You Say You Want a Revolution?

Not too long ago, I acknowledged the sad untimely passing of filmmaker and former Cinescape columnist John Thonen. Well, the story gets sadder, as John's widow is a cancer patient left with overwhelming bills. To help out, friends from the Kansas City film and TV community have banded together to throw a John Thonen Memorial Film Festival at the Glenwood Arts Theater. Every Saturday in April at 10 AM you can see one of John's favorites on the big screen for a $5 donation you missed INVADERS FROM MARS if you weren't there on Saturday, but you can still catch THE CRAWLING EYE, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER and PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (I know, those are some of your favorites, too, aren't they?). Folks in the KC area can call Joe Spease at (913) 492-2862 for details.

This week, our spotlight falls on Neo one last time, even if he can't see [IMG1R]it.

(O) THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS (Warner Bros.) The big superhero fight ending was a bit of a disappointment after those intense battle sequences, and most folks can't figure out what's going on, but this is still some sort of masterpiece, if only in the special effects department. Widescreen or fullscreen editions both include Making-Of, game profile, tons of DVD-ROM content.

(O) ANGELS IN THE ENDZONE (Buena Vista)
(O) ANGELS IN THE INFIELD (Buena Vista) Heavenly helpers provide unfair sports advantages.
(O) BEST OF THE MUPPET SHOW (Columbia TriStar) This collection features celebrity guest stars Brooke Shields, Diana Ross and Rudolph Nureyev.
(O) BEST OF SONNY CHIBA (Madacy) The public domain STREET FIGHTER trilogy on yet another label.
(O) BIG BOOBS BUSTER (Central Park) An unpopular high school girl blames her troubles on her more endowed classmates, and dons pink tights and mask to enact revenge. Japanese shot-on-video nonsense, plus a super-goofy behind-the-scenes featurettes and more.
(O) BROOKLYN ZU: Volume 1 (Ground-Zero) Box set of nine faves from G-Z's "Brooklyn Zu" series. Includes TIGER CLAWS, GOOSE BOXER, TIGER OVER WALL, LADY IRON MONKEY, EAGLE FIST, FISTFUL OF TALONS, 7 STAR GRAND MANTIS, and two titles with no animal connection, BREAKOUT FROM OPPRESSION and MAGNIFICENT NATURAL FIST.
(O) BURN HOLLYWOOD BURN (Buena Vista) Unendurably unfunny showbiz mockumentary satire written by Joe Eszterhas in which eccentric director Eric Idle holds his new blockbuster film hostage. Guest stars like Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone spoof their own images.
(O) CHARADE (Criterion) Stanley [IMG2R]Donen's 1963 suspense and romance favorite in which Audrey Hepburn is an American in Paris trying to escape a trio of crooks after the loot her late husband stole from them. Is mystery man Cary Grant really trying to save her, or is he after the treasure himself? Includes director commentrak and featurettes.
(O) CHARLIE'S ANGELS: Complete Second Season (Columbia TriStar) Hah! Bet ya thought they wouldn't release another season without another sequel in theaters. All 26 episodes on six discs. Mmmmm... Cheryl Ladd...
(O) DECEIVED (Buena Vista) Goldie Hawn in an attempted Hitchcock-style suspense thriller.
(O) FAST SWORD (Ground-Zero) Early kung fu action with Sammo Hung.
(O) FATAL NEEDLES (Ground-Zero) Wong Tao, Lo Lieh and Chang Yi in 1978 old school action.
(O) FREAKS AND GEEKS: Complete Series (Shout Factory) Short-lived cult fave series. Six discs. 18 episodes. 29 commentraks. 60 deleted scenes and outtakes. And lots more.
(O) FRIENDS: Complete Seventh Season (Warner Bros.) Chandler and Monica's wedding plans dominated this 23 episode season. Includes commentraks, interviews, gag reel, and Monica's Wedding Book Trivia Challenge. Miss any other episodes? Well, it's also available bundled in a megaset with seasons 1-6.
(O) GALACTIC GIGOLO (Full Moon) Sci-fi comedy.
(O) THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (Paramount) Spectacular 1952 Cecil B. DeMille epic in which Charlton Heston runs the world's biggest circus.
(O) HELLO AGAIN (Buena Vista) Shelley Long is brought back from the dead to haunt husband Corbin Bernsen.
(O) HORROR CLASSICS COLLECTION (Madacy) 3-disc mixed bag set includes NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, REVOLT OF THE ZOMBIES, DEMENTIA 13, THE CORPSE VANISHES, SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA, and VAMPIRE BAT.
(O) I DOWNLOADED A GHOST (MTI) There have been numerous "haunted website" horror flicks made over the past few years, but this one's the first 'family' one.
(O) ILSA Box Set (Anchor Bay) The curvaceous Dyanne Thorne starred in a legendary series of over-the-top sex and violence flicks in the 1970s directed by Don Edmonds. Includes ILSA: SHE-WOLF OF THE S.S., ILSA: HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS, and Jesus Franco's "unofficial" addition ILSA THE WICKED WARDEN (aka GRETA THE MAD BUTCHER), but not ILSA THE TIGRESS OF SIBERIA.
(O) LITTLE MONSTERS (MGM) Incredibly awful 1989 kids movie in which Fred Savage finds misfit monster Howie Mandel under his bed.

