The week of September 1st, 2010
Just a heads up that we will be closed this Monday, September 6 for Labour Day. So make sure you come by to get all your movie needs fulfilled beforehand!
And maybe we will see you here, as our local Vancouver Canadians baseball club are playoffs-bound!
Good luck, C’s!
The week of September 1st, 2010
September’s here! Goodbye summer, hello fall TV season! Not just the new seasons on TV, but a chance to see what was hot last year. This week sees a few of those get released. “Sons of Anarchy” continues strongly into its’ second season, picking up where the motorcycle club left off…in the middle of everything. This show just gets more and more compelling as it goes. Hugh Laurie’s “House” also just keeps on trucking, though I’d personally love to see a guest spot from his old friend and comedy partner Stephen Fry. There are also a couple of good looking new shows, “Parenthood”, loosely based on Ron Howard’s 1989 film of the same name, and “The Vampire Diaries”, based on a popular series of books…wait…this sounds familiar…. This series was actually written before the one with all the sparkly vampires. And it has Boone from “Lost”. Might be worth your while…
As far as films go, there is Michael Caine opening his own brand of Olde English whoop-ass in “Harry Brown”, and George A. Romero’s latest entry in his series of zombie flicks, “Survival of the Dead”. Can’t wait to see both these. And then there is “Babies”. It’s a narration-less documentary about babies. The human kind. Enter at your own risk (of wearing out your “awwwwww!” button).
A nice new Blu-ray of “Field of Dreams”, with some great new special features is now available at our store, but here, finally, is the DVD many of you have waiting for: “Iron Maiden: Flight 666″. Sam Dunn (of “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey” and “Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage” - which are awesome, btw) put together this document about the life and history of this British heavy metal icon. If it’s anything like his previous docs, you do not need to even be that interested in the band itself to be entertained by it. The man knows what he is doing.
As always, click on any box below for a review or secret surprise, and don’t forget to join us on Twitter and Facebook. We even update them sometimes!
| Harry Brown (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Caine-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Survival of the Dead (Ultimate Edition) (2 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on undead Blu-ray! |
 |
| Babies (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Sons of Anarchy: Season Two (4 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| House: Season Six (5 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season (5 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Parenthood: Season 1 (3 Discs) (Widescreen)Rated: NR |
 |
| Poldark: Series 1 (4 Discs) (4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Field of Dreams (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating:  Rated: PG If you have a Blu-ray player, Field of Dreams will come. |
 |
||||||
| Iron Maiden: Flight 666 (Deluxe Edition, 2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of August 29th, 2010
Apologies for such a delay, but now look at all the stuff you can read about and come and rent and watch and enjoy and live and love and get ready for school and fall and winter, and…other stuff.
This selection will get updated soon with the usual links to reviews and trailers and other such things to pass your time. Just wanted to get the big list up now. Come back soon for more hilarious discourse. And stuff.
| Lost: The Complete Sixth Season (5 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: TV14 Also available on Hurley-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Dexter: The Fourth Season (4 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR Also available on bludgeoning Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Square (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Tony Manero (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Date Night (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Carell-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Good, the Bad, the Weird Rated: R Also available on Good Blu-ray! |
 |
| Cemetery Junction (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Death at a Funeral (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on deadly Blu-ray! |
 |
| Mammoth Rated: NR |
 |
| The Back-Up Plan (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Temple Grandin (Widescreen) Rated: TVPG |
 |
| Louie Bluie (Criterion Collection) AMG Rating:  Rated: NR |
 |
| The First Films of Akira Kurosawa (Criterion Collection) (4 Discs) (Full Frame, Black & White) Rated: NR |
 |
| My Name Is Khan (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| City Island Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season (4 Discs) (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| 35 Shots of Rum Rated: NR |
 |
| Mystery Team (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Herb & Dorothy Rated: NR |
 |
| Examined Life (Widescreen) AMG Rating:  Rated: NR |
 |
| Art & Copy Rated: NR |
 |
| Objectified (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Friday Night Lights: The Fourth Season (3 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Cougar Town: The Complete First Season (3 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: TV14 |
 |
| Max Headroom: The Complete Series (5 Discs) (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Batman: Under the Red Hood Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Roger Corman’s Cult Classics: Death Sport/Battletruck (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Know Your Mushrooms Rated: NR |
 |
| Before & After Stonewall (25th Anniversary Edition) (2 Discs) (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Stunt Rock Rated: PG |
 |
| Into the Storm: Churchill at War (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Just Before Dawn Rated: R |
 |
| Sick Nurses (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Suck Rated: NR |
 |
| Suck Rated: R |
 |
| Gunless Rated: NR |
 |
| Hunger (Criterion Collection) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating:  Rated: NR Now available on a thin Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
The week of August 9th, 2010
So our friend Richard Simpson (the fella who designed our fabulous retro-pastiche video store) has just finished an incredible short film, which is part of a competition judged by none other than Blade Runner/Alien director Ridley Scott! Personal bias aside, this looks like a scene from a big-budget sci-fi flick, and we think it will knock your socks off.
Check it out here (and in high def for best effect):
The week of August 4th, 2010
Wow, a timely update…must be a slow week. And it is, mostly, but there is plenty to see, including some treats for you Blu-ray fans out there…you know who you are…the ones with their socks knocked off…
First up is “Kick-Ass”, starring Ghost Rider as Batmanish and McLovin as…well, I don’t know. There is so much fun in this “why aren’t there real superheros?” story, and also a lot of violence. It tries to ride the line between reality and a comic book world, and depending on the viewer, they either succeed or fail. The question is, does it matter ? That’s up to you. Ebert said a portion of it turned him off the film in its’ entirety. And he got called a lot of names for it, mostly about his age. Even a ’star’ of the film was so upset by it, he forgot how to spell. Was he right or wrong? You decide. And let us know.
Speaking of Nicolas Cage (we were?), the new Roman Polanski film is “The Ghost Writer” and has nothing to do with Nicolas Cage at all. It’s a throwback thriller with (young) Obi-wan Kenobi and previous James Bond. And it’s pretty damn good. Kim Cattral in it ? Maybe not so good (and thankfully for not much of it).
Then there are two entirely different flicks: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “The Prophet”. One is about a jailhouse kingpin and won many film festival awards,and one is about a school kid from a well-loved series of books. Guess which is which! There are also a few new TV shows on DVD, “Heroes” season four and the Kids in the Hall CBC mini-series “Death Comes to Town”. Looks very funny, very Kids.
For you high-deffers, a few new catalog films finally made their way to the Blu-ray format: “The Breakfast Club”, “Fargo”, and “Escape From New York”. Great stuff getting some deserved treatment.
Looks like rain is finally coming. Time to rent up some movies. See you soon.
| Kick-Ass (Widescreen) Rated: R Available on heroic Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Ghost Writer (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Available on Polanski-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| A Prophet (Widescreen) Rated: R Available on Le Ray Bleu! |
 |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Widescreen) Rated: PG Available on hefty Blu-ray! |
 |
| Heroes: Season 4 (5 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Kids in the Hall: Death Comes To Town (2 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Breakfast Club (25th Anniversary Edition) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Finally available on demented and sad, but social Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
| Fargo (2 Discs) (Dvd/Blu-Ray) (Widescreen, 2PC) AMG Rating:  Finally available on yeah, you betcha Blu-ray! |
 |
| Escape from New York (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Finally available on Snake-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
The week of July 31st, 2010
Sorry for the long delay between updates, but this hot weather is total bummersville. I haven’t been rained on in weeks. Vancouver…stop playing games with my heart. At least it will be nice for Pride. But maybe a cool wind here and there ? Please ? Or maybe this heat wave has all been a dream. Or a dream within a dream…and whose dream is it ? Where is my damn top ?
Speaking of (before losing track), you can pick up your FREE copy of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival guide at our store. Even if they list our old address on their website! You know where we are!
So, there are lots and lots of New Releases listed below. Off the top of my head, “A Single Man”, “Greenberg”, “Mother”, “Look Around You”, “Life On Mars”, and “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” are the ones to beat in this bunch. But there are lots of choices for everyone. And for you high-definition fans, look what finally came out on Blu-ray: Jim Jarmusch’s “Mystery Train”, “Amelie”, and our number one rented film of all time, “It’s All Gone, Pete Tong”. I can verify personally those last two look and sound amazing. Can’t wait to take a ride on the “Mystery Train” as well.
All the images below are clickable and they all have a secret toy surprise behind them. Just click on any image below for a review or video clip of that film. I have also updated all the films from the previous New Release update - and they are are all videos for you fun and enjoyment. And fun.
We also recently picked up a couple of our faves, “Shaun of The Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” on Blu-ray as well. Just so you can ready yourself for the Epic of Epic Epicness that is “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” opening in theatres August 13. And believe me, it lives up to its’ billing. Go check it out, and please don’t ask if you can rent it. It’s gotta play in theatres first.
And don’t forget all the rental specials we have all week long, like our Monday - Thursday 2 for 1 specials. There are no cheaper deals in town, and frankly, you’ll feel like a sucker if you don’t take advantage of them.
