Week of January 27 through February 2, 2007

Saturday, January 27, 2007
The Atomic Submarine - 1959

Not very accurate, submarine-wise (and yes, I know what I'm talking about. I was in the navy for 6 years, I AM submarine qualified, and served aboard the USS Daniel Boone (SSBN 629) and USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN 633).) But it is pretty standard 50's SciFi fare. They did have subtitles, so that wins points. And the movie is pretty entertaining too.

Commentary was recorded in 2002, before Alex Gordon died in 2003. An 8 day shoot with a budget of $135,000. Today, that's an Independent Cheapie. There were lots of historical perspectives, which is nice, but not a lot of technical info.

Other extras are War Under the Artic Ice, which was interviews with the cast.

Sunday, January 28, 2007
Grim Reaper - 2007

Well, this movie doesn't make any damn sense whatsoever. The ONLY good thing about this DVD is the subtitles.

According to IMDB, this movie cost a million dollars to make. I have a question. WHERE?

Dull, dull, dull, predictable & dull. The ultimate insult? She's a stripper, in a strip club, and she wears a bra. No boobies. What kind of SH!T is that?

No extras
No point
Pass

Monday, January 29, 2007
Saw III - 2006

Here is a formula explaining why they make so many horror movies:
Budget $12M
Opening Weekend: $33.6M
Gross: $146M worldwide

And the director is 28.

Wow, the brain surgery scene is mighty intensive. Overall, I liked this one better than 2, and less than one.

Commentary has director (Darren Lee Bousman), writer (Leigh Whannell) and Exec. Producer (Peter Block). Some technical stuff (including in-camera affects, a favorite of HGL!) They talk several times about calling Rob Zombie, especially about help with the MPRA. I wonder if that's true? Also, we learn that a Merkin is "a wig for the pubic region". And a 28 day shoot.

Extras include The Traps of Saw 3 (interesting and technical, how they did them - excellent, but too short), The Props of Saw 3, Director's Diary (sort of a video blog), and two deleted scenes.

This was a fun, good watch.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Tripping the Rift, Season Two - 2005

Dirtier and funnier. I sure wish this series had been continued.

There were a couple of extras, including bloopers that were pretty funny. Also interviews with the folks who are the voice talent. They don't look like I expected at ALL!

If you like your humor blue, and lots of jabs at modern SF, this is series for you.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Serum - 2006

Hmmmm, nice boobage. And the production company is in Fort Worth and the distributor is in Arlington, so this is a local effort for me. And they have subtitles and a commentary.

This is one of those movies where they put the time as a scene separator. It's pointless and gets irritating quickly. And the ending was hideously predictable.

Commentary features writer/director Steve Franke, Producer Jason Kabolati, Editor Clay Liford and cameraman Jason Croft. Shot on 16mm film during a 17 day shoot. Shot around White Rock Lake. The commentary is fairly technical, pretty good.

Only other extra is a behind the Screams featuring interviews with cast an crew. Not worth watching. The movie is fair, the commentary good, the featurette poor.

Thursday, February 01, 2007
Kamsin: The Untouched - 2007

What is this, Bollywood West Side Story? Three songs, and characters such as a midget named 007 and an old fat guy named James Bond. Yeah, it's weird. It's not really a horror movie, no matter what the Netflix description says. Closer to an Italian Gaillo, with songs and no blood & guts.

No extras. Two hours of Bollywood tedium. Don't bother unless you LOVE Bollywood.

Max Havoc - Curse of the Dragon - 2004

Directed by Albert Pyun (who gave us the exquisite Sword and the Sorcerer). Too bad this one sucks like space. Nothing like speeding up the film to make it look like there was action.

What is more entertaining than the movie is the discussion on IMDB about the shenanigans surrounding this movie. They also describe, much better than I can, just how bad this cow flop of a movie is. Lighting and cinematography are especially bad, with acting not so far behind. And it never f'in ends. The ending is longer than in Return of the King! Yack!

Friday, february 2, 2007
10th Anniversary Edition of Clerks (X) - 1994

Disc 1 - theatrical cut. Not as funny as I expected, but pretty good - dialogue VERY believable. There's a commentary from a 1995 laser disc. Subtitled, with a second subtitle track that has fun facts.

23 day shoot, spending $25, 575. Originally rated NC-17, but MPAA reversed themselves and gave it an "R". The commentary was not as technical as I'd like. Too much talking off mic that you can't hear. And what the hell did Miramax spend $102,000 on? Song rights?

Disc 2 - First Cut / Original, longer cut with depressing ending. This disc also has a new commentary with Kevin, Mos, and others. Interpersonal comments, but much better stories from the shooting days than the other commentary.

Disc 3 - Documentary
An hour and a half, but it's funny and informative. Better than either commentary. And the Q & A of a 10th anniversary showing is awesome!

(There, Jesse, are you happy?)