Thursday, December 31, 2009
FALLING UP -- DVD review by porfle
You know how sometimes you're hungry for a sandwich but you don't feel like going to the trouble of making one so you just settle for a piece of bread instead? FALLING UP (2009) is the cinematic equivalent of that piece of bread. (You can quote me on that.)
Joseph Cross (RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, MILK) plays Henry O'Shea, a nursing student who must leave school and get a job as a doorman in a ritzy Park Avenue apartment building to support his family after his father suffers a handball fatality. Sounds great already, but the part that must've really sold this premise to the backers comes when Henry uses his CPR training to save not only the resident blatantly-gay couple's dog, but also the boyfriend of a pretty young rich babe named Scarlett Dowling (Sarah Roemer, WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY, DISTURBIA) after he snorts too much coke during her 21st birthday party and has a seizure.
Henry's a hero to everyone in the building except snooty Mrs. Dowling (former Mrs. Tom Cruise, Mimi Rogers), who is horrified to discover that her daughter has become smitten with this common doorman and has him fired after they go out together. Well, there are certain things ya just know are going to happen in a rom-com situation like this, right? And they do. The end.
This is one of those perky and vaguely quirky little comedies that doesn't want to work up a sweat by being really funny, so it settles for cute. It's not so bad once you've settled into it, but once the plot gets going everything plops into place like one of those Playskool jigsaw puzzles with four or five pieces. The mildly amusing antics that we get seem to be acting as a placeholder for when the real comedy shows up, which it never does. Basically, FALLING UP is just a series of slightly amusing situations that never really amount to anything--it would probably have a heart attack if it turned a corner and ran into NIGHT SHIFT with Michael Keaton.
Scarlett, naturally, is fascinated by their cute new doorman right off the bat and, despite being a beautiful young girl with loads of money, seems wide open for business in the romance department. Which is exactly the way things like that never work out in real life but always do in chipper little romantic comedies. Sure, she's got a boyfriend, but "Buck" is a substance-abusing snob whose days are numbered as soon as Scarlett gets a load of Henry's blue-collar poor-guy charm.
The supporting cast boasts a few veterans who do what they can with their characters, including an under-utilized Joe Pantoliano as Henry's abrasive boss George and Annette O'Toole as his ditzy mom, who fits into her new job in a porno shop like she was working at an EZ Mart. Rachael Leigh Cook (BLONDE AMBITION, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS) walks a lot of dogs as Henry's matchmaking sister, while Mimi Rogers as Scarlett's mom does the usual rich-bitch routine. Cross and Roemer are adequate but make pretty unexciting leads. Snoop Dogg, as Henry's slacker co-worker Raul, predictably seems rather blase' about the whole thing.
Production values are pretty good and director David M. Rosenthal does a capable but unremarkable job. The musical score by Mark Mothersbaugh sounds more like a string of bad MIDIs than something written by one of the masterminds behind Devo, with the occasional sappy emo ballad thrown in for effect.
The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Surround 2.0 and English subtitles. The sole extra is an unilluminating three-minute peek behind-the-scenes.
Like a candy bar that doesn't have enough nuts in it, FALLING UP is pleasant but singularly unrewarding. Even when it tries to work up a little GRADUATE-style vibe at the end, it just doesn't have the heart to do anything that might seem too impolite. The fadeout, which comes at such an abruptly non-climactic moment that I could almost hear Marge Simpson saying "Whaaa?", wants to be a fist-in-the-air moment but barely manages a limp pinky.
Buy it at Amazon.com
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Just Announced: "Hellhounds" on DVD February 16 from RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment
RUTHLESS MONSTERS FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE UNDERWORLD ARE ON THE HUNT IN "HELLHOUNDS"
Latest Thrilling Entry In The "Maneater Series" Debuts On DVD February 16 From RHI Entertainment And Vivendi Entertainment
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - A virgin bride finds herself hunted by a pack of vicious and immortal guardians in HELLHOUNDS, sinking its teeth onto DVD February 16 from Vivendi Entertainment and RHI Entertainment. The 19th installment in the fan-favorite "Maneater Series," HELLHOUNDS, delves into the trenches of hell as a Greek warrior rescues his love and battles ravenous hellhounds in order to save her from the evil clutches of Hades. A brutal and dangerous adventure, the Syfy Channel original movie stars Scott Elrod ("Men in Trees"), James A. Woods (The Watch) and Amanda Brooks (My Best Friend's Girl), under the direction of Rick Schroder ("NYPD Blue"). HELLHOUNDS will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.
Synopsis:
When Kleitos' jealous friend Theron poisons his bride Demetria, the warrior descends into the Underworld to rescue her, slaying the duplicitous Theron. The evil ruler Hades raises Theron from the dead to lead a pack of undying hellhounds, wolf-like guardians who have been released to do the bidding of their master-kill everything in their path and bring Demetria back to Hell.
