here's lucy

The Roundup is here, my friends. And what an eclectic bunch of stuff we have for you today. If you heard our weekly audio version on Geekerati, then you've had a sneak peak at our Top Shelf pick. But as you know, we have the full package on the web version! Lot's of stuff. You'll have to catch both, for we have a few extra items for the radio show only. What's a Shelfer to do? Tune in to Geekerati Monday nights at 7pm PT/ 10pm ET, and then direct yourself to The Shelf the next day in order to get the entire rundown. We've done all the leg work. All you have to do is order your favorites. I mean, we can't do everything for ya! Give a man a fish, and all that jazz. Speaking of jazz- let's get to it, shall we?

DVD
Top Shelf Pick of the Week!:
The Lucille Ball Film Collection

You know the old saying from the song..."A pretty girl is like a melody"? Well, we are fairly melodious here at The Shelf. For years, many in my generation only related to Lucille Ball as..., well, Lucy. You know, from I Love Lucy. I saw her in reruns and boy, was she funny. It never crossed my young mind that this person did other things before television. Then one night I caught a late night feature of the film, The Big Street with Henry Fonda and... what? Lucille Ball? That can't be the same person! Sure enough, that was her in a way I've never seen her before. Then, not too long after I thought I recognized her in a Three Stooges short: Three Little Pigskins, and then in Room Service with The Marx Brothers. I was enchanted. Here was a beautiful talented, funny woman who did it all: radio, movies, and television.

This week Warner Home Video releases the five feature Lucille Ball Film Collection. The films are making their way to DVD for the first time, and while a few fall short of greatness, there a quite a few hidden gems in the set. The films included are: Dance Girl Dance, The Big Street, Du Barry Was a Lady, Critic's Choice and Mame. The real treasures here are The Big Street with Henry Fonda and Du Barry Was a Lady with Red Skelton. Critic's choice is a later film (post I Love Lucy) with Bob Hope, a frequent co-star. Dance, Girl Dance is a 1940 romantic comedy starring Maureen O'Hara and Ralph Bellamy. Mame is based on the Broadway Musical of the same name (which, of course was based on the earlier film Auntie Mame). Lucy was perhaps a tad ill-cast in this film, but you'll enjoy the music and the performances nonetheless. One thing is for sure, Lucy sure played against type on I Love Lucy. She didn't need to go through all those schemes just to get on Ricky's show. We all know she had talent in spades.

The Secret of Nimh: Family Fun Edition

This is a re-release of the 1982 Don Bluth classic animated film. Bluth had recently left Disney and struck out on his own. Some of his films have been hit or miss, but this is one that I remember really enjoying. It's different, and it's a bit darker. The children's fantasy features during that time were a bit on the dark, gritty side. Think Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.

This re-release two disc edition may not be worth an upgrade if you own any of the previous editions, just because there is so much more they could have done with it. In fact the audio commentary with Don Bluth and the deleted scenes and making of featurette only really are a tipping point with die hard fans, or with those who don't own previous versions.

Picket Fences: Season One
I remember this odd ball show fondly. It was an early David E. Kelley series, and quite frankly, one of his best. Picket Fences centers on a small town Sheriff (Tom Skeritt) and his wife (Kathy Baker) and three kids. The series introduced future stars Holly Marie Combs (yeah), Lauren Holly and Don Cheadle. By far, my most favorite characters were the judge played by Ray Walston, who always seemed like the most sane, yet exasperated person in the town, and of course the lawyer, Douglas Wambaugh played with great aplomb by Fyvush Finkel. The series combined comedy, family drama and conflict in way that was different and new for its time. I'm glad to see that this show, with it's great writing and wonderful cast, has finally made it to DVD.

Reno 911!: Miami
I have to truthfully say that I have not seen this movie. I love the series, but I haven't seen the movie. Wolf has, and he claims it was pretty good, but almost would've been better if it was condensed into a few episodes of the regular series on Comedy Central. Now is my chance (and yours) to catch it on DVD. Robert Ben Grant, who plays Dep. Travis, Jr. directed the film.

Was the show really ready for a film? It did fairly well at the box office, and the cast has their characters down pat. Look for appearances and cameos by some stars like Danny Devito, Paul Rudd, and The Rock. Also look for some frequent Reno 911 perps and a few Reno 911 regulars, like Patton Oswalt in different roles.

