Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending July 1st

So it’s 5am Sunday morning. I’m lying in bed dreaming about nice things; puppies, unicorns, diabetes enthusiast and casual racist Paula Deen’s recent woes, when my slumber is interrupted but some odd music, bad singing and general shenanigans. I peer out my window to see a huge motor-home parked in front of my house, the occupants of which are on the sidewalk singing, drinking and, for some reason, taking photos of my hedge (to be fair, it’s a pretty nice hedge). I lay back down in bed pondering on how to address this situation. My wife has already made her way down the hall to sleep with the sprog, Swanson. I could slap on some clothes, pop a cold one and join them in their merriment. Images of Ken Kesey, Hunter S. Thompson and sayings such as “gas, grass, or ass, nobody rides for free” race through my brains. Or I could grab my hammer and go all Oldboy on their young, hipster asses. Or I could call the cops and be that old guy in his robe on the porch shaking my fist and yelling at those scallywags. Instead I sort of drifted back off to sleep only to be awoke about an hour or so later as the humungous RV sped off in search of more fertile partying grounds (I assume – who knows). It was an odd way to start the day, that’s for sure. Lucky for me some hockey and tasty tacos were still in my future. What does this have to do with movies? You tell me.

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Welcome to my buttery dreams, y’all…

There’s something new brewing on the horizon – no, sorry, not Black Dog Beer – but something just as intriguing…Black Dog underpants! Stay tuned…

New Releases for Tuesday June 25th

Black Pond – British comedy about a family who are branded murderers when they help a down-on-his-luck dude by taking him in for a meal where he promptly dies.That’s gratitude for ya. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l_rJtpePd8[/youtube]

The Call – Word on the street has it that this thriller starring Halle Berry and some phones is pretty darn good. She plays a 911 operator with a “mysterious past” who gets a call from a kid locked in the trunk of a car. Thrills, I presume, ensue. From director Brad Anderson – Session 9, The Machinist. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u50ILx42-zE[/youtube]

Call the Midwife – Excellent BBC drama/comedy about a bunch of midwives in the poverty stricken areas of East London in the 1950’s If ya like yer Downton Abbey, you’re sure to love this. We have Season 1 and 2. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tY0eUynAOY[/youtube]

I Declare War – Word on the street has it that this drama/thriller about some kids whose game of Capture the Flag goes too far resulting in some dire consequences is quite excellent. I expect it gets darker than stealing each other juice boxes. I’m hoping for more on the side of Lord of the Flies. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfEGoJh8FXQ[/youtube]

Hansel and Gretel Get Baked – Evil pot-head witch Lara Flynn Boyle lures the neighbourhood kids into her house with the promise of some very fine dope. She then drugs them and prepares to cook and eat them. Yes, you read all of that correctly. I have a feeling that there will be a special segment of viewers who may enjoy this flick. Only at Commercial at the moment…sorry…[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGn3NhqIVVc[/youtube]

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone – Comedy about rival magicians trying to out-magician each other. Has comedy legends Steve Carell, Jim Carrey and Steve Buscemi making magic together in a magical way. Also stars James Gandolfini…RIP…Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnf5XOoKfd0[/youtube]

It’s a Disaster! – It’s the end of the world. Four couples have brunch. Hilarity ensues. Stars David Cross so it has that going for it. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA9S6NgzNYE[/youtube]

No – Excellent drama that finds the handsome and dreamy Gael Garcia Bernal playing an ad executive who comes up with a campaign that he hopes will lead to the defeat of that evil prick, Pinochet in Chili in 1988. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOeiw_BJPas[/youtube]

Phantom – Cold War submarine movie about a secret mission that could end the world. Or something like that. Someone or something may or may not be haunted in this. Not too sure. Supposedly based on a true story. Stars Ed Harris and Mulder. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTGNNxqlba0[/youtube]

Portlandia Season 3 – More hipster comedy. Portland style! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgUpcQ_Rw9Y[/youtube]

Pusher – English remake of the fine Danish thriller about a drug dealer who’s life becomes complicated – and not in a good way – when he borrows money from his supplier for what he’s told is “a sure thing”. Ya, right, has there ever been “a sure thing” in any movie that’s actually panned out? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBqDHsFzgJM[/youtube]

The Rambler – Weird, bizarre (isn’t that the same thing as weird?) violent rambling movie about a rambler (Dermot Mulroney – at his rambling best) who rambles around the countryside having adventures and encountering many a strange person. Expect the unexpected. And much rambling. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQpGbA4mHZE[/youtube]

Revenant – Good looking horror/action/comedy that finds a zombie soldier hooking up with his best friend to take on the city’s bad guy drug dealers and stuff. Looks like this one could be a lot of fun. Zombie fun that is. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58vbhVzFAfU[/youtube]

