HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box

Friday, January 30, 2015

VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE PART 2 -- DVD review by Porfle



One of the oddest episodes in the history of splatter flicks was that whole business about "video nasties" that happened in England back in the 80s and 90s. Back then, Margaret Thatcher and several other government types were popping their corks over any small-screen (i.e. "video") entertainment that involved any kind of graphic gore, and were using all their legal powers to squelch, suppress, censor, and generally pull the plug on the whole bloody shebang.

We know now, of course, that--to paraphrase Allan Carr--you just can't stop the splatter. In "Video Nasties--The Definitive Guide" we learned about Thatcher's infamous banned list, which spelled out which films were not only officially frowned upon but would be forcibly removed from video stores and destroyed, and their offending owners prosecuted.

With its follow-up, the documentary VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE PART 2, subtitled "Draconian Days" (Severin Films 3-disc DVD set), we learn that the story continued for many years afterward as censorship and legal action against the offending horror videos grew stricter and more draconian than ever before, while sensationalistic news stories fanned the flames of public condemnation.


The story focuses mainly on the BBFC--British Board of Film Classification--under the strict rule of board director James Ferman. This group of video watchdogs tirelessly scrutinized the seemingly neverending flow of movies containing the sort of violence, gore, and "sick" themes which, they feared, might be accessible by children even if the videos themselves were purchased or rented by "responsible" adults.

Ferman wielded his censor's scissors recklessly and to such extremes that other members of the BBFC, some of whom are interviewed here, began to question him. But for years, a generous number of horror films were either mercilessly edited or banned outright, which, ironically, made them even more sought-after by avid gorehounds who created a vast bootlegging and trading underground.

While the documentary contains numerous film clips, it's composed mainly of talking head segments featuring various politicians, filmmakers, authors, and other interested parties, each offering accounts of their own personal views and experiences during this era of extreme censorship and artistic persecution.


At one point even David Cronenberg shows up to posit that the censors were just as delusional as the psychos supposedly getting all their ideas and inspiration from horror films. This doesn't seem at all unlikely when the documentary details the time in which the infamous murder of toddler James Bulger by two young boys was blamed in large part on the film CHILD'S PLAY 3.

As with the previous installment, director Jake West does a meticulous job of putting it all together to create an engrossing and informative narrative. Those who enjoy documentaries should have little problem getting into this. Those who don't, however, will probably be bored stiff.

For them, discs two and three are just the thing, for they contain trailers for all the blood 'n' guts classics once deemed too sick, horrific, depraved, and just plain evil for sensitive British subjects to handle. The discs offer 82 trailers in all, namely those titles chosen under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act which could be seized and destroyed, either from places of business or from citizens' private homes as well.

A great feature of these discs is the choice to watch the trailers one after another, uninterrupted, or to view detailed, informative introductory reviews of each title by a very knowledgeable bunch of filmmakers, authors, and critics.


Some of the 82 titles include BLOOD LUST, BRUTES AND SAVAGES, CANNIBALS, DEAD KIDS, DEEP RED, DEATH WEEKEND, DEMENTED, EATEN ALIVE, HEADLESS EYES, HELL PRISON, LOVE BUTCHER, MARK OF THE DEVIL, MASSACRE MANSION, SAVAGE TERROR, SCREAM FOR VENGEANCE, SUICIDE CULT, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, XTRO, and ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST.

In addition to these, bonus features also include two galleries--the first, covers from dozens of gore fanzines from the era, and the second, covers from all the videos which were either successfully prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act or deemed liable for seizure but not prosecution. Discs are in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital mono sound. No subtitles.

As before, this DVD set's design presentation itself, with its simulated videotape imperfections and "adjust tracking" prompts, is fun for the nostalgic VHS fan. But that's just icing on the cake for VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE PART 2, which is rewarding not only for its intensive history of the subject but also for a wealth of trailers that should have gorehounds barking at the bloody moon.

