Buy the DVD!: Godzilla- The Animated Series' 'Lost Episodes'

 I don't know why I didn't talk about this before.  Let's amend that...

In 1998, a TV Show based on the Roland Emmerich Godzilla Film came out.  
It was actually good.  Not amazing or lifechanging, but good.

However, it had to compete with a boom period for Anime in America, especially on its own Network.

It had to fight for air time against Shows like Digimon, which would get double-episode blocks or Marathons.

As such, 2 Episodes were bumped from Airing.  At all.

As such, you need the DVD Set (which I got from Dollar General) to see them.

In Tourist Trap, a man is trying to make a buck filming the HEAT Team catch/battle Monsters.
He's voiced by the same Actor who played Earl (The Dad) on Dinosaurs and it is 100% that voice.

A deep-sea fish has wandered into our area and is eating up the place.

They have to stop the man from interfering, while also stopping the biggest of big mouth bass!

In The Ballard of Gens Du Marais, a strange creature is on the loose in New Orleans.

It can shoot oil and seems to be attacking places owned by a rich magnate.

A local man shows up and explains that he 'summoned it' with 'his hate.'

The magnate was polluting the land and he seems to be able to influence, just not fully control, the creature.

It, of course, ends in a big battle.

This one, however, does not go in Godzilla's favor.  Instead, the creature's attack exposes the bad guy and the local man gets it to leave.

Two 'lost' Episodes that thankfully live up to expectations.  I know that there's not a massive fanbase for this show in 2024.

Even so, it deserves some praise here.

I previously covered the one where they go to the Future (of 2022) and it was good.  Having watched more Episodes since, it keeps a good mix of Plots- even if they all involve a giant monster or two-, locations and Themes.

Yes, they all amount to 'They go to X to stop Creature Y,' but they managed to have Character Arcs, a good variety of ideas and the battles don't always go the same.

They also did a neat 3-Parter that I should rewatch and review where we get a neat riff on Mecha-Godzilla.  Remember that one, Future Me.

Even just these two manage to have a bad, boisterous Villain who isn't really all that similar.  Even the creatures- while sticking to water- aren't identical.

If you get it where I did, the whole Show is like $7.  That's a good deal for 40 Episodes and, to my knowledge, it isn't Streaming anywhere.

Amusingly, the one identical thing here is that one of the Crew has the same last name as our Hero- Nick Tatopoulous!

Honestly, this Show is a hidden gem, held down by its connection to a very, very divisive Film.  Check it out, folks!

Buy the DVD!: Willard (2003) and its Glorious Music Video

 I liked the 2003 Willard Remake for the most part.

Sadly, we won't get a Sequel Remake in the form of Ben (at least based on the Theatrical Cut's Ending)

However, the DVD itself gives us a bunch of Special Features (like the usual Trailers, Commentary, etc.).

Highlighted here is the Music Video they made for 'Ben' (which itself is covered by Crispin Glover).

He walks out on a Stage and sings to the Rat, which sits on a pillow.

The Audience is full of fancy people, as well as many silly looking ones too.

We also see the Cast playing different roles here...which is confusing.

Shockingly, this 'Captain Crunch' Cameo alongside R. Lee Ermey is not the weirdest one.

As the song goes on (mind you, it is only about 2:30), rats start to appear in the crowd, women undress down to fancy lingerie and they seem to really enjoy each other's company.

There's no GOOD time for someone to walk in on you watching this, but this is by far the worst time.

As the Song comes to a climax- pun fully intended- a bunch of rats swarm onto the stage with Willard.

This effect is less, well, realistic, no?

Oh and in the midst of all of the chaos, a Hitler Cameo.

I couldn't make this up if I tried.

The Song comes to an end and Willard floats up via obvious wire.

That's an intentionally fake-looking effect mind you- this time.

So what is weirder than Crispin Glover singing a Michael Jackson Song?  The video for it, of course.

It is Crispin Glover- is this a surprise?

Oh and if you're too lazy to/not interested in finding a 20 year old DVD to watch this, it is on YT...in 240p.

Just Buy the DVD!

Pilot Wings/Buy the DVD: L.A. Confidential (1999)

 A while ago, I found a cheap copy of a great Film on Blu-Ray.  You can probably guess which one it was.

One of the reasons that intrigued me about it- besides the Movie being great- is that it had the TV Pilot for the Show on it.

There was a TV Pilot?!?
How did I not hear about this?

Oh, nobody bought it...and it was only first available on the Blu-Ray in 2003.
That makes sense.

