My copy of “Spaced: The Definitive Collectors’ Edition” arrived yesterday. OMG … Is it some funny shit or what?!?! “Spaced” is the British sitcom that was done by the “Shaun of the Dead” fellas before they did “Shaun of the Dead.” I have watched about half of the first series and I am lovin’ it. Too bad it hasn’t had a release here in the states ’cause you have to be “region free” to watch. Oh man, this just further solidifies my love of Simon Pegg (and Edgar Wright for that matter).

It’s official and I am officially bummed. “Lost: The Complete Third Season” will not hit stores until December 11th this year (unlike the first two season which had August street dates). Since the start of Season Four won’t hit until January of 2008 they have pushed the release of Season Three back four months to generate the most buzz for the new season. I think I can wait that long … I think I can wait that long … I think I can wait that long …

It’s a few weeks until my NYC trip and what the hell am I doing? Ordering more dvd’s off Amazon. Sheesh. Seems like I would be saving that money for the trip … right? Well, yeah … but how can you pass up the thrills of two Godzilla movies and the sci-fi goodness of three classic Doctor Who stories? You can’t (or at least I can’t).

Here’s what I purchased:
1. “Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster”
2. “Invasion of Astro-Monster”
3. Doctor Who “New Beginnings” 3-Disc Box Set featuring:
3. “The Keeper of Traken”
3. “Logopolis”
3. “Castrovalva”~

“Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster” and “Invasion of Astro-Monster” are coming! Classic Media sure has been doing a bang-up job on their remastered Godzilla titles. If you haven’t gotten them yet, you should really pick up their editions of “Gojira,” “Godzilla Raids Again” and “Mothra vs. Godzilla.” They is s-w-w-w-w-weet!

“The Hitcher” (2007)

“Army of Shadows” (1969)

Here some news and info on some upcoming dvd releases …

The Monster Squad:

Here’s a look at the cover art for the 2-Disc edition of “The Monster Squad.” It comes out July 24th and is gonna rock!

Zodiac:
The street date for David Fincher’s “Zodiac” is slated to be July 24th. Hopefully it will come out as an excessive, special features-packed edition like the the the 3-disc set of “Panic Room.”

Inland Empire:
Rhino Entertainment and Ryko Distribution will release Inland Empire on August 14th. Filmmaker David Lynch’s latest masterpiece, shot entirely on handheld digital cameras, arrives as a two-disc set featuring a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix. Bonus materials will include “Lynch 2: Behind The Scenes of Inland Empire With David Lynch,” “Talks With Laura Dern and David Lynch: More Things That Happened (Additional Character Experiences),” 3 theatrical trailers, a 73-page stills gallery and David Lynch Cooks Quinoa. Retail will be $29.95.
[via davisdvd.com]

Hamlet (1996):
HAMLET: 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION (1996)
In this first-ever full-text film of Shakespeare’s greatest work, nominated for 4 Academy Awards, the power surges through every scene. The timeless tale of murder, corruption and revenge is reset in an opulent 19th-century world, using sprawling Blenheim Palace as Elsinore with much of the action staged in shimmering mirrored and gold-filled interiors. The luminous cast includes actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal and Charlton Heston.

DVD Special Features:
– Introduction by Director/Star Kenneth Branagh
– Commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Shakespeare Scholar Russell Jackson
– New Digital Transfer From Original 70mm Elements
– Soundtrack Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
– Featurette “To Be On Camera: A History With Hamlet”
– 1996 Cannes Film Festival Promo
– Shakespeare Movies Trailer Gallery
– Subtitles: English, French and Spanish (feature film only)

“Hamlet” will (finally!) drop into stores on August 14th.

Because I don’t really have anything better to say right now … here’s the next 20 discs that are coming from Netflix.

