December 07, 2002
December 7, 2002

Happy Day of Infamy ... a formative event of my upbringing, the Attack on Pearl Harbor is now 61 years in the past. Helped by the trivializing effect of a certain movie last year, I fear it's quickly being filed away by our culture as some ancient event with no relevance to today's world - which is ridiculous, considering the events of the last year. The past of 1941, where one could at least identify one's enemy, almost seems nostalgic now.

Just one review tonight, mainly because I'm working editorial through the weekend instead of having two days to screen and write. But it's an important title for Savant - a personal 'Crusade' movie, the kind I twist arms trying to get seen.

Image's DVD of Invaders from Mars, the 1953 original, finally presents the paranoid classic with good color and excellent sound, from a 35mm source for perhaps the first time. But the only surviving element (or so the disc claims) has plenty of surface flaws, mostly hairline scratches. Much of the review is Savant's argument why it's a great disc anyway.

A surprise screener came in yesterday. Cult DVD has sent a 1980 goofball pastiche called J-Men Forever - a silly, screwy comedy that Savant never could resist. Got a couple others to review first, but I'll get to it. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson

Posted by DVD Savant at December 07, 2002 07:20 PM