DVD Review: Okinawa: The Afterburn

Okinawa: The Afterburn is an interesting and at times horrifying and heartbreaking documentary about the island of Okinawa, and the lasting U.S. presence there after World War II. For those who are not familiar with Okinawa, a title card at the beginning tells us, “Just one-third the size of Long Island in New York, Okinawa is occupied by 32 American military bases.” In 1945, after a long and bloody battle, the U.S. military claimed Okinawa, and though the island has since been returned to Japan (in 1972), the U.S. military has not left.

One of the bases there is considered the most dangerous military base in the world, located in a densely populated area. The footage at the beginning is incredible; seeing it, you’ll ask yourself how planes could possibly land or take off safely without hitting the surrounding buildings. Well, sure enough, we learn that a military helicopter crashed into a building at the nearby university. And that is all in the film’s opening sequence.

The documentary is divided into four sections, the first of which is about the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, during which one fourth of the island’s population was killed. What’s particularly intriguing is that this film includes interviews with people who were soldiers from both sides. The film is narrated, but the narration is kept to a minimum, and those interviewed are allowed to tell the story. A former Japanese soldier says: “People who survived the Battle of Okinawa say the war never ended. That’s certainly true for me.” There is also footage of the U.S. forces landing, as well as U.S. news reels about the battle and some great still photographs.

The second section is about the U.S. occupation of Okinawa, and how its citizens were moved to detention camps. This section also contains news reels, and there is footage of a village being uprooted so that a U.S. base could be built. Okinawa was used as a staging area for wars in Korea and Vietnam. Again, we hear from U.S. soldiers stationed there as well as from Japanese locals in order to get a fuller picture of what life was like there during this time. This section deals also with the question of identity among the population of a place that was occupied by another nation’s forces.

The third section is titled “The Afterburn,” and deals with some of the horrific events that happened after the U.S. forces landed there, such as the group suicides which didn’t come to light until decades later. The film takes us into the caves where people and lived and died, and the story of the teenage girl who begged her mother to kill her is particularly unsettling. This section also gets into some of the crimes committed by U.S. soldiers, such as the abduction, rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in 1955, and the abduction and rape of a twelve-year-old girl by three soldiers in 1995 (one of those soldiers is interviewed in the film).

The final section is the shortest, and is about the future of Okinawa, and about the plans for a new base which would endanger the coral and sea life in the bay.

Special Features

The DVD includes four bonus scenes, which total approximately twenty-one minutes. One features a former Japanese soldier describing the experience of facing flamethrowers, and includes footage of U.S. soldiers setting fires. In the second, a woman describes how she worked in a mess hall for no pay. The third is about a photographer who took photos of the helicopter crash. And in the fourth scene, former U.S. marine Douglas Lummis talks about the occupation mentality of the U.S. marines.

The DVD also includes a booklet with a map of Okinawa and a list of key points in its history.

Okinawa: The Afterburn was directed by John Junkerman, who also provides the narration. It was released on DVD on October 25, 2016 through First Run Features.

DVD Review: Sneakerheadz

If you think women are the only ones obsessed with shoe shopping, think again. There is an entire subculture, mostly men, collecting sneakers. Sneakerheadz documents these folks obsessed with athletic footwear. And no, they aren’t fetishists; at least, that word is never uttered in the film. If they do derive any sexual satisfaction from their peculiar hobby, they don’t mention it here. They are collectors; it’s just that their choice of item to collect might seem odd to the rest of us.

The film provides the briefest of histories of the word “sneaker” and of sneaker companies, before getting into the confessions, thoughts and boasts of the sneaker collectors. There is a bit of footage of Run-D.M.C. performing “My Adidas” while fans hold up their shoes. Yes, it’s weird. That song and its accompanying video are basically advertisements for Adidas sneakers, but I guess fans of that group not only didn’t care about them selling out, but actually embraced and celebrated it. It’s kind of sad. But that is not what this documentary is about.

