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| Deuceday DVDs: September 9th, 2008 |
| Tuesday, 09 September 2008 | |
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This week we have a kung fu flick that means well, rapping retards (maybe), and two re-releases that are a must-have for any respectable DVD library.   "The Forbidden Kingdom". As a massive kung fu flick fan (say that ten times fast) I was really looking forward to seeing this movie and while it may not be the best movie ever (far from it) it satisfies the one key rule of a good chopsocky movie: lots of cool fight scenes, lots of special effects. And that's that. I've heard a lot of people were disappointed in this movie, but why? Seriously, it's a movie where a teenager travels to mythical China and Jackie Chan and Jet Li duke it out. That's pretty much all you need to know on this one. People who rent this looking for an intelligent plot or high quality drama need to have their heads examined. While I would have liked to see the movie made a little differently (get rid of the teenager completely, film it 10 years ago while Chan and Li were in their primes), it doesn't detract from the fact that you get to see Jackie Chan as Drunken Master fight Jet Li from any of his "Shaolin" films - and that's all a movie like this really needs. It's a kung fu nerd Friday night debate come to life. I can't recommend buying it, but check it out if you need a heavy dose of wirework and tightly choreographed action. ...(and friendship) for everyone   What can I say about "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" that hasn't already been said? The crass and insane show's third season hits the shelves today, and if you're a fan... well, you're probably already on the way to the store to buy it. If you're not familiar with the show, Season 3 is as good a place as any to start watching.Season highlights include a rapper that may or may not be retarded, the guys pretending to be Cops to scam free hot dogs, an all-night dance competition with homeless ringers and sedative brownies, a sex offender look-alike, an adopted dumpster baby, and the "can't get it out of my head, oh god the horror, make it stop, why can't I stop singing it" song of the year: "Day Man" . So dust off your mohawk wig and call up your pre-op girlfriend, this is one for the collection. If you're not into that whole "brevity" thing   This week we also have two re-releases of classic movies, the first being "The Big Lebowski: 10th Anniversary Edition". Easily one of the best Coen brothers films of all time, this movie stands in a class all by itself. Insanely quotable with a one-of-a-kind storyline including a kidnapped trophy wife, German nihilists, a hair-netted Latino pedophile bowler named Jesus, a beligerant Vietnam vet, a parapalegic humanitarian, a rug, and one of the greatest anti-heroes ever to be committed to film: Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski.Granted, I already own this movie. But in addition to a new high definition transfer, a 30-minute "making of" interview with the brothers Coen, and other bonus features, there is one thing that makes this set my new must-have-it-now-or-people-get-hurt item: the bowling ball case design.  Seriously! Just look at that thing! That's friggin' cool! I want to build it a little shrine on my DVD shelf with miniature White Russians and an old beat-up car. Even if you already own it, buy this DVD set. Get it for your friends too. And their friends. They'll thank you. Sometimes nothin' is a real cool hand The second re-release this week is the immortal Paul Newman classic "Cool Hand Luke: The Deluxe Edition". There's really nothing "deluxe" about this version other than a "making of" featurette and audio commentaries by everyone BUT the actual actors. Honestly, who wants to hear audio commentary from a Paul Newman biographer? Just get the real deal on the phone for an hour and put it on the DVD! Regardless of this DVD's overzealous use of the word "deluxe", Cool Hand Luke itself is every bit the masterpiece it ever was. The story of a the charming non-conformist hero never seemed so fitting as in modern times, and beyond a brilliant script laden with emotional highs and lows this is the role of a lifetime for many of the key players. Even George Kennedy, later known as the Captain in the Naked Gun series, puts forth an amazing performance as Dragline. The best films inspire intelligent dialog afterward, and Cool Hand Luke is no different. Whether it's about the role of the anti-hero in classic cinema, or the subtle Christ methaphors in the movie (seriously, check out how Luke is laid on the table after the infamous "fifty eggs" scene), this is a film that gets you talking, but more importantly, thinking. And that, my fellow geeks... that is a rare thing in this day and age. Are you a champion of karate? What's your dirt doing in his ditch? Post a comment below and let us know! Comments (0)
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