CHILDREN OF MEN
© N/A
DVD autobot
By: Brian ThomasDate: Tuesday, March 27, 2007
While shopping at a local supermarket recently I came upon something new installed right outside the exit doors – an automated DVD rental vending machine. Video vending machines have been around in Japan (where you can get just about anything from a vending machine) for quite a while, and I’ve seen a few machines that sell DVDs, but this is the first rental venture I’ve noticed. These kiosks (“vending machine” sounds so chintzy) started popping up recently around the country, and are the product of a company called DVD Play [www.dvdplay.com], a name which caused me a bit of confusion, as I kept trying to click their logo on the touchscreen, thinking it might actually play the DVD right there in the store.
Using this machine, you can make an overnight rental for $1.49 (plus tax), as long as you return the disc before store closing the following day. Well, according to the onscreen instructions, you have until 11:49 (Central) the next evening, but since the store closes at 11:00, that bit was a little misleading. On the other hand, you can also return the disc to another DVD Play machine, so if you can find one in a location open later, you can get that extra 49 minutes. I thought that might still be a problem, but by checking the website I found that the kiosks are in almost every Dominicks store in my area. If you input an email address, you can receive a free rental coupon code for every ten rentals. Monday rentals are only $.99. One big flaw for me was that the kiosks don’t issue a receipt. You get a receipt by email if you’ve entered an email address, but if you mis-enter the address you have one problem, and if you enter correctly you have the problem of your email info being in the hands of yet another corporation, so be prepared for daily promotional blasts.
By stepping through the menus, I found that the machine holds a generous selection of new releases, adding fresh discs every Tuesday, and even some older titles. Payment is made by scanning a credit or debit card, so any child who can reach the controls – and into mom’s purse – can rent R-rated fare like Blood Diamond, Borat and Miami Vice. The DVDs come sliding out of the machine in a sturdy jewel case, not the flimsy paper sleeve I was conditioned to expect by rent-by-mail outfits. You return the disc by slipping it in another slot. The online info claims that store service desks are provided with extra cases, but I wouldn’t count on it, so take care. First timers can rent two movies, and after that you can rent four discs at once. If you want a longer rental, the extra days charge your account $.99 per day, up to a maximum of $25, at which point, you’ve bought yourself a disc, fool! This is more than the retail price, and if you rented Zoom (or most any Tim Allen movie) for some reason and forgot to return it until a month later, it could be a real tragedy.
Want to try it for free? Just make a selection and when you get to the checkout screen touch the “Promocode” button and enter the code “DVD123”. It’s on me!
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
One of 2006’s best movies is given one of 2007’s worst DVD covers. A shot of a dirty cement wall with part of Clive Owen’s face up in one corner - who designed that? The theatrical release had several posters, none of them spectacular but all of them were much better.
(O) CHILDREN OF MEN (Universal) Moving and technically stunning sci-fi thriller has Clive Owen attempting to guide the first pregnant woman in 18 years to safety across a chaotic future Britain. Widescreen and “fullscreen” editions include documentary featurettes and deleted footage.
NEW RELEASES
(O) THE ADDAMS FAMILY Volume 2 (MGM) Lurch becomes a pop idol! Gomez runs for mayor! 21 more episodes of the gothest sitcom ever on three discs, plus commentraks, commentrak by Thing and Cousin Itt, featurette, trivia track and more.
(O) AFTER DARK HORRORFEST (Lionsgate) Box set of seven titles from last November’s event (listed separately below) includes Dark Ride, The Gravedancers, The Hamiltons, Penny Dreadful, Reincarnation, Unrest and Wicked Little Things. The Abandoned has been delayed due to an additional limited theatrical release last month, while Hood of Horror will be released on DVD by Xenon.
(O) ALBERT FISH (Facets) John Borowski, who created a fine documentary on H.H. Holmes a couple years ago, turns his attention to another notorious predator. Includes interviews, featurettes, deleted footage and more.
(O) BLACK EMANNUELLE’S BOX Volume 1 (Severin) Laura Gemser in Emanuelle In Bangkok, Sister Emanuelle and Emanuelle Around The World (X-rated European version available separately), plus a bonus CD.
(O) THE BLUE BIRD (Fox) Shirley Temple stars in Fox’s 1940 answer to The Wizard of Oz.
