42nd St Pete Reviews Jack Ketchum's The Lost

Lost 2008 from Anchor Bay Starring Marc Senter, Shat Astar, Alex Frost, Dee Wallace Stone & Ed Lauter. Directed by Chris Siverson.

It was about time that someone made a movie out of a Jack Ketchum novel. Jack is perhaps one of the best horror writers out there, but one who has been overshadowed for many years.

Lost is a twisted tale of a sociopath, Ray Pye, who terrorizes his small town. In the opening, Ray cold bloodily kills two girls who are camping (Misty Mundae & Ruby Laroca). One survives, but is brain dead. A detective(Michael Bowen) knows that Ray is guilty and is out to get him. Ray keeps his two companions in line with threats of violence.

Ketchum’s twisted tale of dead end, small town life is excellently done here. Rather than give up the ending, this is one that you have to see for yourself. Marc Senter gives a chilling performance as Ray Pye, a guy a lot of us knew during our high school years. These characters, in my life, always met the bad end we thought they would. This film captures the small town, dead end ambiance. All the performers are excellent and I hope to see more of Ketchum’s work translated into film. Let’s see who has the balls to do Off Season or Ladies Night.

42nd St Pete Reviews Jack Ketchum's The Lost

42nd St Pete Reviews Crap That Makes Him Want To Rip His Eyes Out: 100 Million BC, Feast 2, and Hell Ride

Some Reviews on some current stuff that is just a waste of electricity

100 Million BC 2008 Asylum Home Entertainment Starring Michael Gross, Greg Evigan, & Christopher Atkins. Directed by Louie Myman

Time travel epic with an elite team sent back in time to retrieve another team that was sent back in the 40’s . Premise is good, but the bad CG stuff kills it. Raptors attack and kill most of the rescue team. The T-Rex is red and Michael Gross looks pretty gross with his balding head covered with liver spots. Guess the budget didn’t allow for make up.

The 40’s women have 2000 style enhanced boobage, the CG stuff sucks and nobody noticed a bright red T-Rex roaming around LA at night. Christopher Atkins seems to be a fixture in these crappy films as of late.





Hell Ride 2008 from Dimension Extreme Starring David Carradine, Dennis Hopper, Larry Bishop & Vinnie Jones. Directed by Larry Bishop. Presented by Quentin Tarentino.

OK, in the Grindhouse scheme of things, biker films were low on the Richter scale. Most weren’t that good and if someone was going to write a book on that genre , it would be about 50 pages. The good ones were The Wild One, The Wild Angels, The Losers , Hells Angels ‘69 & Stone Cold. The rest pretty much sucked.

So now we get another QT presents 90 minutes worth of BS. A threadbare plot, a treasure that we never see, throat slashings, immolation's, sluts, shooting, and no freaking plot to go with them. This played for two whole days in my area before it was yanked because no one gave a shit. You would think with all the money Grindhouse lost that someone would reign QT in a bit. Hopper & Carradine seem to be there for name value as Carradine dies rather quickly. Total waste in my estimation.






Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds Starring Jenny Wade, Clu Gulager, & Diane Ayala Goldner. Directed by John Gulager. From Dimension Extreme.

I did have high hopes for this as I really liked the first one. Now this is being billed as a new “classic” horror series. Someone better look up the definition of classic because this isn’t it. Two survivors from # 1, the Bartender & Honey Pie are now holding off the CG monsters in a small town with an all girl biker gang, two midget wrestlers, and some other disposable characters. This plays out like a video game and that seems to be it’s target audience.

Some of it is funny, most of it sucks, especially the “autopsy” scene were people puke, get slimed, and get ejaculated upon. Yeah, you read right, the dead monster’s Ron Jeremy like wazoo winds up all over the cast. I could read into something here, but I won’t .Highlights are a baby getting eaten, a monster screw a cat, Clu beating the shit out of Honey Pie for running off in the first film, a dissolving old lady, and more slimy, pukey, fluids than an Annie Sprinkle porn film.

Obviously this film has an audience, but I’m not in it.

42nd St Pete Reviews Crap That Makes Him Want To Rip His Eyes Out: 100 Million BC, Feast 2, and Hell Ride

Splinter DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Splinter 2008 Directed by Toby Williams Starring Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner and Rachel Kerbs Released by Magnet DVD

Considering the pile of poop that is passed off for horror movies these days, this one was a real pleasure to watch. It’s a monster movie, a real goddamn monster movie with no CG, rap, or handicam nonsense. One location, four principle players, gore, shocks, and, for once, a credible storyline.

A gas station attendant is opening the place for the day when he is attacked by something furry and full of spikes. A couple is heading in that direction to camp out. Also headed in the same direction is an escaped con and his junkie girl friend. The two campers are taken hostage when the con’s car breaks down. They run over some kind of animal and blow out a tire. The animal has spikes sticking out of it like one of those sea urchins. They was also a sign by the road saying that this is a government test area.

While changing the tire, the Con gets a splinter in his finger, hence the title. The “dead” animal comes to like and the "Junkie Chic" freaks out. They arrive at the gas station to find it’s deserted. The junkie find the attendant in the rest room. He begs her to kill him. She runs back to the others, but is attacked by the attendant who “rips right through her”. The Con shoots the attendant who dies. They lock themselves in the place. The junkie seems to still be alive. The Con drags her toward the door, but she morphs into something and attacks. Her hand breaks off and gets in the place. The boyfriend, who is a biologist, sees that it feeds on blood.

