Scarecrow Video » staff picks

madamecrow — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:17:01 +0000

Seasons Greetings, everyone! If you’ve been unable to properly thaw during the cold snap, head into the store to warm yourself on our amazing selection and savings. Still have stockings to stuff? On SATURDAY THE 12th and SUNDAY THE 13th, we’re having a BIG HUGE SALE! Our entire inventory of used DVDs, VHS & Laserdiscs for sale will be 50% OFF! Whoo! Need gift ideas? Visit our Staff Gift Guides and the special in-store holiday sales sections. If you’re decidedly indecisive, there’s the ever popular SCARECROW GIFT CERTIFICATE, available in any amount. In theatrical activity, Central Cinema has a bunch of exciting programming coming up, starting this weekend with the ULTIMATE cinematic disaster THE ROOM and the holiday wonderment of The Beta Society’s A VERY ALAN THICKMAS. On Monday ALMOST HUMAN, the continuing critical study of Madonna’s film career by David Schmader continues with WHO’S THAT GIRL. They’re also showing HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH all week and are hosting Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s awesome annual holiday screening of AUNTIE MAME on Thursday, December 17th. But you should really save the date for the triumphant return of our own VIVA VHS! on Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th. Stay tuned to this blog for details. SIFF Cinema has SONICSGATE, chronicling how our fair city lost the Sonics (read Lindy West’s take on it over in The Stranger. It made me laugh out loud on a very crowded bus.), plus a benefit screening of THE YOUNG VICTORIA starring Emily Blunt as the future Queen on Sunday the 13th. Over at Northwest Film Forum, they’re closing out their wonderful year-long 69 series with the absolute film essentials TRUE GRIT and ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. And last but certainly not least, it just wouldn’t be Christmas in Seattle without IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Grand Illusion Cinema. If you’ve never been during the 39 years it has been at the GI, why not gather your friends & family and start a new holiday tradition? If you prefer a bit less sap in your season, they’ve also got BLACK CHRISTMAS in the Late Night spot. Of course, you may want to just stay in all weekend and compile a list of your favorite films of the decade. Let us know your picks, and we’ll be sharing ours soon. Enjoy!

Scarecrow’s Staff Gift Guide–Part Two

madamecrow — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:12:09 +0000

Welcome to Part II of the Scarecrow Staff Gift Guide. As you may recall from our first installment, this guide is a list of things we’d either like to receive or would suggest as ideal gifts for others this holiday season. All of these items are available in our store. Here are our next round of selections:

Travis recommends all three seasons of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT “because it’s the best live action comedy show of all time, and everyone should watch it all about seven times minimum. Taste the happy!” As someone noted for excelling in the comedic arts, you can trust Travis to know what’s funny for you and those you love. Seasons 1-3, $24.95 each

Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything...

Alex has a suggestion for those on your list who appreciate movies outside the norm, that being this year’s cult favorite BIG MAN JAPAN. “Know someone with really strange and eclectic tastes who is hard to shop for? Big Man Japan is a movie for a very small percentage of people. It’s a seemingly slow-paced mockumentary about a guy who battles strange (VERY STRANGE) gigantic monsters in the vein of Godzilla movies. It’s such a great film for weirdos who appreciate weird cinema (like me!)” DVD $23.95

I'm just a regular boring guy, except that sometimes I grow 30 meters and fight giant monsters

Leo got a little cryptic with his recommendation for DAVID LYNCH: THE LIME GREEN BOX SET. ” Elephant Man + Industrial Symphony #1 = A Christmas Carol.” We’re not entirely sure what to make of that, but it sure sounds lovely, doesn’t it? This collection includes the remastered version of Eraserhead and its soundtrack, Wild at Heart, Blue Velvet, a disc full of short films, an exclusive “mystery disc” culled from Lynch’s personal archives, a 40 page picture book and much more. If you know a someone who’s just getting into Lynch’s work, this would be perfect. Box Set $119.95

"That's a human ear. all right"

Jensen mixes in a little social commentary to the entertainment with his recommendation of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. “Hitchcock was the master. He could make any story into a stinging comment on injustice, the human condition, or even a cozy home life. I grew up on this show and it was always been a guide for me. Do yourself or your people a favor and nudge ‘em in this direction.” For anyone who has run through his filmography and is hungry for more, this TV show chock full of fabulous guest stars and his deft dramatic and suspense skills will enthrall so much, folks won’t even know they’re learning a lesson. Seasons 1-4 available, $34.95 each

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to darkest Hollywood."

Paige recommends some decidedly immoral hilarity with the FX series IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA. “It’s great for that friend or family member who likes ridiculous people doing ridiculous things.” Believe us, the egotistical, conniving, dishonest, crass and downright selfish group of “friends” who run a rundown Irish pub get themselves into some pretty ridiculous situations, with often shocking and always humorous outcomes. Seasons 1-2, Season 3 and Season 4 $31.95 each. A Very Sunny Christmas Special DVD $23.95 Blu-ray $24.95

Did we mention it stars Danny DeVito?

Jen thinks a series pass to the THE KING OF COOL: THE FILMS OF STEVE MCQUEEN at Seattle Art Museum would be a fine gift for any film fan. The ten-week series starts Thursday, January 7th and features such classics as The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Sand Pebbles (see the full schedule here). We’ve also just learned that McQueen’s wife, actress and author Neile McQueen Toffel, will be in attendance for the February 18th screening of Bullitt. Stay tuned to this blog for more information. Series Passes: SAM members $58, Non-members $65. Tickets are available at Scarecrow or at the Seattle Art Museum box office.

We’ll keep musing on what’s good to give and get and be back soon with another installment.