BASICS
Price: $14.93
Street Date: February 16, 2010
Pre-book Date: January 5, 2010
Catalog Number: 1001140
Language:English
Running time: 87 minutes
Rating: NR
About Vivendi Entertainment
Vivendi Entertainment is a full service independent domestic film, television, DVD, and digital distribution company representing a vast range of genres including action, comedy, thriller, urban, family, fitness and stand-up comedies. The company has become a favorite distribution partner for independent content providers. Vivendi Entertainment has built an extensive catalog of over 3,000 titles and its customer-centric business model was founded on the principles of collaboration and financial transparency. The company provides sales, marketing, and distribution services to many of the home entertainment industry's most prestigious brands including: The Weinstein Company, World Wrestling Entertainment, Sesame Street, Classic Media, RHI, Shout! Factory, Salient and Codeblack. Vivendi Entertainment also provides best in class digital distribution services. Theatrically, the company released the highly anticipated anthology New York, I Love You. Vivendi Entertainment is a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company. UMG's parent Vivendi, is a $50B France based international organization, whose other media holdings include Studio Canal and Activision Blizzard
About RHI Entertainment
RHI Entertainment (NASDAQ: RHIE) develops, produces and distributes new made-for-television movies, miniseries and other television programming worldwide, and is the leading provider of new long-form television content in the United States. Under the leadership of Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr., RHI has produced and distributed thousands of hours of quality television programming, and RHI's productions have received more than 100 Emmy Awards. In addition to the development, production and distribution of new content, RHI owns rights to more than 1,000 titles, or over 3,500 broadcast hours of long-form television programming, which are licensed to broadcast and cable networks and new media outlets globally. For more consumer information visit www.rhitv.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com
Monday, December 28, 2009
February Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment
VEGA$: THE FIRST SEASON VOLUME TWO
In this popular series, fun loving private eye Dan Tanna drives around in his vintage Thunderbird solving private cases but is also on retainer to a wealthy casino owner to keep crime out of his hotels. He is helped by his smart and sexy assistant, a not too smart chorus girl (Phyllis Davis), and his enthusiastic yet inept legman (Bart Braverman).
Actors: Robert Urich, Tony Curtis, Greg Morris, Bart Braverman
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Run Time: 589 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
BARNABY JONES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
This series focused around a retired private detective, Barnaby Jones (Buddy Ebsen), who had passed his private investigation business to his son, Hal. When Hal was murdered while on a case, Barnaby came out of retirement to track down his son's killer. Hal's widow Betty (Lee Meriwether) worked with Barnaby as his invaluable assistant on cases.
Actors: Buddy Ebsen, John Carter, Mark Shera
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 4
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 662 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
CANNON: SEASON TWO VOLUME TWO
The weekly adventures of Frank Cannon, an overweight, balding ex-cop with a deep voice and expensive tastes in culinary pleasures, who becomes a high-priced private investigator. Since Cannon's girth didn't allow for many fistfights and gun battles (although there were plenty), the series substituted car chases and high production values in their place.
Actors: William Conrad
Format: Box set, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 606 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
MY THREE SONS: SEASON THREE VOLUME ONE
"My Three Sons" is a delightful slice-of-life comedy about the American family. The series chronicles the life of the Douglas family; a seemingly simple premise that was a huge hit with audiences and a keystone of the TV family lineup in the 60s. Fred McMurray delivers a standout performance as Steve Douglas, an aeronautical engineer and widower raising his three sons alone.
Actors: Fred MacMurray, William Frawley
Format: NTSC
Region: Region 1
Buy it at Amazon.com
JAG: THE FINAL SEASON
A one-hour dramatic series, "JAG" (military terminology for Judge Advocate General) is an adventure drama about an elite legal wing of officers trained as lawyers who investigate, prosecute, and defend those accused of crimes in the military, including murder, treason, and terrorism. A Navy Commander ace pilot turned lawyer Harmon "Harm" Rabb, Jr. (David James Elliott) and by-the-book Marine Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) find themselves clashing as they traverse the globe together to search for and discover the truth.
Actors: David James Elliott, Chuck Carrington, John M. Jackson, Patrick Labyorteaux, Scott Lawrence
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 5
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Run Time: 969 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
DYNASTY: SEASON FOUR VOLUME TWO
This hugely popular prime-time soap opera follows the exploits of the Carringtons and Colbys, both "oil rich" family dynasties in Denver, CO, as they accrue and manipulate power and wealth.
Actors: John Forsythe, Gordon Thomson, John James, Michael Nader
Format: Box set, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Number of discs: 3
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010
Run Time: 609 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
BEVERLY HILLS 90210: SEASON NINE
The ensemble drama about young adults growing up in Beverly Hills is a blend of romantic drama and subject matter that crosses all cultural boundaries. The storyline follows the West Beverly gang as they mature as college students and beyond, facing new challenges as they continue to grow and discover more about themselves and their personal ambitions. As their worlds evolve, old friendships will be tested as new relationships develop, but no mater how complicated their worlds become, they will alwyas share in their strengths and experiences.
