Wednesday 7 December 2011

DVD Update (02/07/2011 - 16/07/2011)

You read the dates right, I'm in the progress of moving stuff from various blogs into a one stop shop, so I am re-posting my regular fortnightly DVD update which it says on the tin is me telling you (fictional) readers what I have got -

The Iceman Cometh - superb late 80s Hong Kong movie, sort of like a Kung Fu California (Encino) Man (only it predates it by a few years). Yuen Biao who never quite gets the recognition he deserves) is great a Chinese Dynstasy warrior out of his depth in the modern HK world when he is unfrozen as is Maggie Cheung (before getting her teeth fixed, which resulted her heading towards the more serious fair) as a modern working girl but it's Yuen Wah as Biao's psycho brother unfrozen in the modern world is just absolute brilliance.

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Will Ferrell Volume 2 - this is probably one of the least necessary SNL compilations they've released (and their is a 3rd volume) and the amount of great performers who have passed through SNL over the years who haven't had a single special (Bill Murray anyone?), this as good moments but a lot of his best moments where already covered on the first volume and some of these sketches where already on volume 1 in shorter form. However, any time there is a Celebrity Jeopardy sketch on an SNL DVD I am happy.

Wish Gone Amiss - purchased out of my love for the Suite Life Of Zack and Cody (or if 'm been more honest my love for Ashley Tisdale, Brenda Song and MILF Kim Rhodes), there's is my favourite story of the three but the Cory In The House and Hanna Montana stories are enjoyable. They are all linked by the main characters from each show wishing upon a falling star. From the Hannah Monana's I've seen I've found elements of it likeable but I don't think I'll be adding any HM only DVDs to my collection.

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Dan Aykroyd - the only difference between the brilliance of Aykroyd and Belushi and their work on SNL is the fact Belushi died young which made him more legendary in people's eyes (The Clapton/Hendrix Rule). There is a lot of funny sketches here which proves why Aykroyd's time on the show is so fondly remembered and it's just a shame for a long time Aykroyd hasn't done something so groundbreaking as this.

Game Over - sadly short lived computer animated series from the mid 00s that lasted all of six episodes (another computer animated show Father Of The Pride was out at the same time and barely lasted much longer). Most of the jokes are aimed at the adults and their are many, many laugh out loud moments. The show is about a family of video game characters and is about what happens after the games are turned off. If you come across this DVD cheap, which I'm sure you could pick it up.

The Ed Wood Collection - six "classic" films from the twisted, "genius" mind of Edward D. Wood Jr. including his best loved movies Plan 9 From Outer Space, Bride Of The Monster and Glen Or Glenda. Plan 9 is badly acted, directed and wrote (note - even Bela Lugosi who shot silent scenes for a movie that wasn't meant to be this overacts with no words) but it's classic in it's badness and Glen Or Glenda is well meaning but being from the mind of Wood just comes across as completely misguided and there is just way too much stock footage. Overall though a great set. For a lover of bad film a set like this is a treat.

The Mist - Frank Darabont directing a Stephen King story as already give us the amazing Shawshank Redemption, aswell as the very good Green Mile. The Mist is the first King horror he's done so hopefully it's one of the better horror adaptations of recent years.

Atlantis - The Lost Empire - The Lion King was the last (non Pixar) Disney animation that made me go wow, but it's still bloody Disney and it was a cheap price so I can't complain.

The Prodigal Son - gifted to me after my brother got the Hong Kong Legends version, this is classic kung fu with the above mentioned Yuen Biao and the awesome Sammo Hung starring.

And Now You're Dead - this actually blew me away, starring Bruce Lee's daughter Shannon Lee, produced by Golden Harvest and directed by Corey Yuen, this had loads of terrific action and it kept me gripped all the way through. Search it out, it probably won't cost you that much.

How I Met Your Mother Season 2 - one of my favourite of the 00s (and beyond now) laugh track sit-com's, it seems to think far ahead and as one truly amazing character in Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson. How much did this entire second season cost me in total? - the grand total of 99p, bargain or what?

The 6th Day - got because I'm collecting Arnie films, remember watching this back when it was a new(ish) film, didn't think it was awful but then again it didn't blow me away.

The Neverending Story - was actually never one of my favourites growing up but it makes me think of a film period I adore so I've grown to have more affection for it.

Weekend At Bernie's - hard to believe they could actually milk a full movie out of this concept (and a sequel), enjoyable in one of those amazingly crappy ways.

