Archive for month: February, 2012

Well it seems that the pinheads at the Liquor Control Board are insisting on giving the Rio Theatre an ongoing hard time over this silly licensing bugaboo. For some crazy reason, they’ve now pulled all of the Rio’s movie programming weeks after reinstating it. I don’t understand at all what is going on. To make matters even worse, the fools at the Liquor Board have taken away any special occasion licensing for any theatre in town! So no wine and cheese during the film festival or for special screenings. Why, I have to ask? What is their problem with this? And to rub it in even further, they’ve granted a license to some stupid MMA event in some nightclub! So let’s see, the Liquor Board is concerned about public safety issues with people enjoying a beer while watching a film but it has no problem with serving booze at a violent live spectacle? Makes sense. Let’s all help out this fabulous theatre. Contact: Minister Rich Coleman, , AND Premier Christy Clark,

Also the big DVD sale continues at both stores this week. There will be a new pile of films – I believe the comedy section is ripe for pruning – at the Commercial store tomorrow and I hope to get the cult section at Cambie on Thursday.

Oh and remember to “like” us on Facebook to keep up on the latest video store news including late films hitting the shelves, trailers for stuff we think is cool and whatever else we can drag up off the interwebs… https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Dog-Video/304308199618380

And last but not least – a big thanks to everyone who voted us Best DVD Rental Store in the Westender’s best of the year poll. Although there doesn’t seem to be much competition left (we finished ahead of a store that is not even open anymore!), it’s still much appreciated and makes us feel like we’re doing some good work.

New Releases for Tuesday February 28th

Agnosia – Strange sounding Spanish gothic-thriller, love story, espionage mystery and a few other genres thrown in for good measure about a woman suffering from the title affliction which renders her senses useless. I like my senses so that would pretty much suck! Go senses! From the producers and/or writers Pans Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone.

Gamin Au Velo – AKA The Kid on a Bike – From the great Dardenne brothers (The Son, Lorna’s Silence) comes this tale of a a hairdresser who takes under her wing a kid who is living at a state run youth farm (I guess they’re growing youths there?) after being abandoned by his no-goodnick father.

Hugo – Visually amazing but vaguely disappointing effort (needed more Joe Pesci) from some director named Scorsese. Story follows a kid who lives in a train station in Paris (for some reason everyone has English accents) who discovers that French film pioneer George Méliès, played by Sexy Beast Sir Ben Kingsley, is running a toy shop in the train station. Film is too long but it’s nice to look at and is a loving homage to the movies. I was told that this is good for kids – maybe older kids as I don’t know how many 6 – 7 year-olds would be interested in the birth of French cinema. Also on the gorgeous Blu Ray.

Insight – After a nurse gets electrocuted by a wonky defibrillator she’s applying to a dying murder victim, she starts to have the dead woman’s memories. So she does what all of us have done when confronted by this situation – she goes about trying to solve the crime. If this were a documentary I think I’d be more inclined to watch it. Alas…

Johnny English: Reborn – I don’t remember anyone asking for another freaking Johnny English film! Isn’t Rowan Atkinson getting a little long in the tooth to still be doing this slapstick schtick? Ugh.

Justice League: Doom – Some guy named Vandal Savage steals confidential files Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League to learn all their weaknesses. This is an animated flick for all you super hero nerds out there. You know who you are.

Klitschko – While the title does sound kind of naughty, this is actually a doc about a pair of Russian/German boxer brothers. Brother boxers? Supposed to be pretty good for those of you who enjoy the sweet science.

Mandrill – Fun looking James Bond/Kung Fu actiony hybrid from Chile of all places, finds a kid who grows up to be a ruthless bounty hunter seeking revenge on the thugs who murdered his parents. He calls himself Mandrill. Enough said.

Notre Jour Viendra – AKA Our Day Will Come – First film from the son of Costa-Gravas is a weird violent surreal road flick. I’ve heard from reliable sources that it’s quite an excellent time. And with some plot keywords like full-frontal male nudity, red hair and hot tub, how could you go wrong? (Thanks IMDB!)