Books:
The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card, by Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson
The most valuable baseball card in the world is the Honus Wagner card, which only a dozen or so are known to exist. Most are in terrible shape. But THE card is only one of the Wagner cards, known as the T206 Wagner, which is in excellent condition. It worth over 2 million dollars today. This book not only details the story of the T206 Wagner, but also gives an entertaining and enlightening look into the story of baseball cards, collecting, and the great Honus Wagner himself, whose own card has seemed to eclipse him in fame.

Music:
Jazz Trio:
Deborah Cox: Destination Moon
Ron Carter: Dear Miles
Bobby Hutcherson: For Sentimental Reasons
I gotta tell ya, nothing relaxes me more than a little soft jazz, a cool drink and a nice book while sitting in a comfy chair. These discs are perfect for that time you want to unwind, go somewhere else in your mind, or just spending time with your significant other. Assuming they like jazz, that is.
Singer and Broadway star Deborah Cox brings her talent to cover a disc of songs in tribute to one of her greatest influences, the great Dinah Washington. Her vocals and the accompaniment blend perfectly and she does justice to Dinah. My absolute favorite on this album is currently Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Other highlights include Destination Moon and the upbeat and sexy Squeeze Me.

Ron Carter is one of the greatest bass players who ever lived, and perhaps the most recorded one as well. Carter has headlined his own group and has played with some of the best, too numerous to mention all, but including a long stint as a sideman for Miles Davis. This collection brings his world class talent and technique to a set of standards. Highlights are the cuts: As Time Goes By, Bags' Groove and My Funny Valentine.


Bobby Hutcherson is a wonderful musician who plays the Vibes (kind like Xylophones), and whose sound really developed in the 60s. He has been influential in modern jazz and fusion, but is just at bringing his talents to bop and classical jazz. He also has played with many greats including Trumpeter Woody Shaw and Tenor Saxophonist Harold Land and the ubiquitous Herbie Hancock. Album highlights include the title track, What Are You Doing For the Rest of Your Life and I'll Be Seeing You.

Television:
Turner Classic Movies
The weekly Shelf picks for TCM
These are our picks for this week and thru Monday of next week. Set the TiVo or DVR.

June 20th:
That Forsyte Woman (1949), Sylvia Scarlett (1936) and That Touch of Mink (1962)

June 21st:
It's a night of the battle of the sexes: Adam's Rib (1949), Born Yesterday (1950), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), and My Favorite Wife (1940). Also don't miss the original drama, Three on a Match (1932).

June 22nd:
Murder and mystery abound in this day with some Film Noir classics: Angel Face (1953), Anatomy Of A Murder (1959) and Sunset Boulevard (1950). Also don't miss the TCM original documentary, Billy Wilder Speaks (2006)

June 23rd:
Intrigue, drama and adventure: Naked City (1948), On The Waterfront (1954), Sahara (1943), and Island In The Sky (1953).

June 24th:
See some stars get their starring debuts: Gene Kelly in Cover Girl (1944) and Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday (1953). Historical drama classic A Man for All Seasons (1966) is next. Later get your giggles with two of the greatest comedy teams the screen has seen with Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) and Martin and Lewis in At War With The Army (1950)

June 25th:
Some mystery flicks with Charlie Chan In The Secret Service (1944) and Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn (1939). Stick around for the drama's in TCM's night of Screened Out: Tea And Sympathy (1956) and The Children's Hour (1961)

June 26th:
How about a healthy mix of Capra, politics, and comedy? Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), All the King's Men (1949), Jack Benny in Broadway Melody Of 1936 (1935) and then Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in The Facts of Life (1960).

That's all for the Roundup today, gang. Look for our promised post on happenings at TCM and also we'll have some DVD reviews of some recent Fox Cinema Classics releases on the way. All this, and more from Wolf and me. Stay tuned!


Love is something that gets you one room, two chins and 3 kids.

passing parade o' stuff

Just a couple of items today. A semi regular feature of news you can use, that we like to call: The Passing Parade. The roundup will be posted tomorrow. Now, on to the headlines:

Shelf Community News

OTRE moves!

First off- Our pal Sallie over at Old Time Radio Experience has broadened her blogging horizons. She has decided to create a new blog that will encompass OTR with her interests in classic films and more. So go check her new site out, it's called The Vintage Place. I know you'll be interested. Just click the sign below and away you go. We'll have a permenant link in the sidebar, but we'll also leave up OTRE for a time, as there are some great stuff to download and look at still. Good luck, Sallie!

Geekerati!
If you missed last night's broadcast of the show Geekerati, you can still catch it as it is archived. Last night Christian, Shawna and the gang talked about entertainment and viral marketing. And of course, ol' loveable Loophole was there with the audio version of this week's Roundup. So for a sneak preview of the Roundup every week, and lots of entertainment talk and more, listen to us at Geekerati Monday nights at 7pm PT/ 10pm ET. Just click the link below to head on over and listen to archived shows.




