Because Cultureshark Cares, I want to let you folks know that at Amazon.com, the 50th Anniversary "Sgt. Bilko" show DVD set is on sale for 19.95. I get squat if you go buy it from there, so I'm not gonna bother linking to it, but go buy it anyway if you don't have it. It's a great show, the extras are cool, and if we get a nice big rush on this item, maybe Paramount will see the (green)light and produce the season sets this classic sitcom deserves.
But really, this is a great show at a fair price. Get 'em as Father's Day presents! Get 'em for yourself! You'll be glad you did.
This public service announcement has been brought to you by Cultureshark. Cultureshark Cares.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
This Week in DVD
Mannix Season One: This is a real treat. The Mike Connors detective show itself hasn't been widely seen since the early days of TV Land, but the first season, from what I've read, has rarely been syndicated anywhere, and it offers a different slant than what followed. Paramount gives it to the fans with the whole season in one set and even--gasp--some extras. My most memorable "Mannix" moment thus far is when my uncle proudly showed off his new ringtone--the show's theme song--a few Christmases ago, but I'm looking forward to checking this out.
Get Smart: The Complete Series: What? The classic Don Adams spy comedy, a Time-Life exclusive for several years now, is finally available from retail outlets everywhere? Nope, sorry, this is the remake. From the nineties. Starring Andy Dick. Where are those Mannix DVDs?
Dirty Harry Collector's Set: I think the only one I need to own is the original, thank you, and I probably won't be upgrading. But it's cool that WB is putting some effort into the set...and making fans buy the movies all over again.
Semi-Pro: Will Farrell does it again. And judging from the trailers, I mean that literally, as he seems to be making the same not-that-great movie each time out now.
Flawless: CAINE. MOORE. Need we say anything else?
Rescue Me Season 4: I think I'm gonna let this set stay on the store shelves and instead focus on hoping season 5 puts the show back in top form.
The Onion Movie: Wha? "The Onion" made a movie? Apparently, they did. I had no idea. I still have no idea whether or not their brand of humor can make the transition from print.
Stump the Band: Here's another movie about which I haven't a clue. But I do know it stars Danny Cooksey, AKA Sam from "Diff'rent Strokes." Score!
Slew of Paramount catalog titles: In an arrangement that looks like a good deal for fans of lesser-known catalog movies, Paramount is licensing many of its titles to a company called Legend. Several are out this week, including Tony Curtis as "Houdini," the controversial "Mandingo" and the Henry Winkler wrestling movie "The One and Only." I applaud anything that gets more movies out there for those that are interested. Paramount isn't doing much else with its film library, so this is a great thing.
Get Smart: The Complete Series: What? The classic Don Adams spy comedy, a Time-Life exclusive for several years now, is finally available from retail outlets everywhere? Nope, sorry, this is the remake. From the nineties. Starring Andy Dick. Where are those Mannix DVDs?
Dirty Harry Collector's Set: I think the only one I need to own is the original, thank you, and I probably won't be upgrading. But it's cool that WB is putting some effort into the set...and making fans buy the movies all over again.
Semi-Pro: Will Farrell does it again. And judging from the trailers, I mean that literally, as he seems to be making the same not-that-great movie each time out now.
Flawless: CAINE. MOORE. Need we say anything else?
Rescue Me Season 4: I think I'm gonna let this set stay on the store shelves and instead focus on hoping season 5 puts the show back in top form.
The Onion Movie: Wha? "The Onion" made a movie? Apparently, they did. I had no idea. I still have no idea whether or not their brand of humor can make the transition from print.
Stump the Band: Here's another movie about which I haven't a clue. But I do know it stars Danny Cooksey, AKA Sam from "Diff'rent Strokes." Score!
Slew of Paramount catalog titles: In an arrangement that looks like a good deal for fans of lesser-known catalog movies, Paramount is licensing many of its titles to a company called Legend. Several are out this week, including Tony Curtis as "Houdini," the controversial "Mandingo" and the Henry Winkler wrestling movie "The One and Only." I applaud anything that gets more movies out there for those that are interested. Paramount isn't doing much else with its film library, so this is a great thing.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Journey Into DVD: Justice League: The New Frontier
If you compare this animated adaptation of Darwyn Cooke's recent comic book miniseries to the source material, well, you might be a little disappointed. But if you compare it to the last direct to DVD DC Comics feature, "Superman: Doomsday," then you will likely appreciate just how good this is in its own right.
