Boston Legal Season Three
Fox Home Entertainment
DENNY CRANE!!! I love Denny Crane. I also love everyone else on this show. David Kelly is either a direct hit or a major miss with me, and with Boston Legal he’s definitely hit this one out of the park. He manages to create a show that is funny, sarcastic, political and dramatic. It’s not overtly deep drama, just enough to keep you watching, so it doesn’t get bogged down like some night time soaps do (ER, NYPD Blue) It’s just damn good entertainment.
This season has great guest stars including a wonderful performance from Delta Burke, who is normally not a favorite of mine, though here she shined. We also see some cast additions which work well for the show. My favorite is the on again off again romance Denny has with a dwarf. Continuing plot lines add to the shows depth, but you can definitely enjoy each episode on it’s own as well. This season has it all, marriage, romance, babies, men in drag. And as always the end of each episode with Spader and Shatner is always my favorite.
What do I want more of on TV? DENNY CRANE!!!!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
DVD Review: Boston Legal season 3.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Knight Rider return looking more likely.
Not sure if this is good or bad, but NBC is looking to revamp and re-launch another older cheesy action series: KNIGHT RIDER.
The Bionic Woman pulled some impressive numbers for its debut and that appears to have re-energized the suits at the peacock network. They feel this turkey should be inflicted upon us yet again.
They have signed director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith) to helm the two-hour made-for-TV movie (which would double as a pilot if it does well). This teleflick may reach the airwaves by next spring. If the tv movie does well, the series would likely appear next fall.
I wonder what car company will make the new KITT? That is a hell of a big product placement.
No word on who will be driving the car. My vote: Paul Walker. Hey, it would keep him from making any more movies.
The original Knight Rider aired, on NBC, from 1982 to 1986
Friday, September 28, 2007
Director's cut of Zodiac coming in January.
Paramount Home Entertainment has announced they will be releasing a two DVD director’s cut of Zodiac on January 8th.
I must confess I am very interested in seeing this. I really have mixed feelings about Zodiac. While I think the acting is top notch and the film is very well directed, I felt more could have been done to show us the impact of the killings on those involved. Gyllenhall’s character’s obsession with the case costs him his wife and children as well as his job. I would have liked to have seen them play around a little more with how/why he became so fixated on this case.
We will get to see the film how David Filcher (Seven, Panic Room) wanted it to be seen.
Extras include:
*Two commentary tracks, one by Director David Fincher and one with Jake Gyllenhall, Robert Downey Jr., Producer Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy
*Zodiac Deciphered
*The Visual Effects of Zodiac
*Digital Workflow
*Sequence Breakdowns:
Blue Rock Springs
Lake Berryessa
*San FranciscoTrailers and TV spots
*The Facts:
This is the Zodiac Speaking
Lake Herman Road
Blue Rock Springs
Lake Berryessa
San Francisco
*Prime Suspect:
His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen
Linguistic Analysis
*Jeopardy Surface: Geographic Profiling (6:30)
*Dr. Kim Rossmo's Geographic Profile of the Zodiac (text)
*The Psychology of Aggression: Behavioral Profiling (5:30)
*Special Agent Sharon Pagaling-Hagan's Behavioral Profile of the Zodiac (text)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
November is bringing us another edition of The Princess Bride
MGM/Fox has confirmed that November will see a 20th Anniversary edition of The Princess Bride.
"As a special added bonus, The Princess Bride 20th Anniversary Edition DVD features “The Official Princess Bride DVD Game.” Produced by Worldwide Biggies, the game leaves behind the simple text-based, slideshow nature of most DVD games, and transforms the film’s favorite live action actors into fully animated characters in a graphic novel type setting.
“The Official Princess Bride DVD Game” begins during Episode Two after Vizzini, Montoya and Fezzik kidnap Princess Buttercup. Players will assume the role of their favorite characters in a series of interactive challenges and will be rewarded with gems for completing an activity or for receiving an exceptional score. New content, extras and gems can be redeemed at http://www.princessbridegame.com/"
I have to say, it sounds fairly cool.
Anyway, here is the rest of the other confirmed new contents:
Princess Bride: The Untold Tales Featurette
The Art of Fencing Featurette
Fairytales and Folklore Featurette
I am guessing at it will also contain of the bonus features from the previous editions.
Once I have it, I will let everyone know it is worth adding to your ever expanding Princess Bride library.
Oh, one more thing: There is a contest in conjuction with this release:
"In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of The Princess Bride, MGM Home Entertainment is launched the “Ode To Princess Bride” Sweepstakes, an online contest that provides an “editor’s tool kit” with video, audio and music from the film and allows fans to create their own “Ode to The Princess Bride” video trailer. The contest winners will be selected by Norman Lear and Rob Reiner. One grand prize winner will receive a state-of-the-art Panasonic Home Theater package and The Princess Bride script autographed by Rob Reiner and Norman Lear. For more information, please visit www.ThePrincessBride.com."
For more info on upcoming DVD releases, check out the Crimespree DVD Calendar.
Read More......Screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan talks about White Jazz.
Preproduction is underway on the film version of James Elroy's White Jazz. It will star Oscar winner George Clooney and be directed by Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin' Aces)Matthew Michael Carnahan, Joe's brother, wrote the screenplay.
Matthew recently spoke with Ropes of Silicon about White Jazz.
