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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Horror - Film & TV on DVD

My Name is Bruce – Be Warned

July 22nd 2008 00:02

Bruce Campbell gets out the BOOM-STICK!.

My Name is Bruce Poster

“Unlike most action stars I can speak…what’s the word? English!” – Bruce Campbell

Everyone’s favourite lantern jawed cult hero Bruce Campbell is famous for his part as Ash in the Evil Dead trilogy and for cameos in a multitude of other Sam Raimi’s films since. His legacy extends to summoning the spirit of the king, brilliant as retirement village Elvis in Bubba Ho-Tep and numerous other horror curios like Maniac Cop.

Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell on Evil Dead

Now the big man himself stars in and Directs the horror comedy My Name is Bruce. The cock sure B grade legend plays himself. Buying into his own image when a small town in Oregon is invaded by “the chinese god of war, protector of the dead” he thinks he is the only man capable of smighting the beast, he is wrong!
“You need someone who can take on a heinous monster and stop it in its tracks…That would be me.” – Bruce Campbell

A comic book hero

Written by Mark Verheiden who worked on the Battlestar Galactica reimagining and co starring buddy Ted Raimi (Army of Darkness), My Name is Bruce is due for release in October in the US and on DVD in January 2009.

Bruce in make up for My Name Is.

The new trailer (below) for the film had JD trying to conjure a “she-bitch”, “just to give it some sugar”. So crack out the “boom stick” and get ready to chug some bourbon, molest some women and whip some evil oriental butt.

Monster hunting in the woods

On a side note if you are even remotely a fan of Bruce, check out his autobiography titled If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Grade Movie Actor, it’s a frank and hilarious behind the scenes struggle of sub-existence within the film industry.

Dani Kelly co-stars in My Name is Bruce

Images courtesy of evildeadnews.com

My Name is Bruce Trailer

Bruce Campbell, Roger Corman, Rob Zombie and Faizon Love with Jon Favreau for Dinner for 5 – Part 1.

Bruce Campbell interviewed by Craig Ferguson

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Film News and Views, Comedy, Horror

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The Mist (2007) - Trailer Included

April 22nd 2008 23:57

The Unseen Villiany Within

The Mist is due to be released on DVD in Australia on the 19th of June

Writer/Director: Frank Darabont
Based on the Novella by: Stephen King
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, William Sadler, Sam Witwer, Toby Jones, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, David Jensen

“As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up ways to kill one another. Why do you think we invented politics and religion?” - Ollie

Stephen King is one of the most prolific writers of any era. He has penned in excess of 50 novels that have in turn been translated into more than 75 movies, TV Shows and mini series. Not counting his excursions into drama (Eg: Hearts in Atlantis, Stand By Me) most of his Horror/Thrillers have been mediocre at best. There have been three cinema adaptations that are masterpieces, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, David Cronenberg’s The Dead Zone and Brian De Palma’s Carrie. Several mediocre efforts that hold some merit like John Carpenter's Christine, Rob Reiner’s Misery and Bryan Singer’s Apt Pupil. For the most part sadly the majority of celluloid excursions have wasted opportunities and ended up sub par or worse as downright trash.

Hitting cinemas last year, The Mist is a supernatural horror film that can proudly become the fourth exercise in terror to be confidently deemed a cinema gem. Based on a novella from The Skeleton Crew it’s taut, disturbing and painfully clever. This is a journey into nerve wracking trembles spearheaded by humanity’s destructive reaction to fear of the unknown.
“I can't accept that. People are basically good; decent. My god, David, we're a civilized society.” – Amanda

A lazy synopsises would be that it’s the Cube and Lord of the Flies cross bred or is that in bred with a traditional Twilight Zone monster movie. It’s not John Doe’s style to be lazy though, hence the 100 plus words before he even gets around to discussing the film in question. So here is a brief introduction to this tale that hopefully remains spoiler free.
“The end of times has come. Not in flames, but in mist.” – Mrs Carmody

David Drayton (Thomas Jane) is a movie poster artist, as the camera focuses on him working the nods to the stories original author and the tone of the film are immediately present. David is presently painting illustrating a film version of the Gun Slinger, part of King’s Dark Tower western trilogy. As a violent electrical storm rages lightning flashes revealing that on the walls are posters for John Carpenter’s The Thing and The Fog.
“Now listen people. We are experiencing some kind of disaster. I don't know whether it's man-made or natural, but I do know that it's definitely not supernatural. Or biblical. And no offense Mrs. Carmody, but the only way we're going to help ourselves is to seek rescue. We're going out.” - Brent

Abandoning his work as nature’s fury is unleashed, Drayton takes his family into the basement as a massive tree is uprooted and shatters the window where he was seated only moments earlier.

The next day all his calm, a heavy mist sits at the foothills of the surrounding lake. An olive branch is offered to Brent Norton (Andre Braugher), his obnoxious lawyer neighbour and so David, his young son Billy and Brent drive into town to get supplies to repair the damage to their respective houses.

En route police and army vehicles blast by towards a mysterious military science base known as Arrowhead located in the mountains just outside of the sleepy town in Maine. The subject of gossip and folk lore little is known about the experimental compound and unconcerned the trio continue onto the local hardware store.

