Screen Junkies » DVD

‘Dredd’ Comes To Blu-Ray. Hide Your Sins.

Penn Collins — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 01:15:54 +0000

He IS the law.

On January 8, Dredd came to DVD and Blu-Ray, so if you think that you can escape the loooooong arm of the law in the comfort of your home, think again. And in case you’re wandering if this follow-up is softer than the original, think again. This has more grit than sandpaper does.

Caption This Pic For Your Chance To Win ‘The Sitter’ On Blu- Ray DVD

Screen Junkies — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:44:06 +0000

The Sitter, starring Jonah Hill and Sam Rockwell, comes out on Blu-Ray DVD on Tuesday, March 20th. In honor of this momentous occasion, we’re celebrating by giving away a free copy. But there is a catch! You have to earn it by coming up with the funniest caption for the picture below.

Leave your caption in the comment section, and check back on March 20th to see if you’ve won. Good luck, and may god have mercy on us all.

And check out this video from the team that made The Sitter. I wish my babysitters looked like that.

Because We’re Not Total Monsters, Here’s ‘Lady And The Tramp’ With Real Dogs

Penn Collins — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:06:28 +0000

This is pretty damn cute. It’s also an ad for Disney‘s Lady and the Tramp (now on Blu-Ray!) DVD, but whatever. We have to do something to make up for that Valentines Day dildo piece we ran earlier today. (sigh)

The dogs seem pretty heavily sedated and uneasy, but isn’t that how love makes you feel? I think so. Also, they didn’t even give the dogs real meatballs, but let’s pretend that right after this scene ended, the dogs were given a tray of meatballs, then made love, doggy-style, in a candle-lit dog house.

So here’s to the purest love we know – dog love used to sell copies of a re-released film, now available on Blu-Ray!

Now go eat those chocolates!

NPH Is Gay For That ***** In This ‘A Very Harold And Kumar Christmas’ Clip

Jame Gumb — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:49:16 +0000

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas is coming to Blu-ray on February 7th. In honor of the momentous occasion, we’re rolling out this clip featuring everyone’s favorite drug-abusing pseudo-gay sex-addict, Neil Patrick Harris.

In this scene, NPH uses his homosexual cover story to lure a backup dancer into his dressing room. And since he’s so non-threatening, what’s the harm in some nude massage? After all, they’re just a couple of girlfriends, right?

At any rate, if you’re anxious to see how this ends (hint: it ends poorly), go and pre-order the Blu-ray. Tell them Jame Gumb sent you, and receive absolutely no discount.

Review: Give ‘Real Steel’ A Second Chance On Blu-Ray And DVD

Mark Potts — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:06:16 +0000

Real Steel is one of those movies that I wish had done better. It’s not an especially great film, but it’s admirable for what it wants to do and say, and is, at the very least, an enjoyable time. But nonetheless, it fell flat in theaters, but is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

The Blu-Ray looks amazing, crystal clear and colorful. And, I’m aware of how dorky this is, but I was quite happy the loading time on the disc was very low. (I hope I’m not the only one to recognize the leaps and bounds Blu-Ray loading times have made. I remember the first Blu-Ray I bought took forever. And by forever, I mean about 10 seconds. But those are 10 seconds of looking at cat and girl photos on the Internet that I won’t get back!)

It’s not packed to the gills with features, but what it does have is pretty good. “Countdown to the Fight: The Charlie Kenton Story” is sort of a behind-the-music video of Hugh Jackman‘s character from the film. You only need to watch it if you’re an “extra features completist.” Otherwise, you can skip it.

“Making of Metal Valley” is a great feature where you see how they created a large sequence in the film. Director Shawn Levy does most of the talking and explaining as they show how they created Metal Valley, which had no real description in the script (isn’t that something of a screenwriting no-no? And is saying no-no a no-no?) Levy gives a lot of credit to his crew for helping create the film, which is nice to see since Hollywood is full of many egotistical directors (COUGH-Michael Bay-COUGH).

