This Week in DVD

Clash of the Titans: Is the Sam Worthington push over? The guy was in about 3 big movies in a brief span, and we were told he was gonna be huge, but he is not the thing anybody remembers about any of those movies.

What everyone remembers about THIS one is the ill-fated rush job of retrofitting the movie to 3-D. Hey, that reminds me, did you know this post is in 3-D? To get the full effect, just lean really, really close to your screen--no, closer, closer--yeah, that's right, until you bump into it and get blurred vision. Voila!

Repo Men: Jude Law and Forest Whitaker star in this disappointing movie about...You know what? I feel obligated to list this because it's one of the few high-profile recent theatricals out this week, but there is a lot of interesting retro stuff to get to, and I know virtually nothing about "Repo Men," so why try to bluff?

Batman: Under the Red Hood: I'm always game for these DC Animated movies, but the more I know about this project, the less interest I have in it.

Olive Films presents 4 movies licensed from Paramount: This outfit releases 4 new-to-DVD flicks this week: "Union Station" and "Dark City," which are really good, "Crack in the World," which sounds fun, and "Appointment with Danger," an noirish Alan Ladd picture effort I want to see. Hey, Netflix, let's carry all these, not just "Crack," OK? (Hey, wonder if Netflix will ever start carrying crack? Nah, my bet's on Amazon beating them to it. It sells everything else.)

Kansas City Royals: 1985 World Series Collectors Edition: Ah, through DVD releases like this, long-suffering fans can recall the days when their team actually had a snowball's chance. And lest you think I'm mocking you, K.C. fans, I root for the Pirates. Sigh. Time to dig up that '79 World Series set.

Sgt. Bilko Season One: OK, now is the time for all of us who bought, er, alternative sets to put our money where our mouths are and pony up for a legit set, right? Well, I'm a little short right now, but I do plan to get this eventually. I'm also waiting for a reputable source to assure me that this set is unedited, unadulterated, and otherwise unbotched. My alternative set has edited episodes, so I'd love to upgrade--er, that is, if I had an alternative set, I'd assume it would have edited episodes, of course.

The Sweeney Seasons 1 and 2: I have read great things about this U.K. cop show, and it's finally back in print in Region 1, but each set is 60 bucks at Amazon. Uh, no thanks. Netflix, forget that crack thing and stock this series, please.

Mothers-in-Law Complete Series: MPI put a lot of effort into this set, from what I gather, and I appreciate it when a short-lived oldie gets that kind of treatment. Only I'm not so sure I'll actually like "The Mothers-in-Law," despite the presence of the incomparable Eve Arden. That said, Amazon has this for 19 bucks! Even if I hated the show, I'd be tempted to get it at that price. Hey, you could raise the funds for 3 of these sets and still have to scrounge up change for one season of "The Sweeney."

Comic-Con Movie News ITEMS

This year, Cultureshark continued its decades-long tradition of not attending Comic Con in San Diego. We're starting a new tradition of scouring the web for movie-related news from the Con and sharing our takes in this space.

ITEM: Mark Ruffalo introduced as new Hulk for "Avengers" movie.
--Ruffalo as the brooding, tortured Bill-Bixby-ish Banner? Yeah, I see that. Ruffalo as brilliant scientist Banner? Hmm, that might be a little tougher to buy, though in this movie, that aspect might not be relevant. Ruffalo as smash-happy green behemoth with cut-off purple pants? Hey, it doesn't matter much if the effects are good. Overall, this ought to work.

ITEM: "Tron" looks like it kinda might be cool.
--So we can't make fun of the "Tron" remake and treat it like a big flop-in-the-making. OK, we'll adjust accordingly. Carry on.

ITEM: Thor actor Chris Hemworth does publicity.
--I am intrigued by a Kenneth-Banagh-directed movie of Marvel's Norse God of Thunder. I don't know if this Hemworth guy has the gravitas I want to see in the character, though. Perhaps I shouldn't pre-judge a movie in a 5-minute interview the lead does with "Attack of the Show," but I got more of a Heath Ledger vibe than anything else. I don't want to see Young Thor, but I guess for marketing purposes, that's probably what they're going for here. We'll see.

ITEM: Green Lantern movie with Ryan Reynolds is really gonna happen, isn't it?
--I have to come to terms with this and try to accept Reynolds. He didn't turn my stomach in "The Proposal," so I'll give him a chance. Actually, the bigger news out of Comic-Con may be that, if her appearance is any indication, Blake Lively is apparently transitioning from her role in "Lantern" to a starring role in "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze."

