Releases through Tuesday, Aug. 26
THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS
NUDE FOR SATAN
1974; $19.95, UR
To all those who wrote in after our breathless announcement of the lost Italian nudie classic “The Beast in Space” several weeks ago: Thanks! We appreciate the abuse. To further strain our relationship, we would like to announce the resurrection of another lost Luigi Batzella film, this one starring the ravishing Rita Calderoni and “a sex-craved arachnid with a taste for stockings and sadomasochism.” A hilarious, unsavory delight combining sleazy Italian gothic S&M with ’70s cheese, mod haircuts and polyester clothing. A bad-movie maven’s wet dream.
SON OF RAMBOW
2008; $29.95, PG-13
If you haven’t heard about this minor masterpiece yet, you must have spent the summer on Uranus. A pair of English schoolboys — one a wild-eyed troublemaker and the other a quiet, fatherless waif from an isolated, Amish-like religious sect who has never seen a movie or listened to music — become unlikely best buds over the course of a long Limey summer. The title refers to the action-adventure yarn they decide to film with a borrowed camera, and what happens next is as close to perfect entertainment as we’ve ever seen. A timeless, funny and intoxicating ode to friendship, belief and never, ever growing up. Don’t miss it. (Available for purchase only at a particular studio-selected outlet, which we won’t mention, but widely available for rental.)
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CHICAGO 10
2007; $29.95, R
A clever look back at the eight antiwar protesters arrested and tried after the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots; a combination of newsreel footage, animation and terrific ’60s music with commentary and voice-work by modern-day radicals Hank Azaria, Nick Nolte, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Ryan, Roy Scheider and more.
COMIC BOOK SUPERHEROES UNMASKED
2003; $19.95, G
A full-length History Channel look at how superheroes have changed to fit the wants, needs and fears of society since their first outing in 1931. Includes the works of Stan Lee, Avi Arad, Neil Gaiman, Kevin Smith, Frank Miller and many others.
CRUSADE: A MARCH THROUGH TIME
2007; $29.95, PG
A fun, high-concept European sci-fi-comedy for juniors. When a soccer-kid screws up the big game, he uses his scientist-mom’s time machine to go back and fix his mistake — accidentally landing in 1212 amid the Crusades! From the Theo Beckman novel.
GREAT AFRICAN FILMS VOL. 3: THE DESERT ARK/DARATT
1997; $39.95, UR
A pair of rare films from the Dark Continent. “Daratt” (“Dry Season”) is a fairly standard “Oh, what a horrible civil war we had this morning” piece set in Chad, but “Ark” is a real find: “Romeo and Juliet” at the oasis! When a young couple gets caught canoodling in the sand, their families — from different religions, of course — declare a jihad and start lopping off limbs. They may wear sheets, but it’s a wonder anyone over there ever gets laid. Good movie, though.
SNUFF, A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KILLING ON FILM
2008; UR
The FBI is adamant: Snuff films are a myth; there is no evidence that anyone has ever been killed on camera for entertainment. But this doc offers a different opinion — one that will surprise and shock you. We won’t spoil it.
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
1938; $28.95, UR
A new pressing — and first Blu-Ray release — of our all-time favorite film. Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland are the perfect Robin Hood and Maid Marian, out to bedevil evil Prince Claude Rains and his brutal Sir Guy, Basil Rathbone. If there was ever more fun at the movies, we can’t imagine it. Buy a dozen.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. THOMAS B KIN CHONG
2008; $24.95, UR
Here’s the perfect tale of Your Tax Dollars At Work: In February 2003, the Bush administration, lead by John Ashcroft using his post-9/11 terror-bashing superpowers, began “Operation Pipe Dreams,” a $12 million plan to take down … Tommy Chong! And what did the comedy legend do to deserve such attention? Was he an al-Qaeda operative? A mad bomber? A Republican? Nope, he was selling art-glass waterpipes over the Internet. The horror! Filmmaker Josh Gilbert follows this absurd tale, giving it all the respect it deserves (None). Oh, and just in case you weren’t listening: You. Are. Next.
VAMPIRE DIARY
2007; $24.95, R
Wonderfully passionate lesbian-Limey-vampire tale with a twist. (Spoiler alert!) The vampire is preggers! This leads to all manner of cockless cockney drama and post-“Angel” emoting. Fang you velly much.
VIRGIN TERRITORY
2007; $26.95-$59.95, R
A profound announcement: We’ve found The Best Bad Movie of the Decade! Fourteenth-century rogue Hayden Christensen deflowers young lovelies for fun (duh) until bested by chaste Mischa Barton, who is also being wooed by Tim Roth. While outside, the Black Plague gayly ravages the countryside. Never shown in a theater outside of Russia, and released on DVD in France as “Medieval Pie,” this comedy/romance/waste-of-film is so wonderfully, horribly, truly and totally awful that we damn-near peed the couch. Recommended.
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS
2008; $29.95-$34.95, PG-13/UR
You would think that sexy Cameron Diaz and goofy Ashton Kutcher would be funnier together, but ham-handed direction and a weak script make this just so-so. Mismatched drunken louts wake up married after a night of debauchery — and then win a big jackpot that neither wants to give up by having it annulled. Needless to say, Cammy looks as great as ever.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?
2008; $24.95, PG-13
Comic-doc maker Morgan Spurlock takes us on an unexpected journey of personal discovery, single-handedly going to the Middle East to capture bin Laden. What he learns is that, given a choice between America and Osama, most of the world is rooting for the little guy. Excellent.
OTHER DVDS OF INTEREST
AFRO SAMURAI: SEASON ONE: DIRECTOR’S CUT
2007; $29.95, UR
DIRTY JOBS COLLECTION 3
2008; $19.95, UR
ENTOURAGE: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON
2008; $39.95, UR
EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS: THE THIRD SEASON
2007; $39.95, UR
ONE TREE HILL: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON
2008; $59.95, UR
A more complete listing and free vids at www.videotapeworm.com