Once inside more activity erupts as a frantic man bursts into the confines of the warehouse store with a bleeding nose. Startling the customers with claims of his companions swift and unseen fatal encounter within The Mist….suddenly an air raid siren blares and the threatening mist engulfs the shop….it begins.
“It appears we may have a problem of some magnitude.” – Bud Brown

I have a bad feeling about this

John Doe says:
So you don’t get the wrong impression, this film does have faults. It’s not perfect and the first half an hour misleads you into believing it’s just another “B” grade horror. It’s easy to settle into believing that you are in for a dose of enjoyable schlock entertainment.

The early FX shots are a little on the tongue in cheek side, but all that changes once its true purpose is revealed. The velocity increases and a claustrophobic study of the fundamentals of a clawing paranoia and desperation emerge. Comparisons to The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers are much more appropriate.

Misconceptions are abruptly removed when suddenly the tension snowballs, the terrifying special effects improve and importantly you become invested in the plight of these trapped characters. By the time the story hits its apex there are few equals to its superior visuals and heart exploding suspense. There is the imminent doom and cold menace of a great white shark rolling it eyes into the back of its head for an inevitable attack.

Now is probably a good time to mention how much JD despised Writer/Director Frank Darabont until this point in his career. He was a man who even managed to bleed any sense of menace or danger from prison (The Shawshank Redemption) and like Spielberg had a saccharine quality to his work that left me repulsed for all the wrong reasons.

In The Mist Darabont’s knowledge of cinema language and deft audience manipulation finally becomes apparent. There is a restrained expertise in the staging and pacing. Cleverly minimising the soundtrack, don’t expect to be warned in advance of impending destruction here. The minimal score is supported by unpolished cinematography that frames shots for maximum impact and urgent editing from the technical team behind The Shield. The result is a social commentary of realism that is inescapable, a tone that salutes the dense atmosphere of his inspirations.

Best of all the film follows through on its pitch dark promises with a finale of such melancholy devastation that Johnny refuse to discuss it with those who have not yet witnessed it for themselves.

The script tightens and the imaginative FX accelerates as each scene proceeds, it’s akin to bamboo shoots up the fingers nails. None of these peripherals would coagulate without the dedication of the cast who are committed to convincing us this is all really happening.

Thomas Jane (Thursday, The Velocity of Gary) backs up his charismatic performance in the under seen real life cop thriller Stander and scene stealing turn in Boogie Nights. You believe his on-screen intelligence and obsessive survival instincts.

Marcia Gay Harden (The Dead Girl) is truly repulsive as the religious zealot all to eager to believe in Gods blood thirsty desires. Inspiring such hatred in the pit of your stomach that it’s hard not to reach into the screen and throttle her. This is a fearless performance that embraces the pack mentality with a fervour that should be rewarded.

All the players including William Sadler, David Jensen and Andre Braugher excel in there parts.

Johnny D loves being surprised by films and when he saw the trailer for this, frankly it looked derivative and judged it to be a poor mans version of The Fog. How wrong he was. Under estimation can sometimes lead to excitement, it wasn’t until about half way through that he realised he had read the original novella, but this didn’t detract from the shocks that the film offered.

The DVD release will have both the original version and also Darabont’s intended cut that is black and white, which I can only imaging adds another level to the creepy feel. So next time your looking for a frightfest on a rainy night, switch all the lights out and prepare for some quality chills in The Mist.

If you would like find out some of the stories secrets, then visit Bryn’s brilliant review over on horrorphile.net

Spoiler Warning - The trailer for the Mist that hints at where the story goes.

Frank Darabont introduces his Black and White version that will be available on the DVD edition.

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror

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Gremlins (1984) - Trailer Included

December 26th 2007 03:27

Killer Muppets on the loose

Gremlins Special Edition DVD

Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Chris Columbus
Starring: Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, Zach Gilligan, Hoyt Axton, Keye Luke,

“You do with Mogwai what your society... has done with all of nature's gifts. You do not understand.” – Mr Wing

Originally conceived as a much darker adult satire, Gremlins has become a family Christmas favourite with an edge. Fitting into that Steven Spielberg produced genre of 80’s adventure films that includes The Goonies, Back to the Future, Young Sherlock Holmes and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Set in the prototypical Spielbergian town as an extension of nostalgic 50’s American values and innocence. The opening narration by struggling inventor slash father Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) takes us back to the journey’s humble beginnings.
“Rand Peltzer, Fantastic ideas for a Fantastic World, I make the illogical logical.” – Rand Peltzer

Searching for the perfect gift for his son Randall stumbles upon a mystical trinkets shop owned by Mr Wing (Keye Luke), a wise old Asian man. Amongst the racks and shelves of exotic treasures Mr Peltzer hears the song of a supernatural creature, the Mogwai.

Exactly what he’s been looking for, unfortunately “Mogwai is not for sale”. Thanks to a disobedient nephew and fate soon the forbidden fur ball is in the hands of Randall’s “golly gee” son Billy (Zach Gilligan).