ITEM: Marvel Anime to premiere on G4 next year.
--Normally, I'd feel excitement about the prospect of 4 new Marvel cartoons coming to TV, but anime...eh. I'm not really feeling it. Maybe the anime thing is more a marketing label than a style.

ITEM: Haunted Mansion "reboot" coming from Guillermo Del Toro.
--And he may or may not direct it. Who cares? If ever a potential franchise warrants a "wait and see" approach, it's this one. The only reason I don't gripe about rebooting such a recent movie is that I forgot there even was a recent movie till Del Toro made a snide comment about Eddie Murphy. I know for many people, Del Toro's name alone is enough to stir anticipation, but not for me. If he can make a good "Haunted Mansion" film, great, but I'm not circling my calendar.

ITEM: Scott Pilgrim sneak preview wows con attendees.
--The graphic novels aren't really my cup of tea, but I see why they're popular, and when I see the movie clips, I see something fresh and innovative. It may not actually be either of those things, but the concept of combining video game fighting with manga sensibilities and young romance looks like it could produce a real winner. It just looks like fun, and fun is a good thing.

Corrections

Time to clean up the old desk and take care of some corrections.

*In last week's cantankerous rant--er, thoughtful post about the state of Retro TV, I referenced what I thought was a poor decision by my local affiliate to add 1980s hit "The Cosby Show." As good buddy Ivan graciously pointed out in the comments, RTV is actually presenting the lesser known but superior "Bill Cosby Show." I appreciate the correction, not least because I'm gonna tape it now and look for second season episodes. In my defense, I thought the Cos sitcom being shown was the 1980s version because...that's exactly what my FIOS TV listings said! FIOS, I love you, but your listings leave a bit to be desired sometimes.

*I was a little too high on "Mr. Ed" a few weeks ago. It's a solid but not great sitcom. This is a mild correction.

*Last week, we called "The View" the stupidest show on television. There are, in fact, several more stupid programs. We don't really regret the error.

*15 years ago, we predicted a man would be on Mars by now. We DO regret the error.

*In the previous two items, we used a formal collective "we" when, let's face it, no one is responsible for any errors besides myself. I regret the error.

*My back has been bothering me this week, and I may have altered my posture somewhat to correct for the pain on my right side when I move around. I regret the pain.

*"The Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen is an acclaimed novel. I have never read it.

Hey! It's that guy!

One of the advantages to being laid up with a bad back is getting to be in the room when your wife watches her soap opera.

Wait a minute, no, that's not an advantage. It's a big DISadvantage, really. The pain must be shredding my faculties.

But wait. There is a glimmer of hope if you happen to be in a similar situation. You see, the other day I was an innocent bystander during a screening of "Days of Our Lives" when suddenly I looked up from my book and saw David "Joe Isuzu" Leisure! That's right--that guy! He's still around!

I was pretty sure it was indeed David Leisure, but who knows, maybe the new brand of ibuprofen I just switched to had hallucinogenic properties. So I asked Mrs. Shark if I was indeed seeing the smarmy cult favorite on her soap. She confirmed it, and I noted he was engaging in some kind of legal chat with another character, so I asked her, "Sleazy defense attorney?"

To my great astonishment, she told me he was the District Attorney. "What?" I replied. "How can he not be a sleazy mouthpiece? He shouldn't be on the right side of the law."

Then my wife put me--and indeed, the entire pop culture universe--at ease. "I didn't say he wasn't sleazy," was her response, and I comforted myself with the thought that at least he was a crooked D.A. Anything less (or more, depending on your perspective) would be a ridiculous case of miscasting.

So, yeah--David Leisure is on "Days of Our Lives." I'll be darned.

Brooks on Books: "Veeck as in Wreck" by Bill Veeck

Yesterday's post covered an outstanding book that may go down as one of the all-time greats; today, let's look at a certified classic, an almost-50-year-old autobiography that holds up as one of the best baseball and best sports books ever. It took me a long time to get to "Veeck as in Wreck," but not a long time to actually read it once I did acquire it.

