TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (1979) -- DVD review by porfle

I've always been a big fan of over-the-top depictions of the international spy as a glamorized action hero, as best typified by Ian Fleming's James Bond.  But author John le Carré's realistic world of workaday intelligence agents toiling at a thankless and often soul-deadening job filled with real danger and paranoia has its own dark fascination.  Capturing this like an absorbing Cold War novel come to life is the first-rate BBC mini-series adaptation, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (1979), starring Alec "Obi-Wan Kenobi" Guinness as the indefatigable George Smiley. 

The aging Smiley is "retired" from the agency known as The Circus due to being one of the fall guys after a botched mission in Czechoslovakia ends in chaos and the near-fatal shooting of agent Jim Prideaux (Ian Bannen).  Smiley's former boss, known only as "Control", has been replaced by the ambitious Percy Alleline (Michael Aldridge) and his close-knit circle of associates--Haydon (Ian Richardson), Bland (Terence Rigby), and Esterhase (Bernard Hepton). 

When one of these men is suspected of being a mole supplying vital information to a sinister Russian contact named "Karla", Smiley is pressed back into service at the behest of a top government official in order to head a secret investigation.  But his efforts only seem to uncover deeper mysteries involving internal corruption, deception, and betrayal on a grand scale, with the evil spectre of Karla lurking behind it all.
 


Alec Guinness is pitch perfect as the enigmatic George Smiley, a keenly intelligent, emotionally distant man constantly haunted by reminders of his wife's infidelity.  Guinness' dry performance is an ideal match for this restrained, slow-burn production whose story slowly and methodically pieces itself together like a jigsaw puzzle. 

There's very little of the standard action-movie stuff save for Prideaux's ill-fated affair in Czechoslovakia early on, and even the suspense scenes--such as Smiley's young assistant Guillam (Michael Jayston) burgling files from their own agency--are staged in a realistic, matter-of-fact way without the usual cinematic frills.

The very literate script by Arthur Hopcraft is so subtle and low-key, in fact, that a lot of viewers may have trouble following it.  Crucial names and references necessary to understanding the increasingly complex plot are hard to keep up with for those without photographic memories.  So, when I finished the fourth episode out of six and realized that I pretty much had no idea what the hell was going on, I actually went back and started over. 

This time, fortunately, everything fell into place and became extremely absorbing, and I found the last couple of episodes riveting.  It may take some patience getting there, but the final revelations in episode six, which come after a highly suspenseful build-up, prove extremely satisfying. 



Among the supporting cast are Hywel Bennett as "scalphunter" Ricki Tarr, who sets events into motion after his chance encounter with a Russian woman seeking help in defecting in exchange for sensitive information.   Ian Richardson of FROM HELL plays Circus inner-circle member Bill Haydon, and Ian Bannen is outstanding as the unfortunate Prideaux, who takes up teaching at a boys' school until he's sufficiently recovered from his wounds to seek revenge. 

Joss Ackland (LETHAL WEAPON 2, HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER) appears briefly as an old friend of Smiley.  As "Karla", a young, dark-haired (but already bald as a cueball) Patrick Stewart displays considerable bad-ass presence during an interrogation scene in which he doesn't speak a single word.

The film has the usual early-BBC filmed look, which is perfect for the dark and rather dreary world in which these agents operate.  Direction by John Irvin is lean and efficient.  Geoffrey Burgon's cello-heavy original score helps push the suspense along very nicely.

The three-disc DVD set (approx. 324 min.) from Acorn Media is in 4:3 full-screen with Dolby Digital sound, with closed-captioning but no subtitles.  Extras include a 28-minute interview with John le Carré along with text-based production notes, cast filmographies, a glossary of main characters and terms, and a le Carré biography and booklist.

Whereas the 007 films serve as flamboyant, thrill-packed eye candy, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY takes us on a gripping and mentally stimulating journey through the cigarette-smoke and stale-coffee netherworld of spydom.  Once I got my head around all the myriad characters and subplots I found it to be one of the most richly rewarding films of its kind that I've ever seen. 


Buy it at Amazon.com

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (1979) -- DVD review by porfle

Feast on "The Simpsons Season 14" on Blu-ray and DVD December 6th

Humans! You are cordially invited to a feast for the senses with the Dec. 6th release of “THE SIMPSONS” SEASON 14 Blu-ray and DVD from the foolish earthlings at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment!

“THE SIMPSONS” SEASON 14 Blu-ray and DVD are loaded with bonus features including the incredible 300th episode starring Tony Hawk and blink-182. Additionally, the Blu-ray and DVD are packed with deleted scenes, features and never-before-seen footage, audio commentaries, sketch galleries, original animated menus, a special language feature and much more.

Other guest stars throughout the season include rock 'n' roll legends Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and Brian Setzer. Also paying Springfield a visit are Elliott Gould, Marisa Tomei, Little Richard and the dynamic duo of Adam West and Burt Ward.

ABOUT THE SIMPSONS
The longest-running scripted show in television history, THE SIMPSONS exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Matt Groening created the iconic family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie.

Currently airing its record-annihilating 23rd season, THE SIMPSONS will celebrate their historic 500th episode in February 2012, and creator Matt Groening will receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The series has won 27 Emmy Awards, been the subject of a hit feature film, created “Krustyland” and a revolutionary virtual coaster – The Simpsons Ride – at Universal Studios, received a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, been honored with five U.S. postal stamps personally designed by Matt Groening, and named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Time Magazine.

THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the Blu-ray and DVD collections for the series. Film Roman, a Starz Media Company, is the animation house.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

Feast on "The Simpsons Season 14" on Blu-ray and DVD December 6th

13 -- DVD review by porfle

In THE DEER HUNTER, a game of Russian Roulette proved so overwhelmingly intense that, as I sat watching it in the theater, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to get through it.  Géla Babluani's 13 (2010) gives us an entire movie based on the game but manages only to be moderately entertaining without coming anywhere near that level of tension.

Sam Riley is Vince, an average young guy whose family--mom, dad, and two sisters--has hit rock bottom financially after the father is badly injured.  Stumbling across an illicit Russian Roulette tournament involving some very high-stakes betting, Vince manages to take the place of one of the entrants in hopes of surviving to solve his family' money problems.  Needless to say, this descent down the rabbit hole will be a nightmare with the spectre of sudden, violent death hovering over him every minute.

Riley gives a restrained but effective performance and makes his character easy to root for.  Vince is believably freaked out during the first round while quickly getting more hardened to the game out of necessity.  When he makes it to the final round, which we know he will since the opening flash-forward gives it away, he's still reluctant but his initial hesitance has been overcome by sheer desperation.



Technically, 13 is as good as it needs to be but no more, relying on the inherent fascination we derive from seeing a group of men standing in a circle, each with his gun pointed at the head of the man in front of him and then firing on command, with some surviving and others thudding clumsily to the floor.  With each round the stakes rise along with the number of bullets in each gun.

Even so, we never really get that caught up in the game itself, and it's the sketchily-drawn characters who provide the most interest.  As Jasper, Jason Statham is likable as usual even playing a rat who plucks his brother Ronald Lynn (Ray Winstone) out of a mental hospital to compete in the game.  Winstone is an imposing figure, even more so when Ronnie's meds start wearing off and he becomes increasingly hostile both to Vince and to Jasper for using him. 

Mickey Rourke is interesting to watch even when he's coasting through a role as he does here, playing a convict named Jefferson who's been whisked out of a Mexican prison and into the competition against his will.  Rapper 50 Cent plays Jefferson's handler, Jimmy.  Belgian actor Ronald Guttman, whom I recognized as one of the Russian defectors in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, is Vince's sponsor in the game, and David Zayas of "Dexter" is a police detective trying to put an end to it. 

