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Day the Ring Stood Still

We got great response to my offhand musing in last week's column about how folks use the DVD function of their gaming systems. Most readers that responded claim that they consider playing movies on their PS2, X-Box, or whatever, a terrific bonus. Some even claim that they use them to play movies almost exclusively. Only a small minority found fault with the feature some claiming that DVD image quality isn't as good as a regular player, and some readers even think that playing DVDs inflates the price of game systems.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

It had to happen sooner or later a week was bound to come along in which it would be impossible to find a clear standout from among the week's DVD titles. This week I found myself unable to choose between old school sci-fi and new wave horror, and so we have a double spotlight. First we have two classics from the 1950s brought to you by Fox:

[ ]     THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL: Special Edition (Fox) One of the best science fiction films ever made (with a classic score by Bernard Herrmann) comes to DVD in this restored 2-sided special edition disc, complete with commentrak by director Robert Wise along with Nicholas Meyer, making-of documentary, 6 still galleries and trailers.
[ ]     JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (Fox) Thoroughly enjoyable 1959 big budget adaptation of the Jules Verne classic in a newly restored and remastered edition. Oh, and this one has another great Herrmann score.

And our [IMG2R]other spotlight goes to two adaptations of Kinji Suzuki's terrific horror novel:

[ ]     THE RING (DreamWorks) Last year's hit is full of creepy shocks, and the story should prove to work even better on home video. The disc includes a 20-minute short film by director Gore Verbinski. Fullscreen and widescreen versions available.  
[ ]     RINGU (DreamWorks) They've wisely decided to give the original Japanese version a U.S. release simultaneously with the flashier remake. If you haven't seen either, it's probably best you see this one first it's a classic.

NEW RELEASES

[ ]     ARMY OF DARKNESS: Boomstick Edition (Anchor Bay) ABE goes to the EVIL DEAD well yet again with this repackaging of both the theatrical & extended cuts of this sequel. This set originally came out in a "limited edition" of 30,000 a few years ago, and here's your chance to own it if you missed out.
[ ]     BEST OF THE MUPPET SHOW: Volume 3 (Columbia TriStar) Singing guests Harry Belafonte, Linda Ronstadt and John Denver.
[ ]     BEST OF THE MUPPET SHOW: Volume 4 (Columbia TriStar) British comedy guests Peter Sellers, John Cleese and Dudley Moore.
[ ]     BLACK HEAT (E.I. Independent) Director Al Adamson's 1976 blaxploitation feature was also released with a different first reel as the sexploitation feature GIRLS MOTEL. This disc release contains that extra reel, plus a commentrak by producer Sam Sherman, extensive liner notes, and plenty of trailers.
[ ]     BOG CREATURES (MTI) Archeologists dig for medieval folks mummified in a bog, not knowing that an evil priestess is raising the mummies from the dead. For some reason it reminds me of the old sci-fi movie THE SLIME PEOPLE. Includes behind-the-scenes featurette.
[ ]     A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT / THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Universal) A lighthearted Bing Crosby double feature that pairs Mark Twain's time travel fantasy with Billy Wilder's adventure of a traveling salesman in Europe.
[ ]     THE DARK CRYSTAL (Columbia TriStar) A "Superbit" re-release, for optimum home theater viewing.
[ ]     DOCTOR WHO: [IMG3R]THE AZTECS (BBC) BBC Video continues its recent assault on the American colonies with more Doctor Who. William Hartnell stars as the Doctor in this earliest surviving historical WHO adventure involving the ancient race of the title. Includes commentary, featurettes, galleries, and more.
[ ]     DOCTOR WHO: VENGEANCE ON VAROS (BBC) Also due this week is this popular Colin Baker story. Along with his companion Peri, The Doctor must locate the rare mineral Zeiton-7 in order to power his TARDIS. Of course, it's not long before the two find themselves involved in the conflicts of the planet Varos, where punishment and torture are the most popular form of TV entertainment!
[ ]     THE DUKE (Buena Vista) A dog becomes royalty!
[ ]     HALF PAST DEAD (Columbia TriStar) Steven Seagal urban action stinker.
[ ]     HEAVY METAL (Columbia TriStar) Animated sci-fi anthology based on the comics magazine, re-released in "Superbit".
[ ]     A KID IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT (Buena Vista) Through the miracle of DVD, today you can compare this juvenile retread with the Bing Crosby version (above). What the heck is Kate Winslet doing in this?
[ ]     LABYRINTH (Columbia TriStar) Heroic fantasy, 1980s style, re-released in "Superbit".
[ ]     MEAN MOTHER (E.I. Independent) Acquiring a Leon Klimovsky Italian/Spanish crime film in a package deal with some horror features, Independent International had Al Adamson splice it together with new scenes concerning Viet Nam War deserters in Europe to make this very odd patchwork picture. Includes trailers and commentrak by producer Sam Sherman.
[ ]     1984 (MGM) [IMG4R]John Hurt is Winston Smith in this 1984 adaptation of George Orwell's novel 1984.
[ ]     THE OSBOURNES: Complete First Season (Buena Vista) All 10 episodes, 4 bonus episodes, commentrak, games, and a whole load of other $#![. Available in bleeped and unbleeped versions.
[ ]     QUEST FOR FIRE (Fox) Prehistoric humans looking to bum a light. Commentary by director Jean Jacque Annaud, Rae Dawn Chong, Ron Perlman & Michael Gruskoff, plus making-of, galleries, etc.
[ ]     SCOOBY DOO AND THE LEGEND OF THE VAMPIRE (Warner Bros.) Now you can watch this animated feature with Portuguese subtitles. Hey, wouldn't it be cool to have Scooby do a commentrak?
[ ]     STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME - Collector's Edition (Paramount) One of the most popular Trek features gets deluxe 2-disc treatment, including commentary by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, text commentary, featurettes, and lots more.
[ ]     STEPFATHER 2: MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY (Buena Vista) The original horror feature played on our fear of family. This sequel doesn't do much that's new with the idea, but is fun nevertheless.
[ ]     VAMPIRA / NIGHT VAMPS (Sub Rosa) A double feature entry in the thriving "erotic vampire" subgenre. VAMPIRA is a Spanish production (with English subtitles) that likely did not obtain the rights to the name of the famous '50s horror hostess, while NIGHT VAMPS is a domestic production with scream queen Glori-Anne Gilbert.

ANIME ADDITIONS

And finally, [IMG5R]we close off each weekly list with a rundown of the constant stream of anime imported from Japan:

[ ]     CARRIED BY THE WIND: Tsukikage Ran (Bandai)
[ ]     CUBIX - Dondon for Dinner (FUNimation)
[ ]     DRAGONBALL Z Imperfect Cell Box Set (FUNimation) 4 volume set includes episodes 125-137
[ ]     FANCY LALA Volume 5: Rise to Stardom (Bandai)
[ ]     .hack//SIGN Limited Edition Collector's Box (Bandai) Includes "Login" DVD, in a collector's box, along with a plush toy, t-shirt, soundtrack CD, postcards, stickers, and a demo disc of the PS2 game!
[ ]     NEO RANGA #1 - A God Is Risen (ADV Films)
[ ]     SAMURAI SHOWDOWN: The Motion Picture (ADV Films)
[ ]     TSUKIKAGE RAN: Carried by the Wind-Way of the Samurai VoL. 4 (Pioneer)
[ ]     YU YU HAKUSHO: DARK TOURNAMENT - Fairplay (FUNimation)
[ ]     YU YU HAKUSHO: DARK TOURNAMENT - The Rising Storm (FUNimation)

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

DVD Shopping List is our weekly DVD column.