"THE VENGEANCE TRILOGY" -- November Release from Palisades Tartan

The Ultimate Park Chan-Woo
Vengeance Trilogy Box-Set

Palisades Tartan’s 8-Disc VENGEANCE TRILOGY box-set
available in stores November 24th

LOS ANGELES — September 28, 2009 — For Immediate Release —You’ve been asking, we’ve been planning and this November Palisades Tartan will release the most exciting, impressive and comprehensive Vengeance Trilogy box-set the world has ever seen! Featuring 8-discs and more special features then any other set on the planet (including the Korean version), celebrity essays as well as a few surprises, Palisades Tartan will release Park Chan-Wook’s VENGEANCE TRILOGY November 24^th in DVD stores across the country.

SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE is the first film in Park Chan-Wook’s acclaimed Vengeance trilogy. The sister of a simple and deaf factory worker, Ryu, falls ill and needs a kidney transplant, however he is not a match so he looks to the black market which he can’t afford. After being fired from his job, his rebel girlfriend suggests that he kidnap the child of his former boss, Park. When the girl accidentally dies, her father seeks vengeance for her death.

OLDBOY is Park Chan-Wook’s classic genre-defining revenge tale of a man who’s wrongly been imprisoned for 15 years and is then suddenly released. Given money and a cell phone, he’s challenged to discover who incarcerated him in the first place, but he only has five days to uncover the truth. Even with a mysterious young girl to help him, his tortures have just begun. Cannes-winner championed by Tarantino, OLDBOY regularly appeared in top ten best movie polls across the country and is listed as one of the all-time best films as rated by IMDB users.

LADY VENGEANCE, the final film in the trilogy was created by Chan-Wook for his daughter. After being wrongfully convicted of kidnapping and murdering a young child, a beautiful young woman (Lee Young-ae) is imprisoned for 13 years. While in prison she gains the respect and loyalty of her fellow cellmates, all the while plotting her vendetta on the man responsible (OLDBOY’s Choi Min-Sik). Upon her release she sets in motion an elaborate plan of retribution, but what she discovers is a truth so horrifying, even revenge doesn’t seem punishment enough.

Director Park Chan-Wook’s most recent film THIRST won the Jury Prize at Cannes (2009) and was released in the US earlier this year by Focus Features. All three films in his celebrated Vengeance trilogy collection have garnered an impressive 28 Film Festival wins at prestigious venues including Cannes, Venice, Chicago, Fantasia, Stockholm, Hong Kong and the Sitges International Film Festival to name a few.

Each film is recorded in their original language (Korean) and offer English and Spanish subtitles. Each title is presented in anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS Surround Sound 5.1.Special features include an essay on each film by celebrated filmmakers, actors and writers, including Eli Roth... Additional features include but are not limited to Audio commentary by Park Chan-Wook and actor Ryoo Seung-wan (SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE), Behind the Scenes, The Process of Mr. Vengeance, My Boksu Story, Storyboards, Photo Gallery, Filmographies, Film Notes, Crew Interviews, Three Audio Commentaries (OLDBOY), 5 Behind the Scene featurettes, Le Grand Prix at Cannes, Deleted Scenes with commentary, Regular and Fade-To-White versions (LADY VENGEANCE), Character Interviews – Lee Geum Ja, Prof. Baek, Prisoners, Families, Lady Vengeance at the 62nd Venice Film Festival, Trailer, Film Notes, Making of and Deleted Scenes.

Tartan Films was originally founded in 1984 in the UK and is credited with bringing Asian Extreme film to the West as well as some of the most compelling art house films of the last quarter century. In May 2008, Palisades Pictures acquired Tartan Films US library assets and two months later, acquired a majority of Tartan Films UK’s 400+ film library assets. The new company Palisades Tartan has operations both nationally and internationally. Palisades Tartan will continue to expand an already distinctive and provocative slate of films by focusing on quality film acquisitions, thus significantly increasing the size of their overall library in both territories. Palisades Pictures and its parent company Palisades Media Corp is a prestigious financier of print & advertising for the independent film market. Together with its affiliate, Palisades Media Asset Fund, Palisades has securitized and financed more than 550 films.

www.PalisadesTartan.com

VENGEANCE TRILOGY Box Set - (SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE / OLDBOY / LADY VENGEANCE)

Palisades Tartan Video
Genre: Thriller/Foreign
Rating: Not Rated (Special Features Not Rated/Subject to Change)
Language: Korean (English Subtitles)
Format: DVD Only / 8-disc (Box-set)
Running Time: Approximately 361 minutes (Not Including Special Features)

MR. VENGEANCE – 129 min (Not Including Special Features)

OLDBOY– 120 min (Not Including Special Features)

LADY VENGEANCE – 112 min (Not Including Special Features)

Suggested Retail Price: $49.99
Pre-Order Date: October 27^th 2009
Street Date: November 24^th 2009
Catalog #: TVD8307
UPC Code: # 842498000076

"THE VENGEANCE TRILOGY" -- November Release from Palisades Tartan

Gene Roddenberry's "GENESIS II" and "PLANET EARTH "on DVD

Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek) fans will rejoice on October 6, 2009 as the long awaited DVD release of GENESIS II and the follow-up PLANET EARTH arrive exclusively on the WARNER ARCHIVE www.warnerarchive.com.

Warner Brothers are thrilled to have these Roddenberry treasures join the Warner Archive in October which will also be accompanied by the release of several other great titles including:

Dying Room
Confessions of a Nazi
The Joe McDoakes Collection

GENESIS II synopsis:

"My name is Dylan Hunt. My story begins the day on which I died." GeneRoddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, brings fans another enthralling tale of the future. Set in a time between now and the era of the starship Enterprise, Genesis II follows Hunt (Alex Cord), who awakes after 154 years of suspended animation into a post-apocalyptic world that’s torn between the peace-loving citizens of Pax and the militaristic, mutant Tyranians. Both want Hunt to join their cause.

But the Tyranians have two cruel weapons to persuade Hunt: a device of torture called a stim. And an alluring mutant (Mariette Hartley) with two navels--and one ice-cold heart.

"GENESIS II"
Starring ALEX CORD
Guest Stars MARIETTE HARTLEY, TED CASSIDY, and PERCY RODRIGUES As Primus Kimbridge
Written and Produced by GENE RODDENBERRY
Directed by JOHN LLEWELLYN MOXEY
A NORWAY Production in Association with WB Television

Gene Roddenberry's "GENESIS II" and "PLANET EARTH "on DVD

TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Vol. 2 on DVD 10/6 from Warner Home Video

Six New-to-DVD 'Aqua-Musicals' from America's Favorite Mermaid

Million Dollar Mermaid - Thrill of a RomanceEasy to Love - This Time For KeepsFiesta - Pagan Love Song

Burbank, Calif. June 22, 2009 -- The ravishing bathing beauty who pioneered a new genre of moviemaking -- "Aqua Musicals" -- will splash once more in Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies' TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2 on October 6. This highly anticipated follow-up to the 2007 TCM Collection includes the DVD debuts of six Technicolor films from classic Hollywood's swimming superstar - Million Dollar Mermaid, Thrill of a Romance, Easy to Love, This Time for Keeps, Fiesta and Pagan Love Song. Each of these MGM musical favorites have been newly remastered especially for this DVD release.

Also included are a boat-load of special features, including rarely-seen deleted musical outtakes, vintage shorts and classic cartoons. The films will be available only as a complete collection, in a collectible digi-pak gift set for $59.92 SRP. Order due date is September 1.

About the Films

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952): Glamorous, amphibious Esther Williams portrays real-life Australian swimming champ Annette Kellerman, in a splashy biopic co-starring Victor Mature. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy and Oscar® nominated for Best Color Cinematography, the movie is loaded with stunning spectacle, including a must-see Busby Berkeley choreographed water ballet extravaganza. Is this lovely Esther's signature film? Well, she called her 1999 autobiography The Million Dollar Mermaid.

Special Features:· AUDIO ONLY: Lux Radio Theater presentation of Million Dollar Mermaid starring Esther Williams and Walter Pidgeon· Classic M-G-M Tom & Jerry cartoon "The Little Wise-Quacker" (1952)· Classic M-G-M short subject "Reducing" (1952) · Original theatrical trailer

Thrill of a Romance (1945) Van Johnson and Esther Williams headline this frothy musical, just the ticket for a World War II-weary nation yearning for laughs, romance and glamour. And that's exactly what they got, plus swinging TechnicolorÒ tunes from Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra and operatic grandeur from famed Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior in his film debut.

