Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
by John Waters
from Universal Studios
John Waters's goofy, 1990 comedy about a Baltimore girl (Amy Locane) who can't decide if she should remain "good" in her 1954 world or hang out with the motorcycle boys is funny in a scene-by-scene way, but doesn't quite gel into the grand piece the director was hoping for. The cast is exceptionally likable, however, including Johnny Depp as an Elvis type and Iggy Pop as a chattering loony. The best material is set in a fringe world of bikers and losers on the outskirts of town, and Waters writes some hilarious sardonic dialogue for the characters. Cry-Baby is the last of Waters's more undisciplined features; he followed it with the glossier but no less perverse Serial Mom. --Tom Keogh
Wade \""Cry-baby\"" Walker drives the girls in his high school class wild with his ability to shed a single tear in this juvenile delinquent musical comedy.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: CRY BABY
Title: CRY BABY
Street Release Date: 07/12/2005
Genre: COMEDY VIDEO
Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Adventure
by Janice Karman
from Paramount
Simon, Alvin, and Theodore compete in an around-the-world balloon race and unwittingly assist a pair of international diamond smugglers.
Genre: Children's Video
Rating: NR
Release Date: 7-AUG-2007
Media Type: DVD
This original, 1987 all-animated Chipmunk movie is a worldwide adventure featuring the Chipmunks, Chipettes, international crooks, various thugs, and a healthy dose of danger, natural disaster, famous scenery, and cute little animals. It all starts when Dave Seville leaves Alvin, Theodore, and Simon Chipmunk home under the care of Ms. Miller while he travels to Europe on business. Sore at being left behind, Alvin challenges Brittany from the Chipettes to the video game "Around the World" and his boast that he could beat her traveling around the world in a real hot air balloon is overheard by Claudia and Klaus, a pair of international crooks searching for an innocent courier to deliver a load of illegal diamonds to various places around the world. The crooks wager a million dollars on the Chipmunks and Chipettes to see who can race around the world the fastest, providing the hot air balloons, all necessary supplies, and the promise of $100,000 to the winner. Stalked by various thugs and encountering obstacles that range from hurricanes to snakes, tribes bent on worshiping and then sacrificing Alvin, and even a baby penguin that needs to be reunited with its parents in Antarctica, the Chipmunks and Chipettes sing their way around the globe, defeating villains that cross their paths and eventually learning the truth about the illegal cargo they're transporting. In the end, the Chipmunks and Chipettes combine forces in hopes of bringing Claudia and Klaus to justice while ensuring they all return home in one piece. This fantastical Chipmunk journey is suspenseful, funny, full of catchy music, and appropriate for ages 5 and older. Bonus features include original artwork from the movie and a CD with all 11 songs from the movie. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi
Wizards
by Ralph Bakshi
from 20th Century Fox
Far from the masterful treatment that groundbreaking animator Ralph Bakshi gave the similarly themed The Lord of the Rings just a year later, Wizards feels amateurish. A simplistic distillation of fantasy tropes, the scenario is millions of years after nuclear war wipes out civilization. Middle Earth fairies, elves, and magic emerge from the "good lands," while dimwitted mutants with poor comic timing emerge from the nuclear wastes. In the ultimate confrontation between good and evil, a hippie-ish wizard named Avatar defends his utopia against the technological and neo-Nazi revival of his bad-seed twin, Blackwolf. With volleys of jokes that couldn't hit a barn door, elves with Brooklyn accents, and the dubious climax that sees the kindly old wizard using one of the hated machines of war to triumph over evil, Wizards is one of fantasy animation's least successful examples. --Alan E. Rapp
Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, this fantasy adventure follows the story of Avatar, the kindly, eccentric sorcerer-ruler of Montagar, a rainbow paradise inhabited by elves and fairies. Avatar?s evil brother, Blackwolf, dominates Scortch, a bleak land of goblins and wraiths. When the power-hungry Blackwolf attacks Montagar, Avatar, accompanied only by a spirited young woman and a courageous elf, must enter the darkness of Scortch to save his world. WIZARDS is a thought-provoking, kaleidoscopic feast for the eyes that will enthrall animation fans and film lovers of all ages.
Powder
by Victor Salva
from Walt Disney Video
For all its flaws, Powder is still worthwhile for attempting to be unique and well intentioned. The film's qualities were overshadowed after its 1995 release when it was revealed that writer-director Victor Salva had served 15 months in prison for molesting a child actor during production of the 1988 TV movie Clownhouse. Controversy aside, Powder is a welcome step off the beaten path with sufficient strengths to balance its weaknesses. Fantasy and drama combine in the story of a teenager known as Powder for his snow-white skin. Powder is introduced into a tiny Texas community after spending his entire life in his grandparents' basement. He's a wise genius, but an outcast, alienated by those who misunderstand and fear him. When a schoolmaster (Mary Steenburgen) and science teacher (Jeff Goldblum) discover that Powder has a capacity for empathic insight and possesses the power to control electricity, the unusual boy becomes a tragic Christ-like figure--peaceful, prophetic, and perhaps too good to survive in the real world. In telling this heartfelt story, Powder struggles to be all things to all viewers--equal parts E.T. and The Elephant Man--which compromises its overall impact. But even though it's not a great movie, it sincerely tries to accomplish something original and wonderful, and that's more than most movies can claim. --Jeff Shannon
You've never experienced anything quite like POWDER -- the uplifting, must-see hit that audiences and critics loved! Harassed by classmates who won't accept his shocking appearance, a shy young man known as Powder struggles to fit in. But the cruel taunts stop when Powder displays a mysterious power that allows him to do extraordinary things. This phenomenon changes the lives of all those around him ... in ways they never could have imagined. Hollywood stars Jeff Goldblum (JURASSIC PARK) and Mary Steenburgen (PHILADELPHIA) lead a top-notch cast in this unforgettable story of hope and wonder.
