OnVideo OCTOBER 1996 Releases
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OnVideo OCTOBER 1996 Releases

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ARRIVAL, THE
This sci-fi suspense thriller stars Charlie Sheen as an over- dedicated radio astronomer who spends more time listening to the silence from the cosmos than with his erstwhile girlfriend Char (played by Teri Polo). The silence in his life is omnipresent, until he investigates a shockwave from deep outer space and begins a journey that leads him to conclude that an alien invasion is just around the corner. Wonder if he saw "ID4"?
Director: David Twohy. Stars: Charlie Sheen, Teri Polo, Ron Silver, Lindsay Crouse. CC (MPAA rating: PG-13 109 min.) Science Fiction 1996 (LIVE 60259) Priced for rental Available: 10/22
3 stars go
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The
Craft
PhotoCRAFT, THE
Billed as '"Heathers' on a broomstick," this wry suspense thriller concerns four high school girls who don't fit in with the tightly-knit student body and resort to worshipping black magic to foster their sense of identity. When their spells begin to work, this coven of teen witches are suddenly able to exact vengeance on classmates, parents and boyfriends - a supernatural way to get attention, praise and love. Freud would have a field day with this one.
Director: Andrew Fleming. Stars: Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, Rachel True. CC (MPAA rating: R 101 min.) Thriller 1996 (Columbia TriStar 82413) Priced for rental Available: 10/8
3 stars go
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DON'T BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD
Written by and starring the two youngest members of the talented Wayans family, this energetic spoof parodies the rash of coming- of-age-in-the-hood films over the last few years. Here a young black man (Shawn Wayans) is returned to the hood by his mother to live with and learn from his father. Along with his buddy Loc Dog (Marlon Wayans) he gets involved in hot women, block parties, and high-powered weapons. Unfortunately the humor is overpowered by the images.
Director: Paris Barclay. Stars: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans. CC (MPAA rating: R 88 min.) Comedy 1996 (Miramax 8099) Priced for rental Available: 10/22
3
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ERASER
Schwarzenegger is back with a vengeance, again playing the role he does best: a strong-armed enforcer. Here he plays the best of the elite federal marshalls working for the Federal Witness Protection Program, operating in secrecy and anonymity. When a young woman (Vanessa Williams) sees something she wasn't meant to and some of the most powerful forces in the world want her dead, she needs a protector -- the "eraser." A much better outing for Arnold than last year's meandering "True Lies."
Director: Charles Russell. Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vanessa Williams, James Caan, James Coburn. CC (MPAA rating: R 120 min.) Thriller 1996 (Warner 14202) Priced for rental Available: 10/29
3
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FARGO
Fargo photo The Coen brothers bring their off-kilter vision ("Raising Arizona," "Barton Fink") to the mainstream with this black comedy of a murder mystery. When a Minnesota car deals arranges to have his wife kidnapped to get money out of her wealthy father, his hired thugs botch the crime, killing a cop and incurring the probing mind and wrath of the local police chief (Frances McDormand). The sight of the seven-month's pregnant female cop sloshing through the Minnesota winter snow is alone worth the price of admission.
Director: Joel Coen. Stars: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare. CC (MPAA rating: R 99 min.) Black comedy 1996 (PolyGram 6386933) Priced for rental Available: 10/1
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FEAR
We've seen this one too many times before on the small screen to get too excited: Pretty teenager Nicole (Reese Witherspoon) falls for a gentle, loving, charismatic older boy (Mark Wahlberg) whose stable exterior hides a seething interior of hate and anger. Sure enough, when events turn against him and Nicole rejects his advances, the young boy gathers his friends and, bent on revenge, mounts an assault on Nicole and her family. Co-stars William Petersen, Amy Brenneman and Alyssa Milano.
