ONE OF ROCKY'S BEST!!!, Jul 12 2004

Picture and sound are both quite good on this disc and the extra's include the original trailer and a short interview with the director, James Ivory.

So, if you like Miss Welch (and how can anyone not???), check this disc out. You'll love it! Now if only MGM will release "Kansas City Bomber" and Paramount put out "Hannie Caulder", I'd be a really happy camper! - George Bauch,

"THE BEST FILM OF 2003", Jun 14 2004

Last summer was a pretty dismal one for me, film-wise. It seems I was seeing one bad film after another, culminating in the ghastly "THE HULK".

Then last fall I saw John Sayles' latest film "CASA DE LOS BABYS" and this magical work of art and felt refreshed. These two films convinced me that there were filmmakers out there still interested in telling good stories filled with wonderful and interesting human beings.

I won't dwell too much on the story but let you discover it for yourself. Just let me say that its about a young man named Fin who is a dwarf. He has withdrawn from the cruel world that has taunted and mad fun of him all his life and has turned his passion to trains. This film beautifully depicts his meeting with a number of fellow humans also cast adrift and alone in their lives.

This is a film you simply must see if you haven't yet. And this DVD presentation is a good place to discover it. The anamorphic widescreen picture is clear and sharp and the soundtrack is quite pleasing to the ear. The extras are a few deleted scenes ( mostly from the films beginning ) and a commentary track with the brillant writer/ director Tom McCarthy and his three leading players, Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson and Bobby Cannavale that is not as informative or insightful as one might like. McCarthy did not talk at all about the genesis of the film, where he got the idea, etc. And none of the actors talked about their wonderful characters or what attracted them to the film. Still, it is good to listen to once if only to see this great film again!

Today, the word "masterpiece" or "classic" are thrown around too easily ( it seems every film that comes out is a masterpiece or an instant classic, if you believe the hype ), but this is one film that I can truthfully and with full confidence say is a masterpiece and destined to become a classic!

Please, if you haven't seen it, see it, I know that if you love great films, you'll love this! And if you have seen it and love it, you've probably already bought this DVD and don't need my recommendation. But I will shout it to the rooftops for all to hear- THIS FILM IS A TREASURE! - George Bauch.

FUN BASEBALL GAME FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!!!, April 9 2004

You play as either big name pros as kids (Sammy Sosa, A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Mike Piazza) or a selection of cute backyard kids (one kid's in a wheelchair) in a series of nice looking 3-D ballparks such as a junkyard, a drive-in theater, a desert, a glass dome underwater and more ( 11 in all, 3 locked as you start the game). The controls are a bit hard to learn with a lot of things to memorize but with practice you'll be playing like a pro after only a couple of games.

There is season play mode (16 or 32 games, with a mid-season all-star game and playoffs and world series) or single game mode. Mini-games (Home Run Derby, Fielding Practice) are also included. There is also complete stat tracking in season play mode.

The graphics are quite nice. The parks look great with cars and trucks driving by on the streets, birds flying overhead, alligators in the water of the park in the swamp (Gator Fields), and crowd noises, etc. The players also look very nice. They may be too cute for some but if you liked the characters in the "HOT SHOTS GOLF" series, you should like these guys and gals. I like the kid in the wheelchair (Kenny Kawaguichi). He's a great leadoff hitter with lots of speed. He leads the league in stolen bases (31) after only 17 games!!!

Once you learn the controls the game is maybe too easy on rookie mode, but there are two harder modes that give you more of a challenge.

The only negative I can find in the game is the very repetitive play-by-play by the two cartoon announcers and the various phrases the players repeat over and over again. But some of it is funny, and after a season and a half of play, I really have gotten used to the inane chatter ( which, I believe, can be turned off if you wish). But this shouldn't deter you from this game.

In conclusion, I recommend this game most highly. It is fun to play and looks quite nice and that is all one can ask for in a game. Try it, I think you'll like it! -George Bauch.

WONDERFUL ANIMATED FANTASY; MEDIOCRE DVD!, Mar 27 2004

And yet, the film is still a magical experience not to be missed. This is a marvelous film. It is beautifully animated, written (by Peter S. Beagle based on his novel) and acted by an all-star cast of fine vocal talent (Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Christopher Lee, Angela Lans bury, Jeff Bridges, Tammy Grimes and more). Mention, too, must be made of the beautiful songs written by Jimmy Webb and sung by the group America ("Horse With No Name", "Tin Man", "Sister Golden Hair"). They perfectly complement the mood of the story.

