HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box

Thursday, January 27, 2011

MERLIN: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON -- DVD review by porfle


I thought this series was going to be hard to get into, but after only one episode I had settled comfortably into the magical world of BBC-TV's MERLIN: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON.  For fans of the legend of Merlin, Arthur, and Camelot, all the familiar elements are here--they've just been taken apart and reassembled in very different ways.

This time,  Merlin (Colin Morgan) is an awkward, callow young apprentice to the wizened old court physician, Gaius (Richard Wilson), who is like a father to the boy.  Merlin was born with magical powers but must keep them secret since King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head) has outlawed sorcery of any kind in Camelot.  Only Gaius, a former sorcerer himself, knows Merlin's secret.  Uther's ward, the beautiful Morgana (Katie McGrath), is also developing similar abilities which keep her in a constant state of anxiety.

Prince Arthur (Bradley James) shows the potential of becoming the wise king we know he'll someday be, yet remains arrogant and vain.  As Arthur's personal servant and friend, Merlin tries to help him develop his better qualities while also secretly using his magic to protect the prince, and Camelot itself, from harm.  The object of Arthur's affections is Morgana's trusted maid, the dusky-hued beauty Gwen (Angel Coulby), although we know, of course, that she will someday be smitten by dashing Lancelot.  Or will she?  In this version, you can never be sure.


"The Curse of Cornelius Sigan" gives us our first look at Merlin's power as he battles an evil sorcerer whose soul has inhabited the body of a weaselly con man named Cedric.  This one features a full-scale attack on Camelot by some flying CGI gargoyles that are pretty well-done.  (Overall, the show's digital effects aren't bad for a weekly series.)  It also introduces us to the Great Dragon (voiced by John Hurt) who is chained in a vast cavern below the castle and from whom Merlin often seeks magical advice, with the promise of someday releasing the creature.

A bounty hunter hired by Uther's sworn enemy King Odin stalks Arthur in "The Once and Future Queen", which advances the story of Arthur's growing love for servant girl Gwen against the backdrop of a jousting tournament.  "Lancelot and Guinevere", with Gwen being mistaken for Morgana and held for ransom, brings future knight Lancelot into the mix and begins the ill-fated love triangle that will someday bring ruin to Camelot.  (Maybe...)  In "The Nightmare Begins", Morgana discovers her true nature and flees to a Druid village for some sympathetic advice.  Here, we meet the child Mordred. 

One of my favorite episodes is the two-parter "Beauty and the Beast."  Sarah Parish guest-stars as a hideous troll who uses a magic potion to impersonate a noblewoman and bewitch King Uther into marrying her.  Parish wears some highly effective makeup and a body suit which transform her into one of the most revolting creatures ever--she makes Jimmy Durante look like Jayne Mansfield--and her unrestrained performance in both guises is outstanding. 

It's also fun when she drops the "ladylike" act in private and reverts to her usual trollish behavior while still looking like Lady Catrina.  This is probably the season's most overt dive into broad comedy, especially when the blinded-by-love Uther gets romantic with his nightmarish, flatulent bride.  You may need to keep a barf bag handy for this one.


Charles Dance gives a gleefully sinister portrayal of "The Witchfinder", hired by Uther to sniff out sorcery in Camelot by any means necessary.  His efforts result in Gaius being sentenced to burn at the stake.  In "The Sins of the Father" we meet the beautiful and mysterious sorceress Morgause, who turns Arthur against his father.  This episode builds to one of the more intensely dramatic endings of the season.

"Lady of the Lake" gives Merlin a chance to fall in love when he helps a lovely sorceress escape from a ruthless bounty hunter, only to find that she hides a deadly secret.  "Sweet Dreams", another comedic story, finds Arthur and a rival king's insufferable daughter bewitched into falling madly in love during a royal peace summit. 

The final three episodes in the set--"The Witch's Quickening", "The Fires of Idirsholas", and "The Last Dragonlord"--are full of exciting surprises as the season builds to its finale.  Morgana's story takes some drastic turns with the return of Morgause and Mordred, while Camelot itself comes under attack from supernatural forces that threaten to destroy it.  A major revelation for Merlin comes shortly before he and the Great Dragon face off as enemies at last, in a season ender which, thankfully, doesn't completely leave us hanging.

While at times poking a bit of fun at itself with a few deliberate anachronisms in speech and behavior, MERLIN's indulgences in lighthearted comedy have none of the hokiness of a show like "Xena" or "Hercules."  The more realistic tone allows the writers to include frequent moments of high drama that elevate the show above the norm.  Several episodes are surprisingly moving, while others simmer with intrigue.  Action-wise, the stories are filled with swordfights, monsters, and colorful villains.
 

The production values are lavish, with elaborate set design and costumes and scenic locations (including an actual 14th-century castle in Paris) contributing to the overall atmosphere.  Each episode is enhanced by a stirring musical score fit for a big-budget fantasy epic.  The lead actors are engaging, particularly Colin Morgan as Merlin and Richard Wilson (HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING) as Gaius. 

The 5-disc DVD set from BBC-Warner is in 16:9 with Dolby Digital sound and English subtitles.  Disc #5 contains the special features, which include the 34-minute featurette "The Making of Merlin", a cast and crew introduction to season two, a photo gallery, and desktop wallpapers.  The set also includes cast and crew commentaries for selected episodes, plus cool animated menus. 

The highlight of the special features disc is the BBC series "Merlin: Secrets and Magic" consisting of 14-minute segments covering each episode in detail.  My favorite is the one showing Sarah Parish's amazing makeup transformation into the hideous troll from "Beauty and the Beast."

With a fine cast of characters and a vibrantly  healthy sense of wonder, MERLIN: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON is total fantasy fun all the way.  It may play fast and loose with the legend, but it's nice wondering what's going to happen next instead of just waiting for all the familiar pieces to click neatly into place.


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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

CHAIN LETTER -- DVD review by porfle


In the dark stalker flick CHAIN LETTER (2010), five twenty-something high school kids discover that modern technology isn't necessarily their friend. 

The film opens with a crackerjack pre-titles death scene which sets the morbid tone of the story.  Switch to a bustling high school campus where teens text while walking together, have continuous music blasting in their earbuds, and scoff when a creepy teacher (Brad Dourif, whose slogan could be "We do creepy right") warns them that there's a dark side to the pervasive technology they enjoy so much. 

Going down the usual check list of stereotypes, we find that our main characters include the jock, the nerd, the rebel, the good girl, the bitchy girl, and the black guy.  When the nerd receives a spooky chain letter on his computer one night instructing him to forward it to five other people, under penalty of death, the unlucky five naturally ignore it.  The only questions now are--when and in what order will they die, and how gruesome will their demises be?


