After more than a year of procrastination, empty promises and flat out laziness, I finally get my hands on a copy of Jonathan London's award-winning short film, Gay By Dawn. Filmed in Austin, Texas, the flick concerns a small group of rednecks sitting around a campfire, telling scary stories. Little do they know, the real terror is out there in those woods. Suspiscion mounts and the accusations fly as the threat of homosexuality may exist among them.

It's a light, innocent and hilarious romp. If you happen to have a copy on DVD, please join me as I take a look at this amusing gem. As always, listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the movie.

P.S. Special thanks goes to Scott Carelli, for being kind enough to send me his copy. Remember kids, you might wake up to find yourself Gay By Dawn, but at least Mexicans and giraffes aren't real. 

It's more than six weeks since season 2 of Heroes premiered, so what better time to bring you our thoughts on the first new episode? Six weeks ago, you say? Pfft.

Today's podcast is actually culled from a recording session intended to cover the first five episodes of season 2, but since we rambled on for 40 minutes about Four Months Later it seemed reasonable to split the thing up. Whether or not the rest of that conversation makes it to the feed is unclear - chances are we'll just cheat like we did with Lost and skip ahead to the latest episode. Yeah, we can do that.

Heroes Official Site

House is a classic, haunted residence story from 1986. William Katt stars as a struggling writer who revisits his Aunt's home, after she mysteriously commits suicide. While staying there, he's tortured by memories of his missing son and his personal experiences during the Vietnam War.

It's not long before the house begins to feed off his guilt and sadness. Strange and frightful things are happening, and it all seems to be related to the disappearance of a young boy. This is a fun, dark-humored ride of a ghost story that deals with one man's need to face and conquer his personal demons.

The film is produced by Sean Cunningham, directed by Steve Miner and written by Ethan Wiley, from a story by Fred Dekker. As is usually the case, please listen for my preemptive countdown before beginning the movie on your DVD.

Happy Halloween everyone!

With John currently unable to post new episodes, Stu retires to the archives to dig up and finish editing a long forgotten episode. Well, long forgotten in the sense that it was recorded in September this year. Okay, so maybe just forgotten then.

For this episode we port the Last 3 Movies blueprint over to the TV world. Here are the picks:

Stu	Gary
The IT Crowd	The IT Crowd
Traveler	Dexter
Raines	Family Guy

Note: The episode is obviously a little behind the times, so when we talk about upcoming stuff it's clearly not so upcoming any more. Also, turns out that the IT Crowd season 2 was only 6 episodes long, as opposed to the 8 episodes Gary mentions here.

Promos:
OzPod
The 9th

Jim Caviezel stars in Highwaymen, the unofficial companion piece to Robert Harmon's cult classic, The Hitcher. Rennie Cray (Caviezel) is a broken man following the murderous exploits of another broken man, Fargo (Colm Feore). Caught in the middle of this personal vendetta is Fargo's latest pretty, but scarred target, Molly (Rhona Mitra). Meanwhile, a State Traffic Investigator named Macklin (Frankie Faison), is trying to piece together the nature of this particular cat and mouse game between Cray and Fargo.

It's a loud, furious thriller where cars get mangled and destroyed because two men are way past the point of being able to "hug it out". In this commentary, I talk about the importance of rhythm and pacing in a thriller, balancing the ratio between action set pieces and character back story, all the while getting the most out of your sound mixing and editing. As is usually the case, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

NOTE: This is a Region 2 disc, so there might be a slight synchronization issue for those of you with Stateside DVDs. However, this looks to be a simple port of the American release, so perhaps playback will run at the same speeds. Please let me know if this is not the case.

Ever wonder how those seedy, desolate roadside motels across America manage to stay in business? Well, Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale find out the hard way in Vacancy. This eerie little gem concerns an estranged married couple, forced to spend the night in a rundown motel after their car breaks down.

They soon realize something twisted may be in store for them, when they discover hidden cameras are watching them and the windows are nailed shut. With solid suspense and a lean, well paced running time, Vacancy delivers mature, classical horror in the tradition of Hitchcock, with a modern sensibility in visual storytelling.

Please join me as I discuss claustrophobia, home video technology and Frank Whaley's sinister mustache. As always, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

Technically, the shows discussed in this segment don't hit the airwaves until the start of 2008, but whatever. At least we're early this time. Concluding our Fall Preview podcast of the new TV season, Stu and I take a look at the genre offerings from the trigger-happy Fox Network: New Amsterdam and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Time travel, immortality, killer robots, forbidden love and Summer Glau kicking really high (hopefully). It's all here, or at least it will be, a few months from now.

