Friday, May 27, 2016

The 30th Anniversary of “Rad”: The Best BMX Racing Movie Ever

At Rare DVDs, we know all too well the meaning of a cult classic. We live and breathe cult classics so much so that we’re dedicated to producing them on high-quality DVDs so you can enjoy them no matter what year they were released. In fact, one of our favorite movies of all time turned 30 years old this year!




Known best as “Rad the BMX movie,” “Rad” was released in 1986. Directed by Hal Needham, once known as the highest-paid stuntman in the world, “Rad” has one of the most dedicated cult followings for a sports movie. So much so that it even has its own Facebook Fan Club. Why? Quite frankly, there has not been a movie quite like it before or even after its release.



The film centers on Cru Jones, a teenager who opts to compete in the ultimate BMX race for money, fame and fortune instead of taking his SATs. Even with a clearly modest budget, “Rad” has become a classic ‘80s film due to the intensity of the racing and bike stunts. A critically acclaimed film it definitely is not. But who cares? What do they know anyway? Cru manages to fall in love and topple multiple obstacles along the way. We won’t ruin the ending for you, just know this is very much a story reminiscent of David vs. Goliath!



The movie stars Bill Allen, Lori Loughlin, Talia Shire and Ray Walston. You’ll have a roarin’ good time with this ‘80s throwback film. Whether you’re a fan of the purity of mountain bike riding and early BMX stunts or simply remember riding around on your bike as a kid dreaming of cool tricks to land, you’ll enjoy this movie! With a whopping audience score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s time you order this movie. Seriously! Even without an official release, now’s your chance to buy “Rad” on DVD

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

4 Famous Original Films vs. the Remakes

There are usually three camps of movie lovers. There are the Modernist Big Budget Fanatics who covet all things new, sleek, CGI-laden as well as fast camera cuts and maybe an explosion or two. There are the classic film aficionados, vintage connoisseurs, old movie devotees who love the crackly sound of a movie that is at least 20 years old. Lastly, there are the lovers of all film. If it’s got a reel, a story arch and it’s entertaining, they’re into it. We all have our preferences, and at Rare DVDs, we have rounded up some of our favorite original classic flicks available in our store and compared them to the more modern version. Pick your favorite!

What separates an original versus a classic film? We’ll see!

Round 1: The Jungle Book
  
   
There are actually three variations of this film that are officially Disney. However, our fact comparisons today are between the two live-action versions!

The Original: The Jungle Book released in 1994 and starred Jason Scott Lee, Lena Headey and Sam Neill. It had a budget of $30 million and had a running time of 111 minutes.

The Rookie: Disney has recently released a 2016 version of The Jungle Book which promises to be an all-new, live-action epic adventure. It has received positive reviews and high ratings. Starring Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley and Idris Elba. It has a budget of an estimated $175 million and runs for 105 minutes.

Most Notable Differences: All the locations and talking animals are computer-generated VFX in the new one, and Kaa the Snake is portrayed as a female.


Round 2: The Three Musketeers

          



The Original: The dynamite 1973 The Three Musketeers features powerful actors Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch and Rochard Chamberlain. The stunts were so real that Oliver Reed was seriously injured and could have died from a stab in the throat during a duel scene.

The Not-So-New Rookie: The 1993 version had a budget of $30 million and had some of the most famous actors of the early 90s like Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris O’Donnell and Oliver Platt play the swashbuckling swordsmen.

Most Notable Differences: The Original 1973 version was filmed utilizing real muskets and is said to keep more true to the Dumas novel. At RareDVDs, we offer a two-for-one disc of the original and its sequel. Both films were actually shot at the same time and were split into two without prior notice to its actors.


Round Three: The Heartbreak Kid





              

The Original: Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd starred in The Heartbreak Kid of 1972. With enough laughs to last a lifetime, this original flick centers around the notion that personalities can quickly change after “I do.”

The Rookie: The 2007 version of The Heartbreak Kid cast included Ben Stiller, Malin Akerman and Michelle Monaghan.

Most Notable Differences: While the 2007 version was moderately successful, Rolling Stone named it the “Worst Remake” of 2007. “Ben Stiller and the Farrelly brothers drown the wit and wisdom of Elaine May’s 1972 original in an ocean of crude stupidity.” Ouch.


Well call us biased, but we’re going to stick with our Original films. No amount of money or CGI effects can replace classic and stellar acting! Check out our entire collection of hard-to-find old movies from decades past on our store!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Remembering Deceased Actors’ More Obscure Films

Death is a sad part of life. However, when a film star leaves us too soon we have the wonderful opportunity to relive their movies. Great actors have the truly special and unique opportunity of being immortalized on screen. The stars below left us too soon, however, we have their great works of arts to enjoy for years to come!

Alan Rickman


















Alan Rickman, the English actor, is best known for playing the complex Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. However, his body of work was diverse. He played everything from a villain in Die Hard to a wandering husband in Love, Actually. One of our favorite Alan Rickman movies is Truly, Madly, Deeply. This film was a British fantasy music drama where Rickman plays a ghost! We won’t spoil too much of it but it is most definitely a must-watch!

