2012 - Page 2 of 6 - Black Dog Video

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending October 22nd

October 17, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

Hello. First off let me apologize for the possible messed-up format of last week’s newsletter. I included a few photos from my Mexico trip with some “witty captions” that were supposed to align with each photograph. Unfortunately I’m not too well versed in the use of something called “tabs” on the computer and the result may have jumbled the photos and said witty captions. They were pretty funny, trust me. I remember back in the day, about 12 years ago or so, back before there were any computers, when we published a paper copy of what was then called The Black Dog Yak. It was only a monthly as it cost money and required a bit more effort, but it was fun and what you saw is what you got. Sometimes I get nostalgic and miss the days before all this technology invaded and controlled our lives. Shortly after I moved to Vancouver back in the mid-90’s I saw a commercial where a manly-man type dude was riding a horse in the woods talking on a cell phone. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I’d seen, like really, who’d want to ride one of those giant, flesh-eating monster beasts?! Hah! I vowed right then never to get a cell phone. I just couldn’t think of any situation that I would ever need/use it. I think that now I’m on my 3rd or 4th one. I’m a sad old man.

Anyhoo, we’re half way through the month of October – Halloween month – and if anyone is interested in some good horror film recommendations, go on over to our Facebook Page and “Like” it or follow us on what the kids like to call the Twitter for a daily Black Dog Halloween Film Pick! Good stuff. As the end of the month draws nearer I’ll have some recommendations in the newsletter as well.

And…we still have a couple of Blu Ray copies of Prometheus for sale and a stupidly low price of $19.99. Only a few left at each store. Get ’em while you still can.

New Releases for Tuesday October 16th

Chernobyl Diaries – A bunch of nubile coeds go on vacation in the wasteland of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor because, like, who wouldn’t want to go there – I hear it’s lovely in the spring. You remember that place, they had some sort of meltdown bugaboo a few years back? Well it seems that all that nasty radioactive stuff has turned the former workers into blood-thirsty mutant zombie dogs or something like that. Mayhem and carnage, I presume, ensue. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygmVZaYgbn8[/youtube]

Dark Horse – The latest from the always creepy, weird and fantastic, Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness) tells the story of a blossoming romance between a kind of a loser (the Dark Horse of the title) and a strangely depressed woman. Expect a lot of uncomfortable, awkwardness throughout. Yes please! (May be late on the shelves) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsB2NyqQZr4[/youtube]

LCD Soundsystem: Shut Up and Play the Hits – Music doc chronicling LCD Soundsystem’s final show last year. I can’t believe I missed that tour when it rolled through town. It was down in Stanley Park and would have made for a great night. Now they (him) are no more. Makes me sad. I’ll have to get drunk and watch this very loud. Blu Ray only at the moment, DVD should be here asap. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tK7ERRrpzo[/youtube]

Mad Men Season 5 – More Mad Men doing their Maddest Man things. One of the best shows on the TV, but I don’t have to tell you that. Did you miss Don Draper? Do you need some handsomeness in your life? Well he’s back! Also on the Blu Ray [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vesjh3LXSKM[/youtube]

Madagascar 3: The Reckoning – Some talking animals invade Europe and, under the guise of working as circus folk, hatch a plan to kill the Queen of England and eat her festering carcass. Or something like that. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVEinXUrEp0[/youtube]

Moonrise Kingdom – Another gem from Wes Anderson. A couple of children escape their perceived oppressive oppressors and hide out in a tent on a beach where they make out and go swimming. Great cast makes up for my lame description. If you like the Wes Anderson, you’ll like this film. Also on the Blu Ray.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N8wkVA4_8s[/youtube]

Neil Young: The Reckoning – Neil Young returns to the place of his upbringing with a thirst for bloody vengeance against the thugs killed his family and stole his innocence. Then he goes to Massey Hall and plays a nice concert. Filmed by Jonathan Demme. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmfbLpK0PM[/youtube]

Red Lights – Paranormal investigators Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy launch an investigation into Robert De Niro, a famed psychic who may or may not be evil. Didn’t they see Angel Heart?! He’s the freakin’ devil! Of course he’s evil! Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatOw6FquzU[/youtube]

That’s My Boy – Adam Sandler, sigh (not a good sigh either) plays an obnoxious man-boy-child asshole (no, it’s not a documentary) who re-enters his son’s – Andy Samburg – life. Hilarious hijinks, I presume, ensue. Also on the Blu Ray
Red Band Trailer – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoWkFkWiiTc[/youtube]

Coming Next Week

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
After Porn Ends
Magic Mike
Eddie the Sleepwalking Cannibal
Fear and Desire
Rec 3: Genesis
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Cochon de Gaza

