Ackerman, Forrest J

Look, Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman

Here he is! It's Superman -- in an amazing thrill-packed story of the legendary hero through the years: from comic books to cartoons to TV to movies including awesome see-it-first see-it-now footage of 2006's Superman Returns. Discover the Man of Steel story that's never been told with the action and excitement you expect from the mightiest of all heroes. No matter if you're a super fan or just a movie fan this is the adventure you've been waiting for.Running Time: 90 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 012569404526 Manufacturer No: 4045

Executive-produced by Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and narrated by star Kevin Spacey, Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman is an exhaustive, nearly two-hour documentary covering over 60 years of the Man of Steel. It begins with the early work of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster leading to the 1938 Action Comics debut of Superman, then continues through the Max Fleischer cartoons, the Columbia serials, to the 1950s Adventures of Superman series and the tragic suicide of its star, George Reeves. Then it's on to the 1966 Broadway musical, the 1970s feature films (including screen tests of Stockard Channing and Lesley Anne Warren), the paralysis and death of star Christopher Reeve, the subsequent TV series Lois & Clark and Smallville, and the 2006 feature Superman Returns. The documentary also discusses Superman's transformations during World War II, the atomic age, and the 1960s; events in the comic books such as John Byrne's reboot and The Death of Superman; and obscurities such as a pilot for The Adventures of Superpup and the TV-musical version of It's a Bird… It's a Plane… It's Superman. Interview subjects range from two-production stars such as Noel Neill and Jack Larson (who were in both Adventures of Superman and Superman Returns), and Annette O'Toole (Superman III and Smallville) to producer Ilya Salkind, director Richard Donner, Margot Kidder, Stan Lee, Dean Cain, and Brandon Routh. The animated series deserves more coverage, and some interviewees are conspicuously absent--no surprise Lois & Clark's Teri Hatcher couldn't find the time, but what about Smallville's Tom Welling?--but overall it's an impressive and engaging examination of the DC Comics icon. --David Horiuchi

Vampira The Movie

The true life story of the world's first TV horror movie host is unveiled in this labor-of-love documentary. Bonus features include: Director commentary, Screening lectures, Music video, Trailer, Outtakes, "Joe Flynn Show" Vampira episode and more.

Frazetta - Painting with Fire

For the last half century, Frank Frazetta has dominated the world of Fantasy Art with his images of fierce warriors, helpless princesses, and fantastical creatures set in the most lavish landscapes.

Journey to a place where up until now, only the privileged have been, and witness the man behind the legend. See what hardships he overcame and choices he made that drastically changed the course of his career.

Painting With Fire tells of a fascinating life and what Frazetta's artwork means to future inspirations. Share an intimate moment with this artistic virtuoso as Frank Frazetta's extraordinary life story unfolds before your eyes.

Ringers - Lord of the Fans

Of all the documentaries devoted to J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic, Ringers: Lord of the Fans is the first and only one to respectfully honor the good-natured depth and breadth of Lord of the Rings fandom. Like Peter Jackson with his phenomenal Lord of the Rings film trilogy, director Carlene Cordova and cowriter Cliff Broadway (contributors to theonering.net, the definitive LOTR fan site) were the perfect team to create this wildly entertaining tribute. The film's globetrotting ambition is constantly impressive, but Ringers remains keenly focused on its lively exploration of Rings fan devotion, presented here with a flawless combination of informative objectivity and insider enthusiasm. From the inspiration behind Tolkien's Middle-earth and the immediate success of The Hobbit upon its 1937 publication, to the hippie embrace of Rings mythology in the late 1960s and the revival of fandom in the wake of Jackson's trilogy, Ringers (the accepted nickname of devotees) has it all: Influential authors such as Clive Barker, Terry Pratchett, and Terry Brooks offer their Rings-related insights along with such Tolkien-inspired musicians as Rush's Geddy Lee and Motorhead's Lenny Kilmister, and literally hundreds of fans provide affectionate testimonials to the source of their devotion. Peter Jackson and most of the LOTR trilogy's primary cast are also included in the constant flow of interviews.

