Return of the Classics: Another Exclusive HKCFN Interview with Sony's Mike Schlesinger

We had the chance to sit down and talk with Mike about several of Sony's properties that are of great interest to fans of classics and genre films.

Intro

1. Mike, It’s been a while since we last spoke. How has the re-introduction of Sony to the classic titles genre been going? Has fan and consumer response been good?

I don’t hear a lot of feedback except what I read myself on the ‘net, but overall reaction seems to have been very positive.

2. How was the reaction to the Sam Kaztman set? I can say that fans I’ve talked to have greatly enjoyed the set?

The same. I must say the Home Entertainment folks were a bit surprised at how positive the reviews were! And I understand it was a major factor in my receiving a Rondo Award this year.

3. Why were not all the films on the Katz set OAR (Open Matte vs WS).

CREATURE being presented full-screen was a simple oversight, but yes, as it was presented open-matte, at least no picture information was missing. (Since it’s an earlier release than the other three, someone may have thought it was pre-WS.) In any event, we’re being more diligent about this now.

4. One thing I was pleasantly surprised at was the very long trailer for Columbia and Sony Westerns that played in the Hammer set, instead of simply being movies made past 1990, it was filled with western greats of the past. This seems like a large step in Sony exploiting its rich catalog of titles by showing consumers ‘recent’ and ‘catalog’ titles at the same time. Can we expect this is in other genres?

That was partly due to my insistence that classic movies should not be accompanied by trailers for current and/or inappropriate films. Can’t promise it’ll be 100% in the future, but they get it now.

5. You recently addressed the Eastman House Graduates, what was the subject of your commencement?

Mostly I spoke about classic films and the need for preservation. It’s actually a good field to get into, because even if movies are shot and projected digitally, they still need to be preserved on film, as we now know that digital media do become corrupted in time.

Hammer Titles

1. What triggered the decision to start releasing some the excellent non-traditional (Horror) Hammer films?

Why not? Good films are good films, regardless of genre. As it happens, the “Adventure” set was originally intended to piggyback on the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3 DVD, but it ended up being delayed. I hope to do a “suspense” box in the future, as well as a stand-alone release for THESE ARE THE DAMNED (next year is Joseph Losey’s centennial, a good marketing hook).

2. Can you explain some of the difficulty in securing uncut prints for these films, especially Stranglers of Bombay.

Generally, they try to remaster from the camera negative, but if cuts were made in it—and they’re aware of it—then the hunt is on for alternate source material. That business about deleted shots of Marie Deveraux in STRANGLERS has been making the rounds. My opinion is that the critics saw the film before the censors, and that the footage was then cut (though there are flashes of it in the trailer). It definitely is not in the camera neg, and there’s no accompanying jump on the soundtrack.

3. There have been some reports that Terror of the Tongs and Stranglers of Bombay may some extra footage, however you worked with the original negative. Can you explain what may explain this extra footage and its non-appearance? (Note: It should be noted that all films on the set are uncut and have all footage contained in all releases around the world).

A lot—but not all—of the Hammer films were trimmed for US release (usually violence and nudity). Previous releases, especially bootlegs, were probably mastered from these sources. I can assure you that Grover is an absolute bear about getting it right; if there’s anything missing, it’s either in private hands or gone for good.

4. How was the decision made to include audio commentaries on these films?

No idea. I was thrilled that they made the decision without my urging. Hell, I didn’t even know Sangster was still alive!

5. Was there any attempt or though of securing Christopher Lee’s participation on the excellent audio commentary tracks?

Not that I know of, but I’ve heard that he thinks he’s said all he wants to say on previous commentaries, so it’s possible he was approached and simply declined.

6. What can you tell us upcoming Hammer titles in October and the extras that they will have?

Alas, no extras. They spent a lot doing the “Adventures” commentaries, plus I just couldn’t find enough suitable shorts to tack on. (Most of the “scary” comedy shorts feature Dudley Dickerson or some other Black comic doing the frightened-bug-eyed routine, and while they can finesse it for the Stooges, they’re more concerned elsewhere.) I ultimately felt that the package was strong enough that it shouldn’t matter as much. After all, there were no extras on Universal’s Hammer box, and I don’t remember anyone complaining! J

7. Can you tell us a little about the star of the wonderful two reeler, Hot Paprika, Andy Clyde?

He was a veteran comedian who started in the silent era and was still working in the ‘60s on TV shows like “The Real McCoys” and “Lassie.” He specialized in playing grumpy old codgers, so as he aged he grew into the role and needed less and less make-up. He made more two-reelers at Columbia than anyone else except the Stooges—close to 100 over two decades. He’s best remembered as California Carlson, Hopalong Cassidy’s comic sidekick, and as the speedy major-domo opposite W.C. Fields in MILLION DOLLAR LEGS. Incidentally, fans of Harold Lloyd will recognize PAPRIKA as a condensed version of his silent classic WHY WORRY—right down to some of the same gags!

8. Why was the term Hammer deleted from the front cover?

Long legal story which I can’t go into, but by the time it was resolved, the covers had already been printed. In any event, it’s front and center on the horror set!

Future titles

1. Is there any word on when the Peter Lorre set will come out and what titles will be part of the set?

Probably 2010. It would contain CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN and FACE BEHIND THE MASK. That’s all we got left!

2. Can you comment any further on the possible release of Scott/Boetticher films

Definitely out this fall. Thrilled beyond words. Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese and Taylor Hackford are participating. It’ll also contain the Bruce Ricker documentary that aired on TCM a couple of years ago, A MAN CAN DO THAT, which Eastwood produced and appears in.

3. Also some readers were wondering if Knock on any Door & Human Desire which are out in other DVD regions may be getting a Region 1 release?

The first film noir box set will definitely be out next year. Don’t know the final line-up yet, but they’re both in the mix, so even if they don’t make Volume 1, they’ll surely be on Volume 2.

4. Is the 27^th Day and other Columbia Sci-Fi films possibly being considered for release in a set?

Nothing in the immediate future—except for the Toho films, of course—but never say never!

5. Any word of full releases of Columbia Serials that we are often teased with on the Icon’s set?

Again, not soon, but it should happen in time.

6. Has Sony considered digital distribution of any of its titles or the method that was announced with HP (that would allow people to select titles and have it professionally authored and sent to them)? This would allow for great titles like The Shadow on the Window, which being a B-thriller would most likely not appear except on TCM.

The HP deal is in the works, so stay tuned.

7. Besides Ray on Blu-ray, are there any other genre classics being considering for BR release.

Don’t know. I’m just tryin’ to get the stuff out on regular DVD! And let’s be honest: I doubt that CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN would be a big seller on Blu-Ray. Remember, any DVD is only as good as its source material, and most of the older, 1.33:1, mono, B&W movies would not be significantly enhanced by a Blu-Ray presentation.

Toho films

1. So what is the word on releases of dual US/Japanese versions of Mothra, H-Man, and the Battle in Outer Space? The grey market has been filled with wide and subbed copies of the Japanese versions, but the English language version has only appeared on badly duped copies from 16MM, making them a desired inclusion.

The set is penciled in for ’09. It will contain those three plus REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 3, which somehow got overlooked for DVD. The intent is to have the uncut versions with Japanese tracks as well as the English dubs. MOTHRA and BIOS are done; H-MAN is proving to be a bit trickier, but it should be completed in time.

2. Many fans have hoped that the actual US versions (in terms of credits and US version has opposed to the dub being placed over the Japanese version) will be released, do you think this will be possible?

Probably not, since it would require twice as many discs. Besides, why would anyone want the cut-up versions? You don’t see people buying ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA and then saying, “Aw, crap, I wanted the version that was 90 minutes shorter and re-edited in chronological order by some studio hack.” That’s a rather extreme analogy, but you get my point.

3. The reason I ask about the US versions is that Classic Media, put both the US and Japanese versions on one disc, if that's not possible, will the US credit sequences be included perhaps as an extra.

I'm sure some method will be worked out. We certainly don't expect people to try and read Japanese credits!

4. Since some of the US versions were sequenced different and had different music, how will the dubs sync up with the Japanese tracks (do you have separate Music, FX, and Dialog tracks?

That is an issue, and one that's holding up H-MAN. Again, much of the Toho business might be better posed to Grover [Crisp Head of Sony’s Restoration] [we are working on setting an interview up].

YOR

1. The copy that played in WS and remastered quality on TCM last night had the Columbia logo, does Sony still have home video rights or only TV?

No, we still have rights in all media.

2. I take it, its going to take a new Conan movie or big sword and sandal new release to get YOR out, would that be correct?

It's not a great movie by any yardstick, and given the vast number of much better pictures that oughta be released first, I wouldn't hold my breath. But once again, ya never know!

Misc

1. Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?

Keep buying this stuff! I know it sounds crass, but that is truly the best way to keep the flow of classic titles coming—by letting them know there is a real demand for them. Part of the problem is that “new” titles make 80% of their sales in the first two weeks, and I have to keep reminding them that library titles roll out much more slowly…especially when there’s a DeepDiscount sale a month or two in the future!