Here is what Matthew said about the look of the film:
MC: Just looking at his work as a template I would say it is going to be a lot closer to Narc in terms of its pacing and even its look. When you think of the 1950s L.A. you think of the Gilded Age, bright colors, big beautiful aero dynamic cars and I think Joe wants to turn that on its ear a little bit the same way Ellroy, in his story, has turned that on its ear just visually.
He also talks about his appreciation for Elroy's writings, amoung other things.
Click here to read the rest of the interview.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
DVD Review: Midsomer Murders: Set 9
Midsomer Murders is based on the work of mystery author Caroline Graham. Midsomer County apparently is home to more vile homicidal lunatics than all five boroughs of New York combined. Now before you start to conjure images of a lawless frontier land, let me say that Midsomer country looks much like any other rural county in England. It is full of small towns and villages. The folks tend their gardens and chat after church.
Sadly, they also kill off one another at an alarming rate. Not since Cabot Cove (Murder She Wrote…I would like to note for the record that I had to look it up, I have no MSW knowledge in my brain.) has there been a more dangerous peaceful, quaint community.
This series could easily be tossed in with Murder, She Wrote and others of that nature, but that would be a huge mistake. This series has a bit of a gleam in its eye. It is as though they know the county has way too many murders and murderers. They realize this is pretty ridiculous, but are cool with it. At times, Detective Barnaby’s (John Nettles) reaction to another body is more of a “Ah, I was wondering when that would turn up” than real surprise. It is Detective Sergeant Scott that is left to express dismay at the bloodthirsty ruffians that populate this seemingly peaceful county. The humor is dry; droll might be a better term but it is also fairly smart. The mysteries are just clever enough to keep you guessing.
As I said, it would be a huge mistake to clump this in with all of the usual cozy mysteries. There is simply too much life in this one.
For extras, we get next to nothing. There is a text bio on author Caroline Graham (whose books the series is based on).
This set upholds the nice traditions that have been established by the previous series (aka seasons) and will be enjoyed by those that are fans of the series, as well as anyone looking for a bit of fun with a little (or a lot) of murder thrown in.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
DVD Releases for Sept 25th.
Babel Special Collector's Edition (2006) Dir.: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu; Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Koji Yakusho, Elle Fanning. Two-disc set. Extras: "Common Ground: Under Construction Notes." (Paramount).
This two DVD version of the critically acclaimed film features a 90-minute documentary. I will have a review online later this week.
Order from Amazon.
Cracker: A New Terror (2006 -- TV) Robbie Coltrane. The return of the brilliant but flawed British forensic psychologist Dr. Edward Fitzgerald has "Fitz" coming home to England to help investigate home-grown terrorism. Extras: "Cracker: Behind the Scenes" retrospective documentary. (Acorn Media).
"After living as an ex-pat for a decade, Fitz returns to England for his daughter’s wedding and finds his homeland profoundly changed in the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq war. Against the wishes of his family, Fitz consults with the Manchester police to hunt for a murderer with no apparent motive. His investigation leads him into politically charged territory as he probes the roots of terrorism and its effects on society. It’s a compelling thriller with front-page relevance."
Order from Amazon.
Midsomer Murders: Set Nine Four-disc set with four feature-length mysteries including Things That Go Bump in the Night, Dead in the Water, Orchis Fatalis and Bantling Boy.Extras: Caroline Graham biography and cast filmographies; $49.99. (Acorn Media).
Based on the novels of Caroline Graham. I will have a review online later this week.
Order from Amazon.
Numb3rs: The Third Season (2006-07)Rob Morrow, Judd Hirsch,David Krumholtz. Six-disk set with 24 episodes, $61.99. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, "Crunching Numb3rs: Season Three" featurette, blooper reel.(Paramount).
Miz Naomi is pouring over every little detail as we speak and will give her thoughts on this in the near future.
Order from Amazon.
The Unit: Season Two (2006-07)Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley, Robert Patrick. Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, behind-the-scenes and weapons featurettes, still gallery. (Fox).
Order from Amazon.
Friday, September 21, 2007
The Wild Geese to be remade.
Some folks have decided to remake The Wild Geese. Based on the Novel The Thin White Line, TWG featured Roger Moore, Richard Harris and Richard Burton as British ex-soldiers are hired to overthrow a brutal African dictator. The folks that hired them then make a deal with sad scumbag dictator and our band of merry Brits are on their own.
Simply the idea of the remake sounded bad to me, The Wild Geese was already crapped on once with a really stinky sequel. Why inflict further damage to its rep?
Now I know who they plan on to have direct it: Rupert Sanders.
Some of you may be asking "Who is Rupert Sanders?" I can totally understand if you don't know him. You are likely to be unfamiliar with name unless you are a big fan of commercials.
Rupert has made his living making COMMERCIALS.
Now, to be fair, he has made some fairly good commercials but why have him remake a (semi)classic flick? Leave it the hell alone.
At least it sounds like they are not going to screw too much with the plot. Sanders told Variety that ""It has it all: great characters, action, plot twists and revenge. We are making a tough film, taking ex-British soldiers from the murky London underworld to the battlefields in Africa."
There is one notable positive: Gianni Nunnari, the producer, had a hand in Se7en, The Departed and 300. Perhaps he has a vision that will make this work.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Proposed Preacher series moving forward??
