Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending September 24th

So there won’t be any newsletter for the next couple of weeks as we’re heading to Mexico for a little vacation. I hope that everyone can survive until October sans this post. It seems that Mexico is the preferred destination for us as we’ve gone there the last 4 years in a row. I love Mexico and I hope to have some good tales to regale you with upon my return. That is, of course, if I’m not kidnapped by drug cartels or gunned down in the street or sacrificed on any alters (a friend was just sharing some nice stories with me of people being flayed alive and having their faces sown onto soccer balls.Thanks, buddy!) No beach action this time around, we’re going to spend a week or so in Mexico city and somewhere down in the state of Chiapas. Should be fun (I hope).

So Disney’s The Avengers hits the shelves on September 25th and we’re not supposed to rent them out (we are though), we are only supposed to sell copies of the film. So we said, OK, let’s do that. In response to Disney’s stupid rental holdback system we decided to give the Mouse House the high hard by selling 5-6 Blu Rays, brand spanking new, for $10 each plus tax! In your face, Disney! If you want to grab the cheapest new Blu Ray you’ll ever score in your entire life they will be available at noon on the 25th – first come first serve. The only hitch is that they don’t come with the original packaging. Please be nice.

Oh and did I mention that we have a fun, nice, fancy Facebook page? I may have, can’t remember. “Like” us there for updates on new stuff in the stores, cool trailers, various things related to, and sometimes not, the movie biz and even a chance to win free rentals. Good times. Tell your friends. https://www.facebook.com/blackdogvideo

New Releases for Tuesday September 18th

Apartment 143 – Seems like there are a lot of horror films out lately. Lots of ghost story ones as well. This in one of them. A team of parapsychologists try to figure out a strange phenomenon occurring in an apartment building. I’m sure you’re like me when one has to wonder why people just don’t leave the old haunted house/apartment/doghouse/bird feeder/basement suite? Fools. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOROfZTd_fE[/youtube]

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – I thought when I read this title that it said “Best Erotic Marigold Hotel”. I was intrigued. Who doesn’t like a nice erotic hotel? Then I saw the cast and was much less intrigued. Some British retirees – Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith travel to India to stay a supposedly nice hotel. Complications and cheeky misunderstandings, I presume, ensue. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDY89LYxK0w[/youtube]

Cabin on the Woods – One of my favorite flicks of the year so far. Five friends go to a mysterious said cabin in said woods for some “relaxation”. As one might expect they get something a little different. And a little different is what this film is. What starts out as a run-of the mill horror dealy turns in to something altogether unexpected. A must watch for fans of the horror/thriller genre. And comedy as it is quite funny. Also on the Blu Ray. (DVDs are late arriving at Cambie – hopefully they’ll be on the shelf by the time you read this) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXfc12BqFkc[/youtube]

Do-Deca Pentathlon – The Duplass Brothers – Cyrus, Jeff, Who LIves at Home, Baghead – star in this comedy about two competitive brothers who compete in their own 25-event Olympics. I imagine if my brother and I were closer in age we wold have done something like this. He probably would have won most events though. Bastard. Good thing that I’m 5 years older and could get away with doing things to him when we were younger like hog-tying him and locking him in the closet with the cat and the vacuum cleaner. Heh-heh. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv3SK9DYGUw[/youtube]

Hysteria – The lovely Maggie Maggie Gyllenhaal and fancy Hugh Dancy star in this comedy about a guy who invents the, ahem, first vibrator (all in the name of medicine and science of course) to cure women diagnosed with female hysteria by using ‘pelvic massage’. Yes all in the name of medical science, uh-huh. Pelvic Massage – wasn’t that a band from the 80’s? Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFy6cfPmjd4[/youtube]

Katy Perry: Part of Me – Which part is she offering up do you suppose? Maybe the back of the knees? Eyelids? Brains! Giant rocket boobs? Is this a horror film? Maybe to some. I guess this is a doc that follows the plastic-looking singer on and off the stage. Will probably appeal to younger girls and old perverted dudes. You know who you are. Perverts. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tDT852GGk[/youtube]

Modern Family Season 3 – Liked this show in the first season, but I find that it’s trying a little too hard to be funny now and everyone just kind of yells their lines. But don’t let me stop you.

