CASINO ROYALE
2006; DVD $28.95-$43.95, PG-13
Wow! A fabulous reinvention of the James Bond franchise with beefy Brit Daniel Craig capturing the book-Bond’s arrogance and suicidal narcissism like no one has since the days of Sean Connery (though we have great respect for the Pierce Brosnan films). Judi Dench returns as “M,” Eva Green becomes the new “first” Bond-girl, Vesper Lynd — even 007’s vintage Astin Martin shows up for a spin! Clever, exciting and visceral, this includes perhaps the most exciting chase-scene ever filmed as Bond pursues a bad-guy through a construction site, across a crane and down crowded back alleys at breakneck speed. An instant classic.
THE ED WOOD COLLECTION: A SALUTE TO INCOMPETENCE
2007; DVD $9.95, UR
Long portrayed as an untalented hack and the worst director in Hollywood history, we nonetheless have great affection for Eddie. Now available at a give-away price, six of his, er, “best” on two discs, plus bonuses. Includes his hilarious cross-dressing classic, “Glen or Glenda?” (1953), “Jail Bait” (1954) starring future Hercules star Steve Reeves in his first speaking role, “Bride of the Monster” (1955) with Bela Lugosi being eaten by a stolen octopus puppet, “The Violent Years” (1956), his sort-of Plan 9 sequel, “Night of the Ghouls” (1959), and, of course, his masterpiece, “Plan 9 From Outer Space” (1959).
BLOODY REUNION
2006; DVD $22.95, UR
Korean slasher about former students who visit their wheelchair-bound teacher and start to die one by one. A.k.a. “To Sir With Love.” Really!
BOSOM BUDDIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
1980; DVD $31.95, UR
Tom Hanks may not put it on his resume any longer, but this is the series that made him a star. He and Peter Scolari dressed as women in order to live in a female-only apartment building where their neighbors include long, lovely — and usually nightie-clad — Donna Dixon, chunky Wendie Jo Sperber and Telma Hopkins. From the heyday of T&A TV.
GENE AUTRY 100TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
2007; DVD $19.95, UR
Gene Autry, “The Singing Cowboy,” was arguably filmdom’s first superstar, making nearly 100 movies, recording scores of top-selling albums and creating the world’s first sci-fi Western serial, “The Phantom Empire.” This five-disc set includes all 12 chapters of “Empire” plus nine other hits, most co-starring Smiley Burnette as Frog Millhouse — after which Bart Simpson’s sidekick was named!
HARSH TIMES
2006; DVD $28.95, R
Short-lived actioner starring Christian Bale as an ex-Army Ranger, drowning in a life of crime, alcohol and drugs. Co-stars a wasted Eva Longoria (she keeps her clothes on) and the underbelly of L.A., standing in for Hell.
HOPALONG CASSIDY RARITIES
2007; DVD $9.95, UR
Hopalong Cassidy, the pseudonym of singer/songwriter/actor William Boyd, was a radio legend before taking his Oater shtick to TV and the movies. This two-disc set features seven films never before seen on video, all featuring George “Gabby” Hayes as his trusted sidekick. With featurettes and lots of great early bits by Robert Mitchum, George “Superman” Reeves, Duncan “The Cisco Kid” Renaldo and Lee J. Cobb, to name a few.
HORROR BUSINESS
2006; DVD $9.95, UR
Not the best doc on indie horror we’ve ever seen, but certainly the most intimate. First-time filmmaker Christopher P. Garetano spends two years of his life living with zero-budget filmies, catching the behind-the-scenes gypsy-like lifestyle of filmmakers, actors and fans. He then ties it all together with insights by gore-master Herschell Gordon Lewis, cult film god Joe Bob Briggs and Sid “Spiderbaby” Haig.
I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER
1975; DVD $19.95, UR
The all-but-forgotten award-winning bio-drama of the Nez Perce tribe, given just 30 days to vacate their ancestral lands in 1877 by President Ulysses S. Grant. Their peaceful leader, Chief Joseph, originally concedes, but decides to turn the tables on his “escorts” when he realizes the genocidal truth of their harsh 1,700-mile journey. Terrific stuff.
LOVEWRECKED
2006; DVD $19.95, PG-13
Hot little tease Amanda Bynes stars in this girl-fantasy flick about a star-struck teen, “marooned” on a Caribbean island with her rock ’n’ roll idol — and hiding from him the fact that they are just a short walk away from their resort!
SUBLIME
2007; DVD $24.95, R/UR
Tom Cavanagh (“Ed”) stars in this high-concept hospital-horror about a guy who checks in for some minor surgery, only to wake up on a different floor filled with secrets, sex and surgical mistakes. Directed by Tony Krantz, executive producer of “24.”
THE DUKES OF HAZZARD: THE BEGINNING
2007; DVD $27.95, R/UR
Unnecessary and unwelcome straight-to-video “prequel” to the TV show, originally planned as a low-budget “Dukes of Hazzard 2.” Think before you act: If you leave it on the shelf then they won’t make any more.
THE HOLIDAY
2006; DVD $28.95-38.95, PG-13
Unabashedly light-hearted and just-plain-stooopid, this seasonal chick-flick stars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as a pair of women from different continents who decide to trade homes for the holidays. Doesn’t make any sense to us either, but we have a “Y” chromosome. With Jude Law and Jack Black as “two men.”
THE PERFECT CRIME (EL CRIMEN FERPECTO)
2004; DVD $22.95, UR
Spanish-language murder-comedy about a suave ladies-man who nearly gets away with killing his business rival, only to be forced into being the “boyfriend” of an obnoxious and unattractive woman with a weak grasp on reality (or is that redundant?).
UNCIVIL LIBERTIES
2006; DVD $29.95, UR
Low-budget thriller that explores the abuse of government surveillance in post-9/11 America, and how it can backfire, creating an entire new class of extremists who take up arms in defense of the Constitution.
Other DVDs of Interest
HARD TIMES
1997; DVD $39.95, UR
I LOVE LUCY: THE COMPLETE SEASONS 7-9
1951; DVD $38.95, UR
MILE HIGH: SEASON 1
2003; DVD $49.95, UR
ROBIN OF SHERWOOD, SET 1
1984; DVD $59.95, UR
WIND AT MY BACK: COMPLETE SEASONS 1 & 2
1996; DVD $169.95, UR
A more complete listing and free vids at www.videotapeworm.com!