Buy it at Amazon.com

Read our review of Part One



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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Screenwriting Nominations Announced as Best of 2014 Film and TV For 10th Annual Final Draft Awards



SCREENWRITING NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED AS BEST OF 2014 FILM AND TV FOR 10th ANNUAL FINAL DRAFT AWARDS

Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski First Writing Team to Receive Hall of Fame Award

Los Angeles (January 29, 2015) – Recognizing that there would be no lights, camera or action without the creative spark that first puts words to a page, Final Draft, Inc., the industry standard for screenwriting software, announced the nominees for the 10th annual Final Draft Awards. The ceremony announcing the winners will be held at the Paramount Theatre on the Paramount Studios lot and hosted by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The annual Screenwriters Choice Awards will recognize four exceptional film and television projects, as well as present the Hall of Fame Award to its first writing team, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (Big Eyes, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Ed Wood), as well as the winners of the annual Final Draft Big Break Contest. The nominees and winners of the Screenwriters Choice Awards are determined by thousands of votes from Final Draft users.



The nominees in each Screenwriters Choice Awards category are:


Best Original Screenplay
 
§ Birdman – Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo
§ Boyhood – Richard Linklater
§ The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
§ Interstellar – Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan
§ Nightcrawler – Dan Gilroy



Best Adapted Screenplay
 
§ American Sniper – Jason Dean Hall
§ Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
§ Guardians of the Galaxy – James Gunn & Nicole Perlman
§ The Imitation Game – Graham Moore
§ The Theory of Everything – Anthony McCarten



Best Television Drama
 
§ Downton Abbey – Julian Fellowes
§ Fargo – Noah Hawley
§ Game of Thrones – David Benioff & D.B. Weiss
§ House of Cards – Beau Willimon
§ True Detective – Nic Pizzolatto



Best Television Comedy
 
§ The Big Bang Theory – Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady
§ Louie – Louis C.K.
§ Modern Family – Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd
§ Orange is the New Black – Jenji Kohan
§ Veep – Armando Iannucci


"I can honestly say that this year’s slate of nominees are all deserving of a win in each category," stated Marc Madnick, CEO of Final Draft, Inc. "We have truly entered a new Golden Era, of both film and television, evidenced by some of the most imaginative and provocative writing I’ve seen. Congratulations to all of the nominees!"

About Final Draft, Inc.
 
Final Draft, Inc. has published Final Draft software – the number-one selling screenwriting application in the world – for over 20 years. Final Draft software automatically paginates and formats scripts to industry standards allowing writers to focus on what they do best – scripting stories. Used by industry giants like J.J. Abrams, James Cameron, Aaron Sorkin and others, Final Draft has become the professional’s choice and the entertainment industry standard. In addition to its flagship software product, Final Draft, Inc. offers the Big Break Contest - an annual screenwriting contest designed to launch careers. The recently launched Final Draft Writer® and Final Draft Reader® mobile apps for iPad and iPhone allow you to write, edit, read and annotate FDX files easily anywhere, anytime. To learn more visit www.finaldraft.com.


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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

"Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces" - The Most Memorable Musical Cartoon Favorites Together For The First Time!



WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS
"LOONEY TUNES MUSICAL MASTERPIECES"

A COLLECTION FEATURING 18 TUNE-FILLED CARTOONS
AVAILABLE MAY 26, 2015

DVD Release Includes Bonus Features


BURBANK, CA (January 28, 2015) – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings some of Looney Tunes’ most memorable musical cartoon favorites together for the first time in one collection, with the release of Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces, available May 26, 2015.

This must-own compilation is comprised of 18 classic theatrical shorts that will get everyone’s toes tapping and hearts singing. Bugs Bunny and his pals will entertain both kids and adults alike with over "2" hours of hilarious musical numbers, featuring opera, piano concertos, jazz and much more.

Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces will retail for $19.97 SRP. Order due date has been set for April 21, 2015. This title will be released in time for the 2015 Tony Awards.

Prepare for a musical experience as only Looney Tunes can deliver! From the brilliant minds of maestro Carl Stalling and animation legends including Friz Freleng and Chuck Jones, comes 18 musical treasures. Join the likes of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, and Porky Pig in classics including Corny Concerto, What’s Opera, Doc? and Rabbit of Seville. Dive deeper into the vaults with gems like Three Little Bops, I Love to Singa and Rhapsody in Rivets. Let’s go to the symphony with this must-own collection of Musical Masterpieces!