There is just no way a 70-75-minute movie can have the richness and depth a multi-issue comic book can, and indeed, whole subplots and characters were eliminated in the process of bringing that great work to the screen. The first time I watched the movie, I had a small but nagging sense of "Is that IT?" I enjoyed it, but it seemed like something was missing, and what should have been a far more emotional climax didn't feel as EARNED as it should have been. However, on a second sort-of viewing (while mainly listening to a commentary track), I was more impressed by what this version was as opposed to what it was not.
The story is comic writer/artist Darwyn Cooke's love letter to the Silver Age, and if you appreciate that term, than this movie is for you. If you don't, well, I'll say we're talking late 50s/early 60s here, and Cooke's series reinterpreted the iconic characters of the DC universe to fit the era's sensibility. There's a great documentary on the disc that explains it all, but this isn't so much a Justice League story per se as a tale about superheroes and "ordinary" heroes alike coming together and overcoming internal conflicts to face an external threat.
Cooke's comic is a must-read, and the filmmakers did a good job of preserving a lot of the political and sociological ideas that made that story so cool. The character design, the details of things like costumes and set design, and the ideas at work all combine to provide a vivid evocation of the Cold War era. As a result, this movie works on several levels but never fails to provide entertainment and some good old-fashioned superhero action.
It's a lot of fun to see these versions of The Flash, Green Lantern, and the Martian Manhunter come into their own. The voice work, unlike in "Superman: Doomsday," is across-the-board excellent, with Neil Patrick Harris' Flash and Kyle McLachlan's Superman standing out. There is humor, emotion, and, oh, yes, some startling violence. Be forewarned, this isn't a kiddie-level cartoon. As the cover proudly proclaims, it's DC's first PG-13 animated feature, and it earns the rating from the beginning with an early jolting moment.
The 2-disc DVD set is filled out with some cool extras, including commentaries by the filmmakers and by Cooke. Adding value are 4 episodes of the excellent "Justice League" animated TV series. Best of all, though, is a 40-minute documentary on Disc 1 that ties together, with brilliant insight and clarity, the history of the Justice League and the so-called Silver Age (a time period in the comics industry which is loosely defined, often depending on who you're talking to) while putting it all into context of the changing times and history of this nation. To its credit, the featurette even discusses Marvel Comics while providing a well-rounded picture with many different voices. This well-produced extra is worth a look even for diehard comic fans who know the history of the hobby.
There is also a lengthy featurette on the villains of the DC Universe, and while it took 30 minutes for them to get to the New Frontier specifically, I still enjoyed it.
In short, if you loved the comic, you should enjoy this adaptation, even if it isn't the home run the source material is, and the extras make the DVD a great buy. Even non-readers who appreciate the adult sensibilities of recent DC Animated efforts like "Justice League" will like this 2-disc set.
There is just no way a 70-75-minute movie can have the richness and depth a multi-issue comic book can, and indeed, whole subplots and characters were eliminated in the process of bringing that great work to the screen. The first time I watched the movie, I had a small but nagging sense of "Is that IT?" I enjoyed it, but it seemed like something was missing, and what should have been a far more emotional climax didn't feel as EARNED as it should have been. However, on a second sort-of viewing (while mainly listening to a commentary track), I was more impressed by what this version was as opposed to what it was not.
The story is comic writer/artist Darwyn Cooke's love letter to the Silver Age, and if you appreciate that term, than this movie is for you. If you don't, well, I'll say we're talking late 50s/early 60s here, and Cooke's series reinterpreted the iconic characters of the DC universe to fit the era's sensibility. There's a great documentary on the disc that explains it all, but this isn't so much a Justice League story per se as a tale about superheroes and "ordinary" heroes alike coming together and overcoming internal conflicts to face an external threat.
Cooke's comic is a must-read, and the filmmakers did a good job of preserving a lot of the political and sociological ideas that made that story so cool. The character design, the details of things like costumes and set design, and the ideas at work all combine to provide a vivid evocation of the Cold War era. As a result, this movie works on several levels but never fails to provide entertainment and some good old-fashioned superhero action.
It's a lot of fun to see these versions of The Flash, Green Lantern, and the Martian Manhunter come into their own. The voice work, unlike in "Superman: Doomsday," is across-the-board excellent, with Neil Patrick Harris' Flash and Kyle McLachlan's Superman standing out. There is humor, emotion, and, oh, yes, some startling violence. Be forewarned, this isn't a kiddie-level cartoon. As the cover proudly proclaims, it's DC's first PG-13 animated feature, and it earns the rating from the beginning with an early jolting moment.