He thinks it’s a fungus type parasite that uses it victims as hosts to attack others. The dead girl’s bloody corpse hammers her head into the glass door , trying to get in. It becomes a nerve racking game of cat and mouse as the creature attacks and absorbs a lady cop who shows up. The splinter in the con’s finger starts taking him over so an amputation is performed using a Stanley knife and a cinder block. I’m not going to reveal anything else as this has to be seen. A good plot, characters that you actually care about for a change, nasty effects, and overall, a great little film. I give it four stars easily.

Get the Blu-Ray and DVD of Spliner at Amazon

Splinter DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Taken DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Taken 2009 Directed by Pierre Morel Starring Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace

This one was a real surprise as the usually reserved Neeson is cast against type as an ex-CIA operative searching for his daughter, who is kidnapped by white slavers while vacationing in Europe. Using every dirty trick he knows to locate her, Neeson ups the violence quota by demolishing anything and anyone in his path.

Albanian white slavers(real scumbags) kidnap teenage tourists, hook them on drugs and put them in assembly line brothels. Neeson’s daughter and friend are “taken” soon after arriving in Paris. Neeson is informed that if he can’t find her in a certain amount of time, he will never see her again. Neeson outwits the law and the scumbags at every turn. Seems the head scumbags are well connected with the law. When the leader tells Neeson , that “it’s not personal, it’s business”, Neeson retorts by emptying a Glock into his twitching body.

Taken has its roots firmly planted in grindhouse exploitation. The crowd cheered Neeson as he cuts his way though an army of villains and bureaucrats. One of the better scenes has Neeson drive two iron spikes through the guy who kidnapped his daughter thighs and then attach jumper cables to them. He zaps him a few time then, after he gets what he wants, turns the juice on full blast and leaves the guy cooking. Neeson is a one man wrecking crew as he leaves a body count worthy of Charles Bronson. A must see.

You can get the the Blu-Ray and Regular DVD of Taken from Amazon.

Taken DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle Starring Laura Gemser , Annie Belle, Al Cliver, and Gabriele Tinti. Directed by Bunello Rondi. Released by Severin Films.

Also known as Emmanuelle in Egypt, this rather obscure entry in the Black Emmanuelle series has Laura Gemser being called Laura, her real name. She is a world class model with an abusive photographer(real life husband, Tinti). He forces her to pose with a dead dog in the stinking desert. They go to mansion and meet some weird people, including a crazy holy man(Al Cliver).

Another trip to out in the desert finds some recently dead bodies. He wants Laura to pose with them. She does, but the short haired, Anne Belle, gets a little pissed off. Eventually so does Laura and is chased across the desert and raped by her photographer. The two are constantly telling each other to go fuck themselves or calling each other pieces of shit. Makes you wonder about their off screen relationship. Laura runs away with Anne for some fun after she balks at posing on a huge pile of camel dung.

This film is very strange. One of the classy white women gets drunk and is raped by two Arabs in the desert. She is found by Anne, who tells her she doesn’t need men. Some of the film is in English, some parts, obviously restored, are in Italian. Laura flips out at a party. The Holy Man seduces Anne, who says she is leaving with him. Then changes her mind and wanders away with Laura as they both get naked and ‘fini” scrawls across the screen.

A bit too confusing and contrived for me, but Laura looks great, naked, half naked, or fully clothed. That is the reason for getting this DVD, if you’re a Laura Gemser fan, you want it, actually you need it and that’s the bottom line.

You can get Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle from HK Flix

http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.543345/aid.85597/qx/details.htm

Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

The Story of Prunella DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Story of Prunella 1982 Directed by Phil Prince, Starring Geoge Payne, Ron Jeremy, Ambrosia Fox, Niko, Dennis Christopher & Cher Champagne. Part of the Avon 7 Collection from After Hours.

Where most of your 1980s adult film directors stroked your libido with a velvet glove, Phil Prince stoked it with a fist wrapped in barbed wire. Phil made the nastiest films in porn history. While his output of films was small as compared to his contemporaries, Phil’s brand of erotica was soul corroding.

Story of Prunella is a well crafted descent into psycho sadism thanks to the acting talents of George Payne. Early on , Payne turns a prostitute (Cheri Champagne) into a disciple. Payne and two other lowlifes escape from prison and are met by Cheri who forgot to bring an escape vehicle. Cheri plays dead to trick a motorist into stopping. The vehicle that does stop contains the warden’s wife and daughter.

They force the women to take them to a bridal shower planned for Prunella. The three men and the woman sexual abuse and torment all of the women for an extended period of time. Hot on the trail of the foursome is detective Paul (Ron Jeremy), Prunella’s husband to be. Some of this may be hard for a first time viewer to watch. If your not familiar with Avon’s product, this ride may be too rough for some viewers, but Avon wasn't meant for everyone.

Payne’s tour de force performance is completely unhinged. He virtually destroys Prunella’s mind with his brutal rape and the filth that he spews out at her during the degrading rape may appall some viewers. Prince, a lot of his detractors said, took it too far. This may have been adult films climatic moment, as no one today, except our friends in Europe, would have the balls to go where Phil did.