"Music is such an important component of animation. Not only does it set the mood but it also tells the story," said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation Marketing. She added, "The Looney Tunes cartoons we chose for this compilation represent some of the very best musically-driven shorts we have in our library. We’ve added some popular favorites and some rarer shorts that are not seen very often. Now Looney Tunes fans can have all their musical favorites together on one disc. If you love music and Looney Tunes, this is a collection you don’t want to miss."

Featured Shorts

Corny Concerto
Page Miss Glory
Rabbit of Seville
Katnip Kollege
One Froggy Evening
High Note
Rhapsody Rabbit
Pigs in a Polka
What’s Opera, Doc?
Three Little Bops
Hillbilly Hare
Rhapsody in Rivets
Pizzicato Pussycat
Back Alley Oproar
Nelly’s Folly
Holiday Shoestrings
I Love to Sing
Lights Fantastic

These shorts were previously released on Looney Tunes Golden Collections.
 

Academy Award(s)® & Oscar(s)® are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Credits

About Warner Bros. Animation

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, producing and developing both CG and traditionally animated projects for multiple platforms, both domestically and internationally. For TV, WBA produces series such as Teen Titans Go!, The Tom and Jerry Show and the upcoming Be Cool Scooby-Doo! and Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production for Cartoon Network as well as Mike Tyson Mysteries for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. As the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries, WBA also produces highly successful animated films — including the DC Universe Animated Original Movies — for DVD. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has won six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra.

Buy it at Amazon.com

 

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Welcome Aboard, "VOYAGER"--the Most Realistic Sci-Fi Show Ever



JOIN the Most Realistic Sci-Fi Expedition Ever

The Upcoming TV Series, VOYAGER, Aims To Be the Most Realistic in History

Imagine if INTERSTELLAR was a TV series? One where you could watch the characters tackle the uncharted territories of space week after week.

Now, imagine that those characters were YOUR characters - completely imagined and developed by you.

The VOYAGER TV series will not only be for the crowd, it will be from the crowd, offering more input and insights from the sci-fi and space travel communities than anything before. Thank you for joining our adventure!

We have many more exciting things to tell you but in the meantime, please stay up to date on our social media channels!

 
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
 

Copyright © 2015 Who You Know, LLC, All rights reserved.

 

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Thursday, January 22, 2015

"THE MISSING" Acclaimed TV Series Comes to Blu-ray and DVD April 14th from Anchor Bay Entertainment



"haunting… compelling… amazing" -- Dominic Patten, Deadline Hollywood

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES THE GOLDEN GLOBE® NOMINATED LIMITED SERIES

"THE MISSING"

ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD APRIL 14, 2015


Two-Disc Set Contains All 8 Episodes and New Bonus Features
Beverly Hills, CA – Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly releases the Golden Globe® nominated STARZ Limited Series "The Missing" on Blu-ray™ and DVD on April 14th. This acclaimed series has been included among numerous critics’ "Top TV Shows of the Year" lists, and examines the emotional fallout of a child's abduction, not only on the family but also the community around them.

Intense, chilling and suspenseful – this is groundbreaking, "must-see" television. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes footage and featurettes that give an insider’s look into the making of the unforgettable first season. SRP is $54.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $44.98 for the DVD. Pre-book is March 11th. Released last week on all digital partners, the series reached number 2 on the "Top TV Seasons" chart on iTunes.

"The Missing" follows Tony, played by James Nesbitt (The Hobbit trilogy, "Jekyll"), as a man devastated by the abduction of his young son, Oliver, during a family vacation in France. He becomes obsessed and spends years searching, unable to accept the potential fate of his child. Tony's exhaustive quest fractures his marriage to Emily, played by Frances O' Connor ("Mr Selfridge," A.I. Artificial Intelligence) who earned a Golden Globe® nomination for her emotionally-gripping role here. Tchéky Karyo (GoldenEye, The Patriot) plays Julien, the French police detective who launched the initial search for the child. Even though Julien is retired in present day, he too cannot shake the small belief that the child may still be alive. Told using a fascinating narrative puzzle, "The Missing" explores the impact of a child's abduction and the emotional cost of obsession … and hope. This gripping thriller is told simultaneously over two time frames, while set in both France and London.

New Bonus Features:
•Time Changes All
•Transformations
•Behind The Scenes

Nesbitt, O'Connor and Karyo are joined by Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Mark, the British police officer who travels to France to help in the search and comfort the devastated young parents. Also featured are Ken Stott (The Hobbit trilogy, "Rebus") and Arsher Ali (Four Lions, The Guilty).
 
