MEDIUM RAW from Anchor Bay Entertainment -- coming to DVD August 16th

 

“Every good horror flick needs strong villains, and this one has them in spades!” --  Horrorbid.com
 

Once upon a time, there was a homicidal maniac who slaughtered 15 little girls and left a question scrawled in the victim’s blood at each crime scene: “Are you The Woodcutter?” Five-year-old Johnny Morgan witnessed his sister’s murder at the hands of this monster. Years later, Johnny became a detective and finally caught the murderer, bringing him to justice. And they all lived happily ever after, right?  Guess again…

Recent winner of the Northern Lights Award at the Alaska International Film Festival, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf on DVD August 16th. With an all-star genre cast including John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Raiders of the Lost Ark  and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), William B. Davis (“the Cigarette Smoking Man” from “The X-Files,” The Shortcut), Mercedes McNab (Hatchet, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) and wrestling legends Jay “Christian” Reso and Andrew “Test” Martin (in his final screen appearance), Medium Raw takes the Little Red Riding Hood legend into a new realm of terror and psychological horror. SRP is $22.98, and pre-book is July 20th.

Even though Johnny (writer/director Andrew Cymek) is now an officer of the law, he’s still plagued by nightmares of his sister’s death and the serial killer that’s still out there. When a new murder scene features the same cryptic question, Johnny and his partner (Davies) track down leads until he finally captures Harold Grierson aka “the Wolf.” But when a power outage at Parker’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane, where Harold is interred, and Johnny’s girlfriend Jamie (Brigitte Kingsley) works as a psychiatrist, unleashes all the inmates, Johnny, Jamie along with a handful of civilians become players in a night of survival against the world’s most terrifying inmates…the Night of the Wolf.

MEDIUM RAW DVD
Street Date:                  August 16, 2011
Pre-book:                     July 20, 2011
Cat. #:                          DV23146
UPC:                            0 1313 2314609 3
Run Time:                     111 minutes
Rating:                          Not Rated
SRP:                            $22.98
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                       English
Bonus Features:            Audio commentary with Writer/Director/Actor Andrew Cymek
                                    Alternate ending
                                    Deleted and extended scenes
                                    Trailer

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MEDIUM RAW from Anchor Bay Entertainment -- coming to DVD August 16th

MGM Limited Edition Collection for May 2011

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Reveals More Classic Films Coming To DVD For The First Time Ever

During the Month of June--29 Classics Come to DVD Through Online Retailers

LOS ANGELES (May 24, 2011) – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s “manufacturing on demand” (“MOD”) program continues to expand with the newest selection of films as part of MGM’s Limited Edition Collection. These 29 films will be available through major online retailers. This group of releases features classics from 1954 to 1990 including performances by Hollywood’s greats – Bob Hope, Anthony Hopkins and Yul Brynner to name just a few.

Enjoy your favorite movies from across the decades including:

1950’s

Down Three Dark Streets (1954) - After an FBI agent is shot, his friend must handle the caseload and avenge his death. Stars Broderick Crawford; Ruth Roman; Martha Hyer. Directed by Arnold Laven.
Return To Treasure Island (1954) - A descendant of Jim Hawkins visits Treasure Island with a priceless map. Stars Tab Hunter; Dawn Addams; Porter Hall. Directed by Edwald Andre' Dupont.
Quincannon, Frontier Scout (1956) - An ex-army officer leads a search party into Indian territory to investigate the disappearance of a top-secret shipment of repeating rifles.
Stars Tony Martin; Peggie Castle; John Bromfield. Directed by Lesley Selander.
The Killer Is Loose (1956) - A bank robber's (Wendell Corey) wife is shot during his arrest by a cop (Joseph Cotten). He escapes to kill the cop's wife (Rhonda Fleming) as retribution. Despite the cop's protest, the police decide to use Fleming as a lure. Stars Joseph Cotton; Rhonda Fleming; Wendell Corey. Directed by Budd Boetticher.
Hot Cars (1956) - A likable car salesman, facing a financial crunch involving urgent medical attention for his infant son, is tricked into selling stolen cars. Framed for the murder of a cop, he finds himself in life-or-death combat with the real killer on a zooming rollercoaster. Stars John Bromfield; Carol Shannon; Joi Lansing. Directed by Don McDougall.
The Boss (1956) - Political corruption is vividly depicted as a ruthless WWI veteran takes almost complete control of a state with the help of a crooked lawyer.
The film is enhanced by John Payne's persuasive performance as "The Boss." Stars John Payne; William Bishop; Gloria McGhee and Doe Avedon. Directed by Byron Haskin.
Gun Duel In Durango (1957) - He (Robert Montgomery) is the leader of a notorious gang. He wants to settle down. She (Ann Robinson) says she will marry once he has proved his newfound virtue. His former gang buddies have other ideas and a final showdown gunfight is inevitable. Stars George Montgomery; Ann Robinson; Steve Brodie. Directed by Sidney Salkow.
The Halliday Brand (1957) - Joseph H. Lewis directed this intense Western about a young man's (Joseph Cotten) disillusionment with his father (Ward Bond), a corrupt sheriff. When his dad turns away from the lynching of his sister's lover, the boy rebels and his father declares him an "outlaw." Stars Joseph Cotton; Viveca Lindfors; Betsy Blair. Directed by Joseph H. Lewis.
Curse Of The Faceless Man (1958) - A stone figure unearthed in Pompeii followed by a series of skull crushing murders. Stars Richard Anderson; Elaine Edwards; Adele Mara. Directed by Edward L. Cahn.
Lost Lagoon (1958) - He is an unhappy husband who is a castaway on a Caribbean island and thought dead. He meets a lovely lady and they create a holiday resort. The idyll ends when an insurance investigator tracks him down and takes him back to his wife. Stars Jeffrey Lynn; Leila Barry; Peter Donat. Directed by John Rawlins
Riot In Juvenile Prison (1959) - When the shootings of two juvenile inmates bring public protest, a psychologist is brought in to see if he can do anything to control the problems peacefully. Stars Jerome Thor; Marcia Henderson; Scott Marlowe Directed by Edward L. Cahn.
The Man In The Net (1959) - Alan Ladd portrays a painter with an alcoholic and dissatisfied wife (Carolyn Jones). She disappears-leaving behind his slashed paintings. He is accused of murdering her, and flees to the woods. Among the pursuers: one of her former lovers--a tough cop. Stars Alan Ladd; Carolyn Jones; Diana Brewster. Directed by Michael Curtiz.



