DVDpedia : GQ DVD & Blu-Ray Library : Title : E

Theatrical: 1976

Studio: Live / Artisan

Genre: War

Summary: This 1976 adventure story set in World War II concerns a Nazi plot to kidnap Churchill from his retreat--or murder him if need be. The large, great cast and a director, John Sturges, who's been down this road of ensemble action before ("The Magnificent Seven", "The Great Escape") make this project exciting if not as memorable as Sturges's more famous works. The weak ending doesn't help. "-- Tom Keogh"

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Madman

Genre: Crime & Thriller, Television

Duration: 340 mins

Summary: A Crime Odyssey As international terrorism and organised crime become more and more intertwined, Western nations face a growing threat to their security. In Denmark, a special unit is set up to fight cross-border crime. In Copenhagen, charismatic detective Hallgrim Hallgrimsson (called "The Eagle" for his unerring intuition) assembles a team of crime fighters equipped with the most advanced technology and high-tech weapons. Includes Episodes 1-6.

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Madman

Genre: Crime & Thriller, Television

Duration: 416 mins

Summary: As international terrorism and organised crime become more and more intertwined, Western nations find themselves increasingly threatened by violence and lawlessness on an unimaginable scale. In Denmark, a special unit is set up to fight cross-border crime throughout Scandinavia and to establish operational links with similar teams around the world. A hard-hitting series that soars to new heights of psychologically intense crime drama. Dramatically real stories with a chill that lingers longer than a Scandinavian winter.

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Madman

Genre: Crime & Thriller, Television

Duration: 312 mins

Summary: As international terrorism and organised crime become more and more intertwined, Western nations find themselves increasingly threatened by violence and lawlessness on an unimaginable scale. In Denmark, a special unit is set up to fight cross-border crime throughout Scandinavia and to establish operational links with similar teams around the world. A hard-hitting series that soars to new heights of psychologically intense crime drama. Dramatically real stories with a chill that lingers longer than a Scandinavian winter. Episodes:
Codename: Keres (Part 1 & 2)
Codename: Calypso (Part 1 & 2)
Codename: Thanatos (Part 1 & 2)

Theatrical:

Studio: Sbs

Genre: Crime & Thriller, Television

Duration: 208 mins

Summary: As international terrorism and organised crime become more and more intertwined, western nations find themselves increasingly threatened by violence and lawlessness on an unimaginable scale. In Denmark, a special unit is set up to fight cross-border crime throughout Scandinavia and to establish operational links with similar teams around the world. A hard-hitting series that soars to new heights of psychologically intense crime drama. Dramatically real stories with a chill that lingers longer than a Scandinavian winter.

Episode Listing:
Codename: Thanatos (Part 1 & 2)
Codename: Ithaka (Part 1 & 2)

Theatrical: 1974

Studio: Goodtimes Home Video

Genre: Action & Adventure

Summary: The disaster-movie trend of the early and mid-1970s was starting to wear out its welcome when Earthquake was released in 1974. It’s another one of those enjoyably mindless all-star marathons, and the title tells you all you need to know about the plot. Charlton Heston offers his trademark brand of macho courage as the citizens of Los Angeles brace for the Big One--an earthquake that rattles the city to its crumbling foundation. It's got all the sophistication of a Love Boat episode, but the movie's momentum scores high marks (at least on the Richter scale), and the Oscar-winning sound design and special visual effects are still impressive, especially when you consider that advanced computer-graphics effects were still two decades in the future. Genevieve Bujold adds a touch of class to the all-star ensemble, and of course, what self-respecting disaster flick would be complete without a role for George Kennedy? In more ways than one, this cheesy movie rocks! (If you want to re-create the movie's original sound process known as "Sensurround," you’ll just have to crank up the bass and subwoofer on your home theater system until plaster cracks and windows shatter!) --Jeff Shannon

Theatrical:

Studio:

Genre: Crime & Thriller

Duration: 312 mins

Summary: Post 9/11, the London and Bali bombings, Muslims and non Muslims live side by side in a climate of fear ...

