Related Links

0

Warner Bros. Classics

So far, I've had no takers in my offer to sell out in return for a new DVD player, so I'm expanding the offer to include retailers. That's right, the first manufacturer or retailer that sends me a new DVD player will see it described as "nifty" in this column, plus your company or store will be described as "exceptional." Oh, and about the giant plasma TV? Your choice of either a kidney or the donation of several pints of blood (plasma for plasma!) in exchange for a plug here as "super cool."

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This week, Warner Bros. releases some of the greatest movies in their library on special edition DVDs, also available boxed as the [IMG2R]WARNER LEGENDS COLLECTION:

(O)     THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (Warner Bros.) One of the best adventure films ever made gets deluxe DVD treatment, with commentrak, documentary featurettes, excerpts from silent Robin Hood features, Basil Rathbone's home movies, shorts, and a 1949 Bugs Bunny cartoon spoof.
(O)     TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (Warner Bros.) Isolated American prospectors in Mexico start to unravel with greed and dementia. Deluxe DVD of one of the greatest movies ever made includes commentary by critic Leonard Maltin, documentary features, 1949 radio adaptation, newsreel footage, and a 1950 Bugs Bunny cartoon spoof.
(O)     YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (Warner Bros.) James Cagney is amazing in Michael Curtiz' biopic of entertainer George M. Cohan. Includes commentary by critic Leonard Maltin, 2 documentaries, a 1943 Cagney short, 1942 radio adaptation, 2 Loony Tunes cartoons, outtakes, and more.