DVD News

Mickey and Judy set!
Here's a bit of DVD news that you may have seen over at Laura's Miscelanous Musings or DVD Times, but we would be remiss if we didn't mention it here for the Shelf faithful (Hat tip to DVD Times for info and from whom we shamefully cribbed the picture:
Warner Home Video will be releasing The Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection: Ultimate Collector’s Edition on Sept. 25th. The films in the set will be Babes in Arms, Babes on Broadway, Strike Up the Band and Girl Crazy. As you've come to expect and appreciate Warner's is including a ton of features for each disc, including musical and comedy shorts, cartoons and more. There will also be a fifth bonus disc of special features that will include and episode of TCM's Private Screenings: Private Screenings with Mickey Rooney, The Judy Garland Songbook: a 21 song collection of Judy's best and Mickey and Judy Trailer Gallery. We know fans have been clamouring for this set for awhile, so mark your calenders. The WHV Ultimate series are known for great DVD sets, and this is no slouch, brother. The set also includes 20 collectible photo postcards and a booklet which includes photos of vintage memorabilia, reproduced advertisements, and production notes written by film historian John Fricke. By the way, the films have new introductions by Mickey Rooney! Take a gander at the glorious goodies below:

Charmed!
The 8th and final season of Charmed will hit DVD on Sept. 11th. Unlike past sets, Charmed: The Final Season, will feature several extras, incuding a look at the creation of the show, several commentaries, and a look at the set, makeup and production of this magical series. Mrs. Loophole and I love watching the show and are eager to catch up on season 8 again. The ending was not praised by all fans, but it certainly tied many storylines up. The show which starred Shannon Doherty, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Loophole's favorite, Holly Marie Combs was the longest running television show with all female leads. Good entertainment, lots of backstory magic and mythology. The series also had lots of drama, romance and comedy. Great fun.

Well kiddies, the parade has gone by. But don't fret, we'll return tomorrow with the Roundup! Stay tuned.

Who would shoot a gnome? And why is the 'g' silent?

i like mine medium with a hint of marsala....

I came across an article today written by the one and only Ted Nugent. I don't follow him or his politics, but I am aware of his affection for eating the flesh of animals. This is something we have in common. He mentions something about the battle of right and left and makes a good point. Contrary to popular belief, the conservative stance is pro-choice and the left opposes this. I guess I could clarify that by saying that Mr. Nugent , or "The Nuge", implies that the conservative stance is that conservatives want the freedom to choose how they want to live and let others choose how they wish to live. The left wishes to have the choice made for all of us, according to Mr. Nugent. It's an interesting thought and makes a lot of sense. I found the article to be worth the 3 minute read and encourage you to see for yourself. The article is from the Waco(TX) Tribune which is his local paper and includes a mention about someone being fired from Paul McCartney's road crew for eating a hamburger. Now if the guy agreed not to eat meat as part of employment, then that's his own fault. I still think it is somewhat disturbing and gives a glimpse into the mentality possessed by he and his peers.

It seems more and more that a majority of the left-leaning thinkers in this country want to force their ideology onto everyone they find. When I see a hippie, I just shake my head and grin. I don't run over there and make him bathe and get a job and a haircut. I let him live how he chooses. As long as he breaks no laws or infringes upon my rights, he should be able to live as he chooses. On the other hand, he will most likely lecture me on big business, the "new world order", and the war machine until I faint from the smell of Doritos, Kool-Aid, and weed coming from his hairy maw. At the other end of the spectrum, their are a few small contingents of right-leaning nut bags who act the same as the aforementioned hippie. I've only personally experienced a small number of this type of conservative, though. By small, I mean two. The Mainstream Media is quick to spotlight the Westboro Church "ultra crazy 44th black belt conservatives" and label them as Republicans and Bush voters when they are nothing more than a collection of looneys who have lost their keeper. I know there will be some who read this that will accuse the right of doing the same with extreme liberal factions, but I beg to differ. The difference is that while the right has tiny pockets of this problem, the left has tiny pockets of sanity. Make no mistake about it. I encourage everyone to think for themselves and if the left is the side for you then, by all means, be there and be well. There are groups of folks on the left who look at hippies and lefty wackos the same way I do, but they are few and far between. I appreciate them and open dialogue with all of those who have opposing views because it is through that dialogue that we reach compromise, understanding and harmony. I am neither a registered Republican or Democrat. I vote how I choose. It just so happens that my desire to make that choice is a conservative trait.