Film and TV veteran Ben Gazzara is a welcome presence as Schlondorff, sponsor to his own nerve-frazzled entrant.  In the small role of Vince's handler, Jack, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård manages to convey an unspoken sympathy for Vince that makes his character more tolerable.  Michael Shannon (airplane mechanic "Gooz" in PEARL HARBOR) plays the role of coldblooded game ringmaster Henry with particular relish, harshly barking out commands such as "Spin the cylinder!" and "Cock the hammer!"  Gaby Hoffman, who was little "Maisy" in UNCLE BUCK, is all grown up now and plays Vince's sister Clara in a brief role.



Ray Winstone's menacing character becomes the focal point in the game's final stages and gives 13 its most gripping scenes.  After the game, however, the film wanders down a pretty predictable path and finally comes to a stop after failing to find anything interesting to do with itself save for a mild attempt at some kind of irony.  Director Babluani and his co-scripter Gregory Pruss really needed to throw a few more ideas around before settling for this acutely unremarkable ending.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish.  There are no extras.

In other hands, 13 might've been a really riveting nailbiter.  As it is, it's a nifty little suspense yarn that doesn't quite make you feel like you've gotten your money's worth when it's over.


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

13 -- DVD review by porfle

Bruce Willis, Forest Whitaker, Malin Akerman star in "CATCH .44", coming December 20th to Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Films

All it takes is one itchy trigger-finger...

ANCHOR BAY FILMS PRESENT FOREST WHITAKER, BRUCE WILLIS AND MALIN AKERMAN IN "CATCH .44"

Watch Your Back December 20th on Blu-ray™ and DVD

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – In the tradition of Pulp Fiction, Traffic and Go, and from the producers of Machete and 16 Blocks, Anchor Bay Films takes aim with the December 20th release of Catch .44 on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Oscar® winner Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior”), Bruce Willis (the Die Hard films, Red, The Expendables) and Malin Akerman (Watchmen, The Proposal, Couples Retreat) lead an all-star cast in this suspense thriller where everyone has an agenda...and a Magnum to back it up!  SRP is $26.98 for the DVD and $29.99 for the Blu-ray™. Pre-book is November 23rd.

For Tes (Akerman) and her two cohorts Kara (Nikki Reed, Thirteen, the Twilight franchise) and Tara (Deborah Ann Woll, “True Blood”), the job sounded simple enough: intercept a double-cross drug shipment for their crime boss Mel (Willis) at an isolated diner. But when an unstoppable chain of events unfolds, everyone soon realizes no one is who they seem and the job may be something other than eliminating the competition. What started as simple instructions has now turned into a deadly cat-and-mouse game – with large guns pointed at everyone. Catch .44 also stars Brad Dourif (The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers, Dune), Michael Rosenbaum (“Smallville”) and Shea Whigham (“Boardwalk Empire”).

Bonus features on Catch .44 Blu-ray™ and DVD will include a filmmakers’ commentary.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

Bruce Willis, Forest Whitaker, Malin Akerman star in "CATCH .44", coming December 20th to Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Films

THE HAGSTONE DEMON -- DVD review by porfle

As aesthetically pleasing as it is blood-chilling, director Jon Springer's THE HAGSTONE DEMON (2011) often looks like an art film with its lush black-and-white photography and creative camera angles.  But instead of pretense, director Jon Springer has infused this Gothic horror tale with a queasy sense of unease dotted by moments that are genuinely unsettling.

Mark Borchardt stars as Douglas Elmore, a former journalist who's now the caretaker for a spooky old apartment building scheduled to be demolished.  As the last tenants reluctantly prepare to vacate, Elmore becomes involved with a homeless girl named Karna (Nadine Gross) squatting in a basement apartment.  Her increasingly strange behavior is somehow linked to Elmore's visions of his dead wife Julia, who committed suicide after they took part in a Satanic ritual which was supposedly meant to enable them to have a child. 

The gangly, long-haired Borchardt has perhaps the least refined acting style of the otherwise excellent cast, but this fits his unassuming and somewhat listless character.  His manner initially suggests that the film is going to be a dry spoof of the genre, especially when an eccentric old lady reads his fortune after he fixes her plumbing in an amusing opening scene.  But any deadpan humor derived from these characters serves only as a stark contrast to the dark events to follow.



Karna's involvement with an unearthly-looking man and her calculated sexual advances toward Elmore lead us deeper into the mystery surrounding the Hagstone building.  Haunted by his wife's apparition, Elmore lapses into weird dreams (which are in vivid color) and has a vision of being forced to partake in yet another ritual while drugged.  Then some of the building's tenants start to turn up dead. 

Springer directs all of this with an artist's eye while the black-and-white photography reflects a number of influences, from the shadowy beauty of film noir to the morbid nightmarishness of David Lynch's ERASERHEAD.  The cemetery scenes look like something out of Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. 

A major influence seems to be the low-budget cult classic CARNIVAL OF SOULS--the look and atmosphere are often similar, while Elmore's confusion about what's happening around him is heightened as his world becomes increasingly dreamlike.  We even get the occasional strain of creepy organ music.  The most striking similarity comes when Elmore is sitting in his car at night, and Springer shocks us out of our seats with a shot that almost mirrors one of the scariest moments in the earlier film.

As Elmore's past sins begin to catch up with him, he enlists the aid of his brother-in-law, a young priest named Carl (Sasha Andreev), and his pretty neighbor Barbara (Cyndi Kurtz), who's inexplicably attracted to him, in an attempt to confront the evil infesting the Hagmore.  What follows is a series of bizarre and frightening setpieces including a frenzied possession scene and a really disturbing foray into the dark crawlspace beneath the building.  Here, Springer deftly pulls off a number of bloodcurdling shocks along with some horrifically haunting imagery that should give you an acute case of the shivers.



The supporting cast is top-notch, with standouts including Nadine Gross' intense performance as Karna, Marilyn Murray's endearingly eccentric Mrs. Brennan, and Jay Smiley as excitable oddball Mr. Thompson.  Andreev and Kurtz are capable as Elmore's allies against evil, while Gizelle Erickson, who plays the dead Julie, is a highly expressive presence.  The film is stocked with numerous other interesting players who add to the overall atmosphere.

The DVD from Pacific Entertainment is in widescreen with Dolby 5.1 surround sound.  There are no subtitles.  Along with an odd commentary by Springer and star Mark Borchardt (which often has little or nothing to do with the film), extras include a creepy 20-minute Springer short film called "Dollface", a video interview with Borchardt, behind-the-scenes photos and illustrations, deleted and alternate scenes, and trailers.

It's one thing when a film is this interesting to look at, but when it also comes through with as much spooky ambiance and nerve-rattling scares as THE HAGSTONE DEMON, it's a keeper.  Or at least worthy of a rental.  Either way, fans of old-fashioned Gothic horror should definitely check it out.


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

THE HAGSTONE DEMON -- DVD review by porfle

Adam Rifkin's "LOOK: SEASON 1" coming to DVD November 29th from Image Entertainment

YOU ARE NEVER REALLY ALONE

“Clever, interesting and disturbing." - USA Today
"I love this show!" - MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
"The series has taken voyeurism to a new level." - Los Angeles Times

Based On Adam Rifkin’s Critically Acclaimed And Award-Winning Film -- Opening Your Eyes on DVD November 29

Chatsworth, CA – Who are the people that attract the most relentless camera attention?  Movie stars?  Politicians?  No:  average Americans are the subjects of approximately 40 million surveillance cameras, their actions captured over 200 times a day… never aware of this unwelcome focus. 

