May 2012 - Black Dog Video

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending June 4th

May 29, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

Damn crows. It seems that it’s that time of year again, the time when the crows have their babies and then they terrorize anyone and everyone who dares to walk under a tree where they reside. I had a friend who had her scalp ripped open by a dive bombing crow last year (it was but a scratch, but still). One tried to fly away with my friend’s BBQ’s steak the other night! It’s no wonder that a bunch of crows hanging out together is referred to as a Murder (ravens one-upped them in that department by having their party called an Unkindness). Crows not only are diabolical but they are smart and diabolical. They’ll remember you for as long as they live if you have some sort of run in with them. Not only that, but they will bring in their friends and family to help take you down and these crows will remember you as well. And they are loud. The sounds of crows jamming food into their babies gullets is such an alarmingly horrifying sound one comes across living in the city (that and Harley Davidson motor cycles). What does all this have to do with movies? Sweet fuck all. But I would recommend that you wear a hat when walking to Black Dog.

Oh, and another reminder to “like” our Facebook page and you could win a free old title rental. Every now and then I’ll post a still from a film and the first of youze guyz who tells me what film it’s from scores a free rental. Coolio.

New Releases for Tuesday May 29th

Aggression Scale – Some heavily armed hit-men try to get half a million clams back from some feisty teenagers who stole it. Think of a super violent and bloody Home Alone. Think of it! Works for me and as a bonus it has two actors from Twin Peaks!

Goon – Would it be too bold a statement to declare Goon as the second best hockey movie of all time (everyone know what the first is, right? No it’s not Youngblood)? Maybe but I found this flick – about a guy who knows how to fight but has no hockey skills who joins a hockey team as their tough guy – fun, and hilarious and really well done. Points for scoring Liev Schreiber as a rival on-ice pugilist. And Seann William Scott is perfect as the not-too-bright Doug “The Thug” Glatt. Kudos to all involved – best Canadian movie I’ve seen in a long time (at least my favorite Canadian movie in a long time). Look for this one come Academy Awards time next year. Also on the Blu Ray.

There Be Dragons – Roland Joffe (Killing Fields) returns in this epic drama set during the Spanish Civil War. A journalist dude investigates a family friend who is up for canonization (I imagine that’s where one gets to be fired out of a canon?) and then discovers some dark secrets about the guy and also about his own father. Sounds heavy. Also sounds like it might be a little light on actual dragons.

True Blood Season 4 – More vampires and fairies and witches and werewolves and orcs and dragons and gollums and flying monkeys and murderous unicorns and Frankenstiens and Godzilla and Donald Trumps and whatever other monsters they can cram into the silly but entertainingly trashy show. Also on the Blu Ray.

We Need to Talk About Kevin – The weirdly wonderful Tilda Swinton stars in this thriller about a mom who struggles to love her strange son as he grows up, shall we say, mischievous? Of course he’s more than a little mischievous. Playfully murderous perhaps? I imagine that he’s like all kids who’ve had the dream of growing up and killing their parents and everyone they know. I guess the moral of the story is never have kids because they are all blood-thirsty maniacs who want to murder your face. Also on the Blu Ray.

Coming Next Week

The Woodmans
Machine Gun Preacher
Breaking Bad Season 4
Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 8
Act of Valor
Journey 2: Mysterious Island
Bad Ass
Declaration of War
John Carter
W.E.
Man on a Ledge
Safe House
How to Live Forever

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending May 28th

May 23, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

Disney. I’ve never liked the Disney. They’ve always appeared kind of evil to me for a myriad of reasons. Now I have another. The latest affront to all that is good and well comes in the form of the mouse house actively trying to put video stores out of business. They have a few titles coming out on DVD this week and down the road – The Secret World of Arrietty and John Carter – but they are releasing them for sale only with a 28 day hold back on the rental versions. Their ploy? To make consumers buy the DVD and Blu Rays (and the Disney stuff is the most expensive product on the market) instead of renting it. As you can tell this would spell disaster for us and all the other remaining DVD rental stores out there. So what we are doing is only picking up 1 -2 copies of each of these titles and renting them out anyways. It seems to me to be the only way to make Disney see the error of their ways. Not only is Disney trying to sink the rental business but they are in bed with Wal-Mart who gets very favorable prices for their product. Seems like a level of hell to me, these two together. Evil begetting evil. So please bear with us and support us as we try to tough it out against these pricks. We’ll still have a few copies of these films for your enjoyment, just not a whole ton of them. Thanks!