New Amsterdam official site
Sarah Connor Chronicles preview site

SciFi Smackdown

So does this podcast still count as being late if 1 of the 3 TV shows we cover hasn't aired yet? It does? *sigh*

Today's segment deals with the genre offerings from ABC, CBS and The CW: Pushing Daisies, Moonlight and Reaper respectively.

Notes:
Pushing Daisies official site
Chuck official site
Reaper official site

PodCulture

With scarcely a week to spare before the new TV season begins, part 1 of our Fall preview hits the feed. Who'll give us 20-1 against on Stu getting parts 2 and 3 edited in time?

Today's installment covers the three new sci-fi shows debuting on NBC this season: Bionic Woman, Chuck and Journeyman.

Notes:
Bionic Woman official site
Chuck official site
Journeyman official site

The Totally Rad Show
TechnoFodder

My Firefly commentaries through the entire series are coming to an end with the thirteenth episode, Heart Of Gold. It seems a house of independent "companions" have got themselves into a world of trouble. One of the girls is pregnant by a powerful sociopath who will stop at nothing to claim his baby. Inara asks Malcolm and the crew of Serenity for help against this madman, and before you know it, it's The Jerry Springer Show with horses and lasers.

Please join me as I talk about the second season that never was, Shawna Trpcic's inspired costume designs and the search for Vera. As is per usual with these Firefly commentaries, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the show on your DVD.

....And oh yeah, Bwah!

Directed by DJ Caruso, Disturbia is about a troubled teen placed under house arrest. He's got an ankle bracelet that prevents him from going beyond his front yard. To make matters worse, an insanely hot girl moves in next door, and he's pretty sure his other neighbor is an elusive serial killer. But, Carrie-Anne Moss plays the boy's mother, so at least there's that.

Please join me as I go over some of the finer points of this surprisingly intense and well-crafted thriller. A few topics of discussion include comparisons to Fright Night, Cherish and Rear Window. I also ponder the absence of car alarms and a mother's intuition. :)

Just as with other movie commentaries, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

Twelve episodes in, we come to one of my favorites from the Firefly series, The Message. The dead body of a fallen soldier is delivered to Mal and Zoe. For some reason, the police are in hot pursuit. An attempted autopsy brings about a rude awakening, and the body is very much alive. Turns out, he's transporting someone else's organs in order to make some quick cash for his family. Will he get home in time to deliver the goods, or will Mal and Zoe turn him in to the fuzz?

It's a harrowing tale, complete with a socially inept doctor, a naked soldier and something in a jar. As per usual with my Firefly commentaries, please wait for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

It's the eleventh episode in the Firefly series, otherwise known as Trash. Don't worry, this is the good kind of Trash. It's the return of Saffron, now having added more men to her roster of husbands, and more names for herself (including Bridget and Yolanda). She once again crosses paths with Mal and the crew of Serenity.

This episode completes the caper portion of the series, along with The Train Job and Ariel. Let me know if I've missed any. In this adventure, Mal reluctantly teams up with his estranged wife in order to steal the first ever laser pistol prototype.

As always with these Firefly commentaries, be sure to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Let The Games Begin, is the third episode from executive producer Tim Minear's fun but short-lived series (as if there was only one), Drive. It focuses on an assortment of characters competing in a secret, illegal road race across the country.

In this episode, Alex and Corinna are separated when he's abducted by a police officer who is certain Alex used to be a getaway driver. Violet teaches her father, John the ins and outs of telling a convincing lie. Winston is arrested by a "Fugitive Recovery Agent", forcing his brother to make a tough decision. There's also the addition of an exciting new character, Alex's 1972 Dodge Challenger!

As is usually the case with these Drive episodes, there is no preemptive countdown. That means you can start the show simultaneously with this podcast. Also keep in mind, I'm skipping past any commercials and the recap segment at the top of the program.

Now, thanks to a new FREE service called Jangl, we have voicemail. All you have to do is visit www.jangl.com and sign up. After that, you enter in our e-mail address, which is sofadogs@hotmail.com. You'll be given a phone number to call, which will allow you to leave us a message. Got a question you want answered? Give us a jangl. Want to tell us how awesome we are? Give us a jangl. Feel more like sending a litany of swears our way? You can do that too, just give us a jangl. If you're lucky, we may even include your message in the show (with your permission, of course).

You've listened to us for long enough, now it's time for us to hear what you have to say!

