This is the last shopping week before Christmas, and some of these titles come out between Dec. 18 and Dec. 24.
2001: A Space Odyssey | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Air Strike aka The Bombing | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Assasination Nation | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Ballad of Shirley Collins | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Berserk! | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Blue Seed | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | Anime series based around an invasion of Japan by shape-shifting monsters created by the mythological figure Orochi. | ||||||||
The Captain | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Dark of the Sun (1968) | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Dick Cavett Show | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Dracula: Prince of Darkness | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Elemental Gelade | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | Anime series set in a fantasy world where humans live with magical beings called Edel Raids – who can bond with humans temporarily to give them heightened abilities, and where the protagonist, Kou, is escorting a particularly powerful Edel Raid, Ren, to a haven called Edel Garden – but because of Ren’s power, a variety of powerful forces are trying to kidnap her. | ||||||||
Fahrenheit 11/9 | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
God Mars | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | Super Robot anime series about an alien warlord who tries to take over earth, only to be opposed by a young man from his own species and his stolen super robot – God Mars. However, if the God Mars robot is destroyed, the blast from its destruction is strong enough to destroy the entire planet Earth. Created by the same writer who created Tetsujin 28 (aka Gigantor) and Giant Robo (aka Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot). | ||||||||
Hells | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | Anime series about a girl who accidentially gets transferred to the High School literally from Hell. Or, rather, in Hell. | ||||||||
Hornet | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Comments | Blaine: Hornet is a transforming yellow robot. I assume it is a complete coincidence that Asylum is releasing this around the time Bumblebee comes to the big screen. | ||||||||
Horror of Dracula (1958) | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
House With a Clock in Its Walls | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
In a Relationship | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
The Jerk | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Little Women | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Lupin the 3rd: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
iTunes | |||||||||
Comments | Alex: The Blu-Ray came out a couple weeks ago. This is the only anime film directed by Japanese director Seijun Suzuki. | ||||||||
Mars | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Marwencol | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Méliès: Fairy Tales in Color | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Monster Party | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Murder By Death | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Comments | Blaine: I’ve only seen this once, but I loved it. Alec Guinness and Peter Falk lead an all star cast. | ||||||||
Neanderthal | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Not WIthout My Daughter | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Our Cartoon President | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Panique (Criterion Collection) | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Power Rangers: Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Comments | This series was adapted into Power Rangers Wild Force. | ||||||||
Predator 4 Movie Collection | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Comments | Includes Predator, Predator 2, Predators, and The Predator. | ||||||||
The Predator (2018) | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Raven | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Romance on the Orient Express | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Saw | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Sawdust and Tinsel (Criterion Collection) | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Schindler’s List | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Comments | Best Picture Winner 1993, podcast discussion due May 28, 2025 | ||||||||
The Sea Hawk (1940) | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
The Shield | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Simple Favor | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Sleepover | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Starman | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
The Super | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Takunomi | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | Slice of life anime about a woman moving to Tokyo from the country, moving into an all-women apartment building, and sitting down with her neighbors over booze (with a different drink per episode) to chat. | ||||||||
Tales of Zestiria the X | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | Contains all 26 episodes of the anime adaptation of the JRPG. | ||||||||
Topper Takes a Trip | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Unbreakable | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Venom | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
When a Stranger Calls / When a Stranger Calls Back | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
WWE: Survivor Series 2018 | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Comments | Fairly rough showing from the WWE by all accounts (also notable for former WWE wrestler Enzo Amore attempting to crash the event, only to be stopped and escorted out of the building by security – and getting permenantly banned from the Staples Center). | ||||||||
Xabungle | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Rightstuf | |||||||||
Comments | 1980s mecha anime from Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, though one that aims to be a little lighter than his other, darker fare (Ideon, Gundam) | ||||||||
Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling | |||||||||
Amazon | |||||||||
Finally, the picks of the week. Alex says, “if you have a 4K TV, 2001: A Space Odyssey is absolutely worth picking up – That was truely one of the films where I clearly saw an improvement between my earlier DVD release and the Blu-Ray release. If you don’t have 4K – we’ve got a slew of Blu-Ray releases of the Hammer Dracula films this week.” Blaine says, “I also would select the highest quality copy of 2001: A Space Odyssey your setup supports.”
I haven’t had a chance to catch either season of Mars (from National Geographic), but it’s definitely on my to-watch list.
No rush. It’s not bad, but it’s not the hopeful look outward, it’s a depressing look at a dour, doomed mission. (The mission isn’t doomed, but they go about it like everyone is on a death sentence.)
I am very tempted by 2001.