F.M.S

Before I get too romantic (...) I have to work through the last task of our MP squirrel first.

So thanks a lot @extantsrevenge for the nice

 

Challenge # 20

"Still Missing! Forgotten Treasures!"

 

Hard to believe, but I actually found a few DVD treasures in my inventory that are still waiting to be released as Blu-Ray (at least as a German version...)

 

 

1

The Robe

This monumental theatrical release from 1953 was the first feature-length film to be shot in the Cinemascope widescreen format.

For this reason alone, it has long deserved at least a Blu-ray if not directly a UHD release.

Although the film has been released as a Region-A Blu-ray,  I much prefer the German dubbing to the English original. As Steven Spielberg once noted with regard to German dubbings, the German language peculiarly promotes a greater variance in the characteristic speech sound of the individual voices - this is particularly evident here.

Although the film itself impresses primarily with its colourful scenery and spectacular pictures, it is adorned - although somewhat antiquated by today's standards - with graceful acting performances (Jean Simmons, Richard Burton, Jay Robinson), the brilliant score by Alfred Newman and a scenic design reminiscent of antique panoramas, which is further enhanced by the concept that individual scenes are given a prominent conclusion that is underpinned by a musical caesura.

As a result, some sequences already seem like an intermediary finale.

 

2

Ben Hur

(1959)

Obviously this film won't let me go in any challenge - because this is the third time I've used it.
There is at least a Blu-ray (and also a rather handsome steelbook), but the film is crying out to finally be released as 4K UHD.

Not to do so in a timely manner would be downright sacrilegious (!)

 

3

Simon Birch

No Blu-Ray release worldwide.

A film that I treasure, extremely warm-hearted and truly characterized by the greatness of humanity, about a brave little hero and a great childhood friendship that endures through the most tragic events - with Jim Carrey as the grown-up narrator of the introduction and the epilogue.

 

4

Duck Soap

There is no Blu-Ray in Germany.

I love the Marx Brothers' comedies and this anarchic slapstick is one of their timeless masterpieces that shows the absurdity of war.

Legendary is the scene in which Rufus T. Firefly (played by Groucho in his inimitable way as the arrogant head of state, who throws around provocative puns) performs the archetype of a self-fulfilling prophecy when he anticipates the insult by the enemy's diplomat and slaps him in the face for what he expects, which leads to the declaration of war.

Hail Freedonia!

 

5

A Day At The Races

Another Marx Brother Classic.

Unforgettable the telephone scene, where I always get a stomach ache from laughing...

(Again no German Blu-Ray release)

 

•

 

Movies that deserve a Steelbook release?

Oh, there are a lot of them ... and my fellow MP members have already drawn the focus to many examples.

I have not only selected favorites here, but also those whose artworks would be small gems with the appropriate design (quality high-gloss finish, em-/debossing).

 

 

1

Miami Vice

(2006)

Although the film does not live up to the cult status of the TV-Series, I appreciate it very much.
To be honest - I wouldn't just want to see a Steelbook here (and a 4K UHD, by the way), but a Premium One Click!

The multitude of exquisite artworks created for the film would easily make that possible.

 

2

The Boy Behind The Door

A movie that deserves absolute respect because it deals relentlessly and seriously with the issue of violence against children.

Two boys are kidnapped and face perpetrators who act not illogically and stupidly but unscrupulously and dangerously.

The friendship between the two kids is put to a truly severe test, because because one of the two, who manages to escape, is constantly faced with the decision to get to safety from impending death, or to overcome his fear, which is palpable for the viewer, and to help his captured friend and save him from abuse and slaughter.

A foreseeable film in the end, but noteworthy because of the both shocking and, in the best sense of the word, appropriate portrayal of the difficult subject.

 

3

The Devil's Backbone

Masterfully directed by Guillermo del Toro, this supernatural thriller boasts soft tones and brilliant visuals, and unquestionably deserves an adequate steelbook.

 

4

The Lord Of The Rings

(1978)

For once, not Peter Jackson's grandiose trilogy, but Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated film, which still impresses me to this day.

Some of the scenes were first shot with real actors and later reshaped using the rotoscope process.

And there are a few moments that surpass even Jackson's fantastic concept...

This applies in particular to the appearance of the Ringwraiths (still fully drawn at the beginning of the film).

While in the live-action film they - like any mortal does - only   e n t e r   the room in the "Prancing Pony", in which the hobbits supposedly sleep in their beds,

Bakshi lets these (non-)beings grow out of the ground like shadows, simply out of the nothing where they exist...

This scene still impresses me to this day because it takes the Nazgul to a far more transcendent level.

 

 

And more...

 

 

 

5

The Outfit

In this wonderfully old-fashioned gangster film, not only the friends of criminals dressed in elegant suits get their money's worth.

The film impresses with a finely woven deception of the individual protagonists and astounds with a skillful and surprising finale.

 

 

6

M

(1931)

One of the first German sound films and a masterpiece of its time that is still impressive today.
Fritz Lang's film is both a plea against the death penalty and an early warning of the contempt for human beings of National Socialist barbarism, because the director shows that fascism, no matter in which form it appears, always harms the life and dignity of the individual, disregards it and degrades it to the level of available material of authoritarian arbitrariness - withdrawing it from the by the only one who should be allowed to decide about - the individual as it's sole owner.

The Movie is rightly regarded as one of the best Films ever made (it has been described to have everything that makes a good motion picture) and needs to get a Steel.

In fact, I see an opportunity here, because EUREKA has already granted German film classics (Nosferatu, Metropolis, The Testament of Sr. Mabuse) a Steelbook release.

 

 

7

Fallen

The stylistically skilfully staged mystery thriller manages to keep the viewer captivated right up to its surprising ending, without once loosening the arc of suspense.

In short: Brilliant entertainment. As a glossy steelbook with embossed lettering, it would certainly be pretty to look at!

 

 

8

The Black Dahlia

This adaptation of the James Ellroy novel is perhaps director Brian de Palma's last Film Noir Homage - in beautiful images - to the detective and crime world of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe from 1940s America, as it was sublimely condensed by Polanski in "Chinatown".

 

 

9

The Relic

The movie combines elements of horror and catastrophe films in a highly entertaining and atmospherically successful way, and its mood reminds me of "Alien" to a large extent.

 

 

10

Marrowbone

A little gem in my opinion. An atmospherically dense drama with subtle horror and melancholic sadness. 

A mother flies with her four children to an abandoned house in the USA before her husband's violence. After the sudden death of their mother, the four siblings - played by really talented young actors - decide to keep this a secret so as not to be torn apart. But a menacing, supernatural presence begins to take over this secret life more and more.

A highly recommended "Must See" and a worthy candidate to have it on the shelf as a Steelbook.

 

•

 

Final thoughts...

 

All in all one has to state that it is sometimes strange and hardly comprehensible that especially from the back catalogues, there are garbage films (which come up with titles that sound something like "Naked Zombie Girls From The Trashcan of Terror, Part 17") do not have a hard time getting even a 4K release, while absolute classics, which a large fan base is eagerly awaiting, lie dormant in the archives for years -  and this despite the fact that the studios do not even consider their exploitation in streaming services, i.e. titles whose physical release would not affect the gains of digital distribution simply because they are not available online.

But (perhaps) in the not too distant future, corporate bosses might (hopefully) realize that there are limits to the potential for profit in the Streaming Market...

 

•

 

I guess this made the Challenge, huh?

And as always I hope that You enjoyed my contribution.

 

vor 3 Stunden schrieb extantsrevenge:

@F.M.S wow, that post was simply terrific again, I would not have mind if you had included a movie for every year from every decade 😂. Also have you read the Manga for Akira? It has so much more story and is one of the greatest Manga you can find. Over 2000 pages long 😍

Well Nils, you know best how hard it can get   to find good nuts worthy of an extensive taste test...

 

besides this, with 100 films, the deadline should have been extended beyond Sunday to the end of the year... 😎

(thank's god it's Monday...)

 

But let's get to AKIRA...

You ask ME whether I have read the Original Manga...?

You're REALLY asking MEEE if I've read the AKIRA Manga???

