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Author	Topic: What DVDs or VHS have you bought lately?

Lou Goldberg Standard Userer	Thought this might make for a nice topic. Most recent DVD arrivals: Lord Jim L'Age D'Or The Purple Plain The Mystery of Picasso/Guernica King Rat Mughal-E-Azam Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Siegel) Venus in Furs On VHS: The Hand Wuthering Heights (Bunuel)
posted 07-21-2005 11:23 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	Sunset Boulevard (it says "Widescreen Collection" on the cover, though the movie has the correct Academy Ratio). I'd been wanting to see this for years, so I finally picked up the DVD when it was cheap. The film started out very well, then remained good until the end, though I wasn't really that fascinated - until the absolutely mindboggling finale that is. There were lots of shots in the film which seemed rather familiar today, but which at the same time looked very much like they were absolutely new back then.
posted 07-22-2005 10:11 AM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Standard Userer	I haven't bought these as yet but they are either out or coming out and look really good: Charles & Ray Eames Set (6 dvds at a low price of all the great Eames shorts) Val Lewton set (yup, Cat People, I Walked w/a Zombie, The Ghost Ship, The 7th Victim, The Leopard Man, Curse of the Cat People, Isle of the Dead, The Body Snatcher, & Bedlam--the greatest of 40s horror all in one place) The High and The Mighty (John Wayne airplane disaster soap with a great Tiomkin score) Island in the Sky (lower key Wayne air disaster film which isn't bad either) 40 Guns (Samuel Fuller) Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (another Fuller) Crazed Fruit (Criterion does 50s Japanese JD) Gate of Flesh (Seijun Suzuki at his most hot-house passion-filled best) The Story of a Prostitute (another Suzuki) Fighting Elegy (Suzuki already out) Youth of the Beast (great Suzuki already out)
posted 07-22-2005 02:22 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	I dont buy too many films, but I do collect some old documentaries and some older films from 30s and 40s mostly. Just got the entire series of the Capra Why We Fight films on one tape. Found at the Mile High Flea Market in Denver. I had some of these but was missing one or two. I collect some older films with scores by Newman etc. from the early days. Selected titles and I have several of those. I dont buy very very few newer ones though. J.
posted 07-25-2005 10:19 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	By the way, the Movie Man, Johnson guy out there in California, has practically every old title from the early years you can think of. the problem is he charges around 20 per film, a little steep for me. But I have found some here and there on Ebay and other places. Clearance sales etc. things like Dec 7th, I Cover the Waterfront, Our Daily Bread and so o n. J.
posted 07-25-2005 10:21 PM PT (US)

James Standard Userer	Newly region free, I ordered the Australian release of Christine Jeffs' captivating RAIN, as I had come to understand this Region 4 release was widescreen and had a superior transfer to the pan-and-scan R1 we have in the States. The package arrived today and I eagerly opened it up...only to find the R1 release. Apparently the R4 is out of print, so I can't exchange it either. Hmph. I did manage to get the R2 of Godard's WEEKEND from Artificial Eye (Amazon UK gave me prime service as well) which is superb, and I'll have the R2 of LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD coming next week which I'm greatly excited about. Also recently got a hold of Christopher Doyle's AWAY WITH WORDS, which I haven't had a chance to watch yet, and acquired a widescreen bootleg of Peter Greenaway's THE BABY OF MACON. Greenaway seems to be urging the audience to hate it while simultaneously daring them to like it. I loved it, which might not be the response he was actually looking for. Kirk
posted 07-28-2005 11:34 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Lou, I don't know if you've seen this (or you may already have the CD), but Screen Archives has the Elmer/Eames disc for 9.95. Thought you might be interested. I'll be back in Scotland until the 10th. I may pick up the OUTER LIMITS first season set when I'm there, though I've read nothing about this anywhere (or I can't remember, more likely). I'll get it, then come back and read that you advise me against it. Spilt milk.
