Raffill, Stewart

The Philadelphia Experiment

The Philadelphia Experiment takes as its jumping-off point an incident that is now paranormal legend, the U.S. Navy's supposed 1943 induction of an extremely powerful electromagnetic field around a destroyer in Philadelphia, causing its crew to become transparent, go insane, burst into flames, and so forth. The movie takes the tack that this was to render the ship invisible to radar, because of the war that was on. The test goes awry, however, and two of the crew leap forward in time to the filmmakers' present tense, 1984, where a similar experiment has caused a vortex that has trapped the 1943 ship and its crew along with a small Nevada town. The key to unbollixing this sad time-fracture lies in our heroes, the two time-travelling crew members, David Herdeg (Michael Paré) and Jim Parker (Bobby Di Cicco), whose electromagnetic instability keeps drawing them painfully back to the vortex to set things straight. This is silly stuff, but it's very fun silly stuff. One might cavil at gaps in plot logic, such as when Michael Paré seeks out the '80s version of his partner and finds more or less a trauma patient, while subsequent action contradicts this characterization. Still, there are plenty of still-worthy special effects, creating the requisite sense of awe and wonder. And for romantic interest, there's Nancy Allen's '80s girl paired with Michael Paré, affording plenty of amusing occasions for culture comparisons, most notably when Paré sees Ronald Reagan on TV, says, "Hey, I know that guy!" and refuses to believe he's president. --Jim Gay

The experiment that should never have happened 41 years ago...is still going on.

Philadelphia, 1943: A top-secret experiment is underway to make U.S. Navy ships invisible to enemy radar, but something goes horribly wrong, and the Battleship Eldridge disappears. Two sailors jump overboard...and are mysteriously transported 41 years into the future. On the run and trapped by the past, can they stop the experiment that has torn a hole in time?

Michael Pare (Eddie and the Cruisers) and Nancy Allen (Carrie, Dressed to Kill) star in this provocative sci-fi action hit, executive produced by Halloween creator John Carpenter!

The Ice Pirates

The amiable sci-fi spoof The Ice Pirates has earned a small but vocal cadre of admirers thanks to its go-for-broke gags and a healthy disrespect for outer space epics like the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises. An atypically goofy Robert Urich stars as the leader of a band of space pirates who kidnap a princess (Mary Crosby of Dallas fame), and then join her quest to find a mythical planet that can solve the universe's water shortage. A completely game (shameless?) cast (which includes Anjelica Huston in fetching leather gear, Ron Perlman, John Matuszak, and fantastic film icon John Carradine) and Stewart (The Philadelphia Experiment) and Raffill's breezy direction help sell the funniest bits (most notably, the notorious "space herpy" scene, and the frantic time-warp finale) and make the more leaden jokes palatable. --Paul Gaita

Spoofy-goofy comedy, otherworldly special effects, spectacular space creatures, bedraggled 'bots, and biceps-ripplnig swashbuckling highlight this cult fave. In the future, as the galaxy's water supply starts to run out, a band of pirates searches for a new water source.

Croc

A man-eating croc is on the loose. Locals are missing. And body parts are bobbing in the swamps. This is an adventure you can really "sink your teeth into." On the outskirts of a beach resort in Thailand is Jack's Croc Farm, featuring its star attraction, Delilah. But when Delilah goes missing, body parts begin to pile up in the most dangerous and fetid swampland in Thailand. Croc Hawkins (Michael Madsen, Reservoir Dogs) is the croc hunter assigned to the case but even his expertise might not be enough to find the frightening beast. The hunt is on to find Delilah but no one can anticipate the surprises and terrors that await. The fourth installment in the "Maneater Series," Croc is now available for the first time on DVD.

Wilderness Family Trilogy

Survival Island

Three arrive…one survives. Wealthy businessman Jack Matson (Billy Zane) and his beautiful wife Jennifer (Kelly Brook) are on a vacation in the Caribbean. Their vacation is cut short, however, when handsome Latin boatman Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace) accidentally causes the yacht to sink. Washed ashore a remote island and left for dead, Jack and Jennifer find that they must fend for themselves if they are to survive. But when they find that they are not the only survivors on the island, a primal and erotic tale of survival and jealousy ensues when Manuel appears and develops an attraction to Jennifer. As life becomes more and more competitive--and dangerous--on the island, Jennifer must decide to follow her heart or her instincts if she is to survive.