You must be kidding !

Ehem - of course I did not !

Naah... it was me who was kidding. 😇 No Question that I read it and absolutely enjoyed every page. It will always remain THE Manga Classic for me.

 

Nevertheless the movie went a conceptional different path (as You might know, the Manga was finished after the Movie)

 

 

 

and thus became a timeless and unique Classic itself...

First of all: Sorry...

 @Mrdugan

that I could'nt participate in the great Challenge You brought to us

(and there were so many astounding items shown by my fellow members!)

But even though I am a fanatic movie collector I was never keen on gathering accompanying Merchandise at all...

(well, and showing what you don't have is rather problematic )

 

But now let's go to the really inspiring

 

Challenge # 19

"Through the Decades - a Cinematic Journey"

My compliments to @lunazero for this Intriguing idea !

 

As @javi already mentioned so rightly, it was very hard to choose a movie that stands for it's decade, as there were so many great possibilities.

Therefore I selected examples which, for good reason, will always remain as epochal classics, great moments of cinema or simply outstanding works and which are able to make a deep emotional impression on the viewer in a timeless way, be it because of their visual or narrative perfection, the special content or simply their uniqueness.

 

•

 

OUT OF CHALLENGE

(but nevertheless important):

The 1920ies

 

I simply have to join @hal56 in this matter.

Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's dark gothic dreamland masterpiece and the first and influential Horror captured on celluloid simply cannot be missing as a milestone in film history

- at least if you want to fully explore the path that cinema has trodden over the decades....

 

NOSFERATU

1922

 

 

•

 

 

The 1930s

 

The cinematic significance of the following film by the old master Fritz Lang should not be underestimated.

Several scenes became milestones of the action and horror films of later years and decades.

Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels himself personally arranged for the film to be banned because, according to his statement, it proved "that a group of men determined to the utmost, if they only seriously want to, is quite capable of unhinging any state".

For this movie is directed above all against what constitutes the core of the fascist state - blind obedience.

Moreover, with this work Lang invented the genre of the crime film interwoven with elements of horror and mystery.

Thus Lang left it open whether the ghostly apparition of the deceased Dr. Mabuse is only the imagination of the psychiatrist who treated Mabuse before his death and who had fallen for his genius, or whether it is not in fact a threatening force from afterlife breaking into the world in order to establish the reign of terror even from the beyond...

 

DAS TESTAMENT DES DR. MABUSE

1933

 

 

•

 

 

The 1940s

Stylistic innovations, terrific camerawork and acting, and one of the most famous words in film history ("Rosebud")

have rightly established this work as one of the best films of all time.

 

CITIZEN KANE

1941

 

 

•

 

 

The 1950s

 

I have already mentioned it a month ago, and I have to repeat it here.

Accompanied by the grandiose music of the Soundtrack Score Mastermind Miklós Rózsa, Director William Wyler, with playful ease of storytelling, opened an adventure spectacle infused with romantic mysticism and a deep commitment to humanity that is still unparalleled.

It may have gone out of fashion to believe in miracles in this world as they happen in this movie.

But this masterpiece inspires the desire to shape a world where the belief, that miracles can happen, is justified again.

 

BEN HUR

1959

 

 

•

 

 

The 1960s

 

Driven by an admirably high ethical attitude, the film advocated tolerance at a time when racism was far more pronounced in the United States than is today.

In his Oscar-winning role, Gregory Peck shines not only as a hero for public justice, but above all as a father whose love for his children is truly their home.

Finally, the film's narrative style makes it the masterpiece it is rightly considered to be, because it conveys the mysterious experience of the world from the child's point of view before the threshold to the world of adults is really crossed - the movie's quiet and warmhearted ending stays true to this lingering not only until the last moment but beyond - because it gives the viewer the feeling, that the value of this so precious period of our lives is able to live on in us...

 

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

1962

 

 

•

 

 

The 1970s

 

This epic space opera not only became a pop culture phenomenon, it simply paved the way for Hollywood cinema as we know it today.

Or to put it even more clearly: Without this movie, the great cinema would probably not have found its way back to the big screen.

Thus, this film marked a new hope in the truest sense of the word...

 

STAR WARS

A New Hope

1977

 

 

•

 

 

The 1980s

 

This iconic cyberpunk-action Masterpiece is rightly regarded as one of the best animation films in the history of cinema.

It became a worldwide cult influencing numerous works in animation, comics, film, music, television and video games.

It is highly energetic. It is a wild ride for sure. It's transcendental.

And over all it hails friendship that reaches far beyond the limitations of human existence... 

For me personally, it is one of the best films of all time.

 

AKIRA

1988

 

 

•

 

 

The 1990s

 

Even though the movie was criticized by serious historians to be  a transgression because it is unacceptable to relativize the unspeakable horror of the Shoah through fiction

- not least because its is not shown through the eyes of a victim.

Nevertheless some survivors of the concentrations camps felt gratitude that the Holocaust story was finally being told in a major film that would be widely viewed.

And that is, what Spielberg achieved - that as many eyes as possible can be opened to the truth, that the most horrific imaginable actually happened.

That it happened to millions of irreplaceable, unique individuals.

And that this abyss of absolute barbarism - committed by the utmost "normal" people - is always possible at any time.

And that this must be prevented at all costs.

That is why this movie will remain.

 

SCHINDLER'S LIST

1993

 

 

•

 

 

The 2000s

 

This epic Landmark of Movie Magic and old fashioned story-telling is the crowning and triumphant climax to the Trilogy that can easily be praised as a Millenium work.

And one thing is certain: This Masterpiece bows to no one.

 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

The Return Of The King

2003

 

 

 

•

 

 

The 2010s

 

It's the most serious film in the DC Universe, with great cinematic craftsmanship and a fine soundtrack.

And it comes up with a vibrant and powerful acting performance that really deserved to be honored with an Oscar.

This brilliant Performance made it possible to make us understand, that no villain can be as terrible as the everyday cruelty of a world that worships superficiality

- but has long since rejected the value of the individual human being.

 

JOKER

2019

 

 

•

 

 

I truly love the films of the 70s and the 80s

(Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first movie I bought as an official VHS)

Those movies had a sense of ease in story-telling that today's productions are often missing

Nevertheless, I did not remain attached to this time period and also enjoy the films that cinema is giving us now and in the years to come.

 

•

 

As always I hope that You enjoyed my contribution.

Well, well @raylight

Isn't this already the second great challenge You brought to us?

(Now I know why it's called...)

 

It Takes Two

(Challenge # 17)

 

And again a really nice one Daniel - Thank's for that!

Instead of using the Usual Suspects (Bad Boys, Lethal Weapon) I've tried to use some titles that were not my first thoughts...

 

 

1

R.I.P.D.

Rest In Peace Department

Although a box office flop, the film is consistently funny and contains some delightful scenes.

Especially as cop Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) is joined after his demise by the equally undead afterlife police teacher Roy Pulsipher (brilliantly played by Jeff Bridges) as an oddball, gnarly, western sheriff (who still suffers psychologically from what some obviously extremely shameless desert coyotes abused his dead skull for...)

 

 

 

2

Léon - The Professional

Assassin Léon (Jean Reno) and Mathilda (Natalie Portmann)

Has there ever been a cooler and at the same time more heart-touching film couple...?

 

 

 

3

JURASSIC PARK

Here we have even two Buddy-Teams:

Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) & Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern)

and (especially!) the grandchildren of John Hammond 

Lex (Ariana Richards) & Tim (Joseph Mazello)

...all constantly working during 123 minutes not to end up as a snack for the dinosaurs!

 

 

 

4

Indiana Jones And The Tempel Of Doom

Not only with Karen Allen(as Martin Ravenwood in "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" and in "Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Cristal Skull")

and the great Sean Connery as the father of Henry Jones Jr. ("Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade") did Harrison Ford make a great team.

Also these two chaps here worked magnificently together ("Big mistake Indy... big mistake!").

