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Beware the Batman – Shadows of Gotham

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  • Title: Beware the Batman – Shadows of Gotham
  • wiki: link

Beware The Batman - Shadows of GothamCollecting the 13 episode run of Beware the Batman (including the final two episodes which which never aired on Cartoon Network), the CGI-version of the Dark Knight Detective’s early adventures featuring a more formidable Alfred (JB Blanc) and Katana (Sumalee Montano) as Batman‘s (Anthony Ruivivar) sidekick has been on indefinite hiatus since mid-October and its return (despite entitling the home video set “Part 1”) seems to becoming less and less likely.

Despite some shaky beginnings, including too many appearances by D-list villains such as Professor Pyg (Brian George) and Mr. Toad (Udo Kier), Humpty Dumpty, Magpie (Grey DeLisle), and an unnecessary retelling of Metamorpho (Adam Baldwin) origin story, the show was just beginning to find its feet as Katana was growing into her role as Batman’s partner and the show was focusing more and more on the League of Assassins as it winds up its initial 13 episode run ending with a cliffhanger, arguably the show’s best episode, the network chose never to air.

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Journey Double Feature

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  • Title: Journey to the Center of the Earth / Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
  • IMDB: link / link

Journey Double FeatureRe-released together as a two-disc set on both DVD and Blu-ray, 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island star Josh Hutcherson as a young protagonist who discovers truth behind the writings of Jules Verne while looking for missing members of his family.

Of the two films, the first (co-starring Brendan Fraser and Anita Briem) featuring the group’s discovery of a secret world in the center of the Earth holds up better than its sequel (co-starring Dwayne “It’s Okay to Call Me The Rock Again” Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzmán, and Michael Caine) and the discovery of a secret island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Family friendly, the effects of the two films and the magical settings of each might provide enjoyment for younger viewers and even interest them in Verne’s original works (not a bad thing), but adults aren’t likely to come back to either film too often.

[New Line Home Video, Blu-ray $19.98 / DVD $12.97]

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2004 – Eurotrip

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  • Title: Eurotrip
  • IMDb: link

EurotripOn or around this date ten years ago Eurotrip opened in theaters. Although similiar in set-up to 2000’s dismal Road Trip (notable for bigger names and far less laughs), Eurotrip brought together an entirely different cast for a road trip adenture in Europe, that had far more heart while providing a quartet of likable lead characters. The result is a pleasant surprise that is often more enjoyable than you might expect.

The plot centers around four friends heading to Europe (albeit for different purposes) after high school graduation. Twins Jaime (Travis Wester) and Jenny (Michelle Trachtenberg) are on vacation together when they run into Scotty (Scott Mechlowicz) and his slacker pal Cooper (Jacob Pitts) who get jobs as couriers to make their way to Europe to repair Scotty’s relationship with his pen pal Mieke (Jessica Boehrs) which is damaged following a misunderstanding and drunken night when Scotty learns (quite publicly) that his now ex-girlfriend Fiona (Kristin Kreuk) has been cheating on him for months.

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1994 – On Deadly Ground

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  • Title: On Deadly Ground
  • IMDB: link

On Deadly GroundReleased 20 years ago today, On Deadly Ground is a clusterfuck even grading on a curve for a Steven Seagal film. Not only does Seagal star but he also directs for the only time in his career in this bizarre tale of a mystical martial artist turned environmental activist (and some sort of official investigator?) who saves the day, I shit you not, by blowing up an oil refinery in Alaska.

Insane doesn’t come close to explain the script by Ed Horowitz and Robin U. Russin, or Seagal’s directorial choices which include a bizarre Native American vision quest, torture, mercenaries from New Orleans (like you’d recruit or an Alaskan job), and the film’s villain (Michael Caine) literally being drowned in his own wealth. And all without an once of fun, logic, or sanity.

Somehow the film has managed to stay in-print on DVD both as a single film and part of Triple Feature with two more of Segal’s lesser films (Fire Down Below and Out for Justice) which would be a pretty cruel gift to anyone other than your mortal enemy.

[Warner Home Video, $14.00 / $14.98]

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1984 – Lassiter

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  • Title: Lassiter
  • IMDB: link

lassiter-dvdOn this date 30 years ago Lassiter opened in theaters which makes an opportune time to re-share my review of the movie on DVD.

1984’s Lassiter was a pretty obvious attempt to cash in on Tom Selleck‘s popularity from Magnum, P.I. It’s also surprisingly good. The film was directed by Roger Young, who also helmed the first episode of for Magnum (as well as the TV mini-series adaptation of The Bourne Identity starring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith). Although a little dated in spots, the film holds up fairly well nearly 30 years after its initial release.

On the eve of World War II, framed for a crime he didn’t commit, London’s premiere cat burglar Nick Lassiter (Selleck) is pressured by a British Police Investigator (Bob Hoskins) and an agent of the FBI (Joe Regalbuto) to use his unique skill set to break into German Embassy in London and steal $10 million in precious uncut gems.

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