2. The Three Stooges seems to be moving at full speed. I take it that readers should not expect a slowing down anytime soon?

Nope. The idea was to have everything out by the end of ’09, which is the 75^th anniversary of the team’s signing with Columbia. They suddenly realized that at the original pace they wouldn’t finish in time, so now they’ve shifted into high gear.

3. Besides voting with ones wallet, how can our readers to Sony of their happiness with these releases and their desire for them to continue?

They can send any notes to me at michael_schlesinger@spe.sony.com and I guarantee they’ll be forwarded to the Powers That Be. Even a handful of letters can indeed make an impact.

4. Thank you for taking you time to talk with us today.

You’re welcome. Make the check out to “Cash.”

Return of the Classics: Another Exclusive HKCFN Interview with Sony's Mike Schlesinger

Quentin Tarantino and Legendary Italian Director Team Up For DVD Extras

Tarantino Joins Action Director Enzo Castellari For Severin's INGLORIOUS BASTARDS on 7/29

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 23, 2008 - Enzo G, Castellari, the Rome-based writer/director recently hailed as "The '70s Italian Drive-In God" by L.A. Weekly, was feted by longtime fan Quentin Tarantino at a recent pair of Hollywood events. Footage from the events - a raucous screening of two Castellari action hits and an in-depth summit between the two directors - will be featured on the special 3-disc DVD of Castellari's INGLORIOUS BASTARDS to be released July 29th by Severin Films. Tarantino's next movie is rumored to be a remake of Castellari's 1978 World War II adventure.

Enzo Castellari has been one of international cinema's most celebrated writer/directors for more than 4 decades, specializing in all-star testosterone-fueled films that have defined the EuroCultgenres of 'spaghetti westerns', war sagas, crime dramas, sci-fi, fantasy and more. Castellari remains a stylistic hero to a generation of filmmakers that includes Tarantino, who has called the 70-year-old former prizefighter one of his favorite action directors.

On May 6th, Tarantino hosted 'Enzo Castellari Night' at Hollywood's Silent Movie Theater. The following day, Tarantino joined Castellari at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for a rousing 3-hour career-spanning discussion that ranged from the challenges of the original BASTARDS production to Tarantino's plans for his own upcoming version.

Castellari's 1978 international hit remains perhaps the biggest and most badass war movie in EuroCult history. Exploitation legends Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson and Bo (WALKING TALL, KILL BILL) Svenson star as the leaders of a gang of condemned criminals who escape from an Alliedprison convoy with a plan to blast their way to the Swiss border, only to find themselves'volunteering' for a suicide mission deep inside Nazi occupied France. Academy Award nominee Ian Bannen (FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX, BRAVEHEART) co-stars in this explosive action epic that has now fully restored from original vault elements for the first time ever in America.

"Part of our desire to restore and release INGLORIOUS BASTARDS on DVD was the opportunity to work with Enzo," says Carl Daft, co-founder and CEO of Severin. "Besides being a remarkable director,he's perhaps the most charismatic badass in EuroCult history. After we'd recorded a terrific audio commentary with him in Rome, we knew we wanted to bring him to Los Angeles for some kind of special event. Quentin couldn't have been more enthusiastic about being involved in these DVD Extras. We look forward to restoring and releasing more Castellari classics in the months ahead,hopefully featuring more of Quentin's ardent participation."

Severin Films was formed in May 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London, and is dedicated to releasing the most provocative and controversial features from around the world. The company's previous successes include the Unrated Director's Cut of GWENDOLINE starring Tawny Kitaen, EuroSleaze auteur Jess Franco's MACUMBA SEXUAL, THE INCONFESSABLE ORGIES OF EMMANUELLE and THE SEXUAL STORY OF O, Walerian Borowczyk's IMMORAL WOMEN, Lucio Fulci's THE PSYCHIC, and the two-volume limited-edition collections BLACK EMANUELLES BOX. Their current releases include the psycho-sexual 'giallo' thriller THE SISTER OF URSULA and the adult 'Spaghetti Sci-Fi' epic THE BEAST IS SPACE.

Quentin Tarantino and Legendary Italian Director Team Up For DVD Extras

Greenfan Announces UK Release of "Ninja in Ancient China"

The guys at Greenfan are so hyped about their upcoming UK release of NINJA IN ANCIENT CHINA, they've even taken to complimenting us here at HK and Cult Film DVD News on our looks and intelligence. Talk about a stretch! Just listen:

You are some of the most beautiful (on the inside, not usually on the outside)people in the world. You're also so smart... fair... charismatic... funny.
Did we mention funny? Oh you guys crack us up. In short, you're awesome.

Do these guys have impeccable taste or what? I think they really captured me in particular. But more importantly, they're out to capture our palpitatin', ninja-lovin' hearts and asked us to convey to our smart, fair, charismatic, and funny readers the following announcement:

It's with much jubilation that we bring to you news of our company. We have recently signed a sales and distribution deal in the UK. What that means is our
titles will be available at all major high street stores and e-tailers. This means that many more people will now be able to purchase our product. It's a big step for us and one that we're excited about. We have big ambitions and this is another step towards them. On Monday June 30th 'Ninja in Ancient China' will be released in the UK. To celebrate this development we have changed the artwork to something that is far sexier and eye-catchier. Check it out....

Ninjas are awesome,
The Greenfan Team

Greenfan Announces UK Release of "Ninja in Ancient China"

305 -- DVD review by porfle

If you haven't already seen the smash hit YouTube video "305", which has gotten several million hits since its July 2007 debut, then you may want to do so now--I'll wait.

Okay, now that you're back, you may be interested to know that this clever take-off on the recent Spartans vs. Persians epic 300 has been expanded into a feature-length mockumentary, also titled 305 (2008). The plus-five guys are the same group of cowardly rejects from the earlier short, ordered by King Leonidas to guard a goat path but ultimately responsible for the defeat of the Spartan army. They're forced into hiding, but two years later, as Persia prepares to launch a final assault on Sparta, our five non-heroes--Claudius, Darryl, Shazaam, Demetrius the Blind, and Testiclees--must band together once again in order to thwart the enemy and save the day.

It sounds stupid, and it is. It's also pretty funny--not riotous, but about as funny as good sketch comedy like SCTV or Mr. Show, with a wonderfully deadpan absurdity that carries almost every scene. With elements of THE OFFICE and MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, the satirical targets include LORD OF THE RINGS, THE MATRIX, and THE ODYSSEY, among other things.

When Claudius is kidnapped from his job at a family restaurant called Spartie's and imprisoned by the Persians, the rest of the group set off on a perilous journey to rescue him, encountering such characters as an angry giant and a huckster who sells them worthless crap like "invisibility powder" in exchange for their food and water. Meanwhile, Claudius cheerfully endures endless whippings ("it's like hundreds of tiny kisses") while organizing several of the guards into an enthusiastic book club.

The five main characters are wonderfully fleshed out for the feature. Tim Larson is great as the portly Claudius, with his ever-present coffee cup that never seems to run out. Co-scripter Brandon Tyra plays the comparatively competent Testiclees like a dazed beach bum. Sunny Peabody is Demetrius the Blind, now tickling the ivories in a tavern along with his faithful dog Zeus. Ed Portillo plays the ethnically-ambiguous Shazaam, and Heaven Peabody rounds out the group as Testiclees' love interest, Aurillia. On the Persian side, Les Jennings is the comically nasty commander (his pep talk to the troops includes the reminder "Charge in the same direction as everyone else"), and Nate Hopkins returns as the scary guy with the carrot sticking out of his forehead.

My favorite, though, is the supremely conceited yet grossly stupid and cowardly Darryl (David Schultz). Darryl seems to enjoy the Persians' dreaded Purple Nurple torture a little too much, and when the mystical Oracle that they seek for guidance turns out to be a wildly flamboyant "he-she" who prances like Britney Spears, it's love at first sight for the clueless Darryl. Visually, he's like a pudgy office drone at a medieval-themed costume party.

The audio and (1:85:1) video are much like that of the YouTube short, only bigger. Almost the whole movie uses green screen with lush, well-rendered backdrops, giving it an agreeably cartoonish quality. In addition to two (directors and cast) commentaries, bonuses include the original short, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted material (including an alternate ending and an electrocution scene that should've been in the final cut), and bloopers.

With a very small budget and limited resources, directors Daniel and David Holecheck have managed to put together a pretty nifty comedy here. There's even a fairly good battle scene at the end, and an overall sense of imaginative fun throughout. 305 may not be non-stop uproarious hilarity, but it's so good-natured and loaded with goofy gags, slapstick, and funny dialogue (much of it improvised) that I couldn't help but enjoy it. Not bad for an expanded YouTube video.

305 -- DVD review by porfle

LOST COLONY LEGEND OF ROANOKE DVD Review

LOST COLONY THE LEGEND OF ROANOKE claims it is based on true events. Yes, Roanoke was the first English colony in the New World, and yes, the colonists mysteriously disappeared after a few years. But I think I can assure you that the colonists were nothing like Adrian Paul and Viking ghosts that look like Amy Winehouse's lungs didn't suck out their souls. You might be able to make fun of the ye olde English style of talking, but other than that, the movie is pretty barren of anything interesting. White people slaughter the natives of course. The chief provides mystic guidance of course. And the 3 ghosts show up and kill lots of people throughout. There's a child sacrifice plot thread thrown in that never really goes anywhere and exists only to provide a motivation for the ghosts to attack. Not that any is necessary. Need I go on? My Amy Winehouse joke is really the sole reason for writing the review.

