Pirate Video with Zombies!
By: Brian ThomasDate: Tuesday, December 02, 2003
You may have noticed that now it seems like each and every TV series ever made is available on DVD in season-by-season box sets. Not true they won't all be out until next year. It's madness, unless you happen to be a big fan of the TV series in question, in which case you're in heaven and can't get enough. One series that I recently discovered on the Wam! tween network (between DVDs) that will surely become disc-worthy is ATLANTIS HIGH. This bizarre soap comedy from Cloud 9, the New Zealand studio that makes the hit sci-fi series THE TRIBE, is about a new kid at the title seaside school who quickly discovers that everyone in his new town is more than a little eccentric. Everybody is either a spy, a space alien, or both or suspects everyone else may be. The cartoon colors, cheesy f/x and music that sounds a bit like Mark Mothersbough make it seem like a Nickelodeon show on the surface, but there's more than a little Lynchean subversive spirit and sexual innuendo mixed in. If you've ever wondered what a mash-up of TWIN PEAKS and PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE might look like, tune in. Only 26 episodes so far, so they're bound to start at the beginning again soon.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
This week, our spotlight has its timbers shivered:
(O) PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (Buena Vista) For a movie based on a theme park ride, this is much better than it has any right to be and it might be the best horror action pirate movie ever made! Johnny Depp stars as a deranged scalliwag who is out to reclaim the cursed ship he once owned, which is now occupied by a crew of zombie pirates! Two-disc set includes deleted scenes, gag reel, three commentraks, Making-Of, pirate history, and more.
NEW RELEASES
(O) ALIAS Complete Season 2 (Buena Vista) 22 episodes on three discs, plus Making-Of, deleted scenes, bloopers, interviews, and more.
(O) ALIEN QUADRILOGY (Fox) Box set of deluxe editions of all four ALIEN movies. Hurray!
(O) ANGEL OF H.E.A.T. (Monterey) Marilyn Chambers in an R-rated spy spoof.
(O) THE AUSSIE HORROR COLLECTION (Elite) Box set of horrors from Australia includes THIRST, PATRICK and STRANGE BEHAVIOR. All three have commentraks and other extras.
(O) THE BEN STILLER SHOW (Warner Bros.) [IMG2R]This short-lived Fox show starring Stiller, Bob Odenkirk, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick and John O'Donohue was hilarious, but who watched Fox in 1992? (Besides me.) Includes cast commentraks, five unaired sketches, and more (unknown if there's anything here from Stiller's earlier MTV show).
(O) CASTLE OF THE WALKING DEAD (Eclectic/MVD) The demonic Count Regula (Christopher Lee) menaces Lex Barker and Karin Dor in this 1967 EuroHorror classic, aka BLOOD DEMON, THE SNAKE PIT & THE PENDULUM and TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR. SADISM.
(O) THE CHRISTMAS SEASON MASSACRE (Sub Rosa) Horror comedy in which a maniac has whittled down the list of his old high school enemies to six survivors who unite to defend themselves. Extras include two commentraks, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a bonus short.
(O) THE COSMIC SUPERHEROES COLLECTION (Image) Box set of Something Weird Video releases includes HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN / THE WITCH'S CURSE, GOLIATH & THE DRAGON (with CONQUEROR OF ATLANTIS), and their two STARMAN double features.
(O) DETOUR (MTI) Not [IMG3L]to be confused with the Edgar Ulmer film noir classic, this is a recent horror film (aka HELL'S HIGHWAY) about killer cannibal junkies protecting a secret pot farm in the desert! Includes deleted scenes.
(O) DRESSED TO FIGHT (Crash) Doris Lung, Elsa Teung and Tin Peng get all gussied up for a kung fu rumble, aka LEGEND OF THE BROKEN SWORD and DRAGON OF THE LOST ARK!
(O) FARSCAPE Season 4 Collection 1 (ADV Films) Episodes 401-405, plus interviews, featurettes and more.
(O) HE WALKED BY NIGHT (MGM) Film noir classic, based on a true story, about a tense manhunt by L.A. Police detectives. Inspired Jack Webb's DRAGNET TV/radio series.
(O) HIGH RISK (Navarre) Secret agents battle hackers intent on gaining control of the stock market.
(O) HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (MGM) Outrageous black comedy with Richard E. Grant as a burnt out ad exec who is outmaneuvered by... a second head growing on his shoulder!
(O) THE INVITATION (Lions Gate) A billionaire invites friends to a dinner party on his island, but the dinner is poisoned, and he demands they all make confessions to earn the antidote. Our Lance Henriksen Movie of the Month.
(O) LORD LOVE A DUCK (MGM) In this 1966 predecessor to FERRIS BUELLER and other teen comedies, young genius Roddy McDowall goes all out to help pretty new girl Tuesday Weld, but her demands become overwhelming.
(O) MASK OF VENGEANCE (Crash) A large cast led by Nora Miao goes into kung fu action.
(O) THE MEATRACK / STICKS AND STONES (Image) All-gay 1970s Something Weird Video double feature, plus seven gay shorts.
(O) MEN BEHIND THE SUN (World/CAV) Relentless [IMG4R]Hong Kong production tells the story of prison camp experiments in Japanese-occupied territories during WW2. Strong stuff should satisfy the gorehounds while shocking military history buffs.