So, in spite of the frankly poor presentation of this dvd, I did enjoy the film because the film is so good it can survive even a botched job like this one. I only hope that someday some folks who truly care about films (like Anchor Bay Entertainment) will put out this film on dvd and give the film the presentation it deserves. It is a fantasy masterpiece! - George Bauch.

NICE COLLECTION OF RAQUEL WELCH "CLASSICS"!!!, Mar 12 2004

To the films:

Yes, as I stated, "ONE MILLION YEARS B.C." is the shorter version released by 20th Century Fox in 1966. The US version is listed as 91 minutes (closer to 92, as I timed it last night), while the UK version is 100 minutes. Missing is a sexy dance by Nupondi the Wild One (Martine Beswick) and some shots of Ray Harryhausen's animation. While it is too bad that Fox didn't release the longer version, folks, this film is NOT "CITIZEN KANE". As it is, at 91 minutes I feel the film is about 10 minutes too long! So while I do miss the footage (hopefully Fox will make things right and put the longer version out on dvd some time in the future), I really can't complain. Rocky looks beautiful in this film, Harryhausen's dinosaur's are still a sight to behold and every bit as good as the CGI fx of such big time Hollywood blockbusters as "JURASSIC PARK" (and maybe even better) and the music by Mario Nascimbene is fantastic. One mistake of continuity I noticed in the film itself: when we first see Raquel by the sea she kneels down on a rock and we see her feet are bare. A few seconds later when she runs up the hill and kneels next to Tumak she is wearing her fur booties. A few seconds later, her feet are again bare! I notice things like that, I have a foot fetish (ha)! Also, one question I have, when it is clear that Loana (Raquel) has the hots for Tumak (John Richardson), why does he spend so much time fighting with Ahot for possession of his oodala (spear)? Does that make sense to you?

Picture and sound are very pleasing on this disc (I have no complaints).For some reason I like the mono sound over the stereo, but that's just me. I'm weird. The only extras are trailers for this film and several other Fox sf titles and a restoration comparion (boring).

"MYRA BRECKINRIDGE" is a very weird, often unpleasant, film. Rocky is the only real saving grace. Mae West is awful, the script stinks, and the film put me to sleep! Picture and sound are fine. This is the only disc with some interesting extras. In fact, the extras are better than the film! Included is the AMC "BACKSTORY" episode about the making of this turkey and an often funny and insightful audio commentary with Miss Welch in which she reveals that when she first met her legendary co-star Mae West, she thought Miss West was "a man in drag"!!!

Of the other three films, "FATHOM" (an enjoyable spy spoof) was previously released by Fox, but "BANDOLERO" and "MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED" are new to this set.

"BANDOLERO" is an entertaining western featuring James Stewart and Dean Martin as bank robbing brothers who kidnap Miss Welch when they are on the run from Sherrif George Kennedy and the law. The stars are all good and the script is often touching and quite funny. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is one of his best! Again, sound and picture quality are very good on this fine dvd. The picture of Rocky on the cover is actually from another Fox/Welch oater, "100 RIFLES" that Welch later made with Burt Reynolds and Jom Brown.

"MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED" is a very funny comedy about an inept bunch of ambulance drivers. It co-stars Bill Cosby, Harvy Keitel and Larry Hagman. Pic and sound are good.

To wrap it up, if you are a fan of Miss Welch chances are you have already bought this fine box set, and to everyone else, I do recommend it. I feel you won't be disappointed. The films are all very entertaining and Rocky is always a pleasure to watch! I have always felt that she is a very under-rated actress. I believe she is very talented and intelligent as well as beautiful, but if your a woman and beautiful in Hollywood, you're never taken seriously (especially when you start out your career wearing a fur bikini in a silly caveman movie). -George Bauch.

"Wonderful Indie Film!", Feb 27 2004

"PIECES OF APRIL" deals with the life of a very dysfunctional family on Thanksgiving. I don't want to discuss the plot at length, for I feel it is best to discover the beauties of this film on your own. Suffice to say, the performances are first rate with Patricia Clarkson being a delight in her Oscar nominated performance as Joy, the mother of the clan. And the writing is fantastic. Hedges creates some truly human and believable characters and the film really hits home. The ending is very moving.