1960’s

Phaedra (1962) - The wife of a Greek shipping tycoon has a love affair with her stepson. Stars Melina Mercouri; Anthony Perkins; Raf Vallone. Directed by Jules Dassin.
Call Me Bwana (1963) - Laugh along with this breezy comedy as Bob Hope heads for the African Jungle where he finds himself on an outrageous safari with elephants, hippos, and...spies? Stars Bob Hope; Anita Ekberg; Edie Adams. Directed by Gordon Douglas
Johnny Cool (1963) - Criminals who betrayed a crime boss are in for a bloody revenge. A Sicilian mobster (Henry Silva) is in town to rub them out. Among those waiting for the bullets are Telly Savalas, Mort Sahl, Jim Backus and Brad Dexter. Stars Henry Silva; Elizabeth Montgomery; Richard Anderson. Directed by William Asher.
Love Is A Ball (1963) - Charles Boyer zestfully portrays a (self-appointed) matchmaker on the French Riviera, conducting a lively cast on a slippery road to romance. Stars Glenn Ford;
Hope Lange; Charles Boyer. Directed by David Swift.
A Rage To Live (1965) - A wealthy, free-swinging young woman tries marriage, only to discover she still needs to have affairs with other men. Stars Suzanne Pleshette; Bradford Dillman; Ben Gazzara. Directed by Walter Grauman.
Riot On Sunset Strip (1967) - A crowd of undisciplined young people gather for kicks on the Sunset Strip. Aldo Ray plays a police lieutenant who is sympathetic to the kids but is pressured by businessmen to clear them out. Stars Aldo Ray; Mimsy farmer; Michael Evans. Directed by Arthur Dreifuss.
Red, White, and Zero (aka The White Bus) (1967) - An impassive young girl is taken from her suicidal London life, back to her home in North England on a bizarre bus trip. Seen through the poetic eye of the camera, this is a commentary of doomed British morbidity, and a prelude to director Lindsay Anderson's much acclaimed "If". Stars Anthony Hopkins; Arthur Lowe and Patricia Healy. Directed by Lindsay Anderson.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968) - A film adaptation of William Shakespeare's famous play in which four lovers sort out their problems with the help of fairies at midnight in the forest of Athens. Stars Derek Godfrey; Barbara Jefford; Nicholas Selby. Directed by Peter Hall.
The File of the Golden Goose (1969) - A U.S. Treasury agent (Yul Brynner) joins a Scotland Yard detective (Edward Woodward) in going "undercover" to bust a brutal counterfeit gang known as the Golden Goose. But, in a massive double-cross, his British partner defects to the other side.Stars Yul Brynner, Charles Gray; Edward Woodward and John Barrie. Directed by Sam Wanamaker.



1970’s

Cannon for Cordoba (1970) - George Peppard is a young man who leads a small group to destroy six cannons before the rebel leader (Raf Vallone) and the Mexican army can use them. A rousing, action-filled historical adventure. Starring George Peppard; Giovanna Ralli; Raf Vallone; Peter Duel; Don Gordon and Nico Minardos. Directed by Paul Wendkos. 
Adolf Hitler: My Part In His Downfall (1974) - A fun-loving trumpet player experiences both high jinks and grim realities of war when he trains as a member of a British artillery unit during World War II. Stars Jim Dale; Arthur Lowe; Bill Maynard; Geoffrey Hughes and Windsor Davies. Directed by Norman Cohen.
Hennessy (1975) - After his wife and child are killed during violence in Belfast, an Irishman plots to assassinate the Queen of England in revenge...by bombing the British Parliament when the Royal Family is in attendance. Stars Rod Steiger; Lee Remick; Richard Johnson. Directed by Don Sharp.
Another Man, Another Chance (1977) - A love story between a French girl and an American doctor, set against the backdrop of France in 1870, after Napoleon III has just lost the war against Prussia. In the wild west, they silently and carefully fall in love for the second time in their lives. Stars James Caan; genevieve Bujold; Francis Huster. Directed by Claude Lelouch.



1980’s

April Morning (1987) - The "April Morning" here is the famous April 19, 1775 upon which the "Shot heard 'round the world" was fired, signalling the start of the American Revolution. Stars Tommy Lee Jones; Robert Urich; Chad Lowe; Susan Blakely. Directed by Delbert Mann.
Haunted Summer (1988) - Romantic poets Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, along with Shelly's future wife, Mary, and her beautiful stepsister, Claire, travel blissfully through Switzerland one summer. Both women share Shelley's bed, while the tortured Lord Byron flounder in a secret relationship with his physician. They experiment with opium, "free love", and the nature of good and evil. The events form the foundation for Mary Shelley's famous novel, FRANKSTEIN. This drama is part surreal, part historical - of lust and fantasy, of ecstasy and horror, of the inner strings of creativity. Stars Philip Anglim; Alice Krige; Eric Stoltz. Directed by Ivan Passer.
The Iron Triangle (1989) - A U.S. Army Captain, serving in Vietnam in 1969 is captured by a 17-year old Vietcong solider. The pair end up developing a bond. Stars Beau Bridges;
Haing S. Ngor; Liem Whatley. Directed by Eric Weston.



1990’s

The Fourth War (1990) - A Cold War thriller in which an American colonel and his Soviet counterpart engage in a private, potentially disastrous war. Stars Roy Scheider; Jurgen Prochnow; Tim Reid. Directed by John Frankenheimer.

MGM Limited Edition Collection for May 2011

FALL DOWN DEAD -- DVD review by porfle

Here's another slasher flick with a slice of that cheesy 80s vibe, like one of those worn VHS cheapies you might've rented out of curiosity at the local Mom 'n' Pop video store.  But that old nostalgic feeling is fleeting, and for the most part FALL DOWN DEAD (2007) is just a dreary bore.

It begins with your standard parking garage stalk-and-slash as an unfortunate woman fails to elude the Picasso Killer's deadly razor.  Then we meet some uninteresting detectives, the troubled Stefan (Mehmet Günsür) and his happy-go-lucky partner Lawrence (R. Keith Harris), wearily staking out a van on Christmas Eve.  Finally, there's young, blonde Christie (Dominique Swain), who saves the money she makes in a coffee shop so she and her daughter Zoe can move to the country.

Walking home one night, Christie happens upon the Picasso Killer dispatching his latest victim in a dark alley.  When he sees her, he flips out--she's just what he's imagined as the perfect finishing touch to his artistic masterpiece, which we never really learn much about.  In fact, unlike the trash gore classic PIECES in which the killer's crazy agenda actually meant something, the whole "Picasso" angle is so negligible to the plot that it's there merely to give Udo Kier's maniac something to yak about while he's fixating on Christie.



Christie escapes and seeks refuge in a mostly-empty office building, with only old security guard Wade (David Carradine) and a few stragglers as company.  Wade manages to call the police before the power goes off due to a blackout, and Stefan and Lawrence show up to offer their dubious assistance.  With both cell phones and police radios conveniently out of commission, the group is now under attack by Picasso for the rest of the film as he kills anyone who stands between him and Christie.

After this passable start, the padding and dragging out of FALL DOWN DEAD's meager plot begin.  These include the usual false jump scares and the "suspense" sequences with potential victims creeping around for long periods of time as we're pounded by clangy music that's supposed to set our nerves on edge.  The good guys, of course, are incredibly stupid--after locking the front doors of the building, nobody bothers to check the back door, which Picasso strolls through undetected.  Later, Det. Lawrence runs into someone who works in the building, tells her she'll be safe as long as she's with him, and then immediately leaves her alone.  Throughout the film, the contrivances these characters go through in order to keep arbitrarily putting each other in danger are amazing. 

Picasso is never portrayed as cunning or scary enough to make us afraid of him when he's offscreen.  He's barely developed as a character at all--he's just this guy walking around slashing people with a straight razor and babbling to his victims about how they're going to be a part of his masterpiece.  Udo Kier (ANDY WARHOL'S DRACULA, FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN) does give off a naturally creepy vibe, especially when his eyes are lit just right, and there's one genuinely chilling scene in which a woman opens the door expecting to find one of the cops standing there only to confront him instead.  But Picasso isn't really much of a boogeyman--most of the time, he's no more frightening than the usual maniac killer on HAWAII FIVE-O.
 


Bland direction and murky lighting and photography augment the film's cheap-80s look, along with a few graphic gore makeups, gratuitous nudity, and some really bad dialogue and acting.  Even big-name David Carradine, who's back in EVIL TOONS mode again and not taking a second of it seriously, is pretty awful here.  (The most notable thing about his presence in this flick is the ironic nature of his character's fate.)  Kier seems to be doing his best, but he just isn't stalker material.  As Christie, Dominique Swain goes one-on-one against the dumb script, wrestling with some horrible dramatic dialogue and emoting her head off as though her life depended on it. Only her final confrontation with Picasso generates any excitement, and even this is standard stuff.

