Um... Happy Anniversary!

This week's column marks the start of my second year of DVD Shopping List, and I want to thank all the readers out there for the support they've shown for it if you're all enjoying it, that makes all the time & trouble that goes into it worthwhile.

One question I frequently get about Cinescape's DVD coverage is: "Why haven't you reviewed [fill in the blank here] yet?" The biggest change over the past year in this area is the sheer amount of product being produced. According to a recent Entertainment Weekly, during 2003 a new DVD was released more than once an hour. That's well over 8,700 titles, which means that at least two DVDs are released before you can finish watching one. We try to divide our reviews between major, well-hyped releases and some deserving titles that might otherwise slip between the grooves. We get to as many genre releases here as we can, as fast as we can, but it's impossible to cover everything we want to. In part, this column is an attempt to pick up the slack and give every genre release a little attention, even if we can't give everything a full review.
Hey, see y'all at B-Fest [www.b-fest.com].

This week, our spotlight has to be turned upwards to focus on a pair of the latest features about the world's biggest movie star, Godzilla, who is celebrating his 50^th birthday this year. CTHE has given both movies their due with widescreen transfers, decent dubbing, and original Japanese tracks with English subtitles. And the even more recent GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA is on the way in March (though hopefully they'll also finally release 1993's GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA 2 on DVD):

(O) GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRAS (Columbia TriStar) A[IMG1R] device is invented that can create a microscopic black hole, which will hopefully be able to destroy Godzilla. But tests of the device unleash an insectoid menace from another dimension!
(O) GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (Columbia TriStar) Godzilla returns to destroy Japan in this 2001 epic, and only Mothra, King Ghirorah and Baragon stand in his way. Superior daikaiju action in one of the best G-films ever!

(O) ANGEL NEGRO (Troma) In this acclaimed Chilean horror film, a teenager vanishes, and ten years later her classmates investigate her disappearance. Includes director's commentrak (with translation), Making-Of, interview and more.
(O) BEST DEFENSE (Paramount) Dudley Moore invents a new super-tank, and Eddie Murphy drives it.
(O) BLACK HORIZON (Artisan) A team is sent to a doomed space station to retrieve data before it crashes, but an accident leaves them [IMG2L]stranded.
(O) COMIC BOOK: THE MOVIE (Buena Vista) Mark Hamill directs and stars in this tale of a guy who gets mixed up with real superheroes while making a documentary about comics. Bruce Campbell, Matt Groening, Hugh Hefner, Ray Harryhausen, Stan Lee and a host of others show up as guest stars. Two-disc set includes director/cast commentrak, Making-Of, interviews, deleted scenes, bloopers, and more.
(O) DARK SHADOWS: DVD Collection 10 (MPI) The WB network is planning another revival of this supernatural soap opera. Episodes 574-613.
(O) DEAD HEAT (Anchor Bay) Treat [IMG3R]Williams and Joe Piscopo are two cops on a case that involves Vincent Price raising an army of zombies. Includes filmmakers' commentrak, storyboards, script, and deleted scenes.
(O) DEAR GOD (Paramount) Greg Kinnear is a postman who decides to start answering mail addressed to God in this Gary Marshall comedy. Dear God, Please don't make me watch this ever again.
(O) DINOTOPIA: The Series (Artisan) All 13 episodes, including seven never aired, plus games, interviews and featurettes.
(O) DUELING DRAGON FISTS (Vintage) Triple feature includes DUEL OF THE IRON FIST, BLOOD OF THE DRAGON and 36 CRAZY FISTS.
(O) EKO EKO AZARAK Movie 2: BIRTH OF THE WIZARD (Media Blasters) A girl learns to use her supernatural powers while on the run from evil spirits. Includes Making-Of, interviews and more.
(O) FACELESS (Media Blasters) Demented 1988 horror [IMG4L]from Jess Franco in which mad scientist Helmut Berger lures women to his remote clinic where he uses them for gruesome skin graft experiments. With Telly Savalas, Caroline Munro, Brigitte Lahaie and Chris Mitchum. Director's commentrak, interviews, and more.
(O) THE FUTURE IS WILD (Image) Scientists and f/x artists imagine what creatures may roam the Earth 200 million years from now. Yeah, just get me next week's lotto numbers.
(O) GHOSTS (Tai Seng) 100 years ago, a team of doctors is sent to Phoenix City to investigate reports of ghost sightings, but the old church they set up shop in turns out to be spook central!
(O) THE GIRL FROM RIO (Blue Underground) Shirley Eaton is supervillain Sumuru, planning to take over the world with an army of warrior women, enslaving every man on Earth! Swingin' '60s insanity (aka FUTURE WOMEN) directed by schlockmeister Jess Franco. Includes interviews and gallery.
(O) GRAVEYARD (Sub Rosa) Fine horror anthology includes commentrak, deleted scenes, Making-Of, and a music video by Jon Mikl Thor.
(O) HOUSE OF THE DEAD (Artisan) An [IMG5R]adaptation of the hit zombie arcade game so bad that you might have to watch it several times. Includes two commentraks, deleted scenes, Making-Of, and more.
(O) INNER SANCTUM (Alpha) In this 1948 thriller based on the radio anthology, a boy witnesses a murder, making himself a target for the mysterious killer.
(O) JUNGLE MAN (Alpha) 1941 jungle thrills starring Buster Crabbe.
(O) LADY IN BLACK (Tai Seng) Scheming gambler Tony Leung Kar-Fei tries to kill wife Brigitte Lin, making it look like suicide. But she survives and comes for revenge.
(O) THE LOST WORLD Season One (Image) Conan Doyle's sci-fi adventure novel becomes a syndicated TV series that plays after midnight on Sunday morning. Cover wisely highlights jungle babe Jennifer O'Dell. 22 hour-long episodes.
(O) THE MAJORETTES (Media Blasters) The folks [IMG6L]that brought you NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD returned with this long out of print slasher horror. Includes interviews, yearbook photo gallery and more.
(O) NITE OWL (Sub Rosa) A young John Leguizamo stars in this 1993 low budget feature as a man searching for his sister in an inner city ruled by vampires. Includes auditions, interviews and more.

