Rodriguez A Go With 'Machete'

Despite the poor box office of 'Grindhouse' Robert Rodriguez is going to make a feature length version of his faux trailer for the film 'Machete'. I can't wait for it. Hopefully he'll make it for very little money. The problem with 'Grindhouse' (despite Harvey Weinstein saying we here in the midwest didn't "get the double feature" aspect of it - cuz we b 2 dum to no that their b 2 movis) was that it cost way too much. Almost $55 million? Inspired by films that mainly cost under $1 million? The entire budget should have been $30 million or under. That's my take on it anyway. Rodriguez should make it for $10 million or under but go all out with it.

Just my two cents.

From Beyond, The Burning, ROTLD DVD Details

Fangoria has details on the upcoming DVD's of 'From Beyond, 'The Burning', and the rereleased 'Return of the Living Dead'.

Fango just got ahold of the final DVDetails for the special editions of FROM BEYOND, THE BURNING and the rerelease of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, all coming September 11 from MGM Home Video through Fox Home Video. Stuart Gordon’s FROM BEYOND, of course, contains the restored, uncut feature in a 1.85:1 transfer with Dolby 4.0 Surround sound, and comes with the following extras:

• Audio commentary by Gordon, producer Brian Yuzna and stars Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton
• The Director’s Perspective featurette
• The Editing Room “Lost and Found” featurette
• Interview with Composer Richard Band
• Photo Montage
• Storyboard-to-film comparisons:
-Introduction
-Appearance of Dr. Pretorius
-Death of Bubba
-Hospital Escape
-Katherine Frees Herself

The BURNING disc also restores the feature to its uncut gory glory, with a 1.85:1 transfer backed by mono sound, and these supplements:

• Audio commentary by director Tony Maylam and genre journalist Alan Jones
• Blood ‘n’ Fire Memories featurette with Tom Savini
• Photo gallery
• Theatrical trailer

The new RETURN disc includes the previous 1.85:1 transfer with mono sound, the bonus features from the original disc plus some new ones (starred below). The complete rundown:

• Audio commentary by director Dan O’Bannon and production designer William Stout
• Audio commentary by the cast, crew and undead*
• RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: The Dead Have Risen featurette*
• The Decade of Darkness featurette*
• Designing the Dead featurette
• Zombie Subtitle Stream*
• Bloody trailer
• Even bloodier trailer*

Each disc retails for $19.98. —Michael Gingold

The Dark Knight Teaser

The teaser trailer for next summers 'Batman Begins' sequel, 'The Dark Knight', hits the net. It's very much a teasr since they're still shooting it here in Chicago so there is no footage. Still cool though. To watch it Click Here.

'Grindhouse' DVD Details

Some of the specs are finally coming out for 'Grindhouse'. Though as of right now it looks like both films will be released seperately. I also don't see anything on the trailers that played between the two films. These are either not the final specs or a larger set is still coming.

'Death Proof' comes out September 18th with an extended cut featuring 30 extra minutes plus:

Finding Quentin's Gals

The Guys of Death Proof

Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike

Introducing Zoe Bell|

Quentin's Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke

Double Dare trailer

International Poster Gallery


On October 16th we get 'Planet Terror' with extra footage and these extras:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Robert Rodriguez

International trailer

Deleted Scenes

Cooking School

10-Minute Film School

The Stunts

The Make-up and Effects

The Badass Babes

The Renegade Guys

The Costumes

The Production Design


Like with other Rodriguez DVD's the 'Planet Terror' disc looks packed. The 'Death Proof' one seems decent if not a little light. I still have a feeling there will be a big box set coming. I just hope they announce it before these hit the shelves.


*Note: the above picture is not the DVD cover.

'Blade Runner' DVD Info

It has finally gotten the offical release information along with packaging. There will be three different releases but the only one that counts is the 5 disc listed below.

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT

Debuts on DVD December 18 with Exclusive New York/LA Theatrical Launch October 5

Disc One
RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALL-NEW "FINAL CUT" VERSION OF THE FILM

Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:

- Commentary by Ridley Scott

- Commentary by Executive Producer/ Co-Screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Co-Screenwriter David Peoples; Producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber

- Commentaries by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer

Disc Two
DOCUMENTARY - DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER

A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film -- from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.

Disc Three
1982 THEATRICAL VERSION

This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford's character narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.

1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION

Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 DIRECTOR'S CUT

The Director's Cut omits Deckard's voiceover narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famously-controversial "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four
BONUS DISC - "Enhancement Archive"

- Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
- Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
- Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
- The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
- Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
- Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
- Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
- Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
- Unit Photography Gallery
- Deleted & Alternate Scenes
- 1982 Promotional Featurettes
- Trailers & TV Spots
- Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
- Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
- Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
- Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers

Disc Five
WORKPRINT VERSION

This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.

Also includes:

- Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
- Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut

Two Weeks To Go

The Dark Crystal CD Released

La-La Land Records has released the soundtrack to The Dark Crystal. The Trevor Jones score is just amazing. This release is to coincide with upcoming DVD special edition. If you don't have this score then definitely pick this up.

New Cover Art - From Beyond, Body Snatchers '78, ROTLD

While I am sure my mind will be thinking of other things on September 11 this year aside from what's out on DVD but I am happy that these films will be getting released nonetheless. Here is the cover art for the new special editions of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', 'Return of the Living Dead', and (FINALLY!!!!!) 'From Beyond'.

'The Burbs' Gets New Soundtrack CD

Varese Sarabande have released new CD's in their CD club including an expanded soundtrack release to the Joe Dante film 'The Burbs' starring Tom Hanks. The score was done by the late great Jerry Goldsmith. One of cinema's greatest composers. Whenever one of his scores gets released it's always time to celebrate.

Other releases include the Bill Conti score to 'F/X' and Elmer Bernstein's scores for 'Cannon For Cordoba' and 'From Noon Till Three'.

Price Drops All Around

Gamespot has reported that both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 have dropped their prices.

In August the PS3 will introduce a newer model with an 80GB hard drive with the current model dropping from $599 to $499.

The Xbox 360 is dropping price on all of its models with the Elite possibly going to $399 and the regular editions shaving off $50 from their current prices.

Is this odd? Not really. A lot of people saw this coming. It's also pretty common. While each system fights for who has the better sales the bottom line is all systems are doing fine. The question is how will they keep going. The problem isn't so much the price of the systems (well, maybe a little) but whether the games are worth playing. Make better games and people will come.

Cujo and Alligator DVD Covers

Here are the DVD covers for the previous announced DVDs for 'Cujo' and 'Alligator'. The 'Cujo' one is decent but the 'Alligator' one looks too much like the direct to video movies that have flooded the market over the last few years. 'Alligator' is a B movie but a great B movie. And it stars the great Robert Forester. He should be on the cover somewhere. Either way, as long as the content is great then who cares about DVD art. It just may put off people that may buy the movie but think it's something else without looking at the back.

7/11 Becomes Kwik-E-Mart

Thanks to PunkY for letting me know about this. As a promotion for the upcoming 'The Simpsons' movie 7/11 has chosen a few stores across the US to become Kwik-E-Marts, the store on the show run by Apu.

If I get to the one in Chicago I'll talk pictures. Although they didn't pick one in an ideal location.

Click Here to find one.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!