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in  1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and subtitles in Engish and Spanish.  The sole extra is a DVD trailer. 

A downbeat and vaguely depressing experience, FALL DOWN DEAD just gets dumber and dumber, and more boring, as it goes along.  Nostalgia aside, sometimes those 80s slasher flicks were best left on the shelf.


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FALL DOWN DEAD -- DVD review by porfle

MEET MONICA VELOUR starring Kim Cattrall coming August 16th on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Films

"Kim Cattrall gives a bold, courageous, jaw-dropping performance that deserves the attention it's getting” - Rex Reed, New York Observer


ANCHOR BAY FILMS PRESENTS "MEET MONICA VELOUR" STARRING KIM CATTRALL


Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD August 16th  from Anchor Bay Films


BEVERLY HILLS, CA –   On August 16th, Anchor Bay Films releases Meet Monica Velour, on Blu-ray™ and DVD.  Starring Kim Cattrall (“Sex in the City”) as a former porn star who befriends a young fan, Meet Monica Velour is a showcase for the actress with a gutsy performance that wowed both audiences and critics. Meet Monica Velour arrives on Blu-ray™ and DVD with an SRP of $34.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $29.98 for the DVD, with bonus features including a commentary track by Cattrall (with writer/director Keith Bearden) and hilarious deleted scenes.

In this irreverent comedy, awkward teenager Tobe (Dustin Ingram) sets off on a road trip to meet Monica Velour (Cattrall), his favorite 80s porn star, at a rare live appearance hundreds of miles away. Instead of the glamorous sexpot portrayed on film, he finds a 49-year-old single mom living in a trailer in rural Indiana, performing at seedy strip clubs to make ends meet. But the starry-eyed Tobe, still captivated by his crush, befriends Monica, further complicating her difficult life. Cattrall gives a career-defining performance in this offbeat love story that appeals to the dreamer - and the nerd - in all of us.

Meet Monica Velour also features a feisty turn by Brian Dennehy (Ratatouille), and Keith David (Death at a Funeral). From the producers of The Kids are All Right and Garden State, and written and directed by Keith Bearden, Meet Monica Velour is a sweet, and sly coming-of-age story that’s sure to delight fans of quirky indie films.


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DVD
Blu-Ray

MEET MONICA VELOUR starring Kim Cattrall coming August 16th on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Films

TWILIGHT ZONE SEASON 5 Blu-ray coming August 30 from Image Entertainment

It’s time to enter the fifth season of the fifth dimension when The Twilight Zone: Season 5 comes to Blu-ray™ on August 30, 2011 . All 36 episodes from the groundbreaking sci-fi/fantasy series’ final season are here, remastered and presented in pristine 1080p high-definition and uncompressed PCM audio. In addition, the 5-disc set includes hours of entertaining bonus features specially created for this Blu-ray™ release, as well as the bonus features from the Definitive Collection DVD release. SRP is $99.98, and pre-book is August 2.

Submitted for your approval, is the wildest and (dare we say) weirdest season of Rod Serling’s iconic series, containing such memorable episodes as "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," "A Kind of a Stopwatch," "Living Doll" and the Oscar® nominated short film "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." This season also rolls out some great guest stars including Bill Mumy, George Takei, James Coburn, Lee Marvin, Martin Landau, Mickey Rooney, Shelley Fabares and William Shatner.

Season Five Episodes

In Praise of Pip, Steel, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet , A Kind of a Stopwatch, The Last Night of a Jockey, Living Doll, The Old Man in the Cave, Uncle Simon, Probe 7 Over and Out, The 7th Is Made Up of Phantoms, Ninety Years Without Slumbering, Ring-A-Ding Girl, You Drive, The Long Morrow, The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross, Number Twelve Looks Just Like You, Black Leather Jackets, Night Call, From Agnes, with Love, Spur of the Moment, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Queen of the Nile, What's in the Box, The Masks, I Am the Night Color Me Black, Sounds and Silences, Caesar and Me, The Jeopardy Room, Stopover in a Quiet Town, The Encounter, Mr. Garrity and the Graves, The Brain Center at Whipple's, Come Wander with Me, The Fear, The Bewitchin' Pool.

EXCLUSIVE BLU-RAY FEATURES

--20 New Audio Commentaries, featuring The Twilight Zone Companion author Marc Scott Zicree, author/film historian Gary Gerani (Fantastic Television), Twilight Zone directors Ted Post, Richard Donner and Robert Butler, writer Earl Hamner, actors George Takei and Peter Mark Richman, author/historian Martin Grams, Jr. (The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic), authors/historians Jim Benson and Scott Skelton (Rod Serling's Night Gallery: An After Hours Tour), author Bill Warren (Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties), writer Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Coraline), writer/director Michael Nankin (Battlestar Galactica, CSI) and radio host George Noory (Coast to Coast AM).
--Conversations with Rod Serling
--Vintage Audio Interview with director of photography George T. Clemens
--22 Radio Dramas featuring Louis Gossett, Jr., Adam Baldwin, Peter Mark Richman, Beverly Garland, Adam West, Bill Erwin, Luke Perry, Mariette Hartley, Ed Begley, Jr., Kate Jackson, Mike Starr, Stan Freberg, Jason Alexander, Jane Seymour, James Keach and Karen Black

ALSO INCLUDES

--Audio Commentaries by Bill Mumy (In Praise of Pip), Mickey Rooney (The Last Night of a Jockey), June Foray (Living Doll), Mariette Hartley (The Long Morrow), Marc Scott Zicree (Number 12 Looks Just Like You), Alan Sues (The Masks) and Martin Landau (The Jeopardy Room)
Video Interviews with Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Earl Hamner, Bill Mumy, June Foray, Carolyn Kearney, Michael Forest, Nancy Malone and Terry Becker
--Isolated Music Scores featuring the legendary Bernard Herrmann, Van Cleave and Rene Garriguenc
--The Mike Wallace Interview (September 1959)
--Netherlands Sales Pitch
--Excerpt from Rod Serling's Sherwood Oaks Experimental College Lecture
--Alfred Hitchcock Promo
--Rare George Clayton Johnson Home Movies
--Rod Serling Promos for "Next Week's" Show
--Twilight Zone Season 5 Billboards
And much more!

The Twilight Zone Season 5 Blu-ray
Genre:             Sci-Fi. Television, 60s
Rating:            Not Rated
Languages:      English 
Format:            Black and white full-frame (1:33.1)
Audio:             PCM Mono
Subtitles:         English
Year:               1964
SRP:                $99.98
Street Date:     August 30, 2011
Pre-Book:        August 2, 2011
Length:            916 minutes
UPC:               014381642650
Cat#:               ID6426CUBD

Buy it at Amazon.com

TWILIGHT ZONE SEASON 5 Blu-ray coming August 30 from Image Entertainment

New "Poirot" and "Miss Marple" Mysteries From Acorn Media

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: The Movie Collection, Set 6

PBS’s most-watched Masterpiece Mystery! series returns in three all-new mysteries;

DVD/Blu-ray debuts coincide with mysteries’ broadcast premiere

Debuts on DVD and Blu-ray July 12, 2011; Starring fan-favorite David Suchet

Silver Spring, MD — Featuring three all-new, star-studded movies starring David Suchet, Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Movie Collection, Set 6 debuts on DVD and Blu-ray from Acorn Media on July 12, 2011. The DVD release includes all three lavishly produced mysteries premiering on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery! on June 19, June 26, and July 3. ITV Studios’ Poirot has aired on ITV1 in the U.K. since 1989 and on PBS and A&E in the U.S. BAFTA nominee David Suchet returns as Hercule Poirot—Agatha Christie’s elegant Belgian sleuth of unsurpassed deductive powers and peerless viewer appeal— in three baffling new cases based on her classic novels ($49.99/$59.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Guest stars include Zoë Wanamaker (My Family), Martin Shaw, (George Gently), Jane Asher (Death at a Funeral, Alfie), Timothy West (Edward the King), Kimberley Nixon (Cranford), Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead), Art Malik (The Jewel in the Crown), and Anna Massey (The Importance of Being Earnest).

