June 2005
Listed chronologically by release date.

Year of the Dragon (USA 1985)
Director: Michael Cimino
Release Date: 05/31/2005
Price: 14.97
MPAA Rating: R
Mickey Rourke (Capt. Stanley White), John Lone (Joey Tai), Ariane (Tracy Tzu), Leonard Termo (Angelo Rizzo), Raymond J. Barry (Louis Bukowski), Caroline Kava (Connie White), Eddie Jones (William McKenna), Al Leong (), Fabia Drake (Nun), Dennis Dun (Herbert Kwong), Jack Kehler (Alan Perez),

Powerful, violent gangster epic from disgraced director Michael Cimino. Rourke is great as rascist cop, Stanley White, caught in a power struggle with ruthless new drug lord Joey Tai (the excellent John Lone). This should be as popular as DePalma's Scarface, it isn't, but it should be. One of my top 20 films ever. Stunning.

Alien Nation (USA 1988)
Director: Graham Baker
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 14.98
MPAA Rating: R
James Caan (Matthew Sykes), Mandy Patinkin (Sam Francisco), Terence Stamp (William Harcourt), Kevyn Major Howard (Kipling), Leslie Bevis (Cassandra), Peter Jason (Fedorchuk), Conrad Dunn (Quint), Jeff Kober (Josh Strader), Roger Aaron Brown (Bill Tuggle), Tony Simotes (Wiltey), Earl Boen (Duncan Crais),

Happy genre mix of sci-fi and cop buddy flick provides an entertaining waste of 91 minutes of anyone's time. Well thought out details get lost in a clichéd drug plot. The three leads give it their all.

Blockhouse (UK 1973)
Director: Clive Rees
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 14.95
MPAA Rating: R
Charles Aznavour (Visconti), Jeremy Kemp (Grabinski), Alfred Lynch (Larshen), Per Oscarsson (Lund), Peter Sellers (Roquet), Peter Vaughan (Aufret),

One-of-a-kind curio based on a true story whereby a group of soldiers find themselves trapped in a bunker for six years. One of those films you've heard about but never been able to find. Offbeat with excellent performances from Sellers and Aznavour.

Chances Are (USA 1989)
Director: Emile Ardolino
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 9.95
MPAA Rating: PG
Cybill Shepherd (Corinne Jeffries), Robert Downey (Alex Finch), Ryan O'Neal (Philip Train), Mary Stuart Masterson (Miranda Jeffries), Christopher McDonald (Louie Jeffries), Josef Sommer (Judge Fenwick), Joe Grifasi (Omar), Henderson Forsythe (Ben Bradlee), Susan Ruttan (Woman in the Bookstore), Kathleen Freeman (Mrs. Handy), Mimi Kennedy (Sally),

Overlooked romantic ghost story, quite enjoyable, but doesn't quite click. The very next year, the not-dissimilar Ghost made everyone forget about this effort.

Gay Purr-ee (USA 1963)
Director: Abe Levitow
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 14.97
MPAA Rating: G
Judy Garland (Mewsette), Robert Goulet (Jaune-Tom), Red Buttons (Robespierre), Paul Frees (Meowrice), Hermione Gingold (Mme, Rubens-Chatte), Morey Amsterdam (), Mel Blanc (),

While generally over-shadowed by the Disney product, notably Aristocats, this is a bright, charming cartoon, with rather good songs and terrific vocal work from Ms. Garland. Recommended. And essential for Chuck Jones Warner animation buffs.

Screamers (USA Canada Japan 1995)
Director: Christian Duguay
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 9.95
MPAA Rating: R
Peter Weller (Col. Joseph Hendrickson), Roy Dupuis (Becker), Jennifer Rubin (Jessica), Andy Lauer (Ace Jefferson), Charles Powell (Ross), Ron White (Ross), Michael Caloz (David), Liliana Komorowska (Landowska), Jason Cavalier (Leone), Leni Parker (Corp. McDonald), Sylvain Masse (NEB Soldier),

Another tale of Robots-run-amuck from a short story (Second Variety) by Philip K. Dick. Underrated movie has good effects and acting, although the twist ending is fairly predictable. Recommended.

Star Trek: TNG 3: Insurrection (USA 1998)
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 19.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Riker), Brent Spiner (Data), LeVar Burton (Geordi LaForge), Michael Dorn (Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi), F. Murray Abraham (Ru'afo), Donna Murphy (Anij), Anthony Zerbe (Dougherty), Gregg Henry (Gellatin),

Third cinematic outing for the Next Generation crew, finds Lt. Data messing up the prime directive and a moldy faced villain intent on mayhem. Disappointing after the tremendous First Contact, this is still a solid Star Trek romp. Loaded two-disc edition.

Stripes (USA 1981)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 19.94
MPAA Rating: R
Bill Murray (John Winger), Harold Ramis (Russell), Warren Oates (Sergeant Hulka), P. J. Soles (Stella), Sean Young (Louise), John Candy (Ox), John Larroquette (Captain Stillman), John Voldstad (Stillman's Aide), John Diehl (Cruiser), Lance LeGault (Col. Glass), Roberta Leighton (Anita),

Every generation has its own army comedy, recycling the same jokes and situations, from Buck Privates (1941) thru Carry On Sergeant (1958) and Stripes in 1981, so where's this generation's army comedy, hmmm? Stripes is very funny with Murray and John Candy at the top of their game. Film loses its way somewhat with the big action finale. Loaded special edition with 18 minutes extra on the runtime!