Newlywed swimming teacher Cynthia Delbar (Williams) has everything a girl could want for her honeymoon: a posh mountain lodge, glorious weather and a drop-dead trousseau. The only thing missing is her tycoon groom, who chose closing a deal in DC over cuddling with his brand-new missus. A pretty sorrowful situation - until a good-looking war hero staying at the hotel decides he needs swimming lessons.

Special Features:· Outtake Musical Numbers: "Gypsy Mattinata" (Lauritz Melchior) "I Should Care" (Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra) "Please Don't Say No" (The King Sisters)· Classic M-G-M short subject "The Great American Mug" (1945)· Classic M-G-M Tex Avery cartoon "Wild and Woolfy" (1945)· Original theatrical trailer

Easy to Love (1953):With the Cole Porter classic as the title tune, it's 'easy to love' this romantic comedy starring Esther Williams and Van Johnson in their fifth film together. Julie Hallerton (Esther Williams) knows how to win the affection of indifferent Ray Lloyd (Van Johnson): Be his office secretary; be the star of his Florida aquacade and the heart's desire of a Manhattan crooner to make Ray jealous. The ploy works, as does everything else in this aquamusical. Tony Martin lends his smooth vocal styling; Razzle-dazzler Busby Berkeley guides Esther's aquatic routines, including a legendary sequence involving Florida's Cypress Gardens, dozens of water skiers, ramps, pyramid formations, gushing geysers, a helicopter, a trapeze and Esther in the air. Also fun to note is film's young Carroll Baker's (Baby Doll) screen debut.

Special Features:· Classic M-G-M Short "Romantic Riviera"(1953)· Classic M-G-M Barney Bear cartoon "Cobs and Robbers" (1953)· Original theatrical trailer

This Time For Keeps (1947): Whether soaring from the high board or redefining grace in a lavishly choreographed water ballet, Esther Williams is at her radiant, swim-suited best in this lighthearted aquatic musical centered on her romance with an ex-GI (Johnnie Johnston). Settings include Michigan's picture-perfect Mackinac Island, with notable supporting stars providing specialty numbers. Famed tenor Lauritz Melchior brings his artistry to La Donna È Mobile, Xavier Cugat (with signature tea-cup Chihuahua at hand) adds big-band élan to the proceedings and Jimmy Durante delightfully dismantles his piano.

Special Features:· Outtake musical number: "Little Big Shot" (Jimmy Durante)· Classic M-G-M short subject "Now You See It" (1947)· Classic M-G-M Tom & Jerry cartoon "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse" (1947) · Original theatrical trailer

Fiesta (1947): Glamorous Williams forsakes her trademark swimsuit for a matador's red cape and black montera in the colorful film Fiesta. Williams portrays Maria, disguising herself as her twin brother Mario (Ricardo Montalban in his first credited U.S. film) and enters the ring in his place after he abandons bullfighting for classical music studies. An Oscar-nominated score* (including a restyling of Aaron Copland's "El Salon Mexico") spices up this gender-bender tale. Lovely Cyd Charisse plays Mario's partner in dance and romance.

Special Features:· Classic M-G-M short Goodbye, Miss Turlock (1947)· Classic M-G-M Tex Avery cartoon Hound Hunters (1947)· Original theatrical trailer

Pagan Love Song (1950):Esther Williams and Howard Keel share the bliss of this eye-filling musical excursion which includes the rhapsodic title tune and a charming Rita Moreno (in her third movie role as a spunky islander). Pristine Hawaiian locations fill in for the story's Tahitian setting. Of course, where there's an island, there's water, and Esther swimming in it. But in one fanciful sequence she also swims among the clouds, sending viewers' spirits aloft with her.

Half-Tahitian beauty Mimi Bennett (Williams) is eager to leave the easygoing life of Tahiti for the excitement and bustle of the United States. But when Ohioan Hazard "Hap" Endicott arrives to manage his late uncle's coconut plantation, the sparks flying between them may turn Mimi's travel plans into wedding plans.

Special Features:· Seven deleted musical outtakes includingo Why Is Love So Crazyo Sea of the Moon o Tahiti Version Oneo Tahiti Version Twoo Music on the Water Version Oneo Music on the Water Version Twoo The House of the Singing Bamboo · Classic M-G-M cartoon "The Chump Champ" (1950)· Classic M-G-M short subject "Curious Contests" (1950)· Original theatrical trailer

TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2

Street Date: October 6, 2009

Order Due Date: September 1, 2009

Catalog #: 1000092091

Collection: $59.92 SRP

All Titles Not Rated and Color
Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

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TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Vol. 2 on DVD 10/6 from Warner Home Video

"THE KILLING ROOM" Debuts on October 13 From Genius Products

When four individuals volunteer for a seemingly innocent research study to earn some extra cash, no one is prepared for the horrific twists and turns to come when THE KILLING ROOM debuts on DVD October 13 from Genius Products. The “rough and tough psychological thriller” (Fearnet.com) directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) features an all-star ensemble including Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton (“Leverage”), Academy Award® nominee Chloe Sevigny (“Big Love”), Clea Duvall (Identity), Peter Stormare (Fargo), Nick Cannon (Drumline) and Shea Whigham (Splinter).


Quickly realizing they are in for much more than they bargained for, the volunteers are told that only one person will make it out of the room alive in what turns out to be a brutal and chilling classified experiment. “Shrewd, smart and thought provoking” (Bloody-Disgusting.com), THE KILLING ROOM garnered much attention after the 2009 Sundance Film Festival premiere. A suspenseful flick that will keep viewers on the edge-of-their-seat through to the shocking ending, THE KILLING ROOM is “a very taut thriller” (FirstShowing.net). The DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.95.

Buy it at Amazon.com

"THE KILLING ROOM" Debuts on October 13 From Genius Products

The Strange State of Godzilla Fandom in America

Two very interesting articles from Armand Vaquer's personal blog (which is a really neat site for Godzilla information).

I suggest you read the two articles in this order. You might never think of how extras are done for a movie in the same manner again.

1. http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/2009/05/greed-and-sony-toho-dvd-set.html

2. http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/2009/09/if-this-were-wall-st-people-would-be.html

It should be noted, that the actual DVD set is pretty cool from all reports in terms of a/v, with the exception dubtitles for Battle in Outer Space and some odd packaging.

The Strange State of Godzilla Fandom in America

"CHILDREN OF THE CORN" Remake Comes to DVD October 6th

FROM THE PRODUCER OF THE CLASSIC 1984 SHOCKER… CHILDREN OF THE CORN ON DVD FROM ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Beware He Who Walks Behind The Rows! Based on the short story from Stephen King and to celebrate the silver anniversary of the 1984 motion picture, the 2009 remake of Children of the Corn will be released on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment on October 6th, 2009. Written, directed and produced by Donald P. Borchers, producer of the 1984 original, the 2009 version not only presents a new, bold vision of the story, but also utilizes state-of-the-art visual effects created by Emmy™-winning special effects artist Kevin Kutchaver (“Lost,” “Alias,” X-Men X2, The Bourne Ultimatum, Hellboy). SRP is a vine-ripened $26.97 and pre-book is September 3rd.

Starring David Anders (“Alias,” “Heroes,” Into The Blue 2), Kandyse McClure (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Reaper”) and Preston Bailey (“Dexter”), Children of the Corn represents the ultimate road trip nightmare. Burton and Vicki (Anders and McClure) are an unhappily married couple making their way across the country when an accident leaves them stranded in the middle of a corn field. They stumble upon a cult of children led by the charismatic young leader Isaac (Bailey) and his right hand “man” Malachai (Daniel Newman, the upcoming Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant). They soon learn that this is no typical cornfield and there is something different about the children living in Gatlin, Nebraska. “Harvest” takes on a life-or-death urgency when Burton and Vicki must find a way to escape before they becomes sacrifices to He Who Walks Behind The Rows!

Premiering on the SyFy Channel September 26th, the 2009 Children of the Corn DVD will present the unrated version of the film, as well as a cornucopia of insightful bonus features, including:

“New Directions” – An interview with Writer/Producer/Director Donald P. Borchers on remaking a cult classic.
“Cast Of The Corn”– Interviews with Actors Kandyse McClure (“Vicki”), David Anders (“Burt”) and Daniel Newman (“Malachai”).
“To Live And Die In Gatlin” – Interviews with Production Designer Andrew Hussey and Special Make-Up FX Supervisor Alan Tuskes.
“Fly On The Wall” – Behind-the scenes footage from the set of CHILDREN OF THE CORN.

The Children Of The Corn DVD presents the totally uncut and uncensored version, featuring gruesome images, sexually graphic material and scenes deemed too offensive for cable television audiences.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. It is the exclusive distributor in the U.S. of the theatrical titles from Overture Films. Headquartered in Burbank, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

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"CHILDREN OF THE CORN" Remake Comes to DVD October 6th

Anchor Bay Entertainment announces first theatrical engagements for "STAN HELSING"

Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly announces the first exclusive North American theatrical engagements for the hilarious horror parody STAN HELSING.