On November 29, Image Entertainment presents the hit Showtime Original series “LOOK: Season 1,” based on Adam Rifkin’s (The Dark Backward, co-director of Chillerama) unblinking feature LOOK, the original 2009 film which the Los Angeles Times hailed as “brilliant,” and USA Today called “powerful.” Written, co-produced and directed by Rifkin, “LOOK:  Season 1” focuses on our privacy and secrets…and the silent voyeurs that threaten them.  All eleven episodes will be available on DVD for an MSRP of $24.98.  Prebook is November 1. 

In department stores, gas stations, even public bathrooms, no one is safe from the persistent stare of the cameras hidden in every corner of day-to-day life. Shot entirely from the viewpoint of security cameras, LOOK:  Season 1 paints a shocking picture of what people do when they believe they’re alone.   Following its characters throughout the series, the camera does not judge or criticize – but you just might. And you will begin to look over your shoulder, to peer into your surroundings…and wonder:  is anybody watching? LOOK: Season 1 is based on the original 2009 film written and directed by Rikfin.

With a cast that features Matt Bushell (“Castle,” “The Mentalist”), Colton Haynes (“Teen Wolf”) Lee Reherman (“General Hospital,” “Medium”) and Haley Hudson (Marley and Me, “Weeds”) LOOK:  Season 1 is a thought-provoking view into private actions and hidden truths.  It explores our secret lives and makes us think:  Are we always alone when we think we are?

LOOK:  Season 1 DVD
Genre:                        Drama, Television
Rating:                        Not rated
Language:                   English 
Format:                      Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                        Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles:                     English, Spanish
Year:                          2010
SRP :                          $24.98
Street Date:                 November 29, 2011
Pre-Book:                   November 1, 2011
Length:                       308 minutes
UPC :                         014381714326
Cat#:                         CTL7143DVD

Buy it at Amazon.com

Adam Rifkin's "LOOK: SEASON 1" coming to DVD November 29th from Image Entertainment

"SLEDGE HAMMER! THE COMPLETE SERIES" coming December 13th from Image Entertainment

SLEDGE HAMMER!  THE COMPLETE SERIES From Image Entertainment December 13th

Both Seasons On One Complete DVD Set For The Very First Time – At A Great Low Price!

Using extreme force to enforce the law, Sledge Hammer is a trigger-happy crime fighter who’s gunning for criminals – be they murderers or jaywalkers!   On December 13, Image Entertainment presents “Sledge Hammer!  The Complete Series,” the notoriously funny cult comedy about a clueless cop who always gets results:  one hilarious way or another!   Including both seasons – all 41 episodes – “Sledge Hammer!  The Complete Series” will be available as a 5-disc DVD set for an explosive SRP of $34.98.  Pre-book is November 15. 

Sledge Hammer:  known for battling the Mafia, revolutionaries, even an Elvis impersonator serial killer; notorious for tying a gangster to the hood of his car (“my favorite hood ornament”). David Rasche (Burn After Reading, “Bored to Death,” “All My Children,” “Rubicon”) stars as Sledge, the multi-decorated – and multi-suspended – rebel cop his boss, Captain Trunk (Harrison Page – “JAG,” “Ally McBeal”), relies on time and time again. Sometimes using grenades, Uzi machine guns or bazookas, Sledge is never far from his beloved .44 Magnum in his comedic quest to make the streets safe for all law-abiding citizens.

Created by Alan Spencer, and co-starring Anne-Marie Martin as Dori Doreau, Sledge’s long-suffering partner in crime-fighting, “Sledge Hammer!” episodes were directed by such notables as Bill Bixby (“My Favorite Martian,” “The Incredible Hulk”), Charles Braverman (“Melrose Place,” “Northern Exposure”) and Jackie Cooper (Treasure Island, the Christopher Reeve Superman films). Wanna make your day? Get “Sledge Hammer! The Complete Series DVD!”

Sledge Hammer!  The Complete Series DVD
Genre:             Comedy, Television, Cops, Crime/Criminals, Crooked Cops
Rating:            Not Rated
Languages:      English 
Format:            1.33:1
Audio:             Dolby Digital Mono
Year:               1986
SRP :                $34.98
Street Date:     December 13, 2011
Pre-Book:        November 15, 2011
Length:            1,025 minutes
UPC :               014381776522                       
Catalog #:        LAK7765DVD

Buy it at Amazon.com

"SLEDGE HAMMER! THE COMPLETE SERIES" coming December 13th from Image Entertainment

Gritty Psychological-Thriller "BOY WONDER" on DVD Nov. 8

Inception Media Group, Lightning Media & Boy Wonder Productions Proudly Present "BOY WONDER" -- Multi-Award-Winning Psychological-Thriller Critically Acclaimed During Limited
Theatrical Run & at Film Festivals Across the Country & Internationally

"A dangerous, new superhero … - TheHuffingtonPost.com
"A dark, twisted, pulse-pounding film." - BloodyDisgusting.com
"… the indie superhero movie that could literally punch the throat out of the big boys this year …" - 303 Magazine
"Some are good, some are great but few have the raw energy of Michael Morrissey's fantastic directorial debut Boy Wonder …" - QuietEarth.us

LOS ANGELES - Nov. 1, 2011 - For Immediate Release - The urban psychological-thriller
Boy Wonder - already an underground cult hit that has garnered 13 awards and been critically acclaimed during a limited theatrical run and at film and pop culture festivals across the country - now debuts on
VOD (Oct. 28) and DVD (Nov. 8) from Inception Media Group.

In this riveting and gritty film, a young boy witnesses the brutal murder of his mother during a Brooklyn car-jacking … leaving him to be raised by his alcoholic father (Bill Sage, HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Handsome Harry, 2010 Best Picture-nominee Precious, American Psycho, If Lucy Fell). Now a 17-year-old loner, Sean Donovan (Caleb Steinmeyer, HBO's True Blood, ABC's Lost) is relentlessly haunted by his past and obsessed with finding his mother's killer.

Drawn into a nocturnal urban underworld, Sean's consuming rage is vented one night, defending himself from a chaotic attack by a drug dealer. Thus begins his life as a quiet, straight-A student by day and a self-appointed hero at night.

Investigating a series of vigilante murders, hot-shot new homicide detective Teresa Ames (Zulay Henao, Fighting, S. Darko, Feel the Noise) - broken by her own troubled life - takes an interest in Sean and his case. Yet the closer Teresa gets, the more suspicious she becomes. Engaged in a twisting game of cat and mouse, Sean and Teresa become allies by day … and enemies by night.

But what is a real hero? Who decides what is right or wrong? As the boundaries between justice and vengeance blur, Sean's dual life wears on his psyche and his two worlds careen dangerously close to colliding.

Like a graphic novel you can't put down, Boy Wonder challenges morality, distorting perceptions of what is right and what is justified, as it races to its shocking conclusion.

Written and directed by Michael Morrissey, who makes his feature film debut, Boy Wonder also stars James Russo (Public Enemies, Extremities) and Tracy Middendorf (HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Mission Impossible III).

Boy Wonder, which marks the feature film debut of Morrissey, received accolades from critics during a limited theatrical release and won 13 awards at film festivals across the country, including:

Best Feature at the 2011 Crystal City International Film Festival (London); Best Feature at the 2011 Vail Film Festival; Best Feature at the 2011 Hardacre Film Festival; Gen-Next Film Award at the 2011 KahBang Music, Art & Film Festival; Best Feature Film and Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the 2010 Sacramento Film Festival; Best Feature, Best Director (Morrissey) and Best Actor (Caleb Steinmeyer) at the 2010 Williamsburg International Film Festival; Best Feature and Best Actress (Zulay Henao) at the 2010 ThrillSpy International Thriller & Spy Film Festival; Best Feature Film at the 2010 Festivus Film Festival; and Best Editing (Ray Hubley & Doug Fitch) at the 2010 Rhode Island International Film Festival.