Produced by New Pictures and Company Pictures in association with Two Brothers Pictures and Playground, the "The Missing" debuted on BBC One in the UK and on STARZ in the US, during the fall of 2014. The series recently earned two Golden Globe® nominations for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television went to actress Frances O’Connor (Emily Hughes).

STARZ recently announced a second installment of "The Missing," which will again be written by brothers Harry and Jack Williams and unfold over two time frames, following a new case with new characters in a new location.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading home entertainment company. Anchor Bay acquires and distributes feature films, original television programming including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, anime (Manga Entertainment), fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports, and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. The company has long term distribution agreements in place for select programming with AMC Networks, RADiUS, and The Weinstein Company. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.

About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of September 30, 2014, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.2 million subscribers, including 22.5 million at STARZ, and 33.7 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

"The Missing" Blu -ray™
Street Date: April 14, 2015
Pre-book: March 11, 2015
Cat. #: BD62936
UPC: 013132629360
Run Time: 472 Minutes
Rating: TV-MA
SRP: $54.99
Format: 1.78:1 / 16x9
Audio: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish

"The Missing" DVD
Street Date: April 14, 2015
Pre-book: March 11, 2015
Cat. #: ST62934
UPC: 013132629346
Run Time: 472 Minutes
Rating: TV-MA
SRP: $44.98
Format: 1.78:1 / 16x9
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD



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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features



This Week's Features:

If you're thirsting for variety, this week's four MoviesAndMore.tv features will quench your cravings. We're serving up a cocktail of mystery, murder, drama and zany mayhem that will leave you heady with delight.

Check Today's Attractions on Moviesandmore.tv for dates and times (ET) for these features as well as for all the great free movies on Moviesandmore.tv.

Watch a movie
Coming attractions
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Published by MoviesAndMore.tv A Division of M&M Television Inc.

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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.





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Friday, January 16, 2015

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Blu-ray and DVD Releases For March


Buy them at WBShop.com
 
 





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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

THE TOM AND JERRY SHOW SEASON 1 PART 2: FUNNY SIDE UP -- DVD review by Porfle



When reviewing something such as the 2-disc DVD set THE TOM AND JERRY SHOW SEASON 1 PART 2: FUNNY SIDE UP from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, one must take into account the fact that it's aimed at really little kids, and chances are they're going to be captivated by it just fine and dandy no matter what clever, insightful things I point out about the storylines or animation or whatever.

So feel free, Mom and/or Dad, to pick this up for the tyke(s) while blissfully secure in the knowledge that you have made the right entertainment choice. They'll love it!

With that part of the review out of the way, now comes the part for all us old folks who grew up with Tom and Jerry and might be wondering what's going on with the guys nowadays. They've been through a lot since the glory days of MGM (mainly during the 40s and 50s) in which geniuses like Tex Avery were the creative force behind these cartoons and they actually won Academy Awards and stuff.


Back then, cartoons were shown in theaters before the feature, so--since they were made for adults to enjoy just as much as children--much care was lavished on not only funny, gag-filled scripts but the best artwork and animation that the big studio cartoon departments could possibly muster.

But over the years Tom and Jerry fell into the hands of different creators who had considerably lesser skills (such as Gene Deitch) or made awkward creative choices (such as Warner Bros. cartoon legend Chuck Jones) until, finally, the characters ended up at their absolute nadir--the crudely-drawn, indifferently-scripted graveyard of mass-produced Saturday morning TV fodder.

And I'm not talking about the earlier Hanna-Barbera kind of limited animation, such as "Yogi Bear" or "Huckleberry Hound", which still looked pretty good. I'm talking about the really crappy later stuff that was churned out when they just stopped caring about quality altogether. (I'm looking at you, "Scooby-Doo.")


Still, it wasnt over for Tom and Jerry just yet. Amongst the various other incarnations of this deathless duo, Warner Bros.' "Tom and Jerry Tales" came to television in 2009, as we reviewed HERE. And with the studio's current series as seen on The Cartoon Network, kids--if not their parents--are being introduced to them all over again.

