Brentwood
It is not about the plot and not about
the acting as Gone in 60 Seconds is about fast cars and lots
of excitement. Released in 1974, this film was H.B.
Halicki’s automobile masterpiece. OK, how about a drama
about a car theft gang that is really just a bunch of guys
having fun in their cars. The feature car is of course
Halicki’s own 1973 Ford Mustang named Eleanor.
Many people have not heard of H.B.
Halicki. He was a world-class stunt driver who wrote,
produced, directed and starred in this film. He even
distributed it himself-a real maverick independent film
producer. If you like car chases and crashes, you will love
this movie. The 40 minute chase finale is incredible,
probably one of the best chase sequences ever filmed. For
you true fans of this film out there, you might be
disappointed. The new sound mix on this collector’s edition
is way different from the original. It is a love/hate
thing-Old people hate it and the kids love it. The picture
on this new edition is no better than the 2000 release and
the picture is letterboxed, not anamorphic. The Dolby
Digital and DTS tracks sound great. There are several extras
included with this disc and a coupon for official Gone in 60
Seconds license plates and frames.
THE ROCKFORD FILES:
Season One - MCA
One of my favorite detective shows from
the 1970’s is now on DVD. All 23 first season episodes of
The Rockford Files are available for your viewing pleasure.
Jim Rockford (Emmy winner James Garner) is an ex-con-who is
now a very laid back private investigator. He solves murder
and mystery while enjoying his life in Malibu-but not a
mansion in Malibu, a worn out old trailer on the beach.
Rockford was a TV character that was a likeable “real guy”
kind of person. The show had many interesting guest stars
such as Abe Vigoda, Lindsay Wagner, James Woods, Ned Beatty,
and Suzanne Somers. This is a series the whole family can
watch and enjoy. There is an extra feature with James Garner
that will tell you everything you want to know about being
Jim Rockford. The picture on these 3 DVD’s looks
great-better than it looked in 1974.
THREES COMPANY:
Season Five - Anchor Bay
Imagine a time when a man must say he is
gay so he can live with two female roommates. Three’s
Company was a hit comedy in the 1970’s and is still popular
today. This DVD set is season five, the last season to
feature Suzanne Somers (Chrissy). The laughs in this season
were not as prevalent as in the earlier season and you can
sense the tension between the actors. The arrival of
Chrissy’s cousin, Cindy Snow (Jenilee Harrison) kept the
storyline going, but it was never the same again. John
Ritter’s physical comedy kept this show funny and along with
Joyce De Witt the show stayed successful. There is an
interesting interview with Somer’s replacement, Jenilee
Harrison, included with this set.
THE BROTHERS GRIMM
MGM
Folklore collectors and con artists, Jake
and Will Grimm, travel from village to village pretending to
protect townsfolk from enchanted creatures and performing
exorcisms. They are put to the test, however, when they
encounter a real magical curse in a haunted forest with real
magical beings, requiring genuine courage.
What a piece of trash! I thought Van
Helsing was the worst that it could get. I was wrong. Matt
Damon and Heath Ledger portrayed their parts well amongst a
ridiculous and hideous plot. Peter Stormare’s performances
provided much-needed comic relief and kept me interested up
to the final scenes. As stories go, this one did nothing for
me. Special effects were mediocre and the soundtrack was all
but inspiring. Even Van Helsing had more to offer as a film.
The DVD is presented in Widescreen format with 5.1 Digital
sound. Extras include commentary, deleted scenes, making-of
feature and a feature on the visual effects.
SEVEN MEN FROM NOW
Paramount
A former sheriff, haunted by the loss of
his wife in a Wells Fargo robbery, hunts for the seven men
responsible for her death. Along the way, he assists a
couple traveling west from Kansas City to California, and is
forced to deal with another former outlaw he had once sent
to prison. I found nothing really special about this
Western. The story was very mediocre and if not for the
great cast, I would have fallen asleep during the film. The
script was pretty weak and after five minutes into the film,
I guessed the entire outcome. Lee Marvin in a green scarf
just didn’t do anything for me not to mention the white hats
worn by the good guys. Save your money and get a good John
Wayne western or the Magnificent Seven. The DVD is presented
in Widescreen Format with Dolby surround. Extras include
commentary with James Kitses, features on Budd Boetticher
and the John Wayne Stock Company, Theatrical Trailer and
Photo Galleries
