ANCHOR BAY continues to offer outstanding packaging for even smaller films from their library.  A fine example can be found with their current release of "The All Nighter".  The film failed at the box-office in every respect, but it was actually a fresh approach to the typical "college" vacation type film.   Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs stars with Joan Cusack and Dedee Pfeiffer in the film.   The director Tamar Simon Hoffs  offers aduio commentary along with her daughter/star.  The transfer looks fine, although the colors aren't quite as lively as we'd hoped for.  The surround sound is impressive with a great soundtrack and some fine effets. The film's offered in both 1.85:1 and full frame versions.  A music video and a short film starring John Cassavetes is also featured!

The late director Philip Borsos made a fine last film with "One Magic Christmas".  While it's a traditional family christmas film in many ways, complete with an angel who once was a cowboy,  there's so much sadness during the early part of the film, that we recommend adults be there for comfort if children are watching.  The film has an unusual production design that's well captured on this dvd, with accurate fleshtones and contrast, but some grain.  The newly enhanced dolby digital 5.1 sound mix boosts the musical background, but offers little in terms of directional effects.

"Alice Sweet Alice" is a weird movie!  It's not bad by any stretch of the imagination, it's just so convoluted that it buries its otherwise excellent ideas under confusion.  Director/co writer Alfred Sole's on hand to discuss his intentions, and it's a great commentary.  Brooke Shields fans will get to see her act at a very young age:This is her first film.  The dvd transfer shows signs of aging on the master print, however the clarity is still better than in a recent theatrical screening we saw.  The mono soundtrack is fine.  Also included: an alternate opening credit sequence.

"Halloween 4" is actually one of the better titles in the "Halloween" series and it's pleasing to see that ANCHOR BAY has gone all the way to present it in its best possible form.  The newly mixed dolby digital 5.1 track enhances the music background immensely, and offers "some" directional effects.   The transfer looks great, with deep blacks and grays, and excellent detail and clarity.

ANCHOR BAY's release of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is a wondeful looking transfer.  It offers more detail and higher contrast in almost every dark scene when compared to the widescreen laserdisc.  The dolby digital 4.0 mix offers an improvement over the dolby surround of the laserdisc as well.  While the sound mix is usually subdued, there are some great moments with directional effects on the dvd.   We do miss the audio commentary of the laserdisc however!!