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending October 15th

October 10, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

Yes I’m back and all refreshed (sort of – ate way too much rich food and nice wines and cold beers this silly Thanksgiving weekend). Hope that you all survived without the newsletter for a couple of weeks. Or in other words, I bet no one even noticed it’s absence. Anyways I won’t bore you with details of my trip but here’s some stuff I did in Mexico;

Things I did in Mexico; ate lots of tacos, enchiladas, moles, sopas and everything in between. Drank my weight in margaritas, at least twice that in cervazas, walked about 1,147 KM, went on a paddle boat ride from hell (boats were insanely hard to peddle, especially in the hot sun and wearing jeans while a undersized life jacket choked me to near passing out. We had rented the blasted thing for an hour but were back at the dock after 25 grueling minutes. Of course Gus kept saying “go faster”), went on an awesome boat ride through a canyon where we saw some crocodiles, monkeys, birds, tourists and lots of floating garbage. Checked out a fairly depressing zoo – lets face it, most if not all zoos are fairly depressing, toured Frida Kallo’ house (beautiful!), urinated in Leon Trotsky’s house (what a depressing abode), suffered the worst toilet seat in the world in our hotel, went to the most amazing library, went to a weird “heavy metal” market, saw a man with a track suit that looked like a giant ruler, watched a odd parade that consisted of kids either playing drums or dressed up as creepy monsters/religious figures and old men that were either drunk or well on their way, raised my blood pressure with a few terrifying cab rides, discovered that traveling with a seven year old is not as much fun as it sounds, saw some awful, crushing poverty, listened in anger as insanely loud church bells rang at 6 am and then every 15 minutes after that for 2 hours on a saturday morning – what kind of god wants its peasants to get up at the crack of dawn? A cruel, humorless bell-loving god, that’s who! Watched both the New York and Miami versions of CSI (the Miami one is far worse)’ read the Led Zeppelin biography, and pondered my wife’s perplexing question. – if you drop your sunglasses in a Mexican restaurant’s toilet, can you ever wear them again?

See those sharp bits of vinyl? Underneath those lay the real horror – wet, gross absorbent sponge. Think of how gross that is. Think of it!

Library from the film Brazil.

And yes it came with a matching top.

One freaky parade!

All in all it was a fine interesting and fun trip. Good to be home though.

I don’t usually solicit charity stuff here as I don’t believe in charity (just kidding of course) but I’m playing in a charity ball hockey tournament with some famous hockey players and rock stars this Saturday so if you’d like to help cross-check cancer in the face, your donations would be much appreciated. In addition, if you donate $20 or more I’ll toss in a free rental at either Black Dog locations! Win-win right? You get to help face-wash cancer and nab a nifty film for your viewing pleasure. Thanks ~ Here’s the link… http://rhcc.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=4876&mid=9&pid=903444

Oh and one more thing – over yonder on the Black Dog Facebook page I’m doing a little thing were I post a daily horror film recommendation in honour of Halloween month! I’m aiming to highlight some great little scary numbers that you may not have seen. “Like” the page and hopefully like the recommendations.

Oh and one more thing as well. Seems I over ordered Blu Ray copies of Prometheus and my lame distributor won’t let me return them so we’ll be selling them off – about 5-6 for each store – for a paltry $19.99 plus tax. (thats $5 cheaper than Best Buy). They are what’s called a “Rental Exclusive” so there’s no special features or anything.

New Releases for Tuesday October 9th

A Cat in Paris – Oscar nominated animated fare finds a cat in an unnamed town (wait, I think that it’s Paris!) who has to rescue a little girl from some gangster’s clutches. I wish I had some clutches. Got to get me some clutches! Supposed to be quite amazing. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zayGVHDOBg[/youtube]

Crazy Eyes – Party guy meets the girl of his dreams – Crazy Eyes. Better than Crazy Legs or Crazy Nose Hairs I guess. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPDGO0reuhg[/youtube]

Excision – Creepy, nasty, and altogether (from what I’ve read) excellent little horror number about a freaky girl who wants to become a surgeon and has vivid depraved dreams of necrophilia. Cool. We’ve all had those dreams. Right? Right? Hello? Red Band trailer -[youtube]http://youtu.be/SB6dARkyl8g[/youtube]

The Giant Mechanical Man – Good natured rom-com about a couple of people who work at a zoo (probably a fairly depressing one) who fall in love. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5D8JMsPk3o[/youtube]

Prometheus – Here’s a film that’s both fun and disappointing at the same time. Fun because it’s a big loud ambitious sci-fi number that chugs along at a pretty good pace but ultimately disappointing because it doesn’t really make all that much sense. Considering the talent involved and the fact that they had over 30 years since the original Alien to come up with a coherent and involved story and this is the best that they could do, I was a bit let down. If you like the Alien universe, you’ll have to check it out for sure. Also on the Blu Ray. After watching it, I’m sure you’ll have a few questions of your own as to what you just viewed. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU[/youtube]