Please feel free to comment if the need strikes you.

“Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak. ”

Dennis Miller is my favorite pundit

He was great as the "weekend update guy" on SNL and I loved his HBO show. I hated it when his show MSNBC was cancelled and rejoiced when he landed a radio gig. My all time favorite "Miller moments" though, is when he makes quick guest shots on other shows to do nothing more than rant. Dennis Miller has an uncanny ability to truly verbalize his feelings and what I feel to be the feelings of most Americans without a pulpit to preach from so-to-speak. I blog, but I don't reach millions with my thoughts. That's why I am appreciative of Mr. Miller. I know that when he speaks, he typically shares my views, expresses them well and reaches a lot farther than I do. The following clip is just another example of that talent of his. You may have seen it. It's a classic Dennis Miller rant where he tells us how he really feels about Las Vegas Sen. Harry Reid. Be prepared to pay attention because he's preachin' in this one. All I have to say is "Hallelujah!"




Please feel free to comment if the need strikes you.


“Politicians in government should be changed regularly, like diapers, for the same reason.”

dvd review: tex avery's droopy

Animation fans rejoiced when it was announced that one of Tex Avery's classic creations was finally going to receive his due on DVD. It is turning out to be a banner year for animation fans with lots of classic animation DVDs headed our way. The question is: Is this the Droopy set you've been waiting for? Is worth a spot on your DVD shelf? Is it a Shelf classic? Find out in our review of the two disc DVD set, Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection.

The hard facts:
Tex Avery's Droopy The Complete Theatrical Collection
1943-1956
Two Discs of 24 Shorts
Studio: Warner Home Video
Color (Techincolor) / Animation
Full-frame/Widescreen(CinemaScope)
Release Date: May 15, 2007
Not Rated
Original Production: MGM
Director: Tex Avery,Dick Lundy & Michael Lah
Stars: Bill Thompson

Background:
By 1941, animator and director Fred "Tex" Avery, had been working for Warner Brother's Animation Studio under Leon Schlesinger for almost 6 years. He had been a linchpin at the studio, along with Frank Tashlin, Chuck Jones, and Bob Camplett. He was partly responsible for the fast paced style that focused on gags, visual humor and devious wordplay that stood in contrast to the style of the current king of Hollywood animation, Walt Disney. Tex helped to establish and flesh out the characters that many of us have come to love: Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck just to name a few. It was a Bugs Bunny cartoon that Avery was working on in 1941, The Heckling Hare, that led to Tex leaving Warner Brothers.
Tex has originally put in a gag at the ending of the short that Schlesinger objected to as being too over the top. According to Michael Barrier commentary on the short (found on the DVD collection: Looney Tunes: Golden Collection, Vol. II, Bugs and the Dog that was chasing were to fall off of a cliff three times, and on the third time Bugs turned to the camera and said,"Hold on to your hats, folks, here we go again!" a reference to some sexual humor that had been heard on the radio. After an argument between Avery and his boss, Schlesinger had the cartoon edited to completely erase the gag and end the cartoon abruptly. Avery was furious when he discovered Schlesinger's machinations and quit the studio altogether.
In 1942, Avery had began work at MGM animation studios. It was there that his over the top visual style, ignore the rules humor, and perfect quick pace timing came to it's full fruition. Avery not only had a studio willing to let him loose, he was also working for perhaps one of the more wealthier studios of the day. That translated into better budgets for shorts that created a more lavish look on screen. It was at MGM that Avery would bring his talents to bear, creating some of his bets work. We created several characters, but perhaps his best was a little hound dog with a sad sack face and voice to match named Droopy.

The Shorts:
Droopy's debut was the 1943 short, Dumb Hounded. He was a slow poke police hound that was able to be everywhere at once. His quarry was a Wolf that would become his erstwhile adversary over many other shorts. Always the little guy, Droopy turned the situation on it's ear. He hardly ever seemed to loose his confidence or even stir himself to great concern. He was the little guy who could get out of any situation, foil an attempt, run faster, and pop up out of nowhere, despite the best efforts of his nemesis. And he usually got the girl too.
In fact, in the first short, the Wolf asks the very question that audience members must have been wondering themselves: "How can you be in so many places at once?" Droopy's answer, which pretty much summed up Avery's attitude towards animation logic: "Now, let's not get nosy, bub." In another short, Avery also offers up another funny insight as message to audiences, when one of his characters states the obvious, "You can do anything you want in a cartoon." Avery's style was more concerned with timing and character and incredibly over the to visuals. Anyone that had a problem with that just need to remember exactly what is they are watching.
Avery would also introduce another famous creation in a one-off short, Red Hot Riding Hood, a sexy red head who never really had a name. She would also make several appearances in Droopy shorts, setting up not only another reason for a rivalry between Droopy and the Wolf, but also made for some very funny sight gags. Later on in the series, Droopy would gain another opponent in the form of the dog Spike (or sometimes Butch). Usually Spike was at odds with an unsuspecting Droopy over money or any kind of prize, whether it was a trip to Washington DC or a kiss from the Queen of Sports.