THREE ACT TRAGEDY—After guests at successive dinner parties mysteriously drop dead, Poirot teams up with an old friend, retired stage star Sir Charles Cartwright (Martin Shaw), to ferret out the killer. Guest stars include Jane Asher, Art Malik, and Kimberley Nixon.

THE CLOCKS—As Britain readies for war, Poirot journeys to Dover to help the son of an old friend solve a case involving an unidentified corpse and four mysterious timepieces, all stopped at precisely the same time. Anna Massey guest stars.

HALLOWE’EN PARTY—Crime novelist Ariadne Oliver (Zoë Wanamaker) calls Poirot in to investigate the macabre murder of a young girl at a children’s costume party who claimed to have witnessed a killing. Also stars Sophie Thompson, Deborah Findlay, and Amelia Bullmore.

Street Date: July 12, 2011 - 3 mysteries – Approx. 267 min. – SDH subtitles

DVD 3-Vol. Boxed Set (SRP: $49.99) / Blu-ray 3 Vol. Boxed Set (SRP: $59.99)

Acorn Media has released thirty-six episodes from the classic Poirot series in The Classic Collection, Sets 1-4 (episodes from 1989-1993), and 14 feature-length movies in The Movie Collection, Sets 1-5 (1990-1996, 2009-2010). The DVD 3-volume boxed sets are $49.99 (www.AcornOnline.com). Additionally, the recent adaptation of The Murder on the Orient Express was released on Blu-ray in October 2010.



AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: THE PALE HORSE

On DVD June 21, 2011

Julia McKenzie returns as Miss Marple in a new, star-studded adaptation;

DVD debut coincides with the mystery’s broadcast on PBS Masterpiece Mystery!

Includes bonus disc with full-length, earlier adaptation co-starring Jean Marsh

“The quintessential Agatha Christie murder mystery”—The Times
“Good fun” —The Mirror

Silver Spring, Md —Agatha Christie’s much-loved heroine is back on the case in Agatha Christie’s Marple: The Pale Horse, debuting on DVD from Acorn Media on June 21, 2011. Premiering on PBS Masterpiece Mystery! on July 10th, ITV Studios’ new adaptation finds Julia McKenzie (Cranford) as the beloved spinster sleuth, taking on a spooky murder case at an inn run by three modern-day witches. Based on Christie’s 1961 novel, The Pale Horse also stars Oscar® nominee Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine, Upstairs, Downstairs), Sarah Alexander (Coupling), JJ Feild (Northanger Abbey), and Bill Paterson (Traffik). Rich with authentic period atmosphere and pitch-perfect performances, the DVD 2-Disc set includes a bonus disc with a 1996 adaptation of the novel without Miss Marple ($29.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

BLU-RAY AVAILABLE: June 21st also marks the first Blu-ray Marple with the release of Marple: Complete Series 5 with four mysteries including The Pale Horse (4-vol. boxed set, $69.99).

Miss Marple (Julia McKenzie) receives a mysterious list of names from her friend Father Gorman, who sent it moments before he was brutally murdered on a London street. She soon discovers that people on the list are dying. A clue leads her to the Pale Horse Inn in Hampshire, a spooky establishment run by three modern-day witches. As she closes in on the truth, one of the guests is found dead in his bed, and Miss Marple learns that her own life may be in danger.

BONUS DISC: The Pale Horse (101 min.), a 1996 adaptation of the classic mystery starring Colin Buchanan (Dalziel & Pascoe), Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings)

Street Date: June 21, 2011                           SRP: $29.99

DVD 2-Disc Set:  Approx. 89 min., plus 110 min. bonus - British mystery - SDH subtitles (main program)

Acorn Media previously released Agatha Christie’s Marple: Series 1-5 as DVD 4-Vol. Boxed Sets ($59.99). The Pale Horse is part of Series 5; however Acorn Media couldn’t release it until near its U.S. broadcast.



AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: COMPLETE SERIES 5 Debuts on Blu-ray June 21, 2011

Agatha Christie’s beloved spinster sleuth on Blu-ray for the first time; Includes two full-length bonus programs

“Delightful to watch” –Los Angeles Times

Silver Spring, MD — Featuring four beloved feature-length mysteries, Agatha Christie’s Marple: Complete Series 5 debuts on Blu-ray from Acorn Media on June 21, 2011. Julia McKenzie (Cranford, Notes on a Scandal) dons Miss Marple’s trademark tweeds with wit and flair in these lavishly produced adaptations. Each story is shot in gorgeous high definition against the backdrop of grand English estates and post-WWII period detail. The episodes in Series 5 aired on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery! in summer 2010 and 2011. The Blu-ray 4-volume boxed set also includes two full-length bonus programs: an extremely interesting documentary hosted by Pam Farris (Rosemary & Thyme) about Christie’s personal retreat, and a 1996 adaptation of The Pale Horse without Miss Marple ($69.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

The lavish productions feature stellar supporting casts including Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous), Lindsay Duncan (Rome), Hugh Bonnevile (Iris), Toby Stephens (Jane Eyre, Wired, NBC’s upcoming Prime Suspect remake), Caroline Quentin (Blue Murder), Edward Fox (Oliver Twist),  and Caroline Catz (Doc Martin).

Eyes sparkling and tweeds impeccable, Julia McKenzie returns as Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth in four new mysteries set in 1950s England. Murder is afoot, and Miss Marple is up to the task of determining whodunit. She may look like a pensioner, but she doesn’t miss a clue on the way to solving heinous crimes, whether the weapon is a gun, a cocktail, or the color blue.

THE MYSTERIES

The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side; The Secret of Chimneys; The Blue Geranium; and The Pale Horse

BONUS PROGRAMS: Agatha Christie’s Garden (66 min.): A revealing documentary about Agatha Christie’s personal retreat hosted by Pam Ferris (Rosemary & Thyme), and a 1996 adaptation of The Pale Horse (101 min.) starring Colin Buchanan (Dalziel and Pascoe), Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings).

Street Date: June 21, 2011               SRP: $69.99

Blu-ray 4-Vol. Boxed Set: 4 episodes - Approx. 351 min., plus 167 min. bonus - British mystery - SDH subtitles

Acorn Media previously released Series 1-3 starring Geraldine McEwan, and Series 4-5 starring Julia McKenzie on DVD. The first three episodes of Series 5 aired in summer 2010. Since Acorn Media couldn’t release The Pale Horse until around its U.S. broadcast, it is also being released on June 21st in a separate DVD 2-volume disc set.

