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Funeral
Parade Of Roses & Avant Garde Short Films
(1969/Cinelicious Blu-ray)/Hans
Zimmer: Live In Prague
(2016/Universal Music/Eagle Blu-ray)/How
The Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000/in limited fur packaging/Universal Blu-ray w/DVD)/Lewis
Black: Black To The Future
(2017/MVD Visual DVD)/Michael
Jackson: Searching For Neverland
(2017/Lionsgate DVD)/Miracle
On 34th
Street: 70th
Anniversary Edition
(1947/Fox Blu-ray)/Richard
Simmons: Sweatin' To The Oldies: 30th
Anniversary Edition (2017
compilation/Time Life DVD Set)/Sex
In The Comix
(2015/Doppelganger DVD)/TT
Isle Of Man: 2017 Official Review
(Duke Blu-ray)
Picture:
B/B-/A- & B-/C+/B-/B+/C+/C+/B Sound: C+/B+/B+ &
B-/C+/B-/B+/C+/C+/B- Extras: B-/C-/A+/C+/D/B/C+/D/C Main
Programs: B-/B-/A-/B-/B/B/C+/B-/B
Here's
a collection of Special Interest titles that include some music,
comedy and revisited holiday releases...
Toshio
Matsumoto's Funeral
Parade Of Roses
(1969)
& Avant Garde Short Films
(1961 - 1975) collects the filmmakers avant-garde works that usually
are not about a narrative, but are sometimes about his sexuality.
The films offer nudity and are implicit and sometimes explicit about
gay sex, yet the films are at least as concerned about surrealism,
any kind of experience that is different and certainly shows
influence form filmmakers like Warhol, other Avant-Garde auteurs and
an awareness of Japanese culture that seems as relevant now as ever.
Those
eight shorts (Nishijin
(1961), The
Song Of Stone
(1963), Ecstasis
(1969), Metastasis
(1971), Expansion
(1972), Mona
Lisa
(1973), Siki
Soku Ze Ku
(1975) and Atman
(1975)) are among shorts I have seen before and I can see why as they
are thought provoking and create unique experiences. Some of the
early ones offer images that do appear in the Roses
feature film, but its idea of a more typical narrative is still more
writerly than Hollywood readerly as we see couples having sex and see
their semi-nude bodies, suggesting both genders. It turns out in
several cases, it is young men as women and it is very hard to tell
the difference. Physical women also show up nude, but the film
offers enough of a gay subtext that it questions the separation of
two genders.
Shot
well in black and white, the case reminds us that Stanley Kubrick
said it influenced his film of A
Clockwork Orange
(1971) which is actually the second version of the book after
Warhol's 1965 short Vinyl
(also
black and white) so how and where? One is the use of modernist
architecture, though Kubrick finds more futuristic versions for his
film, but the idea of sped-up moments with odd music is something he
wants to top and does for the most part in his film. However, the
examples here have a different meaning and are part of the more lite,
playful nature of Matsumoto's established world here, part of which
offer guerrilla filmmaking to get done.
The
result is the key work of an important artist of the time who wanted
to take filmmaking to somewhere different and does for the most part.
Not all of it works and it has its repetitions, but that is part of
the immersive point. It is work that holds up, is enduring and
influential enough and Cinelicious' Blu-ray here with new 4K
transfers are a great way to see all the films. The main feature is
1080p 1.66 X 1 digital High Definition black and white, while all the
shorts are 1.33 X 1 at 1080p and all (starting monochrome, then he
moves into color in various ways) look good and all the monophonic
sound has been cleaned up and restored at 24-bits. I cannot imagine
these looking and sounding too much better than they do here.
Extras
incliude a thick, high quality booklet with photos and plenty of
informative text including a new essay by film scholar Hirofumi
Sakamoto,
whle the feature film Blu-ray includes an Original Theatrical
Trailer, re-release Trailer and audio commentary track by the
well-read Chris D. that is not non-stop and has too many silent gaps.
Next time, perhaps he should have a co-commentator?
Otherwise,
this is a must-see release for all serious film fans.
