THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS:
DHARMA & GREG: SEASON 1
1997; DVD $39.95, UR
Possibly the best-cast sitcom ever put on the tube. Thomas Gibson, who has since shown up on SciFi Channel stinkers, was perfect as the rich, confused lawyer who falls helplessly in love with leggy force-of-nature Jenna Elfman (still one of the sexiest women alive). But the real secret was their three families: Susan Sullivan and Mitch Ryan (who got all the best lines) as his wealthy socialite parents, Mimi Kennedy and Alan Rachins as her hippy progenitors, and Shae D’Lyn and Joel Murray as their two best friends. Frankly, we can’t imagine why this was ever canceled.
THE BOONDOCKS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
2005; DVD $49.95, UR
Politically savage and decidedly un-PC, this gut-bustingly funny Afro-centric cartoon takes on society in ways that even Fox’s gutsy “Family Guy” and “American Dad” can only dream of. Based on the syndicated comic strip of Aaron MacGruder, arguably the most successful black cartoonist in the country, this joins “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” in being brilliantly original and entertaining, even if you’re not a big fan of politics.
16 BLOCKS
2006; VHS Rental/DVD $28.95, PG-13
Bruce Willis and Mos Def turn the simple act of traveling across town into a Zen-like battle for the soul under the direction of Richard Donner in this terrific tale of action, redemption and fate among New York’s finest. Our highest recommendation.
A GOOD WOMAN
2004; DVD $27.95, PG
Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson fight over the same dude: The very definition of “getting lucky” in this sumptuous costumer based on the works of Oscar Wilde.
AQUAMARINE
2006; VHS Rental/DVD $29.95, PG
Innocent pre-teen comedy about friendship, love and beautiful girls with swishy, fishy tails. Sweet, gentle and laugh-out-loud funny as two young girls make a wish to stay together as their families prepare to move, and up pops a mermaid to teach them about Life.
ARMORED TROOPER VOTOMS, STAGE 3: DEADWORLD SUNSA
1983; DVD $34.95, UR
Latest installment of the classic “mecha.” Chirico, escaping from the Kummen Jungle Wars, winds up on the devastated planet Sunsa with the deadly Ypsilon close behind.
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS
1970; DVD $26.95, UR
Two-disc Special Edition of the infamous Russ Meyers sex-drama written by now-famous film critic Roger Ebert. A seriously twisted ode to an era of sexual freedom that probably never existed; lots of fun.
BORN IN FLAMES
1984; DVD $24.95, UR
Hailed by many as “The Best American independent film ever made,” this commentaried re-release of director Lizzie Borden’s dystopian masterpiece is a joy to behold. Set 10 years after a peaceful socialist revolution in America, a militant group of women decide to take over.
ELEMENTAL GELADE, VOL. 1: REACT
2006; DVD $29.95, UR
First video release from a very entertaining anime series. A seemingly defenseless young girl holds the secret of an ancient race. Her protector, Cou, a clumsy young rookie in the Red Lynx squadron, must brave all odds to get her to the mysterious Edel Gardens, where all will be revealed.
GETTING PLAYED
2006; DVD $19.95, PG-13
Vivica A. Fox, Carmen Electra and Stacy Dash are smart, sexy (duh!) and fed up with being taken for granted by men in this dim-bulb romantic comedy. So they decide to each seduce the same man as a means to humiliate him … Doesn’t make any sense to us, either, but WHO CARES!? Bring on the popcorn!
KISS KISS, BANG BANG
2005; VHS Rental/DVD $27.95, R
The “buddy-action movie” gets its comeuppance when petty thief Robert Downey Jr. stumbles into an audition for a detective movie — and winds up in the middle of a real murder investigation. Deserved a much better run at the theaters.
LANCELOT LINK: SECRET CHIMP
1970; DVD $24.95, UR
Twenty-two episodes of the original James Bond TV spoof cast entirely with chimpanzees! A goofy and nearly forgotten series that ran for two years before it simply ran out of wonderfully bad puns. With a who’s-who of voice talent including Dayton Allen, the incomparable Mel Blanc, Joan Gerber (as Mata Hairy!), Steven Hoffman, Bernie Kopell from “The Love Boat” and the dulcet tones of Malachi Throne as The Narrator.
NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD
2006; VHS Rental/DVD $29.95, PG
Director Jonathan Demme records Neil’s performance of Prairie Wind — shortly after Young survived a close call with a brain aneurysm — at Nashville’s home of country music, the Ryman Auditorium. Accompanied by a full orchestra and gospel choir, it includes selected songs from Harvest and Harvest Moon with assistance by Emmylou Harris. The only concert movie we know that compares with “The Last Waltz.”
ROOM 6
2006; DVD $19.95, UR
A really neat horror film with some familiar TV faces. When Christine Taylor (“Dodgeball”) learns that fiancé Shane Brolly has been badly injured in a car crash, she rushes to the hospital — but the hospital DOESN’T EXIST! Ooo-weeee-oooo, huh? So she and fellow survivor Jerry O’Connell go looking for their loved ones in a strange netherworld that threatens their sanity.
THE PINK PANTHER
2006; VHS Rental/DVD $28.95, PG
Steve Martin’s unnecessary rip-off of the immortal Peter Sellers’ breakthrough vehicle. Has some funny bits, but we refuse to review this because we’re SICK OF THESE FUCKING REMAKES! Fire us, we DARE YA!
THE RAT PACK COLLECTION
2006; DVD $39.95, UR
A trio of oh-so-excellent adventures from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford: “4 For Texas” with Frank, Dean, Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andress, the Three Stooges and Charles Bronson; the original “Ocean’s 11”; and Sammy’s too-cool “Robin and the Seven Hoods.”
THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN
2005; VHS Rental/DVD $26.95, PG-13
We loved this movie! Sir Anthony Hopkins stars as Burt Monro, the real-life New Zealander who spent decades tweaking and customizing his vintage motorcycle, a 1920 Indian, to break the World’s Land-Speed Record. A tale of no-budget do-or-die, he finally made it to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967, setting a new record of 183.586 mph — with no sponsorship and almost completely without safety gear!
OTHER DVDS OF INTEREST
BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: THE MIKE JUDGE COLLECTION — VOLUME 2
1994; DVD $39.95, UR
CHEERS: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON
1989; DVD $42.95, UR
JIMI PLAYS MONTEREY/SHAKE! OTIS AT MONTEREY
1968; DVD $29.95, UR
MULBERRY: THE COMPLETE SERIES
1992; DVD $34.95, UR
THIS IS AMERICA, CHARLIE BROWN
1988; DVD $19.95, UR
A more complete listing and free vids at www.videotapeworm.com!