posted 08-02-2005 02:41 PM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Standard Userer	Thanks GW. I already had the Eames/Bernstein disc but picked up another at that price to give to a friend. Word has it that Amber records will be issuing Bernstein's KINGS OF THE SUN this December. The only new DVDs in since last time are: Paris, Texas The Prodigal Son Carmen Jones
posted 08-15-2005 12:15 AM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	I didn't get that first season OUTER LIMITS when I was back "home". Next time, I hope. I did pick up, in a frenzy of spending the last pounds at the airport - ROSEMARY'S BABY - one of my favourite movies. I've seen it ten times and never tire of it. PAPILLON - good solid fare. Isolated score too (and one of Goldsmith's best). TAXI DRIVER - I have good memories of this. GOODFELLAS - Have never seen it, and everyone tells me I'm an idiot for never having done so. So I got it. PLANET OF THE APES - Great movie, with good extras, including a Goldsmith commentary.
posted 08-16-2005 03:02 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Got two new ones - ALIEN, the 20th anniversary edition. Had a quick look; seems to have two versions of the great Goldsmith score. I'll have to delve into that. THE FURY - I have fond memories of that from my childhood, haven't seen it since. Might not seem so great now, but there are so many good-looking widescreen DVDs out now that every time I go to the supermarket, there are twelve more juicy things for two quid each. This'll be the death of me. Not financially (unlike CDs), but filmically. I now have no time to explore new interesting avenues when I'm still on the extras for PLANET OF THE APES. Which means I haven't got round to GOODFELLAS, ROSEMARY'S BABY, TAXI DRIVER etc - all the stuff I got a month ago. As if I had problems.
posted 09-04-2005 04:34 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Graham Watt: ALIEN, the 20th anniversary edition. Had a quick look; seems to have two versions of the great Goldsmith score. I'll have to delve into that. The original score as written for the movie (and partly released on CD), and the alternates, including rewrites and source cues. A total of about 90 minutes, but that does include the liftoff/landing cue twice. quote: THE FURY - I have fond memories of that from my childhood, haven't seen it since. Might not seem so great now, but there are so many good-looking widescreen DVDs out now that every time I go to the supermarket, there are twelve more juicy things for two quid each. I still think it's great. The plot may be a bit "cheap", but there are far worse scripts, and the technical perfection of this movie easily makes up for that. Stunning visuals and the most amazing visual/score combination I've seen.
posted 09-04-2005 05:36 PM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	Reservoir Dogs Return To Oz Shaun Of The Dead Ice Cold In Alex p.s. For all it's faults I still have great fondness for THE FURY (probably the 3rd or 4th 'X' film '18 nowadays' I saw when I was still underage) and still find the film incredibly enjoyable, ditto the score. p.p.s. The first 'X' films I saw was a double bill of ENTER THE DRAGON and DIRTY HARRY.....those were the days [Message edited by Timmer on 09-15-2005]
posted 09-15-2005 07:55 PM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	These off topic boards are turning into a limbo like twilight zone.
posted 09-26-2005 12:02 PM PT (US)

ManOfSorrows Standard Userer	And here are my latest DVD purchases: The Nightmare On Elm Street Collection (7 movies) The Adventures Of Indiana Jones Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Planet Of The Apes: Special Edition (1968) Band of Brothers Scrubs: The Complete First Season Friends: Season Seven Friends: Season Eight I bought 'Band of Brothers' blind, and that must have been my best blind buy ever Just amazing. The best mini-series I've ever seen.
posted 10-01-2005 01:21 AM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	I got some good 'uns lately - FREAKS - still an amazing movie. It comes with the alternate ending of the midgets being reunited (the version I'd seen up till now faded out after we see Olga Baclanova in the pit, turned into a chicken). Interesting commentary track by David Skal. There's a secondary disc to this - Lon Chaney in Browning's THE UNKNOWN. That looks really interesting. Joan Crawford is in it with Chaney. STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE - It's not entirely successful, but at least it addresses serious science fiction concepts. Commentaries by Robert Wise, Jerry Goldsmith etc (though the composer mostly shuts up and lets Wise talk for him, for better or worse). Some widescreen from Filmax: TOMB OF LIGEIA - I remember Lou and myself discussed this at length a while back right here. I said it was a masterpiece, whilst he felt it fell short. Well, having seen it again, I say that it falls from a 10 to a 9.5, but only because the final conflagration is so generic. MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH Now this IS a masterpiece (you listening, Lou?).
