THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS:
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
2010; $29.95-$39.95, PG
While Dreamworks’ “Kung Fu Panda” was a breakout hoot, we actually like this animated outing from that studio better. With fewer big-name star-egos to clutter up the process, “HTTYD” is an unexpectedly entertaining and original tale of a Viking teen misfit who befriends a young dragon cub instead of slaying it, to the shock of his dad, village and especially his would-be girlfriend. Reminded us a lot of “Lilo and Stitch” from the same writers/directors. Too good for kids.
PREDATORS
2010; $29.95-$359.95, R
Right up front: This movie pisses us off. The original “Predator” remains a singular, original and wildly entertaining hit from one of the least-creative decades in movie history. Then The Suits threw the franchise away in a series of budgetless, plotless sequels and team-ups with “Alien” monsters. Sad. This new release is supposed to be a reboot of the series — “to do it right” — but it’s just another wasted rehash in our book. That being said: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo and others are shanghaied to an alien world where they are hunted by predators.
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20TH CENTURY WITH MIKE WALLACE: POLITICS & PRESIDENTS
2010; $49.95, UR
This look back at the last century by some of its best newsmen (Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, etc.). Provides a glimpse at how we ended up in the mess we’re in today. Should be required viewing by anyone who believes that their Tea Party vote isn’t handing the United States back over to Bush’s boys.
ALIAS SMITH AND JONES: THE COMPLETE SERIES
2010; $79.95, UR
This goofy little TV Western rip-off of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” from the early ’70s was lots of fun, with Ben Murphy and Pete Duel as the titular former-bank-robbers trying to go legit. Louisvillian Roger Davis provided the narration, then took over the Hannibal Heyes role when Duel died unexpectedly in Season 2. Includes the 90-minute pilot.
CHEEZY TRAILER EXTRAVAGANZA BOX SET
2010; $24.95, UR
Our buds at Cheezy Flicks gathered all seven of their infamous trailer compilations into this one el cheapo box set. Features hundreds of wonderfully low-rent and grindhouse-scratchy previews and come-ons, riddled with old-time movie ballyhoo — much of it from lost films that may never be seen anywhere ever again! The perfect movie-party discs.
DISNEYNATURE: OCEANS
2009; $29.95-$39.95, G/UR
The third in DisneyNature’s documentary “Earth” follow-ups, with filmmaker Jacques Perrin and narrator Pierce Brosnan taking us deep under the seas to view the beating heart of our planet in all its breathtaking Blu-Ray glory. A portion of all first-week sales go to the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org). Our highest recommendation.
GIALLO
2009; $27.95, UR
Oscar-winner Adrien Brody does a little Euro-slumming in this well-made and stylish low-budget shocker from Dario Argento, co-starring Emmanuelle Seigner as the woman looking for her kidnapped supermodel sister, Elsa Pataky. Nice work if you can get it.
MIRRORS 2
2010; $22.95, UR
Kiefer Sutherland opted out of this strictly-for-the-clams horro-sequel that stars Nick Stahl, William Katt, gorgeous Emmanuelle Vaugier and Christy Carlson Romano. If you liked the first one, you’ll like this one. Also includes a copy of “Into the Mirror,” the franchise’s Korean progenitor.
MONSTER A GO-GO
1965; $9.95, UR
Voted the “Second Worst Movie of All Time” by the “Bottom 100” crew, this is the first time a full-length, uncut, single-disc version has ever been available. To say more would cheapen the experience of seeing this crapfest for the first time. (It’s also available and thoroughly riffed on the rare “MST3K Collection Vol. 8” — about $80 if you can find it.)
NATURE: AMAZING PLACES: AFRICA
2010; $29.95, PG
A six-disc set from the cable TV series, including one focusing exclusively on Victoria Falls, one of the most beautiful and fragile places on Earth.
NIGHT OF THE DEMONS
2009; $24.95, R
Unnecessary remake of the excellent 1988 horror hit. Don’t remember it? Oh, it’s the one where lovely Linnea Quigley hides her lipstick in her nipple. Oh, yeah! That one! Now with Shannon Elizabeth, Edward Furlong and Monica Keena. Quigley shows up in a quickie cameo as “Ballerina Girl,” but ask for the original.
SKELETONS
2010; $24.95, UR
A pair of exorcists ply their trade — which involves as much psychology as parapsychology — in this surprisingly intelligent indie spooker-comedy that’s well worth your time. Caution: There are at least four movies out there with this name.
TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: COMPLETE SERIES PACK
2010; $129.95, UR
Surprisingly few people remember this 30-minute horror anthology from back in the heyday of TV-slashers. Unlike its comic book-themed contemporaries, this rode on scripts from Harlan Ellison, Stephen King, Clive Barker and others, and featured famous genre actors of a past generation who came out of retirement for one last scare. Twelve discs in all.
THE MAZE
2010; $24.95, R
A nice, no-budget indie mad-slasher flick set in a Halloween corn maze. Worth checking out if only for the amazing and statuesque Shalaina Castle. Yow.
THE REAL L WORD: THE FIRST SEASON
2010; $36.95, UR
First video release from Showtime’s reality TV show about “six of the most gorgeous, powerful and fascinating lesbians of L.A.” Can you remember when being gay wasn’t a career choice?
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
1975; $34.95, R
The 35th Anniversary Blue-Ray Edition, fully restored with BD-LIVE and all the bonus goodies you could ever dream of. What more could you possibly want to know?
VAMPIRE GIRL VS. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL
2010; $24.95-$29.95, UR
This simply awesome new live-action flick from the makers of “Tokyo Gore Police” re-imagines the two titular movie-monsters as super-hot ... Japanese school girls! A gore-drenched mash-up of psychedelic blood-filled chocolates, mad scientist principals, sumo wrestlers from hell and sex-crazed school nurses. Not to be missed for any reason! You have been warned.
A More Complete Listing and Free Vids at www.videotapeworm.com.