STAN HELSING will be playing for a one-week exclusive theatrical engagement starting Friday, October 23rd at:

New York – Village East Cinemas
Los Angeles – Mann’s Chinese 6 Theaters
Vancouver -- Tinseltown Theaters
Toronto -- Bloor Cinema
Ottawa -- Mayfair Theater

Written and directed by Bo Zenga, the executive producer of SCARY MOVIE, STAN HELSING follows the misadventures of hapless video store clerk Stan Helsing (Steve Howey) and his friends one unfortunate Halloween night when they find themselves stranded in the mysterious residential development of Stormy Night Estates. There, Stan learns of his true destiny as a descendant of the legendary monster-hunter Van Helsing.

With his motley band in tow – including his best friend Teddy (“Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson) – he will battle true evil in the form of parodies of movie monster icons “Freddy,” “Jason,” “Leatherface,” “Pinhead,” “Michael Myers,” and “Chucky.” In addition to riotously sending up some of the cinema’s greatest scream meisters, Stan Helsing also features the appearance of comedy film legend Leslie Nielsen (Airplane!, the Naked Gun films, Scary Movie 3 and 4) as well as a surprise cameo that will frighten the Republican Party!

Keep watch for announcements on additional theaters that will play this year’s silliest shockfest – STAN HELSING!

Anchor Bay Entertainment announces first theatrical engagements for "STAN HELSING"

"Caesar and Otto" Comedy-Horror Double Feature at the Long Island Film Festival

Summer Camp Massacre will be making its EAST COAST premiere at this year's Long Island Film Festival in Glen Cove, Friday October 9th at 7:15PM.

Directly following "Summer Camp" will be the world premiere of it's 10 minute sequel, "Caesar and Otto in the House of Dracula." The film picks up directly after the cliffhanger ending of "Summer Camp" and stars Ed Dennehy, brother of Brian, as Steve Dracula, Dracula's lesser-known younger brother. Shot entirely against green screen, the short film is a black and white throwback to the Universal horror movies of yesterday.

"Summer Camp" premiered earlier this month at Kentucky's "Fright Night Film Festival", where it received an honorable mention.

Watch the festival trailer
Read our "Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre" review!

Festival/screening details:
The screening will take place at Perspective studios in Glen Cove. Tickets are $12, but that includes 2 features length films and 2 shorts.
Directions

Contact info:
Contact: Ilona Sikorska
Telephone: 516-319-4243
Email: fourthhorizoncinema@yahoo.com


Synopsis:
After punching out the police chief's mentally challenged brother, an effete tough guy, Caesar, is on the run.

Together, he and his slovenly half brother, Otto, take on new identities as counselors at the strangely vacant Camp Sunsmile.

The would-be summer camp has attracted a motley crew of Hollywood outcasts, all with something to hide. But when the mysterious Carrie (Felissa Rose, star of Sleepaway Camp) shows up, counselors begin disappearing one by one.

Soon, Caesar and Otto find themselves at the edge of a summer camp killer's blade as they run, duck, and swoosh for their lives!

http://www.caesarandotto.com/

"Caesar and Otto" Comedy-Horror Double Feature at the Long Island Film Festival

Latest update on SEVERIN BD/DVD for October 13th

HARDWARE
“The Best Sci-Fi/Horror Thriller Since ALIEN”, Says Fangoria; Film To Be Restored From Director Richard Stanley’s Own Print

LOS ANGELES, CA– Severin Films today announced the October 13th release of the 1990 sci-fi/horror cult classic HARDWARE, the infamous feature film debut of music video visionary turned writer/director Richard Stanley (DUST DEVIL). Originally rated X by the MPAA and subsequently edited by distributor Miramax, HARDWARE will be presented uncut and uncensored for the first time ever from a print supplied by Stanley himself. In addition, the limited edition two-disc DVD and Blu-ray will include audio commentary, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and Stanley’s never-before-seen hour-long Super 8 version of the film.

Golden Globe® winner Dylan McDermott (The Practice) stars as a post-apocalyptic scavenger who brings home a battered cyborg skull for his metal-sculptor girlfriend. But this steel scrap contains the brain of the M.A.R.K. 13, the military’s most ferocious bio-mechanical combat droid. It is cunning, cruel, and knows how to reassemble itself. Tonight, it is reborn…and no flesh shall be spared. Stacey Travis (GHOST WORLD) co-stars – along with appearances by Iggy Pop, Lemmy of Motörhead and music by Ministry and Public Image Ltd. – in this kick-ass sci-fi thriller that New York Newsday hailed as “thought provoking and disturbing”, and Fangoria still calls “gritty, trippy and frightening…HARDWARE is one of the best horror movies you’ve never seen.”

“They say 'once in every generation a plague shall fall upon you',” says director Richard Stanley, “and so it is that after an absence of almost two decades I am proud to announce the second coming of HARDWARE to American shores in its full, savage, psychedelic, utterly unexpurgated and wholly unrated glory. We have relished working with Severin films and Norman Hill of Subversive Cinema – who oversaw the successful 2008 release of DUST DEVIL – to fully restore, remix and remaster HARDWARE for its first appearance on DVD and to provide the viewing public with an experience unlike anything they have ever seen before. You have been warned!”

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DVD
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EAGLES OVER LONDON
WWII Epic From Writer/Director of Original INGLORIOUS BASTARDS Includes Tarantino Bonus Features

LOS ANGELES, CA – Severin Films today announced the first-ever DVD/Blu-ray release of the WWII epic EAGLES OVER LONDON. The 1970 hit was the international breakthrough film by Italian action master Enzo Castellari, best known as the writer/director of the original INGLORIOUS BASTARDS which will also be released on DVD and Blu-ray by Severin on October 13th.

“EAGLES OVER LONDON is a terrific film with one of my favorite storylines ever,” Quentin Tarantino said at the film’s Los Angeles premiere in 2008. “You’re in for a real treat!” Exclusive bonus features on the disc include footage of Tarantino hosting the film’s premiere in “Eagles Over Los Angeles”, plus the candid and revealing "A Conversation with Quentin Tarantino and Enzo G. Castalleri Part 2" and more.

Nine years before his classic BASTARDS, Enzo Castellari virtually invented the ‘Macaroni Combat’ genre with this over-the-top saga of valor, vengeance and machine-gun mayhem starring Hollywood legend Van Johnson (THE CAINE MUTINY) and Frederick Stafford (Hitchcock’s TOPAZ) as military officers pursuing a team of Nazi saboteurs through war-ravaged London. For this landmark international production, Enzo would re-create the evacuation of Dunkirk with 2,000 extras on a beach in Spain as well as the Battle Of Britain on a soundstage in Rome. “Almost 40 years later,” says Enzo, “Severin’s restoration and release of my first major film is both tremendously satisfying and humbling.”

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DVD
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SCREWBALLS
Fully Restored On DVD & Blu-Ray For First Time Ever; “Makes PORKY’S Look Like Proust” Says DVD Talk

(UPDATE: The latest word is that SCREWBALLS has been pushed back once again to an October 27 release.)

LOS ANGELES, CA – Severin Films today announced the October 13th release of the infamous ‘T&A’ classic SCREWBALLS on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time ever in America. This long unreleased, totally unhinged and generally unclothed ‘Canucksploitation’ masterwork has languished in a snowbound Alberta vault for decades. Following the Severin Legal Team's rescue of the film’s original 16mm inter-negative from a black widow's web of legal entanglements, Severin’s Archive Commandos immediately rushed the film to its state-of-the-art facility for high definition transfer and restoration.

SCREWBALLS remains perhaps the most relentlessly raunchy teen comedy of the ‘80s, the saga of Taft & Adams High – including campus virgin Purity Busch, chronic masturbator Melvin Jerkovski and blonde bombshell Bootsie Goodhead – and its incomparable curriculum of freshman breast exams, bikini cheerleader practice and inappropriate uses for bowling ball holes. Russ Meyer goddess Raven DeLaCroix (UP!) co-stars in this notorious drive-in classic originally released by Roger Corman that Mr. Skin hails as “the essential four-star epic of horny high school kids.” Severin’s disc will feature an all-new audio commentary and in-depth featurette documentary with the film’s cast and crew.