Salvation Boulevard – Dumb looking comedy with a stellar cast – Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Connelly, Marisa Tomei and Ed Harris – about a Deadhead-turned-born again-Christian leader who finds himself on the run from fundamentalist members of his mega-church or something like that. I couldn’t really tell. Watch it and tell me what it’s about. I dare you.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYiYHfciJwE[/youtube]

Victim – Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens) stars in and directs this thriller/exploitation number about a guy who lives by himself in the woods until a woman knocks on his door. She’s on the run from some scumbags who raped and killed her friend. Much tension and violence, I presume, ensue. What is it about nasty things happening in the woods all the time? Now you see why I try to avoid camping! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMwQNfXH7aU[/youtube]

Weekend – Well received film about a dude who hooks up with another dude for a one nighter but it turns into something more…maybe a two-nighter? A one-nighter plus brunch? Criterion release. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmlNgKlHViY[/youtube]

A Woman in the Fifth – Ethan Hawke flees to Paris (France) for some scandalous reason only to hook up with Kristin Scott Thomas (for more than just a one-nighter) who may or may not be involved in murder. A murder most foul! At least he didn’t flee into the woods.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaxVp5otdM[/youtube]

Old Stuff Just In

House of Cards – Great political miniseries from the grand ole BBC – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098825/

Total Recall – Blu Ray (Verhoeven’s film, the good one)

High Fidelity – Blu Ray – Love this flick. Great book as well.

Coming Next Week

Damsels in Distress
Gerhard Richter Painting
Portlandia Season 2
Take This Waltz
Wallander Season 3
Magic of Belle Isle
Batman: Dark Knight Returns (animated)
Surviving Progress
Switch
Tall Man
American Horror Story Season 1
Delicatesse
The Avengers DVD ans Blu Ray and 3-D Blu Ray
388 Arletta Ave
Samaritan

Coming the Week After That

Iron Sky
People Like Us
Magic City
Dark Shadows
Headshot
Sound of My Voice

What You Should Watch According to Us

Louie Season 2 (Best show on the TV in my opinion)
Cabin in the Woods
The Loved Ones
Lovely Molly
Fringe Season 4
Once Upon A Time in Anatolia
The Raid: Redemption
Post Mortem
Michael
The Woodmans
Juan of the Dead
Some Guy Who Kills People
Hung Season 3
Homeland Season 1
Route Irish
Kill List
Headhunters
Snowtown Murders
A Separation
Boardwalk Empire Season 2
Beyond the Black Rainbow

That’s it for this week folks. You won’t hear from me for a couple of weeks. If it’s longer, maybe send out some sort of search party.

As the election season in the US ramps up I’ll leave you with this little gem from the fine folks at Bad Lip Reading. Take it away, Mitt…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5i3F0YnkP0[/youtube]

Black Dog Video

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending September 17th

A few months ago I wrote about this ongoing issue video stores in Canada were having with the evil Disney corporation. Many of you signed the in-store petitions that we had there – thanks very much!. There is also a website to go to voice your displeasure with Disney. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a little refresher… The Walt Disney Company is trying to limit indie stores from renting movies for the first 28 days of release. This 28 day holdback would keep millions of Canadians that have supported Disney by renting their movies for decades from being able to rent their movies at their local video store and likely any movies in the future because, if we can’t convince them to change their policy, other studios might do the same and soon enough video stores would be eliminated from Canada. Basically Disney wants you to buy their product (and Disney stuff is not cheap) as opposed to renting it. I think that sucks. (We are still going to be renting them to you, Shhhh)
If you value your local independent video store, please sign our petition at http://www.boycottdisney.ca/ and tell all your friends (and maybe some enemies as well) to do the same. Thanks!

And remember to like our Facebook Page on the Facebook and the Twitter on the, well, Twitter. There may be free stuff for you….

New Releases for Tuesday September 11th (that date sounds familiar for some reason – oh ya it’s Kristy McNichol’s birthday! Happy 50th, Kristy McNichol!))

Cleanskin – Sean Bean (love saying that name – it’s more fun when you say Seen Been) stars as a British secret service fella who has to track down some terrorist asshole before he blows more shit up real good. Also on the blu Ray.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dRZlLdO41E[/youtube] and here’s a good review of the film as well – http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/56974/cleanskin/

High School – Stoner comedy that finds a high school valedictorian getting high first time on the same day that a random drug test hits the school. With his college scholarship at stake, he enlists the school’s biggest stoner to help nullify the results of the screening – by getting the entire student body high. Whoa, great idea, dude. Do people still care if others smoke the weed? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS98A1Y7d8s[/youtube]

Lola Versus – The lovely and talented Greta Gerwig gets dumped by her no-good boyfriend 3 weeks before their wedding. Her friends try to help her cope. Hilarity and drama, I presume, ensues. One of those late 20-something romantic comedies that tries to tackle many big issues such as relationships, marriage, friendship, nice hair and the meaning of life. I was hoping it was going to be something like Lola Versus Godzilla or Lola Versus Zombies or Lola Versus Disney. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5hYBMZft9w[/youtube]