NEW RELEASES

(O)     BARBIE: SWAN LAKE (Artisan) Tchaikovsky always intended his ballet to be performed by an iconic 9-inch [IMG3R]toy doll.
(O)     BETTER LUCK TOMORROW (Paramount) Hit dramatic thriller about frustrated Asian-American honor students who turn to crime to gain social acceptance. Includes filmmakers' commentrak.
(O)     BLONDE ICE (VCI/Magic Lantern) 1948 cult rarity restored to full length, about a black widow killer who gives herself plenty of material for her newspaper gossip column. Includes commentrak, bonus TV episode, musical short, interviews and more.
(O)     BLOOD SISTERS (Slingshot) A vampire sorority house massacre in 3-D!
(O)     BLOODY TEASE (Slingshot) A vampire strip club massacre in 3-D!
(O)     BOAT TRIP (Artisan) Remember the summer of 2002, when BOAT TRIP mania gripped the nation, making international superstars of Cuba Gooding and Horatio Sanz? Me neither, but now you can watch this dud comedy about two losers who accidentally book their vacation on a gay cruise with excuse-riddled commentary by Gooding and director Mort Nathan. Curiously, the box copy and ads make no mention of the gay-themed plot, instead emphasizing lots of chicks in bikinis.
(O)     BRUCE'S DEADLY FINGERS (VCI) Bruce Lee Bruceploitation [IMG4R]from 1980.
(O)     THE CHRISTOPHER LEE COLLECTION (Blue Underground) A box set of films with horror's greatest living star in uncut, unrated European versions with DVD extras like interviews, alternate scenes and trailers. Includes CIRCUS OF FEAR, Jess Franco's BLOOD OF FU MANCHU and CASTLE OF FU MANCHU (all available separately), plus Franco's THE BLOODY JUDGE (exclusively in this box set).
(O)     COUPLING: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros.) Six episodes prove the British version isn't that funny either.
(O)     DARK SHADOWS: Reunion (MPI) Documentary nostalgia. Includes vintage talk show interviews and TV spots.
(O)     DEADFALL (Lincoln Media) A weekend getaway to a mountain cabin turns sour when evil forces are unleashed. Okay, I am never ever going to a cabin in the woods. Those people are just asking [IMG5R]for trouble.
(O)     THE DEVIL & DANIEL WEBSTER (Criterion) William Dieterle's incredible 1941 version of this Stephen Vincent Benet story, about a man who goes on trial for his soul in supernatural court, gets the Criterion treatment on DVD, including commentrak, a comparison with the preview version, Benet's story (plus its sequel), galleries and more.
(O)     DREAMCATCHER (Warner Bros.) Based on a Stephen King story, this alien-in-the-woods tale has a terrific first half, then stumbles into plot holes later on, but still delivers some good monster chills. DVD includes the original ending, featurettes and more.
(O)     EVIL UNLEASHED: THE MUMMY (Slingshot) A re-animated mummy massacre in 3-D!
(O)     FARGO (MGM) A special edition of the Coen Brothers excellent comic detective story, with commentrak, gallery, annotation, interviews, and more.
(O)     FAWLTY TOWERS (BBC) All 12 episodes of one of the funniest sitcoms ever starring John Cleese. Includes cast interviews, director's commentrak, outtakes, and more.
(O)     FRANK CAPRA'S WONDERS OF LIFE 1 (Image) Two Bell Science TV specials directed by Capra starring Dr. Frank Baxter and cartoon friends "Our Mr. Sun" and "The Strange Case of Cosmic Rays" that became classroom films shown to a generation of kids
(O)     FRANK CAPRA'S WONDERS OF LIFE 2 (Image) Two more great Bell Science TV specials "Hemo the Magnificent" and "Unchained Goddess."
(O)     THE GLOW (StudioWorks) Dean Cain and Portia de Rossi are a young couple that find horror in a [IMG6R]New York brownstone.
(O)     HOLLA! IF I KILL YOU (Sub Rosa) Urban slasher horror comedy.
(O)     HOLLYWOOD SCAREFEST (Vanguard) Collection of award-winning horror, sci-fi and fantasy shorts.
(O)     KNIFE IN THE WATER (Criterion) Roman Polanski's first feature presents a couple forced to re-evaluate their relationship when a psychotic teenage hitchhiker joins their sailing trip. 2-disc set includes a collection of Polanski's early shorts, a gallery and video interview with the director and screenwriter.
(O)     LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3 (New Line) Was Jeff Burr's SAW 3 massacred by studio meddling and a rushed schedule, was it off track to begin with, or is it a good time in any version? Decide for yourself with this special edition that includes both R-rated and unrated versions, the alternate original ending, plus documentary making-of featurettes, multiple soundtrack options, a commentrak with Burr, screenwriter David Schow, f/x man Greg Nicotero, and others, [IMG7R]and more.
(O)     THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (Kino) Conrad Veidt stars as the character who inspired the Batman villain the Joker in this restoration of Paul Leni's 1928 classic. This first home video edition includes a 20-minute making-of, vintage home movies, excerpt from the Italian version, gallery, and more.
(O)     OROCHI THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON (ADV Films) This 1994 remake of 1959's fantasy classic THE THREE TREASURES used the same f/x crew from Toho's Godzilla series.
(O)     THE OSBOURNES: The Second Season (Buena Vista) Let's face it, the "Ozzy Translator" feature is the only way of knowing what he's saying. Includes commentary by Sharon and Kelly, plus tons of other extras.
(O)     THE SCAR / THE LIMPING MAN (VCI/Magic Lantern) Film noir double feature about two guys who apparently had accidents of some sort. Includes trailers and an episode of DARK STRANGER.
(O)     SCARFACE (Universal) Brian DePalma's bloody crime flick in a 30^th anniversary special edition, including documentary featurettes (with coverage of the hilarious TV version), interviews, etc. Available in widescreen and fullscreen editions, plus a gift set that includes the 1932 version.
(O)     TERROR IN BLACK LACE (Ventura/Studio Latina) Mexican horror (aka TERROR Y ENCAJES NEGROS) in which a woman in lingerie is terrorized by [IMG8R]a madman.
(O)     THIS STUFF'LL KILL YA / YEAR OF THE YAHOO (Image) From SWV, a Herschell Gordon Lewis hillbilly hootenanny! In STUFF, when revenooers threaten to close a White Lightnin' worshippin' church, it sparks a bloody murder spree. And YAHOO is a rare political satire from HGL in the vein of FACE IN THE CROWD (only much stranger). Includes commentraks by Lewis' cameraman Dan Krogh, plus plenty of trailers, shorts and a gallery. Yeeha!
(O)     THE TICK: The Entire Series (Columbia TriStar) Patrick Warburton as the big blue Bug of Justice, all in one package. Includes commentraks by producer Barry Sonnenfeld and creator Ben Edlund, plus DVD-ROM links to lots more stuff on the Web.
(O)     TIMECOP 2: The Berlin Decision (Universal) Jason Scott Lee stars in the sequel to the Van Damme hit. Includes making-of featurettes.
(O)     2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (Universal) Stunt driving sequel includes featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, etc. Wide and fullscreen versions.
(O)     ULTIMATE 3-D HORROR COLLECTION: Volume 3 (Slingshot) Box set of BLOOD SISTERS, BLOODY TEASE and EVIL UNLEASHED, all in 3-D.
(O)     ZAPPED AGAIN! (Pathfinder) Even Scott Baio and Willie Aames couldn't be lured back for this comedy sequel about a teen doofus with supernatural powers.

