DVD Releases for January 20th, 2009

[DSNT]

Not as many rich images this time. I took Chrisnu's advice and posted the thumbnails for those instead.

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Movies
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Television & Other
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[megladon8]

Anyone seen Magnificent Obsession?

That's a gorgeous cover. I'm thinking it might be a nice one to get for Jen, depending on peoples' feelings towards it. If it's crap, I'll avoid it obviously.

[Spinal]

I hope that some of you will give City of Ember a chance.

Also, I'm going to give Repo! a re-watch.

[Dukefrukem]

Repo blind buy!

[Kurosawa Fan]

I'll rent Magnificent Obsession and City of Ember, the latter to watch with my son.

[Derek]

I love Sirk, but strongly disliked Magnificent Obsession. It's a great-looking film, but easily his weakest from what I've seen.

[Melville]

I love Sirk, but strongly disliked Magnificent Obsession. It's a great-looking film, but easily his weakest from what I've seen.
How would you rate the films you've seen by him?

[dreamdead]

Yep. It's Repo time. El Norte looks interesting as well.

[balmakboor]

What is Repo! the Genetic Opera? Is it actually a good movie with Paris Hilton?

[ledfloyd]

horrible cover for city of ember. which i'll be renting. i'll probably also check out magnificent obsession at some point.

[thefourthwall]

Yep. It's Repo time. El Norte looks interesting as well.

:pritch: I'm very excited to see Repo! Also, I totally watched El Norte in my fifth year Spanish class in high school, sans subtitles and understood enough of it to learn how to swear!

I'm excited to see City of Ember--the book looked interesting, but this'll be quicker.

[Spinal]

What is Repo! the Genetic Opera? Is it actually a good movie with Paris Hilton?

Good movie might be a stretch, but it's definitely something. It's a violent, exuberant rock opera that fluctuates wildly between embarrassingly awkward and inspired. Paris Hilton is not bad as she plays a character very close to herself. Fun if you like this sort of thing and are in the right mood. Possibly agonizing if you don't and aren't.

[Ivan Drago]

Renting Repo! and Max Payne.

[eternity]

BUY:
Repo! The Genetic Opera

RENT:
City of Ember
Henry Poole Is Here (don't ask why, I don't know)

WTF:
Barack Obama: A Man and His Journey, specifically that smile he has on. How unflattering.

[Mal]

I will rent Ghost.

[SirNewt]

WTF:
Barack Obama: A Man and His Journey, specifically that smile he has on. How unflattering.

He looks stoned.

[Raiders]

I love Sirk, but strongly disliked Magnificent Obsession. It's a great-looking film, but easily his weakest from what I've seen.

I don't know about strongly dislike, but it is likely my least favorite as well. It's been a long while though, so I'll use this release as a reason to give it another shot.


How would you rate the films you've seen by him?

Not directed at me, but ranking:

1. The Tarnished Angels [9.0]
2. All That Heaven Allows [8.5]
3. Imitation of Life [8.5]
4. Written on the Wind [8.0]
5. Lured [6.0]
6. Magnificent Obsession [5.0]

Next, I really want to see All I Desire.

[Melville]

1. The Tarnished Angels [9.0]
2. All That Heaven Allows [8.5]
3. Imitation of Life [8.5]
4. Written on the Wind [8.0]
5. Lured [6.0]
6. Magnificent Obsession [5.0]

Next, I really want to see All I Desire.
I guess I'll skip Magnificent Obsession. My ratings:

1. Imitation of Life - 8.5 or 9
2. All That Heaven Allows - 8
3. Written on the Wind - 6.5

[SirNewt]

He looks stoned.

I think you guys know what just happened here. First scandal of the Obama administration, the story broke on Match-cut.

[Derek]

Not directed at me, but ranking:

1. The Tarnished Angels [9.0]
2. All That Heaven Allows [8.5]
3. Imitation of Life [8.5]
4. Written on the Wind [8.0]
5. Lured [6.0]
6. Magnificent Obsession [5.0]

Next, I really want to see All I Desire.

It's awesome. Overall, I actually prefer his black-and-white films to his color, though the cinematography is equally stunning. All I Desire and There's Always Tomorrow also have Barbara Stanwyck, so that helps as well.

1) Written on the Wind - 9.5
2) All I Desire - 8.5
3) There's Always Tomorrow - 8.5
4) The Tarnished Angels - 8.0
5) All that Heaven Allows - 8.0
6) Imitation of Life - 7.5
7) Magnificent Obsession - 3.5

I'll give Magnificent Obsession another go as I saw it years ago, but I have A Time To Love and A Time To Die to get to first along with Tarnished Angels in 'scope. I regrettably saw the latter in pan&scan back when that was literally the only option.

[Russ]

Overall, I actually prefer his black-and-white films to his color, though the cinematography is equally stunning.
Derek, have you seen Lured? Raiders is lukewarm on it, but the cinematography, by William H. Daniels, is top-notch (he shot Dassin's Brute Force the same year)...not a particularly strong script, but the appealing supporting cast makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

[Derek]

Derek, have you seen Lured? Raiders is lukewarm on it, but the cinematography, by William H. Daniels, is top-notch (he shot Dassin's Brute Force the same year)...not a particularly strong script, but the appealing supporting cast makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

Nope, I've had on my Netflix queue for a while, but never really heard/read much about it. I'll give it a bump up on your recommendation, plus Karloff and Sirk is too strange a pairing to miss out on!

Still haven't seen Brute Force yet either. I'll have to fix that soon.

[jesse]

along with Tarnished Angels in 'scope. I regrettably saw the latter in pan&scan back when that was literally the only option. Has this situation changed without me being aware of it?

[Pop Trash]

What's with the lack of El Norte love? First time on DVD you pinche gringos!

[SirNewt]

What's with the lack of El Norte love? First time on DVD you pinche gringos!

With the economic downturn causing blu-ray and dvd prices to plummet after Christmas, I already blew my wad. I'll just have to rent it.

[Lasse]

I don't have any kids - that I know of - but I think I'll give City of Ember a watch anyway.

[Ivan Drago]

Woah, wait a minute...Alexa Vega went from the Spy Kids movies...to Repo!???? Bizarro!

[eternity]

Woah, wait a minute...Alexa Vega went from the Spy Kids movies...to Repo!???? Bizarro!

She's insanely attractive in Repo! too, it's kind of disgusting.

[Amnesiac]

I'm interested in Repo! only because I haven't seen Anthony Stewart Head in anything outside of Buffy.

[Russ]

Nope, I've had on my Netflix queue for a while, but never really heard/read much about it. I'll give it a bump up on your recommendation, plus Karloff and Sirk is too strange a pairing to miss out on!

Still haven't seen Brute Force yet either. I'll have to fix that soon.
Considering he had co-top billing, Karloff's role is little more than a glorified cameo (but it's a great cameo). And do check out Brute Force; it's a really good prison drama (very brutal for its time). Hume Cronyn is outstanding, as is (naturally) Dassin's sure hand.