What our readers most want to see on DVD falls into two major categories: science fiction and so-called bombs.
On the ScyFi front, M.A.N.T.I.S. led the list with 153 e-mails. This mid-90s Fox TV show television series has 22 episodes and it is available on DVD -- according to Amazon, it has been since January 2009.
If that's what you were looking for, hopefully, we've just delivered you good news. But maybe you confused it with NBC's Manimal -- which 87 of you e-mailed to say you wanted on DVD. This 1983 series lasted for only eight episodes and starred Simon MacCorkindale.
52 of you would like to see VR.5 on DVD. The 13-episode Fox series starred Lori Singer and Renee writes, "Every sci fi show or movie dealing with computers today owes a debt to VR.5."
12 of you demand that Gottfried Kolditz' Signals be released on DVD and John wrote, "It's as important to SciFi as It's A Wonderful Life is to Christmas!"
John Carpenter established a name for himself directing many horror classics. But readers want to see a 1979 TV movie he directed released on DVD. Elvis stars Kurt Russell as Presley and Shelley Winters as his mother. And, guess what, it is available on DVD (has been since last year).
Like Carpenter, Brian de Palma has also directed some thrillers. Brad e-mailed that he was sure he was "probably the only one who feels this way but I'd really love to see a boxed set -- like the one they have a Hitchcock's films -- for Brian de Palma. He's a real director in a desert of fakes. I'd love to see all the films remastered on disc with audio commentary." Brad wasn't the only one, four others e-mailed saying their wish list is a de Palma boxed set. Two readers wanted to know when Tuesday Weld ("the most underappreciated American actress," wrote Gavin) would get a boxed set?
One comedy made the list: In The Spirit. As we've noted before, you can rent or purchase as a download from Amazon. But it is not available on disc which is too bad because it's one of the funniest films of the 90s. Marlo Thomas and Elaine May star in this film cowritten by Jeannie Berlin (May's daughter) and Laurie Jones and directed by Sandra Seacat. The supporting cast? Berlin does a hilarious turn as hooker and ex-porn star Crystal who dreams of making it big as a bartender, Peter Falk plays May's husband Roger, Olympia Dukakis is Marlo's sister-in-law Sue and, best of all, Melanie Griffith as a prostitute in a reflective mood ("he's like a really mean cat with a bird"). But the real meat of the movie and the bulk of the laughs come in the zany exchanges between Marlo and Elaine. A true classic. As 12 readers noted, however, the Amazon download is TV version meaning that the curse words have been edited out.
From there we move to films which were/are perceived as bombs. Some of the interest in them is to see if they were as awful as people say. Some of the interest is due to the fact that readers remember enjoying the film and feel they were wrongly maligned and are due a critical reapprasial. The top two films on the list are currently available for streaming on Netflix so you can see for yourself.
At number one on the list (there were forty films that were so-called 'bombs') is the Jane Wagner written and directed Moment by Moment starring Lily Tomlin and John Travolta. Giles e-mailed that he saw this film when he was 14 and "it left a lasting impact on me. I can't believe it's still hated today. I would've thought people would have given it a second look by now. It's really moving and Travolta and Tomlin give stellar performances." Hopefully they 72 others who e-mailed about this film not being on DVD will be able to enjoy it on Netflix. We gave Giles a heads up in an e-mail and he already has. His verdict? "It's a masterpiece."
At number two is At Long Last Love which caused critics to screech that either director Peter Bogdanovich or actress Cybill Shepherd (or both) had no talent. As with Momemt by Moment, if you stream the film today, you may wonder what the problem was? Neither film is awful and both are involving in different ways. Shepherd sings fine, dances well and acts with great sparkle opposite Burt Reynolds.
Other films -- of any genre or type -- that readers want on DVD? Hundreds.
But, in order of e-mail mentions, we'll note the ten most popular not listed above. Robert Altman's HealtH, Robert Altman's Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Promise Her Anything (starring Warren Beatty and Leslie Caron), Small Sacrifices starring Farrah Fawcett (1991 mini-series), Elaine May's A New Leaf (starring May and Walter Matthau), What's So Bad About Feeling So Good (film comedy starring Mary Tyler Moore and George Peppard), Sunburn (1979 film starring Farrah Fawcett, Charles Grodin, Joan Collins and Art Carney), Elaine May's Ishtar (starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman), Somebody Killed Her Husband (starring Farrah Fawcett and Jeff Bridges) and Out of Darkness (TV film starring Diana Ross).