Upside Down – Cool looking sci-fi dealy that finds two planets beside each other (like really beside each other) that are held together by gravity (or something like that). Star-crossed lovers live on opposite worlds and forces conspire to keep them apart. Of course a perilous journey must be undertaken to reunite the lovers. Stars Kirsten Dunst and Jim Sturgess as said lovers. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLJqCPNFUlw[/youtube]

Coming Next Week

The Girl
This Girl is Badass
Tai Chi Hero
Tower

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Call the Midwife
American Mary
Stoker
Wrong
Veep Season 1
Fringe Season 5
ABC’s of Death
House of Cards Season 1

Depending on what I get up to next weekend (long weekend it is), there may not be a newsletter. Just giving you a heads up so you can prepare yourselves. In the meantime enjoy this…http://www.foundfootagefest.com/vhs-covers/#jp-carousel-1996

 

Copyright © 2013 Black Dog Video, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Black Dog Video
Cambie Street and/or Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J1
Canada

Add us to your address book

 

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending June 20th

Another Father’s Day has come and gone. For some reason it seems that Father’s Day takes a backseat to Mother’s Day. Just because mom carried you around like a giant watermelon tucked under her skin for nine months and then spent untold hours forcing you out of her body, her day gets all the hoo-haw. Just kidding, of course. Go moms! I had a pretty great day Sunday. My little guy let me sleep in till around 10 and then surprised me with a card and a small tile he made in school. It was his depiction of a rainbow coloured Angry Bird. I guess he assumes that I like the Angry Birds as much as he does as the card he made was Angry Birds as well. Pretty sweet. Maybe a tad creepy.

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How would you like that staring at you all night?

We then spent the day wandering around the Drive for the fine car-free day event. I’m always amazed at how many people drive to the car-free day. It seems to me that the whole “car-free” part of the day is lost on them. Crossing 1st it was sad to see so many people trapped inside if their cars, stuck in traffic while we wandered around, beer in hand anjoying the festivities. Lots of good music and food and a general cool vibe at this year’s event. Probably the most interesting thing I saw yesterday was a huge tortoise walking around with a small dog on it’s back. Good times (maybe except for the tortoise).

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And whatever this was…

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Just a reminder about the swell deals we have going on almost everyday at Black Dog. Monday – 2 for 1 films, Wednesday is 5 old films for $10 and Sunday to Thursday you can get two films, one old & one new or 2 old, for a mere $7. You’re saving money renting with us!

We also have a little contest for today. Win a couple of tickets to see It’s a Disaster! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA9S6NgzNYE [/youtube]at the Rio tonight. It stars David Cross among others. Just tell us this insanely hard trivia question – How many seasons did Mr. Show last? First one to chime in wins the tickets!

New Releases for Tuesday June 18

21 and Over – A celebration of a dude turning 21 soon devolves into a night of debauchery and humiliation. Of course it does. Sounds like my wedding night. There may or may not be a bear involved. Just warning you. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc9vHeGNTY0[/youtube]

American Mary – Great local horror number from the Twisted Twins, Jen and Sylvia Soska, finds a disillusioned and broke medical student finding her interests leading her into the world of underground surgeries. I do like the sounds of that. Hmmm, maybe that could be a new career for me. If only I wasn’t so squeemish at the sight of blood and all the gross stuff one finds inside the human body. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJtVBD6DlX8[/youtube]

The Brass Teapot – A couple finds a magical brass teapot (see title) that magically spoots out money whenever they hurt themselves. Just how far will they go to buy all the stupid shit that they want? I had a magical chamber pot once but it didn’t spoot out any money let me tell you! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g30KBZ4m61Y[/youtube]

Jack the Giant Slayer – Updated, CGI laden Jack and the Beanstalk retelling. A war breaks out between puny humans and giant giants (one of whom looks kinds like Klaus Kinski for some reason). Heard mixed things on this one from “it’s a fun romp that’s not to hard on the mind” to “shoddy CGI, bad acting that’s pretty hard on the mind”. You be the judge. Be it! Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnfgjDu9t28[/youtube]

Movie 43 – A strong contender for worst film of the year (expect to see it topping many a list) finds a bunch of short stories starring a bunch of people who should know better. I’m looking at you, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Dennis Quaid, Naomi Watts, Snooki (well maybe she wouldn’t know any better), Emma Stone and just about everyone else in Hollywood. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jDp2D2zWMI[/youtube]

Quartet – Fine older British actors – Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly – act in this fine little drama about old muscians getting ready for a concert of sorts. Directed, for some reason, by Dustin Hoffman. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfbzS6f8cXI[/youtube]