Gizmo as he is named is a cute, furry and intelligent animal that seems like an ideal pet. “With Mogwi comes much responsibility” warns Mr Wing. There are 3 strict rules for care. 1. They hate bright light, keep them out of the sun. 2. Keep them away from water. 3. Never ever feed them after midnight.
“I warned you. With mogwai comes much responsibility. But you didn't listen.” – Mr Wing

It isn’t long before the dictums are accidentally violated and Looney Tunes mayhem is perpetrated on an unsuspecting snow covered middle American population.

Mogwai at play, Mogwai in a cage and Gremlin on a rampage

John Doe says:
Inspired by the WWII spanner in the works and leanings towards the 1943 work of Roald Dahl, the movie, Gremlins is a holiday horror stocking stuffer. Full of childish imagination, pop culture milestones and scenes of gooey, macabre critter slaughter, in short a film geek treat.

Under appreciated genre maestro Joe Dante (Small Soldiers, Piranha, Inner Space, The Howling) uses the FX wizardry of the day to effective ends. The traditional puppet work may occasionally show its hand but individual personalities still burst through.
The visual effects often sight gags work as homage and throughout there is references to past cinema greats. Also unashamedly the achievements of its producer, you will find Indy, ET, Close Encounters and Jaws salutes within.

Inventive dispatching of the reptilian rapscallions sometimes crossed the line on censorship of the day, (there were rumours of an R Rating) but today there diabolical

Regular Spielberg Scribe Chris Columbus (Young Sherlock Holmes) went on to Direct Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Here he delivers a script that has its share of charm but also charcoal humour and characters forged from classic material.

For instance, the dastardly dog hating Ruby Deagle (Polly Holiday) is a tribute to the Wicked Witch of the East.

Chinese acting legend Keye Luke (Voice of Zoltar in Battle of The Planets, Master Po in Kung Fu, Kato in the 1940’s Green Hornet) is remembered for so many parts and here as the sage Mr Wing he is ideal casting.

Zach Gilligan as the hapless Billy is sometimes frustrating with his doe eyed approach. The romance between him and the terminally gorgeous Phoebe Cates (Drop Dead Fred, Fast Times at Ridgemount High, Bright Lights, Big City) feels unlikely despite the obvious complementary personalities. Her monologue about why she hates Christmas is still melodramatic humour at its funniest.

The mangled career of Corey Feldman (Lost Boys, Goonies, Stand By Me, The Burbs) was still in its gestation period with this typical early role. Playing an over confident prepubescent who thinks he knows it all describes most of his worthwhile characterizations.

John Doe grew up watching this film each time St Nick’s visited and over the years it has continued to be a favourite in the house. Still amusing with its in jokes and sly edginess that some kids find genuinely frightening, I was one when I first saw it on the big screen.

As an adult the flaws are clearer but it still doesn’t diminish the accomplishment of its meagre goals less the suspenseful intention.

Side Note:
For those who are interested JD’s Christmas movies this year were Bad Santa, Nightmare before Christmas, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

You can read Bryn's Horrorphile review for Gremlins HERE

Watch the original Gremlins Trailer

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Fantasy/Adventure, Horror

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Planet of the Apes (1968)

November 9th 2007 00:01

Those damn baboon's could teach us a thing or two?

Planet of the Apes available - Sequels and TV show not recommended.

[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Science Fiction, Horror

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Peeping Tom (1960) - Trailer Included

October 29th 2007 00:00

The Voyeuristic Death of Artistic Compulsion

Peeping Tom available on DVD in Australia

Director:Michael Powell
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Crime, Thriller, Horror

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Quentin Tarantino’s DeathProof (2007) – Trailer Included

October 4th 2007 06:15

A high powered box office death machine?

John Doe’s trip to the U.S of A was filled with visits to cinematic landmarks and the odd historical monument but the greatest pleasure derived from the journey was access to DVD’s currently unavailable in Australia. Due for a bigscreen release in Oz on November 1st JD was lucky enough to grab the 2 disc unrated Special Edition of Mr Tarantino’s latest schlock celluloid salute.
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, In Cinemas, Coming Soon, Horror

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28 Weeks Later (2007) - Trailer Included

September 6th 2007 00:06

A Toxic Disneyland

DVD Cover

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Science Fiction, Horror

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13 Great Horror Movies for Friday the 13th

April 13th 2007 09:48

13 Great Horror Movies

Cinema Poster

John Doe usually has a horror movie marathon every year with a gal pal of his whenever Friday the 13th or Halloween clocks around, but she’s away on business. So in honour of her absence I thought it would be fun to list off 13 of our favourites that tend to be worshipped, maybe more than they should in this house.
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Horror

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Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

November 1st 2006 01:46

Bubba Ho-Tep

DVD Cover

Writer/Director: Don Coscarelli
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Horror

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Jacob's Ladder (1990)

October 30th 2006 03:39

JACOB'S LADDER

Hi readers,
It’s Devil’s night tomorrow, so I thought I’d recommend this horrific delight for those who indulge in the celebration of Halloween and like me have a scary movie marathon
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Horror

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