Mac and Me

Greetings, earthlings. A pint-sized extraterrestrial has just landed on our planet by accident…and he's feeling a little alienated because he got separated from his family upon arrival. Fortunately, the hilarious, intergalactic antics of this Mysterious Alien Creature (MAC) will help him charm his way into the heart of everyone he meets, including Ronald McDonald in a rare cameo!

Grizzly Falls

Grizzly Falls is a gorgeous, hopelessly old-fashioned film that's unlikely to attract the viewership it ought to--none of the characters is particularly witty or clever; special effects, save a few stunts with a bear, are nil; and the irony level is at an all-time low. In other words, prying the kids away from Pokémon to watch this movie may be a challenge, but it's worth the effort. Daniel Clark plays Harry, a lad of around 8 who accompanies Tyrone (Bryan Brown), his thrill-seeking dad, on a mission to the Colorado Rockies, where he intends to be the first to capture a live grizzly. It's the early 1900s, so the means by which Tyrone plans to snare the beast aren't especially humane--at a saloon stop, he hires five tough guys, one with a team of hounds. Then the hunt begins. The hounds' punishing master quickly emerges as a villain; when he and two dogs are mauled by the grizzly, he exacts revenge by caging the bear's cubs. She, in classic righteous-mother mode, retaliates by dragging Harry into the woods. What follows is a desperate chase through beautiful countryside by tireless Tyrone and the blossoming of an impossible boy-bear friendship. Mizzy, as Harry comes to call the bear, protects him from dangers of the wild while leading the boy to her caged cubs, who are traveling east with the ornery houndskeeper. There's a showdown when the animal family is reunited, but Harry and Tyrone extinguish a series of confrontations handily, then move on to cement their own iffy relationship. The surplus of action scenes in this PG-rated movie will wow kids 8 and up, and only jaded viewers will summon the callousness to crack wise about its unapologetic portrayal of blind loyalty and courage at all costs. --Tammy La Gorce

The Adventures of the Wilderness Family (Special Edition)

Fed up with the congestion and allergies of Los Angeles life, a family of four forsakes the big city for an isolated cabin in the Rocky Mountains, in this 1975 film. Most of the adventures--good and scary--revolve around wildlife. Kids will get a kick out of the pet raccoon already in residence upon their arrival, the orphaned bear cubs who come to live with them, and the mountain lion cubs the kids bring home one day. But there is also an angry lioness, a menacing grizzly, and a pack of wolves who prove less than friendly. The good news is that no admirable characters die in the 97-minute film--not even the family's fearless dog, who challenges all of the hostile critters. And when an animal does die, while it is clear what happened, there is no gore. Instead, the camera focuses on gorgeous scenery, romping children, and creatures--and, occasionally, Dad's shirtless torso. Still, films don't get more wholesome than this one. (Ages 3 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Across the Great Divide

Perfect Heists 4 Movie Pack

High Risk Four unemployed amateur thieves (James Brolin Bruce Davidson Cleavon Little and Chuck Vennera) with nothing to lose decide to risk everything when they plan the heist of their lives. They parachute into the Columbian countryside with the unlikely plan of stealing five million dollars from an expatriate American drug lord (James Coburn). Getting their hands on the prize turns out to be the least of their worries as the hills are filled with gunrunners soldiers and bandits. This star-studded action-packed thriller also features Anthony Quinn Lindsay Wagner and Ernest Borgnine.Runtime: 94 minutes: Master Touch TheDespite the objections of his wife a safe-cracker recently released from jail (Kirk Douglas) decides to try one last daring job. With the help of a circus gymnast and a brilliant plan the thief plans to defeat a fool-proof safe in Germany and make off with a cool $1 million.Runtime: 112 minutes Great St. Louis Bank Robbery The Long before Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS came this drama about a hastily formed gang of eccentric hoods who plan the perfect heist only to botch the execution setting them at each other's throats and scrambling to save their own skins. Steve McQueen stars as a former football hero who is talked into becoming the getaway driver in this intense dark adventure. Based on a true story this drama features the actual police and bank customers involved in the hold-up.Runtime: 85 minutes Squeeze The Classic heist crime drama about a safecracker coming out of retirement to pull off one last caper. The Germans behind the theft are planning to steal a million dollars. But unbeknownst to the safecracker they are also planning to kill him afterward. As soon as he finds out he begins plotting his revenge.Runtime: 99 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 787364443499 Manufacturer No: 44434-9