While not as exquisite as the early MGMs, these new cartoons look pretty darn good. The artwork is spiffy and the computer-enhanced animation simulates traditional full cel animation to a pretty convincing degree, making these shorts many times better-looking than previous limited animation done for TV. It's definitely superior to the old Gene Deitch cartoons and almost as good as the Chuck Jones attempts from the 60s, but with less of the cloying cutesiness Chuck was apt to indulge in.

One result of the computer making full animation faster and easier to accomplish is that it enables the animators to cram these cartoons with more furious, unrelenting action than the eye can follow at times. These suckers are loud, raucous, and sometimes almost incompehensible in their non-stop frenetic action, as though desperate to avoid giving children even a split-second in which to get distracted by something else or bored into turning the channel.


Along with subtlety, missing here is another of the most important comedy elements of past Tom and Jerry cartoons: timing. Methodically leading up to a gag and picking just the right moment to spring it always makes it funnier, but there's no time for that here--the animators throw everything they've got at us and just hope some of it will smack us in the face.

It's as though they watched some old Tex Avery cartoons and all they got out of them was that they were packed with gags that happened fast, fast, fast, and so they imitated this as a novice musician might imitate Van Cliburn by banging away on a piano real hard.

One familiar feature of the old MGM cartoons was the "scream take" in which a character would react to pain or fear with a hilariously exaggerated bug-eyed shriek. The new cartoons use this so often and so artlessly that the makers obviously don't really understand how it works--that the lead-up and timing are what make the gag funny, not simply having the characters scream their heads off every ten seconds. (This is something Steven Spielberg's "Animaniacs" never got right either.)

Humorwise, this is the equivalent of pulling goofy faces at a baby to make it laugh. Which is great for an audience of little kids--at whom, of course, this show is aimed--but not for that theatrical audience from days of yore in which both kids and adults equally enjoyed the same big-screen cartoons. 

As for the boys themselves--Tom's still portrayed as just plain evil and malicious most of the time, unless he's inexplicably teamed up with Jerry on some business enterprise or other endeavor. This is okay if you hate cats, but really--what would you rather have living in your house, a nice kitty or a bunch of filthy rodents?

Jerry, meanwhile, is the same hateful little bastard he's been in the past, so--for reasons I delve into in great detail HERE and HERE--I totally despise him (I'm a cat lover so I never understood why we're supposed to side with the disease-ridden vermin anyway). At least he seems to have lost those long "ain't I cute" eyelashes and that damn bowtie. But I can no longer fully enjoy "Tom and Jerry" cartoons of any era, even the MGM classics, since developing such a fierce, burning hatred for that mangy little scuzzball.


The best ones in this current bunch are those that stick with variations of the tried-and-true formula of Tom chasing Jerry around the house while Spike the dog interferes. Their new human owners, WASP-ish nerd Rick (Jason Alexander) and his ditzy wife Ginger, also take pets Tom and Spike (with hitchhikers Jerry and his tiny mouse companion Tuffy) on vacation to different locations such as Europe, Hawaii, the American Southwest, and a luxury cruise ship.

"Domestic Kingdom", which imitates the style of the standard wildlife program complete with droll narrator, is one of the most amusing in the set because it presents Tom and Jerry in their familiar domestic setting doing what they do best with some genuinely funny gags.

Forming part of what appears to be rotating premises is a laboratory setting where Tom and Jerry are joined by a screw-loose scientist (Tom Kenny), a gabby lab rat named Napoleon, and a hamster. At other times, the cat and mouse are found running a detective agency (these are narrated by Gary Cole) which allows the writers to dredge up all the standard parody cliches from that genre as well.

Some, such as "The Plight Before Christmas" and "Mummy Dearest", even have the boys living with a couple of witch sisters who owe more to Warners' "Witch Hazel" character than anything seen in the original MGMs. The witch cartoons veer most into crudeness and gross-out humor with Tom decorating a cake with live spiders and the witches sprinkling Christmas cookies with "gremlin hair, rump scabs, and troll snot" along with "donkey dandruff and cockroach meat."

Toilet humor also pops up here and there--sometimes literally, with Tom getting flushed down an airplane's john in "Plane Nuts." Luckily, though, some of this stuff does inevitably end up being funny if you watch it in the right mood. What's most surprising is that today's PC climate seems to have had no effect on the violence content--these suckers are just as brutal as ever, especially for poor Tom.