Although there are a few false-alarm "gotcha" scares at first, complete with piercing musical stings, the first elaborate murder setpiece pays off with some quick cuts of extreme gore.  A second victim gets his top half seperated from his bottom half, and later on another one gets "the hook", so to speak.  Rabid gorehounds may find these moments to be too few and far between, though an unsettling mood of paranoia sets in as the other teens figure out the "chain letter" angle and start looking over their shoulders.

In addition to using modern technology to stalk and terrorize his victims, the killer favors the creative use of actual chains during his diabolical misdeeds.  He lacks the playfulness of a Michael Myers or the wit of a Freddy Kruger--and is definitely no Jason Voorhees--but strikes an imposing enough figure nonetheless.  What he lacks in personality is compensated for by an interesting motive, which the investigating homicide detective (Keith David) eventually pieces together. 

The nice girl, Jessie, is played by Nikki Reed (TWILIGHT), who makes a likable lead.  Noah Segan, so effective as the twisted "J.T." in DEADGIRL, plays Dante, the member of the ill-fated five who is so totally out there that he (gasp) doesn't even own a cell phone.  As the two homicide cops, Keith David is joined by former teen-movie queen Betsy Russell, currently best-known for her roles in the SAW films.  Comedian Charles Fleischer also makes a brief appearance.


Direction (by Deon Taylor) and visuals are alternately gritty and TV-commercial slick, with some pretty well-staged suspense scenes.  The soundtrack is ear-splitting at times--I thought the mood in some scenes might've benefitted from less noise rather than the "louder is better" approach. 

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.  There are no subtitles and the sole extra consists of the film's trailer.

To us no-cell-phone Luddites, the atmosphere of inescapable technology eroding our privacy may be the queasiest aspect of CHAIN LETTER.  As a horror flick, it isn't one of the scariest or most shocking splatterfests I've seen, but it's definitely a respectable addition to the genre.  If nothing else, you won't soon forget that ending.


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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

HandMade Films' FIVE CORNERS and A PRIVATE FUNCTION coming to Blu-ray and DVD Feb 8 from Image Entertainment

On February 8, Image Entertainment will release two titles from the esteemed Handmade Films library:  Five Corners and A Private Function.  Both will be available on DVD and Blu-ray™, with an SRP of $17.97 for the Blu-ray and $14.98 for the DVD .  Prebook is January 11.


Starring John Turturro (O Brother, Where Art Thou?), two-time Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs) and Academy Award® winner Tim Robbins (Mystic River, The Shawshank Redemption), Five Corners is a unique story about life, love, and the unexpected twists of fate for a group of friends living in the Bronx in the early 1960s.  In this chaotic time Five Corners has a battle of its own to face,  when Heinz (Turturro), newly released from prison, returns with his heart still set on Linda (Foster) – the woman he attacked – and his hatred still burning for Harry (Robbins) the man who tried to protect her.     This is an acclaimed indie thriller - a true original!

A Private Function is an outrageous comedy of manners taking place during a time of extreme food rationing in England following World War II.  One town’s upper class bends the rules by illegally fattening a prize pig for a feast to celebrate the upcoming royal wedding, but when a timid podiatrist (Michael Palin, A Fish Called Wanda) and his bossy wife (two-time Academy Award winner Maggie Smith, A Room with a View) learn of the plan, they seize the chance to climb the social ladder by kidnapping the pig…who has a few unpleasant surprises of its own in store. This hilarious, critically-acclaimed British cult comedy offers proof that some people will truly do anything to get ahead!

Five Corners Blu-ray™
Genre:                         Drama, 80s, United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)      
Audio:                         PCM 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1987
SRP :                            $17.97
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 11
Length:                        94 minutes
UPC :                           014381677850
Cat#:                           ID6778HHBD

Five Corners DVD
Genre:                         Drama, 80s, United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1987
SRP :                            $14.98
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 2011
Length:                        94 minutes
UPC :                           014381657326
Cat#:                           ID6573HHDVD 

A Private Function Blu-ray™
Genre:                         Comedy, 80s, Screwball , United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         PCM 2.0
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1984
SRP :                            $17.97
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 11
Length:                        92 minutes
UPC :                           014381658354
Cat#:                           ID6583HHBD

A Private Function DVD
Genre:                         Comedy, 80s, Screwball , United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1984
SRP :                            $14.98
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 2011
Length:                        92 minutes
UPC :                           014381658026
Cat#:                           ID6580HHDVD
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Monday, January 24, 2011

SINGLE-HANDED: SET 1 -- DVD review by porfle


I've never seen the Emerald Isle look more beautiful than in SINGLE-HANDED: SET 1, which takes place in a picturesque Irish village by the sea and features one breathtaking vista after another.  It's almost enough to make you forget that even in a remote place like this, dark deeds and bad people lurk beneath the surface.  But Sgt. Jack Driscoll (Owen McDonnell), the only lawman for miles around, is reminded of it every day.

Jack's dad, Gerry (Ian McElhinney), was a tough, old-school cop not above bending the rules to catch a crook, something his son would rather avoid.  When Jack gets transferred from the Dublin police force to his hometown to replace his retiring father as head "Garda", he'll uncover things about Gerry's past, both professional and private, that will have him reeling.  It doesn't help that Jack's only assistant, Garda Finbarr Colving (David Herlihy), is part of the old guard whose allegiances are often suspect.

Part of what makes "Single-Handed" interesting is the fact that with such a small and close-knit population, every case involves people Jack knows personally.  His private life always gets tangled up in things, sometimes to an agonizing extent.  In the first episode, "Natural Justice", the apparent murder of a pretty young immigrant girl forces Jack to investigate some of the town's leading citizens, including Gerry.  Even his burgeoning love affair with a girl from his past becomes part of a series of revelations that keep this episode consistently absorbing.  Before it's over, the story takes some turns that are truly unexpected and for Jack, traumatic.


In "The Stolen Child", a young mother's baby is kidnapped and her heroin-addicted ex-husband is the suspect.  Her two volatile brothers hinder Jack's investigation with their strong-arm tactics, but when he resorts to violence himself in order to force a confession, his own integrity is called into question.  His romance with the town doctor causes his love life to get dragged into things again when they bitterly disagree on how to handle the drug-addled suspect. 

As the story of the missing child keeps us in suspense, retired cop Gerry is called before an internal affairs tribunal to account for old indiscretions, which dangerously raises his blood pressure.  The return of a mysterious man from his past complicates matters even more, and as usual the various plot elements turn out to be connected in surprising ways. 