This film is basically a celebration of sneakers and those people who collect them, as well as those who design them. The only person voicing an outside opinion on the subject is Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, who asks, “How do we distinguish normal collecting from hoarding disorder?” The film doesn’t provide an answer to that question, nor does it really delve into the psychology of collecting. It’s more about culture and identity. Skateboarder Rob Dyrdek says: “There’s a handful of things that can define who you are without saying a word, and your shoes are one of them.” Yes, talk about superficial. I’d like to think I am a bit more complicated than whatever shoes I happen to be wearing.

These people have really bought into the commercial culture. Another guy admits that it’s all about the brand, that even if a shoe looks great, if it’s from an uncool brand, it just won’t work. These people are true consumers. These are the folks at whom advertising is aimed. I’ve collected a lot of things over the years myself (Star Wars toys, baseball cards, records), and it’s interesting to me that some of the behavior is the same regardless of the object collected. For example, some of these guys buy more than one pair – one to wear, one to keep in the box. I used to do something similar with Star Wars action figures, buying one to open and one to keep in the packaging, with the goal of someday displaying the entire collection.

They are certainly dedicated to their hobby. Some of these guys would travel to different cities, even different countries, to purchase sneakers. Others have made money from their passion. One man from Japan travels to the United States, buys sneakers, and then sells them back in Japan for a much higher price.

For me, the most interesting material in this documentary comes toward the end, with the news footage of people being trampled by other customers eager to purchase a limited edition sneaker, and the interview with a mother of a guy who was shot for his sneakers. She created an organization called Life Over Fashion. I would have liked a bit more about that. There is also some cool stuff near the end about children designing sneakers. And I always appreciate shots of Fenway Park.

Sneakerheadz was directed by David T. Friendly and Mick Partridge, and was released on DVD on November 22, 2016 through Filmrise. The DVD contains no special features.

DVD Review: The Innocents

The Innocents is an engaging and quietly powerful film based on an incredible true story in Poland at the end of World War II, when Russian soldiers invaded a convent and raped the nuns living there, impregnating many of them. It was directed by Anne Fontaine (who also directed Nathalie… and Coco Before Chanel), and stars Lou de Laâge as Mathilde, a French Red Cross worker who ends up helping the nuns.

The film opens with the nuns singing, before one of them suddenly rushes outside into the woods. That’s a gorgeous shot, by the way, the black of the trees and white of the snow on the ground matching the nun’s white and black clothing. At a nearby town, children lead her to a hospital, after demanding money from her for the service. The hospital is full and we learn it is running low on penicillin. And they cannot help the nun. The Red Cross is there only to help French citizens, not the Polish people. But after Mathilde sees the nun knelt down in the snow, silently praying, she becomes determined to help.

The nun leads her back to the convent, where we hear the wails of the patient before seeing her, just as Mathilde experiences it. The film, though it tells the story of these nuns and deals with questions of faith, is really delivered through Mathilde’s eyes, and it is her story as much as it is theirs. And this perspective is established in early scenes like this one. When she learns the nun is in an advanced state of pregnancy, she quickly determines it is a breech baby and that she will have to operate. Before this, we’ve only seen her assist another doctor, but now she must act on her own.

The nuns accept Mathilde’s help, but need to keep their condition secret, for fear that their convent will otherwise be shut down and they will all be shamed. Mathilde too needs to keep her work secret, for by helping these Polish women, she is going against her orders. She feels she can’t even tell the doctor with whom she is having relations, a Jewish man who at one point says the Poles got what they deserved with the Germans and Russians. She also faces other physical dangers in traveling alone to the convent, and a terrifying encounter with Russian soldiers on the road one night brings her closer to the nuns. Lou de Laâge is particularly good in that scene, so real in fact that is difficult to watch. This is a film that is going to stay with me for a long time.

