The Undersea World of Bill Murray

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Giveaway time! That's right, this week we not only have a giveaway going on in the Anime Avalanche column, but another one over here in DVD Shopping List! In honor of the only Friday the 13th of 2005 this week, we've got 2 copies of ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (see below) to give away! To get in on the action, just send your valid mailing address to DVDShoppingList@Cinescape.com with "LUCKY 13" in the subject line.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Not to 'dis' 13, but this week our spotlight has to shine on a truly remarkable movie.

(O) THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (Buena Vista/Criterion) Loopy and completely charming comedy/drama/adventure from Wes Anderson stars Bill Murray as a marine documentary filmmaker obsessed with getting revenge on the shark that ate his partner while dealing with various problems with his personal and professional life, including the appearance of his possible son Owen Wilson, a possible smear piece by pregnant reporter Cate Blanchett, and his scheming rival Jeff Goldblum. 1-disc BVHE edition includes Anderson commentrak, interviews, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage. Criterion edition also has an extra disc with video journals, Making-Of, more interviews, an Italian talk show, deleted scenes and lots more.

NEW RELEASES

(O) ALONE IN THE DARK (Lions Gate) Private dick Christian Slater, genius archaeologist Tara Reid and G-man Stephen Dorff put aside their baggage to fight a supernatural menace in another howler from Uwe Boll. That's right, I said genius. Oh, like Reid has to be a genius to play one. Includes commentrak, annotation track,

