Back on the DVD bargain hunt once again, and while it proved fruitful (see below), this was a brief bit of charity shop hunting because on this occasion I was strapped for time. I had various errands to run, so this was less of a DVD hunt and more of a DVD diversion amongst other activities (collecting dog meds, doing a food shop, etc).

Anyway, the spoils of the ‘hunt’ are below. I’m pretty pleased with what I picked up.

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What Dreams May Come (1998)  – DVD 

Imaginative fantasy drama from director Vincent Ward. Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Max Von Sydow) star. 

The blurb reads: “The end is only the beginning…

“For Chris Neilson (Robin Williams), his love for his wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra) is limitless. After his untimely death, Chris delights in the knowledge that heaven for him is existing within one of Annie’s magnificent paintings. Yet despite this paradise, Chris feels unfulfilled without his wife, and on Earth, Annie cannot endure life without Chris so she attempts to join him.

“Chris is advised of Annie’s death but there is no hope of them being reunited ‘as suicides go to hell’. Undeterred, he enlists the wisdom of The Tracker (Max Von Sydow) and Albert (Cuba Gooding Jnr.), embarking on an epic odyssey through heaven and hell to free Annie.”

Bonus features: Anamorphic Widescreen Feature; Theatrical Trailer; Interviews with Cast and Crew.

Condition: Excellent condition.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). I LOVE THIS FILM. Yes, I know it is incredibly depressing at times, but it is a magnificent movie, and one of Robin Williams’ best. I own a copy of the film on digital, but I’ve been meaning to get a physical copy for a while, so to find one for 20p is amazing.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Fair chance. ‘90s films tend to crop up quite often.

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Heartburn (1986) – DVD 

Mid-‘80s romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Mike Nichols directs.

The blurb reads: “Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson are wonderful together in this wickedly funny look at modern romance based on Nora Ephron’s acerbic best-selling novel and directed by Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Postcards from the Edge). 

“Streep plays Rachel, a successful food writer who puts love and motherhood ahead of her career. Nicholson plays Mark, a woman-chasing newspaper columnist who can’t quite give up his old tricks. She lives in New York. He lives in Washington, D.C. And if all those complications won’t give a relationship Heartburn, nothing will.”

Bonus features: None.

Condition: Good condition.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). Amazing price for a film which is not currently available on disc in the UK.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Slim. Heartburn is a lesser remembered title, not currently available on disc.

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Evil Dead 2 (1987) – DVD 

Sam Raimi-directed slapstick horror, starring Bruce Campbell. 

The blurb reads: “Ever thought of taking your girlfriend away for the weekend? Maybe to some secluded spot in the country so you can spend some quality time together, but then ended up hacking her to pieces with a chainsaw after she’s become possessed by a grotesque, flesh-eating demon resurrected by spells from The Book of the Dead? Ash Williams has. Trapped in a dark world of flying eyeballs and deadly severed limbs, axe wielding Ash Williams will be pushed to the edge of his sanity as he fights to survive against the unspeakable, supernatural forces intent on having him dead by dawn.

“After the shocking and notorious cult classic The Evil Dead impaled its way into the minds of a whole generation by becoming one of the original ‘video nasties’, visionary, maverick director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 1 – 3) decided to elaborate on its twisted scenario by creating one of the most visually deranged and psychotically demented horror movies to ever splatter its way across cinema screens since the invention of celluloid. Featuring b-movie legend Bruce Campbell in his most iconic role, as the fantastically unhinged Ash, Evil Dead 2 is a gore-filled, slapstick masterpiece that gleefully stomps on the entrails of good taste while puking in the face of Hollywood with no apologies.”

Bonus features: Trailer; Making of Documentary; Commentary by Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Producer Robert G. Tapert.

Condition: Good condition.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). 

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: So-so. Not a common title to find, as fans of Evil Dead 2 tend to keep hold of their copies very tightly (and quite rightly so), but this film is also not rare.

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Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)

Mid-‘90s superhero film, based on the hit TV series of the same name. Bryan Spicer directs, while the cast includes Jason David Frank, Amy Jo Johnson, David Yost, Steve Cardenas, Karen Ashley, Johnny Yong Bosch, and Paul Freeman.

The blurb reads: “Power up with six incredible teens who out-manoeuvre and defeat evil everywhere as the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers! But this time, the Power Rangers may have met their match when they face off with the most sinister monster the galaxy has ever seen – Ivan Ooze. Unleashed upon the good citizens of Angel Grove after six thousand years of imprisonment, Ivan Ooze strips the Power Rangers and their leader, Zordon, of their powers.

“Now the Power Rangers must journey to a distant planet to learn the secrets of the ancient Ninjetti. Only then will they become empowered with a force strong enough to restore their Morphin ability and defeat the evil Ivan Ooze. Join the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and their new Ninja Megazord as they fight to save Angel Grove and the world from the forces of evil!”

Bonus features: Original Theatrical Trailer.

Condition: Good condition.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). 

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Quite likely. Children’s movies and ‘90s movies are quite common in charity shops, so coming across a children’s movie from the 1990s is fairly common.

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Personal Shopper (2016)

Mid-2010s mystery horror from filmmaker Olivier Assayas. Kristen Stewart stars.

The blurb reads: “Writer/director Olivier Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria) returns with Personal Shopper, an ethereal and mysterious ghost story. Kristen Stewart stars as Maureen, a young American living in Paris and working as a high-fashion personal shopper to the stars. She is also a spiritual medium, and grieving the recent death of her twin brother, haunts his Parisian home, determined to make contact with him.

“Personal Shopper received its world premiere as part of the Official Selection at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where it was met with 5 star reviews. Assayas was the recipient of the festival’s Best Director award.”

Bonus features: Theatrical Trailer.

Condition: Good condition.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). Bargain! If I was to buy this DVD new it would cost £6.99.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Not likely at all. Lesser-known (or at least, lesser-remembered) Kristen Stewart movie from a period in time when less people were buying DVDs.

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Another five DVDs picked up for a total cost of £1, which is fantastic! Personal Shopper and Heartburn are either not-so well known or harder to come by, while What Dreams May Come and Evil Dead 2 are excellent movies, and Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie is daft, nostalgic nonsense which I can let play in the background while I’m doing some work.

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