The Dark Age is the eighth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It seems that Giles was something of a miscreant during his formative years in England. One night of dabbling in the dark arts results in the death of a friend, the unleashing of a globe-trotting demon and a freaky tattoo. Now, Giles must own up to his sins of long ago, as his murderous past has caught up with him.

Throw in the slithering Ethan Rayne, the sexy Jenny Calendar and one nasty-looking demon, and The Dark Age is the place to be. Join me as I talk about unexplainable green lighting, a possible connection to Firefly by way of set decoration and one of the more baffling continuity mistakes in the history of this series. As per usual, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Slightly less than 7 years since they were released, Stu picked up the umpteenth reissue of the DVD set of Buffy season 2. Though the new fangled optical discs confounded him for some time, he was nonetheless finally able to make the episode Lie to Me appear on his computer screen and thus join John for a commentary.

Of course, the very fact that Stu made this purchase all but guarantees one of two things: either (a) the Chosen Collection will come crashing down in price or (b) Fox will announce a forthcoming HD release with shiny new bonus content. If it turns out to be option (b) then all you crafty consumers who waited more than 7 years will know who to thank...

Notes:
Lie to Me @ Buffyguide.com
Lie to Me @ TV.com
Lie to Me @ Wikipedia
Lie to Me screencaps @ Screencap Paradise
Buffy episode table @ RankItAll.com

Shadow Puppets is written and directed by Michael Winnick. It concerns a handful of amnesiacs who awaken to find themselves trapped in an abandoned research facility. While they attempt to figure out their situation and their identities, they are pursued by a mysterious and dangerous shadow creature.

The film stars James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jolene Blalock (Star Trek Enterprise) and Tony Todd (Candyman). Fear, suspicion and paranoia run high in this fun slice of eerie entertainment, where nothing is as it seems and your own shadow is out to get you.

Movie length commentaries sound like too much hard work, so Stu and Gary chicken out and instead debut the imaginatively titled 'Last 3 Movies' episode format. The six movies we talk about are listed below with highlight-spoiler-protection for anyone who wants to remain vaguely surprised.

Stu	Gary
Dawn of the Dead (2004)	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Raising Arizona	Transformers
The Big White	Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Note: A small part of this podcast was lost somewhere along the line, so parts of it have been heavily edited to make some semblance of sense! Hopefully it's not too noticeable :)

It's all about chaos and costumes in Halloween, the sixth episodes from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Willow becomes a hot ghost, Xander becomes a soldier, Buffy becomes a noblewoman and Cordelia is still Cordelia, but with cute, plastic cat ears. Ethan Rayne makes his first appearance and we see that Giles has a bit of a dark side.

In this commentary, I talk about volunteer work, trick or treat and the inconsistency of the vampire invitation rule. As usual, be sure to listen for my preemptive countdown before beginning Halloween on your DVD.

For the record, the last time I dressed up for Halloween, I was Leonard Shelby from the film, Memento. So, had I been in Sunnydale at the time, I would have been struck with short-term memory loss and a taste for murderous revenge. As Buffy would say, "It's good to be me." :)

Reptile Boy is the fifth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While altogether funny and entertaining, it stands as one of the more well known Public Service Announcements of the series. What we learn here is that alcohol is bad, college guys are up to no good and if you discard your responsibilities, you just might get eaten by a giant snake monster.

Join me, as I discuss set dressing overkill, transparent clothing and the top notch acting performances from Nicholas Brendon and Charisma Carpenter. As is usually the case, listen for my cue to start your DVD for synchronization purposes. Remember kids, friends don't let friends drink and slay.

Please drink responsibly.... or I'll stab you with a spork.

 In 1986, The Hitcher assaulted cinemas around the world. From writer, Eric Red (Near Dark) and director Robert Harmon (Highwaymen), The Hitcher concerns a young traveler being tormented by a cold-blooded killer across the desolate, Texas landscape. The film stars C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders), Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hudsucker Proxy).

Supportive co-host and good friend, Stuart Duncan was generous enough to send me a Region 2 Special Edition DVD. Join me, as I take a fond look back at this cult classic. It's an intense psychological thriller with some of the most amazing car stunts ever realized on film. As per usual, remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the movie. However, since this is a Region 2 disc, there may be issues with synchronization, as these tend to move at a slightly faster framerate, not to mention that the sound is also pitched up a bit.