Let's see what we missed out on with...

So you remember the Film right?

If you were in charge of picking up the Pilot or not, you'd better- it was only 2 years earlier!

*I apologize in advance for no Screen Caps.  It's only on my Blu-Ray and I can't Screen Cap from it ATM*

A Cop- Kiefer Sutherland- is involved in a Drug Sting Operation and accidentally shoots an innocent man, making him end up doing any job he can to repay the family in secret.

Who shot him?  Well, that mystery isn't addressed in the Pilot, so...

This hour long- with the commercials included- Pilot sets up alot of Story for you to follow...

A strict Cop comes in and wants to clean things up.
A Tabloid sleaze is investigating everything around him.

Kiefer is back on the case of investigating Chinese Heroin coming into L.A.

A would-be Actress- Melissa George- shows up and gets involved with some people.

In a curious bit of ironic Casting (in hindsight), Kiefer gets info from a young Actress who's hooked on the new Heroin that he's trying to track down the source of.

That Actress- Anna Gunn.

So, in 1999, she's a lady hooked on drugs, while in 2008 she's a Wife trying (eventually) to stop her Husband from creating/dealing drugs.

We also get the Hero Cop story from the Film- to be fair, they are both adapting the Book- and it sadly doesn't get too far in this format.

He meets Melissa after his big moment and...no more story after that.

We also set up the Villain of the Show in the form of Eric Roberts in a tense meeting between him and Kiefer.

Of course, again, no pick-up for said Pilot, so enjoy this tease of something you'll never see.

A woman's body is found with the Heroin on her and 'To Be Continued.'
Awkward.

This, oddly enough, gets a bad rap from many people.  Some say that it is just a rehash of the Film.

I mean, again, they are both based on a Book.  So, you're either damned if you go too far from the Book or you're damned if you stick to the Book.  Dealer's Choice, I guess.

That said, I'm not going to entirely dismiss the point.  If you adapt a Film into a Show, people want something more than just the same thing in long form. 
The Handmaid's Tale- as depressing as it was- expanded alot more of the Story than in the 90-minute Film.  That's a good example.  That's especially true as I watched Season 1 of the Show before seeing the Film- the opposite of this.

I can see the complaints to some degree with Officer Exley, as he has to start the same way as in the Film.  With no more than the Pilot, of course, his whole Arc- and a Subplot involving Marilyn Monroe- can't go too far.  

That's kind of my only *real* complaint here- they don't do a single Episode Story.  I get setting up the long-term stuff- that's fine.

They just needed one Story to resolve here to give a little bit of closure and then just tease- to I guess the Studio Executives- with more to come.

Without that, you get an hour of good story and setup for...nothing.

At least they tried again 20 years later and... nope, not picked up again!

Like I said, it's a good Pilot that sadly has no closure in any regard.  I still recommend getting the Film- and this Pilot by default- on Blu-Ray, since, you know, both are quite good.

Buy the DVD!: Batman Forever

 With Bat-mania back again (even if it is low-key), I might as well look back at a 'classic.'

In 1995, Joel Schumacher took over for Tim Burton (when his Films got too dark to sell McDonalds Toys) and made his first Film in the Series.

The most-recent DVD release has an Audio Commentary Track that's specifically the Director talking about the Film.  Why not give it a listen and see what I learn?

* It was his idea apparently to redesign Gotham to give it 'character' and to show it during the day.
Were there any daytime Scenes of note in the Burton Films?

* He finally got to cast Jim Carrey in a Film, after having to turn him down for D.C. Cab back in 1983.  According to Schumacher, Carry was 'too big of a personality' to make into just one of the Supporting Cast.  Not wrong.

* In 2 early Scenes at Wayne Enterprises, you can see a pre-fame Jon Favreau playing an 'Executive.'
He has no lines and isn't ever highlighted.

* He cast Drew Barrymore (hot off of Doppelganger) due to their decade-long friendship.  As a kid, she allegedly told him that St. Elmo's Fire (future Review) was 'her favorite.'

* He says that he's been accused of 'objectifying his Male and Female Stars' to which his reply is '...And?'

* Between the Cape and Suit, the Batman ensemble weighed around 100 lbs., so he gives kudos to Val Kilmer (who does one fight Scene in it) and the Stuntmen for working in it.

* In an Alley Fight, the painted-up Leader of the Blacklight Gang is Don 'The Dragon' Wilson!  He'd also be in Cyber Tracker 2 the same year that this came out.  Win win?

