The 411 Movies Top 5 07.17.09: Week 174 - Top 5 Most Wanted DVDs

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 07.17.2009

At a time when it seems like just about everything is available on DVD, the 411 crew reveals this just isn't the case, and offers their take on which movies are sorely missing a current release.

This week at the Borders where I work, we got in a new DVD set - Punky Brewster - Eight Favorite Episodes. I just want you to keep that in mind while you look over this week's column. For although it seems like nowadays just about everything is out on DVD - including, clearly, some things that just don't need to be - this is in fact not the case. So while apparently there is enough demand for a DVD set featuring our "eight favorite" episodes of Punky Brewster, movies from the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Orson Welles remain DVD-less, or have gone out of print. This doesn't make us happy, and that's why this week, we're taking a look at our:

TOP 5 MOST WANTED DVD'S

TREVOR SNYDER

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The African Queen - The only time Humphrey Bogart won an Academy Award, and it isn't on DVD? For shame. I'm sure this one is inevitable, but we've been waiting an awfully long time now.

The Magnificent Ambersons - I think most film fans would agree that anything Orson Welles did should enjoy a DVD release. Here's hoping that if this one ever comes, they can track down Welles' infamous missing third act.

THE TOP 5

5. TIE: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS/THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION

Sure, I'm cheating here, but the truth is, as a pretty big Sherlock Holmes fan, I couldn't decide which of these I wanted to banish out of the actual Top 5 and into the Honorable Mentions. And so, instead, they both earn this spot. Both are not exactly traditional Holmes stories, but still offer loads of entertainment for fans of Doyle's detective. They Might Be Giants stars George C. Scott as loony judge convinced he is Sherlock Holmes, who teams up with a somewhat-loony-herself psychiatrist played by Joanne Woodward. The Seven Percent Solution - adapted from his own novel by Nicholas Meyer – concerns Holmes turning to none other than Sigmund Freud for help with this cocaine addiction. In the process, viewers discover a lot of interesting information about the truth behind Holme's life, and in particular his relationship with arch-enemy Moriarty. Both movies had DVD releases in the past, but are now out of print. With the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes film about to bring the character back into the public eye, wouldn't now be a perfect time for a couple re-releases?

4. KILL BILL – THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR

I know other regions already have access to this set, but us here in North America are still left empty-handed, despite what several false announcements. I know at this point most fans have given up and moved on to crying for the complete Grindhouse instead, but I'm sticking to my guns on this one. For one thing, I actually prefer the extended cuts of the Grindhouse films (especially Death Proof), so I can live with the current releases of those (although I do agree that the missing middle trailers is quite annoying). But for Kill Bill to still only be available as two single releases with barely any extras is inexcusable. We all know Tarantino always intended for this to be one long movie, so why not finally get to it and put out the real version?

3. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS

By most accounts, this 1933 adaptation of H.G. Well's The Island of Dr. Moreau is the best version of the story ever put to screen. I cannot confirm or deny that, as I have never actually seen it. And that is pretty much the main reason I'd like to see it finally get out there – so I can give it a gander and judge for myself. I've always heard amazing things about Charles Laughton's performance as the doctor, and would love the opportunity to see how it stacks up against Marlon Brando's just-plain-weird version in the 1996 adaptation. And speaking of that – how is it that that piece of crap version has a DVD, but Island of Lost Souls doesn't?

2. PENN & TELLER GET KILLED

Considering how much the duo's popularity has grown in recent years – thanks to their seemingly eternal presence in Vegas and their very popular Bullshit series on Showtime – I can't believe this, their darkly-comic film, hasn't been put back out there yet. It seems like a lot of people have heard of this movie, but not too many have actually seen it. I myself only saw it once, a long time ago, but I remember thinking it was pretty hilarious, and it would be nice to get a chance to see if it holds up to those memories.

