittany Finamore and Editor Kirk Morri

Basics:
Price: $19.97
Street Date: December 23, 2008
Catalog Number: 81701
Rating: R
Language: English Dolby 5.1
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Closed Captioned