Ho, ho ho.
Otherwise known as the seasonal empty wallet clarion call. Yes, it’s Gift Guide time.
You’ll notice that this year something strange has happened. The amount of Blu-rays and DVD on the list is almost non-existent. So far has the digital revolution taken us that there are only a few recommendations we can make this Christmas. And pictures of gift cards aren’t exactly sexy now are they?
So, in assuage the movie fans in your life here are our recommendations of what to fill your sack with.
Alien: The Archive
The name Mark Salisbury associated with a film book is enough to convince me that it’s worth picking up – the man recently illuminated Dark Shadows to me recently and that’s no mean feat (his Burton on Burton is an essential text). But here Salisbury takes on a beast, a star beast, one which has held us captive since it first poked violently from John Hurt’s chest in 1979.
Salisbury’s interviews form the greatest part of this book and there’s an intelligent, detached perspective used here. The result is a loving, candid exploration of the film series (Resurrection is a must-read, as it is a beautiful mess of a film) with a swathe of behind the scenes photos and concept art.
My personal favourite section comes at the end of the section on Alien 3 with the best descripition of Vincent Ward’s famous Wooden Planet plan for the third film. The concept art makes the planet look like an Ikea Death Star with cathedrals and stained glass instead of sick bays and portholes.
It is an utterly compelling book, and on the 35th anniversary of the series there’s no better to look back.
Published by from Titan Books
Battlerstar Galactica Vault
It’s with a sense of sadness that we recommend this book, as the death of the real captain of Battlestar, Glen A. Larson, died a few days ago.
He had a hand in many staples of our televisual adolescense. Knight Rider, Automan (which no-one but me remembers) and the sci-fi behemoth whose 21st Century regenratation paved the way for popular reboots and modern TV as a place for aggressive conceptual undertakings. Religion and humanity were two of the grand themes of New Galactica, and the modern interpreatatin is givien the lion’s share of this book. However the history of the first series plays into a larger struggle against the complansency of the medium at that time.
The commentary in Paul Ruditis’ book is as valuable as the comprehensive photologs and the Vault series trump card – the reproduced props and miscellany (my personal favourite is the Galatic currency notes and something I’d never seen beofre – Ralph McQuarrie’s poster for the original series).
It is an unwitting tribute to a great man of (tele)vision, whose ideas and tenacity shaped our childhoods and fired out imagination. His is a great loss, so say we all.
Available from Aurum Press
Book of the Dead: The Complete History of Zombie Cinema
Jamie Russell’s updating of this book makes for fascinating reading. Now easily ubiquitous enough to be called a genre in its own right the Zombie film has a staggering amount of entries. The filmography which makes up a large part of this book is full of wonderful oddities to be discovered.
While the history of the genre is well presented and fascinating in its own right, it being a treasure trove from zombiefilck newbies, the most interesting sections begin at the end. The last decade and a half have seen the zombie movie take all sorts of new directions, and the lines drawn from the sauce of Savini to the zany fun of Zombieland are what make this book invaluable.
It ends with World War Z, a far more basic zombie film that the parodic (Shaun), the millennial (I am Legend) and the jet-black satirical (Dead Set), and it’s a shame that it gets the last word. As Russell’s excellently written compendium of the cinematic undead proves – there are far more interesting places the undead are going to.
Available from Titan Books.
Buy your copy here.
Godzilla: The Art of Destruction
First off – even if you didn’t enjoy the film you’re sure to enjoy this book. I know, as I am testament to that fact.
This book cuts away the needless family in peril nonsense which the film needed to do and sticks to what is essentially the point of Edwards’ film. Destruction and protection of the world. There were some big surprises with this film, and some of the set pieces were among the best of the year – and thankfully the book concentrates on this part of the film.
The most insightful elements came from the character designs because here comes the wave of history which comes with Gareth Edward’s interpretation of the beast. The conceptual art more than the on set revelations (interesting and well described as they are) offer the greatest reward.
What the books means to do is pivot on the entire history of this monster and the various stages of society it has destroyed, and in revealing the monster, it reveals us.
Available from Titan Books.
Interstellar: Beyond Time and Space
It’s only right that I tell you that I didn’t enjoy Christopher Nolan’s film one bit. I found it lethargic and exhaustingly tenuous with a trite humanistic undertow.