1. ROADRACERS

Roadracers, or, the Robert Rodriguez movie that time forgot. Rodriguez co-wrote and directed this made-for-Showtime in 1994, as part of their "Rebel Highway" series which saw established directors make new movies using the titles of classic 1950's B-movies. Rodriguez actually wasn't all that established at the time, having only El Mariachi under his belt. Still, to their credit, Showtime saw something in the young director, and gave him this one. Good call. Roadracers - which features David Arquette as a young guitar playing rebel involved in an eventually violent clash with the local sheriff – was easily the most entertaining film in the "Rebel Highway" series. Any Rodriguez historians out there will also want to note that it was his first project with Salma Hayek. In fact, he cast her in the female lead in order to prove to the Desperado. producers that she could handle a lead role in an English-language film. Anyway, Roadracers is a lot of fun. A couple years ago, a DVD was announced, complete with the usual nice batch of extras we've come to expect from Rodriguez. Unfortunately, that release never actually materialized. What happened? And, more importantly, when are we finally going to see it?

SHAWN S. LEALOS

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Since I am having a hell of a time coming up with a Top 5, I'm going to use my honorable mentions to break the format and name the three Blu-Rays that need to exist now.

Magnolia Blu Ray - This is my favorite movie and my pick for the best movie out there and it is not even scheduled for Blu Ray yet

Moulin Rouge! Blu Ray - If any movie is going to look incredible in High Def, it is this one.

Star Wars Blu Ray - This is going to take forever to get here...

THE TOP 5

5. THE LION KING

I hate Walt Disney's business procedure of limiting a DVDs release and then returning it to the vault for up to 7-years. What if I didn't want to buy Aladdin until now? What kind of business sense is it to determine when a fan can and cannot buy a Disney DVD? I have a son who is going to be born in the next week but he won't be able to see The Lion King because it is not longer in print and I did not have the premonition to buy it before it was discontinued in 2005 (unless I buy it used, but whatever). Also OOP is Bambi, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and Aladdin. It is a stupid business policy.

4. THE AFRICAN QUEEN

The African Queen is the most popular movie to live on lists of movies never released DVD. How can this be? It has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, yet is unavailable to buy on DVD. It is directed by John Huston (The Maltese Falcon) and stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Bogart won an Academy Award for Best Actor while Katherine Hepburn was nominated for Best Actress. John Huston was also nominated for the screenplay and film's direction. It is ranked #14 in the AFI's 100 Passions, #48 in the AFI's 100 Cheers and #65 in the 2007 version of the AFI's 100 Movies. It is available in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia but the US has still not seen the movie since Laser Disc days. Rights are owned by CBS and Viacom holds the rights to show it on pay-per-view or TCM. Paramount claims restoration work is underway but nothing has been announced yet.

3. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS

Most people know this story by the remake, The Island of Dr. Moreau, starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. That is unfortunate because that movie is a daft recreation of one of the best horror movies in cinema history. Island of Lost Souls stars Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau, a mad scientist who rules an island filled with half human/half animal creatures. His prized possession is Lota the Panther Woman (Kethleen Burke), who he wants to mate with a shipwrecked man (Richard Arlen). The story is based on the 1986 sci-fi classic, The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells. It is directed by Erle C. Kenton (House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula) and also features Bela Lugosi as the furry faced "Sayer of the Law." The movie is clearly "pre-code" and possessed a sexuality that caused it to be banned in England and parts of the US until the late 1950s. It was also disliked by Wells' himself who felt the horror overshadowed the philosophy. I imagine if he saw the two remakes, he might reconsider.

2. GRINDHOUSE

I was one of the lucky ones. I saw Grindhouse while it was still in theaters. I watched Planet Terror and then saw some of the most inspired fake trailers I've ever seen. Then Death Proof came on and I watched that in amazement. It was an experience. Now, most people have only seen them on separate DVDs without the trailers. I have heard people say they prefer Planet Terror because Death Proof was "too boring." I have heard people say they preferred Death Proof because Planet Terror was "too dumb." But, and I will capitalize this to make my point - THEY WERE MEANT TO BE SEEN TOGETHER AS ONE GIANT GRINDHOUSE EXPERIENCE. The Weinsteins have done lots of good stuff but this is one of their biggest flubs. Give us Grindhouse as one feature on a special DVD (I want it on Blu Ray) and include the trailers at the intermission and the funky title screens before the movie starts. I want it yesterday.


1. KILL BILL - THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR

I saw both episodes of Kill Bill in the theater. Then I heard that Tarantino was going to combine them, add some transitions and make it a super long epic film. I was so pumped about this. Then it never happened. Then Blu Ray came along and I knew there was enough room on those discs to hold the entire movie with extra features. They released them separately. Come on Tarantino, give us what you promised us, the entire Bloody Story in one coherent DVD.