(O) PRANKS (Eclectic/MVD) Five college students volunteer to close a condemned building over Christmas holiday and are stalked by a psycho. '80s slasher flick fondly recalled by some as THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD.
(O) RENT-A-GIRL / AROUSED / HELP WANTED: FEMALE (Image) A trio of twisted "roughies" from the sick Sixties, courtesy of Something Weird Video. Plus gallery, trailers, and the vintage short "Lesson of the Strap".
(O) REVENGE OF THE SHAOLIN MASTER (Crash) Dorian Tan, Chan Sing and Lung Fei face off.
(O) SAMURAI BELLS OF DEATH (Crash) 1981 Hong Kong action fantasy (aka BEAUTY ESCORT) with Nora Miao and Michael Chan.
(O) SHADOW FURY (Lions Gate) Mad scientist Dr. Oh plots revenge on his old partners, creating a mind-controlled clone warrior to do his dirty work.
(O) SHORT CUT ROAD (Sub Rosa/Pro-Active) One of a rash of recent teens-astray-in-the-hills horror flicks, with commentrak, interview, bloopers, trailers [IMG5L]and more.
(O) STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - Season 7 (Paramount)
(O) YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (Paramount) What if Holmes & Watson met as schoolboys? Teen hijinks!
(O) ZOMBIE BRIGADE (Eclectic/MVD) When a mayor sells off a Vietnam Vet graveyard to build a cartoon theme park, the dead re-animate as zombies and vampires for revenge.
ANIME ADDITIONS
And finally, we close off each weekly list with a rundown of the constant stream of anime from around the world:
(O) ANDROID KIKAIDER Volume 3: Unveiled Past (Pioneer) Jiro tries to help Mitsuko find her mother. Three episodes.
(O) ARGENTOSOMA Volume 6: Annihilation (Pioneer) A huge mass of aliens heads for Earth. Includes foil cover and trailer. Four episodes.
(O) BANNER OF THE STARS II Volume 3: Survivors (Pioneer)
(O) BIG O II: The Paradigm Lost (Bandai) More of the second series.
(O) CITY HUNTER 3 (ADV Films) A slick detective whose foxy partner carries around a big mallet to hit him with.
(O) FULL METAL PANIC! Mission 05 (ADV Films) Rivalry between teammates intensifies.
(O) GTO DVD Collection 1 (Tokyopop) The [IMG6R]first 23 episodes on five discs of the saga of a man out to become the world's greatest teacher, plus dubbing outtakes and trailers.
(O) HOT WHEELS: WORLD RACE (Artisan) Based on the classic toy cars, this anime feature chronicles a race round the world in supercars sponsored by a mad scientist. Soon to be a live-action feature directed by McG. Includes six music videos.
(O) HUMANOID (Central Park Media) Beautiful chrome fembot fights evil.
(O) ICZER REBORN (Central Park Media) Modern reintroduction of classic robo-warrior series.
(O) INU-YASHA Volume 12: Swords of Destiny (Viz) The demon Totosai tests Inu-Yasha.
(O) INU-YASHA Volume 13: Den of Wolves (Viz) Inu-Yasha fights the leader of the Wolf-Demon tribe.
(O) LAND BEFORE TIME 10: The Great Longneck Migration (Universal) 10?! Isn't Littlefoot extinct yet? All the other LBT movies are also re-released today in various box sets.
(O) LEGEND OF THE DRAGON KINGS: Iron Dragon (Central Park Media) Episodes 7-8. A super teenager transforms into a dragon when he gets mad. Good thing, 'cuz here comes a squad of killer robots.
(O) ORIGINAL DIRTY PAIR: AFFAIR OF NOLANDIA (ADV Films) Kei & Yuri save the universe by almost destroying it, as usual. Classic anime.
(O) POKÉMON: JOHTO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP #5 (Viz)
(O) RAHXEPHON Volume 7: Crescendo (ADV Films) The war with Mu reaches its climax.
(O) SAINT SEIYA Volume 2: Debts Repaid (ADV Films) Superhero saints fight it out.
(O) SAIYUKI: DEMON RISING Volume 6 (ADV Films) Samurai [IMG7L]action.
(O) SAKURA WARS Volume 1 (Goldhil)
(O) SPIRIT WARRIOR: Regent of Darkness (Central Park Media)
(O) STEAM DETECTIVES: Case 2 (ADV Films) Steam-run city besieged by criminals.
(O) WITCH HUNTER ROBIN: Belief (Bandai) Five episodes.
And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's DVD Shopping List!
DVD Shopping List (© 2003 Brian Thomas) is our weekly DVD column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive new book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!
Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com.
More From Mania
Thomas Jane won't be Jonah Hex
Thomas Jane as Jonah Hex...it's a real test photo after all
(Monday, June 23, 2008)
Getting Raw with Thomas Jane
(Wednesday, August 8, 2007)
Killer Hannibal
(Tuesday, January 30, 2007)
The final FINAL DVD?
(Tuesday, July 25, 2006)
Furry Tree Friends vs. the Suburbs!
(Saturday, May 13, 2006)
ENTERPRISE in Danger of Cancellation
(Monday, February 16, 2004)
THOMAS IN LOVE (THOMAS EST AMOUREUX)
(Wednesday, August 8, 2001)
See more related content