featurettes, music videos and more.
(O) ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (Universal) Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishbourne in a fine remake of John Carpenter's siege classic. Fullscreen & widescreen editions include commentrak, deleted scenes and featurettes.
(O) BAD APPLE (Paramount) Smartass FBI Agent Chris Noth goes undercover to infiltrate a NYC loan shark operation.
(O) BURDEN OF DREAMS (Criterion) Documentary on the making of Werner Herzog's FITZCARRALDO is more interesting than the feature itself. Includes commentrak, a short sidebar Herzog documentary by the same director and more.
(O) CONTROVERSIAL CLASSICS COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) Seven groundbreaking films that caused a buzz on release (and still pack a punch): A FACE IN THE CROWD, BLACKBOARD JUNGLE, BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, FURY, ADVISE & CONSENT, THE AMERICAIZATION OF EMILY and I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG. Each is available separately and include either commentrak or featurettes.
(O) THE DAIN CURSE (Image) 1978 miniseries starring James Coburn in an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's detective story.
(O) DECADENT EVIL (Goldhil) A new horror flick directed by Charles Band and guess what? It's about a little tiny monster, just like half his other movies (GINGERBREAD MAN, PUPPET MASTER series, BLOOD DOLLS, DOLLMAN, DEMONIC TOYS, etc.). The twist here is there's a vampire involved. Check that he did that in the SUBSPECIES movies.
(O) DEVON'S GHOST: LEGEND OF THE BLOODY BOY (MTI) Directed by Koichi Sakamoto and starring Karan Ashley and Johnny Yong Bosch (all from MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS), this horror tells the story of a town plagued by a powerful killer whose crimes are somehow related to a murder case from ten years ago. Includes commentrak with writer/producer Ashley, behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes and more.
(O) EURO FIENDS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE (Retromedia) Box set of great, trashy Eurohorror includes FACELESS MONSTER, BLOOD CASTLE, FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD and SATANIK. (O) FUNKY MONKEY (Warner Bros.) It's Matthew Modine's turn to do an ape comedy. Here he plays a CIA guy who helps a kung fu chimp break out of a secret lab. This I gotta see.
(O) GORDON LIU PRESENTS: MARTIAL COLLECTION (VideoAsia) The legendary Hong Kong action star introduces DEATH DUEL OF THE MANTIS (aka MANTIS FIGHTS COCK), MANTIS IN THE MONKEY'S SHADOW (aka PHANTOM KUNG FU and THESE HANDS DESTROY), RIVALS OF THE SILVER FOX, SHAOLIN INVINCIBLE STICKS (aka FISTS OF SHAOLIN) and the uncut version of SNAKE IN THE CRANE'S SHADOW (aka ADVENTURE OF HEAVEN MOUSE). Curiously, the famous Lau brother appears in none of these movies.
(O) HASTA EL VIENTO TIENE MIEDO (Ground-Zero) 1968 Mexican horror about a haunted school for girls. In Spanish with NO subtitles.
(O) HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL Complete Second Season (Paramount) Gunfighter Richard Boone in 39 more episodes on 6 discs.
(O) HIRUKO THE GOBLIN (Media Blasters) Lovecraftian 1990 Japanese horror comedy from the director of TETSUO in which a school is invaded by killer creatures from under the earth. Includes interviews and more.
(O) IN GOOD COMPANY (Universal) Hit comedy drama in which veteran exec Dennis Quaid finds he's now working for whiz kid Topher Grace, who falls for his daughter Scarlett Johansson. Widescreen & fullscreen editions feature commentrakdeleted scenes, featurettes and more.
(O) JOAN OF ARCADIA First Season (Paramount) Teen believes she's holier than thou. Includes 23 episodes on 6 discs, commentraks, featurettes and deleted scenes.
(O) LADRON DE CADAVERES (Ground-Zero) Undercover wrestler Wolf Ruvinski investigates a ring of body snatchers working for a mad scientist. In Spanish with NO subtitles, dammit.
(O) THE LAST SHOT (Buena Vista) Comedy based on as true story in which FBI Agent Alec Baldwin uses clueless film director Matthew Broderick in a scheme to trap mobsters. With commentrak, featurettes, deleted scenes and a "Joan Cusack montage".
(O) LA LLARONA (Ground-Zero) A ghostly crying woman haunts a family. In Spanish with NO subtitles.
(O) THE LONGEST YARD: Lockdown Edition (Paramount) While waiting to get out to see the Adam Sandler remake, curl up with a cellmate to enjoy this special edition of the original sports/prison drama. Includes commentrak, featurettes and more.
(O) MISTERIO EN LAS BERMUDAS (Ground-Zero) Santo, Blue Demon and Mil Mascaras investigate the Bermuda Triangle mystery. In Spanish with NO subtitles. Santa vaca!
(O) MUTANT X Season 2 (ADV) The whole second run, plus featurettes, interviews, outtakes, etc.
(O) MY FAVORITE MARTIAN Complete Second Season (Rhino) 38 episodes from the mid-'60s sitcom classic.
(O) QUANTUM LEAP Complete Third Season (Universal)
(O) RACING STRIPES (Warner Bros.) A Kentucky zebra dreams of being a racehorse. Much like BABE, complete with celebrity talking animals. Widescreen & fullscreen editions come with commentrak, deleted scenes, featurettes, outtakes, interactive comic-book and more. Also available bundled with MY DOG SKIP.
(O) THE SUCKLING (Elite) A flushed fetus is mutated into a horrible monster in this horribly named 1990 horror (aka SEWAGE BABY). So crazy, it just might work.
(O) 12 MONKEYS (Universal) Terry Gilliam's creepy time travel classic with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. Special edition includes commentrak, Making-Of, and lots more.
(O) LOS VAMPIROS EN COYOACAN (Ground-Zero) Wrestlers Mil Mascaras and Superzan encounter a vampire lord. In Spanish with NO subtitles.
(O) VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE (Media Blasters) A prehistoric giant monster terrorizes Japan in this rarely seen 1958 Toho daikaiju eiga. Includes both the restored TV version and the US debut of the original widescreen Japanese version with commentrak and more.
(O) THE WORST HORROR MOVIE EVER MADE (MVD) Yikes! This horror comedy has a lesbian vampire, a giant spider, terrorists, mummy, zombie Jesus, crap monster, psycho, werewolf and more!
(O) YELLOW EMMANUELLE (Media Blasters) Adult film stars Chai Lee and Cicciolina star in this 1977 Italian sexploitation piece set in the "exotic East". With deleted scenes and more.

And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's DVD Shopping List!

DVD Shopping List (© 2005 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.