Actors & Directors
- Tony Molesworth
- Catherine O'Hara
- Bob Church
- Naomi Leach
- Gilda Radner
Run time: 25 min.
List Price: $7.98
Price: $84.95
Review Witch's Night Out / Peter Pan:
Actors & Directors
- Kunihiko Ikuhara
- Kotono Mitsuishi
- Aya Hisakawa
- Yuriko Fuchizaki
- Takehito Koyasu
- Tomoko Kawakami
Run time: 180 min.
Creator: Yoji Enokido
List Price: $49.99
Price: $46.95
Review Revolutionary Girl Utena Collector's Boxed Set / Software Sculptures/Wea V:A logical step for the young fan of anime is this series from the creator of the popular crossover hit Sailor Moon. The story line skews slightly older, not for its violence but for its complexity. The theme is modern mythology, not intergalactic warfare, so it's more interesting and less violent than in Sailor Moon. And less bubble-headed. Our heroine, Utena, is admired by classmates who share Sailor Moon's giddy hysterics, but Utena herself is solid, noble, and strong. Saved by a prince as a child, Utena dresses in the men's uniform of the expansive Ohtori Academy. Her goal is to be prince, and in this introductory disc (seven episodes, nearly three hours of material), she shows signs of becoming one. The scheming student council allows her into the mysterious forest arena, where she wins a sword duel (not played for blood) and wins the devoted loyalty of Anthy, the mysterious Rose Bride. They become a team, discovering the riddles of the arena forest and fending off challengers (while excelling in classes to boot). While some Westerners may read far too much into the sexual politics of the series, it's very old-fashioned at its core: Utena's affections are girded toward a duelist who just may be the prince who saved her years before. [+]Some mild domestic violence and oddly subtitled songs ("Absolute Destroy Apocalyptic," "Paleozoic Era in the Flies") will ruffle some parents, but for ages 9 and up it's engaging entertainment. Utena delivers for girls what Star Wars did for boys: a never-ending series of adventures that one can imagine themselves in, whether daydreaming or playing in the backyard. The DVD comes in both subtitled and dubbed formats. -Doug Thomas.
Actors & Directors
- Yves Kersaint
- Bruno Bozzetto
- Inge Meysel
- Michael Muschner
Run time: 81 min.
Creator: Piero Angela
Price: $19.95
Review Best of Bruno Bozzetto (Sub) / Homevision:Although Bruno Bozzetto is best known in America for Allegro Non Troppo, his animated feature spoofing Disney's Fantasia, his short films have been winning awards at international festivals for three decades. These more personal films use simple graphics, lively animation, and nonverbal soundtracks to present wry commentaries on the problems of a neurotic and wasteful society. In a live-action interview from his home in Bergamo, Italy, Bozzetto talks about his interest in using animation to make audiences laugh and think; these imaginative shorts fulfill both functions admirably. In "Self-Service," he uses silly-looking mosquitoes to satirize Prohibition and the madness of a petroleum-based economy. "Baby Story" offers a singularly absurd look at the facts of life, while the delightfully macabre "Dancing" gives new meaning to the old concept of the dance of death. "Grasshoppers" juxtaposes the rise and fall of human empires with the annual reappearance of grass and the insects that feed upon it. One image represents balance and harmony; the other, wanton cruelty and destruction. Bozzetto's early successes, "Tapum: A History of Weapons" and "Two Castles," aren't included on this tape, but it remains a delightful sampling of the talented filmmaker's work. This unrated video is suitable for ages 14 and older for adult themes, cartoon nudity, and violence. The collection contains: 1. [+]"Self-Service," 2. "Baeus," 3. "Drop," 4. "A Life in a Tin," 5. "Baby Story," 6. "Sigmund," 7. "Dancing," 8. "An Oscar for Mr. Rossi," 9. "Mr. Rossi Buys a Car," 10. "Ego," 11. "Big Bang," 12. "Man and His World," 13. "Pickles," 14. "Grasshoppers. " -Charles Solomon.
