Tag: LAND OF THE LOST

Laserblast Blu-ray & DVD: Sky Crawlers, Land of the Lost, etc

Posted on by Steve Biodrowski

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Science fiction, fantasy, and horror titles run hot and cold when it comes to home video releases each Tuesday, and this week is definitely cold – at least in terms of numbers. However, as the old cliche goes, if Donald Trump walks into a bar the average net work of everyone in the bar goes up several million dollars. The  Donald Trump of DVD and Blu-ray releases this week is THE SKY CRAWLERS, the latest anime extravaganza from Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL). That title alone is enough to make us breathless with anticipation for a trip to the video story: After a frestival screening of the film late last year, our own Dan Person wrote that SKY CRAWLERS is Oshii’s “best work since the original GHOST IN THE SHELL, and proof positive of anime’s unique ability to excite and enlighten.”
THE SKY CRAWLERS flies into stores on DVD and Blu-ray, both of which feature the original Japanese dialogue with optional subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. The widescreen aspect ratio is 1.77. Extras consist of three documentaries, presented in high-def: one about location scouting used to help manufacture the physical environment ultimately achieved in animation; one about the sound design; and one featuring an interview with Mamoru Oshii. Additionally, the Blu-ray disc includes a BD Live feature.
The rest of the week’s sci-fi, fantasy, and horror home video releases consist of a handful of oldies and a few direct-to-video titles…
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Cashing in on next week’s release of the big-budget theatrical version of LAND OF THE LOST, starring Will Ferrell, Hollywood pumps out the original TV show on DVD in LAND OF THE LOST: THE COMPLETE SERIES and LAND OF THE LOST: COMPLETE SERIES (LIMITED EDITION GIFT SET). The later packs the discs inside a recreation of the old “Land of the Lost” lunch box that no friend of mine was ever un-cool enough to own.
Other oldies are back on the shelves thanks to Blu-ray upgrades: CHILDREN OF MEN and FIELD OF DREAMS.
If you’re desperate to see something new, there are some DTV flicks out there, but only the documentary HARLAN ELLISON: DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH– a look at the iconoclastic speculative fiction author – promises much intellectual heft. THE DEVIL’S TOMB – an action-adventure horror film starring Cuba Gooding Jr. – makes us wonder why Hollywood can’t find a decent role for the Oscar-winning actor to play in a big-budget theatrical film. THE LOST TREASURE OF THE GRAND CANYON answers the question “Whatver happened to Shannen Doherty?” And MEGASHARK VERSUS GIANT OCTOPUS sounds just ridiculous enough to entice our interest. (We just pray to God that the eventual face off was achieved with bad CGI rather than by putting two real animals together in a tank.)

Check out this week’s DVD and Blu-ray releases below, or find more in the Cinefantastique Online store.

Laserblast Blu-ray and DVD: My Bloody Valentine, T-2, True Blood

Posted on by Steve Biodrowski

There seem to be an exceptionally large number of DVD releases in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror this week, but that is mostly because several old discs are being reissued as part of a promotion for the upcoming theatrical release of LAND OF THE LOST. If you’re a horror fan looking for something new, your best bet is MY BLOODY VALENTINE, which arrives in four different versions: Blu-ray, 3-D DVD, 2-D DVD, and a 3-D/2-D combo DVD. We personally were not expecting much of anything from the film when it was released earlier this year, but it turned out to be better than expected; in fact, it far outclassed the year’s more high-profile slasher remake, FRIDAY THE 13TH by a wide margin. The 3-D presentation of the theatrical feature has been preserved – something previously beyond the reach of home video, at least with any satisfactory results, and we can’t wait to see how this turned out. As for bonus features, the DVDs offer audio commentary by director Patrick Lussier and writer Todd Farmer, two featurettes, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a gag reel, a digital copy, and four pairs of 3-D glasses (only with the disc in 3-D, of course). The Blu-ray disc includes all of these plus Lionsgate Live and McLog Motion Blog.

