The Franchise Collection

Although I’ve missed a couple of updates due to other commitments, I do hope that people have been enjoying the Late Show and finding the reviews useful. I try to cover a wide range of geek-favorite genres, both the more mainstream releases (although I usually focus on vintage and genre stuff) and the more offbeat, grindhouse and drive-in fare. If there’s something in particular you’d like to see more or less coverage of, let me know in the comments, and I’ll do my best to accommodate you folks.



It’s been a busy, busy month here at Stately Mills Manor, and it seems that no matter how many discs I spin, the stack to be watched just keeps getting higher. Now, I’m not complaining – a tall stack of DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs truly warms the cockles of this unrepentant cinephile’s black little heart – but it does make this job more difficult. So, in a certainly futile attempt to curb the growth of that aforementioned plastic monolith, here’s the latest batch of capsule reviews from the Late Show:




TRANSPORTER 3 (Blu-Ray)
2008, Lionsgate

As it happens, I’m an action movie junkie and a fan of the balding badass Brit known as Jason Statham. For my money, he’s the only action star currently working who’s worthy of that noble appellation. He is the sole legitimate successor to the blood-encrusted legacies of Eastwood, Bronson, Schwarzenegger, and Norris, and his films are real favorites here at the Late Show, as they manage to honor the no-holds-barred, balls-out action genre perfected in the 80’s… and keep it alive. I’m particularly fond of the Transporter series. The first entry was a fun blend of kung fu and car chase flix, with plenty of explosions and a suitably iconic protagonist. The second upped the ante, with even more outrageous stunts and sly wit, and now Lionsgate brings the third (and hopefully far from final) entry in the Transporter franchise to DVD and Blu-Ray Disc.

Once again written by producer Luc Besson (Leon, The Fifth Element) and Robert Mark Kamen, this latest installment of the series has another delightfully ludicrous plot: Frank Martin (Statham) is forced by a nefarious villain to drive a beautiful young hostage (fetchingly freckled newcomer Natalya Rudakova) across the European countryside. If he attempts to stop or leave the car, a bracelet on his wrist will detonate and blow him to hell. This set up makes for a bunch of interesting situations and action sequences, including a fantastic bicycle chase and some outrageous – and completely ridiculous – car/train stunts. In other words, it’s awesome.

Director Olivier Megaton (!) is new to the franchise, but delivers a creditable job, keeping the pace brisk and imbuing the film with a slick, hip look. My only complaint is that he edits the action scenes and fights with the same ADD, hyperkinetic cutting style so in vogue today (see my review of Quantum of Solace below, for more bitching on this subject), instead of letting shots play out and allowing the audience to track and enjoy the efforts of the highly-paid and talented stunt teams.

Lionsgate’s Blu-Ray of Transporter 3, looks and sounds fantastic, with a razor-sharp, hi-def 2:35.1 widescreen transfer and both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS-HD audio. The package also includes a standard definition "Digital Copy" of the film (does anyone actually use these things? I don’t, and I resent paying for them.) There are a number of bonus features, including a commentary track by Megaton, various featurettes, and several BD Live applications.

If you’re a Statham and/or Transporter fan, number 3 is definitely worth picking up. And, if you’re HD equipped, the Blu-Ray is the way to go. Recommended.



QUANTUM OF SOLACE
2008, MGM/Fox

Daniel Craig returns in his second outing as James Bond 007 in Quantum of Solace, the latest installment of the long-running spy franchise.

Before I get into this, let me be clear – I am a gargantuan James Bond fan, and have been since I was fifteen, when I first saw Goldfinger on HBO in 1978. My first Bond film in the theater was Moonraker, and I’ve only missed one opening weekend since then. In high school and college, I was so obsessed, that I collected multiple copies of all the Ian Fleming original novels, bought the John Gardner continuation novels in hardcover, and tracked down the original pressings of the soundtrack LPs. I like something about every movie in the series, and Quantum is no exception. But still, I found the latest movie to be incredibly disappointing, and consider it to be one of the worst in the series, even if the box office grosses don’t agree.