BRYAN KRISTOPOWITZ

HONORABLE MENTIONS

"Nemesis" (1993): This wicked cool Olivier Gruner starring Albert Pyun directed sci-fi action flick is out of print, and that's a shame. It deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible. I'd like to see a DVD loaded with special features, but since this movie is hardly on TV anymore I'd be happy with a plain old bare bones DVD.

"Arena" (1989): This is a nifty little space opera about intergalactic fights starring Claudia Christian and Paul Satterfield. It's goofy as hell (it is a Charles Band Empire Picture after all) but loads of fun (great alien monster suits). Why the hell hasn't MGM put this out yet? They own it.

"I Come in Peace" (1990): It's Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben vs a seven foot alien drug dealer played by Mathias Hues that kills people with a flying CD. How the hell is this movie not on DVD? It's also known as "Dark Angel," but that title is lame. "I Come in Peace" is better.

THE TOP 5

5. HOT STUFF (1979)

I love this Dom DeLuise directed comedy about a group of Miami cops using a pawn shop to catch people trying to sell stolen property. DeLuise works with Jerry Reed, Susan Pleshette, Luis Avalos, and the great Ossie Davis to take down all of the goofy weirdoes that come in and try to fence toasters, guns, band equipment, anything and everything. DeLuise and Reed had a great buddy cop chemistry, there was real sexual tension between Pleshette and Reed, and Avalos was always on the lookout for that goddamn dog that wouldn't leave him alone. And Ossie Davis gets to mug a bit, playing a "black Godfather" at the end (Reed starts to explain "You see, when Italy invaded Ethiopia" and then gets interrupted, so we never get to hear the whole story. That's something that could be explored in a DVD special feature). And you just have to see the scene where DeLuise and Reed try to buy a truck load of sub machine guns. Hilarious. It's kind of sad thinking about this movie, though. Of the main cast, Avalos is the only one still alive. I think that's reason enough to get this DVD out. At least he can do a commentary track.

"You know what burns my ass? A flame this high." Classic.

4. ENEMY TERRITORY (1987)

This great little action thriller stars Gary Frank and Ray Parker, Jr. (yes, the man that gave us the "Ghostbusters" song) as two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Frank is some wimpy white guy insurance salesman and Parker is, I believe, a delivery man of some kind (I haven't seen this movie in a long time so some of the details are a bit sketchy), and they get trapped in a rundown apartment complex and chased by a street gang called "The Vampires." The lead Vampire is Tony Todd in one of his best bad ass bad guy performances (his final line in the movie, after either getting shot or stabbed, is "I'm gonna suck your blood!" with blood spewing out of his mouth. Great stuff). The flick also features Jan Michael Vincent as a wacko 'Nam guy with a steel door and a machine gun (an old black woman ends up taking Vincent's machine gun and uses it on the Vampires). As I said, I haven't seen this movie in years, and since it's never on TV I think it's high time it debuts on DVD so everyone can see it. I remember this movie being scary as hell. Is it still scary? Does it still have the juice it once had? Let's see.

3. SPLIT SECOND (1992)

This great Rutger Hauer sci-fi-horror-action flick is long out of print, so I think it's high time we get a new, fresh DVD. Hauer is Harley Stone, a bad ass scumbum cop with a penchant for smoking, coffee with lots of sugar, and chocolate bonbons, working the mean streets of a flooded future London and on the hunt for a nine foot alien lizard creature with giant teeth and razor sharp claws. Stone supposedly has a psychic connection to the creature (Stone was slashed by the creature in the sewer after the creature killed his partner). Great gore effects, great action bits, big fucking guns, and hilarious supporting performances by Alastair Duncan (his character's name is Dick Durkin, and he has a Lex Luger key chain) and Alun Armstrong as Stone's captain Thrasher (he gets all of the best profanity). And who can forget Kim Catrall's topless shower scene? I'd like to see a DVD loaded with special features, including a no-holds-barred documentary on why the movie has two listed directors. And why the hell haven't we had a sequel yet? It's been eighteen years. Time's a wasting (I mean, I know I'm never going to see this movie in a theatre again, like I did back in '92, so the next best thing is a loaded DVD). So come on.