The DVD comes with a Phil Prince Documentary. The documentary was interesting, but it seems that no one really knows much about Phil and what happened to him. Bill Landis (of Sleaziod Express) claimed that he shot an associate and was put back in jail. This has been proven inaccurate. Just watching Phil in the documentary makes you realize he may be a little off. Sources have said that Phil admired the work of Andy Milligan and other low budget film makers and tried to emulate them. Phil wanted to make movies. In Prunella, he succeeded. The plot is decent, though you can see a Last House on the Left influence. The players could actually act, which made all the degradation that more believable. Off the women, none were raving beauties, which also added to the back alley ambiance and realism of Prunella. The men all looked the part of degenerate thugs. Anyone wandering into the Avon 7 back in the day, thinking this was your typical sit down and enjoy it kind of a film, quickly had their libido flatlined.

Of course, a lot of viewers flocked to these films. Men who reviled in the degradation of women, were repeat viewers. From a historical aspect, this was one of the films singled out by the dreaded Meese Commission as the "most vile and violent examples of mob controlled pornography". Poor George Payne was put in the uncomfortable position of having to testify before that commission.

This release is only the tip of the Avon 7/After Hours iceberg. Check out the trailers, all of them are coming soon. These are taken off original prints that made the rounds of the Avon Grindhouses back in the day.

You can buy The Story of Prunella from Amazon and help support this website.

The Story of Prunella DVD Review by 42nd St Pete

Warner Brothers Presents Scoopy Doo: Where Are You Volume 2 on DVD

Let's face it fining children's programing to watch on a trip that is tolerable for both the child and the adult passengers can be a pain sometimes. Luckily, Warner Brothers comes through with 4 classic episodes from the 1970s Hanna-Barbra classic Scooby Doo: Where Are You? Scooby Doo is a show that both young and old can enjoy with it's perfect mix of humor, scares, and fun. Thus Scooby Doo Volume 2 makes the perfect thing to watch when taking a trip in the car or when you are just watching the kids at home. Volume 2 contains the Decoy for a Dognapper, What the Hex is Going On?, Never Ape an Ape Man, and Foul Play in Funland. There is also a bonus episode from the Shaggy & Scooby Doo Get a Clue series. All the episodes are the original versions and in the proper full frame aspect ratio and look and sound great. The total running time is about 88 minutes making it a comprable experience to watching a regular movie for children, but for the adult not feeling like your brain is melting from within because it's Shrek. So if you have kids or are just a fan of Scooby Doo, than this new WB Kids release is the perfect pick up for both young and old.

Warner Brothers Presents Scoopy Doo: Where Are You Volume 2 on DVD

Fred Durst's THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS coming to DVD June 30 from Anchor Bay Entertainment

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY PRESENTS THE DVD RELEASE OF LIMP BIZKIT FRONT MAN FRED DURST’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

BEVERLY HILLS, CA –– A riveting tale about college students learning to deal with life, love, and ultimately facing their fears, THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS is the critically lauded directorial debut from Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst. Coming to DVD on June 30, 2009 (pre-book May 28, 2009), THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS stars Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, The Squid and the Whale), Jason Ritter (W, “The Class”), and Eva Amurri (Saved!, The Banger Sisters). Written by Peter Elkoff, the film also stars Christopher Marquette (“Joan of Arcadia”), Sebastian Stan (“Kings” & “Gossip Girl”), and Gloria Votsis. SRP is $29.97 for the DVD.

THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS premiered to great acclaim at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, winning the prestigious Made In New York Award. The Hollywood Reporter’s Martin Grove hailed the film an “Impressive directorial debut.” Added Moving Picture Magazine’s Elliot Kotek, “Durst Has Delivered a Film of Pedigree.” “Stunning and Relevant” said Back Stage’s Simi Horowitz.

Charlie Banks’ (Jesse Eisenberg) sheltered world at his Ivy League campus is shaken when Mick (Jason Ritter), an old acquaintance with a violent past, unexpectedly shows up at his dorm room. Intrigued by Charlie's privileged lifestyle, the charismatic Mick quickly wins over Charlie’s friends and his crush, Mary (Eva Amurri) as he seamlessly integrates himself into Charlie’s life. Unnerved yet also in awe of Mick's easy charm, Charlie's unresolved feelings of jealousy, admiration and fear—as well as an unspoken secret between the two—threatens to come to a head with ruinous consequences.

Set in the early '80's against the backdrop of Greenwich Village's rough and tumble playgrounds and an elite academic institution in Upstate New York, THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS is a stirring coming-of-age story about trusting your instincts, your friends and yourself.

The DVD extras include audio commentary with director Fred Durst and actor Jason Ritter, “Conversation behind The Education of Charlie Banks,” the theatrical trailer, and Sneak Peeks.

DVD Basics:
Street Date: June 30, 2009
Pre-book: May 28, 2009
Cat. #: DV15807
UPC: 0 1313 15807-9 2
Run Time: 101 minutes
Rating: R
SRP: $29.97
Format: 2.35:1 / 16 x 9
Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Bonus Features: Audio Commentary with Director Fred Durst and Actor Jason Ritter
Conversations Behind THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS
Theatrical Trailer
Sneak Peeks

Fred Durst's THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS coming to DVD June 30 from Anchor Bay Entertainment

EDEN LOG -- DVD review by porfle

Dark, gritty, and downbeat, the French sci-fi/horror thriller EDEN LOG (2007) begins in the depths of the earth with an intriguing mystery that is slowly revealed as the main character fights his way level by level toward the surface. Credit first-time director Franck Vestiel and his co-scripter Pierre Bordage for coming up with something different while still recalling familiar echoes of films past.