(O) THE BRADY BUNCH Complete Series (Paramount)
(O) BUDDAH’S PALM (Tai Seng) 2-disc special edition of the 1982 Hong Kong kung fu fantasy.
(O) A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL (Blue Underground) 1967 spaghetti western.
(O) BUSTER CRABBE COLLECTION (St. Clair) 3-disc set crams in seven features and a Flash Gordon serial.
(O) CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: The Silver Chair (Image) More episodes of the 1990 TV series.
(O) CINEMA OF DEATH (Cult Epics) Compilation of strange shorts.
(O) COLOR ME KUBRICK (Magnolia) During the shooting of Eyes Wide Shut, a man (John Malkovich) impersonates director Stanley Kubrick. Includes Making-Of. Currently playing in theaters as well.
(O) CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (Sony) Tensions between emperor Chow Yun-fat and empress Gong Li run high in Zhang Yimou’s sumptuous swordplay drama. With Making-Of and more.
(O) A DAREN ARONOFSKY COLLECTION (Lionsgate) Includes Pi and Requiem For A Dream.
(O) DARK RIDE (After Dark/Lionsgate) College students on a road trip get trapped in a carnival spook house with a psycho killer. With commentrak, featurettes, deleted footage and storyboards.
(O) DUST DEVIL (Subversive) After releasing a definitive 5-disc set with multiple versions of this horror cult favorite last Fall, Subversive trims down to this single disc edition with the “final cut” version.
(O) THE EDEN FORMULA (Westlake) John Carl Buechler’s Sci-Fi Channel movie (AKA Tyrannosaurus Wrecks) starring Jeff Fahey as a scientist who creates a dinosaur in the lab. Genre regulars Dee Wallace Stone and Tony Todd co-star.
(O) ERROL FLYNN Signature Collection Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) Includes The Adventures Of Don Juan, Charge Of The Light Brigade, The Dawn Patrol, Dive Bomber and Gentleman Jim, each sold separately.
(O) FAMILY AFFAIR Season 3 (MPI) 28 episodes on five discs, plus a reunion special.
(O) FUNNY MONEY (Anchor Bay) Hey – it’s a new comedy starring Chevy Chase, Armand Assante and Christopher McDonald! Must be funny – it says so in the title.
(O) THE GRAVEDANCERS (After Dark/Lionsgate) Old friends gathered for a funeral make the mistake of offending the evil dead. With commentrak, featurettes, deleted footage and drinking game.
(O) GROUCHO MARX & REDD FOXX (MPI) 1960s TV shows featuring stand-up by the great comics.
(O) THE HAMILTONS (After Dark/Lionsgate) A parentless Party of 5 from Hell tries to hide within society but struggles with a hunger for human blood. With commentrak, deleted footage and bloopers.
(O) HUNDRA (Subversive) Matt Cimber’s 1983 sword & sorcery guilty pleasure starring Laurene Landon. Includes commentrak with Cimber & Landron, Making-Of, comic-book, Ennio Moricone soundtrack CD and more.
(O) I SPIT ON YOUR CORPSE, I PISS ON YOUR GRAVE (Sub Rosa) “Official Director’s Version” of this Midwestern slasher torture horror.
(O) KEOMA (Blue Underground) Outstanding 1976 Enzo G. Castellari spaghetti western starring Franco Nero. PENNY DREADFUL ©
(O) THE LITTLE RASCALS Box Set (Genius) Collects:
(O) THE LITTLE RASCALS: The Best of Our Gang (Genius)
(O) THE LITTLE RASCALS: The Best of Spanky (Genius)
(O) THE LITTLE RASCALS: Superstars of Our Gang (Genius)
(O) LOCK UP (Lionsgate) 1989 Sly Stallone Boys Behind Bars epic.
(O) LUNG FUNG RESTAURANT (Tai Seng) 1990 Hong Kong comedy starring Stephen Chow.
(O) MARY HARTMAN MARY HARTMAN Volume 1 (Sony) The first 25 episodes of Norman Lear’s 1976 soap opera spoof on three discs.
(O) MEN SUDDENLY IN BLACK 2 (Tai Seng) Hong Kong battle of the sexes comedy as husbands that compete as cheaters get their comeuppance.
