DVD Review: IN THE FOLDS OF THE FLESH (1970)

FILM:

IN THE FOLDS OF THE FLESH tells strange tale of villa on the outskirts of Switzerland. Occupied by three peculiar family members, the villa is taken hostage by a felon, who claims he saw a body buried outside the villa many years ago. The felon uses this ploy to blackmail the owners, and as the mystifying past of the villa is peeled off, the folds of the inhabitants begin to reveal their flesh.

IN THE FOLDS OF THE FLESH is a very, very bizarre giallo to say the least. It straddles between numerous genres and refuses to stay still in any of them. It has a natural thriller story that constantly dabbles in giallo and sex territory, but soon branches off into themes of incest and Nazism. Although such ideas seem radically opposite, they are absurdly thrown together in ITFOTF.

The film has a very psychedelic tone to it. Some of the giallo-esque murders done early on have such a bizarre and eccentric style that they actually become somewhat creative. Their composed with some thought and actually had me interested when such sequences came into play.

The flashback sequences are done with colors filters that actually work very well. Numerous colors bleed over the flashback sequences to inject a very dreamlike atmosphere in those particular spots.

The storyline begins with a lot of potential and many creative possibilities, but spirals down into a very dull fashion very early on. The film tends to drag about mid-way through and lose a lot of its steam near the end, but is able to manage a competent twist that makes in the final third somewhat watchable.

IN THE FOLD OF THE FLESH is a watchable giallo at best. It’s nowhere near the best the Italians have produced, but does a make for an interesting, if somewhat weak, viewing experience. Recommended for giallo/Italian horror collectors only.
6.5/10

VIDEO: The video quality is extremely well done. Considering the film’s date and background, the print is very watchable with some vibrant colors coming through every now and then. Some scratches and marks are apparent, but considering the material, this is expected.
7/10

AUDIO: The Audio does its job fine. The film is very quiet and slow, and the audio definitely reflects this. At a regular audio level the sound came through with no hisses or crackles. 6/10

EXTRAS: A trailer is all we are given in this release. 2/10

OVERALL: IN THE FOLDS OF THE FLESH is nothing to write home about. It’s very basic in almost every sense and never tries to push any of its lucid elements to the edge. As it stands is a small and strange film that combines some very strange ingredients to create a film you’d really think would never be produced. It’s not intense, sadistic, or extreme. It’s just bizarre.
6/10

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop Ships Today

CAPCOM^® SHIPS DEAD RISING^TM: CHOP TILL YOU DROP

Wii Gamers Get Their Own Taste of Zombie-laden Insanity with Humor, Hordes of the Undead and a Variety of Weapons at the Player's Disposal

SAN MATEO, Calif. — February 24, 2009 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, is pleased to announce that Dead Rising™: Chop Till You Drop ships today for the Wii™ home video game system. Taking advantage of the same proven technology that brought Resident Evil® 4 so successfully to Wii, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop delivers a more intuitive and interactive experience as players use the Wii Remote™ to shoot, slash and bludgeon their way through a zombie infested shopping mall, fighting for survival.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance journalist on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of a juicy lead, he makes his way to the small suburban town of Willamette only to find that it has become overrun by zombies. Frank escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking it will be a bastion of safety but turns out to be anything but. A true struggle to survive the endless stream of enemies, players luckily have full reign of a realistic shopping centre and its varied stores offering an endless supply of real and makeshift weapons to fight off the flesh-hungry mob. If Frank is running low on health he can pay a visit to one of the many restaurants or cafes for a meal in order to restore his energy and continue the fight.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop’s campy humor delivers welcome relief to players as they battle against an incessant tide of zombies and challenging bosses. Intense moments will give way to hilarious interludes as players get a kick out of dressing Frank up in a variety of comedic costumes and taking on the undead hordes with an impressive variety of improvised and sometimes highly ineffective weapons such as a toy sword or football.

The game is split into a series of individual cases all of which Frank must complete in order to gain vital information that will allow him to piece together the truth behind the horrendous epidemic. In addition to the cases, players will be faced with the dilemma of deciding the rescue priority of the residents of Wilamette who also sought sanctuary in the mall. Depending on the player’s skill, some may not be so fortunate as each rescue needs to be undertaken in a set time period, therefore players may need to delay completion of a case in order to save a fellow human.

The Interesting Origin of Resident Evil 5's Birdlady

I was watching a documentary on The Black Death that I got off of Itunes and I was skimming wikipedia for some extra info. In the process, I came across something very interesting. Look's like someone on the RE5 development staff likes European History.

Now considering Resident Evil 5 is all about bio-weapons capable of causing a new black death (in scale and scope, if not even worse), the idea of someone trying to protect themselves for the disease wearing this outfit (or at least a hightech upgrade) has an interesting comparison to history. I'd be pretty shocked if this wasn't some sort of factor in Birdlady's design, even more so considering the strong speculation on who she is.

Here is a little more info on this early version of a Bio-Hazard Protection Suit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consequences_of_the_Black_Death

Considered an early form of hazmat suit, a plague doctor's clothing consisted of:

* A wide-brimmed black hat worn close to the head. At the time, a wide-brimmed black hat would have been identified a person as a doctor, much the same as how nowadays a hat may identify chefs, soldiers, and workers. The wide-brimmed hat may have also been used as partial shielding from infection.