From Wikipedia:
"Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a down-and-out preacher in the small Texas town of Annville. Custer was accidentally possessed by the supernatural creature named 'Genesis' in an incident which killed his entire congregation and flattened his church.Genesis, the product of the unauthorized, unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon, is an infant with no sense of individual will. However, as it is composed of both pure goodness and pure evil, it might have enough power to rival that of God himself. In other words, Jesse Custer, bonded to Genesis, may have become the most powerful being in the whole of living existence.
Custer, driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, goes on a journey across the United States attempting to (literally) find God, who abandoned Heaven the moment Genesis was born. He also begins to discover the truth about his new powers, which allow him to command the obedience of those who hear his words. He is joined by his old girlfriend Tulip O'Hare, as well as a hard-drinking Irish vampire named Cassidy."
Pretty much anyone that has ever read Garth Ennis' amazing graphic novels has been hooked.
There has been talk of a potential movie or series for HBO.
But nothing has really come of it thus far.
But according to CHUD, things may be heating up.
The film site is reporting that Robert Rodreguiz has been approached to direct. Apparently the idea is to sign a very big name to direct the initial episode, then mix in other folk.
As big as Mr. Rodriguez is, the other names are just as big: Brian De Palma and David Cronenberg. Cronenberg is the one that excites me most. He has already done an amazing job of transferring a graphic novel (A History of Violence) to the big screen, and his latest film is getting rave reviews.
The series is being headed up by Mark Steven Johnson. Johnson wrote and directed Ghost Rider and Daredevil.
I hope this time they are serious about moving ahead. After hearing these names, my desire to see Cassidy and crew is stronger than ever before.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
DVD Review: Death Proof.
Death Proof is Quentin Tarantino’s half of Grindhouse. GH was a concept dreamed up by QT and Robert Rodriguez. They each filmed a film that was an homage to the old 70s exploitation flicks.
These two films, along with a handful of trailers (for movies that don’t exist), were released as one film.
Grindhouse failed to deliver at the box office, likely at least in part because of the length. That is a real shame because both films are quite enjoyable and clearly are labors of love.
Three gals out on the town for a little fun run into Mike (Kurt Russell), a grizzled, yet charming, stunt man. He offers one of the lasses (McGowan) a ride home. Alas, she never makes it there. Mike's car, a jacked up Dodge Charger, is Death Proof...if you are the driver.
Later, Mike runs into another group of ladies. But this group, taking a break from working on a film set, is not as helpless. This bunch features stuntwoman Zoe (played convincingly by stuntwoman Zoe Bell), who proclaims "There's no point to living in America unless you drive a Dodge Challenger."
Not surprisingly, she happens to drive one. Accompanied by Abernathy (Rosario Dawson) and Kim (Tracie Thoms), Zoe soon finds herself in one of the coolest, craziest car duels in the history of films. Death Proof does indeed have the aforementioned car duel, but it also has some really great dialogue. The racy, frank banter among the girls is first rate. Zoe Bell is a hoot and Kurt Russell does a great job as our villain.
Personally, I always find the extras on Tarantino films interesting. He has energy and passion that makes him interesting to listen to.
Extras:
Here, we get a look behind the casting decisions (Introducing Zoe Bell, Kurt Russell As Stuntman Mike, Finding Quentin's Gals and The Guys Of Death Proof) as well as the stunts that are a vital part of Death Proof. While each of these could easily be a puff piece, Tarantino’s enthusiasm makes them interesting and engaging. We find that virtually every casting choice was made for a reason.
And while this energy, combined with details and factoids from Tarantino’s geek-like encyclopedic knowledge of cinema, make the extras more interesting, QT’s propensity to ramble on can occasionally be a bit much. It might have been helpful to have somebody around to occasionally cut him off (perhaps with a stun gun?).
Odds are pretty good that there will eventually be a massive DVD combo pack of Death Proof and Planet Terror together. Between the two, Death Proof stands on it’s own better than Planet Terror. A very fun B flick with cool cars, hot chicks and a genuinely baddass villain.
Order Death Proof from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Emmys do something right
I did not watch the Emmys, I had no patience for them after Dexter and The Wire got shafted in the nominations.
But my heart warmed quite a bit when I looked at the list of winners.
Prime Suspect: the Final Act picked up three Emmys.
Oh hell yeah.
Oscar Winner Helen Mirren picked up an Emmy for Lead actress in a miniseries of movie.
Also winning was Phillip Martin (for Directing) and Frank Deasy (for writing).
As nice as this is, it should not come as a sursprise. The show has won Emmys three other years and the Emmys have a history of going back to shows again and again. It was this practice that likely contributed to the hosing of Dexter and The Wire.
Still I shall not complain, as The Final Act was fantastic and certainly deserved its statues.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the amazing show. I want to thank them for many great stories and hope that maybe; just maybe, they choose to revisit the series somewhere down the line.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Actor spills beans on plot points of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Tyler Nelson has a role in the forthcoming Indiana Jone and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (anyone want to bet that George Lucas was one to come up with that gem of a title?). Not a big role, but he does have a part. So he is newsworthy enough for his local paper to do an article on him.
Monday, September 17, 2007
DVD Review: Deliverance - 35th Anniversary edition.
“You shore got a purdy mouth.”
”Squeal for me!”
