North, Alan

The Long Kiss Goodnight

Geena Davis and her former husband, director Renny Harlin, attempted to pick up the pieces after the debacle of their box-office disaster, Cutthroat Island. What they came up with was this repulsive ode to American film noir, based on a script by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon) about an amnesiac schoolteacher (Davis) who searches for her true identity and finds she is actually a secret agent immersed in a deadly plot to topple the government. Mechanistic in its violence, obnoxious in its attitude, the film makes Davis, a once-promising actress, nothing more than a special effect. She tosses one to sadists in the audience by allowing her character to be beaten, punched unconscious, and tortured. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, plus Dolby surround sound, theatrical trailer, cast information, optional French-language soundtrack and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

A violent tale of a young mother who awakens after years of amnesia to discover she's an assassin with her former bosses in hot pursuit.Running Time: 120 min.System Requirements:Starring: Geena Davis Samuel Jackson Director: Renny Harlin Produced by Renny Harlin Stephanie Austin; written by Shane Black; running time of 120 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1996 New Line Interactive Menus Languages: English and French Subtitles: English French and Spanish High-quality Dolby Digital multi-channel surround sound Original theatrical trailer Background information on the stars Standard version formatted from its original version to fit your screen Widescreen version presented in a "letterbox" widescreen format preserving the 2.35:1 aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition English: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: StereoFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS Rating: R UPC: 794043444623

Glory

Story of the first Black regiment to fight in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: R
Release Date: 1-FEB-2005
Media Type: DVD

One of the very best films about the Civil War, this instant classic from 1989 is also one of the few films to depict the participation of African American soldiers in Civil War combat. Based in part on the books Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard, the film also draws from the letters of Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick), the 25-year-old son of Boston abolitionists who volunteered to command the all-black 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Their training and battle experience leads them to their final assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina, where their heroic bravery turned bitter defeat into a symbolic victory that brought recognition to black soldiers and turned the tide of the war. With painstaking attention to historical detail and richness of character, the film boasts superior performances by Denzel Washington (who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, and Andre Braugher. Directed by Edward Zwick (co-creator of the TV series thirtysomething), this unforgettable drama is as important as Schindler's List in its treatment of a noble yet little-known episode of history. --Jeff Shannon

Highlander

This 1986 fantasy/action thriller has since spawned two sequels, a popular syndicated TV series, numerous comic-book spinoffs, and a loyal (if somewhat oddly obsessive) following of fans. Directed by music video veteran Russell Mulcahy (which explains the dizzying camera work), the original theatrical release made hash of an intriguing story about an "Immortal" from 16th-century Scotland (Christopher Lambert) who time-leaps to modern-day America with his archenemy (Clancy Brown) in hot pursuit. It becomes a battle to the death (yes, Immortals can die), and Lambert seeks survival training from an Immortal mentor played by Sean Connery. Dazzling, energetic, and altogether confusing in its original form, the film has since been released on video, laserdisc, and DVD in this revised widescreen "director's cut," with additional footage, director and producers' commentary, a photo and artwork archive, the original trailer, and an official time line of the film's evolution from script to screen. A must for Highlander fans ... and you know who you are! --Jeff Shannon

Lean on Me

Rocky director John Avildsen championed the briefly famous New Jersey high school principal Joe Clark in this upbeat 1989 drama. Morgan Freeman plays the tough-love educator who wields a baseball bat and bullhorn to keep discipline in his hallways and to motivate underachieving students to keep their acts together. After establishing Clark's controversial methods and showing him giving some punks the boot, Avildsen relies on the usual school-drama clichés to fill out the rest of the movie, including a challenge to Clark's philosophy from timid authorities. Freeman makes a strong impact as Clark, his dignity and integrity a sometimes awesome thing. Avildsen, however, is going for a Rocky-esque emotional crescendo. --Tom Keogh

Based on the true story of new jersey high school principal Joe Clark,who wins the support and respect of his students for his controversial methods in ridding the school of violent students and drug dealers.

Stand and Deliver/Lean on Me

Look at the too-cool-to-cope kids in Jaime Escalante's class at East L.A.'s tough Garfield High and many will say they see a bunch of losers. Escalante sees scholars. How he cajoles instructs challenges and inspires his no-expectations barrio kids to pass the daunting Calculus Advanced Placement Test forms the amazing heart of Stand and Deliver [Side A] starring Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips. Paterson New Jersey's Eastside High is the setting for Lean on Me [Side B] starring Morgan Freeman as bat-and-bullhorn-toting principal Joe Clark whose controversial methods turned the failing school around and made Clark a national symbol of tough-love education. His message: Don't lean on excuses drugs or anger. Lean on yourself and me...and learn. School's now in session with these two true-life tales!Running Time: 212 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 012569837706 Manufacturer No: 83770

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

Glory (Special Edition, Repackaged)

This powerful Civil War drama is the startlingly good impressive and long-overdue story about a little-known chapter in American history: the first black combat unit. Broderick heads a first-rate cast as the white commander of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment an all-black fighting unit comprised of enlisted men who were initially denied the basic rights of other soldiers; they were then forced to prove themselves in order to be treated equally. Freeman offers solid support as the company's wise sergeant and Oscar winner Washington is outstanding as a former slave. Based on the letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw whom Broderick portrays.Features:Audio commentary (Director Edward Zwick; Optional Commentary by Zwick on Deleted Scenes)Other (Additional Picture-in-Picture Commentary by Zwick; Production Notes; Talent Files)Documentaries ("Voices of Glory" Making of; "The TrueSystem Requirements:Run Time: 122 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 043396165731 Manufacturer No: 16573