Patrick Swayze
           




















                

Patrick Swayze could do no wrong. Every man wanted to be him and every girl wanted to woo him! We definitely remember his top-grossing films as a leading man in Ghost, Dirty Dancing, and Road House. However, Patrick Swayze’s films is Steel Dawn is filled with must-see action. This 80s post-apocalyptic film is a unique sci-fi movie filled with revenge, honor and love!

A more rare Swayze film is Skatetown USA with Scott Baio. This movie is hard to find on DVD because it was never released! You can find this disco light-hearted flick on our site. You’ll definitely get a kick out of this one.


Omar Sharif

















Omar Sharif is widely recognized as one of the greatest actors for his iconic classic films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He electrified the big screen with his performance in the 1971 film, The Horsemen. Joined by the great Jack Palance, these two actors star in this period adventure film as father and son. If you’re a fan of 70’s classic films or Omar Sharif’s movies, pick this one up for a great adventure.


Annette Funicello


















If you want to experience a throwback within a throwback then you cannot miss Annette Funicello’s movie, Back to the Beach. This 1987 film combines 80s humor with a parody 60s look and feel. Annette was a gifted singer and actress and worked on a number of “beach party” films in the 60s along with Frankie Avalon. Annette and Frankie worked on Back to the Beach as a parody of their earlier movies. Completely hilarious and quirky, this is a fun film and it’s available on DVD on our site.


Moonie aka Bruiser


















While there are many actors that have sadly gone, the acting community lost a special dog in the March of 2016. Moonie, best known as Bruiser, passed away. Being the dog in Legally Blonde is his only claim to fame, however, this pooch will be fondly remembered as a blonde lawyer’s best accessory. Check out the musical version for a new twist on the film!



We’re constantly adding new films on our site! Be sure to check back often for new rare titles you won’t find on DVD anywhere else.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Must-See Rare Christmas Classics on DVD

Some of our favorite childhood memories revolve around sitting in front of a TV during the holidays, eating misshapen gingerbread cookies and watching a Christmas movie with the entire family. We’ve continued the tradition with our families, but some of our favorite holiday films have been difficult to track down on DVD! However, fear not, we’ve compiled some of our favorite Christmas films, all available on quality DVDs, so you can relive those treasured moments. We hope to bring back some of that nostalgia for you!




This holiday Christmas movie was made for TV, making a DVD copy extra special! Featuring the talented Dolly Parton, this film follows the country singer as she makes her way through the Tennessee mountains for a much-needed getaway from her famous life. However, she finds herself in the company of seven orphans, a witch, a sheriff and a conniving paparazzo! With a Snow White-esque feel, this movie features a beautiful snowy landscape and a wonderful performance by Parton.




Even the mere mention of Disney’s Christmas brings back a rush of colorful memories. This DVD features six animated short films, including:

·        Once Upon a Wintertime (1954)
·        Santa’s Workshop (1932)
·        The Night Before Christmas (1933)
·        Pluto’s Christmas Tree (1952)
·        On Ice (1935)
·        Donald’s Snow Fight (1942)
Some of our favorite Disney characters that your children will surely recognize make very special appearances! With classic animation and wonderful music accompaniments, your little ones will surely enjoy these cartoons. Our DVD even features two bonus animations! Pop this movie into the DVD player for a cozy, fun family night.



Sometimes a little romantic comedy is just what you need when you’re cuddling with your significant other in front of a cozy fire. Undercover Christmas has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing—not exactly what you would expect from a romantic comedy! This film has quickly become a cult holiday classic because it has a little bit of drama, some crime and, of course, a love connection.

What are some of your favorite hard-to-find holiday films? Check out our Christmas category and see if we have it in stock! If you see we’re missing one of your favorites, let us know!


Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013



Rare DVDs

My site deals exclusively in the sale of rare and out of print DVDs. I have many made for TV movies that never had an official DVD release. I also carry many DVDs that have been out of print for over 10 years, making most of these movies extremely rare and hard to locate. These titles are also very expensive if you are even able to find an original copy.

I started in this business by having a strong collection of older horror films that were out of print. This grew into me seeking out and finding other rare titles that were outside of the horror genre. It has taken me over 4 years to amass the collection of rare DVDs that I now sell. These titles cross all platforms and genres; ranging from comedies, dramas, horror, fantasy, science fiction, made for television and much more.

I offer these films at an affordable price with many options to upgrade the purchase to add another rare title at a discount, upgrade to a full 8.5 Gig dual layer disc, which means the full menus, bonus material and superior audio video quality are available for the customer to preserve an exact backup of the studio disc. I also offer to add laser artwork to the disc for both the standard and dual layer version of these DVDs.

I always obtain the best possible source for the movies I sell so that the buyer’s experience is the best possible viewing and listening experience. This is crucial to me, as I am a huge movie fan and always want the complete customer satisfaction on every order.

I am always looking for new titles to add to my store to keep continuously expanding my selection of films to offer my customers a complete shopping experience when buying rare movies. I am always available via telephone for phone order and to answer any questions that my customers may have.

I can be reached at 951.689.8119. or via email jixter@pacbell.net Please feel free to contact me at anytime for assistance.

Tom


Wednesday, March 20, 2013