The video/audio presentation is as good as you'd expect. It's a film shot mostly with cold grays and blues and dark greens which are faithfully reproduced. The audio mix is acceptable. There are no extras worth mentioning.

LOST COLONY LEGEND OF ROANOKE DVD Review

Grizzly Park DVD Review

I admit to being neither an expert nor a fan on the slasher genre, so I have no idea why Ian passed this disc along to me. Much to my surprise, GRIZZLY PARK is a halfway interesting take on the slasher genre. While I'm sure it's derivative of other films, I couldn't tell you which. It was a fresh experience in my eyes.

A group of teenagers convicted of various misdemeanors are sent to a national park for a week to help clean up trash and reflect on their choices in life. There's a rich white boy with the sweater vest, a quiet white supremacist, a spoiled rich white girl, a Latina gang member, an Asian girl, a black computer hacker, a dumbass white guy, and a really ditzy white girl. It's the kind of group you'd see on the cover of a university's pamphlet in a desperate attempt to prove they're diverse. The only thing missing is a guy in a wheelchair with a basketball in hand. Meanwhile, a serial killer has broken out of prison and escaped into the park. So it looks like we're heading for a straightforward serial killer movie... until a grizzly bear eats the killer.

The serial killer was a cheap plot device, you see, to get the kids totally isolated in the park. On purpose, the teens are written and performed to be extremely annoying. Only Aaron Pierce from 24 helps anchor the movie and prevented me from fast forwarding. He plays the park ranger guiding them through the park and keeping them in line. As the movie progresses, each teen reveals unashamedly the crime they committed that got them in community service, almost every one of which actually being a horrific act of inhumanity. When the Nazi turns out to be the most likable of the group, you know you got some screwed up kids on your hands. Bears and wolves feasting on their flesh composes the rest of the movie.

For what it is, the movie was well-done. Some very nice photography of the forests. Some good gore effects if that sort of thing's your bag. It's a passable way to spend an hour and a half. I didn't hate it, and normally I hate slasher movies.

The video quality of the DVD is about as good as you could reasonably expect it to be. Not too many noticeable compression flaws. Accurate colors and a nice level of detail. Print was pristine from what I could tell. The soundtrack is undemanding but is clear, and the roar of the bear has some strong bass to it.

The extras are more extensive then I would've guessed. There are a few making-of videos that are essentially EPK fluff. There's also a commentary track that goes through the experiences filming the movie, particularly working with a live bear.

Grizzly Park DVD Review

Don May Jr. announces Synapse's first two Blu-Ray Titles!

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=593564#post593564

In response to a question at AVmaniacs forum Don May Jr., President of Synapse films discussed his companies Blu-Ray Plans.

Well, we have been quietly working on a few BLU titles already... we just didn't blast the public with the info using press releases for titles that have no release dates yet, because, well, we don't know when they'll be ready at this time.

I actually DO have a nice Blu-Ray of our MANIAC COP at home right now, sans menus, though... a beauty of a VC-1 encode with uncompressed PCM 5.1! You'll all get to experience it probably close to the beginning of 2009.

We're working on MANIAC COP, plus THE IMAGE (with a SMOKIN' brand-new HD transfer... we were even able to get rid of the green scratch during the cafe scene) as our first two BD titles.

More to come, obviously, if we actually succeed in making some money with those two. Probably STREET TRASH is the next candidate.

Don May Jr. announces Synapse's first two Blu-Ray Titles!

"ER: The Complete Ninth Season" DVD Review by porfle

"ER" used to be one of my favorite TV shows, but for some reason I gradually stopped watching it along with just about everything else on network TV. Years went by, different actors and characters came and went, and I pretty much forgot about it.

Now, with the release of the 6-disc, 22-episode DVD collection "ER: The Complete Ninth Season", I've been able to catch up with "ER" and find out all over again why this is one of the best TV shows ever produced. Many of the old main characters I remembered are gone, but the ones that replaced them are just as good in their own way, always three-dimensional and displaying both noble qualities and human failings. The stories remain incredibly fast-paced, emotionally involving, occasionally very funny, and consistently surprising.

Of the old cast, I miss Eriq La Salle's abrasive Dr. Benton most of all, because I liked the way he was always riding callow intern Carter (Noah Wylie). Now, Carter's the experienced old pro and Sharif Atkins is the new guy, Gallant. George Clooney's smarmy pediatrician Dr. Doug Ross has been replaced by Goran Visnjic as Dr. Luka Kovac, a soulful Croatian immigrant whose effortless charm with women often gets him into trouble.

Other welcome additions to the cast since I last watched the show are Maura Tierney as Carter's girlfriend and head nurse Abby Lockhart, Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Gregory Pratt, Ming-Na as Dr. Jing-Mei Chen, Leslie Bibb as intern Erin Harkins, and Paul McCrane (immortalized by his role in 1987's ROBOCOP) as supremely arrogant surgeon Dr. Robert Romano.

The lovely Alex Kingston's Dr. Elizabeth Corday is still around, having just returned from London, where it seems her years of Americanization now cause her to be regarded as an outsider in her native country. Also still on staff is Sherry Stringfield's down-to-earth Dr. Susan Lewis. But my favorite character of all is and has always been Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver. I was surprised to find that Dr. Weaver is now an out-of-the-closet lesbian trying to have a child with her partner, a female firefighter named Sandy (Lisa Vidal). Weaver's pregnancy, along with her fiercely competitive run-ins with Dr. Romano, are fodder for some intense storylines. It's also apparent that, due to her frank and curtly efficient manner, Dr. Weaver is still just as disliked and misunderstood by her co-workers as ever, which has always gained her my sympathy. I find her to be the most complex and fascinating character on the show.

Any doubts I had about the level of quality this series had maintained through its ninth season were put to rest with the first episode in the set, "Chaos Theory", which begins with Chicago's County General Hospital in the midst of a virulent monkeypox epidemic that forces the evacuation of patients and the quarantine of much of the staff. While doctors are on the roof frantically loading patients onto helicopters, something so utterly unexpected and shocking happens (involving a rotor blade) that I couldn't believe my eyes. After that, this show definitely had my full attention once again.

One episode after another reaches a breakneck pace early on and manages to sustain it till the end. The interpersonal relationships between the characters are interesting and quirky, and are integrated into the action in such a way that they rarely slow down the foreward momentum. Often the show hits the ground running from the fade-in, with rapidly intercutting storylines, intensely dramatic situations, and smart dialogue that snaps, crackles, and pops. And when it does slow down to linger over something particularly dramatic, the stylish direction and compelling performances often combine to produce some exquisitely memorable moments.

The guest cast is filled with so many familiar faces that I often end up wracking my brain trying to identify them. Of course, there are also quite a few noteworthy star turns as well. Don Cheadle is extremely moving as Paul Nathan, a middle-aged intern whose dream of being a doctor is severely compromised by his advancing Parkinson's Disease. Sally Field appears in several episodes as Abby Lockhart's bipolar mother, Maggie. Other outstanding guests include Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, Ed Asner, Patrick Fugit, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Bruce Weitz.

The picture is presented in matted widescreen format. Image and sound quality are fine. Extras include deleted scenes for almost all episodes, a seven-minute gag reel, and optional subtitles which are a great help whenever all that complicated med-speak is flying fast and furious. The packaging and menus are nicely designed.

I'm glad I got to reacquaint myself with this show because it is quite simply one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of dramatic television. Whether you're a long-time resident of County General Hospital or just an intern, "ER: The Complete Ninth Season" should keep you on your entertainment meds for quite some time.

"ER: The Complete Ninth Season" DVD Review by porfle

DUKES OF HAZZARD TV-Movie Double Feature Comes to DVD

"Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!" and "Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood" in a Two Movie Collection From Warner Bros.

What's more fun than 10 in the tank and four on the floor? Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach and more of your Dukes of Hazzard favorites together again!

In "Reunion!", folks come home to Hazzard and discover a plot to turn Hazzard Swamp into a theme park...leaving the swamp critters high and dry. Before you can say wait a durn minute, the cousins are back in the General Lee, tearing up the roads to stop the nefarious scheme.

Then they head west for "Hazzard in Hollywood" and a big-time recording deal. It turns out the deal includes a Russian mobster, a sultry songstress from the 'hood, and a beautiful blonde vice'mayor with the hots for Enos. Double the Dukes - double the down home fun!

One of the most popular series of all time, The Dukes of Hazzard, remains a current fan favorite thanks to the recent feature film remake and Warner Home Video’s DVD releases of Seasons 1-7. Now, fans of the show will be thrilled to remember “what happened next” to the characters they had grown to love as Warner Home Video (WHV) gets set to release The Dukes of Hazzard: TV Double Feature on June 10, 2008. The southern lovin’ DVD set includes two full length made-for-TV films, Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! and Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood, in a 2-disc collection.

Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: June 10, 2008
Run Time: 178 minutes

DUKES OF HAZZARD TV-Movie Double Feature Comes to DVD

PRIDE 34 and SHOCKWAVE 2006 DVD Reviews

Pride 34 and Shockwave 2006 Review

We take a look at some of the latest PRIDE FC releases by BCI. These are notable for the fact these are the first released by Zuffa, owners of the UFC, since the transfer of PRIDE from Dream Stage Entertainment to Zuffa. Fans have been worried that the DVD releases would be stopped or otherwise damaged because of a lack of interest by Zuffa. This early test indicates that the answer will be no.

Video: Both events are presented in 1:78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is interesting because of the fact that PRIDE never released any of these events in Widescreen. However, as some will know often certain fights appeared in Widescreen on the Japanese Region 2 release of PRIDE DVDs. It seems Zuffa is simply using a widescreen master that Dream Stage had, but only used for certain fights. To the best of my knowledge none of the fights look cropped at all and in a more telling way, US announcer footage (produced by PRIDE USA) are in regular full screen (and presented the way ESPN does with certain non-widescreen ads or programs on its HD channel). The picture quality is great and it’s nice to see PRIDE events in Widescreen (and not cropped to achieve it).

Audio: The audio uses a standard stereo mix and sounds fine. It is important to note, as is somewhat obvious by the appearance of Kill The Messenger’s Music Supervisor credit, certain music has been replaced. The most notable example of this is the insane J-Pop song that played during the intro for Shockwave 2006 and replaced with a generic angry nu-metal sound. It’s a shame, but DSE routinely cut intros for rights reasons, and the costs to license the song and others may not have been in Zuffa budget for the DVD release (Zuffa does this with their own UFC releases). Still the fights sound great, so fans should still enjoy the contests themselves.

Extras: Each disc contains certain extra fights. PRIDE 34 has the only in the Japan match up of Butterbean vs Zulu’s son. It’s a shame the Japanese TV version couldn’t appear on the disc as the promotion of the Super Heavy-Weight Grand Prix is pretty funny. Essentially all fights that occurred at each event should be on the discs. There is a lot of editing on the PRIDE 34 DVD as the main feature is less than 90 minutes. The fights are uncut, but a lot of the closing events and waiting for the fight setup has been cut (PRIDE 34 was a long event live).

Overall: If you are looking for low-priced ways to view some of the last events PRIDE put on these DVDs are a great way besides importing the expensive Japanese DVDs. While some of the production end decision Zuffa made, but all the fights are present and they picture and audio quality are good. So I would recommend picking these DVDs up if you’re a fan of PRIDE events.

PRIDE 34 and SHOCKWAVE 2006 DVD Reviews

It's Alive From Larry Buchanan Mini-Review

Slow, talky, and even a little dull, but there is something about this film from Azalea pictures and Larry Buchanan that I just really enjoyed. The story was quite interesting and if you just say this isn't going to be a monster film (say in comparison to The Lorely's Grasp), its actually quite an effective psychological thriller and quite grim and depressing movie about an insane man and his beast. The scene where the main villain chases the teacher through the woods in slow motion, has an almost beauty poetry in the way its filmed and comes across on the screen. I know Larry Buchanan wasn't a talent for the ages, but this film was a good little picture. While the massive nearly 20 minute flashback of the teachers capture may grind the movie to a halt, in itself its a very well done act of the breaking down of a human being of their ability to resist. I've also read the story is pilfered from a Richard Matheson, which may account for it being pretty good.

You can find this on a Retro-Media double feature paired with In the Year 2889 or on tons of PD sets.

It's Alive From Larry Buchanan Mini-Review

VCI Entertainment Announces Classic DVD Sets On The Way

HONEY WEST THE COMPLETE SERIES

FIRST TIME ON VIDEO!

Honey West (Anne Francis), sensual and glamorous female private eye, was something of a trendsetter, she was one of television’s first liberated females. In an era when actresses were restrained to sedate housewives and girlfriend roles, this series marked an exceptional and original departure. In 1965 the character was introduced to television audiences in a Burke’s Law episode, "Who Killed the Jackpot?" and true to form, Honey outwitted the suave detective played by Gene Barry. Producer Aaron Spelling spun the character off into a separate thirty-minute series which premiered in the fall of 1965. Honey West was the first dramatic TV show with a female star in an action-adventure role.

In the show, Honey inherited her spying business from her late father, a top private eye. She also got his partner in the deal, rough and handsome Sam Bolt, played by John Ericson. In addition to being television’s first modern, independent, self-sufficient woman, Honey frequently engaged in fight scenes and shootouts. She was expert at judo and held a black belt in karate. She is also the first character, male or female, on U.S. television to use martial arts as self-defense.

900 minutes, B&W, 1.33:1, NR,1965-1966

OVER 15 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING
4 DISCS – WITH A TOTLA OF 30 EPISODES
EACH EPISODE IS COMPLETE WITH NO COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTIONS
BOTH PICATUE AND SOUND HAVE BEEN DIGITALLY RESTORED FROM
THE ORIGINAL 35MM FINE GRAINS

EACH EPISODE IS LOADED WITH A CAST OF SPECIAL GUESTS:
James Best
Bert Parks
Maureen McCormick
Herschel Bernardi
Kevin McCarthy
PLUS MANY MORE…

Format: DVD
DVD # 8515
UPC: 089859851520
SRP: $39.99
Product Specs: 4-DVD9/Dolby Digital/NTSC/All Region/English Language
Special DVD Features: Photo Galleries, Vintage Commercials
Street: 09/02/08



SPACE ANGEL COLLECTION VOLUME 1

9 EXCITING EPISODED ON DVD!

Director: Dick Brown
Cast: Ned Lefebver, Margaret Kerry, Hal Smith

Scott McCloud is the Space Angel, a secret agent for EBI (Earth Bureau of Investigation), who together with his friends, Taurus, Crystal, and Professor Mace, travel far and wide from their base on the space station Evening Star, on board the spaceship Starduster. Whether it’s battling a mass exile, or stopping a brainwashing mad scientist, it’s all in a day’s work to secure the welfare of the solar system. Space Angel was an animated science fiction television series produced from early 1962 through 1964. It used the same Synchro-Vox (live-action moving lips over the mouths of the animated characters lips) technique as Clutch Cargo, the first cartoon produced by the same studio, Cambria Productions. The science fiction stories were serialized with five episodes comprising each adventure. Voices included Ned Lefebver as Scott McCloud, with Margaret Kerry and Hal Smith providing other incidental voices. This DVD has 9 complete episodes and each episode is 25 minutes and in 5 segments.

TRIVIA FACT: Margaret Kerry stated that Gene Roddenberry’s character "Scotty" from Star Trek was inspired by Space Angel’s Scottish engineer.

225 minutes, Color, 1.33:1, NR, 1962

Format: DVD
DVD # 8533
UPC: 089859853326
SRP: $14.99
Street Date: 7/29/2008
Product Specs: DVD9/Dolby Digital/NTSC/All Region/English Language
Special DVD Features: An Interview with "Tinker Bell" – An exclusive one on one interview with actress Margaret Kerry, the voice actress for Space Angel & Clutch Cargo and the original alter-ego, actor and reference model for the famous pixie from Walt Disney’s "Peter Pan."



DICK TRACY’S G-MEN

CAN DICK TRACY STOP A MASTER CRIMMINAL THAT EVEN DEATH COULDN’T KEEP?

Directors: William Witney, John English
Cast: Ralph Byrd, Phylis Isley (Jennifer Jones), Irving Pichel, Ted Pearson,
Walter Miller, George Douglas

Nicholas Zarnoff, master spy and the most hated man on Earth, is sentenced to die in the gas chamber. By using a secret drug, which does not permit the gas to enter his lungs, Zarnoff cheats death and escapes. Dick Tracy, the government’s ace investigator, is assigned the task of tracking down Zarnoff and bringing him to justice. For 15 episodes Dick Tracy and Zarnoff battle it out on land, on sea and in the air. Jennifer Jones, seen at the outset of her distinguished career, plays Gwen, Dick Tracy’s loyal secretary.

263 minutes, B&W, 1.33:1, NR, 1939

FIRST TIME ON DVD! INTRO BY MAX COLLINS!
Digitally restored and re-mastered from the 35mm fine grains.
15 Pulse-pounding chapters!