When you've got your hands on the Citizen Kane of high school sex cinema, you don't (fool) around" says Severin co-founder David Gregory. "Every day, I get pelted with phone calls asking, 'When is it coming out?' Hey, we don't want to waste a day bringing SCREWBALLS to your DVD and Blu-ray players. But first, we must provide our customary cavalcade of morally casual extras. The cultural importance of this particular title demands nothing less than Severin's absolute best." Added Severin co-founder/CEO Carl Daft, "In my career, I've only personally dealt with two or three motion pictures that deserve the banner of 'masterpiece'." SCREWBALLS is most certainly one of those films. The first time I saw Purity Busch's jubblies unveiled in crystalline high definition transfer, I felt as if my entire adult life had been leading me to that specific moment."

Read our review

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DVD
Blu-Ray


Severin Films was formed in 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London. Their previous releases include THE SINFUL DWARF, recent Goya Award winner Jess Franco’s MACUMBA SEXUAL and BLOODY MOON, Walerian Borowczyk’s IMMORAL WOMEN, the unrated Director’s Cut of GWENDOLINE starring Tawny Kitaen, Oscar® nominee Patrice Leconte’s international hits THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND and THE PERFUME OF YVONNE, and Enzo Castellari’s original action classic INGLORIOUS BASTARDS. http://www.severin-films.com/

Latest update on SEVERIN BD/DVD for October 13th

"Mirageman" Kicks Its Way Onto DVD October 6 From Magnolia Home Entertainment

Up-And-Coming Martial Arts Master Marko Zaror - “The Latin Dragon” Stars In Mirageman, Kicking Its Way Onto DVD October 6 From Magnolia Home Entertainment

“One of my favorite superhero movies of all time… full speed, full contact action.” - Ain’t It Cool News

Maco, a reclusive nightclub security guard, fills his free time training in the martial arts. One fateful night, disguised in a mask, Maco saves a television reporter from a gang of vicious attackers. When she praises her unknown savior on national television, Maco turns into a mysterious hero, making his unexpected life path suddenly seem clear: to save the lives of others while maintaining a secret life as an everyday superhero.

Winner at the 2004 World Stunt Awards for Best Overall Stunt, Best Fight and Best Specialty Stunt, Marko Zaror reunites with writer and director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza (Kiltro) in this action-packed Audience Award Winner for Best Film at the 2007 Fantastic Fest, Mirageman.

Buy it at Amazon.com

"Mirageman" Kicks Its Way Onto DVD October 6 From Magnolia Home Entertainment

WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU -- DVD review by porfle

Another one of those sad "runaway kids surviving on the mean streets of L.A." tales, WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU (1992) is a decent enough flick whose main interest is a spot-the-stars cast loaded with young up-and-coming actors.

Dermot Mulroney gives a solid performance as King, an older street kid who's more thoughtful and responsible than most and tries to take care of the younger, more naive ones. His best friends are Greg (Sean Astin), a self-destructive speed freak, and the more laidback Crasher (James Le Gros, who played the goat roper who escapes from the bar slaughter in NEAR DARK). King is especially protective of the vulnerable, unstable Little J (Balthazar Getty) and a pretty new arrival, Heather (Lara Flynn Boyle).

The kids are always on the run from the cops, including Adam Baldwin and Rachel Ticotin as Officers Black and Landers. Meanwhile, Greg grows ever closer to being seduced into heroin use by vile drug dealer Ted (Kyle MacLachlan) while Little J reluctantly begins earning extra cash as a boy-toy for an aging perv (Stephen Tobolowsky, best known as "Sammy Jankis" in MEMENTO) and becomes a danger to society when he finds a gun. King, wanting to escape to a better life with his new girlfriend Heather, eventually finds himself unable to keep on protecting his friends from both society and themselves.

Not nearly as gritty as some other films of its kind, WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU is a somewhat romanticized take on the subject which eschews cinema verite' for a slicker pictorial style from director and co-writer Marc Rocco (adopted son of actor Alex Rocco). The kids may sleep under a bridge but they seem happy enough and don't look all the worse for wear--girls like Heather and Kimmy (Alyssa Milano) are perky and pretty, Ricki Lake's "Brenda" doesn't seem to be missing any meals, and most of the guys wouldn't look out of place at your typical keg party. (They often tell each other that they smell bad, but they don't look like they do.)

Sean Astin's character seems to be on the fastest track to oblivion--he hits rock bottom when he wakes up in his own vomit on the floor of Ted's filthy apartment after his first heroin trip--yet he comes from a non-abusive middle-class home to which he could return at any time, so I found it hard to feel all that sorry for him. Will Smith as "Manny", on the other hand, has it the hardest since he's missing both legs and is confined to a wheelchair, yet he's one of the most cheerful and self-reliant characters. Smith appears only briefly in a few scenes, but his attack by a brutal pimp named Tommy Ray (Peter Dobson) who's out for revenge against King sets up Tommy Ray's murder by one of the group, which ultimately leads to tragedy.

It's surprising (and a little distracting) how many familiar faces pop up during this movie in addition to all those previously mentioned. Laura San Giacomo appears throughout as a video interviewer trying to get King to open up to her about life on the streets. Christian Slater is the director of a rehab center where Greg stays for a brief time before escaping. Nancy McKeon, effectively casting off her "Facts of Life" image, plays Ted's foulmouthed girlfriend. Leo Rossi is Greg's father, and David Arquette plays Kimmy's boyfriend Rob.

There seems to be no escape for these kids even when some of them finally decide to take a bus out of town. Not only do they have no actual destination in mind, and are thus unlikely to be heading for any kind of a better life, but fate continues to work against them. Here, during a climactic bus station sequence, the film could've used a grittier and more natural style in order to give greater impact to what happens. As it is, much of the effect is diluted by self-conscious direction, too much slow motion, and a mood-killing Melissa Etheridge song that's meant to be deeply moving but isn't. A prolonged epilogue also tries to give the ending more emotional weight than it has actually earned.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Surround 2.0, and offers subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. The theatrical trailer is included.

While not a perfect film, and not quite as powerful as it intends to be, WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU is still an engaging and sometimes moving story with characters you can care about, and numerous young actors giving noteworthy performances. It's definitely worth checking out as long as you're not expecting to be blown away.

Buy it at Amazon.com

WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU -- DVD review by porfle

Warner Archive -- September Mid Month New Releases

A RARE SELECTION OF SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT SPANNING SEVEN DECADES OF FILM MAKING DEBUT ON THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION THIS MONTH


--Contemporary Films Come to the Archive Including “Wrestling Ernest Hemingway” Starring Robert Duvall and “Men Don’t Leave” Starring Jessica Lange
--The Bark Out Loud “Dogville Comedies,” a Collection of Comedy Shorts Directed by Zion Myers and Jules White Presented Together for the First Time on DVD
--Film Noir Takes Center Stage Among Mystery and Suspense Classics Including Anthony Mann’s “The Tall Target,” King Vidor’s “Lightning Strikes Twice” and Jacques Tourneur’s “Berlin Express”


Burbank, Calif., September 15, 2009 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG) announced today an impressive variety of films are making their debut as part of the Warner Archive Collection this month including Robert Duvall in “Wrestling Ernest Hemingway,” “Men Don’t Leave,” starring Jessica Lange and Director King Vidor’s “Lightning Strikes Twice.” Also this month, two highly requested collections of classic short subjects are making their DVD debut – Zion Myers and Jules White’s unforgettably hilarious “Dogville Comedies” and all 52 of the famous “Our Gang Comedies” produced by MGM from 1938-44.

After receiving a tremendous amount of requests from fans, the Warner Archive Collection is proud to bring the complete collection of MGM’s popular “Dogville Comedies” to DVD for the first time. Released to theaters during 1930 to 1931, the Dogville shorts became an instant hit with audiences, representing one of the many kinds of unique novelties that came to movie screens with the arrival of ‘talking pictures.’ These shorts were jokingly billed as “All-Barkies” since each film featured an all-dog cast (with human voiceovers) serving up wild parodies which satirized the motion picture styles of the era.

Filmmakers Zion Myers and Jules White oversaw the making of nine different Dogville shorts, many of which directly lampooned some of the biggest feature films of the period, including “The Big House” (“The Big Dog House”), “Trader Horn” (“Trader Hound”) and the Oscar® winning “The Broadway Melody” (“The Dogway Melody”). Dogville also poked fun at movie genres of the era, with Detective “Phido Vance” named as the hero out to solve a murder in “Who Killed Rover,” while romance in exotic locales served as the laugh-filled subject in “Love Tails of Morocco.” Dogville fans can wag their tails with this first-ever home video release of all nine Dogville shorts, now available to own in one two-disc DVD collection from the Warner Archive Collection.

