Related Links

0

Car-Crash Action!!

Recently I've had a few DVDs that didn't play well in my dependable machine. It was among the first DVD player models sold in this country, as I rushed to enjoy the new technology in my living room that I had so far only been able to see on my computer. Though the latest disc was certainly flawed I can see deterioration in the sealant around the edge it played fine on my computers and on my friend's player. I began to think that perhaps they were making DVDs to a lower standard now, and the new players and computers had some sort of technology to overcome any glitches technology my sturdy old player doesn't have.

I'm considering making an upgrade. All in the service of you, The Reader, you understand, since it's only right that I report on DVDs using up-to-date equipment. But as you Loyal Readers know, Cinescape pays me in S&H Green Stamps and Canadian Tire Money, making a new player outside my current budget. One solution to this dilemma presents itself: selling out! After all, all the biggest Hollywood stars like Keanu Reeves and Joe Don Baker all shill for advertisers. Why shouldn't I? Therefore, let me offer a solemn promise that for the first manufacturer to send me a nifty new DVD player (all region preferred), I will describe said machine as "super cool" in a future column. Any following machines will be described as merely "nifty." You can contact me for shipping instructions via DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com. Oh, and the first manufacturer to send a big widescreen plasma monitor can have a kidney. Your choice of right or left.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This week, we can't resist the spectacle of hundreds of cars [IMG2R]utterly destroyed:

(O)     DEADLINE AUTOTHEFT (Halicki Films/Navarre) After directing the original drive-in hit GONE IN 60 SECONDS in 1974, H.B. Halicki put together this patchwork production using plenty of 60 SECONDS footage. He died filming a stunt for the unfinished GONE IN 60 SECONDS 2 (also included on the disc) in 1989. The disc also includes a 45-minute Speed Channel documentary on Halicki, trailers, gallery, and a "crash counter" that keeps a tally of the cars destroyed!

NEW RELEASES

(O)     THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR (Buena Vista) [IMG3R]1961 sci-fi comedy classic in which distracted Fred MacMurray invents "flying rubber."
(O)     ALIAS: Season 1 (Buena Vista) The first 22 episodes of the ABC spy series on 6 discs. Includes commentraks, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more.
(O)     AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (Universal) John Landis' hilarious and horrifying werewolf feature in a special edition that includes cast commentrak, outtakes, storyboards, making-of, etc.
(O)     ANGEL: Season 2 (Fox) 22 episodes of the vampire detective spin-off on 6 discs. Includes commentraks, featurettes, scripts, and more.
(O)     ASWANG (Mondo Macabro) 1993 horror opus in which the legendary Filipino monster Aswang invades America! Includes 30-minute making-of, 2 commentraks, storyboard, alternate opening, gallery and lots more! In unrated and R editions.
(O)     BLOODLUST (Monarex) The true story of the "Black Forest Vampire." Delayed from last month.
(O)     BLOOD MOON (Fox) Canadian TV movie with a similar theme to GINGER SNAPS (see below).
(O)     BOX OF BLOOD (Image) 3-disc box set includes BLOODY PIT OF HORROR and double feature discs of CARNIVAL OF BLOOD / CURSE OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN and BLOOD THIRST / BLOOD SUCKERS, plus lots of great shorts, trailers and galleries, all courtesy of Something Weird Video.
(O)     CHEECH & CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE (Universal) Another dopey adventure.
(O)     CREEPY CRAWLERS (Fox) Killer cockroaches invade Maine! Includes commentrak [IMG4R]and trailer.
(O)     THE DEVIL COLLECTION (Image) 3-disc box set of selections from Image's Redemption line. Includes SINFUL NUNS OF ST. VALENTINE, NUDE FOR SATAN and the incredible DEVIL'S NIGHTMARE.
(O)     THE DIVIDING HOUR (IndieDVD) Superior low-budget indie horror feature from Seattle about a group of travelers whose car breaks down in limbo. Includes interviews, commentrak and making-of.
(O)     EMBRACE THE DARKNESS Collectors Set (Image) All three vampire films.
(O)     FINAL STAB (Fox) Looks like Fox picked up a bunch of horror flicks from the Spartan catalogue, including this David DeCoteau slasher flick.
(O)     FLETCH LIVES (Universal) Chevy Chase in one of his greatest roles.
(O)     FRIGHTMARE (Fox) Another Spartan pick-up, not to be confused with the 1974 Peter Walker movie.
(O)     THE GHOST & MR. CHICKEN (Universal) Don Knotts busts some ghosts!
(O)     GINGER SNAPS (Fox) A young girl gets all hairy and irritable. Is it... [IMG5R]the Curse?
(O)     HELLION: THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND (Fox) A family's new house is a portal to Hell.
(O)     HEY, STOP STABBING ME! (Sub Rosa) A twenty-something encounters danger when he shares a house in this horror comedy. What a great title!
(O)     HOW TO FRAME A FIGG (Universal) In this 1971 comedy, Don Knotts is a computer programmer who uncovers small town corruption.
(O)     IDENTITY (Columbia TriStar) Like an update on old "clutching hand" mysteries (CAT & THE CANARY, ROGUES TAVERN), ten guests in a remote motel find themselves being picked off. Whodunit? John Cusack holds a boombox playing his favorite song over his head in the rain in an attempt to flush out the killer. This special edition includes a "branched version" of the film with an alternative ending, commentrak, deleted scenes, storyboards, etc. Also available bundled with TRAPPED and MEMENTO.
(O)     IN A GLASS CAGE (Cult Epics) An ex-Nazi doctor who committed countless concentration camp atrocities, now confined to an iron lung, hires a strange young man as a nurse, and soon the horror begins again. Intense Spanish masterpiece of terror, uncut.
(O)     INTO THE NIGHT (Universal) John Landis asks the musical question: Why can't Jeff Goldblum sleep? It might be because a very hot Michelle Pfeiffer is hanging around with him. Includes a documentary on blues great B.B. King, who performed the theme.
(O)     ISLAND OF THE DEAD (Fox) Killer flies!
(O)     IT'S PAT (Buena Vista) Sex causes confusion.
(O)     THE LOVE GOD? (Universal) Don Knotts shucks off his kiddie movie following for this adult comedy in which an innocent publisher finds his birdwatchers magazine taken over by pornography, with a PR agent touting him as the next Hefner!
(O)     A MAN APART (New Line) Vin Diesel as a DEA agent who goes after the Mexican druglord that killed his wife. Both widescreen and fullscreen, 7 deleted scenes, trailers.
(O)     MARY-KATE & ASHLEY: Around the World Collection (Warner Bros.) 4-disc set of the Olsen Twins' international hits: WHEN IN ROME, GETTING THERE, HOLIDAY IN THE SUN and WINNING LONDON.
(O)     MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE MOVIE (Fox) Feature version of the DINOSAUR TASK FORCE BEAST RANGERS reworked into an "American" show.
(O)     MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: TURBO (Fox) I guess "turbo" means they're even more hyper in this one.
(O)     M. NIGHT SHYALAMAN 3-pack (Buena Vista) SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE and SIGNS in a box set. [IMG6R]All wonderful films.
(O)     MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE (Universal) The Pythons are at their edgiest in this feature assemblage. Remastered, the 2-disc set includes commentrak, deleted scenes, making-of, and more.
(O)     THE OUTER LIMITS: Original Series - Season 2 (MGM) We control the vertical. Hmmm. Why is this 3-disc set of the shorter second season only $10 less than the $80 4-disc season 1 set?
(O)     POWER RANGERS NINJA STORM #2: Lightning Strikers (Buena Vista)
(O)     POWER RANGERS NINJA STORM #3: Looming Thunder (Buena Vista) What is this, Ranger Week?
(O)     REIGN IN DARKNESS (Fox) Vampire bounty hunter. Includes commentrak and behind-the-scenes footage.
(O)     THE RELUCTANT ASTRONAUT (Universal) Don Knotts in outer space!
(O)     RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN (Buena Vista) Sequel stars Bette Davis and Christopher Lee! Includes commentrak, cartoon short, interviews and more.
(O)     SEVERED (Fox) Bounty hunter hunts headhunting demon.
(O)     THE SHAKIEST GUN IN THE WEST (Universal) Don Knotts gets nervous when confronting gunfighters.
(O)     STARGATE SG-1: Season 3 - Volume 3 (MGM.
(O)     STARGATE SG-1: Season 3 - Volume 4 (MGM.
(O)     STARGATE SG-1: Season 3 - Volume 5 (MGM.
(O)     STARGATE SG-1: Season 4 Gift Set (MGM) The complete 5-disc set of season 4 with complete audio commentary. Get it and then taunt your friends. "Ha ha! I got the STARGATE SG-1 gift set!."
(O)     13^th CHILD: LEGEND OF THE JERSEY DEVIL (MTI) Cryptozoology thriller starring Christopher Adkins, Cliff Robertson and Lesley-Anne Down. Includes behind-the-scenes, deleted scenes, cast bios & trailers.
(O)     XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS: Complete Second Season (Anchor Bay) Xena. She pretty. Box set includes audio & video commentaries by Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor and Robert Tapert.