Flesh and Blood
by Paul Verhoeven
from MGM (Video & DVD)
In the battle between good and evil only the strong survive! From visionary director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) comes this "vivid and muscular" (Variety) epic adventure of medieval bravery and blood lust starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh!In the chaotic morally bankrupt Europe of 1510 a cold-hearted warrior named Martin (Hauer) leads his motley crew of mercenaries into battle to reclaim the castle of an ousted nobleman. But when the despot betrays them Martin and his band of ruffians strike back by kidnapping the innocent young maiden (Leigh) betrothed to the nobleman's son a fearless Renaissance man who must risk life and limb to rescue the woman he loves!System Requirements:Starring: Rutger Hauer Jennifer Jason Leigh Tom Burlinson Susan Tyrrell Ronald Lacey and Jack Thompson. Directed By: Paul Verhoeven. Running Time: 128 Min. Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 1985 Orion Pictures Corporation.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 027616902184 Manufacturer No: 1005989
A rarely screened cult favorite from Paul Verhoeven, this story of medieval war and revenge should please action fans and admirers of the director and his semi-regular leading man, Rutger Hauer, but its graphic scenes of sexual violence earmark it for mature viewers only. Hauer stars as a 16th-century mercenary hired by a Western European ruler (Fernando Hilbeck) to assault a neighboring kingdom; when the king reneges on his promises to Hauer and his men, they kidnap his son's fiancee (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and hole up in a nearby castle. Hauer and Leigh are standouts in a strong cast that includes Tom Burlinson, Bruno Kirby, the late Brion James, and Susan Tyrrell; Verhoeven's realistic approach to the down-and-dirty facts of medieval life and the bloody aftermath of warfare offers a refreshing alternative to most Hollywood period films, but a pair of brutal rape scenes may be too much for some audiences. MGM's DVD is widescreen. --Paul Gaita
Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Adventure
by Janice Karman
from Paramount
This original, 1987 all-animated Chipmunk movie is a worldwide adventure featuring the Chipmunks, Chipettes, international crooks, various thugs, and a healthy dose of danger, natural disaster, famous scenery, and cute little animals. It all starts when Dave Seville leaves Alvin, Theodore, and Simon Chipmunk home under the care of Ms. Miller while he travels to Europe on business. Sore at being left behind, Alvin challenges Brittany from the Chipettes to the video game "Around the World" and his boast that he could beat her traveling around the world in a real hot air balloon is overheard by Claudia and Klaus, a pair of international crooks searching for an innocent courier to deliver a load of illegal diamonds to various places around the world. The crooks wager a million dollars on the Chipmunks and Chipettes to see who can race around the world the fastest, providing the hot air balloons, all necessary supplies, and the promise of $100,000 to the winner. Stalked by various thugs and encountering obstacles that range from hurricanes to snakes, tribes bent on worshiping and then sacrificing Alvin, and even a baby penguin that needs to be reunited with its parents in Antarctica, the Chipmunks and Chipettes sing their way around the globe, defeating villains that cross their paths and eventually learning the truth about the illegal cargo they're transporting. In the end, the Chipmunks and Chipettes combine forces in hopes of bringing Claudia and Klaus to justice while ensuring they all return home in one piece. This fantastical Chipmunk journey is suspenseful, funny, full of catchy music, and appropriate for ages 5 and older. Bonus features include original artwork from the movie and a CD with all 11 songs from the movie. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi
Lights camera Alvin! Alvin? Allll-vin! Yes it s everyone s favorite singing chipmunks-Alvin Simon and Theodore-in their very first full-length motion picture. And what a film it is! Filled with thrilling adventure toe-tapping songs and exotic global locations THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE is an awesome animated odyssey. When Dave Seville embarks on a solo business trip to Europe a disappointed Simon Theodore and Alvin are left at home in the care of the accident-prone Miss Miller. But soon Alvin has agreed to an offer that will allow the boys to become jet-setters of their own-by participating in an around-the world hot-air balloon race! Their main competitors in the airborne adventure are the Chipettes-Brittany Jeanette and Eleanor-but their real opponents turn out to be Klaus and Claudia two conniving international crooks who have cooked up the race as a front for their worldwide diamond smuggling operation! Join the laughs music and mayhem as the Chipmunks and the Chipettes take off on their hilarious high-flying adventure.System Requirements:Running Time: 76 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 032429035745 Manufacturer No: 7903574
Masked and Anonymous
by Larry Charles
