How to Spend $20
By David Mumpower
July 27, 2011
BoxOfficeProphets.com
For people who were frustrated by the straightforward nature of Primer: Source Code
Yeah, so Jake Gyllenhaal is a time traveling super soldier attempting to stop a bomb from blowing up a train. Or maybe he isn’t. Source Code is the first Hollywood studio feature from Duncan Jones, whom you may know as Zowie Bowie. The scion of David was raised with one of the weirdest names ever given to a human being, but he instead chose the most conventional name possible in launching his career as a director. His first high profile feature, Moon, is a lavishly praised science fiction piece that the staff of BOP adored. Source Code is somehow an even stranger concept that has been given even more glowing reviews. 91% of critics at Rotten Tomatoes enjoy the movie, which has to be a first for a title starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Source Code is one of those titles that you are going to watch at some point. If you want to participate in the conversations, sooner is better than later, making this the best theatrical release now available on home video.
For people who understand this title and only them: Dylan Dog: Dead of Night
You may not know this but Tiziano Sclavi is a real name and an Italian gentleman with said name writes a comic about a New Orleans detective who investigates the paranormal. He may or may not also be a Saints fan. I’m not privy to that information. Actually, he probably isn’t because in Sclavi’s work, the detective is based in London. Presumably because Brandon Routh is incapable of realistic acting, much less realistic acting while faking a British accent, the character’s home base is relocated to Louisiana. This also allows him to make a move on Sookie Stackhouse should the opportunity ever present itself.
As you can tell by my meandering, I really don’t have any idea what this story entails beyond the basic description. Dylan Dog solves vampire and werewolf crimes thanks to the assistance of his undead manservant. If that sentence doesn’t hook you, there isn’t much else left to say…other than the fact that Dylan Dog is the most popular comic in Italy over the past half century. Casting Brandon Routh in the starring role for such a film strikes me as a huge slap in the face bordering on a declaration of war.
For people who still giggle at the mere thought of Ross Gellar shouting “Piv-ot!”: Trust
David Schwimmer, who is to Ross Gellar as Leonard Nimoy is to Spock, directs this feature starring Clive Owen and Catherine Keener. As you may expect for someone who seems as angry as Schwimmer, the subject matter is morose. Owen and Keener portray the parents of a 14-year-old girl who develops an online crush with an older boy. He claims to be sixteen, but that number keeps bumping up until they meet face to face. By then, she realizes he is 35. As one would expect, this information creeps her out, yet when the would-be To Catch a Predator co-star compliments her looks, the girl decides to have sex with him. Unbeknownst to her, he tapes it and everyone at school finds out about the situation thanks to her loose-lipped friend. So, she has a pretty bad week. Owen’s character cannot forgive himself for failing to protect his child, and he experiences a strong bout of depression as well. This is difficult subject matter that is not for everyone, but if you like strong acting performances, it should be your cup of tea. Either way, this seems like programming ultimately destined to be featured on a Lifetime double feature along with something starring Tori Spelling.
For BOP’s #1 Bruce Campbell stalker: Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Frequent readers of the site are well aware of the popularity of Burn Notice within our staff. Long time readers also know that BOP’s Kim Hollis is someone Bruce Campbell should have a restraining order against. Instead, he was impossibly cordial with her the last time they met. For that matter, he seems to have that twinkle in his eye whenever he meets his *ahem* more obsessive fans. Campbell is well aware of his subversive popularity in pop culture, recognizing that he is more talented than many more prosperous actors. Rather than focus on the negative, however, he embraces the thought process that his entire career is something of a fluke and this makes him the real salt of the Earth sort of fellow. BOP unabashedly adores him.
We had planned to watch Burn Notice anyway simply for casting him as the third lead in a three player ensemble. To our collective shock, Burn Notice has proven to be a revelation as a witty espionage serial that does a terrific job embracing formulaic television in original ways. BOP’s Martin Felipe frequently evaluates Mythology programming, the shows that contain a detailed tapestry of events. Remarkably, Burn Notice qualifies under this umbrella as each season is constructed as a meticulously crafted sequence of events leading to a face-off with the person pulling the strings, oftentimes in a capacity that deviates from expectation.
Considering Burn Notice’s history in this regard, there is not a great deal of surprise that the popular wiseacre, Sam Axe, is afforded an opportunity for his own standalone film. The surprise is probably that a younger actor was not cast in this prequel as is the norm in the industry. Instead, the producers of the show figured that they already had the best in Bruce Campbell, and they weren’t going to do better than that. So, they may as well show him off for a couple of hours of television. This is exactly what The Fall of Sam Axe does. It is 100 minutes of Bruce Campbell being Bruce Campbell. If that is not your cup of tea, well, I hate you and hope you die screaming. Too harsh? Perhaps. But I love the actor that much. In fact, when I think of The Majestic, the failed Jim Carrey movie from 2001, I remember it primarily as a Bruce Campbell title. I believe Campbell has fewer than 10 lines in the entire feature, yet that is how much I lock in on his presence in a given title. If you are like me in this regard, The Fall of Sam Axe is enjoyable escapism, albeit much more predictable than the average Burn Notice outing. If you are not like me and are not interested in watching Bruce Campbell do his thing, then may God have mercy on your dark heart and empty void of a soul.