The rest of the features are a nice watch. Sugar Ray Leonard has a five minute segment detailing how he helped Hugh Jackman act like a real boxer. “Building Bots” is a cool behind-the-scenes look at how they created the practical and CGI robots. “Real Steel Second Screen” is a feature where you download an app to your computer or iPad, sync it to the film playing on your TV, and watch more extra features while the film plays. It’s a pretty cool feature and something I hope gets included on more Blu-Rays.

And finishing things out are your standard deleted and extended scnes, bloopers, and audio commentary by Levy, who is a fairly charming and interesting guy.

Overall, it’s a great Blu-Ray, It looks phenomenal, and has some fun features you can enjoy. Also, the film provides you with the fun game of “Who is Hotter: Hugh Jackman or Evangeline Lilly?” Man or woman, it’s a tough game.

‘The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition’ On Blu-ray

Archibald Bayou III — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:39:08 +0000

The Rocketeer is now available on Blu-ray. Based on a comic book series by the late Dave Stevens, the film tells the story of a young pilot who gets ahold of a top secret jet pack and uses it to fight Nazi‘s and rescue Jennifer Connelly. So basically a mixture of every dream I had at age 12.

The film is directed by Joe Johnston, better known for last summer’s Captain America: The First Avenger. That film’s success probably had more to do with this Blu-ray release than the “20th Anniversary” milestone quoted on the cover. But however it happened, it’s nice to finally get The Rocketeer in high definition.

How does it look? Good, if not great. Certainly the picture is miles above the previous DVD release, but it is still a bit washed out compared to other Blu-ray transfers from the early 90′s. But the sound is excellent; as good as I’ve ever heard the film.

The only real disappointment with this release is that it contains the film, a trailer, and nothing else. I know The Rocketeer wasn’t a huge hit for Disney, but certainly they could have sweetened the package a bit for the die hard fans. Any behind the scenes clips or deleted scenes would have helped make it a better value than the previous DVD, which also featured zero special features. To call it the “20th Anniversary” edition and feature just the trailer is kind of a cruel tease.

Still, how does the film hold up after all these years? It’s still slightly corny, but a lot of fun. By making the movie an earnest slice of pre-WW II nostalgia, Johnston gave it a timeless feel, respectful of it’s comic book roots and engaging to audiences of any age. Hopefully, this release will help expand The Rocketeer’s devoted fan base, and by the time the 30th Anniversary rolls around, we’ll get some extras we can celebrate. The Rocketeer is available in stores now, with a SRP of $26.50.

Review: Fright Night On Blu-ray – Now Featuring More Daylight

Archibald Bayou III — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:56:06 +0000

New on Blu-ray this week is the 2011 remake of the horror classic, Fright Night. Starring Colin Farrell and Anton Velchin, the film is a solid update, even if it never quite overtakes the 1985 original.

Like its predecessor, Fright Night tells the story of a high school student who is absolutely convinced his creepy new neighbor is a blood thirsty vampire. Deciding to protect his single mom and girlfriend, he teams up with a sleazy Vegas performer (David Tennant) and preps to battle a small army of the undead.

The visuals are slick, and the gore is plentiful, although the high definition tends to let some of the CGI work stand out more than it should. The audio is solid, and pops as you’d expect it to during the action scenes. The two disc combo pack also features a DVD edition of the film. And you can shell out a few more bucks for a 3D edition if that sort of thing floats your boat.

The extras on the disc are varied. You get five deleted scenes, a couple featurettes, bloopers and a music video. The disc also features one of the more unique extras I’ve encountered, in the form of an audio track for the visually impaired. Essentially, the track provides a reader who describes everything happening on screen while not interrupting dialogue. And when I say everything, I mean it. If you ever wanted wanted to hear a vivid description of the Touchstone Entertainment logo, now is your chance.