Special Features

The DVD contains a few special features, including a behind-the-scenes featurette, in which the director and some members of the cast offer their thoughts on the film while we see footage of the production. This is approximately eighteen minutes. The special features also include an interview with Anne Fontaine, in which she talks about the story and characters of the film, and the casting. The interview is in English, and is approximately eleven minutes. There is also a Q&A with Anne Fontaine, with Agnieszka Holland, filmed in Los Angeles in April of this year. It is approximately fifteen minutes. The theatrical trailer is also included.

The DVD also contains a booklet, which features a printed interview with the film’s director, as well as a copy of a report written by the real Mathilde in June of 1945.

The Innocents was released on DVD on September 27, 2016 through Music Box Films.

Blu-ray Review: The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension

I was twelve years old when The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension was originally released, and of course the line that stood out for me, even then, was “Remember, no matter where you go, there you are.” I often repeated it, and I know I wasn’t alone in that. In fact, I still do say it. The difference is back then only a couple of close friends knew what I was talking about, and now the majority of people know what it is I am referring to. And that’s a good thing. The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension has over the years found its audience. And earlier this year a special two-disc Collector’s Edition was released through Shout! Factory. This set is certainly a good choice of gifts for the film enthusiasts on your list. It has plenty of bonus material, including a feature-length documentary.

For those who are not familiar with the movie, it stars Peter Weller (before he was Robocop, before he played Bill Lee in Naked Lunch) as Buckaroo Banzai, a brilliant neurosurgeon who also leads a rock and roll band and is working on a vehicle that will travel through other dimensions, and inadvertently comes into contact with aliens. The incredible cast also features John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin (I think she is one of the reasons I saw the film initially – I had a crush on her from Eddie And The Cruisers), Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, Lewis Smith, Carl Lumbly (from Alias), Vince Schiavelli and Dan Hedaya. John Lithgow is particularly hilarious as Lord John Whorfin, scientist and leader of the alien forces. “Laugh while you can, monkey boy.” Christopher Lloyd, Vincent Schiavelli and Dan Hedaya are all perfectly cast as aliens. This film is a total delight, and holds up well.

Disc One Special Features

The first disc includes the feature-length documentary Buckaroo Banzai Into The 8th Dimension, which features interviews with director W.D. Richter and producer Neil Canton, who provide interesting information about how the script was written. Richter tells a crazy anecdote about Buckaroo’s red glasses. And yes, he talks about the watermelon. This documentary also includes interviews with many cast members, including Peter Weller, John Lithgow (who tells a great anecdote about the accent he used in the film), Christopher Lloyd, Clancy Brown, Carl Lumbly, Pepe Serna, Billy Vera (who talks about helping Peter Weller learn to play guitar), Lewis Smith and Damon Hines. Several of them admit they didn’t fully understand the script. There are interviews with key crew members as well, including special visual effects Michael Fink, costume designer Aggie Rodgers, costumer supervisor Eddie Marks and composer Michael Boddicker. This documentary is approximately two hours eight minutes.

There are also two commentary tracks. The first is with director W.D. Richter and writer Earl Mac Rausch. Interestingly, the title was originally going to be simply Buckaroo Banzai, but the studio forced them to add to it. That’s so odd to me, because the lengthy title seems like something a studio would not appreciate. Most people refer to the film as Buckaroo Banzai anyway. Richter mentions that Peter Weller did later loop a little of singing in the band scene. The second commentary track is with Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda, who are big fans of the film.

Disc Two

The second disc contains more bonus material. Interestingly, this second disc is a regular DVD, not Blu-ray. Buckaroo Banzai Declassified is a featurette centering on an interview with W.D. Richter, but also at the beginning including snippets from old interviews with Peter Weller, Ellen Barkin, Clancy Brown and John Lithgow. Richter talks about props as if they are real artifacts, and also talks about some of the visual work and the deleted opening sequence. This is mixed with old footage of some of the special effects makeup and models and so on. This featurette is approximately twenty-three minutes. That alternate opening is also included, and is done as pieces from home movies featuring Buckaroo’s parents. His mother, by the way, is played by Jamie Lee Curtis.

