BIG LOTS, BIGGER DEALS: My Big Lots Closeout DVD Purchases for 08.03.09!!!

I know, I know. Many of you may think you're "too good" for discount store Big Lots. I was once like you, until one day a year or two ago I wandered in and found so many great DVDeals. And while they always had great stuff, for some reason in the past six months, Big Lots' acquisitions have gone from great to insane in the membrane. Insane in the brain, if you will. They are getting real DVDs from real studios and, best of all, all for only three bucks! Here's my haul from this week--feel free to post yours in the comments!



* ABOVE THE LAW/HARD TO KILL ACTION DOUBLE FEATURE - Has Seagal really ever been better than in these two BALLZ2THAWALLZ action flicks? I have seen these individually for ten bucks each and have always almost picked them up. I'm glad I waited!

* GRAFFITI BRIDGE - Even though I am a huge fan of His Royal Badness, I had totally forgotten that Prince made a sequel to PURPLE RAIN. Now, while PURPLE RAIN was a silly enough movie, it's still considered a classic for its music. GRAFFITI BRIDGE, on the other hand, has no such luck--it is just pure pseudo-spiritual silliness that makes me wish I had seen it in a theater. Vanity projects don't get better than this.

* SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE FOUR-DISC SPECIAL EDITION - Great Caesar's Ghost! SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE is my own personal STAR WARS, and I have always been envious of those that were able to pick up that super-mega-steelbox box-set that came out a few years ago. And while I can never heal the pain of missing out on it, this super-deluxe special edition is soothing balm, with four discs packed with a super amount of content, including two versions of the movie, classic "making of" docs, the 1951 movie SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE-MEN and nine Fleischer cartoons.

* ACTION JACKSON - Why didn't this start a whole franchise for Carl Weathers? And, seriously, Vanity should have had a bigger career. And Craig T. Nelson as a murderous auto tycoon? I'm going to write some ACTION JACKSON fan-fiction.

* WES CRAVEN'S THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS/WES CRAVEN'S SHOCKER SUPERNATURAL DOUBLE FEATURE - Two of Wes Craven's goofiest movies--THE PEOPLE, which is one of Craven's best, SHOCK which is definitely his worst--in a two-disc set. I didn't even know these were on DVD, to be honest with you.

* THE CHASE - Adam Rifkin directs Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson in one of the most underrated and, in my opinion, best films of the 90s. This is a fun, fun movie that I have lamented since the death of my VHS copy two years ago.

* HERCULES/THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULES - The incomparable Lou Ferrigno in two of the greatest, funniest, cheesiest Hercules films of all time, and that's really saying something if you know the genre. Produced by Golan/Globus and directed by Italian schlocker Lewis Coates, AKA Luigi Cozzi. This is a must-find for any budget DVD hunter.

* PRIVATE PARTS - Paul Bartel is like a classy, more refined John Waters and 1972's ultra-sleazy PRIVATE PARTS is his DESPERATE LIVING. This makes a great double-feature with the copy of EATING RAOUL I found at Big Lots a few months ago.

* And, if you want great value, CHILLING CLASSICS 50 MOVIE PACK. That's right, it's fifty public domain titles on twelve discs, priced at nine bucks. I love these bargain sets--think Brentwood EXTREME--and buy them with alarming frequency. Some of the titles in this set include Peter Jackson's BAD TASTE, Ken Russell's GOTHIC, Abel Ferrara's DRILLER KILLER, JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER, OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES, DEEP RED, DEVIL TIMES FIVE, HORRORS OF SPIDER ISLAND and WEREWOLF IN A GIRL'S DORMITORY, which needs to be remade by Platinum Dunes.

According to various online forums I frequent in regards to Big Lots bargains (which is sad, now that I see it in writing), recently they have been getting in whole seasons of LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, WONDER WOMAN, TALES FROM THE CRYPT and, um, JOEY, all for three-to-six dollars. Some have even seen seasons of DEADWOOD and SIX FEET UNDER. They're gettin' classier all the time!

It has gotten to the point where not only do I only buy DVDs from only Big Lots (I haven't been to Best Buy in a month!), but I am actually considering taking a part-time job there just so I can have first crack at them. Is that the definition of an addict? Sure, but, still, it's cheaper than heroin.