What's New Pussycat? (UK 1965)
Director: Clive Donner
Release Date: 06/07/2005
Price: 14.95
MPAA Rating: NR
Peter Sellers (Dr. Fassbender), Peter O'Toole (Michael James), Romy Schneider (Carole), Capucine (Renee), Paula Prentiss (Liz Bien), Woody Allen (Victor Skakapopulis), Ursula Andress (Rita), Edra Gale (Anna Fassbender), Katrin Schaake (Jacqueline), Eleonor Hirt (Mrs. Werner), Jean Paredes (Marcel),

Very 60s madcap comedy farce as Peter O'Toole attempts to get straight with the assistance of dubious shrink, Sellers. Supposedly Woody Allen wrote all the best bits for himself only for them all to be given to the lead actors. Very dated, but that's half the fun now. Edra Gale's demented galloping Valkyrie cracks me up every time.

Casino (USA 1995)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Release Date: 06/14/2005
Price: 22.98
MPAA Rating: R
Robert DeNiro (Sam 'Ace' Rothstein), Sharon Stone (Ginger McKenna), Joe Pesci (Nicky Santoro), James Woods (Lester Diamond), Don Rickles (Billy Sherbert), Alan King (Andy Stone), Kevin Pollak (Phillip Green), L. Q. Jones (Pat Webb), Dick Smothers (Frank Marino), Frank Vincent (Frank Marino), John I. Bloom (Don Ward),

Good grief is it really 10 years already?! Las Vegas gets the scorsese gangster treatment. The results are colourful and violent (occasionally eye-poppingly so). Awesome. Not for the weak stomached. Welcome re-release, I haven't been able to find it in years. Loaded with extras.

Edward II (UK 1991)
Director: Derek Jarman
Release Date: 06/14/2005
Price: 19.99
MPAA Rating: R
Steven Waddington (King Edward II), Kevin Collins (Lightborn, the jailer), Andrew Tiernan (Gaveston), John Lynch (Spencer), Dudley Sutton (Bishop of Winchester), Tilda Swinton (Queen Isabella), Jerome Flynn (Kent), Jody Graber (Prince Edward), Nigel Terry (Mortimer), Annie Lennox (singer),

Derek Jarman's delicious study of the downfall of gay monarch Edward II. Low budget, but oodles of punk style to spare. Tilda Swinton is a gem, and just to add that little extra something, the Eurythmic's Annie Lennox shows up. Definitely not one for the religious right, but very highly recommended.

Bilitis (France 1977)
Director: David Hamilton
Release Date: 06/28/2005
Price: 24.99
MPAA Rating: R
Mathieu Carriere (Mikias), Patti D'Arbanville (Bilitis), Bernard Giraudeau (Lucas), Gilles Kohler (Pierre), Mona Kristensen (Melissa),

David Hamilton's gorgeously photographed softcore antics make for an awful film, but I can recall that my hormones went into overdrive at the time. I often smirk when I catch Francis Lai's delicious score emanating from the local supermarket's speakers...

Carry On: Don't Lose Your Head (UK 1966)
Director: Gerald Thomas
Release Date: 06/28/2005
Price: 24.99
MPAA Rating: NR
Sidney James (Sir Rodney Ffing), Kenneth Williams (Citizen Camenbert), Jim Dale (Lord Darcy), Charles Hawtrey (Duc de Pommfrit), Peter Butterworth (Citizen Bidet), Joan Sims (Desiree Dubarry), Dany Robin (Jacqueline), Peter Gilmore (Robespierre), Marianne Stone (Landlady), Michael Ward (Henri), Leon Greene (Malabonce),

Usual ribaldry from the UK's Carry On team, will doubtless baffle anyone else. This one spoofs The Scarlet Pimpernel e.g. The Black Fingernail.

Pacifier (USA 2005)
Director: Adam Shankman
Release Date: 06/28/2005
Price: 29.99
MPAA Rating: PG
Vin Diesel (Shane Wolfe), Lauren Graham (Principal Claire Fletcher), Faith Ford (Julie Plummer), Brittany Snow (Zoe Plummer), Carol Kane (Helga),

Ex Navy SEAL tough guy Diesel (who else?) is assigned to protect a bunch of moppets from the bad guys. Vin, Vin what were you thinking? Witless and twee, makes Kindergarten Cop look like The Terminator. May amuse younger audience members.

Tetsuo (Japan 1988)
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
Release Date: 06/28/2005
Price: 24.99
MPAA Rating: NR
Tomorowo Taguchi (Man), Kei Fujiwara (Woman),

Essentially a visual horror piece as a guy with a fetish for machinery actually becomes a machine. Unique horror opus has only ever had competition from Cronenberg's Videodrome. I'm not sure this is likeable but it is VERY different. Not rated but very definitely R for gore.