Also this month, murder, mystery and suspense are afoot in the archives! Film Noir favorites, and noir-tinged melodramas are now available to own with the release of a slew of crafty crime capers and nifty who-dun-its. Among this month’s Warner Archive new release offerings are Jacques Tourneur’s “Berlin Express,” starring Robert Ryan and Merle Oberon in a story that finds a group of railroad passengers terrorized by neo-Nazis in the midst of an assassination plot. Mickey Rooney casts off the trappings of his ‘Andy Hardy’ persona as a prizefighter swept into the crime world in “Killer McCoy.” Jack Palance takes on Humphrey Bogart’s role of Mad Dog Earle in “I Died a Thousand Times,” a color and CinemaScope remake of Bogie’s “High Sierra.”

The great Anthony Mann was at the helm for MGM’s long-overlooked thriller “The Tall Target,” starring Dick Powell as a man searching for the truth behind Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Ernest Borgnine gives a standout performance in the gritty Mafia-themed opus “Pay or Die,” while Barry Sullivan stars opposite the screen seductress Belita in the 1946 screen hit “Suspense,” one of Monogram Pictures few attempts at A-level filmmaking.

Dangerous roads are ahead for film fans with the rarely-seen noir gem “Highway 301.” A gang of robbers terrorize and rob banks and payrolls in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The gang's leader, George (played by the brooding Steve Cochran), seems to take particular delight in ‘bumping off’ women who cross him. Legendary Director King Vidor gives us greed, passion and mad love in the 1951 romantic murder mystery “Lightning Strikes Twice.” Starring Richard Todd and Mercedes McCambridge, viewers will ultimately judge if the man on death row actually did commit savage murder.

Also available this month are landmark dramas that feature unforgettable performances. Montgomery Clift made his film debut as a GI in post-World War II Berlin who takes on a personal mission by aiding a young boy whose family was killed in the concentration camps, in Fred Zinnemann’s 1948 classic “The Search,” (winner of 2 Academy Awards) and Laurence Olivier shares the screen with Simone Signoret and Sarah Miles in “Term of Trial.”

The Warner Archive Collection is also offering a special selection of recent films, many of which have ardent fan followings who have long requested the DVD release of these favorites. Cinephiles are sure to welcome the DVD debut such gems including Robert Duvall and Richard Harris in the charming drama “Wrestling Ernest Hemingway” (also featuring an early screen performance by Sandra Bullock), Oscar® winner Jessica Lange starring as a young mother confronting widowhood in “Men Don’t Leave” and a very young Seth Green (Family Guy, Robot Chicken) starring with Shane McDermott and Jack Black in the cult skateboarder fave “Airborne.” This much sought after comedy skater film features amazing skating stunts and a thumping soundtrack that includes tracks from Ugly Kid Joe, Jeremy Jordan, Steve Miller Band and others.

Also available this month is “Angus,” a poignant and unforgettable story of a young adolescent outcast who struggles for acceptance despite a myriad of obstacles. The film features a superb cast including Oscar winners Kathy Bates and George C. Scott, Long a cult favorite, and unavailable since the days when VHS was the technology of choice, “Angus” finally is back and finally on DVD courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection.

This month there’s something for everyone in the Warner Archive Collection! Check out this exciting lineup:

Berlin Express
Highway 301
I Died a Thousand Times
Lightning Strikes Twice
Our Gang (collection)
Pay or Die
Suspense
The Tall Target

Available Starting September 15:
Angus
Airborne
Crossroads
Dogville Shorts (collection)
Experiment Perilous
The Heavenly Body
I Take This Woman
Ice Palace
Killer McCoy
Men Don’t Leave
Penn and Teller Get Killed
The Search
Term of Trial
Wrestling Earnest Hemmingway

Spanning more than 60 years of filmmaking, the Warner Archive Collection offers movie fans access to Warner Bros. Entertainment’s unparalleled film library consisting of pre-1986 MGM, RKO Radio Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures films. These timeless classics can be downloaded or purchased on DVDs that are made to order for the customer using a state-of-the-art manufacturing on Demand (MOD) process. For a complete list of titles visit WarnerArchive.com.

To order their movies, fans visit WarnerArchive.com, select their titles, and upon purchase, a state-of-the-art manufacturing on demand (MOD) system creates a made-to-order DVD. The system places the DVD into a hard plastic Amaray case featuring custom artwork; and ships the finished package to the customer which arrives in approximately five days. The cost per title is $19.95, plus shipping. Alternatively, consumers can purchase digital downloads of these classic films to enjoy immediately on their PC. The cost for a digital download is $14.95 per title. Warner Archive Collection is currently available only to consumers in the United States.

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About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.

About Warner Home Video
With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

Warner Archive -- September Mid Month New Releases

JACK BROWN GENIUS -- movie review by porfle

Do you miss the good old days when Yahoo Serious was a cinematic force to be reckoned with? Then you may enjoy JACK BROWN, GENIUS, a 1994 comedy from New Zealand, because it plays as though producer Peter Jackson, director Tony Hiles, and co-writer Fran Walsh had him in mind for the title role when they penned the script for Wingnut Films.

The farcical nature of the story emerges during the prologue, with a 10th century English monk named Elmer (Stuart Devenie) jumping off a cliff to test his newly-invented wings only to fall to his death and be wrongly banished to Purgatory for committing "suicide." Nearly 1000 years later, but only days before Elmer is to be consigned to Hell for all time, he enters the brain of a struggling inventor named Jack Brown (Timothy Balme, BRAINDEAD) and nags him into trying to succeed where he failed, thus convincing God that Elmer didn't really intend to commit suicide after all. (Wait--isn't God supposed to be omniscient? Oh, never mind.)

I've seen "Scooby-Doo" episodes that made more sense, but this movie just blithely sails along as though the story weren't completely out to lunch. Like a weird medieval variation of INNERSPACE (with a dash of HUDSON HAWK thrown in, God help us), we see Elmer bopping around inside Jack's brain and poking at his nerves and blood vessels to get attention whenever Jack starts to work on his current project (hydraulic leaping shoes) for his demanding boss (Edward Campbell). "Thou canst not silence me, Jack! Thy brainpan is my permanent place of abode!" Elmer insists.

After spending some time in a "Regional Centre for the Deeply Disturbed", Jack actually does invent a working pair of wings, only to have the power source stolen by The Boss and his evil dominatrix girlfriend, Sylvia (Lisa Chappell), to sell to an Asian businessman. Meanwhile, Jack's best friend Dennis (Marton Csokas, LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY), who runs a mobile hot dog stand, is seduced into helping Sylvia while his bride-to-be Eileen (Nicola Murphy) starts to fall for Jack, whom she thinks is crazy. Okay, where did I lose you?

JACK BROWN GENIUS features some nicely garish set design and is directed like a cartoon, full of hyperkinetic action and ridiculous plot developments that just barrel along like a circus wagon with no brakes. Some potentially funny situations are set up and then just sailed through without any elaboration--this movie could've been twice as funny if the writers had just taken the time to insert some comedy into the comedy scenes. This is especially true during Jack's stay in the nuthouse, although the part where he tries to silence Elmer by subjecting himself to shock treatment is nicely done.

Then again, the movie sometimes manages to pull off some almost dazzling sequences out of the blue. Angry with Jack for messing up their leaping-shoes deal with the Asians, The Boss takes after him in a car with the intent of running him down. This leads to some incredible stunt/effects scenes involving a car and two speeding trains as Jack leaps for his life. Another chase in a garbage dump has Jack and Eileen being pursued by a livid Sylvia in a demolition-derby style smash-up with an exhilarating finale. And the climactic flying effects are well-done.

I enjoyed some of the dialogue, such as this simple exchange:

JACK: "There's a monk in my head, Eileen."
EILEEN: "Pardon?"

Timothy Balme is appropriately cartoonlike in the title role, a perplexed wacky-inventor type who depends on his imagination to get him out of a scrape. Nicola Murphy is likable in her debut as Eileen, although her sudden infatuation with Jack, who throws up on her shoes and seems insane enough for her to have him committed to an asylum, seems a bit of a stretch. As The Boss, Edward Campbell has a gruff Vinnie Jones-like thing going. Marton Csokas, who would go on to have quite a successful career, does what he can with the role of Dennis, which is just all over the map.

Likewise, Stuart Devenie makes the best of his wacky monk character, Elmer, which consists mainly of being irritating and bouncing around inside a big rubber brain. My favorite supporting character has to be Lisa Chappell as bad girl Sylvia, for reasons which I will leave to your conjecture. She has the one graphic gore scene in the film, but, unfortunately, neither of the two bare behinds on display belong to her. (You don't wanna know who they do belong to.)

I watched a barebones screener so I can only say that the final DVD extras should include a stills gallery. The 16 x 9 anamorphic widescreen image and 2.0 Dolby Digital audio are good. The film has a nice pop music score and I especially liked the song "Not an Ordinary Life" by the Brainchilds.