That said the story of the film is far more interesting, though as you’d expect this is full of praise for Nolan, what this book does is look to illuminate the lofty ideas behind it.
Usually these books extend to no more than a printed EPK, and this does have that element to it, the story of Interstellar does serve to highlight some of the thinking behind it.
I was expecting a photobook with the odd interview thrown in – instead there’s more to this book than that. If you’re a fan of the film, check it out – just don’t expect any answers about the ending.
Available from Titan Books.
Joss Whedon: Geek King of the Universe
I love the understated title of Amy Pascale’s biography of Joss Whedon. It’s not too far from the truth however, with Whedon’s works each becoming magnets for unashamed, rabid fans. And what Pascale gets right immediately is the reverential and the ribald mixture key to a keen perspective on a man whose works are already deified and academically hoisted on a regular basis.
The book takes us on a well-researched, jaunty walk through Whedon’s work, taking in his family history, sadly only four pages on his work on Roseanne, the beginnings of Buffy and from there to eternity. There’s not a huge amount of new insight (remember the academics jump on everything Whedon does like a zombie dog on a juicy bone) but what I enjoyed most was the connections Pascale makes.
She illuminates Whedon’s love of ensemble (from Scooby to Shakespeare) and the skewering the hearts of fans who fall in love with those who themselves fall in love in his shows; horror and heartache go hand in hand throughout most of his work.
It’s a great education for newcomers, and a wonderful place to hang out for established fans.
Available from Aurum Press.
Sci-Fi Chronicles: A Visual History of the Galaxy’s Greatest Science Fiction
This may be my favourite item on the gift guide this year. I’ve had it for weeks now and still can’t see it without diving into it. I’ve read many things of Sci-Fi Cinema over the years, watched countless documentaries and loved watching the genre develop, despite the barnacle-like devotion to sequels and reboots it attracts.
What keeps me coming back is the accessible presentation, blending timelines and infographic insets without obscuring the text, which is authoritative and hugely enjoyable. The potted histories of many shows and film series are a lot of fun to read, and the artist’s rendition of an actual Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy sits alongside a comprehensive timeline of Douglas Adams’ saga.
It’s a beautiful book, incredibly enjoyable, even if you think you know it all – this book is essential.
Published by Aurum Press.
Buy your copy here.
On set with John Carpenter: The Photographs of Kim Gottlieb-Walker
This handsome book is made up of pictures from the camera of Kim Gottlieb-Walker, on-set from John Carpenter films Halloweens I and II, The Fog, Escape from New York and Christine. Carpenter and Co. look back with us, commenting on the pictures as we go – it’s like going through a very gory family album with a very charming extended family.
Obviously with so many photographs the value to the average film fan will vary, and many rely on the curiousity value, but there are a number of startling images: the demasking and clowning around of the man beneath the Michael Myers mask, Snake Plissken without his trademark eyepatch, what really was reaching out from The Fog and so on.
One of the chief highlights is happening upon one of the world’s most well-known directors looking very young and touching up a matte painting. It places the films and their cast and crew in the line from Roger Corman to the future of Hollywood.
A must buy for fans of Carpenter, a beautiful time capsule chronicling some iconic films.
Available from Titan Books.
Planet of the Apes: The Evolution of the Legend
With Dawn successfully following its prequel predecessor Rise this is boom time for the Planet of the Apes.
For a franchise on life support following a mauling at the hands of Tim Burton over a decade ago it took a lot of gumption to revisit the series, but with Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves this is now one of the most acclaimed film sagas of recent years.
This wonderful book charts the origins of the apes and the startling success of the first film, and the extent to which it surprised and delighted the Fox executives. The snowballing (and inevitable decline in quality) of the films as they went on is a fascinating read, with action figures, face masks, Saturday morning cartoons marking just some of the pop culture targets hit.
They do not gloss over Burton’s Apes, though it gets far less coverage than its brothers, where this book excels in the details. The lost chapter, Return to the Planet of the Apes, makes compelling reading and gives context for how difficult it was to resurrect the series.
The book is a must for fans of the films as it gives you enough to geek out on while not missing the importance of the films in terms of social commentary and their effectiveness as cinema.