For people who prefer animated hotties to the real deal: Supernatural: The Anime Series
I have to be honest that I had never heard of this prior to reading a news item earlier this year indicating that Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles would be providing the appropriate voices. In researching this further, I have discovered that Ackles only provides voicework in two out of 22 episodes, which probably doesn’t impact your decision to rent/buy this any. Just in case it does, you have been warned.
With regards to what this is, Supernatural: The Anime Series is a Japanese take on the American series. I’m not sure if there is a word that aptly encapsulates this production. It’s part re-make and part original tales. A dozen episodes from the first two seasons of the show are adapted to anime while another from the comic book that apparently exists is also re-imagined. The other nine episodes are all original ideas based on the premise that the Winchester boys are still in the early days of their hunting careers and that dear old dad is still alive rather than going off and starring in Watchmen and The Losers.
Realistically, this DVD is only for the most passionate of Supernatural fans. As someone who owns every season to date, even I cannot decide if I want to invest the time needed for this. Still, I admire the daring of the project and it has definitely piqued my curiosity.
For Lady GaGa fans: Scream of the Banshee
I have no idea what this title is. I just wanted to make that joke.
DVD:
Source Code (PG-13)
Mao's Last Dancer (PG)
Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (PG-13)
Life During Wartime (R)
Trust (R)
Winter in Wartime (R)
Alice: Season 1 (Not Rated)
American Bully (R)
American Grindhouse (Not Rated)
American Grindhouse / Nightmares In Red, White (Not Rated)
American Metal: Classic Car Commercials (Not Rated)
Amy Winehouse: Revving @ 4500 RPM's & Justified (Not Rated)
Anderson / Theorin / Royal Danish Opera: Wagner: T (Not Rated)
Angel Beats Complete Collection 1 (Not Rated)
Anger (Not Rated)
The Art of Piano (Not Rated)
The Art of Singing (Not Rated)
Athens: The Mother of Western Civilization (Not Rated)
Barely Legal (Not Rated)
Becoming a Billionaire (Not Rated)
The Best of Color Honeymooners Collection (Not Rated)
The Best of Here's Lucy Collection (Not Rated)
The Best of Honeymooners Lost Episodes (Not Rated)
Big Box Of Wood (Not Rated)
Bio-Dead (R)
Bodyguards & Assassins (Not Rated)
Born to Ride (Not Rated)
Box/Fe (Not Rated)
The Bretts: The Complete Collection (Not Rated)
British Rail Journeys: Weymouth To Isle Of Wight (Not Rated)
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe (Not Rated)
Charlie Chaplin: Premium Collection Volume 1 (Not Rated)
The Clone Returns Home
Colosseum: Complete Reunion Concert (Not Rated)
Conan The Adventurer: Season 1 (Not Rated)
The Conqueror (Not Rated)
Crack #11: Rap's New Generation (Not Rated)
Cuba: Island of Music (Not Rated)
The Dead & The Damned (R)
Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Colgate Comedy (Not Rated)
Death Angel December: Vengeance Kill (Not Rated)
The Death of Andy Kaufman (Not Rated)
Dennis The Menace: Season Two (Not Rated)
Do Dooni Chaar (PG)
The Dot and More Stories for Young Artists (Not Rated)
Drumbassadors: One For The Money But Two For The S (Not Rated)
Eduardo Cemanos Sexual Healing Trilogy (Not Rated)
Elevator (Not Rated)
Empty (Not Rated)
Epitafios: Second Season (Not Rated)
Fast Zombies with Guns (Not Rated)
Fested: Journey to Fest 7 (Not Rated)
The Fish Child (Not Rated)
Fist of the North Star Collection 3 (Not Rated)
Flesh Wounds (R)
Forbidden Knowledge of Lost Realms (Not Rated)
Frontline: Wikisecret Julian Assange, Bradley Mann (Not Rated)
Gergiev / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra: Summer Ni (Not Rated)
Ghost from the Machine (PG-13)
Glorious Battle: Siege of Fort Erie (Not Rated)
Goblin
Heartbeats
High Times: Nico Escondido's Grow Like a Pro (Not Rated)
How to Club Dance 1 (Not Rated)
Hype: 4th Anniversary (Not Rated)