Format: DVD
DVD #8504
UPC: 089859850424
SRP: $29.99
Street: 07/29/08
Product Specs: 1-DVD9 & 1-DVD5/Dolby Digital/NTSC/All Region/English Language
Special DVD Features: Scene Selection, Trailer, Intro by Max Allan Collins, Adlets

VCI Entertainment Announces Classic DVD Sets On The Way

The Lunatics - Review



The Lunatics, made in 1986, is an anomaly of a Hong Kong film. An unapologetic social commentary, its themes and story telling have no precedent and have yet to be revisited by Hong Kong film makers. At the time of its production the new wave of directors had cast a near revolutionary light on output, with some films style being more documentary led. The Lunatics is a natural progression in this style, with realism, in the main, being the order of the day. Making his directorial debut, Derek Yee took a real chance in the making of the film. Those among you may remember him as an actor from numerous Shaw Brothers swordplay and Kung Fu movies, including Shaolin Prince and Shaolin Intruders, both classics of the genre. The style of The Lunatics could not be more different from these fantastical martial arts old skoolers. Since making the film Yee went on to direct such well-regarded movies as Mon Cherie, Amour and the recent One Night in Mongkok. He has yet to recreate the raw, savage and meaningful film-making of The Lunatics. The film, not well received on its original release, has since then been marketed on the roles of Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Actually both actors play small parts as mental patients, in two roles completely divorced from any of their other performances. The star is Stanley Fung, a known comic actor (especially in Sammo Hung’s Lucky Stars series), with support from Deannie Yip. Tony Leung appears at the start and end of the film, lending an unhinged intensity to his role as Doggie.

Leung blurs the lines between comic and tragic with his opening portrayal of Doggie, whose attempts at playfulness with the customers at a fish market ends up with him wielding a machete. In steps Fung as Doctor Tsui to handle the situation. A news reporter (Yip) arrives at his office, wanting to do a story about mental illness and the people who suffer from it in Hong Kong. The plot follows the two episodically as they go around from patient to patient. It should be noted that the patients who are depicted are all extreme cases, many of them prone to violence without the right medication. Chow Yun Fats role occurs in the middle, as a schizophrenic whose living conditions are so bad his daughter is ill and son is dead, which is revealed in a shocking scene. The majority of the narrative concentrates on documenting the plight of the mental patients, how little people like Fung can do for them. The main patient is painted at first as a success story, as he is living at home and is seemingly fine, but his story becomes the focal point of the tragic elements of the story.

Chow’s performance, for him having such little screen time, highlights what a versatile actor he is. Considering the film was made in 1986, the same year as his breakthrough role in A Better Tomorrow, the two characters and films could not be different. However, even in portraying a mentally ill character his charisma and good looks tend shine through, making his characters plight a little less believable than intended. The performance by Paul Chun Pui as the main mental patient, is perhaps the best in a very strong array of performances, especially by Fung. The acting really carries the film, which is unusual for Hong Kong cinema at the time that concentrated mainly on aesthetics and action. Chun Pui conveys the development of his characters llness with disturbing force, providing two or three of the most uncomfortable moments of the film. There is no dodging of the subject matter here; the worst affects of mental illness are portrayed unflinchingly and powerfully. One criticism of the film is that in reaching an apotheosis of this it dissolves a little into sensationalism, but who is to say incidents such as those depicted have not really happened? Fung carries just the right air of desperation in portraying a man who feels he cannot really make a difference but gives it his best shot anyway. It is a rare dramatic performance that hints at hidden depths and brings a sense of authenticity to an already grimly realistic film.

In terms of style the film takes the lead from new wave productions such as Yim Ho’s Father and Son in addressing its subject matter in a realist way, with some scenes shot documentary style. There is a good balance struck between this and at times a more atmospheric, expressionistic approach when the time is right in the narrative. For instance the scene when Chow is running through the forest to find his son the visuals become darker and there is an impressive tracking shot following the characters. Also the music reflects this change in approach, with a thriller/horror like score used to good effect. This intertwining of styles serves to keep the viewer interested in events and highlight the films fictional elements despite its social connotations. The locations used are also of interest; with shooting on the streets of Hong Kong used to good affect. The slum buildings where Chow’s character lives are also exposed, conveying a side of Hong Kong rarely seen on the Jade screen.

Overall The Lunatics is one of the most important Hong Kong films of its era,and manages to captivate the audience in ways that create an antithesis to the normal entertainment value of Hong Kong films. It has not dated and looks and feels fresh and vital, with characters and themes that are still relevant today. One of the most important affects the film has on the viewer is to raise awareness of the problems of mental illness, perhaps still the most mysterious and thought provoking illnesses to be encountered in any age. Seek it out.

"305" -- The First Feature To Be Made From a Viral Video Comes To DVD

From Allumination Filmworks: What began as an on-line viral phenomenon; a low-budget, five-minute parody that hit the Web around the same time "300" hit theaters and was simultaneously featured on YouTube, MySpace TV and Yahoo! Video "305" was the #1 most-viewed comedy and the #2 most-viewed video on YouTube during July 2007, and became one of the 400 most-viewed internet videos of all time (as tracked by VidMeter.com).

The original short attracted such a rabid following that the writer/director team of Daniel and David Holechek were quickly approached to expand the idea. One month was all it took to shoot the entire feature-length film using the same onscreen talent as the short, making 305 the first viral video to transition to a narrative feature film.

305 is a mockumentary detailing the misadventures of five not-so-brave members of the Spartan army charged with guarding a seemingly ordinary goat path. But when their actions lead to the death of King Leonidas and his army of 300 men, the five are forced into hiding. But with Sparta cowering under the threat of Persian invasion, Claudius, Darryl, Demetrius the Blind, Shazaam and Testicleese must band together once more and become true warriors. Do they have what it takes to save the day? Smartly funny and based entirely on historical fact (allegedly), 305 proves that even the biggest losers get lucky sometimes.

The comically irresistible mockumentary feature film, "305" arrives on DVD on July 8 from Allumination FilmWorks. The DVD features extras including bonus scenes, commentary track, three featurettes, a blooper reel and the original 305 short film. Suggested retail price is $29.98.

"305" -- The First Feature To Be Made From a Viral Video Comes To DVD

"ER: THE COMPLETE NINTH SEASON" Comes to DVD July 17

How do you separate your personal life from your professional life? Not easily. And if you're on the emergency-room staff of Chicago's County General Hospital, it may be impossible.

Challenges at work and at home overlap in the series that remains the right prescription for powerful entertainment. Carter's playful office love affair becomes a 24/7 crisis. Kovac's partying affects his performance. And be careful what you wish for, staffers: Weaver is indeed promoted to a position outside the ER...but Romano replaces her. No wonder Kovac and Carter decide it's time for a change. They opt for assignment in Africa. What awaits them makes County General look like a stroll along the lakeshore.

Created by best-selling author Michael Crichton, the ninth Emmy® Award Winning season of ER explores the turmoil of Chicago’s public hospital emergency room and the lives of its devoted doctors who must make split-second decisions which determine life or death. The hard-working staff finds themselves in the throes of love affairs, promotions and oversea assignments as Warner Home Video sets to release ER: The Complete Ninth Season to DVD on July 17, 2008.

DVD Special Features

Outpatient Outtakes: Unaired Scenes
Cutups: Gag Reel

Product Details:

Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Number of discs: 6
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 986 minutes
List Price: $49.98

"ER: THE COMPLETE NINTH SEASON" Comes to DVD July 17

DREAM 1 and 2 Japanese R2 DVD Release Dates Set

Picked this up from CDJapan's website today.

This will be a big boon since a Japanese version of DREAM 1 that is not clipped has yet to appear.

These DVDs are Region 2, but they will be in anamorhpic widescreen. CDJapan claims they will only have Stereo audio, but this is most likely based on early information they received.

DREAM 1 July 23rd for around 43 USD.
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TCED-288

DREAM 2 July 23rd for around 43 USD
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TCED-290

Enjoy!

DREAM 1 and 2 Japanese R2 DVD Release Dates Set

Thunderbold Fist (English Dubbed)

You never know what you'll find on youtube these days ;).

Thunderbold Fist (English Dubbed)

Don't worry we're coming back this week....

and we have a lot of great new content. Sorry for the short delay, but I promise you it will be worth it. :)

Don't worry we're coming back this week....

IT'S A BOY GIRL THING -- DVD review by porfle

There seems to have been an abundance of these body-swapping comedies in the last few decades, but rarely are they as much fun as IT'S A BOY GIRL THING, a 2006 romantic comedy from director Nick Hurran and writer Geoff Deane that's due to hit DVD shelves on June 17th. Not too chick-flick sappy or frat-rat gross, it strikes a pretty good balance between the two and manages to strike an emotional chord while still being laugh-out-loud funny at times.

Kevin Zegers (2004's DAWN OF THE DEAD) plays Woody, the popular, pretty-boy quarterback who dates vapid head cheerleader Breanna (Brooke D'Orsay) and has his sights set on a football scholarship. His next-door neighbor is the bookish, socially-stunted virgin Nell (Samaire Armstrong, "The O.C.", "Entourage") who dreams of going to Yale. They can't stand one another, mainly due to their lack of empathy for each other's lifestyles, circumstances, points of view, etc. But after a school field trip to the museum, during which they have a heated argument in front of a statue of the Aztec god of sorcery, Tezcatlipoca--yes, it's pretty contrived, but what the heck--they wake up in each other's bodies. And, despite my initial fears to the contrary, this actually leads to a series of genuinely funny consequences.

Most of the obvious stuff is explored, of course--Woody/Nell reacts in horror to find that "it" is missing, while Nell/Woody is aghast at the morning "Woody, Jr." that's making a pup tent out of the bed covers. (Surprisingly, no mention is made of things like applying makeup or dealing with that time of the month, although later on during a pajama party, the girls give Nell/Woody an eye-opening introduction to the joys of bikini waxing.)

At first, they use the situation to wreak havoc in each other's lives. Nell/Woody dresses like a preppy dweeb, breaks up with Breanna, mutters "Hmm...nice penis" to the guy at the adjoining urinal, and is a total loss during football practice. Meanwhile, Woody/Nell flounces through school looking like a cheap hooker, seriously lowers Nell's grade point average in record time, and almost loses "her" virginity to a hairy Italian dude in a trailer park before fleeing in horror at the sight of his engorged dudehood. This is pretty funny stuff--I guffawed numerous times, in fact--and the leads use actual acting skills to pull it off. Best of all, none of it is so over-the-top farcical that we stop caring about the characters or buying the premise.

Of course, since this is a "romantic" comedy, the two of them must eventually stop bickering and start falling for each other. And as they're each facing a highly important event in their lives--the big football game for Woody, a critical interview to get into Yale for Nell--they must work together to help each other succeed. This takes the movie to a different level in which it manages to get genuinely emotional (yes, I got verklempt a couple of times) without being too sappy.

Brooke D'Orsay does the slutty cheerleader routine perfectly, while Mpho Koaho is suitably Neanderthal-ish as Woody's best friend, "Horse." Robert Joy and Sherry Miller are Nell's straightlaced parents, the Bedworths. Familiar character actor Maury Chaykin plays Woody's oafish dad, Stan, and Sharon Osbourne herself shows up as his ditzy mom, Della. Best of all, Zegers and Armstrong give thoughtful and perceptive performances that allow us to sympathize with their characters even as we're laughing at them.

Director Hurran has a fine visual style that's way above average for this kind of movie, and handles the comedic and heartfelt stuff with equal skill. My only gripe is that the movie has too many endings, but they're all pretty good so I didn't mind all that much. This is a "feel-good" movie in the best sense of the word.

The DVD comes with anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Surround sound. Extras include a "making of" featurette with co-executive producer Elton John, brief interviews with Kevin Zegers and Samaire Armstrong, cast bios, an "Are You More Boy Or Girl?" quiz (apparently, I'm a "Macho Man", heh, heh), a history of the Aztec statue of Tezcatlipoca (which, it eventually dawned on me, was pretty much a load of B.S.), and a trailer. The song soundtrack is pretty awesome, featuring the likes of Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas, Girls Aloud, Deep Purple, and, of course, Ozzy Osbourne and Elton John.

IT'S A BOY GIRL THING may be the best body-swapping movie ever--it's certainly one of the most fun and well-made of the genre. And its deft blend of semi-crude comedy with heartwarming sensitivity (in doses well short of being nausea-inducing) may make it a sure bet for boy-girl viewing.

IT'S A BOY GIRL THING -- DVD review by porfle

Interview with Author Dwight Kemper about "Who Framed Boris Karloff"

We had a chance to talk with Dwight Kemper author of the book "Who Framed Boris Karloff" about his influences and book. Dwight gave us a ton of great answers. You can purchase the book from
http://www.amazon.com/Framed-Boris-Karloff-Dwight-Kemper/dp/1887664742

Interview Questions

1. Dwight can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born on Long Island, New York. My great, great aunt is Gertrude Stein on my father’s side. On my mother’s side I have a 2nd Degree Mason, as well as an engineer who floated a bridge down New York harbor in one piece and apparently on that very bridge that spans the river to Harlem, there’s a plaque dedicated to this illustrious relative. I also have character actor Charles Kemper as a great Uncle, which means that in contrast, I’m a huge disappointment to everyone.

2. How did you get interested in writing?

I began as a child who thought that being a child and writing children’s books was a good marketing idea. Unfortunately, children’s book publishers didn’t see it that way, so I learned what a rejection slip was way before I ought to have done. I dabbled in other arts growing up including sculpture, painting, sketching and so forth. I became a hairdresser at the urging on my mother, who is also a hairdresser. I soon discovered being a straight hairdresser is rather an unpopular thing, and never really made a go of it. I was a nurse for quite a few years, which would serve me well when I later attempted to make a living as a mystery writer. I eventually became a magician and mystery theater entertainer, and have been presenting crime scene shows for over twenty years now. Since I decided that as I am now turning fifty, and I can’t lug speakers and dead bodies around forever, it might be advisable to find a way to make money sitting down, so I decided to become a writer of mystery novels. Although, I do still go to the gym regularly and can bench 185 lbs.

3. Now obviously you’re a huge Universal Monster film fan, what was the genesis of that?

The genesis? I suppose my exodus from reality was the genesis of my interest in Universal films. I was a boy during the second Monster Boom in the sixties. As a result, I made the Aurora model kits, I watched the WOR afternoon movie that would show the same film over and over for a whole week, so when they showed House of Dracula, for instance, I would watch it every single day. My mother made certain to wake me up on a school night to see Boris Karloff’s Thriller, and she was the one who first introduced me to my first viewing of Frankenstein. In fact, I seem to recall that I would often forget that I’d seen Frankenstein and think the second or third time was my first. I also have very vivid memories of seeing Son of Frankenstein on television, and in particular of the artwork the station used between commercials. It was a silhouette of the Monster with a sad, ominous bass playing in the background. I also recall that I was a tad confused and thought the Monster wearing the shaggy coat was the son of the Frankenstein Monster. I suppose because the hair and costume were a little different than I remembered the “real” Frankenstein Monster looking. It wasn’t until years later that I realized the title was for Basil Rathbone’s character!

4. What were your favorite Universal films and actors?

Well, as for favorite actors, obviously Boris Karloff is number one. At the time of my childhood he was still alive and well and on prime time TV, not only on Thriller, but on The Wild, Wild West, The Girl from Uncle, and so forth. But I have to say, Bela Lugosi has really grown on me as a character. As I wrote him for my story, he got all the good lines. My favorite film, Bride of Frankenstein is number one. Even as a boy I recognized there was something special about this picture. And the Monster talked! Of course, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein was my second favorite. I’m probably one of the few kids on my block that saw that film after seeing the serious Universal films. The later 1950’s horror films like Creature from the Black Lagoon were also fun for me, and it didn’t hurt any that I could make the model kit of the Gill Man.

5. Now the idea to pair real life actors with a fictional murder mystery is something is very unique, how did the idea first enter your head?

It’s not unlike some of my mystery shows. I did a show called Murder at the Vampire Play that was inspired by a theater program I bought from a 1920’s road show of production of Dracula. I took the real cast, the real crew, and information gleaned from David J. Skal’s book Hollywood Gothic, as well as a phone call to Mr. Skal to clarify a few details. I even created a tableau using dummies and a smoke machine to represent the crime scene frozen in time. I put testimony on the back of blown up faces of the real people so audience members playing the suspects could pretend to be the actors. I sent Mr. Skal a copy of the dummy program and souvenir Vampire mask that was a reproduction of the masks given out to audiences for the original Vampire Play. I even did a stage version of Who Framed Boris Karloff, although the plot was entirely different from the novel. The play ignored time frames, used a life mask of Boris as a clue that the killer impersonated Boris using a rubber mask to frame him, and so forth. The novel took a great deal of rethinking to make it workable as a book. For a 90 minute show, you don’t have to be too overly concerned for things like historical accuracy, as long as the audience is having fun. But a book requires a great deal more work.

6. Did you do prep research by reading bios of the stars to get their proper behavior, speaking patterns, etc down?

I am also an actor, as well as a writer. For me, I have to prepare to write a character the way an actor approaches a role. I try to immerse myself in the characters I’m writing about, watching their films, reading their biographies, and watching interviews from things like This Is Your Life. It was very helpful having Sara Karloff to give me advice about how her father would react to certain situations and tell me if his dialogue sounded the way he really talks when he’s not playing a role. Recently I had a hell of a time getting into Bud Abbott’s and Lou Costello’s heads for my new novel, Bela Lugosi and the House of Doom. I am a big fan of their comedy films and television shows, and I know Abbott and Costello as their on stage personas. But I had to get to know them as real people. Lou Costello in particular was very hard to portray, not only to balance his stage persona from his real self, but to keep the book funny, and still deal with the real tragedies in Costello’s life. You can’t write about Lou in the time of Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, the backdrop for my mystery, and not deal with the death of his only son Butch. It totally consumed him. In fact, if you look carefully at the scene in the actual movie, at the hotel where Abbott and Costello confront Chaney after his Wolf Man transformation, there’s a moment when Chaney grabs Lou and you can see the copper bracelet Lou had welded to his wrist with BUTCH inscribed on it. So even amid this funny scene, you can see a hint of tragedy. It was a real high wire act for me as a writer. It helps that Ron Palumbo and Bob Furmanek who wrote Abbott and Costello in Hollywood are nice enough to share their knowledge of the film’s production and about Abbott and Costello. They’ve both been very supportive of this project.

7. Is the title “Who Framed Boris Karloff” meant to be a call back to the Roger Rabbit movie or it’s more a situation where title just sounded good?

