On this 10th anniversary of the release of The Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski, here’s a look at this awe-inspiring fan compendium that chronicles all things Dude.

I’m A Lebowski, You’re A Lebowski
By Bill Green, Ben Peskoe, Will Russell, Scott Shuffitt
Bloomsbury
Cover Price $15.95; Available Now

On the very first page, the Coen Brothers state “they neither have our blessing, or our curse” in the writing of this book. And so begins the awe-inspiring fan compendium, I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What-Have-You, that chronicles all things Dude. When The Big Lebowski hit theaters in 1998 (we’re coming up on ten years here!) as the follow-up to the Coen’s critically acclaimed Fargo, it performed less than modestly and quickly vanished from the theaters. But those who had seen it, and truly connected with what they saw on screen, coupled with multiple viewings on VHS and the then-dawning DVD format, quickly and quietly turned from fans to fanatics, as they memorized whole passages from the dialogue to recite and began to build their life around the key elements of the film, particularly taking on the qualities of The Dude.

As fans learned via Internet fan sites that they were not alone in their devotion to one of the finest “bowling noirs” ever, somewhere down in Kentucky four friends made the realization that if there can be conventions dedicated to the most niche-driven hobbies, then there be one for their favorite movie as well. And so began the dream of The Lebowski Fest, which made its 1st annual debut in 2002, and now in its sixth year includes festivals across all of America and even the UK.

The Kill Point (2007)
Directed by Steve Shill
Produced by Jay Benson
Written by James DeMonaco and Todd Harthan
Starring John Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg, Tobin Bell, Frank Grillo, Michael Hogan, Steve Cirbus, Christine Evangelista
Lionsgate
Available March 4, 2008

It was supposed to be a lightning quick and perfect bank robbery, as five military veterans lead by the codenamed Mr. Wolf (John Leguizamo) assault a Pittsburgh bank, steal the millions of dollars that have just been delivered, and head off into the sunset in the waiting getaway car. But when variables beyond their control foil their plot, they are forced to hole up inside the bank with the terrified hostages. As S.W.A.T. take their positions and await further instructions, so do the curious crowd and media reports take theirs. Amidst this confusion is Horst Cali (Donnie Wahlberg), a top-ranked negotiator who has never lost a hostage.

Wolf and Cali begin a methodical back and forth conversation, as each try to outsmart the other and anticipate the next move. But Cali’s slow and easy approach as he tries to get one hostage out at a time becomes foiled when the FBI are brought in to expedite the procedure with a harsh no-nonsense plan to break down Mr. Wolf. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh mayor Alan Beck (Tobin Bell), whose daughter is one of the hostages, takes his own risky and very dangerous approach to ending matters and getting his daughter out alive. As the hours roll into days, tension and exhaustion begin to take their toll on all involved, it is only a matter of time before someone makes a fatal mistake.

Originally aired in weekly installments in the summer of 2007 on Spike TV, The Kill Point is a tense and nailbiting game of testosterone-fueled chess that manages to keep its anything-can-happen-next pace from the first shootout to its final harrowing conclusion. In between, the dialogue crackles with fiery exchanges while outbursts of violence keep the viewer on their toes and keeps the production from falling into a wash-rinse-repeat rhythm of talking heads.

Halloween: Nightdance #1 of 4
Written by Stefan Hutchinson
Illustrated by Tim Seeley
Colors by Elizabeth John
Lettered by Clem Robbins
Devil’s Due Publishing &
Halloween Comics
Cover Price: $3.50; Available Now

It is the weekend of Halloween in the year 2000, over two decades since Michael Myer‘s infamous return to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois. Lisa, a teenager who lives in Russellville, Illinois, is haunted by distant memories from her childhood, and wonders if she will ever be able to forget the past. One of the things that keeps her going are the daily drawings she receives from a boy she used to babysit, but on this day those drawings turn disturbingly violent!