And we’d still love to have you join us on Twitter and Facebook. Yay internet.
Plibt.
| A Single Man (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on a single (gorgeous) Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Rated: NR Also available on ink-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Greenberg (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Baumbach-esque Blu-ray! |
 |
| Chloe (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Clash of the Titans (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Krakken-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Repo Men (Unrated/Rated Versions) (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on where’s-Emilio Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Losers (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on winning Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Runaways (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on jailbait-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Cop Out (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Smith-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Max Manus: Man of War Rated: NR Also available on maxium Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
| Mother (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Barking Dogs Never Bite (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Look Around You: Season One (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| 44 Inch Chest (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Operation: Endgame Rated: R Also available on farcical Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Only Son/There Was a Father (Criterion Collection) (Black & White) Rated: NR |
 |
| Mystery Train (Criterion Collection) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Finally available on mysterious Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
| The Warlords (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also avilable on epic Blu-ray! |
 |
| The House of the Devil AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| I Can’t Think Straight Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Bounty Hunter (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on bountiful Blu-ray! |
 |
| Lewis Black: Stark Raving Black (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Brooklyn’s Finest (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Life on Mars: Series 1 (4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Life on Mars: Series 2 (4 Discs) (4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Saving Grace: Season Three - the Final Season (5 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Shark Week: Jaws of Steel Collection (2PC) Rated: TV14 |
 |
| Jersey Shore: Season One Uncensored (3 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Cooking With Stella (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Amelie AMG Rating: Rated: R Finally available on whimsical Blu-ray! |
 |
| It’s All Gone Pete Tong (Widescreen) Finally available on coke badger-iffic Blu-ray! Rated: R |
 |
The week of July 5th, 2010
Sometimes it make me break out in a cold sweat!
One two three four!
Hot tub! Ha! Da!
Ah-full of water!
I say hot tub! Ha!
Day! Ba! Very, very hot… Very hot! Da!
Hot tub! Gonna get ya hot-a!
Gonna make ya sweat! Hey! Say!
Hot tub! Rub a dub in the hot tub!
Rub a dub with me!
Should I get in the hot tub?
(Yeah!)
Will it make me sweat?
(Yeah!)
Should I get in the hot tub?
(Yeah!)
Will it make me wet?
(Yeah!)
Well, well, well…
| Hot Tub Time Machine (Unrated) (Widescreen, Unrated Version) Rated: R Also available on legwarming Blu-ray! |
 |
| Green Zone (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Damon-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Book of Eli (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Denzel-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Crazies Rated: R Also available on wacky Blu-ray! |
 |
| Youth in Revolt (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Revolt-ing Blu-ray! |
 |
| She’s Out of My League (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Baruchel-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (2PC) Rated: NR Also available on Order of Canada Blu-ray! |
 |
| When You’re Strange: A Film About the Doors Rated: R Also available on bloated in the tub Blu-ray! |
 |
| The White Ribbon (Widescreen, Black & White) Rated: R Also available on Haneke-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| When in Rome (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Bell-alicious Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Last Station (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Widescreen) Rated: PG Now available on excessively long-titled Blu-ray! |
 |
| Hung: The Complete First Season (2 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season (3 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Criterion Collection: Red Desert (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| Creation (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Family Guy, Vol. 8 (3 Discs) (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Rolling Stones: Stones in Exile (Digipack Packaging) Rated: NR |
 |
| Remember Me (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Closer: The Complete Fifth Season (4 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Fish Tank (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
||||||
| Moon (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
||||||
| Shaun of the Dead (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
||||||
| Hot Fuzz (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
||||||
The week of June 9th, 2010
Y’ever been to “Shutter Island”, Billy ? It’s one crrraaaa-zy place ! Just ask Leo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. Another entry from Martin Scorsese’s “B-movie” side, the sort of fun, scary, over the top stuff, like his remake of “Cape Fear”. The kind of movie that you can chew like candy. As for the nutso-looking Travolta flick, “From Paris With Love”, it looks like it could be a similar treat, though more of a empty calorie one. A well constructed granola bar vs. a Crispy Crunch. Mmm…Crispy Crunch…
Still not crazy enough for ya ? How about the seventh season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” ? Larry David returns once again to drive his friends, neighbours, and YOU crazy. And he’s brought all those Seinfeld people with him this time. Or maybe climbing some of the steepest, most treacherous mountains for Nazi glory ? How crazy is that ? “North Face” will show you the way. Or how about a white comedian who thinks he’s black ? David Cross brings the pain in his new stand-up DVD, “Bigger and Blackerer”. OK, maybe he doesn’t think he’s black. Or DOES he ?
And finally, a couple of folks with God complexes. Brian, of “Life of Brian” fame, is resurrected in “Not The Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy)” from four former Pythoners in a Classical setting. Eric Idle leads an orchestra, a chorus, and several vocalists in singing His (Brian’s) praises. On the other hand, Bono sings his own praises, thank you very much, as his enormous ego just barely fits into the venue in “U2 360 Live from The Rose Bowl”. The band are in top form as they play to 97,000 plus in Los Angeles . Wait… Bono in the City of Angels… hmmm…and their last hit was “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”…wow, this thing write itself.
Click on the pics below. You’ll be glad you did. And follow all of out nuttiness on Twitter and Facebook. You’d be mad not to.
| Shutter Island (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Leo-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| From Paris with Love (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Travol-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Seventh Season (2 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| North Face (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| David Cross: Bigger and Blackerer Rated: NR |
 |
| U2: 360 Degrees at the Rose Bowl Rated: NR Also available on Bono-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy) (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Foyle’s War: Series 6 (3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of June 5th, 2010
A very happy un-birthday to you all…
Lots of good stuff this week to keep you indoors, away from the harsh light of day. And as we all know, the outdoors is really overrated. Stay inside. Johnny is a Hatter, Benicio is a Wolf, girls are going wild, and David Attenborough has the secret of life. Seems like there is a little something for everyone. We have caught up on a couple of foreign titles we have been waiting on, like the fantastic German film, “The Baader Meinhof Complex”, the south of the (American) border tale “Silent Light” and a film by the same director of “The Spanish Apartment”, “Paris”. Not to mention the World War I drama, “The Red Baron”.
For fans of “Planet Earth” series (which really should include everyone at this point) comes a sequel series of sorts, “Life”, narrated once again by David Attenborough (sorry, Oprah). This series looks to delve deeper into the environments we have seen, and show us some new ones as well. Equally commanding of voice, Morgan Freeman narrates the doc about his involvement in trying to improve race relations in his home town in “Prom Night in Mississippi”.
Our feature section is Film Comment’s top 25 Films of the 2000’s, held over for another month. So much good stuff in there, it’s worth a look. As always, click on any picture below to find a review, a trailer, or some such something or other related to that film. And of course, join us in the Friend0-sphere in Twitter and Facebook. It’s nice to be friends.
| Alice in Wonderland (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on Depp-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Wolfman (Rated/Unrated Versions) (Widescreen) Rated: NR Also available on howling Blu-ray! |
 |
| Life (Narrated By David Attenborough) (4PC) Rated: NR Also available on non-Oprah Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Red Baron Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Baader Meinhof Complex (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: R |
 |
| Owl and the Sparrow (Widescreen) Rated: P |
 |
| Paris (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Silent Light (Widescreen) AMG Rating: |
 |
| Prom Night in Mississippi Rated: NR |
 |
| Bitch Slap (Unrated) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Cheri (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
The week of May 27th, 2010
Just gonna get this up for your reading pleasure. I’ll add pithy commentary (ie those long, unending introductions) later. Each is already clickable for more viewing pleasure. So is the ‘Being There’ button on the side, which brings you a daily video distraction. And don’t forget to join us on Twitter and/or Facebook, where more fun can be had.
Actually, the titles speak for themselves, sorta, especially if you click on the boxes below. Looks like rain, so why not grab a couple of movies and stay inside and snuggle up all cozy-like ?
| The Road (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Viggo-tastic Blu-ray ! |
 |
| True Blood: The Complete Second Season (5 Discs) (Widescreen, 5PC) Rated: TVMA Also available on suck-free Blu-ray ! |
 |
| The Messenger (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available on Woody-rrific Blu-ray! |
 |
| Invictus (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on apartheid-free Blu-ray ! |
 |
| Valentine’s Day (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Cupid’s favourite format, Blu-ray ! |
 |
| Daybreakers (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Barry Manilow Blu-ray ! |
 |
| Legion (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on angelic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Edge of Darkness (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on drunken ranting Blu-ray ! |
 |
| Vivre Sa Vie (Criterion Collection) (Full Frame, Special Edition, Black & White) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| The Spy Next Door (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Dear John (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Eddie Izzard: Live from Wembley (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Collector (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Spartacus (50th Anniversary Edition) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 I’m (high definition) Spartacus ! |
 |
||||||
| Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World (2 piece) AMG Rating:
|
 |
||||||
The week of May 5th, 2010
It’s rare when I want to see every single New Release that we get in a given week, but this is definitely one of them. First up is Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnessus”, which was Heath Ledger’s last film. While Gilliam’s films are not always perfect or straightforward, they are always visually stunning and usually very engaging. Next is the sequel to “District B13″, this one adds “Ultimatum” to the title. If you haven’t seen the original, it’s well worth your time is you like action or martial arts films at all. Hell, even if you like dance movies. These star the creators of ‘Parkour’, the martial arts/physical discipline style of movement (as seen in the opening scenes of ‘Casino Royale’), and watching them at work is incredible.