“Overlord”
“The Hitcher” (2007)
“Army of Shadows”
“The Good Girl” (Mmmm, Jake Gyllenhaal!)
“Super Troopers”
“The Shop on Main Street”
“Closely Watched Trains”
“Y Tu Mama Tambien”
“Narc”
“Thief”
“They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”
“A Dirty Shame”
“Prozac Nation”
“Hotel Rwanda”
“The Motorcycle Diaries”
“Following”
“Enigma”
“Gorky Park”
“Die! Die! My Darling!”
“The Stendhal Syndrome”

Lionsgate Home Entertainment …. 20th Anniversary DVD special edition of Fred Dekker’s THE MONSTER SQUAD will be released July 24. The movie will be presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio for the first time ever on North American video; the special features are:
– Audio commentary by writer/director Dekker and cinematographer Bradford May
– Audio commentary by Dekker and actors Andre Gower, Ashley Bank and Ryan Lambert
– Wolf Man’s Got Nards! The Making of THE MONSTER SQUAD documentary
– Deleted and extended scenes
– Monster Mania reunion featurette
– Vintage interview with Tom Noonan (in Frankenstein’s monster makeup!)
– Poster and still gallery
– Theatrical trailer
– TV spot

Oh, golly, if that doesn’t put the shaz in shazam!

Besides regular retailers, eBay is a great place to fuel your dirty dvd (and laserdisc) addiction.

Recently Won Auctons:
1. Criterion Collection Laserdisc of David Cronenberg’s “Crash”
Features a Cronenberg audio commentary not available on dvd.
2. DVD Bootleg of the London revival of “Cabaret” with Alan Cumming/Jane Horrocks
3. “Viva Pedro” 9-Disc DVD Set (contains 8 of Pedro Almadovar’s movies)

Currently Bidding On:
1. OOP DVD of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Paradine Case”
2. “The Art of Tom and Jerry” Volume 1 & Volume 2 Laserdisc Sets

Lordy. I just ordered a dvd from Canada … from Canada!!!

Dr. Phibes brings up the point of dvd addiction starting with Laserdiscs. I must now confess that I still hunt for and buy them off of eBay.

DVD Addiction is a fairly common problem in today’s society. The DVD addict is easily able to feed his or her addiction because of the ridiculously short distance between said addict and the DVD retailer (hereafter referred to as “the dealer”). The DVD junkie is attracted to “the dealer” primarily because or his/her love of film, but also lured with promises of “special features” and “technological advances”. The addict initially only wants a few films for his/her small collection; but in due time he/she will return to “the dealer” for more “hits” (such as “The Godfather Trilogy” and “Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs”) and is soon hooked. Telltale signs of the addict include frequent bitching about pan and scan, habitual visits to Best Buy on Tuesdays (“new release day”, in street slang) and an unhealthy longing for a 100 inch widescreen HDTV and a massive Dolby Digital/DTS decoder and speaker setup with 6.1 EX and ES capability. Late in the addiction, the sanity of the addict will deteriorate; he/she will make illogical purchases of bad films like “Bring It On” because “the 1.85/1 Anamorphic transfer is sparkling and it has some nice extras”.

There are amazingly no rehab clinics yet available for these sad and pathetic beings. The only way to stop a DVD addict from self destruction is to change the nature of the addiction by giving them something less addicting for a short while (like “crack” or heroin). Once the addict is fully recovered, ease them back into the realm of consumer electronics slowly; addiction recovery can be a painful thing! Eventually, visit a well known “dealer” with the former addict on a Tuesday; if he/she does not go into a psychotic frenzy and start grabbing DVDs off the shelves, you should feel proud and congratulate yourself for saving the world from the clutches of another DVD addict.
[via Franke and Everything2]

Hello. My name is Charles and I am a dvd addict.

[Hello, Charles.]

Here’s a list of some of the dvds I have bought this past month or so:
“Happy Birthday to Me”
“Shaun of the Dead”
“Slither”
“Re-Animator”
“Angels in America”
“Indiana Jones: The Complete DVD Adventure”
“Children of Men”
“Nine Inch Nails: Beside You in Time”
“Dancer in the Dark”
“Inside Deep Throat”
“Twin Peaks: The Second Season”
“Casino Royale”
“Notes on a Scandal”
“The Last King of Scotland”
“Viva Pedro”