And after you watch it watch this funny take on the film – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x1YuvUQFJ0[/youtube]

The Raven – John Cusak plays a gun wielding Edgar Allan Poe on the trail of a vicious (is there a non-vicious version?) serial killer who is inspired by Poe’s stories. Uh-huh. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZb2pLKiYEk[/youtube]

Rock of Ages – Cheesy love story + cheesy 80’s tunes + cheesy Tom Cruise = a boatload of fromage. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USxhXb5VC5E[/youtube]

Seconds Apart – A pair of telepathic twins terrorize and slaughter their classmates. Usually it’s just one twin who’s the bad one. Too bad this wasn’t a documentary. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AcHXgqeqmo[/youtube]

Old Stuff Just In…

ET – The Extraterrestrial – Blu Ray

Coming Next Week

Red Lights
Mad Men Season 5
Chernobyl Diaries
Madagascar 3
Neil Young – Journeys
That’s My Boy
Moonrise Kingdom
The Firm – Complete Series
Dark Horse

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending September 24th

September 19, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

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

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Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending September 17th

September 12, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

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

Black Dog Newsletter for the Week Ending September 10th

September 5, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

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

Black Dog Video Newsletter for Week Ending September 3rd

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

Life in the big city can by trying at times. Life in the big city on the east side near a park can be quite trying, infuriating and disgusting at times. What am I on about you ask? Well let me tell you. We erected a nice fence at the back of our property last year. Looks great, keeps out the ne’er-do-wells. Unfortunately said ne’er-do-wells have taken to using the small recessed area out behind the fence as their own semi-private washroom. Well I should say toilet as there is no washing going on back there. I was even sitting in the backyard discussing this problem with my tenant/CHUD last week when some filth-bag starts pissing on the fence! I surprised him and told him to beat it. He apologized and stopped mid-stream (I hope that he continued to piss all down his leg). We came up with two possible solutions to this problem (yes drinks may have been involved); provide toilet paper, a fresh towel and a tip jar or install a motion detector light and one of those motion activated singing fish so when they stand or squat, not only will they have a bright scalding light on them but they will be serenaded by Big Mouth Billy Bass. We’ll see what happens.

“Don’t worry, be happy”

Oh and someone has been sneaking into my backyard and stealing my tomatoes. And they had just ripened. Fuckers. So if you read about some old guy in east van who shot a tomato thief with a crossbow, remember me when I was a sane, upstanding citizen please.

And on another note, in case any of you were missing your Surgi-lube non-staining lubricating jelly (not to used on eyes and ears) we found a half-used tube of it in the bathroom at the Cambie store. Just ask at the desk.

And one more note about a couple price changes starting up real soon like – the Wednesday 5 old films for $8.00 ends tomorrow to replaced by a nice new shiny 5 old films for $10 starting September 5th. Also the great deal punch cards are going up slightly – instead of $35 per card it will be $35 plus tax so it will cost ya’ll $39.20 starting September 1st. Hate to raise any prices but I gotsa pay the bills and keep my kid swathed in the finery to which he’s accustomed.

New Releases for Tuesday August 28th

Battleship – Need more proof the Hollywood is creatively bankrupt? May I present to you, Battleship. Here’s a movie based on one of the most boring games ever (I do admit to playing it as a kid and I always cheated). Liam Neeson and one of the Skarsgårds show up to grab a paycheck in what looks to be a cross between Transformers and Battle L.A.. Yes that sound you heard was the collective implosion of a thousand dying suns. Also on the Blu Ray.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpoabtbEJOI[/youtube]

Beyond the Black Rainbow – Crazy trippy Canadian feature that is chock full weirdness, bizarreness, 80’s hair and music, slow-paced sci-fi moments and coolness. The description, if there is to be one, might go something like this; despite being under heavy sedation, Elena tries to make her way out of Arboria, a secluded, quasi-futuristic commune. Doesn’t really matter. Might be best enjoyed under the influence of what ever influences you. Think David Lynch having a weird freaky baby with Stanley Kubrick. Ewww. Blu Ray will be here in a couple of weeks. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDH0Ykyge0c[/youtube]

Boardwalk Empire Season 2 [youtube]Boardwalk Empire Season 2 [/youtube]- More Nucky! More gambling! More moonshine! More sex! Gimme more! Love this show. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_C_c7oZacA[/youtube]

Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster – Another fine Canadian film out this week. Bio-pic of famed post WWII gangster who wanted to be a Hollywood star. Seems like it was much easier to be a famed gangster or movie star back in the day. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKPu7I2nMFQ[/youtube]

Extraterrestrial – Spanish flick from the dude who made the fun Timecrimes a few years back. Fella wakes up with the girl of his dreams, who he just met, to discover that a giant alien spaceship is hovering over the city. What do you do, run to the hills or go back to bed. I think that the choice is quite obvious.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-xlExnCyig[/youtube]