In any case, strap in, buckle up and have fun. But always remember, never pick up a hitchhiker, unless it's me because, you know, I don't drive. :)

Inca Mummy Girl is the fourth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That much, I do know. Apparently, that's pretty much it. A few corrections I want to point out: In this commentary, I mistakenly refer to the actor playing Devon as the actual lead vocalist for the band, Four Star Mary. After researching the episode for show notes, something I probably should have done before the recording, I realize now that Jason Hall is an actor, playing the role of a musician. My apologies for the mix-up. Also, I talk about how Devon isn't in the show after season two. This is also false. Jason Hall appears quite a few times throughout season three, and at least once in season four. Again, I'm sorry for my ignorance.

Anyway, Inca Mummy girl gives us an abundance of at least three good things: Seth Green, cinematic lighting, quality music by Four Star Mary, Willow in an Eskimo outfit and special guest star, Ara Celi. Oh, and a mummy. Can't forget about the mummy. Okay, so that's clearly more than three good things. I can't help it, there's a lot to enjoy about this episode. I mean, it's another solid Xander-themed episode. What's not to love? You're not supposed to answer that. It's rhetorical.

After a sudden attack of kidney stones, followed by severe sickness, I'm back to my old self. To celebrate, I take a look at How I Met Your Mother's third episode from the first season, "Sweet Taste Of Liberty". Ted just wants to hang out with his regular friends at his regular bar, but Barney's got other plans. The fun becomes "legendary" when the two guys spontaneously board a plane to Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, back at the bar, Robin and Lily try to spend some time together. When random guys start hitting on Robin, Lily is ultimately ignored. At Marshall's request, she pockets her engagement ring. In this episode, it's all about trust, adventure and the desire to lick things. This was recorded very late at night, so by the end of it, I'm very tired and a bit incoherent. As per usual, I'll do a countdown and tell you when to start the show on your DVD.

The Sofa Dogs team would like to wish writer/director Joss Whedon, a happy birthday. He turns 43.

What do you do when there are no new Lost episodes to review? Rehash the ones you've already seen of course! With that in mind, the three of us embark on a Greatest Hits tour of Season 3, picking our many highlights across a range of categories and awarding one or two wooden spoons to break up the gushing.

Note: The Stu and Gary half of this episode was recorded around a week before the Stu and John half, and in an unprecedented turn of bad luck, 12 planes flew over Stu's house throughout the hour. Most of them were easily edited out, but one or two low rumbles survive.

Notes:
Promo: Tony's Losing It
Promo: PodCulture
Whedonesque
Gallery @ Lost-Media.com

It wouldn't be a true end to the season without tantalising DVD info being dangled in front of us rabid fans, would it? Unfortunately, this year's release has an awfully distant December 11th street date attached to it :(

Excerpt from the press release:

Examine all 23 one-hour episodes on 7-disc DVD and discover deeper secrets behind the series with over 6 hours of bonus features including never-before-seen "Lost Flashbacks", "Lost in One Day" that shows 24 hours of production, and a deeper dive into "The World of the Others," where cast and producers reveal more about the island's secret inhabitants. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at 10 episodes with "Lost on Location," deleted scenes, bloopers and more.

BONUS FEATURES:

• "The World of the Others" - The secrets and mysteries of the Others revealed by the cast and producers
• "Lost Flashbacks" - Never-before-seen glimpses into the past lives of the castaways
• "Lost in One Day" - An exclusive behind-the scene look at 24 hours in the life of this series
• "Lost on Location" - A behind-the-scenes look at 10 episodes
• "The Lost Book Club" - Get hints to the significance of the show's literary references
• Deleted Scenes
• Bloopers
• Audio Commentaries

All sounds fine and dandy, but if the US release date is mid-December I hate to think when the UK version will surface! Looks like I'm importing again...

Sources:
Check out the full-size artwork and the complete press release at TVShowsOnDVD.com

Jacob loves you!

No. More. Lost. Till. 2008.

AUGH!!!

Despite their anguish, Stu and Gary manage to compose themselves long enough to record a farewell podcast for the final episode, Through the Looking Glass. Even though the finale was a double-length episode, we somehow trimmed this review down to only a few minutes longer than The Man Behind the Curtain podcast. How? Probably by missing out lots of crucial discussion points, but hey, we're still in shock/denial/grief here okay?

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Notes:
Enjoy Jack's beard with Lost-Media screencaps

It's John's 28th birthday (or at least it was last Wednesday...) and my present to him is a 9am wake-up call to record a special birthday podcast! It takes a wee while for him to shake the sleepiness, but soon we're getting into all the big event movies of the coming Summer including Spider-man 3, Transformers, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and The Bourne Ultimatum.

