Micah's September 2005 DVD Picks
1. Crash 2. Save the Green Planet 3. The Sting: Special Edition 4. Heartbeeps 5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 6. Rock School 7. It's All Gone Pete Tong 8. The Amityville Horror (2005) 9. The Blind Dead Collection (5-Disc Limited Edition) 10. Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story 11. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (20th Anniversary Edition)Hey all, Micah here with my DVD picks for the month of September. This month I've actually included several movies that I missed when they were in the theater. So, some of these I'm not recommending based on personal knowledge, but rather on third hand info. May want to take with a grain of salt. So, without further ado:
Crash
Release Date: 9/06/05
I just recently caught this in the theater and was very impressed. Most people are talking this movie up as a look at race relations, but I really think that's only incidental to the movie. The way I see it, the movie is really about how impossible it is to understand anyone else. Each character's actions are pretty well justified to the viewer (who knows all the facts) yet completely indefensible to other characters in the film (who only know what they observe firsthand). Its pretty frustrating, but that's the way things are.Save the Green Planet
Release Date: 9/06/05
This is one of the ones that I've been trying to track down for a while now. Other than the fact that it's a Korean movie that received really positive buzz on the internet, I can't tell you much about it, because I was told that the less you know about this one the better you are. So, I'll leave it at that... check it out if you're feeling adventurous.The Sting: Special Edition
Release Date: 9/06/05
It's an all time great, with one of the best on-screen duos of all time: Redford & Newman. If you haven't seen it and like caper/con movies at all, there's really no excuse. And, if you have, now's a great time to pick up the special edition, because it looks like there is going to be a ton of behind-the-scenes type stuff. Brilliant movie like they just don't make anymore.Heartbeeps
Release Date: 9/13/05
This movie is widely known as being one of the few film appearances of Andy Kaufman. Actually, it was the last film appearance of Andy Kaufman, due to the movie's exceptionally poor showing at the box office. Kaufman, Bernadette Peters, and Randy Quaid play robots who are trying to find their own identity. You either love Kaufman or you hate him, but I'll be honest, even if you love him, this is far from his best work. However, you once you add in the original score by John 'Star Wars' Williams, and you've got a film at least worth a rental.The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Release Date: 9/13/05
This has been one of my favorite films of 2005 so far. The DVD contains Deleted Scenes, Fake Deleted Scenes, a Making-Of, and 2 Audio commentaries. For more info on this film, check out my original review.Rock School
Release Date: 9/13/05
This is an outstanding documentary for anyone who likes quirky docs about music/teaching/kids/egomaniacs. It's rumored that the music instructor in this film was the loose inspiration for Jack Black's character in School Of Rock. I don't know if that's true or not, but I will tell you that Rock School kicks that movie's ass. Where else are you going to see an adult perform his version of Silence of the Lamb's 'It Puts the Lotion in the Basket' scene in front of a bunch of kids, or watch a dozen pre-teens play the hell out of Frank Zappa? Answer: only in Rock School. My top non-fiction, and top overall pick of the month.It's All Gone Pete Tong
Release Date: 9/20/05
I know very little about this movie other than it is supposed to be a funny mockumentary about a famous deaf DJ who leaves the DJing scene for several years, then suddenly reappears. If that's your thing, knock yourself out.The Amityville Horror
Release Date: 9/27/05
This movie came and went without much fanfare, but I saw it (with Ryan Reynolds in attendance) and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a different vibe than the original, but Reynolds does a surprisingly good job as a psychotic father bent on saving, then destroying, his family. Give it a try and see what you think.The Blind Dead Collection (5-Disc Limited Edition)
Release Date: 9/27/05
Yet another film series that I've always intended to watch, but have never gotten around to. Now, Blue Underground has released an absolutely loaded 4 film set featuring the blind undead horsemen who roam the Earth in search of human flesh. Supposedly this series is prime Euro-sleeze... you can count on me to find out for sure.Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
Release Date: 9/27/05
Say I somehow had already watched this movie and could personally tell you that it rocks. Would it matter? Of course not. You're either a Family Guy follower, or you aren't (in which case there's no hope for you). But, for the record... this movie rocks.Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (20th Anniversary Edition)
Release Date: 9/27/05
Another special edition of a movie that you must see if you are at all interested in horror/thriller movies. It follows the eponymous character, a singleminded killer who enjoys what he does. Henry is cold-blooded, sadistic, and thoroughly enjoyable. This is my top fictional pick of the month.That’s it for September… see you back in 30 short days!
- Micah