Headhunters – Pretty fun twisty crime comedy-drama from Norway. A corporate headhunter, who’s also an art thief, steals a painting from Jamie Lannister (Game of Thrones shout out – hilarious, no?) who happens to be a former mercenary. Some bloody hijinks ensue. I really liked this film even if it did have some unbelievable plot twists. Oh and I guess that a screeching cat jumping out onto the screen is something new to Norwegian filmmakers? Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5am704I0zkM[/youtube]

Hide Away – Tepid looking drama about a guy hiding out on a boat because he’s sad. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HmGNxB2Ucc[/youtube]

If God is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise – Spike Lee returns to New Orleans to see how everyone is doing. My guess is probably not all that great for the most part. Kind of a sequel to his 2006 outstanding doc When the Levees Broke. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o4tcxT-S1E[/youtube]

Kill List – Intense crime thriller that’s part hit-man flick and part Wickerman type weirdness. After a botched assignment, a hit-man is pulled back in for “one last job” that sees him losing his mind. Like really losing his fucking mind. It has some brutal violence which I whole-heartedly approve of. Hammer time! Not for the squeamish or faint of heart but recommended to those who aren’t. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqkqF–v1tg[/youtube]

The Lady – Bio-pic of Aung San Suu Kyi who you may all know better as one of the world’s most famous political prisoners after being under house arrest for most of the last 21 years in Burma. This Farrelly brother’s comedy finds Aung San Suu Kyi going out on a date with Ben Stiller after putting in her hair…sorry I couldn’t resist. This drama stars the great Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis as her husband. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMYAzQC3UjI[/youtube]

Life and Death of a Porno Gang – What’s going on in the Serbian film world? First there was the demented and gross Serbian Film and now this. Crazy nasty stuff. Young film director puts together a traveling porn troupe to entertain the countryside. Hell, who wouldn’t be entertained by that? I imagine that things do not go well. Here’s some plot keywords from the IMDB in case you might be interested in this; porn, bestiality, male frontal nudity, snuff, film maker, female frontal nudity, heroin, gay porn, drag and suicide. Enjoy! Trailer is NSFW [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nllWMwzO3Fk[/youtube]

The Lucky One – Dreamy Zac Efron, just back from the war in Iraq, travels to Louisiana searching for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war. This is a fluffy romantic piece that would go nicely on a double bill with Life and Death of a Porno Gang. Think about it. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HntoPKxgtBE [/youtube]

Once Upon a Time Season 1 – Cool sounding and well reviewed TV show about a woman with a troubled past who is drawn into a small town in Maine where the magic and mystery of fairy tales just may be real. Might be cool because when you look at them, fairy tails can be quite terrifying. Stars Robert Carlyle so it has that going for it. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15__iA1MTqc[/youtube]

Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here – Pretty much exactly what the title says – a doc about the making of, arguably, Pink Floyd’s finest work. If you like the Floyd, check this out. Maybe shoot some lasers around your living room for the full effect. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQVeSMgCSs[/youtube]

Pirates – Band of Misfits – Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek and some other actors lend voice to this animated kids pirate adventure. From the cats who brought you Wallace and Gromit. That’s all about I can tell you. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqtcj20Z778[/youtube]

The Snowtown Murders – Not only will all the animals that live in Australia kill you, but the country is teaming with psychotic murderers as well! Wolf Creek anyone? Eden Lake anyone? And now this. At least those other films were not based on true events, unlike this grisly shocker about a psycho who moves in with a troubled family and starts controlling things. Controlling things his way which I imagine might be considered out of the norm by some (though maybe not in Australia). [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7DYSDRv25w[/youtube]

Spooky Stories – Some animated stuff with that awful Shrek character and some others from Monsters and Aliens. Might be good family stuff especially with Halloween rapidly approaching.

There are a few late things that should be here this week, so don’t freak out. They include;

Sons of Anarchy Season 4
Homeland Season 1
Juan of the Dead
Walking Dead Season 2

Old Stuff Just In

True Stories of a Woman in Jail Continues
Altered States – Blu Ray
Outland – Blu Ray
Mean Streets – Blu Ray

Coming Next Week

Guest House
High School
Safe
Piranha 3DD
The Borgias Season 2
Fringe Season 4
Hung Season 3
Five Year Engagement
Goats
Route Irish
Parks and Recreation Season 4

Black Dog Video Newsletter for Week Ending August 27th

August 21, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

Just wanted to mention that a fun new bar/restaurant/tavern/alehouse/drinkery/rathskeller/saloon has just opened up on the Drive – which is a good thing because there really isn’t a lot of places over here that I like to frequent to wet my whistle. It’s called the Storm Crow Tavern (named after a place in some movie) and it has a type of medieval theme that hopes to attract some nerdy gamer/larper/movie/musician folk. Good vibe to the place and good times to be had although I was a little disappointed my Saturday evening spent there didn’t look quite like this…but give it time…