Hans
Zimmer: Live In Prague
(2016) has the famous, successful film music composer on tour with a
huge band, playing many selections from his many movie hits, both
commercial and critical. When he first arrived, some felt maybe his
music is a little mechanical, too automatic or just too bare, yet his
work on Driving
Miss Daisy
and Rain
Man
were better than that generalization would have us believe, then he
expanded into one of the most successful composers in film since John
Williams.
Eagle
has released this show in several formats, but we are covering it on
Blu-ray and it is a great format to cover it.
TRACK
LISTING...
1)
Medley: Driving (Driving
Miss Daisy)
/ Discombobulate (Sherlock
Holmes)
/ Zoosters Breakout (Madagascar)
2)
Medley: Crimson
Tide
/ 160 BPM (Angels
And Demons)
3)
Gladiator
Medley: The Wheat / The Battle / Elysium / Now We Are Free
4)
Chevaliers De Sangreal (The
Da Vinci Code)
5)
The Lion
King
Medley: Circle Of Life (Prelude) / King Of Pride Rock
6)
Pirates
Of The Caribbean
Medley: Captain Jack Sparrow / One Day / Up Is Down / He's A
Pirate
7) You're So Cool (True
Romance)
8)
Rain
Man:
Main Theme
9) What Are You Going To Do When You Are Not Saving
The World (Man
Of Steel)
10)
Journey To The Line (The
Thin Red Line)
11)
The Electro Suite (themes from The
Amazing Spider Man 2)
12)
The
Dark Knight
Medley: Why So Serious? / Like A Dog Chasing Cars / Why Do We Fall /
Introduce A Little Anarchy / The Fire Rises
13) Aurora
14)
Interstellar
Medley: Day One / Cornfield Chase / No Time For Caution / Stay
15)
Inception
Medley: Half Remembered Dream / Dream Is Collapsing / Mombasa / Time
Now
any concert is only going to be as good as its music and for me,
those Pirates
songs get tired very quickly, but Zimmer is generous in talking to
the audience, about the other musicians and about his life and work,
so he being a really good host that makes this not just another movie
music concert. It even gave me more respect for someone I already
liked. The result is a great showcase more than worth your time,
especially with solid playback like this.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer can have issues
with shadow detail and Video Black, as well as a few other flaws, but
that is about as good as this shoot can look here, including some
good moments of color. The Dolby
Atmos 11.1 (Dolby TrueHD 5.1 or 7.1 on older systems) sound is much
better, really showing off how well recorded and performed the whole
show is and as sonically fine as any release version of this program
will have.
The
only extra is an illustrated booklet on the show including
informative text, an essay and
fine illustrations.
Ron
Howard's How
The Grinch Stole Christmas
(2000) is back in a Blu-ray/DVD set, but this one is wrapped in
'Grinch Fur' and all contained in a clear plastic slipcase for a
limited time.
Based
on Dr. Seuss' beloved book and animated TV special (reviewed
elsewhere on this site), Jim Carrey plays the Grinch in the live
action movie musical comedy. It is a holiday classic telling the
story of Christmas and the spirit of the holiday of how the Grinch
steals all the present of Christmas but is unable to steal the heart
of Christmas. He regains his heart after hearing the people singing
and returns all the presents, but not without all kinds of unexpected
twists and turns.
Why
did the Grinch steal Christmas? Why does he hate it so much? Learn
the origins story of the Grinch, how he was bullied as child and
ended up as the Grinch. Years later a young girl wonders if
Christmas just about the presents? She invites the Grinch for
Christmas and even after he steals all the presents, she has faith
and helps remind the people (and the Grinch) of the spirit of the
holiday is more than gifts and helps them all regain the spirit of
Christmas. After the Grinch regains his heart, he repents and
returns all the gifts and decides to live with the people once more.