The Loved Ones – Lola (what another Lola, how can that be?!) asks Brent to the prom. Brent turns her down. Lola then kidnaps and tortures Brent. Ahhh, young love. I haven’t had a chance to see this Australian piece of hilarious nasty yet but word on the street has it that it’s quite a fun excellent little number. Think if Carrie had sex with Misery and produced a crazy weird baby. I didn’t get a date to my prom (probably because I didn’t ask anyone) but I never thought of kidnapping and torture. Ahh, those wacky Australians. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPzVBOHjnTM[/youtube]

The Office Season 8 – This show is still on? I thought it was cancelled. I guess that the documentarians making this show finally have enough footage. Used to be quite a good show. Now? Not so much.

Snow White and the Huntsman – Pretty good, slickly made medieval fairytale romp although I was a tad drunk when I watched it and don’t remember a lot about it. What I do remember is K-Stew’s acting range wavering from staring straight ahead with her mouth closed to staring straight ahead with her mouth partially open. Yes she’s terrible. The dwarves were great – Bob Hoskins (makes me sad), Ian McShane, Nick Frost, Toby Jones and others made the film that much better. Worth a look but not recommended to watch drunk. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebSZOlCnXq0[/youtube]

Spartacus: Vengeance – I guess there’s still more gladiator sex and violence to be had. Enjoy. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElnzlfKW5xc[/youtube]

Starship Troopers: Invasion – Animated update in the Starship Troopers universe finds the giant nasty bugs battling the space soldiers again. Plenty of gratuitous violence and computer generated nudity and sexiness to fill your eyeballs with. Loved me the first film. Hope this one is OK. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3823VO9gG8[/youtube]

30 Rock Season 6 – Now this is a funny show! For example Jack: “Good God. Lemon, those jeans make you look like a Mexican sports reporter.”

We Have a Pope – Italian drama about a pope and his relationship with his therapist. I wonder what a pope talks about in therapy. If it’s the current pope, Joey Ratz as I like to call him, I imagine he talks about the days spent in the Nazi Youth? Or the ongoing sex scandals which seems to plague the Catholic Church? Sorry, too obvious? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VqNoLzZRkI[/youtube]

What to Expect When You’re Expecting – Ugh. A “comedy” about some couples having babies. Really hard to make this one sound interesting. I have a kid and I have no interest to watch this. Not even on the plane. Stars the increasingly weird looking Cameron Diaz. And for some reason we have it on the Blu Ray .[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQTetUGvKWk[/youtube]

Where Do We Go Now? – A group of Lebanese women (yes I had to read that twice myself) try to ease religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village in this comedy drama from Lebanon. Don’t get this one mixed up with the pregnant movie. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBGuk2lfZdc[/youtube]

Old Stuff Just In…

Wild at Heart – Blu Ray!

Coming Next Week

Turn Me On, Goddammit
Apartment 143
Cabin in the Woods
Victim
Salvation Boulevard
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Hysteria
Do Deca Pentathlon
Modern Family Season 3

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Snow White and the Huntsman
The Woodmans
Juan of the Dead
Some Guy Who Kills People
Hung Season 3
Homeland Season 1
Fringe Season 4
Route Irish
Kill List
Headhunters
Snowtown Murders
A Separation
Boardwalk Empire Season 2
Beyond the Black Rainbow
The Raid
Margaret
Jiro Who Dreams of Sushi
Paradise Lost 3

And speaking of K-Stew, here’s a funny bit from the fine folks at Bad Lip Reading. Enjoy…http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Watch-Twilight-Get-Bad-Lip-Reading-Treatment-32786.html

Well that’s about it for this edition, folks. Fall is coming. No more short skirts and flip-flops. Sigh….

Black Dog Video

Black Dog Newsletter for the Week Ending September 10th

Well, it seems that what passes for summer here in Vancouver is drawing to a close. The last gasp at what came before. Don’t get me wrong, I had a pretty good summer although there were some things that I was hoping to do that I just didn’t get around to; hitting the PNE, going for a good hike or two, kayaking, taking in a game at the Nat, fight a hobo, go to Wreck Beach, see any outdoor concerts, get to the street food fest at the Waldorf, catch our tomato thief, although I did catch a cold. On the other hand there were a lot of things we did that made this summer quite a good time; made it out to do some camping, hit Third Beach a number of times and actually swam in the ocean every time, afternoon beers on a sunny patio (probably more then I should have), good BBQ’s with friends, played lots of hockey and a little baseball, made my own beer, fought some pigeons, some home renovations got under way, did I mention beers on the patio? I hope that you all had yourselves a fine summer as well. The fall is setting upon us – I personally find the fall my favorite season – and we’ll just have to wait and see what that brings.