Rabies – Strange sounding horror film from Israel (yes you read that right) about a brother and sister who run away from home and find sanctuary in a deserted nature reserve. There they meet a psychopathic killer (what other kind might you be expecting?), a group of young tennis players, a ranger and his dog, as well as a team of bickering policemen. And with some plot keywords that include; brother-sister incest, fingering, alternative lifestyle, dog and finger bang, how could you go wrong? (Thanks IMDB!)

Woody Allen: A Documentary – Title pretty much sums it up I think. Really long doc covering Woody’s long and storied (and weird and creepy) career. Say what you will about him, he’s one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.

Old Stuff Just In

Friday Night Lights – The Complete Series

Foyle’s War – Season 2-5 (We now have the complete series)

Skins Season 3 and 4 (At Commercial, coming soon to Cambie)

The Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection – Includes The Big Boss, The Italian Connection, Caliber 9, Rulers of the City

Coming Next Week

Game of Thrones Season 1
Skin I Live In
Animals United
Footloose
Senna
Immortals
MI-5 Volume 10
Jack and Jill
Like Crazy
I Melt with You

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Notre Jour Viendra – AKA Our Day Will Come
Hugo – mild recommendation
Martha Marcy May Marlene
50/50
Drive
Paranormal Activity 3
Cell 211
The Thing
Harold and Kumar: A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Take Shelter

That’s it for this week, people. They say it’s going to snow tomorrow so the best thing you can do is not go to work or school, get some flicks, a bottle of schnapps and hunker down till the storm passes.

Black Dog Video

It’s Valentine’s day if you needed reminding. You may have noticed the onslaught of advertising, articles in print, on the TV and on the interwebs (hell, there’s even a Valentine’s Day cartoon on the telly as I write this!). There’s a lot of money to be made today. Are you spending appropriately? I’m really not as cynical as I sound, it’s just that Valentine’s Day is one of those manufactured type holidays like Christmas or Easter or Arbour Day, that all vie for your hard earned bucks and that I just can’t get behind. I’m not going out to dinner, buying some diamonds or a car or wearing sexy underwear (well no more sexy than usual) today. For those of you that are, enjoy and I hope it works out for you. After all isn’t the point of Valentine’s Day is to get laid? I feel bad for those of you who are single only for the fact that Valentine’s Day works hard to exclude you. I say screw ’em, go ahead and treat yourself. If ya know what I mean (wink wink). Anyways, sprinkled like so much erotic pixie dust on the fetid blanket of love throughout today’s newsletter are some things that you probably shouldn’t do if you want to bed the object of your affections.

Oh and the big blow-out DVD and Blu Ray sale continues at both stores today. Just added a fresh crop of films to the Cambie pile yesterday – mostly actiony type flicks and will be throwing in a pile of films tomorrow – I think foreign films are the order of the day – at Commercial Drive.

Thinking of a special gift for that special someone. Here’s some special gifts that you really shouldn’t be giving anyone… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/valentines-day gifts-photos_n_1266626.html#s679380&title=Candy_Underwear

New Releases for Tuesday February 14th

3 – From Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) comes this drama about a couple who start having an affair with the same fella. Might a frighteningly set of awkward circumstances arise from this arrangement? Hmmm….

Assaut (Assault) – French thriller about a true life hijacking of a plane (is there any other kind of hijacking?) by some Algerian Islamic group. Think United 93 or Airplane. Your choice.

The Big Picture – Intense French thriller about a guy who kills his wife’s lover and then assumes the dead guy’s identity. I wonder how hard it would be to assume someone’s identity? Who’s would I assume? George Clooney? No, I think that it would have to be someone less famous. Character actor Charles Durning? I should give this some thought.

The Dead – Zombie flick set in Africa finds the survivor of a plane crash fleeing the undead. He teams up with another dude and together they fight for survival in the lovely African wilderness. Heard some good things about this one. I do enjoy a good zombie flick I must say. Brains….Also on the Blu Ray.

