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Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
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This Story to DiggHuffing and Puffing Over DVDs
Posted July 17, 2007 | 09:18 PM (EST)
Read More: Billy Wilder , Nick Drake , Kirk Douglas2 , Breaking Entertainment News
Nick Drake once sang, "Time has told me, you're a rare rare
find." And time can have that effect on art: revealing over-looked masterpieces and consigning once popular works to theash heap. Just look at this week's releases on DVD.
BillyWilder'scorrosive1951 dramaAce in theHole(Criterion;
$39.95) was a huge commercial flop when it came out --especially since it was bracketed by his Oscar-winning triumphSunset Boulevard and the hit comedy-drama Stalag 17 . Wilder and swaggering lead actor Kirk
Douglas couldn't get America to cotton to this acidic tale of a down and out reporter whomanipulates a tragic accident to kick-start his career. But nothing ages better than cynicism.Today, its clear-eyed dissection of a media frenzy is hilarious and not even remotely exaggerated.
And time has given some much-needed perspective to 1984's Red Dawn (MGM; $19.98). It was
morning in Ronald Reagan's America when this escapist tale about high school kids defeating the
invading Russians was a modest hit. But critics frantically feared writer-director John Milius'sfantasy starring C. Thomas Howell and Patrick Swayze might actually inspire World War III byinflaming jingoism. In fact, the Russians -- seen parachuting onto a small town school's footballfield in the iconic opening scene -- could just as easily have been aliens or Vikings. The importantfact for our heroes was not the nature of the enemy but their own bravery. They wanted to playwith guns and die bravely, not debate SALT II.
The passage of time also lets us look anew at World War II. We can find nuances and ugly truths
that had to be avoided when the fighting was fierce. Foyle's War -- perhaps the best British
mystery series since Prime Suspect -- has spent four seasons tackling the UK home front. In Foyle's
War IV (Acorn; $59.99) you'll find marvelous explorations of resentment against the Yanks, secret
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Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
Michelle Obama's Clothing
Has Sean Hannity All Out OfSorts
Cenk Uygur: Have WeReached the Tipping Pointon Guns?
RICHARD POPLAWSKI,Pittsburgh Gunman, Kills 3Police Officers
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Accused Of...testing of chemical weapons, black market alcohol and other details overlooked in cheerier
remembrances. It's all wrapped up in fine mysteries pierced by the cool intellect of Foyle,
embodied by the brilliantly low key Michael Kitchens.
And time was when people considered Esther Williams a classy, upscale bit of entertainment,
thanks to her water ballets and absurd storylines. Now instead of just ignoring the silly films found
in Esther Williams Vol 1 (Warner Bros.; $49.98), enough time has passed so that flicks like
Neptune's Daughter (1949) and Dangerous When Wet (1953) have traveled from middlebrow to
forgettable to delightfully kitschy.
Time has also been kind, in a way, to Space Ghost and Dino-Boy: The Complete Series (Turner Home Entertainment;
$26.98). A series that once languished in obscurity has been re-contextualized by the larky animated talk show that Space Ghost"hosted" for years on Cartoon Network (beginning in 1994),making this notably stiff original series from 1966 seemretroactively hip.
And if Sandra Bullock isn't careful, a few more movies like the
confused time-loop thriller Premonition (Sony; $28.95) and
people will be wondering how she could have once been peggedas the next Julia Roberts.
Comments for this post are now closed
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Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
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Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
APRIL 5, 2009
HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING STYLE GREEN WORLD CHICAGO
COMEDY 23/6 VIDEO BLOGGER INDEX ARCHIVE
Make HuffPost Your HomePage
Get Email Alerts
Twitter: Follow Us
BIG NEWS : Angelina Jolie | Madonna | Chris Brown & Rihanna | Paul McCartney | More...