Day 2 of the recording session, seamlessly edited together with Day 1 (*ahem*), concerns a few of the shows that have perished in this year's end of season cancellation carnage, as well as one or two pilot pickups and 11th hour renewals: Veronica Mars, Jericho, The Class, How I Met Your Mother, Traveler and The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Happy birthday John :)

Brandon Ortega joins me once again via speaker phone, as we take a look at Firefly's tenth episode, War Stories. Wash is jealous of the respect Zoe has for Mal, so he insists Mal take him on their latest adventure. A simple delivery operation becomes dangerous when Niska returns to kidnap Mal and Wash, holding them for ransom. Now, it's up to the remaining crew of Serenity to initiate a risky rescue mission.

Brandon and I discuss Book's past (or lack thereof), Jayne's eating habits and the cost of producing a weekly sci-fi series for network television. We also address what some of the cast members have been up to lately. Once again, be sure to listen for the preemptive countdown before engaging the hyper drive of your DVD.

An old friend from High School, Justin Krey sits down as my special guest as we revisit Richard Stanley's cult classic, Dust Devil. After spending the better part of a decade lost in video limbo and cut to incomprehensible shreds, the film can finally be appreciated in full on DVD.

A shape-shifting serial killer prays on lonely, desperate women who have lost hope and want to die. Meanwhile, a sullen cop tries to maintain order among the corrupt police force as he chases the demon across the South African desert. The Walking Man, played by Robert John Burke begins a cat and mouse game of seduction with his latest victim, as his human form conflicts with the spiritual realm.

Justin and I take a look at the film's layers of social, political and spiritual themes. We also discuss the circular nature of the film's narrative structure and how the most intelligent and creative filmmakers are usually misunderstood by the Hollywood assembly line. As per usual, listen for the preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

The story of How I Met Your Mother continues, in Purple Giraffe, the second episode of the first season. After getting shot down by Robin, Ted attempts to win her heart again by throwing not one, not two, but three (!) impromptu parties. Meanwhile, Barney keeps running into a one night stand, as he tries desperately to find out who Carlos is. Also, Lily can't keep her hands off of Marshall who's struggling to finish an important paper before the deadline.

Join me as I talk about the art of controlling the claw machine, my disdain for parties and large crowds and the near impossible feat of staying "just friends" with a woman you wish would have your children. As per usual, listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

Well I tried to get this episode edited up well in advance of tonight's US airing of episode 21, and um... I got the 'in advance' part right. I'll work on the 'well' for next week...

So...The Man Behind the Curtain. What can you say? This one had it all. Father issues in the flashback, a magic circle, gas masks, hand-carved birthday presents, a mass grave. Oh and 11 frames of Jacob.

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Notes:
Didn't spot Jacob? Lost-Media did.

"Shiny!" Universal Home Entertainment is releasing a 2-disc Collector's Edition of Serenity on August 21st. According to DVD Active, these are the special features for the DVD:

• 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation.
• English Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1 Surround tracks.
• Audio commentary with Joss Whedon.
• Audio commentary with Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Ron Glass.
• Introduction by Joss Whedon.
• Deleted scenes with director commentary.
• Extended scenes.
• Outtakes.
• Take A Walk On Serenity featurette.
• Green Clan featurette.
• We'll Have A Fruity Oaty Good Time! featurette.
• A Filmmaker's Journey featurette.
• Future History: The Story Of Earth That Was featurette.
• Re-lighting The Firefly featurette.
• What's In A Firefly? featurette.
• Session 416 featurette.
• Sci-Fi Inside: Serenity featurette.

Click here for larger artwork.

What do you folks think of the new cover and these specs? Share your rants/raves on the Message Board. For the latest news on upcoming DVD releases, be sure to visit www.dvdactive.com

YEEHAW!!!! Ahem, sorry about that. What I meant to say was, it's The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. In the Pilot episode of this prematurely canceled series, Bruce Campbell stars as a gunslinging free-thinker, hot on the trail of the criminals who killed his Father. However, the wild west is more than what it appears to be on the surface. In his seemingly endless quest for revenge, Brisco periodically encounters a mystical, metallic orb that may in fact be from the future.

Yes, it's the original Sci-fi Western, long before Joss Whedon came along and made it trendy. :) Just as with my usual audio commentaries, be sure to listen for my preemptive countdown before pulling a quick draw on your trigger-happy remote.

