Comments on: Favorite DVD Releases of 2008: Part II

by: BMovieBrainiac

Sat, 09 May 2009 01:26:11 +0100

I used to watch THE NAKED Prey over and over when it played on TV when i was a kid! What a unique piece of work. Reminds me a bit of WALKABOUT, by Roeg-but different in tone and theme.

by: cinebeats

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:43:56 +0100

Thanks for the kind words Film Walrus! You’re one of the few film bloggers who seems to have tastes as eclectic as my own so I’m happy to hear you enjoy these DVD lists I compile.

Phase IV does have some surprises for patient viewers! My only real problem with the film is the ending.

*SPOILER WARNING*

I wish the girl had risen from the sand completely nude hairless. Maybe with ant/insect features as well? It must be the monster movie lover in me!

by: Film Walrus

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:04:34 +0100

Your favorite DVDs list from last year was how I initially found your blog and I knew instantly that you were a kindred spirit. You’ve put together an excellent list once again and your tempting blurbs have given me another hearty round of films to queue up!

Oh, and I’m glad to hear the support for Phase IV. It totally turned around my expectations, growing from a cheesy sf b-movie into an atmospheric and effective chiller.

by: cinebeats

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:11:28 +0100

Steve - Thanks! It’s hard to top Criterion since they continually release great films on DVD and do a stellar job with them.

Joe - I think you’ll find Phase IV worth revisiting, Joe. It’s an unusual sci-fi film and that’s why I liked it so much. It’s a shame Sual Bass didn’t make more movies.

by: Joe Valdez

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:06:33 +0100

Phase IV was a flick I saw on a UHF channel in the early 1980s. My dad was familiar with it and explained the premise to me. I recall the film being a little too “dehumanized” for my taste, but your summary not only makes me want to revisit it, but endeavor to write a sci-fi movie that lives up to that awesome description, Kimberly. Movies wouldn’t be the same without Saul Bass.

by: Steve Langton

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:46:21 +0100

Another clutch of good recommendations. Criterion are one of my fave labels, and the Godard film has been on my list for a while. You’ve also reminded me that I need to order The Skull at some point. Nice to read the restored transfer looks great.

by: cinebeats

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:21:25 +0000

Thanks, Greg! I hope you founnd the list useful. I think all the movies are available on Netflix so I hope you get a chance to see the ones you’re unfamiliar with.

by: Greg

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:08:15 +0000

Once again an incredible list to wrap up the year. And once again so many I haven’t seen which is always welcome. Thanks as always.

by: cinebeats

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:41:00 +0000

Britt - It’s an entertaining film and I hope you enjoy it once you see it!

Peter - Thanks for that tidbit about Lester and Lonely Boy. It’s interesting how much that Paul Anka doc seems to have inspired British directors. As for AnimEigo, they appear to be following in the footsteps of their rival Media Blasters by moving away from releasing anime and into live-action films. AnimEigo tends to release a lot of samurai films, which aren’t really my thing but I’m curious about their release of The Wolves, which I mentioned above.

Richard - I’m bothered by those “Best Buy Exclusive” releases too since they don’t show up on Amazon until months later and if you don’t live near a Best Buy then you have to fight for them on ebay. It seems like every year there is at least one Best Buy exclusive movie released that I want.

by: Richard Doyle

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:36:51 +0000

I bought “The Naked Prey” earlier this year having waited many years to see it. It’s the kind of well-made, simple concept action movie I really enjoy and I wasn’t disappointed.

I saw “Phase IV” on cable back in the mid-90s and it really stuck with me. I bought a copy, even though these annoying Best Buy exclusives were not available in Canada (I got a copy from a private source on Amazon) but still haven’t got around to watching it. (I actually bought copies of all the Best Buy exclusives this way)

by: Peter Nellhaus

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:20:27 +0000

Some of those films listed are on my Netflix queue. I saw Lonely Boy just a few years years after it was made when I was in junior high, shown by a Northwestern University film school student who was teaching filmmaking to a select few. The film also impacted Richard Lester to make A Hard Day’s Night cinema verite style. I saw this a second time in the early Seventies in my documentary class at NYU.

DVD label to watch: AnimEigo. Eclectic choice of Japanese films, with superb subtitles and historical explanations.

by: Britt

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:19:54 +0000

Just picked up The Naked Prey at the library last week. Hope to get to it soon.