2009: The Digital Chivvy

[Brian Thibodeau]

For those so inclined, Amazon has the BLU-RAY of 400 BLOWS for only $12.99, which is comparable to the Barnes & Noble pricing in their ongoing sale (which requires membership, coupon codes, etc.). Amazon has a bunch of Criterions reduced to prices comparable to Barnes & Nobles 50% Off Criterion sale, but this one really stuck out (even though I already have it, and paid more for it). Not sure how long it will lasts. Amazon's been incredible the past few days. Hope others here took advantage.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Debating whether to get MONSTERS & ALIENS when it becomes a $9.99 "Lightning Deal" in a few hours. I've got a couple of other under $10 blus in the cart that would qualify for free shipping, and I did enjoy the movie quite a bit . . .

Ended up getting it. Ordered a bit more from the Black Friday deals at Amazon, some of which seem to be still in effect:

MONSTERS AND ALIENS (Blu-Ray) 9.99
CASINO (Blu-Ray) $9.99
RAMBO III (Blu-Ray) $8.99 EDIT: Cancelled this one; ordered the Rambo Blu 3-pack for $24.99. Much better deal.

MONSTER SQUAD (Blu-Ray) $9.99
THE OMEN (1976; Blu-Ray) $10.49 (should've jumped earlier at 9.99, but such is life . . . )
BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25th CENTURY TV series (DVD) $9.99 (again, should've jumped earlier at $7.99. Oh well) EDIT: Priced dropped back to $7.99! Got Amazon to price match. Very cool.

Also picked up another fine batch of $3 Warner & Columbia classics at Big Lots. Those are in the car at the moment, and I'm at work, so I'll list those later. I also have a bag of HK Legendary Collection DVDs picked up a while back for $5 ea. here in town, but I inadvertently left them at my girlfriend's place and she's out of town at the moment, so no access. They must be so lonely . . .

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Don't forget that MONSTERS AND (VS) ALIENS takes place in a big chunk of the film in Modesto . However, Modesto looks nothing like what is in the film.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Don't forget that MONSTERS AND (VS) ALIENS takes place in a big chunk of the film in Modesto . However, Modesto looks nothing like what is in the film.

I actually saw it in the theatre this summer, and was suitably impressed. Unfortunately, I wouldn't know Modesto locations from CG ones. The only thing that bums me out is the lack of 3D on the Blu-Ray, which was spectacular on the big screen, as it almost always is these days (even on mediocre movies like FINAL DESTINATION 4). That goes for most of these CG animated features; it's inevitable that they'll all probably reappear in 3-D Blu versions once the televisions are the norm. Even the TOY STORY movies have been reformatted, so it's only a matter of time. Still, until then, these current editions (I picked up MONSTERS INC, UP and M&A in recent sales, for unbelievably cheap prices) will keep me busy with special features. I believe the new short film on the M&A Blu is in 3-D, but it's in that awful blu-red anaglyphic format. Headaches!

[Brian Thibodeau]

Home at last, so here's the list of $3.00 goodies picked up this weekend at Big Lots. These are from what I think must be a new shipment of titles that arrived within the last three weeks. There was quite a bit left over, even after the Black Friday crunch, so if you American members are hankerin' for some classic Hollywood and don't mind slumming a bit at your local Big Lots, you can probably find these and many more:

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (1966)
HARPER (1966)
THE WOMEN (1939)
WHITE HEAT (1949)
UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING (2 disc SE; 1988)
LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1948)
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (2006) Don't ask. I'm a completist. It will get sold.
DARKER THAN BLACK VOL. 1 (Anime; 2008)

Saw plenty of other good stuff, including quite a few Warner titles that, of course, I already picked up in Amazon's recent $5.79 blowout.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Home at last, so here's the list of $3.00 goodies picked up this weekend at Big Lots. These are from what I think must be a new shipment of titles that arrived within the last three weeks. There was quite a bit left over, even after the Black Friday crunch, so if you American members are hankerin' for some classic Hollywood and don't mind slumming a bit at your local Big Lots, you can probably find these and many more:

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (1966)
HARPER (1966)
THE WOMEN (1939)
WHITE HEAT (1949)
UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING (2 disc SE; 1988)
LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1948)
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (2006) Don't ask. I'm a completist. It will get sold.
DARKER THAN BLACK VOL. 1 (Anime; 2008)

Saw plenty of other good stuff, including quite a few Warner titles that, of course, I already picked up in Amazon's recent $5.79 blowout.

That's a pretty good bunch. What do you think of IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE? I finally watched it a few weeks ago.

LADY FROM SHANGHAI is a great movie (even with studio interference). Compare that scene with the one in THE LONGEST NITE . WHITE HEAT is another good Cagney film (saw him dance in FOOTLIGHT PARADE a few days ago). WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF is good but I do get tired of all that arguing .

How is HARPER?

[Brian Thibodeau]

What do you think of IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE? I finally watched it a few weeks ago.

Really looking forward to this one. It's also available as part of the TCM Greatest Classic Movies Christmas 4-film collection that's out now. Almost bought that last week as the whole line is on sale at Wal-marts here in Canada for $12.83 each, except for the Christmas one, which is nearly $19 because they know they can get away with it at this time of year.