* A primitive gas mask in the shape of a bird's beak. A common belief at the time was that the plague was spread by birds. There may have been a belief that by dressing in a bird-like mask, the wearer could draw the plague away from the patient and onto the garment the plague doctor wore. The mask also included red glass eyepieces, which were thought to make the wearer impervious to evil. The beak of the mask was often filled with strongly aromatic herbs and spices to overpower the miasmas or "bad air" which was also thought to carry the plague. At the very least, it may have served a dual purpose of dulling the smell of unburied corpses, sputum, and ruptured bouboules in plague victims.

* A long, black overcoat. The overcoat worn by the plague doctor was tucked in behind the beak mask at the neckline to minimize skin exposure. It extended to the feet, and was often coated head to toe in suet or wax. A coating of suet may have been used with the thought that the plague could be drawn away from the flesh of the infected victim and either trapped by the suet, or repelled by the wax. The coating of wax likely served as protection against respiratory droplet contamination, but it was not known at the time if coughing carried the plague. It was likely that the overcoat was waxed to simply prevent sputum or other bodily fluids from clinging to it.

* A wooden cane. The cane was used to both direct family members to move the patient, other individuals nearby, and possibly to examine the patient with directly.

* Leather breeches. Similar to waders worn by fishermen, leather breeches were worn beneath the cloak to protect the legs and groin from infection. Since the plague often tended to manifest itself first in the lymph nodes, particular attention was paid to protecting the armpits, neck, and groin. It is not known how often or widespread plague doctors were, or how effective they were in treatment of the disease. It's likely that while offering some protection to the wearer, they may have actually contributed more to the spreading of the disease than its treatment, in that the plague doctor unknowingly served as a vector for infected fleas to move from host to host.

"Count Yorga" Star Robert Quarry Joins the Immortals

Robert Quarry, beloved the world over for his role as "Count Yorga", has passed away at the age of 83.

One of the most popular horror stars of the 70s, Quarry's enduring fame began with his starring role in the cult classic COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1970) and its sequel THE RETURN OF COUNT YORGA (1971), and continued with such films as DEATHMASTER and DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN (both released in 1972).

A prolific television actor before achieving genre icon status with his role as the bloodthirsty count, Quarry appeared in a number of films up until 1999 and only recently worked with actor-director Mark Redfield in his upcoming Poe adaptation THE TELL-TALE HEART. In his Classic Horror Film Board tribute thread, fellow castmember Ted Newsom offers this recollection:

Bob Quarry finally passed away.

He'd been in declining health for more than a year, and was a resident at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital.

His health and lucidity was on-again off-again over the last couple months. There were some grim periods, usually followed by a recovery. I'd go there every couple of days, feeling that's not nearly enough. The last time I saw him, though, he was bright and aware, kidding with the nurses. I pushed him around the hallway last time, just to add some variety. We paused by a wall lined with photographs taken in the late 30s by a Jack Parkovsky, latterly a resident of the home. Bob recognized the movie stars: Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, Jack Oakie, Constance Talmadge, Bela Lugosi, Ralph Bellamy.

For my own selfish reasons-- wanting to smoke a cigarette-- I rolled him out onto the patio for a while. It was late in the afternoon, dusk. I don't know that he'd been outside since he'd been there. "Let's go back in," he said.

He's survived by his niece, and a lot of friends and fans.

In Quarry's own words, "My motive is quite simple. I want to be able to continue to earn a decent living and earn the respect of the people I work with...if you want to last in this business, you have to give a lot. You can't just take." And this quote may help explain his lasting impact on horror film fandom: "I always tried to play villains like the heroes."

"PUNISHER: WAR ZONE" -- On DVD and Blu-Ray 3/17/09

Vengeance Has A Name.
One of Marvel comic’s most popular superhero action franchises returns with the March 17, 2009 DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Punisher: War Zone. Frank Castle is back and it is six years into his vengeance driven zeal as "The Punisher" and he is now set to take on the mob.

The 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray contain a standard definition digital copy of the film as well as thrilling bonus features including multiple featurettes examining all elements of making the film plus audio commentary. The Blu-ray Disc also features MOLOG™, a BD Live application that allows users to insert and animate shapes, text, audio and other graphics right into the film as well as post "blogs" about the film to share with other registered MOLOG™ users. The standard one-disc DVD will include a Widescreen and Full Screen version of the film along with the theatrical trailer. Punisher: War Zone features a hit sound track from today’s hottest rock bands including Slayer, Slipknot, Seether, Rise Against, Hatebreed, Static-X and a new single from Rob Zombie.

Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson, HBO’s "Rome") sets his sights on overeager mob boss, Billy Russoti (Dominic West, HBO’s "The Wire"). After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out to seek vengeance under his new alias: Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of his evil deeds go unpunished.

The film is based on Marvel’s Punisher comic book series, written by Nick Santora and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, and directed by Lexi Alexander.

*2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
DISC ONE
"The Making of Punisher: War Zone" featurette
"Training to Become The Punisher" featurette
"The Weapons of The Punisher" featurette
"Meet Jigsaw" featurette
"Creating the Look of The Punisher" featurette
Audio commentary with Director Lexi Alexander and Director of Photography Steve Gainer, ASC
Theatrical trailer
*Special features Subject to change
DISC TWO
Digital Copy of the feature film
*Special features Subject to change

*BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
DISC ONE
"The Making of Punisher: War Zone" featurette
"Training to Become The Punisher" featurette
"The Weapons of The Punisher" featurette
"Meet Jigsaw" featurette
"Creating the Look of The Punisher" featurette
Audio commentary with Director Lexi Alexander and Director of Photography Steve Gainer, ASC
"MoLog" - Movie Blog network connected community and interactive movie blog tool set
Theatrical trailer
DISC TWO
Standard Definition Digital Copy of the feature film
*Special features Subject to change