Clovis Cornillac plays Tolbiac, a man who wakes up in the wreckage of some huge subterranean facility called Eden Log with no memory of who he is or how he got there. A recorded message cheerfully informs him that workers who have toiled long enough in the dark depths earn the right to ascend to the surface and enjoy the paradise that they've helped to create. But apparently something's gone wrong with this system, as the place is trashed and overrun with hideous attacking mutants.

It all has to do with some huge, weird treelike plant growing upward through the core of Eden Log, from which limitless energy is derived even as its roots emit a viral toxin that turns unsuspecting workers into mutants. A female botanist hiding out on the science level of the facility tells Tolbiac of a revolt which took place when the scientists discovered the dastardly secrets behind Eden Log's methods and tried to publicize them. Together, the two climb toward freedom amidst rampaging mutants and hostile security guards, while the apparently infected Tolbiac shows signs of transforming into a monster himself. Before it's all over, the deepest, darkest secret of all is finally revealed.

Elements of METROPOLIS, 1984, and THX-1138 combine with the look and feel of rusty, crusty sci-fi flicks such as HARDWARE and PITCH BLACK to give EDEN LOG its own unique atmosphere. The set designer must've had a field day creating all this cool futuristic stuff and then trashing it. Some of the found locations are awe-inspiring. Very little CGI is in evidence until the end, making this seem almost like a welcome visual throwback to the good old days. As for the mutants, the masks and body suits are exceptionally well-rendered.

The story's a real page-turner too, stringing us along until the final twist. We experience it through Tolbiac's eyes as he strives to recover his identity and find answers while dealing with the horror of slowly losing his humanity. This is illustrated most effectively in one of the film's best sequences. The botanist removes her protective suit to reveal a beautiful woman--she stops Tolbiac in his tracks. Slowly, they begin to kiss and then passionately make love. During the act, however, we see disturbing flashes of a different reality, in which the woman is struggling, screaming, and Tolbiac is on her like a wild beast. Only too late does his frenzied mind become clear enough for him to realize that he's raping her.

Clovis Cornillac, with his piercing eyes and aggressive physicality, is very effective in the lead role. He reminds me of a young Harris Yulin, which is a good thing. As the botanist, the beautiful Vimala Pons makes a strong impression and I wish her part had been larger. Director Vestiel keeps the action moving at a fast clip, giving us little time to catch our breath along the way. Composers Alex and Willie Cortés contribute one of those evocative ambient scores that I wouldn't mind having in my CD player.

The DVD is in 1.85:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 sound. There's an English-language soundtrack with Spanish captions available. If you click "Special Features" you get the original French soundtrack, which comes with both English and Spanish captions.

Which language you listen to while watching the movie isn't all that important, actually. There isn't much dialogue, and the visuals recall some of the best qualities of classic silent films such as METROPOLIS, right down to the expressive acting styles of the two leads and a deliberate dearth of color. But as derivative as it may sound, EDEN LOG stands on its own as a unique and haunting piece of imaginative filmmaking.


Buy it at Amazon.com

EDEN LOG -- DVD review by porfle

Val Kilmer, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Sharon Stone star in STREETS OF BLOOD on DVD July 28th from Anchor Bay

AN ACTION PACKED COP THRILLER THAT WILL KEEP YOU GUESSING UNTIL THE END

Beverly Hills, CA - The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina sparks an investigation into the criminal underworld in the edge-of-your-seat, thriller Streets of Blood – coming to DVD on July 28, 2009 (prebook: June 25, 2009) from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Streets of Blood stars Val Kilmer (Heat, Batman Forever) in his first role ever as a police officer. The film also stars Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Righteous Kill, Get Rich or Die Tryin’) and Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct, Casino) and is produced by Avi Lerner (Rambo, Day of the Dead). The DVD will be priced at $26.97 SRP

It’s New Orleans, six months after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the streets, destroying everything in her path. The floodwaters have receded, but the death toll is on the rise, and the torrent of blood rages on. Now for a veteran detective (Kilmer) with a viciously brutal past, his new partner (Jackson) with a dark secret, and a department shrink (Stone) who knows the city’s vices all too well, crime and corruption are about to go to all new levels of depravity, the likes of which The Big Easy has never known.

In a town struggling to put the pieces back together, can anyone stop the barrage of dirty cops and the obscenely brutal drug wars that threatens it all? Brian Presley (Home of the Brave, “General Hospital”) and Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens) co-stars in this pulse-pounding tour-de-force from the makers of Rambo and 16 Blocks.

Street Date: July 28, 2009
Pre-Book: June 25, 2009
Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1
Retail Price: $26.97
Genre: Action
Rating: R for violence, sexuality, drug content and pervasive language
Run Time: 95 minutes
Year: 2009

Val Kilmer, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Sharon Stone star in STREETS OF BLOOD on DVD July 28th from Anchor Bay

MST3K Stars Recapture Magic of Beloved Cult Classic TV Series With "Rifftrax"

(We recently reviewed the new Rifftrax version of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Now, here's a look at the whole line of new Rifftrax DVDs currently available from Legend Films.)

