Pirates sunk

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Tuesday, July 04, 2006

No doubt as s a promotional stunt for the release of the comic adventure epic PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, a gang of Video Pirates were arrested in New York, 22 people stand accused of sneaking camcorders into theaters to capture hit movies, after which copies were sold all over the world. Now at last that set painter from those anti-piracy PSAs can make a living. According to the FBI, after a thorough sting investigation that began in 2003, they brought in one suspect after another and once pressure was applied, they all turned each other in a surprising turn for those in such an honorable profession. The strange thing is that it took them so long. One would think they'd have done a little videotaping of their own using infrared cameras to nab a few cammers every weekend.

You won't have to resort to spending twenty bucks a copy for glitchy fourth generation disc while our Prize Closet is in operation. We have 5 copies each of NIGHT WATCH, THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake and the original THE OMEN to give away, courtesy of Fox. Yeah, I know these titles have been out for a couple weeks, but I thought I'd save them for this slow DVD release day and let those who aren't out at barbecues get a chance at them. To enter, send one email for each title containing your name and address to psycho@psychotronic.info, and be sure to put the title you want in the subject line.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This week, our spotlight falls on a pair of restored Psychotronic classics, dressed up alongside fancy new color versions and some fun extras. What could be more patriotic?


(O) LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: In Color (Legend/Genius) Digitally restored Roger Corman 1960 horror comedy classic, plus a new colorized version, commentrak by Mike Nelson, killer plant gallery and more.
(O) PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE: In Color (Legend/Genius) The Ed Wood classic about a low budget attempt to conquer Earth via corpse re-animation, now in both restored black & white and an all new digitally colorized versions. Includes commentrak by MST3k's Mike Nelson, Wood home movies and Wood commercials.

NEW RELEASES


(O) ACTIONGIRLS.COM Volume 3 (Scotty JX) More scantily unclad hotties in a variety of post-apocalyptic scenarios.
(O) ADVENTURE THEATER DOUBLE FEATURE (Brentwood) Aborigine boy Johnny Crawford raises a wild colt in 1965's INDIAN PAINT. Photographer Ron Shanin treks across the Dark Continent in 1969's AFRICAN SAFARI (aka RIVERS OF FIRE AND ICE).
(O) BABES IN THE WOODS (Brentwood) Allegedly sexy quartet of horror flicks: KILLER EROTICUS, BABES IN THE WOODS, BABES 2: LOST IN BEAVER CREEK and THE BEL AIR BITCH PROJECT.
(O) BAND OF BROTHAS (Brentwood) Includes BLACK MARSHAL, UP IN HARLEM, BROTHAHOOD and BROTHERHOOD OF DEATH.
(O) BLOOD BATH (Subversive) 1976 horror comedy anthology from Joel M. Reed (BLOODSUCKING FREAKS), who contributes a commentrak, interview and more..
(O) BLOOD RANCH (Xenon) Psycho killer cult.
(O) CARNIVAL OF CRIME / THE HOSTAGE (Brentwood) Jean-Pierre Aumont tries to find his missing adulterous wife in Argentina / John Carradine stars in a filmed-in-Iowa obscurity about a pair of thieves who accidentally drive off with a kid in their truck.
(O) CHARLIE'S ANGELS Complete Third Season (Sony) Rest in peace, Aaron Spelling. The crappy TV shows you created will live on forever. All 24 episodes on 6 discs.
(O) DOCTOR WHO Complete First Series (Warner Bros.) All 13 episodes from the 2005 series on four discs, plus a bonus disc of extras.
(O) LAST QUARTER (Geneon) A disillusioned teen is entranced by a mysterious stranger in a haunted mansion in this J-horror flick starring Chiaki Kuriyama.
(O) THE MATADOR (Weinstein) Disillusioned hitman Pierce Brosnan meets loser salesman Greg Kinnear in a Mexican bar, and the two become unlikely friends. Includes dual commentraks, deleted footage, Making-Of and more.
(O) MY CHAUFFER (Brentwood) 1986 nonsense with rich guy Sam Jones falls for foxy driver Deborah Foreman. Special guest stars Kitten Natividad and Jewel Shepard.
(O) MY TUTOR (Brentwood) 1983 nonsense with rich student Matt Lattanzi falls for foxy French tutor Caren Kaye. Special guest stars Penn & Teller.
(O) NBC NEWS PRESENTS: BTK Confessions (Legend/Genius) Documentary on the serial killer.
(O) NBC NEWS PRESENTS: Inside Evil (Legend/Genius) Documentary on the serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer and David Berkowitz.
(O) PIRATES (St. Clair) Ten swashbucklers on three discs IN THE WAKE OF THE BOUNTY, CAPTAIN CALAMITY, LONG JOHN SILVER, MANFISH, MUTINY, PIRATE OF THE BLACKHAWK, PHANTOM SHIP, BLACK PIRATE, MUTINY OF THE EISNOR and THE SEA LION plus three featurettes.
(O) SANTERIA: THE SOUL POSSESSED (Lionsgate) An evil force traps a family in a house. With commentrak, deleted footage and more.
(O) STONE COLD KILLAZ (Brentwood) MIDNIGHT DRAGON, BLOOD REVENGE, BLACK TRASH and FIGHTING MAD.
(O) TETSUJIN 28 (Geneon) When terrorists attack Tokyo using a powerful robot called Black Ox, and the police are unable to stop it, a young boy learns that his father created a giant robot of his own and he's the only one who can control it! Live-action movie version of the wildly popular landmark giant robot manga series (known in the USA as GIGANTOR).


HD-DVD CORNER

(O) LETHAL WEAPON (Warner Bros.) Includes additional scenes.

UMD CORNER

(O) CRUEL INTENTIONS (Sony)
(O) DOCTOR WHO Complete First Series: Volume 1 (BBC) 3 episodes.
(O) DOCTOR WHO Complete First Series: Volume 2 (BBC) 3 episodes.
(O) DOCTOR WHO Complete First Series: Volume 3 (BBC) 4 episodes.
(O) DOCTOR WHO Complete First Series: Volume 4 (BBC) 3 episodes.
(O) JAPANESE HELL (Geneon) A girl drawn into an evil cult witnesses the punishment awaiting her after death.
(O) JUMON (Geneon) J-horror about a haunted convenience store.
(O) LITTLE BRITAIN Complete First Series (BBC)
(O) LITTLE BRITAIN Complete Second Series (BBC)
(O) THE OFFICE Complete First Series (BBC)


And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's DVD Shopping List! And don't forget Anime Avalanche every Saturday!

DVD Shopping List (© 2006 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 DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com.