These two lines are from a scene that left all male viewers rocking back and forth in a fetal position, and vowing never to enter the woods again. But to reduce Deliverance to that one scene would be akin to reducing The Graduate to Mrs. Robinson.
In 1972, director John Boorman headed into the wilds of Georgia to make a film from James Dickey’s bestselling novel Deliverance. He had a piddly budget and two of his four principals were making their big screen debut. The shoot was fairly quick, with everyone doing his or her own stunts (despite not having insurance).
The resulting film is one of the best action/adventure genre to date. A film that still stands the test of time after 35 years.
Four buddies from the cities get together for a canoeing trip. Once they get there, they encounter some less than friendly locals. The conflict escalates to the level where none of them get away completely intact.
Boorman does an excellent job of pacing. The film starts out at a rather relaxed pace and slowly builds. Once we hit the second half, it has you by the throat and does not let go until the bitter end.
Deliverance is best known for one particularly brutal (especially for men) scene. But while all know that scene, many have long forgotten (or in the case of younger folk, never having known) just how good a movie this is.
The bonus features are strong, with a four part look at the making of the film. These featurettes offer up comments by Director John Boorman, Christopher Dickey (son of the original novel’s author), all four leads (Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox) as well as some from other cast members and crew. These total out around an hour and give us a nice look into the challenges of filming of filming in the woods of northern Georgia.
Also included is a new commentary track from the director. This is interesting as it also talks about the issues they faced making it on a shoestring budget completely on location in the middle of nowhere.
But the extras are not the reason to buy this; the reason to buy it is that you are getting a true classic. One you will almost certainly want to watch again and again.
Order Deliverance from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Psych will return for third season.
The USA network will be bringing back another of their crime shows.
Last month, I mentioned that USA ordered a second batch of episodes of Burn Notice. Last week, they decided to pick up more of Psych. The cable network has requested 16 episodes for next summer.
The show, which just ended its second season, has won it’s time slot (against other cable shows) most of the summer. The show has produced very impressive numbers as well as being a fairly entertaining program.
Shawn Spencer (James Roday) has an eye for details. Having been raised by his police officer father, Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen), he was taught the importance of observation as well as other skills that would prepare him to follow in his father's footsteps and have a long career in law enforcement.
Shawn's hobby was calling in tips to the police on high-profile crimes that he caught on the news. One day, however, Shawn's hobby landed him into trouble, as he was brought to the police station as a suspected accomplice to a recent murder.
Shawn managed to convince the police that he was a psychic and ended up being hired to assist the police.
Not long after, Shawn teams up with his pal Gus (Dulé Hill) and open a detective agency called Psych.
Read Gerald's review of season one.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
DVD Review: Rebus set 2.
This is the second set of Rebus with Ken Stott in the role, and the third overall. This set contains four stories, each based on a Rankin novel. The tales range from a campus-killing spree (A question of Blood) to a murderer whose identity lies hidden within the codes of a book (The Black Book).
The BBC has done a solid job of bringing the world of John Rebus to life. The characters have all of the edges and layers from the books, which allow the actors to make them more than simply part of the background. A very refreshing change from much of the police programs that litter the U.S. airwaves.
Edinburgh is looks just the way the books portray it. The cinematography does a nice job of capturing the gritty side, which adds to the stories. Rankin has always made the city an intrile part of his work.
While Stott is not exactly what I image Rebus to look like, he is closer than John Hannah was. He has more of the weariness and roughness than are so well known to Rankin fans. I don’t know than he completely won me over, but he does a good enough job for me to accept him in the role.
For extras, we get Rebus: Behind the Scenes, a 40some minute look at the creation and production of the series. A solid and interesting piece.
Overall, these will satisfy fans of both Rankin as well as those that are simply looking for entertaining crime dramas.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Joust...the movie.
Who says Hollywood has run out of ideas?
Cerenzie-Peters Productions has bought the movie rights to Joust. Yes, the video game.
For those of you that never played this game (or any other in an actual arcade), Joust features knights doing battle while riding…ostriches. You battle other knights on ostriches, as well as hungry pterodactyls and nasty lava trolls.
You sort of fly around (In real life, Ostriches, while being very cool, lack the ability to fly) but rather ungracefully.
I would love to have been in the room when this was pitched. You ride a freakin’ ostrich! There are tons of amazing novels just waiting to be brought to the silver screen and they pick a cheesy 80s video game.
Mario Brothers was made into a movie and look what the result was!
Can Pong: The movie be far behind?
DVD Review: The Fugitive Season one, volume one.
Paramount Home Entertainment
Originally airing in Sept of 1963 I obviously didn't see this show when it premiered. It is one of the most memorable shows ever broadcast and TV Guide rated it in it's top 40 of all time. Volume 1 from Season one weighs in at 760 minutes and is unforgettable television.
Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) has been accused of killing his wife. On the way to prison and Death Row the train crashes and he escapes putting him on the run for his life and the real killer. And unlike OJ Simpson, we know Dr. Kimble didn't do it. And when Kimble sets out to find the killer we know he's not just going golfing. Kimble is convinced a one armed man seen leaving the murder site is the one responsible and he is obsessed with finding him and clearing himself. At the same time Lt Philip Gerard (Barry Morse) is obsessed with capturing Kimble.
While on the run from town to town we see Kimble get involved with other people's lives, some times positively sometimes not. So while each episode is its own little story, they all have the constant subplot of Kimble clearing his name.