And on another note, there’s some big fun festival type thing happening over on Cambie St this Saturday – the 25th. Details can be found at the end of today’s publication. I hoping that it will look something like this (this might be funny to those who know what film this is from)…

New Releases for Tuesday August 21st

Bernie – Richard Linklater’s latest that finds Jack Black playing a mortician who strikes up a friendship with a lonely widow played by Shirley McClaine (who I thought was already dead, who knew?). I believe that there’s murder afoot and some shady dealings. Based on a true story and even has some of the people who were in the true story part talking about what they knew and what they thought and other things they may like to talk about.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7VSAFvPq7c[/youtube]

Chimpanzees – Disneynature – Is “Disneynature” different than real nature? Do they have a patent on nature now? Bastardos! I always thought that if I became rich I’d get myself a chimp to tie up my skates because I hate tying those things up. And I’d teach him how to use a cocktail shaker, well, just because. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOycVxvpzAk[/youtube]

The Dictator – Sacha Baron Cohen is a funny guy. Here he plays a funny dictator of some fictitious middle-eastern country who fights to have democracy not ruin his beloved totalitarian regime. Let the hilarity ensue. I hear that this one is actually a pretty humerous number. Watch it only if you like the funny. Also on the Blu Ray. Red Band Trailer – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-2ZvIMKJHA[/youtube]

Falling Overnight – Guy has to go in for a brain tumor operation. The night before he meets a lovely woman. They spend the night together. Complications ensue I suppose. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7VsCNXCze0[/youtube]

House Season 8 – I wonder if they stray from the “person with a weird affliction baffles doctors, House is mean and funny and then has an epiphany saving the afflicted person at the end” formula? Probably not. I think that this is and was the last season.

Lovely Molly – Newlywed Molly moves back into her dead dad’s house only to have something from her childhood haunt and torment her. Piano lessons? Cleaning out the litter box? What could it be? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvAmfXz0PqU[/youtube]

Megacities – Doc that looks at at four cities – Mumbai, New York, Moscow and Mexico City and some of the inhabitants who dwell there. I thought that maybe they’d include Prince George or Wawa in there. What do they know? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCDD7havaL8[/youtube]

Payback – The director of the doc Manufactured Landscapes tackles Margret Atwood (not literally although that would be cool as well) and her book from a few years back about debt and it’s philosophical and fiscal conditions. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBbYEExEL94[/youtube]

Post Mortem – In the midst of the 1973 Chilean coup a morgue worker fantasizes about his neighbor Nancy, a burlesque dancer, who mysteriously disappears on September 11th. During the chaos that follows, he frantically tries to find Nancy. What’s a little US-backed coup when you’re in love? From the director of the weird and unsettling Tony Manero. High on my list of flicks to watch this week. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK0zNJTq4uc[/youtube]

Robot Chicken Season 5 – Yay! Robot Chicken. Love this shit. (At Cambie – soon to Commercial)

A Separation – Iranian film finds a woman at odds with her husband on wether to leave the country to provide a better life for their kid or stay with the husband’s ailing father. Can they get a divorce in such a place? Do complications ensue? Heard nothing but great things about this one. Winner of the best foreign flick at this year’s Oscars. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58Onuy5USTc[/youtube]

Virginia – Mormon sheriff’s hope for a senate bid start to unravel when his daughter dates the son of a mentally unstable woman with whom he had an affair (and who may the the daughter’s dad). Got all that? Oh small town America, you are so fucked up. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0Z-tf5mSOA[/youtube]

Olde Stuff Just In…

Jaws – Blu Ray!

Coming Next Week

Headhunters
Boardwalk Empire Season 2
Homeland Season 1
The Lucky One
Lady
Battleship
Juan of the Dead
Beyond the Black Rainbow
Pirates! Band of Misfits
Walking Dead Season 2
Dreamworks Spooky Stories
Sons of Anarchy Season 4
Once Upon a Time Season 1
Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending August 20th

August 15, 2012/1 Comment/in Newsletter/by Darren

Ah, the joy of camping. Packing up everything you own, cramming it in a car, setting up a tent in the woods and pretending you’re homeless for a couple of nights. Charring some flesh on the Q, having a few beers, reading a book…relaxation. Now add some trains crashing through the campground at various times during the night, sleeping on a mattress that is about 5 and 1/2 feet long (I’m just over 6 feet long), maybe toss in some crying babies, barking dogs and a mother who slowly guided her kid around the campground pushing a shitty little cart with those hard, loud plastic wheels at 6am to complete the picture. And really did the train guy – conductor? engineer? – need to blow his insanely loud train horn as the train barreled past the campground in the middle of the night? My kid woke up screaming “NOOOO! NOOO!”. And that was all on the first night. For whatever reason everything seems amplified and weird when you’re in a tent, be they trains that sound like they are going to crush your head or small forest dwelling creatures. They all sound huge and nasty and hungry.