New "Poirot" and "Miss Marple" Mysteries From Acorn Media

"The Red Green Show: The Midlife Crisis Years" On DVD May 31

THE RED GREEN SHOW: THE MIDLIFE CRISIS YEARS (Seasons 2000 - 2002)

On DVD May 31, 2011
Seasons 10-12 of Hit PBS Comedy in Value-Priced Collection; includes DVD Debut of 2002 Season

“Rustic and rusty, north-of-the-border deadpan zaniness” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Merry mix of slapstick, one-liners, and wacky situations” —Toronto Star
“A hip cult classic” —The Detroit Free Press
“A bona fide made-in-Canada classic with universal comic appeal” – The Globe and Mail

“If life gives you lemons, throw 'em into a quart of vodka.”
“Spare the duct tape, spoil the job.”
“When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.”
– Red Green (master of all things Canadian, manly, and duct taped)

Silver Spring, MD —From the cult classic Canadian comedy series and longstanding PBS hit comes The Red Green Show: The Midlife Crisis Years, the collected Seasons 10-12 (2000-2002) and the DVD debut of the 2002 season, arriving to DVD from Acorn Media on May 31, 2011. Hilarious handyman Red and his boys are older—but no wiser—in these three complete season of midlife mischief at Possum Lodge. Showcasing three more years of celebrated chaos and commotion at Possum Lodge, this 9-disc boxed set includes 54 episodes with Red and his crew dreaming up more of the half-baked ideas, crazy contraptions, and unintended consequences that seemed like they would never end, but did, after 15 hilarious years ($79.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Creator and star Steve Smith is a mastermind of north-of-the-border handyman humor with widespread appeal. Currently appearing at venues throughout the U.S., Smith’s multi-year tour continues to sell out.  Akin to Home Improvement, which also debuted in 1991, The Red Green Show amassed a devout fan base during the show’s 15-year run for Red Green and his Possum Lodge friends’ adventurous antics, off-kilter advice, preposterous inventions and power tool artillery. Ending in April 2006 with exactly 300 episodes that still run in syndication, the Canadian comedy institution has spawned a feature film, specials, books, and a cult-like following.

These 54 episodes feature series regulars Ranger Gord, Bill Smith, Hap Shaughnessy, and, of course, Red’s beleaguered but beloved nephew, Harold.  The collection finds Red and the gang cruising into middle age—in a van held together by duct tape and twine—and all sorts of mischief.  For more laughs than you can shake a hockey stick at, join these hopeless handymen for three more years of doing what men do when women aren’t around—and some things that are even worse.

The 2002 Season is also available on May 31st as an individual season set (DVD 3-Disc Set, $39.99). Acorn Media previously released the 1997-2001 individual season DVD collections, The Red Green Show: The Infantile Years (Seasons 1991-93), The Red Green Show: The Toddlin’ Years (Seasons 1994–96), The Red Green Show: The Delinquent Years (Seasons 1997-99), as well as several specials.

Street: May 31, 2011                                        
SRP: $79.99

DVD 9-Disc Boxed Set: 54 episodes - Approx. 21 hours - Closed Captioned

EXTRA JUNK: Introduction by star and creator Steve Smith, character profiles, and production notes

Buy it at Amazon.com

"The Red Green Show: The Midlife Crisis Years" On DVD May 31

THE ACTION-PACKED THRILLS ARE..."LIMITLESS"

On Blu-ray and DVD July 19th
With Theatrical and Unrated Extended Cut, an Alternate Ending and More

Los Angeles (May 23, 2011) – An intense and gripping adrenaline rush, LIMITLESS, arrives to Blu-ray and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on July 19th with both the theatrical version and an unrated extended cut of the film, an alternate ending, deleted scenes and much more. LIMITLESS features an all-star cast including: Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, The A-Team), Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch, Bright Star), and Robert De Niro (Raging Bull, Taxi Driver).

Bradley Cooper (The A-Team) and two-time Academy-Award® winner Robert De Niro, star in this provocative and action packed-thriller with unlimited surprising twists. Eddie Morra (Cooper), a burnt-out writer, discovers a top-secret pill that unlocks 100% of his brain’s capacity. He instantly acquires mind-bending talents and mesmerizing visions that bring him big money, beautiful women and limitless success. But his dream life soon becomes a waking nightmare, as the drug’s brutal side effects take their toll and Eddie finds himself entangled with a cunning Wall Street power broker (De Niro) who wants everything Eddie has…and more.

LIMITLESS is available on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19th. Pre-book is June 15th. The film was theatrically-released by Relativity Media.

LIMITLESS DVD Features:
--A Man Without Limits
--Taking it to the Limit: The Making of LIMITLESS
--Alternate Ending
--Unrated Extended Cut

LIMITLESS Blu-ray Disc Features:
All of the DVD features, plus
--Digital Copy “How to”
--Digital Copy

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

LIMITLESS Blu-Ray: (Catalog # 2275985 U.S.)
Street Date: July 19, 2011
Pre-book Date:  June 15, 2011
Screen Format: 16:9
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD-MA
 French 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, Spanish
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Total Run Time: 4:15:25
Closed Captioned: Yes


LIMITLESS DVD: (Catalog # 2275938 U.S.)
Street Date: July 19, 2011
Pre-book Date:  June 15, 2011
Screen Format: 16:9
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
 French 2.0 Surround DD
Subtitles: English, Spanish
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Total Run Time: 1:54:40
Closed Captioned: Yes


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

THE ACTION-PACKED THRILLS ARE..."LIMITLESS"

"SINEATERS" Wraps Principal Photography

Cthulhu Blues Productions (based in Arkansas) and Crow-Nan Productions (based in New York) have wrapped principle photography on their latest feature film collaboration SINEATERS, a dark action story of violence and redemption. Principle photography occurred in the city of Conway, Arkansas. Sean-Michael Argo directed this Bekah Kelso script, with cinematography by Leo Smith. Post-production is presently underway.

Sineaters is the story of a lone drifter who has come to the end of a violent and bloody journey. He has the power to consume the sins of evil-doers, and the power to heal with his hands, part faith healer and part gun slinger. He loses the spiritual struggle with the Grim, a manifestation of all the evil he has removed from the world, and is turned against his sineater comrades by the cult known as the Vessels of Wrath. Working with a twisted preacher, Brother Aaron, and a darkly alluring woman who seems to guide the preacher's every decision, the sineater hunts down his friends one by one, as the battle for his soul rages on.

The film stars Tim O'Hearn as the lone drifter, with strong support from horror notables Debbie Rochon and Melantha Blackthorne, in addition to a breakout performance from newcomer C.Jason Bolton, who also starred this year in Sean-Michael Argo's mythpunk action film 'Ember Days'. Additional performances from Bekah Kelso, Caleb Shaner, and Kyle Fulbright.

"SINEATERS" Wraps Principal Photography

IF EVER I SEE YOU AGAIN -- movie review by porfle

(NOTE: This review originally appeared six years ago at Bumscorner.com.  In light of recent events, we're reposting here today.)


Joe Brooks has written some of the most successful and well-known commercial jingles of all time, including "You've got a lot to live, and Pepsi's got a lot to give" and many more that have probably been forever lodged in your memory over the years. At one point back in the 70s, he decided to try his hand as a songwriter-slash-Hollywood film auteur as well, resulting in the wildly successful YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE (both the song and the movie were huge hits).

Joe wrote, scored, produced, and directed the film, and actually won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. With this remarkable debut under his belt, Joe set his sights even higher -- for his next trick, he would not only perform all the duties he had on his first film, but would star in it as well. And that, bad movie fans, is how IF EVER I SEE YOU AGAIN (1978) came to be.

This movie has to be seen to be believed. It fails miserably on every level. Fortunately, since Joe Brooks handled the production, direction, writing, music, and lead acting role himself, there are fewer people to blame for it.



As a romantic lead, he has about as much appeal as a potted plant. His leading lady, Shelley Hack, acts as though she were posing for the picture on front of a box of All Bran. The supporting players include, for some reason, authors Jimmy Breslin and George Plimpton, about whose acting the best thing that can be said is that they are good authors. It's pretty bad when the most professional acting performance in a movie is delivered by a little girl (Danielle Brisebois).