Iran Darroudi: Painter of Ethereal Moments (Not Rated)
Ironclad (R)
Jackboots on Whitehall (Not Rated)
Jared Diamond: Extraodinary Minds (Not Rated)
Jascha Heifetz: God's Fiddler (Not Rated)
Jennifer Kries: Balance Flow Intermediate Vinyasa (Not Rated)
Jennifer Kries: Energy Flow Beginner Vinyasa Yoga (Not Rated)
Jennifer Kries: Power Flow Advanced Vinyasa Yoga (Not Rated)
Jersey Shore: Season Three (Not Rated)
John Holt / Freddie McGregor: Living Legends (Not Rated)
Johnny Winter: Live Rockpalast 1979 (Not Rated)
Just William (Not Rated)
Justice Bao (Not Rated)
Kate Bush: Life of Surprises (Not Rated)
Kinetik Festival Volume 1: 2008 Edition (Not Rated)
King Arthur: Legend of the Holy Grail (Not Rated)
The King of Fighters
Live Like A Cop, Die Like A Man (Not Rated)
Machete Maidens Unleashed (Not Rated)
Malevolent Creation: Death from Downunder (Not Rated)
Mandrake: Seasons 1 & 2 (Not Rated)
Mark of Love (Not Rated)
McMillan & Wife: Season 4 (Not Rated)
McMillan & Wife: Season 5 (Not Rated)
Michael Jackson: Collectors Box (Not Rated)
Mick Jagger: Roaring '20s (Not Rated)
Middle Line Ambient Lazergraphics (Not Rated)
My Dog Tulip (Not Rated)
National Geographic: Civil Warriors (Not Rated)
Nephew Tommy: Just My Thoughts (Not Rated)
New York Grindhouse Superstars Triple Feature (Not Rated)
Omnibus American Profiles (Not Rated)
On The Other Side Of Life (Not Rated)
Once Upon a Warrior (PG-13)
One Piece: Collection 1 (Not Rated)
Park Benches (Not Rated)
Pat Mills: Creator of 2,000 AD & Judge Dredd (Not Rated)
Play Clapton (Not Rated)
Play of Light (Not Rated)
Pointer Sisters: Live in Montana 2004 (Not Rated)
Popvich Brothers of South Chicago (Not Rated)
Prayer to a Vengeful God (Not Rated)
Psychopaths: Sex with Hostages (Not Rated)
Puppet Monster Massacre (Not Rated)
Rene Bond: Sleazy 70's (Not Rated)
Riverdance: Live from Beijing (Not Rated)
Scream of the Banshee (R)
The Sentiment of the Flesh (Not Rated)
Sergeant Frog: Season 3, Part 1 (Not Rated)
Sesame Street: Big Bird Wishes The Adults Were Kid (Not Rated)
Sesame Street: The Best Pet in the World (Not Rated)
Sex Psychedelia Collection 2 (Not Rated)
Shaun the Sheep: Animal Antics (Not Rated)
Shinchan: Season 3, Part 1 (Not Rated)
Shrinking Violet And More Stories For Young... (Not Rated)
Snapped Killer Collection Complete Season 1 (Not Rated)
Strange Girls (Not Rated)
Strangers Online (Not Rated)
The Street: Season Two (Not Rated)
Supernatural: The Anime Series (Not Rated)
The Task (R)
Teenage Twins Collection (Not Rated)
Turbulent Skies (Not Rated)
Twisted Sister: Double Live Northstage 82 & Ny Ste (Not Rated)
Two Faced Moon: Who Got There First (Not Rated)
U.S. Open 2006: Federer vs. Roddick (Not Rated)
Vampire Knight Guilty Volume 3 (Not Rated)
Veggie Tales Adventure Pack (Not Rated)
Vixens of Virtue, Vixens of Vice: Season 1 (Not Rated)
We Are What We Are (Not Rated)
Weapon Masters (NC-17)
The Wedding Present: Drive (Not Rated)
Will The Real Terrorist Please Stand Up? (Not Rated)
Wish Me Luck: Series 3 (Not Rated)
Women Do It Better (Not Rated)
WWE: Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century (Not Rated)
Yoruba Andado: Rumba En La Habana (Not Rated)
Young Artists Collection (Not Rated)
Young Musicians (Not Rated)
Zokkomon (PG)
Blu-ray:
Angel Beats Complete Collection 1
Animal House
The Blues Brothers
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Dante's Peak
Devil Dog: The Hound Of Hell
Donnie Darko
Dylan Dog: Dead of Night
High And Low
Ironclad
Justice League of America: Season 2
The King of Fighters
Leon Morin, Priest
Life During Wartime
Mao's Last Dancer
Matrimony
Monamour
Red Planet
S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale
Soldier
Soul Eater: Parts 3 & 4
Source Code
Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series
Strike Witches: Season 1
Supernatural: The Anime Series
Trust
Twelve Kingdoms: Shadow Of The Moon - The Sea...
Winter in Wartime
WWE: Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century
Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 2