Quantum of Solace opens literally minutes after the conclusion of its predecessor, Casino Royale (2006), and continues Bond’s hunt for the people behind the events of the previous film and his determination to avenge the death of Vesper, the woman who he’d fallen in love with and who’d betrayed him. This leads him to the discovery of an international criminal organization called Quantum, and a rather unimpressive Eurotrash villain named Dominic Greene (Mathieu Almalric), who’s out to – um – corner the Bolivian water supply.

The film opens with a car chase that’s so incomprehensibly edited that it took me four viewings to determine exactly how many cars were involved. All of the action scenes in the movie – and they are many – are cut the same way, and it’s just infuriating. Director Marc Forster also seems to be determined to craft the first James Bond "art film," with excessive cross-cutting between his already incoherent action scenes and other locales… and it’s frankly exhausting trying to follow it all. He does handle the drama well, though, and pulls excellent performances from his cast; I have no complaints there. Nor do I with David Arnold’s fine musical score.

I do have a complaint about the filmmakers’ current take on the character of James Bond, though. All this talk of bringing the character back to the Ian Fleming original conception all sounds fine, but it bears no resemblance to what they’ve done to the character. He’s no longer the suave, slightly snobby secret agent serving Her Majesty’s interests and defeating international malefactors with style and cool efficiency, he’s now simply a thug. He's brutal, arrogant and indiscriminate in his use of violence; much more Mickey Spillane than Ian Fleming. Sigh.

Oh well, you’ve probably already seen the film, and have your own opinion, so I’ll discuss the 2-disc Special Edition DVD. In a word, it’s fine. There’s a beautiful, 2:35.1 widescreen anamorphic transfer, and 5.1 Dolby Surround and DTS audio options. The first disc includes several theatrical trailers and a music video of Jack White and Alicia Keyes’ theme song. Surprisingly, there’s no commentary track by the director.

Disc 2 contains a slew of behind-the-scenes and production featurettes, most originally prepared for British television. They’re the usual, self-congratulatory fluff pieces, but they’re nicely produced. No doubt, there will be an even more special Special Edition coming along in a year or so.

For fans of the film and Bond completists – including me – picking this up is a no-brainer.



THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (Blu-Ray)
GOLDFINGER (Blu-Ray)
MOONRAKER (Blu-Ray)
1999, 1964, 1979,MGM/Fox
For those who prefer their James Bond old school, MGM continues their gradual roll out of Bond titles on Blu-Ray with three new discs. One is an undeniable classic, while the other two are generally not as highly regarded; though I enjoy them both.

The World Is Not Enough (1999) was Pierce Brosnan’s third outing as agent 007, and aside from a few pacing problems, I think it’s a fine Bond film. Brosnan is firmly in control of the role and is even given a few opportunities to exercise his acting chops, especially in his scenes with villainess Sophie Marceau. I don’t even mind Denise Richards’ nuclear physicist – of course, nuclear physicists look like that in James Bond’s universe! The plot’s convoluted and preposterous, but what else is new? I like it.

Goldfinger (1964) was the third Bond film, and the one that established the formula for nearly all the films to come. Sean Connery is perfection in a movie that ranks among the very best of the era, and it’s the one that is usually held up as the best of the series. It’s certainly the most influential and best remembered of the classic films.

1979’s Moonraker was the producers’ response to the record-setting box office grosses of Star Wars, and featured agent 007 – in the form of Roger Moore, assaying the role for the fourth time – battling a megalomaniac bent on world destruction… in space! Certainly among the most over-the-top and campiest of the series, Moonraker is still good, briskly-paced entertainment, and hell, even the most serious Bond fan should be able to enjoy a little tasty cheese once in a while. Additionally, I think the old-style, handmade special effects and amazing Ken Adam-designed sets still hold up remarkably well.

