There are some very good releases coming out this week. That fact should make my choice that much easier, right? It does and it doesn't. Too many good things make it hard to pick just one, and that happened this week. I have decided to go with a movie that may not be the best movie to come out this week, nor is it a movie that I have even seen before. I have a morbid curiosity to see it.
Being it is the horror season, this week's pick is Cannibal Holocaust. This movie has a fabled and storied past. I have had a curiosity to see this for years, but have never gotten around to seeing it. I have read the stories about how much of an impact it has, how good the score is, how intense the gore is. Now is the time to see if it lives up to it.
This has been at the center of controversy for a long time due to the fact it contains actual animal violence. I am not sure how well I will deal with that, but there is still that morbid curiosity. This DVD release is supposedly definitive; we shall see if it lives up to the hype.
Other releases this week:
- Bad Luck. This looks like an interesting title about a man during WWII who has, well, bad luck.
- Bewitched. The 2005 version with Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman has decent performances, but the story is a bit weak.
- Bird with the Crystal Plumage. The Dario Argento classic, which I have not yet seen.
- Blood & Black Lace. Another horror classic I haven't seen, this one by Mario Bava.
- Cowboy Bebop Remix 2. The second volume of these new remastered editions is upon us.
- Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. The original prequel by Paul Schrader that got trashed in favor of Renny Harlin's version.
- Ghost in the Shell: SAC - Official Log DVD/Book. The recap of the first season with an analysis of each episode with interviews and more.
- Herbie: Fully Loaded. Goofy and rather stupid. Pass.
- House of Wax. Surprisingly good after a weak start. This is a nice throwback to the 80's style slasher film.
- Kill! Criterion release of this old samurai film.
- Le Samourai. A French film about an assassin, also being released by Criterion.
- G3: Live in Tokyo. An excellent show of guitar expertise. Features Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci.
- Looney Tunes: Golden Collection Vol 3. You can never go wrong with these classics.
- Melinda & Melinda. The latest entry from Woody Allen. Features the same story told in two different ways.
- Mysterious Skin. This is an excellent film, but one which will definitely leave you feeling a bit icky.
- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. Joe Berlinger's documentary on the West Memphis Three, a trio of teens accused of a terrible crime.
- Samurai Rebellion. Toshiro Mifune in another samurai film, also a Criterion release.
- Samurai Spy. Big day for samurai fans.
- Short Cut to Nirvana. Moderately interesting look at the Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world.
- Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Second Season.The classic HBO series.
- Titanic: Special Collector's Edition. Finally getting a worthy DVD release. This looks to be a very good set with plenty of supplements.
- Tom & Jerry: Spotlight Collection Vol. 2. Like the Looney Toons, you can't go wrong with these two.
- Tripping the Rift: The Complete First Season. Mediocre CG animated Sci-Fi comedy series.
- Wages of Fear. Yet another Criterion. I have heard good things of this tale of men in the jungle.
- The Wizard of Oz. Available in a 2 and 3 disk edition. I want the three disk, it contains all of the original shorts and features based on Oz that preceded it. Plus all of the documentaries.
That is all!
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Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Cannibal Holocaust is worth a watch if you have a pretty solid stomach. The gore is filthy, the animal killings absolutely horrid, but for what it is, its actually pretty good.
Vomit inducing cannibal horror with a social commentary. It hits you over the head with the social commentary, but at least it has one.
2 - Chris Beaumont
I just noticed none of the Amazon links are showing....
3 - The Countess (Trish Wilson)
I saw "Cannibal Holocaust" a couple of weeks ago. I heard about it for years, too, but never was able to find it until recently.
I also heard that it helped inspire "The Blair Witch Project", since the story lines are similar, mainly the idea of searching for teams who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Definitely see "Wages of Fear". I saw that one in college, and it remains one of my favorite movies. It's about a group of men who are trying to transport highly explosive nitroglycerin from point A to point B, without having the entire load explode on them. Very tense, nail-biting movie.