The twenty four shorts included on this set are:
Disc One-
Dumb-Hounded
The Shooting of Dan McGoo
Wild and Woolfy
Northwest Hounded Police
Señor Droopy
Wags to Riches
Out-Foxed
The Chump Champ
Daredevil Droopy
Droopy's Good Deed
Droopy's Double Trouble
Caballero Droopy

Disc Two-
The Three Little Pups
Drag-A-Long Droopy
Homesteader Droopy
Dixieland Droopy
Millionaire Droopy
Grin and Share It
Blackboard Jumble
One Droopy Knight
Sheep Wrecked
Mutts About Racing
Droopy Leprechaun

Extras:
Beyond several trailers for some upcoming DVD collections, Tex Avery's Droopy features two extras on disc two: Droopy and Friends: A Laugh Back and Doggone Gags. The later is essentially a gag reel of some of the funnier visual gags that are scattered throughout the shorts. It's almost a throw away feature, for the real treat comes in watching the gags in the full context of the shorts. Something else could have been added in place of the gag reel, or it just should've been dropped altogether. Otherwise it's a bonus novelty.

On the other hand, Droopy and Friends: A Laugh Back is a worthwhile documentary clocking in at 18 minutes. It's a nice retrospective of Avery and his famous creation. It features interviews and comments by several animators and an Avery biographer. It's a nice feature, but it really leaves you wanting more. There have been other documentaries and features on Tex Avery over the years that I've seen. Hopefully if any of his other MGM work is collected (and some of my favorite Avery shorts would fall in the one-shot category) we'll see some of those features there.

Video/Audio
Here's where things get interesting. On the first disc of shorts, there were several times where there was dirt and scratching present. The second disc was fairly clean. In fact the color on disc two is fantastic and bright. As many of you know, I'm not a tech hound, but I do look for remastering, aspects, etc. There could have been some more time spent on cleaning up the shorts on disc one, but if it would have prevented the release of the set because of expense, I'd rather have the set. Just be aware that not all of the features have been remastered, but that may be an issue with extant prints.
On the audio side the sound is excellent. Bill Thompson was the voice actor who gave life to Droopy. A versatile radio actor for many years (most notably on the Fibber McGee and Molly Show), Thompson brought his sad sack, old man style voice to the character and it matched perfectly with the visual. It' s no surprise, as Thompson's radio characterizations, particularly his character on Fibber, Wallace Wimple, served as inspiration for Avery in creating Droopy. Thompson also brought Wimple's greeting, "Hello, folks" to Droopy as well. Thompson also went on voice other characters (including Spike in the Droopy shorts) at MGM and Disney. You might remember him as the rotund forest ranger, J. Audobon Woodlore, in several Donald Duck and Humphrey Bear shorts for Disney.

What's missing/added?

Fortunately, the shorts are presented as uncut. I've viewed an older video tape of some of the more controversial shorts and I've seen several of the "cut" shorts on television. As far as I can independently determine, the suspect gags are still intact. Warners puts a written "disclaimer" of sorts that reminds the viewer that the DVD set is intended for the Adult collector, and that any of the controversial material does not reflect the current attitude of WHV or WB Studios. The written title card is at the very beginning and once you get past it, you won't see it again until you take the DVD out and put it in again. All in all, I prefer that they handle it this way, rather than censoring the shorts or by placing a disclaimer (or heaven forbid, an actor's spoken introduction) before the viewing of each short.

The Bottom Line:
Tex Avery's Droopy is highly recommended. For many years I've clamored that it was a travesty that Avery's shorts were available in nice DVD collections in Europe, while none were available here. This is an excellent start in the right direction, albeit an imperfect one. Any real problems I have with the set are very minor, but I felt the did need to be mentioned.
Otherwise, the timelessness of Avery's work is evident. I think my kids have watched the set more than I have, and that's a stretch for this Droopy fan. This DVD set is assuredly a Shelf classic and deserves to be on the shelf of any animation or comedy fan.