Zane Malik is a brilliant, but hot-headed, detective in the Major Crime Squad. Malik is also a Muslim. And at a time when just to be Arab is to arouse suspicion and fear, Malik feels under pressure to prove himself and his loyalty to the Force.
Up against him is Snr Detective Crowley, a detective of the old school.
Malik battles with Crowley as they investigate complex psychological crimes of love, betrayal and revenge. But Malik is driven by a secret personal quest. He intends to find the man who shot his father in a robbery when he was a child. He's using the skills he's gained as a cop to do it. But this journey will bring him face to face with all that he fears ...

Episode Listing:
The Enemy Within
Death at the Station
Islander Sacrifice
Hunt for the Killer
Haunted by the Past
The Hand of Friendship

Special Features:
Behind the Scenes

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: Roadshow

Genre: Drama

Duration: 100 mins

Summary: Every Sin Leaves a Mark Eastern Promises follows the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is tied to one of London’s most notorious organised crime families. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family. Now Nikolai must put into motion a harrowing chain of murder, deceit and retribution.

Theatrical:

Studio:

Genre: Horror

Duration: 99 mins

Summary: The residents of a rural mining town discover that an unfortunate chemical spill has caused hundreds of little spiders to mutate overnight to the size of SUVs. It's then up to mining engineer Chris McCormack and Sheriff Sam Parker to mobilize an eclectic group of townspeople, including the Sheriff's young son, Mike, her daughter, Ashley, and paranoid radio announcer Harlan, into battle against the bloodthirsty eight-legged beasts.

Theatrical:

Studio:

Genre: Music DVDs - Concerts

Summary: Where to begin... I've been a Daft Punk fan since 1997 when "Da Funk" and "Around the World" took the Earth by storm and got everybody shaking their booties. It wasn't until I was front and center at their famous 2006 Coachella performance (their first public concert in 8 years) that I became obsessed with them.
They've gone through many changes since they started as an indie-rave pop duo in there "Homework" era. They became robots. They made a Japanese anime film (Interstella 5555) to coincide with their bubble-gum dance album, "Discovery". Then they started getting a bit macabre when "Human After All" came out. It was obvious Daft Punk wanted to experiment more with video. From the creepy robot animatronics in the "Technologic" video to the shocking girl that skins herself alive in the "Prime Time of Your Life" video... ...we knew that the robot kings of French house music were trying to tell us something. They want to be human.
I do not recommend this film to anyone that doesn't appreciate arthouse or French cinema. Of course it's a bit obscure. It's French! It was made for the 2006 Cannes festival. I doubt it will ever be released in the U.S. It's barely over an hour long. There is no dialogue. It is mostly silent with some sound effects and a few melancholy folk tunes to set the mood. DISCLAMER: No Daft Punk music was used in the making of this film. There are a lot of long takes and landscape shots. The cinematography is incredible, though. And it is very obvious that the production is Kubrick influenced.
The basic premise is Daft Punk, as robots, drive through the California Desert (Death Valley?) and enter an ordinary suburban town where everyone is robots, just like them. But they want to be human and have a procedure done to look human. It fails. They realize they cannot hide who they really are. The rest of the film consists of what they decide to do with themselves while walking through the desert. I won't ruin the ending.
Daft Punk's Electroma is great for those who love low budget indie movies. It's especially great for those who understand the media circus around Daft Punk and can separate this film from their musical abilities. If all of this sounds appealing, go try to see it (if you can find it).

Theatrical:

Studio: Immortal

Genre: Music DVDs - Concerts

Duration: 55:00 / 64:26

Summary: From his quirky compositions for the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone to his sublime musical contributions to director Roland Joffé's acclaimed 1986 drama The Mission,
film composer Ennio Morricone has crafted more than 500 scores over the course of his enduring career in film. Now fans can take a look back at the life and career of one of cinema's most prolific composers through interviews with both the composer himself and many of his longtime collaborators. From his Italian efforts to his work in America, this documentary covers every aspect of Morricone's career as few have, offering insight into his childhood, his longtime association with Leone, and his ultimate disenchantment with the American studio system. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Theatrical: 1973