So is it worth it? Yes, if you enjoy horror with a good mix of comedy. The acting and action sequences are good throughout the film, even if the pace moves a bit quicker than necessary. Although I think Fright Night missed some opportunities to separate itself from the vampire pack, it’s still a step above most recent horror films, and certainly most recent horror remakes. It won’t make any die-hard fans forget the original, but the movie is by no means an embarrassment to the name.

Fright Night is now available in stores, with an SRP of $39.99 for the Blu ray/ DVD combo pack.

Caption This Pic And Win ‘Straw Dogs’ On DVD

Jame Gumb — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:14:42 +0000

It’s time to win more free stuff. God bless America (or wherever the hell you’re from).

You know how it works. Take a look at the pic below, and think of a funny caption. Once you’re finished, post the caption in the comment section below. After a while, I’ll look at your comments and pick my favorite. The funniest caption gets Straw Dogs on Blu-ray.

All entries must be received no later than December 20th, which is also the day Straw Dogs arrives on Blu-ray.

Caption This Pic…

Caption This Pic And Win A ‘Fright Night’ Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack… And Some T-Shirts

Jame Gumb — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:40:41 +0000

It’s time to win some free stuff, bitches!

You know how it works. Take a look at the pic below, and think really hard about what would make a funny caption. Once you’ve done that, post your caption in the comment section below. After a while, my writers and I will take a look at your comments and harshly judge them. The funniest caption gets a “Peter Vincent” T-Shirt and a Fright Night Blu-ray+DVD combo pack. The next four runners up win the t-shirt as well, so your odds aren’t half bad.

So get to it.

Fright Night is available on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD beginning December 9th, 2011.

Caption This Pic…

Give ‘Conan’ On DVD A Chance… Or Don’t

Mark Potts — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:39:45 +0000

Released in August of this year, Conan the Barbarian failed pretty hard at the box office. Even Sean Hood, one of the screenwriters of the film, wrote a blog about how it felt to see the movie fail, which made me feel slightly bad that it did. Sometimes, you forget the people who make movies actually have feelings and believe in a project. But screw them, the movie sucked.

Well, not really. It wasn’t that bad. In fact, it’s an R-rated action film that probably would have been huge in the 90′s, but not in our cynical-10s (is that what it is? 10s? What about O-10s? That’s what I’m going to use. Try to stop me.)

The DVD and Blu-Ray are sparse on extras, but the ones they have are interesting nonetheless. “The Conan Legacy” is a pretty cool 18-minute history of the character that is really well made. The most interesting comment was by one of the film’s producers saying they cast Jason Momoa, and unknown actor, so they wouldn’t have to have someone who would be compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger. That seems slightly odd considering how anyone who would have been cast would have been compared to Arnold. I understand he is trying to find a more finess way of saying, “We cast an unknown because this movie had to be cheap.”

“Robert E. Howard – The Man Who Would Be Conan” is a short look at the man who created the character. It’s a fun watch. But, the two best features are about staging the fights.

“Battle Royal – Engineering the Action” is a look at how the stunt coordinators worked. It gives you a lot of insight into how they get these intricate fights created and ready to shoot. Spoiler Alert! Editing and many angles makes these fights interesting. Seeing the fights actually being created is funny because the actors are barely making contact and are slow. But it’s great to see the creation and final product, which makes “Staging the Fights” even cooler. The filmmakers actually shot many of the fights scenes in pre-production with stunt doubles and referred to these short films when shooting the actual movie. It’s great to see the stunt double version versus the final version.

The final two special features are audio commentaries, one with the director, Marcus Nispel (which breaks the main commentary rule: never only have one person. It’s very boring and very quiet). The other is with Momoa and Rose McGowan, which really should be called “Everything is About Rose McGowan” because she finds a way to make everything about her. Even scenes she isn’t in are somehow about her. The only thing she doesn’t talk about is the amount of plastic surgeons it took to turn her face into a flat, plastic shell of its former self.

I think Conan is worth giving a chance. It’s campy, gory, and has some decent laughs. Also, some nudity. And that’s always good, right? (No. See About Schmidt).