Spielberg staged in his typically emotional way both the humorous scenes between Indiana Jones and the shrewd Short "Shorty" Round (Ke Huy Quan)

- who almost steals the show from our great action hero -

as well as the deeply aspects of friendship and not least the more serious scene of the children's liberation that conveys - not least thanks to the glorious music of the master John Williams - a sublime triumph of justice over evil in a legendary manner.

So John and Steven are also Cinematic Buddies in the best sense of the meaning...

 

 

 

5

CONAN 

The Barbarian

Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Valeria (Sandahl Bergmann)

And isn't she a real buddy to her Conan? ... just remind of her saying:

"All the gods, they cannot sever us.

If I were dead and you were still fighting for life, I'd come back from the darkness.

Back from the pit of hell to fight at your side."

And by God, she did...

 

 

 

And finally a little Bonus for the closing titles...

The Ghost And The Darkness

Vali Kilmer (as bridge construction engineer John Patterson) and Michael Douglas (as Big Game Hunter Charles Remington)

on the prowl for two man-eating lions.

Apart from the protagonists developing into Buddies in Action, the film impresses with its justifiably award-winning camera work.

 

 

•

 

I hope this made the Challenge

and of course that You (together with YOUR Buddy-Team !) enjoyed my contribution.

 

Am 16.1.2023 um 16:43 schrieb Reagh:

Congratulations @F.M.S for achieving your new rank of Veteran !

 

 

I appreciate all your contributions to our community! 

 

Thank's so much @Reagh !

(Took a while to answer, as I'm just recovering from the New Year Holidays... 😎)

 

And this new rank :  

 

But in fact, even though a Veteran now, I don't feel any signs of retirement, in fact, a praise like Yours increases the drive for new contributions and manifests itself more in the following state:

 

 

Therefore, my motto is: Fresh up to the next rank (only 240.653 points to reach )

That really was a Chief's Idea

@Chief_lookout

😎

 

And the literally fitting name for this

Challenge # 16:

It's so hard to choose!

Because it's nearly Mission Impossible to choose, but here we go:

 

1     Ben Hur (1959)

This film deserves to be called a giant.
Accompanied by the grandiose music of the Soundtrack Score Mastermind Miklós Rózsa, Director William Wyler, with playful ease of storytelling, opened an adventure spectacle infused with romantic mysticism and a deep commitment to humanity that is still unparalleled today.

 

 

 

2    LOTR: The Return Of The King

Another outstanding piece of great cinema.

Although the other parts of this incomparable fantasy trilogy also succeeded in a fantastic and independent realization of the novel, the final film

- not only in my opinion -

is the most impressive work and allows the open-minded viewer to sink once more into the world of Tolkien in a dreamlike, emotionally moving and soul-elevating way.

 

 

3    Star Wars V | The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars has been with me since I was a child.

Nevertheless, I agree with many voices that the second part of the original trilogy justifiably ranks as the best of all films of this galaxy far away.

The far darker atmosphere compared to the predecessor, the brilliant musical accompaniment, spectacular space scenarios, a much deeper as well as more iconic drawing of the characters have shaped this part of the saga into a gem whose impact continues to this very day.

 

 

 

4    Raiders Of The Lost Ark

The adventurous has many faces. Indiana Jones shows them all. With this film, Steven Spielberg succeeded in bringing back the great adventure film

- and at the same time creating one of the most iconic heroes in film history - to which the great John Williams lent a no less memorable theme tune.

 

 

5    The Godfather II

Although the first part of the trilogy is also unquestionably a masterpiece, the second part is the most cinematically perfect part of the trilogy

- if only because of its ingenious play with time levels.

 

 

6    The Night Of The Hunter

This is the only film in which the truly great character actor Charles Laughton sat in the director's chair.

He drew a fable of two children fleeing from a psychopathic murderer - iconically portrayed by Robert Mitchum - in the USA during the economic crisis of the 1930s, whose dreamlike, fairytale-like surreal images allowed him to create a work of art that was not only far ahead of its time, but also gave it the dimension of a classic tragedy and, moreover, at times came up with a emotional mood that reminded me in some aspects of the Oscar-winning animated film "The Old Mill" from 1937.

 

Conveying both the destructive power of ruthless greed and deep human compassion, this film created an imagery of nightmarish menace that still makes it an exceptional work that, like "The VVitch", the general public's taste could not do justice to.

 

 

 

7    John Carpenter's The Fog

As I have already mentioned at several occasions before - for me, this deeply atmospherical film is the perfect ghost story

- and at the same time one of the films I have probably seen most often in my life.

 

 

 

8    Alien

It really needs no mention that, next to Blade Runner, this is arguably Ridley Scott's all-time masterpiece.

No matter how often I watch this incarnation of the closed-room adventure, this film always fills me with a quiet, comforting shiver.

 

 

 

9    AKIRA

I was lucky enough to experience this exceptional work in the year of its premiere. It simply swept me off my feet.

Since then, I have been captivated by its speed and transcendence - an overall feeling that finds its absolute equivalent in the outstanding soundtrack.

 

 

 

10  Seven

Once again a masterpiece of atmospheric cinema. Brilliant, dark, obscure ...

and with that unforgettable finale that should make every postman wonder what he is actually delivering today....

 

 

•

 

One of the Movies I would like to have a real Premium Edition of (One Click, WEA-Steelbook...) is MIAMI VICE (2006).

There is really a bunch of great artworks that has been created for this Film.

(But I know it's  unlikely to happen until I install my own Label... )

 

•

 

Well I hope You enjoy my contribution and - as it is never too late for good wishes -

 

A Happy New Year

to all my fellow Members!

 

Wish You all the best on every path You may take.

@forenhase

 

 

Frohe Weihnachten André!

(und natürlich auch ein schönes Fest für die ganze Filmarena-Freak-Runde...) 

 

wünscht

Frank

 

What a funny (and hairy...) idea

@coupelle

 

So let's go to 

Challenge # 14: The Animals

 

1. BATS

BATMAN BEGINS

BLUFANS EXCLUSIVE WEA STEELBOOK

 

 

 

2. APE

(well, a big one..)

GODZILLA VS. KONG

MANTA LAB WEA STEELBOOK

 

 

 

3. DOG

There are so many funny dogs in animated movies. Here is a good example... 

COCO

BLUFANS EXCLUSIVE WEA STEELBOOK

 

 

 

4. DRAGON

Attacking an Airplane...

SUCKER PUNCH

HDZETA WEA STEELBOOK

 

 

 

5. TIGER | BEAR | SNAKE | MONKEYS | WOLF | BLACK PANTHER | GIGANTOPITHECUS 

So, we really have a bunch of (more or less) nice Pets here...

DISNEY'S THE JUNGLE BOOK

BLUFANS EXCLUSIVE WEA STEELBOOK

 

 

•

 

I don't want to close my animal selection without mentioning my favorite animals.

Apart from respecting all animals, I especially like the small, cute rodents.

From a cinematic point of view, that would be Feivel and Mrs. Brisby from the brilliant Animation Artworks by Don Bluth -

and of course the chaotic Squirrel from "Ice Age" (of course @extantsrevenge feels particularly addressed now...)

 

As always I hope You and Your eyes enjoyed my contribution.

And don't forget:

If Your pet is looking at You with concern, then maybe you've been a bit too beastly...

 

First of all...

Kitty Greetings and many thanks  to

@Catgirl

for this nice Challenge

MIAU !

 

So let's contribute to

Challenge # 13 - What's good on TV?

 

1.

GAME OF THRONES

 

 

First one is a 'Usual Suspect' but had to be listed here, because the series knew how to stage a rich and fascinating world with impressive battles and epic moments like no other in recent TV history in a varied, brutal but also clever way.

 

The weaknesses that emerged in the last few seasons is not least due to the fact that they no longer came from the pen of the book author.

Nevertheless, the much-maligned ending is perhaps quite logical - because the previously adored dragon queen turned out to be a demon of that fascist horror that in the end is simply inherent to all too magnificent leaders, as history beyond fantasy has always proved, and reveals unscrupulous hubris.

So the choice of the wise Bran as the new king is just as unspectacular as the fate of the failed hero and at the same time proof that radiant hero kings are not the best choice and that a quiet peace is preferable to the raging war, because the latter only knows one winner in the end - the demise.