It was also an Official Selection of HBO's 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival; 2011
New York City International Film Festival; 2011 Sedona International Film Festival; 2011 Twin Cities Film Fest; 2011 Ruby Mountain Film Festival, 2011 Crystal Palace International Film Festival (London); 2011 Tacoma Film Festival; 2011 Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival; 2011 Hell's Half  Mile Film & Music Festival; 2011 FirstGlance Film Festival; 2011 Titanic International Film Festival (Budapest); 2011 Fantaspoa International Film Festival (Brazil); 2010 Dallas Inernational Film Festival; 2010 Canada International Film Festival; and the 2010 Kansas City FilmFest.

Boy Wonder is presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16 x 9 (2.40:1) and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.  Special features include "Making Of" Featurette.

Boy Wonder
Inception Media Group
Genre:  Psychological-Thriller
Rated: R
Format:  DVD Only
Running Time:  Approx. 97 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price:  $26.98
Pre-Order Date:  October 11, 2011
Street Date:  November 8, 2011
VOD:  October 25, 2011
Catalog #:  IMG1098DVD
UPC Code:  #815300010419

Buy it at Amazon.com

Gritty Psychological-Thriller "BOY WONDER" on DVD Nov. 8

"Tucker & Dale VS. Evil" Coming To Blu-ray & DVD November 29

EVIL JUST MESSED WITH THE WRONG HILLBILLIES!!!


Hilariously Gory, Horror Comedy Starring Alan Tudyk And Tyler Labine Brings Evil To Blu-ray And DVD November 29 From Magnolia Home Entertainment Under The Magnet Label


"A deliciously fun satire.” - Salon
“More than promising as a first feature.” - Variety

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Kick back, relax and enjoy a dose of evil when Tucker & Dale vs. Evil takes a hilarious turn for the worse on Blu-ray and DVD November 29 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Label. Making his directorial debut Eli Craig makes “an endearingly cheeky tribute to suspense and slasher classics” (Hollywood Reporter). A huge hit with horror fans the film stars cult-fan favorite Alan Tudyk (“Firefly,” “Suburgatory”), Tyler Labine (“Reaper,” Zack and Miri Make Porno) and recently named Esquire’s Sexiest Women Alive, Katrina Bowden (“30 Rock”).

Best friends Tucker and Dale are excited for relaxing weekend of fishing at their secluded cabin. Unfortunately for them, evil has different plans when a series of misunderstandings and tragic events start killing a group of preppy college students who believe they are backwoods hillbillies out to kill them. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil has been a hit on the festival circuit after its debut at Sundance. It won the Midnight Audience Award at SXSW, the Jury Prize for First Feature at Fantasia, the Best Director Award at The Fantaspoa Film Festival, and the Best Motion Picture Award at The Sitges Film Festival. The Tucker & Dale vs. Evil Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include the making of the film and hilarious commentary with Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine and director Eli Craig. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail prices of $29.98 and $26.98 respectively.

Synopsis
Tucker and Dale are two best friends on vacation who are mistaken for murderous backwoods hillbillies by a group of preppy college kids. When one of the kids gets separated from her friends, Tucker and Dale try to lend a hand, but as the misunderstanding grows, so does the body count.

Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

"Tucker & Dale VS. Evil" Coming To Blu-ray & DVD November 29

"HALF PINT BRAWLERS: SEASON 1" Coming to DVD November 15 From Image Entertainment

FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "JACKASS: THE MOVIE" -- IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT UNLEASHES "HALF PINT BRAWLERS: SEASON 1"


WARNING! It’s Extreme, Absurd And On DVD November 15, 2011

CHATSWORTH, CA– Imagine a show that’s “Jackass” meets Girls Gone Wild meets “Little People, Big World!” On November 15, 2011, Image Entertainment releases Half Pint Brawlers: Season 1 on DVD, a truly uproarious, outrageous and unpredictable reality show.  A hit since it premiered on TV, the series follows the exploits of a group of little wrestlers, with big ambitions, who travel the country to put on unforgettable shows for some very rowdy fight fans – including those locked up in a maximum security prison! All six episodes (plus footage not seen on TV) of the rough and tumble reality program are on DVD with an SRP of $14.98. Pre-book is October 18th.

From the executive producer of Jackass: The Movie, Half Pint Brawlers: Season 1 chronicles the often-absurd yet astonishing and weird adventures of one of the most extraordinary performance groups in the country. These self-proclaimed hardcore little person wrestlers, led by their gregarious owner, Puppet "The Psycho Dwarf," entertain crowds in venues all across the U.S. with their unique brand of wrestling prowess and in-your-face personalities.

Along the way, Puppet must deal with issues surrounding little person wrestling events while at the same time keeping his rambunctious wrestlers in line. As "The Brawlers" travel the underground wrestling circuit, you’ll have a front row seat to see all of the action inside the ring… and their wild, chaotic lifestyles outside the ring.

Episodes: 28 Stitches to the Head, The Rookie Pays His Dues, Little Persons, Big Easy, The Southern Pride Festival, Mischief in Mexico, The Littlest Battle Royale Ever!

The Brawlers were featured in the Jackass 3-D movie and have made unforgettable appearances on “The Best Damn Sports Show,” “MTV’s Real World,” “Fox and Friends,” and have even performed at rock concerts by Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker and Sevendust.  But here is Half Pint Brawlers: Season 1 at its unfiltered and uncompromising best, it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before - a true no holds barred experience! So get ready to watch Puppet and his gang of little people as they use staple guns, thumb tacks, broken bottles and barbed wire in creative new ways that will leave you asking, “What will they do next?”

About Image Entertainment
Image Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB: DISK) is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and more than 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights, as well as digital download rights to over 2,100 video programs and approximately 400 audio titles containing more than 6,000 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.

Half Pint Brawlers: Season 1 DVD
Genre:             TV/Special Interest
Rating:             NR
Language:        English
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:             Dolby Digital 5.1 
Year:               2010
SRP:                $14.98
Street Date:     November 15, 2011
Pre-Book         October 18, 2011
Length:            132 minutes
UPC:               014381733723
Cat#:               ID7337 HDVD

Buy it at Amazon.com

"HALF PINT BRAWLERS: SEASON 1" Coming to DVD November 15 From Image Entertainment

"CHILLERAMA" from Image Entertainment -- Coming November 29th to Blu-ray and DVD

"Chillerama is a Late Night Classic for the new millennium." — Jason Bene, Killerfilm.com


"The most offensively nostalgic fun time I’ve personally experienced in theaters in I don’t know how long." — Aaronflux, Dread Central


"Ghoulishly good and delicious." — Why So Blu?


"Highly recommended fun." — Fangoria


"Worth checking out for a laugh and some seriously gross-out moments." — Shock Till You Drop


CHILLERAMA FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT – INVADING A HOME NEAR YOU NOVEMBER 29TH

CHATSWORTH, CA – After a triumphant premiere at the famed Hollywood Forever Cemetery and after grossing out, er, entertaining audiences all over the country with a 20-city Roadshow Tour, the long-awaited new cult classic finally comes home! On November 29th, Image Entertainment unleashes the horror anthology CHILLERAMA to home theaters everywhere on unrated Blu-ray™ and DVD. SRP is $29.97 for the Blu-ray™ and $27.97 for the DVD. Pre-book is November 1st.

From the depraved minds of directors Adam Rifkin (Detroit Rock City, The Dark Backward), Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs,VH-1’s “Scream Queens”), Adam Green (Hatchet, Frozen), and Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2, Knights of Badassdom), CHILLERAMA is a festival of gore, guts, goofiness and good times. In addition to experiencing all the chills, thrills – and goo – of the ultimate midnight movie in high-definition 1080p picture and DTS-HD audio, CHILLERAMA boasts two hours of insightful and heretofore unseen bonus features that delve deep into the creative process of these four renowned directors of the macabre, as they labored and toiled to create a cinematic love letter to horror and film fans.  