CAST
Ray Stevenson HBO’s "Rome," Outpost, TV’s "Life Line," TV’s "Babylon Fields"
Dominic West HBO’s "The Wire," Hannibal Rising, 300, Mona Lisa Smile
Julie Benz Rambo, SAW V, Showtime’s "Dexter," TV’s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Colin Salmon The Bank Job, Match Point, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Resident Evil
Doug Hutchinson TV’s "Lost," TV’s "Kidnapped," The Green Mile, I am Sam
Dash Mihok The Longshots, I am Legend, Hollywoodland, Kiss Kiss Bang BangWayne Knight TV’s "Seinfeld," Kung Fu Panda, Rat Race, To Die For, Jurassic Park

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2008
Title Copyright: © 2008 MHF Zweite Academy Film GmbH & Co. KG. MARVEL, THE PUNISHER and all MARVEL character names and distinctive likenesses thereof: TM & © 2008 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for pervasive strong brutal violence, language and some drug use
Genre: Action
Closed Captioned: English Closed Captioned
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Format: DVD: Widescreen/Full Screen
Special Edition: Widescreen
Blu-ray: Widescreen
Feature Running Time: 107 minutes
DVD Audio Status: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray Audio Status: 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio

Watch the trailer

Buy it at Amazon.com

TOM AND JERRY TALES, VOL. 6 -- DVD review by porfle

It's been a long and bumpy road for Tom & Jerry since the 40s, back when their dazzling MGM theatrical cartoons used to win Academy Awards and delight audiences of all ages. With creators Joseph Hanna and William Barbera and cartoon genius Tex Avery at the helm, the hijinks of this ever-popular cat-and-mouse team were far and away some of the most inventive, technically impressive, and downright hilarious cartoons ever made. Since then, however, they've been at the mercy of whoever owned the rights to the characters at the time, and in whose hands they've rarely been well-served.

The 60s brought a series of off-puttingly bizarre and relentlessly unfunny episodes from director Gene Dietch, which sounded as though they'd been recorded in a public restroom and looked like they should've stayed there. The legendary Chuck Jones tried his hand next, but his outings with the famous duo resulted in cartoons that, while technically fine, were overly cute and too similar in style to the later, inferior Warner Brothers productions. After that, of course, came a string of bottom-of-the-barrel travesties cheaply made to serve as fodder for Saturday morning television.

Falling somewhere between the two extremes, but making an admirably sincere effort to recapture the style of the old shorts, is the 2006 television series from Warner Brothers entitled "Tom and Jerry Tales." Twenty-six half-hour episodes (with three cartoons each) were produced, featuring full animation, good character design, and lush, painterly backgrounds. These cartoons fall short in comparison to the MGM classics, yet they're worthy efforts in their own right and far superior to much of their ilk. In fact, when the opening titles sequence comes on, you might just think for a moment that you're seeing scenes from the original cartoons.

The latest DVD release in the series is TOM AND JERRY TALES: VOLUME SIX, which contains five episodes of the show with three six-minute cartoons apiece. Some of them, such as "Declaration of Independunce" and "Kitty Hawked", seem to adhere to the idea that cartoons should teach kids a lesson along with the laughs. This, however, soon gives way to a string of frenetic shorts which are pure slapstick brimming with old-school knockabout violence and a strong sense of fun.

The raucous "Catfish Folly" boasts a traditionally simple set-up--Tom and Jerry are fishing from opposite sides of a pond when a surly catfish begins terrorizing them both. In "Flamenco Fiasco", which actually lives up to its name, Tom's frantic efforts to beat Jerry in a Spanish-style dance contest literally bring down the hacienda. The beautifully-rendered safari-themed "You're Lion" even has Tom taking on the fearsome King of the Jungle in order to impress his bevy of gorgeous lionesses. It's yet another action-packed gagfest that's not only blessedly free of any educational pretenses, but darn near good enough to pass for a theatrical short from the good old days. And the same can be said for several of the other titles in this collection.

All of these colorful cartoons are light, fast-paced, and sometimes genuinely funny entertainment that should appeal strongly to children while being pretty easy for grown-up fans of the old MGM cartoons to take as well. The quality level varies a bit from one to the other according to the various writers and directors, but they're superior to any of the post-MGM incarnations, including the ones from the Chuck Jones era. It doesn't hurt that the music, despite having a tinny synth sound, successfully attempts to recreate the style of the great Scott Bradley.

I'll admit to an initial bias against these latter-day Tom and Jerry adventures, based on the woefully inept and misguided attempts of the past. But it didnt take long for them to win me over with their no-holds-barred attitude and often impressive animation and artwork. TOM AND JERRY TALES: VOLUME SIX isn't likely to win any Academy Awards, but these lavishly-produced cartoons should win over most cat-and-mouse fans who give it half a chance.

Available at Amazon.com

"LET THE RIGHT ONE IN" Debuts On DVD And Blu-ray Disc March 10

Terrifying Multi-Award Winning Vampire Tale From Magnolia Home Entertainment

Winner Of "Best Narrative Feature" At The Tribeca Film Festival
"BEST. VAMPIRE MOVIE. EVER." -Washington Examiner

"This is a vampire movie like no other... mesmerizing ..."-Newsweek

"As delicate, haunting and poetic a film as you're ever bound to see. A chilling fairy tale." - Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Devil's Backbone)

Regularly bullied by his stronger classmates, 12-year-old Oskar's wish for a friend seems to come true when he meets his new neighbor Eli. A pale, serious young girl, Eli only comes out at night and doesn't seem affected by the freezing temperatures. Coinciding with her arrival is a series of inexplicable disappearances and murders. One man is found tied to a tree, another frozen in the lake, a woman bitten in the neck. Blood seems to be the common denominator - and for an introverted boy like Oskar, who is fascinated by gruesome stories, it doesn't take long before he figures out that Eli is a vampire.