There are fourteen deleted and extended scenes, including more with Penny at the club, more from the press conference, and some scenes mentioning Hanoi Xan, the villain that killed Buckaroo’s wife. There is also something titled Buckaroo Banzai: Ancient Secrets & New Mysteries, which is a weird computer graphics video. The film’s theatrical trailer is also included.

This two-disc collector’s edition of The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension was released on August 16, 2016 through Shout! Factory, as part of their Shout Select series.

DVD Review: Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XXXVII

These are frightening and absurd times. The idea of Donald Trump and his merry gang of racists actually taking over the White House is terrifying and sickening. Whenever Donald Trump is speaking on television, what is desperately needed is a running commentary at the bottom of the screen from Joel, Mike, Crow and Tom Servo. How can we make that happen? Please get on that, folks. In the meantime, to help us all deal with this bizarre and twisted reality, Shout! Factory has released a new volume of Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes. Volume XXXVII contains “The Human Duplicators,” “Escape 2000,” “The Horror Of Party Beach” and “Invasion Of The Neptune Men,” none of which have been previously available on DVD. And there is plenty of bonus material as well.

Disc 1: The Human Duplicators

In this Joel episode from 1992, Gypsy would like another eye and a fin, while Tom Servo desires other, more complex improvements. And the robots are disappointed by Joel’s invention during the invention exchange. But soon they have something else to worry about: getting through The Human Duplicators. As always, they manage to do so by poking fun at everything they’re shown. As a blind girl leads the alien to her uncle’s laboratory, Crow comments, “It’s the blind leading the bland.” Later, when the screen inexplicably goes black for a moment, Crow says, “Oh, that must have been her point of view.” Another female character in the film has a voice more annoying than Fran Drescher’s, leading Tom Servo to ask, “Could you not talk?” When that character asks another what an android is, the answer is: “An android, dear, is a robot. Like a mechanical man.” Joel adds, “Like my acting.” When an android says, “We have no feelings,” Crow adds, “We’re Republicans.” This episode contains references to The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island, Mork & Mindy, The Godfather, Beverly Hills Cop, Bullitt, The Wizard Of Oz and The World According To Garp.

As for bonus material, the first disc includes The Mystery Science Theater Hour introductions and signings off for this episode.

Disc 2: Escape 2000

In this Mike episode from 1996, Dr. Clayton Forrester puts his mother in a home while Crow sets fire to the Satellite of Love. And the movie the gang is forced to watch is one actually directed by Enzo Castellari, who has made some really good films. This one, however, is… well, it’s perfect for Mike and the robots to tear apart. Near the beginning Mike says, “See, this is the danger of expanding rock videos to full-length features.” And Tom Servo says about the film, “I think it was originally conceived as a still photograph.” Later, when there is an annoying beeping sound, the gang quips, “The movie’s backing up.” As one character rides his motorcycle into a building and down a flight of stairs, Crow comments, “He’s got kind of an inconvenient parking spot.” The gang jokes often about one woman’s resemblance to Nosferatu. Mike pokes fun at Enzo Castellari: “The director had a vision: make guys jump in slow motion.” This episode contains a lot of music references: Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Prince, Blondie, Dead Or Alive, Pink Floyd, and so on.

The bonus material contains an introduction by Mary Jo Pehl, in which she talks about why the movie was chosen for Mystery Science Theater 3000, and about her character on the show. Leave The Bronx: Making Escape 2000 is a look at the film and at the movies that influenced it. The theatrical trailer is also included, with the film’s original title, Escape From The Bronx.