* To his credit, Schumacher jokes about how things don't make sense sometimes (like how Riddler built his base so quickly) or how physics are wonky.  '...but it's a Batman Film' is his constant rejoinder.

* He's less defensive and apologetic than he apparently is on the Batman & Robin Commentary (which I'll likely cover soon).

* Like Frank Gorshin before him, Jim Carrey couldn't get a double for his stunts says the Director.  Hard to argue.

It's honestly a pretty fun and informative Commentary Track.  He really talks up everyone that worked on the Film, so it's not all about 'look what I did.'

At one point, he laughs at something Carrey does and quickly points out that he's 'not laughing at my own Film.'  He seemed like a nice, genuine guy.

I guess I can forgive him for helping 'kill' the Franchise.

Rare Flix: Rings (2005)

Well, if I'm going to do all of them, I'm going to do this!  This is Rings, the 2005 Short Film that either came on the re-release of The Ring or on The Ring Two's DVD.  

I have the latter, since, yet again, I have a Japanese Horror Remake's Sequel on an Unrated Release!

The idea here is to introduce some new Story Elements and bridge the two Films.  Was it worth it?  Let's see...

Some time after the last Film, the cursed tape was making its way on the 'underground market.'  A group called Rings- roll credits- would watch it and then pass the curse on to someone else in an extreme version of Chicken.

Fun Fact: the last VHS Releases were in 2005.  No, it wasn't way earlier- jerks!

The latest member is doing his Challenge and it's not going well.  

Why it is that Not Sadako has to randomly freak you out for the first 6 days is anyone's guess.

On Day 6, he 'chickens out' and goes to the guy who is supposed to take on the curse for him.

He's betrayed, however, since the group is bored with never seeing Day 7.

How can you not trust people who make you watch a cursed tape for laughs?!?

After trying to curse a bunch of people in an Electronics Shop fails (darn?), he starts calling anyone whose number he has.

As time runs out, he finally gets a bite and...the Short Film ends.  See The Ring Two, assholes!

A bridge too far?  This Short Film is good for what it is.  

It is definitely a micro-chasm of what to expect from this series.  It is a bit over-edited.  It has weird Film effects designed to disorient you.  It has Characters that you don't want good things to happen to.  

In just 16 minutes, I'm both impressed by the condensed story and worried about what I'm going to get with The Ring Two.  

Yea?  

Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is no exception.  While not his first Film, this is the *second* work by Jonathan Liebseman, the future Director of such 'classics' as Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, Wrath of the Titans and (Michael Bay's) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?!?  One of these things is not like the other!  

I suppose it is fitting to see those other two on his Resume given his work on a Sequel to an American Remake that didn't need to be.  And yes, I know that Beginning is a Prequel!  

For better or worse, Rings prepares you for what is probably going to come.  

It's just a shame that this already hard-to-remember Film had its Title co-opted by another Film in the Series!  

In addition, the DVD (for Ring Two, at least) doesn't exactly promote it very well...

A decent, condensed Story that hints at something more.  It still leans heavily into 'ooh, jump scares,' so that is a bit disappointing.

Buy the DVD!: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- Season 10

As it is clear that I have the DVD, I need to more to sell you on it.

Let me show you a BONUS reason why my $1.00 was well spent.

Check out the Special Features...

Interviews with the Artists- meh.

What else is there?

Two free Episodes- neat!

Why are they there?

Well, both Episodes are missing from the proper DVD Releases- Season 5 and Season 4, respectively- and this is basically an attempt to say 'My bad.'

What a silly, silly way to do it.  You wouldn't even know they were there if you didn't look!

Considering that half of the Episodes still have the CBS 'Action Zone' intro on them, they clearly didn't do much work here...so this is no surprise.

Heroes in a half-shell,
Barely Trying!

Buy the DVD?!?: Blood Mania (1970)

So do you remember the Nurse in Blood Mania?

She didn't do a whole lot...unless you watched the TV Version of the Film...

In the Theatrical Cut, she leaves before all of the bad stuff happens.  One sister kills the other and the former gets caught by the Blackmailer.

Why he's there is anyone's guess.

In the TV Cut, they obviously couldn't show all of the blood and nudity.  They came up with an *odd* solution.

In that version, she was actually in cahoots with the Blackmailer!  She seemingly-left, but actually saw what went down.

She tells the guy about it, he finds the body and there's your Ending.

So here are the two options...
1) Watch Blood Mania with a big, bloody conclusion, but a Plot Hole
2) Watch Blood Mania with NO BLOOD, but no Plot Hole.