(O) THE LITTLE PRINCE (Paramount) Coke-fueled 1974 adaptation of the classic children's book.
(O) THE MOST TERRIBLE TIME IN MY LIFE (Kino) 1993 tribute to old Japanese crime thrillers, with detective "Mike Hama" getting caught in a web of underworld intrigue.
(O) THE PINK PANTHER FILM COLLECTION (MGM) Six-disc [IMG3L]box set includes the five best Inspector Clouseau movies, plus a bonus DVD full of featurettes, six Panther cartoons, and more, all in a gorgeous vinyl album.
(O) POLICE ACADEMY: 20^th Anniversary Special (Warner Bros.)
(O) POLICE ACADEMY 2: THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT (Warner Bros.)
(O) POLICE ACADEMY 3: BACK IN TRAINING (Warner Bros.)
(O) POLICE ACADEMY 4: CITIZENS ON PATROL (Warner Bros.)
(O) POLICE ACADEMY 5: ASSIGNMENT MIAMI BEACH (Warner Bros.)
(O) POLICE ACADEMY 6: CITY UNDER SIEGE (Warner Bros.)
(O) POLICE ACADEMY 7: MISSION TO MOSCOW (Warner Bros.) The moronic comedy movie series doubtless has fans somewhere that will appreciate these DVD releases with extras like Making-Of documentaries. There's even a boxed gift set for true fans.
(O) RING OF FIRE 2: BLOOD & STEEL (Madacy) Don "The Dragon" Wilson fights for the life of kidnapped fiancée Maria Ford in illegal underground kickboxing matches. Reminds me of my engagement party.
(O) RING OF FIRE: Complete Collection (Madacy) Invite your friends over to watch the complete Ring Trilogy. Surprise them with these three Don "The Dragon" Wilson kickboxing flicks.
(O) SCARECROW (York) A tortured nerd becomes a vengeful killer scarecrow.
(O) SCARECROW SLAYER (York) A vengeful scarecrow searches for a bride.
(O) SON OF FLUBBER (Buena Vista) Fred MacMurray is back again in this sequel to ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR.
(O) SWORD OF THE VALIENT: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (MGM) This entry in the 1982 knight movie craze starring Sean Connery and Miles O'Keefe may not be the best of the bunch, but it has the longest title.
(O) THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (Kino) 1924 Douglas Fairbanks action fantasy landmark, with rare outtakes, program excerpt, and more.
(O) TOKYO EYES (Kino) In this 1998 French/Japanese thriller, while a detective hunts for a seemingly random shooter, his younger sister discovers there's more to the gunman.
(O) TRANCERS 6 (Shadow) Tim Thomerson only appears in archive footage for this late (2002) entry in the Full Moon time travel adventure series, as this time he ends up inhabiting the body of his daughter. Ew.
(O) ZATOICHI AT THE FESTIVAL OF FIRE (AnimEigo) Shintaro Katsu returns as the famed blind swordsman, who yet again seeks to protect innocents from brutal gangsters. But this time the gang boss he opposes is blind as well!