LOG IN | SIGN UP
Michael Giltz | BIO | I'M A FAN OF THIS BLOGGER
Be the First to
Submit
This Story to DiggHuffing and Puffing Over DVDs
Posted July 17, 2007 | 09:18 PM (EST)
Read More: Billy Wilder , Nick Drake , Kirk Douglas2 , Breaking Entertainment News
Nick Drake once sang, "Time has told me, you're a rare rare
find." And time can have that effect on art: revealing over-looked masterpieces and consigning once popular works to theash heap. Just look at this week's releases on DVD.
BillyWilder'scorrosive1951 dramaAce in theHole(Criterion;
$39.95) was a huge commercial flop when it came out --especially since it was bracketed by his Oscar-winning triumphSunset Boulevard and the hit comedy-drama Stalag 17 . Wilder and swaggering lead actor Kirk
Douglas couldn't get America to cotton to this acidic tale of a down and out reporter whomanipulates a tragic accident to kick-start his career. But nothing ages better than cynicism.Today, its clear-eyed dissection of a media frenzy is hilarious and not even remotely exaggerated.
And time has given some much-needed perspective to 1984's Red Dawn (MGM; $19.98). It was
morning in Ronald Reagan's America when this escapist tale about high school kids defeating the
invading Russians was a modest hit. But critics frantically feared writer-director John Milius'sfantasy starring C. Thomas Howell and Patrick Swayze might actually inspire World War III byinflaming jingoism. In fact, the Russians -- seen parachuting onto a small town school's footballfield in the iconic opening scene -- could just as easily have been aliens or Vikings. The importantfact for our heroes was not the nature of the enemy but their own bravery. They wanted to playwith guns and die bravely, not debate SALT II.
The passage of time also lets us look anew at World War II. We can find nuances and ugly truths
that had to be avoided when the fighting was fierce. Foyle's War -- perhaps the best British
mystery series since Prime Suspect -- has spent four seasons tackling the UK home front. In Foyle's
War IV (Acorn; $59.99) you'll find marvelous explorations of resentment against the Yanks, secret
Popular Stories on HuffPost
Fashion Face-Off!
Michelle Obama And
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy
Finally Meet In
France (VIDEO,
PHOTOS, POLL)
*Video, poll and slideshow
(to...
Levi Johnston TalksSafe Sex With Tyra
Banks (VIDEO)
***UPDATE*** 8:30pm:
People.com is reporting
that Sarah Palin hasissued...
Oscar de la RentaSlams Michelle
Obama's Buckingham
Outfit As MajorDesigners Feel
Ignored
While Michelle Obamahas made lesser...
Verena von Pfetten 7
Lessons To BeLearned From Carla
Bruni
So here's the thing.There's no shortage ofarticles dedicated to that
certain je ne...
Huff TV Arianna
Discusses MichelleObama's "Fantastic"
Madonna Jets Out Of Malawi
More in Entertainment: 'Fast' Rakes In
$72.5M... Madonna Tot's Dad Found...
Farrah's Son Arrested...
Farrah Fawcett Is Hospitalized
Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
Michelle Obama's Clothing
Has Sean Hannity All Out OfSorts
Cenk Uygur: Have WeReached the Tipping Pointon Guns?
RICHARD POPLAWSKI,Pittsburgh Gunman, Kills 3Police Officers
Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld: DoesIran Harbor Osama binLaden?
SNL: Madonna And
Angelina In
Weekend Update...
Reality Star Jade
Goody Buried In
Lavish...
Robert De Niro
Nanny Sues For
$40,000
Alex Da Silva,
Celebrity
Choreographer
Accused Of...testing of chemical weapons, black market alcohol and other details overlooked in cheerier
remembrances. It's all wrapped up in fine mysteries pierced by the cool intellect of Foyle,
embodied by the brilliantly low key Michael Kitchens.
And time was when people considered Esther Williams a classy, upscale bit of entertainment,
thanks to her water ballets and absurd storylines. Now instead of just ignoring the silly films found
in Esther Williams Vol 1 (Warner Bros.; $49.98), enough time has passed so that flicks like
Neptune's Daughter (1949) and Dangerous When Wet (1953) have traveled from middlebrow to
forgettable to delightfully kitschy.