Actors & Directors
- Mijail Verona
- Bernd Stelter
- Maximilian Artajo
- Piet De Rycker
- Mike Krüger
- Jochen Busse
- Thilo Rothkirch
Creator: Thomas Wittenburg
Review The Little Polar Bear:
Actors & Directors
- Robert De Niro
- Piper Perabo
- Des McAnuff
- Randy Quaid
- Rene Russo
- Jason Alexander
Review The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle:The problem with live-action movies based on beloved cartoon characters is that humans are never as flexible, as unpredictable, or just plain as goofy as their animated counterparts. So it is with this blend of animation and live action. Rocky and Bullwinkle remain animated characters (trapped in our reality), while Boris and Natasha (Jason Alexander and Rene Russo), along with their boss, Fearless Leader (Robert De Niro), are transformed from cartoons to human reproductions when they escape from rerun land. They've come to our world to take it over; the FBI springs Rocky and Bullwinkle from the second dimension to stop them. But the writing in Kenneth Lonergan's script lacks the throw-away flair of the jokes that characterized Jay Ward's much-beloved animated series of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Part of the problem is that Russo, Alexander, and De Niro are so obviously working at acting cartoonish, instead of simply being cartoons. And part is that the script rarely comes up with the kind of wonderful wordplay in which Ward specialized. The moose, as usual, gets all the best lines, but they're too few and far between to salvage this underachieving summer film. -Marshall Fine.
Actors & Directors
- Kôichi Yamadera
- Tamio Ôki
- Iemasa Kayumi
- Akio Ôtsuka
- Mamoru Oshii
- Atsuko Tanaka
Review Kôkaku kidôtai / Palm Pictures:The skillful blending of drawn animation and computer-generated imagery excited anime fans when this science fiction mystery was released in 1995: many enthusiasts believe Ghost suggests what the future of anime will be, at least in the short term. The film is set in the not-too-distant future, when an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs or "enhanced" humans for undercover work. One of the key cyborgs is The Major, Motoko Kusanagi, who resembles a cross between The Terminator and a Playboy centerfold. She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of espionage and counterespionage as she searches for the mysterious superhacker known as "The Puppet Master. " Mamoru Oshii directs with a staccato rhythm, alternating sequences of rapid-fire action (car chases, gun battles, explosions) with static dialogue scenes that allow the characters to sort out the vaguely mystical and rather convoluted plot. Kusanagi's final quote from I Corinthians suggests that electronic evolution may compliment and eventually supplant organic evolution. The minor nudity, profanity, and considerable violence would earn Ghost in the Shell at least a PG rating. -Charles Solomon.
Actors & Directors
- Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
- Run Sasaki
- Hiraku Takemura
- Kiyoshi Kobayashi
- Noriko Ohara
- Issei Futamata
Run time: 125 min.
Creator: Haruka Takachiho
List Price: $24.95
Price: $39.95
Review Crusher Joe - The Movie (Dubbed in English) / Animeigo:
Actors & Directors
- Tommy Karlsen
- Albert Hanan Kaminski
- Gunnar Uddén
- Mona Seilitz
- Tord Peterson
- Kalle Lundberg
Creator: Torbjörn Jansson
Price: $27.99
Review Pettson och Findus - katten och gubbens år:
Actors & Directors
- Theodore Bikel
- Nicholas Hammond
Run time: 90 min.