JACK BROWN GENIUS gets by on a certain amount of inventiveness, some appealing actors, and lots of energy--which adds up to a decent amount of fun. It isn't one of the best comedies ever made, but it's one of the best comedies that Yahoo Serious never made.

Buy it at Amazon.com

JACK BROWN GENIUS -- movie review by porfle

BEAST WITHIN -- movie review by porfle

An interesting biological horror flick that starts out slow but ends with a lively zombie attack, the 2008 German production BEAST WITHIN (aka VIRUS UNDEAD) is a worthy effort that I found quite entertaining mainly because I wasn't expecting much from it in the first place.

Robert (Philipp Danne) and his friends, party-boy Patrick (Marvin Gronen) and timid nerd Eugen (Nikolas Jürgens) drive to a small German village to settle the affairs of Robert's late grandfather, a famous biologist who died mysteriously while studying avaian flu. After clashing with Robert's old enemy Bollman (Ski), they run across his former girlfriend Marlene (Birthe Wolter), who still smarts from being dumped years before when Robert left town. Marlene and her sexy friend Vanessa (Anna Breuer) are invited to the rustic mansion of Robert's grandfather for the evening.

Meanwhile, various villagers are becoming infected by a horrible bird-related virus and turning into raging homicidal zombies. When they start showing up at the mansion, Robert and his pals are forced to scare up a few guns, axes, etc., bolt the doors and windows, and fight off the slavering undead hordes. Unfortunately, some of them start coming down with the virus as well, and things go rather badly in general.

The story is deliberately paced at first as co-directors Wolf Wolff and Omuthi take their time putting all the pieces in place and building up suspense before pulling out all the stops in the latter half. The spooky old mansion and isolated forest locations add a bleak and ominous atmosphere, with Heiko Rahnenführer's slick cinematography and the directors' creative visual sense adding greatly to the film's overall effect. A really nice musical score by Max Wuerden and Dominik Schutes is another plus.

One of the most appealing things about BEAST WITHIN for me is the fact that it feels like a throwback to the horror films of the 70s and 80s. There's a slight Dario Argento vibe in the way it's directed and photographed, especially in the early scenes, while the more gruesome and over-the-top stuff later on reminds me of the RABID-era Cronenberg. Some of the later scenes, naturally, are influenced by NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and THE BIRDS. And the whole thing seems to be topped by a generous layer of finely-aged 80s cheese.

The actors are speaking English but they all seem to have been poorly dubbed anyway. Despite this, their performances are pretty good. This is especially true of Anna Breuer as soon as her character, Vanessa, mounts Patrick and takes off all her clothes. Now that's great acting! As for the zombies, they've got more personality than your usual cinematic undead. They're sort of a cross between the slow-moving Romero ghouls and the modern hyperactive strain, with some good old-fashioned applied makeup that look pretty cool. Even the CGI manages to not be overly horrible, especially in the shots of huge flocks of virus-infected black birds eerily traversing the sky.

The final attack is a lively free-for-all that features a steady supply of zombies laying siege to the mansion where our heroes are holed up. Much of what happens is tongue-in-cheek--especially when a fed-up Vanessa suddenly turns into Rambabe--but there are some startling developments as well. One death scene is particularly beautiful.

The film was shot on super 35mm and the DVD from Barnholtz Entertainment and Lionsgate is presented in 16 x 9 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital sound. I watched a movie-only screener but bonus features should include a stills gallery and Spanish subtitles.

One thing--why the title change? VIRUS UNDEAD has a nice ring to it if you ask me. Be that as it may, BEAST WITHIN probably isn't in any danger of attaining classic status anytime soon, but it has enough going for it to make it well worth a look. From some of the other comments I've read, I may be the only person expressing this sentiment, but hey--I know what it's like to be sitting in a movie theater all by myself.

Buy it at Amazon.com

BEAST WITHIN -- movie review by porfle

Cameron Romero's "STAUNTON HILL" on DVD October 6th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Silently, they prey…

Anchor Bay Entertainment brings you an excursion into
unrelenting horror from director Cameron Romero

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – This Halloween, Anchor Bay Entertainment celebrates a legacy of fear with the release of Staunton Hill, a visceral and vicious thriller of merciless suspense and shock. Street date is October 6th. Pre-book is September 3rd, and SRP is $19.97.

Directed by the son of legendary cult filmmaker George A. Romero, Cameron Romero is clearly following in his father’s fearful footsteps as a master of terror and suspense. When a group of hikers take off for a weekend of fun and adventure in a remote mountain region, they unwittingly stumble across the Staunton family – for whom the hill is named – and find themselves at the mercy of a depraved, diabolical brood that will stop at nothing to rid their property of these “trespassers.”

The only law on Staunton ’s Hill is the law of the Stauntons … and, in this case, the penalty for defying that law is death. This Hill has eyes -- and the eyes have it!

An unforgettable shocker for the Halloween season, Cameron Romero’s Staunton Hill stars Kathy Lamkin (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, No Country for Old Men), Cristen Coppen (Road Trip, Art School Confidentia), Kiko Ellsworth (“Heroes,” “Dexter”) and Cooper Huckabee (Space Cowboys, Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse).

* * *
About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray® formats. It is the exclusive distributor in the U.S. of the theatrical titles from Overture Films. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media (http://www.starzmedia.com/) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

STAUNTON HILL
Street Date: October 6, 2009
Pre-book: September 3, 2009
Catalog #: DV16742
UPC #: 0 1313 16742-9 3
Run Time: 90 Minutes
Rated: Not Rated
SRP: $19.97

Buy it at Amazon.com

Cameron Romero's "STAUNTON HILL" on DVD October 6th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" Season Five - on DVD October 6th

The News Crew Returns When The Collectible Three-Disc DVD Set Arrives October 6From Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

“One of the best shows ever to air on TV”- USA Today

LOS ANGELES, CA. – Winner of 29 Emmy Awards® including three for Outstanding Comedy Series and three Golden Globe Awards®, this groundbreaking series consistently ranked among television’s top-rated programs during its seven-year run. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Season Five debuts October 6 as a collectible three-disc DVD set from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Audiences follow the daily trials and tribulations of Mary Richards, an up-and-coming associate producer at WJM-TV fighting to make a place for herself in a man’s world. At work, she befriends her tough-but-lovable boss Lou Grant (Edward Asner; Up), compassionate long-suffering news writer Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod; “The Love Boat”) and pretentious anchorman Ted Baxter (Ted Knight; “The Love Boat”). At home Mary’s corky acquaintances include upstairs neighbor Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper; “Rhoda”), a self-deprecating ex-New Yorker who becomes her best friend and their neurotic, self-involved landlady, Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman; “Dancing with the Stars”).

In this fifth season, Mary and her hilariously eccentric friends at WJM-TV weather a few storms -- sometimes literally. If her love life isn’t challenging enough, Mary takes a crack at producing the news, and even has a brush with the law! Laughs are the lead story when a consultant turns the newsroom on its ear, Lou becomes Mary’s neighbor, and Ted starts a rumor that he and Mary are dating. Featuring some of television’s most memorable characters and story lines, this inimitable series belongs in every DVD collection. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” Season Five DVD collection is available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada. Prebook is September 9.

DVD Specs:
Disc One
· Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?
· Not Just Another Pretty Face
· You Sometimes Hurt the One You Hate
· Lou and That Woman
· The Outsider
· I Love a Piano
· The New Sue Ann
· Menage-a-Phyllis

Disc Two
· Not a Christmas Story
· What Are Friends For?
· A Boy’s Best Friend
· A Son for Murray
· Neighbors
· A Girl Like Mary
· An Affair to Forget
· Mary Richards: Producer

Disc Three
· The System
· Phyllis Whips Inflation
· The Shame of the Cities
· Marriage Minneapolis Style
· You Try to be a Nice Guy
· You Can’t Lose ‘em All
· Ted Baxter’s Famous Broadcaster’s School
· Anybody Who Hates Kids and Dogs

Buy it at Amazon.com

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" Season Five - on DVD October 6th

"BODYGUARD: A NEW BEGINNING" -- British Hong Kong Action Film Set For North American Release 9/15

After the successful release of director Chee Keong Cheung’s UK/ Hong Kong action-thriller ‘Bodyguard: A New Beginning’ through the label Action Extreme in the UK, Intense Productions are proud to announce the forthcoming North American DVD release by Lionsgate on Sept 15th 2009.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of the films recent success at The Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival (http://www.theyfiff.ning.com/), where it received the Audience Choice Award for Best Film. This ambitious and energetic modestly budgeted British independent has been impressing audiences worldwide with its unique East meets West story combined with impressive action sequences that blend East & West styles of fight and stunt choreography.