But by now a subtle romance has blossomed between the two, and she gives him the strength to fight back against his aggressors. Oskar becomes increasingly aware of the tragic, inhuman dimension of Eli's plight, but cannot bring himself to forsake her. Frozen forever in a twelve-year-old's body, with all the burgeoning feelings and confused emotions of a young adolescent, Eli knows that she can only continue to live if she keeps on moving. But when Oskar faces his darkest hour, Eli returns to defend him the only way she can...

Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: Swedish
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009
Run Time: 114 minutes

Buy it at Amazon.com

"LOOK" -- Get Ready to be Watched on DVD May 5, 2009

Award-winning Writer and Director Adam Rifkin Offers a Twisted Take on the Reality of Living Life on Camera

Beverly Hills, CA – In these days of reality TV and hidden security cameras watching our every move, are we ever sure we’re really alone? There are an estimated 30 million surveillance cameras in the U.S. and the average American is captured on camera more than 200 times daily. Anchor Bay Entertainment addresses the question with Look, a provocative award-winning film coming to DVD on May 5, 2009. Written and Directed by Adam Rifkin (cult classic, Detroit Rock City), this critically acclaimed film is an unflinching look at the outrageous nature of what we do when we think we’re alone – as sex, drugs, and rocky relationships are all revealed through the fisheye of the lens. Look is a groundbreaking film experience that will leave you wondering, “Who’s watching me?” The poignant and eye-opening DVD is available for an SRP of $26.97.

"Everyone's a voyeur, but with hundreds of cameras capturing us each day, we're all unwitting exhibitionists as well,” said director Adam Rifkin. “With Look, I wanted to make a movie about the things that people do when they don't think they're being watched. With hundreds of cameras catching us each day -- in malls, in banks, in dressing rooms and yes, even in public bathrooms -- what secrets are we giving up to the countless eyes in the sky?"

Shot entirely from the point of view of security cameras, Look follows several interweaving storylines over the course of a random week in a random city. Watch intently as a tempted high school English teacher tries his best to be a decent husband, a department store floor manager uses the warehouse for more than just storage, a Mini-Mart clerk has big dreams, a lawyer struggles with a sexual dilemma, an untrusting mother uses a babycam as a means to protect her family, and sociopathic brothers ruin the day for the strangers they come across. Look doesn’t judge these people or the choices they make, but it does explore the secret lives that they – and we all lead.
Sometimes humorous, often disturbing, always thought-provoking; Look is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. From elevators to fitting rooms, Americans are caught unaware by over 200 surveillance cameras each day. Look takes this fact of compromised privacy and creates a movie that the Los Angeles Times praises as “A brilliant Hitchcockian suspense film,” Newsweek said “What Look reveals may shock you” and S calls it “a powerful, provocative and disturbing new drama.”

Extras include a behind-the-scenes “Look at Look” featurette, theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, and outrageous outtakes that are too hot for security TV.

Basics:

Street Date: May 5, 2009
Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1
Retail Price: $26.97
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Run Time: 102 minutes
Bonus Features: Theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, “A Look at Look” featurette

MONDO RONDO! HATTON You Oughtta Check This Out?

(Okay, I used that pun last year--so what!)

It's time for the 7TH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS and voting begins TONIGHT, 11 p.m. ET, Feb. 15, 2009!!!

"Long live the Rondos!" - Ain't It Cool News
"I love Rondo!" - Guillermo del Toro

Forget the Oscars--forget the Emmys--it's time to cast your vote for the awards that really matter. Namely, the 2009 Rondos!

Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds is this increasingly prestigious annual award which was created by fans (David Colton and Kerry Gammill) for fans (this means you!) and is a fond tribute to the one and only Rondo Hatton of THE BRUTE MAN and HOUSE OF HORRORS fame. The eerily lifelike bust itself was sculpted by illustrator Gammill, and cast by modeler Tim Lindsey.

Everything you need to know about the Rondos, including nominees, past winners, upcoming unsanity, and tons of other stuff, can be found at The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards website. And to find out how to participate in the excitement yourself, along with a crypt-load of other creepy threads on the subject, check out the Rondo folder at the Classic Horror Film Board.

All together now: "Da doo ron Rondo, da doo ron ron!"

Concord Records to Release First Three Expanded Indiana Jones™ Soundtracks Individually 2/17/09

Originally Available as Part of Last Year’s Limited-Edition Boxed Set, These Expanded and Remastered Soundtracks Feature Previously Unreleased Music From The First Three Films!

"Sure, the whip, the hat, the jacket are part of the Indiana Jones iconography. But what really gives Indy his heart and spirit is John Williams’ music."
- Steven Spielberg

Beverly Hills, CA – On February 17, 2009 Concord Records will release individually the soundtracks to the original three Indiana Jones films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

All three feature Oscar-winning composer John Williams’ soundtracks digitally remastered from the original tapes, plus unreleased music from each respective film. Previously available only as part of last year’s highly successful box set release Indiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection, these reissued CD’s will be available individually for the first time. About the boxed set, Film Music Magazine raved, "It’s a collection on five CD’s that delivers over an hour of unheard Indy music, all with spectacular sound and sleek packaging. The chance to finally hear that minute of Indy toppling the Anubis statue in ‘Raiders’ is like a dream come true. Now with just about every bit of Indiana Jones music on deck here, listing to some of John Williams’ greatest achievements for the popcorn cinema has never sounded more fun, or fresh. Raid this covenant of CD’s immediately."