Inevitability won out, forcing Stu and Gary to leapfrog 8 episodes of Lost and land smack in the middle of The Brig. Let's face it, we were deluded if we thought we had a hope of catching up, even with squeezing two episodes into each review. Not to neglect our responsibilities entirely, here are Stu's insightful one-word reviews of the missing 8:

Enter 77: Good.
Par Avion: Excellent.
The Man from Tallahassee: Excellent.
Exposé: Razzledazzle!
Left Behind: Meh.
One of Us: Good.
Catch-22: Desmond!
D.O.C.: Meh.

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Notes:
Screencaps for The Brig
Promo: WhedonCast

Courtesy of Allie Leung at Lionsgate, here is the final, official information for the upcoming 2-disc 20th Anniversary Edition of The Monster Squad:

THE END OF THE WORLD STARTS AT MIDNIGHT

THE MONSTER SQUAD: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
   
Street Date: 7/24/07
Order Date: 6/27/07
DVD SRP: $19.98

Click here for larger artwork.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The 1980s cult classic, The Monster Squad, makes its long awaited DVD debut with a monster-ous 20th anniversary edition.  To pay tribute to this true fan favorite, the 2-disc set will be featured in collectible foil o-card packaging and is loaded with extra features, including a five-part retrospective, classic interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries and much more!  

Count Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gillman adjourn to earth in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world.  However, a bunch of kids regarded by their peers as losers and outsiders uncover the devious plan and prepare for a counter strike.  Now, our heroes - the Monster Squad - are the only ones daring to stand in their way...

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• Monster Squad Forever! A five-part retrospective featuring new interviews with writer/director Fred Dekker, actors Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Ashley Bank, Duncan Regehr, Tom Noonan and more!
• A Conversation with Frankenstein: A never-before-seen classic interview with the Monster himself!
• Deleted Scenes
• Audio commentary with Writer/Director Fred Dekker and "Squad Members" Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert and Ashley Bank
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Fred Dekker and Director of Photography Bradford May
• Original Theatrical Trailer and TV Spot
• Stills Gallery
• Newly Mastered 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 1987
Title Copyright: © 1987 Taft Entertainment Pictures/Keith Barish Productions.  All Rights Reserved.
Type: Special Edition
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Horror
Closed Captioned: English Closed Captioned
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Format: 16 x 9 Widescreen
Feature Running Time: 82 minutes
DVD Audio Status: Remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, Original 2.0 Dolby Stereo Audio

For additional information on this release, e-mail Elizabeth Atler at Elizabeth_atler@bhimpact.com

Surf on over to DVD Empire and reserve your copy RIGHT NOW!

Big thanks to Allie and the fantastic company that is LIONSGATE.

Smokin' Aces is a melting pot of genres and characters. Some of it works, some of it doesn't, but it's full of vibrant energy and it's never boring. The story concerns a Las Vegas Illusionist who must decide between his loyalty to his friends and his desire to escape the dangers of the mob lifestyle. Buddy "Aces" Israel is a prisoner in every sense of the word. He's forced to hideout in the Penthouse Suite of a posh hotel while negotiating a deal with the FBI to testify against The Mob.

As Buddy slowly breaks down and spirals deeper into self destruction, The Mob gets wind of his plans and decides to put out a free for all contract on the magician's head with a hefty reward in tow. Bail Bondsmen, Snipers and Neo-Nazi Psychopaths of all shapes and sizes descend on the hotel as the FBI tries to get to Buddy before everyone else.

Join me as the blood and bullets fly all over the screen, and Ryan Reynolds proves once and for all that he's more than just a funny Canadian. Just as with most of my audio commentaries, listen for my preemptive countdown before pressing "play" on your trusty, DVD remote.

Drive continues, with its second episode, Partners. Rob and Ellie's relationship is tested when she begins lying to him about his orders from the army. Corinna reveals her involvement with The Race to Alex. John changes his assumptions after he and Violet get assistance from the Salazar Brothers. Meanwhile, Mrs. Patrakas struggles with the notion of killing Ivy. The episode builds to an inspiring space shuttle launch, and the realization that Alex may be closer to rescuing his wife than first suspected.

Just as before, I recorded my commentary while watching the episode on streaming video, so there is no preemptive countdown.

The new episodes of Lost just keep on comin' don't they? Shame we're still 9 episodes behind with our reviews. Wait...what's that? We've recorded another podcast and are now only 7 episodes behind? Huzzah!

As if John's commentary wasn't enough, we throw in our own lamentations for the dearly departed Drive, as well as deliver a crucial update on the unstoppable juggernaut that is Australia in the Cricket World Cup.

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Planes fly over Stu's house a few times in this episode, so don't adjust your sets when you hear that low rumble...

