Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Blu Ray Releases for 9/30 Previewed Briefly by Blue
* The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Universal) - A genuinely funny and rewatchable movie that I have no desire really to own in blu ray.
* Angel in the Family (Echo Bridge) - TV movie with Meredith Baxter. Nuff said.
* Can't Hardly Wait (Sony) - Falls into the small subcategory of Teen Movies Made Post-John Hughes Era That I Do Not Hate, though in the lower end of that range. It's no 10 Things I Hate About You, that's for sure.
* A Christmas Visitor (Echo Bridge) - ANOTHER TV movie with Meredith Baxter. WTF Echo Bridge, WTF.
* Daredevil: Director's Cut (Fox) - I've always heard this director's cut was significantly better than the theatrical cut, and indeed it has an extra half hour of footage and is Rated R to the theatrical cut's PG-13. I have to admit though that I didn't think the theatrical cut was all that bad, and frankly the addition of a subplot starring Coolio/Busta Rhymes(I forget which) does not make me think that anything *good* was cut out. Besides, wasn't most people's problems with this film the casting? Half an hour extra of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner(playing a Greek!) doesn't seem to me to be quite the salve that people say.
* Dawn of the Dead (2004) (Universal) - That odd beast, the horror remake that wasn't bad. One character is insufferably stupid, but really a cool film overall.
* Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Universal) - I was SICK TO DEATH of Judd Apatow movies but my friend Charles convinced me to see this and despite the presence of blatant male genitalia I thought it was one of the better in Apatow's oeuvre, particularly because of the awesomeness that is the DRACULA PUPPET MUSICAL.
* Halloween Starter Pack ['The Thing (1982),' 'Land of the Dead,' 'Dawn of the Dead (2004)'] (Universal) - I like all these films seperately but frankly as a starter-pack they're mismatched. You've got the second scariest movie ever made(IMO) with two zombie movies that are more less related. Though I can't fault the films individually. They're all worth picking up or experiencing for the first time.
* Iron Man (2008) (Paramount) - I liked this movie a lot in the theater but it's suffered in my mind in retrospect, mostly because the high point is Downey's performance and the low point is the generic plot, and the plot tends to stick with you longer. That said, must buy.
* Jethro Tull: Live at Montreux 2003 (Eagles Rock) - Meh.
* Knocked Up (Universal) - Liked it in the theater, but this is right about when the Apatow wave rolled back into the ocean for me. Kind of meh, will probably never ever watch it again.
* Land of the Dead (Universal) - Unfairly maligned because it's not one of the TEN BEST HORROR FILMS EVER MADE like the first three. Although really Day wasn't that good either, it has great stuff like Bub and Captain Rhodes but lame stuff like extremely poor production quality. Land of the Dead otoh has less great moments but overall is the best-made Romero film ever, it actually looks like a movie with a real budget! And considering that budget was under $20mil that's saying a lot - it looks more like a $50mil to my eyes. Recommended.
* Legends: Live at Montreux 1997 (Eagle Rock) - Eh.
* The Man Who Saved Christmas (Echo Bridge) - Well, no Meredith Baxter, at least. But Jason Alexander post-Seinfeld is perhaps the most uninspiring casting you can get.
* Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (Image) - Eh. I should mention that while it seems like I dismiss all the music blu rays that appear on this list, that dismissal is completely intentional, and yes, is intended to be insulting. Nobody needs this stuff on blu ray. It might sound better, but if you're seriously watching CONCERTS on blu ray you've got more time to spare than I, so you earn my contempt.
* Salem Witch Trials (Echo Bridge) - No smarmy family theme(probably), no Meredith Baxter, score one for Echo Bridge. Still probably awful - it has Gloria Reubens in it, were there even black people in Salem at that time? Also, post-Cheers Kirstie Alley appearance = lame.
* The Sixth Sense (Walt Disney) - Okay, so people keep pointing back to this film as being the M Night Shyamalan movie that was really good. BULL SHIT I SAY. I figured out the twist halfway through, just because it didn't make any sense that no one talked to him except the kid(who we're frequently reminded TALKS TO DEAD PEOPLE), and really, dramatically it's boring. A ghost story by someone who never saw a ghost story movie.
* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1973) (Dark Sky Films) - Wow, this is one of the two movies that I watched as an adult that frightened me the first time I saw them. Hell this movie still unnerves me. The remake substituted the dread and waking terror of this film with shaky cam, noise, and gore, not one of which is a substitute for the sheer elegant horror Tobe Hooper evoked with a less than $100,000 budget back in the seventies. This blu ray is from a new HD transfer by Don May Jr. of Synapse Films, which most of you probably have never heard of, but suffice it to say that May is THE go-to guy for restoring horror films and releasing them on disc. He cofounded the legendary laserdisc/dvd company called Elite that more or less invented the special feature, and pioneered widescreen transfers on home video. This new transfer is the best the movie has EVER looked according to people who've been following the film over the course of it's existence. Highest possible recommendation.
* The Thing (1982) (Universal) - What's this? What's this? The SECOND of two movies that actually scared me as an adult, released the same week as the other(see above). The Thing is many things besides scary, it is also one of the best, most evocative science fiction films ever made. It contains Kurt Russell's best performance, and is one of the three films he made with director John Carpenter that stand out as classics. I may wait on this blu ray, however, because this is basically the same transfer as was used in the latest dvd, and was really intended for dvd, so it may not exactly be to the highest blu ray standards. Which is fine, not every disc can be, but paying first week prices for a lackluster effort by Universal is not my cup of tea. I will likely wait for this to appear in some Amazon Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale later this year.
* Ultimate Unrated Comedy Collection (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) (Universal) - See my thoughts on the individual movies above.
* When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions (Image) - If you're a space buff this will likely be a must-buy, NASA's imagery on blu ray sounds like a dream come true. I'll likely pass, unless my dad gets a blu ray player then I'll buy it for him for christmas.
* Angel in the Family (Echo Bridge) - TV movie with Meredith Baxter. Nuff said.
* Can't Hardly Wait (Sony) - Falls into the small subcategory of Teen Movies Made Post-John Hughes Era That I Do Not Hate, though in the lower end of that range. It's no 10 Things I Hate About You, that's for sure.
* A Christmas Visitor (Echo Bridge) - ANOTHER TV movie with Meredith Baxter. WTF Echo Bridge, WTF.
* Daredevil: Director's Cut (Fox) - I've always heard this director's cut was significantly better than the theatrical cut, and indeed it has an extra half hour of footage and is Rated R to the theatrical cut's PG-13. I have to admit though that I didn't think the theatrical cut was all that bad, and frankly the addition of a subplot starring Coolio/Busta Rhymes(I forget which) does not make me think that anything *good* was cut out. Besides, wasn't most people's problems with this film the casting? Half an hour extra of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner(playing a Greek!) doesn't seem to me to be quite the salve that people say.
* Dawn of the Dead (2004) (Universal) - That odd beast, the horror remake that wasn't bad. One character is insufferably stupid, but really a cool film overall.
* Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Universal) - I was SICK TO DEATH of Judd Apatow movies but my friend Charles convinced me to see this and despite the presence of blatant male genitalia I thought it was one of the better in Apatow's oeuvre, particularly because of the awesomeness that is the DRACULA PUPPET MUSICAL.
* Halloween Starter Pack ['The Thing (1982),' 'Land of the Dead,' 'Dawn of the Dead (2004)'] (Universal) - I like all these films seperately but frankly as a starter-pack they're mismatched. You've got the second scariest movie ever made(IMO) with two zombie movies that are more less related. Though I can't fault the films individually. They're all worth picking up or experiencing for the first time.
* Iron Man (2008) (Paramount) - I liked this movie a lot in the theater but it's suffered in my mind in retrospect, mostly because the high point is Downey's performance and the low point is the generic plot, and the plot tends to stick with you longer. That said, must buy.
* Jethro Tull: Live at Montreux 2003 (Eagles Rock) - Meh.
* Knocked Up (Universal) - Liked it in the theater, but this is right about when the Apatow wave rolled back into the ocean for me. Kind of meh, will probably never ever watch it again.
* Land of the Dead (Universal) - Unfairly maligned because it's not one of the TEN BEST HORROR FILMS EVER MADE like the first three. Although really Day wasn't that good either, it has great stuff like Bub and Captain Rhodes but lame stuff like extremely poor production quality. Land of the Dead otoh has less great moments but overall is the best-made Romero film ever, it actually looks like a movie with a real budget! And considering that budget was under $20mil that's saying a lot - it looks more like a $50mil to my eyes. Recommended.
* Legends: Live at Montreux 1997 (Eagle Rock) - Eh.
* The Man Who Saved Christmas (Echo Bridge) - Well, no Meredith Baxter, at least. But Jason Alexander post-Seinfeld is perhaps the most uninspiring casting you can get.
* Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (Image) - Eh. I should mention that while it seems like I dismiss all the music blu rays that appear on this list, that dismissal is completely intentional, and yes, is intended to be insulting. Nobody needs this stuff on blu ray. It might sound better, but if you're seriously watching CONCERTS on blu ray you've got more time to spare than I, so you earn my contempt.
* Salem Witch Trials (Echo Bridge) - No smarmy family theme(probably), no Meredith Baxter, score one for Echo Bridge. Still probably awful - it has Gloria Reubens in it, were there even black people in Salem at that time? Also, post-Cheers Kirstie Alley appearance = lame.
* The Sixth Sense (Walt Disney) - Okay, so people keep pointing back to this film as being the M Night Shyamalan movie that was really good. BULL SHIT I SAY. I figured out the twist halfway through, just because it didn't make any sense that no one talked to him except the kid(who we're frequently reminded TALKS TO DEAD PEOPLE), and really, dramatically it's boring. A ghost story by someone who never saw a ghost story movie.
* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1973) (Dark Sky Films) - Wow, this is one of the two movies that I watched as an adult that frightened me the first time I saw them. Hell this movie still unnerves me. The remake substituted the dread and waking terror of this film with shaky cam, noise, and gore, not one of which is a substitute for the sheer elegant horror Tobe Hooper evoked with a less than $100,000 budget back in the seventies. This blu ray is from a new HD transfer by Don May Jr. of Synapse Films, which most of you probably have never heard of, but suffice it to say that May is THE go-to guy for restoring horror films and releasing them on disc. He cofounded the legendary laserdisc/dvd company called Elite that more or less invented the special feature, and pioneered widescreen transfers on home video. This new transfer is the best the movie has EVER looked according to people who've been following the film over the course of it's existence. Highest possible recommendation.
* The Thing (1982) (Universal) - What's this? What's this? The SECOND of two movies that actually scared me as an adult, released the same week as the other(see above). The Thing is many things besides scary, it is also one of the best, most evocative science fiction films ever made. It contains Kurt Russell's best performance, and is one of the three films he made with director John Carpenter that stand out as classics. I may wait on this blu ray, however, because this is basically the same transfer as was used in the latest dvd, and was really intended for dvd, so it may not exactly be to the highest blu ray standards. Which is fine, not every disc can be, but paying first week prices for a lackluster effort by Universal is not my cup of tea. I will likely wait for this to appear in some Amazon Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale later this year.
* Ultimate Unrated Comedy Collection (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) (Universal) - See my thoughts on the individual movies above.
* When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions (Image) - If you're a space buff this will likely be a must-buy, NASA's imagery on blu ray sounds like a dream come true. I'll likely pass, unless my dad gets a blu ray player then I'll buy it for him for christmas.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
This meme is getting out of hand.
(on the left is Henry Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, on the left is Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
blue briefly previews the week of 9/23's blu ray releases
* Animalia: Welcome to the Kingdom (Porchlight) - An animated film I've never heard of. That usually means it's new age crap or Christian fascist propaganda. In either case, FUCK THIS MOVIE.
* Blow (New Line) - This movie is pretty good, actually. A bit overrated, and it has Ratface in it(Penelope Cruz) but the ending always irks me, as it is basically a blatant plea for the main character's daughter to visit the real life guy in prison. He's a scumbag, fuck him. Still, good movie.
* Cirque du Soleil: Corteo (Sony) - This may be blasphemy, but I really really really really really *HATE* Cirque de Soleil. Maybe the porno one is better but this has the worst elements of mimes, clowns, ballet, and cutesy new agedness blended together into an interminable ball of lameness. Fuck this movie.
* Deception (Fox) - I almost went to see this in the theater but ended up listening to the reviews that said this is bad. May give it a shot as a rental.
* The Godfather Collection (Paramount) - Three reasons you should buy this: it's remastered; it's one of the all time classics; part 3 isn't as bad as people say except for Sofia Coppola, who's worse.
* Halford: Live Insurrection - Remastered (Metal God) - buh?
* L.A. Confidential (Warner) - Good movie but *massively* overrated. It suffers in my view because of Kim Basinger, whose presence also pretty much prevents me from enjoying Burton's Batman too. Nothing against her, except that she annoys the fuck out of me. Even without her the movie is overrated. Still a good time.
* Leatherheads (Universal) - Clooney tries to do a screwball comedy but those scenes tend to be the worst in this flick. Also has Renee Zellweger who kind of makes me think of curdled milk(did I mention her in some flick last week? I think I did). Rental at most, I only saw this in the theater because I was bored out of my mind.