Disc 3: The Horror Of Party Beach

This is a Mike episode from 1997, when Pearl is the one sending him and the robots the movies. The opening bit isn’t great, but once the movie starts, the gang jumps into gear. During the opening credits of the film, Crow comments: “Original soundtrack not available. You’ll thank us.” When a girl says to her boyfriend, “I never needed you, and I never will,” Tom Servo says, “They wrote their own vows.” As a character dumps radioactive waste into the ocean, the gang quips, “Oh, it’s an Exxon training film.” The Horror Of Party Beach is a particularly bad film (and a particularly good episode), and partway through a long scene of people dancing on a beach, Crow asks, “Mike, are we being punished for something?” And at another dull dance scene, Crow says, “There must be five car lengths between couples.” When a child shouts “Extra, extra, read all about it,” Crow adds, “Fifties extended indefinitely.” The headline on the paper is “Monsters Strike Again,” leading the gang to add, “President orders monsters back to work.” At the end of the episode the gang sings an original number about sodium. And remember, look Polish, everyone!

The third disc contains an introduction by Mary Jo Pehl, in which she talks about how at that time in the MST3K series, they were told which types of movies they had to do, and about the narrative arc in the other segments. Return To Party Beach is a look at the film and its director, Del Tenney. It features an interview with Tenney’s widow, Margot Hartman, who provides some really interesting anecdotes, like about the motorcycle gang used in the film. The film’s trailer is also included.

Disc 4: Invasion Of The Neptune Men

This is another Mike episode from 1997, where a war is waged in Mike Nelson’s eyelashes, while Pearl has troubles of her own in ancient Rome. The biggest problem, however, is Invasion Of The Neptune Men, clearly one of the worst movies of all time, and one that even our seasoned heroes have trouble dealing with. It’s a Japanese film, so the episode contains references to Mothra and Gamera. As the aliens retreat to their ship after the lamest fight sequence ever shown on screen, Crow says, “Come on, I want to jump around while you fall down more.” One character points out, “The clock’s running backwards.” Tom Servo adds, “That means that lunch won’t be until yesterday.” And when a record spins backwards, the gang adds, “Paul is a dead man.” This terrible film features a group of annoying children who keep showing up everywhere, leading Mike to comment, “Apparently the kids have level five security clearance.” As several characters get into a car, the gang jokes: “Let’s get out of this movie. Step on it!” Later, as people pile out of an old bus, Mike warns, “Ken Kesey’s got a gun!” The movie is incredibly dull, so when one character says “Hold it, something’s happened,” Mike responds, “Yeah, right.” But then shockingly this Japanese movie has a shot of a statue of Adolf Hitler. Oh my! This episode contains references to Lord Of The Flies, Lost In Space, M.A.S.H. and The Banana Splits Show.

The bonus material includes an introduction by Mary Jo Pehl, in which she talks about the movie and about the obnoxious children, as well as about the host segments. August On Neptune is a featurette on the film and its studio, featuring an interview with August Ragone. The original Japanese theatrical trailer is also included.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XXXVII was released on November 22, 2016 through Shout! Factory.

Blu-ray Review: The Return Of The Living Dead: Collector’s Edition

Yes, folks, it’s that time of the year when we start thinking about purchasing gifts for the holidays. For the horror fans among your family and friends, you might consider the Collector’s Edition Blu-ray two-disc set of The Return Of The Living Dead, released earlier this year. It is one of my favorite horror films of the 1980s, with just the right amount of humor, and a good cast that includes Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Linnea Quigley and Beverly Randolph. It does poke a bit of fun at the zombie genre, but also works as a frightening horror film.

Freddy (Thom Mathews) is a new employee at a medical supply warehouse, and he is unnerved by the fresh cadaver hanging in the freezer. “We’re expecting a shipment on Monday,” he’s told by his supervisor, Frank (James Karen). But you know they won’t have to wait that long. Unlike most zombie movies, this one makes direct reference to Night Of The Living Dead, incorporating its existence into the reality of its world. Frank asks Freddy, “Did you know that movie was based on a true case?” He adds that the bodies were shipped to that very warehouse by mistake, and takes him into the basement to show him the containers. To prove the containers won’t leak, Frank bangs on one of them. And guess what? Gas suddenly springs out of it, causing both Frank and Freddy to start coughing and then pass out. When they come to, they’re not feeling all that good. Plus, the containers are now empty, and they find the cadaver in the freezer is no longer entirely dead.

