Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!
Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.
Well, the lean times continue to be over, my Physical Medians. We are half-way through the year, in the summer heat, and Dragon Con is going online. I hope to see everyone there, so to speak.
But we still seem to be getting mostly older films that are getting their first release, or a re-release, but as you all should know by now, that makes me happy as I enjoy older movies.
Speaking of my love for movies, I have finally finished my Movie Database project, having gotten the last box of my collection out of storage. The final total (not counting the one on the way from SCREAM Factory, who still aren’t paying me), is 361 movies/TV seasons. You may peruse the full list here, if you wish.
But now, let us get on with our filthy business.
Day of the Warrior (1996) “The Legion to Ensure Total Harmony and Law (L.E.T.H.A.L.), is tracking a criminal mastermind known only as The Warrior. While investigating his combination diamond smuggling/art theft/porn production industry, the agents discover that he has cracked their secret database and has stolen the files on all of their agents. With the help of their martial arts intructor Fu, agents Tiger, Willow and Cobra take on the case.” Another 90s action piece by the legendary Andy Sidaris, this one has Julie Strain as well as all of the gunplay, explosions, and bare boobs you have come to expect from this fine director. Pair it up with the other Sedaris movie out this week, Return to Savage Beach (1998), and you’ll have Ryan Cadaver‘s (unknowing) double-feature pick of the week!
The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) “A young student making a videothesis about dementia. She made a deal with a old lady who has the illness and her daughter. They are invited to their Big house to film the old lady, but soon will filmin it’s not the dementia is taking hold of the old lady, but something else.” One of the better found footage movies, this one has the right level of creep factor, a fantastic performance by Jill Larson in the title role, and one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever seen made by a character in a horror movie. Highly recommended.
Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits (The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon: Theatrical Version, Game of Death, Game of Death II, Enter the Dragon: Special Edition) (1971-1981) So Blu-Ray.com let me down on the gist again, so here’s how Amazon describes this collection:
“Five action-packed kung-fu landmarks from international martial-arts legend Bruce Lee. Now together on Blu-ray.
In the early 1970s, a kung-fu dynamo named Bruce Lee side-kicked his way onto the screen and straight into pop-culture immortality. With his magnetic screen presence, tightly coiled intensity, and superhuman martial-arts prowess, Lee was an icon who conquered both Hong Kong and Hollywood cinema, and transformed the art of the action film in the process.
This collection brings together the five films that define the Lee legend: furiously exciting fist-fliers propelled by his innovative choreography, unique martial-arts philosophy, and whirlwind fighting style.
Though he completed only a handful of films while at the peak of his stardom before his untimely death at age thirty-two, Lee left behind a monumental legacy as both a consummate entertainer and a supremely disciplined artist who made Hong Kong action cinema a sensation the world over.“
And my friends, that is under-selling it. Bruce Lee is a legitimate legend for his charisma, his fighting skills, his writing, and his acting. These movies may not have created a genre, but they definitely shaped it, and introduced it to an American audience that had no idea what it was in for. He paved the way for how action movies were shot, choreographed, and what could be done in front of a camera. No Bruce Lee, no John Wick. These five films are getting the Criterion treatment that they deserve. You can either pick them up individually, or as a complete set. The set is my recommendation, and yes, it’s my Pick of the Week.
Thor: End of Days (2020) “Loki plots to plunge the universe into darkness poisoning the minds of the innocent across all 9 Realms. Killing his father Odin and The Guardians, Loki flees Asgard. The powerful but arrogant warrior-god Thor pursues him wreaking havoc among humans on Midgard (Earth), however, along his journey he’s rendered unworthy, waking on Earth without his mighty hammer, or his memory. Alone and vulnerable, Thor enlists the help of a female human companion in his quest to regain his honor and power, and defeat Loki before he can build his dark army.” I can see it now, some producer going “Hey, isn’t that Thor guy actually public domain?” I fully expect this to pop up on SyFy some Saturday soon, that is, unless Marvel/Disney sues them out of existence.
Speaking of superhero movies and their creators . . .
The Specials (2000) “The Specials are superheroes who aren’t… that super: finding themselves rated only the 7th best superhero team in the world, and crucially over-aware of their lacklustre performance in the all important world of merchandising. Eschewing any special effects or superhero sequences we see the lives behind the masks as The Weevil (Rob Lowe), Power Chick (Kelly Coffield), Deadly Girl (Judy Greer), The Strobe (Thomas Haden Church) and the rest of the team as they decide to launch a new line of action figures to resurrect their flagging fortunes.” One of the first films where people started to pay attention to the writing of James Gunn, this is a superhero movie that spoofed the genre before people were really ready for it. Great cast, low budget, and a lot of fun.
LEGO DC: Shazam! – Magic and Monsters (2020) “10-year-old Billy Batson shouts a single word and, with lightning bolts flashing, he transforms into Shazam!, a full-fledged adult Super Hero. It doesn’t take long for Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and the rest of the Justice League to take notice and invite the earnest do-gooder to join the team. But to become a member, Billy must reveal his true identity. While fighting off the evil Mr. Mind and Black Adam, Billy learns that he must trust others – and that nothing creates trust like helping those in need. Join the good fight with this giant-sized LEGO DC adventure!” This was supposed to have come out back on 6/16, and you can see what I had to say about it then, my Physical Medians.
The Kiss of the Vampire (1963) “Gerald and Marianne Harcourt, are a honeymooning couple in early 20th-century Bavaria who become caught up in a vampire cult led by Dr. Ravna and his two children Carl and Sabena. The cult abducts Marianne, and contrive to make it appear that Harcourt was traveling alone and that his wife never existed. Harcourt gets help from hard-drinking savant Professor Zimmer, who lost his daughter to the cult and who finally destroys the vampires through an arcane ritual that releases a swarm of bats from hell…” Another lurid Hammer Films classic, with a fantastic cover by Rondo Award Winning artist Mr. Mark Maddox. I love Hammer movies, and Scream Factory keeps giving me these wonderful Collector’s Editions that just look so good on the shelf.
Tokyo Gore Police (2008) “Set in a future-world vision of Tokyo where the police have been privatized and bitter self-mutilation is so casual that advertising is often specially geared to the “cutter” demographic, this is the story of samurai-sword-wielding Ruka and her mission to avenge her father’s assassination. Ruka is a cop from a squad who’s mission is to destroy homicidal mutant humans known as “engineers” possessing the ability to transform any injury to a weapon in and of itself.” An over-the-top cult classic of Japanese cinema, this has all the nudity, gore, shock, perversion, and violence you could want or need.
Reborn (2018) “A stillborn baby girl is abducted by a morgue attendant and brought back to life by electrokinetic power. On her 16th birthday, she escapes captivity and sets out to find her birth mother, leaving a trail of destruction behind her.” I gotta say, that’s a hell of a premise. I’m gonna check it out.
Other titles of note: Legion of Super Heroes: The Complete Series (2006-2008), 12 Monkeys: The Complete Series (2015-2018), Jungle Holocaust (1977), The Magicians: Season Five (2020) / The Magicians: The Complete Series (TV) (2015-2020)
So not a bad variety of releases this week, my Physical Medians. I hope that a few of them catch your eye, that you stay safe, stay indoors, wear your mask when you go out, and just be kind to one another.
Until next week, let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!