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#151 | September 19, 2006
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"Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinkin' palm tree overboard! Now what's all this crud about no movie tonight?" -- Mister Roberts
In this Dispatch:
- A tip about reviews
- A trifecta of films we're watching this week
- New releases
- For your reading pleasure
- Upcoming GC Screening
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Ye shall review DVDs after ye watch. Give your fellow GreenCiners your take: Should they watch it? What worked and what didn't? How are the extras on the disc (if there aren't any, tell us, "What a gyp! No bonus features!") Go back to the film's product page - say, for Ringu - and click on the "write a review" link. Type your review (short or long) there, or write it first in a text editor program (so there will be no funky characters added) and paste in the review box. Preview and submit! For more tips on writing movie reviews, go here.
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In addition to the aforementioned aussie Western, this week's new DVD titles offer up a few more past and future cult favorites:
The Spirit of the Beehive (Criterion) ($29.97). Back in 1999, Derek Malcolm wrote: "I once showed a dozen or so classic non-American films to students at the Royal College of Art. To my surprise, despite the fact that the list included the work of such world-renowned directors as Luis Bunuel, Satyajit Ray and Kenji Mizoguchi, the film they fell in love with was Victor Erice's The Spirit of the Beehive." "A wonderfully allusive and poetic account of childhood in Franco's Spain," (Peter Lennon, Guardian UK), and long considered one of the great lost masterpieces, this truly beautiful film is now no longer lost, thanks to Criterion.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005; $19.95). "A one-of-a-kind cinematic experience," (San Francisco Chronicle), Jeff Feuerzeig's doc is a stunning portrait of a musical and artistic genius who nearly slipped away. "An imaginative and at times heart breaking tribute." (Salon.com)
Jigoku (1960; $22.45). DVDTalk calls this cult classic, also new to DVD from Criterion, "a unique work of horrifying surrealist filmmaking... a hallucinogenic slice of morbid beauty and a distinctly Japanese attempt at addressing the afterlife."
Also out this week: Fabulous: The Story of Queer Cinema (2006; $16.45); Mister Roberts ($15.95) - back on DVD; Ellen Page is the main reason to see the uncomfy guilty pleasure Hard Candy (2006; $21.45); Marius and Jeanette (1997; $23.45) - "a biting sociopolitical commentary in the guise of a romantic comedy" (AV Club); My Name is Earl: Season 1 (4 discs, $42.95); Let's Get Frank ($20.45), a "feisty, funny, and smart" portrait (Christian Science Monitor) of the liberal Congressman; Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok, Vol. 7: End of Days ($21.45).
GreenCine's review blog: Guru | A complete list of this week's new releases and all titles coming soon is available here | Ye Olde New Releases Archive | Your Queue
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Details on the next GreenCine-sponsored screening at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts:
Wednesday, October 4, 7:30pm
Cabinetic & GreenCine present
The Fabulous Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Baron Prasil) by Karel Zeman (1961, 83 min., 16mm, in Czech with English subtitles)
$8/$6 GreenCine and YBCA Members, Students, Seniors
Baron Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen served in the Russian military and was involved in several battles, most notably against the Ottoman Empire, until he retired in 1750. On his return to his hometown of Bodenwerder, he told tales of visits to the Moon and flights across the battlefield atop a cannonball. While there have been many stories and illustrations about his legendary life, Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman mixed animation and live-action to create this exceptional little-seen film version of these fantastic tales. This film is not available on home video here and so this is your only chance to catch this most delightful film.
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