Whether you’re looking for music docs, horror flicks or classic TV, video stores are packed with stuff to keep you busy once the snow flies.
• Bava Box Set Volume 2 (dir. Mario Bava, Anchor Bay): Six discs worth of gore from the Italian horror master. Includes Lisa and the Devil (1973), House of Exorcism (1974), Bay of Blood (1971), Baron Blood (1972), Kidnapped (1974), Ray Colt and Winchester Jack (1970), 5 Dolls for an August Moon (1970) and Four Times That Night (1975).
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Collectors Edition (1994, dir. Francis Ford Coppola, Sony): Two discs worth of bloody bonuses dig into Coppola’s grandiose adaptation of the classic horror novel.
• Breathless (1959, dir. Jean Luc Goddard, Criterion): Goddard’s new wave classic gets the deluxe treatment from Criterion. In addition to the ground-breaking crime pic, this two-disc set comes with interviews (old and new), video essays, an 80-minute making-of doc and a short film by Goddard.
• Bug (2007, dir William Friedkin, Lionsgate): Based on the off-Broadway two-hander, Ashley Judd stars in this tale of paranoia and psychological horror. She might not be strong enough to carry the film, but the bonus features include a career-spanning interview with Friedken that is well worth checking out.
• The Films of Kenneth Anger Volume 2 (2007, dir. Kenneth Anger, Fantoma Films): The latter work of a great American cinematic iconoclast is compiled under the supervision of Anger himself. Five years in the making, the box set is loaded with bonus features and includes restored versions of Scorpio Rising (1964), Kustom Kar Kommandos (1965), Invocation of by Demon Brother (1969), Rabbit’s Moon (1979) and Lucifer Rising (1981).
• Helvetica (2007. dir. Gary Hustwit, Plexifilm): Font geeks unite. Helvetica is a surprisingly compelling doc about typography, design and, yes, fonts. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the title font by exploring how the worlds of advertising, psychology and design are brought together.
• Into Great Silence (2005, dir. Phillip Gröning, Zeitgeist): Gröning sought permission to make a documentary about the Grand Chartreuse monastery and after 16 years the Carthusian order of monks agreed. Without a crew, he captured life in their monastery in cinéma vérité style.
• Hostel 2: Director’s Cut (2007, dir. Eli Roth, Lionsgate ): I know, I know, you’re thinking, “How could Hostel 2 get anymore bloody?” How about a restored ending, five new featurettes, an exposé on the visual effects, an interview with Takashi Miike and 10 deleted scenes? Still doesn’t change the fact that Hostel 2 is mean-spirited, offensive and not that entertaining.
• My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (1994, Shout Factory): Finally, Claire Danes’s career-making teen drama TV debut makes its way to DVD. It became a cult classic thanks to great performances, great scripts and a finger on the pulse of pop culture. Think of it as the grunge O.C.
• The Jungle Book (1967, dir. Wolfgang Reitherman, Disney): One of the few Disney animated “classics” that still stands up, it may feature a wholly sanitized version of Rudyard Kipling’s story, but strong vocal performances make Mowgli and Baloo’s jungle adventures quite touching and charming.
• The Ramones: It’s Alive 1974 – 1996 (2007, Rhino): This double-live DVD spans more than two decades of the seminal New York punk band’s history. Ramones fans take note — it’s loaded with historical gems and previously unreleased material.
• Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story (2007, Stax): This PBS documentary takes a look back at one of the most influential soul and R&B labels ever. Also check out Stax/Volt Revue: Live in Norway 1967 for performances by Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and Booker T. and the MGs.
• The Sarah Silverman Program (2007, Paramount): Silverman’s fearless standup comedy pushes nearly everybody’s buttons. Her TV show is exactly the same. If you are comfortable laughing about terrorism, HIV and homelessness, then strap in, this is one of the most darkly subversive TV comedies ever made.
• Sicko (2007, dir. Michael Moore, Weinstien): Moore’s well-planned dissection of the U.S. health care system could be his best film to date. Using wide-eyed shock, sarcastic narration and his typical hijinks, Moore never undercuts the importance of the subject matter or his subjects.
• The Three Stooges Collection: Volume One: Years 1-3 (Sony): It’s classic comedy with the three kings of slapstick pratfalls. This set compiles 19 shorts from the early years of this incomparable comedy collective.
• Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Set (Paramount): All you David Lynch fans who waited years for season two of his groundbreaking TV whodunit probably rushed out and bought it a few months ago. If you were patient and didn’t, you can now purchase the whole kit and caboodle loaded with features for a new low price. (Damn you, DVD retailers!)
• Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007, dir. Joe Lynch, 20th Century Fox): As far as straight-to-video horror goes, this one is top shelf. This sequel features a cast of reality TV stars getting picked off by inbred hillbilly freaks, with some of the best gore you’ve ever seen and more sequel references than you could ever imagine in one movie.


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