What is actually wandering around outside your tent in the middle of the night is probably this…

But laying on the ground, with only a thin layer of vinyl or gortex or lambskin or whatever tents are made of, everything sounds like this…

The next couple of nights were much better except for the young weirdos across from us who, for some reason, kept playing Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” , “White Wedding” and a bit of Slayer. Oh and they didn’t think to tidy up their campsite and put their food away after they turned in for the night. You can probably guess what happened next. So yes there was a bear in the next campsite rummaging around. It was making the strangest noises. After the bear noises ceased, I heard them get into their van and drive away. Tools.

To me the bear wandering around and mewling or whatever the crazy noise coming out of it sounded a bit like this was attacking the camp.

All in all it was a good, fun experience. We camped with some good friends, drank some (too much probably) beer, ate some tasty BBQ, watched the stars and saw a Stellar Jay (which is really loud as well).

Oh and thanks to the ass-face piece of shit who kicked our door and broke the glass at the Cambie shop the other night when we wouldn’t let him in at 11:15 so he could rent Brave Little Toaster. Good job. Hope you broke or severed your toe(s).

And finally…new, good movies this week! Hallelujah! It seems like it’s been so long. Damn Olympics.

New Releases for Tuesday August 14th

4:44 Last Day on Earth – Abel Ferrara (remember him – Bad Lieutenant, King of NY?) is back making Willam Dafoe and Shanyn Leigh decide what they should do when the earth is about to explode or implode or something. Seems like there’s a lot of end of the world films these days. Maybe someone’s not telling us something? I don’t know what I’d do if the world was ending tomorrow. Stay up late? Fight a hobo? Run through the streets naked? (wait I did that on Saturday) Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1Q7EevCy8[/youtube]

And Everything is Going Fine – Another doc about Spalding Gray from Steven Soderburgh. That’s about it.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3qs42Cx0EA [/youtube]Community Season 3 – From what I’ve heard, this is a pretty funny little show. Haven’t seen a lick of it so I can’t confirm what I’ve heard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMb8ZxwIcew

Dexter Season 6 – That dude still killing people who “deserve it”? Think he’d be caught by now. Or that people might be bored with this show. I don’t mind the Dexter it’s just almost all of the supporting players I can’t stand. Especially his sister. I just want to reach into my TV and hit her with a pie sometimes. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9XOzVXRCe8[/youtube]

Endeavour – Handsome looking PBS or BBC or something like that detective mystery dealy finds some ponce named Endeavor Morse investigating the disappearance of a school girl. Looks pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISP-ulPNvGc[/youtube]

Flowers of War – Christian Bale, sans his heavy-metal Batman voice, poses as a priest in during Japan’s 1937 rape of Nanking with the hope of saving a bunch of woman hiding in a church. From the director of A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop, Hero and House of Flying Daggers. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gac7-t7151M[/youtube]

Le Havre – Kindly old bohemian dude takes a young African refugee under his wing and shields him from the authorities. I’m hoping to be a kindly old bohemian dude at some point. Either that or a crusty curmudgeon. Can’t decide yet. From director Aki Kaurismaki – The Man Without a Past, Leningrad Cowboys Go America. Criterion edition. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKzHv6A5Or0[/youtube]

Hell – Sometime in the German future some people attempt to survive a world where the sun has destroyed everything. If The Road and Frontier(s) had a baby, well that would be really weird and gross. Or you might get something like this. I keep telling you, we have to destroy the sun before it destroys us. No one listens to me. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE4iomYHF7c [/youtube]

Hick – A Nebraska teen runs into some not-so-savory folk as she sets out on the road to Vegas to get away from her bad mom. Stars Hit Girl, Alec Baldwin and Juliette Lewis. Why Vegas? It’s too hot there. This one looks like it might be nice and nasty and cool. Here’s a good review of it to go along with the trailer. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/57486

and the Red Band Trailer –

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzS–5tuzHA[/youtube]

Hunger Games (Comes out on the 18th for some reason) – Again with the dystopian future. Some kids have to fight to the death for the amusement of the adults. Think Battle Royal but just not as good. Who doesn’t like a good film about children killing each other? Enjoyed the books, we’ll have to see how the films pan out. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovFG3N_RSU [/youtube]

A Monster in Paris – Animated kids fare about a giant flea monster – who’s also nice guy flea – who has a crush on a girl in 1910 Paris. Girls love giant blood sucking insects, or arachnids or whatever fleas are, right? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfMcbsE-kf8[/youtube]