The film was Produced by Intense Productions in association with Radius Pictures and ScreenOps as a UK/HK co-production. 'Bodyguard: A New Beginning' tells the story of Leung, a man of unrivalled loyalty who has given his life to protecting Wong (Richard Ng)a powerful leader of an elite Chinese underground society. Leung is asked to travel overseas to protect a young British woman whose identity is known only to Wong. Even Wong’s own delinquent son Yuen is kept in the dark. This shadowy secret leads to Yuen’s betrayal of his father and he along with a rogue Yakuza boss Kai (Cary Tagawa) tries to overthrow his reign. Now the fate of Wong’s dynasty has landed in the hands of Leung his trusted bodyguard.


The film’s cast includes well known Asian actors Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (whose credits include everything from ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ to ‘MortalKombat’ and the upcoming live action film ‘Tekken’ based on the hugely successful computer game) and Hong Kong legend Richard Ng (‘My Lucky Stars’‘Winners and Sinners’)in a rare purely dramatic role. The film also includes exciting new talents Vincent Sze (‘Dragon Tiger Gate’, Johnnie To’s ‘Vengeance’) Carl Ng (‘Boarding Gate’, ‘Colour of theTruth) British actress Stephanie Langton (‘Holby Blue’) and British martial arts stars Mark Strange (‘Underground’‘The Medallion’ withJackie Chan) and three times World Kickboxing Champion Nathan Lewis (‘Batman Begins’‘Underground’). ‘Bodyguard: A New Beginning’ also features the late great Hong Kong actor Shing Fui On (John Woo’s 'A Better Tomorrow' and 'The Killer') in one of his final movie roles.

‘Bodyguard: A New Beginning’ is the highly anticipated second feature film from British-Chinese writerdirector and producer Chee Keong Cheung, after his impressive directorial debut the acclaimed and award winning British martial arts/ action tournament film ‘Underground’ acclaimed for its cast of real life martial arts champions & high impact fight sequences.

Producing the film is Hong Kong based Producer/Casting Director Mike Leeder whose credits include everything from Jet Li's 'Fearless', 'TheMummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor', Baz Luhrman's 'Australia' and most recently Yuen Woo-ping's highly anticipated 'True Legend', along with Ean Tang ('The White Wall', 'Fearless') of Screen Ops, and from the UK Mark Strange ('Displaced') and Oliver Morran, as well as Jim Howell & Simon Barnes of Park Entertainment & Chris Atkins & Luke Montagu of Met Film.

The films action sequences were staged by Anthony Carpio, who brings over 20 years experience as a member of the illustrious Jackie Chan Stunt Man Team (working on almost every Jackie Chan movie since 'Police Story 2' through to 'Rob-B-Hood'), along with Chan Man-ching, another member of the Jackie Chan team whose credits include everything from 'Angel 2' to 'Hellboy 2'.

Worldwide sales on ‘Bodyguard: A New Beginning’ are handled by London based sales agent Park Entertainment.


'Bodyguard: A New Beginning' has screened to much acclaim impressing audiences at a number of national and international film festivals including the recent ‘Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival’NorthernIreland Notting Hill Film Festival at The Kensington Odeon Cinema, the cult ‘Phantasmagoria Festival’ the ‘Bi-National Independent Film Festival’ held in Mexico and Texas where the film picked up an Honourable Mention and the ‘15th Oldenburg International Film Festival’ in Germany who hailed the film as “A magnificent martial arts movie... Pushes the tempo in the stunning action scenes...Intense, innovative and daring!”

‘Bodyguard: A New Beginning’ is currently available in the UK through HMV and online via Play.comAmazon.co.UK and Lovefilm. Also available is the soundtrack for ‘Bodyguard: A New Beginning’ courtesy of Moviescore Mediawith the epic score composed by Stuart Hancock. For more information visit http://www.moviescoremedia.com/

“Bodyguard: A New Beginning is one of the most remarkable Chinese thrillers of recent yearsa test of strength for the mind and a genre highlight for even non-HK fans. Not to be missed.” – (Video World)“With Brutal Action Scenes… Action fans will not be disappointed at theresult.” 4/5 - (Albert ValentinKung Fu Cinema)“The UK’s independent action movie making scene has grown from strength to strength in recent years… Bodyguard: A New Beginning has raised the bar even further… A dramatic thriller and solid entertainment.” – (Ricky Morris Impact Magazine) “Capturing a dark unsettling tone of drama and a fast paced brutal and stylish flair for the action sequences the film treads new ground and blends multi-genre conventions.” (HK Cinemagic)“Sharp tight and delivered with brutal impact.” - (Andrew SkeatesFar East Films)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmSgb9ArEWg

Buy it at Amazon.com

"BODYGUARD: A NEW BEGINNING" -- British Hong Kong Action Film Set For North American Release 9/15

"Fame!" Seasons 1 and 2 - on DVD September 15

“I’M GONNA LIVE FOREVER.... I’m gonna learn how to fly”

FAME: SEASONS ONE & TWO--The Award Winning Musical TV Series Performs On DVD September 15 From MGM Home Entertainment

See The Reinvention Of The Original Oscar® Winning Film In Theaters Nationwide September 25

LOS ANGELES, CA – Take a seat for the opening act as the students of the New York City High School for the Performing Arts take center stage when “Fame” Seasons One & Two steals the spotlight on DVD September 15 from MGM Home Entertainment. Known for its outstanding choreography and popular original songs, the critically acclaimed 1980’s hit earned rave reviews and garnered multiple awards, including a Golden Globe® for best TV series comedy/musical in 1983 and again in 1984, instantly establishing a dedicated fan base across the world. Based on the beloved motion picture with the same name, “Fame” brings drama, music and dance to life; Emmy®-award winning choreographer Debbie Allen stars as Lydia Grant, a faculty member who guides the gifted students through discouragement and disappointment as they struggle for a spot in the cutthroat entertainment industry. Ultimately, they learn that although there are many set backs on the treacherous road to stardom, they must follow their dreams to achieve fame.

The DVD releases is timed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.’s reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film FAME debuting in theaters September 25, 2009.

The “Fame” Seasons One & Two nine-disc set includes 38 highly energized episodes, including the Emmy® award winning installments “Tomorrow's Farewell,” “Alone In A Crowd,” “Class Act,” “To Soar and Never Falter,” “The Strike” and “Come One, Come All,” plus an exclusive “Fame: Then and Now” featurette and will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S./$54.98 Canada for a limited time only.

Synopsis:

Fame Soars! The Emmy® and Golden Globe®-award winning TV series portrays the lives of a diverse group of talented high school students at New York's School of the Arts. Filled with exciting dance sequences and original musical numbers, this double-set includes all 38 original episodes from the first two seasons.

DVD Specifics:

The “Fame” Seasons One & Two DVD is compiled on nine discs and is presented in full screen format (1.33:1 aspect ratio) with English audio and English and French (season one only) subtitles. In addition, the following episodes and special features are exclusive to each disc:

DVD Episodes and Special Features:

Disc 1 / Season 1

• “Metamorphosis”

• “Passing Grade”

• “Tomorrow's Farewell”

• “Alone in a Crowd”

• “To Soar and Never Falter”

Disc 2 / Season 1

• “The Sell -Out”

• “The Strike”

• “Street Kid”

• “But Seriously Folks”

• “Come One, Come All”

Disc 3 / Season 1

• “The Crazies”

• “Exposé”

• “A Musical Bridge”

• “A Big Finish”

Disc 4 / Season 1

• “Reunions”

• “A Special Place”

Disc 5 / Season 2

• “And the Winner Is”

• “Your Own Song”

• “Feelings”

• “Class Act”

• “Teachers”

Disc 6 / Season 2

• “Beginnings”

• “Solo Song”

• “Winners”

• “Words”

• “Childhood’s End”

Disc 7 / Season 2

• “Homecoming”

• “ Tough Act to Follow”

• “Relationships”

• “Star Quality”

• “Sunshine Again”

Disc 8 / Season 2

• “Love is the Question”

• “Blood, Sweat & Circuits”

• “Friendship Day”

• “Not in Kansas Anymore”

“..Help From My Friends”

Disc 9 / Season 2

• “Ending On A High Note”

• “U.N. Week”

• Special Features

o Fame: Then and Now

Buy the Complete Seasons 1 & 2 at Amazon.com

"Fame!" Seasons 1 and 2 - on DVD September 15

MUTANTS -- movie review by porfle

Not a really awful movie, the low-budget sci-fi thriller MUTANTS (2008) is neither ridiculously funny nor jaw-droppingly stupid enough to be entertaining. It's just exceptionally mundane.