Produced by Laurent Bouzereau, the reissued CD’s expand the first three iconic Indiana Jones soundtrack albums, which have been collectors’ items for many years.

Concord Records also released the soundtrack to last year’s mega-blockbuster Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (which was recently nominated for a 2009 Grammy® Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media).

With 45 Academy Award nominations and five Oscars® under his belt, John Williams has composed many of the most famous film scores in history, and has collaborated with Steven Spielberg for the past 35 years on 23 films including Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler’s List. Williams also composed the acclaimed scores for George Lucas’ STAR WARS saga, Superman: The Movie, Memoirs of a Geisha, and the first three Harry Potter films.

Mr. Williams’ most recent work "Air and Simple Gifts," was commissioned for President Barack Obama’s inauguration and performed by renowned musicians Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill January 20th, 2009 for a global audience of millions.

INDIANA JONES, STAR WARS and related titles, character names and properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Indiana Jones Audio Streams:
"Washington Ending" & "Raiders March" Link 1 Link2

"Keeping Up With the Joneses" Link 1 Link 2

Indiana Jones Trilogy Music Video

Amazon.com links:

Raiders

Temple

Crusade

"PROTÉGÉ" Makes Dragon Dynasty DVD Debut February 24th

Based On An Incredible True Story, Award-winning Action Thriller Starring Three Of Hong Kong's Hottest Stars From the Weinstein Company and Genius Products

"Enormously entertaining"
- LoveHKFilm

SANTA MONICA, CA – For an undercover drug trafficker, the fine line between right and wrong is tested beyond its limits when PROTÉGÉ debuts on DVD February 24th on the Dragon Dynasty label from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company. With a cast of Asian cinema superstars including Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers), Daniel Wu (Legend of the Black Scorpion), Louis Koo (Flash Point) and Jingchu Zhang (Seven Swords), PROTÉGÉ earned Lau a 2007 Hong Kong Award for Best Supporting Actor and received nine Hong Kong Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Zhang) and Best Supporting Actor (Koo).

Based on true stories of undercover agents on the police force, PROTÉGÉ follows their story among the clandestine drug world, as they struggle to balance both justice and crime. Packed with extensive all-new bonus features (see details below), the PROTÉGÉ DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.
Synopsis
Protégé is the saga of a young cop infiltrating the deepest levels of a secret drug ring. He survives seven years of violent, nail-biting close calls, as he works his way from dealer to heir apparent. Every step consolidates his power and reveals another piece of his boss’s operations, bringing him closer to destroying a brutal heroin empire…or inheriting it.

Special Features
Commentary By Hong Kong Cinema Expert bey Logan
The Making Of Protégé
Undercover & Over The Edge: An Exclusive interview With Leading Man Daniel Wu
Chasing The Dragon: An Exclusive interview With Leading Lady Zhang Jing-chu
The Dealer: An Exclusive Interview With Producer Peter Cha
Original Theatrical Trailer

Basics
Price: $19.97
Street Date: February 24, 2009
Catalog Number: 81703
Rating: NR
Run Time: 108 minutes
Languages: English Dolby 5.1 and Cantonese Dolby 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish and English SDH
Closed Captioned

Buy it at Amazon.com

Last House on the Beach Severin DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Last House on the Beach 1978 from Severin Films. Directed by Franco Prosperi. Starring Ray Lovelock, Florinda Bolkan, Sherry Buchanan, & Laura Trotter.

Last House on the Left rippoff by the director of Mondo Cane. Real high on the cringe factor as three scumbags rob a bank, then hide out at a beach front house where a nun and five school girls are staying. One of crooks caves in the maids skull with an iron. Another of the guys tries to rape one of the girls and gets the business end of a rat tailed comb shoved into his groin.

The threesome torment and rape the girls. First the nun is raped. Then, one of the guys puts on make up and he and the guy who got stabbed double team one of the girls. The nun makes a deal with Aldo, the head douchebag. She’ll fix up the guy who got stabbed if they leave the girls alone. He agrees, but when one of the girls tries to escape, she is raped with a tree branch and left dead on the floor. Finally the nun gets the upper hand and she and the girls extract bloody revenge.

Florinda Bolkan is great in the lead as the nun. Lovelock is a convincing sadist and you despise him and his gang. An extra is an interview with Ray Lovelock, who is actually Italian. Franco Prosperi was one of the guys who created the phenomenon known as the “Mondo” movie. Mondo Cane, Africa Addido, and Farewell Uncle Tom are all part of his resume. Last House on the Beach was part of a slew of Italian ripoffs inspired by the granddaddy of sick flicks, Last House on the Left and each one was progressively grimmer than the original. The print is great and other extras include the German & Italian trailers.

Devil Hunter Severin DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Devil Hunter 1980 from Severin Films. Directed by Jess Franco.

Great print, but its 89 minutes that seems like four hours. This film has all the low budget Franco charm: out of sync dubbing, cheezy gore, ample nudity, racism, & really bad acting. This film was on VHS , courtesy of the defunct Transworld as Mandingo Manhunter.

Shot on some island, or the Newark Botanical Gardens, we see an actress get kidnapped, interspersed with footage of natives sacrificing a girl to a huge , naked black guy , with bulging , bloodshot eyes. The actress is drugged & kidnapped for a 6 million dollar ransom. The black chic has her innards ripped out.

