MTI HOME VIDEO , a new friend of EYECRAVEDVD, supplied us with a few of their new titles, and after perusing the covers and then watching the movies, I had myself an epiphany…I have besmirched myself, and I am ashamed…Read on to follow the ascension from the depths of self-imposed ignorance… MTI is a fast-growing Distributor that handles films produced by the horror/gore magazine franchise FANGORIA, as well as independent producers like ARTIST VIEW and BEDFORD ENTERTAINMENT. Most of the films in their catalogue fall under the ‘Direct-to-Video’ (DTV) category, and as such many people write off these films as ‘cheap’ or ‘cheezy’ or even ‘B-Movies’. Well, MTI recently sent us a few of their soon to be released items – A supernatural western called THE LEGEND OF THE PHANTOM RIDER, MIKE HAMMER: SONGBIRD, and Japanese super-horror ANOTHER HEAVEN. – On first glance these titles made me think, ‘T&A’, ‘bad writing’, ‘bad acting’, etc. etc. What was it that gave me this impression? Was it the graphics on the cover? The absence of Marquee names and faces? The lack of a big Director’s name over the credits? After closely scrutinizing these covers and comparing them to big studio releases on my shelf, I couldn’t see any other differences, and I was ashamed at my small-mindedness. When did I lose my way? Perhaps it’s about time that we stop pigeonholing low-budget films on the basis of how much money they have to waste? After all, RESERVOIR DOGS was a hair away from being a DTV feature, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS was originally a DTV feature as well. Going back into the 60’s and 70’s there are tons of films that we roundly consider ‘classics’ that were, at the time, barely a blip on the radar and, in many cases, almost didn’t see the light of day. So why is something like the 1967 hippie flick THE TRIP considered a B-Movie, while EASY RIDER is considered a classic? Why is something like O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU considered a great film, while the equally funny creative twin THE IMPOSTERS is considered a ‘cheap comedy’? Advertising. Media. Long standing and ingrained self-perpetuated propaganda. Hollywood has been telling us for years that the only good films come from a big studio, stocked with big stars and with a big name director. And like mindless lemmings, most North Americans buy right into the hype. Lately, yes, there has been a surplus of excellent film coming from the Golden Realm. Let’s be honest, though. There’s also been an awful lot of inane and senseless crap. For every MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING or CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, there’s ten RESIDENT EVIL’s and fourteen EXTREME OP’S.After watching these two flicks from MTI, and a few of the other indie label discs we’ve gotten lately, I’ve rediscovered my love of the unknown. I’m going to strive to keep my mind and my options open. A lot of new talent will come up through these videos, and you never know when you’ll find the next Q.T., or the next Chris Nolan. Sure, not every DTV feature is going to be worth the plastic it’s wrapped in, but many of them will become new favorites that I will want to pass on to all of my friends and all of you. Check out my reviews of THE LEGEND OF THE PHANTOM RIDER, the Stacy Keach hardboiled detective flick MIKE HAMMER: SONGBIRD, and the top notch Japanese horror ANOTHER HEAVEN. And if you love the DVD’s and want to share it with the world, or just have a little seen favorite that we haven’t reviewed, you can contact us about joining the EYECRAVEDVD review team by dropping us a line and telling your story…A little info on MTIHOME VIDEO – “MTI Home Video Corporate BackgroundEstablished in 1984, MTI Home Video is a full service independent motion picture studio that distributes feature films to the U.S. domestic marketplace. Based in Miami, Florida, the independent releases product along with their studio partners Artist View Entertainment, Bedford Entertainment, Delta Entertainment, and Fangoria Presents. In 2001 MTI Home Video released more than sixty feature films on VHS and DVD. MTI continuously acquires films for distribution and maintains a substantial and expanding library. The company was recently recognized for their achievements by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America (Inc. 500 #301 in 2000 and #148 in 2001).” 
