review: BUBBA HO-TEP (HAIL TO THE KING EDITION)

MGM  //  Buy from Amazon.com Based on the Bram Stoker Award nominee short story by cult author Joe R. Lansdale, Bubba Ho-tep tells the "true" story of what really did become of Elvis Presley. We find Elvis (Bruce Campbell) as an elderly resident in an East Texas rest home, who switched identities with an Elvis impersonator years before his "death", then missed his chance to switch back. Elvis teams up with Jack (Ossie Davis), a fellow nursing home resident who thinks that he is actually President John F. Kennedy, and the two valiant old codgers sally forth to battle an evil Egyptian entity who has chosen their long-term care facility as his happy hunting grounds. Most b-movie fans should already have this epic Bruce Campell as Elvis fighting a mummy movie in their collection already, and if you do, then this new special edition doesn't offer a whole lot of new in the way of extras, save for a snazzy faux leather jacket-like slipcase. However, seeing as I haven't watched this film since it first came out on DVD back in 2004 (for shame!), I relished the opportunity to once again sit back and be regaled as Mr. Ash himself slapped on the sideburns and took down the Egyptian dead! It's amazing to me that this movie ever got made - undoubtedly, the synopsis sounds like a fanboy's wet dream, but admittedly this is a film that you would never expect to actually find a way to get made. Thankfully, through the magic, will & money of Mr. Don Coscarelli (he of "Phantasm"), "Bubba" was indeed made and the bar was raised even higher for any b-movie looking to claim the top spot on top of those that have come before (no easy feat I tell ya!) This is a great film - funny, intelligent, a bit creepy, and everything good - no, great! - about b-movies is captured here. It's got the tongue-in-cheek humor, more than its fair share of cheese, but also has a true b-movie icon in the lead role, some excellent special effects, and a pretty darn slick production style that all gels together to create something singularly spectacular. If you don't already own it, go get it sucka! Video The same 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer from the 2004 DVD release is included here, and it's solid from start to finish - no complaints. Audio The included Dolby 5.1 audio mix (also same as the 2004 release) zips & zings in fine form, delivering the superb sound mix in fine form. Extras Same extras from 2004: 2 audio commentaries (1 by Don Coscarelli & Bruce Campbell, 1 by "The King" himself) deleted scenes reading from original short story by author 4 making-of featurettes (general, mummy, King, music) photo gallery music video trailers new extra: faux leather Elvis-style slipcase! Closing Thoughts Truly epic, original, phenomenal flick + buttloads of extras = must-own DVD for any self-respecting b-moviephile!