Meanwhile, Marcie and her boyfriend Ryan are making an impromptu visit to Russellville when Marcie doesn’t hear from her mom and becomes worried. With their long drive to the small town almost over and fatigue setting, Ryan is too tired to react in time when a young teenager runs out in front of their car and he hits her head on. As Marcie and Ryan try to get their bearings and check to see if the girl is still alive, a figure steps out of the darkness, and as a sheet of fear is drapes over them, they discover the hard way that The Shape has come to Russellville!

Nightdance falls into the “current” continuity (Halloween, Halloween 2, Halloween H20, and on) of the unstoppable serial killer’s exploits across middle America, and while Devil’s Due Publishing is bringing the comic to your local funny book store, Trances International Films and movie series producer Malek Akkad has an intimate role in developing the storyline. If Nightdance is to be considered a “comic book adaptation” of a movie that doesn’t exist, issue one would therefore be the first twenty or so minutes of the film. Issue one introduces four main characters, each with their own voiceover to get some minor exposition out of the way and get the “film” up to speed.

Legend Of The Black Scorpion
(aka The Banquet) (2006)
Directed by Feng Xiao-Gang
Produced by John Chong and
Wang Zhong-Jun
Written by Qiu Gang-Jian and
Sheng He-Yu
Action Choreography by Yuen Wo-Ping
Starring Zhang Ziyi, Daniel Wu, Zhou Xun, Ge You, Ma Jing-Wu, Huang Xiao-Ming
Dragon Dynasty
Available Feb. 26, 2008

It is 10th century China during the Five Dynasties Period. When the Emperor is murdered, his brother Li usurps the thrown and takes his wife Empress Wan as his own. Prince Wu, fearing for his life, and knowing that he will never have the heart of Wan, flees the palace and politics in favor of a life of theatre and song. Li fears that Wu will someday return and try to take the throne for himself, so he dispatches his loyal guards to assassinate him. Wan though, who was originally to marry Wu, sends her own dispatch to protect Wu. When Wu survives the assassination, he returns to the royal palace to face Li, who he believes is responsible for his father’s death.

Upon returning, Wu finds a divided fracture of men who remain loyal to his deceased father and a royal court who are dedicated to Li in so much that they wish to keep their heads on their shoulders. As emotional tension rises, and with each party trying to get the better of the other through political trickery and dedication to traditions, Emperor Li forces Prince Wu into a position that he must accept, but will ultimately lead to his death. And with Wu believed out of the picture forever, Li confidently sets up a midnight banquet for his entire court against his chamberlain’s warning that it is not an auspicious evening.

Nightmare Detective (2006)
Written & Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
Starring Ryuhei Matsuda, Hitomi, Masanobu Ando, Ren Osugi, Shinya Tsukamoto, Yoshio Harada
Dimension Extreme
Available Feb. 19, 2008

When a young woman is found dead in her apartment, her gruesome death appears to be a suicide, and the Tokyo Police Department is ready to close the case. But when a second death is reported, another suicide by a salaryman whose wife witnessed him as he brutally stabbed himself in the neck again and again while sleeping, the detectives become much more suspicious of the first death. When both of the victims’ cell phones show their last conversation was with a caller known only as “0,” they fear the suicides may have been coerced.

The detectives split off into two groups, with one taking on a traditional investigation and attempt to hunt down “0,” while newcomer detective Kirishima (J-pop star Hitomi) is assigned to approach from a more experimental viewpoint and try to decipher what happened in their dreams. Her inquest leads her to a recluse known as the Nightmare Detective, a man who is cursed with the ability to enter people’s dreams. With his reluctant help, the Nightmare Detective enters into the dreams of Detective Wakamiya, who has since made contact with “0” and now is under suicide watch. Soon after entering Wakamiya’s dream, the Nightmare Detective discovers that there is a powerful entity in the dreamworld, whose desire to make other kill themselves rivals that of the Nightmare Detective’s desire to kill himself!