Available from Titan Books.
Withnail and I: 2K Restoration
This is how you do a limited edition release.
Arrow Films are having a wonderful year with a stellar line up of beautifully packaged and restored releases – the news that they are coming to America is very welcome indeed.
Their highlight release of this year is our first recommendation for your stocking, and it’s as unholy and dreary a film as you can get – call it counter programming on our part.
That Withnail and I is part of Britain’s cinematic heritage is not in doubt, and its restoration and celebration in this box set is well deserved. This is the perfect bridge between the movie book section and the sparse Blu-ray element as the included book is quite something, and a must for fans. Here’s the full package Arrow Films have cooked up.
4-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
- New 2K restoration of WITHNAIL and I from the original camera negative, supervised and approved by director of photography Peter Hannan
- Bruce Robinson’s follow-up feature, How to Get Ahead in Advertising, newly transferred from original film elements and approved by director of photography Peter Hannan
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD Presentation of both films
- Original uncompressed mono 1.0 PCM audio for both films
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Audio commentary by writer-director Bruce Robinson
- Audio commentary by critic and writer Kevin Jackson, author of the BFI Modern Classic on WITHNAIL and I
- All four original ‘Withnail Weekend’ documentaries, first screened on Channel 4 in 1999, including The Peculiar Memories of Bruce Robinson, which looks at the director’s career, Withnail & Us, which focuses on the film’s making, and two shorter documentaries, I Demand to Have Some Booze and Withnail on the Pier
- Newly filmed interviews with key members of WITHNAIL and I’s behind-the-scenes team (TBC)
- Theatrical trailers for both films
- Exclusive limited edition hardback book packaging (2,000 copies) containing new writing on the films, reprints of key articles on WITHNAIL and I, deleted scenes and more across 200 pages, illustrated with original production stills
M:I 4 Movie Set
With filming on a fifth instalment recently completed we felt it was time to revisit the series which began in a time when ‘686 prototypes, with the artificial intelligence RISC chip’ was the next big thing.
While the series veers wildly in overall quality what some of the set pieces in the films are among the best in recent years. The bike fight in Woo’s II, the bridge attack in Abrams’s third outing and let’s not forget the computer terminal assault in the first – magic.
When you want to spend half a day on your sofa there’s nothing like the M:I films to make you feel you’re spending your time wisely.
Star Trek: 10 Movie Stardate Collection
We love Star Trek and most of us have one or two of the films on Blu-ray but this sparkly new set is a must-have. You haven’t enjoyed Star Trek until you’ve seen it in the original definition. That’s a play on a famous line from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, you see?
So this set may not have the packaging majesty of other options here but to have each of the original and Next Gen cast Trek movies lined up is the perfect way to spend a festive holiday held down by a food weight on the sofa.
The set contains all the extras already available including commentaries, deleted scenes and various archive bits.
The Hayao Miyazaki Collection
Ok. Here’s the deal. If you’ve made it so far without fingering your wallet for loose change then a) well done and b) here’s one you can’t resist.
On the 8th of December StudioCanal are releasing each of Hayao Miyazaki’s film on Blu-ray. And if that wasn’t enough there’s a bonus disc and heaps of extras to hook you right in the Ghiblis.
It’s no secret that we love Miyazaki’s work on HeyUGuys, we’re only human, but even we were taken aback by the sheer beauty on display here. The Blu-rays are gorgeous, the packaging a delight – and we can’t deny the thought of embedding ourselves in a post-Christmas daze of coconut Quality Street and sprout sandwiches will be a joy if there’s Miyazaki’s filmography in HD on hand.
Here’s what you can get
EXCLUSIVE BOOKLET
? On The Miyazaki Style
? The Films of Hayao Miyazaki
? The Great Dichotomy: Looking at the Works of Hayao Miyazaki
? Chihiro’s Mysterious Town by Hayao Miyazaki
? Ponyo One Sheet Treatment by Hayao Miyazaki
? The Wind Rises Film proposal by Hayao Miyazaki
? Appendix
BONUS DISC
? Hayao Miyazaki’s official retirement press conference (90 mins)
And here’s the set in all its glory. It just screams ‘Buy it now‘. And so do we. In a nice way.
Happy Christmas.