Admittedly it was a parody of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which itself was a parody of the noir detective genre. When I wrote the story as a dinner theater show, the title seemed marketable and easily identified as something both funny and mysterious. I asked my publisher if they wanted a less pun title, but Gary and Sue said they liked it, and so did Sara Karloff, so the title stayed. I considered keeping the same framework for the title of each succeeding book, questions to be answered by the reader, such as “Who Xed Y?” but the new book didn’t easily lend itself to that, since my publisher specifically wanted Bela Lugosi’s name prominently in the title and he was the detective, not the victim. Thus, the second and third books in the series are titled Bela Lugosi and the House of Doom, and Basil Rathbone and the Curse of Conan Doyle. There’s also another book that might come out before House of Doom that harks back to a pun title. It too is based on a mystery theater show I did for Halloween called Dead Wood, or Murder Can Be a Drag. As you may have guessed, it features Edward D. Wood, Jr. and his entourage of eccentrics. That was also a very hard book to write and required a lot of research. Not only to get the people right, but because it takes place mostly at Bela Lugosi’s funeral, so I needed information about the funeral business in general, and the funeral home that prepared Bela’s body in particular. Frankly, it was a very depressing book to write and I had a hard time getting through it. I suppose that’s why it became such a darkly slapstick romp as Criswell takes on the mantle of detective, with Forrest J Ackermann as his Watson, to compensate for the very depressing subject matter I had to deal with. We’ll see if it sees the light of day. I hope so, because it’s really quite a daring novel. Meanwhile, Bela Lugosi and the House of Doom is turning into quite a wicked little romp.

8. Can you give our readers a description of the book (I’d give one but I’d think I’d spoil the plot lol)?

Who Framed Boris Karloff? takes place on the set of Son of Frankenstein. Boris Karloff is framed for the murder of a Universal Studios executive and the studio wants to cover it up, as studios often did when their stars got in trouble. Boris wants to find the real killer, so he enlists the aid of his co-star, Basil Rathbone, fresh from playing Sherlock Holmes in Hound of the Baskervilles, and Bela Lugosi becomes the loose cannon detective. Together this trio of actors tries to solve a Hollywood murder mystery that just gets them deeper and deeper into more trouble than they ever thought possible.

9. Now Sara Karloff wrote the forward for your book how did you come into contact with her?

The internet, through Karloff.com. It’s a friendship that began when I offered to send her a tape of her Dad on the Jack Benny Radio Program and Spike Jones Show, that apparently she didn’t know about. From there we began corresponding. When I decided to write the book, I told her my intensions and asked for her blessing. She was very supportive and I sent her chapters as I was writing them. I suppose taking this approach is what made the book as exciting as it is; I wanted to make sure I didn’t bore Sara. She would send me encouraging replies like “I’m HOOKED!!!” so I knew I was on the right track.

10. How has the book done commercially? You’ve obviously obtained critical success when you were nominated for the Rondo award for Best Book in 2007.

It’s done fairly well commercially. I do a lot of promotion on my own, including local talk shows, and book signings. I also have copies available at my mystery shows. And I try to get the word out through websites like this one.

Regarding the Rondo Award nomination, it was very exciting to be on the ballot this year. Although I didn’t win, and let’s face it, I was the Ron Paul of the Rondos considering I was the only fiction book on a list of really good non-fiction books; it was still very encouraging I got the votes I did. So to all of you who voted for my novel, I thank you.

11. What are your next literary monster related plans for our readers to keep an eye out for?

Look for Bela Lugosi and the House of Doom, coming soon. I’ve finished the first two parts, and getting ready to complete the concluding chapters. It takes place during the making of Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, and is a tale of espionage and strange goings on in the titular haunted house. Lou Costello is Bela Lugosi’s Watson, and then Lon Chaney becomes Costello’s Watson as they investigate what Costello thinks is a Hollywood Communist plot. Things get really wild in this one. Expect the unexpected (although technically, if you’re expecting it, can it be unexpected?)… And seltzer, expect lots of seltzer. And ice cubes, plenty of ice cubes.

Frank Dietz will be doing the cover again, and he’s really looking forward to this one since Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein is his favorite movie! I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.

12. Any final comments for our readers?

Yes, what I say to everyone I meet:

Buy my book.

Buy two, one to keep, one to share.

Interview with Author Dwight Kemper about "Who Framed Boris Karloff"

Deep Discount DVD's 20% Sale Starts June 6!

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THE GRAND -- DVD review by porfle

THE GRAND is a mockumentary that would like to scale the same comedic heights as THIS IS SPINAL TAP, BEST IN SHOW, A MIGHTY WIND, and other similar efforts, but doesn't quite pull it off with the same degree of hilarity. Still, with a fine cast of comics improvising the majority of their lines, the hit-and-miss ratio is pretty good.

Woody Harrelson plays Jack Faro, a perpetually-stoned ne'er-do-well ("If you can smoke it, or drink it, or inject it, or snort it, I've done it") who has inherited a large Las Vegas casino called The Rabbit's Foot from his late grandpa "Lucky" (Barry Corbin) but is on the verge of losing it due to gross mismanagement unless he can enter his own casino's big poker tournament and win the ten-million-dollar jackpot. He has stiff competition, though, from a variety of top players who also have their eyes on that huge stack of cash.

Director and co-writer Zak Penn (INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS) gave his cast a script with only the basic story points and then allowed them to come up with their own lines and many of their basic character traits. Harrelson, of course, could play an irresponsible stoner like Jack Faro in his sleep. Jack's been married about 74 times, and occasionally finds himself hitting on women such as his employee Toni (Shannon Elizabeth in a brief cameo), who has to remind him that they've already been married.

Cheryl Hines (who still looks hot even with a really bad hairdo) plays poker whiz Lainie Schwartzman, and while not all that funny herself, Hines' experience on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" has made her an expert straight woman for guys like Ray Romano as her husband Fred. Fred's feeling a bit useless as his wife brings home the bacon for their family, and tries to compensate by creating interesting handshakes for his kids, excelling at fantasy football, and coming up with clever sayings. ("Gimme a cup of joe, I wanna see the milkman and I'm takin' it up the beanstalk" means he wants a large decaf.)

Lainie's twin brother Larry (David Cross) is also in the tournament, driven by a fierce sibling rivalry drilled into him since childhood by their cranky old man, wonderfully played by Gabe "Mr. Kotter" Kaplan. Cross is one of the most talented improv performers in the cast and it's too bad he doesn't get more screen time. SPINAL TAP's own Michael McKean shows up as an addlebrained billionaire who has his sights set on The Rabbit's Foot, while Dennis Farina is an old-school Vegas card shark with mob connections and Richard Kind plays a gee-whiz poker newbie whose incredible dumb luck lands him a spot in the final round.

The large cast also includes Estelle Harris, Jason Alexander, famed German director Werner Herzog, several actual poker champs who'll probably be familiar to those of you who follow these competitions, Michael Karnow in a funny role as an inept sports announcer trying to hawk his line of crappy "How to Win at Poker" merchandise, and, last but not least, "Saturday Night Live" alumnus Chris Parnell as a super-geeky weirdo who drinks "brain juice" during each game and likens himself to the human computers known as Mentats from Frank Herbert's "Dune."

The most interesting aspect of THE GRAND is the fact that the final game's outcome was unscripted and depended solely upon which actor happened to win. So we get to see an actual poker game being played by finalists Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, David Cross, Chris Parnell, Dennis Farina, and Richard Kind (while staying in character, of course), and the suspense, disappointments, and final victory are all real. Knowing this adds a whole new dimension to the climactic scenes.

When the movie's over, there's an ample array of extras to explore, including a commentary by Penn, co-writer Matt Bierman, and actor Michael Karnow. Harrelson, Hines, and Romano join Penn for commentaries on their own specific scenes, including several deleted scenes and an alternate ending featuring an entirely different game outcome. (Penn and the terminally-laidback Harrelson are especially funny.) There are also some entertaining profiles which allow the actors to improvise even more comedy bits for their characters, and a trailer. All in all, lots of fun bonus stuff.

THE GRAND isn't on the same level as Christopher Guest's standard-setting mockumentaries, but with a great cast and pretty much non-stop gags, it does provide a sizable amount of breezy entertainment. And the genuine poker competition between the actors in the final round (with an actual jackpot of $500 at stake) is a unique feature that fans of the game won't want to miss.

THE GRAND -- DVD review by porfle

Report From the NYC Affliction Banned MMA Press Conference and an Interview with Josh Barnett by Ian Friedman

by Ian Friedman

Today, I had the extreme pleasure of being able to cover the Affliction Banned Press Conference that was held at the Trump Tower in Manhattan at 57^th and 5 Avenue in Lower Manhattan. I also got the chance to talk with former UFC Heavyweight Champ former Pride, NJPW, and current Pancrase, World Victory Road, and IGF fighter Josh Barnett.

