What Film (on DVD/BD/UHD BD) Did You Watch Last?

[Newman]

I am currently watching a fan edit of Blade Runner, aka White Dragon version 5.

It is interesting.

What is a fan edit?

 

[Honken]

Custom cuts of material made by fans. There are whole communities around the idea, and some edits are quite popular. As an example of such a community:

https://reddit.com/r/fanedits/

Some fan edits even make it into official media releases, like Spicediver's edit of Lynch's Dune which got released on physical media in the 2020s.

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

Been really digging this creepy little demonic possession yarn, even with all its obvious nods to William Friedkin's The Exorcist; it's a premise I've never seen done in this genre -- and it's among my favorites -- wherein a priest, under demonic influence by an evil spirit named "Balban," unwillingly rapes and impregnates the young woman he was exorcising Balban from (after the demon jumps into him), and then years later faces the same demon inside the daughter who was a result of these actions. The narrative takes place in Mexico, even though the main character is an American priest, with action shifting to the cells of a run-down prison where his possessed daughter resides (for the killing of a man -- 100-percent Exorcist-style, what with his head turned completely around, or so we're told). Father Peter, the primary character, calls in for assistance from a master exorcist he knows in London (played by the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's Joseph Marcell) who has faced Balban before -- but the real twist in the story comes when Balban, still inside Father Peter's daughter, attempts to perform an "inverse exorcism" on Father Peter himself, the goal to "remove" God from the priest's body (hence the title of the film).

As I said, a somewhat unique take on the possession/exorcism genre. Recommended if you enjoy that sort of horror.

The 2.35:1 1080p Blu-ray transfer is about average for a low-budget flick that had a limited theatrical run; outdoor sequences fare the best, with somewhat hot contrast in the whites but otherwise clean detail levels, while darker indoor sequences take on a muted, softer exhibition. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is the biggest letdown here -- while decent, the overall mastering volume is weak, but, what's worse, the dialogue is obnoxiously buried in the remainder of the mix, rendering lines unintelligible if your master volume is low. There's some brief surround usage, but nothing too aggressive (moments when you can make out demonic groans and screams behind you), and overall I just felt like it could have been better.

 

[Power Pop 23]

78 minutes

Tod Browning (Dracula, Freaks) directs Lionel Barrymore (the wealthy banker, Mr. Potter in It's A Wonderful Life and great-uncle of Drew Barrymore) in drag in The Devil Doll (1936) - as a framed convict who escapes and exacts revenge with the help of small 'dolls'.

The special effects photography is impressive while parts of the story ask for a 'suspension' of disbelief worthy of The Golden Gate Bridge.

Featuring the 'Jane' to Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan, Maureen O'Sullivan - 9 years before she gave birth to actor Mia Farrow.

A fine restoration by Warner Archive on a Blu-ray disc rented from Scarecrow Video:

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

Just found out about a possible remake coming with none other than Zack Snyder at the helm....

I recall hearing rumors of a remake some years ago, and I believe they were suggesting Gerard Butler to play Snake (but then there was some pushback because it was said he wasn't "American enough").

On a side note, with the way the actual city is going right now, I predict Manhattan will look like Carpenter's classic in less than 10 years.

​

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

U.S. VERSION

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

Just found out about a possible remake coming with none other than Zack Snyder at the helm....

I recall hearing rumors of a remake some years ago, and I believe they were suggesting Gerard Butler to play Snake (but then there was some pushback because it was said he wasn't "American enough").

On a side note, with the way the actual city is going right now, I predict Manhattan will look like Carpenter's classic in less than 10 years.

​

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

 

[J. Lohmann]

Just found out about a possible remake coming with none other than Zack Snyder at the helm....

I recall hearing rumors of a remake some years ago, and I believe they were suggesting Gerard Butler to play Snake (but then there was some pushback because it was said he wasn't "American enough").

On a side note, with the way the actual city is going right now, I predict Manhattan will look like Carpenter's classic in less than 10 years.

​

My apologies; I posted this twice by mistake, originally....