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A HandMade Tale: Four new titles on Blu-ray

This week we are celebrating the Blu-ray debuts of four terrific features from HandMade Films. The fact that this company even exists is a story in itself, and many beloved films owe their existence to the independent spirit that HandMade brought to the world of cinema. To make a long story short, in 1979, Monty Python ...

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SAVE on Used Movies all September long!

For all thirty days September has,  Scarecrow’s having a sale on select used inventory items.  What do we mean by “select”?  In this case, select means VHS and PORN. What do we mean by “sale”? ALL ADULT XXX TITLES are just $3 OR LESS! ALL VHS TITLES are just $1 OR LESS! We can’t show you any examples ...

New Releases for the week of August 31st

It’s a busy week full of thrillers, foreign films, documentaries, TV shows and movies featuring at least two 80s pop singers. Here’s the list: * means it’s also on Blu-ray; buy it here online by clicking SALE. RED RIDING TRILOGY *—A trio of films, set in 1974, 1980 and 1983 respectfully, follow the grim search for ...

Best Sellers 8/31/10

Here are Scarecrow’s best selling new DVDs for the past month.  All items are available in our store and highlighted items can be ...

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• Hello and welcome to another not-as-summer-as-you'd-want-weekend in Seattle. We're hoping the rain stays away for this weekend's outdoor cinema events. Saturday night at the Mural Amphitheater in Seattle Center there's the new STAR TREK starring recent birthday boy Chris Pine as James Tiberus Kirk.  On Friday at Cal Anderson Park there's the last movie in Three Dollar Bill Cinema's BLONDE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN series--Disney's 1977  live action adventure CANDLESHOE. It stars a sandy haired Jodie Foster as a street smart tomboy hired by a thieving gang to impersonate a missing girl and find a hidden treasure. Saturday at Cal Al there's Northwest Film Forum's 5th ANNUAL BIKE IN, a celebration of pedal-powered transport featuring music, short films and the undeniable awesomeness of  PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE. At the Northwest Film Forum cinema, there's LOOKING FOR ERIC, Ken Loach's life-affirming tale of a down & out postal worker inspired to turn his life around by his idol--Manchester United's Eric Cantona. They're also showing  AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN, the most recent work by French New Waver Jacques Rivette.  Over at Central Cinema, there's the always charming BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (if only they had martinis at CC...) and the 1977 Japanese psychedelic horror/fantasy HAUSU , which will be out on DVD in October from Criterion. On Saturday night the TV CARNAGE crew returns with LET'S WORK IT OUT, a collection of clips from strange and outrageous work out videos. If you like TV Carnage, we have several of their compilations for rent in our Comedy TV section. Dennis Nyback's ANIMATION EXTRAVAGANZA  continues down the street from us at Grand Illusion Cinema with the series COMPARE TO DISNEY--aka F&%K MICKEY MOUSE. In this presentation, Nyback shows how other studios reacted to Disney's dominance in the '30s and '40s with films that either, "rip him off, beat him to the punch, or make vicious fun of him." Included are works by Fritz Freleng, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery & others. Lastly, a programming note for the GI: The Late Night movies are taking break and will start back up in October. Happy viewing, everyone. #
• Hello & welcome to the theater-going round up for this cloudy weekend. If you're at all a fan of the French New Wave, head to Northwest Film Forum for the Seattle premiere of  TWO IN THE WAVE, a documentary about the friendship, collaboration and ultimate turmoil between Francois Truffaut and Jean Luc Godard. If you're just starting your French New Wave education, see this film and then come in to Scarecrow and visit Truffaut & Godard's director's sections.  Also kicking off this weekend at NWFF is the VINCENT MOON RETROSPECTIVE. The innovative musical documentarian who NWFF describe as, " a sonic adventurer, constantly seeking new musical treasure chests," will be in attendance to present a week of films featuring such bands as Beirut, Arcade Fire, Mogwai and REM. Speaking of directors visiting our fair city, Tommy Wiseau will be at the Egyptian this weekend for midnight screenings of his now legendary movie experience THE ROOM. You can get to know the man behind the phenomenon on Saturday night with a special VIP Meet & Greet Reception at Central Cinema. Also at the fine eatery/drinkery/cinema, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK makes an encore weekend run, then on Monday the 80s Action Heroes series continues with Steven Seagal in OUT FOR JUSTICE. We expect all you Seagalogists to be out in full force. Film historian Dennis Nyback returns to Grand Illusion Cinema for a two week ANIMATION EXTRAVAGANZA. It begins with BAD BUGS  BUNNY, a collection of the horribly dated, heinously politically incorrect Warner Brothers cartoons (just so you know, this presentation is not for the kids). We encourage you to visit the GI web site for the rest of the ANIMATION lineup (and while you're there, become a member). We're also hoping the weather holds for Saturday night's rescheduled showing of PRETTY IN PINK at Fremont  Outdoor Movies. Come on, sky, don't rain on Duckie! #