Elite Squad – The Enemy Within – Amazing sequel to the well received Brazilian flick Elite Squad from a couple of years back. This one deals with prison riots, corrupt politicians (are there really any other kinds?), and paramilitary groups. I was hoping to check out this number on the weekend but failed miserably. Also on the Blu Ray

The Future is Now! – Waking Life type flick follows “Man of Today” on his quest to find the “Woman of Tomorrow”. Maybe they’ll have the “Baby of Yesterday”. Along the way he meets a myriad of strange interesting characters. Hmmm. Not too sure what to make of this. Might be a good intellectual exercise or it might be a bunch of pretentious twaddle. Only one way to find out I suppose. Is the future really now? Or is that the past already? How about now?! Now?

How to Die in Oregon – What sounds like a pretentious indie gangster hipster beardo flick is actually a documentary on the right to assisted suicide in the state of Oregon. Looking for something for Valentine’s Day were you? Look no further.

The Mill and the Cross – Rutger Hauer stars as painter Pieter Bruegel and this weird but cool looking film that steps inside the famous painting and follows some of the characters found there. Hobo with a paint brush. Also on the Blu Ray.

Nude Nuns with Big Guns – Best title (in name anyways) of the year so far. Do I really need to go into detail? OK I will. Sister Sarah is abused, degraded and drugged to the point of death by the evil clergy for some reason. God tells her to take revenge so she does. What did you expect, Driving Miss Daisy? Some plot keywords found on the IMDB include; No Panties, Sapphism, Nunsploitation, Two Women In A Bath Tub, God’s Will, Shot In The Penis, Evil Priest, Drum Magazine, Redistribution Of Sex, Severed Penis, Shot In The Forehead, Lesbian Nun, and Pubic Hair. Happy Valentine’s Day. Also on the Blu Ray (Cambie Store only).

The Rum Diary – Hard act to follow after that last title. Johnny Depp stars as journalist Paul Kemp who takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s. Much drinking and hedonism and drinking occur. Directed by Brice Robinson (Withnail and I) and written by Hunter S. Thompson (before he died I think). Also on the Blu Ray.

Take Shelter – Big-headed Michael Shannon (like really, have you seen the size of his head? I think it has it’s own area code) stars as a big-headed man who may or may not be losing his mind. Lots of cool imagery, intense scenes and outstanding acting elevate this “disease of the week” flick into something pretty cool and almost awesome. There will be interesting conversations/debates about what happens at the end. Want me to tell the ending? Well it involves UFO’s, Nazis and women’s undergarments. I’ll just leave it at that.

A few older titles hitting the shelves this week

Fascination – http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53475/fascination/
Lips of Blood – http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53473/lips-of-blood/
The Iron Rose – http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53466/iron-rose-the/
Dressed to Kill – Blu Ray – http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/50810/dressed-to-kill/

Maybe you were thinking of getting a special photograph or two of you and your lover for this special day? This may change your mind…http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2012/02/13/afp-valentines-slideshow/

Coming Next Week

Weeds Season 7
Fireflies on the Garden
Nurse Jackie Season 3
The Way
Puncture
Fades Season 1
Cafe de Flore
Rebound
Retreat
Puss in Boots
London Boulevard
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Underbelly Season 1
Tower Heist
J. Edgar

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Take Shelter
Drive
50/50
Moneyball
Ides of March
The Guard
Paranormal Activity 3
Harold and Kumar: A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
Robot Chicken Star Wars V3
Boardwalk Empire Season 1

If you’re looking for a sweet recommendation for a nice romantic flick for the evening, don’t look here as it’s not really my realm but I can lead you away from stuff you definitely should NOT watch. Here’s a movie site appropriately titled Ten Terrible Date Movies. I can think of a few to add to the list – I Spit on Your Grave, MS 45, Death Wish, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Nekromantik…Any you might want to add? http://movies.ign.com/articles/121/1218320p1.html

Anyways, that’s it for this very special Valentine’s edition of the newsletter. I hope that you enjoyed it and will be enjoying some quality films this week. Stay healthy, stay sexy.

Black Dog Video