Dragons on DVD

By: John Thonen
Date: Tuesday, August 08, 2000

While the first installment in this column's new weekly format may have been a little lackluster in terms of exciting releases, things pick up a bit on this second Tuesday in August. The big news is on the Direct-to-video (DTV) front. It appears DTV is no longer the exclusive domain of low budget, independent producers, as a pair of well-funded titles from major studios hit the stores.

Up first is Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins a kind-of Toy Story prequel, done in traditional animation techniques, rather than the computer imagery of the theatrically released originals. Designed as something of a pilot for an upcoming TV series, this tells the tale of Buzz in combat with the evil Emperor Zurg. (And does anybody know why these guys always have names like Ming, Vader, Zurg? Why do we never see an evil Emperor Dave?) Tim Allen is the only returning voice from the films, but this Disney VHS and DVD release is hardly short on name vocal talent. Wayne Knight and Patrick Warburton from TV's Seinfeld, 3rd Rock's French Stewart, The Man Show's Adam Carolla, comic Larry Miller and Stephen Furst (of Animal House and Babylon 5), all lend their unique intonations to the proceedings. Not to mention, the DVD promises a commentary track featuring many of the cast, in character! In the past, Disney has done pretty well with these DTV spin-offs of their theatrical hits, so if you've got kids, or just feel like one, this may be a good bet.

Another family oriented tale, albeit aimed at a slightly older audience, premieres today with Universal's VHS/DVD release of Dragonheart: A New Beginning. I really had my doubts when I first heard of this belated follow-up to the 1996 theatrical release. That film featured a gravel-voiced Dennis Quaid as a knight, alongside Draco, a well rendered CGI dragon, voiced by a regal Sean Connery. The certainty of a DTV-sized budget and the presence the annoying Robby Benson as the voice the new dragon did not bode well. Neverthless, this is a pretty enjoyable tale, at times a little reminiscent of one of my favorite Charlie Band productions, Dragonworld. One time Soviet bloc republic, Slovakia, provides a convincing medieval setting, and the effects, although variable, are often quite good. Young Chris Masterson (the ne'er-do-well older brother on TV's Malcom In the Middle) is a little bland as Geoff, the young would-be knight that befriends Drake, Draco's young son, and Earth's last dragon, but Harry Van Gorkum does a fine turn as the villainous Lord Osric. Good action, nice sets, workable effects. Worth a look.


While definitely less lavish a DTV production than Universal's Dragonheart sequel, Sterling Entertainment manages to deliver the B-movie goods with another big, though not so fanciful, lizard, in Komodo. Directed by special effects whiz Michael Lanteri (Wild, Wild West), this tale of bad guy industrialists, a good gal biologist, and a young boy whose family ended up as lizard-chowall trapped on an island overrun by the real life, cold-blooded semi-dragons of the titleis frequently exciting and always entertaining. The effects, overseen by Lanteri, are solid; the cast is above average for this kind of fare, and the DVD features a director's commentary and a cast commentary. Check it out.

Paramount, who have never really regained their stranglehold on video sci-fi since dumping Charlie Band's Full Moon label, continue to miss the mark with Tycus (VHS/DVD), yet another tale of Earth threatened by an approaching interstellar rock. This is kind of a When Worlds Collide in reverse, as a secret underground city becomes mankind's last hope for survival. Boasting a good cast, including Dennis Hopper and Peter Onorati, this has a few original ideas, but is just too slow to hold one's interest. Barely passable.

Last, and definitely least, of the week's DTV releases is A-Pix's amusingly titled, Da Hip Hop Witch. Yes, it's a rap takeoff on Blair Witch, featuring a number of real life rappers, a nonexistent budget and a total lack of entertainment value. Don't be tempted.

DVD

The wonderful world Euro-horror on DVD barrels on this week with Image's release of Female Vampire, the first uncut U.S. release of this 1973 offering from the prolific, and often dreadful, Jess Franco. I haven't see this one, but you can generally count on Franco for large helpings of naked flesh, perverse situations and a ponderous pace. Approach at your own risk.

While hardly Bava (not even his son Lamberto) level material, Image's release of 1966's Tomb Of Torture rolls out it's cliches:reincarnation, torture chamber, man-beast, smoothly and professionally. Watchable

Anchor Bay offers up the excellent Hammer horror tale, The Devil Rides Out, generally known in the U.S. as The Devil's Bride. This 1968 winner from director Terrence Fisher is a great reminder that you don't need dazzling effects or gruesome makeup to make a great horror film. Recommended.

Anchor Bay fails to go 2 for 2 as they unveil 1966's The Witches (a.k.a. The Devil's Own). This is one of the few bad films to derive from the works of England's premiere fantasy screenwriter, Nigel Kneale. Simply dull.

Troma offers a pair of nostalgic oddities with the 1943, Ghosts On The Loose, featuring the East Side Kids (later The Bowery Boys) dealing with Nazis and a spooky house. That label also dredges up Radar Men of the Moon, a 1951 offering which was one of the last gasps of Republic's serial adventure tales. Not for all tastes.

Magic Lantern plumbs the depths of justly forgotten cinema to unleash Undertaker and His Pals, a none too amusing, would-be black comedy from 1966, featuring a diner that serves people. I mean, they really, serve people. Tasteless.

Possible proof that DVD mania may not always be for the good is seen in Anchor Bay's release of Supergirl. While I'll confess to a long time crush on star Helen Slater, this just isn't a very good film. Anchor Bay offers it in two versions, the theatrical cut and also a Special Edition: Director's Cut, which is a about 15 minutes longer. It's always possible that this longer version, which also boasts several extras, is a better film, but considering director Jeannot Szwarc 's overall oeuvre, which includes Jaws 2, Somewhere In Time, and Bug, I tend to doubt it. You never know.

That's it for this time around. I'll be back next week with tales of Argonauts, Apes and more. Right now, I got some movies to watch.