When a deadly viral agent is accidentally unleashed on the world, a full-scale pandemic breaks out, decimating the world's population to about 800 all of whom are holed-up in Antarctica, where the virus will remain dormant. And so is the plot of one of the greatest post- apocalyptic films ever, the Japanese-lensed Virus, which, at the time of its, release was the most expensive Japanese film of all time. Its all-star cast is a veritable who's who of the disaster film genre: George Kennedy, Olivia Hussey, Henry Silva, Bo Svenson, Robert Vaughan. And, with the threat of avian flu in the air, this one is a little prophetic. Available as part of the Sonny Chiba Action Pack. Louis Fowler
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Voodoo Moon (NR)
Directed by Kevin VanHook
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Despite a great horror cast, including Re- Animator's Jeffrey Combs and The Howling's Dee Wallace, the Satanic cheesefest that is Voodoo Moon is sadly, a tad D.O.A. The film, directed by visual effect maestro Kevin VanHook, looks great and has fantastic effects, but neither of these make up for the film's other pitfalls. The story is a retread of many other chosen-one-versus-an-unholy-evil films, and much of the dialogue is pretty unintentionally funny the "chosen one" uses many psychic powers and holy armaments against a decidedly Eurotrash Satan, who, with his slicked-backed hair and wispy goatee, looks more like an art-dealer than Lord of the Underworld. Louis Fowler
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Cinderella 2000 (R)
Directed by Al Adamson
Retro-Seduction Cinema/ POPcinema
In the year 2047, a Big Brother government has declared sex illegal. Apparently, they have also declared good acting, decent camera work and semi-professional set designs illegal, because even for a ultra-low-budget, 1970s soft-core sex comedy, this one is scraping the bottom of the barrel. But, even for all of its many faults, this Al Adamson production is not without its innocent, naive charms: the day-glo colors that adorn every surface and a handful of goofy, out-of-tune musical numbers, to name a couple. The new DVD release by Retro-Seduction Cinema features the American cut, the spicier Euro cut, and a completely entertaining commentary by producer Sam Sherman, who gives the ins-and-outs of the 70s low-budget film scene. Louis Fowler
