Author: john

I’m trying to find a copy of this, and I’ve had no luck whatsoever. It’s been banned from distribution, is what I hear. Anyone have a copy or know where I can get one? E-mail me.

Someone (Frisoli I think) mentioned a few posts back how the New Beverly in Hollywood sucks. To this I think we all agree. But let’s for a moment champion the idea of the intelligent double feature, depsite the fact that the New Bev provides few, if any. This is a simple exercise: what would be an ideal double feature? Forget, for a moment, the typical New Bev 2x (such as The Godfather and The Godfather, Pt. II) and let your imaginations run wild. If you were in charge of booking at the New Bev, and you had an unlimited budget, what double features would you show? I’ll start things off:

Monsieur Beaucaire (1946) and Love and Death (1975)

The Graduate (1967) and Donnie Darko (2001)

The Ladies Man (1961) and Tout va bien (1972)

Mean Streets (1973) and Bad Lieutenant (1992)

If you want to suggest a double feature, I encourage you to provide a sentence or two that explains how each film complements the other. I’m too tired right now. Maybe I’ll do that later.

This film, by Paul Provenza and Penn Gilette, opens tomorrow in New York, and a few weeks later in select cities. Can someone go see it and report? Fat chance it ever comes to Charleston, but if anyone thinks it’s worth the 90 minute drive, I can see it when it opens in Columbia on (believe it or not) September 9.

I think Mauer first mentioned this documentary in a comment a few posts back. I first heard about it when I read this piece by Frank Rich:

Speaking of Spielberg,

I bought the 35th anniversary DVD of “Jaws” yesterday, which includes a making-of documentary (a version of which I had already seen) in which Spielberg says that he was drawn to the script of “Jaws” because he thought it was essentially the same film he had just made, “Duel.” And as I tried to point out in comments to Mike’s “War of the Worlds” post of 7/1 , isn’t it possible to say he’s been remaking “Duel” ever since?

The 35th anniversary edition DVD is quite good, but should I have just waited a few more years for the 40th anniversary DVD? Or the 42nd anniversary DVD? Or the 50th anniversary blu-ray disc? Or the 53rd anniversary Holographic Versatile Disc? Or the eagerly awaited 75th diamond anniversary mindmeld, with bonus Robert Shaw clone?

Seriously, I was browsing through the DVD section of our local B&N, and I saw in the shelves, back to back, the 30th anniversary and the 35th anniversary DVDs of “Easy Rider.” Now, I like the film. But does ANY film, good or bad, need to be repackaged that quickly? What’s so “special” about this “special edition” if it is to become obsolete in 5 years? I think the time between DVD editions should be no less than 10 years, and only if something significant has occurred, like major restoration of original negatives. “Last chance to own ‘Pinocchio’ on DVD, so act now!” Does anyone really believe that?

Hey, does anyone want to post anything about the late Ismail Merchant? I have little if anything interesting to say about the fellow. I did like “Maurice” though I don’t recall much of it.

See?

Saw End of the Century a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it, but it was mildly depressing. Did everyone in that band hate each other, or what? The Clash documentary (Westway to the World) is excellent.

Jerry Lewis sings The Ramones, live on the Champs-Elysee: Gabba gabba wha-HOY!!!!

Welcome back, Michael.

I know many of you have seen this story in the Times, or have picked up on it elsewhere, but I thought we’d bring it to the table of our humble little abode. Is Lucasfilm just trying to find a way to get me off my ass and see this thing? If so, the plan is working.

link

This originally appeared as a comment to Pete’s Shaun of the Dead post. I’m bringing it back from the dead. Mauer noted that we should keep an eye out for Black Books, but warned us that it’s not available as a region 1 DVD. I suppose this region coding has something to do with the great PAL/NTSC divide. Why do the Brits have to do everything differently? They resist standardization at every turn. Fuckers. Anyway, here’s my original post (hey, where is everyone?):

Just a note on region-freedom. I went to London last month and bought the box set (boxed set?) of Not the 9 O’Clock News in the hopes that my Dell laptop would play it, which it did (it will play any region). I should have bought more DVDs–all the Ali G specials, the League of Gentlemen seasons 2 & 3, etc. Oh well, I can get this stuff on Amazon.co.uk

Why don’t they sell region-free DVD players in the U.S.? And what’s with the region stuff anyway?

“They?!! Who the hell is thhheeeey?!”