Review Rating:
Reviews are really arbitrary, so we try to think of in terms of : Shelf Classic, Must Have, Rent, Borrow, and Don't Bother, which I suppose we could assign as stars or something? So how about:
Four and Half Glasses?




In other words, Tex Avery's Droopy is a Shelf Classic.



Hello, all you happy people

heroes all

Today marks the 63rd anniversary of the launch of the Allied force's invasion of continental Europe, starting with German-occupied Normandy. The invasion of Normandy was dubbed Operation Overlord, but it is remembered as D-Day. On that single day there were more casualties than we have suffered in the entire War on Terror. Then, as now, heroes gave their all for all of us, and for people across an ocean they did not know. Let us not forget.
Last year, I wrote an article about D-Day. I link to it here, but I also want to quote a part of that post:

Then that fateful day of June 5th (that's right, June 5th) the day that was designated for the invasion, weather caused great concern. The leaders, and ultimately Gen. Eisenhower decided to hold off for a day, in hopes of more favorable weather. June 6th came and while the weather was not perfect, a window of opportunity arose and Gen. Eisenhower gave the order- "Ok, we go." On those words an invasion involving over 150,000 men and 5000 naval craft, numerous aircraft began. Some landing boats were blown out of the water. Thousands died just trying to make it to the beach, and then those cliffs. Many more died trying to take those cliffs and quiet those guns. It was a day of sacrifice for the allies, and the people who gave their all did not die in vain. The invasion succeeded. The allies were able to take Normandy, establish supply points and a naval base of operations. Valuable reinforcements came, landing strips for Allied aircraft were secure. Over the next year the Allies pushed ahead to Germany, with the Russians pushing from the East. The hope and the fears of the free world went with them every step of the way.

These boys...these men who gave their all were previously neighbors. Sons. Brothers Husbands. Students. Teachers. Ball players. Butchers. Milkmen. Farmers. Accountants. Shop clerks. Builders. Trash men. They were, in short, the people we knew. And they were the best of us. They were Americans; raised in a country of freedom, hardened during a time a depression, and conditioned to defeat a terrible foe with terrible means. They knew what had to be done. The people back home knew what had to be done. Everyone knew that it came with a price. These men of D-Day paid that price.
Think about that. They knew the cost, and they paid it. Don't we need to remember that and cherish it? Don't we need to thank them for that? What strikes me today is that every time I talk to a friend, a soldier who is just home from Iraq and Afghanistan is that fact that they also know what is at stake and that the freedom for our futures and for the future of others exacts a price. As the cliche goes, and is true as most cliches are, freedom is not free. The sooner we remember that... the sooner we remember the true value of it, the better off we will be.

I want to also share a couple of videos. One is a segment from a documentary entitled Voices of the Veterans. The men being interviewed were from a town in Virginia that lost more men per capita that day than any other town in America.They were in the very first wave.



The second video is an episode from a History Channel documentary entitled: D-Day June 6th, 1944: The Total Story. The documentary was narrated by Gerald McRaney and debuted in June of 1994, on the 50th Anniversary.



I offer a thank you to all of the families who lost someone that day. Thank you for your sacrifice. It is not forgotten. A prayer of gratitude to those men who went into that day, scared and unsure, but going into the breech nonetheless. And a thank you to any veterans of D-Day and World War II. We are lucky and grateful that you are with us. May we learn from you and always treasure the freedom you fought for. I know it may not seem like many do if you watch the news, but so many untold millions are grateful. And lastly, thank you to my Grandfather. Your example will always be a guiding force in my life.



Let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

attention all personnel: it's time for the roundup

In a few days, we will mark the 63rd anniversary of D-Day. It is usually around this time of year, because of that and Father's Day in the wings, that the studios release or re-release war movies on DVD. Last year saw some nice special editions of some war classics. This year we get even more that are making their way to DVD for the first time. Besides that we've got some Sci-fi adventure classics, some comedy classics and modern classics and more. We've got a lot of ground to cover today, so let's get moving soldier!

DVD
Top Shelf Pick of the Week:
World War II Collection, Vol. 2: Heroes Fight for Freedom
This time two years ago, Warner Home Video released a box set entitled: World War II Collection: Battlefront Europe. It was a great set that featured some excellent films in the vast Warner library like The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare, etc. I suspected, but didn't know for sure, that WHV would come around with a volume II, especially of some new to DVD films. That day is here. This new box set features six films, all new to DVD: Hell to Eternity, Air Force, Command Decision, The Hill, Thirty Seconds over Tokyo and 36 Hours.
Heroes Fight for Freedom is an apt title as the films take a variety of approaches to war, comrades and heroism.

