PICK UPS #3

JB,  Amazon, Big W, I've been stocking up on a lot lately!

Here is a few of the things I picked up:

1981 (Dir. David Cronenberg)

$21.95 JB Hi Fi

'Did you ever see that scene from scanners where that dudes head explodes?'

I have, but I've never seen the rest of the film until now. The acting is pretty terrible, especially when the scanners are doing the scanning. However it is still a pretty fun watch and Michael Ironside is always reliable. 

2012 (Dir. Rob Sitch)

2 for $30 JB Hi Fi

I've always been a fan of Working Dog, ever since The Late Show and think that they always put out quality products. Any Questions for Ben is no exception, while it may not be as funny as some of their previous films this film is a really charming little story about a guy who has everything but nothing at the same time. Josh Lawson, who is currently making a name for himself in LA really steals the show here, definitely worth a watch. 

1982 (Dir. Steven Speilberg)

$27.95 JB Hi Fi

I was never the biggest fan of this film, it came out the year I was born and while I did watch it as a kid it never affected me like other films did. I've never owned a version of this and when I saw it for a reasonable price I thought I should probably have it just for the sake of it.

Mean Streets 1973 (Dir. Martin Scorsese)

$7.99 Amazon US

After Goodfellas this is my favourite Scorsese film! Harvey Keitel owns this films from start to finish and De Niro is all sorts of crazy as Johnny Boy.

I can't describe how great this film is, it feels real almost documentary like. If you haven't seen it, WATCH IT NOW!

2011 (Dir. Duncan Jones)

$6.99 Amazon US

Duncan (David Bowies son) Jones comes back after the amazing Moon with his second directorial effort. I saw this at the cinema and remember enjoying it so thought I would pick this up. It's basically a sci fi version of Groundhog Day (not really).

1972 / 1974 / 1990 (Dir. Francis Ford Coppola)

$17.95 Amazon US

$17.95 for The Godfather trilogy on blu ray, sold!

1994 (Dir. Tim Burton)

I think this was Tim Burtons last great film, it suits his style perfectly and it's probably my favourite Depp / Burton collaboration. Telling the story of Ed Wood Jr, the worst film director all all time, this film really captures the feel of that time and the cast is top notch. 

2012 (Dir. Rian Johnson)

I really like this film, sure Levitt may look nothing like Bruce Willis in his prosthetic get up but who cares! Rian Johnson has created a fully fleshed out, believable future that I just want to see more of. 

PICK UPS #2

Woke up Sunday morning with an urge to visit Camberwell market, hadn't been there for years and thought I may be able to find a DVD bargain or two.

First impressions, so much junk! I really don't understand some of the things people attempt to sell at this market, surely it is more profitable to sleep in and save the stall fees. Some of the highlights were:

• P & O Fair Star Bottle Opener (Used to the point of rusting) $4!
• An assortment of bootleg DVD's from Thailand for the bargain price of $5 each (pretty sure that is a 400% profit!)
• Bargain box of DVD's for $4 each, promising at first until I realised that the majority were burnt copies!

Aside from all those stunning bargains, I did manage to score one item I was pretty happy about:

I saw this box set sitting on the table of a guy that had a whole setup of DVD's, something about picking up the entire series at once appealed to me. I had overheard him quoting prices for other single DVD movies at $5-$10 so thought that this would probably be way overpriced as a lot of the items at the market are. I asked anyway, and was surprised to hear that he wanted $35 and was willing to take an offer. He did mention that this set had been here a while so he may have just wanted to get rid of it but all the better for me. I offered him $30, which for 8  seasons and 26 discs was pretty damn good and he accepted! There is a good chance that I will watch one or two episodes, maybe even the first series and then this will sit on the shelf, but it was too good a price to pass up.