There is some lighter fare as well, including the always adorable Amy Adams in “Leap Year”, and a huge cast of international babery in “Nine” (not to mention one Daniel Day Lewis). I’ll watch anything either of these actors are in.
Not so light looking is Francis Ford Coppola’s “Tetro”, with Vincent Gallo (AKA Price Vince around these parts). By all accounts, this is the best thing Coppola has made in years, and you know it’s going to look amazing. Same goes for the new BBC adaptation of “Hamlet”, starring Doctor Who and Captain Picard. The Beeb always does nice work with the classics, whether it’s Shakespeare or Austen. And now we have 37 versions of Hamlet to choose from.
Finally, can’t wait to dig into “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” starring singer Jill Scott, as well as the new documentary from the Yes Men, “The Yes Men Fix the World”. Both look like international fun, and along with “District 13: Ultimatum”, are a couple of the most highest rated releases out this week. As usual, you can click around on all the boxes below to read reviews of those films, though your mileage may vary with reviews and ratings. Which is what makes watching things for yourself such a good and important thing. One man’s trash is another man’s “Josie and the Pussycats”. Just sayin’. Feliz de Mayo !!
| The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Imaginative Blu-ray! |
 |
| Nine (Widescreen) Rated: NR Also available on Cruz-alicious Blu-ray! |
 |
| Leap Year (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on Amy-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| District 13: Ultimatum (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on parkour-iffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Tetro (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available on Gallo-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Hamlet Rated: NR |
 |
| The Yes Men Fix the World Rated: NR |
 |
| The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: The Complete First Season (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: TVPG |
 |
The week of April 30th, 2010
So, let’s keep this short, and sweet. You should come rent some new releases. Seriously - what else you got going on ? Life is fleeting, films are forever. Or something. Or as Daryl Hall once sang, “Style is timeless, and fashion’s only now”. Oates just stood there, probably. Yup. So…what was I talking about ?
Anyhow, we got big Hollywood fare like ‘Avatar’ and ‘It’s Complicated’, Oscar stuff like ‘Crazy Heart’ and ‘The Young Victoria’. We also have giant epics like John Woo’s full-length cut of ‘Red Cliff’ (288 minutes!) and ‘Dune’ (finally on Blu-ray!). We have a few new comedies like ‘Pirate Radio’ and ‘Cheech and Chong’s Hey Watch This!’ (their first film in 25 years!). Throw in a couple of Criterion Collection discs (the brand new film ‘A Christmas Tale’ and the crazy 60’s experiment ‘Dillinger is Dead’), and some TV series (‘Sons of Anarchy’, ‘Masters of Science Fiction’, and ‘The Hills’) and there’s a lil’ somethin’-somethin’ for everyone. Phew!
As always, clicking on many of the pretty picture boxes below will take you to a review, a trailer, or some fun thing, usually actually related to that film’s pretty picture box. And don’t forget to join in on the fun on Twitter and Facebook. You never know what will happen. And if you are still reading, a quick head’s up: watch for our new Rentals Rates and Specials coming soon!!
| Avatar (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Nav’i Blu-ray! |
 |
| Crazy Heart (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on lyrical Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Lovely Bones (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on lovely Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Young Victoria (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on regal Blu-ray! |
 |
| It’s Complicated (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on non-complicated Blu-ray! |
 |
| Pirate Radio (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Red Cliff (Original International Version) (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: NR Also available on epic-length Blu-ray! |
 |
| Defendor (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on club-swingin’ Blu-ray! |
 |
| Mary and Max Rated: NR |
 |
| The Descent: Part 2 (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Dillinger Is Dead (Criterion Collection) (Widescreen, Special Edition) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| A Christmas Tale (Criterion Collection) (Widescreen, Special Edition) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| Zombies of Mass Destruction (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Transylmania (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| No Impact Man Rated: NR |
 |
| Blade of the Ripper (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Blind Date (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Cheech and Chong’s Hey Watch This! (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Merlin: The Complete First Season (5 Discs) (Boxed Set) Rated: NR |
 |
| Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series (2 Discs) Rated: NR |
 |
| Sons of Anarchy: Season One (Full Frame) |
 |
| The Hills: Season Five, Part Two (2 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Apollo 13 (15th Anniversary Edition) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG |
 |
||||||
| Dune (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
||||||
The week of April 7th, 2010
After a brief rest, we present a couple o’ weeks worth of New Releases for your viewing pleasure. Oscar contenders, Oscar winners, and Oscar snubs abound. Sandra Bullock’s Academy Award winning performance in ‘The Blind Side’ has now been released on DVD and Blu-ray, which is good, she hasn’t had much press lately. Carey Mulligan, who will be a big Star (with a capital ‘S’) has two new ones out now, ‘An Education’ and ‘Brothers’. Nice. And two films that were nominated for Best Animated Film this year, ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’ and ‘The Fantastic Mr. Fox’ (100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!) are here - neither won, but you probably already saw the one that did.
A couple of very fine, very different television shows had new releases: the (deservedly) popular ‘Mad Men’ saw its’ latest season come out, as did the fairly unknown (but very smart and funny) ‘Party Down’, from the creators of ‘Veronica Mars’ and ‘The State’…not to mention Happy Bats fave Paul Rudd. There are also two new installments in some British series we carry: ‘Return to Cranford’, and another chapter in Sean Bean’s continuing adventures in ‘Sharpe’s Peril’.
Then there’s a couple of high profile actors playing lawmen in very different ways and in very different centuries: Robert Downey Jr.’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and Nicolas Cage’s ‘Bad Lieutenant Port of Call: New Orleans’. Worlds apart, even in complexity of title. But they both like hittin’ the pipe. Not such a small world, now is it ?
A few new docs discuss just that: ‘Blue Gold’, ‘Petropolis’, and ‘We Live In Public’ reveal that everything is now in everyone’s best interest to pay attention to. Act locally, think globally. And shop locally too.
And finally, there are some new Blu-ray goodies to immerse yourselves in: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy (yes, just the Theatrical versions so far, but better than nothing until ‘The Hobbit’ parts 1 and 2 come out in the next few years), the first two ‘Toy Story’ films by Pixar (in anticipation of this summer’s ‘Toy Story 3′), ‘The African Queen’, finally on proper home video, and The Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray release of Terrence Malick’s ‘Days Of Heaven‘, often referred to as the most stunning looking film of all time. Now you can judge for yourself!!
You may also have noticed we have finally updated the website itself: look, that’s our current location in the photo! Look, there’s buttons you can click on to take you directly to our Twitter Feed or Facebook fan page. And speaking of clicking, remember, you can click on many/most of the movie boxes below to take you to a review, trailer, or fun page, often actually related to that film!
And finally, this month in our Featured Section (next to the New Releases), we are showcasing Film Comment magazine’s Top 25 Films of the past decade. The adventure awaits. Keep dry, stay indoors watching movies. From Happy Bats!
| Sherlock Holmes (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on elementary Blu-Ray! |
 |
| An Education (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on smokin’ Blu-Ray! |
 |
| Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Rated: R Also available on Herzogian Blu-Ray! |
 |
| Fantastic Mr. Fox (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on burrowing Blu-Ray! |
 |
| The Men Who Stare at Goats Rated: R Also available on cloud-busting Blu-Ray! |
 |
| Brothers (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Party Down: Season One (2 Discs) Rated: NR |
 |
| Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on rodent-a-licious Blu-Ray! |
 |
| Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction Rated: NR |
 |
| Mad Men: Season 3 (4 Discs) (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR Also available on Blu-Ray! It’s Toasted! |
 |
| The Blind Side (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on tear-jerking Blu-Ray! |
 |
| The Lord of the Rings: Motion Picture Trilogy (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) Rated: PG13
|
 |
||||||
| The Killer (Ultimate Edition) (2 Discs) (Widescreen, 2PC) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Also available on Killer Blu-Ray! |
 |
| The African Queen (Blu-Ray) (Full Frame, Restored, Remastered) AMG Rating: Rated: NR
|
 |
||||||
| Toy Story (Special Edition) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: G
|
 |
||||||
| Toy Story 2 (Special Edition) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: G
|
 |
||||||
| Sharpe’s Peril (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Everybody’s Fine (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Madonna: The Sticky & Sweet Tour
|
 |
| Days of Heaven (Criterion Collection) (Blu-Ray) (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG
|
 |
||||||
| Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Cranford: Return to Cranford (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Blue Gold Rated: NR |
 |
| We Live in Public Rated: NR |
 |
| Petropolis Rated: NR |
 |
The week of March 18th, 2010
You like us…you really, really like us. We still get to sit at the popular kids table. Even if we don’t always understand the hipster lingo. But apparently, we are the sh*t. 2 is the new 1.