ANIME ADDITIONS

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

(O)     BE FOREVER YAMATO (Voyager)
(O)     BLUE GENDER Box Set (Funimation) Epic science fiction on an 8-disc set.
(O)     COSMO WARRIOR ZERO: Collected Edition (Media Blasters) Captain Harlock spin-off includes 13 regular episodes plus 3 bonus episodes.
(O)     THE DARK MYTH (Manga) A 2-part horror feature, includes reference guide to Japanese myths.
(O)     DOOMED MEGALOPOLIS (ADV Films) Includes all 4 episodes, featurettes and interviews.
(O)     FIGURE 17: Volume 1 - Soul Mirror (Media Blasters) A girl and an alien that looks just like her can combine to form a bio-android to fight alien monsters. Episodes 1-3.
(O)     HELLO KITTY'S PARADISE: The Best Of Hello Kitty (ADV Films) 12 favorite episodes. How did they choose just 12?
(O)     HIS & HER CIRCUMSTANCES: Volume 5 - Alterations and New Perspectives (ADV Films) Episodes 22-26.
(O)     HIS & HER CIRCUMSTANCES Box Set (ADV Films) Episodes 1-26 on 5 discs, with storyboards, dubbing outtakes, trailers, phone messages, and a special silkscreen.
(O)     MR. BEAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (A&E) Rowan Atkinson's strange comic character in two cartoon series volumes: IT'S NOT EASY BEING BEAN and BEAN THERE DONE THAT, both available separately. Includes 20-minute making-of, trailers, [IMG9R]gallery, etc.
(O)     NAJICA BLITZ TACTICS: Volume 2 (ADV Films) Four episodes of the action series about superagent Najica Hiragi and her sidekick Lila, with commentrak, Japanese TV spots, and more.
(O)     NINJA SCROLL (Manga) 10^th Anniversary Edition of this anime classic about ninjas on a mission to stop an unkillable madman and his super-powered cronies. Includes both fullscreen and widescreen formats, interviews, multiple audio options, and galleries.
(O)     SAKURA WARS TV Volume 4: Intermission (ADV Films) Episodes 14-17.
(O)     SCOOBY-DOO AND THE MONSTER OF MEXICO (Warner Bros.) Mystery Inc. celebrates Dia de los Muerte. Too bad they couldn't get Santo to guest star.
(O)     SPIKE & MIKE'S SICK & TWISTED FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION: Unprotected (Shout Factory)
(O)     SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS CHRISTMAS (Paramount) Yeek! Get that damn thing out from under the tree!
(O)     TWELVE KINGDOMS #2: Empress (Media Blasters) Episodes 6-10.
(O)     VANILLA SERIES: Endless Serenade (ADV Films)
(O)     ZAION: Epidemic (ADV Films) First two episodes. A meteor brings a deadly virus to Earth! Also available with collector's box.
(O)     ZENKI SAGA: Volume 4 (Media Blasters) Episodes 40-51.
(O)     ZOIDS: Volume 3 - The Coliseum Battle (Viz)

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

DVD Shopping List is our weekly DVD column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive new book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!