 

 

2.

Die Brücke

 

 

I absolutely love Scandinavian crime series.

They are dark and mostly reveal the passionate abysses that seem to rage in the apparently oh so cool soul of the Nordic inhabitants - at least on the TV screen.

This series selected here lives less from the murders, which become increasingly bizarre over the course of the seasons, than from the time that can be spent developing the characters - but above all from the investigator Sorga Noren, who often appears like a robot because of her autistic personality, under their closeness, however, is very vulnerable and is capable of real friendship, because it is based on truthfulness - much more steadfast than that of a large part of their empathetic environment.

An icon among Nordic crime series.

 

 

3.

BABYLON BERLIN

 

 

The series, which in my opinion is one of the best international TV productions of the last decade, creates a truly impressive panorama of the "golden" 1920s in Berlin between the world wars. Sex, drugs, art and extremism dominate this epoch, which the criminalistic narrative framework authentically depicts with a high degree of suspense and a dark atmosphere. In addition, it is impressive how both the hedonistic attitude to life of the time and the increasing tumbling into the following abyss are brilliantly conveyed.

 

 

4.

Sherlock

 

 

Fantastically staged. A large pinch of humor, cynical remarks and the brilliant duo of Sherlock Holmes, mimed by Benedict Cumberbatch with extreme arrogance and a good deal of neurotic psychopathy, combined with the laconic Dr. Watson, suffering from post-traumatic stress, but who, when it comes down to it, is quite effective and rescues his friend from many a predicament, played by Martin Freeman, and not least the highly sophisticated play with viewers' expectations make this masterpiece of British TV arguably the most intelligent production in the series landscape ever.

 

 

5.

STAR TREK

P I C A R D

 

 

Of course, I am a fan of the classic Star Trek series.

But at this point I want to throw my hat into the ring for the newer series around the iconic Picard, which was not exactly accompanied by benevolent criticism, especially with regard to the second season, which by many was called boring and even the worst Series of the Franchise.

However, this one impresses precisely because it takes its time with the big questions that form the essence of the Star Trek universe.

And don't our times need people who, in a world of mutual fear, rampant xenophobia and a system that presents itself as all the more honorable,

the more of its ideals it sacrifices to mere security mania, hold steadfastly to their ideals and, instead of building walls, boldly go where no man has gone before?

Because the future must be written by us and not accepted ducked.

Because it is never too late not to carry the mistakes of the past into the present.

Or as Picard puts it at the end of the second season: "Time does not give us a second chance, but we can give it to us.

Especially the finale of the second season clearly carries the light and warmth that has always characterized Star Trek -

the triumph of understanding, compassion and openness for the value of every living being.

 

•

 

ADDITIONAL QUESTION:

Which Series should be released on physical Media...

 

THE RINGS OF POWER (of course!)

And naturally all STAR WARS Series

which, however, in view of the "Hey, why don't we completely destroy the disc market?"-Corporation

will probably only happen in galaxy far, far away...

 

•

 

And as always, I hope that You enjoyed my contribution !

 

So Folks...

Maybe too late for this Challenge as I just came home from business travel that occupied me the whole week.

(But maybe @extantsrevenge knows best that each squirrel must first secure its nuts before returning to the cozy tree hollow home ) 

Anyway - even just for the fun of it - here is my late submission for this cool idea created by @bossjon

 

Challenge # 12: The Directors

Of course, many directors would be possible here, and I can't appreciate them highly enough.

Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien, Gladiator, just to name a few of his great works) James Cameron (T2, Avatar, Aliens) , Peter Jackson (LOTR, King Kong, ),

Sam Mendes (Road To Perdition, Skyfall, 1917), William Wyler (Ben Hur, Big Country), Charlie Chaplin (Gold Rush, The Tramp, The Great Dictator),

Dennis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Sicario, Dune), Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglorious Basterds) and many more.

 

Nevertheless I had to choose some of the 'usual suspects' - als Nils mentioned it -

quite simply because your works have not only written film history, but have either decisively shaped a genre or

- as in the case of the director I named first and foremost -

provided the spark without which the resurgence of the great Hollywood Blockbuster Movies out of the wasteland of the early 1970s,

and with it the cinematic dreams that have been given to us in recent decades -

in other words, the cinema as we know and love it today, might not exist at all.

 

 

1.

Steven Spielberg

 

As stated above, the modern cinema of major motion pictures (or Blockbusters)  would probably not have been possible without the success of "JAWS"

- as well as that of George Lucas' "STAR WARS A New Hope".

 

And with the iconic Raider Of The Lost Ark, not only was one of the most popular swash-buckler characters ever created,

but the great adventure film made a glorious return to the big screen.

 

"Empire Of The Sun" ...

This epic and underrated film of Spielberg's demonstrates his tremendous ability to bring extraordinary characters to life,

focusing on the lives and individual experiences of these individuals independent of the respective atrocities of the age surrounding them.

A circumstance that comes to bear not least in the scene, in which Jim, brilliantly played by the young Christian Bale,

although a prisoner in the camp of the Japanese army and thus a victim of this cruelty,

nevertheless salutes the kamikaze pilots flying towards their deaths and thus pays homage to their personal sacrifice

- regardless of the inherent governmental abuse of these soldiers' sense of honor -

in an almost transcendent understanding a child can achieve. 

Moreover, Spielberg's cinema remains groundbreaking to this day thanks to the creation of almost archetypal visual concepts and camera movements.

Last but not least, it is Spielberg's special skill in how he gives greatness to humanity and embeds its due moments of triumph over evil in a way,

that is able to awaken in the viewer the desire to bring goodness into the world, that constitutes the emotional warmth of his works of art.

 

Therefore - although not displayed - "E.T. The Extraterrestrial"

(together with William Wyler's "BEN HUR", David O. Selznick's "Gone With The Wind and "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan")

will always be my absolute favorite one when it comes to triumphant final Scenes.

Together with the music created for this purpose by John Williams, accompanying the images with a heavenly tonal radiance,

the final sequence is and remains for me the perfect audiovisual expression for the feeling of sublime greatness,

when the spaceship of E.T. draws a rainbow in the starlight sky and the the camera moves to Eliot's face,

whose hair is blown by the wind and whose expression lets us be far from any doubt that he will now stand the challenges of life

- with the sure certainty of a unique being who has a friend that will be with him - always...

 

 

 

2.

Alfred Hitchcock

Nothing that has not already been written about this great representative, if not inventor, of suspense cinema, so I do not take the liberty of adding anything else.

Only that may be rightly emphasized again:

The congenial collaboration with the composer Bernhard Hermann, who has always created the tonal equivalent to the images of the master.

"Psycho" provides the example par exellence for this perfect pairing of Vision and Music.

 

 

 

3. 

John Carpenter

 

It's not the frightening horror elements that make John Carpenter's work so special.

It is the atmospheric density he created that characterizes his films.

And to come back to final sequences - all films presented in the picture are provided with a terrific final scene, which I recommend to the worthy viewing of my fellow Psychos. 
Of all Carpenter's works (although I really love "The Thing"), "The Fog" is the one that for me has the most outstanding sequences of atmospheric composition -

or as I always like to say: For me, it's the perfect ghost story...

 

 

So much for today.

Hope that You did enjoy my contribution !

(no matter if it still counts or not ... on the other hand... somewhere in the Universe it could still be Sunday...)

 

vor 12 Stunden schrieb extantsrevenge:

I have to admit that I was a little shocked to see so many include Star Trek Into Darkness, as it is basically only a remake of The Wrath of Khan which is superior in every way to the new version. And I would also not have thought to see Prometheus or Alien Covenant show up here

@extantsrevenge

 

First of all

 

for this fine new award !!!

 

So it's time for a Victory Dance:

😎

 

As refers to "Into Darkness" there is no doubt at all that this can't ever come close to "The Wrath of Khan",

one of the Films that to me was a real MOTION Picture from the very first time I watched it in Cinema when it was released 

and for me - to use the moving words of Spock - it was and always will be - the shining jewel of the Star Trek Universe.