Black and white with a very noir feel this is great viewing and is a lot of fun to watch. There are also plenty of guest stars some easier to recognize than others. A youngish Brian Keith is here looking not to different than his appearance as Mike Hammer from the 50's television pilot, and a young Bill Mumy also pops up in this first set. Great TV and a wonderful addition to any DVD collection.
Order The Fugitive from Amazon.
Jon
For more reviews from Jon, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
DVD Review: Prime Suspect: The Final Act
Acorn Media
The creators are declaring this to be the final Prime Suspect. The show set the bar fairly high with its previous seasons so I could not help but be concerned that it might go out on a whimper instead of a bang.
My fears were unfounded.
The Final Act delivers on a number of levels. The story crime itself is solid, though pretty standard fare, but the characters are outstanding. Every episode of PS has been as much about the struggles of DS Tennison (Helen Mirren) as it has been about the mystery. While past PS shows have focused on the challenges of being a on woman in a very sexist police force (and the toll her dedication, to her job, takes on her private life), this time around the issues are of a more personal nature.
Jane’s father is dying. While he has come to terms with his fate, she is not ready to accept it. While she struggles with this, Jane spends considerable time reflecting upon her relationship with her father.
But as dark as that is, it can’t hold a candle to a far bigger issue: Jane’s growing alcohol problem. It consumes her personal life and is clearly affecting her job performance.
While realism has always been a big part of PS, the show portrays her alcoholism in a way that will hit home to anyone that has ever had his or her lives touched by this brutal disease.
For extras, we are treated to a 45-minute documentary that looks at the entire series. It is a very nice piece that appears to be designed to give reflection on the characters and how they, and the show, have evolved over the years.
Overall, this is a tour de force that sends a show that is already thought of as one the best crime series on a very high note.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
DVD releases for Sept 11th.
Bones: Season Two David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel.Six-disc set with 21 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, gag reels, more. (Fox).
"Television's sexiest investigative duo - forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI Special Agent Seely Booth (David Boreanaz) - is back, combining her uncanny ability to decipher clues found hidden in the remains of victims, his hard-hitting investigative techniques, and state-of-the-art forensic technology to solve some of the most baffling and bizarre crimes ever.
In Season Two, as Brennan gets a new boss and takes on a new partner, tensions mount, passions flare and a shocking conspiracy forces her to confront her troubled past. Packed with intrigue, drama, and just the right touch of dark humor, Bones is the show that has it all."
Read Gerald's review.
Order Bones: Season Two from Amazon.
Face/Off Special Collector's Edition (1997)Dir: John Woo Nicholas Cage, John Travolta Extras: Commentary by Director John Woo, 7 Deleted Scenes including an Alternate Ending, The Light and the Dark: Making Face/Off , John Woo: A Life in Pictures
"John Travolta stars as FBI agent Sean Archer doing the unthinkable to stop the elusive terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage). Watch the bullets fly and the action explode as master action director John Woo (Broken Arrow) detonates the screen in this special collector's edition DVD. Loaded with high-voltage special features, this two-disc set redefines the action genre like never before."
Read my review.
Order Face/Off from Amazon.
Jericho -- Series Two Robert Lindsey; $29.95. (WGBH Boston Video).
Amidst the social upheaval of post-war 1950s London, Inspector Michael Jericho (Robert Lindsay, Horatio Hornblower, Oliver Twist) unravels headline-grabbing mysteries at Scotland Yard. His diligent team includes faithful friend and colleague Detective Sergeant Clive Harvey (David Troughton, Foyle’s War) and the ambitious young Detective Constable John Caldicott (Ciarán McMenamin, David Copperfield).
Order Jericho from Amazon.
Las Vegas: Season Four James Caan. 17 episodes, $59.98. (Universal).
"The Strip is more sizzling than ever as Season Four of TV's sexiest show, Las Vegas, comes to DVD in a four-disc set! Return to the tables of the Montecito Resort & Casino with Ed (James Caan), Danny (Josh Duhamel), Mary (Nikki Cox), Delinda (Molly Sims), Mike (James Lesure) and Sam (Vanessa Marcil) as they deal with the Mob, start passionate new love affairs, and take on the sharpest cheats ever to hit the casino floor. Plus, the action just gets hotter as Jill Hennesy and Jerry O'Connell of Crossing Jordan join the team in a thrilling cross-over episode! Featuring TV's most sensational guest stars - including Cheryl Ladd, Jewel, and Wayne Newton - everyone can be a winner with this "ace" in your DVD collection."
Order Las Vegas: Seaon four from Amazon.
Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act (2006) Helen Mirren. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, photo gallery, filmographies. (Acorn Media).
"In yet another subtle, powerful performance, Mirren truly inhabits the role of Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison. The Final Act finds her searching for Sallie Sturdy, a 14-year-old girl presumed murdered. Facing the hospitalization of her father, descending deeper into alcoholism, and resisting pressure to retire quietly, Tennison vows to bring Sallie’s killer to justice before ending her career. Along the way she forges a surprising friendship with Penny Philips (Laura Greenwood), the missing girl’s best friend. In the teenager’s longing and fierce independence, the aging cop sees something of her younger self."
Order Prime Suspect from Amazon.