2. AUTOMATIC (1994)

Probably Olivier Gruner's best movie and best performance to date, as J269, a home security cyborg protector that ends up "malfunctioning" after killing a grabby corporate executive that tries to rape a secretary (Nora Rochester, as played by the great Daphne Ashbrook). J269's creator, Goddard Marx (John Glover), concerned that this incident could damage his company's name (he's got a big public product demonstration upcoming that he believes could save the company's future) decides that he's going to have to call in a SWAT team to take down J269 and Nora (sorry, babe, but no witnesses). The team, led by the great Jeff Kober, will have to be careful as the J269 is dangerous. This is such a well made, exciting B-movie that it deserves a much higher profile. It has a shocking twist ending that actually works. It's got action and fighting all over the place. And it's got great performances from the entire cast. Either a fully loaded DVD or a bare bones release would be fine. Just as long as the movie gets a wider release and profile.

1. MANIAC COP 2 (1990)

Amazon claims that this flick had a Region 1 release back in 2007. I don't remember that, but whatever. The DVD is out of print anyway. This is just an awesome horror action flick from director William Lustig, and one of the greatest sequels of all time. It picks up right where "Maniac Cop" left off, and then it roars forward, introducing us to bad ass Detective Sean McKinney(Robert Davi), Claudia Christian as the hottest police psychologist in movie history, Michael Lerner playing yet another sleazebag, Clarence William III as a death row prisoner, and the great Leo Rossi as a wacked out serial killer that only kills strippers. And, of course, there's Bruce Campbell (he was in the first one, he doesn't make it long in the second one), Laurene Landon, and Robert Z'Dar as Matt Cordell, the Maniac Cop (the great Frank Pesce is in this, too, as a strip club announcer. In fact, he's in all three "Maniac Cop" movies. A little useless trivia for you just in case you didn't know). The flick also features two of the most insane stunts in movie history, the "woman handcuffed to the outside of a car while it's going down the street into traffic" scene and the "walking dead man on fire in the prison" scene at the end. Awesome, awesome stuff. I want to see a fully loaded DVD for this movie. Commentary tracks, behind the scenes documentaries, and maybe a music video for that cool rap song during the end credits. I think Lustig still runs Blue Underground, so that would be the best place to go for a special edition of this movie. If anyone can do it, it's Bill Lustig and Blue Underground.

STEVE GUSTAFSON

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Night of The Creeps - Yes, I'm aware this is "supposed" to be coming in October, but I'll believe it when I see it. The fact that this cult classic hasn't been released yet is poppycock! And any DVD better have BOTH endings on it.

American Hot Wax - This bio of Alan Freed (Pioneering DJ!) captures that spirit of early rock 'n' roll that we hear so much about. Tim McIntire OWNS it as Freed and you also get to see a very young Jay Leno, Laraine Newman, and Fran Drescher. Most likely the rights to the music are holding this one up.

Star Wars Holiday Special - I can see your little fingers typing now. "But, but, but Steve, the Holiday Special wasn't a movie, it was a television special!" Shut it. A guilty pleasure of a George Lucas train wreck that foreshadowed what we got with the prequels. I own it on VHS and pull it out from time-to-time when I need a good cry.

THE TOP 5

5. Brewster McCloud

A slept on little movie that should get more love than it has. This was Robert Altman's first movie after M*A*S*H and introduced Shelley Duvall to the world. Brewster (Bud Cort) is a meek, intellectual boy who dreams to take flight within the confines of the Astrodome. Trust me. This movie is a little strange but it's good stuff. Brewster shares his dream with those he trusts, but has a …unique way of treating others who do not fit in his plans. When the day of fulfilling his dream arrives, and he enters the dome with his fancy bird wings, Brewster is surrounded by the police, and...well, to tell you how it ends, I would have to put up a SPOILER warning and I'm already late on the deadline so I guess you'll have to track this down. Or right your local congressperson demanding a DVD release to see for yourself.

