The DVD Lowdown #1
So here we have the first of my weekly columns charting a choice selection of exactly what DVDs are out this week- obviously not everyone made the cut, and to those of you who failed, let me say this- Movie Reviewing is a squad game, and these guys wouldnt be anywhere without your help and continued support. But lets be honest, you just werent flaming good enough Release Date:April 6th 2009 Probably an idea to start with the biggest release of the week Twilight See my review here. Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa
Not a bad sequel, but then it was somewhat superfluous in my eyes. I didnt enjoy Madagascar apart from in all too fleeting flashes-David Schwimmers neurotic giraffe Melmann and Sacha Baron Cohens King Julien. But the laughs were a little hard to come by, and I wasnt that impressed with the stylised animation.. But Madagascar 2 has at least redressed that issue- tightening the sloppy edges, and featuring some impressive live-action style camera work. The only problem is that Madagascar 2 introduces too many characters, losing a considerable amount of the character focus of the first movie, and seeks success by pushing the same old jokes from the first film further- so Mold is even more pathetic, Nana more deceptively and sadistically sprightly, Julien more annoying and Melmann more neurotic. But parts of the film begin to feel like a sketch show, as the film-makers try to shoe-horn in every favourite aspect of the first movie, and the odd love-story between a hippo and a giraffe just defies the laws of nature. Inkheart
The second adaptation of a best-selling childrens novel to grace the small screen this week- and in my humble opinion the trilogy from which it is made is far superior to Stephenie Meyers tween-vamp romps. Shame then that the decision was made to hire Brendan Fraser as Silvertongue, as I can never take him seriously, and he doesnt have the necessary acting credentials to pull the role off: I always envisaged someone slightly older with more poise in the role. If youre looking for something with a family fantasy flavour to it, I suggest last years Spiderwick Chronicles which is vastly superior. Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter I still dont know who in their right mind will buy this- okay so its an important part of the graphic novels universe, and will form a key feature of the definitive edition/directors cut or whatever they eventually choose to call the behemoth DVD release in a few months. But as a stand-alone product, it makes no financial sense to buy this unless you have no intention of buying the complete movie package, and I just dont see that being an option for anyone with enough interest in Watchmen to be attracted to this. Saying that, from what Ive seen, its a fantastic animation, and it will enrich the movie experience massively when they re-cut it to be included. The Haunted Airman
I only include this here as indication of just how willing people are to stretch a dime or two out of the decent hard-working DVD buying public. There are two words you need to know that explain the release of this TV drama this week: Robert Pattinson. Nuff said. Demons Series One See my review here. Tyson: The Movie
There is a familiar tragedy that tells the tale of sportsmen who leave their profession after the all too brief ecstasy of reaching the pinnacle- George Best turned to alcohol, Gazza seems intent on joining him in a premature liquidy grave, and Iron Mike Tyson spectacularly combusted when he was no longer able to pull on his gloves. After the early ridiculous heights of becoming the youngest ever heavyweight champion, Tysons life imploded, and became a whole lot more rapey and bitey. This movie, a timely insight into Tysons warped psyche which is largely based around a warts and all interview with the man himself, in which he comes across variously as clown and tragic figure. You have to give the film-makers considerable credit for creating an environment in which Tyson felt comfortable enough to be refreshingly candid about his problems and multifarious mistakes, and for making an entertaining documentary that thankfully never becomes sycophantic and pandering. Hansel & Gretel
I have a confession to make- any horror film (especially one made by the kings of creep- the Koreans) that stars children: The Orphanage has sat on my shelf gathering dust for weeks now, begging me to grow a set and put it in the player. But there is nothing as conducive to me shitting my strides than an eight year old with sunken eyes, pale skin and an appetite for murder- same reason I will never watch the original The Grudge. Perhaps Im suppressing some deep-seated memory of being panned by a group of tooled up goth toddlers when I was a nipper- I dont really care, as long as I dont have to sit through anything like Ringu again. So thats the context to my encounter with Hansel & Gretel- thankfully the movie swerves towards being a surrealist uber-imaginative fantasy (like a Korean Del Toro movie), rather than concentrating on gore or jumpy frights. The films subtlety helps the revelation of the childrens dark secrets far more affecting, and the fact that director Im Pil Seong prefers restraint in his direction, creating an engagingly complex and disorienting narrative that is quietly disturbing without ever resorting to being outright gruesome. Hansel & Gretel is a fantastic, surreal and visually stunning effort, and surely must rank as one of the Korean DVD releases of the year: as indication of its power, Ive now seen it twice, even despite my fear of weirdo kiddies. Re-issues: Electric Dreams (1984)
Usually I'd blink and miss an early 80s reissue like this- but I remember fondly seeing this piece of shit film on TV many moons ago and being both utterly apalled at it and completely taken in by it. The plot has to be the most implausible thing ever committed to paper- a man and super-computer both fall in love with the same woman with hilarious consequences. Not quite as good an artificial intelligence gone wrong movie as 2001, but definitely more enjoyable than Eagle Eye, Electric Dreams is the ultimate realisation of the cliché that it is possible for something to be so bad its good. The Money Pit (1986)
Anyone who knows me, knows I have a severe fetish for Tom Hanks early career movies- Sleepless in Seattle, Big, Turner & Hooch, Dragnet- all absolute classics, but the pinnacle of that period was The Money Pit. Along with new wife Shelley Long, Hanks buys a dream home, only to discover it needs so much work they might as well have just invested in an English bank (see, I can do topical). It might not win any awards, but The Money Pit is one of those DVDs that should be part of any discerning collectors tome- you wont watch it all the time, but once in a while your eyes will gloss over and youll want to see Tom Hanks at his absolute comic best. Probably about halfway through Angels and Demons, Im guessing. The also rans:Body Armour, Bugs, Man From London, The Signal, Return to the Lonesome Dove, The Broken, Red, The Match, Skins Series 3, Criminal Minds Season 3, South Park Season 10. Plus a whole host of re-issues that dont even bear thinking about, let alone mentioning (Jaws 2 & 3 anyone?!)