Time has also been kind, in a way, to Space Ghost and Dino-Boy: The Complete Series (Turner Home Entertainment;
$26.98). A series that once languished in obscurity has been re-contextualized by the larky animated talk show that Space Ghost"hosted" for years on Cartoon Network (beginning in 1994),making this notably stiff original series from 1966 seemretroactively hip.
And if Sandra Bullock isn't careful, a few more movies like the
confused time-loop thriller Premonition (Sony; $28.95) and
people will be wondering how she could have once been peggedas the next Julia Roberts.
Comments for this post are now closed
More in Entertainment...
HuffPost Stories Surging Right Now
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
"My Teeth Are so White"
Read the trick, discovered by a mom, to turn yellow teeth white.
CathysTeeth.com
Spine Surgery Advancement
NO Hospital, NO Gen Anesthesia. Get Your Life Back NOW!
www.LaserSpineInstitute.com
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Comments for this entry are currently under maintenance but will be restored soon.
Style On CBS'
"Washington
Unplugged"
Arianna was on CBS'
"Washington...
Huff TV Arianna
Appears on ABC's
"This Week"
Roundtable With
George
Stephanopoulos(VIDEO)
Arianna was a guest this
morning on...
"BRUNO" TRAILER!Calamity, African
Babies, Chase
Scenes And More
(NSFW VIDEO)
IT'S HERE! The trailer forthis July's Sacha Baron
Cohen...
NATO Leaders Focus
On Afghanistan, ButMost Reject Obama's
Plea For Troops
(SLIDESHOW)
STRASBOURG, France— On the eve of the
NATO...
First Lady Fashion At
Friday's NATO
Concert (PHOTOS)
Another night, another
fashion opportunity for
NATO leaders and their
spouses! See...
Diana Palin, Sarah
Palin's Sister-In-Law,
Arrested For
Breaking Into Home
ANCHORAGE, Alaska —Police say Alaska Gov....
John Oliver Explains
The Real Reason YouNever Touch TheQueen (VIDEO)
Jim Cramer Declares
The Depression"Over" (VIDEO)
On Thursday's episode of"Mad Money" host Jim
Cramer declared that the
depression...
New Jay Leno Show
Rejected By NBC
Affiliate In Boston
BOSTON — Boston'sNBC affiliate says it will aira local newscast instead
of...
Ice Bridge Ruptures
In Antarctic (VIDEO)
An ice bridge linking ashelf of ice the size of
Jamaica to two islands in
Antarctica has
Scientists FindRocket Fuel
Chemical In Infant
Formula
ATLANTA — Traces of a
Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
Sports
AIG
Computers
India
Barack
Obama
Michelle
Obama
Olympics
Housing
Crisis
Fox News
MORE BIG NEWS PAGES
»
Books by this author
A cabin of one's own: New
England's MacDowellColony celebrates 100years of artistic utopia.And the gay and lesbianartists who prosperedthere celebrate ... (Thenational gay & lesbiannewsmagazine)
by Michael Giltz
Affairs to remember:Farley Granger beddedAva Gardner, ShelleyWinters, and LeonardBernstein. In hisautobiography, IncludeMe Out, Hitchcock's muse... (The national gay &lesbian newsmagazine)
by Michael Giltzchemical used in rocket
fuel were found in
samples of...
HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
Bloggers Index
Read All Posts by
Michael Giltz
This Blogger's Books from
Michael Giltz: Huffing and Puffing Over DVDs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/huffing-and-puffing-over-_b_56672.html [4/5/2009 8:53:02 PM]
HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING GREEN STYLE WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY FUNDRACE
ARCHIVE
Advertise | Login | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Jobs | FAQ: Comments & Moderation | FAQ: Huffpost Accounts | Contact Us
Copyright © 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | Archive | User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type