Produced by ArieScope Pictures and in the spirit of classic “omnibus” films like Dead of Night, Tales From the Crypt, Creepshow and Twilight Zone: The Movie, with four vignettes that not only celebrate the golden age of B horror schlock but also nearly the entire history of horror cinema itself, CHILLERAMA offers something for every bad taste.  With titles like “Wadzilla,” “I Was A Teenage Werebear,” The Diary of Anne Frankenstein,” and “Zom-B-Movie,” CHILLERAMA features appearances by Joel David Moore (Avatar, Hatchet), Lin Shaye (Insidious), Ray Wise (X-Men: First Class), Kane Hodder (Hatchet and Hatchet II), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, Sharktopus) and more cameos than one can (body)count.  

It's the closing night at the last drive-in theater in America and Cecil B. Kaufman (Richard Riehle, Bridesmaids, Hatchet) has planned the ultimate marathon of lost film prints to unleash upon his faithful cinephile patrons.  Four films so rare that they have never been exhibited publicly on American soil until this very night!  What could possibly go wrong? 

Bonus features on CHILLERAMA Blu-ray™ and DVD include:
Directors' Video Commentary
Wadzilla Deleted Scenes and Trailer
The Making of The Diary of Anne Frankenstein
I Was A Teenage Werebear Behind the Scenes, Deleted Scenes, and Trailer
Zom-B-Movie Deleted Scenes
Directors' Interviews
Original Theatrical Trailer 

For more information, check out www.chillerama.com.

About ArieScope Pictures
ArieScope Pictures is a feature film and television production company based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1998 by writer/director Adam Green, cinematographer Will Barratt, and producer Cory Neal, ArieScope Pictures has become a leader in original independent genre film production bringing titles to the screen such as HATCHET, HATCHET 2, FROZEN, GRACE, and SPIRAL. For more information on ArieScope Pictures, please visit www.ariescope.com.

About Image Entertainment
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and more than 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights, as well as digital download rights to over 2,100 video programs and approximately 400 audio titles containing more than 6,000 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.

Chillerama Blu-ray™
Genre:             Action / Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Feature Film, Fantasy, Musical/Performing Arts
Rating:             Unrated
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:              DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:          English, Spanish
SRP:                $29.97
Street Date:     November 29, 2011
Pre-Book:        November 1, 2011
Length:            120 minutes
UPC:               014381700459
Cat#:               CHI7004BD

Chillerama DVD
Genre:            Action / Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Feature Film, Fantasy, Musical/Performing Arts
Rating:            Unrated
Languages:      English
Format:           Anamophic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:             Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:          English, Spanish
SRP:                $27.97
Street Date:      November 29, 2011
Pre-Book:        November 1, 2011
Length:            120 minutes
UPC:               014381673821
Cat#:               CHI6738DVD


Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

"CHILLERAMA" from Image Entertainment -- Coming November 29th to Blu-ray and DVD

BAARIA -- DVD review by porfle

Writer-director Giuseppe Tornatore (CINEMA PARADISO) waxes nostalgic about his Sicilian hometown in the lavish BAARIA (2009), with mixed results.

For two-and-a-half hours, we follow the evolution of Baaria (nickname for "Bagheria") from a small village in the 20s where everyone knows each other to a bustling, impersonal city of the 70s, through the eyes of three generations of the Torrenuova family.  The main character is Peppino, whom we first meet as a boy earning money for his poor family as a shepherd's helper.  We'll see him grow to manhood (handing the role over to Francesco Scianna), start a family, and become a politically-active Communist whose pursuit of justice for the common man will become a lifelong obsession.

The story is a patchwork of episodic impressions that are never developed enough to build very much emotional resonance--in fact, various brief vignettes come and go so quickly that BAARIA sometimes resembles an extended trailer for a better film.  The handsome Scianna manages to make Peppino a likable character but we rarely feel his passion, whether courting his future wife Mannina (Margareth Madè in her film debut) over the objections of her anti-Communist parents or wading through the stormy seas of political unrest.

A lot depends on the expressive faces of some of the actors, especially the children who play little Peppino and his own offspring later on, and the older actors such as Lina Sastri (as Mannina's mother), whose careworn features add their own unwritten detail to the story.  The film is populated by so many peripheral characters that it's hard to keep track of them all, but Tornatore has cast all of these roles well and they add to the cumulative impression of his boyhood town that the director wants to convey. 

All of this is beautifully filmed both in the actual town of Bagheria and in an expensive recreation (in Tunisia) that's meticulously detailed and bathed in nostalgic ambiance (with a score by Ennio Morricone).  But it is, for the most part, a montage of experiences that rarely pauses long enough for us to get deeply involved in any of them.  With such a rich setting, I found myself yearning for a more engaging story in addition to a series of interesting but somewhat superficial events. 

Then I wondered if perhaps the very superficiality of Peppino's political exploits was meant to emphasize how much he was missing by neglecting to appreciate what a wonderful wife and family he had.  Throughout the film, we see them going about their lives and creating memories that he would never share due to his frequent absences.  Only when he ultimately fails to accomplish any of the goals he's strived for over the years does it apparently dawn on him that his priorities have been misplaced all along.

With that in mind, the strangely surrealistic final sequence of BAARIA, which is ambiguous enough that viewers must make the effort to sort out its meaning on their own, ends the film on an optimistic note.  I'm not sure I completely got what Tornatore is trying to say here, but I have my own interpretation and I'm sticking with it.  Anyway, it helps bind the narrative's various threads together in a more satisfying way and make the experience of watching this long, difficult film a bit more worthwhile. 

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound (Italian language with English subtitles.)  Extras include a subtitled director's commentary, photo and poster galleries, deleted scenes, an interview with Tornatore, and featurettes on the making of the film and its subsequent promotion.

In the commentary, Tornatore states that "this film was the longing to express, to settle, to distill all that our relationship with our birthplace represents" with a mixture of historical facts and his own sensory impressions and hazy memories, "just for the pleasure of evoking (them)."  BAARIA is definitely the film he set out to make in order to do all that, and I suspect he may be its biggest fan.  I'm not, but I don't regret experiencing this interesting and finely-wrought piece of cinema.



Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

BAARIA -- DVD review by porfle

FREERUNNER -- DVD review by porfle

You might call FREERUNNER (2011) the "Running, Jumping, and Definitely Not Standing Still" film.  It may have its ups and downs as a piece of filmmaking, but what it has going for it in spades is an amazing array of breathtaking stunts.

The story involves a guy named Ryan (Sean Faris, PEARL HARBOR, GHOST MACHINE) who partakes in a citywide footrace that's broadcast online for betting purposes.  He and fellow contestants with names like Decks, West, Turk, and Kid Elvis race to collect three flags and cross the finish line first.  Ryan hopes to win the final round in order to move to the ocean with his girlfriend Chelsea (Rebecca Da Costa) and ailing Grandpa (Seymour Cassel) and take up sailing.

What he doesn't know is that billionaire playboy Mr. Frank (Danny Dyer, MALICE IN WONDERLAND) plans to turn the whole thing into a death race for his filthy rich friends to bet on.  Now equipped with non-removable exploding collars, the runners must reach three deactivation scanners in order to keep their heads on their shoulders.  With only thirty minutes to get to the final scanner, the race is now a cutthroat fight for life in which only the winner will survive.

Director Lawrence Silverstein shows that he can handle slower scenes pretty well when Ryan is visiting his feisty Grandpa in the hospital or romancing Chelsea, but as soon as the action starts it's shaky-cam time.  And not the well-done kind of shaky-cam either--it sometimes looks as though all the cameramen are falling-down drunk and the film is being edited by a bunch of hyperactive kids.  A good deal of FREERUNNER's visuals are so marred by pointless kineticism and salad-shooter cutting that it makes QUANTUM OF SOLACE seem like an English drawing room comedy in comparison. 