The 2-disc DVD set is filled out with some cool extras, including commentaries by the filmmakers and by Cooke. Adding value are 4 episodes of the excellent "Justice League" animated TV series. Best of all, though, is a 40-minute documentary on Disc 1 that ties together, with brilliant insight and clarity, the history of the Justice League and the so-called Silver Age (a time period in the comics industry which is loosely defined, often depending on who you're talking to) while putting it all into context of the changing times and history of this nation. To its credit, the featurette even discusses Marvel Comics while providing a well-rounded picture with many different voices. This well-produced extra is worth a look even for diehard comic fans who know the history of the hobby.
There is also a lengthy featurette on the villains of the DC Universe, and while it took 30 minutes for them to get to the New Frontier specifically, I still enjoyed it.
In short, if you loved the comic, you should enjoy this adaptation, even if it isn't the home run the source material is, and the extras make the DVD a great buy. Even non-readers who appreciate the adult sensibilities of recent DC Animated efforts like "Justice League" will like this 2-disc set.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Cultureshark Remembers Sydney Pollack
By now, you've had ample time to read about the directing career of the late Sydney Pollack, but for me this guy was all about the acting in recent years. He did helm some interesting films and helped shepherd more as a producer, of course, and I will say that it's a shame much of his early work in TV is trapped in the vaults somewhere. I mean, I'd love to see some "Ben Casey" or "Chrysler Theatre," period, let alone the ones he directed.
Also, I want to give a heads-up that his "Essentials" intros for TCM are available on the network's website. I thought Pollack gave the right combination of enthusiasm and erudition while presenting those oft-seen classics, and it's nice to see TCM making the clips available for us.
But let me get back to the acting career of Sydney Pollack, which really seemed to take off in recent years. My friend Mike and I laughed heartily at a review that singled out his "typically oily" turn in one movie, and indeed, the man seemed to have a knack for playing scoundrels of a certain type--no-nonsense guys who had all the cards and weren't shy about letting you know that they did. In fact, right after the death was announced, I checked out the filmography page at IMDB and saw that several posts down on the message board was this subject heading: "How come he always plays a bastard?"
I became a devoted enthusiast of Sydney Pollack on the big screen, giving some mild cheers and pumping my fist at a movie theater when he appeared in the trailer for an upcoming movie. Ever since I enjoyed him in "Changing Lanes," I talked him up and developed a theory that no modern movie could not be improved by an appearance from Sydney Pollack. Mike and I have exchanged many yuks over this sort of thing, enjoying our ironic appreciation of this director with the apparently fruitful actor-for-hire sideline.
Only it wasn't ironic! Pollack really was fun to watch, so much so that he almost tempted me to watch "Will & Grace" to see him. Just look at last year's "Michael Clayton" and remember that in a smart thriller with some real powerhouses in the cast, he arguably stole the movie.
Hollywood is a poorer place without Sydney Pollack's reliable oily bastard character. He will be missed.
Also, I want to give a heads-up that his "Essentials" intros for TCM are available on the network's website. I thought Pollack gave the right combination of enthusiasm and erudition while presenting those oft-seen classics, and it's nice to see TCM making the clips available for us.
But let me get back to the acting career of Sydney Pollack, which really seemed to take off in recent years. My friend Mike and I laughed heartily at a review that singled out his "typically oily" turn in one movie, and indeed, the man seemed to have a knack for playing scoundrels of a certain type--no-nonsense guys who had all the cards and weren't shy about letting you know that they did. In fact, right after the death was announced, I checked out the filmography page at IMDB and saw that several posts down on the message board was this subject heading: "How come he always plays a bastard?"
I became a devoted enthusiast of Sydney Pollack on the big screen, giving some mild cheers and pumping my fist at a movie theater when he appeared in the trailer for an upcoming movie. Ever since I enjoyed him in "Changing Lanes," I talked him up and developed a theory that no modern movie could not be improved by an appearance from Sydney Pollack. Mike and I have exchanged many yuks over this sort of thing, enjoying our ironic appreciation of this director with the apparently fruitful actor-for-hire sideline.
Only it wasn't ironic! Pollack really was fun to watch, so much so that he almost tempted me to watch "Will & Grace" to see him. Just look at last year's "Michael Clayton" and remember that in a smart thriller with some real powerhouses in the cast, he arguably stole the movie.
Hollywood is a poorer place without Sydney Pollack's reliable oily bastard character. He will be missed.
Crummy Movie Cavalcade: Made of Honor
True believers, you may have worried that the summer edition of the Crummy Movie Cavalcade had already gone kaput, that New Coke was threatening to pull its sponsorship after seeing but one movie featured as yet. But don't worry! A cavalcade is relentless. It rolls on even as my attention shifts elsewhere. Let's see if we can catch up with it today as we look at...