Monday, September 10, 2007
DVD Review: Face/Off Special Collector's Edition
Paramount Home Entertainment
Face/Off stars John Travolta as Sean Archer, a driven FBI agent whose son was killed by Castor Troy (Nicholas Cage), a terrorist that now lies in a coma.
Sean is now trying to find a bomb that is hidden in L.A. The FBI is looking for some way to infiltrate Troy’s crew of McNasties when an unusual plan is hatched: Using a rather unusual procedure, Sean will assume the face of Castor. He will then assume his identity and join the gang.
Now nothing in life is easy so of course there are complications. Troy wakes up and assumes Sean’s identity. So Sean is hanging out with Troy’s crew, Troy is hanging with…Sean’s wife and daughter.
John Travolta always seems to have fun when playing the main scumbag and this is no different. And this is a good think since Nicholas Cage as a good gut generally makes me drowsy…and this is no exception.
Face/Off was John Woo’s second Hollywood flick. While better than Broken Arrow, Face/Off does have a similar feel. The fights are very stylish and there are enough explosions for five films, but too much of a good thing is possible and I found myself becoming numb to the many gunfights that were seemingly choreographed by the Joffrey Ballet Company.
Overall, Face/Off is entertaining if you are simply looking for an action flick with novel twist (the changing of personas). Woo has never been a favorite of mine, and I am pretty sure that Nicholas Cage sold his soul (or at least his acting skills) to the devil for Leaving Las Vegas, but I enjoyed Face/off a little more than most of the bombastic action flicks that roll off the Hollywood assembly line today.
Many times, a film is repackaged as a “special edition” or “collector’s edition” with three of four eight-minute featurettes and little more. This is not the case here, as Face/Off is chocked full of nifty stuff.
There are seven deleted/alternate scenes with optional commentary. Honestly none of these are going to wow you too much. Nothing is here that would have added anything to the film.
We are also treated to a five part series entitled The Light and the Dark: Making Face/Off. These clock in at a total of just over one hour and gives us a look behind the film with storyboards, breakdowns of special effects and interviews with cast and crew. Very interesting and worth watching.
Another is John Woo in pictures, this is a twenty some minute documentary about Mr. Woo. Nothing here that his hardcore fans won’t know but it does do a decent job of summing up his career.
And Last but not least we get a pair of commentaries. One with Woo and John Woo and co-writers Michael Colleary and Mike Werb, the other with just the two writers. Both are good enough, the one with Woo obviously is a broader look at the making while other focuses more on the story and the characters.
Jeremy Lynch
Order Face/Off from Amazon.
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
DVD News: Release dates Live Free or Die Hard, Ocean's Thirteen, The Invasion + seasons of The Wire (4), Lovejoy (2), L&A:SVU, Hu$tle and more.
One of the best seasons of television ever will be available, on DVD, on December 4. Season Four of The Wire was ignored by the Emmy Voters (who apparently filled their HBO viewing quota with The Sopranos) in what may very well be the most inexcusable snub in the history of the Emmys.With the fall of Barksdale and the ascent of young Marlo Stanfield as West Baltimore's drug king, the detail continues to "follow the money" up the political ladder in the midst of a mayoral election that pits the black incumbent, Clarence Royce, against an ambitious white councilman, Tommy Carcetti. The theme of urban education is explored through four new characters ? Michael Lee, Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and "Dukie" Weems as they traverse adolescence in the stunted, drug-saturated streets of West Baltimore. The world that awaits these boys and the American commitment to equal opportunity are depicted brilliantly in the edgy, all too realistic Season 4 of The Wire.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Fourth Year will also be available on Dec 4th.
Also coming: The Mod Squad: The First Season, Volume One (Dec 18)
Jan 8th:
Hu$tle: Season Four Read Jon's write-up of seasons 1-3.
The Invasion: A remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemics origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.
Lovejoy:Season Two. The popular british series was based on the character created by mystery novelist Jonathon Gash.
MI-5: Volume 5: A popular British series about the famed U.K. intelligence organization.
For a more complete look at forthcoming crime related DVDs, visit the Crimespree DVD Calendar.
Smallville and Heroes
Labor day weekend started for Ruth and I around 2:00 pm in the afternoon. We turned on the DVD player and popped in Smallville. We'de been watching season one all week and started season 2 thursday night. Friday night we started the mother of all marathons. We watched straight through to Saturday am around 8:00, picke up again around noon straight through to 10:00 on Snuday morning and then resumed around 1:00. We finished off with the season 5 finale Monday night around 8:oo pm.
Wow.
For those of you not in the know, Smallville is the story of Superman before he became Superman.
Having never seen the show We decided to give it a shot after finding the disc on sale. Half way done with seaason one I bought 2,3,4 and 5. It's addictive as hell.
The fanboy in me loves so much of this. The first time Clark Kent uses his heat vision and guest stars from the DC Comics universe like the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg really were great.
But the show is so much more. I love the relationship between Clark and his parents. I love seeing him struggle with decisions about who to trust and moral problems and doing things that will shape who he later will become.
Michael Rosenbaum is amazing as Lex Luthor, this actor will go far.
Tom Welling as Clark is another great discovery. Truthfully I think the only weak link in the casting is Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, she doen't possess a lot of depth and seems to have only two moods.
All sorts of little things make the show great, an homage to Buffy and the movie Flatliners, a tiny secene with John Schnieder in the truck with the Dukes Of Hazard theme on the radio, and Jane Seymour as a bad guy. I also love the cameos from Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder. The early days of Clark nd Lois are so great, the rapport between the two is magic.