Peter( Al Cliver) is called in to deliver the ransom. The three kidnappers are like the 3 Stooges, actually the Stooges would be smarter than this band of jerk offs. One guy bitches that the “foliage” is creeping him out. Then why did you pick a jungle island? The actress, Ursula Fellner, is a willowy blonde that is half naked and chained up. She is abused through the entire film, just like she was in Sadomania. She is raped, standing up, by the lead bad guy, who’s gun is hanging between his legs during the rape. How phallic.

The natives, who look like they just left an 80’s disco, pray to a bulging eyed idol that looks like a Weirdo Model by Ed’ Big daddy” Roth. Now there’s a dated reference. They point out that their jungle has been invaded by white folk. This riles up the big guy, who goes in search of the intruders. One is decapitated. In the close up of his “severed head” his neck has a pulse and his tongue is moving. The “blood” looks like a mixture of red food dye & honey. Blood is supposed to flow like water, not ooze like snot.

Peter arranges a swap, the money for the girl. This goes badly as a shoot out starts and one of the crook’s blonde girlfriend gets shot in the leg. The helicopter is about to explode. No smoke trail or anything. Now you see it, then there is a explosion. The actress has now been captured by the cannibals. Peter finds the kidnappers camp and the wounded woman. He chains her up , but she gets free and is killed by the big guy. After all of the minor characters are wiped out, Peter faces the big guy, who now has the actress, in a fight to the death on a cliff.

Not exactly a career highlight for Al Cliver as he fights a big , naked black guys, who junk seems to fill the camera in some scenes. Too many close ups of a big black dick & yam bag. This was the “restored” footage ? Shoulda stayed lost if you ask me. The big guy gets tossed off the cliff, Al gets the girl and the natives trash the idol. End of story.

This film is best viewed with a bunch of friends, lots of liquor, and a bong. The only saving grace is the hot chicks. Even the rape scene is boring. For Franco completests and insomniacs only. Extras are a new interview with Franco.

Chiller Hit Arrives On DVD March 3rd From The Weinstein Company And Genius Products, Under the Dimension Extreme Label

This is one text message no one wants to receive!

On a quiet lakeside, a celebratory gathering of recent graduates grows grim as each of them receives an eerie text message: "In 3 days you’re dead." The gang assumes it’s a joke at first, but no one is laughing when members of the group begin to turn up dead. As the body count rises and the slayings become more and more vicious, a mysterious clue leading to the killer’s identity is discovered...but time is running out. 72 hours and counting!
With its sequel already in production, DEAD IN 3 DAYS is "a slick, well-shot and engaging slasher" (Bloody-disgusting.com) and its "finale is genuinely thrilling" (Variety).

Synopsis:
A peaceful lake community is terrorized when a close-knit group of friends becomes the target of a mysterious deranged killer. Triggered by an ominous text message sent to each of their cell phones, one-by-one the friends are killed by the stalker.

Basics
Price: $19.97
Street Date: March 3, 2009
Rating: R

Buy it at Amazon.com

"FEAST III: THE HAPPY FINISH" Chomps Its Way to DVD

THEY’RE NOT LEAVING TILL THEY GET DESSERT!

The Flesh-Hungry Creatures Are Back In The Shockingly Gruesome Feast Series Finale Debuting On DVD February 17 From The Weinstein Company And Genius Products

SANTA MONICA, CA – The gore-fest continues in the third installment of director John Gulager’s blood-curdling FEAST series when the hotly anticipatedFEAST III: THE HAPPY FINISH arrives on DVD February 17 from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company under the Dimension Extreme label. From the writers of Feast, Feast II and Saw IV and V, terror takes a frightening turn when the viscous attacks continue in the dark and deadly FEAST III: The Happy Finish.

Picking up moments after the end of FEAST II, the survivors are saved by Shot Bus Gus, a mysterious prophet who has the uncanny ability to control the beasts. Leading the survivors through the sewers into the big city, the group learns from the prophet that the beasts originated from a place called "The Hive." Armed with this new information and a renewed interest in living, the motley crew of strangers decide to fight back and destroy the beasts once and for all.

Featuring intense and disturbing performances from horror vixen Jenny Wade (No Reservations, Feast), Martin Klebba (Feast II, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Clu Gulager (Feast) and Craig Henningsen ("The Slammer"), the un-godly monsters continue on their path of death and destruction in the third chapter of the FEAST series, based on the original"Project Greenlight"–winning film FEAST. FEAST III: THE HAPPY FINISH DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.
Synopsis
The survivors fight for their lives, trying to get away from the nasty flesh-eating monsters that have taken over their town.

Special Features
A Look Back At John Gulager
Commentary By Director John Gulager, Writers Patrick Melon
Feast Trailers

Basics
Price: $19.97
Street Date: February 17, 2009
Catalog Number: 81782
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Runtime: 80 minutes
Languages: English Dolby 5.1
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Closed Captioned

Buy it at Amazon.com

March Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

RETURN OF THE MAN FROM UNCLE
The criminal organization THRUSH steals the A-bomb H975 and demands $300,000 to be delivered within 72 hours by their former antagonist Napoleon Solo. So U.N.C.L.E. has to reactivate the super agents Solo and Kuryakin after they were 15 years out of business to take down THRUSH once and for all...and save the world.

Actors: Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, Patrick Macnee, Anthony Zerbe, George Lazenby Format: Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount DVD
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Run Time: 96 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com

ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE
ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE was touted as "the funniest new sitcom of the spring" (2002) by TIME Magazine and declared by US Magazine to have "scaled new heights." Set in Chicago, the half hour comedy chronicles the day to day happenings of Andy Richter, an aspiring short story writer working for a large corporation writing "how to" manuals. Andy is constantly thinking about possibilities and how every moment in life could just as easily go another way.