Ricky Gervais Live 4 - Science - seems to me Ricky Gervais peaked with his first two stand up DVDs, there is stuff that makes you laugh here just not as hard.

Plus One Series 1 - the set up sounds, well... American, I've been to a few weddings and never had the plus one thing show up or be an issue (it probably does) but have heard it in American sit-com's (How I Met Your Mother did an episode around it). The series is fun and Nigel Harmon, who I thought was very wooden during his time on Eastenders is good fun here in a supporting role, even if it's just a bit like Jay from Inbetweeners but just a bit older (but I think there was in production same time). There seems to be no second series forthcoming.

Beverly Hills Cop Collection - the first is great, the second and enjoyable and the third well... naff. Eddie is at his best in the first movie and you can easily why it made him an a-lister.

Pet Semetary - whilst it's probably not in my top ten Stephen King adaptations (or maybe it would be I am undecided) the film as some good unsettling moments and it's still unusual to me to see Fred Gwynne away from his Herman Munster make up. The Ramones do the theme song which is no bad thing either.

Goodnight Sweetheart Series 1 - whilst the best show Nicholas Lyndhurst ever did will always be Only Fools and Horses, Goodnight Sweetheart is still a delight. I am a sucker for time travel stories anyway. His female relationship during the Second World War was always way more interesting then his modern romance.

Guardian Angel - Cynthia Rothrock movies are usually good for at least one thing and that is the fact she as got the mad kung fu skills.

This is England '86 - This Is England was one of the best movies of the 2000s in my eyes and I was happy that the director Shane Meadows and pretty much the entire cast would return for the series (how often can you say that from a series based on a movie) and whilst nothing equals the emotional height the film reaches it's still a great series.

Hercules In New York - Arnie's 1970 film debut is bad and I got it for collecting purposes (that of Arnie movies and the fact I can't resist bad movies).

Collateral Damage - I recall 9/11 having an effect on this film's cinema release and it's frankly an alright Arnie movie.

Romeo Must Die - Jet Li (in I think is first starring role in a Hollywood production) and R&B singer Aaliyah (whos's career was cut short only a couple of years after this movie when she was killed in an aeroplane crash) have good chemistry but the film doesn't hold a candle action wise to what Jet Li had been doing years previously.

Space Cowboys - great older cast with Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner in what is an enjoyable romp.

Big Boss Untouchable - somewhat a Bruceploitation movie made within the last 10 years. It looks amateurish and doesn't hold a candle to even a lesser Bruce Lee clone.

Glory - a film I enjoyed so much as a youngster, which says a lot about me. Still think it's a magnificent film and the ending still sticks in my mind.

Treasure Planet - a Disney film I always confuse with Atlantis despite the different situations, says a lot about Disney's post Lion King output more then anything I suppose.

Marion & Geoff Series 1 - says a lot about Rob Brydon's talent that he can carry entire episodes, I don't think it's as great as some people think it is but I think it's pretty good.

Problem Child Tantrum Pack - the first two Problem Child movies I never even thought of as great movies even with less cynical childhood eyes, always a big John Ritter fan so I enjoy him here and the Kid Junior is somewhat grating, but then again most child actors are. The third I didn't see until I got the set - there's no Ritter (The Greatest American Hero William Katt replaces him but two other actors come back though) and I've forgot about it already so it's pretty unmemorable.

Bottom Series 3 - never quite as fun as the Young Ones, it is still an enjoyable show that was a favourite of mine as a kid and it's still fun for a bit of mindless violence.

Armageddon - not the 1998 asteroid heading towards the earth movie but the 1997 movie also known as Red Line starring legend Rutger Hauer and Mark Dacascos (who's underrated).

Sink The Bismarck!
Michael Palin Himalaya
A Better Tomorrow II
Prison On Fire
Peking Opera Blues - I'll comment on this bunch when I get around to watching them.

Saturday Night Live - 25th Anniversary - literally arrived through the post about 20 minutes after I made this post (originally) so I thought it was fitting to add it onto the end here. It's good too see some new bits with Bill Murray and Billy Crystal among others and fun to see other highlights from the then 25 years.

Soldier Blue - another late Saturday addition (maybe i should wait later on in the day to do this post). It's a film I've never seen but I remember an old mate been obsessed with it (I say old mate because I haven't seen him in years).

And there you have it, join me again for more of the same.

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