Snoop Lion: Reincarnated – Doc that follows Snoop Dogg, now called Snoop Lion or Snoop Humingbird or Snoop Emu as he travels to Jamaica, smokes some weed (go figure) and records a reggae LP. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tse40JPyyU8[/youtube]

Stoker – Cool looking film from the great Korean director, Chan-wook Park (Oldboy) about a creepy family and the creepy uncle who comes to stay after dad dies. Has the Nicole Kidman in it who can do unstable, creepy ladies pretty darn good (see The Paperboy). Can’t wait to check this one out. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btm7WjSwPmQ[/youtube]

Tower Block – A sniper picks off residents of an apartment building for some reason. Sounds like one of many of my twisted fantasies. Everyone has this fantasy right? Did I say that out loud? Hello? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BthurECmLqI[/youtube]

Wilfred Season 2 – More fine comedy that finds a manic depressive Frodo who inexplicably is the only one who can see his neighbor’s dog as a full grown man in a dog suit.

Old Stuff Just In…

Crimewave – Comedy thing written by the Coen Brothers and directed by Sam Raimi! Hello! Also on the Blu Ray

Coming Next Week

Phantom
Portlandia Season 3
Rambler
Revenant
Upside Down
Incredible Burt Wonderstone
No
I Declare War
Call
Black Pond
Hansel and Gretel Get Baked
Pusher

Recently Viewed and Recommended

American Mary
Stoker
Veep Season 1
Side Effects
ABC’s of Death
House of Cards Season 1
Newsroom Season 1
Snitch
Wrong

That’s it for this week folks. Here you are your moment of hilarity…Thinking of signing up for the gym? Go right ahead…http://www.someecards.com/2013/06/17/the-most-absurd-things-ever-seen-at-the-gym-aside-from-you

Copyright © 2013 Black Dog Video, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Black Dog Video
Cambie Street and/or Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J1
Canada

Add us to your address book

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending June 17th

Yes you’re eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, this week’s newsletter is arriving late. Apologies. I wasn’t actually going to even do one this week, but I couldn’t help myself. I was away with the family and friends on Saturna Island for the past few days sunning my bloated, porcelain carcass and eating, drinking and chillin’. It’s so nice to escape the city every now and then and get away from the stress of running two petulant video stores, my wife can escape the stress of her work and Swanson can forget about the stress of being a seven year-old. Not too sure what that stress might be – who to invite to your birthday party? It was an amazing time spent there, but, of course, it never seems long enough.

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“Hey, anyone seen my kid?”

This Sunday is car-free day on the Drive. Pop on in and say hey!

New Releases for Tuesday June 11th

ABC’s of Death – 26 little nasty pieces of business by 26 great horror directors from around the globe are presented here each with a letter of the alphabet to make their own. I hear that this is more hit than miss but definitely worth your time and eyeballs. Not for those who are easily or not-so-easily offended. Also on the Blu Ray. NSFW trailer – [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFgrFENQ4oQ[/youtube]

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters – Can’t say that I’m all that interested in seeing grown-up, sexy Hansel and Gretel go around killing witches with cross bows and shit. But don’t let me stop you. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9246msCh7x4[/youtube]

Hemel – A young girl’s strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk. Or something like that. Sexual awakenings abound. From the Nether-regions…err I mean the Netherlands. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQT8QvAFBVk[/youtube]

House of Cards Season 1 – American version of the great British series has the Kevin Spacey and some of it was directed by the David Fincher. Just ignore that ugly netflix blemish at the bottom of the box. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SseGZNMujXs[/youtube]

Inch’Allah – Excellent hard-hitting Canadian drama about a doctor working in the conflicted (to say the least) Palestinian territories. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51dixEewdSo[/youtube]

The Newsroom Season 1 – Great series about TV news and the stuff that goes on behind the scenes. From that guy who wrote the Social Network. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC8ovJYAU3U[/youtube]

OZ: The Great and Powerful – Hey Sam Raimi, stick to horror films please. Not too sure that we needed another Wizard of OZ tale, but what do I know. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DylgNj4YQVc[/youtube]

Snitch – The Rock (who’s in every movie that’s been released so far this year) rocks it up as a dad who goes undercover for the DEA after his son is set up in some drug thing. I heard that this one is actually pretty good for a movie starring The Rock. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rieI5g9fgRc[/youtube]

Wrong – From the guy that made the weirdly impressive Rubber comes this crazy absurdist tale of a guy who’s trying to find his lost dog, Paul. Looks pretty dang cool if you ask me. Go ahead, ask me! Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwiwareLXzQ[/youtube]

Coming Next Week

American Mary
Jack the Giant Killer
Movie 43
Quartet
Wilfred Season 2
21 and Over
Tower Block
The Brass Teapot