"The Drowning Man" brings two agents from the big city into town on the trail of a drug smuggling ring that may involve some leading citizens.  This episode crackles with danger and intrigue when Jack drags the body of a teenage boy out of the bay, and ends up trampling over the agents' undercover investigation.  One of them turns out to be an old flame, which heightens the drama when Jack begins to disagree vehemently with their methods.  One of the best moments in the series occurs during a confrontation between Jack and their ruthless team leader, and the episode ends with an tense shootout.


Jack's no Sherlock Holmes, but he's dogged and tenacious.  It's fun watching him slogging his way through these baffling mysteries with his limited abilities and resources, while his job constantly intrudes upon his personal life in substantial ways.  Owen McDonnell gives an everyday realism to the role, and the supporting cast, including Ruth McCabe as Jack's long-suffering mother Eithne, is consistently good. 

Each script by Barry Simner is smartly-written and filled with scintillating dialogue exchanges.  You never know when the story is going to stop twisting and turning--there always seems to be one more surprise waiting to crop up before it's over.  Production values are fine and the settings are lushly atmospheric.

The DVD from Acorn Media is in 16:9 widescreen with Dolby Digital sound and English subtitles.  Each of the three discs contains a feature-length episode of the 2007 series.  Extras are text-based and include an interview with the producer plus other production notes.

SINGLE-HANDED: SET 1 proves that there's a lot more to rural Ireland than bogs, shamrocks, and little people.  This trio of tales about a quietly-seething small town and the diligent cop who has his hands full policing it is solid, satisfying entertainment--perfect for those times when you feel like pouring yourself a pint of stout and curling up with a good DVD.


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Saturday, January 22, 2011

"Battle Of The Warriors" and "Scary Movie 4 (Unrated)" On Blu-ray From Vivendi Entertainment and the Weinstein Company


BATTLE OF THE WARRIORS

Synopsis:
House of Flying Daggers star Andy Lau delivers a power-packed performance in this epic tale of swords, valor, and Sun Tzu-style strategy from the action director of Jet Li’s Hero. In 370 B.C., a small kingdom lies directly in the path of a massive, advancing army. When all hope is lost, the people turn to a lone, mysterious stranger to rescue them from siege and conquest. Based on the sensational Japanese manga series Bokkou, Battle of the Warriors features a gritty, realistic style with an incredible level of historical detail that highlights each of its unparalleled, ferocious battles.

Bonus Features:
- Feature-Length Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
- The Making of Battle of the Warriors

Price: $19.97
Order Due Date: February 8, 2011
Street Date: March 15, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Catalog #: WN3140
Run Time: 133 minutes
Languages: English, Mandarin
Subtitles: English, Spanish

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 SCARY MOVIE 4 (UNRATED)

Synopsis:
In “the best Scary Movie yet!” (Fox-TV), the lovable, dim-witted Cindy (Anna Faris, Observe and Report) and her overheated pal Brenda (Regina Hall, “Law & Order: Los Angeles”) return to help clueless hero Tom (Craig Bierko, Cinderella Man) save the world from a ruthless alien invasion.  In true Scary Movie tradition, the story weaves through a series of hilarious and twisted parodies of familiar films including War of the Worlds, The Grudge, The Village, and Saw.  Longer, funnier, and raunchier, with celebrity cameos from Shaquille O’Neal, Dr. Phil, Lil’ John and more, nothing is off limits in Scary Movie 4!

Bonus Features:
- The Scary Truth: A Conversation with the Filmmakers
- The Man Behind the Laugh: David Zucker
- Zany, Spoof Humor – Zucker Style
- The Visual Effects of Scary Movie 4
- The Youngbloodz
- The Cast
- Improvisation of Craig Bierko
- Bloopers
- Deleted and Extended Scenes

Price:  $19.97
Order Due Date: February 15, 2011
Street Date: March 22, 2011
MPAA Rating: Unrated
DVD Catalog #: WN3141
Run Time: 91 minutes
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Friday, January 21, 2011

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING -- DVD review by porfle


A cautionary tale disguised as a comedy, HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (1989) makes its sometimes preachy message easier to swallow by mixing it with cutting humor and nightmarish fantasy. 

Advertising ace Dennis Bagley (Richard E. Grant) is a master at selling the public what it doesn't need until the task of coming up with a campaign for a boil cream (pimple cream to us Yanks) stops him dead in his tracks.  While agonizing over an effective angle, it occurs to him that he's not selling boil cream, which doesn't work--he's selling gullible teens the false hope that it will work.  He then begins to realize how the government conspires with this same sort of advertising to brainwash the public regarding more vital concerns. 

Bagley is wonderfully rude, arrogant, and argumentive in the early scenes.  There's a wonderful dinner party exchange between him and an overweight feminist Vegan in which he accuses her of secretly eating meat, or at least eels loaded with estrogen that's flooding the oceans due to so many women being on the pill.  He also runs a trio of dignified gentlemen off a commuter train (bellowing "What do you know about God, you wire-haired old Mick!" at an elderly priest) after berating them over a lurid newspaper story they've been slavering over.


These delightful altercations spring up out of nowhere thanks to Bagley's refined hostility being unleashed at anyone he regards as gullible sheep falling for precisely the same deceptive nonsense he himself is complicit in churning out.  Another funny scene occurs as the fed-up Bagley attempts to resign from the game as his disaffected boss carries on an entirely different conversation on his headset telephone.  For me, most of the real belly laughs occur during this early part of the film, before the story veers off on a weirder and more complicated tangent.

With boils on the brain, the final indignity occurs when a huge, inflamed one sprouts on Bagley's neck, then suddenly grows a face and starts talking to him.  As Richard E. Grant's performance grows bigger and more deranged by the minute, so does the interloping boil, until we realize that it represents the evil side which the newly-enlightened Bagley is trying to suppress.  While he may only be imagining it all, the desperate struggle between the conflicting halves of his personality becomes a genuine battle for control. 

Grant handles the role with manic intensity as he goes from unrepentent cynic to born-again crusader to freaked-out mental case and back again.  As she did opposite Steve Martin in DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, the beautiful Rachel Ward (as Bagley's wife, Julia) displays a knack for playing straight woman to a flamboyantly comic leading man.  Both are adept at handling the story's gradual shift from absurd comedy to surprisingly sober drama while keeping their characters consistent. 