Actors: Jason Priestley, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Number of discs: 6
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010
Run Time: 1146 minutes
Buy it at Amazon.com
THE EVIL WOODS -- movie review by porfle
Carter Steven's Guide To TCM This Week (12/29-1/1)!
HK and CULT FILM NEWS brings you a new weekly series, where acclaimed American film director and avid Turner Classic Movie fan Carter Stevens brings you his recommendations on what to watch on TCM and why. We hope you enjoy this new series and thank Carter Stevens for taking time out to give us his recommendations.
Tue December 29, 2009
7:00am High Noon (1952)
A retired Marshal must defend his town from a revengeful villain.
Cast: Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado Dir: Fred Zinnemann BW-85 mins, TV-PG
This one is for the TiVo or VCR. Too damn early to watch live. One of the greatest westerns ever with a score I dare you to try to forget. Gary Cooper at his lone hero standing against evil best.
10:30am Cameraman, The (1928)
In this silent film, a photographer takes up newsreel shooting to impress a movie queen.
Cast: Buster Keaton, Marceline Day, Harold Goodwin, Sidney Bracy Dir: Edward Sedgwick BW-76 mins, TV-G
Not my favorite Keaton by far but come on the hero is a movie Camerman how could I not recommend it.
8:00pm On The Waterfront(1954)
A young stevedore takes on the mobster who rules the docks.
Cast: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger Dir: Elia Kazan BW-108 mins, TV-PG
I coulda been somebody, I coulda been a contender, instead of a bum, which is what I am. No Charlie it was you. Brando and Steiger out methoding each other and as legend has it improvising one of the greatest dramatic scenes in film.
2:15am Ice Station Zebra (1968)
A sub commander on a perilous mission must ferret out a Soviet agent on his ship.
Cast: Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, Jim Brown Dir: John Sturges C-152 mins, TV-PG
I love this film. I don't know why. Maybe because I saw it in Cinerama when it opened. The Avatar of it's day.
Wed December 30, 2009
12:45pm Battle Circus (1953)
A doctor fights for his life during the Korean War.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, June Allyson, Keenan Wynn, Robert Keith Dir: Richard Brooks BW-90 mins, TV-PG
M.A.S.H. ... first draft.
1:30am Caine Mutiny, The (1954)
Naval officers begin to suspect their captain of insanity.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray Dir: Edward Dmytryk C-125 mins, TV-PG
Just in case you thought Humphrey Bogart was NOT really an “actor.” and just a “star”
Thu December 31, 2009
7:00AM to 8:00 PM Alfred Hitchcock all day and then from 8:00PM to 6:45AM the next morning The Thin Man
If you're the kind who stays in on New Years eve TCM has a movie for you.
Fri January 1, 2010
8:30am Anatomy Of A Murder (1959)
A small-town lawyer gets the case of a lifetime when a military man avenges an attack on his wife.
Cast: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell Dir: Otto Preminger BW-161 mins, TV-PG
If you can even open your eyes New Years day watch the greatest courtroom drama ever filmed. And watch famous lawyer Joseph Welch teach all those high falutin' actors a thing a two about acting from the bench.
3:00pm Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The (1962)
An experienced gunman and a peace-loving tenderfoot clash with a Western bully.
Cast: James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin Dir: John Ford BW-123 mins, TV-14
Read that cast list and the director. What more needs to be said.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Stargate Universe (SGU 1.0) - On Blu-ray Disc and DVD February 9
Featuring An EXTENDED Pilot With Never-Before-Seen Footage
SGU 1.0 Debuts Exclusively On Blu-ray Disc And DVD February 9
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (December 21, 2009) – From the creators of television’s longest running Sci-Fi series, “Stargate SG-1” comes a new story as “SGU 1.0” lands on two-disc Blu-ray and three-disc DVD February 9 from MGM Home Entertainment. Featuring the first 10 episodes, fans will have the opportunity to relive their favorite moments before all-new episodes air in the spring. With a winning combination of Stargate’s pedigree, award-winning cult favorite stars and a bold new look, “SGU 1.0” features appearances by original cast members Richard Dean Anderson (“MacGyver”) and Amanda Tapping (“Stargate SG-1”). Plus meet a brand new all-star cast including Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty), Brian J. Smith (Hate Crime), David Blue (“Ugly Betty”), Jamil Walker Smith (“Hey Arnold!”) and guest starring Ming-Na (“ER”), Lou Diamond Phillips (Stand And Deliver), and Canadian actors Louis Ferreira, Alaina Huffman and Elyse Levesque.
“SGU” is the story of a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians, fleeing an attack, finding themselves stranded billions of miles from Earth on an Ancient ship known as the Destiny. Locked on an unknown course, they must fight to survive and find a way home. The danger, adventure and hope they find on board the Destiny will reveal the heroes and villains among them.