Director: James Foley. Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen. CC (MPAA rating: R 95 min.) Thriller 1996 (MCA/Universal 82823) Priced for rental Available: 10/15
2 stars go
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FLIPPER
Based on the popular feature film and TV series of the 1960s, this remake updates the story of an orphan dolphin and a troubled boy for the 1990s. Elijah Wood plays Sandy, a rebellious 14-year- old who has to give up his Red Hot Chili Peppers backstage passes and spend the summer on a remote island with his eccentric uncle (Paul Hogan). But he trades his doldrums for excitement when he meets Flipper and gets involved in more action than he bargained for. A nondescript family film.
Director: Alan Shapiro. Stars: Paul Hogan, Elijah Wood, Chelsea Field, Issac Hayes. CC (MPAA rating: PG 97 min.) Family 1996 (MCA/Universal 82825) $19.98 SRP Available: 10/8
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JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
This juicy, wild and imaginative film is based on the 1961 best- selling book by Roald Dahl and features impressive stop-motion animation, stylized live-action and sophisticated special effects by the same team that put together "The Nightmare Before Christmas." James is a 9-year-old English orphan forced to live with his wicked aunts who meets some unusual human-sized talking insects when he climbs inside a giant peach for a trip to New York City "where dreams come true." For the kids inside all of us.
Director: Henry Selick. Stars: Voices of Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves. CC (MPAA rating: PG 78 min.) Animated 1996 (Walt Disney 9510) $22.99 SRP Available: 10/15
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MULTIPLICITY
There's three Michael Keatons too many in this misfired comedy about the mislaid priorities of modern man and modern science. Keaton plays an overworked contractor who can't keep up with his job, his wife and his family life. When given the opportunity by an eccentric scientist to have himself cloned, Keaton jumps for the opportunity to have someone like him to lighten his load, but it all gets out of hand when two more clones are added to the picture. Wife Andie MacDowell is kept in the dark about it all, engendering the bulk of the TV sitcom misunderstandings and mistaken identity gags.
Director: Harold Ramis. Stars: Andie MacDowell, Michael Keaton, Michael Keaton, Michael Keaton, Michael Keaton. CC (MPAA rating: PG-13 110 min.) Comedy 1996 (Columbia TriStar 73513) Priced for rental Available: 10/22
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PRIMAL FEAR
Richard Gere stars as a Martin Vail, a hotshot attorney whose defense of a young, likable, naive altar boy accused of murder uncovers a viper's nest of corruption. Vail's "win-at-any-cost" attitude blinds him to the reality of the case with potentially devastating results. Co-stars Aaron Stampler, Janet Venable, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard and Frances McDormand. An interesting thriller that attracted a string following.
Director: Gregory Hoblit. Stars: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, John Mahoney. CC (MPAA rating: R 130 min.) Thriller 1996 (Paramount 328323) Priced for rental Available: 10/15
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TOY STORY
The folks at Disney will launch VCRs to "infinity and beyond" when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Mr. Potato Head and a whole gang of toys make their limited-time-only debut on home video. "Toy Story," the first-ever fully computer-animated feature-length film, took four years to get to the big screen and the storyline and animation were well worth the investment. It's a heart- warming tale of friendship and loyalty that brings a slight tear of sentimentality to even the toughest of old codgers. Get this one now!
Director: John Lasseter. Stars: Voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles. CC (MPAA rating: G 81 min.) Animated 1995 (Walt Disney 6703) $26.99 SRP Available: 10/29
5 stars go
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TWISTER
Laden with special effects but little intelligent dialogue, this summer blockbuster follows a group of scientists tracking the massive destructive power of the biggest storm to strike Oklahoma in half a century. During an extraordinary 24 hours filmed with life-endangering exploits, the lead scientist (Helen Hunt) and her estranged husband (Bill Paxton) explore their own stormy relationship as they race toward a series of deadly tornadoes.
Director: Jan De Bont. Stars: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jamie Gertz, Cary Elwes. CC (MPAA rating: PG-13 113 min.) Action 1996 (Warner Home Video 20100) $22.96 Available: 10/1
3 stars go
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