Drive involves an assortment of characters competing in an illegal, cross-country road race, with a prize of $32,000,000 rumored to be at the finish line. Some people have been coerced into joining The Race, while others have sought it out. Some people are going after the money, while others are trying to save their loved ones.

It's a fun and exciting mystery from executive producers Ben Queen (Century City) and Tim Minear (Angel, Wonderfalls, Firefly, The Inside), currently airing on the Fox Network.... Oh, no wait. I'm sorry, it's been canceled. The series has only produced 6 episodes, and thanks to MySpace and their Fox On Demand page, we may get to see them all. Using the site's streaming video, I jump right in for my commentary on the first episode, The Starting Line. No preemptive countdown here. That means the second you start the show, you can start the podcast.

If we get a DVD set for Drive, I can do a proper commentary later down the road. For now, you'll have to settle for these on-the-fly recordings. So, strap in, adjust your mirrors and put your hands at 10 and 2 as I discuss the turbulent nature of network television and the importance of story versus character progression.

And no sooner has Lost season 3 resumed than 9 new episodes have flown past (as of recording - it's 10 now!) and Gary and I find ourselves so far off the pace we might as well be back kicking sand on the beach pre-hatch. Not to be deterred by such trifling details, we embark on what may well prove an insane attempt to get back up to date with Island proceedings, starting with Not in Portland and Flashes Before Your Eyes.

Since we're playing catch-up, we tried as best we could to stay away from the scene by scene format of the last 3 podcasts and focus more on the important points from each episode. Also: Desmond is Scottish!

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

It's our 1st Anniversary! To celebrate, I've dug deep into the vault to bring you the lost commentary for Jaws: The Revenge. This track was recorded by myself and frequent co-host, Allen Coe at least a year ago. After our first session/episode for Sofa Dogs, which was the original Jaws from 1975, we decided to follow it up with the last film in the franchise.

By this point, Allen had consumed several tall boys (cans) of beer, which made for quite a loose and interesting commentary. A day or so after the fact however, Allen couldn't recall much of what he said and had second thoughts of releasing the recording to our audience. Afraid that this audio track reflected badly on him, he asked me to keep it to myself. Although I tried to convince him that he sounded just fine, I respected my friend's wishes, and so the file was tucked away in my hard drive and remained there for a full year.

He's since then had time to get over such fears, so it is with great pleasure that I can finally present to you our vague ramblings on Jaws: The Revenge. We laugh, roll our eyes and occasionally yell at the screen as a bloated, wobbly puppet of a shark manages to track down the last of the Brody clan all the way to the Bahamas, for...uh, for some reason. Tea and cake, maybe?

It's been over ten years since Empire Records and its colorful employees came into our lives. Since then, the film has become something of a cherished, cult classic. My good friend and Empire fanatic, Susie Richards and I watch and discuss the movie together, via speaker phone. The story takes place roughly within a 24 hour period and centers around a small, independent record store. The place is in danger of being bought out by an evil, corporate chain called Music Town. It's up to Empire's underdog staff to rebel against the system and maintain their family unit of rock n' roll dysfunction.

Join Susie and I as we take a look at the 2003 Special Edition DVD (basically a Director's Cut), and ponder such baffling questions like:
What exactly happened to Deb to make her suicidal?
What really happened to Lucas when he was in Atlantic City?
Why has there never been a Volume Two Soundtrack Album?
Where's the rest of the footage still missing from the movie?
Why no definitive DVD (commentary, retrospective documentary, etc.)?
Just what the hell is Warren's real name, anyway?

After enjoying the podcast, head on over to Open Till Midnight for the ultimate Empire Records fan site. It's chock full of music info, trivia, custom MySpace layouts, desktop wallpapers and even an online store! I recommend the "You make me feel like a bath" t-shirt.

As John and I try for the third time to get his latest movie commentary uploaded, I thought it might be worth pointing out some contributions we've made of late to other podcasts. To hear me ramble for five minutes about scifi classic The Abyss check out the latest episode of PodCulture. To read John's thoughts on Sarah Michelle Gellar's The Return (among other things) head on over to the reviews section at Geekshow.us.

Coming soon: Empire Records.

The killer combination of illness (Stu), laziness (Stu) and dialup modem (John) means it's been over a month since a new episode was posted. But that's not to say new episodes haven't been recorded, as this second installment of John and Brandon's Lost pilot commentary amply proves. In your face Gods of Podfading!

As before, Brandon is on speakerphone for this episode so his half of the conversation, while generally intelligible, isn't as clear as John's half.