Hugely Popular RiffTrax.com Online Comedy Series Makes Much-Anticipated DVD Debut

10 RiffTrax DVD Line Titles Debut in Stores Nationwide June 16th--Hundreds of MP3 RiffTrax Commentary Tracks Available for Download Online

What Reviewers Have to Say About the RiffTrax Online MP3 Comedy Series:

"… self-described ‘Misties’ are welcoming a resurrection of sorts."
New York Times
"MST3K is one of the funniest shows of all time ... its spirit lives on in the form of RiffTrax … I laughed more than I have in ages."
Jason Snell, Macworld
"… hilarious commentary ..."
PC Gamer
"… Nelson and company are back doing what they do best …"
Geek magazine
"Cult comics return to make commentaries worth hearing."
Empire magazine

SAN DIEGO — June 1, 2009 — Based on the success of the hugely
popular RiffTrax.com online commentary tracks, Legend Films is debuting the RiffTrax DVD line with 10 titles of all-new original material, June 16.

is the next generation of the twice Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) – a hugely popular cult American TV series that enjoyed an 11-year run (1988-99) – and stars MST3K cast members: Michael J. Nelson (also MST3K’s show’s head writer), Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, as well as MP3 performances by celebrity guests, such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Fred Willard and Neil Patrick Harris.

MST3K featured Mike Nelson and his robot sidekicks Tom Servo (Murphy) and Crow (Corbett), trapped on a space satellite by an evil scientist and forced to watch especially bad sci-fi B-movies. To remain sane, they maintain a wisecracking running commentary on the film – their characters silhouetted in front of the screen. RiffTrax continues this tradition with the same high level of comedy, lampooning not only cult classics, but some of today’s biggest blockbuster movies. RiffTrax will appeal not only to fans of the original MST3K series but an entirely new generation of enthusiasts.

The initial 10 RiffTrax DVD titles to be released are: RiffTrax: Carnival of Souls, RiffTrax: House on Haunted Hill, RiffTrax: Little Shop of Horrors, RiffTrax: Missile to the Moon, RiffTrax: Night of the Living Dead, RiffTrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space, RiffTrax: Reefer Madness, RiffTrax: Swing Parade, RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 1 and RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 2.

As an exclusive special offer to retailers, each DVD includes a coupon for a free RiffTrax MP3 download at http://www.rifftrax.com/ for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a $3.99 value.
The RiffTrax commentary track line debuted in 2006.Fans are able to download MP3 files online (99 cents - $3.99) and synch the riffing to a DVD (recreating the MST3K phenomenon) for a broad range of titles, from the classic films traditionally featured on MST3K to today’s hottest films (not available to MST3K due to licensing issues).

The RiffTrax library, with hundreds of titles, includes humorous commentary tracks to be synched with such contemporary blockbusters as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, 300, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Transformers, The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Independence Day, Ocean’s Eleven, I Am Legend, X-Men, Cloverfield, Terminator 3:Rise of the Machines, Predator, Top Gun, Jaws, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Saw, Spiderman films, Star Wars films, Lord of the Rings films, Star Trek films, Harry Potter films, and the TV shows Heroes, Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, among many others. More RiffTrax titles are in production for both the MP3 download and DVD lines.

More About RiffTrax DVDs:
RiffTrax: Carnival of Souls (1962) — Following a traumatic accident, a woman is drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 78 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00493 ● UPC Code: 844503001382

RiffTrax: House on Haunted Hill (1958) — Five strangers are offered $10,000 each if they can stay the night in a house … But this house has reputation for murder.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 75 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00496 ● UPC Code: 844503001412

RiffTrax: Little Shop of Horrors (1960) — A clumsy young man nurtures a very healthy plant and discovers that it’s bloodthirsty, forcing him to kill to feed it.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 72 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00492 ● UPC Code: 844503001375

RiffTrax: Missile to the Moon (1958) — Two escaped convicts are caught hiding in a rocket and forced to pilot the ship to the moon.
Genre: Comedy/Sci-fi ● Run Time: 77 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00494 ● UPC Code: 844503001399

RiffTrax: Night of the Living Dead (1968) — A group of people hides in an old farmhouse from bloodthirsty zombies with a taste for human flesh.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 96 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00489 ● UPC Code: 844503001344

RiffTrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) — Aliens resurrect dead humans as zombies and
vampires to stop humankind from creating a sun-driven bomb.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 79 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00495 ● UPC Code: 844503001405

RiffTrax: Reefer Madness (1938) — Cautionary tale features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana. A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to "reefer" cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music.
Genre: Comedy/Drama ● Run Time: 65 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00490 ● UPC Code: 844503001351

RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 1 — Nine hilarious shorts (classic educational films), including Buying Food, It Must Be the Neighbors, Patriotism, Down and Out, Skipper Learns a Lesson, The Trouble With Women, Right or Wrong, Drugs Are Like That and Shake Hands With Danger (Which contains new 3-D animation of Mike, Kevin and Bill).
Genre: Comedy ● Run Time: 100 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00488 ● UPC Code: 844503001337

RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 2 — Nine more hilarious shorts (classic educational films), including One Got Fat, Lunchroom Manners, Each Child is Different, Cathy-Petaluma Chicken, Act Your Age, Harm Hides at Home, Coffee House Rendezvous, Are You Popular? and Good Heath Practices. Genre: Comedy ● Run Time: 110 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00498 ● UPC Code: 844503001436

RiffTrax: Swing Parade (1946) — A struggling young singer falls for the owner of a nightclub that her millionaire father is trying to shut down. Featuring The Three Stooges as waiters.
Genre: Comedy ● Run Time: 74 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00491 ● UPC Code: 844503001368

B&W
Not Rated
Format: DVD Only
Tech Specs: Full Frame (1.33:1)
Suggested Retail Price: $9.95 Each
Pre-Order Date: May 19, 2009
Street Date: June 16, 2009

MST3K Stars Recapture Magic of Beloved Cult Classic TV Series With "Rifftrax"

YONKERS JOE -- DVD review by porfle

An absorbing tale of small-time card and dice hustlers scheming to beat the craps table at a big Las Vegas casino shares the spotlight with the sometimes tedious drama of a reluctant father and his Down Syndrome son in YONKERS JOE (2008), with mixed results.

The story grabs us from the get-go as we find the title character, played to perfection by Chazz Palminteri, and his girlfriend and cohort in crime Janice (the equally good Christine Lahti), getting busted for switching dice and kicked out of a local casino. Frustrated by the ever-tightening security measures being implemented to thwart his livelihood, Joe comes up with a daring plan which, if he and his buddies can pull it off, will net them a big payoff in Vegas.

Meanwhile, Joe's mentally-challenged son Joe, Jr. (Tom Guiry) lands in his lap after getting ousted from an institution for excessive swearing and fighting. Joe can get him into a better facility if he can come up with enough cash, but until then we get the usual hand-wringing dramatics as he finds himself totally ill-equipped to deal with his son's manic outbursts, extreme emotional needs, and general instability.

This half of the movie pounces on the other half and wrestles it into submission every time our attention is diverted from the fun stuff. It wouldn't be so bad, perhaps, if Guiry were more convincing as a person with Down Syndrome. According to the "making of" featurette, he lived with such a person for awhile in order to assume the proper behavior and speech patterns, but it would appear as though they both spent the whole time watching Three Stooges comedies. Guiry's unconvincing mannerisms take me out of the movie almost every time he's onscreen.

When Joe, Jr. starts to respond amorously to Janice's thoughtful and affectionate treatment of him, you just know it isn't going to turn out well. So when he goes slap, drooling nuts, climbs aboard, and starts treating her like a donkey ride at the zoo...well, jeez, if you're going to have a character like this and he's important to the story you're trying to tell, at least tone him the heck down a tad, okay?

Fortunately, the other half of the movie is a fascinating look at the art of being a card and dice "mechanic"--the sort of guy who can pick up white dice and throw red ones, or shuffle a deck of cards twice and still deal himself three aces. When security forces Joe to open his hand at the craps table, he complies, revealing an empty palm while holding the trick dice behind his fingers. But aside from amazing manual dexterity, beating the casino under the watchful eyes of trained cheat-spotters and multiple cameras requires incredible cunning.

Joe's audacious plan to do just that is what makes this movie so much fun to watch, especially when we see his team of accomplices each making their own sly contributions to the deception. In the final suspenseful showdown between the deceiver and the deceived, the success or failure of the plan all comes down to one well-placed mug of beer.

Joe, Jr., inevitably becomes a major player in the whole thing as well. In a shot that's a bit too reminiscent of RAIN MAN, he descends into the frame on an escalator wearing a white three-piece suit, raring to do his part and make Dad proud of him. While contrived, this actually works out okay, and in their final scene together we get a somewhat satisfying emotional moment between father and son that helps send the movie off on a strong note.

Writer-director Robert Celestino's longtime fascination with "mechanics" such as Yonkers Joe comes to fruition with this generally successful effort. His direction is assured but unobtrusive, with able assistance from cinematographer Michael Fimognari and a sensitive score by Chris Hajian. The cast, except for Guiry, is fine. It's always good to see Chazz Palminteri playing something besides a mob boss, and Christine Lahti being given a role that allows her to show off her skill and likability. Michael Lerner is also good as an aging hustler who's had enough of taking the big risks. Together, they breath life into Celestino's surprisingly warm story, which underplays the usual Vegas-scam schtick.

The DVD image is 1.78:1 widescreen with 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital sound; both are good. Subtitles are available in Spanish only. Extras include "Behind the Scenes", a fifteen-minute look at the production with cast and crew interviews, followed by three shorter featurettes--"The Moves" (a demonstration of some of the slick card and dice tricks from the film), "The Look" with cinematographer Michael Fimognari, and "Meet Fast Jack", a compelling profile of real-life "mechanic" John Farrell, who served as the film's technical adviser. Finally, we get a brief montage of scenes from the film's premiere.

You may think Tom Guiry does a great job as Joe, Jr. and that the father-son stuff is the best part of the movie. In which case, you'll enjoy YONKERS JOE more than I did. For me, though, the story of Joe and his pals is what makes the movie watchable. If I could edit my own special edition of this film, it would concentrate more on the relationship between Joe and Janice, and their daring scheme to outwit Las Vegas out of a pile of cash. And Joe wouldn't have any kids.


