KING KONG: Deluxe Extended Edition
© Universal

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Planet/Kong deluxe

First a note about scheduling: With all the new content coming in along with the new website, they’ve decided to move the Anime Avalanche column from Saturdays to Mondays. This has the advantage of putting it closer to the Tuesday street dates (and this column) so you won’t forget about new anime releases over the weekend. Plus, you’ll be able to read it in the relaxing atmosphere of your cubicle rather than having to cut into your leisure time on the weekend.  
 
Now, let’s get to the Prize Closet – our first foray into that magical enclosure since our move to Mania. We have two copies of Brothers of the Head (plus bonus soundtrack CDs) up for grabs, courtesy of our friends at Genius. To enter, send an email to psycho@psychotronic.info which includes your name and address, and the subject line “BROS W/2 HEADS”. Good luck, Maniacs!  

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK 

This week, I just couldn’t decide between these two important releases:  

(O)  FORBIDDEN PLANET (Warner Bros.) 2-disc 50^th anniversary edition of the science fiction classic that inspited Star Trek. Includes the bonus feature The Invisible Boy, an episode of The Thin Man with guest star Robby the Robot, three documentaries, deleted and “lost” footage, and more. Also available in an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” with trading card set, lobby card reproductions and Robby the Robot toy. 

NEW RELEASES

 
(O)  ACCEPTED (Universal) When Justin Long can’t get into college, he creates one of his own. Hilarity ensues. Widescreen and “fullscreen” editions include Making-Of, gag reel, deleted footage and more. 
(O)  THE ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE (Genius) New adaptation of the Defoe classic. 
(O)  THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN Complete 5^th & 6^th Seasons (Warner Bros.) The commentraks are a little weak, but these seasons are all really great. Also available bundled with seasons 1-4. 
(O)  BOFFO!: TINSELTOWN’S BOMBS & BLOCKBUSTERS (HBO) Showbiz documentary. 

BROTHERS OF THE HEAD

© Weinstein

(O)  BROTHERS OF THE HEAD (Genius/Weinstein ) Mockumentary on famous conjoined twin UK punk rockers Tom & Barry Howe of the band Bang Bang..  
(O)  CHABELO Y PEPITO CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS (Casa Negra) 1973 Mexican horror comedy starring the comic Javier Lopez as his popular little kid character “Chabelo” and real child star Martin Ramos. While on a camping trip, the boys encounter Dracula, Frankenstein, Werewolf, Gill-man, the Mummy, robots and evil brain surgeons.  
(O)  CHABELO Y PEPITO, DETECTIVES (Casa Negra) In this sequel, Chabelo & Pepito become junior police and uncover a plot to hypnotize an army of kids. Usually Casa Negra makes their DVDs very bilingual, but these Pepito titles are in Spanish only with no subtitles.  
(O)  CHRISTINA (Severin) Jewel Shepard stars in a 1985 Eurosexploitation version of the Patty Hearst story. 
(O)  CHRISTMAS EVIL (Synapse) 1980 slasher Santa movie (aka You Better Watch Out) that raised a ruckus from parents’ groups. Or was that Silent Night Deadly Night? Includes solo commentrak with director Lewis Jackson, plus an extra one with him teamed with Xmas fan John Waters, auditions, storyboards, preview comment cards (great idea!) and more. Jackson will be at Laser Blazer (10584 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles) from 7-9 pm tonight to autograph copies. 
(O)  COLUMBO Complete Sixth & Seventh Seasons (Universal) End of the popular TV movie series. 
(O)  CSI Complete Sixth Season (Paramount) All 24 episodes plus commentrak and featurettes. Also available bundled with season 1-5. 

THE DA VINCI CODE

© Sony

(O)  THE DA VINCI CODE (Sony) Ron Howard’s adaptation of the Dan Brown bestseller has symbol expert Tom Hanks embroiled in a millennium-old conspiracy while stalked by a psychopathic albino monk. Widescreen and “fullscreen” 2-disc sets include 10 featurettes, interviews, puzzle game, and packaging with hidden phrases leading to more content online. Also available in a gift set with a replica of the movie cryptex prop which contains the secret of winning a trip to Europe. 
(O)  THE EXECUTIONER (Image) 1994 Hong Kong swordplay fantasy starry Jimmy Wang Yu and Joey Wong. .  
(O)  FRANKENHOOKER (Unearthed/Anthem) During a tragic lawnmower accident, medical school dropout James Lorinz loses his fiancé Patty Mullen – or most of her. To rebuild the rest, he goes parts shopping in New York’s red light district in this 1990 horror comedy from Frank Hennenlotter. Uncut director's version includes commentrak by Hennenlotter and Gabe Bartalos, 19-minute behind-the-scenes featurettes, crazed Jennifer Delora Interview and a sneak peek in her scrapbook and last but not least, an interview with Penthouse Playmate of the Year and star Patty Mullen! Delayed from last month. 
(O)  FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE (Retromedia) 1973 UK horror anthology with Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence and Lesley-Anne Down. 
(O)  GIOVANNONA LONG THIGH (NoShame) 1973 Italian sex comedy with Edwige Fenech. 
(O) THE GREEN MILE (Warner Bros.) 1999 Frank Darabont feature adaptation of the Stephen King novel in which death row prison guards meet a gentle giant with unusual talents. Special edition includes director commentrak, deleted footage, featurettes and more. 
(O)  HARPER (Warner Bros.) Paul Newman stars in a 1966 private eye thriller. 
(O)  HOMOCIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET Complete Series (A&E) All 122 episodes plus three Law & Order crossover episodes. With commentraks, interviews, featurettes and more. 
(O)  JESSE JAMES (Paramount) 1939 A-western with Tyrone Power as the famed outlaw. 
(O)  JEKYLL & HYDE: THE MUSICAL (Image) The answer to those naysayers who thought the names Robert Louis Stevenson and David Hasselhoff would never be linked. 
(O)  LOIS & CLARK Complete Fourth Season (Warner Bros.) All 22 episodes. Also available bundled with seasons 1-3. 
(O)  LOVE CIRCLES (Severin) 1985 Gerard Kikoine sexploiter about a trip around the world. 

