Movie Madness

This week in physical media with Peter Sobczynski begins with a little argument over the new 4K release of another John Hughes film. There is no disagreement that the new work from Nicole Holofcener is worth grabbing. Horror fans get works from Lucio Fulci, Jean Rollin and Michael Crichton. Ralph Bakshi finally gets a Blu-ray release for his animated musical ode and you can also see Louis Malle’s controversial film with Brooke Shields and where that George C. Scott meme comes from courtesy of Paul Schrader. 0:00 - Intro 0:59 - Arrow Films (Weird Science (4K)) 15:25 - Cauldron Films (City of the Living Dead (4K)) 23:55 - Indicator (The Night of the Hunted, The Rape of the Vampire) 34:34 - Sony (American Pop) 43:33 - Universal (Elizabeth (4K), Promising Young Woman (4K)) Shout! Factory (Hackers (4K), Coma) 53:27 - Lions Gate (The Blackening (4K), You Hurt My Feelings) 59:45 - Kino (Brightwood, Two Tickets to Greece, Three Into Two Won't Go, Pretty Baby, Hardcore) 1:21:32 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:24:32 -

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy dig into eight new movies this week. They include revisiting a film from Sundance that they still believe to be the best horror film of the year (Birth/Rebirth). An Irish paramilitary seeks revenge for his wife (Dead Shot), an old Chinese tale gets the animated treatment from Netflix (The Monkey King) and Michael Cera stars in a dysfunctional family drama that the film’s publicist apparently did not want us to see. One of the stars of Glow gets to go all Shining at the hotel she inherits (Bad Things) and the director of Thoroughbreds and Bad Education tries out a capitalist satire with aliens (Landscape With Invisible Hand). Finally, DC comics tries again (Blue Beetle) and talking dogs with the voices of Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx pee, poop and hump their way into laughs (Strays).   0:00 - Intro 3:52 - Birth/Rebirth 17:36 - Dead Shot 25:06 - The Adults 35:36 – The Monkey King 41:26 - Bad Things 52:17 - Landscape With Invisible Hand 1:03:01 - Blue Beetle 1:18:14 – S

Peter Sobczynski brings us up to date in the world of physical media. They include an early film from Wayne Wang, the latest from Wes Anderson and an anniversary edition of a documentary on David Bowie. There’s a collection of Audie Murphy films and others about World War II not to mention fights against woodland terrorists and staged by the Shaw Brothers. Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn get the 4K treatment in one of the great classic romances. But do not count out the recommendations of a spooky British Halloween special and a crazy vehicle for William Shatner back in the ‘70s.   0:00 - Intro 0:42 - Criterion (Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart) 4:30 - Rhino (Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) 8:18 - Grindhouse (Impulse) 15:12 - 101 Films (Ghost Watch) 20:11 - RLJE Films (The Wrath of Becky) 23:25 - Kino (Audie Murphy Collection III, The Day and the Hour, Is Paris Burning?, Last and First Men, The Doll (and I Don't Want to Be a Man)) 39:56 - Universal (Asteroid City) 46:05 - Paramount (Roman H

After a week off, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return with seven new reviews including a documentary about the adaptations of the premier horror novelist (King on Screen) and a murder mystery set in the world of hairstyling (Medusa Deluxe). Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Elijofor try to have a baby without actually having one (The Pod Generation) and the President’s son hooks up with the Prince of Britain (Red, White and Royal Blue). Gal Gadot tries to carry a film about A.I. basically made by A.I. (Heart of Stone) and Ben Kingsley has a flying saucer crash land in his backyard (Jules). Finally, Erik goes solo on telling you if the latest Dracula fan fiction is worth your time (The Last Voyage of the Demeter). 0:00 - Intro 5:16 - King on Screen 20:50 - Medusa Deluxe 27:55 - Heart of Stone 43:25 - Red, White and Royal Blue 54:25 - Jules 1:07:46 – The Pod Generation 1:15:07 – The Last Voyage of the Demeter 1:29:16 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribe

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski take a quick peek into what is available to own on physical media this week. Criterion upgrades one of the late films from a master and Arbelos delivers and Peter looks at one of the first “Sundance caution tales” from the end of the ‘80s. Ida Lupino directs a ‘50s film about sexual assault and Virginie Efira becomes attached to her partner’s child. Then a pair of cult classics get the 4K treatment including Wes Craven’s comic monster movie and the quintessential Bruce Lee film.   1:56 - Criterion (Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (4K)) 9:39 - Lions Gate (Ender’s Game (4K Steelbook)) 14:24 - Universal (Fast X (4K)) 23:14 - Kino (Outrage, Scarlet (2022), Strangers in the House) 35:36 - Arbelos (Chameleon Street) 42:10 - Music Box (Other People's Children) 45:02 - MVD (Swamp Thing (4K)) 51:24 - Warner Bros. (Enter the Dragon (4K)) 1:01:01 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:04:29 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac

This week in physical media brings some classics to the 4K universe along with other must-owns for your collection. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to go over new collections spotlighting Walter Hill, Sidney J. Furie and Gene Hackman. One of Disney’s greatest animated titles gets the 4K upgrade as does classics with James Dean and John Wayne. A little seen coming-of-age film with a lot of up-and-comers gets a director’s cut as does a cult film from Clive Barker. Finally, one of the great modern horror films gets its first-ever Blu-ray overhaul; a rightfully deserved one and the duo can’t wait to tell you all about it. 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - Second Sight (May) 10:04 - Imprint (Film Focus: Gene Hackman, Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Directed by Walter Hill (1975-2006)) 47:41 - Universal (2 Guns (4K)) 50:05 - Lions Gate (About My Father) 55:08 - Oscilloscope (Going All The Way: The Director’s Edit) 1:02:35 - Synapse (Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist) 1:08:03 - Shout! Factory (Nightbreed (4

This week’s reviews with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy feature nine reviews for your viewing consideration. Kiersey Clemons is an amateur sleuth trying to solve a kidnapping (Susie Searches) while Ellie Kemper goes on a hike for some reason (Happiness for Beginners). Two films that played the Chicago Critics Film Festival open including the latest from Christian Petzold (Afire) and the comic (and now tragic) story of transgender sex workers (Kokomo City). Nicolas Cage takes Joel Kinneman for a collateral ride (Sympathy for the Devil) and Ron Perlman is trying to avenge his son by making the mob lose their house (The Baker). A great cast tries to add to this year’s product launch cinema (The Beanie Bubble). Hopefully you ain’t afraid of no ghost because they look back at an acclaimed horror film from Sundance (Talk To Me) and Disney takes another shot at bringing their classic ride to the big screen (Haunted Mansion)   0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Talk To Me 11:30 - Susie Searches 19:55 - Sympathy for the Devi

This week in physical media, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski look at some classic genre fare, classics of the cult variety and some films still overlooked. They include films from Douglas Fairbanks, John Wayne and Howard Hughes. Harrison Ford’s screen debut can be found as can one of the better Mike Myers comedies and one of the films chosen for this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival. For the cult crowd there is a foursome of Chucky films, two versions of a Stephen King adaptation and a cable staple from the late ‘80s. An early MST3K favorite gets a Blu-ray upgrade and even earlier music videos get themselves a collection. The discussion is bookended with a pair of must-own titles though including a sci-fi classic from the 1950s and the film which launched the great Bill Paxton into the next phase of his great career. 0:38 - Criterion (One False Move (4K)) 8:27 - Cohen Media (Robin Hood (1922) / The Black Pirate (1926)) 12:36 - Arrow Films (Blood Money: Four Classic Westerns) 17:45 - Lions Gate (M

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy share in a weekend of greatness, even if some movies are not as great. They review seven this week including a look back at a deep dive doc from Sundance (The Deepest Breath) and another from the fest involving an expectant mother and her post-birth choices (Earth Mama). Neil LaBute puts Maggie Q up against some psychos (Fear the Night) while Lizzy Caplan’s son hears noises in the walls (Cobweb) and John Boyega comes to learn some disturbing things about his neighborhood (They Cloned Tyrone). But the weekend belongs to Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan whose films have been two of the most hyped releases of the year and they delivered a weekend for the ages. For all ages and everyone else. 0:00 - Intro 1:40 – The Deepest Breath 19:35 - Earth Mama 28:21 - Fear the Night 40:22 - Cobweb 50:30 - They Cloned Tyrone 1:04:20 - Oppenheimer 1:25:21 - Barbie 1:47:19 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bon

Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress on this week’s physical media roundup. They include 4K releases from Godard, Scorsese and Boetticher. Are any of the stories from Four Rooms worth revisiting? Peter unveils an appreciation for one of the great endings in film while Erik discusses HBO’s acclaimed video game adaptation. You also get Gena Rowlands in an Oscar-nominated performance, Roy Scheider fighting off sleazy blackmailers, a bizarre pre-Lethal Weapon partnering and one of the great William Friedkin movies getting the upgrade it deserves. 0:00 - Intro 1:08 - Criterion (Breathless (4K), The Ranown Westerns: Five Films Directed by Budd Boetticher (4K)) 8:34 - Arrow Films (Hugo (4K)) 13:33 - Imprint (Four Rooms, Wolf Creek (Ultimate Edition)) 30:56 - Sony (Love Again) 33:23 - Universal (Kandahar, Les Miserables (2012) (4K)) 40:52 - Warner Archive (Land of the Pharoahs) 48:39 - Warner Bros. (The Last of Us: The Complete First Season) 53:08 - Kino (52 Pick-Up, End of the World, Gloria (1980), Nevada