My Way – Korean flick about friends, marathon runners, WWII, Japanese occupation (not a good week for Japan on the DVDs) and the horrors of war and friendship. Wait that didn’t sound right. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzInH4-Kk8U[/youtube]

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia – Excellent Turkish flick about some guys who set out to find a body. Like Stand By Me but with grown Turkish men. From the director of Distant, 3 Monkeys and Climates. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jKgHqU1jrs[/youtube]

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory – The final installment of the excellent doc series about the West Memphis 3 – some dudes who were tried and sentenced for killing three young children in the lovely town of West Memphis, Arkansas. Riveting, fascinating stuff. If you haven’t seen these films, do yourself a favour and check them out. Now. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STq7kIDv6R4[/youtube]

The Raid: Redemption– Yay! Love this film – one of the best action films I’ve seen in ages. It’ll flip your hair back it’s so good. Some cops have to storm a big apartment complex where a nasty drug lord and his and his army of killers and thugs reside. Much mayhem ensues. I can’t recommend this highly enough to all you folks who like the martial arts action stuff. Also on the Blu Ray (which is late but hopefully it’ll be here soon).To give you a little taste, here’s the film done with plaster-scene cats – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_z3EBalwI4[/youtube]

and the Red Band trailer –

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMmFN4k04JI[/youtube]

War of the Arrows aka Warriors of the Rainbow – During the Japanese (again with the Japanese!) rule of Taiwan, the Seediq were forced to lose their own culture and give up their faith. What’s a Seediq warrior to do? Get out the arrows and start shooting. Think Apocalypto but in Taiwan and with less head-cutting off. Word has it that this is an excellent flick. Word. Also in a really long extended cut (hasn’t arrived yet but hopefully soon). Also on the Blu Ray.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53QsTkZMV1A[/youtube]

Old Stuff Just In!

39 Steps – Blu Ray – Criterion
Gray’s Anatomy – Criterion
Eastern Promises – Blu Ray

Coming Next Week

Megacities
The Dictator
Payback
Bernie
Post Mortem
A Separation
Disneynature- Chimpanzees
House Season 8
Lovely Molly
Freelancers
Hide Away
Virginia

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending August 13th

August 7, 2012/0 Comments/in Newsletter/by Darren

So we managed to get out of town for an evening over the weekend. Big deal you say. What if I mentioned it was without our sprog? Ah-hah, now it all makes sense. I can’t remember the last time the wife and I did something without our little dude. So we headed off to Harrison Hot Springs for an evening. Not really my kind of place but it’s close and we’re only going for one night, so why the hell not? I’m not to sure why, but I thought it would be a nice relaxing, quiet weekend. I based this on the last time I was there – that was in October and it was nice and quiet (that time we brought our kid and he got sick as soon as we got there and ended up barfing in our bed). Upon pulling into town we were confronted by throngs of people heading to the beach. Most of which looked like this..

and these type of guys

What is it with beach fashion? Why, especially the guys, are we subjected to ugly multi-coloured shorts that go past one’s knees and over-sized sleeveless shirts, usually with some stupid saying on it or an advertisement for really bad beer products? It’s almost the uniform for the beach. Would you wear these abominations out in other ares of the public realm? Well some might. Oh and don’t forget the backwards baseball cap.

Oh, and this is the lovely view we had from our room. Takes your breath away a little doesn’t it?

All in all it was a pretty good time, ate good food, enjoyed some nice wine, sat in some not-too-refreshing hot springs…Did I mention we were childless? Next weekend, camping! Wish me luck.

New Releases for Tuesday August 7th

Bel Ami – Paris, the end of the 19th century. A non-sparkly Robert Pattison returns from some war and uses his seductive good looks to work his way sexily into high-falootin’ society. Among those who fall under his dreamy spell are Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlFlZVLG46c[/youtube]

Coriolanus – ” I like this movie because it has the word ‘anus’ in it”, one of my esteemed collegues was overheard to say. A bald Ralph Fiennes (he also directs) plays a banished hero of Rome who hooks up with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city. “Lousy Rome, I’ll show you!” I believe is one of the lines shouted by Ralph. Written by some guy named Bill Shakespeare. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYrGIQnmxo[/youtube]

Deep Blue Sea – The lovely and talented Rachel Weisz plays a self-destructive wife of a judge who gets embroiled in an affair with a guy who drives airplanes (pilot is what I believe they’re called these days). Also on the Blu Ray.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmphOgeyk70[/youtube]

Dr. Seuss – The Lorax – Animated tale of a guy trying to woo the object of his affections with the help of a tree-hugging round orange guy. Or something like that. It’s Seuss for crying-out-loud! Also on the Blu ray.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PZr1rqOR0[/youtube]

Foreign Parts – Doc that looks at the small weird community that thrives in some junk-yards and auto shops that are fated to be demolished so a new baseball stadium can be built somewhere in Queens.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnsQ3hohqwI[/youtube]