On the other side of bed, here’s a little article about the place in your community for businesses such as ourselves….http://ow.ly/b5dDy

New Releases for Tuesday May 22nd

Albatross – Comedy/drama dealy that finds a young sexy writer working at a B & B and having an affair with her friend’s dad. “Ruh-roh!”, as Scooby-Doo has been known to say.

Front Line – Fine looking Korean war thriller about the final battle in said Korean War that was to determine where the border between south and crazy north was to be drawn. Also on the Blu Ray.

The Grey – Stealy-eyed Liam Neeson survives a (very well done) plane crash with some other dudes only to be hunted by giant psychotic wolves for some reason. A pretty fun thriller that, despite gaping, non-sensical plot holes, being overly-long, peppered with ridiculous stunts, brimming with cliches, and having shoddy looking wolves ( one could just imagine a guy off camera with a stuffed wolf head jabbing it into the face and intestines of the actors), I still quite enjoyed for it’s entertaining silliness. Also on the Blu Ray.

Red Tails – From all accounts it is a pretty weak, cliche riddled war flick that tries to tell an important story mostly ignored in American history – that of the Tuskegee Airmen – a squadron of black pilots who are finally given the chance to prove themselves in the skies during WWII, after putting up with tons of horrible racism. George Lucas said he wanted to produce this film for many years and this was the best he could come up with? He probably tried to fir Jar Jar Binks somewhere in the film. “Meesa gonna kill some Nazi scum!” Also on the Blu Ray.

The River Season 1 – Cool, scary looking found footage TV thriller about some people traveling the Amazon in search of a missing explorer dude. From the guy who made the terrifying Paranormal Activity flicks. The found footage genre has been getting a pretty good workout as of late but when it’s on, it can be pretty effective. I’m looking forward to check this number out.

The Secret World of Arrietty – I want to say positive things about this fine animated Japanese flick that was inspired by The Borrowers that tells the tale of a bunch of four inch people living in someone’s home, but since it’s Disney I’ll just leave it at, well, suck it Disney! Also on the Blu Ray.

This Means War – Romantic action comedy (!) about a couple of CIA operatives who wage war on each other when they discover they are both dating Reese Witherspoon for some reason. One of those hybrid films that tries to appeal to everyone with the action and the romance mixed together. Kinda like crossing a gorilla with a gazzelle. A Gorzella. Hence forth these types of flicks will now be known as Gorzellas. Also on the Blu Ray.

Sherlock Season 2 – Benedict Cumberbatch, the best name in show business, stars as the titlular sleuth in this fine BBC series. I could go around all day saying Benedict Cumberbatch. Try it!

Some Days are Better Than Others – Hipster drama/comedy (with possibly the worst cover art ever) about an aspiring reality TV star and a dude who works as a temp who find each other in the rain and clouds of Portland. How hip is this flick? Well it stars James Mercer from The Shins and Carrie Brownstein from Portlandia and Sleater-Kinney. So there. Available at Commercial, soon at Cambie.

The Woman in Black – No it’s not a sequel to The Lady in Red (ear-worm!). Harry Potter stars in this scaarry horror flick as a dude who has to move into a mansion with a mysterious and horrible history. Oh and there’s a vengeful ghost hanging around there as well. Again with the vengeful ghost. Also on the Blu Ray.

Coming Next Week

We Need to Talk About Kevin
Goon
Mutant Girls Squad
There be Dragons
True Blood Season 4
Aggression Scale

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending May 21

May 15, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

Just wanted to pass on a little apology to the person who left 6 pounds of congealed fat teeming with ants in a small bucket out back of the Cambie Store. I threw it out. Sorry. I hope that you weren’t saving it to cash in at the grease depot, a al Homer Simpson. I don’t know how much 6 pounds of greasy slime is worth or why it was there but out back of the shop probably isn’t the best place to store it, especially in the hot sun.