The dialogue by writer-director Bruce Robinson (who wrote 1984's THE KILLING FIELDS) is a sharply funny combination of British drollery and over-the-top farce, and it comes fast and furious when Grant gets wound up.  You have to get into the spirit of things to appreciate much of it--I can imagine some people wondering what the heck I was guffawing about during some scenes.  ("My grandfather was caught molesting a wallaby in a private zoo in 1919" Bagley tells his psychiatrist at one point.)


Direction and editing keep things moving along at just the right pace, while certain classical pieces provide a suitable musical backdrop.  Also worthy of mention are the special make-up effects used to create that revolting little bastard growing out of the main character's neck.

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.  Subtitles are in English.  The trailer is included, along with about half an hour's worth of trailers for other titles from Hand-Made Films. 

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING is a very funny satire that makes us laugh while also making us think about how advertisers con us into buying things like cars that help destroy the forests and products that are inherently useless.  Of course, one of the other things it made me think about was whether or not the filmmakers are still driving their cars or buying their useless products.

 
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Thursday, January 20, 2011

DEAD SPACE: AFTERMATH -- DVD review by porfle


Coinciding with the release of Electronic Arts' new videogame "Dead Space 2" comes the animated outer space epic DEAD SPACE: AFTERMATH (2011), which combines a compelling story with fantastic animation to create one of the most intriguing and action-packed sci-fi/horror adventures of recent years.

The four survivors of a catastrophe in deep space are found aboard their wrecked spaceship, the O'Bannon (in a nice nod to the late co-writer of ALIEN) amidst the bloody remains of the crew.  But for Dr. Isabel Cho (Gwendoline Yeo), security chief Kuttner (Christopher Judge), research specialist Stross (Curt Cornelius), and chief engineer Borges (Ricardo Chavira), the nightmare has just begun as they are subjected to brutal interrogation and forced to relive the horror of their recent ordeal. 

The object of all this is a shard of an alien artifact recovered from doomed planet Aegis VII, which is coveted by the powers-that-be for the scientific secrets it holds.  On the journey home, the shard first begins to wield an unearthly influence upon those who touch it, then reanimates the recent dead and transforms them into hideous bloodthirsty creatures.  What happens next is recounted in flashbacks by the four survivors as they are mercilessly grilled by their interrogators.
 

With each segment executed by a different animation director under the supervision of Mike Disa, the unique looks of the four flashback stories reflect the changing perspectives of the narrators.  All are painstakingly detailed and beautifully rendered examples of animation art which are directed with style and creativity. 

Character design and animation are strong--the faces are expressive and the body movements fluid.  The artwork displays a pleasing combination of western and Asian styles, with the framing scenes aboard the rescue ship done digitally.  Voice work is particularly good. 

The outer space scenes are dazzling, as is a superbly suspenseful sequence in which the landing party tries to escape from the surface of Aegis VII as the planet breaks apart around them.  The spaceship O'Bannon's attempt to outrun the shockwave and debris from the exploding planet is another highlight.  Later, the battle between the humans and the creatures is consistently exciting. 

Brandon Auman's script gives the main characters sufficient depth, with security chief Kuttner's story of particular interest.  Having recently suffered the death of his daughter, he begins to have visions of her after touching the shard, and sees his fellow astronauts as monsters trying to kill her.  This, as we discover in graphic terms, leads to all kinds of trouble as his segment reaches a moving climax.
 

Meanwhile the unstable Strosser, who views aliens as mankind's deities, invites disaster by exposing himself to the shard's power and allowing its influence to spread throughout the ship.  His personal story is ultimately much darker than even Kuttner's.  Dr. Cho and Borges are strong characters as well. 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.  Subtitles are in English and Spanish.  No extras besides a trailer for the "Dead Space 2" videogame. 

Some will probably regard DEAD SPACE: AFTERMATH as nothing more than an elaborate commercial for the videogame.  Since I haven't been much of a gamer since the Atari 2600 went the way of the mullet, this doesn't affect my view of it either way.  I simply see it as an impressive, visually stunning animated sci-fi/horror flick that's a lot of fun to watch. 


Street date January 25

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Watch out...Here Comes DINOSHARK! On Blu-ray and DVD April 26th from Anchor Bay Entertainment



Dinoshark is epic” - MonstersAndCritics.com

I loved every minute of it.” - NYPost.com

ROGER CORMAN PRESENTS...A PREHISTORIC HORROR OF MONSTROUS STRENGTH AND APPETITE MEETS THE 21ST CENTURY!

Produced by the legendary Roger Corman and  Julie Corman

Released  on Blu-ray™ and DVD April 26, 2011



BEVERLY HILLS , CA – For millennia, it slept inside a frozen glacier: waiting to be set free.  But with an unexpected shift of climate, the glacier cracked, and what was once extinct was reborn to unleash terror in a brave new world. On April 26, Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the hit Syfy Channel original movie Dinoshark on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Produced by the legendary Roger Corman and Julie Corman, Dinoshark bites with an SRP of $24.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $19.98 for the DVD with pre-book on March 30th.

Born in Antarctica, Dinoshark noses his way down the warmer currents to Mexico , towards a popular vacation spot crowded with party-goers unwittingly ready to fall prey to a prehistoric eating machine.  When the killings begin, it becomes clear that no normal animal can be responsible for such savagery.

Local captain Trace McGraw (Eric Balfour – “24”, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Skyline) and marine biologist Carol (Iva Hasperger – “ CSI ”, “Cold Case”) seem to be the only ones convinced that the creature terrorizing their shores is something other than the expected man-eating shark.  They enlist the help of the world’s only expert on the Dinoshark (Roger Corman himself).  Together, will they be able to reel Dinoshark in?

Dinoshark is the story of a terrifying sea-creature that threatens to turn a holiday swim into a bloodbath.  This fierce, finned predator has to be seen to be believed:   if he will let you live that long!  Bonus feature includes a full-length commentary track with producers Roger and Julie Corman.

Dinoshark – Blu-ray™
Genre:                         Sci-Fi/Horror
Rating:            Not Rated
Language:       English
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:             Dolby TrueHD 5.1  
Subtitles:         English, Spanish
Year:               2010
SRP :                $24.99
Street Date:     April 26, 2011
Pre-Book:        March 30, 2011
Length:            90 minutes
UPC :               0 1313 22964-9 4
Cat#:               BD22964

Dinoshark  - DVD
Genre:                         Sci-Fi/Horror
Rating:            Not Rated
Languages:      English 
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:             Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:         English, Spanish
Year:               2010
SRP :                $19.98
Street Date:     April 26, 2011
Pre-Book:        March 30, 2011
Length:            90 minutes
UPC :               0 1313 22850-9 2
Cat#:               NFI 6762 DVD
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Sunday, January 16, 2011

MAN IN A SUITCASE: SET 1 -- DVD review by porfle


Fans of 60s British spy shows such as "Secret Agent" and "The Avengers" should get a bang out of "Man in a Suitcase", which graced UK tellies for a single season back in 1967.  (American viewers got to see it on ABC-TV a year later.)  Acorn Media's DVD collection MAN IN A SUITCASE: SET 1 offers the first 15 out of 30 episodes on four discs, and is just plain fun to watch. 

