July 2002

July 2, 2002

July 9, 2002

July 16,  2002

July 23, 2002

July 30, 2002

July 2, 2002

I LOVE LUCY - SEASON ONE (Paramount)
The first season of the ever-popular and evergreen television series are released to DVD for the first time. Two volumes are available:
VOLUME ONE includes "The Lost I Love Lucy Pilot," "The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub," "Be a Pal," "The Diet."
VOLUME TWO includes "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her," "The Quiz Show," "The Audition," "The Séance." Both volumes are priced at $14.99 and are rated G.

JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS (Paramount/Nickelodeon)
The computer animated feature film from Nickelodeon Studios about a very inventive young boy with an I.Q. of about a million and the trouble he causes. Great animation, but the film is surprisingly annoying in its attempts to be cute when it shouldn't be. VHS: $14.95 - DVD: $19.95. Rated G; 82m. 

THE KILLING YARD (Paramount)
Starring Alan Alda, Rose McGowan
Alda stars as a man who will expose the truth behind the Attica prison uprising. Rated R; 110m. 

PEARL HARBOR (Buena Vista)
Four-disc DVD edition (and director's cut) of the colossal hit.

SHALLOW HAL (Fox)
Starring Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow
Black stars as a womanizer who is given the gift of seeing a woman's inner beauty as opposed to her outer beauty and his eyes are opened to true love.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON (Paramount)
A 7-disc collection featuring ever episode from Season Three of the extremely popular television series. Also included are four new, exclusive retrospective featurettes. 

July 9, 2002

DVD RELEASES (Anchor Bay)
The following films are released on DVD:
VAMPYRE starring Klaus Kinski. Special two-disc set featuring an English version and a German version. Also includes:
Making Of Featurette
Audio Commentary by director Werner Herzog and Norman Hill
Theatrical Trailers
Talent Bios
Optional English Subtitles

HERZOG / KINSKI BOX SET (Anchor Bay)
A box set featuring the best work of famed film team director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski. Included in this set are: AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD; WOYZEK; NOSFERATU; FITZCARRALDO; COBRA VERDE and MY BEST FIEND. A terrific set for any fan of Herzog and/or Kinski. $89.98.

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (Touchstone)
Starring Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson
The twisted story of the Family Tenenbaum comes to video and DVD. Father Tenenbaum (Hackman) wants to return home to his estranged, dysfunctional family, but it's been so many years and there's so much baggage that that may be impossible. A cast of bizarre characters, played to perfection by a cast that is nothing short of brilliant, bring this strange little free-form film to buoyant life. You'll laugh lots, you'll be touched and you'll revel in a film that is utterly unique. DVD features include:
New widescreen digital transfer, supervised by director Wes Anderson
With the Filmmaker: Portraits by Albert Maysles, featuring Wes Anderson
Exclusive video interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the stars
Outtakes
The Peter Bradley Show, featuring interviews with additional cast members
The Art of the Movie: Young Richie's murals and paintings, still photographs by set photographer James Hamilton, book and magazine covers, Studio 360 radio segment on painter Miguel Calderóón, and storyboards
Collectible insert including Eric Anderson's drawings

NO SUCH THING (MGM)
Starring Helen Mirren, Julie Christie, Sarah Polley, Robert John Burke
A journalist searches for her missing fiancé and encounters a mythical creature ... or does she? $22.50.

July 16, 2002

ABLAZE (Fox)
Starring Ice-T, Tom Arnold
A serial killer is using fire to hide his deadly actions. Well, that's what I understood from the box description. Actually, it's just a deadly dull tale of firefighters looking for an arsonist. Rent "Backdraft" again instead. Rated R; 97m. Also available on DVD featuring:
Fullscreen
Commentary by writer Steve Latshaw and director Lim Wynorski
Trailers
Biographies

AMELIE (Buena Vista)
Starring Audrey Tautou
The Academy Award nominated film comes to DVD and VHS. In French with English subtitles.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAMILY FEATURES (Fox)
The following films are released at $9.98 VHS and $19.98 DVD:
BABY'S DAY OUT
BREAKING AWAY
DUNSTON CHECKS IN
MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER
MY BODYGUARD
THE PAGEMASTER
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
THE SANDLOT

CLEOPATRA'S SECOND HUSBAND (First Run Features)
Starring Paul Hipp, Boyd Kestner, Bitty Schram, Radha Mitchell
A couple hires a couple to housesit and then discovers that their new, decidedly kinky employees won't leave. 92m. VHS - $59.95. DVD - $29.95. DVD features include:
Widescreen
Audio Commentary by director Jon Reiss
Photo Gallery
Director Bio
Trailers
For more information, please visit http://www.jonreiss.com, www.indianpictures.com or www.firstrunfeatures.com. 