Joe plays a jingle writer named "Bob Morrison" who dreams of being a serious musician, even though all of his "serious" songs still sound like extended commercial jingles, and the classical piece he composes to show off his true talent later in the film would be better suited for a group of musical saw players than an actual orchestra. Watching his dramatic gestures as he conducts this ear-splitting opus in the recording studio, as the dazzled Shelley Hack grins at him like a stuffed loon, is one of the most unintentionally hilarious scenes ever filmed.

If this movie is indeed as autobiographical as we suspect it is, then this scene must be the realization of one of Joe Brooks' fondest fantasies -- having the girl of his dreams gaze at him with naked, worshipful awe as he lurches about among the musicians, grandly flailing his arms as if to literally mold the wafting notes into an aural work of art. Unfortunately, this piece of music is so badly arranged that it could make even the London Symphony Orchestra sound like a high school band at a pep rally.

And then, of course, there's the romance. When "Bob Morrison" makes the trip from New York to L.A. to pursue his musical ambitions, he also decides to look up his old college girlfriend (Shelley Hack's "Jennifer Corly") for whom he still carries a torch. When they are reunited, their scenes together generate all the excitement of sitting in a dentist's waiting room with nothing to read but a year-old copy of "Field And Stream." Shelley Hack, who proved later on to be a pretty good actress in certain roles, seems here to be hovering in and out of a coma. But it would be difficult even for a great actress to pretend that she was falling back in love with Joe Brooks' incredibly bland character, especially with the brain-numbing dialogue she must recite.



Music-wise, Joe was obviously hoping for another big chart-topper like "You Light Up My Life", but its inexplicable success was not to be matched by the cringe-inducing dirge that is this film's theme song. I don't know who performed it, but he doesn't sing it as much as he suffers through it. He seems to be battling his way through a particularly intense bout of constipation as he strains to expel the stomach-churning lyrics, though I doubt if even Debby Boone could've made this song any more tolerable.

The same singer also gets to croak the other big tune in the movie, "California", which is Joe's musical tribute to the state of the same name, but after hearing it you might get the impression that California is the most horrible place on Earth. A more upbeat version performed by a group of singers accompanies a scene of Joe traveling by plane, and sure enough, it looks and sounds just like an airline commercial. We see the plane banking off over the sunlit clouds as the song informs us: "Caaa-lifornia! Wherever you may roam! Californiaaa...is caaaa-lling you hoooome!" You almost expect to see the TWA logo pop onto the screen.

When I saw this movie on HBO several years ago, I just had to have it. I still watch my old tape every so often just to gape in wide-eyed amazement at how truly awful a movie can be. As a bad-movie lover, I hold this perversely-entertaining cinematic messterpiece in high esteem -- it's the PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE of romantic movies. Still, you gotta hand it to Joe Brooks -- he decided he wanted to make movies in the worst way, and he sure enough went out and done it.


Buy it at Amazon.com

IF EVER I SEE YOU AGAIN -- movie review by porfle

ASK THE DUST -- movie review by porfle

When I found out that ASK THE DUST (2006) was a 30s-era story directed by Robert Towne and adapted by him from John Fante's novel, I was looking forward to another experience similar to Roman Polanski's CHINATOWN, which Towne wrote. But this is much different--it's one of those stories that writers like to write about writers writing stories.

The writer in this case is Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell of MINORITY REPORT and the upcoming MIAMI VICE), who has come to sunny Los Angeles to sit behind a clackety typewriter in his slummy apartment and soak up enough inspiration to compose short stories worthy of being printed in "the greatest magazine in the world", The American Mercury, by his hero H.L. Mencken.

He's also there to find love, sweet love amongst the gaggles of blonde sirens who seem to grow on trees in LA, like oranges. Trouble is, he can't seem to find one who cares to marry anyone named "Arturo Bandini."

When he goes into a cafe' to spend his last nickel on a cup of coffee, he meets and is immediately attracted to the waitress, Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, DESPERADO). Like Arturo, Camilla yearns to marry a W.A.S.P. in order to better fit into a society that generally takes a dim view of foreigners, and the last thing either of them wants is to fall for each other.

Which happens, of course, and the stormy relationship which follows is laced with mutual hostility. But at least it gives Arturo something to write about besides his own melodramatic fantasies, and Mencken starts buying his stories.

ASK THE DUST benefits from a good cast--I've always liked Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek, who try their best here to bring life to their sometimes unrealistic characters. Idina Menzel (RENT) is great as Vera Rivkin, a woman who becomes obsessed with Arturo after hearing him talking about Sinclair Lewis in a bar one night and blousily barges into his life, eventually becoming an oasis of unconditional love and adoration for him to retreat to.

And Donald Sutherland, who seems to be sliding nicely into old-age character roles (when he first pokes his head through Arturo's door, I thought, "Denver Pyle's in this?"), is wonderful in a small role as the perpetually-gassed neighbor who serves as an example of how Arturo doesn't want to end up.



The film itself is rich in period detail and beautifully photographed by Caleb Deschanel (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, THE NATURAL), but it rarely gets past the stagey feel of a writer writing about writing. Much of what takes place seems as though it could've come hot off Arturo's own typewriter during his early melodramatic phase--there's even an earthquake which serves as a deus ex machina in resolving one of the major plotlines in a perfunctory way.

The sequence in which Arturo rents an isolated beach house where he and Camilla can leave their differences behind and allow themselves to grow more intimate while he helps her study for her American citizenship test is nice, but eventually their tiresome bickering returns to wreck everything again.

Worse of all, just as their love is growing stronger, Camilla develops "the cough." You know, the one that's really something even though she insists "it's nothing", just like the one Ali McGraw had in LOVE STORY. I wanted to see this particular story work itself out in a more interesting way, but when "the cough" appeared, I pretty much knew what was coming.

Even so, the ending is nicely done and generates some emotion. The most cathartic moment for me comes when Arturo regretfully admits to Camilla that his often mean-spirited attitude toward her is a reflection of the bigotry he endured while growing up--treating her that way made him feel less like an outsider himself.

After that I was finally able to sympathize with his character, which up until then seemed like a basically nice guy who, for no apparent reason, often acted like an arrogant jerk.

As good as it is, though, and ASK THE DUST is a pretty good movie, I was never able to get past its superficial veneer and settle into it. But H.L. Mencken ends up buying Arturo's autobiographical account of the story, so what do I know?


Buy it at Amazon.com

ASK THE DUST -- movie review by porfle

Anchor Bay Films revs up with acquisition of "REDLINE"

ANCHOR BAY FILMS WINS WITH ITS ACQUISITION OF KATSUHITO ISHII’S EXHILARATING ANIMATED RACING FILM "REDLINE"

BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- Anchor Bay Films announced today the acquisition of Katsuhito Ishii’s REDLINE with all rights in North America, the U.K. as well as Australia and New Zealand.  The film will be released under Anchor Bay’s Manga brand this fall.   Written by Katsuhito Ishii (director of The Taste of Tea, Funky Forest, Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl and the anime segment of Kill Bill Vol.1) and directed by the up-and-coming Takeshi Koike, who participated in the “World Record” segment of Animatrix (2003), REDLINE was seven years in the making and proudly demonstrates the new possibilities of 2D animation, amidst the current prominence of 3D animation.  Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment, made the announcement. 

Additionally, REDLINE has received rave reviews even from those admittedly not anime fans.  From its premiere at Fantastic Fest, Harry Knowles said “REDLINE should not be missed, everyone came out smiling and happy. FANTASTIC!”  He called it the “…coolest Speed Racer ever…and that counts the Wachowski film.”  AnimeNewsNetwork.com called it “… the most insanely exciting, visually exhilarating anime film you've seen in decades. Incredible fun!”