 

This also applies to Alien Covenant, as this movie will never come close to the deeply atmospheric artwork that Ridley Scott created with "ALIEN"

- by the way one of my most watched movies ever.

 

But leaving the unrivaled original "Alien" aside, Prometheus and Alien Covenant are also perfect in their own right as well as being artistically crafted and atmospheric works.
I therefore think that - this was at least my reason for choosing "Alien Covenant" - the Members who have chosen this Title herewith only compared it to "Prometheus"

and not as a comparison to the iconic Classic that came before.

 

The same might be the case for those who have chosen "Into Darkness" as a superior sequel to its predecessor

(Although I myself prefer the unbridled dynamic of the Origins story of Abraham's "Star Trek" to the sequel - despite its quite notable moments).

 

Finally (and I guess that I'm not the only one...)

I tend to choose examples (except they are not among my cinematic favorites) where I have (if possible) a premium edition (namely a steelbook)...

All the more sad that this is still not possible with so many great films.

 

Cheers

Frank

 

"I can never take part in this challenge again... " ? 

Oh no... it's never too late to take part in an MP Challenge! 

(Well, at least as long as it's still Sunday... 😇) 

So, even though I'm again VERY late I will never give up trying to contribute and this is my part for 

  

Challenge # 11: 

It's Happening Again! 

  

At first a great Thank You to @ethnosax for that clever Idea, 

because every film lover often finds himself in the dilemma that on the one hand he may regard some movies as perfect jewels that, when complete, 

either do not need a sequel, would be felt to be sacrilegious, is simply impossible, 

or would at least appear totally stupid ( "King Kong II - Our Ape's Breakfast After The Empire State Incident"... ), 

but on the other hand quite a few of us (here I'm no exception...) would like to experience beloved protagonists again in further adventures. 

  

Now I could have searched my film collection for exceptional examples here, because my following examples have already been mentioned by many of my fellow psychos, but on the other hand it would be a betrayal of these cherished films that are always my favorites within a franchise, or let's call it a cinematic narrative that spanned several episodes. 

  

That's why I have to list the usual suspects, but I hope to at least bring some variety to the rather conservatively chosen examples 

with my usual photographic lighting games... 😉 

  

 

1. 

STAR WARS 

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 

ZAVVI Steelbook

 

 

 

"A New Hope" (along with Jaws) not only marked the return of big Hollywood cinema and thereby became a hope fulfilled, but also created perhaps the most iconic film saga ever. But TESB is not considered the heart of the entire franchise for nothing.

Not only does Luke become the central hero, grows beyond himself and has to face what appears to be absolute evil, the story introduces important protagonists (not least Master Yoda) and experiences a holistic picture through the elaboration of the secondary characters - it shows that literally everything is connected through the Force.

From a more general view the grandiose soundtrack, the memorable space sequences, new fantastic locations, legendary, origin-explaining quotes (No... I AM YOUR ... [Come on Darth, we really ALL know this now...]), last but not least the impressive lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader to the overall much darker tone - all this creates an extremely dense atmosphere that connects the viewer with the film in an intense way and makes it truly unforgettable.

 

 

2. 

SPIDER-MAN 2 

WeET Exclusive Steelbook

 

 

Let's stay a little bit longer with sequels, which add a darker atmosphere to the light merriment of the first part, or one that heralds the threat of a coming calamity...

Not only that this film, in my opinion, tells a much better story, the protagonists act consistently more ambivalent.

Just compare the two final sequences - in the first part our hero swings cheerfully into the blue sky while the music accompanies him triumphantly -

here the camera fades out here while Mary Jane - basically left behind - looks anxiously after her Peter -

while the Spiderman theme is supplanted by a somber sequence in the minor key...

 

 

3. 

TERMINATOR 2 

JUDGEMENT DAY 

Filmarena XL Double Lenticular Slip | WEA Steelbook

 

 

Terminator is a legendary and very good Movie.

But Terminator Judgement day is even better in almost every aspect.

T2 offers higher quality and perfection. If T1 is an excellent film, T2 refines this and creates one of those works that are milestones in their genre.

It is here that Sarah Connor's phrase is poignantly placed at the end of the film, going beyond the fictional film and addressing humanity's present:

"If even a machine - a Terminator - can see the value of life, maybe can so do we..."

 

 

4. 

A  L  I  E  N

C O V E N A N T

Filmarena World Exclusive Artwork (WEA) Steelbook

 

 

What I said for T2 can also apply here, albeit with much less intensity, because Prometheus - a film that I appreciate very much, even if it wasn't granted the success of the original series - made an excellent start, that of the second part just perfected something. This refers above all to the contemplative moments and the scenes in which the film approaches the highly personal level of the characters, although this is already excellently implemented in Prometheus.

 

 

5. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE

ZACK SNYDER CUT

Manta Lab WEA Steelbook

 

 

There nothing much to say.

Where the first, amputated theatrical version only offered typical popcorn cinema, Zack Snyder's original concept is an epic masterpiece in comparison that - although I really appreciate "Batman Versus Superman" especially in the IMAX version - definitely relegates its predecessor to second place.

 

 

Already out of Challenge...:

6. 

JOHN WICK 

CHAPTER 2

ZAVVI Exclusive Steelbook

 

 

Bigger, Better WICKer...

A much more complex story, great scenarios, fantastic fight choreographies. The second part makes everything better here too.

Last but not least, the dialogues: "What kind of brother would I be if I didn't avenge my sister's death" - says the man who ordered the murder.

What more do you want...

 

•

 

There would be much more examples that come to my mind.

The Godfather Part II - and also the personally adored START TREK II - The Wrath of Khan with its glorious Score by the Legend James Horner.

But let's stop here.

 

•

 

There remains one film to mention that I would have liked a sequel to - and here I can only agree with what @Scary Hair has pointed out:

 

DREDD

Filmarena Exclusive Steelbook

 

 

This Movie is nearly crying for a Sequel.

But the same applies to "The Golden Compass"...

 

A composition that created a childs fantasy world in the best sense of the word, but unfortunately had to remain without a sequel due to the low box office earnings.

 

I hope this made the Challenge.

And - of course - as always I hope that You and Your eyes enjoyed my pictures.

 

•

 

As You see, in the end my contribution proves once again what Sir Sean Connery used to say:

Never Say Never Again...

Sorry, this posting has to be edited and resent in some minutes because it was sent by mistake (my computer seems to have his own opinion today...) before I had finished it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

"CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON"

Challenge    # 10

At the moment - as usual in the last weeks - not exactly early, but just in time (before the doors finally close..)

here's my contribution to this explosive Challenge our MP-Squirrel @extantsrevenge created

(after he is sometimes hunted himself in the German Room, the suspicion arises, that he created this challenge only,

to get as much information as possible about which weapon is best suited for protection... )

 

 But lets's go ... I want to start with this Challenge's additional Question.

What are my favorite Weapons of a Hero and a Villain?

Heroes and Villains are concepts that are mostly deeply rooted in the thinking and feeling of childhood.

Therefore I have to relate the movie that influenced me the most in this regard as a child because the film presented a variety of archetypal figures -

the radiant youthful hero, the incarnation of powerful evil and the great teacher whose wisdom is born of the light:

Star Wars - A New Hope.

 

My favorite Weapon of a Hero therefore HAS TO BE the light-blue Lightsaber that Luke Skywalker receives by Master Kenobi.

It's like Obi-Wan rightly said: "An elegant weapon ... from more civilized days..."

Because what can be more fascination than a tool of protection made out of pure light !

 

So this clearly is my

Number 1 • Light Saber

(STAR WARS | A NEW HOPE - WEA Disney Steelbook)

 

 

Were it not for the choice of different weapons, my villain's favorite weapon would be - of course - Lord Darth Vader's red lightsaber.

Especially the fight sequence in Rogue One, giving us a Darth Vader at the height of his almost insurmountable power, speaks for itself -

and certainly the unforgettable sequences showing this Dark Lord's presence in The Empire Strikes Back and in the Emperor's Throne Room in Return Of The Jedi.