Studio: Warner Studios

Genre: Asian Cinema

Summary: The last film completed by Bruce Lee before his untimely death, "Enter the Dragon" was his entrée into Hollywood. The American-Hong Kong coproduction, shot in Asia by American director Robert Clouse, stars Lee as a British agent sent to infiltrate the criminal empire of bloodthirsty Asian crime lord Han (Shih Kien) through his annual international martial arts tournament. Lee spends his days taking on tournament combatants and nights breaking into the heavily guarded underground fortress, kicking the living tar out of anyone who stands in his way. The mix of kung fu fighting (choreographed by Lee himself) and James Bond intrigue (the plot has more than a passing resemblance to "Dr. No") is pulpy by any standard, but the generous budget and talented cast of world-class martial artists puts this film in a category well above Lee's primitive Hong Kong productions. Unfortunately he's off the screen for large chunks of time as American maverick competitors (and champion martial artists) John Saxon and Jim Kelly take center stage, but once the fighting starts Lee takes over. The tournament setting provides an ample display of martial arts mastery of many styles and climaxes with a huge free-for-all, but the highlight is Lee's brutal one-on-one with the claw-fisted Han in the dynamic hall-of-mirrors battle. Lee narrows his eyes and tenses into a wiry force of sinew, speed, and ruthless determination. "--Sean Axmaker"

Theatrical: 1979

Studio: Paramount Studio

Genre: Action & Adventure

Summary: One of Clint Eastwood's two most important filmmaking mentors was Don Siegel (the other was Sergio Leone), who directed Eastwood in Dirty Harry, Coogan's Bluff, Two Mules for Sister Sara, and this enigmatic, 1979 drama based on a true story about an escape from the island prison of Alcatraz. Eastwood plays a new convict who enters into a kind of mind game with the chilly warden (Patrick McGoohan) and organizes a break leading into the treacherous waters off San Francisco. As jailbird movies go, this isn't just a grotty, unpleasant experience but a character-driven work with some haunting twists. --Tom Keogh

Theatrical: 1996

Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Genre: Action & Adventure

Duration: 96

Summary: Fifteen years after John Carpenter squandered a great idea on a mediocre movie ("Escape from New York"), he does it again--this time on the Left Coast. Kurt Russell is back as the terminally cynical one-eyed action hero Snake Plissken who, this time, has been coerced into saving the world in Los Angeles. It's 2013 and L.A. is now an island maximum-security prison off the coast of California. Snake has 10 hours to find a doomsday weapon that's fallen into the hands of revolutionaries before he dies of a virus with which he's been injected. But the action is clumsy and unimaginative: lots of shootouts and very little suspense. Even the bad guys aren't particularly inventive; only Pam Grier, as a transsexual gang leader, strikes any sparks. Russell growls his way through the role but can only blame himself: He cowrote the script with Carpenter. "--Marshall Fine"

Theatrical: 1981

Studio: MGM/UA Video

Genre: Action & Adventure

Summary: This film is based on a terrific idea. It's the future, see, and New York has been walled up and turned into a maximum-security prison. If that concept doesn't grab you, you won't enjoy this cult classic.If it _does_ grab you, you're probably part of this film's target demographic. So here's what happens: the President (Donald Pleasence, of all people) has ejected from Air Force One and gone down somewhere in New York. He's being held prisoner and somebody is going to have to rescue him. Fortunately, convicted felon Snake Plisskin (Kurt Russell) is on his way there as a prisoner, and maybe in exchange for a full pardon he can be induced to save the President's butt. If he doesn't succeed within 24 hours, two bombs implanted in his arteries will kill him.Well, okay, it ain't _Les Miz_. But it's a good action flick and it's got the tremendously underrated Kurt Russell, in the film in which he finally shucked off his Disneyfied past. And it's directed by John Carpenter, who doesn't make _great_ movies but can turn out a _good_ one on a budget of about twenty bucks.This one's kind of cartoony; the bad guys, led by Isaac Hayes, look like Feyd-Rautha (as played by Sting) and a couple dozen Cheeches and Chongs. But Ernest Borgnine is charmingly droll as the Cabbie, Lee Van Cleef is Lee Van Cleef, and even Adrienne Barbeau has her moments. (And it's nowhere near as cartoony as Van Damme's _Cyborg_, in which all the characters are named after musical instruments. 'Gibson Rickenbacker', indeed.)I don't think the whole thing _quite_ gels, but it comes close. And it's fun to watch and even wallow in. It's all very dark and gritty, vaguely apocalyptic, and delightfully lacking in real 'good guys'; even Plisskin is the best of a bad lot, and we root for him more because he's played by Kurt Russell than because he has all that many genuinely redeeming features.It's a good movie for people who like anti-heroes, and to my tastes it's way better than _Mad Max_. And the low budget is probably a plus, because it provides an excuse for all the things that would still have been wrong with the movie even if it had cost ten times as much to make.I like it. Your mileage may vary, but maybe you'll like it too.