I arrived shortly before the press conference was about to start at the Trump Towers so I had a chance to get a free Affliction t-shirts, which was also given out to fans who were attending the press conference as it was open to the public. I have to say Affliction made a smart decision in giving out free shirts, as regardless of ones opinion on the brand, it is well known and highly regarded and a way to draw people to an event. Trump Tower was also an excellent location choice with its exquisite interiors which helped give the proceedings in New York a very refined and regal look. The interior and exterior was adorned with many posters inside and outside the building including a massive 3-5 floor banner setup behind the conference table. After collecting my t-shirt, I signed in at the press desk collecting my packet and badge id. I then took the escalator down to the first floor where the press conference was being held. Members of the public who were there were able to view the proceedings from the railings of the floor above.

The Press Conference itself including short speeches from all of the participants except for Ben Rothwell’s since he is still listed as fighting TBA and was joked about by Rothwell and some of the other fighters. Not much of substance was really discussed that has not been reported in the past, but I did have a chance to discuss HD coverage with Afflictions media people and they stated that since they will be with InDemand and Dish Network among others, that as long as you have an HD capable cable box your provider will have Banned available to purchase and view in HD. Banned will also be available in Russia and Japan to view which is quite amazing when you think this is the companies first event.

Affliction and their production team did a great job promoting the event even getting Donald Trump who was in attendance to give a small speech putting over Affliction.

After the Press Conference formally ended, the fighters themselves did interviews with members of the press. Because of time constraints I only had a chance to talk with Josh Barnett. I did accidentally nail Matt Lindland with my bookbag. Matt pointed out this out, too which I immediately apologized, and Matt responded with a hearty laugh and an “its ok”.

I figured since fight discussion would be what everyone else was going to be talking about with Josh, I would talk about some of the less beaten areas involving the Japanese fight scene and anime. We began talking about one of Josh’s favorite (along with mine too) anime Fist of the North Star. Josh himself told me that he had not had a chance yet to view some of the newer Gaiden’s yet, but that he really wants to as he is such a massive fan of the series. He has had heard very positive feedback on it from one of the fighters he works with. He also did not pick up the Japanese box sets that recently came out and retailed for over 100,000 yen, because he still relies on English subs. It may be a surprise too some, but Josh is not fully fluent in Japanese even though many think he is. He rates his skills as being able to pick it up and engage around conversational level Japanese, but that it comes and goes, and definitely would not describe himself as fluent by any means. He also was gracious enough to sign a box set of Fist of the North Star that I had and will now a fixture in the office. The music rights to use Fist of the North Star’s first theme, “Ai wo Torimodose!!” for Josh’s entrance have not yet been secured, but Josh is still not sure if he is going to use it or not as entrance music, pointing out Japan and America as different markets and if American fans would responds.

We discussed Josh’s plans for fighting in Japan, he stated that he had no plans for fighting in DREAM because of carry-over issues from PRIDE. He did wish the people fighting in the organization the best, but he did not plan on being involved with the organization in any capacity, so it will look like Josh will be with World Victory Road for the near future in terms of national MMA in Japan. Josh stated that he would love to keep fighting in Pancrase and defending his Open Weight King of Pancrase title, but that Pancrase is having trouble finding challengers that want to compete at Open Weight. He stated that Pancrase is trying and that the door is always open.

In terms of the Inoki Genome Federation, Josh is going to be back there in June and August and stated that “he wasn’t leaving until he had a belt”! I also asked him why does Inoki not just start an MMA group and why have the IGF. Josh felt it is because for Inoki he feels that wrestling and the skill involved is not fake (which is a view Josh holds) and that Inoki wants pro-wrestlers who can compete as if they were MMA fighters in a legit sense. I mentioned that this also seemed to be the goal with Inoki Bom-Ay-Ye and for example, the Yuji Nagata-Cro-Cop match. Josh agreed, but pointed out at the time that no one had truly known how powerful Cro-Cop was and it was not an even match up. IGF seems to have as a goal the evolution in the ideas of the Bom-Ay-Ye and having truly well rounded fighters in the legit and Puro sense.

I then thanked Josh for taking the time for the interview and snapped a quick photo and departed. One thing that was interesting to me was how I was similar in height to Fedor and at the other end of the stick how gigantic Tim Sylvia is, but as both men know and our readers do, size while important isn’t the end all. National Coverage in the forum of ESPN, NBC, and other major groups along with MMA press were present, including a great deal of Russian and European media.

I left shortly afterward, but not before seeing the huge throngs of fans waiting in line to get the signatures from the fighters. Affliction put on a great presentation for both the media and the fans today and I just cannot wait to see their first fight card July 19^th.

Report From the NYC Affliction Banned MMA Press Conference and an Interview with Josh Barnett by Ian Friedman

"The Cranford Collection" and "My Boy Jack" -- DVD Review by Ian

Video: The video quality of this BBC teleproduction is quite excellent as it should be since it is only less than a year old. It is anamorphically enhanced for widescreen TV’s and features excellent colors (which can be seen in the gorgeous pastel pictures that open each episode) and the lush English countryside. The same is the case with My Boy Jack. Although in this case the technical quality for this picture is seen more in the grays and blacks of the battlefield. Despite this the DVD still shows the beauty of the English countryside as a contrast to the trench warfare of France.

Audio: Both programs are equipped with Dolby Digital Stereo and sound find free of hiss and any distortion. The range and separation is limited due to the stereo based nature, still the audio tracks are fine and work well with the production.

Extras: The extras are limited, but more than make up with it because of their substantial nature. The Cranford Collection comes with a wonderful making of feature that lasts nearly 30 minutes and is filed with interviews about the production. My Boy Jack also has around 30 minutes of interviews with all the main actors (including Harry Potter) and about 7 minutes of deleted scenes.

Overall: If you love classic English acting and also a chance to listen to the actors discuss their craft, then BBC America via Warner Brothers offers two very different productions stacked with great actors for you to choose from. Highly Recommended for Anglophiles and lovers of the BBC and their great productions.

"The Cranford Collection" and "My Boy Jack" -- DVD Review by Ian

MAD MONEY -- DVD review by porfle

Everybody loves money, and a movie like MAD MONEY (2008) allows us to vicariously wallow around in it for awhile. As comedy caper flicks go, it's a little on the light side, but according to the commentary by director Callie Khouri (DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD) that's exactly what she was aiming for--a crime comedy with enough suspense to make it exciting while still being low-key and easy to watch. Which she pretty much succeeded in doing.

Diane Keaton and Ted Danson play Bridget and Don Cardigan, a wealthy couple who suddenly find themselves on the financial skids. Bridget's age and inexperience hamper her efforts to enter the workforce, so she ends up as a janitor at a federal reserve bank where old cash is sent to be destroyed. Seeing all of this beautiful money going to waste gives her a deviously clever idea, which she shares with fellow employees Nina (Queen Latifah, a very good actress) and Jackie (Katie Holmes). Over the next few years they manage to sneak hundreds of thousands of dollars past the ever-vigilant security force. But things finally catch up with them, of course, and it'll take another deviously clever plan for them to avoid spending lengthy prison terms along with their accomplice-spouses.

The movie opens with a flash-forward of the three women frantically destroying mounds of cash while the feds move in on them, so we already know that they get caught red-handed sooner or later. Somehow this adds to the suspense as we watch them getting in deeper and deeper over their heads, since we have no idea how the heck they're gonna get themselves out of it. Director Khouri shows a simple but efficient style throughout, wisely allowing the characters and situations to maintain our interest. By the time the story catches up to those opening scenes again, we're fully invested in it.

Glenn Gers' screenplay (a retelling of the 2001 British TV-movie HOT MONEY) is funny without being jokey, relatively realistic and devoid of goofy comedy bits and one-liners. It's actually based on true events, although the details of the thefts have, of course, been fictionalized. The robberies themselves have some of the tension of a good heist movie, while the characters are given enough depth to allow us to care about them. This is especially true of Queen Latifah's "Nina", who wants the money to help put her two sons into good schools and dreads losing them if she's caught. Her budding, awkward romance with one of the security guards (Roger Cross, "24"), who eventually gets wise to their scheme, is nicely handled.

Diane Keaton goes easy on the usual "lah-dee-dah" stuff, thank goodness, while still giving a lively performance. Katie Holmes does a good job playing an adorable flake, while Adam Rothenberg is even flakier as her husband, Bob. Ted Danson, of course, is Ted Danson. And OFFICE SPACE fans will be happy to see Stephen "Milton" Root as eagle-eyed security chief Glover, who keeps our pilfering protagonists on their toes at all times (although any actual security person with a lick of sense would be all over this scheme like white on rice).

The DVD gives us a choice between anamorphic widescreen and full-frame, with both Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 surround sound. Along with the director's commentary, there's a brief behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer. The packaging itself is rather nice, but then again you can't go wrong when your design scheme is based on money.

I have to admit, this is the kind of movie that practically screams "DON'T RENT ME" when I see it at the video store. But I'm glad I ended up watching it, because it turned out to be a lot of fun. And with its endless mountains of sweet, beautiful cash on constant display, MAD MONEY is like porno for greedy little money grubbers who dream of easy riches--such as myself. If only the DVD came with a few actual souvenirs.

MAD MONEY -- DVD review by porfle