‘Blue Velvet’ On Blu-Ray: Now Dean Stockwell’s Singing Is Even Creepier

Archibald Bayou III — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:29:48 +0000

Blue Velvet makes its Blu-Ray debut today, in a special 25th anniversary edition. The mystery of a college boy (Kyle MacLachlan) and the severed ear he discovers has aged well, and remains the perfect entry to the weird world of David Lynch films. It’s probably the director’s most straight forward story aside from… well, aside from The Straight Story. The film retains its power after all this time, but it’s hard to believe it was considered so shocking and controversial at the time of its release. Even so, Blue Velvet earned Lynch the second of his three Oscar nominations.

How does it look and sound on Blu-Ray? Superb. The picture is sharp and clear, but not as artificially bright as many Blu-Ray transfers of older films seem to be. The end result reminds you that you are watching something on film, with the rich color textures that film should provide. The sound is very good. On a good sound system, Isabella Rossellini’s song will still stun you, and Dean Stockwell’s song will still make you want to hide under your bed.

The extras are solid, but many of them are reused from the 2005 Special Edition DVD. This includes a documentary, and a clip from Siskel & Ebert‘s original review of the film. The clip is notable as Roger Ebert did not like Blue Velvet, and was vocal about his disdain for it. Gene Siskel defended the film, but it was interesting to see a negative review included in a film’s home video edition, and it demonstrates the confidence Lynch has in his work.

The main draw in the extras is a whopping 50 minutes of lost footage that has been restored, edited and scored for this package. The footage is fascinating. You can see why it was left out of the movie, but any fan Blue Velvet or Lynch will still want to soak it in. The extra scenes are presented out of context, one after another, which still makes them more coherent than about half of Lynch’s other films.

Blue Velvet’s 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray is released Tuesday, November 8th, with a SRP on 24.99. It’s worth upgrading for the new picture, and certainly for the newly released footage.

Netflix Now Agrees With The Rest Of The World That Qwikster Was A Really Bad Idea

Penn Collins — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:45:58 +0000

In strict adherence to its new corporate mission statement “Confuse and frustrate the customer,” Netflix has decided that breaking its two services (DVD-by-mail and streaming video) into two completely separate services was a bad idea, despite having announced the idea less than a month ago.

The plan was to dedicate the Netflix name and site to streaming only, while people renting DVDs through the mail would be going through the new Qwikster site. Presumably this was done in an effort to justify Netflix’ recent and wildly unpopular rate hike by presenting the two services as completely distinct. While that’s a sort-of-okay idea on paper, the fact remains that people didn’t think that giving them two accounts to manage on top of a rate hike was all that awesome of an apology.

Which is funny, because Netflix should be pretty awesome at apologies by now. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who is probably wondering what the hell the point of it all is anymore, sent out this statement:

It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs. This means no change: one website, one account, one password… in other words, no Qwikster.

Netflix: the Ike Turner of the entertainment industry.

Caption This Pic And Win ‘Pulp Fiction’ On Blu-Ray DVD

Jame Gumb — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:08:51 +0000

Today, Pulp Fiction is being released on Blu-ray. In honor of the occasion, we’ve decided to have a contest. Caption the pic below. The person with the funniest caption will receive a copy of the DVD. You have until 12:00 PM PST on Friday, October 7th, to submit your caption. Feel free to submit multiple times. The winner will be decided by me and me alone, so deal with it.

Here’s the pic. Good luck!

The Best ‘Pulp Fiction’ Parodies From The Past 17 Years

Archibald Bayou III — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:41:43 +0000

In honor of this week’s release of Quentin Tarantino‘s classic Pulp Fiction on Blu-ray, Screen Junkies has taken a look back at the most noteworthy Pulp Fiction parodies from the past 17 years. From “Saturday Night Live” to “Community” to ”House M.D.” and beyond, Pulp Fiction has been referenced and spoofed in every way imaginable. With that in mind, let’s explore the lighter side of a film that features murder, overdosing, and forced sodomy.

