Pif Magazine
ISSN: 1094-2726

Pif Magazine
1426 Harvard Ave. #451
Seattle, WA 98122-3813

PAST FILM REVIEWS	MORE FILM REVIEWS

Some DVDs

Well, I finally got myself a DVD player (a pretty good Sony), and I must admit that I am impressed. It beats VHS by the proverbial country mile, and while it may not best CAV laser disc, it’s close enough for rock and roll (or is that jazz?). It’s amazing how fast companies are releasing their back catalogs on DVD, and there is already a small avalanche of cult films out there, from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1969 debut film Fando and Lis to Werner Herzog’s jaw-dropping allegory Even Dwarfs Started Small, to the surreal sex/vampire films of French horror roi Jean Rollin.

To start with, I thought I’d go over the three discs that seem to best make use of the technology and the format. Granted, almost every DVD comes with director commentary or deleted scenes, but there are those discs whose presentation as well as their extras merit greater attention.

"I love the Sean Connery Bond films, particularly Goldfinger and Thunderball, as they represent the point where the Bond series was still in the twilight zone between Ian Fleming’s idealized exploits of a British intelligence agent and a knowing self-parody of its own milieu..."

"What makes this film remarkable in its execution is that the film is shot entirely in close-ups, the actors looking uncomfortably real in their austere, claustrophobic setting...."

"While every element of the film is noteworthy, it was producer Alexander Korda’s coup to get Welles to play Lime, and once he makes his now famous entrance under the light of an open window, it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the role..."

Tell us what you think. Email talkback@pifmagazine.com

Want Pif to review your film or video?
See Review Suggestions for more details.