Good morning, Happy Tuesday, and Happy New Releases Day, faithful readers!
Those of you following closely might've noticed that over the course of the last two weeks (or so) I had the good fortune of receiving a complimentary promotional screening copy for the absolutely incredible Arrow Films set Enter The Video Store: Empire Of Screams on Blu-ray. This is, essentially, a commercial celebration of some of the fantastic and imaginative flicks that emerged from the great days of the video store compliments of genre master Charles Band and Empire Pictures.
For those of us who know the name (as well as those who don't but should know it), Band and his co-conspirators were chiefly responsible for bringing a helluva lot of fabulous B-style pictures, many of which were incredible renters in the days of the corner and big box home rental outlets. Many of these projects were the kind of thing you'd only hear about at the video store -- from the clerks as well as fellow renters -- who'd chat them up mostly because they didn't get the kind of mainstream attention the major studios put out; and because they came with an endorsement from someone you actually knew -- an opinion that mattered -- you'd pick it up, give it a go, and take the good with the bad. Of course, it was a risk, but it was a heavily calculated one that paid off in enough times to make it worth the buck or two it set you back to watch it once or twice ... so nobody complained.
Empire Pictures -- or Empire International Pictures and/or Empire Entertainment -- lasted only a handful of years (five, to be exact), and -- under Band's management -- they managed an incredible slate of releases popular with folks like you and me. To be succinct (and putting this in my own words), Band wasn't all that interested in pleasing our cultural elite; he made pictures like Mickey Spillane wrote books, that meaning that they were meant to be read and absorbed by an audience, not set on a shelf to just take up space. And -- whether renters knew it or not -- viewers responded by picking up his good and bad schlock over and over again. They made Empire into a brand that video outlets could rely on over and over again. While it was sad to see Empire go away, I can give you the good news that Band continues doing what he does best out there today, albeit under a different banner.
But back to this Empire Of Screams set, if you will ...
While I think it's always a difficult task to pluck individual titles from an amassed library with hopes of presenting the very best for a discriminating viewership, Arrow Films has done a particular winning job with this limited edition release. (Sure, I could argue with a nitpick here or there, but that's chump change in the end, as I think their choices do respect a bit of balance.) In short, there's a little 'something something' for everyone in here, especially given the fact that the five-disk set includes a wealth of additional materials -- some new, some archival -- to keep watchers glued to the screen for hours of extra content. Because I've reviewed them individually, I won't trouble you with anything more than a passing thought in this space (along with a link to the full text for those interested in that sort of detail), but I'll strongly encourage those of you truly interested to surf the web and purchase a set today. It's a fabulous, fabulous find that'll likely bring back some memories if not set the stage for new ones you can start building today.
Disc One: The Dungeonmaster (1984)
Full Review: Link
A whole lot of 'meh,' The Dungeonmaster all too often feels like an anthology film made-on-the-fly because it was an anthology film made-on-the-fly. Occasionally interesting, the flick still really goes nowhere and does nothing, other than have fun in the way some of the lesser productions of the video store era did. Forgettable, in most cases, but it was an acceptable attempt.
Disc Two: Dolls (1986)
Full Review: Link
It's a surprisingly effective little film, one that I called 'Dirty Spielberg' in my full review. The production hits a lot of the notes in just the right fashion, but I would've needed a bit more to elevate this charming effort to the level of must-see for the bygone video era. Nice performances, too, though it could've used a bit less restraint in the gore department.
Disc Three: Cellar Dweller (1987)
Full Review: Link
This is the only film in the set I'd never fully seen (had enjoyed the creature bits but not the full story) back in the day. Again, while it's occasionally interesting, it's also the kind of thing that'd been done before, and the lack of anything different -- even if it was a wacky performance -- kept this one from being anything special.
Disc Four: Arena (1989)
Full Review: Link
I can remember this one being a pretty solid hit, meaning that it was always out-of-stock during prime rental nights. A bit goofy with aliens and humans going mano-a-mano Rocky Balboa style on a space station, it has the right mix of blood, sweat, and tears for folks who find Science Fiction and Fantasy's red-headed stepchildren worthwhile. I do, so it's a winner for me.
Disc Five: Robot Jox (1989)
Full Review: Link
Wowza. Think what you will, but ambition killed Empire Pictures (along with a bit of financial mismanagement). Robot Jox rules the roost of this set -- and maybe is even the studio's crowning achievement, if I may be so bold -- as it demonstrates that its producers went bigger and bolder in their swan song. It's one of the best SciFi flicks you've likely never heard of ... and that's a shame.
When you're dealing in titles from the past and/or projects that didn't benefit from millions being spent on both production and advertising, you might have to search long and hard for that diamond-in-the-rough. Still, I've often argued that Band's films were much like the little engine that could: no matter the odds or the obstacles placed in the path, they'd chug and chug and chug along well enough that audiences of the day would eventually find them. While these releases might not have been as polished as some bigger studio tentpole films, they had their time and their place -- maybe even a good run in the limelight -- and I can only hope folks will rediscover the magic this Empire brought to a galaxy not so far away and very much closer to home.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
Those of you following closely might've noticed that over the course of the last two weeks (or so) I had the good fortune of receiving a complimentary promotional screening copy for the absolutely incredible Arrow Films set Enter The Video Store: Empire Of Screams on Blu-ray. This is, essentially, a commercial celebration of some of the fantastic and imaginative flicks that emerged from the great days of the video store compliments of genre master Charles Band and Empire Pictures.