• Who cares how nice it is outside when there's so many good movies to be seen inside nice air-conditioned theaters--not to mention the many movies and video games to be rented at nice air-conditioned independent video stores. Here's some of what's going on this weekend. Northwest Film Forum welcomes home THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF LITTLE DIZZLE, David Russo's imaginative comedic tale of evil corporations, deceptively delicious cookies and male pregnancy (but soooo not JUNIOR). The film was made right here in Seattle and produced in part by the Film Forum's Start-To-Finish program. Russo is expected to be in attendance for all the screenings. Also this weekend is THE SECRET TO A HAPPY ENDING, a documentary chronicling three dramatic years in the life of the Athens, GA band DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS.  RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK will be showing most of the week down at Central Cinema, and on Friday night at 10pm Hollow Earth Radio presents the pre-Internet teen angst rebellion of PUMP UP THE VOLUME starring Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis. I hope Central Cinema has stocked up on Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi and Black Jack Gum for the occasion.  BadMovieArt returns to Central Cinema on Monday with the Scarecrow staff favorite GYMKATA. If our endorsement isn't enough, see BadMovieArt's Facebook page for ten reasons you should see the film--#6. tons of NINJAS!  Then on Wednesday, Three Dollar Bill Cinema presents the 1982 groundbreaking drama MAKING LOVE. Speaking of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, their BLONDE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN outdoor movie series continues Friday at Cal Anderson with Madonna's best movie DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN. On Saturday night, Fremont Outdoor Movies is celebrating 25 years of "IT'S OUR TIME DOWN HERE!" with THE GOONIES. (Programming note: they've rescheduled last weekend's rained out PRETTY IN PINK for August 21st). Our friends at Grand Illusion Cinema have WA DO DEM, a "slacker odyssey" following a recently dumped young man on his wanderings through Jamaica and featuring music by Yeasayer, MGMT, reggae group The Congos and other talented musicians.  AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON makes an encore appearance in the Late Night spot. There's also the Hollywood triple threat of THE EXPENDABLES,  SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD and EAT PRAY LOVE, the last of which you can see at Columbia City Cinema.  Stay cool and happy viewing to all. #
• It looks like the sunshine is taking the weekend off, so now's as good a time as any to head  indoors (and away from the buzzing Blue Angels) and watch some movies.  After you've visited our store to get  MAX HEADROOM: THE COMPLETE SERIES  just out on DVD this week, you may want to set your sights on our local theaters. Northwest Film Forum has the documentary JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: THE RADIANT CHILD and the Japanese 1977 comedy/horror fantasy freak out HAUSU. Mere words cannot accurately describe this film, so  we strongly recommend you follow the link and watch the trailer. The Criterion Collection will be putting out a DVD of it in the fall, but you won't want to miss this new 35mm print and the chance to experience it with a crowd. Saturday in the center of  the universe,  Fremont Outdoor Movies has  PRETTY IN PINK up on the big concrete wall.  I think someone should stage a debate about whether Andie belongs with Blane (a major appliance, not a name) or Duckie.  Central Cinema's showing READY, SET. BAG!--a documentary that follows eight grocery store employees from around the country as they complete in the National Grocers Association's Best Bagger competition (I'm going to watch and see if I can pick up any tips for packing my own bags). They're also playing WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER starring Janeane Garafolo, David Hyde Pierce, most everyone in THE STATE and former Bar Mitzvah DJ Paul Rudd. There's also 80s action to be had on Monday with Chuck Norris and THE DELTA FORCE. There's more action to be had down the street from us at Grand Illusion Cinema. On Saturday there's the OLD SCHOOL KUNG FU DOUBLE FEATURE  with  THE INVINCIBLE POLE FIGHTER (starring KILL BILL's Gordon Liu) and THE MYSTERY OF CHESS BOXING (starring the original Ghostface Killer). Over the weekend they're also showing BEHIND THE BURLY Q, a revealing documentary about the history of burlesque along with the sketch comedy absurdity of the ensemble-riffic AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON in the Late Night spot. Happy viewing to all. #
• Greetings and welcome to the last theater-going round up for July.  I apologize for the lack of rounding up last week, but I was out getting hitched to a swell fellow movie fan. Now that the wedding is over, we can get back to our regularly scheduled movie watching. This week's theatrical schedule begins with movies of the outdoor presentation variety:  Friday night at Cal Anderson Park, Three Dollar Bill Cinema continues their BLONDE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN series with  THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN, the classic 80s teen outlaw story starring the Slater-rific team of Helen and Christian. The show starts around 8:30pm but you'll want to arrive early to claim a patch of grass. On Saturday, Fremont Outdoor Movies is screening  Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS with live orchestral accompaniment. Seeing Metropolis with live music under the stars...definitely not a bad way to spend your evening.  Elsewhere around town and indoors, Northwest Film Forum series celebrating the Portuguese director they call "international cinema's randiest rapscallion": THE GENIUS OF INSANITY: FIVE FILMS FROM JOAO CESAR MONTEIRO. It begins Friday with RECOLLECTIONS FROM THE YELLOW HOUSE and continues on into the first week of August.  NWFF also has OF MONTREAL: FAMILY NOUVEAU, a behind the scenes look at the band's 2009 European tour. Central Cinema's going to the dogs (ha!) with BEST IN SHOW. On Friday they're also showing TOTAL BADASS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHAD HOLT, Bob Ray's documentary on the Austin underground music scene. Our pals at Grand Illusion Cinema have BEETLE QUEEN CONQUERS TOKYO, which sounds like it should be about a giant bug that squashes the greater Tokyo metropolitan area but is actually a documentary about Japan's fascination with insects.  For your Late Night viewing enjoyment there's WE FOUND IT IN THE BASEMENT, a collection of celluloid oddities the GI folks dug out from their subterranean stacks.  From a Disney-produced anti-drug film to Saul Bass' WHY MAN CREATES, it should prove to be an entertaining evening.  Happy viewing to all. #