The Couch Potato Report – August 6th, 2005
This week The Couch Potato Report another “Special Edition” DVD I would buy and one bad science fiction film that you should at least watch.
Ah, the “Deluxe”, “Extended”, “Super Platinum”, “Director’s Cut” and “Special Edition” DVD!
Sometimes they are a wonderful thing, sometimes they are the worst thing to ever happen to a money hungry DVD industry.
When they are wonderful, they are truly wonderful! In those instances a “Special Edition” DVD can take us behind-the-scenes with the actors and inside the minds of the people who make our favourite films.
When it is the worst thing, a “Special Edition” can just be a reissue of a film that has already been released on DVD, with only a few extras and hardly any participation from the actors or the people who wrote or directed the movie.
Back in June when the film STRIPES was re-released on DVD as an EXTENDED CUT I bought it and here on The Couch Potato Report I stated that “…if I love a movie, if it is a classic to me, and it is cheap, I will buy a reissue”.
Now, along comes the SPECIAL EDITION of the hilarious 1994 film SWIMMING WITH SHARKS, starring Kevin Spacey from AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE USUAL SUSPECTS and SEVEN as the “boss from hell.”
It isn’t as inexpensive as STRIPES, but I love the movie, and it is a classic to me, so I now own it, and I highly recommend it to you as well.
SWIMMING WITH SHARKS is an intelligent, very funny comedy about Hollywood that was released in theatres in 1994.
Kevin Spacey stars as a movie studio executive who’s entry-level assistants have all gone on to bigger and better things in Hollywood.
Frank Whaley from CAREER OPPORTUNITIES and PULP FICTION is the naive and eager assistant who learns from day one that this dream job doesn’t come with a dream boss.
Spacey immediately begins to wear down his new assistant with unreasonable requests, ego tantrums and verbal abuse, all the while promising “bigger and better things” to his young charge.
Spacey is incredibly delicious as Buddy Ackerman, the “boss from hell.” At times, you can even see him – and the character he’s playing – having a fun time with the role.
Whaley also does a great job in the film. His career post SWIMMING WITH SHARKS hasn’t equaled that of two-time Oscar Winner Spacey’s, but in this film they are equals.
In addition to offering a unique inside view of Hollywood, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS is also a great revenge film for everyone who has ever been abused by their “boss from hell.”
Some of the special features on this SPECIAL EDITION DVD include three audio commentaries, including one by Kevin Spacey, and a great retrospective documentary called “Back to the Tank: Swimming Ten Years Later.”
Yes, ten years later, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS is worthy or a retrospective look back.
In 2015, it is doubtful that anyone will be looking back on the film THEY ARE AMONG US, unless they starred in it, know someone who starred in it, or were part of the creative team responsible for this cheesy science fiction film.
But then again, there are many other cheesy science fiction films that I continue to look back on more than ten years later, so who knows.
That is the best thing about this type of sci-fi film, it doesn’t hope to win an Academy Award, it just wants to entertain you.
And as long as you turn off your brain, don’t expect much, and have the time to kill, why not give THEY ARE AMONG US a chance?
The film is about a guy named Daniel. Daniel lives in a small town, a small town that seems just like any other small town…, but it isn’t.
As Daniel is getting ready to turn eighteen and move away to begin a new life he starts to notice that some things are different.
In fact, what is different is the fact that a Colony of aliens is waiting for its leader to take his place among them.
That is a classic cheesy science fiction film premise, and the film puts it to good use.
If you do watch THEY ARE AMONG US – and I recommend that you do – the one thing that is for sure is the fact that you will recognize at least one member of the cast. It is populated by actors who are former TV stars.
Those actors include Corbin Bernsen from L.A. LAW, Bruce Boxleitner of SCARECROW AND MRS. KING, Hunter Tylo from ALL MY CHILDREN and DAYS OF OUR LIVES and Nana Visitor from STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE.
Plus, the film also features Clint Eastwood’s daughter Alison – who starred in her Dad’s MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL and was in Regina back in 2003 filming a movie called THE LOST ANGEL.
THEY ARE AMONG US isn’t a perfect, or even great film. But it is the perfect film for you if you like cheesy science fiction films, and you are able to turn off your brain, don’t expect much, and have the time to kill.
That is the same criteria that allowed films like ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981), OMEGA MAN (1971), LOGAN’S RUN (1976), FANTASTIC VOYAGE (1966), PLANET OF THE APES (1968), and my personal favourite THE WRAITH (1986) become the science fiction “classics” they are regarded as today!
All of those films, along with THEY ARE AMONG US, and the special edition of SWIMMING WITH SHARKS are available now at a store near you.
COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUCH POTATO REPORT
Well, I am trying to remain calm as I write that THE MUPPET SHOW – SEASON ONE IS COMING OUT NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!
Woo hoo!!!!
This four-disc box set features all 24 episodes from the 1976 season completely restored and remastered along with the original pilot, the original pitch of the show and more!!
It is possibly the greatest TV show of all time and I can’t wait to sit down for 12 hours and watch this set!!
I will also sit still in order to watch THE MUPPETS’ WIZARD OF OZ one more time. This is the gang’s 2005 TV movie from May retelling of the classic Frank L. Baum story.
I’m Dan Reynish and I will have more on THE MUPPETS, and maybe even some other releases in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next week on The Couch!
Categories