Theatrical: 1987

Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Genre: Horror

Summary: I bought one of these a little time ago online, and I'm glad I did. If you find one of these babies, do not miss the opportunity to buy, because they're getting really rare to find. It is a Limited Edition of 5000 copies only. It's a metal box, really cool to display in your collection... Opening the metal box, you find a 50-pages booklet, that explains everything about the Evil Dead II Makeup/FX... There is a mini-Evil Dead II UK Poster and a mini-ad of the second Evil Dead game (Hail To The King). And, obviously, the DVD. The sound is great if you can support the 5.1 Surround Sound. You can choose between Widescreen and Full Screen. It can be captioned in English. The movie itself is a mix of horror and comedy. Ash comes back to the cabin and (again) ressurects a demon... It's rated R because of violence, lots of blood and gore, some language, but not much... Let's take a look at the DVD Extras:- Audio Commentary: One of the greatest ever. Sam Raimi (director), Bruce Campbell (main actor, Ash), Scott Spiegel (Co-Writer) and Greg Nicotero (Make-Up Effect Artist) are together, so, lots of information. Be sure not to miss this commentary, funny and informative.- The Gore The Merrier: It's the Evil Dead II Making-Of plus a little 2-minutes-or-so funny movie... It's mainly talking about the Makeup and FX...- Hail to the King Game Preview: A little trailer, featuring scenes from the second Evil Dead game (the first was actually an unknown one for Commodore64) There are also Still Galleries, Talent Bios, Theatrical Trailer, Scene Selection and cool animated menus... If your DVD isn't adaptated for Region 1, don't worry, this one is Region O, worldwide. Overall this Limited Edition Tin is totally recommended for Evil Dead Fans and also Horror Fans. If you find one of this babies, be sure to buy it, because it's a Limited Edition. I ain't selling mine, definetly!

Theatrical: 1982

Studio: Beyond Home Entertainment

Genre: Horror

Duration: 82 mins

Summary: Director Sam Raimi’s first feature film is a true classic in every sense of the word. Originally released in 1982, The Evil Dead tells the tale of a group of friends who go to a cabin in the woods and find an unspeakable evil lurking in the forest. They find the Necronomicon, The Book of The Dead, and the taped translation of the text. Once the tape is played, the evil is released. One by one, the teens are turned into deadites (zombies). With only one remaining – Ash (Bruce Campbell) – it is up to him to survive the night and battle The Evil Dead.

Theatrical:

Studio:

Genre: Horror

Duration: 85 mins

Summary: Bruce Campbell stars in this legendary film that unleashed an army of primitive screwheads upon the world and changed the face of horror forever. Directed by Sam Raimi.