All three movies have been blessed with brand new, high-def transfers, and amped-up sound. World and Moonraker are both presented in 2:35.1 widescreen, and Goldfinger is presented in its original full-frame aspect ratio. These films have never looked better – and I know, since I’ve owned all of them in multiple earlier formats. Each disc is loaded with bonus features – commentaries, documentaries, trailers, trivia, and much more.

MGM/Fox Home Video has made these available separately and as a nicely packaged box set. If you’re set-up for Blu-Ray and high-def, it’s absolutely worth upgrading. Highly recommended.



ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE - The Complete Series
2002, CBS/Paramount
Another imaginative Fox sitcom that was unappreciated and briskly canceled by the schizophrenic network, Andy Richter Controls the Universe featured the former Conan O’Brien sidekick in a workplace ensemble comedy that was rife with fantasy and great characters.

Richter plays Andy, a technical writer for a megacorporation that makes weapons for the government as well as a wide variety of consumer products. He shares his office with a neurotic but lovable illustrator (Jonathan Slavin), his handsome, charismatic best friend (James Patrick Stewart), his attractive, abrasive supervisor (Paget Brewster) and the cute receptionist (Irene Molloy) he has a crush on – for about three episodes. Andy gets through the days with the help of his overactive imagination and the support of his friends.

I loved the show when it aired back in 2002, and was disappointed when Fox unceremoniously dumped it. Now the entire 14-episode series, including five previously unaired episodes, is on DVD from CBS/Paramount, and I found it just as good as I remembered.

(I just have to mention that I became completely obsessed and freaked out with the sudden realization I had while re-watching the series that John Patrick Stewart, who plays Richter’s best friend, was the kid who played Doctor Zee on Galactica: 1980! That should definitely establish my geek cred…)

CBS/Fox presents the series in its original full-frame format, with the 14 half-hour episodes spread across three discs. The transfers are pristine, but this show isn’t very old, so that’s to be expected. What is surprising is that the studio did spring for several entertaining bonus features, including commentary tracks on selected episodes by Richter and creator Victor Fresco, and a retrospective documentary that features all the original cast in on-camera interviews.

With it’s fun characters, smart writing, bouts of broad comedy, and flights of fantasy, Andy Richter Controls the Universe is a comic gem awaiting rediscovery. Recommended.



ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN
RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN
1975, 1978, Disney
With Disney’s Race to Witch Mountain in theaters (is it still?) the studio finds itself required to re-release the original Witch Mountain films on DVD as part of their (very blandly packaged) "Walt Disney Family Classics" line.

If you never saw these perennial Disney favorites before, here’s the basics: two blond pre-teen orphans with mysterious mental abilities (including telepathy and telekinesis), Tony (Ike Eisenmann, The Fantastic Journey) and Tia (Kim Richards, Tuff Turf), search for the truth about their origins while trying to elude various criminals intent on exploiting the kids’ powers. In the first film, millionaire Ray Milland (X- The Man With the X-Ray Eyes) is after the kids, while in the second, Christopher Lee (Horror of Dracula) and Bette Davis (Burnt Offerings) have their greedy hearts set on controlling Tony’s TK talents.

Directed by John Hough (The Legend of Hell House, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry), both films feature primitive 70’s special effects and a certain flat, TV look, yet the stories and characters are still quite engaging, both for nostalgic adults and young children. My young niece and nephew, despite being raised on today’s flashy CGI-heavy fantasy flicks and video games, loved the movies, watching them so many times my sister begged me to take the disc back.

Both films have been released on DVD before, first in bonus-laden special editions some years ago and then as a bare-bones double feature disc in 2006. These new releases include all the extras from the original release, plus all new pop-up trivia subtitles. Both films are presented in their original 1.75:1 theatrical aspect ratios and are anamorphic. Both films include commentary tracks, behind the scenes featurettes, music video montages, and other Disney-styled features. My favorite is on the Return disc, an interview with Christopher Lee promoting the film in Italy, where we see the veteran screen heavy demonstrating his mastery of Italian! It’s a great bit.