Grimm Season 1 – Kind of a Buffy-type show about a detective in Portland who, for some reason, has the ability to see supernatural creatures that have been doing some crimes. I definately saw some not-so-supernatrual creatures lurking up in Harrison Hot Springs on the weekend. There was a number of wedding parties going on and walking around I heard this great sound-bite, Guy: “I just trying to get a little buzz going on here” Girl: “You just got married, isn’t the buzz of happiness enough?” Made me laugh. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uar1rWVAJV0[/youtube]

Marley – Bob Marley plays himself in this doc about every college kids favorite reggae artist. Lots of concert and rare footage to be had. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSvXlZlm6Zg[/youtube]

Coming Next Week

Hunger Games
Warriors of the Rainbow
Hell
The Raid: Redemption
A Monster in Paris
Whisperer in Darkness
Community Season 3
Dexter Season 6
Glee Season 3
Flowers of War
Endeavour
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Hick
Life and Death of a Porno Gang

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending August 6th

July 31, 2012/1 Comment/in Newsletter/by Darren

So I guess the first thing I should do is apologize. I wasn’t even going to put together this edition of the newsletter on account of the insanely poor releases for this week. That’s not to say that the films are of sub-par quality, it’s just that there is hardly anything new hitting the shelves this week. In fact we received more older titles for the stores than we did newer stuff. I’m not too sure why the studios did this to us. Maybe it has something to do with the Olympics. Maybe they’re dicks. So my apologies for the lack of new stuff. Anyways, the month of August has a lot of films and a lot of great films that will be made available for your wanting eyeballs. So maybe it’s time to delve into some older stuff, start some quality TV fare, check out some great documentaries or go to the beach.

On another note it seems that our poor old Black Dog sandwich board at the Cambie location is too damaged to continue and will have to be put down. We had a good run together, shared some good times as well as some bad. It was a very nice dog that lived a good, fulfilling life being chained up to the store everyday, all day long. It never complained, no matter what the weather, what little kids did to it and even after it’s feet were destroyed and it couldn’t stand up anymore. So to you good readers, I offer a challenge. If anyone would care to make me another lovely sandwich board in the style of what we had before, or something completely new and astounding, I’d love to trade your time, labour and what-not for free rentals. If you are interested send me your ideas and we can start from there.

New Releases for Tuesday July 31st

Cherry Bomb – A nice rape/revenge exploitation type film for your summertime enjoyment about a stripper with a heart of gold (of course, is there any other kind?) who looks to take revenge on some scumbags who did her wrong. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BMjgSdhhkU[/youtube]

Flamenco Flamenco – A film so nice they named it twice. This is a doc about, well, flamenco. I used to go to the Kino Cafe across the street from the Cambie store. I even witnessed a few flamenco nights – it was pretty cool, all the stomping and clapping and hey-hey. But after a couple of visits, coupled with the fact it’s on almost every night, I haven’t been back much. Maybe it also has to do with the fact I live over in the Commercial Drive hood. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I don’t really like flamenco. Even just writing about it is giving me a slight headache. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yclAKGCnu2c[/youtube]

Freddy Frogface – Animated Danish kids fare finds someone (I presume it’s a frog, or a kid with a face like a frog) named Victor who, together with his friends, try to outsmart the town bully and win a talent contest. Also known as Orla Frøsnapper to all you Danes out there. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reWNKoZtXv0[/youtube]

Hatfields and the McCoys – TV miniseries about a couple of asshole families that almost started a state vs state civil war with their bickering, and blood feuds and hog ownership claims and pie throwing and name calling and murderous antics. Actually supposed to be quite an excellent show. Stars the Kevin Costner and the Bill Pullman or the Bill Paxton. Not too sure. Filmed in Romania for some reason.[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hg9mvE1FA4[/youtube]

The Hunter – Not starring Willam Dafoe. Iranian film about a guy who kills a couple of cops (I presume they had it coming) and then flees into the woods pursued by a couple more cops. Word on the street has it that this is an excellent, tense, atmospheric, philosophical thriller. Sorry, I couldn’t find an English trailer so here’s a trailer for Troll Hunter which has nothing to do with this film. I just like it. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy2nAOdBUlw[/youtube]

Old Stuff Just In

Brainstorm – Blu Ray
Barbarella – Blu Ray
The Entity – DVD
A bunch of Don Knotts films – The Ghost and Mr. Chicken / The Reluctant Astronaut / The Shakiest Gun in the West / The Love God?)
A bunch of James Stewart westerns – Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed)

Coming Next Week

Deep Blue Sea
Pel Ami
Foreign Parts
Dr. Seuss – The Lorax
Grimm Season 1
Marley

Video Store on Commercial Drive

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Archive for year: 2012

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