4. No Holds Barred

The rumor around the 411mania halls is this is Csonka's favorite movie of all time. Ask him. This isn't so much a movie than a 90-minute commercial for the WWE. For the one or two of you reading who don't know, the movie stars Hulk Hogan as a wrestling champion named Rip...yeah, just Rip...who is offered a juicy contract from a rival television network. When he turns it down, the network tries to gain ratings by staging brutal and violent matches, with a leading fighter named Zeus who beats his opponents unconscious. Rip finds out about their scheme and challenges Zeus to a showdown. Cue the crazy music. As crazy as that plot sounds, it has tons of ties to what happens in real life years down the road. Who would have thought that? To promote the movie, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister was brought in to the WWE as the character he played, Zeus. The storyline had him angry about losing in the movie and saying he could beat Hogan in real life. I guess he got a different script or something. I believe he wrestled three matches, a tag match with Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake at Summerslam, an eight-man tag where he was eliminated by DQ, and a steel cage match between Hogan & Beefcake vs. Savage & Zeus. I'm sure if I missed something you all will be quick to correct me below. Even though this didn't set the world on fire, I'm surprised someone hasn't tried to put out an Ultimate Vince McMahon Deluxe Edition!

3. Rad

I have Thrashin' and I'm in need of Rad! I'm almost embarrassed how much I liked this as a kid. I wore out my VHS tape because I played it so much. PURE CHEESE 80's BMX racing movie that starred Bill Allen and Lori Loughlin! Oh, that Loughlin! It has a cookie cutter plot that you see coming from a mile away. I'm sure this wouldn't hold up if I watched it today. Cru Jones (Allen), a young dreamer, who has to overcome the many obstacles that stand in his way of racing in the Helltrack! Cru takes time to fall in love with Christian (Loughlin), a fellow amateur racer, and with her friends help (The Rad Racing Team…UNITE!), they put it together and try to defeat the top BMX factory rider...Bart Taylor! Do they do it? I think you know the answer.

2. African Queen

This classic should be pretty self explanatory. And I want a REAL release. Not some bootleg French version. No offense. Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Boom. It was historical significance in a couple of ways. It was the first American film to show the real Africa to the American movie going public. This wasn't your usual studio backlot jungle. It was the real deal! Also, it dealt with romance among mature adults in their forties. As strange as that sounds now, back then it was a big. Cool little story of a rugged river pilot on a ramshackle boat and the sister of a missionary, thrown together by the circumstance of war. This is another one that gets the DVD release rumor every few years. Just a couple of weeks ago they said it was coming in October, but we've heard that one before.

1. The Magnificent Ambersons

I've been feenin' for this for years. Easily one of the most dramatic behind-the-scenes stories in cinema. Orson Welles was fresh off making Citizen Kane and he followed it up with directing The Magnificent Ambersons, doing his usual man-of-many-hats deal. It went downhill fairly quick and he lost control of the editing to the studio, and the final version released to audiences differed significantly from his vision for the film. They cut it from about 130 minutes to 88 and gave it a new, happier ending. The rumor for this was since the movie occurred a short time after Pearl Harbor the audience wouldn't want to see a depressing movie, and that it should have more laughs. Although Welles' extensive notes for how he wished the film to be cut survived, the footage was destroyed. Lost in all this is the actual movie itself. Even with the drastic changes made, glimpses of the Welles brilliance shine. The young and somewhat wild Eugene Morgan (Joseph Cotten) wants to marry Isabel Amberson (Dolores Costello), daughter of a rich upper-class family, but she instead marries a dull and steady suitor. Their only child, George, grows up a spoiled. Years later, Eugene comes back, now a mature widower and a successful automobile maker. After her husband dies, Eugene again asks Isabel to marry him, and she is receptive. But George resents this and he and his crazy aunt Fanny (Agnes Moorehead) manage to sabotage the romance. A series of disasters befall the Ambersons and George, and he gets his come-uppance in the end. In 2002, a television movie was made using the Welles screenplay and his notes, although it doesn't strictly follow it. It also has essentially the same happy ending. The topic of releasing it on DVD is brought up every year and we get the usual studio double speak, "It's in the works...when the time is right" A deluxe DVD that has both versions is the only fair to honor this flawed but magnificent masterpiece! How is this possible? The rumor is a print of Welles' rough cut was allegedly sent to the director on location in Brazil. It has yet to be found. Cue the dramatic music…