With all tha wonderful things that make this great it's hard to pinpoint only one reason why I love it. During a conversation with comics writer Brian Azarello (100 Bullets) he said "Do you know what makes it great? It's that you kow how it's going to end."
And the more I think about it it the more I see he's right. The show is building to the point when Clark makes the decision to become Superman, and eventually Lex will do something so bad he can be nothing but a villian.
And the upcoming season has the fanboy in me screaming like a girl, a genuine superhero teamup coming!
This is amazing television and what is so cool is that it is comic book stories with out the costumes.
Which leads me into Heroes. Jeoph Leob is involved in both shows, so it's no surprise I love them both. I think Loeb is a genius.
Heroes builds perfectly giving you glimpses of what is coming. You just know while you watch that every person you are watching has the potential to do that one thing that will be truly heroic.
The show works on a great idea, the thinking that humans are evolving and that more and more humans possess a gene which will allow them to develop powers. And being more true to reality than comics it the thinking that instead of being adored you would be feared makes it all to realistic.
The writers don't dumb it down and expect the viewer to keep up. And as exciting as it is it's not hard to do just that. I love everybody on the show and I can't wait for season 2.
Season1-5 of Smallville are already out and 6 comes out in two weeks.
heroes Season one is out now as well.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Film Review: Shoot 'Em Up.
Shoot 'Em Up can be summed up in two words: Gratuitous violence. But what fun gratuitous violence it is. What we have here is a general outline of a plot whose purpose is to give us a setting for some of the crazier shoot outs seen in recent years.
"A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, Shoot ‘Em Up kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a mysterious loner who teams up with an unlikely ally (Monica Belluci) to protect a newborn baby from a determined criminal (Paul Giamatti) who hunts them throughout the bowels of the city. Shoot ‘Em Up is written and directed by Michael Davis."
That is from the press release, but let me give you a slightly clearer summary:
We start out with Mr. Smith, sitting on a park bench, eating a carrot. He is a looking a tad scruffy..who am I kidding? He looks one step above a homeless vagrant.
Anyway, he is sitting there when suddenly a very pregnant lady comes racing by with some Mcnasties in close pursuit.
Mr. Smith does what any good guy would do: He steps up and helps the lady in distress. A question: Have you ever seen a carrot used as a lethal weapon? If not, now is your chance.
A baby is born, but the mother does not survive. Mr. Smith now finds himself in possesion of a newly orphaned infant. He really has no time to ponder this as Hertz (Paul Giamatti in a wonderfully evil performance) and his crew of scumbags want the child. Mr. Smith, feeling that Hertz might not have the child's best interests at heart, chooses not to relinquish the child.
So now we have conflict. And with that, the bullets fly more than ever.
Oh yeah, the lovely Monica Bellucci comes on board aiding our Mr. Smith. This only seems fair, since Hertz has a veritable army of slime doggies obeying his every whim. I should point out that the army shrinks seemingly by the minute as Mr. Smith proves to be more than just a pretty face.
Folks looking for subtlety might well want to stay home; there is none of that here. As a matter of fact, I feel comfortable saying that if a character were to shows signs of being subtle, he would likely get his head blown off. That kind of behavior will not be tolerated here! Fans of Sin City will likely have a blast. Actually, Sin City might be a perfect litmus test. Because I can certainly see those that disliked Sin City not making to the end of Shoot 'Em Up.
Shoot 'Em Up is a ridiculously violent film that both emulates and satirizes the hyper-violent action film genre. They don't simply cross the line; they start on that side of the line and go from there. Remember some of the insane stuff with Bugs Bunny? That actually came to mind while viewing the carnage and mayhem wrought here. Of course it may simply have been the carrots.
Watching this, you are not quite sure if they were serious or simply having fun.
I am betting it is the latter.
Visit the Shoot 'Em Up official website. Read More......
Film Preview: 3:10 to Yuma.
For fans of crime, we have two releases that might tickle your collective fancies.
Today is the release date for Shoot 'Em Up and 3:10 to Yuma. You can read my review of Shoot 'Em Up elsewhere on the blog, but I thought I would put together a quick look at
3:10 to Yuma. Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, this is the second time around for this tale, Glenn Ford starred in the 1957 original.
"In Arizona in the late 1800's, infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale), struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch, volunteers to deliver him alive to the "3:10 to Yuma", a train that will take the killer to trial. On the trail, Evans and Wade, each from very different worlds, begin to earn each other’s respect. But with Wade’s outfit on their trail – and dangers at every turn – the mission soon becomes a violent, impossible journey toward each man's destiny."
Because the original was quite good, many were questioning the logic of remaking it. I honestly have to say I was skeptical. Christian Bale is talented, but has faltered on occasion and while I do agree Crowe is talented, he is also can be a pain in the ass on the set.
But this fear appears to be unfounded. The reviews are, for the most part, positve. The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post were both were lukewarm in their reactions, but Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) gave it four stars (out of four) with most others (Variety, L.A. Times, Miami Herald) not far behind.
Visit 3:10 to Yuma's official website.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
DVD review: Bones - Season Two.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
I was glad to learn the quirky, standout characters of Bones would live to see a second season--one that indeed delved into their lives.
