| · 49 Up (2006, dir. Michael Apted, First Run Features) – Apted releases the seventh part in his evolving 7 Up documentary series that rediscovers its subjects every seven years.
· Another Gay Movie (2006, dir. Todd Stephens, TLA Releasing) – It’s American Pie for the queer set. Stephens hoped to make this story of four boys’ quest for the pleasures of the bum the gayest movie ever made.
· Beverly Hills 90210: The Complete First Season (1990, Paramount) – Life unfolds in a melodramatic fashion for a group of Southern California teens. Like The O.C. v. 1.0. See also Melrose Place: Season One.
· Black Christmas (1974, dir. Bob Clark, Somerville House) – A serial killer stalks a sorority house over Christmas break. This Canadian horror classic starring Margot Kidder and Andrea Martin gets a deluxe reissue with featurettes and interviews. A Hollywood remake was filmed earlier this year in Vancouver.
· Boston Legal: Season Two (2005, Fox) – Now that Arrested Development has been cancelled, this spin-off from The Practice could be the best show on TV. James Spader and the Emmy-winning William Shatner head up the lawyers at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. It’s got the best courtroom dialogue you’ve ever heard.
· A Christmas Carol: Emerald Edition (1951, dir. Brian Desmond Hurst, Morningstar Entertainment) – This holiday classic has been restored and re-mastered for its 55th anniversary. You can see Alistair Sim play ol’ Ebeneezer in the British version (Scrooge) or the American cut (A Christmas Carol).
· The Cry Baby Killer: The Back-to-Back Jack Edition (Buena Vista Home Video) – A double shot of vintage Jack Nicholson. Roger Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors (1960) is a no-budget horror flick about a man-eating plant. Cry Baby Killer (1958) is a teensploitation thriller and Nicholson’s screen debut.
· Dynamic:1 the Best of Davidlynch.com (2005, dir. David Lynch, Subversive Cinema) – Usually home movies are pretty boring, but when they are made by an oddball American auteur like Lynch, how can you say no?
· Forbidden Planet: Ultimate Edition (1956, dir. Fred M. Wilcox, Warner) – Picture William Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in space. Forbidden Planet is not only the groundbreaking sci-fi flick that inspired Star Trek, but it’s stunning in its own right. The deluxe edition comes loaded with a short film and a collectible Robby the Robot replica.
· The Groomsman (2006, dir. Ed Burns, Vivendi Visuel Entertainment) – Writer-director Burns makes a mature romantic dramedy about growing up and settling down. Burns plays a man with second thoughts in the week leading up to his wedding. The supporting cast is packed with comic character types like Donol Logue, Matthew Lillard and John Leguizamo.
· The Junky’s Christmas (1993, dir. Nick Donkin, Melodie McDaniel, Koch) – An animated short based on William S. Burroughs’ grim holiday tale. Nothing says yuletide like trying to score a fix.
· Mad Cowgirl (2006, dir. Gregory Hatanaka, Cinema Epoch) – This creepy, campy kung-fu flick played to wildly mixed audiences at this year’s underground film fest. Look for a cameo from Walter (Checkov) Koeing.
· M.A.S.H.: The Complete Series (1972-1983, 20th Century Fox) – Timed to coincide with the release of season 11 of this groundbreaking TV show, Fox releases the whole series with the final two-and-a-half hour movie in one DVD set. Fans of this Korean War sitcom who have been buying them piecemeal as they came out, cry as much as they did when the final episode aired.
· Midnight Blue Collection Box Set (2005, Blue Underground) – Al Goldstein is Screw Magazine’s king of smut. He was also the host of a late-night cable show called Midnight Blue. This is the best of politics, porn and perversion.
· Police Squad: The Complete Series (1982, Paramount) – Leslie Nielsen stars as detective Frank Drebbin in this legendary, laugh-a-second, slapstick TV series. It’s Airplane! meets Hill Street Blues.
· Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection (dir. Preston Sturges, Universal) – Sturges made some of the best screwball comedies to come out of the Hollywood system. This box set collects Sullivan's Travels (1941), The Lady Eve (1941), The Palm Beach Story (1942), Hail the Conquering Hero (1944), The Great McGinty (1940), Christmas in July (1940) and The Great Moment (1944).
· Superman II: The Donner Cut (2006, dir. Richard Donner, Warner) – Nearly 25 years after he was kicked off the set of Superman II, Donner rebuilds his lost epic with old outtakes and screen test footage. It’s a whole new story for the man of steel.
· When the Levees Broke (2006. Dir, Spike Lee, HBO) – This four hour documentary from angry auteur Lee looks past the headlines to the issues behind Hurricane Katrina and the plight of those left to die in New Orleans.
· Wordplay (2006, dir. Patrick Creardon, IFC) – I need an eight-letter word for crossword documentary. This critically acclaimed flick profiles the man who writes the puzzles for the New York Times. Celebrity wordies such as Jon Stewart and Bill Clinton share their thoughts. |
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