Dedicated to Tolkien as a valentine by smart and dedicated fans, the film generates its own infectious goodwill; it's so fun to watch that even non-fans will concede (to borrow a phrase from another world of fandom) that resistance is futile. (Oh, and speaking of Star Trek, the vintage clip of Leonard Nimoy singing his novelty hit "Bilbo Baggins" is absolutely priceless.) Actor Dominic Monaghan ("Merry" from Jackson's trilogy, before joining the ensemble cast of Lost) perfectly delivers the film's eloquent narration, which runs the LOTR gamut from intellectual appreciation to the hilarious eccentricities of über-fan obsession. Unfailingly noble in spirit and delightfully comprehensive, Ringers is a collector's gift that can proudly stand alongside Tolkien's books and Jackson's timeless movie trilogy. --Jeff Shannon

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies

In the tradition of A Decade Under The Influence Schlock: The Secret History Of American Movies surveys one of the most fertile yet underappreciated eras of American cinema: the 1950s and '60s. During this period a talented group of independent filmmakers churned out scores of imaginative no-holds-barred exploitation films and b-movies that thrilled drive-in audiences pushed creative boundaries and offered the perfect training ground for nascent filmmakers like Peter Bogdanovich and Francis Ford Coppola. This fascinating documentary examines the golden age of schlock through interviews with the era's key players including legendary producer Sam Ark off sexploitation queen Doris Washman b-movie maestro Roger Carmen and many more schlock icons.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 825307910292 Manufacturer No: 91029-7

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Family Portrait Revisited

In 1974 Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist) unleashed a film that was an intense study of homicidal madness and psychological horror. It has since become a cult phenomenon and the most successful independent horror film ever made. This is the first ever comprehensive documentary of the making of this landmark film. It includes in depth interviews with Gunnar (Leatherface) Hanson Edwin (The Hitchhiker) Neal John (Grandpa) Dugan and Jim (The Cook) Seidow. Including footage from the film and never before seen production photos. So sit back and experience the making of a nightmare.System Requirements: Running Time 70 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 039414510676 Manufacturer No: MTI1067DVD

Director Tobe Hooper and screenwriter Kim Henkel are nowhere to be found in Brad Shellady's 1988 documentary on the notorious 1974 cult film of Texas cannibalism, perverted patriarchy, and other family values. Shellady's investigation is founded almost exclusively on interviews with actors who make up the cannibal family: Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface), Edwin Neal (the hitchhiker), Jim Siedow (the cook), John Dugan (Grandfather), interspersed with film clips and a few outtakes. The result is a bare-bones production largely dedicated to production stories, with little attempt to explore the primal forces the churn through the picture or examine the cult that sprung out of the film, and no interest in addressing the black-humored 1986 sequel starring Dennis Hopper. Fans of the film will appreciate the behind-the-scenes anecdotes, but most viewers will have a hard time working through the interviews, which seem to drone on and on. Without input from the creators, this is little more than a fan's salute to a film he loves.

The DVD is advertised as "digitally remastered and remixed," which is likely true, but the dull shot-on-video interviews and grainy film clips don't look appreciably better in the digital format and sound is soft and mushy. Also included are original trailers and actor bios. --Sean Axmaker

Dracula vs. Frankenstein

Judith Fontaine (Regina Carrol) is looking for her sister Joanie, who has disappeared into the hippie community of Venice, California. It turns out Joanie has become the victim of Groton (Lon Chaney Jr.), an axe-wielding homicidal maniac. Dr. Durray (J

Future War

Attack of the 50 Ft. Monster Mania

Host Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, brings viewers on an adventure of monstrous proportions. With razor-sharp teeth, deadly claws and giant feet, giant movie monsters have left their oversized imprints in film history. The terrifying one-hour special Attack of the 50 Foot Monster Mania showcases such films as King Kong and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, examining why giant monsters frighten us and why cultures from American to British to Japanese are so obsessed with the monster phenomenon. Highlights include spectacular clips and trailers from The Lost World (1925), King Kong (1933), Mighty Joe Young (1949), Tarantula (1955), Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966), Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and many more; interviews with producer and special effects supervisor Ray Harryhausen, director and author Don Glut and numerous film critics and historians.

Scalps

One of the most notorious, widely censored horror films of all time! Impending doom is in store for a group of college students digging in a cursed Indian burial ground, where an evil spirit lies in wait to possess the living and cut a bloody swath of vengeance across the land! In the harrowing tradition of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this widely suppressed, gruesome tale features gritty, outrageous gore effects and is now presented in all its graphic splendor.