(O) ONE FROM THE HEART (Fantoma/American Zoetrope) Francis Ford Coppola's 1982 musical was a flop at the box office, but has been much sought after by admirers ever since, and has influenced big hits like MOULIN ROUGE. This first release on Coppola's own label is a two-disc set that includes director's commentrak, Making Of, featurettes, Tom Waits' studio demos, deleted and alternate scenes, rehearsals, storyboards and more.
(O) SADOMANIA (Blue Underground) "Definitive uncut edition" of Jess Franco's 1981 sleazefest, which has been judged the wildest Women In Prison flick ever made. Includes director interview and more.
(O) SHERLOCK HOLMES COLLECTION Volume 3 (MPI) Four more restored classics from the Basil Rathbone film series (all also available separately): ADVENTURE IN ALGIERS, DRESSED TO KILL, TERROR BY NIGHT and THE WOMAN IN GREEN. Includes commentraks and more.
(O) SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (Alpha) Just in time for Christmas!
(O) THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK (Alpha) Harold Lloyd's underappreciated 1947 comic gem about a loser whose life becomes chaos as a result of a couple cocktails.
(O) SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PURSUIT PACK (Universal) All three Burt Reynolds chase comedy flicks in a box set.
(O) THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR (Monarch) This 1973 feature expanded the blaxploitation genre into political spy thriller territory. Includes commentrak by Robert Townshend.
(O) STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (Paramount) Two-disc special edition of this even-numbered Trek feature, in which Kirk and McCoy go to space prison, includes commentrak, annotation, and several featurettes.
(O) STAR TREK: The Original Crew Movie Collection (Paramount) Special editions of the first six Trek movies in a box set.
(O) STEPMONSTER (New Concorde) A kid thinks dad Alan Thicke's new fiancée is really a monster in disguise.
(O) STRIKE ME DEADLY (Media Blasters) Ted V. Mikels' rarely seen 1963 directorial debut pits a camping couple against desperate killers in a national park. Includes director interview and gallery.
(O) THE TELL-TALE HEART (Alpha) 1960 version of the Poe story.
(O) TERRAHAWKS (A&E) In 1983, Gerry & Sylvia Anderson returned to Supermarionation with this sci-fi series about invading androids from Mars. All 39 episodes on five discs, with commentraks and more.
(O) TIME BANDITS (Anchor Bay) 1981 Terry Gilliam [IMG7R]fantasy in which a boy joins a band of dwarves as the attempt a series of crimes using a stolen time travel map. Two-disc special edition includes interviews, THE DIRECTORS episode on Gilliam, and a map of the universe.
(O) TOE TAGS (Sub Rosa DVD-R) Tenants at a luxury apartment complex are being murdered by killer or killers unknown. Includes director's commentrak, outtakes, behind-the-scenes.
(O) TOMIE (Adness/Ventura) Creepy 1999 Japanese horror hit about a murdered girl named Tomie who may have been murdered every few years for centuries. And it looks like she's coming back again! Includes Making-Of and trailers for the feature and its sequels.
(O) TROMA TRIBLE B-HEADER (Troma) 1-disc box set of three horror features from the Troma library: BLADES, BLOOD HOOK and ZOMBIE ISLAND MASSACRE.
(O) VIRAL ASSASSINS (Troma) When a plague threatens the planet, the government makes getting sick against the law, punishable by on-the-spot execution! Includes the usual Trama extras.
(O) VULCAN (New Concorde) A boy befriends a pterodactyl.
(O) WHO SLEW SIMON THADDEUS MULBERRY PEW? (Image) An adaptation of the Dr. Seuss murder mystery. Hey, can it be any worse than CAT IN THE HAT?
(O) WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE: Series 3 (Acorn) BBC star John Alderton starred in this anthology series adapting the works of master humorist P.G. Wodehouse. Seven episodes, plus background notes from the International Wodehouse Asc.

