Of its four entries to date, the first half were directed first by Keenen Ivory Wayans, and the second by David Zucker, and both did better on their second turn at bat. You can revisit the best of one man and the worst of another now that second and third chapters make their hi-def debut. […]
Rod Lott
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Sanctuary: The Complete Third Season
When we last left team Sanctuary — always battling the world’s “abnormals” — its members were fighting a giant spider named Big Bertha. In the first of season three’s generous 20 episodes, they’re still trying to undo the arachnid’s anarchy, namely in the form of tidal waves. Once that’s foiled, it’s time for a new […]
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Houdini
Narrated by Mandy Patinkin, the just-OK doc traces his meteoric rise from immigrant to death-defying superstar to spiritualist exposer. Those who’ve never read a book on Houdini — I highly recommend William Kalush and Larry Sloman’s “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero” — are sure to learn something, but for current […]
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Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore
It’s also about much more than the trilogy, following Lewis’ entire career, from his start in nudie cuties (ripping off Russ Meyer with “The Adventures of Lucky Pierre”) to those no-budget horror gross-outs that made him both a fortune and a reputation as a beloved trailblazer — an indie spirit whose influence can be felt […]
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The Blood Trilogy
Together, “Blood Feast,” “Two Thousand Maniacs!” and “Color Me Blood Red” comprise the quasi-inept but highly influential “Blood Trilogy,” among the first gore films ever made. Prepare yourself for some shots being too dark, some not even in focus, some so long that they include mistakes, and many, of course, containing some of the bloodiest […]
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Mimic: The Director’s Cut
That’s why del Toro has long bad-mouthed his American debut, 1997’s “Mimic,” because the studio wanted — and got — some changes. Now that he’s been allowed to present his original cut, you’d think he’d quit griping. But no. In his video prologue, he’s still fuming, and it makes him look disrespectful of the once-in-a-million […]
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Torso
First of all, once the disc loaded, it offered the choice between the uncensored English version or the Italian-language director’s cut, both making their home-vid debut. I chose the latter. Then it offered the choice of watching it introduced by Eli Roth. “Hell, yes,” I said to absolutely no one, and was greeted with a […]
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Son of Morning
From there, the film’s attempts at satire fall embarrassingly flat, leaving plot hole after plot hole wide open. Perhaps some divine intervention was required, because the film runs a mere 80 minutes, 11 of which are for the credits, more than five of which are just to slooooowly list the extras. Joseph Cross (“Milk”) is […]
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Drive
From the pink, cursive typeface and pulsing, instrumental music of the opening credits, audience members will feel as if something is out of place, as if the movie is just a bit “off.” That’s because director Nicolas Winding Refn (“Bronson”) has immersed this tale in the style of Michael Mann’s “Thief,” rather than today’s “Transporter” […]
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The Trip
Like the food its stars sample, “The Trip” isn’t for everyone’s tastes. Those who appreciate a subtle brand of humor that’s all about the details — in other words, British — should try it, when it screens Friday and Saturday at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, as part of the four-day, three-flick Foodie Film FEASTival. […]