Discover exclusive Blu-ray Disc bonus materials including star map log segments of “Stargate Universe’s” new look, Directors minutes and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Fans can also enjoy Blu-ray Disc and DVD extras including an extended pilot, cast and crew commentary on all episodes and more. SGU 1.0 two-disc Blu-ray will be available for a suggested retail price of $69.98 U.S./$79.98 Canada and three-disc DVD for $ 49.98 U.S./$59.98 Canada. Prebook is December 23.
Blu-ray Disc Specs:
Disc One:
- Episodes
- Air, parts 1 & 2
- Air, part 3
- Air (Extended Version)
- Darkness
- Light
- Special Features
- Destiny SML
- Robert Carlyle
- Louis Ferreira
- Lou Diamond Phillips
- Ming-Na
- David Blue
- A Brand New “Universe” – BD exclusive
- Designing Destiny – BD exclusive
- Inside Destiny – BD exclusive
- Stargate 101: Presented by Dr. Daniel Jackson
- The Stargate
- The GOA ‘ULD
- Hyperspace
- The Ancients
- Ascension
- Lucian Alliance
- Kawoosh 2.0 – BD exclusive
- Chatting with the Cast: Shooting on the Destiny – BD exclusive
- Director’s Minutes: Andy Mikita – BD exclusive
- No Day at the Beach – BD exclusive
- White Sands – BD exclusive
- Kino Video Diaries
- Kino 101 with Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper
- Young “Get that thing out of Here”
- Eli: Mess with Greer, Scott and TJ
- Spencer and Brody Sneaking Smokes
- Voyeur Scott and Chloe’s Conversation
- Eli: Chloe interviewed in her Room
- Destiny Tour
- Commentary by Cast and Crew
Disc Two:
- Episodes
- Water
- Earth
- Time
- Life
- Justice
- Special Features
- Destiny SML
- Alaina Huffman
- Brian J Smith
- Elyse Levesque
- Jamil Walker Smith
- Director’s Minutes: William Waring – BD Exclusive
- Falling Through Ice – BD Exclusive
- On the Ice – BD Exclusive
- Setting the (Alien) Mood – BD Exclusive
- Out on the Town – BD Exclusive
- A Stunt in Tight Places – BD Exclusive
- Director’s Minutes; Ernest R. Dickerson – BD Exclusive
- Helmet-Cam 101 – BD Exclusive
- Shooting in the Rain – BD Exclusive
- Let it Rain – BD Exclusive
- Fight! – BD Exclusive
- Future/Past: The New Stargate – BD Exclusive
- A New Look for SG: U – BD Exclusive
- Kino Video Diaries
- James in the Shower
- Kino Race
- Favorite Meal Bit
- Brody and Riley Try on Space Suits
- Brody and Riley Accident
- Riley Diary
- Park Diary
- Voyeur Scott and Chloe’s Embrace by Window
- Inman Makes Alcohol Concoction then Hears Explosion
- Commentary by Cast and Crew
Three-Disc DVD Specs:
Disc One:
- Episodes
- Air, parts 1 & 2
- Air, part 3
- Air (Extended Version)
- Darkness
- Special Features
- Kino Video Diaries
- Kino 101 with Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper
- Young “Get That Thing out of Here”
- Destiny Tour
- Eli: Mess with Greer, Scott and TJ
- Spencer and Brody Sneaking Smokes
- Commentary by Cast and Crew
Disc Two:
- Episodes
- Light
- Water
- Earth
- Special Features
- Destiny SML
- Ming-Na
- David Blue
- Alaina Huffman
- Stargate 101: Presented by Dr. Daniel Jackson
- The Stargate
- The GOA ‘ULD
- Hyperspace
- The Ancients
- Ascension
- Lucian Alliance
- Kino Video Diaries
- Voyeur Scott and Chloe’s conversation
- Eli: Chloe Interviewed in her Room
- James in the Shower
- Kino Race
- Inman Makes Alcohol Concoction then Hears Explosion
- Brody and Riley Try on Space Suits
- Voyeur Scott and Chloe’s embrace by window
- Commentary by Cast and Crew
Disc Three:
- Episodes
- Time
- Life
- Justice
- Special Features
- Destiny SML
- Robert Carlyle
- Louis Ferreira
- Lou Diamond Phillips
- Brian J. Smith
- Elyse Levesque
- Jamil Walker Smith
- Kino Video Diaries
- Favorite Meal Bit
- Riley Diary
- Park Diary
- Commentary by Cast and Crew
About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co, MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.
Follow TCFHE on Twitter @foxhomeent
SGU 1.0
Street Date: February 2, 2010
Prebook Date: December 23, 2009
Screen Format: Widescreen – 1.78:1 (All)
Audio: English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio, Spanish and Portuguese Dolby Surround (BD)
English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Spanish and Portuguese Dolby Surround (Standard)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese (All)
Total Run Time: 569 minutes (BD)
519 minutes (DVD)
U.S. Rating: NR
Closed Captioned: Yes
STARGATE UNIVERSE AND SGU ™ & © 2009 METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray
Two Sexy Horror Comedies on DVD Jan. 19!