But as I have to choose a different one, alternatively, Thanos' glove from Avengers Infinity War, which carries the infinity stones, seems to me to be a reasonable choice.

Because, hey Folks - let's be honest - after all, that nasty bone killed half the universe with it... 😈

 

 

 

But let's stay with swords - what comes closer to the lightsaber in reality than the katana of the Japanese samurai.

For this I chose the steelbook that is dedicated to the Angel of Revenge from Kill Bill ...

 

Number 2 • Katana

(KILL BILL - WWA Steelbook NOVAMEDIA Exclusive)

 

 

 

As far as special weapons are concerned, my fellow MP members have already presented every imaginable special - that can't be topped.

In addition, my knowledge of weapons is very limited -

which may also be due to the fact that in Germany, for legal reasons, it is already difficult to carry a sandwich knife that is too large...

In short terms: In our country, only the bad guys are armed 😎

That's why I limit myself to "simple" examples, which, on the other hand, represent films that have particularly impressed me in their own way.

 

That leads me to INCEPTION.

Although weapons are used, this Movie this film, which not least provided an invention of new visual implementations,

pays homage to the most powerful weapon of all - the human mind.

Anyway You can also find

 

Number 3 • Handgun (Pistol)

(INCEPTION - 10th Anniversary Steelbook)

 

 

 

And now something that was and is so unique, that it became one of the tunes that accompany my life since my Youth:

MIAMI VICE - The Television Series.

Characterized by the aesthetics of the music videos of the 80s MTV generation, this exceptional Crime series,

with its luxury, art deco-inspired and multicolored neon light high-gloss look created a diametrical and fascinating counter-design to the dingy look of the 1970s.

To this very day this series, which still rightly enjoys cult status toda,y impresses the viewer through the congenial mixture of presenting  a fast lifestyle,

furthermore the embedding of the music of Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Russ Ballard, Dire Straits, Kate Bush, Glen Frey and many other artists

- not least the sound patterns brilliantly woven by Jan Hammer - and scenes of deeply contemplative power.

It should be pointed out that there is rarely a happy ending in MIAMI VICE  - so whereby fiction has to give way to reality.

At the end the Series shows up again and again a deeply human striving - that although all things must pass, the only thing that matters is not to give up.

 

Here we have a little more firepower than a Pistol's one in Ricardo Tubbs' Hands:

Number 4 • Sawed-off double-barreled Shotgun

(MIAMI VICE - The Complete Series BOX | KOCH Films, now PLAION)

 

 

 

Finally a great Franchise from Director Antoine Fuqua, that impresses me, because the protagonist Robert McCall, perfectly embodied by Denzel Washington,

takes responsibility where no one else does, helping people in dire need of help without them even realizing it.

I'm already looking forward to the third part with a childish joy of seeing again a good friend...

 

Here we have the Weapon with the highest Firepower so far (The lightsaber is of course unrivalled...)

Number 5 • Submachine Gun SIG-Sauer MPX *

(* fitted with a Maxim stock, a Trijicon MRO sight and a suppressor)

(The Equalizer 2 - WEA Steelbook | Filmarena)

 

 

 

Hope this made the Challenge and - as always - that You enjoyed my pictures.

And now - as AC/DC says: Shoot to thrill!

 

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Toapel:

@F.M.S Ist jetzt auch für uns drin. Solltest also bezahlen können. Steht auch so in I+Q

Danke Dir für die Info !

Hab' den Info-Questions-Thread aber auch mit Argusaugen verfolgt und sogleich nach meiner Heimkehr die Zahlung erfolgreich vornehmen können.

vor 2 Minuten schrieb swish:

Da ich nicht im GB bin kann ich dir keine Antwort geben. Im Store sehe ich zwar schon der eintrag aber sehe keine editionen da ich keine berechtigung habe. Normalerweise postet John den Link zum Store und ab dann sollte man bezahlen.

Genau das ist das Problem.

Der Link zur Bezahlung wurde mit privater Nachricht mitgeteilt - und er führt auf eine Seite, die sagt, es gibt kein passende Produkt.

Aber das sollte sich hoffentlich bald klären.

Habe auf der Info + Questions Seite (ebenso wie Nils und andere) bereits darauf hingewiesen und Screenshots gepostet.

Und wenns weiterhin nicht klappt sind eben PMs nötig.

vor 3 Minuten schrieb swish:

Da Release im Januar 23 ist könnte ich mir vorstellen das der gegen ende/anfangs Jahr verrechnet wird, kommt drauf an wann Manta die Rechnung an MP schickt

Mhm... das wäre aber dann ein Bruch mir der neuen GB Richtlinie, wonach doch eigentlich alle Teilnehmer innerhalb des festgesetzten und im jeweiligen Club verzeichneten Zahlungs-Zeitfensters gezahlt haben sollten, wenn Sie keinen Bann riskieren möchten... 

vor 1 Stunde schrieb extantsrevenge:

Ihre Lieferung erfolgt heute zwischen

15:30 - 17:00 Uhr

 

......

 

Ihre Lieferung erfolgt heute zwischen

15:40 - 17:10 Uhr

 

......

 

Ihre Lieferung erfolgt heute zwischen

15:55 - 17:25 Uhr

 

Sooo ...

 

heute ausnahmsweise endlich wieder mal ein Posting im German Room,

dessen illustre Hallen ich aus Zeitgründen leider nur selten frequentieren kann 

 

Aber trotzdem  erst Mal einen  freundlichen Gruß in die Psycho-Runde !

 

Nun @extantsrevenge  deshalb spricht man ja von Service-Wüste Deutschland ... 

 

Bei mir schaltet DHL die LIVE-Nachverfolgung desöfteren gefühlte  5 Minuten vor Ankunft an der Haustüre aus um am darauffolgenden Tag (!) meinen Briefkasten mit der freundlichen Mitteilungskarte zu schmücken, man habe mich am Vortag nicht erreicht, obschon ich in geradezu katzenhafter (da fällt mir ein: Gruß an @Catgirl Cindy) Anspannung aller Reflexe auf der Lauer lag...

 

Aber es geht noch besser...

 

Gestern sollte eigentlich meine AVENGERS-One-Click-Box con WeET ankommen...

Nun und erst ging's mir lediglich so wie unserem Lieblings-Eichhörnchen (Ok, ich weiß... mangels Beautyshots könnte sich dieser Status sehr bald ändern...) 

 

Jedenfalls erst ebenfalls eine mehrfache Verschiebung der angekündigten Liefer-Zeitfensters...

 

doch dann ... endlich...  der Moment der Freude schien zum Greifen nah...

 

Aber dann die Mitteilung (Live Sendungsverfolgung):

Ihre Sendung geht zurück an den Absender, denn:

Vorname Richtig, Adresse richtig - aaaaber: Nachname fehlt 🙄

Bei DHL angerufen - Abholung nicht möglich - schließlich sind wir in Deutschland und sonst könnte eine Person, deren Familienname auf auf meinen Vornamen lautet und die in meinem Anwesen eventuell wohnhaft ist, DHL auf Schadenersatz verklagen...  aaahja...

( muss wohl doch wieder mal im Keller nachschau'n, wer sich dort so alles häuslich niedergelassen hat...  )

 

In Wirklichkeit geht es wohl eher darum, dass auch ja keine potentiell problematischen (...) Waren ausgeliefert werden, ohne dass vermittels Rückverfolgung gegebenenfalls Zoll- und Strafverfolgungsmaßnahmen sichergestellt werden können.

Unter dem Motto: Lässt sich das Vieh nicht durchs Gatter treiben, kommt es auch nicht an die Tränke.

Ein zunehmendes Problem der Erosion des liberalen Rechtsstaats, denn eigentlich stellen nur autokratische Systeme ihre Bürgern unter Generalverdacht...

 

Fazit: Seid froh, wenn die Pakete überhaupt irgendwann ankommen ...

 

Apropos Verspätung...  irgendwelche Neuigkeiten, wann der Manta Lab 2001 Payment Link für Deutschland an den Start geht ?

 

Denn selbst auf Nils dahingehende Info an John kam bislang noch keine Reaktion von höchster Stelle...

