Johnny Rollerfeet's Echo Chamber

Top of the Pops: Tron: Legacy / Tron: The Original Classic (also available as a stand-alone Tron: Legacy or a stand-alone Tron: The Original Classic or in the Five-Disc Identity Disc Collectible Packaging) – The best thing about TRON: LEGACY — which is the new Tron movie — is the soundtrack. The movie’s not bad otherwise, and if you liked the original Tron then it feeds well into that nostalgia, but it isn’t perfect. What is perfect are the number of packaging options that Disney is offering, several including the original film also on Blu-Ray. Disney is getting good at retail packaging — exactly the kind of progressive thinking that diminishes piracy.

Classic Re-Issue: Babe – Yes, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF or TAXI DRIVER are the safe critics’ picks this week for re-issues, but after Universal’s previously pitiful attempts at home releases for BABE I want to take this opportunity to reinforce good behavior. This 1995 masterpiece didn’t see a widescreen DVD release until 2003, so it’s great to have it on high def. That’ll do pig! That’ll do. <sniff>

Snakeoil: Taxi – Was there any reason to release this on Blu-Ray when there are so many good movies that haven’t even made it to DVD? Are they hoping for some bizarre dissonant cross-association with this week’s release of TAXI DRIVER on Blu-Ray? Maybe they think Fallon’s great late night talk show has earned him enough good will to sell more copies of this turkey?

Read about the rest of this week’s releases at WatchRewatch.com.

The time-based anomaly known as SXSW stole my attention, but I’m back and catching up.

Top of the Pops:

• The Fighter (3/15)- One of my favorite movies from last year, and Christian Bale’s performance is only a small part of my attraction. The female cast is all superb and this film works even better as a story of the women then the men.
• Skyline (3/22) – There are many comparisons between this and the recent theatrical release of BATTLEFIELD: LOS ANGELES. I haven’t seen either of them, but I plan on taking this opportunity to see them in close proximity and weigh them against each other.

 
Classic Re-issue:

• Au revoir les enfants (3/15) – I recently saw a documentary (that’s screening for charity on my birthday) that reminded me about the power of political awareness in the face of atrocity. I want to re-watch this classic french art-house flick and see if there are similar themes to that documentary.
• Stand By Me (3/22) - This phenomenal film from 25 years ago is long overdue for a high def release. Be sure to read Wil Wheaton’s blog post about working on the commentary track and thinking of River Phoenix.

Snake Oil:

• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy – This was already available on Blu-Ray in a nicer package, but if you missed that here’s a cheap version.
• Kid Rock – The Complete Story – I didn’t know that Kid Rock was dead and his story was done. Funny that wasn’t in the news. /sarcasm
• Riddick Collection – Ok, if you didn’t buy the previous Blu-Ray versions of PITCH BLACK, CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK and the previous DVD release of the animated Riddick film, Dark Fury – The Chronicles of Riddick, then this is a good deal, but don’t be fooled by the packaging. This is 2 Blu-Ray movies packaged with a DVD, all of which was previously available.

Big thanks to @Headgeek666 (aka Harry Knowles of AintItCool.com) for inviting us to his birthday film festival Butt-Numb-A-Thon again this year. Harry called it “BNAT: The Dirty Dozenth” and promised us an even helping of both rare classic features and early screenings of contemporary film, summing up to a total of twelve. He delivered in expected exemplary fashion, and even threw in a “surprise” contemporary film to round things off to an uneven baker’s dozen. I had a blast hanging with people who share my passion for film and once again “Geek Christmas” (as it has been nicknamed) has been my favorite time of year. Here’s a summary of my favorite parts:

Best Classic Film: Hunchback of Notre Dame - Previously, I had only seen this on TV as a child, so it was a real treat to see it on the big screen. Charles Laughton is a master as Quasimodo, Maureen O’Hara is so beautiful it almost distracts from how talented she is, and Cedric Hardwicke as Frollo is a pinnacle of the black-and-white mix of good and evil that is the tortured priest with the ear of the king. HoND won Academy Awards for Music Score and Sound, the crowd scenes are the kind of thing that Hollywood doesn’t even attempt anymore, but the real highlight (for me, and Harry I believe) is the makeup. Quasimodo’s ability to express emotion and look disgusting while covering Laughton’s mug demonstrates the amazing artistic skill of the makeup team.

Best Contemporary Film: The Fighter - This may be a controversial choice, but hear me out. The other film — see below for that review — was exactly as good as expected. This movie not only exceeded my expectations, but it moved my position on its central plot foundation. I am not surprised by Mark Wahlberg or Amy Adams, because I know they deliver every time they’re on the screen. (Amy Adams in her underwear is beautiful and deserves special mention because, unlike typical Hollywood skeletons, she was shaped like a real — stunning and angelic — woman.) At the beginning of the movie I thought I’d be annoyed at Christian Bale’s over-enthusiastic attempts to win an Oscar, but by the end I was taken with the breadth of his performance. The big note: if you had talked to me about boxing before the movie I would have expressed a distaste for the sport, but the boxing in this movie drew me in and opens a chance that I may be willing to watch a boxing match in the future.

Best Preview: Cowboys & Aliens - The first time I saw a trailer for C&A, during the opening seconds, my crapola meter was reading very high, but as the trailer revealed the premise of the film, then the cast, director and producers were listed, I got a little excited but with only tenuous expectations. Favreau showed up at BNAT with writer/producer Bob Orci and producer Ron Howard to show us about 40 minutes of the opening unfinished material, and I have now moved this to the top of my most anticipated 2011 blockbusters. Trust me when I tell you the lengthy list of qualified people who’ve put their name on this are putting together an instant classic action/sci-fi/western like has never been seen.

Read on to see my play-by-play review of BNAT 12 (2010) aka “BNAT: The Dirty Dozenth”.

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