As has already been announced, The Westender, in their annual ‘Best of the City’ poll, we took second place. Nice! We have been both lower and higher on that list before, but we all know that after a number 2, you feel pretty gratified. Relaxed, even.
And it turns out we also took second place in The Vancouver Courier’s annual ‘Stars of Vancouver’ poll as well! We dropped a deuce twice in one year. We really ARE your regular video store! And we don’t recall placing that high, if at all, on their list, so something must be stirring! Anyone got a Tums ?
A huge thanks to all of our customers, whether from the olden days on East 15th or new ones checking us out for the first time. We like to kid about these types of polls, but we do know that it means many of you took the time to fill out a ballot. And while it may not have been more than a few minutes of your time, it means the world to us that you cared enough to do so. Many of you know we have had a bit of a tumultuous year, and are glad to see you’ve stuck with us. There are a lot of different ways you can watch movies and TV shows these days, so we ‘re glad you choose us. We love being YOUR local, independent, community video store. And you ‘buying local’ is important to us. So thanks.
No, seriously.
Thank You.
Erica, Robert, Jordan, Cerah.
The week of March 17th, 2010
Have you caught up with all the recent New Releases ? Bet you haven’t. But that’s OK. There’s time. And time to add more to your list, as the last week or so has seen another great batch of discs released. There’s Oscar fare like ‘Up In The Air’, a very modern take on the lonely traveling salesmen, with a really nice, understated performance by George Clooney (not to mention that little powerhouse Anna Kendrick. Highly recommended. Also highly touted is the Oscar winning ‘Precious’. Harrowing would be a good word to use here.
Harrowing but guilty-pleasure fun would be a good description for the superb ‘Breaking Bad’ series. Who knew a show about a meth-cooking high school teacher would be so entertaining ? Along with season two of the series, we now have the first series on Blu-ray as well. Sweet. Which brings us to the 13th season of ‘South Park’…speaking of sweet. The show just continues to get stronger and more fearless.Which may or may not describe the brothers in ‘Boondock Saints 2: Boondock Harder’ (actually, it’s subtitle is ‘All Saints Day’). Whether you have seen these or not, you owe it to yourself to check out the documentary ‘Overnight’, which follows the creater of the Boondock films while making the original. One of the best docs in our catalog.
Speaking of trainwrecks…no, sorry…I won’t make a cheap ‘Old Dogs’ reference…beacuse I haven’t seen it, and threfore cannot comment. So no comment. Nothing about an inability for them to learn new tricks. Nope. Nothing.
We have a nice selection of new foreign language titles this week as well, with ‘O Horten’ (%100 on Rotten Tomatoes!), the Criterion Collection’s ‘Revanche‘, Pedro Almodovar’s ‘Broken Embraces’ (to read Roger Ebert’s eloquent review, click the box cover below), and Ramin Bahrani’s (Chop Shop, Man Push Cart) ‘Goodbye Solo’. Each of these were very well received, and are worth a look. Subtitles are your friend and window to the exceptional. Or something.
Speaking of friends…our old friend Rain is back in the Wachowski Brothers new over the top crazy-fest ‘Ninja Assassin’ - I’ve bee personally told good things, can’t wait to check it out. Plus, Rain. It stars Rain. Squee!!
Finishing out the new stuff are a few docs, one a very funny and informative one from Chris Rock, ‘Good Hair’, Michael Moore’s ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’, a bat-sh#t crazy looking doc called ‘Big River Man’, and The White Stripes in ‘Under Great White Northen Lights’. We’re fans of The Stripes around here, so can’t wait to play this one into the ground. It might (even) get loud.
Oh, almost forgot. Out this week is the Vanessa Hudgens flick ‘Bandslam’. %90 on Rotten Tomatoes. Who knew ?
So come on by. You’ll be glad you did. As always, clicky on the picture boxes below for stuff to watch, read, and enjoy. And enjoy.
| Up in the Air (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Executive Class Blu-ray! |
 |
| Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Oscar-winning Blu-ray! |
 |
| Breaking Bad: The Complete Second Season (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR Also available on meth-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Breaking Bad: The Complete First Season (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: NR Season One finally available on meth-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
| Broken Embraces (Widescreen) Rated: R También disponible en Blu-ray ! |
 |
| Ninja Assassin (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Rain-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Capitalism: A Love Story (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on capitalist swine Blu-ray! |
 |
| The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights Rated: NR Also available on Blu-Stripe-ray ! |
 |
| Revanche (Criterion Collection) (Widescreen, Special Edition) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Benz-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| South Park: The Complete Thirteenth Season (3 Discs) (Full Frame, 3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Astro Boy (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| The Fourth Kind (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on scare-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Armored (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on heist-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Good Hair (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| O’Horten (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Old Dogs (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Bandslam (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Goodbye Solo (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Big River Man (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of March 5th, 2010
So now what to do now? So many medals. So many people in town. Time for a breather. Time to catch up on all those New Releases you’ve been missing while you were otherwise occupied. We have several Oscar-nominated flicks already, but you only have a couple of days to catch up on those before the big night, this Sunday. Speaking of, our monthly Feature Section has (almost) every winner of the Best Picture Academy Award. Lots to watch, lots to debate. I mean, Gladiator. Really ?
If Oscar stuff ain’t your bag, you can check out some of the great new titles that have been showing up lately. Leading the way: Steven Soderbergh’s ‘The Informant!’ So very, very entertaining and Matt Damon is in top form in this sort-of true story. Just as fun and just as different is ‘Black Dynamite’. What Tarantino and Rodriguez did for Grindhouse era flicks, Michael Jai White does for Blaxploitation ones. And entirely spot on. Rounding out the fun is Spike Jonze’s ‘Where The Wild Things Are’. People will end up somewhat divided on this one, but few films have ever captured what it is like to be a child like this one has.
There are a pair of fashion-related New Releases, ‘Coco Avant Chanel’ and ‘The September Issue’, to add to our growing number of films and documentaries related to the world of design and couture. And stuff.
Don’t forget we also make with the Hollywood stuff too: ‘Law Abiding Citizen’, ‘Sorority Row’, and Richard Kelly’s ‘The Box’. That’s a lot of people up to no good. And while not Hollywood at all, the master animator Hayao Miyazaki’s amazing ‘Ponyo’ has finally been released here, courtesy of the Walt Disney Company.
And as always, some new television fare has come our way: Edie Falco as the pill-poppin’ title character in ‘Nurse Jackie’, a whole bunch of folks who ‘Flash Forward’, and a couple or series of the always popular British drama ‘Midsomer Murders’.
Lots to fill that Olympic-sized hole in your heart. As always, click on the picture boxes below to find reviews, articles, and other fun treats related to that title.
| The Informant (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on informative Blu-ray! No lie! |
 |
| Where the Wild Things Are (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on Rumpus-inducing Blu-ray! |
 |
| Ponyo (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: G Also available on deep Blu-ray! |
 |
| 2012 (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on earth-shattering Blu-ray! |
 |
| Black Dynamite (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Coco Before Chanel (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on fashionable Blu-ray! |
 |
| The September Issue (Special Edition) (Widescreen, Special Edition) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Box (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Nurse Jackie: Season One (3 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Emma (2 Discs) (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Law Abiding Citizen Rated: R |
 |
| Sorority Row (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Elvis: A John Carpenter Film (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG Finally on DVD!! |
 |
| Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Freak-y Blu-ray! |
 |
| Midsomer Murders: Set 13 (4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Midsomer Murders: Set 14 (4 Discs) (4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Flashforward: Season One, Part 1 (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: TV14 |
 |
The week of February 13th, 2010
So what has been said about the 2010 Games that hasn’t been said ? Well, this week, we learned even more about the healing power of cheese. And while I’ll let you look that one up yourself, we have our own kind of cheese to serve up, and cousin, is this cheese thick.
First off, the feature section for the month of February is Love (Aphrodite approved). I guess because of some heart-shaped box day coming up. So Hollywood obliges us with some tangy cheddar: “Loves Happens”, “Amelia”, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”, “Couples Retreat”, “Universal Soldier: Regeneration”, and not to mention, the ferociously awesome “Zombieland” - you see, not all cheese need to be pungent. Some cheese can make you cry, some can make you laugh. Just don’t let it get your emotions all backed up. Too much can do that.
And it’s not just Hollywood: the Oscar-winning “Departures”, the Tony Jaa martial arts craziness of “Ong Bak 2″, Japanese secret agent school girls in “YoYo Girl Cop”, and more “Doctor Who” prove you don’t have to be from this continent to smoke a little fromage.
In the spirit of the-world-in-our-backyard camaraderie, Happy Bats is having a sale to rival the heights of Mt. Olympus!! Our 2010 sale: all new and good-used movies in our sales stock are reduced, with 20% off brand new and 10% off used - see what I did there ? 20/10 ? And our beautiful, American Apparel, makes-a-perfect-gift Happy Bats t-shirts and hoodies are 50% off!! So make like Apollo and gt down here for best selection. Only Zeus himself could have a better sale based on a number. But he’s probably knee-deep in Feta.
| A Serious Man (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on dryly funny Blu-ray! |
 |
| Zombieland (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Undead Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Time Traveler’s Wife (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Bronson (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Couples Retreat (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on Vaughn-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Departures AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: R |
 |
| Bright Star (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Patton Oswalt: My Weakness Is Strong (2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Sarah Silverman Program: Season Two, Vol. Two (Full Frame, 2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Stepfather (Widescreen, Unrated Version) Rated: NR |
 |
| Universal Soldier: Regeneration (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Yo-Yo Girl Cop (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Love Happens (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Amelia (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Doctor Who: The Complete Specials (5PC) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of January 30th, 2010
To “Whip It”. Because Whip It’s good.
I know. Obvious one there. Couldn’t be helped. But the charms of the film are obvious as well: a coming of age tale, Ellen Page, and hot, sweaty female roller derby…what else do you need ? Another obvious thing: Ricky Gervais is one funny sonnovabitch. While it’s been a bit difficult to prove that in his movies so far, “The Invention of Lying” is a good step closer. And it’s a pretty subversive. Always a good thing.
We’ve got some new TV shows to help you catch up with your favourite a) Nasty Lawyers (“Damages” season 2), b) British Special Service Agents (“MI-5″ volume 7), c) MILF-y drug dealer (“Weeds” season 5). Seems like all side of the law are taken care of there. We also have a new bit of very funny stand-up from TV star (see what I did there?) Aziz Ansari.
We recently brought in “Facing Ali”, and now “Soul Power” leads a new selection of documentaries this week. “Soul Power” is a document of the 1974 concert that was put on at the same time Ali fought Foreman in Zaire (The “Rumble in the Jungle”) and features such hotness as James Brown, The Spinners, Bill Withers and BB King. Five years earlier, The Rolling Stones played a free show at Altamont Speedway near San Francisco, where 4 people lost their lives. The brilliant documentarians The Maysles Brothers captured the last 10 days of The Rolling Stones American tour, including that fateful final show. This film. “Gimme Shelter” has been available for some time from the Criterion Collection, but is now available on glorious Blu-ray.
Going forward 40 years, to 2009: Michael Jackson, attempting a comeback, rehearsed at the Staples Center in LA for several days to put the finishing touches on a show that would wow London audiences. We all know how things went. The rehearsals were all filmed, with MJ’s final days captured for posterity. “This Is It” has a quality to it that makes it hard to turn away: from the lavish sets and filmed set pieces to the dancers and Michael’s surprisingly strong voice. Speaking of strong voices, the final new doc this week is the follow-up from “Manufactured Landscapes” director Jennifer Baichwal, “Act of God”, in which she talks to people whose lives have seemingly been changed forever after being hit by lightning. You can add your own joke here…
Another quick word about The Criterion Collection. In addition to “Gimme Shelter”, we have also brought in a couple more recent titles, “Downhill Racer” starring Robert Redford, “The Golden Age of Television”, a 3 disc collection of live American television plays of the 1950s, starring the likes of Paul Newman, Mickey Rooney, Rod Steiger, Julie Harris, and Piper Laurie. And last but not least, we have “Che”, both parts, now on glorious Blu-ray! Each of the two parts contain a boatload of special features, and couldn’t look and sound more stunning.
So, the Olympics. I’ve finally discovered some good things it has brought our fair town, and you can check them out now before the crowds come a-crowdin’: The Vancouver Art Gallery has“Cue: Artists’ Videos” showing on a giant screen on the Robson side of their building until March 21. They range in length and theme, but from what I’ve seen so far, they are very compelling. Of interest is a 1997 short made by “Hunger” director Steve McQueen.
The other is something very special: former Vancouver resident (and friend of The Bat) Etienne Zack is turning one of his paintings into a three-dimensional sculpture. The work, which consists of a wooden structure wrapped in canvas, links the factory-like production processes underlying the cultural and sporting industries. It can be viewed at 560 Seymour St until Feb 28. Etienne is one of the most friendly, talented artists we’ve ever met, so drop by for something you’ve never seen before. Then drop by the Bat to rent something you’ve never seen before.
| Whip It (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available in bruising Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Invention of Lying (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on inventive Blu-ray! No lie! |
 |
| Weeds: Season Five (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: NR Also available on dope Blu-ray! |
 |
| Michael Jackson’s This Is It (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available on Smooth (Criminal) Blu-ray! Jamon! |
 |
| Big Fan (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Gamer (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Surrogates (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| WWII in HD (3PC) Rated: NR Also available ON HD - Blu-ray! |
 |
| Mi-5, Vol. 7 (Widescreen, 5PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Act of God (Widescreen) AMG Rating:  Rated: NR |
 |
| 50 Dead Men Walking (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Soul Power (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Pandorum Rated: R |
 |
| Damages: The Complete Second Season (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on Smokin’ Blu-ray! The first one too! |
 |
| Magnolia (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Finally on Blu-laser/phaser/ICBM-ray! |
 |
||||||
| Downhill Racer (Widescreen, Special Edition) AMG Rating: Rated: PG |
 |
| The Golden Age of Television (Full Frame, 3PC, Black & White) Rated: NR |
 |
| Gimme Shelter AMG Rating: Rated: NR Finally on bikerriffic Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
| Che (Widescreen, 2PC) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Finally on Revolutionary Blu-ray!! |
 |
||||||
| Cairo Time (Widescreen) AMG Rating: |
 |
||||||
The week of January 17th, 2010
Well, now that all that holiday stuff is over with, time to get down to some serious movie watching. Tis the season for it. Stay inside, prop up your feet, and pop something good in the player. Maybe not in that order, unless you can put something in the player with your feet up. And if it involves using your feet, please keep that to yourself. I didn’t think those looked like finger prints on those discs you’ve been returning…
Err…right. Watching movies. Why not ? And with the Olympics coming up, you’ll want to get in shape, limber up, and ignore them completely by watching movies. They say invite the world. I respectfully disagree. I say invite a friend over, watch a DVD (or Blu-ray!) together. That’s how Dad did it, that’s how America does it…and it’s worked out pretty good so far…sorry, can’t wait for Iron Man 2…
OK. Here’s a quick review of some of the new releases Happy Bats have brought in lo these last few weeks. “The Hurt Locker” is everything anyone has said about it. It really is. “Moon” knocked my damn socks off, had to put on a different pair. So small, so good. The flick, not my socks. While the title claims “It Might Get Loud”, technically, that’s between you and your remote. But it does demand a listen (and watch). “Facing Ali” look like a champ. Maybe the greatest of all time. Or maybe just really good. It will go the distance either way.
Can you believe The Simpsons debuted 20 years ago this week ? The longest and by far the best animated television show of all time. Sorry, distant seconds. I like some of you as well, but come on. Be serious. Just go sit down.
As (almost) always, you can click on those purty little movie boxes below to see a review, a trailer or something related to that DVD. And of course, you can come join in the fun in those little know corners of the webbb, Facebook and Twitter. It’s so the thing to do in the tenners…or is that the O-tens ? Hmmm…well, they have ten years to figure that out…
| The Hurt Locker (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available in explosive Blu-ray! |
 |
| Moon (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| It Might Get Loud (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Also available in axe-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Facing Ali (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
|
|
| The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Widescreen) Rated: PG Also available in Uncloudy Blu-ray! |
 |
| Big Love: The Complete Third Season (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| The Final Destination 3D (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Halloween II (Widescreen, Unrated Version) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of January 1st, 2010
Or already had it ? Blu-ray continues to grow in leaps and bounds, and has far surpassed DVD player sales in same amount of time when first available. We even saw players under $100 on Boxing Day (mine from 2 years ago: $450 on sale!).
A few months ago, a collective of online Blu-ray reviewers got together to make a list of their top Blu-ray discs released so far, so if you are looking for that wow-factor with you new player, here is that list, all available to rent at Happy Bats. I will add a few of my own picks at the end.
I would easily add to this list the two ‘new’ James Bond films, “Casino Royale”, and “Quantum of Solace”, as well as Disney’s “Pinocchio”, Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest”, “How the West was Won” (complete with option to watch in “Cinerama” mode, how it was originally screened), “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”, “Iron Man”, The Police’s reunion concert “Certifiable”, David Fincher’s “Fight Club”, Danny Boyle’s “Sunshine”, the new “Star Trek” movie, and the fantastic “Mad Men” and “Lost” series.
With very few exceptions, everything looks better on Blu-ray. And the quality of them keeps improving as the format keeps growing. Happy Bats jumped in with both feet two years ago, so we have a very large collection to choose from, and are adding new releases every week. And with rumors of the Indiana Jones films, the Alien Quadrilogy, and the Back to the Future Trilogy being worked on for release in 2010, Blu-ray is the way of the future…the way of the future….the way of the future…
The week of December 31st, 2009
…and we’re more than fine with that. Good bye 2009. Don’t let door hit you on the…well, whatever you have back there.
The best way to end the year and begin a shiny new one ? “Glee”. That’s right, “Glee”. There is no more appropriately titled thing out there. It is fabulous. And this comes from a pretty staunchly heterosexual boy. Did I just call myself pretty ?
Or you could finish off ‘09 with one of the ‘9′ related titles: last week’s amazing “District 9″, or this week’s amazing looking animated film, “9″…number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9…
Then there are also some thriller-ish horror titles out this week too: the locally shot “Jennifer’s Body”, starring the supposedly hot Megan Fox, and written by that “Juno” woman (who also brings us the Toni Collette starring “United States of Tara” - apparently fantastic). It’s had as many glowing reviews as it has had glaring reviews, so it might just be up to you if it’s a good one or not. Let us know what you think. Same goes with the micro-budget, $100 million+ box office smash “Paranormal Activity” - everyone has a different opinion. And finally the Steve Zahn/Timothy Olyphant/Milla Jovavich thriller “A Perfect Getaway”.
Lots of various things to finish the year off right. Thanks for your continued support in our first year in the new location. We look forward to continue being YOUR local video store in 2010. Happy New Year. Hope yours is a good one.
| Glee: Season 1, Vol. 1 - the Road to Sectionals (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Jennifer’s Body (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available in skank-errific Blu-ray! |
 |
| 9 (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 Also available on anima-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| A Perfect Getaway (Widescreen, Unrated Version, Rated Version) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| United States of Tara: The First Season (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Paranormal Activity (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on chilling Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Finally on Clint-tastic Blu-ray!! |
 |
||||||
The week of December 23rd, 2009
And so this is Christmas, and what have you done ? Have you rented the Basterds, or the Hangover one ? Both are inappropriately fun ways to celebrate the season. But this week, we have the gift of aliens, factory workers, lovers, and some (Trailer Park) Boys.
District 9 is huge. And pure awesome. And local. And we all know how important it is to shop locally. (500) Days of Summer arrives on the first full day of winter, to warm those chilly cockles. The Genius of Dumb Mike Judge delivers his Extract, which was written specifically for Jason Bateman (and features Ben Affleck, favourite of us all - you know he’s the bomb, especially in smaller, supporting roles. Dazed and Confused, anyone ?). And speaking of dumb, Canadian heroes The Trailer Park Boys return with the final chapter of their long and sh#tbird-filled lives: Countdown to Liquor Day. If you haven’t see their Christmas special, you owe it to yourself.
And congrats to Rage Against the Machine for having the #1 Single in the UK for Christmas. Billy Mack would be proud.
War is over! If you want it. Happy Christmas from all at Happy Bats.
| District 9 (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available on prawn-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| (500) Days of Summer (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Extract (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| All About Steve (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Lost: The Complete Fifth Season (5PC) Rated: TV14 |
 |
| Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Darkside (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day Rated: NR |
 |
The week of December 20th, 2009
What better way to celebrate the onset of winter, the coming of a new year, and the arrival of Santa with some good ol’ fashioned Nazi scalpings ? None, I believe, is the correct answer. Inglourious Basterds is Quentin Tarantino’s most assured film to date, and was one of the best released this year. Whereas The Hangover was the funniest film of the year. I’d like to imagine that one of things the fellas in The Hangover did during that drunken debauchery of a night was fly back in time to Nazi-occupied France and got some Nazi scalps of their own. Maybe it’s a deleted scene.
Something special that finally made it’s way north this week is the fifth installment of Project Runway. For some reason it never got a proper release here in the Canada, so we went and found one for you. Why ? Because fashion knows no borders. DVDs ABOUT fashion apparently do, though. And because we love you. There. I said it.
So, what we’re really trying to say is, have a holly jolly Christmas, and in case you didn’t hear, oh, by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas this year. And in case you didn’t hear, we’re talking about Christmas. And having a holly jolly one. Why wouldn’t you have heard it the first time ? Weird. And don’t even get me started on that Feliz Navidad song. Just wish them a Merry Christmas and be done with it. We know you wanna, so just do it. Wow, two product catch-phrases in one sentence. It truly is a Christmas miracle. Peace out!
| Inglourious Basterds (Widescreen) Rated: R Also available in Scalperrific Blu-Ray! |
 |
| The Hangover (Widescreen, Unrated Version) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available in Galifianakis-ly Glorious Blu-Ray! |
 |
| Taking Woodstock (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| G-Force (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG RAlso available in Rodent-tastic Blu-Ray!! |
 |
||||||
| Robot Chicken: Season Four (Full Frame, 2PC) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Project Runway: The Complete Fifth Season (Full Frame, 4PC) Rated: TV14 |
 |
The week of December 9th, 2009
Our new rental rates/length of rentals is now as follows:
Please note these prices are all inclusive of tax.
That’s right…WE EAT YOUR TAX, NOT YOUR BRAINS!!
The week of December 9th, 2009
Is there a bigger current movie franchise than Harry Potter ? Nope. The sixth film finds Harry fighting for…ok, well, he’s always fighting for something, and he’s got that cool scar. We have all the films, even on Blu-ray, so maybe a holiday season marathon is in order. Or maybe you’ll be cooking up a storm and need to channel the spirit of Julia Childs. You may want to check out Julie & Julia first, starring perennial summer box office star Meryl Streep and my future wife Amy Adams.
Or maybe some Johhny Depp/Christian Bale/Billy Crudup action ? No, Santa hasn’t come early and left this threesome under your tree, but Michael Mann has brought them together in the Dillinger bio-pic Public Enemies. While there is no connection to the film whatsoever, the title did make me listen to Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation of Millions…” record this week. Louder than a bomb. My posse don’t quit cause my posse’s got velocity.
And yes, down this list you will find the Criterion Collection release of Wings of Desires - if you have tried to rent this film from us before, and were told how rare it was, well, now it’s available for everyone to see. Criterion Collection and Happy Bats: For The People.
Speaking of, you might see a few changes to the sections in the store. First off is our massive Christmas section, next to the New Release wall. For ages 0 to 173, and of all tastes, we have you covered. All of our directors of English-speaking films are together at last, and (shockingly) in alphabetical order. All the other free-range directors are now where they should be (ie Fellini is now nestled in with the Italian films/directors, Akira Kurosawa with the Japanese films/directors, etc.). As always, feel free to ask if you can’t find something, from a film to a whole section.
We are your store. We are Borg. Wait, no, that’s not right… Bring the Noise.
| Public Enemies (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available on Depp-tastic Blu-ray |
 |
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG Also available on wizardly Blu-ray |
 |
| Julie & Julia (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Cove (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Full Frame, Restored, 2PC) AMG Rating: Rated: G |
 |
| Wings of Desire (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The English Surgeon Rated: TV14 |
 |
| Lark Rise to Candleford: The Complete Season One (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of December 9th, 2009
Sorry this update has been a long time coming, but here is selection what we have brought in to the store in the last few weeks. The best: Star Trek, Up, Nirvana live at Reading, many others. North by Northwest and FightClub on Blu-ray are things of beauty to behold. Again, sorry for the delay.
Better loud than too late.
| Star Trek (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 Also available on Kirk-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Up (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG Also avilable on Pixar-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Funny People (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Also available on Apatow-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Terminator Salvation (Widescreen, Digital Copy) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 Also available on #%@’ Blu-ray! |
 |
| My Sister’s Keeper (Full Frame, Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Angels & Demons (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Also on Hanks-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Shorts (Full Frame, Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Brüno (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also on fabulous Blu-ray! |
 |
| It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 Also available on Cobra-riffic Blu-ray! |
 |
| Paper Heart Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Tudors: The Complete Third Season (Widescreen, 3PC) |
 |
| Orphan (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| The Ugly Truth (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG Also on Amy Adams Awesome Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Limits of Control (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Thirst (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Food, Inc. (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG |
 |
| Whatever Works (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Spread Rated: R |
 |
| Four Christmases (Full Frame, Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| I Love You, Beth Cooper (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars - the Complete Season One (Full Frame, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Castle: The Complete First Season (3PC) Rated: TVPG |
 |
| Monty Python: Almost the Truth: The Lawyer’s Cut (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Nirvana: Live at Reading Rated: NR |
 |
| Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George w. Bush Rated: TVMA |
 |
| North By Northwest (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Now on Hitchcokian Blu-ray!! |
 |
||||||
| Fight Club (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Finally on smack-tastic Blu-ray! |
 |
||||||
The week of November 21st, 2009
I promise not to be too bitey. Sorry for the desert that has been this site as of late, I have a massive update o’ fun coming for y’all, but in the meantime, let me bring you up to speed about our new pricing and rental terms!!
Our ongoing hours, except on holidays, is NOON to 11PM daily.
Our new rental rates/length of rentals is now as follows:
Please note these prices are all inclusive of tax.
That’s right…WE EAT YOUR TAX, NOT YOUR BRAINS!!
Watch for a massive update of New Releases coming soon.
The week of October 23rd, 2009
AND Buffy!
With Hallowe’en just a few short days away, things are ramping up at The Bat. We have our huge sale on Bat-wear (save %50, that’s right HALF off any of our highly collectible and wearable t-shirts and hoodies!). We have out “Rent one horror movie, get a free “80’s” rental free (from our extensive “80’s Section”). And of course, there is the triumphant return of the Buffy Sing-Along!! Tickets are selling quickly, so if you want to attend, don’t delay!!
Of that’s not all, remember to check out our special Monthly Feature section, which this month contains our staff’s top 20 or more favourite horror movies - that’s at least 20 that EACH of us has picked out, along with special guest Duffy of Ladyhawk infamy. He couldn’t stop picking his! All the horror you could want, all in one place. As always, these are located on the shelf directly in front of our neon “OPEN” sign.
This week see the release of Michael Bay’s second entry in his “Giant Robots Blowing Up S%#t” saga, “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen”. And speaking of sagas, we also see then final season of the fantastic Vancouver-shot series, “The L Word”. It will be missed. Anime comes to life in “Blood: The Last Vampire”, and frozen Nazis do as well in the Much anticipated Norwegian zombie flick, “Dead Snow”.
Got YOUR costume yet ?
| Transformers 2: Revenge of The Fallen (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 Also available on Bay-rrific Blu-ray! |
 |
| The L Word: Final Season (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Blood: The Last Vampire (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Dead Snow (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
The week of October 16th, 2009
Well, there are not so many New Releases this week, but they are all pretty big ones. And more time to catch up on some of the previous weeks’ bounty. Or our Special Section for October: The best scary, gory, and/or haunting films, as chosen by the staff at Happy Bats, along with special guest Duffy of Ladyhawk fame. There’s more than 150 titles there to keep you awake at night.
Speaking of horror, this week sees the DVD and Blu-ray release of Sam Raimi’s fantastic “Drag Me To Hell”. Forget the Spider-Man flicks, this is classic “Evil Dead” Raimi at his best. Scary, funny, creepy. Just like some of our staff.
Continuing with the scary: Sandra Bullock’s career was resurrected with “The Proposal”, co-starring local fella Ryan Reynolds. And SHE plays the Canadian! What a crazy random happenstance!
Will Ferrell gets scared (and funny) in “Land of the Lost”, a sort-of remake of the classic TV series. Trivia: in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” , Ferrell played a wildlife official, Marshall Willenholly. And the name of the three main characters in “Land of the Lost” ? Marshall, Will, and Holly. Spooky!!
And rounding out these haunting tales is a documentary called “Every Little Step”, about performers trying out for a production of the musical “A Chorus Line”. By all accounts, it’s a must see. And we all know how scary musicals are.
And please don’t forget the amazing deals to be had in our apparel department: we’ve SLASHED our prices in half! Like some kind of movie monster or government arts-funding council. Truly chilling stuff…
| Drag Me to Hell (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Also available in hellishly glorious Blu-ray! |
 |
| The Proposal (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Land of the Lost (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Every Little Step (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
The week of October 9th, 2009
Well, now that that’s out of the way…
This is a pretty slow week, but it’s quality, not quantity, man, and just wait ’til I get to college…
Michael Cera IS Michael Cera AS Michael Cera Portraying Caveman Michael Cera (with Jack Black AS Jack Bl… ) in “Year One”. One of the funniest living humans, Zach Galifiankas IS a visioneer in “Visioneers”. Visionary metal act Anvil ARE Anvil in the much-anticipated doc about Anvil, “Anvil: The Story of Anvil.”Anvils might not fall on coyotes’ heads, but Australians will be exploited in ”“Not Quite Hollywood”. Hollywood hotshot and “X-men” director Bryan Singer helped put together the horror anthology “Trick ‘r Treat”, starring that Sookie girl from “True Blood”. Treat yourself to “Brick” director Rian Johnson’s sophomore film, “The Brothers Bloom”, on glorious Blu-ray and DVD. DVD-R is how The Warner Archive Collection is releasing films from the vast Warner Brothers vaults, so now you can enjoy almost forgotten gems likes “URGH! A Music War”.
And if that’s not all, come in to check our SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWE’EN SPECIALS, DEALS, and SECTIONS!! (yes, i was just shouting. And why not ?) Every staff member compiled a list of their favourite Hallowe’en thrills and chills, along with special guest list-maker Duffy of Ladyhawke fame. He loves him some horror with cheese.
And to cap all that, ALL of our Bat-wear is %50 OFF!!! Yes, you read that correctly ! HALF OFF!! Includes long sleeves and short sleeves, and even the coveted Happy Bats Hoodie! Come early for best selection and sizing!!
And don’t forget your Buffy Singalong tickets!!
| Year One (Widescreen, Unrated Version) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Anvil: The Story of Anvil (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| Trick ‘R Treat (Full Frame, Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| The Brothers Bloom AMG Rating: Rated: PG13Also available on Bloomin’ glorious Blu-ray! |
 |
| Not Quite Hollywood (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Visioneers Rated: NR |
 |
| URGH! A Music (Warner Archive Collection) Rated: R |
 |
The week of October 1st, 2009
Time to break out the fall shorts. I gripe about summer a lot, but really, only because as seasons go, it blows. Time to stay indoors and be much less extroverted. And what better way to do so than to dig into some of those TV shows you either missed out on for lack of cable or lack of interest. There is so much good stuff out right now. This past week sees the release of a couple of the best funny ones around, “30 Rock” and “How I Met Your Mother”. There’s also the underrated (and therefore canceled) “Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles”, and a couple of new ones, “The Mentalist” and the locally produced “Sanctuary”.
There are also some movies to keep an eye out for, including Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go”, and the very funny and good looking animated feature, “Monsters Vs Aliens”. This was presented in 3D in theatres, but was not released on DVD (or Blu-ray) with the 3D option. I still think it’s just this year’s gimmick, anyhow. “Jaws 3″ is still just as watchable without 3D as it was with it…ok, bad example, but still…
I think the DVD of the week is Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience”. It’s not for everybody, and it is not likely quite what you think. I love this man’s career: big Hollywood star-packed popcorn movies, followed by tiny little barely released arthouse films. Look at his work, the distinction between what is a “film” and what is a “movie” is plain as day.
What should also be plain as day is that as always, you can click on many if not all the box covers below and read a review, see a trailer, or some such nonsense I have found. You can still follow our sporadic and disjointed musings on Twitter as well. plibt.
And at the end of the month, you can join us and a vampire slayer in singing a few songs…watch for a special announcement VERY soon…
| The Girlfriend Experience (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available in intimate, discreet Blu-ray!! |
 |
| Monsters Vs. Aliens (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG Also available in gigantically monstrous Blu-ray!! |
 |
| Observe and Report (Full Frame, Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available in observable and reportable Blu-ray! |
 |
| Away We Go (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| 30 Rock: Season 3 (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| How I Met Your Mother: The Legendary Season 4 (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - the Complete Second Season (Widescreen, 6PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Management (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| The Hills Run Red (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Wizard of Oz (1939) (Widescreen, 70th Anniversary Edition, 2PC) |
 |
| Lagerfeld Confidential Rated: NR |
 |
| Ugly Betty: The Complete Third Season (6PC) Rated: TVPG |
 |
| The Mentalist: The Complete First Season (Widescreen, 6PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Rated: R |
 |
| Sanctuary: The Complete First Season (4PC, Boxed Set) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of September 19th, 2009
…type ? Read ? Blawg ? Is this thing on ? Ruh-row!
So first off, it’s almost VIFF time again, and you can NOW come in and get the program guide, for a measly 10 bucks (cash). It’s all you need to make your VIFF experience VIFF-tastic.
OK then. There are many, many titles below, some good, some great, some I may not like, but you might love. And contrariwise. One of the best films of last year’s VIFF was Sugar, a film about a Dominican baseball player on his journey from poverty to the big leagues. It was directed by the same couple that made Half Nelson, the Ryan Gossling techer-with-a-habit film from a couple years back. Very compelling, eye-opening stuff.
There’s a lot fighting evil goin’ on, whether it’s Wolverine and the snikkity-snik of his adamantium claws, the folks at Fringe division (one of the must-sees of this list, btw) fighting against secret organizations, the Supernatural fellas fighting the supernatural, or everyday folks fighting injustie in Sin Nombre or Hunger.
There’s also a lot of laughing to be had, from funnymen Jeff Garlin, Bill Burr, or Neil Hamburger (do you laugh with him, or…hmmm). The laughs keep a-comin’ from some TV shows: The Office, Parks and Recreation, and The IT Crowd. Not to mention 80’s skin-tastic comedy, Screwballs. A classic.
And to top all that, at the bottom of this list is a pile of new Criterion Collection releases. If you have been in lately, you may have noticed that we have rebuilt the Criterion Collection section. It’s right next to the New Releases, all of which are on the south end of the store.
And you can also check out our monthly feature, inspired by Quentin Tarantino: he recently made a list of his top 20 films SINCE he himself has started making them. We have all, save but one (which is only on VHS - sorry!) available for rental, and found in one convenient place.
Well, there it is. As always, you can click on some/most of the DVD covers below to find reviews, trailers, and other assorted entertainments. And please, if you are on the twitter, join us on the twitter. It’s everything you’ve heard. plibt.
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Sin Nombre (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Heroes: Season 3 (Widescreen, 6PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| State of Play (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Sugar (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Valentino: The Last Emperor (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Crank 2: High Voltage (Full Frame, Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Fringe: The Complete First Season (Widescreen, 7PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Office: Season Five (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Parks and Recreation: Season One (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| My Name Is Earl: Season 4 (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 4 (Widescreen, 3PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Phantasm II (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Grace Rated: R |
 |
| Deadgirl (Director’s Cut) Rated: NR |
 |
| Grey’s Anatomy: Complete Fifth Season (7PC) Rated: TV14 |
 |
| The It Crowd: The Complete Third Season Rated: NR |
 |
| Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fifth Season (7PC) Rated: TV14 |
 |
| Supernatural: The Complete Fourth Season (Widescreen, 6PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Surveillance (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Husbands (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Bleach, Vol. 19 (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Bill Burr: Why Do I Do This? (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Claymore, Vol. 5: The Sisters in Arms Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Coco Chanel (Widescreen) Rated: PG |
 |
| Wholphin: Issue 8 Rated: NR |
 |
| Screwballs (Widescreen) Rated: R |
 |
| Neil Hamburger: Western Music and Variety Rated: NR |
 |
| Jeff Garlin: Young and Handsome: A Night with Jeff Garlin (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Darker Than Black, Vol. 6 Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Death Note 3: L, Change the World (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Hunger (Widescreen) |
 |
| Last Year at Marienbad (Widescreen, Special Edition, 2PC, Black & White) AMG Rating: Rated: NR Also available in glorious Blu-ray! |
 |
| Repulsion (Widescreen, Special Edition, Black & White) AMG Rating: Rated: NR
|
 |
||||||
| Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Widescreen, 2PC) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| The Last Days of Disco (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Homicide (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| That Hamilton Woman (Full Frame, Black & White) AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| Playtime (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: NR
|
 |
||||||
The week of August 30th, 2009
Well, that was summer. Went kinda fast, didn’t it ? My plans to blow up the sun have not yet been realized, I’ll let you know when that happens. But it’s about to get cooler, so maybe I will hold off my grudge against that damn ’star’ a little longer. The one against all things Joaquin Phoenix stand though. #fail
But with the end of summer comes the winter of hope that springs eternal, the fall television season. Huh ? Well, most of the really good TV is on channels that only the elite and crafty can get, and why wouldn’t you want to wait until you can see all the shows, one after the other, with no commercial breaks, until you realize you have to be up in 3 hours for work again but maybe Dexter is going to get caught and you will just watch for 5 more minutes and maybe see how the next one starts and then omg so sleepy but maybe Jimmy Smits will act all cubano and cool and you can forgive him for once trying to leave television for a failed film career like that Caruso guy but still always be better than him, and definitely better than Joaquin Phoenix no matter what.
(breath)
Hey, ramble much ?
So, the new season of Californication looks like it might be just as funny, smart and oh so dirty, maybe even more so, than the first season. House is doing his all crazy bitter doctor thing, and wouldn’t it be cool if Stephen Fry came on as a patient or a visiting doctor ? I love me some stunt casting. Superman is still trying to outgrow Smallville, The Simpsons are around the half-way point in releasing season 12. There is also a show called Scrubs.
Mike Tyson gets the documentary treatment, as does a nasty gal from a couple years ago, Katrina. So lots of damage, either way. And then there are some fun looking films with actors from almost every age group: the teens/twenty-something of Adventureland (88% on Rotten Tomatoes ? nice), the 30-ish sisters cleaning up like they’re Dexter in Sunshine Cleaning, and 40-somethings Clive Owen and Julia Roberts out-scam each other in Duplicity. And I think that secretly all the cast of Gossip Girl are really in their fifties/sixties. Might be true.
Remember, click on the images below for hidden secrets. The owls are not what they seem.
| Dexter: The Third Season (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR Also available in glorious, visceral Blu-ray!! Killer! |
 |
| Californication: The Second Season (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Duplicity (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Sunshine Cleaning Rated: R |
 |
| Adventureland (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| Fighting (Widescreen, Unrated Version, Rated Version) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Trouble the Water AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| Gossip Girl: The Complete Second Season (Widescreen, 6PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Tyson (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| The Last House on the Left (Widescreen, Unrated Version, Rated Version) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
 |
| The Simpsons: The Twelfth Season (Full Frame, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| House: Season Five (Widescreen, 5PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season (Widescreen, 6PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Scrubs: The Complete Eighth Season (3PC) Rated: TVPG |
 |
| Just for Laughs: Over the Edge (Full Frame) Rated: NR |
 |
| Hardbodies Collection Rated: R
|
 |
| Polytechnique Rated: R |
 |
The week of August 13th, 2009
Ahh, a cleansing rain. Finally. Vancouver has been hot hot hot, and not in a good way. The recent rain has been a nice change. And while it’s almost back to school time, there is still time to be wasted, people. A heartwarming documentary ? Some wacky Kiwis ? The platonic love of one man for another man ? These are things to help you conserve your energy before the highways are jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive. You know what I mean.
Besides having the amazing ‘Waltz With Bashir’, ‘Gomorrah’, and ‘Che Part Two’ available now, there are also a couple of lesser known gems, like the Korean mega-hit ‘The Chaser’ and ‘The Class’. But everything we have is not so dire: ‘Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!’ season 3 is now in, and just as frakkin’ funny and weird as ever.
And finally, Zac Efron vs. Paul Rudd. No contest. Rudd wins by a landslide. I kinda want him to be my BFF.
And if all this entertainment value is not enough, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival kicks off this week. Fun for all ages, genders and persuasion. Even bears.
| Waltz with Bashir (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available in glorious Blu-ray |
 |
| I Love You, Man (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R Also available in bromantic Blu-ray |
 |
| Gomorrah AMG Rating: Rated: NR |
 |
| Che Part Two: Guerilla AMG Rating: |
 |
| The Class (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| 17 Again (Full Frame, Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| The Chaser (Widescreen) |
 |
| Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Second Season (Widescreen) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: Season Three (Full Frame) Rated: TVMA |
 |
| The Soloist (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Combat Shock (2PC) Rated: R |
 |
| Obsessed (Widescreen) Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Race to Witch Mountain (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG Also Available on Blu-ray |
 |
||||||
The week of August 1st, 2009
Normally, I would have lead that title with the final part of the Battlestar Galactica series (Season 4.5, now in stock!!), but this is huge - we have copies of Waltz With Bashir on both DVD and Blu-ray for rent. A huge hit at last year’s VIFF, and one of the most asked-for titles of the year.
As I just mentioned, the final part of the final season of BSG is now available, but two other genre TV shows are at The Bat too: the Torchwood mini-series (that shows’ finale…or is it ?), and the much-debated Joss Whedon (!) created Dollhouse. I really dig it, a show that just got better and better as it unfolded.
We also have a film called Big Man Japan. It looks like it could be the best thing ever made, ever. HERE is the trailer to whet your appetite.
And to close things out, at the bottom of this list are three very, very different Canadian entries. A doc about BC pot, a fantastic cerebral thriller/horror by Bat-favourite Bruce McDonald, and the third film in the Fast Runner Trilogy. All worthy flicks to view this BC Day weekend. Watch out for bears.
| Waltz with Bashir (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R |
|
| Waltz with Bashir (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: R
|
 |
||||||
| Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Dollhouse: Season One (Widescreen, 4PC) Rated: NR Coming soon on Blu-ray |
 |
| Torchwood: Children of Earth (Widescreen, 2PC) Rated: NR |
 |
| Big Man Japan (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Fast & Furious (Widescreen) AMG Rating: Rated: PG13 |
 |
| Miss March (Widescreen, Unrated Version, Rated Version) Rated: R |
 |
| The Union: The Business Behind Getting High (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
| Pontypool (Widescreen) Rated: PG-13 |
 |
| Before Tomorrow (Widescreen) Rated: NR |
 |
The week of July 20th, 2009
While most bears hibernate in winter, some just want to get through the hot weather- in other words, sorry for this very tardy update. Not that I’m a bear. Of any description. Not to say that there is anything wrong with bears. Of any description. As long as they don’t try to maul me (again, bears of any description). Wait. Where was I ?
Right. DVDs. And glorious Blu-rays. Here’s an extensive list of cool things to take home and enjoy. Note the break after this week’s New Releases, to give us all a bit of a breather what with all this hot weather and bears and all…Right. After the pause, more recent releases, and there are some damn fine ones in that batch as well.
Who watches The Watchmen ? Why, YOU do, of course! Or join nice little Coraline for a harrowing 3D adventure, so dark and so fun. The funny, weird-ass British series The Mighty Boosh is finally available in a more readily viewable format, as are a couple of Godard films from Criterion. Or catch up on 1960’s fashion and smoking abilities with a little Mad Men season two - or find out what’s up in the pieshop with the second season of the criminally underrated Pushing Daisies. Or give a Knowing Push to Two Lovers. errr….blame the heatstroke. Damn bears.
So get out of the heat, safe from the bears (assuming you want to be safe from…oh never mind), and catch up on something fun, sad, compelling, heartbreaking, silly, or just plain stupid.
Got some i