This is especially unfortunate when one sees the behind-the-scenes footage in which Silverstein has directed much of the action in long takes that are very well choreographed and come off just fine as they are.  A stellar group of stunt performers, including the unbelievably nimble Ryan Doyle who plays Ryan's freerunning nemesis Finch, deliver numerous impressive stunts involving precision jumps, dazzling gymnastics, and some unusual moves such as a front-flip onto a motorcycle. 

More familiar stunts such as freefalls, vehicle crashes, and martial arts fighting are handled expertly as well.  So well, in fact, that you may find the bonus featurettes covering all of this stuff to be more exciting than the movie.

Sean Faris makes an okay hero as Ryan, and Danny Dyer as the smugly sinister Mr. Frank makes a sleazy enough villain.  As Grampa, the venerable Seymour Cassel is a welcome presence, as is Tamer Hassan as Reese, a tough guy who formerly sponsored the race but has been forced into working with Mr. Frank.  The rest of the cast perform pretty much up to speed, especially those doubling as stuntmen.

Casey Durkin adds some humor to the film as online race commentator Stacey, giving the film a bit of a DEATH RACE vibe.  Not so fun are the frequent cutaways to a bunch of billionaire gamers squabbling amongst themselves via their computer monitors, an aspect of the film that isn't nearly as amusing as intended.

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 2.35:1 widescreen with Dolby 5.1 surround and subtitles in English and Spanish.  In addition to the trailer, bonuses consist of the featurettes "Behind the Scenes, Outtakes, and Bloopers", "Over the Rooftops and Behind the Scenes", "Freerunner Stunts, Fights, and Effects", "Playing Ninja", and "Parkour/Freerunning."  Headed by John Bernecker (Sean Faris' double) and Ryan Doyle, these shorts provide much of the DVD's entertainment value.

Despite the film's uneven technical qualities, FREERUNNER does have a fast pace and some suspenseful sequences.  There isn't nearly as much actual "parkour" as I expected, at least insofar as my understanding of the word goes, but the nonstop stunts are enough to keep the film interesting.  Still, there's a lightweight direct-to-video vibe to the whole thing that keeps it from being what you might call "essential viewing."



Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

FREERUNNER -- DVD review by porfle

GHOST HUNTERS: SEASON SIX, PART 2 -- DVD review by porfle

From what little I've seen, SyFy Channel's "Ghost Hunters" is a pretty fun show to watch.  We have a paranormal investigation group called TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) traveling to celebrated haunted sites around the U.S.A., spending a night collecting "evidence" and personal experiences, and then analyzing it all for proof of ghostly manifestations.  Sounds like fun to me.

None of this is really terrifying--if it were, in fact, you'd probably hear even more cries of "fake!" from the show's skeptics.  But it is pleasantly creepy, as I found from watching the 3-disc DVD set GHOST HUNTERS: SEASON SIX, PART 2.  The team sets out to either prove or disprove the ghostly accounts related to them for each location, seemingly with equal enthusiasm, which adds some credibility to the show's "100% real" claims. 

Of course, we have no way of knowing how much of the supernatual stuff shown is real--if any--or whether or not SyFy and TAPS are just pulling the wool over our eyes.  But that doesn't really matter if the show succeeds in making us suspend disbelief for a while, which, in my case, it does.  And something about the earnest nature of the participants tends to make me think they're pretty much on the level.  Does that make me gullible?  Maybe, but I still find the show entertaining.

The group is headed up by a couple of plumbers named Grant and Jason, who "moonlight" as paranormal investigators.  Some episodes open with them in full plumbers' regalia as they unstop somebody's toilet before getting called into ghost-hunting action.  These scenes, like several others along the way, are obviously staged, but that's to be expected in a show like this.  After being briefed on the latest mission by the team's case researcher (resident babe Kris Williams performs this duty for most of the episodes before being transferred to "Ghost Hunters International"), they set off for their destination along with fellow investigators Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, Amy Bruni, and whoever else happens to be in the line-up at the time. 

A site representative--usually a docent or tourist liason, sometimes a resident--gives them a tour of the place and a rundown on reported ghostly activity.  The team sets up their cameras and other equipment and waits until sundown, when it's "lights out."  That's when things start getting spooky.  Wandering around in the dark in groups of two or three, they urge the spirits to reveal themselves in some way, which is something that you will never, ever catch me doing, ever.

Much of the time nothing happens, but occasionally there are footsteps, knocks on the walls, and disembodied voices that can't be explained.  (Later analysis often reveals things that were missed first time around, although the interpretations of these anomalies as "supernatural phenomena" can be pretty loose.)  Some of the encounters result in what appears to be an interaction with unknown entities, as when questions are "answered" by a blip on an instrument or a flicker on a flashlight.  In some cases, video seems to reveal a shadowy humanoid shape lurking in the room, but there's never anything really definitive. 

Then again, the mere possibility is enough to raise the hackles on the back of my neck.  The show, naturally, is designed to do just that, with shock editing and strident musical cues working overtime to make everything that happens seems as creepy as possible, compounded by the overall ghostly look which the night-vision cameras lend to the participants and their surroundings.  Add to this the sudden banging noises, footsteps running across the room, doors opening or closing by themselves, and team members freezing with apprehension upon seeing something weird (often accompanied by Grant breathlessly asking "What wuzzat?"), and you've got the makings for some BLAIR WITCH PROJECT-style chills. 

The locations are a big factor, with the TAPS team finding themselves in some of the scariest places I can imagine.  One of them is the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, one of those dangerous old industrial complexes where several workers died due to nonexistent safety measures.  (Ghost enthusiast Meat Loaf joins them on this one, and turns out to be a pretty good team member.)

Another is the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, a dark place with a cloud of death and suicide hanging over it, and the Ulster County Jail in Georgia where a lot of bad things have happened over the years.  These locations with violent and otherwise tragic histories, whose spectral inhabitants are the most troubled or malevolent, are the spookiest.  An old school in Illinois where a young girl was raped and murdered by a janitor is another shudder-inducing spot, as is the imposing Buffalo Central Terminal, location of the 2006 indy horror flick PRISON OF THE PSYCHOTIC DAMNED.

Other locations are a bit more on the lighter side, relatively speaking.  A visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to try and commune with the ghosts of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, whose voices are said to emanate from their wall plaques, is more fun than frightening.  Ditto for the boyhood home of author James Thurber, whose true-life account "The Night the Ghosts Got In" is investigated--and pretty much debunked.  As always, Grant and Jason seem to derive just as much satisfaction from successfully debunking a ghost legend as they do validating it, often discovering them to be misperceptions of the most mundane things. 

The 3-disc, 13-episode DVD set from Image Entertainment is in 16x9 widescreen with Dolby 2.0 sound.  No subtitles or extras. 

You'd have to be a total skeptic to discount everything that happens in GHOST HUNTERS: SEASON SIX, PART 2 as fake.  Personally, I can't, because I've heard disembodied footsteps in an empty room myself, while visiting a friend whose house was purportedly haunted.  Maybe that's why I'm open to all this stuff, and why I find this show to be as unsettling as I do.  In a fun and entertaining way, that is.  As long as I'm safe at home with the lights on.  Wait--what wuzzat?


Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

GHOST HUNTERS: SEASON SIX, PART 2 -- DVD review by porfle

MIDSOMER MURDERS: BARNABY'S TOP 10 -- DVD review by porfle

I've already watched a couple of these "Midsomer Murders" DVD sets from Acorn Media (sets 17 and 18, to be specific) but it's such a long-running show (1997-2011) that I still feel like a bit like a newbie.  Fortunately, the release of MIDSOMER MURDERS: BARNABY'S TOP 10 provides an ideal sampler of the show's best episodes (culled from the first six seasons) as chosen by its star, John Nettles, getting straight to the heart of what makes the show so appealing.