Oh and don’t forget to follow us on the Facebook and the Twitter. Why would I do that, you ask? Well you can win free movie rentals and share in the hilarity and movie insight that we post there.

New Releases for Tuesday September 4th

A Beginners Guide to Endings – Three brothers find out that they are all dying – dear old dad signed them up for some sort of medical experiments when they were younger (awww that’s sweet… gives me an idea) – so they go about trying to make the most of the limited time they have remaining. Might I suggest beers on the patio or fighting a hobo? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxzOeE3TMUk[/youtube]

Borgias Season 2 – The second season of the crime drama featuring Jeremy Irons as the head of the nasty family that rises to power in the church in 1492 Italy. What, there’s corruption and evil in the church?![youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg6939NnWuI [/youtube]

Five Year Engagement – Comedy staring Jason Segal and Emily Blunt as an engaged couple who, for various reasons, can’t seem to get their shit together enough to actually get married. Here’s another comedy that’s over 2 hours long. I don’t get why they make these things so damn long. Comedies should never be more than an hour and a half. That said, I hear that this is pretty good, if a tad too long. Also on the Blu Ray. Her’s the Red Band trailer – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNhAslpICxE[/youtube]

Fringe Season 4 – Love me some Fringe. Pretty cool sci-fi thing, reminiscent of the X-Files (it’s even shot here) that deals with alternate realties, shape shifters, dopplegangers, crazy old men, six fingers on one hand and occasionally seahorses.. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYq0fNSEoJg[/youtube]

Goats – I was really hoping this was a horror flick about some blood-thirsty killer goats. So sad. Guy gets ready to leave his weirdo family – new age mom, guy who lives in the pool house named Goat Man (nothing creepy going on there!) who teaches him about life and stuff – to head to prep school. Many hijinks and life lessons, I presume, ensue. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUF1lqCPetc[/youtube]

Homeland Season 1 – Most excellent TV series about a dude who was held captive in Iraq for 8 years who returns home but is a suspect in possible terrorist plots against…the Homeland. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-KYAWPKzY[/youtube]

Hung Season 3 – The latest installment of the fine TV show about a guy with a really big dick. And no it’s not my autobiography. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxr7NQo70Do[/youtube]

I am Bruce Lee – Doc about some guy who thinks he’s Bruce Lee. Wait, he actually is Bruce Lee. Doc about Bruce Lee. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQgjo9Wm0sg[/youtube]

Juan of the Dead – When was the last time that you heard the words Cuban zombie movie all in one sentence? Not only is it a Cuban zombie movie but it’s also a satire poking fun at Castro’s insanely long regime. Word on the street has that this is a very good Cuban zombie movie. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4B553fI0KI[/youtube]

Route Irish – The latest from Ken Loach finds a guy looking into the death of his buddy in Iraq. Let the laughs begin. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNIiF51RNo[/youtube]

Parks and Recreation Season 4 – I like this comedy program. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MT6EPaRkwE[/youtube]

Piranha DD – Lame sequel to the most excellent Piranha from a year or so ago. Bigger fish, bigger boobs and even David Hasselhoff can’t save this mess. Also on the Blu Ray. Red Band trailer here -[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UjjvC_JHJk[/youtube]

Safe – Man of action Jason Statham has to protect a young girl who has some sort of math prize that a bunch of gangsters want. I hear that for an action flick, this one is all right. Does the Statham do anything but these types of films? I’d like to see him in a Fried Green Tomatoes type of thing sometime. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_6ksxHBklo[/youtube]

Coming Next Week

Beyond the Black Rainbow – Blu Ray
The Loved Ones
Where do We go Now?
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Spartacus: Vengeance
Snow White and the Huntsman
Lola Versus
30 Rock Season 6
Cleanskin
We Have a Pope

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Hung Season 3
Homeland Season 1
Fringe Season 4
Route Irish
Kill List
Headhunters
Snowtown Murders
A Separation
Once Upon a Time in Angola
Boardwalk Empire Season 2
Beyond the Black Rainbow
The Raid
Margaret
Jiro Who Dreams of Sushi
Paradise Lost 3

Here’s a humerous video of some edited swears that were cleaned up for airing on the TV. There is swearing…http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/03/movie-lines-edited-for-tv-video_n_1851990.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000035

That’s it for this edition. Eat well, drink well, sleep well, get laid. And remember, keep watching.

Black Dog Video