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Little Shop of Living Death

With quite a few releases delayed this week, it gives us a chance to chat a bit. DVD Shopping List has been running for about two months now, and we're mighty curious to know more about how the feature is working for You, our wonderful readers. Are you printing out the list for easy reference? What information can we include to make the list more helpful? Would you like to know about every extra on each DVD, or is our general rundown enough? Should we divide the new releases into feature film and TV sections? Should the anime section only include Japanese releases, or should we put all animation releases together? Should the listed titles be linked directly to an online vendor where you can order them... You can actually transfer your thoughts to us electronically using this handy link: feedback@cinescape.com!

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Does the [IMG2R]Spotlight look different this week? That's right it's in 3-D! (Special glasses required.) I happen to be a big fan of 3-D movies. If done right, it can be amazing, as in some of the IMAX presentations. The problems with it are technical and artistic if not handled correctly, it can be a real headache. Most directors try to show off with the effect with roller coaster rides and such, but it seems to work even better by letting the action play out simply within the frame and not moving the camera around or cutting much. 3-D on TV works, but is problematic since broadcast television and videotape are of too low quality for a proper presentation. DVD holds new hope for the format, and a new process is supposed to be able to lend the illusion of 3-D to old 2-D movies. I haven't seen any of these discs yet, but CINESCAPE will give you a full review when we get hold of one:

[ ]     THE CLASSIC 3-D HORROR COLLECTION (Slingshot Entertainment) The set contains Roger Corman's 1960 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, George Romero's horror classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and SEVEN DOORS OF DEATH, the edited version of Lucio Fulci's THE BEYOND. According to Slingshot, you can switch between 3-D and 2-D presentations, and each title is available separately, but get this the 3-D glasses are sold separately, too.

NEW RELEASES

[ ]     ANGEL FORCE (CAV) Sweet-faced martial arts star Moon Lee had her first big hit with ANGEL, leading to a long parade of sequels & knock-offs like this one, in which Moon, Sibelle Hu, and Yokari Oshima lead [IMG3R]the girls-with-guns action.
[ ]     ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13: Special Edition (Image) This 1976 effort from director John Carpenter brings the siege movie formula (ala THE LOST PATROL or NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD) to the urban jungle, trapping cops & criminals alike within an inner city police station under attack by gangs. This deluxe DVD features commentary by Carpenter, new video Q&A with Carpenter & star Austin Stoker, isolated music score, storyboards, and more.
[ ]     BELOW (Buena Vista) David Twohy directs this horror film in which supernatural forces attack a submarine during World War II. Twohy does a commentrak, plus deleted scenes, making of, and trailers.
[ ]     DANCE OF THE DRUNK MANTIS (CAV) In this follow up to DRUNKEN MASTER, Yuen Woo-ping directs father Simon Yuen and brothers Sunny and Corey Yuen in some outstanding comic fight sequences.
[ ]     HALF PAST DEAD (Columbia TriStar) Lately once-popular action star Steven Seagal has been trying to revive his career by catering to the urban action audience, surrounding himself with rap stars in several action features. It's much like how Jet Li's handlers are channeling his talent into niche markets rather than letting his appeal and abilities flower in the USA with more mainstream action movies. (Well, the difference is that Li is much more personable and athletically gifted.) Here, Seagal is given a promising premise Seagal and Ja Rule are crooks sent by FBI Agent Claudia Christian into a hi-tech prison to find out where a death row inmate hid $200 million in gold but ultimately the movie just goes through the motions. DVD includes director's commentrak, making of, and both widescreen and [IMG4R]fullscreen presentations.
[ ]     I AM CURIOUS - YELLOW / I AM CURIOUS - BLUE SET (Criterion) Get sexy! Actually, these are art films, despite their reputation... a rep that was only heightened when I AM CURIOUS YELLOW was seized by customs officials when it first arrived in the U.S. over 30 years ago. Of course, now we have the power of the DVD pause button to further study the art of such cinema...
[ ]     I SPY (Columbia TriStar) Since Hollywood is in an orgy of features based on old TV shows and spy spoofs lately, this movie was perhaps inevitable (no doubt we'll see MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. soon). While the 1960s series played on the understated charm of its stars' chemistry while involving them in more-or-less believable missions, here we have loudmouth Eddie Murphy and chatterbox Owen Wilson surrounded by gadgets and silly antics. Commentary with director Betty Thomas (who has a remarkable record for pulling off difficult material), plus featurettes and trailers.
[ ]     INSPECTOR GADGET 2 (Buena Vista) The original TV cartoon adaptation was awful, but was enough of a hit with kids to warrant this direct-to-video sequel, with none of the original's cast returning. While kids might get into the games and other interactive features on the disc, it's hard to figure who the target audience is for the 2 commentraks, deleted scenes, and other extensive extras included.
[ ]     MY LIFE AS A DOG (Criterion) Lasse Hallstrom's critically acclaimed tale gets the Criterion treatment. Rejoin young Ingemarand of course his dogas he faces the unexpected turns of life. Includes a new transfer, a 52-minute film by the director, interviews, and more.
[ ]     ROAD RAGE (BFS) After a hard day, relax by watching videos of drivers going nuts on the highways.
[ ]     SASQUATCH (aka THE UNTOLD) (Columbia TriStar) Lance Henriksen is a billionaire who heads into the Northwest forest and finds a monstrous hairy biped.
[ ]     SAVAGE ABDUCTION (Troma) Two women think it's a good idea to hitch a ride from a gang of psychopathic biker junkies. NOT a good idea.
[ ]     SNIPER 2 (Columbia TriStar) Tom Berenger is really good at shooting, again.
[ ]     SWIMFAN (Fox) Teenage version of FATAL ATTRACTION. Director & actor commentary, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette, and more.

ANIME ADDITIONS

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

[ ]     CARDCAPTOR SAKURA - Powers Awry (Pioneer)
[ ]     CHOBITS - Persocom (Pioneer)
[ ]     DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS - Devil's Song (Central Park Media)
[ ]     DRAGONBALL Z Kid Buu - A New Beginning (FUNimation)
[ ]     GALL FORCE #2: Destruction (Central Park Media)
[ ]     GALL FORCE #3: Stardust War (Central Park Media)
[ ]     GALL FORCE DVD Collection (Central Park Media)
[ ]     GALL FORCE: Eternal Story (Central Park Media)
[ ]     GTO: Volume 7: Showbiz (Tokyopop)
[ ]     KIRBY: Escargoon Squad (FUNimation)
[ ]     NIGHTMARE CAMPUS (Central Park Media)
[ ]     POKEMON Johto League Champions Volume 2 (Pioneer)
[ ]     REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA - Darkness Beckoning (Central Park Media)
[ ]     RHEA GALL FORCE (Central Park Media)
[ ]     STEPMOTHER'S SIN (Central Park Media)

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

DVD Shopping List is our weekly DVD column.