Sexy Reinventions of Classic Horror Monsters--Taking a Bite Out of DVD Jan. 19th
LOS ANGELES - Jan. 1, 2010 - Get ready to sex up your New Year with two erotic comedies busting out on DVD Jan. 19 from Infinity Entertainment Group.
Twilight Vamps: A vampire nudie bar? Let's get the party started! Two guys get the lap dance of their lives at one of the sexiest night clubs around, Shadows, where they encounter a bevy of bounteous beauties with an appetite for human blood. When Tabitha and her gang of to-die-for vampire strippers lead a dusk to dawn marathon of sex, music and more sex, who will survive and what will be left of them? Starring Brandin Rackley, Ashley West, Christine Nguyen and Beverly Lynne.
Bikini Frankenstein: The immortal tale gets a modern update with a sexy twist. Dr. Frankenstein sets out to create the perfect woman, wondering if anyone would ever really be able to tell the difference. Deciding to put his creation, Eve, to the ultimate test, the hilarious and sensuous results will leave you stiff with laughter. She'll love you to pieces! Featuring sexy newcomer Jayden Cole as Eve along with fan favorites Christine Nguyen and Brandin Rackley.
Twilight Vamps and Bikini Frankenstein are presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16 x 9 and 2.0 Dolby Stereo. Special features include original trailers.
Retromedia Entertainment was launched in 2001 by CEO Fred Olen Ray, a well-known writer, director and producer of films across a broad range of genres. Among his most successful works are the award-winning films Invisible Mom, starring Dee Wallace, and Inner Sanctum, starring Tanya Roberts and Margaux Hemingway, both of which became "The Number One Most Rented" DVD titles in the U.S., according to the RIAA. The latter film earned Ray the Wall Street Journal headline "B Movie Makes A-Movie Money." Ray also directed the award-winning Black Horizon, starring Michael Dudikoff and Ice-T; Armed Response, starring David Carradine; and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, called the "4th Coolest B Movie of All Time" by Maxim magazine.
Infinity Entertainment Group, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., is a multi-service home entertainment retail distributor specializing in independent films, television programming, special-interest, documentaries, anime and music. Clients include Smithsonian Networks, MOJO HD, Falcon Picture Group, Bandai Entertainment, Roxbury Entertainment, SJ2 Entertainment and Retromedia. Hit titles include the iconic Route 66 television series, now available on DVD for the first time, and Spike Jones: The Legend. The company was launched in 2006 and is a division of Infinity Resources, Inc., a privately-held, multi-channel marketing and service enterprise with general offices based in suburban Chicago, Ill.
Twilight Vamps
Bikini Frankenstein
Infinity Entertainment Group
Genre: Erotic Horror/Comedy
Not Rated
Format: DVD Only
Running Time: Approx. 81 Minutes Each
Suggested Retail Price: $14.98 Each
Pre-Order Date: December 15, 2009
Street Date: January 19, 2010
Buy "Bikini Frankenstein" at Amazon.com
Buy "Twilight Vamps" at Amazon.com
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
INALIENABLE -- DVD review by porfle
"From the mind of Walter Koenig", erstwhile Ensign Chekov of the Starship Enterprise, comes INALIENABLE (2009), which starts out as a horror tale of a man who isn't quite sure whether he's carrying a deadly parasite or an alien offspring, and ends up itself resembling the unearthly lovechild of SyFy and Lifetime.
Research scientist Eric Norris (Richard Hatch, a veteran of both versions of "Battlestar Galactica") is trying to discover a cure for AIDS while dealing with the endless guilt caused by the death of his wife and son in a car crash in which he was driving. One day his friend brings him a piece of rock that broke off of an alien wessel--sorry, a meteor--that crashed on his property. Eric wakes up the next day to find that the rock has transformed into a jellyfish-like creature and invaded his body, nestling in a pouch-like protrusion over his left hip and sending tendrils throughout his body which intertwine with his vital organs.
It soon becomes apparent that Eric is "pregnant" with something, and when the FBI finds out about this potential alien threat, he must flee along with a sympathetic coworker, Amanda Mayfield (Courtney Peldon), who has fallen in love with him. After giving birth to the grotesque, tentacled baby (which he christens "Benjamin") in a barn, Eric and his new son are captured and placed under strict observation. Meanwhile, Amanda hooks up with a space-case civil rights lawyer named Ellis (Erick Avari) to help free Eric and allow him to have custody of Benjamin without government interference. This results in a courtroom drama in which Benjamin's humanity, or lack thereof, is in bitter dispute.
INALIENABLE begins with all the elements of early David Cronenberg body horror, but that all changes as soon as the proud dad gets a gander at his new butt-ugly baby with the octopus tentacles and goes all sappy. After that it's all tears and hugs and courtroom intrigue designed to tug at our heartstrings. When Eric and Benjamin are reunited in a holding cell under the watchful eyes of coldhearted government types, their impromptu Charlie Chaplin dance will either make you smile or retch. Most interesting is the battle of wits between the two lawyers over Benjamin's basic "human" rights, bringing to mind similar questions about robot sentience as seen on some of the best episodes of shows like "Star Trek" and "The Outer Limits."