Also, while in JB later that day I took advantage of the 2 for $20 Blu Ray sale they have on at the moment and picked up the following:

I actually thought that I had this one on DVD but found I was wrong, I now think I actually had it on VHS. It is a stupid film, with pretty awful acting (who doesn't love Nicholas Cage hamming it up!), but from memory some decent John Woo action. This is more of a good memory film for me, at the time of it's release I was just getting into John Woo after my uncle took me to see Broken Arrow. I had become obsessed with Hard Boiled and The Killer, and Chow Yun Fat as well, and this film came at the perfect time. It has lots of the great Woo style of action that is completely unrealistic and needless slow motion shots but that's what makes it great!

I very vaguely remember actually liking this film, honestly I don't mind Tom Cruise 'The Actor' as I think he makes you forget about his actual real life persona when in character. 

Bryan Singer is definitely not my favorite director but from memory this didn't feel like a Singer film. Hopefully when I get round to watching this one my memory proves correct! 

PICK UPS #1

This is where I will update some of my recent purchases, talk about why I got them and possibly review some of them.

First thing I picked up this week was the region 1 DVD release of John Carpenters 'The Fog' (1980). 

Found this one at a recent trip to Dixons in Camberwell for $7 which I thought was a pretty good price. Have never actually seen this one, but I am a big Carpenter fan so am keen to check it out. 

The disc comes with quite a few special features including a couple of documentaries and a commentary. 

Next up and also at Dixons I found the region 1 DVD release of David Lynch's controversial 'Dune' (1984). This is the steel book edition which includes both the theatrical and the extended 'Alan Smithee' version of the film.     

I haven't seen this film for a long time, I remember renting it when I first discovered David Lynch and had to absorb everything he had ever made and recall being quite let down by it. However being the completest that I am I couldn't resist picking this one up especially since it contains both versions of the film. (I was also seduced by the steel book if I am being completely honest!)

It was $17 dollars which was probably more than I would've liked to pay, seeing as I thought it was $7 but the price tag was smudged but when I was at the counter I had already decided to get it so I paid the extra $10. It has a few special features on it, nothing that looks that substantial but that is quite common for Lynch films. 

I also got this for $5 . . . . . . . . . 

No comment!

GET INTO THIS #0

First post, will make it brief as still learning the site and seeing what can be done. Just a few things I am into at the moment, therefore you should be into them too!

If you have never read Daredevil, shame on you, but now has never been a better time to jump on board! Brian Michael Bendis took over the book from Kevin Smith in 2002 and made it the best book out there, then Ed Brubaker came along and added to what Bendis had started and then came Andy Diggle . . . . . . ahem.

But now Daredevil is back in it's third Volume, lead by Mark Waid. Bendis and Brubaker really took the book to the darkest places it could possibly go, bringing their extensive knowledge of crime writing and turning Matt Murdocks' world upside down. Mark Waid has returned the book to the more light hearted storytelling, the continuity remains from Volume 2 with Murdocks identity still in question though the stories are fun and light. While I will always recommend Daredevil Volume 2 as one of the greatest comic runs in history, this new volume is a great place to start!

The hilarious Portlandia is back for it's second season and two episodes in it has really hit its' stride. Starring Fred Armisen (SNL) & Carrie Brownstein (Sleater Kinney), this sketch show tells the stories of various residents of Portland. Easily one of the funniest shows out there at them moment. 

The 11th albumn from Ryan Adams has been out a while, but I have only just started listening to it. Following on from 2010's III/IV, Ashes & Fire sees Adams return to his solo past after his on again off again relationship backing band, The Cardinals. So far I have found this to be a very subdued Adams, which isn't a bad thing at all. He seems to be concentrating more on the lyrics and not so much the music this time around. While I don't see it being one of my favorites, it is not a bad effort!

BIG DUMB FUN!

You know those action movies, the ones that have little to no story, terrible acting, ridiculous situations but great fun action. Well Saints Row The Third is the video game equivalent of on of those movies. 

From the moment it starts, you can tell that this game is going to be fun. The missions, of which there are many, are action packed and ridiculous. The story is funny and doesn't keep you watching cut scenes too long in between missions. There are so many side missions and activities to keep you occupied for hours. So if you feel the need to guard a fancy dress store from hoards of costumed maniacs, or sky dive out of a plane while shooting gang members that have dived after you. This is the game for you.

Well that's it for now, til next time!