DVD Day: July 6th, 2010

? Life on Mars: The Complete Collection

?If you only know Life on Mars from the bizarro — and kind of crappy — ABC remake that aired last year, here’s your chance to get caught up on the superb original series. Join Sam Tyler (John Simm, whose performance here makes you forget his wretched turn as The Master on Doctor Who) as he is thrust back to the 1970s. While trying to figure out if he’s mad, in a coma or has gone back in time, he must deal with the very politically incorrect police investigation tactics of his superior, Gene Hunt (a scenery-chewing Philip Glenister). As amazing as Life on Mars is, the follow-up series, Ashes to Ashes, actually bests it by fully developing the supporting cast and crafting an elaborate back story for Hunt that is rewarding to viewers of both shows. Of course, Ashes‘ three-season run isn’t available on DVD stateside yet, so you either have to try to catch it on BBC America or get the pricey import.

? Doctor Who: Underworld
The Fourth Doctor, Leela and K-9 encounter an alien race who used to worship the Time Lords, but now kinda just resent them. There’s a metaphor about fandom to be found here somewhere, but I’ll leave it to you to discover.

? Doctor Who: The Horns of Nimon
Another Tom Baker Who classic. This one has Lalla Ward (Baker’s main squeeze at the time) in it. In other words, expect plenty of sexual chemistry to go along with the wobbly sets.

?Doctor Who: The Time Monster and Doctor Who: The Space Museum/The Chase
Rounding out this week’s vintage Who episode new releases are these DVDs that are worth your time (get it, cause he’s a Time Lord!) starring Jon Pertwee and William Hartnell as the good Doc.

? Jason and the Argonauts
The Ray Harryhausen “Dynarama” classic makes its Blu-ray debut. Stop-motion skeleton warriors? Yes please. Also, does anyone else get They Might Be Giants’ “Birdhouse in Your Soul” lodged in their brain whenever this movie is mentioned?

? Gurren Lagann TV Series: Complete Collection, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Season 2, Part 2 and Gundam Mobile Suit Zeta: Complete Movie Collection     
I suspect that if I didn’t mention these anime releases, Rob would personally come to my house and kick/punch me Chop Chop Master Onion style.

? Last Chance to See
This BBC follow-up TV series to Douglas Adams’ and Mark Carwardine travelogue of the same name has Stephen Fry stepping in for the late Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy creator to catch up with some of the world’s most endangered species.

? Bakugan: Chapter 2
13 more episodes of the Cartoon Network series that I have little to no interest in. That’s not me knocking it, it’s just that I only have so many hours in the day for cartoons that don’t feature Spider-Man, you know? 

? Eyeborgs
This is one of those awesome “mockbuster” cheesefests that Syfy always is running. The synopsis makes it sound like a mash-up between Tom Selleck’s Runaway, Minority Report and Silver. So obviously this is a historic moment in straight-to-video cinema here. Better still, Adrian Paul and Danny Trejo star!

? Squidbillies, Vol. 3
I’ll admit it, I’ve never seen a second of this Adult Swim series. The fun packaging on the show’s DVD releases always make my easily fooled brain think I’m missing something by not watching. Am I?

? Bitten
As if you needed further proof that vampires were over, here’s a bloodsucker flick starring Jason Mewes. Snoochie Bootchies…or something. Yawn.

? Bigfoot: Mysterious Monster
In which some Z-grade would-be horror host cracks MST3K-esque jokes about the seminal Peter Graves documentary, The Mysterious Monster. I can’t attest about the quality of the jokes, but the cover art is terrific.

? Gamera vs. Barugon
Kaiju fans, this one’s for you.