FLINT/SPY TITLES (Fox)
For the first time ever, James Coburn's Derek Flint movies are released to DVD. Titles include:
OUR MAN FLINT starring Coburn and Lee J. Cobb
IN LIKE FLINT starring Coburn and Andrew Duggan
Other spy titles include:
MODESTY BLAISE starring Coburn Terence Stamp and Dirk Bogarde
FATHOM starring Raquel Welch
$14.99 each

HART'S WAR (MGM)
Starring Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell
World War II actioner, based on John Katzenbach's novel, in which Farrell stars as an imprisoned American officer who not only has to deal with the Nazis' mistreatment of P.O.W.'s but has to fight racism among his own men as well. Engrossing picture isn't what you might have been led to believe from its television ads (which made it almost look like a straight-faced version of "Hogan's Heroes") and instead is a riveting drama with excellent performances and a very different storyline. It may not fully realize the depth it could have, but it's definitely worth a look. DVD features include:
Audio commentary with producer David Forster
Ten deleted scenes with director Hal Hartlett's commentary
Photo Gallery
$26.98.

KYLIE MINOGUE: LIVE IN SYDNEY (Rhino)
The so-called "pop darling" of the music world filmed during her 2001 World Tour farewell performance in her native Australia. A big-budget, full-theatrical production including music video, backstage footage and interactive menus.

MEAN MACHINE (Paramount)
Starring Vinnie Jones
A British remake of the hit film "The Longest Yard" from the producers of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch." Rated R; 99m. 

July 23, 2002

BEST OF PERCY (Anchor Bay)
The popular title from the makers of Thomas & Friends - in this case a spunky green tank - is released to DVD. Nine stories are featured including bonus DVD extras. $14.98.

COMEDY TITLES (Paramount)
The following titles are released on DVD at $24.99 each:
BETTER OFF DEAD starring John Cusack, Amanda Wyss
BLACK SHEEP starring Chris Farley and David Spade
KIDS IN THE HALL: BRAIN CANDY starring Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald
GUNG HO starring Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe
THE BIG BUS - Joseph Bologna, John Beck, Stockard Channing
TOP SECRET! - starring Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge

CROSSROADS (Paramount)
Starring Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana, Taryn Manning, Dan Aykroyd, Kim Cattrall, Anson Mount
Superstar Spears' first attempt at a feature film is released to on VHS and DVD. Don't write this one off just because pop princess Spears is the star. Actually, "Crossroads" is surprisingly good, with a full-fledged story, characters that aren't completely cardboard and performances that are - for the most part - standout. (Yes, Ms. Spears does much better in her film debut than Ms. Carey did in hers). DVD features include 
Britney's on-camera welcome to the DVD
The Making of Crossroads
Inside the Crossroads Premiere
7 deleted scenes with on-camera introductions by Tamra Davis
Fun facts and inside comments available during the movie
2 music videos - "Overprotected" and "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman"
Two karaoke music videos
An interactive feature which allows users to edit their own Britney Spears music video
Commentary with producer Ann Carlik, director Davis and writer Shonda Rhimes
Instructions on how to make the t-shirts worn during the "I Love Rock'n'Roll" scene
Photo Gallery
TV Spots
Trailers
$29.99

DVD RELEASES (Anchor Bay)
DELIRIUM starring Mickey Hargitay. Features include:
Widescreen
Interviews with writer/director Renato Polselli and Hargitay
Alternate Endings
Both English and Italian versions
$19.98
HITCH-HIKE starring Franco Nero and Corrine Clery featuring:
Widescreen
New interviews with Nero, Clery and David Hess
$19.98.
DEMONS OF THE MIND featuring:
Audio Commentary with director Peter Sykes, writer Christopher Wicking and star Virginia
$19.98
STRAIGHT ON TILL MORNING starring Rita Tushingham, Shane Briant featuring:
Widescreen
Audio commentary with Tushingham
Bio of Director Peter Collinson
$19.98

ESCAFLOWNE BOX SETS (Bandai)
The popular and acclaimed Anime titles are released in three different sets:
1) Escaflowne single DVD
2) Escaflowne Ultimate DVD Edition Box Set
3) The Vision of Escaflowne TV Series Limited Edition Box Set

KUNG POW: ENTER THE FIST (Fox)
Starring Steve Oedekerk
Writer/director Steve Oedekerk took a 1970's kung fu movie, wrote a new script and recorded new scenes for it, added scenes starring himself and others, and made a hilariously stupid, "Airplane"-like comedy out of it. If you don't like stupid, Leslie Nielsen-like humor, stay away. If you want a cheap easy laugh, look no further. DVD features include:
Director Commentary
Alternate dialogue tracks
12 deleted scenes
Six scenes with alternate dialogue
Foreign language clips
A visual effects before and after reel
Making of Featurette
Photo Gallery
Trailers
$26.98

THE LAST DEBATE (Paramount)
Starring James Garner, Peter Gallagher
Rated R; 95m.

