The Duke de Mondo is out with the royal conclave again this week. Deciding who will be the next Pope de Mondo takes plenty of time, apparently.
He promises to be back next week. Until then, here is this weeks Region 1 DVD releases.
The big movie release this week is Martin Scorcese’s the Aviator. Though he’ll never hit the creative peaks of his 70’s period, the Aviator is still a beautiful, brilliant film. The DVD is loaded with commentaries, documentaries and interviews.
Jean Pierre Juenet’s A Very Long Engagement hits the shelves this week. The follow up film to the hugely successful Amelie likewise stars Audrey Tautou. For some dumb reason French theatres do now show their films with English subtitles, so I have yet to see it. But Jeunet’s films are always worth at least one viewing.
It is a good week for Generation X’ers who are feeling a little nostalgic. Two sets of After School Specials are being released. So put down your Trapper Keeper and cozy up to a bunch of melodramatic cheese fests starring the likes of such 80’s heartthrobs as Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Rob Lowe, Robert Reed and Dana Plato.
If that wasn’t enough to get you reminiscing about the time that punk Stephen stole your lunch money, or that other time you got pants in gym class then this week also sees the release of Superfriends – the Second Season, and Airwolf - Season One.
For those of you who are a bit older, and need something in black and white to feel nostalgic, the Andy Griffith – Complete Second Season also hits the shelves. Still need something to keep you saying “They don’t make them like they used to?” The Dick Van Dyke Show has packaged its entire season together.
Other notable TV releases are: News Radio – The Complete Second Season, Law and Order – The Third Year, and MASH – Season 8.
For reasons unknown to me, Richard Pryor has a couple of releases coming out. There is a two pack of his comedies with Gene Wilder, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Stir Crazy. The other release is a collection of his stand-up routines, Here and Now and Live on the Sunset Strip. I’m not that familiar with his stand up material, but the films are well worth adding to any collection.
Right alongside Richard Pryor on any list of great comedians is Red Skelton. His sketch comedy show gets a 2 disc greatest hits packaging.
Other notable film releases are: Drums Along the Mohawk, A Farewell to Arms, and a single disc version of the Godfather Part II.
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Another excellent job Mat. i can't thank you enough for helpin me out this past fortnight.
The Pryor stuff is interesting, seems to be a lot of his stuff getting issued around the here and now. Here in the UK, they just released Live & Smokin' on DVD, which is sublime. And then there's the updated autobiography, Pryor Convictions.
And i'll throw my two cents in the direction of The Phantom Of Liberty, a wonderful slab of Luis Bunuel surreal madness.
Or my two pence perhaps, owing to the currency differences.
2 - mat
Im just playing with the comments to check a conjecture.