And finally, we close off each weekly list with a rundown of the constant stream of anime from around the world:

(O) BLACK JACK: Seizure (Central Park) Episode three and four of [IMG4R]the adventures of the world's greatest outlaw surgeon.
(O) CAPTAIN HERLOCK Volume 2: Tendrils of Fear (Geneon) Includes interlocking pencil board.
(O) GALERIANS: RION (Image)Earth has been conquered by an evil computer named Dorothy, and only one man can stop it. Great music and pretty CGI.
(O) INU-YASHA Volume 16: Heart of the Beast (Viz)
(O) KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD OVA 1 (AnimEigo)
(O) KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD OVA 2 (AnimEigo)
(O) KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD TV Series 7 (AnimEigo) Episodes 25-28.
(O) KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD TV Series 8 (AnimEigo) Episodes 29-32.
(O) KINO'S JOURNEY Volume 2: Emerging Lanes (ADV Films) More tales of a boy and his talking motorcycle. Also available bundled with Volume 1 and a license plate in a collector's box.
(O) LAST EXILE Volume 3: Discovered Attack (Geneon) Episodes 9-12.
(O) MAISSON IKKOKU Box Set Volume 3 (Viz) 12 episodes on three discs.
(O) PATLABOR: MOBILE POLICE TV Series Volume 8 (Central Park) Section two battles a mysterious black robot.
(O) PATLABOR: MOBILE POLICE TV Series Volumes 5-8 (Central Park) Four-disc box set holds episodes 19-34 of this excellent sci-fi series.
(O) PUNI PUNI POEMY (ADV) 2 episodes of anime parody from the creators of EXCEL SAGA, includes reversible cover, commentrak and behind-the-scenes.
(O) SAINT SAIYA Volume 5: Cosmic Rift (ADV) Battle for the fate of the cosmos! Also available in a collector box.
(O) SPIRIT WARRIOR: Castle of Illusion (Central Park) An apprentice warrior with supernatural powers stands up to a demonic demon king with a magic sword.
(O) STEAM DETECTIVES Case 5 (ADV) Four more episodes draw the boy detective into danger.
(O) SUPER DIMENSION FORTRESS MACROSS TV Series Volume 5 (AnimEigo) If you like ROBOTECH, you'll love the original uncut version.
(O) TEXHNOLYZE Volume 1: Inhumane & Beautiful (Geneon) Hard boiled cyberpunk from Madhouse, plus interviews, outtakes, and a 3-D cover. Also available with collectors box.
(O) URISEI YATSURA: Remember My Love (AnimEigo) Available from the AnimEigo website.
(O) URISEI YATSURA TV Volume 12 (AnimEigo) Includes fans' [IMG5L]all time favorite episode.
(O) URISEI YATSURA TV Volume 13 (AnimEigo) Lum reanimated a fossil bird and goblins attack.
(O) URISEI YATSURA TV Volume 14 (AnimEigo) Ataru is menaced by a giant cat ghost.
(O) YOU'RE UNDER ARREST Volume 5 (AnimEigo) Episodes 16-19.
(O) YU-GI-OH!: Battle City Duels Master of Magicians (FUNimation)
(O) YU-GI-OH!: ESP Duelist (FUNimation)
(O) YU-GI-OH!: Master of Magicians Saga (FUNimation)
(O) YU-GI-OH!: Season One (FUNimation) Eight volume set.