Actors: Andy Richter, Jonathan Slavin, James Patrick Stuart
Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Paramount DVD
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Run Time: 417 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
THE FUGITIVE
Dr. Richard Kimble is accused of the murder of his wife. The night before his execution, he escapes. The only chance to prove his innocence is to find the man who killed his wife. Kimble, persecuted by Lt. Gerard, risks his life several times when he reveals his identity to help other people out of trouble.

Actors: David Janssen, Barry Morse
Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 4
Studio: Paramount DVD
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Run Time: 773 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com

NASH BRIDGES: THE SECOND SEASON
NASH BRIDGES (Don Johnson) is a high-action drama about a San Francisco police investigator who deserves his reputation as a topnotch cop, but who's not always so successful when it comes to his personal life. As a member of the elite Special Investigations Unit, Nash relies on his streetwise instincts, keen sense of humor and charm to work his magic on the streets of San Francisco.

Actors: Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Jeff Perry, Jamie Gomez, Jodie Lynn O'Keefe
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 5
Studio: Paramount DVD
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Run Time: 1072 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com

Also coming in March:

7TH HEAVEN: THE EIGHTH SEASON

CAROLINE IN THE CITY: THE SECOND SEASON

FAMILY TIES: THE FIFTH SEASON

JAG: THE EIGHTH SEASON

MASTER OF THE GAME (1984)

JET LI IS..."THE ENFORCER"

Martial Arts Superstar Packs An Explosive DVD PunchFebruary 10th from The Weinstein Company And Genius Products

"Terrific…great action and some surprisingly touching moments"
- LoveHKFilm

SANTA MONICA, CA – An honest cop goes undercover to infiltrate a hardcore Hong Kong crime syndicate in the Special Collector’s Edition of THE ENFORCER, arresting audiences on DVD February 10th from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company’s heralded Dragon Dynasty label. An exciting combination of action-packed crime thriller and family drama, THE ENFORCER stars action legend Jet Li (Forbidden Kingdom, The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) as an undercover Chinese agent sent to Hong Kong to bring down one of the region’s most nefarious criminals. When another officer is taken hostage, his cover begins to unravel, exposing him and those closest to him to grave danger.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Corey Yuen Kwai (The Transporter, DOA: Dead or Alive) and also starring Anita Mui (Rumble in the Bronx), THE ENFORCER is considered one of Li’s best films and picked up a Hong Kong Film Award nomination for Best Action Choreography. Loaded with all-new bonus features, THE ENFORCER will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.

Synopsis:
A Chinese police officer goes undercover in an attempt to bring down a dangerous and highly regarded Hong Kong crime ring. When his cover is blown and his family is put in harm’s way, the stakes become much higher.

Special Features:
Crowd-pleaser: an exclusive interview with legendary producer, Wong Jing
Like Father, Like Son: an exclusive interview with star and former child prodigy, Tse Miu
Born to be Bad: an exclusive interview with super-kicking nemesis, Ken Lo
Feature-length audio commentary with Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan

Basics
Price: $19.97
Street Date: February 10, 2009
Catalog Number: 81787
Rating: R
Run Time: 104 minutes
Languages: English Dolby 5.1
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Closed Captioned

Video Review of Jess Franco's Bloody Moon DVD

Hey! This is our new video review feature and we decided to kick it off with a review of Jess Franco's Bloody Moon which was just released on DVD from Severin. It's a great DVD as you'll see. Now just bring on THE SINFUL DWARF!




You can get Bloody Moon and other great titles at HKFlix. You also help me get Resident Evil 5. :)
http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.546599/aid.085597/qx/details.htm

Supreme Sleazy Fun Coming From Severin with The Sinful Dwarf!

SEVERIN TO RELEASE ‘THE SINFUL DWARF’

ON DVD FOR FIRST TIME EVER IN AMERICA

ON MARCH 30TH

Long-Reviled ‘Mother Of All Dwarfsploitation Films’

Promises To Incite Huge Ire From Little People

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 9, 2009 – Severin Films today announced the March 30th release of THE SINFUL DWARF, the infamous 1973 Danish-made/London-lensed shocker that has been called “perhaps the sleaziest film in EuroCult history.” Events surrounding this first ever North American DVD release are scheduled to include a rare theatrical screening at Austin’s Alamo Draft House on April 3rd, as well as national protests from various outraged Little People’s organizations. Severin’s restoration of the still-controversial movie was made possible by the recent discovery of a pristine 35mm print found hidden in a janitor’s closet at The Danish Film Institute.

“A young bride,” promised the original U.S. ads, “left alone to the lewd passions of an evil dwarf!” Former kiddie-show host Torben Bille stars in this EuroSleaze classic as a diminutive degenerate who imprisons drugged teenage runaways for use as sex slaves in the attic of his elderly alcoholic showgirl mother’s decrepit rooming house…and that’s just the first ten minutes. In their December 12^th 1973 review, Variety condemned the film as “repulsive”, further declaring “Torben leers and lurches like a demented Bette Davis.” Over the past three-plus decades, the movie’s repellent international reputation was furthered by infrequent screenings of heavily censored fourth-generation bootleg videos as well as a recent viral campaign that shocked even the most jaded of fringe film bloggers. “Best. Plot. Ever.” wrote CinemaIsKing.com. “This whole movie delivers the goods!” while Mania.com raved, “A must-view. After all, can one really go through life without having seen a movie called THE SINFUL DWARF?”