Nettles, who stars as former MI6 agent Tom Barnaby, now chief inspector for pastoral Midsomer County, is on hand to introduce each episode and add his own personal reflections on why they were chosen.  (First-time viewers are strongly advised to watch these intros after seeing the episodes, as they contain major spoilers.)  His observations about fellow actors, shooting conditions, and the stronger and weaker points of each script should be of great interest to fans.

The collection begins, aptly enough, with "How It All Began: The Killings at Dodger's Drift."  This initial murder investigation by Barnaby and his callow but likable assistant DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) introduces us to the main characters and their beat, known in the show's tagline as "the deadliest county in England."  We also meet Barnaby's wife Joyce (Jane Wymark) and their daughter Cully (Laura Howard) as the dogged detective solves the case of a little old lady murdered in her cozy cottage.  Julian Glover guest stars.

"Favorite Storyline: Blue Herrings" has Barnaby visiting his aunt in a nursing home and getting caught up in a series of murders taking place there.  Are the high-living doctor and his shifty-eyed nurse operating an inheritance scam, or is one of the old folks a killer?  Charming performances by some elder actors, including Phyllis Calvert and Nigel Davenport, make this episode fun to watch.  "Favorite Leading Lady: A Worm in the Bud" gives Nettles a chance to act with veteran Wendy Craig in a baffling multiple murder case which Barnaby solves with the help of two inquisitive children.

"Best Location: Dark Autumn" is the story of a postman whose romantic flings with various women in a picturesque village result in his near decapitation during his morning rounds.  The emphasis is on cricket in "Funniest Moments: Dean Man's Eleven", in which the young wife of a widely-disliked millionaire is found dead by a quarry where other mysterious deaths have occurred.  Actually, this one's not nearly as funny as some of the other episodes in the set, but apparently Nettles had a good time filming it.

"Most Intriguing Storyline: Death of a Hollow Man" (which, incidentally, I found way funnier than "Dead Man's Eleven") is a cracking mystery in which the star of a local theater production of "Amadeus" is tricked into killing himself onstage at the climax of the opening performance.  Caroline Graham, Barnaby's creator, penned the screenplay from her own novel, making this one of the series' best and most literate stories. 

"Most Difficult to Film: The Electric Vendetta" involves naked corpses found inside crop circles, and, while intriguing enough with its references to UFOs and other strange phenomena, gets a bit tiresome after awhile.  The most interesting thing about it, as related by Nettles in his introduction, is the fact that one of the murders is left unexplained due to an oversight in the screenplay!  Kenneth Colley, familiar to STAR WARS fans as Darth Vader's underling Admiral Piett, appears as a local UFO expert suspected of staging the murders to look like alien abductions.

"Most Dramatic Episode: Murder on St. Malley's Day" is another corker, this time taking place in an exclusive boys' school where a student is stabbed to death during a cross-country race.  The mysteries surrounding the school's strangely sinister "Pudding Club" and some very suspicious faculty members involved in various shady dealings make this one a good choice for "most dramatic." 

"Most Bizarre Episode: A Talent for Life" is of special interest to fans of OO7 and "The Avengers" since it features guest star Honor Blackman as a vivacious older woman bludgeoned to death while fly-fishing.  Finally, Nettles' choice for "Favorite Episode: Strangler's Wood" is a dark and twisted tale of a serial strangler killing women in the forest, with a respected husband and father the main suspect.  But even as his family's deep-seated dysfunctions come to light, Barnaby begins to doubt the overabundance of evidence against him. 

Genre vet Peter Eyre (DRAGONSLAYER, FROM HELL) does a wonderful guest turn as an eccentric oddball who lives with his invalid mother.  Also appearing in this one are Sting's wife Trudie Styler, and Jeremy Clyde of the 60s pop duo Chad and Jeremy (who had me thinking "Who is that guy?" the whole time).

The 10-disc (approx. 16 1/2 hours) DVD set from Acorn Media is in 16:9 widescreen with Dolby stereo and English subtitles.  There are no extras, but each episode is prefaced by a 4 1/2-minute introduction by John Nettles.

Adding immensely to my growing fondness for this addictive series, MIDSOMER MURDERS: BARNABY'S TOP 10 provides a wealth of must-see entertainment for fans and newcomers alike.  If you love English murder mysteries that take place in those lazy little villages simmering with intrigue below their placid veneer, this show should be right up your garden path.


Buy it at Amazon.com

MIDSOMER MURDERS: BARNABY'S TOP 10 -- DVD review by porfle

Classic "TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY" Returns to DVD on October 25, 2011 to Coincide With Star-Studded New Film

“A smashing thriller” —The New York Times


“Exhilarating” –The Washington Post


“One of the most madly atmospheric and enjoyable literate films ever done for television” –The Washington Post

Silver Spring, MD – Coinciding with the December 9, 2011 feature film adaptation starring Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight) and Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), John le Carré’s classic Cold War-era spy drama Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy returns to DVD from British TV on DVD specialist Acorn Media on October 25, 2011. Oscar® winner Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia) delivers the performance of a lifetime in his BAFTA-winning role as George Smiley, a retired spymaster recruited to find a mole in the British intelligence service.

Hailed as one of the finest dramas ever made for television, this 1979 BBC miniseries garnered universal critical acclaim for its stellar ensemble cast, literate writing and intricate plots. This repackaged and discounted DVD 3-disc set includes six episodes, along with a 28-min. interview with John le Carré, cast filmographies, production notes, and more ($49.99, www.AcornOnline.com). Acorn Media is also re-releasing its sequel, Smiley’s People, on October 25th. Available upon request (6 Episodes, $49.99).

No doubt remains: a mole has infiltrated the Circus, code name for the British Secret Intelligence Service. It can only be one of four men operating at the very highest level. Sidelined agent George Smiley is covertly tapped to root out the mole, a task that requires a painstaking dig through the double-blind world of Cold War-era espionage and his own past. Alec Guinness brilliantly captures the weary heart and steely soul of John le Carré’s master spy.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was nominated for an Emmy® for best miniseries and won two BAFTA Awards, including best actor for Guinness. The series also stars Ian Richardson, Michael Aldridge, Joss Ackland, Ian Bannen, Bernard Hepton, Terence Rigby, Michael Jayston, Hywel Bennett, Anthony Bate, and a memorable cameo by Patrick Stewart, who returns in a larger role for the sequel.

Bonus Features: Exclusive interview with John le Carré (28 min.), production notes, glossary of main characters and terms, cast filmographies, and le Carré biography and booklist


Street: Oct. 25, 2011                                     SRP: $49.99


DVD 3-Disc Set: 6 Episodes - Approx. 324 min., plus 28 min. bonus - Closed captioned (main program)

Buy it at Amazon.com

Classic "TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY" Returns to DVD on October 25, 2011 to Coincide With Star-Studded New Film

PHASE 7 -- DVD review by porfle

Less isn't always more, but in the world of low-budget filmmaking, sometimes less is enough.  PHASE 7 (2011), a sci-fi thriller from Argentina, takes place almost entirely within the same apartment building but manages to tell a pretty absorbing story about a world gone mad.

Coco (Daniel Hendler) and his pregnant wife Pipi (Jazmin Stuart) are a young couple who are so naive and self-absorbed--not to mention irritatingly stupid--that they don't even sense anything amiss when crowds of people suddenly start raiding the supermarket and crashed cars dot the roadway on their drive home.  If they'd listened to the news that day they might've picked up on the fact that there's a killer "Phase 6" virus sweeping the globe, martial law has been declared, and their apartment building has been quarantined. 