Recently Viewed and Recommended

The Paperboy
Looper
Django Unchained
The Impossible
Upstream Colour
Killing Them Softly
Killer Joe
Beware of Mr. Baker
Cloud Atlas
In Another Country
Longmire
The Master
Holy Motors

For this week’s laugh the Lonely Island guys invite you into da club and command you to, well… Lots of swearing here – you’ve been warned…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQ6nINAeq8[/youtube]

Copyright © 2013 Black Dog Video, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Black Dog Video
Cambie Street and/or Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J1
Canada

 

Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending June 10th

So I was sitting at a restaurant with Swanson the other day, OK it was a pizza slice joint – Swanson loves the slice – and I overheard a mother talking to her daughter, “Ocean, come here and finish your pizza”. Ocean?! You named your kid Ocean? What kind of bullshit name is that? What happens if she grows up and turns out to be a rather large woman like her mom? That is not going to be easy on the poor kid. Later that week I also was privy to such child names as Cash and Burns! What’s happening with children’s names? Every time I head out the door I expect my ears to assaulted with crazy kid names like Flower or Sand or Corn or Blip, maybe Hat, Blaze, Crank, Cinsere, Merkin, Tool, Dusk, Klaxxon, Tron (OK, maybe Tron would be cool), Burger…mmm Burger….Hashtag, Flapjack, Windsock, Krull, Zoom, If, Pokie, Taint, Spool or Jon Bon Jovi. I could go on and on but you get the idea. Don’t parents think about what living hell they might be creating for their kids or do they just want to think themselves cool and hip mums and dads? What ever happened to good olde timey names like Doris, Roger, Beulah, Lemuel, Lemert, Percival or Fabian? What does this have to do with movies? Absolutely nothing. Just having some fun here, I hope I didn’t insult anyone that has named their kid Clorox or Sandpaper or…

Just wanted to give a little rundown of the many great deals that we offer throughout the week; Sunday to Thursday come in and rent either 2 old films or a new release and an old title for $7. Mondays it’s 2 for 1, all films new and old. Wednesday come in and scoop up 5 great catalogue titles for a mere $10! And don’t forget our great $35 punch card that is good for any 10 films of your choosing. You’re saving money by renting at the old Black Dog!

Also it’s Italian Days on the Drive this Sunday and to hop on board we’re making all of our catalogue Italian films free! That’s right, amble on into the Commercial location this Sunday and amble out with some fine Italian entertainment. On us!

Also – there may or may not (probably not) be a newsletter next week. So please don’t freak out.

New Releases for Tuesday June 4th

A Good Day to Die Hard – Here’s another Die Hard movie that nobody asked for. The title doesn’t even make sense. And why do we still want to watch bald senior citizens run around and kill hundreds of people in action movies? Weird. Anyways, this one is some claptrap about Die Hard’s son in trouble in Russia so he has to go there and blow a bunch of shit up. There ya go. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6mWqXK8k_Y[/youtube]

Breaking Bad Season 5 – Great show. You should be watching this right now. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2h9i_ipWig[/youtube]

Curious George Season 6 – We don’t have any other seasons for some reason but I don’t think that you need to watch them to follow along with this one.

Funeral Kings – Good looking little “coming of age” story, or so it seems, that finds a couple of alter boys ditching their funeral jobs and enjoying some hijinks. I spent the night in a funeral home once. It was kinda weird but kinda cool. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvCobdWtavQ[/youtube]

Identity Thief – Melissa McCarthy steals Jason Batman’s identity so Batman has to travel across the country for some reason to try to get it back. Couldn’t he, like, just call someone or something. Then I guess you wouldn’t have all this comedy gold floating around in this movie. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO12W35DpsQ[/youtube]

Last Ride – Little ditty that finds an ageing Hank Williams (not the idiot Hank Williams JR) travelling somewhere to do one last gig. Life lessons are on display here, one assumes. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjVPh4eYp1k[/youtube]

Warm Bodies – Zombie romantic comedy – Zom-rom-com? – about a zombie who falls for a real live living girl. I imagine that some complications ensue. Also on the Blu Ray. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07s-cNFffDM[/youtube]

Coming Next Week

ABC’s of Death (late – was supposed to be on the shelves today)
The Newsroom Season 1
Inch’Allah
Snitch
House of Cards
It’s a Disaster
Hansel and Gretel

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Jack Reacher
Upstream Colour
Downton Abbey
Fringe
Breaking Bad
Rust and Bone
Side Effects
Central Park Five
Beware of Mr. Baker

For this week’s guffaw I leave you with the latest fitness craze…you may or may not be creeped out…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew[/youtube]

Copyright © 2013 Black Dog Video, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

Black Dog Video
Cambie Street and/or Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J1
Canada