Incidentally, the TV Cut wasn't available for me to see as a Digital Copy, but it is on many of the more recent DVD/Blu-Ray Releases.

To buy or not to buy- that is the question.

Buy the DVD!: Suspiria

No Segment is dead!  Sometimes they are just sleeping...for a real long time.

As if you need a reason to own Suspiria (unless you're an Irish know-nothing), here's one.  Look under Languages-Audio Setup...

What is a THX Optimizer?  

Why do I have like 200 DVDs and only one with this?

One part runs a Test Sound through your Speakers to make sure that they are working.  

Nice.

The other part helps you adjust your Color, Sharpness and Filter Settings.  

Sure is helpful.

To be fair, I don't need this to help all that much, but it sure is nice.

It is like Sprinkles on your Ice Cream Cone.  

You don't need them, but...why not take them too?

Buy the DVD?: The Blob (1958)

Do you need more than a 55-year old Cult Classic to sell you?

Do you want something that literally nobody has ever demanded?  Well, my crazy friend, you want the Criterion Collection release of The Blob (1958).  Check out this list of Options...

The Trailer is nice (even if any normal DVD from the last 15 years has it) and the showcase of Blob Stills is alright.  I want to focus on the real Feature: Color Bars.

What is that, you ask?  Well, just take a look for yourself...

Yeah, that's...something.

Am I missing something?  Some sort of joke or explanation?

Feel free to still buy the DVD/Blu-Ray.  It is a good movie...in spite of this randomness.

Buy The DVD!: Bio-Cop

You would think that I couldn't review an 8-minute fake Trailer.  You would be wrong.  In this case, it is Bio-Cop, the Trailer attached to the end of Manborg.  Hopefully more comes of this- a la Machete and Hobo With A Shotgun- in the future.  Time will tell!  In the meantime, let's discuss this awesome bit of fake-to-possibly-be-real-later entertainment.  Bio-Cop tells a tale as old as time.  Man makes Bio-Cop.  Man makes drugs.  Cops use Bio-Cop to put a stop to it.  Classic!  I'm sure that I'm stretching this a bit to make it work, but why not?  To get a glimpse at this at this bonus reason to own Manborg on DVD, read on...

Crime is rampant in...um, a city.  This evil guy is behind it all and nobody can stop him.  No man that is!

Bio-Cop is out on the Streets and he is kicking the ass of crime.

Well, when he's not trying to kill himself because his body is falling apart.  Don't ask.

He still takes time to kick criminal ass regardless though.  You won't like what happens to his face in the next shot.  It's...gooey.

This Ed Glaser-looking guy is a Drug Dealer.  Actually, to be more accurate, he's a Druggz Dealer.

The high point of the 'film': the bit where the titular Bio-Cop goes undercover at a Drug Bust.  I won't SPOIL it, but it's a hilarious take on a Cop Film Cliche.

To find out what happens (and may happen in a real film), Buy the DVD.  The End.

Yeah, this is just plain ridiculous.  That said, it is pure, unadulterated fun!  In many ways, Bio-Cop feels like I wish all Troma films were.  It is goofy.  It is over-the-top.  It seems to have actual Actors who are trying in it.  I also wish that they were all 8 minutes long to boot!  Boom!  Troma burn!  In all seriousness, Bio-Cop is a great Teaser for what could be.  As a film, Bio-Cop may not be as fun as the Trailer is.  Machete was.  Hobo With A Shotgun was (although not as much as the other).  There's only one way to be sure.  Steven Kostanski- make this movie!  I would totally buy that Videodisc!  (UPDATE: I actually have a Videodisc- just not this one)

Next up, what happens when a Federal Convict and Dolph Lundgren team-up?  You get an obscure Action Film from the late 1980s that is sure to hold up today.  Stay tuned...

Buy the DVD!: Thirt13n Ghosts (2001)

Can a good DVD redeem a bad movie?

No, but this one sure gives it the old 'College Try.'  Let's skip the 'Here's Who William Castle Was' Bio and go right to '13 Ghosts' Revealed...

It takes you down a nice, long video (made up of footage from the film) and all of the way to...

 A Display Case full of 12 random objects.  They represent each one of the Ghosts (as the 13th is a plot point).  If you click on one of them, you get...

A video 'explaining' the background of each of the Ghosts.  They are the most interesting part of the film, so why not?

The Vignettes are weird, freaky and Edited strangely.  They are also pretty short, but kind of neat.

Hmm...maybe the people that put these together should have done the movie too (assuming for the sake of the joke that they were, in fact, different people).

Neat feature for a not-so-good movie.