Richard Hatch sells his character convincingly and makes his scenes with Courtney Peldon seem a little lopsided by consistently out-acting her. Koenig, as Eric's boss and eventual enemy (for reasons we discover later on), proves that he's a pretty solid screen presence himself when he isn't having to portray the biggest weenie in Starfleet. Special credit goes to Marina Sirtis for her impressive turn as the queen-bitch prosecutor, a far cry from ST:TNG's compassionate Deanna Troi. Other familiar sci-fi faces pop up here and there throughout the story, including Alan Ruck and Tim Russ (both alumni of different Trek incarnations), Richard Herd, Gary Graham, Jay Acovone, Erick Avari, and longtime sci-fi/horror stalwart and stuntwoman Patricia Tallman ("Babylon 5", "Star Trek", the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD remake).
Production values are adequate but rather spartan, and Robert Dyke directs without a whole lot of energy. The film is low-key to the point of timidity, as though it were aware that someone was taking a nap in the next room and didn't want to wake them up. Some of the courtroom scenes are undercut by the constant drone of strangely soothing music which seems intent on lulling us to sleep ourselves. Worse, Amanda's first meeting with lawyer Ellis is accompanied by an intrusively whimsical tune that lets us know Ellis is supposed to be a funny character, even though he isn't funny.
The alien SPFX aren't very convincing, although it's nice to see something like this done with animatronics and puppetry rather than cheap CGI for a change. The newborn infant is a nicely-rendered creation that's somewhat reminiscent of the baby in ERASERHEAD. Later, the older Benjamin's makeup makes him look more like an aged midget than a cute little alien child, and the less said about his bobbling tentacles the better. Again, however, Richard Hatch does such a good job of interacting with this weird little gremlin that he manages to give their scenes together a surprising amount of pathos.
The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Surround 2.0 and English subtitles. The sole extra is a trailer, but if you zip to the end of the closing credits you get to see Walter Koenig cutting up on the set for about half a minute.
INALIENABLE's heart is in the right place and for the most part it's a fairly absorbing though slow-moving little sci-fi tale. The first half, with its potentially horrific imagery of an unknown alien lifeform incubating inside a human host, would be good fodder for a Cronenberg film or episode of "The X-Files." The second half, though, is a rather listless stroll through KRAMER VS. KRAMER territory with an ending that fails to generate much tension or suspense. All in all, an amiable little flick that I can neither condemn nor recommend with much enthusiasm.
(CORRECTION: We've learned that the previously reported street date of January 19th for INALIENABLE was incorrect. The actual date is January 26, 2010.)
GHOST MACHINE -- DVD review by porfle
Buy it at Amazon.com
Mystery Science Theater 3000 XVI Review by Jessica Friedman
Mystery Science Theater 3000 XVI Review
The newest Limited Edition DVD set from Shout Factory is a must-have for MST3K fans for one reason and one reason only: Tom Servo figurine! It’s the perfect thing for the home or the office that lets nerds proudly proclaim, “I LOVE TOM SERVO!” Also, it makes a fantastic last-minute holiday gift. Mine is sitting at my desk at work, and as you can see, it is SO cute next to my box of paper clips and mug of assorted pens!
Ahem…aside from the adorable mini Tom Servo that makes the entire purchase worthwhile, there are also four impressive DVDs and individual mini posters of the bots that feature, once again, excellent art from Steve Vance. The DVD set includes four titles: two Mike episodes (Santa Claus and Night of the Blood Beast that includes the original hysterical Turkey Day ’95 bumpers) and two Joel episodes (Warrior of the Lost World and the fifth episode of Season 1, The Corpse Vanishes). Even though Mike is my favorite of the two hosts, I will be discussing a Joel episode as well as a Mike one: the seasonal favorite Santa Claus and the futuristic Warrior of the Lost World.
Since it is the holiday season once again, it seems to be the perfect time to watch the perennial favorites: A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and Die Hard (if you are my husband or our friend Derek). However, MST3K has offered many holiday classics, and Santa Claus is one of the most terrifying and hilarious Christmas-related movies I have ever seen in my life. It is difficult to put into words the surreal atmosphere that this movie encapsulates, but Mike and the Bots certainly rip Santa and Pitch, the effeminate evil demon that is Santa’s enemy in the film, a new one. Everything about Santa Claus is bizarre, from the first half hour of “It’s a Small World” international singing children to the horrifying doll dream that the protagonist, Lupita, has during the course of the film. In addition, the lines “He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake” have never sounded so ominous until you witness Santa using his spying devices to maintain his totalitarian grasp over the world.