The centerpiece of the collection is the long awaited appearance of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo starring Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson. This is the story of Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and his squadron of fliers who mounted a raid on Tokyo after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The film covers the planning, the raid, and the desperate attempt to get back home. Some actual footage of the raid was used in the film. Thirty Seconds was made in 1944, just a couple of years after the raid, and before any outcome was certain. War movies like these were not only an attempt by the studios to bolster audiences on the home front but also to convey the heroism of those on the front lines. Many know that studios frequently used whatever stars they could muster out (at least those who weren't currently in the service -and sometimes while some were on duty) to put out these films. What isn't as widely known is that by this time some of the directors, screenwriters and technical advisers had returned from active duty themselves. While there are fictionalized sequences, the emotion and drama seems to be more immediate and palpable than in some later war films. A lot was toned down for wartime audiences, but what those men endured and saw is in the drama of the script and images.

Also filmed during World War II, Air Force by master director, Howard Hawks, takes a different approach to the events of Pearl Harbor. The men in this film are head towards Hawaii in a B-17 , the day before the Japanese dawn raid. Hawks' signature theme of men bonding together and working as a unit during times of crisis comes through when the crew arrive during the actual raid. 36 Hours is a psychological drama about an Army Intelligence Major played by James Garner, who suddenly awakes in a hospital with amnesia. He is told that it is 1950 and the war is over and is asked questions by the hospital staff about what he remembers. It isn't long before the Major discovers that he is being lied to; the War is very much in swing, and the hospital staff aren't who they claim to be. Command Decision stars Clark Gable as an Air Force commander (not much of a stretch for Gable who served in the war flying planes) who makes tough decisions regarding sending his men into possibly suicidal missions. Hell to Eternity is about a young man adopted by a Japanese American Family who is then drafted into the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Finally, The Hill is perhaps the most different of the set. It stars Sean Connery as Joe Roberts, a British soldier imprisoned in a Libyan stockade. When the brutal treatment causes the death of a comrade, Roberts stands up to his captors only to be put to the same brutal punishment endured by the others, including a harrowing, full pack climb up "the Hill" under extreme heat. Although put through the paces, Roberts' spirit cannot be broken.

All of the films contain the great features you've come to expect from the folks at WHV. Theatrical trailers, classic cartoons, and vintage shorts abound. Unfortunately there are no commentaries to speak of, although surely a commentary with Sean Connery on The Hill would have been a treat, however unlikely that would have been. Most of the films have been remastered and the audio seems to have been given the once over. All in all, an excellent box set with some very worthy films. Fans should definitely look to picking this up either for themselves or dear ol' dad.


More war films:
Twelve O'Clock High, Von Ryan's Express and The Sand Pebbles
20th Century Fox is upping the ante on classic film fans by issuing some excellent war films in Special Edition sets. Packed with features
these films have been around the old home theater block before, but it looks as if Fox is trying to do them justice. These two disc sets have commentaries, many "making of" documentaries and featurettes on the inspiration behind the films and the actors and directors. Fox is also continuing to include a interactive gallery feature which allows you to view and access reproductions of press books and pr material on the disc. I'm not sure whether I completely like the feature yet, (I do like the repos and lobby cards that you can read or look at without the disc) but I am starting to warm up to it. Von Ryan's Express even has a reproduction of a Mad Magazine parody of the film. Another interesting feature is the Isolated Score track that allows you to listen to the soundtrack, with an optional commentary track. Fox is really investing into these films, and I really like what I see. Hopefully sales will be such as to encourage them to continue in this vein.

Sci-Fi!
Fantastic Voyage and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
You know, I have vivid memories of watching Fantastic Voyage as a Saturday afternoon matinee feature on my local tv station when I was young. The whole concept of shrinking down a ship and having it travel through the body and fight diseases, etc. was pretty cool. And Raquel Welch in uniform wasn't bad either. Grrowll.

But I digress. The plot for FV has been parodied and copied to death, but it's a great film. This isn't Star Wars-esque graphics and effects here. This is 1960's feature film sci-fi goodness in all it's glory. The premise is cool, the effects are cool, but the characters and their situation drive everything. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is the same. In fact, you might get the feeling you've seen it before...when it was called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Hey, same director. Whattya gonna do? It also became a television series. Don't sell it short, though. the film is a tight paced, cold war thriller. And Fox is also giving these films the two disc Special Edition treatment with many features, documentaries and commentaries. The Interactive Gallery also includes the comic book adaptations! Score!