There’s one big movie hitting theaters this week but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have eight other titles to talk about. They include a look back at their biggest disagreement of the year from Sundance (Theater Camp) while Steve checks out a great cast goes looking for healing elsewhere (The Miracle Club). Then they look at a trio of documentaries from the treatment of the American Indian (Lakota Nation vs. United States) to black players and baseball (The League) and Alex Winter’s examination of the first of two deadly algorithms this week (The YouTube Effect). Next it is on to fictional horror from an estranged couple stuck together (Quicksand) to the blind leading the blind without Sandra Bullock (Bird Box Barcelona) and a low-budget film crew plagued by zombies (Final Cut). Of course they would not let you go without discussing the latest in a franchise that has somehow managed to exceed expectations over and over. Does the latest live up to the name? (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have a jam-packed week for you in physical media. It includes the long-awaited upgrade for an often overlooked Martin Scorsese classic. Emily Blunt debuts in a lovely coming-of-age film while two Oscar winners and a should-have-won-all-the-Emmys actor make their debut in an early ‘80s slasher film. There is some hatred for the latest Scream and some for a John Hughes character but some surprising love for an early ‘90s Rambo knockoff. There is also one of the essential film noirs with John Garfield, a little Ari Aster discourse and nothing but love for one of the best films of the year that you should absolutely add to your collection. 0:00 - Intro 1:06 - Criterion (The Watermelon Woman, After Hours (4K)) 16:11 - Imprint (The Bounty, Damage, Leap (Duo Guan), Malena, My Summer of Love, Not One Less) 40:20 - Synapse (McBain) 46:48 - Kino (Chile '76, Close to Vermeer, Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XV, Force of Evil, Human Desire, Only In Theaters) 1:04:05 - IFC (Co

Friendships are resplendent in this week’s new movies and two friends in Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are here to tell you which ones to see. Friends try to avoid wearing a parasitic mask (Bad Girl Boogey) while a woman tries to emancipate herself over two decades (Scarlet). A young writer is hired to tutor the son of his idol (The Lesson) while Patrick Wilson’s son is again tortured by an evil entity (Insidious: The Red Door). An ‘80s pop duo gets the documentary treatment (Wham!) while Adam Devine meets his criminal in-laws (The Out-Laws). Finally Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown are the last two men on Earth (Biosphere) and a foursome of women take a trip to China in search of identity and pleasure (Joy Ride). 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - Bad Girl Boogey 8:51 - Wham! 22:06 - Scarlet 27:37 - The Lesson  37:51 - Biosphere 51:59 - The Out-Laws 1:03:11 - Insidious: The Red Door 1:13:08 - Joy Ride 1:28:14 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get a

More and more titles are pulled off social media which means its time to bulk up on physical media more and more. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to get you caught up. There are disturbing works from Gaspar Noe and Claire Denis along with other horror films ranging from the Deadites to a white shark and buffalo to Stephen King stories and a really bad motel. You can certainly lighten up the mood with a wonderful comic action caper film from Sundance involving sisters, hang out at the mall or take a vacay with the Griswolds. Or you can just stay in one place like Truman and enjoy a box office punchline better than its reputation or re-live your days checking out Empire Films in the video store. 1:04 - Altered Innocence (Irreversible) 6:52 - The Film Desk (Trouble Every Day) 9:18 - Severin (Extra Terrestrial Visitors) 12:33 - Kino (Duet for One, La Chevre, Les Comperes, Millennium Mambo, Prison Girls 3-D, The White Buffalo, Will Penny) 38:44 - Arrow Films (Fighting Back, Mallrats (4K), Waterworld (4K), E

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at seven new movies this week. They include a documentary on an artist from the 1980s (Make Me Famous) and Ike Barinholtz takes on political muckrucking in a faux documentary (Maximum Truth). The director of The Notebook takes to cults, revenge and extreme violence (God is a Bullet) while Shudder offers a film that can best be described as Straw Goblins (Unwelcome). Wes Anderson adds a little science-fiction into his pastels (Asteroid City). Jennifer Lawrence signs up to “date” the hell out of a college-bound kid (No Hard Feelings) and Steve gets to way in with his thoughts on the end of an era in adventure (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). 0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Make Me Famous  7:56 - Maximum Truth 17:50 - God is a Bullet 33:15 - Unwelcome 43:44 - Asteroid City 59:36 - No Hard Feelings 1:15:31 - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 1:32:54 – Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epis