The 2-disc DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is in matted widescreen with Dolby Surround sound. Soundtracks and subtitles are available in several languages. No bonus features. The set contains 13 episodes of the TV series which totals 26 ten-minute cartoons.

Despite my various gripes and old-codger point of view, THE TOM AND JERRY SHOW SEASON 1 PART 2: FUNNY SIDE UP is chock-full of visually pleasing cartoons with above-average animation and the occasional funny gag. In fact, compared to some of the past revivals of these characters, it's positively first-rate.

 

Buy it at the WBShop.com
Release date: Jan. 13, 1915



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"TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON" Arrives on Blu-ray+Digital HD and DVD March 17th from Anchor Bay Entertainment



ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE, WAR AND SPYING

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES
"TURN: WASHINGTON’S SPIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON"

AMC’S REVOLUTIONARY SERIES ON BLU-RAY™+Digital HD AND DVD MARCH 17, 2015


BEVERLY HILLS, CA – On March 17th Anchor Bay Entertainment releases AMC’s powerful Revolutionary War drama "TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" on Blu-ray™ + Digital HD and DVD. Available as a 3-disc set, "TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" contains all 10 episodes from the series that tells the true story of spies during the American Revolution who helped give birth to modern spycraft and gave freedom to our country. The release is also fully loaded with insightful bonus features about the making of this thrilling series including featurettes and deleted scenes. SRP for Blu-ray™ + Digital HD is $59.99 and $49.98 for DVD. Pre-book date is February 4, 2015.

A character-driven drama set during the Revolutionary War, "TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" takes us behind the battlefront to a shadow war fought by everyday heroes who vowed to keep their heroics a secret. Based on Alexander Rose’s book "Washington’s Spies," "TURN: Washington’s Spies," centers on Abe Woodhull, a farmer living in British-occupied Long Island, who bands together with a disparate group of childhood friends to form the Culper Ring. 

Together they risked their lives and honor, and turned against family and King, for a fight they believed in passionately, ultimately helping George Washington turn the tide of the Revolutionary War in favor of the rebels. Their daring efforts also revolutionized the art of espionage, giving birth to modern tradecraft as we know it today, along with all of the moral complexity that entails.

"TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" features a talented cast including Jamie Bell as Abraham Woodhull, Seth Numrich as Ben Tallmadge, Daniel Henshall as Caleb Brewster, Heather Lind as Anna Strong, Kevin R. McNally as Judge Richard Woodhull, Meegan Warner as Mary Woodhull, Burn Gorman as Major Hewlett, Angus MacFadyen as Robert Rogers, JJ Feild as Major John André and Samuel Roukin as Captain Simcoe.

The series also features music from some of today’s hottest musical artists, including Matt Berninger of The National and Joy Williams of Civil Wars, who composed and perform the title theme "Hush." Additional performers include Jake Bugg, Sarah Blasko, Laura Marling, Jonathan Wilson, Gary Lightbody, John McDaid and Andrew Bird.

Bonus Features:

· The History Of TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES
· From Art To Image
· Deleted Scenes

Executive produced by Craig Silverstein ("Nikita") and Barry Josephson ("Bones," Enchanted) "TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" is a fascinating historical drama mixed with the heart- racing twists of a spy thriller, and examines the toll on all those who do battle in the shadows. With its glorious production, unforgettable characters and historical details - "TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" - is a compelling and revolutionary journey into the past.

Season two of "TURN: Washington’s Spies" will premiere on AMC Spring of 2015.

About AMC
Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade, or creating acclaimed original programming, AMC brings to its audience something deeper, something richer, Something More. The network reigns as the only cable network in history ever to win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row with "Mad Men," and six of the last seven with current back-to-back honoree, "Breaking Bad." The network boasts the most-watched drama series in basic cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last two years with "The Walking Dead." AMC’s original drama series include "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead," "Hell on Wheels," "TURN: Washington’s Spies," "Halt and Catch Fire" and the forthcoming "Breaking Bad" prequel "Better Call Saul," "Humans" and "Badlands." AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like "Talking Dead" and "Comic Book Men." AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Something More.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading home entertainment company. Anchor Bay acquires and distributes feature films, original television programming including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, anime (Manga Entertainment), fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports, and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. The company has long term distribution agreements in place for select programming with AMC Networks, RADiUS, and The Weinstein Company. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.

"TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" Blu-ray™ + Digital HD
Street Date: March 17, 2015
Pre-book: February 4, 2015
Cat. #: BD62307
UPC: 013132623078
Run Time: 452 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $59.99
Format: 1.78:1 / 16x9
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish

"TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season" DVD
Street Date: March 17, 2015
Pre-book: February 4, 2015
Cat. #: DV62306
UPC: 0013132623061
Run Time: 452 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $49.98
Format: 1.78:1 / 16x9
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

BAD TURN WORSE -- DVD review by Porfle




It's nice when a modest thriller that doesn't look like it's going to amount to much at first gradually keeps getting better and better. That's what happened when I watched BAD TURN WORSE (2013), a tense tale of modern-day rural Texas that comes in like a lamb and goes out like--well, like a lamb, but one with rabies or distemper or something.

That is to say it never really turns kick-ass or anything, but it sure gets better than the dumb post-titles scene in which college-bound teens Sue (Mackenzie Davis) and Bobby (Jeremy Allen White, MOVIE 43) are sitting in Whataburger having yet another of those wannabe "Royale With Cheese"-type conversations, this time about how biscuits and gravy should be called "biscuit and gravy" since there's only one biscuit cut into two halves, and how ham and eggs should be called "ham and egg" if there's only one egg involved.

As horrible as this sounds, I later realized that the reason these characters are talking this way is that they're just ordinary people who truly aren't particularly clever or sharp-witted. Their gab tends to be drab. Like their lives.


But all that's about to change because right before the titles, we saw the third member of their little clique, B.J. (Logan Huffman), sneaking into his boss' office at the local cotton gin and stealing $20,000 (and a large handgun) from his safe. Bobby and Sue may be leaving town for bigger things, but the not quite so "book smart" B.J. ain't going anywhere so he has to make do with what he's stuck with, which currently means taking his girlfriend and his best friend on a wild spending spree in Corpus Christi.

The trouble is, when they get back the boys find their highly-vexed boss Giff (Mark Pellegrino, NATIONAL TREASURE, THE BIG LEBOWSKI) torturing the night watchman whom he suspects of stealing his twenty grand. In short order, Bobby inexplicably confesses to the theft (thinking this will end the torture) after which Giff executes the night watchman and then orders B.J. and Bobby to make good by stealing a much bigger bundle from underworld boss Big Red (William Devane), to whom Giff himself owes a burdensome debt. Otherwise, Giff will kill B.J., Bobby, and Sue, and, from what we've seen of him so far, enjoy doing it.

This pretty much sets up what happens for the rest of the movie, except that B.J.--that unpredictable, impulsive, emotionally unstable rascal with the impulse-control problem--finds out that best friend Bobby and girlfriend Sue are having an affair, which they plan to continue after leaving for college. For B.J., this calls for some scary changes in the plans for the daring heist against Big Red, changes only B.J. will know about until things have turned potentially deadly.


But how far will he go? With Jeremy Allen White and Mackenzie Davis proving adequate but unexceptional in their roles, it's Logan Huffman as B.J. who emerges as the one to watch here. In fact, he's pretty much the other shoe we keep expecting to drop throughout the film.

There's a scene midway through in which the troubled teen turns up unexpectedly in Sue's bedroom which finally makes clear how effectively Huffman is getting into this role and how deftly first-time feature scripter Dutch Southern has written it.

With coolly suppressed petulance and an underlying menace the resentful B.J. lets Sue know that he knows about you-know-what without saying so, making her squirm while threatening to explode at any second. But he's saving it all for the cold-dish revenge which will come on the night of the robbery. Little does he know, however, just how truly messed up that's going to turn out for all concerned, including himself.


Mark Pellegrino turns in a fairly good performance as Griff although his character as written isn't nearly as intimidating as he should've been. Jon Gries of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE and GET SHORTY (he played Delroy Lindo's slow-on-the-draw sidekick) makes a welcome appearance as the town's corrupt sheriff, along with the great William Devane in an all-too-brief cameo as Big Red. The rest of the cast is well up to par, as is the film's above-average direction by brothers Simon and Zeke Hawkins making their feature debut after years of specializing in short films.

The Anchor Bay/Starz DVD is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish. There are no extras.