The riffing is, as always, top-notch for Santa Claus, and the sweet nondenominational song that Mike and the Bots sing near the end is for me the highlight of the episode. The DVD also features a 50-year retrospective on the movie entitled “Santa Claus Conquers the Devil” that helps to explain how K. Gordon Murray found the film and how it achieved its cult success that has continued over the years, along with information on the film's production (and why Santa is more like an El Santo-esque superhero). There is also a stills gallery and a teaser trailer for The Wonder World of K. Gordon Murray. If you can make it past the mumbling children and creepy Santa battling with the devil, this film is sure to become a holiday tradition for your family as it has already become for my husband and me.
A very different, but also enjoyable episode is Warrior of the Lost World. Joel often leaves me bored and annoyed with his dull demeanor and half-baked gadgets, but even I must admit that the riffing in this episode is stellar. This movie is one bizarre amalgam of every apocalypse film ever made with a sprinkling of The Warriors for flavor. The two aspects of this film that stand out in my mind are the machines (the protagonist’s motorcycle that annoyingly chirps words and Mega-Weapon!) and the nausea-inducing makeout scene at the end that seems to last forever. Although the riffing by Joel and the bots is great, the most impressive joke is Tom Servo pointing out every single person in the three-tiered stands at the end of the movie and assigning them a celebrity look alike. That, my friends, is what makes Kevin Murphy a master riffer.
In addition to this hilarious episode, the DVD features some illuminating extras, including an interview with director David Worth and movie stills with Worth narrating. Worth is self-deprecating in his interview and seems to be an it-getter in relation to the premise of the show. My husband and I both felt that he came off very well in his interview, and Mr. Worth, if you are reading this, my husband would LOVE for you to do an interview with HK and Cult Film News!
In conclusion, if you are a fan of MST3K or just enjoy cult movies, do yourself a favor and buy this DVD set. The four episodes included in the set look fantastic, sound great, and are filled with fascinating extras that will keep any MSTie satisfied until the next DVD release. But who am I kidding…the real reason to buy this Limited Edition set is so that you can have your very own Tom Servo figurine! Get yours today!
Monday, December 14, 2009
SEVERIN FILMS Launches All-New Website
80+ Page On-Line Destination Includes Trailers, Film Clips, Blogs, Facebook/Twitter Connect and Exclusive Content For Fans & Media
LOS ANGELES, CA, December 14, 2009 – Severin Films today announced the launch of their all-new website at www.Severin-Films.com.
The state-of-the-art site will include individual pages for the company’s 60+ DVD and Blu-ray releases, with each page featuring stills, trailers, film clips, press links and Bonus Feature excerpts. In addition, the site will feature up-to-date news, a full company bio, mailing list, retail links, exclusive offers, connections to Severin’s popular Facebook and Twitter pages, and the option to sign up for a regular newsletter. The company also plans to host noted guest bloggers for weekly on-line discussions. Media outlets will be able to obtain press releases, Quicktime film clips, and high-resolution color stills and box art from a password-protected area. The site’s construction was supervised by Severin’s Evan Husney and designed by Nada Advertising of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Laguna Beach, California.
“Severin finally has a website worthy of its films,” said Carl Daft, co-founder and CEO of Severin Films. “As our company has grown, the equally burgeoning fan and media support our releases have received has demanded we create an online destination as unique and provocative as the company itself. Welcome to Severin 2.0.”
Severin Films was formed in 2006 with offices in Los Angeles, New York and London. Their previous DVD releases include Richard Stanley’s cult smash HARDWARE, 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 hit THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND, and Enzo Castellari’s original action classic THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN OUR DRAGON DYNASTY HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY CONTEST!!!
In addition to these, our grand prize winner will also find in his mailbox this cool "Legendary Weapons of China" 18-piece miniature weapons box set:
And so, without any further ado, here are the lucky winners...
RUNNERS UP: Derek Martinez, Raynato Castro
GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Allen Richards
Congratulations to the winners! (And thanks to everyone who entered!)
Stay up to date with Dragon Dynasty all year long by visiting:
Facebook.com/DragonDynasty
MySpace.com/DragonDynasty
YouTube.com/DragonDynasty
Friday, December 11, 2009
"DEFYING GRAVITY" - On Blu-ray Disc and DVD January 19
LOS ANGELES, CA – (December 11, 2009) – Eight astronauts. Six years exploring the galaxy. Five never before seen episodes only available on DVD! Hurtle through space on an exciting galactic journey in ABC television’s action-packed and suspenseful series “Defying Gravity” Season One, blasting onto DVD January 19, 2010 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Fans will finally get a chance to unlock the mysteries with five never before seen episodes available only on DVD!
In the near future, an international team of four men and four women undertakes the most ambitious exploration in the history of mankind – a six-year, grand tour of the solar system. But space travel is a fool’s game. Passions rise, relationships blossom, and tensions mount as veteran astronaut Maddux Donner (Ron Livingston, Office Space, The Time Traveler’s Wife, “Sex And The City”) and his vivacious crewmates rocket toward their mysterious destiny, driven by a dark, otherworldly force to the very edge of madness – and beyond.