Buy it at Amazon.com

YONKERS JOE -- DVD review by porfle

DVD Review: WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE CAT-GAMBLER (1972)

FILM:
The Ginza Butterfly Nami (Meiko Kaji, returning to her role from the original) is back in a new story that finds her on the hunt for Hoshiden, the man who killed her gambler father when she was only a child. Arriving in Tokyo, Nami takes a job as a hostess in a swank Ginza club, all the while combing the back-alleys and gambling dens for news of Hoshiden’s whereabouts. Local street entrepreneur Ryuji (Sonny Chiba) joins her in the search, and eventually in a bloody raid on the yakuza headquarters where all Hell breaks loose.

After watching the first GINZA picture, I adjusted my expectations for the second film accordingly. Having expected a full throttle Pinky feature in the first film, and being sadly disappointed, I fully expected the exploitive Pinky Violence elements to have no apparent stamp here in the second film.

WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE CAT-GAMBLER, unlike its predecessor, is a feature that really stands out. Although, not as hard-hitting, brutal, or frenetic as other Japanese exploitation films, SHE CAT-GAMBLER is able to develop a revenge story that is very interesting, while leading the picture to a final reel that sensationally makes the entire film worthwhile. The narrative slowly builds the characters towards a final showdown that is brilliantly stylish, bloody, and relentlessly gripping.

Although veterans Sonny Chiba and Meiko Kaji are fantastic individually, together they fizzle. The chemistry between the two are brilliant onscreen. They really work well together, allowing Japanese fans to stare at awe as these two titans of Japanese pop cinema perform brilliantly. In the final action piece where Kaji and Chiba slash through their enemies, the electricity sparking off the screen is something truly special.

Director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi seems to understand which genre GINZA is aiming for, and adjusts the perspective of the sequel accordingly. In this somewhat darker picture, women are furiously beaten as well as brutally crushed with bamboo sticks. These dark elements allow SHE CAT-GAMBLER to stand much higher than its lighter counterpart part, and breathe a far more memorable tale.

Although like the first film, SHE CAT-GAMBLER does suffer from some slow pacing mid-way through. Some of the secondary characters do exhibit some very cliché and frustratingly comedic characteristics. Also as the film unfolds, some the plot developments do end up being very predictable. But fortunately, these moments do not appear often and really don’t affect the basic enjoyment of the film.

WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE CAT-GAMBLER is a sequel that is stronger than its predecessor in almost every aspect. With a stronger cast, superior story, and a fantastically wicked final reel, SHE CAT-GAMBLER ranks a very respectable Japanese exploitation entry.
7/10

VIDEO:
Synapse does an incredible job yet again on this release. Presented in an anamorphic 2:35:1 pristine print, SHE CAT-GAMBLER is projected flawlessly with no proper scratches, marks, or damage apparent.
9/10

SOUND:
SHE CAT-GAMBLER is presented in a Japanese Mono track with removable English subtitles. No sound glitches, significant hisses or muffles appear present on the track. The English subtitles are presented with absolutely no grammerical mistakes and do a really fantastic job in translating the film to the Engish speaking audience.
8/10

EXTRAS:
Yet again, Synapse pulls all the stops on the extras departments.

Chris D. provides a yet another insightful commentary track for Synapse. Chris D. covers a variety of fascinating subjects throughout film, including the career of Sonny Chiba, the state of the industry at the time, and how these films affected the cultrual society. He is able to put the film in an historical context, allowing the film to be seen on a more realistic note.

Next up, director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi to provide another in-depth interview, this time for his sequel. The subjects covered in this portion include his relationship with Chiba, his sentiments on directing the actors, his relationship with Toei, and his opinion on directing various other Japanese projects. This is another brilliant extra that really gives the film depth, Yamaguchi is able to give the viewer totally different perspective on the film, allowing the audience to fully appreciate the project as whole.

The final interview on the disc concerns Pinky expert J-Taro Sugisaku. In this feature, J-Taro Sugisaku constructs a 30 minute Meiko Kaji appreciation essay. Sugisaku does a really fine job assessing Kaji qualities and abilities as an actress and how she is seen both inside and outside her native country. It’s very informative and definitely a must view for fans interested in learning more about the incredible Meiko Kaji.

Like its first counterpart, the final extras for SHE CAT-GAMBLER contain both theatrical trailers, as well as a reversible DVD cover which includes the much superior Japanese artwork.
8/10

OVERALL:
WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE CAT-GAMBLER is fine Japanese film that intertwines its exploitation elements beautifully. It’s bloody, lightly dark, and definitely worthwhile. Synapse have done an incredible job on this project, and should fully commended in putting together a release that truly encompasses what a proper DVD should be.
8.5/10

DVD Review: WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE CAT-GAMBLER (1972)

DVD Review: WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY (1972)

FILM:
WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY tells a Japanese story of Gang leader Nami ( Meiko Kaji), who after killing a member of a yakuza group, is sent away to prison. Upon her release three years later, she’s become a shamed woman confined to living in the shadowy world of sex clubs and street gangs. She returns to the city to live with her uncle, a billiard-hall owner, and after befriending pimp and never-do-well Ryuji (Tsunehiko Watase), she gets a job working at a hostess club in the chic Ginza neighborhood, where the expensive shops and neon lights conceal a dark world of crime and sexual slavery. But when a rival gang attempts to muscle in on the club, Nami becomes enmeshed in a violent struggle that forces her to wield a skilled pool cue to defend her uncle’s business, and eventually a short sword to wreak bloody vengeance upon her enemies.