BAD TURN WORSE wants to be one of those twisty-turny thrillers that keeps us constantly off-guard and pulls the rug out from under our feet at the end. It succeeds at this in a small way with a few satisfying surprises but never really blows us away. I didn't mind. Rather than weaving a dazzlingly complex web, it carries us along a straightforward path to a climax that neither exhilarates nor disappoints, but entertains. I was glad to go along for the ride.

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LA APOCALYPSE arrives March 24th on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment




Tinseltown turned upside down!

Anchor Bay Entertainment Heats up the New Year With the Unforgettable End-of-the-world Tale


LA APOCALYPSE

On DVD March 24th


This is a wild sci-fi film that takes idea of Los Angeles and its earthquakes to another level with a fantastical story of volcanic activity at the Earth’s core that turns La La Land into a living nightmare.

Directed by Michael J. Sarna (A Tiger’s Tale), LA Apocalypse stars David Cade (Bigger Than the Beatles), Gina Holden ("Teen Wolf," Final Destination 3), Eric Allan Kramer ("Good Luck Charlie," American Wedding) and Christopher Judge ("Stargate SG-1: Unleashed," The Dark Knight Rises) The SRP is $19.98. The pre-book is February 18th.

For 5 billion years the Earth's core has operated like a giant, nuclear reactor. Now it's overheated, melting down like a bomb that's about to explode. The earth is being ripped apart at the seams and beneath LA, pressure is building.

After a mass evacuation, Calvin Crawford is one of few left, desperately searching for his fiancée, Ashley Pace, who unbeknownst to him, has been kidnapped and is being held hostage.


With LA becoming more unstable by the minute, Calvin, must find a way to save Ashley and get them both to safety before the city is completely annihilated.

LA Apocalypse, much like the city of Los Angeles, is outrageous, over-the-top and utterly absurd, all the ingredients that make for a campy cult classic, and a must be seen before the world ends. Sure, the scenario presented in LA Apocalypse may not be scientifically sound, or even vaguely plausible – but stop thinking – and just enjoy the fun!

LA Apocalypse DVD
Street Date: March 24, 2015
Pre-Book: February 18, 2015
UPC #: 013132625584
Item: DV62558
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Retail Price: $19.98
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 83 Minutes
Year: 2014
 




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Monday, January 5, 2015

"A Cry From Within" on DVD & VOD from Breaking Glass Pictures




BREAKING GLASS PICTURES HEARS...

A CRY FROM WITHIN

Starring Deborah Twiss, Eric Roberts and Cathy Moriarty


Breaking Glass Pictures is releasing the horror thriller A Cry From Within on DVD and VOD on March 17, 2015. Based on true events, A Cry From Within recounts writer/director Debroah Twiss' terrifying supernatural experience.


Along with Deborah Twiss (Kickass), A Cry From Within stars Academy Award Nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, Inherent Vice), Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull, Casper), and James McCaffrey ("Rescue Me").

After a devastating miscarriage, a family trades their city lifestyle for a quiet life in the country. Jonathan (Eric Roberts), Cecile (Deborah Twiss) and their two children Ariel and Morgan settle into a rental home in Long Island that was vacated by a woman and her elderly mother.


The family soon finds themselves at the mercy of a terrifying and violent manifestation that Ariel identifies as a young boy named Sebastien. In fear for their family, Jonathan and Cecile must unlock the secret that binds Sebastien's torment with the former occupants and the local priest.

DVD Special Features will include cast interviews and deleted scenes. A Cry From Within will be available on the following VOD platforms: iTunes, All Cable Providers, Amazon Instant, Blockbuster, Google Play, Xbox, Playstation.

Official Trailer

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Sunday, January 4, 2015

Movies and More: This Week's Features



This week:

As we ease into the New Year, MoviesAndMore.tv tempts with three classics from those kings of comedy, Julius, Adolph and Leonard, more famously known as Groucho, Harpo and Chico.

Our fourth feature is a hysterical treat whose comedic style follows in the footsteps pioneered by the aforementioned Marx Bros.



 
 
Check Today's Attractions on MoviesAndMore.tv for dates and times (ET) for these features as well as for all the great free movies on MoviesAndMore.tv
 
Watch a movie
 
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A Division of M&M Television Inc.


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