DVD Town's New Year's Wish Lists

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With hundreds of new titles released on DVD every week, titles from major studios to obscure brands, it can be a full-time job just keeping track of the sheer amount of product on the market. Just ask any of our overworked staffers who post announcements of upcoming releases! The year 2005 witnessed the release of many older films from the ultra-famous, Warner Brothers' much-anticipated "Wizard of Oz" Special Edition, to the ultra-obscure, Image's sprawling avant-garde boxed set, "Unseen Cinema." Old television favorites such as "Hogan's Heroes" finally hit the shelves, and even Star Trek actress Chase Masterson got her own DVD collection.

Yet, despite the relentless flood of new titles, there are still many worthy films which have not yet been distributed on DVD. Perhaps this isn't a big surprise when you consider that DVDs aren't yet a decade old while cinema just celebrated its 110th birthday. Simply put, there is a massive backlog of movies, and even the thousands of DVDs released by studios each of the past several years only represents the very tip of the cinematic iceberg.

As you can imagine, die-hard movie junkies like the writers at DVD Town are still eagerly awaiting the DVD debut of many personal favorites. As we begin the New Year, DVD Town's staffers pick the titles they would most like to see released on DVD in 2006. Some of these titles have been released in other markets, but our picks refer to titles not yet released in Region 1 (USA/Canada) or to films whose previous DVD releases are disappointing.

2005 was an exciting year for DVD releases. But as you can see from the diverse titles we've selected here, the studios still have plenty of work left to do. The best, we hope, is yet to come. We all have our own favorites but if there's one question which emerges from these lists, it's a simple one: When the heck are they going to release "The African Queen" on DVD?

STAFF PICKS: NEW YEAR'S WISH LIST


OLEN ANDERSON

1) "Genesis Climber Mospeada: Love Live Alive" (1983-84)

By far the most compelling of the three series cobbled into "Robotech," "Mospeada" enjoyed an OAV release called "Love Live Alive" a year after the TV show ended. The OAV wrapped up the loose ends from the TV show and allowed us to find out what happens to the heroes. The OAV was available on DVD briefly in Japan, but never saw an R1 release. I've been searching for it for years.

2) The works of Leiji Matsumoto, animator and manga artist.

I would literally kill to see this professionally done, or at least donate all of my treasure if I could just be sure it would help. Everybody talks about how great Miyazaki is, but Matsumoto has seen little exposure outside of some butchered dubs in the 1980s and MTV (he did all the animated videos for Daft Punk, and made videos for their entire disc Discovery. They're one long story, under the title "Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, which I have reviewed here.). His stories and artwork are more to my taste. I am mainly, although by no means only, talking about the following:

"Space Pirate Captain Harlock": The original 1970s TV series was popular and long-run. Larger than life, Harlock is the central character in Matsumoto's universe.

"Galaxy Express 999": My favorite of all of Matsumoto's story lines, the heartbreaking tale of Tesuro's voyage into the Sea of Stars onboard the Galaxy Express 999 for revenge, for love, and to chase and follow Maetel. I honestly can't write about it without tearing up a little. I want the TV series (plural) and all three movies on DVD. At one time, Viz had the movies out on tape, but never released them to DVD. Sadly, I never bought the tapes

"Space Battleship Yamato": The last series from the Matsumoto universe. Originally released in the US as "Star Blazers," it has never been released unedited on DVD with all of its various OAVs and movies. This was one of the first blockbuster anime series in Japan, spawning several theatrical releases.


KURTIS BEARD

1) "The Butcher Boy" (1998)

One of Neil Jordan's 2 or 3 masterworks is one of my personal favorites for its moving and alternately disturbing characterization of a young boy's unique childhood. The film couldn't be more original and the balance between truth and comic touch is astounding. If nothing else, the film deserves a release solely for its powerful acting. This is one that slipped through the cracks, a gem in the rough. It had a very short theatrical run, which may account for why it has yet to find a DVD release.

2) "Ace in the Hole (The Big Carnival)" (1951)

Director Billy Wilder's biting satire is home to one of his most scathing and dark scripts. While many of Hollywood's classics are becoming more and more dated, "Ace in the Hole" holds more relevance than ever. Kirk Douglas turns in a fantastic performance that easily rivals his best, and the supporting cast is just as good. The film was a box-office bomb at the time of release simply because it was decades ahead of its time.

3) "Kings of the Road" (1977)

Wenders' leisurely paced tale is a compulsory film for anyone who is a fan of road movies. The third film of Wenders' road movie trilogy, which also includes "Alice in the Cities" and "Wrong Move," is the best, offering his personal comments on the poor state of German film during the 1970s. It's a film that epitomizes the career of this very talented writer/director.


WILLIAM DAVID LEE

1) "Blade Runner" (1982)

I finally bought this on DVD. The only reason? It was on sale at Wal-Mart for $3.44. I consider it half-a-step above my old VHS copy. Where is that long rumored Special Edition? Give me a 3-Disc set with the theatrical release, director's cut, and a host of extras about the film and Philip K. Dick. If Ridley Scott can make 3-disc versions of "Black Hawk Down" and "Gladiator", he can certainly make one for "Blade Runner."

