DVDuesday: Steamboy

Filmthreat.com’s Chris Gore gives us his comments on this week’s DVD releases:

Steamboy
Steamboy is from Akira director Katsuhiro Otomo, and it’s set in a world in which technology from steam power may be the only thing to stop futuristic war machines from destroying the planet. It’s a truly epic sci-fi story that was 10 years in the making. Anime projects often hire cheap voice actors for English dubbing, but Sony went all-out in this translation by utilizing the voice talents of Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, and Patrick Stewart. There is no commentary, but the extensive behind-the-scenes material covers much of what you might learn from the commentary, including featurettes where we meet all the voice actors. And you can also view the film in its original Japanese with subtitles! Now, they should be doing that with ALL anime, as the biggest complaint is bad voice acting in English. It really makes a difference. The special boxed set includes a handsome box, a mini-comic, a set of postcards and a character design book. The film is also available on UMD video for PSP.
Verdict: BUY

Cry Baby
John Waters directed this Johnny Depp movie just after the teen idol left FOX TV’s 21 Jump Street. Set in the 1950s, it’s about juvenile delinquents—with musical numbers. It’s really about classism, kind of a Romeo & Juliet from the gutter. This is also Traci Lords’ first legit film after being busted by the Feds for appearing in adult movies while still underage. In fact, the Feds were pursuing Traci throughout shooting. Extras include deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes doc on Baltimore and a hilarious commentary. John Waters is truly a filmmaker that you must discover—he is the king of Trash Cinema, so you have to see his early films as well, like Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Serial Mom, Pecker, among others.
Verdict: RENT

Rubber Johnny
This disc will creep you out. Rubber Johnny is, um, I don’t know what it is and it’s never explained. But he is either an alien or the physical incarnation of Butt-head. I don’t mean the cartoon from MTV—I mean a guy with a butt on his head. Created by music video director Chris Cunningham, this haunting video is made more disturbing since nothing is really explained. I do know that he achieved the effect with computer graphics. If creepy medical films are for you, then, uh, enjoy. See this, but be prepared to be grossed out.
Verdict: RENT

QUICK PICK
Fright Pack
Six-DVD set from Anchor Bay
Anchor Bay has released a bargain-priced six pack of horror DVDs. This is the second set to be released and you can get it for $30 bucks! The set includes Vamp, Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Transylvania 6-5000, Sleepaway Camp, and George Clooney can be seen in both Return to Horror High and Return of the Killer Tomatoes. Worth checking out for horror fans on a budget. And the packaging is cool, like a six-pack of beer—I like that.