Video Store
Skip's Picks
The following videos are some of the best films to ever be produced.  These innovative films inspired many others.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Pulse - Pink Floyd. One of the best concerts ever recorded! Pink Floyd and David Gilmour shine in another of their legendary concerts.  You don't even miss what's-his-face!  Taped at Earl's Court, London, this is an amazing spectacle with great effects!  They play the entire "Dark Side of the Moon" then hit you with the best rendition of "Comfortably Numb" ever! What a show! 
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - A truly original Sci-fi musical, which defined its own genre!  The cult following has grown ever larger as more people try to live out this movie for themselves.  The satirical theme that pokes fun at America's Puritanical values may seem relatively tame now, but it was groundbreaking at the time.  Thanks to the very witty script and some good tunes, (especially "Time Warp"), the movie holds up amazingly well. Tim Curry's defining role as the transvestite alien!
Blade Runner (Director's cut, 1982) This dark futuristic vision of life in L.A. is a great combination of cyberpunk and film noir.  This film has style! Harrison Ford stars as the detective on the trail of a renegade android. The director's cut was a great improvement and has a different ending!  Also in DVD
The Seventh Seal (1956, Swedish).  Ingmar Bergman's first hit! A dark, brooding allegory about life and death. A knight (Max Von Sydow) returning from the crusades must face his destiny, but not before playing a game of chess with death. Moody imagery evokes a sense of timelessness.  Bergman's sparse but enigmatic style and mezmerizing camera work, make this one of the all time cinematic greats.
Twelve Monkeys (1995) - Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt provide great performances in this scifi tale about time travel used to avoid an apocalypse.  Director Terry Gilliam does it again combining elements of "Brazil" and "One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest." The movie ties together a multitude of threads and builds suspense leading to an interesting ending. This one makes you think! Also in DVD, Widescreen
2001, A Space Odyssey (1968) - The late Stanley Kubrick's Scifi masterpiece.  Visually stunning, with an intriguing plot and a computer out of control make for one of the all time great cinematic experiences.  You don't have to drop acid to appreciate this wonderful epic by Arthur C. Clarke.  Also on DVD, Widescreen.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - One of the all time great Scifi stories! Michael Rennie stars as a Christlike alien figure who brings an urgent message to humanity. Along with his invincible friend Gort, he brings terror or salvation, the choice is ours. Excellent music sends chills up our spines as we cheer for the aliens. 
Nosferatu (German, 1922 silent) - This original vampire movie is so eerie!  Max Schreck is superb as the most demonic of the vampires.  The filming uses shadows to great effect, highlighting the lurking sinister dangers awaiting.  Supposedly a shrewd commentary on Germanic culture, it is haunting and will positively give you nightmares.  Also on DVD
Like Water for Chocolate - (1992, Mexican). A young woman is stuck tending her mother and can't marry, thus creating repressed desire that she unleashes with her fabulous cooking. An appetizing and passionate film that stirs the senses and emotions. Also on DVD.
Woman in the Dunes - (Japanese, 1964) An intellectual entomologist looking for bugs gets trapped in a sand pit. There he becomes dependent on a woman for his needs.  She helps him discover his emotions and sensuality as they both try to survive.  A visually stunning yet very powerful film, that will touch you deeply.  Also in DVD
Tampopo (1986, Japanese) Ramen will never be the same! A philosophic truck driver helps a widow find the perfect recipe for noodles.  The "first Japanese noodle western."  This movie has some outstanding scenes. The one with the egg yolk is a classic!  This film provides insight into the Japanese mind and their quest for perfection. Vegetarian warning! Lots of meat scenes!
Eat Drink Man Woman (1994, Chinese) - English subtitles. The food is the star in this tale about an aging Taiwanese chef who is losing his sense of taste. His three daughters are trying to find love and happiness amid ever changing circumstances.  A simple, touching tale.  You'll want to eat before viewing this one! 
The Joy Luck Club (1993) Excellent story about two generations of Chinese women, with a wonderful ensemble of Asian-American actors. The older generation escaped China seeking a better life, while the younger generation has it relatively easy in America.  The stories reveal Chinese culture and values and the clash with modern American values.  
Ju Dou (Chinese, 1991) A romantic tragedy about a beautiful young woman who marries a grumpy old textile merchant. She gets pregnant by a young man and an unusual relationship develops. The beautiful cinematography is a joy. A social commentary on the aging leadership in China.  Also in DVD
Babette's Feast (Danish/French)- French chef Babette flees her famous life in Paris to escape persecution.  She takes up with a devout group in rural Denmark.  There she learns to live the pious life without any of the luxuries of her past life.  But then she has a stroke of luck and decides to share her bounty in the best way possible.  A feast for the spirit.