(O) NUMB (Heretic) Twisted tale set in a future world of drug addiction and computer that make people into angels.
(O) PERVERT! (TLA) Uninhibited spoof/tribute to ‘70s sex and violence grindhouse features. Includes commentrak, Making-Of, bloopers and more.
(O) THE PICKLE (Sony) Paul Mazursky’s 1993 black comedy about a film director who attempts a comeback with a ridiculous sci-fi movie. With interview.
(O) PUMPKINHEAD: ASHES TO ASHES (Sony) Lance Henriksen’s ghost tries to warn his town about the Pumpkinhead creature, but they instead try to use it against organ-harvesting Dr. Doug Bradley.
(O) REINCARNATION (After Dark/Lionsgate) J-horror entry in the After Dark Horrorfest is a lesser effort from Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge) about an actress making a horror flick who becomes entangled in the real life horror it’s based on. Includes Making-Of, interview and deleted footage.
(O) ROMAN (Echo Bridge) Switching roles, actress Angela Bettis directs a semi-sequel to May starring and written by pal Lucky McKee and Kristen Bell. With commentrak, deleted footage, interviews and outtakes.
(O) SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS (Lionsgate) Original 1960 UK comedy starring Ian Carmichael and Terry Thomas.
(O) SHUTTER (Tartan) Thai haunted camera flick, plus interviews and featurette.
(O) TEXAS ADIOS (Blue Underground) 1966 spaghetti western in which sheriff Franco Nero rides into Mexico to hunt down the man who murdered his father. TURISTAS ©
(O) THE THREE STOOGES: Triple Whammy Box Set (Genius) Includes:
(O) THE THREE STOOGES: Extreme Rarities (Genius)
(O) THE THREE STOOGES: Greatest Routines (Genius)
(O) THE THREE STOOGES: Swing Parade (Genius)
(O) TOMBOY COMMANDO (Tai Seng) Thai action.
(O) ULTIMATE VERSUS (Media Blasters) Having already released three editions of Ryuhei Kitamura’s cult hit horror action epic on their Tokyo Shock label, MB goes back to the trough again for this 3-disc set. Includes three commentraks, five Making-Of featurettes, deleted footage, bonus shorts and more, all in a tin box.
(O) UNREST (After Dark/Lionsgate) Writer/director Jason Todd Ipson draws on his days as a medical student for this creepy tale of an evil cadaver. With commentrak and Making-Of.
(O) VAN WILDER: THE RISE OF TAJ (MGM) Sequel to the moderate hit National Lampoon brand frat comedy starring Kal Penn. Unrated edition includes gag reel, Making-Of featurettes, deleted footage and music videos.
(O) WICKED LITTLE THINGS (After Dark/Lionsgate) Atmospheric but silly horror tale in which a family moves to their ancestral home and finds the region in peril from attacks by marauding child zombies killed in a coal mine disaster. Includes commentrak.
(O) WILL ROGERS COLLECTION Volume 2 (Fox) 4-disc set includes Ambassador Bill, David Harum, Mr. Skitch and Too Busy To Work.
HD-DVD CORNER
(O) CHILDREN OF MEN (Universal) Includes documentary featurettes and deleted footage.
(O) MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (Warner Bros.)
BLU-RAY DISC CORNER
(O) MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (Warner Bros.)
NOT ON DVD CORNER
We welcome the input of Maniacs who want to share input on this section, where we highlight a different genre feature that has yet to come to digital disc format – just send your suggestions to DVD Shopping List in an email identified with “NOT ON DVD” in the subject line.
(O) MONKEY (ADV? Discotek? Image? Media Blasters?) This 1978 Japanese TV series (AKA Saiyuki Monkey Magic) is a cult sensation in the few regions of the United States where it’s been broadcast in syndication, and has been picking up new fans via YouTube clips the past few years. It’s based on Chinese folklore about the Monkey King, subject of dozens of movies and comics over the years, but this TV version is – how do I put this? – friggin’ insane! And it’s NOT ON DVD.
Be sure to check back next week—and every week—for Mania’s DVD Shopping List! And don’t forget Anime Avalanche every Monday!
DVD Shopping List (© 2007 Brian Thomas) is our weekly DVD column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound’s Dragon: Asian Action & Cult Flicks, available now!
Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at DVD Shopping List.