I’d had really been anticipating this release for some time now. Having absolutely loved Synapse’s previous Pinky releases of the FEMALE SEDUCTRESS trilogy, obsessed with the fantastic range of retro Pinky films available in English, and fully aware of Meiko Kaji brilliance as a Pinky heroine, WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY looked to be a sensational Pinky film.

However, WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY is not the film you’d expect. It doesn’t contain the flare of the regular 1970s Pinky films that busted with style, excitement, and exploitive coolness. It’s a very straight forward Japanese feature that stays very static to its story. The film puts the basic drama of the film as the dominant theme, leaving any exploitive flavor unseen. The only burst of its Pinky traits lie in the final reel, where it fizzles with a final action set-piece that does finish lightly soaked in blood.

The thing is I expected something totally different. I expected it to be like the other Pinky films or similar Meiko Kaji pictures, bubbling with violence, style, and energy only achieved by the Japanese. However, this is not the film’s approach. GINZA is very basic in telling its story and doesn’t take any real liberties along the way. If I’d known which direction GINZA was going to take prior, I would have adjusted my standards and expectations accordingly. But I didn’t, and therefore initially felt somewhat frustrated and disappointed as the credits rolled. Although, after thinking about the film sometime later and properly assessing the film’s material, I have come to conclude that the film does contain a fair amount of quality and value.

It’s directed with a very keen eye that remains fluid throughout, and has some fantastic musical pieces, including a great theme sung by Kaji herself. Although the pacing of the film is extremely slow, Meiko Kaji’s great presence really keeps the film going. The film also contains some very intense sequences that really get the viewer involved in the film, most notably, the billiard scene. Considering how slow the general tone of the film is, you’d expect the viewer to lose interest in the film. This however is not the case. GINZA is able to hold the viewer’s attention very lightly. Although you may not be enthralled in the events unfolding, your interest is always pulled forward.

All in all, WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY is well made Japanese feature. Those expecting a Pinky film will by HIGHLY disappointed. But, for those interested in a retro 1970s Japanese drama, sprinkled with very light doses of exploitive flare, GINZA might just be for you.
6/10

VIDEO:
Synapse have done an absolutely stunning transfer on WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY. In an almost flawless anamorphic print, GINZA oozes with great colors allowing the beautiful retro 2:35:1 scope to burst perfectly from the screen.
9/10

SOUND:
The sound is presented in a perfect Japanese mono. No hisses or pops are present, allowing the sound to come through as clean and untouched as possible. The music comes through the speaker’s really well, taking full advantage of the quality Synapse has provided. The subtitles are practically flawless, and translate the film completely.
8/10

EXTRAS:
Synapse have done a really good job in giving the release a proper assortment of extras.

The first extra is a full length audio commentary by Japanese film expert Chris D. Chris D. does a really commendable job in analyzing the film as it unfolds. He gives some great background history on the cast & crew, how the film is seen in context with other films of the same period, and from what approach the director was creating the film. It’s a really great supplement that works as a great companion piece to the feature.

The next supplement is in-depth interview with the film’s director, Kazuhiko Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi is very open about the piece and discusses all aspects of the process of putting together WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY. It’s really very nice to see the actual filmmaker proudly discussing the film, giving various anecdotes, and being fully active in the discussion of his work.

Rounding off the extras off extras are the original theatrical trailers for both the first and second films and a really impressive reversible DVD cover, revealing the much preferred original Japanese artwork.
8/10

OVERALL:
Synapse have done a brilliant job on WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY. Although the film itself is not the masterpiece one hoped, the release is truly excellent. It is an exceptional DVD release that covers more than the necessary grounds, and should be fully treasured by cult fans around the world.
8/10

DVD Review: WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY (1972)

"EDEN LOG" Arrives On DVD And Blu-ray Disc May 19

Vibrantly Surreal Sci-Fi Chiller From Magnolia Home Entertainment As Part Of The Six Shooter Film Series Under The Magnet Label

"Visually stunning, it's a bleak trip into a world that is both mesmerizing and terrifying." Bloody Disgusting

"A dark, philosophical spin on the Garden of Eden..." Twitchfilm.net

Official Selection Of The Toronto Film Festival, Austin Fantastic Film Festival and London Fright Festival

A man wakes up deep inside a cave. Suffering amnesia, he has no recollection of how he came to be there nor any idea who the dead man is at his side. The underground labyrinth is no ordinary cave but the abandoned labs of a company called Eden Log. Hunted by mysterious creatures, he must continue through this strange and fantastic world to escape their clutches. During his quest to the surface, he must uncover the secrets of what once lived in the caves and whether salvation exists above.

A twisting hallucinatory parable, EDEN LOG is warning that the relentless exploitation of natural resources could incite nature to fight back in the most vicious manner.
Director: Franck Vestiel
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: French
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Run Time: 98 minutes

Buy it at Amazon.com: DVD, Blu-Ray

"EDEN LOG" Arrives On DVD And Blu-ray Disc May 19