MADE OF HONOR
The use of all-caps for the title is appropriate because if you're looking for a reason to dislike this movie, look no further than the groaner it goes by. I would argue that few movies have blatant puns in their titles, and none of them stars Patrick Dempsey.
So McDreamy (sorry, that's the only time I'll write that, and rest assured it's meant to be mocking) plays a man whose best friend is getting married. This friend asks him to be her bridesmaid, and he says, "What the heck," but then decides to sabotage it because he really loves her.
The idea of a man being a bridesmaid is good for at least a dozen cheap laughs right off the bat, and I'm sure that's what whoever greenlit this was thinking. "It practically writes itself," must have been the pitch. I wish it would watch itself, because I have the sneaking suspicion that when this one comes to DVD, my wife will be asking me to rent it. Oh, we may have dodged the theatrical bullet, but this one will be out on home video sure enough, no doubt in time for at least part of the fall wedding season.
You might be asking what the harm is if some studio wants to rip off "My Best Friend's Wedding" and maybe get the "Grey's Anatomy" crowd to pay to see Dempsey on a big screen. Then you might be a woman. Ladies, I don't begrudge you your interest in--
Wait, that's not true. OF COURSE I begrudge you your interest in him. I always thought Patrick Dempsey was a scrub, and I thought after his mini-heyday in the 1980s, he was off to transition into writing or directing or signing autographs at car shows. But no, he came back and became one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" again, and now he's all over the place.
As long as he's confined to television, I can live with it. I can slide into another room when my wife watches "Grey's" or ignore it on our DVR. But something about the phrase "Patrick Dempsey: Movie Star" makes me fear the apocalypse is imminent.
Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be the case. He may well be a decent enough guy, and he seems to have taken his career renaissance in good stride, but he's probably hit his peak. Notwithstanding his role in "Enchanted," he's a TV star, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Just don't push too many feature films with him carrying the load, let alone ones that think it'd be funny to have him be the maid of honor at a wedding. I could gripe about that premise a bit more, but I've used enough space complaining about Patrick Dempsey. So I'll just remind everyone--you, too, motion picture studios--that the man is not a movie star, and nor will he be, unless he gets lucky and finds himself cast in a "Sex and the City" film.
Huh. Did somebody mention "Sex and the City"? I did? Me? You don't suppose that one could be part of this cavalcade, do you? Mmm...could be...
MADE OF HONOR
The use of all-caps for the title is appropriate because if you're looking for a reason to dislike this movie, look no further than the groaner it goes by. I would argue that few movies have blatant puns in their titles, and none of them stars Patrick Dempsey.
So McDreamy (sorry, that's the only time I'll write that, and rest assured it's meant to be mocking) plays a man whose best friend is getting married. This friend asks him to be her bridesmaid, and he says, "What the heck," but then decides to sabotage it because he really loves her.
The idea of a man being a bridesmaid is good for at least a dozen cheap laughs right off the bat, and I'm sure that's what whoever greenlit this was thinking. "It practically writes itself," must have been the pitch. I wish it would watch itself, because I have the sneaking suspicion that when this one comes to DVD, my wife will be asking me to rent it. Oh, we may have dodged the theatrical bullet, but this one will be out on home video sure enough, no doubt in time for at least part of the fall wedding season.
You might be asking what the harm is if some studio wants to rip off "My Best Friend's Wedding" and maybe get the "Grey's Anatomy" crowd to pay to see Dempsey on a big screen. Then you might be a woman. Ladies, I don't begrudge you your interest in--
Wait, that's not true. OF COURSE I begrudge you your interest in him. I always thought Patrick Dempsey was a scrub, and I thought after his mini-heyday in the 1980s, he was off to transition into writing or directing or signing autographs at car shows. But no, he came back and became one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" again, and now he's all over the place.
As long as he's confined to television, I can live with it. I can slide into another room when my wife watches "Grey's" or ignore it on our DVR. But something about the phrase "Patrick Dempsey: Movie Star" makes me fear the apocalypse is imminent.
Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be the case. He may well be a decent enough guy, and he seems to have taken his career renaissance in good stride, but he's probably hit his peak. Notwithstanding his role in "Enchanted," he's a TV star, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Just don't push too many feature films with him carrying the load, let alone ones that think it'd be funny to have him be the maid of honor at a wedding. I could gripe about that premise a bit more, but I've used enough space complaining about Patrick Dempsey. So I'll just remind everyone--you, too, motion picture studios--that the man is not a movie star, and nor will he be, unless he gets lucky and finds himself cast in a "Sex and the City" film.