The main gist of the story is that an evil sugar manufacturer has found a way to make the stuff even more addictive than it already is--as addictive as, say, heroin--but the secret additive invented by the company's resident evil Russian scientist, Sergei (Armando Leduc in full "Boris Badanov" mode), has an unfortunate side effect. It turns people into slavering, homicidal mutants, and their condition is highly contagious. So naturally, the company's dastardly CEO orders his underlings to kidnap runaway junkies off the streets for Sergei to experiment on until they get the formula just right. Which is fine with Sergei since he loves to create mutants.

One of the people kidnapped is the son of a broken-down security guard named Griff (Louis Herthum) who is still suffering from the death of his wife. His daughter Erin (Sharon Landry) works for the sugar company and begins getting strange emails that clue her in to her boss' evil doings. When she discovers that her brother is being held, she enlists the aid of Griff and a company strong-arm named Sykes (Tony Senzamici), who's sweet on her. Together they break into Mutant Central and get themselves into a whole heap of trouble.

Much of MUTANTS consists of people sitting in rooms and saying a lot of uninteresting dialogue. This is punctuated by a few meager action scenes in which a runaway junkie gets chased down or a mutant pops out and is subdued. Mainly the title creatures are seen only in their cells until the final minutes, when the good guys are shooting their way out of the facility and mutants spring out of the shadows every few seconds and are cut down. The makeup on most of them consists of some boils and not much else.

Direction, cinematography, and other elements are bland. The lead actors, however, are fairly good. Herthum (Griff) and Senzamici (Sykes) are probably the best of the lot--Herthum even had a small role in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON--and they resemble each other enough to have played father and son in CARNIVOROUS the same year. Sharon Landry is fairly appealing as Erin. The rest of the cast is unremarkable.

The producers do score some points right off the bat by managing to wrangle Michael Ironside (SCANNERS, STARSHIP TROOPERS) and Steven Bauer (SCARFACE, TRAFFIC) to come in and do some scenes so that their names can be featured prominently in the credits. Bauer, sporting a weirdly nerdish makeup job, almost literally phones his performance in since he's seen mostly via a computer screen as he checks in with Michael Ironside's "Colonel Gauge" character. Ironside plays some kind of special ops guy who's onto the big sugar conspiracy, and in the film's finale he actually gets out of his car and participates in a fight scene with one of the bad guys. If you're a fan of Ironside or Bauer and the sight of their names in the credits gets you all excited, you might want to lower your expectations a bit.

I watched a screener so I can't comment on the final release version from North American Motion Pictures. The picture is 16 x 9 full-screen with stereo audio. Special features should include behind-the-scenes, stills gallery, and closed captioning.

I can't recommend MUTANTS, but I wouldn't urge you to flee from it in mortal terror, either. It just doesn't make much of an impression one way or the other.

Buy it at Amazon.com

MUTANTS -- movie review by porfle

Fringe Season 1 DVD Review by Jessica Friedman

Fringe Complete First Season DVD Review

Jessica Friedman

J.J Abrams—the name conjures up many reactions for many people. He has his diehard fans (Lost, Alias, etc.) and his extreme haters. While Ian and I have often wavered from apathy to complete disgust for his popular programs, the release of Cloverfield made Ian a lot more susceptible to giving his shows a chance (how could a giant monster movie like that not affect my husband?).

When it comes to the sci-fi television show, Fringe, Ian and I would constantly see previews for the show that looked really cool during our beloved 24, but we never felt like putting in the effort to actually watch Fringe when it aired. “We’ll see it when it comes out on DVD,” we always said. Well, after devouring the episodes in the span of a few days, we both have decided to never make that mistake again and have deemed this show appointment TV that cannot be missed.

Why the sudden change of heart? For starters, this show is fantastically dense and is fascinating to watch again and again. The only other show that I enjoyed deciphering to such a degree was the sadly departed Arrested Development. There are minor clues hidden in each episode that become incredibly important later on in the season. I will not discuss any of them here, but one needs to watch each episode in succession in order to gain a complete understanding of the mythology Abrams and others have plotted within the universe the characters inhabit.

The three main characters who go about investigating bizarre and often supernatural “fringe” cases are the protagonist, FBI agent Olivia Dunham (played by Anna Torv), the wacky genius scientist, Walter Bishop (brilliantly portrayed by John Noble), and his sarcastic con-artist son, Peter Bishop (played by the always awesome Joshua Jackson). Jackson was the lure Ian set in front of me to get me interested in the show (he was my teen crush when he played Pacey on Dawson’s Creek), and Ian got me hook, line, and sinker. While I still love watching Josh play his usual cynical self, my favorite character of the three is definitely Noble’s Walter, who always provides great comic relief and really makes you feel for his character’s struggle with the horrible experiments he has conducted in the past and how that affects his present and future. Walter is sympathetic as soon as he leaves the mental hospital where he had been committed for the past 17 years because of a lab accident. Walter’s quirks include an obsession with food (he mentions wanting a root beer float repeatedly in one episode and compares a man’s exposed spinal cord to that of a shrimp in another) and drugs (he constantly talks about taking LSD), but the warmth that Noble brings to his performance makes Walter a joy to watch in every episode.

There are also a number of other important characters in the show that help to flesh out the Fringe universe: Homeland Security special agent Phillip Broyles (played by Lance Reddick), FBI agent Charlie Francis (played by Kirk Acevedo), and FBI junior agent and lab helper for Walter, Astrid Farnsworth (played by Jakisa Nicole). One of my favorite minor characters who appears in a few episodes is David Robert Jones, perfectly portrayed by Jared Harris (who also plays British head Lane Pryce on my other obsession, Mad Men). Jones is a biochemist turned criminal whose personality combines the charisma of Hannibal Lector and the crazy genius of Heath Ledger’s the Joker. Harris is immensely enjoyable to watch on screen during his rare appearances on the show, and his portrayal of Jones is captivating. I particularly enjoyed the double whammy of episodes 10 and 14 (“Safe” and “Ability”) that helps to highlight how massively diabolical Jones is, yet there is a sort of sweetness and vulnerability to his character as well. For example, when he congratulates Olivia for completing a task, there is a real paternal warmth to his voice that is striking and threw me for a loop.

Speaking of “massive,” one of the best parts of the show in my opinion is the futuristic, but always realistic portrayal of the pharmaceutical/medical technology mega-corporation “Massive Dynamic.” With every fringe case that the cast members try to solve, this company always seems to be involved. And for good reason—the founder of the company, William Bell, was Walter’s lab partner at Harvard. Bell appears to have carried on those weird experiments that Walter had worked on previously, and he plays a central role in the later episodes of Season 1 (and will likely be important in Season 2 as well). Since Bell is MIA for the majority of the episodes, the person in charge of Massive Dynamic is the enigmatic Nina Sharp, a woman who has a completely robotic arm and appears to be entranced by Olivia and her capabilities in solving crimes for the FBI. Jones also has an important relationship with the company, but I won’t divulge how or why this relationship affects the mythology of the show itself.

Another great component to the TV show is the glyphs or images that flash on the screen before each commercial break. Ranging from an apple with embryos for seeds to a frog with a phi symbol on its back, these symbols represent the combination of the natural with the man-made, which in itself is a common theme of the show. Although the images are fun to examine, the best part about them is that apparently they work as a code from which one can decipher a clue about the episode (similar to the alien language on Futurama). Needless to say, this is a really fun and interactive feature of the show that is great for cryptography dorks such as myself.

Aside from the amazing and thought-provoking stories that can be found in each episode, the DVD set also includes some fantastic special features: there are sidebars for every episode that decipher a particular scene; unaired scenes and “The Massive Undertaking” Docupods on certain episodes; a hilarious gag reel; a diary by a member of the production crew; and best of all, a feature on Gene the Cow, the animal Walter insisted on having in his Harvard laboratory once he got out of the mental hospital. The copy I reviewed had great picture and sound quality (some of the more gruesome scenes were definitely enhanced in their goriness because of the 5.1 surround sound), and the subtitles were very helpful.

All in all, this show is a must-have for anyone who likes exciting television that is complex, but fun at the same time. I’m not even a huge sci-fi nut, but the mythology established within the show is so intriguing that I have gone out of my way to read up on possible theories about the main three characters and story arcs within the first season. You should definitely not make the mistake Ian and I did before we watched this show: Do not automatically dismiss something because J.J. Abrams is involved with it. That sort of close-mindedness will lead you to miss out on some quality network programming.

The second season of Fringe premieres Thursday September 17 on Fox at 9 PM EST. Do yourself a favor and make it appointment television like Ian and I have. You won’t regret it.

Fringe Season 1 DVD Review by Jessica Friedman