Break.com

Lil’ Pulp Fiction is the newest entry on this list, and it comes from our parent site Break.com. After all, why let the opportunity for a shameless plug go to waste.

Spaced

I have yet to immerse myself into the U.K. series Spaced, but I understand the series featured spoofs of many different films and television shows. This one, an homage to the final showdown between Butch and Vincent, is pretty solid. It also features Nick Frost, who ruled in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and can make me laugh pretty much by standing still.

Community

NBC’s excellent sitcom “Community” has parodied everything from Predator to Goodfellas to Space Camp. Last season’s episode, “Critical Film Studies,” devoted itself to Pulp Fiction, and really captured the deep love that the film’s fans have for it. Bonus point: Britta looked super hot in her Mia Wallace costume.

George Lucas’ 8 Most Irritating Changes To The ‘Star Wars’ Films

Nicholas Pell — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:21:35 +0000

I was a senior in high school when George Lucas unleashed the Star Wars Special Edition on the world. My excitement to finally see the trilogy in its expanded form quickly evaporated when I saw Greedo shoot first. Since then, Lucas has continued to touch my childhood in its no-no spot every couple years or so. With the impending release of the Star Wars saga to Blu-Ray on September 12, get ready for a whole new round of pointless and irritating changes to what used to be the raddest sci-fi trilogy going.

Arbitrary Dialogue Changes Too Numerous to Count

One thing Lucas loves to do every time he edits Star Wars is to change dialogue in seemingly arbitrary ways. It’s not really clear why “Blast it, Wedge, where are you?” gets changed to “Blast it, Biggs, where are you?,” nor what difference having C-3PO say “and” before “do take care of yourself” makes, but apparently it’s a big deal to George.

Title Changes

Back in the day, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was known simply as “Star Wars.” Of course, back in the day, Star Wars was just a fun movie to watch and an excuse to use Whiffle bats as light sabres. Somewhere along the line George Lucas started seeing his work as some kind of socially relevant epic. Accordingly, he not only started giving the films incredibly pretentious names, he actually went back and changed the titles of previously released films.

Greedo Shoots First

This was the irritating change for nearly a decade. Somewhere along the line, Lucas decided that Han Solo was a noble knight instead of a charming rake. Accordingly, he couldn’t dare shoot first at a bounty hunter trying to claim him for a disgusting space worm. This change isn’t minor or insignificant. It completely alters the character of Han Solo. Why not have him tell Leia “I love you, too” while we’re at it?

German DVD Covers Rule

Jame Gumb — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:00:12 +0000

Germany‘s acceptance of causal nudity almost makes up for World War I and II, but will never make up for Uwe Boll.

DVD Rundown: August 2nd

Jame Gumb — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:22:54 +0000

There’s a lot to like about this week’s new DVD releases. As far as the newer films, things are a little slim, unless you’re big fan of cartoon parrots and Christian overtones. But for anyone who likes 80′s comedies, you’re in luck. And MST3K fans also have a lot to look forward to, as do fans of sports legend Kenny Powers.

Take a look for yourself at this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Soul Surfer	Rio	Eastbound and Down (S:2)	United States of Tera (S:3)


Ferris Buller’s Day Off	Better Off Dead	Sleepers	Conan the Barbarian


Conan the Destroyer	Tracy Morgan: Black and Blue	MST3K vs. Gamera	Everwood (S:4)

DVD Rundown: July 26th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:40:51 +0000

Last week at this time, I was all geared up for Comic-Con. Now it’s over, and I’m right back here, cropping pictures for this week’s DVD rundown like some sort of schmuck.

But my mediocre existence fits right in with the mediocre crop of new DVD’s being released today. I hope you like Source Code and Todd Solondz, otherwise, you’re going to have to settle for a trip in the way-back machine to a time when Animal House and Blues Brothers were still fresh and new. See for yourself in this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Source Code	Life During Wartime	Trust	Dylan Dog


Animal House	Blues Brothers	Dante’s Peak	Jersey Shore (S:3)

DVD Rundown: July 19th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:29:56 +0000

And the Lord said, “Tuesday shall be the day that new DVDs will be released. So let it be written, so let it be done.” And so it was, and there was much rejoicing.

