TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : VIDEOCASSETTES : Excellent Good Fair Poor

“Ultravox: The Collection.” Vestron. $29.95. Along with Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, et al., the second, post-1979 version of this British band represented the New Romantic movement and spurred its quick transformation into the musical scourge of the ‘80s: English glamour-pop. The members of this latter, Midge Ure-led Ultravox also earned a barely deserved reputation as influential video stars. The directors of the clips in this 54-minute anthology (notably Russell Mulcahy) offered mini-cinematic versions of the chic, superficial images that appeared in the Face, the English fashion-pop magazine: lots of polished surfaces, weighty symbols, spiffy tuxedos and chiaroscuro black-and-white lighting. Except for the latter, it all seems contrived and dated now--as does the music. Information: (203) 968-0000. 1/2