Texas native Richard Bradford (THE UNTOUCHABLES, A TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL) stars as ex-American Intelligence agent McGill (his first name is never revealed, although he's often referred to as "Mac"), who was framed for treason by his own agency in order to protect the identity of a double agent working in Russia.  While fighting to clear his name, McGill survives by taking various odd jobs as a private detective, bounty hunter, or bodyguard, and is often enlisted by his former superiors in Intelligence to perform dirty jobs for them against his will.  As one character describes him in an early episode: "He's a Yank.  Not bent, not straight.  Works for himself."

This interesting premise--you never know what he'll be involved in next--makes it possible for McGill to take part in a wide variety of dangerous and unpredictable adventures.  Bearing a closer resemblance to "Secret Agent" than the more fanciful "The Avengers", this gritty Cold War thriller is marked by snappy, hardboiled dialogue, wry humor, and frequent violence.
 

The latter is most often directed at McGill himself, who often gets bludgeoned, stabbed, beaten up, drugged, and even shot during the course of an episode.  Despite his attempts to look spiffy in cool-cat tailored suits with narrow ties, he usually ends up pretty ragged before the fadeout.  On several occasions, in fact, he spends much of the episode either staggering in a daze or struggling desperately just to stand up.

McGill takes all of this in stride because he has to.  As played by method actor Bradford--whose distinctive look includes prematurely gray hair and an ever-present cigarette jutting from his lips--he's gruff and hardbitten on the outside but sensitive and sympathetic on the inside, often getting into trouble by helping out an old friend or being drawn into an ill-fated romance.  We know he's a good guy and a skilled agent, yet the abuse and betrayal he's endured from both enemy agents and former allies makes him wary and suspicious of everyone.

While McGill keeps a London apartment, most of what he owns is contained in his beat-up suitcase, which he may have to take into action anywhere in the world at a moment's notice.  To this end, the backlot of Pinewood studios serves as various "exotic" settings.  Actual London locations are used to good effect as well.


Though the series takes place in the late 60s, it's refreshingly free of that era's usual "mod" nonsense.  Sets are low-budget but interesting, and heavy on the pastels characteristic of early color television.  On a technical level, the show is quite well done, with much of the 2nd unit direction and editing by five-time "James Bond" director John Glen.  The nifty animated opening titles are accompanied by Ron Grainer's cool theme.

Episode one, "Brainwash", finds McGill being held captive by deposed South Africa governor Colonel Davies and subjected to heavy psychological torture for unknown reasons.  It's a strange episode to start out with as McGill spends much of it confined in a cell in a drugged stupor, but it does demonstrate his resourcefulness and resolve.  He also gets knocked out, beaten up, and shot, barely surviving the ordeal. 

In episode two, "The Sitting Pigeon", McGill must babysit a surly, uncooperative gangster who's scheduled to testify against his own brothers and is marked for death.  Besides being one of the funnier and more suspenseful stories in the series, it boasts a guest appearance by none other than legendary "Monty Python" babe Carol Cleveland, here sporting an auburn beehive along with her miniskirt.  The next episode, "Day of Execution", features a young pre-stardom Donald Sutherland. 

"Variation on a Million Bucks", a two-parter with guest stars Yoko Tani (FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS), Norm Rossington (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT), and Aubrey Morris (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, "Deadwood"), is one of the best in the series.  McGill is given the key to a safety deposit box containing a million dollars by an old friend, a former Russian agent, as he lies dying of a gunshot wound.  Trouble is, the money is in Turkey and McGill must illicitly buy passage on a ship populated by cutthroats who will do anything for the key.  As par for the course, he ends up getting conked out, beaten up, stabbed, and shot--in addition to losing his girlfriend! 

With episode six, "Man from the Dead", we finally get to see the series pilot and find out the details of how McGill was originally set up as a fall guy.  Stuart Damon guest stars.  Next, Judy Geeson is "Sweet Sue", a spoiled rich girl whose father hires McGill to expose a couple of hipster hucksters who are taking her to the cleaners.  "Essay in Evil" is a tale of blackmail and murder directed by Freddie Francis, the highlight of which is a fight between McGill and a brawny Bond-style henchman.
 

"The Girl Who Never Was" concerns a lost Botticelli painting and features Bond regular Bernard Lee.  Barbara Shelley (FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH) appears in "All That Glitters", in which McGill is hired to locate a kidnapped boy.  "Dead Man's Shoes" finds McGill in a small village beset by marauding thugs.  In "Find the Lady", he's hunted by a homicidal jewel thief in Rome and joined by Jeanne Roland (YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE) and Patrick Cargill (HELP!, "The Prisoner"). 

The final three episodes in the set, "The Bridge", "The Man Who Stood Still", and "Burden of Proof", feature such familiar faces as Jane Merrow (HANDS OF THE RIPPER), Rupert Davies (THE OBLONG BOX, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE), and John Gregson (THE LONGEST DAY).  More astute fans of British television will probably recognize several more.

The 4-disc DVD set from Acorn Media is in full-screen with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound.  No subtitles.  Picture quality is good, with occasional flaws--which, to me, just add to the nostalgic ambiance.  Each disc contains a photo gallery.  The smartly-designed menus are also adorned with some nice pics, along with episode summaries.

There's just something about these vintage British spy shows that I find appealing and fun.  An "Avengers" fanatic as a kid, I never seemed to connect with this particular show during its initial run.  But thanks to MAN IN A SUITCASE SET 1, I'm finally catching up with a really cool series.