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

(O) ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Masterpiece Edition (Buena Vista) The Disney anime adaptation of Lewis Carroll's nonsense classic comes to DVD in a handsome two-disc special edition that includes a 'lost' song, games, sing-alongs, a Mickey Mouse short, and more.
(O) ALL PURPOSE CULTURAL CAT GIRL: Nuku Nuku Dash Mode 3 (ADV Films) Amnesiac Nuku Nuku moves in with the Natsume family.
(O) AYANE'S HIGH KICK (Central Park) A high school student dreams of becoming a pro kickboxer.
(O) BABAR THE MOVIE (Artisan) I read the books, but the elephant king never really appealed to me as a child.
(O) BEST OF BETTY BOOP (Goodtimes) In the worst transfers.
(O) CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST & HIS GHOSTLY FRIENDS (Goodtimes) Does not include Patrick Swayze.
(O) THE CRITIC (Columbia TriStar) Three-disc [IMG8L]set includes the complete cult hit series featuring Jon Lovitz as a high-profile/low self-esteem movie critic. Includes eight episode commentraks, Making-Of, and more.
(O) CYBERNETICS GUARDIAN (Central Park) Two scientists compete to fulfill their company's contract to clean up the city's slums.
(O) DILBERT: The Complete Series (Columbia TriStar) Includes both seasons, Making-Of.
(O) DRAGON BALL Z: Cell Games/A Moment's Peace (FUNimation)
(O) FELIX THE CAT & FRIENDS (Goodtimes) Translation: Felix cartoon, plus any other miscellaneous cartoons they have around.
(O) FIGURE 17: Valiant Duet (Media Blasters) Teenage girl and her alien clone. Episodes 6-7.
(O) FINAL FANTASY UNLIMITED: Phase 3 (ADV Films) The world-destroying Omega crystal is spread throughout Wonderland, and a motley crew of travelers tries to keep the pieces from being brought together.
(O) GARAGA (Central Park) A spaceship crashes on a menacing world.
(O) GENOCYBER: The Collection (Central Park) Man creates a super-being that's the ultimate weapon.
(O) G.I. JOE: Season 1 Part 1 (Rhino) 27 episodes, interviews, public service announcements. Questions?
(O) GRAPPLER BAKI (Central Park) An adventure set in the world of karate.
(O) GUNPARADE MARCH: Operation One (Media Blasters) Episodes 1-4. Aliens invade in 1945, catching a defeated Japanese military offguard. Also available with a limited number of toys and in a collector's box.
(O) HARMAGEDON (Central Park) An ancient world destroyer is on his way to Earth. From Rintaro (METROPOLIS) and Katsuhiro Otomo (AKIRA). 20^th anniversary edition.
(O) JUDGE (Central Park Media) Black comedy about spirits of crime victims seeking retribution.
(O) KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD: Movie Box Set (AnimEigo)
(O) KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC: Battle of the Bronze Knights (ADV Films) Episodes 1-4, plus trading card.
(O) LABYRINTH OF FLAMES (Central Park) A geek becomes a samurai.
(O) LEGEND OF LEMNEAR (Central Park) Fine fantasy.
(O) MAGICAL SHOPPING ARCADE ABENOBASHI 2 (ADV Films) Arumi and Sasshi are lost in another dimension.
(O) ORPHEN: Revenge Season 2 Volume 2 (ADV Films)
(O) PHOTON: The Idiot Adventures (Central Park) A super-strong guy searches for a runaway pal.
(O) RG VEDA (Central Park) Five warriors search for a sixth to complete the prophecy that they'll defeat a tyrant.
(O) ROBOTECH: Remastered Extended Edition Volume 1 (ADV Films) Includes footage never before seen in an American edition.
(O) S-CRY-ED Volume 4: Aftershocks (Bandai) Includes sound comic, music score.
(O) SPRITE: Between Two Worlds (Central Park Media) A girl has a flirtatious second personality that gets her into catfights.
(O) SUPER DIMENSION FORTRESS MACROSS: TV Volume 2 (AnimEigo)
(O) SUPER GALS! Rule #4: Look Out! Love is Dangerous (ADV Films) Ran Kotobuki vs. Mami Honda in the indoor slalom contest for the throne of Shibuya.
(O) TOP TEN FORGOTTEN CARTOONS (Goodtimes) Of course, those would be... um...
(O) TWELVE KINGDOMS: SEA OF THE WIND, SHORE OF THE MAZE Chapter 4: Reunion (Media Blasters) With a title that long, no room for comment.
(O) WHEN POPEYE RULED THE WORLD (Goodtimes) Can any copyright lawyers please write in and explain to me how a cartoon can be in the public domain, even though the star is still a trademark of King Features?
(O) YU YU HAKUSHO: Terrible Truths (FUNimation) In edited and uncut editions.