LADY FROM SHANGHAI is a great movie (even with studio interference). Compare that scene with the one in THE LONGEST NITE .

Saw this decades ago on an "afternoon movie" on local TV, when I was probably too young to really appreciate it. I remember really liking it, and reading plenty about it over the years, but always held off on the DVD hoping it might turn up in an Amazon sale at some point, though that never happened. At $3 from Big Lots, it was obviously a no brainer.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF is good but I do get tired of all that arguing .

I can understand this. I've only ever seen clips (long and short) from this one, but was always fascinated by the very thing you mention: the arguing. Not sure if I'll be able to withstand two hours of it, but I do enjoy it when actors can tear into well-written domestic confrontations like that. Did anyone ever see Benny Hill's take on this film, where he played both the Burton and Taylor roles? Rather amusing:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... d=37531964

How is HARPER?

Probably be a while before I get to some of these, but with winter fast approaching, I plan to hunker down and plow through as much as I can. HARPER's a blind buy based largely on brief portions seen on TV years ago, and the participation of screenwriter William Goldman (who also contributes a commentary).


Speaking of the TCM Greatest Classic Movies Collections, I picked up three of these last week but forgot to list them. I've seen all of them before, owned some of them, but liked the space-saving nature of the sets. All are special editions. In cases where the original releases were two-disc sets, these port over the first disc only:

TCM GCM Best Pictures Collection:
CASABLANCA*/GIGI/AMERICAN IN PARIS*/MRS. MINIVER
TCM GCM Murder Mystery Collection:
MALTESE FALCON*/DIAL M FOR MURDER*/POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE/BIG SLEEP*
TCM GCM Romantic Dramas Collection:
EAST OF EDEN/CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF/STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE/REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
* = previously owned, already sold off.

[Harlock]

How is HARPER?

isn't he in china?

[Brian Thibodeau]

How is HARPER?

isn't he in china?

Hong Kong, to be precise!

[Brian Thibodeau]

I also have a bag of HK Legendary Collection DVDs picked up a while back for $5 ea. here in town, but I inadvertently left them at my girlfriend's place and she's out of town at the moment, so no access. They must be so lonely . . .

Finally got these now that she's back in town! Technically these aren't new purchases anymore, so December's been relatively light (see below)

Legendary Collection DVDs (2-for-1; $5 ea)

CHASING GIRLS (1981)
TROUBLE COUPLES (1987)
WHO'S THE CROOK (1986)
ALL THE WRONG SPIES (1983)
ALL THE RIGHT CLUES (1981)
TIL DEATH SHALL WE START (1990)
CREAM SODA AND MILK (1981)
PRETTY GHOST (1991)
THE HAPPENINGS (1980)
THE GREAT PRETENDERS (1991)
THE LADY KILLER (1977) DB needs a big update on this one
THOSE MERRY SOULS (1985)

Pls:

HAPPILY EVER AFTER (2009)

December stuff:

From the Wa Yi store:
KID FROM KWANTUNG (1982) Shaw
SPLIT SECOND MURDERS (2009)

Another haul of $3 Warner titles from Big Lots. That place is seriously becoming the equivalent of DVD heroin. Every time I go in, I find some old gems. These come from a store in Michigan, and another in New York:

ALL MINE TO GIVE (1957) Cameron Mitchell in a Christmas movie! Who knew!
TORTURE GARDEN (1967)
CABIN IN THE SKY (1943)
XXX: STATE OF THE UNION (2005) Please don't tell anyone I bought this . . .
VERA DRAKE (2004)
MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936)
STATE AND MAIN (2000) Watched this one already. Loved it, but didn't need to keep it, so flipped it on Amazon.
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1981) Owned this on VHS a century ago, so it's nice to finally have the upgrade so cheap

Big screen viewings:

NINJA ASSASSIN
AVATAR (3D)

[ewaffle]

Quite a Big Lots haul. I drive past one of them every day (twice on some days) but have resisted the temptation so far. I had better take a new route to work because my most recent (also my first and so far only) trip there resulted in a few too many DVDs that wound up on the "still shrink wrapped" stack until it got embarrassing.

"Cabin in the Sky" has such a to-die-for cast, much of the Black American show biz royalty of the mid-century, plus Vincente Minelli, Vernon Duke...

"State and Main" is a terrific movie/movie from one of my favorite American directors although he could have made it much better by not featuring the then (and possibly still) current Mrs. David Mamet whose participation might be best on the level of her role in "The Spanish Prisoner", more self contained and limited. Still very good with superb performances from David Paymer, Julia Styles, Alec Baldwin (I think he must be really terrified of Mamet since he is always so perfectly loathsome in his movies without any of his Baldwinish quirks) plus the usual repertory company of actors.

[Brian Thibodeau]

. . . Alec Baldwin (I think he must be really terrified of Mamet since he is always so perfectly loathsome in his movies without any of his Baldwinish quirks)

It was nice to finally hear his famous line "Well . . . that happened!" in its proper context.