 

(Auch Frankreich scheint die gleichen Probleme zu haben...- Link führt zu einer Seite, der zufolge keine passenden Produkte vorhanden sind - und auch im Shop ist nichts zu finden...)

 

Jedenfalls nochmals beste Grüße an die Gemeinde !

Wow !

 

So many great Soundtracks are already shown by my fellow Psychos in this

demanding, box-in-the-basement-through-searching, but exciting

 

Challenge # 9   •  Don't Stop The Music

 

I have collected Soundtracks since my childhood.

From the beginning I was, I am and I'll always a lover of orchestral, classical film music.
An ingenious soundtrack is more than just a suitable accompaniment,

it is usually only through it that the emotional essence of the cinematic statement is able to reach the viewer's soul.

 

Unfortunately a lot of my early collection (Vinyl mostly) got lost because of a theft of moving boxes decades ago...

 

Now that I'm moving again (this time, films and music will only be transported in my own vehicle!),

I couldn't find some special treasures I would have liked to share

(especially a luxurious Edition of the magnificent Score from BEN HUR by by the legendary composer Miklós Rózsa),

but I did my best to do justice to the extraordinary task given.

At this point many thanks and my respect to the creator of this challenge

@Gentleman

 

And now I proudly present:

 

 

 

1.

The Robe

Twenthieth Century Fox  1956

 

The Score for the first film in CinemaScope was composed by Alfred Newman, a musician with a strong affinity to spiritual material,

and the contributed religious themes he left with this Masterpiece for the art of film scoring cannot be praised highly enough.

 

It's a shame that so far there is neither a region free release version on Blu-Ray nor a 4K UHD disc of this movie,

although it is one of the great Hollywood major religious productions of the 1950s

alongside BEN HUR, QUO VADIS, KING OF KINGS and THE TEN COMMANDEMENTS,

which is why I was forced resort to a German DVD.

The Compact Disc contains the complete Original Score which was released here for the first time in stereo.

 

 

 

2.

AKIRA

Tokyo Movie Shisha | The Akira Committee  1988

  

Akira is the animated adaptation of the Japanese comic series of the same name by Katsuhiro Otomo.

Both the Manga and the Movie are milestones in their genre and especially the film is paramount to any other animated Anime,

especially since it's the only manga film I know of that has had an orchestral, standout soundtrack created for it.

To this very day, the powerful images, magical in their lighting, put the receptive viewer under an almost intoxicating spell.

The soundtrack by Shoji Yamashiro, which is unfortunately only partially included on the release, carries the basic mood of the film perfectly -

breathtaking speed coupled with aesthetic moments of a glimpse into eternity.

 

I have multiply dipped this All time favorite of mine - this time I show the WCL Set, but a special,

sharing pictures of all versions I have in my collection, will follow soon in the matching thread...

 

 

 

3.

The Godfather

Paramount Pictures  1972

 

There is no need to waste many words either about the film nor about the music composed by master Nino Rota.

Both are prime examples of soulful works - in fact they are offers one can't refuse. 

 

I have displayed the fine, embossed (USA: Play Exclusive) Steelbook released to house the Coppola Restauration.

 

 

 

4.

James Bond 007

Tomorrow Never Dies

MGM | UA | EON | Danjaq  1997

 

So many orchestral music was composed during the decades, while this franchise went on,

although most of the viewers are more likely to remember the respective title songs.

 

That said, some superb scores have been written for 007 over the years, not the least this composition by David Arnold,

of which I believe - as one critic mentioned it - that it can rightly be considered an "excellent tribute" to the entire series, and,

to supplement this opinion with my feelings about the music, reflects the James Bond character perfectly.

 

The picture includes the complete soundtrack double-CD and the newly released WWA-Steel.

 

 

 

4.

STAR WARS

The Rise Of Skywalker

Lucasfilm | Bad Robot  2019

 

It would simply have been sacrilege not to include at least one composition by the great John Williams in my selection...

(even though the same applies to ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD, MIKLÓS RÓSZA, BERNARD HERMANN, FRANZ WAXMAN,

JERRY GOLDSMITH, JAMES HORNER, ENNIO MORRICONE, MAX STEINER, DANNY ELFMAN, HANS ZIMMER,

ALAN SILVESTRI, HOWARD SHORE and meanwhile also MICHAEL GIACCHINO)

 

I have chosen to show the Best-Buy Steelbook which has a nicely debossed title and glossy finish,

using what I consider to be the most iconic artwork created for the movie and stretches it across the front and back.

 

The Themes, created by John Williams, became - like the movies - part of the pop culture and at the same time a modern synonym for orchestral soundtracks par excellence

- very few people who have seen one of the  movies will probably ever lose the title theme in their minds.
In "The Rise of Skywalker", the last part of the 'Skywalker Saga', John Williams once again had the opportunity to rework most of the memorable themes

that arose over several decades and thus to immortalize a tribute to himself.

I am sure that the Force will always be with him.

 

 

 

•

 

Finally - as always - I hope that You and Your eyes enjoyed my pictures.

 

Just to give us a further outlook of this upcoming and really special release from WCL,

here some Photos I've just found on the well-known Bay...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truly an Edition worth waiting for...

 

 

How fortunate that the photographic part of this week's MP Challenge was easy to complete.

(Actually it is the wonderful idea created by @Trianna to present a row of spines forming rainbow colors !)

 

By the way...

Those of my dear fellow members who are not yet taking part in the MP-Challenge

(organized and watched with disciplinarian severity  by MP's famous Squirrel-Admin @extantsrevenge )

- or are there still some who do not know at all that this great Challenge exists (???) -

are recommended to do so, because it's great fun !

https://mediapsychos.com/topic/21869-media-psychos-psycho-challenge-week-8-challenge-is-live/

(Give it a try - we are already on Page 40 and keep going...)

 

Anyway - after all editions had to be accommodated in one photo in the above-mentioned challenge,

there was neither the possibility nor the need to let my usual lighting orgies 😎 take place (so I could save that for the following results...),

it finally gave me the time to take the detailed pictures that have been announced weeks ago...

Photos of a long-awaited OC that arrived thanks to the great work of the staff, so this is

 

 

Okay... Drum roll please for:

 

D U N E

MANTA LAB ONE CLICK BOX

 

Again a really amazing Steel from Manta...

 

But now in Detail...

 

 

BOX  |  FRONT

 

BOX  |  BACK

 

BOX  |  SPINE

 

DOUBLE LENTICULAR SLIP  |  FRONT

 

 

DOUBLE LENTICULAR SLIP  |  BACK

 

 

DOUBLE LENTICULAR SLIP  |  SPINE WITH RAISED LETTERING AND LOGO DETAILS

 

FULL SLIP

 

 

WEA STEELBOOK  |  FRONT

 

WEA STEELBOOK  |  BACK

 

WEA STEELBOOK  |  INTERIOR

 

And now the Goodies...

 

BOOKLET  |  FRONT   •   LENTICULAR STICKER   •   CARDS ENVELOPE

 

BOOKLET  |  BACK   •   LENTICULAR CARD   •   POSTCARDS

 

ENVELOPE   •   ADHESIVE LETTERING STICKER   •   LENTICULAR CARD   •   CHARACTER CARDS

 

THAT'S HOW THE EDITION IS PRESENTED IN MY SHOWROOM

 

•

 

AND FINALLY THE STEELBOOK AGAIN IN IT'S FULL GLORY

 

 

 

I hope You and Your eyes fully enjoyed my pictures !

 

Oh... You are still there?

Ah... wanna know what's presented next time...

Alright, alright:

 

 

So, my fellow Psychos, stay duned !

Eh... tuned

😎

 

 

vor 4 Stunden schrieb extantsrevenge:

@InfiniteDoors & @F.M.S don't forget to answer the question 😃

 

Which

do you use?

 

My Goodness!

In the multicolored exuberance that overcame me when I totally lost myself as I entered this challenging Multicolorverse (!),

I NEARLY (😇) overlooked an important part of the challenge...