2) "Batman" (TV Series)

Yes, I'm talking about the old Adam West series. Sure, it's horribly cheesy, gave comics a bad name, and did so much damage to Batman that it took DC decades to return him to his dark roots. But, dammit I loved this show. Jack Nicholson was cool, but to me Cesar Romero owned the role of the Joker. Plus, Julie Newmar as Catwoman? Do I have to say more? Unfortunately, legal red tape prevents the series from being released any time soon. Warner owns the rights to Batman, but Fox owns the rights to the show.

3) "Spider-Man", "X-Men", "The Tick" (animated series)

All three animated series were broadcast on Fox during the 90s and I made sure to tune in every Saturday morning. Apparently, Fox licensed them out to Disney to broadcast on their cable stations. Random episodes of "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" have been put out by Buena Vista, but I want full season sets. I need a heapin' dose of Peter Parker, Wolverine, and American Maid.

Other Titles on My New Year's Wish List: "The African Queen," " Lost Highway," "The Magnificent Ambersons," "Rolling Thunder," "The Outfit," and "Johnny Guitar".


CHRIS LONG

1) "THE EARLY FILMS OF JOHN WATERS" (boxed set):

This hypothetical set would include everything before "Pink Flamingos": "Mondo Trasho", "Multiple Maniacs" and all the short films. Why? Because the world deserves the chance to see Divine get molested by a papier-mache lobster! Ah, Lobstora!!!!!!

2) "LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD" (1961)

Perhaps the greatest of all French New Wave films and one of the movies that changed my life, "Marienbad" deserves better than a pitiful bare bones, unrestored release from Fox Lorber. How about a 2-disc Criterion edition with a commentary track and one of Resnais' seldom-seen early documentaries as an extra?

3) "PERFUMED NIGHTMARE" (1977)

One of the things I love most about cinema is discovering connections which transcend national borders. This fiction-documentary by Filipino director Kidlat Tahimik is strongly influenced by Werner Herzog, but owes more than a little bit to the French New Wave as well. Tahimik plays himself (sort of) as a dreamer from a small town who founds his local chapter of the Werner von Braun fan club and dreams of becoming an American astronaut, but instead rethinks his entire understanding of the Western world.

ALSO ON MY NEW YEAR'S WISH LIST: "Celine and Julie Go Boating," "The Werckmeister Harmonies," "Get A Life" (both seasons!), "Blake's 7" (all four seasons).


JIM PLATH

1) "Centennial" (1978)

This 26-hour 1978 TV mini-series is, like "Lonesome Dove," one of the best westerns ever to hit television. Adapted from the James Michener novel, it chronicles the settlement of a piece of Colorado land from the time of the early fur trappers to the early 1900s when conflicts over land use hit the fan. It's a sweeping saga that's compelling and relatively accurate. In the tradition of Seventies' mini-series it also features a huge cast with plenty of big names and big performances.

2) "Crossing Delancey."

This modest little romantic comedy is a charmer that pits Amy Irving and her literary world against the modest life of a pickle merchant, with grandma and her old world values playing go-between. Part of the appeal is the honesty and the ways in which the characters represent real-life choices.

3) "Evil Roy Slade" (1972)

If you giggled over "Blazing Saddles," this 1972 failed TV pilot ought to crack you up. In it, people like Milton Berle try to teach gunfighter John Astin (Gomez from "The Addams Family") how to go straight. But fat chance, in this comedy that has no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments. All right, everybody on the sheriff's side, raise your hands!

Also on My New Year's Wish List: "The African Queen" of course!


JOHN PUCCIO

1) "The African Queen" (1951)

"The African Queen" is probably the biggest American film not yet to make an appearance on a Region 1 DVD, and I don't know why. Perhaps there is a legal complication I'm unaware of. I certainly can't think of any other reason why one of the most honored (Best Actor, 1951, Humphrey Bogart; nominations for Best Actress, Katharine Hepburn; Best Director, John Huston; Best Writing, James Agee and Huston) and most beloved films of all time is not available on disc.

2) "The Uninvited" (1944)

"The Uninvited" is among the great romantic, mystery, ghost stories of all time, with Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, and Donald Crisp. It's a wonderful melodrama about a haunted house on the Cornish coast, done up in the tradition of "Rebecca" and "Jane Eyre." It deserves a shot on DVD.

3) "The Wrong Box" (1966)

With Michael Caine, John Mills, Peter Cook, and Dudley Moore, set in Victorian England, "The Wrong Box" is one of the funniest little pictures you'll run across, yet it, too, seems to have been overlooked by its studio, Columbia TriStar. I can't imagine why, when every other idiotic comedy in the world gets transferred to disc.

Incidentally, I understand that two other of my favorite films that have not yet made it to DVD are slated for early 2006 releases: "Educating Rita," with Michael Caine, and the aforementioned "Jane Eyre," with Orson Welles. There is hope yet.

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