It's the autobiography of longtime baseball executive, showman, and stuff-stirrer Bill Veeck, who owned and ran teams for decades, turned around franchises, and reached the top of the profession. Despite his myriad accomplishments, he is best known today for signing 3'7" Eddie Gaedel to the plate as a pinch-hitter for the St. Louis Browns in a 1951 American League game. Veeck acknowledges this and opens his book with the whole story. It's a fine tale, but there's so much more to Veeck and his memoir.

I should mention credited co-author Ed Linn, who collaborated with Leo Durocher on another awesome baseball bio, "Nice Guys Finish Last," and may well be responsible for much of the excellent writing in this volume. In "Wreck," you get excellent storytelling, sharp prose, and a wry voice that is perfect for a man who celebrated the fun of the game and never took himself too seriously.

"Wreck" could be an outstanding read if only for the insights into stunts like the Gaedel appearance and events like signing Larry Doby to the Indians and making him the first black player in the American League. But what makes this a classic is its inside look at so many different aspects of the game. Veeck explains the machinations of how he purchased multiple professional franchises, and he makes each an exciting narrative, detailing the financial aspects without making them dull. He shares his theories and experiences with concessions, ballpark structure, and all aspects of promotions--not just publicity stunts. Veeck discusses his relationship with the press, how he makes personnel decisions, and his thoughts on in-game strategies. He combines his sharp insights with vivid anecdotes to create one of the most complete surveys of the world of baseball you'll ever read.

Perhaps most entertaining is his detailed analysis of trades he made and did not make with other teams, plus his interaction with the other major league owners. It's no surprise to any serious fan how sleazy the Lords of the Realm were, but if half of what Veeck claims is true, their actions offer a true eye-opener. If I may oversimplify, Veeck was ahead of his time, and the other owners resented his unwillingness to play the game on a metaphorical level.

"Veeck as in Wreck" was originally published in 1962, but it holds up today as a prescient look at how the sport was, what it became, and what it is today (Other than his archaic views on TV and attendance, most of Veeck's ideas look pretty good in 2010). But it's also a funny, entertaining, and insightful read, the fascinating story of one of the game's most compelling individuals.

Brooks on Books: The Machine by Joe Posnanski

I want to share some thoughts on two baseball books I read this season. One is an all-time classic, one of the best sports books ever, and the other is merely excellent. Today we'll go with the merely excellent.

Joe Posnanski's "The Machine" is more proof of the author's consistent excellence as a writer. If you need more, check out his writing in "Sports Illustrated" or his staggering blog, in which he cranks out thoughtful pieces day after day, most about baseball but also about other sports, pop culture, and sometimes just daily life.

What drew me to "The Machine," though, was Posnanski's previous book, "The Soul of Baseball." After devouring that, I knew any future book by this guy would be on my must-read list. So the author was the big draw, not the subject matter, because really I had no particular love nor hatred for the 1970s Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds. The 1975 season didn't stand out to me one way or the other. However, I will gladly check out any well-written book about a specific baseball team, and this one offered definite rewards. I'm still not a Reds fan, but I find the Big Red Machine much more vivid and enjoyable just as a topic, and I'm slowly watching the 1975 World Series games on DVD with my new knowledge of the participants enhancing the experience.

Posnanski structures the book as a diary chronicling the 1975 season, not a day-by-day chronicle, but a progression through the season (up to and including the legendary World Series battle with the Red Sox) with selected games and events highlighted as they occur. Posnanski also steps back often to fill in the back stories of the individuals on the team. Perhaps most impressive is his ability to integrate 1975 current events and pop culture into the narrative in a smooth manner. Many books that try to establish a sense of time and place are clunky about it; it's difficult to throw in facts about what the number one record was at a given time without stopping the momentum of the main story. Yet Posnanski generally avoids this trap, using the tidbits about the 1975 setting as springboards for the smaller stories he's telling to create the bigger picture.

These people do indeed come to life as more than just cogs in "The Machine." I see some guys much differently after reading the book (Johnny Bench, Sparky Anderson). I see some guys, period, that I knew very little about (George Foster). Posnanski even offers some new and intriguing angles on one of the most prominent baseball figures of the 20th century, Pete Rose.

"The Machine" offers a solid narrative of an amazing team season while serving up numerous fascinating stories about the individuals who made up those '75 Reds. It all adds up to an outstanding book that is a must-read for all serious baseball fans. It may not be potentially life-changing like "The Soul of Baseball," but so what? "Merely excellent" is more than good enough.