And you too shall rejoice, for Hey Dude Season 1 is now available on DVD. If you prefer something a little more “urban,” Boyz ‘n the Hood is also available, as is everyone’s favorite sickeningly sweet French film, Amélie. There’s literally something for everyone, or at least everyone with a DVD player and disposable income. With that in mind, here’s this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Limitless	Boyz n the Hood	Amélie	Bridget Jones Diary

Television


Dr. Who (S:6)	Hey Dude (S:1)	The Girls Next Door (S:6)	Melrose Place (S:6 V:2)

DVD Rundown: July 12th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:00:14 +0000

It’s Tuesday. Therefore, it’s new DVD day. Therefore, Screen Junkies is making me post a list of the new DVD’s that will be hitting stores today. Huzzah.

I hope you like concert videos, because this week, we’ve got a ton of them. We’ve also got a Matthew McConaughey movie, a talking lizard, and robot chicken. With so many options to choose from, you’d be a fool not to waste your money on a format that will probably obsolete within the next few years. With that in mind, here’s this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Lincoln Lawyer	My Dog Tulip	Insidious	Brother Justice
			Brazil	Miral	Arthur (7/15)	Rango (7/15)

Television


Entourage (S:7)	Damages (S:3)	Robot Chicken (S:3)	ER (S:15)

Concert


Foreigner: Live	Rage Against the Machine: Live at the Grand Olympic	Foo Fighters: Back and Forth	Megadeth: That One Night

DVD Rundown: July 5th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:09:26 +0000

It’s new DVD day. Deal with it.

Sorry I snapped. I’m just a little upset that Boy Meets World season six is out, and I’m stuck at work like a jackass instead of watching it. I’m sure you can sympathize. Also out this week is Das Boot, for those of you who like to watch Nazis on boats. There’s other stuff coming out as well, but if I list it all here, you won’t bother to read on. So take a look below.

Here’s this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


13 Assassins	BloodRayne: The Third Reich	Hobo with a Shotgun	Das Boot

Television


Life According to Jim (S:4)	Boy Meets World (S:6)	The Cape (S:1)	Victorious (S:1 Vol. 1)

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: June 28th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:30 +0000

It’s new DVD day, which means it’s time for the Screen Junkies DVD Rundown. This week, we run the gauntlet from Sucker Punch to Stuart Little, from cage matches to Cowboy Bebop. If none of that tickles your fancy, there’s always the Lord of the Rings or Jumangi DVDs. And after all that, if you’re still not satisfied, I really don’t know what to tell you other than the world doesn’t revolve around you, and maybe you should learn to be happy with the hand you’ve been dealt.

At any rate, here’s this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Sucker Punch	Season of the Witch	Barney’s Version	Beastly


LOTR Extended	Jumangi	Cowboy Bebop	Stuart Little

Television


Law and Order: Criminal Intent (S:6)	Ancient Aliens (S:2)	Warehouse 13 (S:2)	WWE: Greatest Cage Matches

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: June 21st

Jame Gumb — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:49:54 +0000

It’s new DVD day, which means it’s time for the Screen Junkies DVD Rundown. This week, we’ve got a lot to choose from, including my own personal favorite, “Rocko’s Modern Life.” Also, there’s “Medium,” a show rivaled only by “Home Improvement” for predictable plot lines. With so many great choices, it’s almost enough to make you forget that we’re all marching slowly toward death. Almost.

At any rate, enjoy this week’s DVD Rundown!

New Releases


Unknown	Diary of a Wimpy Kid	The Adjustment Bureau	Cedar Rapids

Television


Rocko’s Modern Life (S:1)	The Closer (S:6)	Louie (S:1)	Medium (S:7)

DVD Rundown: June 14th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:16:51 +0000

It’s new DVD day! It’s new DVD day! Stop whatever you’re doing, read the Screen Junkies DVD Rundown, and figure out what DVDs you’re going to buy on your way home from work. Just kidding. I know you don’t work. Just figure out what DVDs you want to buy with your disability check. After all, you earned it.