One of the very best films about the Civil War, this instant classic from 1989 is also one of the few films to depict the participation of African American soldiers in Civil War combat. Based in part on the books Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard, the film also draws from the letters of Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick), the 25-year-old son of Boston abolitionists who volunteered to command the all-black 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Their training and battle experience leads them to their final assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina, where their heroic bravery turned bitter defeat into a symbolic victory that brought recognition to black soldiers and turned the tide of the war. With painstaking attention to historical detail and richness of character, the film boasts superior performances by Denzel Washington (who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, and Andre Braugher. Directed by Edward Zwick (cocreator of the TV series thirtysomething), this unforgettable drama is as important as Schindler's List in its treatment of a noble yet little-known episode of history. --Jeff Shannon

One of the very best films about the Civil War, this instant classic from 1989 is also one of the few films to depict the participation of African American soldiers in Civil War combat. Based in part on the books Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard, the film also draws from the letters of Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick), the 25-year-old son of Boston abolitionists who volunteered to command the all-black 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Their training and battle experience leads them to their final assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina, where their heroic bravery turned bitter defeat into a symbolic victory that brought recognition to black soldiers and turned the tide of the war. With painstaking attention to historical detail and richness of character, the film boasts superior performances by Denzel Washington (who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, and Andre Braugher. Directed by Edward Zwick (co-creator of the TV series thirtysomething), this unforgettable drama is as important as Schindler's List in its treatment of a noble yet little-known episode of history. --Jeff Shannon

...And Justice For All

In a criminal justice system where criminals go free lawyers and judges make deals as a matter of routine and the innocent sometimes go unprotected young lawyer Arthur Kirkland begins to wonder where the justice has gone. Arthur (Al Pacino in a brilliant 1979 Best Actor Oscar nominated role) is an honest idealistic lawyer who is suddenly under pressure to defend a distinguished judge (John Forsythe) accused of raping and battering a young girl - and whom Arthur knows is guilty. Jack Warden co-stars as an eccentric cheerfully suicidal judge who thinks Arthur should play the game. When it comes down to the trial Arthur must choose between the security of his career and his personal integrity. The final explosive courtroom scene is unforgettable!System Requirements:Starring: Al Pacino Jack Warden John Forsythe and Lee Strasberg. Directed By: Norman Jewison. Running Time: 119 Min. Color. This film is presented in both "Widescreen" and "Standard" formats. Copyright 2000 Columbia TriStar Home Video.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 043396058194

Al Pacino plays a Maryland lawyer who takes on a judicial system rife with dealmaking in this awkward blend of satire and sentimentality. Topical director Norman Jewison can't seem to help Pacino get comfortable with the mismatched material, which pushes the film into outrageousness at some turns and mawkishness at others. The script by Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin is more an accumulation of random ideas and moments than a congruent story. However, it's interesting to see the large cast of good actors, most of whom hadn't become well known yet. (Christine Lahti made her film debut here.) Pacino gets to work for a second time (following The Godfather II) with acting mentor Lee Strasberg. --Tom Keogh

The Formula

A detective uncovers a formula that was devised by the Nazis in WWII to make gasoline from synthetic products thereby eliminating the necessity for oil --- and oil companies. A major oil company uncovers this and tries to destroy the formula and anyone who knows about it.System Requirements:Running Time: 93 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/ESPIONAGE UPC: 879431000480 Manufacturer No: MAC48

See No Evil, Hear No Evil/Stir Crazy

STIR CRAZY (1980 FEATURE): One of the looniest pictures to come along in some time! STIR CRAZY teams two of the most brilliant and zany comic performers today: Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. Skip (Wilder) and Harry (Pryor) have both been fired from their jobs so they take off in their van for California to seek fame and fortune but somewhere along the way the van conks out and they're broke and...well they have to eat right? So they land a gig as singing and dancing woodpeckers to promote a bank opening. When two bank robbers steal their costumes and stick up the bank guess who gets the blame? Skip and Harry are carted off to the state pen for 125 years. They try to keep their sanity and their lives amidst: a sadistic warden a hulking mass-murderer and an inter-prison rodeo - all with great hilarity.SEE NO EVIL HEAR NO EVIL (1989): It was murder! The blind guy couldn't see it. The deaf guy couldn't hear it. But now they're both wanted for it in the drop-dead comedy SEE NO EVIL HEAR NO EVIL that reunites the outrageous comedy duo Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder (Silver Streak Stir Crazy). Meet Wally and Dave. Wally is blind Dave is deaf. When a man is murdered outside the newsstand where they work the police collar these two unlikely buddies as their main suspects. A hilarious chase ensues as Wally and Dave hightail it from the New York Police Department to snag the real bad guys - the wickedly beautiful Eve (Joan Severance Black Scorpion) and her cold-blooded cohort Kirgo (Kevin Spacey American Beauty). From director Arthur Hiller (Silver Streak) comes this zany comedy caper you won't want to miss.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 043396104914 Manufacturer No: 10491