Scarecrow’s Staff Gift Guide–Part One

madamecrow — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:49:52 +0000

Seasons Greetings from all of us here at Scarecrow! As the big gift-giving holidays approach, we’ve been thinking a lot about not only what DVDs we’d like to get, but also what would make excellent gifts for fellow film fans. We’ve compiled a list of the presents we’re hoping to get and what we’d suggest for the cinemaphile on your list and made it into this handy gift guide. We’ll be rolling out our choices as December races on. To get any of these fine items, just head into Scarecrow or click on the images below to purchase them using Internet technology. So without further ado, here are our first five picks:

Paige recommends the groundbreaking BBC nature series PLANET EARTH, saying, “Beautifully photographed, excellently narrated, good for families and folks interested in our natural world.” We’ve found that it’s a good all purpose gift for almost anyone. If you saw the Disney released nature documentary Earth last year, this is the full length series that footage came from.

Narrated by David Attenborough

Switching to a completely different mode Paige also suggests Quentin Tarantino’s third film, the excellent Elmore Leonard adaptation JACKIE BROWN. She points out that it’s often overlooked even by Tarantino fans and that it would make a good pairing with Tarantino’s new one, Inglourious Basterds, arriving on DVD and Blu-Ray on December 15th.

Pam Grier is...Jackie Brown

Kevin C. really wishes someone would give him Criterion’s spectacular AKIRA KUROSAWA BOX SET which contains no less than 25 Kurosawa films. “It’s like every Kurosawa movie,” says Kevin, “and he’s never made any bad ones.”

Includes four rare films previously unavailable on DVD

Bryan would be happy just to get Criterion’s double pack of YOJIMBO and SANJURO, both directed by Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune as one of the all time great icons of tough guy cinema. Not even the combined powers of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood could top the badass perfection of YOJIMBO, so that means it’s a must own.

Their powers combined, they are the definition of badass

Jason feels pretty strongly about FREAKS AND GEEKS: “If you don’t like this show, you are a nerd. And I suppose you are a nerd if you do. A win-win proposition.” This one-season wonder is of the truest and funniest depictions of adolescence ever made, as well as a brilliant time capsule of 1980’s America and stars future famous people Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel.

Haverchuck for President!

Keep refreshing this blog, for more staff gift-giving suggestions are coming soon.

madamecrow — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:58:30 +0000

Halloween is fast approaching! Prepare yourself this weekend with some selections from our Halloween and/or Kids Halloween sections. We also just put out a new round of STAFF PICKS, including ALIEN, BATTLE OF ALGIERS, John Cassavettes’ HUSBANDS, ROLLERBALL, STUNT ROCK and about 150 other titles we hope you’ll enjoy. If you’re looking to get spooked up in theaters, Central Cinema has Peter Jackson’s DEAD ALIVE, Fremont Outdoor Cinema moves inside for a special Halloween kick-off with DARK SIDE OF THE RAINBOW, and Grand Illusion Cinema has brand new 35 mm prints of THE CAT AND THE CANARY and THE GHOST BREAKER starring Bob Hope, along with the Late Night movie SLIME CITY. In non-Halloween realted film, the SEATTLE LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL wraps up this weekend with many excellent movies, including a WEST SIDE STORY sing-a-long at the Cinerama and Sunday’s Closing Night film HANNAH FREE, with director Wendy Jo Carlton, producer Tracy Baim and star Sharon Gless in attendance. SIFF Cinema hosts the NORDIC LIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL with films from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland such as the Opening Night’s EVERLASTING MOMENTS. Northwest Film Forum has the new R.E.M. documentary THIS IS NOT A SHOW which features performances and backstage footage from their “working rehearsals” at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre before the release of their latest album ACCELERATE. I’ll be the one dancing in the front during “Supernatural Superserious”.

madamecrow — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:18:47 +0000

Though the warm weather is taking a curtain call, there are still movies to be seen. We just put out a new round of STAFF PICKS for your renting pleasure, with selections that run the spectrum from Jean Cocteau’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to THE CABLE GUY, with most everything in between and beyond. While in the store, be sure to enter to win two tickets to the REVENANT FILM FESTIVAL. We also still have the highly limited edition, not available anywhere else, geniuinely frame-worthy CRITERION POSTER here FREE with your purchase of any Criterion DVD. Happening theatrically this weekend, SIFF Cinema has awoken from its summer slumber with a slew of new films. They start off today with Roy Andersson’s YOU, THE LIVING, will host the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival September 18-20, and a bunch of excellent films after that. You can also see Clive Owen’s new film THE BOYS ARE BACK before it arrives in theaters at a SIFF benefit screening on Thursday, September 24th. SIFF is also in the midst of their annual fundraising campaign which you can donate to here. The WASHINGTON GROWN Northwest Film Festival continues at Grand Illusion Cinema and the late night screenings return with BITE SIZE. Central Cinema has an one-two punch of awesome with a MICHAEL JACKSON Sing-a-long tribute and the CRAZY ABOUT SWAYZE double feature of DIRTY DANCING (“I carried a watermelon!”) and ROAD HOUSE (“I see you’ve found the trophy room. The only thing missing is your ass!”). Northwest Film Forum’s 69 series continues with two back-to-school classics: IF… (starring Malcolm McDowell) and THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE (starring Maggie Smith, who is perennially in her prime). If you’re headed to Fremont’s OKTOBERFEST on Saturday be sure to catch the last Fremont Outdoor Movie of the year, ANIMAL HOUSE (it will be warm so togas are definitely appropriate). There’s also THE BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL at the Henry Art Gallery and out neighbors Flowers on the Ave. Enjoy!