SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY VIDEO

>
AMAZON.COM DELIVERS
SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY VIDEO: TOP 10 OF 1999

Editor, Sam Sutherland

Even without millennial fever, it's that time of year when pundits look at the best, the worst, and the in-between from among the year's offerings. We'll spare you the findings from the latter categories and instead focus on 1999's top 10 video releases for science fiction and fantasy fans. From dark, dystopian visions to gentler but no less imaginative fare, our pantheon balances visual wizardry (including both computer-generated and traditional animation) with provocative stories and themes. Here, then, are our editorial picks for the best of '99.

1. "The Iron Giant" (PG) VHS Widescreen
starring Jennifer Aniston, Eli Marienthal (voices); directed by Brad Bird
One of the year's best films, this big-screen realization of the late Ted Hughes's gentle, thoughtful fable nearly became one of 1999's biggest box office disappointments, disappearing from theatrical screens after a lackluster campaign. Happily, home video viewers are rescuing this future classic for all the right reasons--animator Brad Bird's crisp yet cannily un-Disneyfied visual style, a plot that draws its momentum from a knowing take on '50s cold war paranoia, and an endearing twist on outsider allure thanks to its looming but loyal title character. Kids will love it, and so will boomer-age parents who remember what it meant to duck and cover. Read more

Our Price: $16.07 | You Save: $6.88 (30%)

2. "The Matrix" (R) VHS Widescreen
starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne; directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski
Virtual reality, martial arts, high-octane techno beats, and a reptilian alien presence: for hard-core science fiction fans, the Wachowski brothers' bravura action epic is a delirious joy ride with a mix of portentous dialogue, convoluted plot points, video game visuals, and sheer cool that was a standout on movie screens. Keanu Reeves is the alpha-geek hacker and possible Chosen One named Neo, Laurence Fishburne is his poker-faced mentor, Morpheus, and newcomer Carrie-Anne Moss is Trinity, the slinky cipher that brings pupil and master together for their showdown with the evil behind the Matrix. Keanu says it best: "Whoa!" Read more

Our Price: $10.47 | You Save: $4.48 (30%)

4. "The Faculty" (R) VHS
starring Josh Hartnett, Famke Janssen; directed by Robert Rodriguez
A sly sci-fi thriller with tongue in cheek, "The Faculty" takes teenagers' time-honored sense of alienation to a literal, and very funny, extreme. As mapped out by "Dawson Creek" and "Scream" creator Kevin Williamson, the proudly B-movie-bred script establishes Herrington High's freaky teachers and more menacing teen tormentors as bona fide aliens infiltrating the school as a prelude to (what else?) world domination. Younger viewers will identify with the Everyteen protagonists, but pardon us for taking special delight in the titular bad guys, played by a terrific cast including Jon Stewart, Piper Laurie, Salma Hayek, Bebe Neuwirth, and Robert Patrick of "Terminator 2" fame. Read more

Our Price: $13.99 | You Save: $6.00 (30%)

5. "The X-Files" Movie (PG-13) VHS Widescreen
starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson; directed by Rob Bowman
No, Chris Carter and the "X-Files" brain trust weren't able to relocate their devilish boob-tube franchise to the big screen without visible seams and a few compromises that left the series' most fanatical followers frustrated. For starters, the show's savory web of intricate, loooong plot arcs, snugly tailored for Carter's cosmic conspiracies, is ideal for episodic TV but a bear to condense into two hours. But this first theatrical outing for the perpetually intense, deadpan Mulder and Scully does keep the faith with established series gremlins and goblins, and builds to a spectacular finale that raises new questions even as it winds up this story line. It's out there, all right. Read more

Our Price: $20.95 | You Save: $4.03 (16%)

6. "The Dark Crystal" (PG) VHS
directed by Jim Henson, Frank Oz
The late Jim Henson had already conquered the world with his sweetly cracked Muppets troupe, with enough superstar guests lined up to keep that movie and television franchise humming indefinitely. Given that success, this 1982 big-screen fantasy was clearly an ambitious attempt to evolve Henson's sophisticated puppetry toward a more complete dramatic form; the Tolkien-like narrative, lavish production design, and intricate character design and development all proved that Henson's Creature Shop had more than felt and feathers to work with. The struggle between the gentle Gelflings and the truly hideous, ancient Skekses achieves a timeless sense of moral conflict. Read more

Our Price: $13.99 | You Save: $0.96 (6%)

7. "Aliens: Special Edition" (R) VHS Widescreen
starring Sigourney Weaver; directed by James Cameron
The 20th anniversary for the "Alien" franchise has prompted a lavish four-tape set that collects all four of the theatrical features spawned by the acid-fanged, omnivorous title villain. But it's still a tossup between Ridley Scott's nightmarish original and James Cameron's explosive sequel as to which is the more harrowing glimpse of H.R. Giger's shape-shifting Bad Mother. This expanded director's cut, with a new master supervised by Cameron himself, captures Sigourney Weaver's Oscar-nominated, second turn as Ellen Ripley, a performance that brought her to the center of the action and redefined the potential for an action heroine. Read more

Our Price: $33.96 | You Save: $5.99 (15%)

return to top

All titles featured are NTSC format (VHS) and Region 1 encoded (DVD).

Just imagine visiting--anytime, any day--the world's foremost

auction house and 4,500-plus professional dealers. We've partnered with Sotheby's to launch a new Web site that realizes all that and more. At sothebys.amazon.com all items are guaranteed and you'll receive a Property Certificate that documents the unique history of each purchase. Visit today and find a world of incredible objects starting at $100: http://sothebys.amazon.com You'll find more great videos, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Science Fiction & Fantasy Video section.

Search:

Keywords:

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws