Top 10 Double Dips

Double dips. As DVD collector's, we have a love/hate relationship with them. On the plus side, you're getting all new bonus materials, possibly a new a/v transfer, and all sorts of other goodies. On the downside, you're probably paying for a movie you already purchased once. So what's worth your double dip dollar? Here are ten double dips we think are worth the upgrade.

10. Pulp Fiction

Original Release Date: May 20th, 1998

Double Dip Date: August 20th, 2002

Originally released as a bare bones single disc, die-hards new there was way more bonus material to be had, and some of us were able to patiently wait for a release worthy of the Criterion laserdisc. Even if you did purchase the original, there's not doubt you traded up thanks to handsome packaging, two discs loaded with bonus materials, and a Jack Rabbit Slim's menu included as the insert. A must upgrade for any Tarantino devotee.

9. Dogma

Original Release Date: May 2nd, 2000

Double Dip date: June 26th, 2001

Even in the format's infancy, Kevin Smith established himself as a huge supporter of supplimental material on his discs, with stellar releases of Chasing Amy and Mallrats. So when word came that his controversial 1999 film Dogma was being released with no special features, it came as a bit of a head scratcher. Thankfully, Smith's fantastic relationship with his fanbase made it clear that a special edition was in the works, so those of us in the know saved our hard earned dollar and the faithfull were duly rewarded with two of Smith's infamous commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and more, not to mention sweet Indiana Jones-esque cover art. DVD collectors can probably guess which Smith title we'll be seeing later on in the list.

8. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Original Release Date: May 29th, 2001

Double Dip Date: November 13th, 2007

Any double dip with multiple versions of the same film is always going to be an easy second purchase. The 30th Anniversary Edition of Close Encoutners Of The Third Kind collected all three versions of the film (theatrical, special edition, and director's cut), a collector's book, comparison poster, and more. The Blu-Ray edition is of course the preferred choice, but either way you'll be getting the most complete Close Encounters package you'll ever need.

7. Seven Samurai

Original Release Date: March 16th, 1999

Double Dip Date: September 5th, 2006

It's not often that Criterion feels the need to go back and add suppliments to their already loaded releases, but as the company's second DVD release, Seven Samurai was a little lite on the features. Due to it's 203 minute running time, it only included an audio commentary with Japanese film expert Michael Jeck and a theatrical trailer, all on the dreaded flipper disc. The 2006 release (our #1 DVD of that year) made right that wrong, spreading the film onto two discs, and threw in a bonus third disc of suppliments, including the Seven Samurai segment of Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful To Create, a now standard bonus feature on almost all of Criterion's Kurosawa releases.

6. Superman: The Movie

Original Release Date: May 1st, 2001

Double Dip Date: November 28th, 2006

If the idea of owning Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace kept you from purchasing the stunning Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition, you still owe it to yourself to pick up the 4 disc special edition. Featuring both the theatrical cut and the 2000 expanded edition, this double dip includes hours of features, such as featurettes covering all aspects of production, 9 Fleischer Superman cartoons, and the 1951 George Reeves movie Superman And The Mole Men.


5. Sin City: Unrated, Recut & Extended

Original Release Date: August 16th, 2005

Double Dip Date: December 13th, 2005

Here's a double dip we all saw coming. Director Robert Rodriguez has never been one to skimp on extra features, so when Sin City arrived in August of 2006 with just a behind-the-scenes featurette, it was clear more was to come. Rodriquez didn't dissapoint, giving Unrated, Recut & Extended buyers the option of watching the original theatrical cut, or watching each story seperately (with extra gore), as they were originally published by creator Frank Miller. You also get commentaries by Rodriguez, Miller and guest director Quentin Tarantino, featurettes, and the graphic novel version of The Hard Goodbye. Sadly, there's still no deleted Jessica Alba - Alexis Bledel make-out scene...I know it exists, it has to!


4. Zodiac: Director's Cut

Original Release Date: July 24th, 2007

Double Dip Date: January 8th, 2008

David Fincher's 2007 masterpiece Zodiac was one of the most intensely thorough prodedural thrillers released in recent memory, so when the bare bones DVD arrived in July of 2007, many fans smelled a rat. Turns out the smell was coming from the insert included in the DVD case, which announced the coming 2 disc Director's cut. Paramount delievered the goods though, putting out a set so filled with suppliments on every aspect of filming and more importantly, the actual Zodiac killings, that it's possibly the closest any studio has ever come to touching what Criterion does best.


3. Clerks X

Original Release Date: June 29th, 1999

Double Dip Date: September 7th, 2004

Kevin Smith's second appearance on our countdown is the tenth anniversary of his classic debut Clerks, Clerks X, a set that upgraded an already decent Collector's Edition (that virtually mirrored the laserdisc release) with a massive 3 discs. The theatrical cut and the original version of the film are included, with two commentaries, one being a video commentary for the original cut. The audio and video has been cleaned up, and highlights include an animated "Lost Scene" featuring Joey Lauren Adams, and the feature length documentary "Snowball Effect: The Making Of Clerks."


2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring - New Line Platinum Series

Original Release Date: August 6th, 2002

Double Dip Date: November 12th, 2002

Without question, The Lord Of The Rings films set the gold standard with the release of the extended version of The Fellowship Of The Ring. Not only did Peter Jackson add 30 minutes to the theatrical cut, he did the right thing and spread the film across two discs, to make space for a beautiful transfer, DTS ES and Dolby Digital EX audio options, and an audio commentary track with over 30 participants. The other two discs include several production featurettes, all beautiful laid out in a branching menu scheme. To top it all off, all three came packaged gorgeously, more at home in a library than on a DVD shelf.


1. Blade Runner: 5 Disc Ultimate Edition

Original Relase Date: March 26th, 1997

Double Dip Date: December 18th, 2007

Possibly one of the greatest DVDs ever released, the 5 disc Ultimate Edition of Blade Runner upgrades the previously released Director's Cut, one of the first titles released on the DVD format. This is as complete a package any die hard fan could ask for, including the final cut, the director's cut, the theatrical version, the European cut and the ultra rare workprint version that arguably started the public's fascination with the manly incarnations of Blade Runner. While Blu-Ray and HD-DVD owners could obtain the workprint with the standard or briefcase releases, DVD owners were forced to purchase the briefcase if they wanted the workprint. But oh what a set it is, with an oragami unicorn, die-cast toy Spinner, a motion film clip, hours of special features and more. To paraphrase Roy Batty, "Time to buy."

Men Amongst Men: Top Ten Badasses On Film

Everyday people come up to me and ask "Allan, you're so unbelievably intimidating and irresistible to women, how can I be more like you?" The answer is you can't. But I'm here from downtown, I'm here on a mission of mercy, and by studying these ten shining examples of masculinity, you'll be one step closer.

10. John Bender - The Breakfast Club


9. Richie - Over The Edge


8. Ordell Robbie - Jackie Brown


7. John McClane - Die Hard


6. Frank T.J. Mackey - Magnolia


5. Travis Bickle - Taxi Driver


4. Harry Callahan - Dirty Harry


3. Bud White - L.A. Confidential


2. Francis Begbie - Trainspotting


1. Blake - Glengarry Glen Ross

My Top Ten Favorite Movies To Watch On July 4th

The Fourth of July is upon us, and in the spirit of the holiday, I have decided to share the 10 movies that I like to watch on this day. These are the movies that remind me what it means to be an American, as well as what difficulties were endured to create the United States of America that we know and love today. They may not all be based on real events, but they all capture the strength and rebelliousness of the American spirit.

And in no particular order:


1. The Patriot


Best Quote: Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson): "Before this war is over, I'm going to kill you."



2. Glory


Best Quote: Col. Robert G. Shaw (Matthew Broderick): "If you men will take no pay, then none of us will."



3. Independence Day


Best Quote (tied!):

Capt. Steve Hiller (Will Smith): "Welcome to Earth!"

President Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman): "Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"



4. Forrest Gump

Best Quote: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks): "Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, never know what you're gonna get."



5. The Last Castle

Best Quote: Lt. Gen. Eugene Irwin (Robert Redford): "Colonel. I'm taking command of your prison"



6. Band of Brothers

Best Quote: Maj. Richard D. Winters (Damien Lewis): "We're not lost, Private... we're in Normandy."



7. Saving Private Ryan

Best Quote: Capt. John H. Miller (Tom Hanks): "Earn this."



8. Serenity

Best Quote: Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion): "Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave. "



9. Behind Enemy Lines

Best Quote: Admiral Leslie McMahon Reigart (Gene Hackman): "Zero-six, you've been shot down, life is tough. You're a combat aviator, start acting like one. Remember your training, put some angles between you and your pursuers. Evade and survive, and we will bring you home. You got that? We will bring you home"



10. Black Hawk Down

Best Quote: Eversmann (Josh Hartnett): "Nobody asks to be a hero, it just sometimes turns out that way. "


Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Top Ten Valentines I Hope To Receive In February 2009

Yeah, yeah, I know that Valentine's Day is more than half a year away, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Cheesy or not, here are the top ten Valentine's Day cards I hope to receive next Valentine's Day:

(Valentine's Day card creators: take note!)




1. Iron Man/Robert Downey, Jr.






2. The Dark Knight/Christian Bale






3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull/Harrison Ford & Shia LaBeouf

4. The Happening/Mark Wahlberg






5. The Incredible Hulk/Edward Norton






6. Tropic Thunder/Ben Stiller with a bonus Robert Downey, Jr.!






7. Wall*E/Wall*E



8. What Happens In Vegas/Ashton Kutcher






9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian/Ben Barnes






10. Get Smart/Steve Carell

Ten Directors On The Verge Of Greatness

Every great director has at least one film that makes the world take notice. For Quentin Tarantino it was Pulp Fiction, for Paul Thomas Anderson it was Boogie Nights (although one could arguably swap that moment for There Will Be Blood). That elusive classic doesn't just happen though. Some filmmakers seem destined for greatness with only a few films under their belt, while some may take a lifetime to achieve immortality. Here are ten directors in a heated race for glory.

10. Noah Baumbach
After his impressive 1995 directorial debut Kicking And Screaming, Noah Baumbach seemed to disappear off the radar. 2005's The Squid And The Whale, a painfully hilarious semi-autobiographical tale about divorce, became a critical darling and brought Baumbach back into the limelight. His 2007 film Margot At The Wedding only confirmed his talents for capturing ugliness in a humorous context. While his films often draw comparison to those of Wes Anderson (possibly due to their collaboration of The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou), Baumbach's films take place in the real world, as opposed to Anderson's exaggerated literary fantasy worlds. This may be why Baumbach has not obtained the cult following that Anderson enjoys, as his settings may seem too familiar for comfort. His talents are obvious though; it's not Baumbach who needs to strive for his great film...the audience needs to be ready for it.


9. Greg Mottola
Greg Mottola's directorial debut, the completely enjoyable comedy The Daytrippers, was a hit at Sundance in a year when there were too many hits at Sundance, and therefore got lost in the shuffle. He spent the next ten years of his career working in television, on quality shows such as Undeclared and Arrested Development. His Judd Apatow connection on Undeclared helped him land the 2007 sleeper hit Superbad, which carried the blessing and curse of being an Apatow production (guaranteed talent and quality, little recognition for Mottola as director). Mottola's next film, Adventureland, could be a Superbad-style sleeper hit, hopefully with praise being rightfully given to Mottola's direction this time around.


8. Allen Coulter
Give a quick glimpse at Allen Coulter's resume and you'll notice he's directed a lot of television. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice 27 episodes of The Sopranos, including some of the series' best, such as "The Test Dream," "College," and my personal favorite, the extremely brutal "University." It's clear Coulter has already made his mark on the world of television, and his well crafted feature debut Hollywoodland proved that Coulter is someone you can expect great things from in the future.


7. Doug Liman
Doug Liman made his directorial debut in 1994 with Getting In, but everyone took notice two years later when he directed the film that launched the careers of Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, Swingers. To some, Swingers may not seem like a directorial tour de force, but when you take into consideration that the film was made for a meager $200,000, thanks to Liman's ability to shoot technically complicated shots on the cheap, you might change your mind. After Swingers came Go, a highly underrated comedy that too many critics wrote off as Pulp Fiction for teens. Recently Liman's shifted his focus to action, having helmed The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Jumper in the past decade.


6. Mary Harron
Mary Harron started her career as a journalist for Punk magazine in the 1970's (she was the first person to interview The Sex Pistols for an American publication), and didn't make her directorial debut until 1996 with I Shot Andy Warhol. She followed Warhol in 2000 with the extremely controversial American Psycho, based on the equally controversial novel by Bret Easton Ellis. The film received mixed reviews, and Harron didn't return to features until 2005's Bettie Page biopic, The Notorious Bettie Page, which many saw as a triumphant return to form. It would seem as if Harron's talents lie in period pieces, which leads one to wonder if her great film is possibly set in the 1970's punk scene she's so familiar with...or if that subject is too close for comfort?


5. Robert Rodriguez
Some of you may think this pick is completely unjustified and that Robert Rodriguez has already made his mark on the world of cinema, and some of you may believe that immortality isn't even within his reach. My opinion of Rodriguez lies somewhere in the middle. He certainly knows how to make kick ass genre pics (Desperado), he's a technological pioneer (Sin City), and he's even made a great family film (Spy Kids). Still, for all the bang his films provide, there's not much substance. Perhaps he's guilty of stretching himself too thin. Rodriguez multi-tasks on all his films by directing, writing, shooting, editing, and often composing. The fact that his most successful outing, Sin City, was based on source material by Frank Miller, may suggest that he hand over the writing duties to someone else next time, so he can focus his attentions on the things he does best...although it should be noted that he did not receive a writing credit for The Faculty (that honor(?) goes to Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson).


4. Peter Berg
An accomplished actor before he turned his attentions behind the camera, Peter Berg began his directing career with the 1998 dark (extremely dark) comedy, Very Bad Things, an insanely divisive film that audiences either applauded for its mix of no holds barred violence and tasteless humor or reviled for the very same reasons. Still, he seemed like just another unnecessary actor turned director until his 2004 adaptation of the H.G. Bissinger novel, Friday Night Lights, which was a refreshingly realistic (I'm looking at you, Varsity Blues) look at a small Texas town and its obsession with high school football. The film also spawned an even better TV show, developed by Berg. Personally, the moment I started to suspect Berg had more up his sleeve was during the climatic shootout in The Kingdom, one of the most riveting action sequences I've seen in years in an otherwise mediocre film. Berg's next movie, the Will Smith vehicle Hancock, should be his first major box office hit, but my money says 2010's Dune will make or break Berg as a serious filmmaker.


3. Craig Brewer
2005's Hustle & Flow established Craig Brewer as the current king of southern fried cinema, capturing the desperate poverty of south without ever coming off as heavy handed or losing its soul. Brewer's follow-up, Black Snake Moan, was a brilliant spin on the sexploitation genre that never found the audience it deserved, possibly due to sensationalist marketing. With the south mostly relegated to outdated stereotypes or inaccurate nostalgia on film, Brewer seems poised to be the man to bring us an accurate portrayal of one of the most poorly represented regions of this country on film.


2. Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky exploded into the film world at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival with his feature-length debut Pi, where he won the award for Best Director. He followed Pi with Requiem For A Dream, which some may consider his "great film," but let's face it: the film doesn't retain the mindf*@k it gives the viewer on the initial viewing (how could it?). His last film, The Fountain, was regarded by most as extremely ambitious, but somewhat of a mess. Early shots from Aronofsky's next film, The Wrestler, look extremely promising, and if that doesn't work out, the similarly-themed The Fighter follows.


1. Tony Scott
With a filmography that anyone would be lucky to achieve, it may seem odd to find Tony Scott in the number one position. But let's face it, with all the ground he's covered, not one film in his career screams "classic." There are the blockbusters (Top Gun, Crimson Tide), the cult favorites (True Romance, Revenge) and the just god-awful (Beverly Hills Cop II, The Fan). The man is clearly a technical master, and in recent years his films have adopted a very grainy, overexposed look (Domino, Man On Fire), that you either love or hate. There's no doubt he has a great film within him. Still, with remakes of The Taking Of Pelham 123 and The Warriors on the horizon, I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Top Ten Guiltiest Movie And Television Pleasures

When it comes to movies and television, we act hip and cool to the trends, but deep down inside, there are those certain movies and television shows that we hold dear to our hearts, regardless of what others may say or think about them. They are our guilty pleasures, and fear not - there isn't any real guilt that goes along with liking them, just an increased feeling of defensiveness when other people poke fun at them.