The DVD is quite nice. Picture and sound is great and the special features include a 15 minute "behind-the-scenes" look at the film, plus an insightful audio commentary with the writer/ director Peter Hedges. Among the many interesting nuggets of info is the fact that this film was shot in 16 days! Incredible! Also included is the theatrical trailer for this film as well as "CASA DE LOS BABYS" and several other current MGM titles on VHS and DVD.

Truly a wonderful little gem of a film that will delight just about everyone who loves good films. Check it out, I'll think you'll like it! -George Bauch.

"A MASTERPIECE OF INEPTITUDE"., Feb 20 2004

The Earth is invaded by a race of helmet wearing gorillas called "Ro-Men", who are out to destroy the last remaining "Hu-Mans" alive. The acting, story and less-than special effects are laughable, but it is the dialog that is really so atrocious its priceless.

When the Ro-Man kidnaps the lovely heroine Alice (the almost lifelike Claudia Barrett) with the intention to, ahem, get to know her, he is chastised by the "Great Guidance" (the Ro-Man's fearless leader). Ro-Man wants to know why he and Alice can't be friends and asks: "To be like the Hu-Man. To laugh, feel, want. Why are these things not in the plan?" Good question. His brainless leader tells him he must kill Alice, and here comes the films best lines of dialogue: "I cannot, yet I must! How do you calculate that? At what point on the graph do 'must' and 'cannot' meet? Yet I must! But I cannot!" I feel for ya big guy. But I can't tell you where on the graph must and cannot meet because...I have no idea what the heck you are talking about you!

Anywho, its a short, funny, dumb black & white SF disaster from the 50's that I think you'll love if you have a taste for the idiotic.

Picture and sound are both quite good on this disc (far better than this turkey deserves). Included is the original theatrical trailer for this film, several Ed Wood oddities ("PLAN 9", "BRIDE OF THE MONSTER", "JAILBAIT") and "ROCKETSHIP X-M" and the George Pal flick "DESTINATION MOON".

Funnier than most comedies, this is one disc everyone needs in their collection. It will certainly make you smile when you're down. So pick up a copy today, Hu-Man. -George Bauch.

LET'S KILL SOME FURRY LITTLE WOODLAND CREATURES!!!, Jan 30 2004

You can chose from bows and arrows, rifles, and shotguns and hunt in 8 different locations. The animals you can "bag" are many varieties of deer, elk, moose, black bears, brown bears, grizzly bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep and, although they are non-game animals, rabbits, foxes, wolves and opposums.

When you first start the game you can hunt in only two places, you must hunt in season mode and do certain things to unlock additional areas. It is a blast to do and I enjoyed it a lot. You can hide in a blind and wait for your prey to walk by and kill the unsuspecting critter or take to the trees in a tree stand and kill whatever walks below your perch. It's great!

The game is rated T for teen because of "blood and violence" the box says. Well, I've done quite a bit of hunting the past two days and while there has been considerable violence I've seen NO blood.

So, if you don't mind a little senseless slaughter and want to experience the thrill of the hunt in the comfort of your own house, this game is for you. So come on, let's go hunt Bambi and Smokey and Bullwinkle and friends, you'll have a great time. I'm not kidding!

ADDENDUM: Since writing this review I've played this game some more and have now noticed there IS blood in the game. When you do not kill your prey but only wound it, it runs off and eventually dies but leaves a trail of blood on the ground for you to follow. Adds even more realism to the game I think. -George Bauch.

INFERIOR SEQUEL TO BLACULA, STILL ENJOYABLE!, Jan 23 2004

I liked the ending of the first film a lot (denied his lady love a second time, he walks out into the sun committing suicide) so was somewhat disappointed seeing him return in the first place. But having him trying to free himself from the curse/ slavery of vampirism by using the voodoo power of Pam Grier was a good idea. John Carradine used science to try and cure him of the curse in Universal's fine "HOUSE OF DRACULA" (and failed), so it was interestring that Mamuwalde would use a black art to combat a black art, so to speak.

The anamorphic widescreen picture is very good and the mono sound quite pleasing.

Like the original "BLACULA", there are no extra's but for the original theatrical trailer.

To close, if you liked "BLACULA", you should enjoy this sequel. -George Bauch.