This led me to Clive Barker, which was a game changer. I became a huge Barker fan. Books of Blood, Barker’s first collection of short stories, became attached to me in the summer of 1987. Everything he wrote, I picked up. New collections, edited short story collections, even Marvel’s Hellraiser series. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become less interested in his newer work. I think my love affair started to wane around the Abarat cycle – though, I am very much looking forward to next year’s release of The Scarlet Gospels. That should be a mighty fine return to the form of his I love so much. This year is the 30th anniversary of Books of Blood: Volume 1 – the book that introduced Clive Barker to me and everyone else in the world. To mark to occasion, Madefire – a motion book company – has started the arduous task of adapting each story, in order, into beautifully rendered works of fully immersive art (you’ll find that here) and I’m so very excited they brought in my friend Sam Shearon – dark artist supreme – to do the visualizations (check out his webpage here). The first story, the eponymous Books of Blood, was released around Halloween and it’s terrific. Hopefully new installments will come quickly, though I have to admit, I pulled down my old paperbacks and started reading them again to help ease the wait for these and Scarlet Gospels. See, the world is just DVDs, movies and repeated plays of Too Many Cooks online.
This week is dominated by an animate sequels, a TV show a long time coming and some comedies. Let’s start this rundown, shall we?
How To Train Your Dragon 2 – the first one was something of a surprise hit, but now, after a TV series, traveling show and Happy Meal toys, we now have a sequel. Am I excited? I dunno yet. I enjoyed the first one, but not enough to catch this in theaters. I’ll let you know after I check this out.
Batman: The Complete Series Limited Edition / Season 1 – Hell to the yeah! Read all about this release here. Those who can’t part with the cost of the Limited set can pick up season one this week instead.
Jersey Boys – Clint needs to make a bad ass film soon. This is not that.
Tammy – Melissa McCarthy and an all-star cast yuk it up in this passion project from McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone. I’m not a fan of McCarthy but I’ll watch this at some point. We’ll see.
Let’s Be Cops – or let’s not. This doesn’t look funny to me. Looks like a 90s comedy to me. I didn’t laugh much in the 90s.
Monty Python Live (mostly): One Down, Five To Go – the recent stage show reunion makes it to home media. Bill gives it a thorough rub-down here.
Demons / Demons 2 – Synapse caved to fan demand and released their beautiful remastered discs to stores. Originally available exclusively through their website in Steelbox editions, you can now order these from your favorite retailer. Do that.
UHF – this film is dumb, but I love it.
Dolls – Stuart Gordon’s odd but watchable film makes it to Blu-Ray. Check out Adam’s review here.
James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge 3D – In March of 2012 Cameron made it to the deepest part of the Ocean, hitting the silt at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. This is the chronicle of that adventure. Sadly Cameron doesn’t sing his South Park theme song in this.
The Shooting/Ride in the Whirlwind – Criterion releases this double feature of Monte Hellman western flicks starring Jack Nicholson.
I Am Ali – a documentary about Muhammad Ali – can’t go wrong with that.
Mood Indigo – Michel Gondry directs this French romantic comedy in his trademark high-style.
Drive Hard – John Cusack and Thomas Jane star in this bromance about. Former race car driver turner driving instructor who is forced to be a wheelman in a heist. Sounds fun to me.
There’s more so be sure to check out our Release Dates & Art section.
No list this week, I’m too busy buried in Batman episodes. I wish I was joking.
Until next week, keep spinnin’ those discs.
– Todd Doogan