posted 11-06-2005 05:24 PM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	Revenge Of The Sith Extras (the Ricky Gervais series)
posted 11-14-2005 06:23 PM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by ManOfSorrows: And here are my latest DVD purchases: The Nightmare On Elm Street Collection (7 movies) The Adventures Of Indiana Jones Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Planet Of The Apes: Special Edition (1968) Band of Brothers Scrubs: The Complete First Season Friends: Season Seven Friends: Season Eight I bought 'Band of Brothers' blind, and that must have been my best blind buy ever Just amazing. The best mini-series I've ever seen. I've seen the complete Band Of Brothers going for half price in the major stores, I'm trying to hold out and hope it goes even cheaper in the January sales?
posted 11-14-2005 06:25 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	I was down the fruit market today. I got some oranges, plus... FRANKENSTEIN - the James Whale original. BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN - James Whale again. DRACULA - the first Lugosi Drac, Tod Browning at the helm. I nearly didn't get this, remembering that it is static in the extreme, but I thought, bah, after all the oranges I'll get the complete filmic set. They mention on one of the extras that we can access the Spanish version (shot simultaneously by George Melford) in order to compare - but that's not on MY disc. THE MUMMY - Karloff as Kharis, directed by Karl Freund. THE INVISIBLE MAN - Whale again, directing Claude Rains. On one of the tracks, they say "No, that's not Swan Lake again, but rather an original piece by Heinz Roemheld." I always thought it was Waxman. You'll have heard it in FLASH GORDON. THE WOLF MAN - George Waggner directs Lon Jr as the shaving-brush headed monster. I was so glad to get these. I haven't seen any of them in their entirity, so can't comment too much on picture quality etc. One question for all you erudites. Are these things the definitive (up to now) DVD releases of this stuff? They all come with additional documentaries and interviews, etc. The fruit market didn't have the last two in the set, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (I wasn't too bothered about not getting PHANTOM - memory tells me that it was more OPERA than PHANTOM).
posted 12-08-2005 02:10 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	If the DVDs are the versions released just in time last year to coincide with the release of Van Helsing, than yes, they are the most definitive you can get. The packaging is green and features the faces of the respected monsters on the cover, if I'm not mistaken. I was cowardly about picking them up and frugal with my money during their release last year; I know they're still in print, but I might have to search far for Frankenstein and BoF (the two BEST Universal monster films IMO, I have a Peter Jackson-like desire with BoF). It's too bad you couldn't come across Creature from the Black Lagoon, it's still the most fun of the films. I still haven't seen the Chaney version of Phantom of the Opera so I can't clarify it's Opera over Phantom status.
posted 12-08-2005 05:41 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Those are the ones, nuts. Yes, released to coincide with VAN HELSING. Actually, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the Claude Rains one in colour, not the silent Chaney version. I seem to recall that there's an awful lot of footage of Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster singing. I'll certainly keep a lookout for CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON though.
posted 12-09-2005 05:40 AM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	Per Graham's recent buys I went out to fetch the Frankenstein Legacy Set (if only to have a fine transfer of Bride, my bootleg version is terrible) and I ended up grabbing a few more titles: Joe Dante's The Howling William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist III Paul Schrader's Dominion: A Prequel to the Exorcist (I can't wait to watch this one) David Fincher's Panic Room SuperBit Edition
posted 12-12-2005 02:46 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Nuts, what's that "Frankenstein Legacy Set"?