REDLINE is a racing film created by studio Madhouse (Paprika, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars). REDLINE is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including JP, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car - all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Amongst the other elite rival drivers in the tournament, JP falls for the alluring Sonoshee - but will she prove his undoing, or can a high speed romance survive a mass destruction race?

About Anchor Bay Films
Anchor Bay Films is unique in that it offers the creative community a fully integrated distribution capability on all platforms and an international solution extending beyond the U.S.  Anchor Bay Films is a division of Anchor Bay Entertainment and is on the ground providing quality distribution with operations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, as well as distribution capabilities in other key territories. The company focuses on a platform release strategy for its films with an eye toward maximizing their potential across all ancillary distribution platforms. The company recently released Kill the Irishman starring Ray Stevenson, Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer and Vincent D’Onofrio and Meet Monica Velour with Kim Cattrall.  Also in its library is the critically acclaimed comedy City Island starring Andy Garcia and Solitary Man starring Michael Douglas.  Soon to be in theatres is Toronto International Film Festival award-winner Beautiful Boy with Maria Bello and Michael Sheen.  Anchor Bay Entertainment is a subsidiary of Starz Media, LLC (www.starzmedia.com) which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group.

Anchor Bay Films revs up with acquisition of "REDLINE"

BLACK OPS -- movie review by porfle

BLACK OPS, aka "Deadwater" (2007) begins on an old WWII battleship that's being used as a "floating Abu Ghraib" in the Persian Gulf, when suddenly, during the interrogation of a captured terrorist leader, an unknown force of tremendous ferocity attacks from out of nowhere and slaughters most of the crew.  Captain John Willets (Lance Henriksen) and his commandos are sent to investigate and begin to die horribly one by one as they try to uncover the secret of their unseen enemy. 

I love both horror movies and military-type action flicks, but by cramming these two great tastes together you don't always get a Reese's cup.  Sometimes you just get a tedious, barely-coherent mess that doesn't serve either genre very well.  BLACK OPS starts out looking as though it might develop into a passable, though cheesy action movie, but when the apparently supernatural elements begin to emerge, it just gets sillier and sillier.  It also gets confusing--during most of the climactic scenes I couldn't figure out exactly what was going on, and the rest of the time I didn't really care.

The briefing scene at the beginning is promising, with Henriksen as the grizzled old soldier and James Russo as Commander Combs, who tasks him with the job of boarding the ship and finding out why communications with it have been cut off.  Then there's the usual hup-hup gung-ho stuff with the commandos rope-dropping from helicopters onto the ship and scoping out the situation.  They find a few survivors, including Captain Willets' swabby son Colin (Gary Stretch) and an engineer who is put to work getting the ship's engines running before they drift into hostile waters.  Before long, though, the story turns into a stalk-and-kill fest that just gets less interesting and plausible as it goes along.

Gorehounds may enjoy the sight of numerous body parts and other gruesome evidence of the attacks, and sure enough, the only female member of the team (Katherine Randolph, JARHEAD) ends up taking a shower somewhere along the way.  The story's last shred of credibility finally goes overboard when the secret behind the killings is revealed to be something right out of an old 40s pulp magazine.  I won't give it away, but I kept expecting the WWII-era Captain America to show up and square off against the dastardly foe. 

In more capable hands, this shipbound slasher flick might have yielded a few grins, but as it is, BLACK OPS is a turgid, dreary affair with little to offer besides a couple of old pros (Henriksen, Russo) eking out a paycheck and a story that should've been torpedoed before it left the dock.


Buy it at Amazon.com

BLACK OPS -- movie review by porfle

TEKKEN comes to life July 19th on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy and DVD from Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment

Based on the global videogame phenomenon...Witness the warrior of the future today!

ANCHOR BAY FILMS AND MANGA ENTERTAINMENT UNLEASH "TEKKEN"

Live-Action Epic Available July 19th in Blu-ray™/DVD/Digital Copy Combo and DVD Editions

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Ever since its premiere in 1994, the Tekken videogame has thrilled gamers and lovers of futuristic adventure across the entire world. With millions of games sold on such gaming platforms as PS3, Xbox360 and PSP, it seemed that Tekken would forever be confined to the limited graphics of gaming consoles. Until now...

The videogame of the future comes to full live-action life when Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment release Tekken on July 19th. Directed by Dwight H. Little (“Bones,” Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers), Tekken stars Jon Foo, Kelly Overton (The Ring Two), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Planet of the Apes, Pearl Harbor, Balls of Fury), Ian Anthony Dale (The Hangover, The Bucket List), Darrin DeWitt Henson (Stomp The Yard, “Soul Food”), former world champion kick boxer Gary Daniels (The Expendables), MMA fighters Cung Le (Pandorum, Dragon Eyes), and Roger Huerta, Luke Goss (Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Blade II), and Tamlyn Tomita (The Day After Tomorrow, The Joy Luck Club.) A Crystal Sky Production, Tekken will be available as a Blu-ray™/DVD/Digital Copy™ combo for $39.99 SRP, as well as a standard DVD edition for $26.98 SRP. Pre-book is June 22.

The year is 2039. World wars have destroyed everything and territories are run by corporations, the mightiest – and cruelest -- of which is Tekken. Jin Kazama (John Foo) witnesses the death of his mother Jun (Tomita) by Tekken in the slums known as Anvil. Vowing vengeance, and armed only with his street smarts and raw fighting skills, he enters a dangerous and potentially deadly combat tournament, where he must defeat the world’s most elite fighters to become the “King of the Iron Fist.”

Tekken also features such fight superstars as Lateef Crowder, world-renowned expert in the Brazilian martial art Capoeira, and Anton Kasabov, multiple-time U.S., European and World Champion in Tae Kwon Do. Anticipation for Tekken’s release has been high ever since the film’s trailer was posted on YouTube in January 2010, with over 3.8M views to date!

TEKKEN  Blu-ray™/DVD/Digital Copy
Street Date:               July 19, 2011
Pre-book:                    June 22, 2011
Cat. #:                         BD23461
UPC:                           0 1313 23461-9 9
Run Time:                    91 minutes
Rating:                         R
SRP:                            $39.99
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio:                          Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles:                      English SDH, Spanish
Bonus Features:           Stunt Stars: Tekken; Trailer

TEKKEN DVD
Street Date:                 July 19, 2011
Pre-book:                    June 22, 2011
Cat. #:                         AF22083
UPC:                           0 1313 22083-9 8
Run Time:                    91 minutes
Rating:                         R
SRP:                           $26.98
Format:                       Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio:                         Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                     English SDH, Spanish
Bonus Features:          Stunt Stars: Tekken; Trailer

Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital

TEKKEN comes to life July 19th on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy and DVD from Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment

WARNER BROS. DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS FEATURE FILM "APP EDITIONS"

“HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 1” AND “DUE DATE” ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON THE APP STORE FOR THE IPAD™, IPHONE® and IPOD TOUCH®


BURBANK, CALIF., May 11, 2011 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD), a market leader in video-on-demand and electronic sell-through, today announced it is expanding its “App Edition” lineup to include the epic fantasy “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1” and the hilarious road trip saga “Due Date.” App Editions are an innovative way for consumers around the world to own special edition movies and TV shows on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

The free-to-download App Editions provide a fully-loaded, connected viewing experience that gives consumers the first five minutes of a feature film and a selection of bonus content that can include games, trivia, soundtracks and soundboards. The entire feature film can be purchased via In-App Purchase, which enables downloading and unlimited streaming, as well as access to the entire array of bonus content available within the app.