from Columbia Tristar
Music legend and Academy Award winner Bob Dylan (Best Song Wonder Boys 2000) -- accompanied by Academy Award winner Jessica Lange (Best Actress in a Leading Role Blue Sky 1994) Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky) Jeff Bridges (Seabiscuit) John Goodman (O Brother Where Art Thou?) and Luke Wilson (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle) -- takes center stage in the craziest funniest comedy of the year! Dylan is Jack Fate a former traveling troubadour who is sprung from jail by his scheming manager to headline a sketchy and misguided benefit concert. With unforgettable cameo appearances by Angela Bassett Bruce Dern Ed Harris Giovanni Ribisi Mickey Rourke and Christian Slater and featuring a sizzling soundtrack with four new Dylan recordings plus performances of Dylan classics from Los Lobos Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia and more!System Requirements:Running Time: 106 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396014435 Manufacturer No: 01443
Masked and Anonymous is a mesmerizing experiment in surreal drama with lyrical content, a cinematic approximation of an epic Bob Dylan song on the order of "Desolation Row." Not coincidentally, Dylan is a co-writer and star of this 2003 film, playing an enigmatic folk-rocker named Jack Fate, a political prisoner in an unnamed, civil war-torn country. Set free to headline a benefit concert organized by an unscrupulous promoter (John Goodman) and television executive (Jessica Lange), Jack embarks on a fateful journey through a battle-scarred land. Taken literally, Masked and Anonymous proves bewildering, even exasperating, but as a feverish act of unrestrained political satire the film has a lot to offer, including some of the best recent performances by Goodman, Lange, Jeff Bridges (as a cynical journalist), Val Kilmer (a babbling prophet), Luke Wilson (a musician), and Giovanni Ribisi (a haunted soldier). Dylan himself proves a stiff cipher, but fun to watch. --Tom Keogh
Big Top Pee-Wee
from Paramount
There's nothing wrong with Randall Kleiser's Big Top Pee-Wee that Pee-Wee's Big Adventure director Tim Burton wouldn't be able to fix. Take the scene in which entwined farmer and botanist Pee-Wee and ravishing circus performer Gina (Valeria Golina) blissfully ponder the shapes of the clouds. One can only imagine the wondrous forms Burton would have animated in the heavens. In Kleiser's sequel, they are mere cumulus. A talking pig and a sympathetic gallery of outcast circus performers (including a young Benicio Del Toro as the Dog-Faced Boy) notwithstanding, Big Top squanders much of the first film's magic and goodwill. Blame it on the script, which places arrested adolescent Pee-Wee in a small town that is unaccountably hostile to him. Blame it on Paul Rubens, who, perhaps rebelling against his own iconic creation, puts Pee-Wee in some disquieting libido-fueled situations, such as jumping his schoolteacher girlfriend Winnie (Penelope Ann Miller). "The children," Winnie fights him off as her class looks on. Indeed. --Donald Liebenson
The Angel Collection (Angel / Avenging Angel / Angel III)
by Robert Vincent O'Neill
from Starz / Anchor Bay
Islands in the Stream
by Franklin J. Schaffner
from Paramount
The film of Ernest Hemingway's posthumously published novel has the air of an Important Event that never quite comes off. Here's Thomas, an artist who's outlived his artistry and settled into sun-kissed reclusiveness on one of the lesser Bahamas. With World War II literally rumbling on the luminous horizon, he divides his time between torturing metal into sculpture, lolling with semi-worshipful retainers and cronies, and committing occasional acts of petty, booze-induced, aimless destructiveness. He is, of course, not Ernest Hemingway. But if he were, who in 1979 would have more appropriately been asked to incarnate him than that disputatious, granite-jawed, reclusively inclined, Oscar-scorning actor George C. Scott? And who better to preside over the ceremony than Franklin J. Schaffner, the director of that earlier celebration of truculently rugged individualism, Patton?
Alas, Scott doesn't so much act as pose, and Schaffner sets up every shot and every encounter like a dust-jacket for a tasteful book-club edition (the DVD transfer is impeccably crisp; the images, stillborn). Thomas's attempts to bond with the three sons who come to visit after years of estrangement are painful, mostly because of the badness of the kids' dialogue and the worseness of the kid actors. However, as Thomas's boon companion Eddie--the "good man" rummy reminiscent of To Have and Have Not--David Hemmings is heartbreakingly fine. So, astonishingly, is the final reel, an absurdist adventure on the periphery of war... and we realize there could have been, should have been, a good movie in this bad idea for a movie after all. --Richard T. Jameson
Thomas Hudson (Scott) is an American sculptor whose self-imposed isolation on an island in the Bahamas is ended by two forces: the visit of his sons and the outbreak of World War II. Hudson attempts to guide his sons while coping with his own personal conflicts and the threat of war.
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