For those of us who know the name (as well as those who don't but should know it), Band and his co-conspirators were chiefly responsible for bringing a helluva lot of fabulous B-style pictures, many of which were incredible renters in the days of the corner and big box home rental outlets. Many of these projects were the kind of thing you'd only hear about at the video store -- from the clerks as well as fellow renters -- who'd chat them up mostly because they didn't get the kind of mainstream attention the major studios put out; and because they came with an endorsement from someone you actually knew -- an opinion that mattered -- you'd pick it up, give it a go, and take the good with the bad. Of course, it was a risk, but it was a heavily calculated one that paid off in enough times to make it worth the buck or two it set you back to watch it once or twice ... so nobody complained.
Empire Pictures -- or Empire International Pictures and/or Empire Entertainment -- lasted only a handful of years (five, to be exact), and -- under Band's management -- they managed an incredible slate of releases popular with folks like you and me. To be succinct (and putting this in my own words), Band wasn't all that interested in pleasing our cultural elite; he made pictures like Mickey Spillane wrote books, that meaning that they were meant to be read and absorbed by an audience, not set on a shelf to just take up space. And -- whether renters knew it or not -- viewers responded by picking up his good and bad schlock over and over again. They made Empire into a brand that video outlets could rely on over and over again. While it was sad to see Empire go away, I can give you the good news that Band continues doing what he does best out there today, albeit under a different banner.
But back to this Empire Of Screams set, if you will ...
While I think it's always a difficult task to pluck individual titles from an amassed library with hopes of presenting the very best for a discriminating viewership, Arrow Films has done a particular winning job with this limited edition release. (Sure, I could argue with a nitpick here or there, but that's chump change in the end, as I think their choices do respect a bit of balance.) In short, there's a little 'something something' for everyone in here, especially given the fact that the five-disk set includes a wealth of additional materials -- some new, some archival -- to keep watchers glued to the screen for hours of extra content. Because I've reviewed them individually, I won't trouble you with anything more than a passing thought in this space (along with a link to the full text for those interested in that sort of detail), but I'll strongly encourage those of you truly interested to surf the web and purchase a set today. It's a fabulous, fabulous find that'll likely bring back some memories if not set the stage for new ones you can start building today.
Disc One: The Dungeonmaster (1984)
Full Review: Link
A whole lot of 'meh,' The Dungeonmaster all too often feels like an anthology film made-on-the-fly because it was an anthology film made-on-the-fly. Occasionally interesting, the flick still really goes nowhere and does nothing, other than have fun in the way some of the lesser productions of the video store era did. Forgettable, in most cases, but it was an acceptable attempt.
Disc Two: Dolls (1986)
Full Review: Link
It's a surprisingly effective little film, one that I called 'Dirty Spielberg' in my full review. The production hits a lot of the notes in just the right fashion, but I would've needed a bit more to elevate this charming effort to the level of must-see for the bygone video era. Nice performances, too, though it could've used a bit less restraint in the gore department.
Disc Three: Cellar Dweller (1987)
Full Review: Link
This is the only film in the set I'd never fully seen (had enjoyed the creature bits but not the full story) back in the day. Again, while it's occasionally interesting, it's also the kind of thing that'd been done before, and the lack of anything different -- even if it was a wacky performance -- kept this one from being anything special.
Disc Four: Arena (1989)
Full Review: Link
I can remember this one being a pretty solid hit, meaning that it was always out-of-stock during prime rental nights. A bit goofy with aliens and humans going mano-a-mano Rocky Balboa style on a space station, it has the right mix of blood, sweat, and tears for folks who find Science Fiction and Fantasy's red-headed stepchildren worthwhile. I do, so it's a winner for me.
Disc Five: Robot Jox (1989)
Full Review: Link
Wowza. Think what you will, but ambition killed Empire Pictures (along with a bit of financial mismanagement). Robot Jox rules the roost of this set -- and maybe is even the studio's crowning achievement, if I may be so bold -- as it demonstrates that its producers went bigger and bolder in their swan song. It's one of the best SciFi flicks you've likely never heard of ... and that's a shame.
When you're dealing in titles from the past and/or projects that didn't benefit from millions being spent on both production and advertising, you might have to search long and hard for that diamond-in-the-rough. Still, I've often argued that Band's films were much like the little engine that could: no matter the odds or the obstacles placed in the path, they'd chug and chug and chug along well enough that audiences of the day would eventually find them. While these releases might not have been as polished as some bigger studio tentpole films, they had their time and their place -- maybe even a good run in the limelight -- and I can only hope folks will rediscover the magic this Empire brought to a galaxy not so far away and very much closer to home.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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