A
little girl is turned into the hero instead of the Grinch, in how the
faith of one child can change a heart of stone. Extras include
deleted scenes, outtakes, spotlight on Location, Who School, makeup
application and design, Seussian Set Decoration, Visual Effects,
Faith Hill "Where
Are You Christmas"
Music Video, Commentary and Trailers. Picture and sound quality for
the Blu-ray is the same as our coverage of this Blu-ray, the same
transfer, at this link...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13834/Dr.+Seuss'+How+The+Grinch+Stole+Christmas
And
the also-included DVD is the same as the DVD part of this even older
review...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4624/Dr.+Seuss%E2%80%99+How+The+Grinch+Stole+C
Lewis
Black: Black To The Future
(2017) is another hilarious release from one of the premiere stand-up
comics of our time, this time going after the 2016 Presidential
Campaign in the U.S., but he has plenty
of other things to complain about in his 50-minutes-long concert and
somehow does not have much overlap with his previous concerts on DVD
as he is always up on events.
In
addition, we get a bonus show with a difference in ''The
Rant Is Due: Live From Napa''
where he answers questions from his fan club both on line and in the
audience with interesting results that have in in a different light
and even rare form. It is worth seeing as well.
Black
is a great talent telling it like it is when so many people are
lying, in deep denial or just plain slap-happy stupid. He cannot
issue enough DVDs or Blu-rays. Please continue!!!
For
more of Black's work on DVD, try these DVD releases we reviewed
before...
Old
Yeller Live...
DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12716/Gloria+(2013/Lionsgate+DVD)/Lewis+Black:+Old
Root
Of All Evil: Season One
DVD Set
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7647/Lewis+Black%E2%80%99s+Root+of+All+Evil:+Unc
Based
on the the best seller "Remembering
the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days",
Michael
Jackson: Searching For Neverland
(2017)
takes a look in to story of Michael Jackson behind the scenes, not as
the King of Pop, but the man behind all the pop and glamour, the man,
the father. Through the eyes of his bodyguards Bill Whitfield and
Javon Beard, they tell the story of the man the family they had to
protect from the world. It is his story of his life ...and what
happened in the last two years of his life.
Michael
Jackson was the King of Pop, but before that he was a man and father.
He was so popular that he had to hide his face, his family from the
public. Bill and Javon were hired to be body guards/private
concierge to Michael Jackson and his kids Paris, Prince and Blanket.
All he wanted was for them was live like a normal family, to have a
home, a place where his children could live in peace, love and joy,
but everyday they had to protect them from media vultures, crazy fans
and so much more. Through their eyes they saw more than what the
world saw ...they saw the truth. Through their time of employment
they became part of the family and in the end they were able to see,
talk and be with him, not as a king of pop/music ...but like a man.
This
tribute shows the life he had to deal with, with being Michael
Jackson, and while people love fans and fame, he could never get away
from it. And while the world could only understand what they saw or
heard through the media, it is only after you watch this movie you
can begin to understand him as a man. The anamorphically enhanced
1.78 X 1 image and lossy Dolby Digital sound are as good as they'll
ever be on DVD. Extras includes trailers.
George
Seaton's Miracle
On 34th
Street: 70th
Anniversary Edition
(1947) is the original Christmas classic now
celebrating its 70th anniversary in this new release that isn't too
different presentation-wise than the previous release of the film on
Blu-ray disc a few years back and has the same extras. However, if
you don't own that release and if you haven't seen this holiday gem
in a while, then you should definitely get around to watching this
three-time Oscar winner this Holiday season.
The
classic film stars Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Natalie
Wood, Harry Antrim, and Jerome Cowan.
Set
in 1940's 'modern day' New York City, the real Kris Kringle (Gwenn)
gets hired in a Macy's to play himself around the holiday season.
Brining his charm and holiday spirit to all who sit on his lap, he
ends up changing lives and keeping the faith strong, which his boss
(O'Hara), whose raising her daughter (Natalie Wood) to not believe in
Santa. Declaring Kringle as insane, he's soon put on trial... but
will those who believe in him step forward?
Presented
in 1080p high definition black and white with its original 1.37:1
full frame aspect ratio and DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless
track, is a nice presentation on disc that makes an old film up to
today's standards. A 4K Ultra HD release is mostly likely on the way
in the future, hopefully not colorized. There's also Dolby Digital
2.0 lossy tracks on the disc in various language tracks.