Price: $12.98
Review Spider-Man: Con Caper & Curse of Rava / Prism:
Release date: 2002-07-23
Price: $14.99
Review The Sound of Waves Parts 1 & 2 / Central Park Media:
Actors & Directors
- Hiroki Hayashi
- Kinuko Ômori
- Akiko Hiramatsu
- Yoshiko Sakakibara
- Nozomu Sasaki
- Hiroaki Gôda
- Masami Ôbari
- Katsuhito Akiyama
- Fumihiko Takayama
- Michie Tomizawa
Review Baburugamu kuraishisu:These OAVs were among the first Japanese series released as such in the U. S. and are remembered fondly by fans. An early example of cyberpunk that borrows heavily from Blade Runner and Robocop, Bubblegum Crisis depicts the adventures of the female vigilante group the Knight Sabers. In form-fitting, high-heeled mecha suits, Sylia, Priss, Linna, and Nene fight the rogue cyborgs of the sinister Genom Corporation in MegaTokyo, 2032. Sylia's brother Mackie, and A. D. Cop Leon, Priss's long-suffering suitor, assist them. The first three episodes (1987) form a single continuity; "Revenge Road" (1988) depicts a battle between an embittered man and a motorcycle gang. "Moonlight Rambler" (1988) and "Red Eyes" (1989) pit the Saber Knights against vampire cyborgs prowling MegaTokyo. [+]"Double Vision" (1990) introduces the mysterious pop star Vision, and "Scoop Chase" (1991), in which a high school journalist tries to unmask the Knight Sabers, ends the series on a silly note. The direction and design in the first trilogy look decidedly old-fashioned, but the later adventures grow increasingly sophisticated. Odd notes include suggestions of lesbianism, officer Daley's homosexual passes at Leon (who gets better-looking in each redesign), and Mackie trying see his sister in her underwear. Included in the set are Hurricane Live! 2032 and 2033, collections of music videos, and concert footage of the Japanese voice actresses singing the pop songs used in the series. Unrated; suitable for ages 16 and up: Violence, grotesque imagery, profanity, brief nudity, tobacco use, and sexual situations, including prostitution. -Charles Solomon.
Actors & Directors
- Michael Ailwood
- Duncan Wass
- Sandie Lillingston
- Mary-Ann Henshaw
- Nicholas Opolski
- Ken Radley
- Ian Munro
Review Bananas in Pyjamas:
Release date: 1993-04-26
Run time: 30 min.
List Price: $14.99
Price: $27.95
Review Laurel With a Moral/Religious / Instructional Media Internatio:
Actors & Directors
- Christopher Murphy
- Eiji Funakoshi
- Nobuhiro Kajima
- Miyuki Akiyama
- Noriaki Yuasa
- Yuko Hamada
Run time: 80 min.
Creator: Nisan Takahashi
List Price: $24.95
Price: $79.99
Review Gamera Vs. Guillon / Neptune Media:This fourth entry in the Gamera series found the titanic turtle paralleling the cuddly direction of his competitor Godzilla. When two young, star-gazing children investigate a spaceship that has practically landed in their backyard, they are whisked away to Terra, our undiscovered tenth planet whose two "groovy spacegirls" are all that remain of a once-superior alien civilization. But the boys soon discover that their seemingly friendly hosts have sinister plans in mind for them. Never fear, for Gamera comes to save them, flying through space to battle the spacegirls' guardian Guiron, a giant, rhino-like beast possessing a razor-sharp steel blade for a snout. This movie is truly suited for young children, for older kids, and especially for adults will chortle at the unintentional humor arising from the cheesy effects, underplayed roles, and possibly the worst dubbing job in Japanese monster history. Taken as comedy, adults will find this a real camp gem-when the two boys witness Guiron slice 'n' dice a laser-spewing Gaos, one of them proclaims: "What a monster!" -Bryan Reesman.
Actors & Directors
- Peter Cullen
- Lorne Greene
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Michael Bell
- Margery Gray
- Robert Taylor
Run time: 94 min.
Creator: Johanna Spyri
List Price: $19.98
Price: $52.69
Review Heidi's Song / Paramount Pictures:Animated version of the classic children's tale. Heidi must go to live with her Grandfather in the swiss alps. In the process, she learns to appreciate the beauty of nature around her and the pleasures of country life.
Release date: 1999-09-28
Run time: 100 min.