To start, Dr. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) must adjust to a new boss, Dr. Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor), who has the people skills Brennan lacks as well as a previous relationship with Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz.). Saroyan works more closely with Brennan and her team than did Dr. Goodman (the departed Jonathan Adams). Adding to Brennan's worries is the sudden appearance of her fugitive father (played with heart and menace by Ryan O'Neal).
Meanwhile, Brennan's friends face challenges of their own. Midway through the season, Booth is suspended for firing his weapon without cause and forced into multiple sessions with an FBI psychiatrist (Stephen Fry). While Booth is away, Brennan is assisted (and romanced) by a new FBI contact (Eddie McClintock). Romance also blossoms between Jack Hodgins and Angela Montenegro (T.J. Thyne and Michaela Conlin). Even youthful genius Zach Addy (Eric Millegan) does some growing up, earning his first Ph.D.
This may seem a lot of change for one season, but most of the change occurs organically. The show's crime element remains compelling and fast-paced, the tension only heightened as viewers come to care more about the characters.
The second season set includes all 21 aired episodes on 6 discs, two audio commentaries, two behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.
--Gerald So
Gone Baby Gone debuts at Deauville Film Festival and the early reviews are in.
When it was announced that Ben Affleck was going to make his directorial debut with Dennis Lehane's Gone Baby Gone, fans of the Angie/Patrick novels have been understandably nervous about this. The Boston P.I.s are as popular as any mystery protagonists from recent years.
Those concerns were amplified when he cast his younger brother as Patrick.
Back in April, I spoke with somebody that had seen an early cut of the film. He really enjoyed it and thought it was a great film.
Then in July, Kevin Smith praised the film: "it's a wonderful film. It's an insanely strong directorial debut."
The film debuted this week at the Deauville Film Festival in France.
The film received a standing ovation from the audience, and the critics seem rather pleased as well.
The Hollywood Reporter especially loved the film saying "it's going to be remembered as one of the best crime movies of the decade."
Variety liked it ("Casey Affleck shows low-key but potent acting chops to be reckoned with") but had some issues with the story.
Read the Hollywood Reporter review.
Read the Variety review.
Check out the official web site.
Righteous Kill: Good cast gets better.
Brian Dennehy and John Leguizamo to join Pacino and De Niro in Righteous Kill.
Golden Globe winner Brian Dennehy (Cocoon, Best Seller) is in final negotiations, and John Leguizamo (To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Ice Age) has signed on the bottom line, for Righteous Kill.
They will join Academy Award winners Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as well as Carla Gugino, 50 cent and Donnie Wahlberg.
De Niro and Pacino play police detectives tracking a vigilante killer. Leguizamo plays another cop that is butting heads with them, while Dennehy is their captain.
Carla Gugino (Sin City, Night at the Museum) is a crime scene investigator with “dark personal life.” She becomes involved with De Niro’s character.
50 Cent will be playing a drug dealer that assists the detectives in their investigation.
Russell Gerwitz wrote the screenplay. Gerwitz wrote last year’s Inside Man. He is currently working on a screenplay for a sequel to Inside Man.
The director is Jon Avnet. This is where I get a little nervous. Avnet directed Fried Green Tomatoes and Up Close and Personal. UCP was a real stinker with Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. Seriously, not only should the price of the ticket been reimbursed, but with extra for pain and suffering. Of course I am partially to blame for paying to see a film with Pfeiffer as a lead.
If both Al and Bob (that is what all of his buddies call him) have committed, one would think they must feel he is capable to pulling this off.
Plus after seeing their one shared scene in Heat, I can't wait for an entire film of this duo.
Filming has just started, with an expected release in spring of 2008.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
First photo of cast from Bryan Singer's Valkyrie.
From left to right: Kevin McNally, Christian Berkel, Bill Nighy, Tom Cruise, Terence Stamp, David Schofield and Kenneth Brannagh.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Central Comics Zone: talking comics with Ian Rankin.
Ok, this is not film related but it is worth reading.
Our sister site, Central Comic Zone, has an interview with award-winning crime writer Ian Rankin. Actually, that does not do Ian justice... Iconic crime master Ian Rankin...that sounds about right.
Anyway, Ian has a comic coming out next year. Jon Jordan chatted him up a bit about it.
Check it out.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Taratino turns down chance to direct film version of Hawaii Five-O.
Quentin Tarantino has turned down an offer to write and direct a film version of the 1970s TV series Hawaii Five-O.
Tarantino told Digitial Spy:
"My producing partner at the time, Lawrence Bender, was hanging out with some dude from Fox or Warners or whatever, and they said I should stop working on what I was doing, because I'd be so into this...I tried to watch the old TV show, but it sucks. I don't even like Hawaii."
Thanks to Dark Horizons for pointing it out.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Red Band trailer for No Country for Old Men online.
An R rated trailer for the Coen Brothers upcoming No Country for Old Men is now available through the film's web site.
The trailer is pretty damn impressive and certainly makes me want to see the movie.
Go to the site.
"The story begins when Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds a pickup truck surrounded by a sentry of dead men. A load of heroin and two million dollars in cash are still in the back. When Moss takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law - in the person of aging, disillusioned Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) - can contain. Moss tries to evade his pursuers - in particular a mysterious mastermind who flips coins for human lives (Javier Bardem)."
You can also go to this site to watch five clips from the film.
Click on the poster below for a larger image.
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