* Madagascar (DreamWorks) - Okay I definitely remember this being in the list last week. Looking back Leatherheads and Shrek the Turd were too. WTF Universal/Dreamworks, get your heads out of your ass and get in the game! My rating is still: Fuck. Dreamworks. Animation.
* Re-Cycle (Image) - The synopsis says from the creator and star of the Eye, so I guess this is some Thai horror flick? The Pang Brothers kind of suck, so pass.
* Run Fatboy Run (Universal) - Simon Pegg! I think I will rent this, even if it is directed by David Schwimmer.
* Sex and the City (New Line) - Sick of movies about middle aged trannies. Fuck this movie.
* Shrek the Third (Paramount) - See Madascar comments.
* Blow (New Line) - This movie is pretty good, actually. A bit overrated, and it has Ratface in it(Penelope Cruz) but the ending always irks me, as it is basically a blatant plea for the main character's daughter to visit the real life guy in prison. He's a scumbag, fuck him. Still, good movie.
* Cirque du Soleil: Corteo (Sony) - This may be blasphemy, but I really really really really really *HATE* Cirque de Soleil. Maybe the porno one is better but this has the worst elements of mimes, clowns, ballet, and cutesy new agedness blended together into an interminable ball of lameness. Fuck this movie.
* Deception (Fox) - I almost went to see this in the theater but ended up listening to the reviews that said this is bad. May give it a shot as a rental.
* The Godfather Collection (Paramount) - Three reasons you should buy this: it's remastered; it's one of the all time classics; part 3 isn't as bad as people say except for Sofia Coppola, who's worse.
* Halford: Live Insurrection - Remastered (Metal God) - buh?
* L.A. Confidential (Warner) - Good movie but *massively* overrated. It suffers in my view because of Kim Basinger, whose presence also pretty much prevents me from enjoying Burton's Batman too. Nothing against her, except that she annoys the fuck out of me. Even without her the movie is overrated. Still a good time.
* Leatherheads (Universal) - Clooney tries to do a screwball comedy but those scenes tend to be the worst in this flick. Also has Renee Zellweger who kind of makes me think of curdled milk(did I mention her in some flick last week? I think I did). Rental at most, I only saw this in the theater because I was bored out of my mind.
* Madagascar (DreamWorks) - Okay I definitely remember this being in the list last week. Looking back Leatherheads and Shrek the Turd were too. WTF Universal/Dreamworks, get your heads out of your ass and get in the game! My rating is still: Fuck. Dreamworks. Animation.
* Re-Cycle (Image) - The synopsis says from the creator and star of the Eye, so I guess this is some Thai horror flick? The Pang Brothers kind of suck, so pass.
* Run Fatboy Run (Universal) - Simon Pegg! I think I will rent this, even if it is directed by David Schwimmer.
* Sex and the City (New Line) - Sick of movies about middle aged trannies. Fuck this movie.
* Shrek the Third (Paramount) - See Madascar comments.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
New Blu Ray Releases for 9/16 Previewed Briefly By Blue
* 1408 (Weinstein) - Surprisingly good little horror movie. Bit too cgi-high concept to be truly great but still worth a watch.
* 88 Minutes (Sony) - Fuck this movie. Al Pacino is a walking corpse.
* Another Cinderella Story (Warner) - Fuck this shit.
* Dragon Ball Z: Tree of Might/Lord Slug (FUNimation) - Fuck this shit.
* Hulk (2003) (Universal) - Liked this movie a lot more than I expected to. Definite buy for me, and will probably rewatch frequently.
* Leatherheads (Universal) - Clooney directed this and didn't seem to know what he wanted to do. It works when it's just a regular period comedy, it goes off the rails when it turns into a screwball comedy. Also suffers from Renee Zellwegger-itis. That horrid shrew is basically the cinematic equivalent of 9 month old spoiled milk spewed out FNORD's ass.
* The Love Guru (DreamWorks) - I almost want to like this movie because everyone else hated it so much but fuck it. Fucking Mike Meyers.
* Madagascar (DreamWorks) - Fuck Dreamworks animation.
* Made of Honor (Sony) - Fuck this movie.
* The Mist (Weinstein) - Somehow Darabont took a story meant to be a throwback to 50s science fiction/horror and makes it under a ponderous pretentious bore. Also has one of the screechiest/snot-nosed characters ever with Marcia Gay Harden.
* Pirates of the Caribbean: 3-Movie Collection (Walt Disney) - The same movie three times. They never really got it right again after the first.