Indiana Jones is going on his final adventure and both Erik Childress and Erik Laws are going as well. They give you their full thoughts on the fifth film but first revisit the entire franchise including the first time they saw Raiders, Indy-as-superhero, and weighing in on the discourse over Temple of Doom and Crystal Skull. Then it is on to discussing Indy’s new partner, de-aging and how the template may have shifted slightly from the Spielberg era with director James Mangold. While this is a film about growing older and regret, do the Eriks have any when it comes to the new one or the series in general? 0:00 - Intro 4:48 – Raiders of the Lost Ark 9:39 – Temple of Doom 26:14 – The Last Crusade 29:36 – Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 40:30 – The Dial of Destiny 51:59 – Phoebe Waller-Bridge 54:27 – “Young” Indiana Jones 56:49 – A Signature Action Sequence? 1:04:03 – Indy’s Relationship Status and Regret 1:12:23 – The Ending 1:25:00 – Random Thoughts 1:36:41 – Harrison Ford and John Williams 1:47:2

Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again for this week’s Blu-ray haul. They include the first film by Barry Jenkins along with titles from Peter Greenaway and Guy Maddin. The list is filled with films that may not be everyone’s cup of tea including some outdated racial casting, a little horror sensation from this year, a Cameron Crowe remake and in our case, Avatar. But that’s why you also get some Rin Tin Tin and two of the best films in the career of John Frankenheimer including a film that went into hiding for 25 years and one of the best action films of the past 25.   0:00 - Intro 1:04 - Criterion (Medicine for Melancholy, The Servant) 8:56 - Zeitgeist (A Zed & Two Noughts and The Falls: Two Films by Peter Greenaway) 13:02 - IFC (Skinamarink) 16:18 - Sony (Insidious (4K Steelbook)) 21:55 - Fox (Avatar: The Way of Water (4K)) 26:33 - Paramount (Vanilla Sky (4K)) 30:36 - Arrow Films (The Game Trilogy (1978-1979)) 33:17 - Kino (Mr. Wong Collection (1938-1940), Tales From the Gimli Hospital

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy take a light batch of movies into this weekend; a half-dozen titles of both high profile and varying quality. Disney Plus has a new documentary about the co-founder of Marvel (Stan Lee). Jon Hamm tries to solve a Fargo-like murder spree while wooing Tina Fey (Maggie Moore(s)). Chris Hemsworth is back to see if he can top the previous film’s “one-take” action extravaganza (Extraction 2). Tim Story tries to parody horror films (The Blackening) and Pixar gets its first movie into theaters since the pandemic (Elemental). Finally, Steve gets in his thoughts on the latest from DC Comics (The Flash). 0:00 - Intro 1:16- Stan Lee 12:02 - Maggie Moore(s) 21:08 - Extraction 2 38:18 – The Blackening 50:44 - Elemental 1:04:49 – The Flash 1:25:21 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

On this week’s Blu-ray episode, Peter Sobczynski talks with Erik Childress about some genuine classics, at least one new one, some forgotten relics and a genuine oddity. Criterion does Terry Gilliam right again with one of their childhood favorites in 4K. They revisit an Oscar-winning film from the ‘80s and whether it would be made the same way today. Kino has some really enjoyable stuff from Andrew Davis, Michael Crichton and a film that got buried during the disaster craze of the ’70s. Both Erich von Stroheim and William Hurt go Russian this week, more Shaw Brothers films arrive and Peter recounts the crazy tale of the Ormond family on their filmmaking journey from exploitation to Christian films. 0:00 - Intro 1:31 - Criterion (Time Bandits (4K)) 10:06 - Flicker Alley (Foolish Wives) 15:18 - Indicator (From Hollywood to Heaven: The Lost and Saved Films of the Ormond Family (1956-1984), Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales from the Alameda Films Vault, 1959-1963) 23:45 - MVD (Witchtrap, Rain Man (4K))

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have 11 film reviews for you this week including a whole bunch of documentaries. They include one about a male-order catalog (All Man: The International Male Story), one about album covers (Squaring the Circle) and a trio involving a bodybuilder who became a politician (Arnold), the career beyond Freddy Krueger (Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story) and a director’s obsession with a film from 1939 (Lynch/Oz). There are also films about an artist’s assistant (Daliland) and the creation of a spicy snack (Flamin’ Hot). There’s a new take on the Frankenstein story (The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster), a post-WWII séance (Brooklyn 45) and a whole other kind of horror, one of personal choice in Margaret Thatcher Land. Finally can the Autobots and Decepticons build on the good will of Bumblebee (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts). 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - All Man: The International Male Story 7:55 – The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster 14:47 - Squaring the Cir