And speaking of the hot sun, don’t let this nice weather get you down (“ever since the dawn of time, man has yearned to destroy the sun!”), there’s plenty of great films and TV shows and what not for your eyeballs just waiting for you at both locations. Might as well grab a festive original Black Dog T-Shirt while you’re there – on sale for the month of May for a paltry $14.99.

Also we have a another little contest to involve you in! The First Weekend Club has a wine and premiere screening of a new zombie flick called, A Little Bit Zombie . You can check out the details here… –http://www.bigbluesafe.com/email/display.php?M=81692&C=b6cb8cd1b1f1e7648778570ec1f4d974&S=1179&L=33&N=919 And now for the skill testing question that can win you a pair of tickets to tomorrow’s event – What is the name of the big-budget zombie flick based on a pretty cool novel and starring Brad Pitt that’s coming out sometime in the future?

And speaking of contests, don’t forget to check out our Facebook Page daily (mostly) contest where I post a still from a movie and the first person to correctly respond nabs themselves a free old title. Cool beans. Best to click on the “like” button on the page (not group) to receive these when I post them.

New Releases for Tuesday May 15th

Albert Nobbs – Glenn Close dresses like a dude to work as waiter in the oppressive society that was 19th century Ireland. ” Hey Nobbs, why is your voice so funny and why do you look like you’re made out of wood?” is a line I imagine might be in the film. Also on the Blu Ray.

Chronicle – Some guys find a glowing rock in a smoldering hole (stay away from smoldering holes be my advice) in the backyard that somehow gives them superpowers in this “found footage” thriller. Do they use their new found powers to do good, like save burning babies and bringing pets back from the dead? Or do they use them to lift up cheerleaders skirts and turn people inside out for fun? Have to find out I suppose. Also on the Blu Ray.

The Devil Inside – “The film the Vatican didn’t want you to see!” is the tagline on the box. I’m sure that there are a lot of films the Vatican doesn’t want you to see that are more horrific than this run-of-the-mill demonic possession film. I know that you know what I’m referring to. You know? I know. Also on the Blu Ray.

Hard Core Logo 2 – Unnecessary sequel to the fine film from years ago. This one is about a rock star – Care Failure of Die Mannequin (great name!) who basically just sits around smoking, mumbling, and trying to stay awake. Rock and Roll!

Hell on Wheels – Another fine show from AMC about the railway going through the old west or something like that. Supposed to be gritty and nasty and altogether awesome. Think Deadwood but probably with a lot less “coc#@*cker” and other fine profanity.

One for the Money – Another turgid “comedy” starring “please someone stop her from making any more movies!” Katherine Heigl. This time out she’s a friggin’ bounty hunter on the trail of a bad cop who also happens to be her ex… Ah who cares?

Miss Bala – Cool looking thriller about a Mexican beauty contestant who unwittingly gets involved in the Mexican drug trade in Mexico. I’ve heard very good things about this Mexican flick. It’s from Mexico!

Norwegian Wood – Based upon the weirdly wonderful book by Haruki Murakami (does he do any other kind?) about a guy who’s friend commits suicide and how it changes his relationships and stuff like that. Kinda hard to sum up a plot from a Murakami story. I’m sure that fans of the book will want to check this one out.

Patton Oswalt’s Finest Hour – Some more great stand-up from this always funny guy. Funny guy.

Rampart – Woody Harrelson stars as mean corrupt cop Dave Brown, who’s misogynistic, racist, brutally violent, egotistical, a womanizer and punches baby deer when he gets a chance. Great cast and from all accounts a pretty absorbing thriller. Who doesn’t like a good Woody…film?! Also on the Blu Ray.

New Old Stuff

Chinatown on the Blu-Ray!