ANIME ADDITIONS

And finally, we close off each weekly list with a rundown of the constant stream of anime from around the world:

(O)     BANNER OF THE STARS 2: Volume 3 - Return (Pioneer)
(O)     THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER (Buena Vista)
(O)     THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER GOES TO MARS (Buena Vista)
(O)     THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER TO THE RESCUE (Buena Vista) A hero such as he deserves all the Eggos that he wants! Huzzah!
(O)     FULL METAL PANIC: Volume 3 (ADV Films)
(O)     .hack//SIGN: Volume 4 - Omnipotence (Pioneer) Limited edition includes CD soundtrack.
(O)     KIM POSSIBLE: The Secret Files (Buena Vista)
(O)     KING OF BANDIT JING #2 (ADV Films)
(O)     LOVE HINA AGAIN: The Movie (Bandai) Wacky romantic comedy.
(O)     MEDABOTS #11: Medabots to the Tournament (ADV Films)
(O)     NINJA SCROLL: The Series - Volume 1 (Urban Vision) Episodes 1-4 continues the adventures of Jubei Kibagami. Music by Kitaro. Includes featurettes, interviews gallery and storyboards.
(O)     PLEASE TEACHER: Volume 3 - Honeymoon's Over (Bandai) Love & homework.
(O)     SAIYUKI: Storms (ADV Films)
(O)     S-CRY-ED: Volume 2 - The Alter Hunt (Pioneer) Super-powered [IMG7R]mutant action.
(O)     THE SIMPSONS TREE HOUSE OF HORROR (Fox) With bonus Kang & Kodos footage.
(O)     ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN COLLECTION (Buena Vista) Bundles DAREDEVIL VS. SPIDER-MAN with RETURN OF THE GREEN GOBLIN and ULTIMATE VILLAIN SHOWDOWN.
(O)     SUPER DUPER SUMOS #6: Big Bottom Bros. (ADV Films)
(O)     TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: Attack of the Mousers (Goldhil) 3 episodes from the recent series, plus interview, making-of, and more.
(O)     TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2: Meet Casey Jones (Goldhil) 3 episodes from the recent series, plus interview, making-of, and more.
(O)     YU YU HAKUSHO: Yoko Kurama (Goldhil) Uncut or edited.

And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's DVD Shopping List!

DVD Shopping List is our weekly DVD column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive new book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!