List Price: $19.98
Price: $29.95
Review Tokyo Blue: Case 1 / Adv Films:Mika and Rin don't have anything in common. Except they're dynamite to look at. For instance, Mika fires a huge Magnum. Rin prefers a smaller gun. Mika's looking for the perfect man. To Rin, perfect means breathing. But when the Japanese government learns that a former convict might flee the country with perfect counterfeiting film for US $100 dollar bills, Mika and Rin get the case. They may get off on the wrong foot, but these ladies don't pussyfoot around. Justice has never been this tempting.
Actors & Directors
- Henry Selick
- Paul Terry
- Mel Gibson
- Mike Gabriel
- Eric Goldberg
- Joanna Lumley
- Linda Hunt
- Christian Bale
Creator: Carl Binder
List Price: $31.74
Price: $29.50
Review Pocahontas/James & The Giant Peach / Disney Studios:Disney's take on this historical confrontation between European settlers and Native Americans follows the paths of two future lovers. One is British adventurer John Smith, who travels the Atlantic with the Virginia Company to establish Jamestown. On the shore is Pocahontas, a typical Disney heroine: bright, beautiful, mischievous, and motherless. The two meet in the untamed wilds of America (the first meeting is quite divine), fall in love, and try to ward off the warring factions. It's Disney's version of a Native American West Side Story. Two Disney trademarks do not quite muster up: the villain isn't hissable and the score's only high point is the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind. " Calling it "historical" is a stretch, but Disney created a very natural look at the two cultures. The Native American characters are handled especially well, and kids should be intrigued by their world; the movie is a far different lesson from the one their parents and grandparents learned. Disney has discovered a few things, though: you don't have to kill to solve your problems, and you can end the film without a happily-ever-after, illustrated by a touching final visual. (Ages 5 and older) -Doug Thomas.
Actors & Directors
- Kôji Tsujitani
- Tesshô Genda
- Kenji Haga
- Chisa Yokoyama
- Rokurô Naya
Review Street Fighter II: V:
Actors & Directors
- Elly Fairman
- Denica Fairman
- Douglas Blackwell
- Tamsin Hollo
- Toni Barry
Review Gall Force: Shin seiki hen:
Actors & Directors
- Tamsin Hollo
- John Gregory
- Lorelei King
- Alan Marriott
Run time: 44 min.
List Price: $19.99
Price: $31.14
Review Junk Boy (Dub) / Manga Video:
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Witch's Night Out, Revolutionary Girl Utena Collector's Boxed Set, Best of Bruno Bozzetto (Sub), The Little Polar Bear, The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Kôkaku kidôtai, Crusher Joe - The Movie (Dubbed in English), Pettson och Findus - katten och gubbens år, Spider-Man: Con Caper & Curse of Rava, The Sound of Waves Parts 1 & 2, Baburugamu kuraishisu, Bananas in Pyjamas, Laurel With a Moral/Religious, Gamera Vs. Guillon, Heidi's Song, Tokyo Blue: Case 1, Pocahontas/James & The Giant Peach, Street Fighter II: V, Gall Force: Shin seiki hen, Junk Boy (Dub)Top headlines: Water resourcesat risk in a warming world: Both the beauty and the fragility of the planet were on spectacular display Monday as TODAY reported on climate change live from four very diverse regions around the globe. ›15:44 17 Nov, Mon Video: Big Three struggles ripple through Detroit: Nov. 20: NBC's Mara Schiavocampo reports on the local businessesincluding a florist, a sign maker, and a restaurant ownerthat once thrived in the shadows of the Big Three automakers.