Our newest episode should be up tonight, but in the meantime, I had to show off this awesome trailer for Hellboy 2.  We don’t see a lot about the plot, but this still looks to be a good time.  Our thanks to IGN for putting up a version of the trailer that can be embedded and look better than You Tube quality

Barry’s Score:  8/10 

Tim Burton’s marvelous, if too-literal adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s classic Broadway musical of the same name is truly in a class by itself. As it was on stage, the story follows a psychopathic, murderous barber (Johnny Depp) as he teams up with a ghastly baker (Helena Bonham Carter) to partake on a mission of revenge against a perverted judge (Alan Rickman) who wronged him years ago; however, the barber’s target expands to all of mankind, as he and the baker concoct a scheme that, for starters, involves murder, deceit and cannibalism. While there have been movie musicals as comically gory (“Little Shop of Horrors”) or bleak and harrowing (“Dancer in the Dark”), no film has ever taken the notion of “black comedy/musical/horror” as far as this one does. The violence was easier to take on stage, as theatrical trickery (which added to the humorous, downright campy tone) is tossed aside for bloodletting on a “Kill Bill” scale. The vividness of the gore mutes some of the humor, and many won’t have the gag reflex to last the whole film. At one point, early into the film, my wife turned to me and asked, “Why are you laughing?!” My answer: “It’s funny!” Truly, even if you’re a die-hard fan of Depp, Burton or musicals, this one’s not for everyone.

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Holy Crap!  Another episode only three days after the last one!  That’s right, kids.  We’re finally getting back on track.  Thanks to those asking about the show.  Real life just got in the way again.  In honor of I Am Legend coming out this week, we talk about the good, the bad, and the sucky of vampire movies we’ve seen (and ones we haven’t, but still needed to mention). 

Editorial Note:  As one point of contention, Dave erroneously attributed Flesh For Frankenstein and Blood For Dracula to Andy Warhol.  He deeply regrets this error as they were both made by Paul Morrissey, and he should know better

 

 SGR Episode 19 - Vampire Movies: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, we talk about awful Christmas movies as well as our favorites and traditional watching habits we have around the holidays.  Special guest Josh Green sits in with us.

 

 SGR Episode 18 - Coal Under the Christmas Tree: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We move back to the funny this time around and take a look at what very well could be Chaplin’s most provocative film, The Great Dictator.

Warner Brothers really stepped up to the plate on all of their Chaplin releases, and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint.  You can get it at most online retailers.  Also, DVD Talk has a great review of the disc.

 

 SG Film Snob 06 - Chaplin's The Great Dictator: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This was also in the RSS feed, but wasn’t put up here either.  Sorry about that.

 This time, we talk about Fritz Lang’s serial killer film, M.

As always, Criterion puts out amazing discs, and this one is no exception.  Check out the deatils here.

 

 SG Film Snob 05 - Fritz Lang's M: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I posted this episode in the RSS feed, but it doesn’t exactly help too much if I don’t put it up on the main page, now does it?  This week, we talk about movie franchises that just won’t end and some that should continue.

 

 SGR Episode 17: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Barry’s Score:  2/10
 
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Phillip Pullman’s much celebrated “His Dark Materials” trilogy; once the talking warrior bears showed up, I found it became too silly, even for a fantasy. Yet, it had an undeniably engaging story and some rich detail, most of which is lost in the muddled, unappealing film adaptation, which will confuse non-fans and dissapoint the faithful.
 
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