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"Upstairs, Downstairs" New Extras-Packed 40th Anniv. Edition on DVD 2 weeks before New BBC Revival


Iconic British series seen on Masterpiece Theatre and A&E; Featuring more than 25 hours of never-before-seen bonus material

New BBC revival starring Jean Marsh in her original role begins April 10th on PBS

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS COMPLETE SERIES: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
On DVD March 29, 2011

Great fun and marvelous television” —New York Times

One of the brightest gems ever to come over the ocean from the British”—Washington Post



Silver Spring, MD — The most popular and successful British drama series in television history, Upstairs, Downstairs Complete Series: 40th Anniversary Edition arrives on DVD from Acorn Media on March 29, 2011, featuring more than 25 hours of never-before-seen extras and collectible packaging with gold foil. Winner of seven Emmy® Awards, two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody, Upstairs, Downstairs tells the epic saga of life in Edwardian England. The series inspired the recent hit Downton Abbey and the contemporary and highly-anticipated BBC revival of the same name beginning on PBS’ Masterpiece Classic on April 10th. The beloved ITV drama series captivated viewers for five heart-tugging, humorous and satisfying seasons from 1971 to 1975 and has been seen by a billion people in 40 countries worldwide. The 21-disc collection contains all five series, in addition to a 5-part behind-the-scenes documentary, 24 episode commentaries, 25th anniversary retrospective, interviews with the stars and creators, and much more ($199.99; www.AcornOnline.com).

Upstairs: the wealthy, aristocratic Bellamys. Downstairs: their loyal and lively servants. For nearly 30 years, they share a fashionable townhouse at 165 Eaton Place in London’s posh Belgravia neighborhood, surviving social change, political upheaval, scandals, and the horrors of the First World War.

The ensemble cast of top British actors includes Jean Marsh (Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse), Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine), David Langton (The Spoils of War), Gordon Jackson (The Professionals), Simon Williams (Sword of Honour), and Lesley-Anne Down (North and South).

Bonus Features: 5-part documentary, The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs; 24 episode commentaries; 25th anniversary retrospective, Upstairs, Downstairs Remembered; interviews with the stars, composer, and editor; alternate pilot episode; essay by star and co-creator Jean Marsh; and more

Acorn Media will concurrently release Upstairs, Downstairs, Series 1 and 2 as 4-Disc standalone sets ($49.99). Series 3 (4-Disc, $49.99), Series 4 (4-Disc, $49.99), and Series 5 (5-Disc, $49.99) will be released later in 2011.

Street Date: March 29, 2011                                           
SRP: $199.99

DVD 21-Disc Set: 68 episodes on 20 discs, plus bonus disc – Approx. 57 hrs., plus bonus – SDH subtitles

Acorn Media, chief curators of the best Brit TV” –TIME magazine


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Friday, January 14, 2011

British TV on DVD Jan. 25 - Stylish Man in a Suitcase and more Pie in the Sky, Agatha Christie Hour, and Wish Me Luck


North American DVD debut of the action-packed 1960s spy series; Accused of treason, a former American agent turns private eye

MAN IN A SUITCASE Set 1 on DVD January 25, 2011

“Stylish action-adventure series” —The Independent



Silver Spring, MD — A gritty spy thriller in the vein of Secret Agent and Danger Man, Man in a Suitcase, Set 1 makes its North American DVD debut from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011. Richard Bradford (The Untouchables) stars as “Mac” McGill, a cynical yet honest spy who has been disavowed by his American bosses and is on the run from a host of international enemies. Packed with tension and Cold War intrigue, Man in a Suitcase had national broadcast exposure on ABC in 1968. Set 1 includes the first 15 episodes of this engaging and stylish series (DVD 4-Disc, www.AcornOnline.com, $59.99).

“Mac” McGill is an ex-spy with a murky past and an uncertain future. Wrongfully dismissed by his bosses in U.S. intelligence, he decides to freelance as a private detective based out of London. McGill’s work takes him far and wide, yet seemingly always on a collision course with the British authorities, the Soviets, and his old colleagues in American espionage. Beset by enemies on all sides, he strives to clear his name and restore his reputation. But until he does, he remains on the run, taking jobs in the dark and dangerous corners of European society.

This action-packed Cold War drama features savvy writing and a host of superb guest stars, including Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice), James Grout (Inspector Morse), Anton Rodgers (Lillie), Nicola Pagett (Upstairs, Downstairs), Peter Vaughan (The Remains of the Day), Stuart Damon (General Hospital), and Judy Geeson (Mad About You).

Street: January 25, 2011                 
SRP: $59.99              
Bonus Features: Photo gallery

DVD 4-Disc Set: 15 episodes - Approx. 779 min. – British drama



Culinary detective series serves up more mysteries; Starring Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter)

PIE IN THE SKY, SERIES 4 Debuts on DVD January 25, 2011

“A pleasure to watch” —The Globe and Mail

“Witty and incredibly entertaining” —Papermag.com

“Excellent cook-detective series” —Daily Mail

“An enjoyable British mix of character comedy and murder mystery” —MSN

“As much a pleasure for culinary enthusiasts as it is for crime fans” —The Times



Silver Spring, MD — Pie in the Sky, Series 4 debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011 with all the right ingredients for an enchanting detective drama. Tony® winner Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter, The History Boys) returns to the whimsical British series as DI Henry Crabbe, a semi-retired detective more interested in cooking than in crime-fighting. Seen on public television, Pie in the Sky debuted on BBC1 in the U.K. in March 1994 and aired for five series. Series 4 guest stars include Keeley Hawes (MI-5, Ashes to Ashes) and Jane Wymark (Midsomer Murders, Poldark). The 2-Disc set includes all six episodes from series four ($39.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe divides his time between catching criminals and his true passion—cooking. The proprietor of Pie in the Sky, his dream restaurant, Crabbe had hoped to while away his retirement serving up his favorite dishes with his accountant wife, Margaret (Maggie Steed, Shine on Harvey Moon). But his boss, Assistant Chief Constable Freddy Fisher (Malcolm Sinclair, Casino Royale), is determined to keep his best detective on the payroll, tackling the cases that only Crabbe’s deft touch can solve.

Series 4 Episodes: Devils on Horseback (Part One), Devils on Horseback (Part Two), Chinese Whispers, New Leaf, Breaking Bread, Gary’s Cake.

Street: January 25, 2011                 
SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 6 episodes - Approx. 296 min. SDH subtitles


Acorn Media previously released the series on DVD with Series 1 (May 2009) and Series 2 (January 2010) in 3-volume boxed sets, $49.99. Series 3 debuted September 2010 in a 2-disc set, $39.99.


More classic Christie tales on DVD for the first time; Seen on PBS Mystery!

THE AGATHA CHRISTIE HOUR, SET 2 On DVD January 25, 2011

“An engrossing, mystery-lover's treasure from beginning to end” —Library Bookwatch


Silver Spring, MD —Agatha Christie’s short fiction comes alive in The Agatha Christie Hour, Set 2, debuting on DVD from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011. Broadcast on PBS’s Mystery! in the early 1980s, these five splendid adaptations feature an outstanding ensemble cast portraying lesser-known Christie protagonists as they grapple with romance, murder and the supernatural in Art Deco England (DVD 2-Disc set, $39.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

The Queen of Crime plumbs the recesses of the human heart in these five tales of mystery and murder, passion and peril, suspense and the supernatural. In these final episodes, Christie protagonists find themselves the victims of false accusations, embroiled in illicit love affairs, torn between duty and desire, and under the thumb of employers with questionable motives. These classic adaptations are Christie at her best, now on DVD for the first time.

