It's a nice weekend in Los Angeles. Keeping my nose in my mailbox has paid off with a bushel of discs to review. Today I have the latest Harryhausen, and another entry from U.K. correspondent Lee Broughton.

Columbia TriStar's Earth vs. the Flying Saucers is a sci-fi staple we take for granted, a thriller shot like a pulp serial, but graced with the gosh-wow special effects of Ray Harryhausen. The disc puts the movie in a nostalgic light with a breezy interview with Ray, hosted by Joe Dante.

Lee Broughton checks in with a Region 1 disc this time, Wild East's Day of Anger, which he says is the elusive spaghetti western of quality that isn't a Sergio Leone. Lee Van Cleef stars.

Several readers (well, exactly 4) asked me to report on the American Cinematheque 70mm screening of Lord Jim I attended last Thursday evening. I was prepared for the worst, having seen what Columbia called a 'restored' 70mm of Bridge on the River Kwai a few years back, which looked worse than terrible. But this new print was splendid, with excellent color and very little grain. Overall I felt as if I were seeing it anew. The story (very similar to Outcast of the Islands and Apocalypse Now) has a disgraced Peter O'Toole going upriver to help out with a revolt against evil warlord Eli Wallach. The movie is beautifully produced but a bit lumpy in the script and direction; Jack Hawkins narrates the first half and promptly exits like a good little exposition machine, and then after a nice buildup to a second-act victory, the movie bogs down in stiff introspective dialogue about heroism and cowardice, with everyone contributing reams of boring talk. James Mason shows up near the end, and it's as if a new movie is starting. Despite the philosophizing, Jim's character remains paper-thin, and we aren't at all convinced of the necessity of his sacrifice at the end. But boy, is this one good-looking film.

Columbia restoration exec Grover Crisp graciously introduced the screening. There was no hint of a DVD coming for the title, as the film restoration and home video units of movie studios can be compared to distinct conduits, rivers winding deep into separate hearts of different jungles .... excuse me. Next time! - Glenn Erickson