posted 01-14-2006 04:14 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Let's see. For Christmas I got two FLIES, in the sense that I got the two versions. The first starred Al (David) Hedison and Vincent Price, and looks pretty good in its widescreen presentation. Wasn't that fairly unusual to have cheapish horror shot in widescreen and in colour back then? Anyway, I have only browsed as yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing it, after all those years. The trailer is included, and is pretty scary in itself ("Hello, I'm Vincent Price. What's that buzzing sound I hear...!). I always liked the Cronenberg from the 80s, so I got (received) that too. Haven't seen it since I was knee-high to Rolf Harris, but I have fond memories of it. Maybe "fond" is not the right word, but it impressed me at the time. VAMPIRE CIRCUS - In the mid-70s this was the greatest film of all time for me. Big screen, X certificate (and I was gloriously under-age - that made EVERYTHING great!). Seen today, it has, shall we say, somewhat shrunk in its momentousness, but it's still a diverting late Hammer. One of the problems is the sprawling cast - there's no real protagonist. It needed some focus of attention like Peter Cushing. Some of actors are terrible, especially the younger ones. John Moulder-Brown? Wet. THE ELEPHANT MAN - This was a Christmas surprise (my dear wife told me "they didn't have any other bad horror films"). Haven't seen it in years. I recall that it's a very fine movie. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL - again, haven't seen it in donkey's, but I loved it when I was twelve. I watched the Main Titles just now and got goosebumps as soon as Herrmann's downward theremin glissando kicks in at the outset. There's a Robert Wise commentary on this. This isn't in widescreen, so allow me to ask a Neanderthal Man question - were the majority of those old films shot "square"? I could explain better, but I know YOU know what I mean.
posted 01-14-2006 04:37 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Graham Watt: Nuts, what's that "Frankenstein Legacy Set"? The Legacy Collection that has Whale's first two along with Son of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein, and House of Frankenstein (and people complain about too many sequels today!). Is that the version you got some time back? The packaging in green and has a display of Karloff's Frankie with the laboratory and lightning in the fore-ground. I got Cronenberg's The Fly the first day it was out last year and it's amazing. The doc included is simply sublime (aside from the rare Cronenberg interviews, he opted for the commentary track instead) and is required viewing for any future director (like myself). quote: This isn't in widescreen, so allow me to ask a Neanderthal Man question - were the majority of those old films shot "square"? I could explain better, but I know YOU know what I mean. I believe it was made before both Panavision and CinemaScope became popular among directors. Every early movie I have before the 60s are all in the 1.33:1 fullscreen ratio. I would like to have seen what Welles could have done with a 2.35:1 canvas for Citizen Kane and Touch of Evil. NP> Beltrami's Blade II (**/***)
posted 01-14-2006 05:06 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Oh, I forgot the latest addition. Browsing in the vegetable shop the other day, I found EMBRYO (Ralph Nelson 1976) for 10 Euros. That's a hefty price to pay for a vegetable, but I got it for the Gil Mell� score. And I watched it last night. Like VAMPIRE CIRCUS, I'd seen it as a wee nipper and was quite impressed. But last night it was verging on the dire. An interesting premise (Rock Hudson is a scientist who accelerates the development of unborn beings, and he "creates" Barbara Carerra in his lab) goes for nothing in this disappointingly underdeveloped story (though the girl herself is satisfyingly developed). And this must be the WORST quality DVD I've ever seen - murky (you can't even see her tits), jumping around, sound cutting out, grainy, dialogue in Spanish only (!), and End Titles which cut off half way through. Was this shot from TV through the neighbours' curtains? What the film IS blessed with is an absolutely GREAT MUSIC SCORE BY GIL MELL�. There are electronics very similar to Goldsmith's LOGANS RUN, but the best is the marvellous orchestral score, strange, seductive and completely Mellesque (new word). I beg you, DO listen to some of this man's work (even if you have to get through some pretty rotten films to do so).
posted 01-14-2006 05:10 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Thanks Nuts! I haven't managed to pick up the later Universal horrors (SON OF FRANKIE etc). I don't think they're part of the same series, certainly not part of the original set. I'm not sure I'm making myself clear. I don't know what I'm talking about myself. Yes, most of the oldies I have are full screen, but I think it also depends on which greengrocer's shop you frequent. I got GONE WITH THE WIND free (because I bought so many carrots) the other day, and it's full screen. Surely even in 1939 that film wasn't square (?). Thanking you all for your patience.