John and Brandon had seen the first few episodes of season 3 when this was recorded, but I don't think there are any major spoilers beyond the finale of season 2.

According to a later episode of How I Met Your Mother, nothing good happens after 2 AM. I decided to test that theory by recording a commentary a couple of hours before sunrise. The pilot of How I Met Your Mother concerns the early years of Ted Mosby and his epic quest to find the future Miss Right. Meanwhile, newly engaged couple Marshall and Lily are lucky enough to have found each other, and man-about-town Barney is simply looking for Miss Right Now. It's a love story told in reverse. Suit up and join me, won't you?

Despite protracted interference from the gods of Skype, MSN and voice chat in general, Stu and Gary finally complete their jaunt through the first 6 episodes of Lost season 3. And with only 4 days to spare before the first new episode airs no less...

The Cost of Living and I, Do are up for scrutiny, and the result is a roughly equal mixture of ranting and approval. This being the final part of the review, we also touch a little on what we expect (and hope) to see in forthcoming episodes, as well as some general thoughts on the future of the show.

Episodes 1 through 6 of season 3 are considered fair game as far as spoilers are concerned. Lost returns February 7th in the US and February 11th in the UK.

Promo: Fanboy Smackdown

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

We return to Lost season 3 for another 2 episode installment. This time we're attempting to sift the divine insight of the Island itself from the convincing untruths of the conman, as we tackle Further Instructions and Every Man for Himself.

Once again, every episode of season 3 broadcast thus far is considered fair game as far as spoilers are concerned. Lost returns in the US in less than 2 weeks!

Promo: Two Girls and a Podcast

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

For the first episode of 2007, Gary of OzPod joins Stu to co-host the first in a three part review of the 6 episode mini-season which comprised the opening of Lost season 3.

A Tale of Two Cities (commentary) and The Glass Ballerina (commentary) are first up as we chat about the highs and lows of the new season, while trying to extract as many clues as possible as to where the show will take us when it returns on February 7th.

Any of the first six episodes of season 3 are considered fair game as far as spoilers are concerned

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

In a vain attempt to claw back some chronological order for the Lost commentaries, John is joined via speakerphone by Brandon for a chat about the first part of the episode that started it all. (That's the pilot for you Tail section types...)

Much general discussion of the nature of the show and its success ensues, along with the requisite 5 minutes of intense debate over Jack's regenerating haircut.

The audio quality of Brandon's half isn't quite as good as on the last Buffy track, who knows why, but I've done my best to balance out the volume where I can.

The disembodied voice of Brandon Ortega joins me via speakerphone, or via my unstable psyche, I forget which. In any case, we talk about the second episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season, Some Assembly Required. As we first discover during this episode, in Sunnydale, there are many different ways to bring someone back from the dead. Two students apply the classic, Frankenstein method. They're hoping to revive the promise of a once great football hero. He's been totally off his game ever since he caught a slight case of death.

Unfortunately, the guy gets greedy and demands a mate. They decide to go after Cordelia Chase and her pretty, little head to complete the jigsaw puzzle of body parts. Sounds like the perfect plan to me. She is, after all, the apex of the cheerleading pyramid. If this episode teaches you anything, it's that dead guys need love, too.

Having failed to set up a conference call so John, Tom and I could record a new episode, I head back to the grindstone (which is shaped oddly like a microphone...) to record another solo Lost commentary to fill the void.

As befits any last minute substitute, I go into The Glass Ballerina with no notes whatsoever and an MPEG file sans subtitles. Recipe for success? You decide...

As before, this commentary comes in two exciting varieties to maximise the chances of it synching up with the episode. You only need download the version specific to your region as the content is identical:


Notes:
LOSTCasts: The Glass Ballerina
Official Lost podcast

Finally, I have returned from my extensive hiatus. I'm back, I'm bad and I'm spreading the Buffy love....Eeeewww. Nevermind. Forget what I just said. In an attempt to bring back some semblance of order and chronology, I tackle the opener for season two, When She Was Bad. In it, Buffy returns to Sunnydale after her own little hiatus. She brings along with her a major Joan Collins 'tude. Could her new Bitca vibes be connected to the resurrecting power of The Master's remains? Yeah, sure. Why not?

Meanwhile, Willow's got something on her face (a cuteness booger, I call it) and Xander does a little Dirty Dancing with the Buffster to the sensuous sounds of Cibo Matto. Well actually, it's more like he just stands there while The Slayer grinds up against him, but honestly I'd be paralyzed from the neck down, too. :)

It feels great to back in the saddle, and by saddle, I mean of course my squeaky computer chair!