(Nightly News) ›00:03 U.N. climate chief hails Obama pledge: The recent commitments on global warming by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama mark a new beginning for world negotiations, the head of the U.N.'s climate change body said Wednesday. ›23:26 19 Nov, Wed World stocks rebound despite U.S. fall: European and Asian stock markets rebounded Friday as expectations of a recovery on Wall Street prompted investors to scoop up battered financial and energy shares. ›13:26 Cosmic Log: A galaxy far, farther away: Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: The Hubble Space Telescope helps scientists figure out why a galaxy seemed unusually active. It turns out they had the galaxy in the wrong place. ›23:45 20 Nov, Thu Commuter, freight train collide; few injuries: A commuter train collided with a freight train Thursday in Southern California, producing no serious injuries but bringing back memories of a deadly commuter-train wreck in the region just two months ago. ›22:06 20 Nov, Thu Top 10 Sports Cars on MSN Autos: The most popular sports cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle pages. ›07:00 18 Oct, Thu Got photos of polar bears in the wild?: If you have taken photos of polar bears in the wild, noting the date and location of the images, you can be part of the largest study to identify individual bears by their "whisker prints." ›22:27 17 Nov, Mon Leftist Sandinistas win Nicaragua vote: Nicaragua's ruling Sandinista party won the large majority of municipal races, including the capital Managua, in local elections that have sparked violent clashes and allegations of fraud. ›09:16 Get an early jump on ski season: It's beginning to look a lot like ski season. Thanks to a handful of early storms and legions of snowmaking guns, the ski scene is already picking up around the nation. ›14:59 20 Nov, Thu Japanese whalers leave for annual hunt: The mother ship in Japan's whaling fleet left Monday for the country's annual hunt in the Antarctic, as anti-whaling activists vowed to disrupt the expedition once again. ›21:30 17 Nov, Mon Google empowers users to edit search results: If Google delivers useless search results, just erase them and you won't see them again. ›00:39 27 horses killed in blaze at western Ky. stable: A pre-dawn blaze raced through a barn at a former race track in western Kentucky on Thursday, killing 27 horses and wiping out the dreams of at least one owner. ›21:14 20 Nov, Thu Commentary: When deflation is a good thing: Could it be that in this case a whiff of deflation may help us get out of the crisis? ›12:44 Did asteroid cause ancient N.Y. tsunami?: Long before New York City was the Big Apple, or even New Amsterdam, a giant tsunami crashed ashore. No one knows for sure what caused it, but new clues found in the Hudson's silt suggest an asteroid 330 feet in diameter slammed into the Atlantic Ocean nearby. ›21:39 20 Nov, Thu Salmon helped in pesticide ruling: Farms and orchards that continue to use three pesticides that harm salmon will have to greatly expand buffer zones around so the chemicals don't reach streams, federal biologists ruled Tuesday. ›18:01 19 Nov, Wed Astronauts finish up spacewalk No. 2: Spacewalking astronauts performed more repair work on a jammed joint at the international space station on Thursday, keeping a tight grip on all their tools so nothing would get away this time. ›00:00 Bumpy road ahead for cleaner cars: Call it an economic and environmental murder mystery in the making: Will a cash-strapped Detroit kill the electric car again? ›21:37 19 Nov, Wed Newsweek: The recession means bargains: Newsweek: The recession means bargains ›14:21 20 Nov, Thu eHarmony agrees to provide same-sex matches: Online dating service eHarmony said Wednesday it will launch a new Web site which caters to same-sex singles as part of a discrimination settlement with New Jersey's Civil Rights Division. ›14:38 20 Nov, Thu New penguin found, 500 years after extinction: Researchers studying a rare and endangered species of penguin have uncovered a previously unknown species that disappeared about 500 years ago. ›14:32 19 Nov, Wed 6,500-year-old village found in Greece: Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a 6,500-year-old farming settlement in an antiquities-rich area of central Greece. ›16:49 20 Nov, Thu Are you smart? Take our weekly news quiz: How much do you remember about the week in news? Take msnbc.com's weekly quiz and find out what you can recall. ›19:43 20 Mar, Thu Buried glacier found on Mars: Mars has vast glaciers hidden under aprons of rocky debris near mid-latitude mountains, a new study confirms, pointing to a new and large potential reservoir of life-supporting water on the planet. ›21:18 20 Nov, Thu |