posted 01-14-2006 05:21 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Graham Watt: Surely even in 1939 that film wasn't square (?). Thanking you all for your patience. It was.
posted 01-14-2006 08:07 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Thanks again, nuts. I'd always assumed that GONE WITH THE WIND at least might have been wider than your average square. Perhaps it was those titles( wherein one sees the title passing across the screen) which made me think that this must be W I D E - I S H, but now I recognize my error. Learning all the time (and I thought I had nothing more to learn at my long age of 67).
posted 01-15-2006 04:37 PM PT (US)

James Standard Userer	Graham: http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/ No self-respecting cinephile should leave himself/herself unaware of aspect ratio history and tendency now that we are well into the DVD age. There's also interesting reading about the history of color and sound, as well. Kirk
posted 01-15-2006 08:27 PM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Standard Userer	I figured I'd post some of the newer acquisitions: Yasuzo Masumura films: Giants and Toys Afraid to Die Manji Blind Beast Hanzo the Razor 3-film box Rumble Fish Beethoven (Le Grand Amour de Beethoven) Warning Shot Where Eagles Dare F for Fake Le Samourai Masculine-Feminine Weekend Fury Hustle Doomwatch The Crawling Eye (The Trollenberg Terror) Wet Asphalt Islands in the Stream Shoot The Piano Player (2 disc Criterion) I, Mobster Raw Deal T-Men The Tiger and the Flame The Baby Without Honor The Fugitive Kind They Were Expendable/Flying Leathernecks The Story of Marie and Julien Major Dundee-The Extended Version etc. etc. etc. Duh! How could I forget to mention the Criterion The Tales of Hoffmann (with The Sorcerer's Apprentice as a special feature)? [Message edited by Lou Goldberg on 01-16-2006]
posted 01-16-2006 04:48 AM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Thanks for that link, James. I'll be going on frequent tours round that museum. It's quite staggering the amount of info you can browse there. Downside is it makes me feel stoopid that I didn't know any of that and yet call myself a film fan. Back to skool.
posted 01-16-2006 02:52 PM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	Recently acquired... Himalaya - Michael Palin Danger Mouse - yep! that's right, Danger friggin Mouse...ave sum a dat!! Captain Kronos : Vampire Hunter....really looking forward to seeing this again, plus the bonus of a great score by Laurie Johnson
posted 01-21-2006 12:35 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	Man, I love Captain Kronos; that is my absolute favorite Hammer film (and another film I wouldn't mind taking a stab at in my future of filmmaking, I know Hammer had much higher intentions for it). It's too bad the studio went bankrupt before any sequel was even put forward. Oh well, the DVD (actually, Paramount needs to work on a better picture transfer) and my imagination suits me just fine. And, as Sean can vouch for me, I love all things with "Kronos" anywhere in them.
posted 01-21-2006 08:42 PM PT (US)

Timmer Standard Userer	Good on yer. You should change your name from nuts to sane
posted 01-24-2006 11:02 AM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	No, I'M Spartacus, and nuts too, and sane into the bargain. Latest purchase - three iceberg lettuce and THE CHANGELING. Good solid ghost story from 1979, though, like so many other movies, it seems to have shrunk with the years. It's perhaps a shade too overbearingly serious all the time, which means that it teeters dangerously on the verge of unintentional laughs, but I'm glad also that director Peter Medak took the risk of handling it with such respect for the genre, even if the results are mixed. Alejandro Amen�bar has said that this film was a big influence on him, and watching THE CHANGELING again really does highlight how much it's all over THE OTHERS, even down to having the same name for the gardener (Mr Tuttle). Great score too, which is like a mixture of John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN in its simplicity, mixed with Billy Goldenberg TV Movie key changes and vaulting harmonics, and semi-classical piano tinklings which reminded me of some John Williams score, but I can't place which. I think this is sold out everywhere. Is that right?
posted 01-28-2006 03:31 PM PT (US)

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