New Releases


Hall Pass	Battle: Los Angeles	Red Riding Hood	Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Classics


Cincinnati Kid	Heavy Metal	Harry Potter 5	Harry Potter 6

Television


Man vs. Food (S3)	The Glades (S1)	Haven (S1)	House of Payne (S8)

Movies Hollywood Makes Us Steal

Jame Gumb — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:42:49 +0000

In a world where almost any film you wish to purchase is just a few mouse clicks away, it’s rare to come across a title that is not available. But as rare as it may be, there are some movies that, for one reason or another, simply cannot be obtained by legal means.

Unless you are lucky enough to get your hands on an out of print or VHS copy, the only way to view these films is to steal them outright via digital piracy. Obviously, we don’t condone breaking the law, but if you want to watch a movie about Nic Cage catching leprosy (more on that later), sometimes you have to take drastic measures. If these films were available to purchase, that would be a different story. But since Hollywood chooses to keep them off the shelves, you can’t be held responsible*. With that in mind, here are five films Hollywood makes us steal.

* Note, you can and will be held responsible.

The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989)

Anyone with even the slightest interest in cinema remembers R. Lee Ermey’s famous role in Stanley Kubrick‘s Full Metal Jacket. But this was not his only stint in a Vietnam War movie. Ermey also has a major role in The Siege of Firebase Gloria, a film that follows the exploits of a group of marines as they try to hold an outpost under attack by the Viet Cong. Although the film has some devoted fans (including Quentin Tarantino), you’ll have no luck finding it on DVD.

Fright Night II (1988)

Sequels don’t usually live up to their originals. I’ve never seen Fright Night II, so I can’t say one way or the the other. Chances are I won’t get the chance to see it, unless I illegally download it. Of course, I could go and buy a copy of the now out-of-print DVD on eBay. But considering the price is around $100 (depending on the auction) I think I’ll just go ahead and break the law. (Thanks for the tip, Mike Gavern).

Let It Be (1970)

Beatles fans would love a chance to own Let It Be on DVD. After all, the documentary chronicles what turned out to be the making of the band’s last studio album. But with no DVD release in sight, you’ll simply have to buy a used VHS copy. Don’t worry. I saw one on Amazon for only $300.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Looking for Mr. Goodbar? Keep looking. Although it is widely considered a classic, this film about the sexual awakening of a mild-mannered schoolteacher (Diane Keaton) is out of print, with no plans for a release on DVD or Blu-ray. To add further insult to injury, copies of Something’s Gotta Give abound, proving there’s no justice in this world, even when Diane Keaton is involved.

A Time to Kill (Tempo di uccidere) (1990)

Not to be confused with the racially-charged Matthew McConaughey legal thriller, this Italian film stars Nicolas cage as an soldier involved in Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia. I could try to write up a funny little description, but I don’t think I can top what I found on Wikipedia…

Lieutenant Silvestri suffers a toothache and decides to reach the nearest camp hospital. En route to the dentist his vehicle has an accident, and stops near a rock. Silvestri continues by walking. On his way, he meets and rapes a young Ethiopian woman. Despite this, he and the Ethiopian fall for each other. While taking refuge in a cave Silvestri shoots at a wild animal, but the bullet ricochets and hits the woman. Silvestri continues to the dentist. Upon reaching the hospital, he reads a medical book, leading him to believe he has leprosy. As he tries to escape from Ethiopia, Silvestri must evade his former comrades and reach his wife in Italy.

Rape? Toothaches? Leprosy? This film has it all. Unfortunately, if you want to see this overlooked Cage masterpiece, you’ll have to download a copy (which might be damn near impossible), or track down an old version being sold online. (Thanks to Ross McDermott for these suggestions).