Coming Next Week

The Woman in Black
Secret World of Arrietty
This Means War
The Grey
Red Tails
The River Season 1

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending May 14th

May 9, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

First off let me apologize for two things; the lateness of this week’s newsletter – I always try to get it out on Monday afternoon but that’s morphed into Tuesday afternoon and now here we are at good old Wednesday. I am going to have to let the blame fall upon me having a cold and then thinking that it was a good idea to remedy my ailment with some of the fine beverages offered to me at Biercraft Tuesday afternoon. It wasn’t long before I was making tender love to my couch. And the second thing I’d like to apologize for is the quality of this week’s new releases. “Yikes!” might have been overheard at either location when laying your eyeballs on what passes for releases on the shelves. There are a few good smaller titles but when freaking Underworld 4 is the top title, well let’s just say that there’s lots of other older films that are worth your time and effort. It gets better starting next week, I promise.

Everyone loves a good contest, right? Well here’s another one for you anyways. Starting tomorrow (Thursday) I’m going to post a photo on the Black Dog Video Facebook page from some movie or some famous movie star or something. So you have to go to the Black Dog Page (not the group), like it and the first one to respond with the correct answer gets a free old title rental for that day. One per location. Cool? Thought so.

Just a reminder that all of our lovely Black Dog T-Shirts can be yours for the low cost of $14.99 plus da tax. Also we still have a whack of $4.00 DVDs for sale at the Cambie location only. Come and and make a good home for a lonely DVD or Blu Ray.

New Releases for Tuesday May 8th

The Big C Season 2 – Suburban mom finds out she has cancer so she decides she should start cooking meth and become a drug kingpin…wait that’s another show….suburban mom finds out she has cancer and then goes on a killing spree targeting people she thinks deserves…wait that’s a movie…suburban mom has cancer and drama and comedy, I presume, ensue.

Birdsong – Over-long TV thingy about a guy fighting in the trenches in WW1 who keeps thinking about the hot French woman who he had an illicit affair with. Probably not what I’d be thinking of covered in mud and being shot at all the time. But that’s just me.

Daylight – Cool, scary sounding kidnapping kinda horror film that sounds like, from what I’ve read, as a sort of Funny Games kinda thing. Worth a look for those of you sick puppies, such as myself, who are into these types of things.

Kawa – A Maori father and husband comes out of the closet in this heavy drama from New Zealand.

Koch Brothers: Exposed – Doc on the Koch brothers, those sleazy billionaires who help fund evil in America – in other words a lot of conservative nasty business. Directed by the guy who made the doc on Wal-Mart, Fox TV, the Iraq war and, for some reason, the film Xanadu.

Mother’s Day – Rebecca De Mornay (remember her from Risky Business?) stars as an evil mom in this remake of the 80’s slasher, well, not classic, but flick. She plays the mom of a sadistic family who returns to their childhood home to terrorize the family that now lives there. Might as well, what else is a sadistic family to do? Also on the Blu Ray.

Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie – Those wacky guys – Tim and Eric – get a billion clams to make a film but they lose it and then try to revitalize a failing shopping mall. I don’t think that the plot really matters as this is more insanity for fans of this type of insanity. You know who you are. Also on the Blu Ray.

Presume Coupable aka Presumed Guilty – Award winning French drama/thriller true story thingy about a husband and wife who are accused to some horrible crimes agains children. French children! I’ve heard very good things about this “miscarriage of justice” flick.

Underworld: Awakening – I don’t remember anyone asking for another Underworld film. I’m not too sure what number this one is, 4? 6? 17? I guess if you’re into watching Kate Beckinsdale run around in tight leather shooting werewolves or vampires or mermen or whatever she has to battle with, then I guess you’ll be lining up for this one. Also on the Blu Ray.

The Vow – The lovely Rachel McAdams awakes from a coma following a car crash with amnesia. Her lovelier husband, Channing Tatum, has to win her heart again. Ugh. How many times have we seen amnesia used as a plot device in films or TV? Too many, that’s how many. I think I’ve heard of maybe one or two cases of amnesia in real life but the movies make it as common as serial killers and mobsters. I imagine that there are folk out there who dig this kind of romantic claptrap, but for me, a jaded old curmudgeon, I’d rather gouge my eyes out with a warm spoon that watch this. Also on the Blu Ray.

Oh and we have more copies of the acclaimed documentary on George Harrison in stock at both stores.