Enlisting the help of their boss, Burt (Clu Gulager, who turns in one of the film’s best performances), and Burt’s friend Ernie (Don Calfa), they try to dispose of the problem. But things go from bad to worse when they burn the cadavers, and a rain brings the chemical right back down to the nearby cemetery, where Freddy’s friends are killing time. And soon there are many more zombies to deal with. And these zombies, unlike in other films, can actually think and strategize. One of them gets on the ambulance radio and says, “Send more paramedics.” Later another gets on the police car radio and says, “Send more cops.” It’s like ordering a pizza.

The film includes lots of little jokes in the set dressing, from the name of the warehouse – Uneeda Medical Supply – to the eye chart in the office, to the sign above the chapel which reads, “Beyond this fleeting day, the rest from which no man wakes.” And yes, some of the acting is a little over the top. But, as I mentioned, there are truly scary moments. And when the female zombie says, “I can feel myself rot,” it gives me chills every time.

Disc 1 Special Features

The first disc contains four separate commentary tracks. The first is by Gary Smart and Chris Griffiths. The second is with Thom Mathews, John Philbin and Tony Gardner. The third is with Dan O’Bannon and William Stout. And the fourth features William Stout, Don Calfa, Linnea Quigley, Brian Peck, Beverly Randolph and Allan Trautman.

The Decade Of Darkness is featurette on 1980s horror films, featuring interviews with Joe Dante, John Landis, Tom Holland, Catherine Hicks, Dee Wallace and others. They talk about how comedy began being inserted into the horror genre in this decade. Movies discussed include Motel Hell, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Child’s Play and The Howling. The Decade Of Darkness is approximately twenty-three minutes.

The first disc also includes five trailers for the film, as well as ten television spots and two still galleries. This disc also provides Zombie Subtitles, a silly feature which basically just includes subtitles when the zombies grunt and moan. And there is another silly subtitles feature, In Their Own Words – Zombies Speak, which provides lines when the zombies are just grunting. Like when one zombie bites into a person’s head, the subtitle reads: “Yum-yum. Oh, that’s so good.”

Disc 2 Special Features

The second disc is all bonus material. More Brains: A Return To The Living Dead is a two-hour documentary on the film, narrated by cast member Brian Peck, and featuring interviews with production designer William Stout, cinematographer Jules Brenner, casting director Stanzi Stokes, and other crew members. Also interviewed are cast members Linnea Quigley, Thom Mathews, James Karen, Clu Gulager, Beverly Randolph, John Philbin, Allan Trautman, Jewel Shepard, Brian Peck and Miquel A. Nunez, Jr. Beverly Randolph’s story about going to Dan O’Bannon’s house is funny. Also funny is the story of Linnea being shaved for the nude scene. And it’s interesting that the great scene of Frank’s demise was actually James Karen’s idea. It’s one of the film’s best moments. James A. Russo, who co-wrote Night Of The Living Dead, talks about how Return Of The Living Dead actually did stem from the Romero film, and about the original idea for the film. It’s interesting that the cast had a two-week rehearsal period for this movie. This documentary includes some storyboards and concept art.

The FX Of The Return Of The Living Dead is, obviously, a featurette on the makeup and visual effects of the film, and includes interviews with William Stout, Bill Munns, Kenny Myers, Craig Caton, Tony Gardner, Gene Warren Jr. and Bret Mixon, as well as with Brian Peck, an actor who ended up playing several zombies too. There are some interesting anecdotes, like that extras were paid another five dollars if they’d eat real animal brains. This is approximately thirty-three minutes.

Party Time: The Music Of The Return Of The Living Dead is a half-hour piece on the soundtrack and its use of punk music, featuring interviews with Dinah Cancer, Budd Carr, Greg Hetson, Steve Pross, Joe Wood, Karl Moet (who explains the band name SSQ), Roky Erickson, Chris D., John Sox, and Mark Robertson.