Without further ado, I present the movies and television shows that I have seen numerous times and still cause me to adhere to the couch for hours, even if I just said I'd come bail you out of jail in 20 minutes. (Oh hush, you're not going anywhere!)






10. The Emperor's New Groove

I think I spent a good 2 or 3 years watching and re-watching this fantastic animated movie about a spoiled Aztec emperor (David Spade - Awesome!) who gets turned into a llama and must depend on a peasant (John Goodman - Equally awesome!) to help him return to his former self. Throw in Patrick Warburton as the evil adviser's right hand man, and you've got a classic on your hands!






9. French Kiss

Maybe it was because I was taking French in high school at the time, or maybe it was the way Meg Ryan delivered her lines with that characteristic gusto, but my worn-out VHS copy of French Kiss can attest to the fact that I watched America's #1 sweetheart (at the time) over and over again as she tried to win back her ex-fiance's heart with the help of a French criminal/con man.






8. Much Ado About Nothing

I suppose I was a big fan of Shakespeare adaptations when I was younger, but none of them compared to Kenneth Branagh's film version of Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Michael Keaton's performance, although small, is reason alone to watch this film! The Elizabethan language can be hard to understand, but subtitles should help you get around that.






7. Fiddler On The Roof

TRADITION!! It sounds weird, but I'm really interested in all things Judaism, so it's no surprise that Fiddler On The Roof is one of my favorite films to sit and watch all day. There's love, laughter, and lessons that anyone can relate to, as well as amazing musical numbers!






6. Elf

I don't know what it is about this movie. Maybe it's the large amounts of sugar that Buddy the Elf eats. Maybe it's his elf-out-of-North-Pole ways. Maybe it's in the way he says, "SANTA! I KNOW HIM!" It could be any number of things, but one thing's for certain: I love watching this movie anytime of the year!






5. Pride & Prejudice

There have been countless times I have had to sit and watch the A & E version of this beloved Jane Austen novel. These viewings, which I can only estimate as a bajillion hours a piece, never quite stuck with me because when doing a book report on the novel, I reported that all the sisters got married. (Spoiler alert! Not all of them do!) However, there's something about the Pride & Prejudice version starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen that's magical and easy to comprehend, but I feel it is the compactness of the story that endears this movie to me.






4. Pitch Black

For as long as I knew he existed, I had a bit of a vendetta against Vin Diesel. Blame The Fast and The Furious, but I thought he was an awful actor in a movie about cars. Enter Pitch Black, and I discover that Vin Diesel is an awesome action star with a great range of talents and abilities. Pitch Black is the type of movie that people who know me would be surprised to know I love. It's creepy, crawly, and peppered with just the right amount of goriness!






3. Band of Brothers

It doesn't matter how many times I see this fantastic mini-series, I always want to see it again. Unlike Saving Private Ryan, where I fast forward through the parts that make me feel sad, I watch each and every moment of this series. If there's a military holiday coming up, I know to start checking The History Channel for Band of Brothers so I can get my fix!






2. Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Angel

These two television series go hand-in-hand with each other, so they share the same spot. Joss Whedon took everyday problems that young adults deal with and put a supernatural twist on them. I started watching Buffy around my sophomore year in high school, so it was relevant to my life - except the vampires, werewolves, and apocalypses - oh my! I've seen every episode of Buffy (and almost every episode of Angel), and my extensive knowledge of each separate episode and season propels me indefinitely to the status of geek.






1. Firefly

Another Joss Whedon creation! This series never made it past its first season, but that didn't stop its massive fan base from bringing it back from the television graveyard to life on the silver screen in the form of Serenity! I can't get enough of this series, and I own it on DVD, but I'll also watch it on TV because that is the only way you get to hear the special intros to each episode that aren't on the DVDs! For those who have never watched it, Firefly is best described as a western set in outer space. Sounds strange at first, but the story and the world it's set in will grab you and sit you in your chair until it's done entertaining you.





Well, there you have it! I've shown you my guilty pleasures, now let's see yours!