A
digital UV copy is also included.
Special
Features...
Feature
Audio Commentary by Maureen O'Hara
Hollywood
Backstories: Miracle on 34th Street
Fox
Movietone News Footage: Hollywood Spotlight
Miracle
on 34th Street
TV Version
Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade: Floating in History Featurette
Promotional
Short
Poster
Gallery
For
more on the film, see our coverage on the old DVD edition here...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4534/Miracle+On+34th+Street+(1947+DVD-Video+Set
Richard
Simmons: Sweatin' To The Oldies: 30th
Anniversary Edition
(2017 compilation) seems like a gag or joke release for a star whose
off-screen/off-stage antics have involved lawyers, police,
disappearances and reports of being near death, for starters. But
back in the 1980s when exercise videos became a huge surprise hit in
the early days of VHS and Beta videocassettes, Simmons had a surprise
hit series aimed at nerds, very heavy set and even depressed people
selling on the idea that you do not have to look 'sexy' or already in
shape to get into shape. Annoying as some might have found him, it
was a best-selling series and here is the whole set on DVD in a
Complete
Collection.
I
never disliked him until he started to go way overboard by the end of
the 1980s (he never recovered, to be blunt), but he does deserve
credit for getting some people in shape who likely otherwise would
have never tried. There is a slightly exploitive side to this (his
fight with Roseanne on her brief-lived talk show was a moment) that
never set well with me and the 'oldies' used here are not that
exciting, but this worked for enough people to justify its existence.
This
set has all five (!!!) volumes, plus a booklet and bonus DVD with a
new interview, testimonials and program that gives you six steps
(where they work or not is unknown) to have better health,
self-esteem and 'permanent' weight loss. Some people will by this as
a joke gift for others, while others will buy it for the nostalgia,
but it should be in print at some point like everything else and
here's its moment. Needless to say it is repetitive and not for
everyone, but here it is, including the 1.33 X 1 color videotaped
image looking about as good as it ever will and the lossy Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo filling the bill without impressing much. I was
surprised they played as well as they did.
Joelle
Oosterlinck's Sex
In The Comix
(2015) takes a short (at 52 minutes) but rich look at explicit erotic
content in various comic books in the world, the various subgenres,
various artists and variations in general, with the advent of the
1960s and especially 1970s unrated Comix permanently establishing the
counterculture sensibility of the material. Robert Crumb is the
leading name interviewed here, but many others, especially many you
may not have heard of before, get into the world that has grown into
a permanent adult faction of the huge comic book industry. I did not
even know how much this had expanded.
You
night not think all of it is funny or even erotic, but it exists and
is worth knowing about. I give credit to the artists for being
brave, though sometimes, some are being too silly or passive about
what erotic is. However, that can be debated like anything else here
and that makes it worth a look in itself.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image and lossy Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo are fine for a documentary, but expect minor video flaws like
video noise, video banding, cross color, faded color and older
footage not transferred at its best. There are no extras.
Finally
we have the TT
Isle Of Man: 2017 Official Review,
yet another one of Duke Video's limited-run Blu-rays (they must
figure after while, anyone who'll buy this has bought it and that's
enough for the pressings) and this is as strong an entry in the
series of these great pro motorcycle racing discs as we have seen to
date with several hours of racing all over the world with great
coverage and truly exciting action that can only happen out of true
competition.
We
also get bonus footage that is always a plus and at least as much as
before, but the sport itself is fun and fun to watch when it is this
well captured and edited. Like soccer, you wonder why this is not
more popular in the United States, but is it that the combination of
fun, intensity and even smarts is too much for some audiences?
Either way, its a great release and every serious home theater owner
should at least own one volume of this series because it is that
good. This one is as good as any of them, including one of the most
steady 1080i 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition presentations we've
seen in a while and DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo lossless
sound that is pretty good for all the problems that can go wrong for
location audio.
Get
it!!!
-
Nicholas Sheffo, Ricky Chiang (Grinch,
Jackson)
and James
Lockhart (Miracle)
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/