Huh. Did somebody mention "Sex and the City"? I did? Me? You don't suppose that one could be part of this cavalcade, do you? Mmm...could be...
Sunday, June 1, 2008
He ain't heavy, he's my brutha!
I learned something after making Thursday's post, in which I wished that "Lost" would give Desmond the boot. I learned that Desmond is one heckuva popular character. After getting some good-natured responses that showed the amount of love fans have for the guy, I did some searching and found various online shrines, societies, and tribute clips. I had no idea.
I haven't changed my stance, but I must admit that seeing all his "brutha" utterances in one dose (see here) gave me the best laugh I've had all week. It's a truly awesome piece of editing someone did there. I don't regret having my take, but I almost regret sharing it. After all, it looks like thousands of fans have already analyzed every aspect of the character many times over. I must be years late to the party in ripping him for saying "brutha" so often. I can only hope that I'm the first person online to lament not being able to call the family cat "brutha" because his wife thinks he's mocking Desmond--and not just because she likes Desmond, but because he's already abused the joke (OK, I admit it).
The title of this post must have been used dozen of times already. My backup was, "Brutha, can you spare a post?" but I went ahead with the Hollies allusion. If I'm late to the party there, too, so be it.
I also learned that if you want feedback in the blogosphere, you really do have to go negative. I mean, I really respect the commitment and passion people have for Desmond, and for "Lost," for that matter. I'd personally rather see that kind of passion for other people I wrote about recently, like Guy Kibbee or William Bendix, but, hey, there you go.
At any rate, I'm about to do something that violates all known Laws of Blogging. To all those who read my Anti-Desmond rant, whether you commented or just did a read-by...hey, nothing personal. I appreciate the feedback and respect your opinion.
See, I think I'm supposed to parlay a few negative comments, tongue in cheek or no, into some kind of Blog War and build up some notoriety. But nope, it's all in good fun. I must be the lamest blogger in the world--beating dead topics into the ground; referring to my own post a whole THREE DAYS later when the Internet has moved on; and worst of all, maintaining civil relations with readers. But in the words of Billy Joel in "Goodnight, Saigon, " "And we held onto each other, like brother to brother."
I don't know the exact relevance of that line, but it has the word "brother" in it--twice--and it's a fitting tribute to the "Lost" character who is so beloved. In closing, I'll concede two things:
1) Desmond ain't so bad when the writers expand his vocabulary.
2) If, in Thursday's season finale, Desmond had greeted Penelope on the ship with, "I love you, brother," it would have been one of the best moments in the show's history and I would have laughed like hell.
I haven't changed my stance, but I must admit that seeing all his "brutha" utterances in one dose (see here) gave me the best laugh I've had all week. It's a truly awesome piece of editing someone did there. I don't regret having my take, but I almost regret sharing it. After all, it looks like thousands of fans have already analyzed every aspect of the character many times over. I must be years late to the party in ripping him for saying "brutha" so often. I can only hope that I'm the first person online to lament not being able to call the family cat "brutha" because his wife thinks he's mocking Desmond--and not just because she likes Desmond, but because he's already abused the joke (OK, I admit it).
The title of this post must have been used dozen of times already. My backup was, "Brutha, can you spare a post?" but I went ahead with the Hollies allusion. If I'm late to the party there, too, so be it.
I also learned that if you want feedback in the blogosphere, you really do have to go negative. I mean, I really respect the commitment and passion people have for Desmond, and for "Lost," for that matter. I'd personally rather see that kind of passion for other people I wrote about recently, like Guy Kibbee or William Bendix, but, hey, there you go.
At any rate, I'm about to do something that violates all known Laws of Blogging. To all those who read my Anti-Desmond rant, whether you commented or just did a read-by...hey, nothing personal. I appreciate the feedback and respect your opinion.
See, I think I'm supposed to parlay a few negative comments, tongue in cheek or no, into some kind of Blog War and build up some notoriety. But nope, it's all in good fun. I must be the lamest blogger in the world--beating dead topics into the ground; referring to my own post a whole THREE DAYS later when the Internet has moved on; and worst of all, maintaining civil relations with readers. But in the words of Billy Joel in "Goodnight, Saigon, " "And we held onto each other, like brother to brother."
I don't know the exact relevance of that line, but it has the word "brother" in it--twice--and it's a fitting tribute to the "Lost" character who is so beloved. In closing, I'll concede two things:
1) Desmond ain't so bad when the writers expand his vocabulary.
2) If, in Thursday's season finale, Desmond had greeted Penelope on the ship with, "I love you, brother," it would have been one of the best moments in the show's history and I would have laughed like hell.
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