Special Features:
All New Commentary with Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell
Picture-in-Picture: Join us! The Undying Legacy of The Evil Dead
One By One We Will Take You The Untold Saga of the Evil Dead"
Treasures from the Cutting Room Floor
At the Drive-In
Discovering Evil Dead
Ellen and Drama Teacher
On-Stage Interview
Make-Up Test

Theatrical: 1981

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Action & Adventure

Summary: This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman ("Deliverance") masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, "Excalibur" is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. "--Robert Lane"

Theatrical: 1973

Studio: Warner Studios

Genre: Horror

Summary: Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success of The French Connection, and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to make The Exorcist as his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial bestseller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism, and Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made with a soundtrack that's guaranteed to curl your blood, The Exorcist was mysteriously plagued by troubles during production, and the years have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoical viewers. Don't say you weren't warned! --Jeff Shannon

Theatrical:

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Horror

Summary: Director William Friedkin was a hot ticket in Hollywood after the success of "The French Connection", and he turned heads (in more ways than one) when he decided to make "The Exorcist" as his follow-up film. Adapted by William Peter Blatty from his controversial best-seller, this shocking 1973 thriller set an intense and often-copied milestone for screen terror with its unflinching depiction of a young girl (Linda Blair) who is possessed by an evil spirit. Jason Miller and Max von Sydow are perfectly cast as the priests who risk their sanity and their lives to administer the rites of demonic exorcism, and Ellen Burstyn plays Blair's mother, who can only stand by in horror as her daughter's body is wracked by satanic disfiguration. One of the most frightening films ever made, "The Exorcist" was mysteriously plagued by troubles during production, and the years have not diminished its capacity to disturb even the most stoical viewers. "--Jeff Shannon"

Theatrical: 1977

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Horror

Summary: Presumably, this is what happened. The execs at Warner Bros. back in 1977 decided that they had a "can't-miss" on their hands: a sequel to the blockbuster *The Exorcist*, featuring the return of Linda Blair (now all grown-up and exceedingly buxom), to be directed by a director of note, John Boorman. Thus, the execs just sort of let things develop on their own, figuring that such a sure-fire hit didn't require any looking-after. Basically, they let Boorman go crazy. My question is: why were they surprised at the result? Hadn't any of them seen his *Zardoz*, for Pete's sake? Instead of the expected rehash of the possessed girl throwing up on everybody, Boorman unleashed an art-film on an unsuspecting public . . . and the rest is history. Regularly cited on any "Worst Movies of All Time" list, *The Exorcist II: The Heretic* has, in the meantime, garnered a devoted fan-club (check the other reviews here if you doubt me), of which I'm proud to belong. First of all, let it be said that this movie is a true sequel to the first. Time has passed, and the main character has grown up. Correspondingly, different set of issues now confronts her. In other words, it's not the "rehash" that I cited earlier, which all too often plagues movies that call themselves "sequels". This progression is undeniably refreshing. Even more refreshing is the inventiveness, bordering on sheer insanity, that Boorman and screenwriter William Goodhart bring to the hackneyed material set forth by the first film. Boorman gives us surreal landscapes pieced out of location shots and back-lots surrounded by trippy mattes; Goodhart eschews pretty much the entire Christian theology, going instead for a cosmic war between an ethereal, unknowable Good and Evil. Unknowable, but not unnamed: the demon in question that has been pestering Regan all this time is called "Pazuzu". Pazuzu, no longer Satan's henchman as in the first film, is here just one of possibly dozens of powerful, nasty spirit-gods. Manifesting himself as a locust, his plan is basically to infect the whole world, much as a bad grasshopper can infect a whole colony. Therefore, he makes a point of picking on those who seem particularly resistant to his evil strain: people like Regan, and another African boy who will later grow up to become a half-naked James Earl Jones dressed in a Mardi Gras locust costume. But this is a hint to stop. One either accepts the film's imaginative logic, or one demands the conventional entertainment provided by films like the first *Exorcist*. Knowing which camp you belong to will help you in your decision whether or not to bother with this film. Over and beyond its dizzy intellectualism, the movie also dares to make fun of the fans of the first movie. Perfect example: when asked why she sees a psychiatrist, Regan explains that "I was possessed by a demon, but I'm okay now." And having a clearly hungover Richard Burton walk around stiffly, calling out for "Pazuzu", reminds us of how silly ALL tales of the supernatural can be. If nothing else, the movie is a bracing tonic for those who take this genre too seriously. And -- sorry, Faithful -- but the plot particulars in this movie are no more ridiculous than those in the first *Exorcist*: possessed by a minion of Satan; possessed by a big grasshopper . . . what's the diff?