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| ‹ ‹ ‹ past FEATURE articles |
:: FEATURE :: |
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by Kaare Kvenild |
February 2007 |
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"The Best from the Comfort of the Couch!" |
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#10 Now a lot of people are saying this movie was a flop,
but take a minute to consider that it had been 20
years since Superman last appeared on the big screen
in the loathsome "Superman IV: the Quest for Peace."
Those old enough to remember maybe stayed away with
that in mind. But fans still turned out to see the
return of the most iconic superhero of all time ($200
million US box-office, number five on the 2006 top ten
money makers list). This 2-disc edition gives a high
quality transfer and loads of making-of goodies on
disc two. A must for fans of superhero films.
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#9 Director Carol Reed and author Graham Greene's other
collaboration was the 1949's masterpiece "The Third
Man." One year prior to that film, they gave viewers
a taught, complex film about a young boy's view of the
adult world. Based on Greene's story "The Basement
Room," Reed crafts a somewhat disturbing film about
how children see the life of an adult and things they
think are OK when you're a grown up. A creepy jewel.
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#8 Now, I honestly didn't watch any special features on
this DVD; "The Proposition" is on my top 10 simply
because it's one amazing film. Nick Cave is mostly
known for his music. But here, as a screenwriter, he
gives us a western we haven't seen the likes of since
Sergio Leone gave us his epic "Dollars" Trilogy. Set
in the 19th Century Australian Outback, it tells the
story of an outlaw who is given a choice by the town
captain - go and kill your older brother and you and
your little brother go free, or you and your little
brother can both hang. Guy Pierce is the outlaw who
will do anything for his little brother, so he sets
out to kill big brother. A bloody masterpiece of
western filmmaking that would have made Leone proud.
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#7 John Ford's 1940 fictional tale about the early
career of the greatest US President, Abraham Lincoln,
should be taught in acting classes. Henry Fonda plays
Lincoln so well that you will think he is Lincoln.
Ford's masterful film gives us a glimpse of the
promise Lincoln showed as a lawyer, and gives us an
idea of the brilliance that was to come as President
of the United States. It also shows the greatest
American filmmaker of the 20th Century at his best.
Criterion shows us why they are the best in the
business when it comes to DVD transfers.
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#6 James McTeigue did what many deemed impossible: he
successfully helmed a faithful adaptation of an Alan
Moore graphic novel. It had been tried before. "From
Hell" was a good movie but not faithful, and "League
of Extraordinary Gentleman" was considered neither.
But "V" succeeds on so many levels, with very few
changes. Moore's story stays intact while only
updating to today's technology. The focus of many
people was on Natalie Portman since she's the biggest
name, but it's Hugo Weaving's performance that made
the movie. You never see his face, but you feel his
emotion in his actions and with every change in the tone of
his voice. The second disc in this set is full of
making-of goodies, but the coolest is the historical
background on the Gunpowder Treason. Really cool
stuff!
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#5 How could I not pick this? Not only is it the
greatest underdog story of all time (not just the
character, but the movie took home the Best Picture
Oscar!), but the special features are so well made
that it's like having two films in one package. The
making-of is very informative on what it took to get
this movie made. If "Rocky" had never been made,
"Raging Bull" would have never been made either -
that's the influence of Stallone's masterpiece. Plus,
the tribute to Burgess Meredith will make even the
coldest person tear up.
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#4 I know, I know, it's more than one movie. So what!
This is possibly the best set of the year and it's
full of great collaborations between the greatest
American Filmmaker of the 20th Century (Ford) and the
most iconic American Actor of the 20th Century
(Wayne). The set contains the Anniversary editions of
"The Searchers" and "Stagecoach,"
two parts of Ford's Cavalry Trilogy - "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow
Ribbon," and other classics: "3 Godfathers," "The
Long Voyage Home," "Wings of Eagles" and "They Were
Expendable" (one of the greatest war films ever).
This is well worth the $80 price tag.
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#3 One of the funniest films of the 1990's gets the
Criterion treatment in a director approved special
edition. Richard Linklater's comedy shows a number of
different cliques meeting at an intersection known as
last day of school. Taking place in 1976 Texas,
Linklater brings together the dorks, preppies, jocks
and stoners. In a way, it's like all these kids are
from different countries, when in fact they are all
from Texas. Again, Criterion goes all out giving us
commentary by Mr. Linklater, a documentary called
"Making Dazed," behind the scenes shots, audition
footage, deleted scenes, and the always informative
novella sized book that comes with almost every
Criterion release. Pick up this 2-disc gem or else
I'm going to paddle you with a huge wooden board you
freshman punks!!!
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#2 If you pick this title up, you'll notice that it’s #2
on the Criterion Catalog. It was originally released
in 1998 to the joy of Akira Kurosawa fans, including
myself who stumbled upon it while trying to figure out
what to use a gift card on at my local movie store.
Well, then Criterion has to go and screw things up by
releasing a brand-spanking-new 3-disc edition to make
me bite my nails while trying to keep from buying it!
I checked this title out from the library to see how
it looked. AMAZING! The print looks pristine, the
special features are out of this world (especially the
documentary "Seven Samurai: Origins & Influences"),
and a really informative new commentary from David
Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns,
Donald Richie. You may find the price tag a bit high,
but it's so worth it. BLAST YOU CRITERION!!!
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#1 Again, I believe there is no better company issuing
DVD's today than the Criterion Collection. They put
their hearts & souls into each release, and "The
Complete Mr. Arkadin" is no exception. As reviewed in
the inaugural edition of the "Classic Corner" I stated
that this was the DVD release of the year, and I stand
by that. Three discs, three different cuts of Orson
Welles' butchered film. Like "Touch of Evil" would
face three years later, Welles was kicked out of the
editing room by the studio and forced to see his
vision slaughtered by those that didn't understand it.
But also like "Touch of Evil," "Arkadin" would have
its day thanks to those that wanted to restore
Welles's original vision. Three discs, loads of
extras and a copy of the novel "Mr. Arkadin" by Orson
Welles. This is the best DVD of the year, and also
one of the best movies I had never heard of before
2006. Like "Seven Samurai," it's more than worth the
$49.95 sticker price. BUY THIS NOW!
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