MANIAC COP

© Blue Underground

(O)  MANIAC COP (Blue Underground) Special edition of the 1988 shocker about a vengeful, murderous monster ex-cop starring Robert Z’Dar, Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins. Includes commentrak, additional scenes shot for Japanese TV, featurettes and more. 
(O)  MARTIAL ARTS MASTER: LIFE OF BRUCE LEE: (Lionsgate) Yet another Lee ocumentary. 
(O)  MASTER’S OF HORROR: Haeckel’s Tale (Anchor Bay) John McNaughton directs a tale of a medical student who discovers a secret city full of wizards and undead creatures. With commentrak, featurettes and more. 
(O)  MY DEAD GIRLFRIEND (Tempe) When there's no more room in Hell...your girlfriend will walk the Earth! A guy accidentally kills his steady date, then accidentally makes her into a zombie. Includes commentrak, interviews, bloopers, deleted footage, bonus short and more. Delayed from last month. 
(O)  NORTHERN EXPOSURE Complete Fifth Season (Universal) All 24 episodes of the 1993-4 season.  
(O)  OLDBOY (Tartan) Park Chan-wook’s masterpiece of revenge in a special 3-disc edition with three commentraks, Making-Of featurettes, interviews, deleted footage, feature-length video diary, film cell card and volume one of the Dark Horse comic adaptation, all in a metal case. 
(O)  PEPITO Y LA LAMPA MARVILLOSA (Casa Negra) 1971 Mexican fantasy about a boy who finds a genii. 
(O)  QUANTUM LEAP Complete Fifth Season (Universal) All 22 episodes of the final season on three discs.  
(O)  RAPTOR ISLAND (Anchor Bay) Commandos led by Lorenzo Lamas enter a secret island overrun with dinosaurs. 

THE SANDMAN

© Tempe

(O)  THE SANDMAN (Tempe) Special edition of J.R. Bookwalter’s 1995 horror about a monster preying on sleeping trailer park residents.  
(O)  SANTA CLAWS (POPcinema) John Russo’s 1996 shot-on-video Xmas slasher party on the set of a horror movie. 
(O)  SIX FEET UNDER Complete Series (HBO) Alan Ball’s hit HBO drama set in a family funeral home, plus commentraks, deleted scenes, featurettes, etc., all in a big box resembling a grave. 
(O)  SNAKE DANCER (Mondo Macabro) Biopic of notorious South African dancer Glenda Kemp. 
(O)  STRANGERS WITH CANDY (THINKFilm/Lionsgate) Feature version of the hilarious Comedy Central TV series in which 47-year old ex-con ex-junkie skank Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) goes back to high school in a misguided attempt to revive her comatose father. Includes commentrak with Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, deleted scenes and more. 
(O)  3^rd ROCK FROM THE SUN Season 6 (Anchor Bay) The final 20 crazy episodes, plus featurettes and alternate endings. 
(O)  THREE STOOGES: 75^th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Madacy) One disc of common public domain shorts paired with a bonus disc full of 1960s Stooges cartoons, interviews, various clips and more. 
(O)  UBALDA, ALL NAKED AND WARM (NoShame) 1972 Italian medieval sex comedy with Edwige Fenech. 
(O)  WILD BLUE YONDER (Subversive) Award winning crazy ecological sci-fi from Werner Herzog in which alien Brad Dourif attempts to colonize our planet, while astronauts from Earth (portrayed by footage of astronauts from Earth) try to colonize his. Includes director commentrak, Making-Of and more. 

BLU-RAY DISC CORNER 

(O)  BEHIND ENEMY LINES (Fox) With 2 commentraks. Fox has started including trailers in HD with this week’s releases. 

FANTASTIC FOUR

© Fox

HD-DVD CORNER 

(O)  ACCEPTED (Universal) DVD combo.  
(O)  CASABLANCA (Warner Bros.) With 2 commentraks, outtakes, documentaries, Bugs Bunny cartoon, 1955 TV adaptation, radio adaptation and more. 
(O)  FORBIDDEN PLANET (Warner Bros.) Includes the bonus feature The Invisible Boy, an episode of The Thin Man with guest star Robby the Robot, three documentaries, deleted and “lost” footage, and more. Also available in an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” with trading card set, lobby card reproductions and Robby the Robot toy. 
(O)  KING KONG (Universal) 2005 version. 
(O)  WATERWORLD (Universal)  
 

And be sure to check back next week—and every week—for Mania’s DVD Shopping List! And don’t forget Anime Avalanche, now appearing every Monday!

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!