“Defying Gravity” Season One stars a fresh-faced cast of young talent including Andrew Airlie (“Reaper”), Malik Yoba (Why Did I Get Married), Paula Garces (“The Shield”), Laura Harris (“Dead Like Me”), Eyal Podell (“The Young and the Restless”) and many more! The DVD includes all 13 Season One episodes-including 5 never before seen, Deleted Scenes, Production sketches, and more! “Defying Gravity” Season One will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $49.98 U.S/$59.98 Canada. Prebook date is December 23.
DVD Content: (Catalog # 2264372)
Disc One Episodes
--Pilot
--Natural Selection
--Threshold
Disc Two Episodes
--H21K
--Rubicon
--Bacon
--Fear
Disc Three Episodes
--Love, Honor, Obey
--Eve Ate The Apple
--Deja Vu
--Solitary
Disc Four Episodes
--Venus
--Kiss
Special Features
--Mission Accomplished – A Look At Defying Gravity
--Photo Slide Show
--Spacecraft Design
--Set Design
--Costume and Prop Design
--Production Graphics
--Promotional Photography
--29 Deleted Scenes
About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.
“Defying Gravity” Season One
Street Date: January 19, 2010
Pre-book Date: December 23, 2009
Screen Format: Wide Screen
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital EX
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
Total Run Time: 578 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Closed Captioned: Yes
Buy it at Amazon.com
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly announces DANTE'S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC -- coming to DVD and Blu-ray February 9th
Film Roman and Electronic Arts Take Viewers on a Spectacular Journey To the Depths of Hell on DVD and Blu-Ray™ February 9th, 2010
Beverly Hills, CA – Stretching the limits of the imagination, and breathing a whole new life into a classic work of Medieval literature, Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the stunning animated feature Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic on DVD and Blu-ray™ February 9th. Prebook is January 6th, and SRP for the DVD is $26.97 and $34.98 for the Blu-ray™. This is a collaboration with Electronic Arts, which first conceived of a new telling of the classic story and will release its “Dante’s Inferno” videogame day-and-date with the animated feature.
Film Roman, the acclaimed animation studio behind such films as Dead Space: Downfall (based on the Electronic Arts game “Dead Space”) and Hellboy Animated, took a wholly new approach to creating the circles of Hell the films’ hero Dante must navigate. Under the guidance of producer Joe Goyette and working from a story and creative vision by EA/Visceral Games executive producer Jonathan Knight, this unprecedented project enlisted some of the best animation studios in the business to create unique visions of the underworld, including such noted Asian animation studios as Production IG (Kill Bill animated sequence), Dongwoo (Batman: Gotham Knight), Manglobe (Ergo Proxy, Samurai Champloo), JM Animation (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) and more.
Highlighting the feature’s unique artistic signature, the Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic DVD and Blu-ray™ boasts six limited edition customized covers specially created by the six participating animation studios.
Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic is just one piece of a new project spearheaded by Electronic Arts, which also includes the highly anticipated videogame and a previously released six-issue comic series from DC Comics/WildStorm. Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic expands this franchise with a must-see feature that soars
on high-octane energy and amazing visuals – combined, of course, with a story that has haunted dreams since Dante Alighieri wrote it down almost 700 years ago. This amazing journey takes viewers along with the warrior Dante, and his spectral guide Virgil, into the legendary and frightening nine circles of Hell. Join Dante as he travels through Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery, all in search of his one true love, Beatrice.
By employing a range of animation studios steeped in the anime tradition, Film Roman and EA created a completely unique vision of Dante Alighieri’s 14th century masterwork The Divine Comedy, with each circle of hell having a distinct look and tone. While this gives it a modern twist, the feature still stays true to the original elements of the poem that is known to most as “Dante’s Inferno.” Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic is sure to delight all gamers and fan boys, but voice-over work by Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Victoria Tennant (Legend of the Mummy), Vanessa Branch (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Graham McTavish (“Prison Break”) as Dante, give this production extra dramatic depth and the literary source material makes this a project that will appeal to an unusually broad range of adult audiences.
Film Roman, which along with Anchor Bay Entertainment is a division of Starz Media, first worked with EA on 2008’s Dead Space: Downfall. The venerable animation studio also provides the animation production for Fox/Gracie’s “The Simpsons” and Marvel Entertainment’s new hit “Super Hero Squad.”
DANTE’S INFERNO (DVD)
Street Date: February 9, 2010
Order Date: January 6, 2010
Genre: Horror
Format: 1.78 Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 88 minutes
Retail Price: $26.97
Bonus Features: EA Game Trailer, Animatics from the film
DANTE’S INFERNO (BLU-RAY™)
Street Date: February 9, 2010
Order Date: January 6, 2010
Genre: Horror
Format: 1.78 Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 88 minutes
Retail Price: $34.98
Bonus Features: EA Game Trailer, Animatics from the film
DVD
Blu-Ray