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: June 7th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:47:25 +0000

It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means, or at least you should. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you obviously haven’t been reading the Screen Junkies DVD Rundown! Every Tuesday we recap the latest and greatest in DVD releases. Week after week, I provide this feature free of charge, out of the goodness of my heart. Also, it counts toward the mandatory community service that resulted from my 2004 vehicular manslaughte conviction in the death of Joseph E. Mueller. At any rate, enjoy!

New Releases


True Gritt	Just Go w/ It	Sanctum 3d	Company Men

Classics


Outlaw Josey Wales	The Superman Anthology	The Man Who Would Be King	Billy Madison

TV/Documentary


Breaking Bad: Season 3	American: The Bill Hicks Story	Burn Notice: Season 4	Elvis Costello – Spectacle: Season 2

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: May 31st

Jame Gumb — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 01:09:58 +0000

It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means. Yes, it means you’re only five days away from your weekly sponge bath. But it also means new DVDs are hitting the shelves. Here’s the rundown of what’s available this week.

New Releases


Drive Angry	Biutiful	Passion Play	Kaboom

Classics


Stanley Kubrick Collection	Once Upon a Time in the West	American Graffiti	Legend

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: May 24th

Jame Gumb — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:59 +0000

It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means. Well, in the greater scheme of things, it means absolutely nothing. But it also means new DVDs are hitting the shelves. Here’s the rundown of what’s available this week.

New Releases


Gnomeo and Juliet	I Am Number Four	Burning Palms	The Big Bang

Classics


The Great Dictator	Papillon	Platoon	Solaris

Gods and Generals	Gettysburg	Grand Prix

Television


Childrens Hospital	Transformers: The Complete Series	IRT: Deadliest Roads

Screen Junkies DVD Rundown: May 17th

Jame Gumb — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:57:13 +0000

It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means. Well, yes; The cafeteria is serving taco salads. But it also means new DVDs are hitting the shelves. Here’s the rundown of what’s available this week.

New Releases


The Mechanic	The Rite	The Other Woman	The Roommate

Classics


Beverly Hills Cop	Diabolique	Pale Flower	The Hustler

Television


Twilight Zone: Season 4	Tim and Eric: Season 5	Royal Pains: Season 2	Bionic Woman: Season 2

Documentary/Concert/Event


ESPN: 30 for 30 Collection	Search for the Great Sharks	The Revealing Science of God	I Want Your Money

Review: Cher – The Film Collection

Jame Gumb — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:50:00 +0000

This is a site geared toward men, or so I’ve been told. I guess that brings up the question of what makes a man? If I’m not into cars and action movies, does that make me less of a man? If I can enjoy an art-house film or a romantic comedy, am I not considered manly enough to hang with the rest of you? My point is, we all don’t fit into the stereotypical “man” category, and there’s no sense in trying to force people to conform to predetermined gender roles. However, there is one exception. If you want Cher: The Film Collection DVD box set for Christmas, you are clearly not a man.

That being said, I’m big fan of the Cher: The Film Collection DVD box set. It features Good Times, Chastity, Silkwood, Moonstruck, Mermaids, and Tea with Mussolini. Going in, I thought “Good Times” was about a black family living in a 70′s era public housing project. Sadly, now I know better. And after watching all of these films, I also know I have no interest in ever watching them. Truth be told, I can’t stand Cher.

I bet you’re thinking, “Jame; why the hell do you like this Cher collection so much if you don’t like the movies or Cher?”

Good question. The answer is simple. The Cher: The Film Collection DVD box set made my life a lot easier. Even though I’d rather eat glass than watch these films, my mother-in-law loves them. So when they asked me if I wanted to review the product, I was all about it. After watching them, all I had to do was wrap it up, send it along, and look like a son-in-law who gives a damn, which I don’t. And it worked!

That’s why I highly recommend the Cher: The Film Collection DVD box set. Sure, you aren’t going to like it, but it makes an easy Christmas gift, especially if you’re as lazy at I am. Buy it!