This is the beginning of a suspense tale in which the inhabitants of a building must fight not against intruders from without, but each other, as those who display symptoms of the super-flu are marked for death.  The simpleminded Coco is extremely fortunate to be friends with next-door neighbor Horacio (Yayo Guridi), a hardcore survivalist who's been getting ready for such an eventuality for some time.  Horacio supplies Coco with a hazmat suit and a gun, both of which Coco is finally forced to use when the other tenants either start getting sick or shooting at each other.

For much of the film, Daniel Hendler plays Coco with such blinking incomprehension that we want to reach into the screen and slap some sense into him.  When the enormity of his predicament finally begins to dawn on him, he then has to translate his newfound awareness to the childlike Pipi, leading to even more frustration.  Meanwhile, Horacio is leading him on a series of armed recon missions throughout the building, gathering supplies from the deceased and getting into heated gun battles. 

Best of these is a prolonged encounter with old Zanutto (Federico Luppi), whose seasonal cold has made him a target for the other tenants and who, as it turns out, is armed and ready to rumble.  When his door is broken down, he responds with a shotgun blast to somebody's head which gives the film its major moment of graphic violence.

Despite all the blood and bullets, PHASE 7 succeeds mainly as a mood piece that establishes a gloomy atmosphere of claustrophobia and paranoia (along with some subtle comedy relief) and makes us wonder how we might respond in a similar situation.  Adding to the oppressive air is the suggestion that the virus is a sinister plot to reduce the world population, with George Bush, Sr.'s "new world order" quote used to chilling effect.

Writer-director Nicolás Goldbart makes the most of the film's limited locations--the only time we leave the apartment building is when Coco and Horacio briefly venture into the trashed street--and keeps things moving at a fairly brisk pace.  As is so often the case with low-budget filmmaking of this kind, one must concentrate on character and story rather than the lack of spectacular SPFX and breakneck action. 

The DVD from Vivendi and Bloody Disgusting is in widescreen and 5.1 surround, with the option of listening to a dubbed English soundtrack or the original Spanish with English subtitles.  Extras consist of three deleted/extended scenes.

In classic B-movie tradition, PHASE 7 is one of those modest sci-fi films that manages to tell a large-scale story in small-scale terms.  It won't blow you away or anything, but it'll do nicely until something better comes along.



Buy it at Amazon.com

PHASE 7 -- DVD review by porfle

CRIME STORY: THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD -- coming November 15th from Image Entertainment

"A stunner." — Time Magazine

"A genuine work of art… a masterpiece in a classic genre." — New York Newsday

"Terrific!" — Entertainment Weekly

“CRIME STORY: THE COMPLETE SERIES” ARRIVES ON DVD NOVEMBER 15 FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

25TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE OF LANDMARK TV SERIES AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A COMPLETE SET

The year is 1963.  Before Miranda Rights, before civil rights…when the law was as brutal as the law-breakers.  On November 15, Image Entertainment will release Michael Mann’s (“Miami Vice,” Heat, HBO’s upcoming series, “Luck” – co-starring Dennis Farina) Emmy-nominated drama Crime Story:  The Complete Series on DVD .  Set in the early 1960’s, this acclaimed series reflects an era full of promise, change and danger.  This 25th anniversary edition is the first time the complete series, including the two hour pilot, will be available as a set and will be available on DVD for an MSRP of $29.98.  Pre-book is October 18. 

Crime Story is the story of the Chicago Police Major Crime Unit headed by Lieutenant Mike Torello (Dennis Farina, Get Shorty, “Law & Order”):  a man driven by his obsessive pursuit of Ray Luca (Anthony Denison, The Closer, Chasing Papi), a ruthless hood who is rapidly ascending the underworld’s corporate ladder. As Luca murders, steals, and extorts his way to the top, Torello, backed by his dedicated team of detectives, pursues Luca from the grit of Chicago to the glitz of Las Vegas, their paths clashing again and again. 

Crime Story features an exciting supporting cast, including Stephen Lang (“Terra Nova,” Avatar), Bill Campbell (“The O.C.”), Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs, “Monk”) and Joseph Wiseman (“Law & Order,” Dr. No). Guest stars include David Caruso, Julia Roberts, Gary Sinise, Kevin Spacey, Ving Rhames, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Madsen, Pam Grier, Stanley Tucci, David Hyde Pierce, Andrew Dice Clay and Deborah Harry – there is even an appearance by jazz legend Miles Davis!

Crime Story has its roots in crime-fighting. Both Chuck Adamson (“Miami Vice,” Heat), the show’s co-creator, and Dennis Farina are veterans of the Chicago police force.  This heritage is seen in the period detail and realism which have made Crime Story one of the most influential action dramas in television history.

Crime Story:  The Complete Series DVD
Genre:             Action/Adventure, Drama, Television, Cops, Crime/Criminals
Rating:            Not Rated
Languages:      English 
Format:            Full-frame 1.33:1
Audio:             Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles:         N/A
Year:               1986-1988
SRP :                $29.98
Street Date:     November 15, 2011
Pre-Book:        October 18, 2011
Length:            2,196 minutes
UPC :               014381737929
Cat#:               LAK7379DVD

CRIME STORY: THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD -- coming November 15th from Image Entertainment

GHOST HUNTERS SEASON 6 PART 2 on Blu-ray and DVD October 11 from Image Entertainment

Just in time for Halloween...

Image Entertainment once again joins the hunt for the fantastic, the eerie and the mysterious with the October 11th Blu-ray™ and DVD release of “Ghost Hunters: Season 6: Part 2.”  Like the previous releases, the 3-disc DVD set has an SRP of $24.98, and the 3-disc Blu-ray™ has an SRP of $29.98, and once again, fans can look forward to 13 skin-crawling episodes with 100% real investigations from the hit Syfy series!

Plumbers by day, paranormal investigators by night...the TAPS gang is back in one of TV’s most popular shows. Jason and Grant, America's favorite spirit sleuths, return with more unforgettable adventures from the hit series’ sixth season. Episodes include Lemp Mansion, Grammar School Ghosts, The Oldest House in Georgia, Empire State Haunts, and Ghost of Christmas Past. TAPS also travels to Georgia to investigate Rhodes Hall with the help of the ladies from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Get ready for some more thrills and chills!

“Ghost Hunters: Season 6: Part 2” episodes:
Uninvited Guests
A Shot In The Dark
Signals From The Past
Lemp Mansion
Grammar School Ghosts
Time To Get Touched
The Chopping Block
Oldest House In Georgia
Home Is Where The Haunt Is
Empire State Haunts
Sloss Furnaces
Real Housewives Of Atlanta
Ghost Of Christmas Past

“Ghost Hunters: Season 6: Part 2” Blu-ray™
Genre:            Mystery/Suspense, Special Interest, Television, Ghosts, Haunted Houses, Myths/Legends
Rating:           Not Rated
Languages:     English 
Format:          Enhanced for 16x9 TVs
Audio:            Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:         N/A
Year:              2010
SRP :              $29.98
Run Time:       528 minutes
Street Date:    October 11, 2011
UPC:              014381722154
Cat#:              ID7221PGBD

“Ghost Hunters: Season 6: Part 2” DVD
Genre:            Mystery/Suspense, Special Interest, Television, Ghosts, Haunted Houses, Myths/Legends
Rating:           Not Rated
Languages:      English 
Format:           Enhanced for 16x9 TVs
Audio:             Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:         N/A
Year:              2010
SRP :               $24.98
Street Date:     October 11, 2011
UPC:              014381719024
Cat#:              ID7190PGDVD

GHOST HUNTERS SEASON 6 PART 2 on Blu-ray and DVD October 11 from Image Entertainment