AUGUST 2017 Issue #396 $5.00
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AUGUSTAUGUST 20172017 IssueIssue #396 #396 $5.00 $5.00 PO Box 420, East Rockaway, New York 11518-0420 • (516) 594-9304 • FAX (516) 594-9307 • www.DVDLaser.com collection brief Internet teasers made up to look like fragments of government Monsters! films from the Seventies, and 39 minutes of good production featurettes that Apocalypse Now collection brief Internet teasers made up to look like fragments of government Taking Monsters! to heart (one of the characters is named look at least briefly at all stages of the special effects development, showcase King Kong films from the Seventies, and 39 minutes of good production featurettes that ‘Marlow’Taking andApocalypse another is namedNow to ‘Conrad’) heart (one and of embracing the characters is named in ways the extensive breakthrough location work done by the cast and crew in Kong Skulllook at least briefly at all stages of the special effects development, showcase ‘Marlow’its andoriginal another creators is named could ‘Conrad’) never have and imagined embracing (Kong King is Kurtz), Kong in ways northern Vietnam, and share the impressive photos that Larson actually took Island Blu-ray + DVD + Digital the extensive breakthrough location work done by the cast and crew in its original creators, a Warner could Home never Video have imagined (Kong is Kurtz), release Kong (UPC#8839- Skull while playing a photographer in the film. Island 29568505, $36), is a spectacularBlu-ray monster+ DVD movie,+ Digital as bursting with thrills as it isnorthern Vietnam, and share the impressive photos that Larson actually took , a Warner Home Video release (UPC#8839- while playing Additionally,a photographer both in the the film. BD and the DVD have an excellent 29568505,with $36), artistry. is a spectacularIt is the sort monster of movie movie, that makes as bursting every withhome thrills video as and it isaudio commentary track by the film’s brilliant director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who, system worth investing in, because not only does it bombard the viewer with Additionally, both the BD and the DVD have an excellent with artistry. It is the sort of movie that makes every home video and audio commentaryfirst and trackforemost, by the is film’smaking brilliant a movie director, that he Jordanwants Vogt-Roberts,to see. “The wholewho, system amazingworth investing images in,and because fantastic, not multi-directional only does it bombard sounds—up the viewer and downwith the process really was, if we’re having a [big effect or action] scene, we range—but it does so with a real consideration for cinematic expression. Thefirst and foremost, is making a movie that he wants to see. “The whole amazing images and fantastic, multi-directional sounds—up and down the processconstantly really havewas, to ifsee we’re things havingwe’ve nevera [big seen effect before. or Asaction] crazy scene,as they weare, range—butcinematography it does so with is caring a real andconsider the editingation for has cinematic maturity (thereexpression. is a stunningly The I’d rather have these insane moments where you feel like you haven’t seen imaginative cut from a helicopter to a dragonfly), so that although the film isconstantly them, becausehave to Isee just things feel that we’ve big movineveres seen don’t before. give audiences As crazy that as anythey more. are, cinematographyexciting asis allcaring get out, and it the will editing also pause has tomaturity savor the (there beauty is aof stunningly the jungle andI’d rather have these insane moments where you feel like you haven’t seen imaginative cut from a helicopter to a dragonfly), so that although the film is That’s why, when I went to a movie as a kid, it was to see [stuff] I’d never the glow of light and fire. The performances are solidly professional—tothem, seen. because And II lovedjust feel that.” that big movies don’t give audiences that any more. excitingprovide as all get just out, one it example, will also Samuel pause toL. savorJackson the has, beauty for quiteof the some jungle time, and been That’s why, when I went to a movie as a kid, it was to see [stuff] I’d never the glow of light and fire. The performances are solidly professional—to He talks extensively about every phase of the production, and about competent but playful in his roles, and has been consistently cast for who he isseen. working And I lovedwith the that.” cast, but he also displays his own youthful enthusiasm for provide just one example, Samuel L. JacksonSkull Islandhas, for quite some time, been rather than what he can do; in , however, he is serious and the cultureHe talks he grew extensively up absorbing, about everybe it movies, phase of manga the production, comics, video and games,about competentfocused, but playful working in hardhis roles, from andbeginning has been to endconsistently