MAD MONSTER PARTY (Anchor Bay)
Starring the voices of Boris Karloff, Phyllis Diller, Allen Swift, Gale Garnett
It's not quite Halloween yet, but this classic television program is great to watch any time of the year. Featuring Rankin/Bass's famous "Animagic" technology (the same sort of puppet animation you see in their classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" special), the filmmakers create a Halloween film here, in which the aging Baron Von Frankenstein (Karloff) invites all the world's monsters to his castle to introduce them to his latest creation. Great fun throughout, with puns galore and animation you simply can't resist. This DVD release features easily the best version of the film ever available before, struck from a 35mm negative that has been digitally restored. Also included is a deluxe 24-page booklet with extensive liner notes, rare photos and more. Included on the DVD are a theatrical trailer and two still galleries. A true treasure for fans! $19.98. 

M*A*S*H: Television Season Two (Fox)
The complete second season of the ever-popular and ever-beloved television series comes to VHS and DVD. 24 shows on three DVDs or three VHS cassettes. DVD features include the ability to turn off the laugh track. DVD: $39.98; VHS: $26.98

SPRING BREAK LAWYER (Paramount)
Starring Brad Raider, Busy Philipps, Sean Murray
A law student finds out he can make a lot of money posing as an attorney during spring break. Typical, "Animal House"-type fun but not nearly as racy. Rated R; 86m. 

TARZAN & JANE (Disney)
Sequel to the popular Disney animated film. 

THE TIME MACHINE (Dreamworks)
Starring Guy Pearce, Jeremy Irons, Orlando Jones
Big-budget re-make of the hit sci-fi film (and novel by H.G. Wells) in which a scientist travels through thousands of years in time, only to discover a future that is more horrible than he could possibly imagine. While the special effects are very good, this film suffers from a shallow screenplay that seems to gloss over everything but the most absolutely necessary plot points, making for a very unsatisfying tale. Also available on DVD featuring:
Interview with Oscar-winning special effects master Stan Winston
Montage of director Simon Wells' animated storyboards set to music
Deleted Scene
Commentary by Wells and editor Wayne Wahram
Commentary by producer David Valdes, production designer Oliver Scholl, visual effects supervisor James E. Price
$19.95

July 30, 2002

ALLIES AT WAR (MPI)
Narrated by Brian Dennehy, this documentary takes a look at the real relationship between the three western leaders of the Alliance during World War II. 120m. Also available on DVD.

FACES OF DEATH (Gorgon) 
The infamous collection of death videos is released in a collector's edition which includes: "The Original Faces of Death," "The Original Faces of Death II," "Faces of Death III: Scenes From the Underground," "Faces of Death IV," "Faces of Death: Fact or Fiction?" "The Original Worst of Faces of Death." For more information, check out http://www.facesofdeath.com. 

THE HONEYMOONERS - LOST EPISODES, VOLUME 21 AND 22 (MPI)
Two more volumes of "lost episodes" from one of the greatest TV sitcoms of all time. $14.98 each.

LIFTING THE FOG - INTRIGUE IN THE MIDDLE EAST (MPI)
A documentary that, according to the press release, "challenges assumptions and provides a historically accurate account of the events that created the conflict in the area." 91m. $19.98.

THE SPEECHES COLLECTION (MPI)
A double-DVD collection of some of the greatest speeches of all time featuring such speakers as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford. 4 hours; $39.98.

SPEED: FIVE STAR COLLECTION (Fox)
Starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper
The action thriller that made household names out of Reeves and Bullock comes to DVD in this special edition, two-disc DVD featuring:
Extended scenes
Multi-angle stunts
Multiple Behind the Scenes Featurettes
Cast interviews
Director's audio commentary
Easter Eggs
New anamorphic transfer
Audio commentary by Graham Yost and Mark Gordon
Storyboard to Film Comparisons
HBO Special
Original Screenplay
Image gallery with over 400 images

Also available is SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL but, trust us, don't bother. When Sandra Bullock's beauty and charm can't even save a film, it's a film you need to avoid.

ZOOLANDER (Paramount)
The popular comedy starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson is re-released at $14.95 VHS.