The second disc also includes an episode of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds about the locations used in The Return Of The Living Dead, as well an interview with Dan O’Bannon (his final interview, actually). He mentions how he did his best to stay off Romero’s turf with the film, and how he made the decision to address that film in the first scene of the movie. He also talks about his guns, and why he changed his attitude toward them, and about how Clu’s problems with the film came about. The bit about the skeletons is interesting. This interview is nearly a half hour.

The Origins Of The Return Of The Living Dead is an interview with John A. Russo, who co-wrote Night Of The Living Dead and was one of the story writers for The Return Of The Living Dead. He talks about some of his original ideas for this film. This interview is approximately fifteen minutes. The Return Of The Living Dead: The Dead Have Risen is a featurette on the film, featuring interviews with Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Brian Peck, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, Linnea Quigley and Allan Trautman. This is from 2007, and is approximately twenty-one minutes. Designing The Dead is another featurette on the film, featuring an interview with Dan O’Bannon, in which he talks about how the film came about. It also includes an interview with William Stout, as well as some of the concept artwork for the film. It is approximately fourteen minutes.

In addition to all of that, the second disc includes a work print of The Return Of The Living Dead. Sure, the picture quality isn’t great, but it is a treat to have this all the same. There is plenty to keep the horror fan on your holiday gift list busy and happy.

This 2-disc edition of The Return Of The Living Dead was released on July 19, 2016 through Scream Factory, a division of Shout! Factory.

DVD Review: Hot Type: 150 Years Of The Nation

The Nation is the country’s oldest published weekly magazine, having been founded in 1865. The film Hot Type: 150 Years Of The Nation documents the current state of the publication, with an eye both on its past and its future. The film takes us inside the magazine’s offices, as well as to the locations of current stories the reporters are tackling, focusing on the folks who keep the magazine running and their reasons for doing so, particularly in regards to the new media landscape.

There is some interesting information on the editors and writers, especially the relation between the current editor and publisher, Katrina vanden Heuvel, and the previous editor, Victor Navasky, who still holds a position in the magazine. Several editors and writers are interviewed, and these are not strictly straight, traditional interviews, but rather glimpses of them at work talking about what it is they are doing. A common thread is their passion not only for journalism, but for The Nation specifically. Katrina says, “We believe success means treating journalism as a public good, holding the powerful accountable and making sure that light is shed on those who are committing abuse wherever, and that is our mission.” It is a mission that everyone involved in the publication seems to take quite seriously.

The film takes us into the field as reporters pursue several stories. Contributing writer Sasha Abramsky pursues a story in Texas about troubled farms and climate change. He says, “The common theme here is big issues hitting ordinary people.” What I also like about the way this documentary approaches these current stories is that it relates them to stories from earlier issues of the magazine, in this case from a 1935 issue. This doesn’t just illustrate the importance of the magazine, but the continuing importance of these issues to us as a people.

Some history of the magazine is provided, such as that it emerged from the Civil War, and that it was during the 1930s that it really took off. Portions of old articles are presented in voice over by folks like Sam Waterston. And the list of famous, respected authors that have written for The Nation is astounding. Folks like Kurt Vonnegut, Upton Sinclair, Arthur Miller, D.H. Lawrence, Theodore Dreiser and Alice Walker all contributed to the magazine. Another area that I found intriguing is the magazine’s internship program. It’s striking just how many of the publication’s editors began as interns. And we’re introduced to those hoping to become interns, and then those who are chosen.

Though this documentary celebrates the history of the magazine, it’s really not as much a look back as a look at the present with an eye on the future.

Special Features

The DVD contains three bonus scenes. The first is of Katrina and her father talking about the perception of The Nation. In the second, advertising and marketing designer George Lois creates a campaign for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the magazine. The third is of graphic designer Milton Glaser designing a cover for the magazine.

Hot Type: 150 Years Of The Nation was directed by Barbara Kopple, and was released on DVD on October 4, 2016 through First Run Features.