DVDs, 1/9.

"A little-noticed treasure fell into the laps of movie-lovers amid the hullabaloo of year-end top 10 lists and Oscar bait," writes Nicolas Rapold. "Frederick Wiseman's massive, moving chronicles of America, its people, and its institutions have long been elusive after initial television broadcasts and theater runs, unless one was willing to scour library collections. But the recent release on DVD of 23 documentaries by the great filmmaker finally makes widely available an essential piece of movie history and American society and culture."

Also in the New York Sun, Gary Giddins: "It's an Ed Gein world, or maybe it just feels that way because I have been making my way through the alternately macabre and campy catalog of Dark Sky Films, the DVD company that has taken the lead from Anchor Bay and others in offering a savory stew of low-budget American detritus, gialli, assorted Euro-trash, neglected television, and many altogether admirable movies with a bent disposition. What sets Dark Sky apart is the care it gives lost drive-in discards as well as respectable genre classics - care that indicates an occasional touch of corporate wit."

"Cornel Wilde is an interesting case as an actor-turned-director, an act for which he has received no respect," argues DK Holm in a review of The Naked Prey for the Vancouver Voice.

Sean Axmaker's list of "Dream DVDs" has become one of the most popular pieces ever run at GC's main site. Wishing's fun. Now at Cinematical, Jeffrey M Anderson writes up a "DVD Wish List for 2008" and Glenn Erickson, the "DVD Savant," has just revised his year-old wish list.

Jim Emerson: "In celebration of the DVD release of David Fincher's Director's Cut of Zodiac (only a few minutes longer - I'm not sure what has been changed or added), here's a scripted scene, from an undated draft, that you won't find in any version of the movie."

Posted by dwhudson at January 9, 2008 2:17 PM