Kim Newman contributes to a great many publications in addition to VW, in addition to other authorly duties, and in response to our request for his list of year-end favorites, he rightly pointed out that such a list by him appears in the current issue of SIGHT & SOUND -- "and almost all the things I picked were on other folks' lists." That said, he did agree to list some additional Honorable Mentions on DVD, all of which (like he) hail from the UK. Kim's most recent books are the excellent HORROR! 333 FILMS TO SCARE YOU TO DEATH (co-written with James Marriiott, Carlton) and forthcoming appended reissues of his ANNO DRACULA series. - TL By Kim Newman
The UK BluRay from Optimum of THE GUILLERMO DEL TORO COLLECTION (CRONOS, THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE and PAN'S LABYRINTH) - subtitled, and with a pop-up labyrinth in the packaging.
The ongoing releases, also from Optimum, of THE AVENGERS on DVD in significantly improved versions: SEASON FOUR (black and white) and FIVE (colour) collect Diana Rigg's tenure on the show, and arguably the height of its achievement. Even the lesser episodes sparkle with wit and invention.
Lesser-known genre or fringe genre TV releases from Network - SHADOWS, a children's ghost story anthology from the 1970s, and THE GUARDIANS, dystopian ITV science fiction from the same period with remarkably sophisitcated politics.
Kudos to Odeon Entertainment for its BEST OF BRITISH COLLECTION, making rare titles available on DVD - though the transfers haven't always been great: THREE CASES OF MURDER, RETURN OF A STRANGER, STRIPTEASE MURDER, COVER GIRL KILLER/LIFE IN DANGER.
And, of course, the BFI's ongoing Flipside BR/DVD releases - HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH, PRIVILEGE, THE PLEASURE GIRLS, PERMISSIVE, etc.
The ongoing releases, also from Optimum, of THE AVENGERS on DVD in significantly improved versions: SEASON FOUR (black and white) and FIVE (colour) collect Diana Rigg's tenure on the show, and arguably the height of its achievement. Even the lesser episodes sparkle with wit and invention.
Lesser-known genre or fringe genre TV releases from Network - SHADOWS, a children's ghost story anthology from the 1970s, and THE GUARDIANS, dystopian ITV science fiction from the same period with remarkably sophisitcated politics.
Kudos to Odeon Entertainment for its BEST OF BRITISH COLLECTION, making rare titles available on DVD - though the transfers haven't always been great: THREE CASES OF MURDER, RETURN OF A STRANGER, STRIPTEASE MURDER, COVER GIRL KILLER/LIFE IN DANGER.
And, of course, the BFI's ongoing Flipside BR/DVD releases - HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH, PRIVILEGE, THE PLEASURE GIRLS, PERMISSIVE, etc.