If you haven’t got these wonderful family adventure flicks already, you certainly should. Recommended.

PINOCCHIO 70th ANNIVERSARY EDITION(Blu-Ray)
1940, Disney
It’s funny how studios figure anniversaries; Pinocchio, Walt Disney’s second animated feature film was released in 1940. By my math, that would make the 70th Anniversary 2010, not 2009. Oh well, in any case, the studio has chosen to remaster, restore and release this all time animated classic on Blu-Ray, and I’m glad they did.

Disney’s version of the Carlo Collodi story of the wooden puppet who is granted life a Blue Fairy and wishes nothing more than to be a "real boy," is known to all of us, along with such endearing supporting characters as Geppetto the woodcarver, Jiminey Cricket, cat Figaro and goldfish Cleo, as well as the evil Stromboli and the fearsome Monstro the Whale. But what’s amazing is just how well the movie holds up. The storytelling – never mind the lush, rich animation – is flawless, and the musical score is wonderful.

Disney’s new Blu-Ray edition includes two Blu-Ray discs and a standard definition DVD of the film. As usual, the transfer and audio quality are of the highest possible standard, employing the most cutting-edge of high definition video technologies. Presented windowboxed, in its original 1.33:1 Academy aspect ratio and at full 1080 hi-def resolution, the restoration of the film is gorgeous, with astounding detail, rich blacks and amazing color fidelity. The movie has absolutely never looked as good as it does here. Multiple audio options are available, up to 7.1 DTS-HD Surround. Bonus features are bountiful, and I simply don’t have the room (or time) to go into them all, but anyone interested in the movie and its place in animation history will not be disappointed by the depth and breadth of the behind-the-scenes material.

Highly and unreservedly recommended.


SPACE ANGEL COLLECTION #1
1962, VCI Entertainment
SyncroVox! This incredible innovation in animation was a technique pioneered by the geniuses at Cambria Productions in the early Sixties. This amazing process involved superimposing the highly rouged lips of live actors over the faces of cartoon characters, for absolutely perfect, synchronized dialogue! Among Cambria’s other innovations was an extremely liberal interpretation of the word "animated," as they relied pretty heavily on utterly static drawings of their characters. Cambria Productions was one of several outfits that supplied short, 5-minute serialized toons to independent television stations during the Golden Age of TV, shorts that were usually integrated into a local kid’s cartoon show, usually hosted by a cowboy, pirate or clown. (Ours was hosted by the station’s announcer and his dog puppet.)

Cambria’s most popular productions were an adventure show called Clutch Cargo and… Space Angel!

Now, thanks to the nostalgia merchants at VCI Home Video, you too can thrill to the interplanetary exploits of Scott McCloud, alias the heroic Space Angel, as fights to keep the spaceways safe from evil aliens and ruthless space pirates. Each story is made up of five five-minute segments, composed of mostly unmoving drawings used over and over. Also, the producers were apparently unwilling to go to the meager expense of actually superimposing those lips in all the time, so quite often the character’s mouths are obscured by microphones, or we’re given drawings of the back of their heads! The actual drawings are quite nice though, many of them the work of veteran comics and animation artists Alex Toth and Doug Wildley, so it’s not a total gyp.

VCI’s Space Angel Collection #1 includes nine full, 5-part adventures on a single disc. The toons are presented full frame, with mono sound. Unfortunately, the source material isn’t in the greatest shape. There’s lots of damage, dirt and scratches, and the colors are pretty faded.

Still, if you’ve the patience for it, or are a lover of cartoon kitsch, they’re definitely worth watching. And if you happened to grow up with these cartoons, you may find the trip back to your unsophisticated childhood to be a fun one.

Me, I’m eagerly awaiting Collection #2!


• COMING ATTRACTIONS: Next time, it’s back to the "B’s" with reviews of The She Beast, The Centerfold Girls, Tokyo Zombie, Dragonquest, Laid To Rest, and more.