* Pushing Daisies: Season One (Warner) - This show's supposedly awesome, never caught an episode.
* Risky Business (Warner) - This movie's alright, but fuck Tom Cruise.
* Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (Image) - Isn't this guy dead?
* Shrek the Third (Paramount) - Fuck Dreamworks Animation.
* Speed and Angels (Vivendi Visual) - No fucking idea what this is.
* Speed Racer (Warner) - This movie is bizarre. I simultaneously hate it/love it. Admire it/loathe it.
* 88 Minutes (Sony) - Fuck this movie. Al Pacino is a walking corpse.
* Another Cinderella Story (Warner) - Fuck this shit.
* Dragon Ball Z: Tree of Might/Lord Slug (FUNimation) - Fuck this shit.
* Hulk (2003) (Universal) - Liked this movie a lot more than I expected to. Definite buy for me, and will probably rewatch frequently.
* Leatherheads (Universal) - Clooney directed this and didn't seem to know what he wanted to do. It works when it's just a regular period comedy, it goes off the rails when it turns into a screwball comedy. Also suffers from Renee Zellwegger-itis. That horrid shrew is basically the cinematic equivalent of 9 month old spoiled milk spewed out FNORD's ass.
* The Love Guru (DreamWorks) - I almost want to like this movie because everyone else hated it so much but fuck it. Fucking Mike Meyers.
* Madagascar (DreamWorks) - Fuck Dreamworks animation.
* Made of Honor (Sony) - Fuck this movie.
* The Mist (Weinstein) - Somehow Darabont took a story meant to be a throwback to 50s science fiction/horror and makes it under a ponderous pretentious bore. Also has one of the screechiest/snot-nosed characters ever with Marcia Gay Harden.
* Pirates of the Caribbean: 3-Movie Collection (Walt Disney) - The same movie three times. They never really got it right again after the first.
* Pushing Daisies: Season One (Warner) - This show's supposedly awesome, never caught an episode.
* Risky Business (Warner) - This movie's alright, but fuck Tom Cruise.
* Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (Image) - Isn't this guy dead?
* Shrek the Third (Paramount) - Fuck Dreamworks Animation.
* Speed and Angels (Vivendi Visual) - No fucking idea what this is.
* Speed Racer (Warner) - This movie is bizarre. I simultaneously hate it/love it. Admire it/loathe it.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
"Animated simulation of a gamma-ray burst. They don't say exactly how close it came to Earth, but if it had hit Earth it would have been curtains for all of us. From space.newscientist.com:
Astronomers think they know what caused the brightest ever gamma-ray burst, which was observed in March: a tightly beamed jet of matter that happened to be aimed almost directly at Earth."
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
New Blu Ray Releases for 9/09 Previewed Briefly By Blue
- Baby Mama (Universal) - Sarah Palin's people are probably not going to be watching this one... double whammie for Tina Fey being a Palinclone
- Blu-ray Zombie Bundle (Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn0 (Anchor Bay) - All good, all available cheaper separately if you shop around.
- Cool Hand Luke (Warner)- Classic. Warner's usually has great transfers on their catalog titles.
- Day Watch (Fox) - Sequel to the only Russian movie seen by more than .0001% of the US population.
- The Fall (2006) (Sony) - Supposedly beautiful, but Tarsem isn't known for depth of content.
- The Forbidden Kingdom (Lionsgate) - Fuck this movie.
- Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Fourth Season - Expanded (Walt Disney) - Boring ass show. If you're a guy and not gay and watching this you're pussy-whipped.
- How the West Was Won (Warner)- Classic. Hey! Cinerama! Boring as balls though.
- Jerry Maguire (Sony) - Most overrated movie of the 90s. Well not really but fuck Tom Cruise.
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (Buena Vista) - Love it.
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (Walt Disney) - This is just a bundle, it's the version I'm getting.
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (Buena Vista) - See above.
- Masters of Horror Bundle: Season One (Anchor Bay) - I've seen the episodes of this show that are supposedly the best, and they sucked. Fuck this show.
- Night Watch (Fox) - The only Russian movie seen by more than .0001% of the US population.
- Rudy (Sony) - Great movie.
- Smallville: The Complete Seventh Season (Warner) - Superman as soap opera. Too many hot chicks on it to completely dismiss it.
- Superman Returns (Remastered Audio) (Warner) - Underrated movie. I really enjoy it.
- Then She Found Me (Image) - Never heard of it.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
"This appeals to me"
I can totally relate to this level of obsession. I just don't have anything to show for it.
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