Coming Next Week

Albert Nobbs
Chronicle
The Devil Inside
Front Line
Hard Core Logo 2
Miss Bala
Hell on Wheels
Norwegian Wood
Rampart

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending May 6th

May 1, 2012/2 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

It’s May! Doesn’t it feel like spring out there? I just turned on the heat as I sit down to write this. Blargh. Well to get everyone in the mood for T-shirts and short skirts, we’re going to reduce the price of our fabulous Black Dog T-shirts! What would have cost you $20 yesterday only will set you back $14.99 today! This price will be in effect for the entire month of May or until we run out of shirts. So fight nudity – buy a T-shirt!

New Releases for Tuesday May 1st

Dark Tide – Bikini-clad Halle Berry returns to the ocean after almost becoming lunch for a Great White Shark to do “one last job”. Haven’t heard too many good things about this but did I mention a bikini-clad Halle Berry? Also on the Blu Ray.

Films of Fury – Doc about the history of martial arts flicks. I must say I love some good kick-in-the-face kung-fu action.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World – Martin Scorsese directs this doc about some guy who was in a band, I think it was Led Zeppelin or Krokus or something, back in the day.

Great Expectations – BBC (Ooh BBC! Must be good, shall we have some tea and crumpets?) adaptation of this often filmed Dickens number. Might you have some, ahem, great expectations for this version?

Haywire – Pretty kick-ass fun but forgettable flick about a female undercover operative who, for some reason that I can’t remember, is set up for murder by her boss (and no I’ve never done that with my employees…yet). Nothing new story wise here but it’s really well filmed and has several awesome nasty fight scenes. Another flick by Soderbergh who’s quickly becoming the American Takshi Miike (except that Miike does about 8 films a year and some of them are totes insane). Also on the Blu Ray.

The Innkeepers – A couple of employees of the 100 year-old Yankee Pedlar Inn who, for some reason, are determined to reveal the hotel’s haunted past and, of course, they begin to experience disturbing events. Scary disturbing events (the best kind of events). What were they expecting, tea and crumpets? I’ve heard really good things about this horror flick. From the director of the tres cool The House of the Devil. Also on the Blu Ray.

Joyful Noise – For those of you who’ve been waiting for the inevitable pairing of Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in a movie about a singing choir (what other kind of choir is there?), well your wait is over.

Let the Bullets Fly – Cool looking Chinese gangster flick that stars the always awesome Chow Yun Fat. A dude arrives in a small town with the hope of making a fast buck by posing as the mayor (or something like that). Of course he runs into some other gangsters and a bunch of actiony gangster stuff ensues.

Merantau – Don’t know the plot – don’t really care. What matters is that this is an early (2009 early) film from the guys that made the intensely awesome (so I’ve heard) The Raid: Redemption. Those of you who like the kung-fu action (not too sure if it’s kung-fu per say) owe it to yourself to check this number out. Also on the Blu Ray.

Nazis at the Centre of the Earth – What can one say about a film with this title? There’s nazis. At the centre of the earth. What they are doing there is anyone’s guess. Tea and crumpets? Probably not. Partying? Maybe? Looking to escape and terrorize the earth? Most likely.

New Year’s Eve – Another one of those rom-coms set around some holiday and stars everyone in Hollywood (shame on you Mr. DeNiro – what the hell ever happened to you?) that looks tedious and, well, if you like these types of things I’ll just shut up now. Also on the Blu Ray.

Tomorrow When the War Began – When their country is invaded and their families are taken, eight unlikely high school teenagers band together to fight. Hello?! Red Dawn! I guess it might be different because it’s Australian? Not too sure why anyone would invade Australia as it’s home to most of the worlds most deadliest critters. Don’t believe me? Check this site out? http://blog.hotelclub.com/the-10-most-dangerous-animals-in-australia/

Coming Next Week

Kawa
Mother’s Day
The Big C Season 2
Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie
The Vow
Underworld
Birdsong

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Archive for month: May, 2012

New Releases for Tuesday May 29th

Coming Next Week

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New Releases for Tuesday May 22nd

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New Releases for Tuesday May 15th

New Old Stuff

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Recently Viewed and Recommended

New Releases for Tuesday May 8th

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New Releases for Tuesday May 1st

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Video Store on Commercial Drive

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