The App Edition program gives international consumers greater access to Warner Bros. movies and programs, especially in areas where filmed entertainment is currently not available through iTunes, such as China and the Netherlands . Accessible in 36 countries, App Editions can be fully customized to local language, content and release date specifications.

“We’re pleased to expand our offering of App Editions with these two popular films,” said Thomas Gewecke, President of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. “We saw strong interest with the launch of ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Inception’ App Editions. In the coming months we expect to launch additional titles, including action and comedy films.”  

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1: App Edition

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is the most anticipated motion picture event to be told in two full-length parts. Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart.

Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort’s Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort…alive.

Harry’s only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks.

Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became “the Boy Who Lived.” No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1: App Edition” not only allows consumers everywhere to download or stream the blockbuster film to their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, they can also enjoy over an hour of exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, 26 compositions from the full original motion picture soundtrack, the digital soundtrack booklet, production photos, movie scenes, and a collection of movie posters from Year 7 that can be saved as wallpapers and shared with friends.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1: App Edition” is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The entire feature film can be purchased through the App.


Due Date: App Edition

From director Todd Phillips, “Due Date” stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis as two unlikely companions who are thrown together on a road trip that turns out to be as life-changing as it is outrageous.  Downey plays Peter Highman, an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan—on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter’s last nerve.   

“Due Date: App Edition” allows consumers everywhere to download or stream the film to their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, enjoy 15 exclusive behind-the-scenes special feature bonus videos, concept art, productions stills, quote sharing and movie posters that can be saved as wallpapers and shared with friends.

“Due Date: App Edition” is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The entire feature film can be purchased through the App.

About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) oversees the electronic distribution of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s content through Video-On-Demand, Pay-Per-View, Electronic Sell-Through and Subscription Video-On-Demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels.   WBDD also distributes content through third party digital retailers and licensees.  A worldwide industry leader since its inception, WBDD also manages the Studio’s E-commerce sites that include WBShop.com and WarnerArchive.com.  Twitter: @WBDigitalDist

WARNER BROS. DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS FEATURE FILM "APP EDITIONS"

THE SYSTEM WITHIN -- movie review by porfle

If I didn't know better, I almost would've thought THE SYSTEM WITHIN (2006) was a blaxploitation flick from the '70s, with its cheesy photography and direction, wildly disparate acting styles and skills, and urban crime-drama setting.  That is, until it failed to be as exciting, interesting, or as much fun as one of those movies.  SUPER FLY this ain't. 

Tony "Wise" Good was on the downward slide into inner city crime as a youngster, till his grandmother sent him away to live with his mom and step-dad.  Years later, after hitting the big time as an international supermodel, the grown-up Tony (co-writer and producer Tariq Alexander) returns to the hood and finds himself getting caught up once again with his old crime mentor Hays (Hawthorne "Big Red" James, the library guard from SE7EN) and a corrupt fashion executive named Richard Lord (Robert Miano, DONNIE BRASCO) who uses prison labor to make his hot "hip-hop" clothing line.  When Tony refuses to sign a contract with him, Lord hires Hays to frame Tony and he ends up in prison, making the clothes for thirty-five cents an hour instead of modeling them for millions.

The film opens with neighborhood crime honcho Hays and his goons invading the offices of Lord's business competitor and blasting away (watch for the "dead" guy who blinks his eyes).  This raises expectations for a hard-hitting, bullet-riddled action yarn that are rarely met later on.  It also makes us aware of the curious fact that, for some reason, they don't use any blank rounds for their guns in this movie--the actors just point them and then do that "pretend recoil" thing.  In one scene there isn't even a sound effect added, which is confusing when an actor starts spitting blood for no apparent reason, and in another, I could swear Hawthorne James mouths the "pah-KEW!" sound while he's pretending to shoot. 

All the ingredients for an old-school blaxploitation thriller are here--the good guy who wants to make it outta tha hood, the black crime boss who rules it with fear and violence, the evil white businessman who profits from it all, some gratuitous sex, a decent soundtrack, guns, drugs, babes, etc.  But it's all too half-hearted and underdeveloped to ever reach that level of entertainment, and in its final moments after the fade-out, tries to become a solemn public service message about racial injustice in our prison system, which it hasn't really earned the right to be during its running time. 

The performances range from good to, well, not-so-good, but most of the cast members (many of whom are billed as "audition winner stars") give it their all.  Hawthorne James as the evil Hays, in particular, gives it about ten times too much.  He over-emotes so grandiosely here that I often felt like I was watching a Japanese monster movie when he was on one of his acting rampages.  A couple of times there, I was afraid he was actually going to crash through my TV screen and get me.  But a movie like THE SYSTEM WITHIN needs something to keep viewers interested, and I guess a maniacally-overacting Hawthorne James biting huge chunks out of the scenery and swallowing them whole is about as much fun to watch as anything.


Buy it at Amazon.com

THE SYSTEM WITHIN -- movie review by porfle

Prepare for the SMALLVILLE Series Finale!

Relive each heroic moment by downloading the series now on iTunes: http://bit.ly/DD_Smallville

To celebrate Warner Bros, Digital Distribution is giving fans the chance to get FREE Downloads of all 10 season premieres in HD and discounts on seasons 1-9, now for a limited time on iTunes.

Watch a clip from the Final Season

Prepare for the SMALLVILLE Series Finale!

R.I.P. DOLORES FULLER (1923-2011)

We've just learned that earlier today (Monday, 5/9/11), beloved actress/model/songwriter DOLORES FULLER passed away. 

Known mainly for her association with cult filmmaker Ed Wood, she co-starred with him in GLEN OR GLENDA and also appeared in BRIDE OF THE MONSTER and JAIL BAIT.  Later, Dolores went on to become a highly successful songwriter, penning tunes for Elvis Presley in nine of his films including BLUE HAWAII, SPINOUT, KID GALAHAD, and KISSIN' COUSINS. 

Dolores married Philip Chamberlin in 1988 and has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2003.  During that time she has been a popular guest at several fan conventions, where she would wear the white angora sweater made famous in GLEN OR GLENDA.  She was portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker in Tim Burton's 1994 biopic ED WOOD and, while generally positive toward the film itself, was unhappy with the way she was depicted
. 


The lovely Dolores always appeared friendly and vivacious in her interviews and will be fondly remembered by her many fans.  We here at HK and Cult Film News express our sincere condolences to her family and will always keep her memory alive in our hearts.

Read more about Dolores and express your own thoughts about her at the Classic Horror Film Board.

R.I.P. DOLORES FULLER (1923-2011)

"RUBBER"--Killer Tire Rolls Onto Blu-ray & DVD June 7

“A film brimming with comic brilliance and manic originality.” –Cinematical

On Blu-ray and DVD June 7 From Magnolia Home Entertainment

RUBBER is the story of Robert, an inanimate tire that has been abandoned in the desert, and suddenly and inexplicably comes to life. As Robert roams the bleak landscape, he discovers that he possesses terrifying telepathic powers that give him the ability to destroy anything he wishes without having to move. At first content to prey on small desert creatures and various discarded objects, his attention soon turns to humans, especially a beautiful and mysterious woman who crosses his path.



Leaving a swath of destruction across the desert landscape, Robert becomes a chaotic force to be reckoned with, and truly a movie villain for the ages. Directed by legendary electro musician Quentin Dupieux (Steak, Nonfilm), aka Mr. Oizo, RUBBER is a smart, funny and wholly original.

Price
Blu-ray $29.98/DVD $26.98

Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

"RUBBER"--Killer Tire Rolls Onto Blu-ray & DVD June 7