Sergio Leone Anthology:
You know, sometimes I just get mad thinking about the all the times when I've noticed a special edition coming out for a film that I already own on DVD. You probably have felt the same. Especially when the special features look awesome. Could it be possible that some enterprising studio would think about selling the features disc at a reduced price for those who already own the films. Ha, ha, ha, ha... sorry, just a little joke. Nonetheless, the great Sergio Leone Man with No Name trilogy makes yet another appearance on DVD, this time in a box set as two disc special editions. Also included is a first time on DVD Leone film, Duck, You Sucker! with James Coburn. Many special features can be found on each two disc set including the usual making of featurettes, documentaries on Sergio Leone and his style of film making, and commentaries (although none featuring Clint Eastwood) DVD Savant has an excellent review and inside scoop that you can read here. (He worked on the DVD release) It looks like a great set to have. The swath of extra features, the great job they did on fixing previous problems on the prints and audio, and the inclusion of Duck, You Sucker! makes this an easy upgrade.

Martin & Lewis Collection, Vol. II
This is the follow-up to last years set. Thankfully it wasn't put off like last time with Volume I. In this collection we have the films:
Living It Up, You're Never Too Young, Artists and Models, Pardners and Hollywood or Bust. Artists and Models and Pardners are perhaps the best of the bunch, but since I'm a big Martin and Lewis fan, I'm biased towards all of them. Hollywood or Bust is the last joint film appearance of the duo, and reportedly the feuding on the set (mainly from Jerry and his ego) led to a difficult shot with director Frank Tashlin. Don't let that dissuade you from adding to your collection one of the great comic teams of the 20th century.

Fantatic Four: Extended Edition
I usually have a hard time being convinced that Extended Edition DVDs are really worth the money and effort. It seems so blatantly greedy. However, I have been wrong on occasion. Kingdom of Heaven is a prime example where I will tell someone to buy the extended edition without hesitation. The studio slashed the film to pieces, and the extended edition actually restores Ridley Scott's film to where it should have been. With the Fantastic Four, I'll go out on a limb and say if you enjoyed the film, you might want to go ahead and pick up the extended edition. I really enjoyed the film and felt like it was given short shrift, and that's from someone who was a avid fan of the comic book series. I saw a lot of promise for even better future films and look forward to this year's FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
With this two disc Extended Edition of FF, you have restored scenes as you would expect, but you'll get more than you bargained for. The second disc includes a wallop of special features including a feature length documentary on Jack Kirby! There are also concept art galleries, featurettes on the making of, a Baxter Building: Declassified feature and much more. The second disc alone is worth the price of the set! If you are looking forward to this year's sequel, there is no better way to prepare than by getting this set. Highly recommended.

The Fall Guy: The Complete First Season

I may be dating myself here, but I can remember the exact tune and words to the theme song for this show; The Unknown Stuntman. Call me a nerd, but The Fall Guy was a great series. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I was a Six Million Dollar Man fan also. Nevertheless, the tongue-in-check humor, the truck, the story, Heather Thomas... it all just works. Yeah, I know the first season of ChiPs also comes out today, but my money is on the "unknown stuntman".


Also out this week:
Bill Murray in Meatballs: Special Edition
And some great Eddie Murphy films:
Norbit, and special editions of Coming to America and Trading Places (packed with special features)

And don't forget to tune into the Geekerati BlogTalkRadio Show at 7pm et/ 10pm pt! We'll be there talking about this week's releases with Cinerati's Christian Johnson and the gang. Don't miss it.



Well feed me corn and watch me grow! How did all this scum get in here?

just a quick note...

... to tell you we will be back in full swing on Monday. The weekend became a little more involved than usual. So rather than attempting to get a quick post in, I thought we would beg your indulgence until Monday.

Also, Monday night over at the Geekerati Blogtalkradio Show, we will be joining Christian Johnson and the gang from Cinerati in the 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET hour. We will be doing a radio version of our weekly Media Roundup. So tune in and check it out. You can go to the show website (linked above) to check out past shows and to tune in live this coming Monday. You can also call in with any questions for the gang.

We'll see you back here on Monday. We'll have several reviews of recent DVD releases, a special TCM in June article, our weekly Roundup and more. Stay tuned...




I'm too busy right now. I'll tell you what. I'll put the 'O' on now and come back later for the 'K.'