OLDIES AND REISSUES

With TERMINATOR SALVATION on the way, it was inevitable that Hollywood would reach into the vaults and come up with some new home video releases. This week, we get TERMINATOR 2 JUDGMENT DAYin three iterations: an “Extreme DVD” version, a “Skynet Edition” on Blu-ray, and a six-disc limited edition Complete Collector’s Set with Endoskull. We will be posting a review of the Blu-ray disc in the near future.
NIGHTMARE CASTLEis a black-and-white Italian horror film from the 1960s, starring Queen of Horror Barbara Steele. It is not one of Steele’s better outings, but it gives her a better chance to act, thanks to a double role that has her playing two sisters, one good and one evil (as an extra added bonus, the evil one is dead!). This is also one of her few Italian roles that has her dubbing her own voice (for only one sister, unfortunately). Steele fans will be interested, as will fans of composer Ennio Morricone, who provided the score. This new DVD promises a restored transfer from the original negative (older discs, under the title of “The Faceless Monster,” were duped from censored TV prints). There are also two bonus featurettes: one for Steele and one for director Mario Caiano.
Also making a reapparance on DVD is DEF BY TEMPTATION, an above average Troma offering that avoids the usual camp in favor of a serious approach to a tale of a demon tempting a young divinity student. The reason for this exhumation seems to be that the film features an early appearance by Samuel Jackson, whose name is now prominently displayed on the box art above the title.
There are at least eight old science fiction, fantasy, and horror titles being reissued with “Land of the Lost Movie Cash” (which allows you to purchase tickets for LAND OF THE LOST, which opens in June. If you don’t already own the LEGEND Ultimate Edition DVD, the JAWS 30th Anniversary DVD, the TREMORS Collector’s Edition DVD, the Brendan Fraser MUMMY Collectors DVD, or the director’s cut of BROTHER HOOD OF THE WOLF, now is your chance to pick them up and get a little something extra.
Other oldies making a comeback include A BUG’S LIFEon Blu-ray and a director’s cut of THE LAST HORROR FILM(reteaming MANIAC’s Joe Spinnella and Caroline Munro) on DVD – although why anyone would want such a thing is a mystery to me.

THE REST

The complete first season of HBO’s popular vampire series, TRUE BLOOD arrives on DVD and Blu-ray. Other television titles this week include HEROES: SEASON 1 and 2 and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON 2.0 AND 2.5.
A few direct-to-video titles hits shelves:

  • OUTLANDERis a science fiction tale about a futuristic soldier who lands on Earth during the time of Vikings and fire-breathing monsters. Jim Caviezel stars; HELLBOY co-stars Ron Perlman, and John Hurt reunite in supporting roles.
  • The names Isabella Rosselini and Judd Nelson are prominently displayed on the cover art for something called INFECTED, which makes you wonder what happened to their careers.
  • Daryl Hannah’s name is securely placed above the title of THE DEVIL’S GROUND, which really makes you wonder why her career did not rebound after KILL BILL.
  • BANEis a low-budget horror film from England. It earned a small distinction last year when it one the Best Horror Film Award at the Shriekfest horror film festival in Hollywood. We hope to post a review soon.

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Land of the Lost opens June 5

Posted on by Steve Biodrowski

Universal Pictures releases this big-budget comedy-adventure about some characters (including Will Ferrell) who get sucked into a space-time vortex and end up in the titular lost world. Who would have thought that the little 1970s Saturday morning kiddie TV show would eventually spawn a theatrical feature released during the summer blockbuster season. The original had some cult appeal because of its use of stop-motion dinosaurs (kept to a minimum for budgetary reasons), but some fans were intrigued by the premise – enough apparently to see the franchise revived as a more lavish television series in the ’90s and now as a feature film.
From the press kit:

Will Ferrell stars as has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, sucked into one and spat back through time. Way back. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world—a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.
Sucked alongside him for the adventure are crack-smart research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and a redneck survivalist (Danny McBride) named Will. Chased by T. rex and stalked by painfully slow reptiles known as Sleestaks, Marshall, Will and Holly must rely on their only ally—a primate called Chaka (Jorma Taccone)—to navigate out of the hybrid dimension. Escape from this routine expedition gone awry and they’re heroes. Get stuck, and they’ll be permanent refugees in the Land of the Lost.
Based on the classic television series created by Sid & Marty Krofft, Land of the Lost is directed by Brad Silberling and produced by Jimmy Miller and Sid & Marty Krofft.

  • Cast: Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone
  • Directed by: Brad Silberling
  • Screenplay by: Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
  • Based on the of the Lost by: Sid & Marty Krofft
  • Producers: Jimmy Miller, Sid & Marty Krofft
  • Executive Producers: Julie Wixson-Darmody, Daniel Lupi, Adam McKay, Brad Silberling

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