The superb ensemble casts include Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding), Amanda Redman (New Tricks, Sexy Beast), Ralph Bates (Dear John, Poldark), Stephanie Cole (Doc Martin), Cherie Lunghi (Secret Diary of a Call Girl), and Christopher Cazenove (The Duchess of Duke Street, Dynasty).

THE STORIES

Magnolia Blossom: An unhappy wife tries to escape her marriage.

The Mystery of the Blue Jar: A young man consults an expert on the paranormal.

The Red Signal: A séance foretells of sudden death and danger.

Jane in Search of a Job: An Englishwoman takes on a dangerous assignment.

The Manhood of Edward Robinson: A henpecked fiancé sets off on the drive of his life.

Thames Television produced ten episodes of The Agatha Christie Hour in 1982. Acorn Media previously released the first five episodes of Set 1 in July 2010.

Street: January 25, 2011                             
SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 5 episodes - Approx. 260 min. - British mystery - SDH subtitles

BONUS: Biography of Agatha Christie



British heroines return in gripping WWII drama set behind enemy lines;
Seen on public television

WISH ME LUCK, Series 2 On DVD January 25, 2011

“A corker” —The Huffington Post


Silver Spring, MD — Based on the true story of British heroines tasked with spying on the Nazis in occupied France, Wish Me Luck, Series 2 arrives to DVD from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011. Featuring more superb performances and plots rife with subterfuge and danger, Series 2 stars Kate Buffery (Trial & Retribution), Lynn Farleigh (Pride and Prejudice), Jane Asher (A Voyage Round My Father), and Jane Snowden (All Passion Spent), with co-stars Jeremy Northam (The Tudors) and Julian Glover (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). Filmed on location in Britain and France, Wish Me Luck combines strong female characters, tension-filled plots and historical authenticity (DVD 2-Disc, 7 episodes, www.AcornOnline.com, $39.99).

In the midst of WWII, brave British women risk their lives as secret agents in occupied France. Their assignment is sabotage, subversion, and propaganda; their fate, if caught, is torture or worse.

Now an experienced operative, Liz Grainger (Kate Buffery) is working in the London home office under the direction of Colonel James “Cad” Cadogan (Julian Glover). Desperately needed recruits join the team, but they bring troubles of their own. Vivien (Lynn Farleigh) carries a secret that may compromise her judgment, while Emily (Jane Snowden) is a skilled radio operator but dangerously raw at the spy game. How will they fare in France, where even the smallest mistake can prove fatal?

Created by Jill Hyem and Lavinia Warner (BBC’s Tenko), Wish Me Luck aired on ITV for three series (1988-90) and broadcast on U.S. public television in the 1990s.

Street: January 25, 2011                                         
SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 7 episodes - Approx. 375 min. SDH subtitles


Acorn Media previously released Series 1 in March 2010, (DVD 2-Vol. Boxed Set, $39.99).
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Monday, January 10, 2011

FIRE ON THE AMAZON -- DVD review by porfle


At first glance, FIRE ON THE AMAZON (1993) appears to be the usual Hollywood attempt to mix issues--in this case, saving the Amazon rainforest--with thriller elements.  But this Roger Corman production soon reveals itself to be nothing more than a cheesy potboiler, and not a particularly good one at that.

Craig Sheffer plays R.J. O'Brien, who's in South America covering the murder of a rainforest crusader named Santo.  R.J. is one of those renegade American photojournalists who only care about getting the story, and not about what the story means.  But we know his neutrality won't last long when he meets cutie-pie Alyssa Rothman (Sandra Bullock), a Santo supporter who looks good in tight jeans.  When an Indian is framed for the murder and later found dead in his cell, R.J. and Alyssa enlist the help of the man's brother Ataninde (Juan Fernández) in a dangerous play against the corrupt local police. 

It's hard to believe this choppy, rinky-dink action flick was directed by Luis Llosa, whose ANACONDA and THE SPECIALIST at least had a measure of competence.  Bad editing works against the film throughout, but slapdash staging and unconvincing performances are major factors as well.  Visually, it resembles something you'd see at the drive-in during the 70s.  The script, interestingly enough, is co-written by one of my favorite actresses, Corman regular Luana Anders (EASY RIDER, DEMENTIA 13).
 

The environmental angle itself is given just enough lip-service to keep the plot moving while lending the film an air of respectability.  Ultimately, however, it's no more relevant than a Western about evil cattle ranchers and corrupt sheriffs versus noble sodbusters.  It does give R.J. and Alyssa an excuse to follow Ataninde deep into the jungle, where his brother's funeral allows director Llosa to film one of those weird tribal ceremonies where the white observers are given a hallucinogenic substance and trip out.

Here, right smack-dab in the middle of this guy's funeral, Sheffer and Bullock have a wildly-inappropriate softcore sex scene that's utterly ridiculous.  I'm not just talking about bare-shouldered groping and peekaboo stuff--it's the whole everything-but-the-genitalia routine, with the two tongue-wrestling leads humping away like they're in a Penthouse video.  At this point it becomes pretty clear that we're watching a standard exploitation flick that wears its loftier aspirations like a G-string. 

As R.J., Craig Sheffer is his usual Craig Sheffer self, neither very bad nor very good--his hair actually outperforms him--while Sandra Bullock gives her standard "I can't believe she's an Oscar winner" performance.  (In one scene she expresses grave concern by holding her nose.)  Judith Chapman of "The Young and The Restless" co-stars.


There's some pretty passable shoot-em-up action here and there, and an old-fashioned cliffhanger sequence with R.J. bound to a chair next to a ticking time bomb.  Most of the castmembers are held hostage at one point or another, with a gun or knife pressed menacingly against their throats.  This happens with such regularity that in one scene it appears as though Sheffer's character is holding himself hostage.  (Okay, I'm exaggerating.) 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and English subtitles.  The sole extra is a hilariously cheesy trailer. 

If you take FIRE ON THE AMAZON for what it is, a lively but dumb exploitation flick, you might find it somewhat entertaining.  (Especially if you just want to see Sandra Bullock naked.)  But if you're looking for a film with something genuinely important to say about the Amazon rainforest, you're barking up the wrong tree.