to present cast the forcharacter who he that is theworking with the cast, but he also displays his own youthful enthusiasm for rather than what he can do; in Skull Island, however, he is serious and anime or anything else that was crammed into his circuitry. He admits to filmmakers need to tell their tale believably. the cultureloading hethe grew film upwith absorbing, scores of bereferences it movies, to mangaother works, comics, from video Full games, Metal focused, working Thehard storyfrom beginningis not about to end bringing to present the thebuilding-sized character that gorilla the toanime Jacket or anythingDragon else Ball that Z was crammed into his circuitry. He admits to filmmakers need to tell their tale believably. to , and his own descriptions of his creative process civilization; it is about encountering the gorilla in his world and surviving notloading draws the from film just with as scoreswide a ofnet references of cultural to influences. other works, “These from bird Full creatures Metal onlyThe his storywrath, isbut notthe manyabout other bringing enormous the dangersbuilding-sized that populate gorilla the island,to Jacket took to a Dragonreally long Ball time Z, andto design. his own Went descriptions through soof manyhis creative variations process of it civilization;from itgiant is about squids encountering to huge, vicious the gorilla lizar d-likein his creaturesworld and that surviving only have not twodraws where from we just just as didn’t wide want a net it toof lookcultural like pterodactyls.influences. “These I love the bird idea creatures of them only hisarms wrath, and but a tail.the many Set during other theenor closimousng dangersdays of thethat Vietnam populate War, the island,which wastook kind a really of being long the time crack to heads design. of the Went island. through They’re so justmany so jitteryvariations and weird,of it from giantalso squidsthe final to huge,era in vicious which lizarpartsd-like of thecreatures Earth thatabove only water have were two stillwhere like we the just hyenas didn’t in want The itLion to look King like or pterodactyls.something, and I lovemy assistant the idea madeof them the arms andundocumented, a tail. Set during a scientific the closi teamng dayswith anof thearranged Vietnam military War, escort which is was sent to observation at one point, he was like, ‘Uh, the color scheme on them reminds explore a newly discovered Pacific island. There are quite a few members ofkind of being the crack heads of the island. They’re just so jittery and weird, also the final era in which parts of the Earth above water were still like methe ofhyenas the oldin TheJurassic Lion ParkKing toys,’or something, just because and mythey assistant have these made really the undocumented,the team aat scientific first, but teamnot so with many an by arranged the end. military In addition escort to isits sent thoughtful to primary, bright colors, and I was like, ‘That’s pretty funny, because those toys visual compositions, the dialog is also an ideal mix of frantic informationobservation at one point, he was like, ‘Uh, the color scheme on them reminds explore a newly discovered Pacific island. There are quite a few members of me areof sothe ridiculous.’” old Jurassic Park toys,’ just because they have these really the teamsharing at first, and but momentary not so many reflections by the end. on theIn additionvalues andto itsvalue thoughtful of human His talk is both instructional and informative, but what you get civilization. In other words, the characters may be dodging the huge spindlesprimary, bright colors, and I was like, ‘That’s pretty funny, because those toys visual compositions, the dialog is also an ideal mix of frantic information are sofrom ridiculous.’” it more than anything else is that he understands why there are movies sharing ofand a gigantic momentary spider reflectionscreature in oneon jump-out-of-your-seatthe values and value sequence, of human but they that have become classics, and how you achieve that level of appeal. At one are also genuinely attempting to absorb how the presence of such leviathans His talk is both instructional and informative, but what you get civilization. In other words, the characters may be dodging the huge spindles frompoint, it more Hiddleston than anything is slici ngelse the is aforementionedthat he understands birds whywith therea samurai are movies sword. of a giganticalters spidertheir understandingcreature in one of jump-out-of-your-seat their own existence. sequence, There is but a theycomplex “It was like, ‘I’ve never seen that before.’ And you know, it’s funny, this metaphorical resonance to their plight that they do indeed acknowledge atthat have become classics, and how you achieve that level of appeal. At one are also genuinely attempting to absorb how the presence of such leviathans scene was on the chopping block for a long time.