“THE SINFUL DWARF is a towering achievement in graphic depravity,” says Carl Daft, co-founder and CEO of Severin Films. “With this release, Severin is officially going to Hell, and plans on taking as many EuroCult fans as we can with us.” As for the large-scale protests threatened by various Little People’s organizations, Daft is sanguine. “Clearly, THE SINFUL DWARF does not imply that all dwarves are pint-sized perverts with massive penchants for drug trafficking and sexual degeneracy. It would be like attacking Graham Greene for THE QUIET AMERICAN.”

Severin Films was formed in May 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London. Hailed as “cheerfully perverse folks” by The New York Times, the label is dedicated to restoring and releasing the most provocative and controversial features from around the world. Their previous releases include the unrated Director’s Cut of GWENDOLINE starring Tawny Kitaen, recent lifetime Goya Award winner Jess Franco’s classics MACUMBA SEXUAL and THE SEXUAL STORY OF O, Walerian Borowczyk’s IMMORAL WOMEN, the two-volume limited-edition collections BLACK EMANUELLES BOX, and Enzo Castellari’s action classic INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, currently being remade by Quentin Tarantino. Their future releases include Oscar nominee Patrice Leconte’s international hits THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND and THE PERFUME OF YVONNE on April 28th. www.severin-films.com

Johnny Depp -- Public Enemy Number One?

In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public.

No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.

But while the adventures of Dillinger’s gang—later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi)—thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America ’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.’’

However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals—from the infamous “Lady in Red’’ to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti—were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.

Release date: July 1, 2009
Genre: Action-Thriller
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff, Rory Cochrane, Stephen Lang, David Wenham, Stephen Graham, Channing Tatum, Jason Clarke
Directed by: Michael Mann
Writers: Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann, Ann Biderman, Mark St. Germain
Produced by: Michael Mann, Kevin Misher
Executive Producers: G. Mac Brown, Jane Rosenthal

SOUL MEN -- DVD review by porfle

Some comedies just make you laugh, which is great. But others, like SOUL MEN (2008), are so delightful that they not only make you laugh, but they make you feel so good that you can hardly sit still while you're watching it.

Director Malcolm Lee has a lot to do with that, because he knows how to get the most out of both funny dialogue scenes and flat-out slapstick, along with the more emotional stuff--all of which is perfectly balanced here. Writers Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone have a lot to do with it, too, because they've put together a story with plenty of heart that'll have you feeling for the characters even as you're laughing at them. But most of all, what makes this movie tick is the perfect chemistry between its stars, Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, who make a terrific comedy team. These guys are just downright funny together.

They play Louis and Floyd, former backup singers who are reunited for a tribute performance after the death of their one-time lead singer Marcus Hooks (John Legend). Louis is on parole for bank robbery and is living in a dump, while Floyd, after handing over a successful car-washing business to his son, has been put out to pasture in a boring retirement community. While driving cross-country from California to the Apollo Theater in New York, the erstwhile friends hone their long-dormant singing skills at various small venues along the way, while trying to work out the personal issues that drove them apart years before.

Thus, much of SOUL MEN is a rollicking road movie with plenty of funny stuff going on before Louis and Floyd make it to the Apollo. My favorite is a stopover in Amarillo, Texas, where they perform in a honky tonk with a country-western band backing them up. It's a joyous moment, with Louis going out onto the dance floor to join the audience in a line dance as the two musical sensibilities mesh. That night a Viagra-stoked Floyd ends up in a hilarious sexual encounter with Jennifer Coolidge (the "MILF" from AMERICAN PIE) in which he learns the meaning of the term "velveteen rub."

Later, they stop off at the house of Odetta, the woman who came between them all those years ago, only to find that she's passed on and that her daughter Cleo now lives there, and one of them just may be her father. Sharon Leal is very good as Cleo, but even better is Affion Crockett as her no-account boyfriend Lester, a really bad aspiring rapper who makes the mistake of getting on Louis and Floyd's bad side. Lester's the funniest character and has the best line in the whole movie. Lying in the street after the guys have thwarted his attempt to kill them by hitting him with their car, he whines: "Let me kill you one time at least, man!"

The great Isaac Hayes appears as himself in a couple of scenes. Millie Jackson does a brief cameo, and 70s porn fans will be happy to see the venerable Vanessa del Rio in an amusing bit as one of Floyd's retirement community conquests. Also adding to the funny is Adam Herschman as a nerdy record company intern who's been charged with making sure Louis and Floyd get to the show on time, which becomes increasingly difficult after they land in jail.

As you might guess, there's a lot of great soul music in this movie. Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac do their own vocals and they're not bad. The soundtrack includes songs by Booker T. and the MGs, Albert King, the Bar Kays, and Earth, Wind, and Fire, with a gorgeous new version of Isaac Hayes' "Never Can Say Goodbye" over the closing credits. Stanley Clarke performs the incidental music for the film.

The DVD is 2.35:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital sound. The commentary track by director Lee and writers Ramsey and Stone is outstanding. Extras include a trailer and several brief featurettes: "The Soul Men: Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson", "The Cast of Soul Men", "Director Malcolm D. Lee", "A Tribute to Bernie Mac", "A Tribute to Isaac Hayes", "Boogie Ain't Nuttin': Behind-The-Scenes", and "Bernie Mac at the Apollo."

The latter is a fond look at Bernie doing some impromptu standup for the extras between takes during the Apollo scenes (which were actually filmed in the Strand Theater in Shreveport, Louisiana). He loved to entertain and always gave props to the fans for his success, who in turn clearly loved the guy. The closing credits also contain a moving tribute to both Bernie and Isaac Hayes, and the film is dedicated to them. The fact that they're both gone gives a bittersweet tinge to the feelgood ending of SOUL MEN, but it's nice to know that they left on such a high note.