 

Fortunately, we can rely on our MP squirrel to notice immediately if a nut is missing

 

 

 

So... my order? hm... complicated, complicated...

 

 

Well, first of all, it's even a LAW that my Premiums

- in ORDER that they do not fall VICTIMS to the fun free wasteland that spreads around boring mass production  -

have a SPECIAL place all to themselves and are never and under no circumstances UNITed with Amarays !!! 

 

Therefore I have separate shelves for:

 

• One Clicks

(combined with Steelbook| and in each case separate shelves for the individual manufacturers

(So far one shelf each for HDZeta, Blufans, Manta Lab, Novamedia, KimchiDVD, WeET, and one for the CineMuseum and the Rest...)

 

• Single Premium Steelbooks

(also mostly separated)

 

• WWA Steelbooks

have a different shelf where I separate them the way, that there is a section for "film series" or "franchises"

and one for individual films (these in turn are first classified by film studio - and within this classification by genre.

I don't use an alphabetical system as a further sub-order , but I group within the genres according to spine color.

 

• Premium Slips

have their own shelf too - grouped by retailer but all together in one shelf

However, this is not the case with Filmarena - here I combine the XL panties with the associated Steelbook (as far as WEA is concerned)

 

• One Click Boxes that contain no WEA Steelbook

have their own place and are presented without a steelbook accompanied

 

__________________

 

Mediabooks and Amarays are totally locked away and aren't presented at all in my showroom as I'm definitely not a fan of their appearance...

Yes... there are exceptions with media books, but steel books are a completely different optical world and second-rate performers have no place next to them on my shelves...

As regards the order among Non-Premiums, I'm only making a genre distinction. Besides this TV-Series have their own section apart from cinematic movies.

 

___________________

 

At the moment, however, the order has gotten very messed up - because there is a move to a larger new house by spring - and that means many treasures are already packed... Only the FIRST ORDER () remains:

Even now the Amarays are not allowed to go into the same moving boxes with the premiums... 

 

 

So, are you confused enough? Then my explanation was fully successful...

@Trianna

 

Wow (and Congratulations) !

This is a really

CREATIVE

idea and refreshingly different!

 

Tried to make it totally in OC-Style, but unfortunately have no pink Box (so far...), but "DRIVE" is a nice slip anyway.

So here is my contribution for 

 

Challenge #8 

 

 

                      Red               The Great Showman      Manta Lab                

                      Orange        Batman Begins                 Blufans Exclusive     

                    Yellow *       Beauty And The Beast  Blufans Exclusive

                      Green           Joker                                    Manta Lab

                      Pale Blue     Dunkirk                               Manta Lab

                      Dark Blue    Midway                               TheOn Exclusive | KimchiDVD

                      Pink               DRIVE                                  Novamedia Exclusive

 

                    * Gold is the new Yellow !!!

 

Hope that this Mission is successfully accomplished !

Challenge #7

 

When it comes to Horror movies, It would be wrong to say that there was a first horror movie that really scared me and haunted my dreams - or that "freaked me out".

 

In fact, it's true when I say that I've developed a friendly relationship with ghost, vampire and similar stories since an early age - Bram Stoker's Dracula, for example, is the first novel I really devoured when I was 10 years old...

 

In general, I particularly appreciate creepy, spooky films that impress with their eerie atmosphere - while I find gore - or the majority of modern slasher productions mostly just disgusting.

 

That's why my contribution shows films that, while the snowstorm is howling around the house, wrapped in a warm blanket, let a pleasant shiver run down your spine.

 

Of course, to ensure maximum authenticity,

this message has been posted after midnight, i.e. during the witching hour...

 

 

1 

DON'T LOOK NOW

WWA 4K UHD STEELBOOK

 

 

The first horror film that impressed me was (watched it as a child on TV secretly at night...) the terrific "Don't Look Now" (the German distribution title is no less appropriate: "When the gondolas carry grief"), the adaptation of a famous novel by Daphne Du Maurier directed by Nicolas Roeg and starring Donald Sutherland follows a restorer of ancient church art and his wife after the tragic death of their daughter into the mysterious and winding alleys of Venice, where a series of murders has terrified the lagoon city and where past, present and future seem to flow into one another.
The film is characterized by foreboding, the ghostly intrusion of the future into the present, and - besides a blind woman with visions of impending doom - also features a Halloween-esque killer, albeit a woman of short stature (wearing a raincoat the same bright red color as that worn by the restorer's daughter when she tragically drowned in a lake) and a terrific and a both creepy and eerie showdown...

To sum up - no cineast should miss this classic.

 

 

2  

JOHN CARPENTER'S

THE FOG

ZAVVI 4K UHD STEELBOOK

 

 

It is impossible for me NOT to include this cinematic Diamond of John Carpenter. 

For me this is the perfect ghost story and one of the most atmospheric horror movies ever made.

No more words are needed.

 

 

3  

THE VVITCH

A NEW ENGLAND FOLKTALE

WWA 4K UHD STEELBOOK

 

 

This film, in which the horror - apart from dark, surreal scenes - develops primarily in the mind of the viewer, surprised by intelligent, sexual-mystical aspects that expose the puritanical-Christian moral code as the true sin and finally destroys it.

Fascinatingly hyper-realistic as well as reserved and for that very reason uncanny as well as atmospheric picture and sound design, but not least the outstanding actors make this work by director Robert Eggers a special moment of glory in contemporary horror films.

 

 

4

WOLFMAN

EXTENDED DIRECTORS CUT

EXTENDED CUT LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY STEELBOOK

 

 

Dark and atmospheric new implementation of the universal classic with a great cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emely Blunt and Hugo Weaving.

Only the Director's Cut contains an additional entrance scene in which a mysterious stranger - played by Max von Sydow - presents the main protagonist (who after the mysterious death of his brother makes his way back to his childhood's manorial with estate) an extraordinary walking stick that can be seen several times later in the film.

This movie is characterized by morbide, spectacular pictures and technically perfect and comes with a perfectly matching soundtrack from Danny Elfman.

Clouds passing by the full moon, scary howling in the night, silver bullets and an old gypsy women - werewolf movie friends, what more could you ask for?

(And at least a Steel with Debossing...)

 

 

5

THE WAILING

KimchiDVD WEA STEELBOOK

 

 

Artistic exciting exceptional horror film from South Korea - Players: Humans possessed by a zombie-like transformative disease, a ghost, and - the devil himself!

Besides this it is one of the few horror films for which there is a Premium Steelbook

(We DESPERATELY need much more premium Horror-Movie releases !!!)

- and by the way, my favorite edition as far as the matte finish is concerned, since I otherwise prefer full-gloss surfaces, but this is a classy one.

 

•

 

As always I hope that You and Your eyes

(of course this time widened with shock!)

enjoyed my pictures.

👻

An now I wish my fellow Psychos spooky, scary and frightening nights, or in simple words:

 

 

@ksosk !!!

 

(And a big thank you to MP, @Masterblaster  and everybody else who made this a reality for us!) 

 

I said it a long time ago - and I never tire of saying it again:

From the moment I saw the first designs, I knew that with the passion and genuine attention to detail of the true enthusiast - and KS is one beyond doubt - something truly beautiful was being created.

 

It's a pleasure to see the care and dedication our design perfectionist put into creating something that will delight us every time we lay eyes on it on our shelves

(or to speak for the Sealed-and-Secured-Collectors 🏰 : When you know with peace of mind that you can call it your own, securely packed in foam...).

 

I know exactly why I got two One Clicks - to be able to display both the three wonderful metal cases and the lenticular slips and their all-round motifs at the same time - and this video confirms that I made the right decision.

 

We Media Psychos can count ourselves lucky that with KS one of us is at work - one who always strives for perfection.

Hopefully we can enjoy many more great works of art of this kind from our design master in the future.

(I'm also very, very excited about the next gem: A.I. !!!)

 

Therefore once again:  @ksosk 

 

Or as @R1s1ngs0n rightly said before: You deserve every plaudit, because speaking with @Gary K : You have every reason to be very proud of Your amazing work. So:

 

My congratulations

 

 

and my sincere respect.