I have to admit, I love watching Mamet's movies, and his unique dialogue, but I often don't end up keeping them, even though I often rate them very highly. Weird, I know.

Big Lots is addictive, unfortunately. I do worry that we'll see even more $3 dumps there in the New Year, and as DVD continues to take up less space in the big box retailers. I fear for my finances, I really do.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

And to be even more annoying:

Hopscotch - Criterion Collection
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Criterion)
My Dinner with Andre (Criterion Collection)
Last Year at Marienbad (Criterion Collection)"
For All Mankind- Criterion Collection
The Last Days of Disco (Criterion Collection)
Homicide- Criterion Collection
That Hamilton Woman- Criterion Collection
Master and Commander Collectors Edition
Shaw Brothers Metal Tin: Epic Heroes (4 DVDs and T-Shirt Offer)
Inglourious Basterds (2-Disc Target Exclusive)
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Three-Disc Edition + Digital Copy + DVD) [Blu-ray] (2009)
Manna From Heaven (2002)
Sherlock Holmes Double Feature: The House of Fear/The Pearl of Death
The Killing Fields
Offside (2006)
Shanghai Triad (1995)
The Letter (1940)
Michael Clayton (2007)
Simpsons Season 12

all these below were gotten at the dollar store for a dollar :
Ned Kelly (1970)
Bad Influence (1990)
Body and Soul (1998)
Kart Racer (2003)
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970)
Jiminy Glick in La La Wood (2004)
Gangster No. 1 (2000)
The Chateau (2001)

[Brian Thibodeau]

And to be even more annoying:

I'm glad I don't live in California. Otherwise, I'd end up in jail for breaking into your house to steal your Criterion collection. Surely you must have the complete set by now?

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Three-Disc Edition + Digital Copy + DVD) [Blu-ray] (2009)

I'm quite fond of these Blu+DVD sets. Nice to have the DVD as a back up, or for travel, or for a different room, or to listen to the audio commentary at work. Got a few of these in the Black Friday sales, mostly cartoons. I wish they'd do it more often with live action films, at least for a while. This isn't like the days of VHS to DVD. There's plenty of people out there who either have both disc formats, like a lot of us here, or are DVD only, but would like to have the Blu for future viewing when the upgrade.

Sherlock Holmes Double Feature: The House of Fear/The Pearl of Death

Saw these in Best Buy in Buffalo last weekend and was tempted. I still want that boxed set of all the films, though, but the price rarely comes down on that one.

Gangster No. 1 (2000)

I've seen most of your dollar finds, and without hesitation, my favourite is this one. Just a phenomenal, and phenomenally stylish, picture. The period recreation is amazing, and Paul Bettany makes an ideal "young version" of Malcolm McDowell. McDowell really should get more roles like the one he has here, instead of all that direct-to-video horror garbage he continues to appear in even today. I guess he's gotta pay the bills . . .

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...I'm glad I don't live in California. Otherwise, I'd end up in jail for breaking into your house to steal your Criterion collection. Surely you must have the complete set by now?
...
I'm quite fond of these Blu+DVD sets. Nice to have the DVD as a back up, or for travel, or for a different room, or to listen to the audio commentary at work. Got a few of these in the Black Friday sales, mostly cartoons. I wish they'd do it more often with live action films, at least for a while. This isn't like the days of VHS to DVD. There's plenty of people out there who either have both disc formats, like a lot of us here, or are DVD only, but would like to have the Blu for future viewing when the upgrade.
...
Saw these in Best Buy in Buffalo last weekend and was tempted. I still want that boxed set of all the films, though, but the price rarely comes down on that one.
...

Gangster No. 1 (2000)

I've seen most of your dollar finds, and without hesitation, my favourite is this one. Just a phenomenal, and phenomenally stylish, picture. The period recreation is amazing, and Paul Bettany makes an ideal "young version" of Malcolm McDowell. McDowell really should get more roles like the one he has here, instead of all that direct-to-video horror garbage he continues to appear in even today. I guess he's gotta pay the bills . . .

I will take Gangster No. 1 out of the hide pile. I put all of the dollar finds in a box (easy to access right now) because I wasn't planning on getting to them anytime soon.

Well right now on Amazon is the best time to get the box set: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EXZFRQ/ (64.49 dollars) for the Sherlock Holmes. I love the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies. I have seen six so far, only one more of the double set have been released. I'm not sure there is much difference if any between these and the box set. The only complaints I've read about the box set is the poor construction. I would have bought it if it was cheap when I first bought the newer releases.

I'm close to or over 400 for the Criterion movies. I have 380 listed on my DVDAF page, but I haven't put them all in.

I like the blu-ray/DVD combos as well. A few I've seen for cheaper then the DVD only sets like with Up. I wasn't as fine with the actual movie of Battle of the Smithsonian I did not like it as well as the first film.

On a side note: I am almost caught up again with the R1 Shaw Brother's releases. I will catch up again after Christmas. Both those movies are a mixed-bag though. Watched THE SHADOW BOXER Saturday night and it was one of the weaker releases. It is a basher even though it has a bit of Tai Chi. I'm not the biggest fan of the term shapes since I use the term styles .