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Sunday, January 9, 2011

JACK GOES BOATING -- DVD review by porfle


When I saw the trailer for JACK GOES BOATING (2010), I thought, "Oh, no...Philip Seymour Hoffman is aiming for our heartstrings by doing his take on the obligatory 'sweetly-retarded' character."  But it turns out that Jack is just a really repressed super-schlub who's as afraid of life as he is of the water.  And watching him learn to stay afloat in both environments turns out to be pretty entertaining.

Jack drives for his uncle's limo service but wants to better himself by applying with the Metropolitan Transit Authority.  He also wants to find romance, so his best friend and coworker Clyde sets him up with a blind date named Connie.  Connie works with Clyde's wife Lucy at a mortuary and is also trying to move up--from working with cadavers to closing business deals over the phone.  But she's on the verge of getting fired because, like Jack, she lacks assertiveness.

Connie responds to Jack because he's just as withdrawn as she is, and they set a tentative date to go boating sometime in the future when it isn't snowing.  This troubles Jack greatly since he can't swim, so Clyde offers to teach him at a local pool.  Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even I caught on that learning to swim is a metaphor for Jack learning to overcome his fears and live life.  While obvious, it's handled in such a nice way that the effect is uplifting.
 

A nice touch comes when Clyde tells Jack to close his eyes and visualize going underwater, a technique he begins to use when faced with other intimidating challenges such as learning to cook or forcing himself to enter Connie's hospital room after she's been attacked on the subway.  One of the film's most blackly humorous moments comes right after this attack, with a profusely bleeding Connie showing up for work and doggedly refusing medical aid until she closes a phone deal with a stubborn funeral director.
 
While all this is going on, Clyde and Lucy's efforts to help Jack with his love life inadvertently stir up long-simmering problems of their own, a situation which comes to a head during the big night in which Jack plans to cook dinner for the four of them.  As various bad vibes reach a boiling point, Jack has a startlingly violent moment which seems out of character and makes me think the film has taken a really wrong turn into awkward melodrama.  Fortunately, what I thought at first was a misstep is actually what kicks the story into high gear and makes the rest of the film click.

Hoffman is good as Jack, but the part of a big, insecure oaf isn't really much of a stretch for him.  More interesting is Amy Ryan (CHANGELING, "The Wire") as Connie.  Whether recounting the grimmest personal stories imaginable over dinner or claiming that practically every man she comes in contact with has tried to grope her, she's hilarious in a very buttoned-down way, almost without even trying to be.  Her wounded, birdlike strangeness and the way Jack responds to it with his quiet positivity make their odd courtship endearing, especially when they finally attempt to have sex.
 

Hoffman proves himself talented not only as an actor but as a director as well.  JACK GOES BOATING benefits from a pleasing visual style that revels in its New York locations, giving even its wintery scenes a sense of warmth, and makes the most of a terrific cast (John Ortiz as Clyde and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Lucy are both outstanding).  Robert Glaudini has done such a good job of adapting his own play that it never seems stagey and the dialogue sounds natural.  The score, including some reggae songs, works well although the piano music veers into "Mr. Rogers" territory at times. 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and English and Spanish subtitles.  Extras include two very brief featurettes ("Jack's New York" and "From the Stage to the Big Screen"), a trailer, and two short deleted scenes.  One of these, Connie's encounter with an overly-friendly man on the subway, is a howler. 

JACK GOES BOATING isn't anywhere near as maudlin and pathetic as this type of story often gets, with the main character being sort of a modern-day version of Ernest Borgnine's "Marty."  I was pleasantly surprised by how everything turned out, and by how much I had warmed to this movie that I didn't think I was going to like at all.


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Friday, January 7, 2011

Starz Sells Equity Stake to The Weinstein Company; Anchor Bay & TWC Enter into Multi-Year Agreement

Starz Sells 25% Equity Stake in Starz Media to The Weinstein Company;
Anchor Bay and TWC Enter into Multi-Year, Multi-Platform Entertainment/Distribution Agreement


Englewood, Colo. and New York, NY (January 4, 2011) – In a significant strategic partnership within the ever-changing home/digital entertainment market, Starz, LLC has agreed to sell The Weinstein Company (TWC) a 25% stake in Starz Media, LLC, a programming production, home entertainment and international TV distribution company which includes Anchor Bay Entertainment and other TV/home entertainment assets.  Separately, Anchor Bay has entered into a multi-year domestic distribution agreement for new theatrical content from TWC and its Dimension Films label.

The agreements were announced today by Starz, LLC President and CEO Chris Albrecht and TWC Co-Chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein.  Financial terms of the strategic partnership were not disclosed.

The home/digital entertainment deal, which does not include television rights but spans Blu-ray™, DVD and EST/VOD/PPV electronic/digital distribution, covers up to 20 TWC and Dimension titles per year including the seven-time Golden Globe-nominated Tom Hooper drama The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter; Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine, starring Golden Globe nominees Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling; and John Wells’ feature directorial debut Company Men, starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner and Chris Cooper.  Other titles include the Kristin Scott Thomas drama Sarah’s Key, upcoming sequels in the successful Scream, Spy Kids, and Scary Movie franchises, and new installments in the Hellraiser, Halloween, and Children of the Corn film series.

“The distribution agreement leverages the scale of the strong Anchor Bay home entertainment business and the Starz Digital Media distribution platform. The Weinstein Company new release content is a quality addition to our distribution pipeline of new releases from Anchor Bay Films and Starz Originals,” Albrecht said.  “Harvey and Bob Weinstein are terrific business partners and we are very pleased to have them as part of Starz Media.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Starz and appreciate the commitment of Liberty Media in bolstering Anchor Bay, allowing it to become a much bigger player in non-theatrical distribution,” offered Bob and Harvey Weinstein in a joint statement.  “We hope this strategic partnership is a first step in not only making Anchor Bay a home for our product, but in potentially housing other companies’ product as well, giving quality independent films the kind of care needed in today’s marketplace.”

“This is an opportunity that excited us, especially given the strong management team and infrastructure at Starz,” stated TWC COO David Glasser.  “It’s a smart, forward-looking partnership that will benefit from the superb skills of Chris Albrecht and everyone at Starz and Anchor Bay.”

"Anchor Bay Entertainment is thrilled to be adding the quality films from The Weinstein Company and its Dimension Films label to our first-class home entertainment and digital distribution businesses. Their track record within the home entertainment category is superb.  The TWC films will allow Anchor Bay to continue its expansion, offering consumers and our retail partners excellent independent films featuring leading Hollywood talent," said Bill Clark, president of Anchor Bay Entertainment.
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