‘Lethal Weapon,’ ‘Tin Men’ Poised for Release; Ken Russell’s ‘Gothic’ Nightmare in Time for Halloween

Next week is one of the biggest of the fall for home video debuts, headed by “Lethal Weapon” and “Tin Men.” Both are certain to be Top 10 rentals.

Other films scheduled for release are “Project X,” “The River’s Edge,” “Making Mr. Right,” “Creepshow 2,” “Three for the Road” and “Malone.”

November releases: “Who’s That Girl” (Nov. 8), “Extreme Prejudice” (Nov. 12), “Harry and the Hendersons” (Nov. 12), “Outrageous Fortune” (Nov. 17) and “The Whistle Blower” (Nov. 18).

NEW RELEASES: In Vestron’s “Gothic,” director Ken Russell once again uses famous creative people as pawns to present his nightmare visions. This time he uses Lord Byron (Gabriel Byrne), Percy Shelley (Julian Sands), Mary Shelley (Natasha Richardson) and Dr. Polidori (Timothy Spall), who were hanging out together during the summer of 1816 in an isolated villa on the shores of Lake Geneva. Russell distills a summer’s activity into one wild night. They start out telling each other ghost stories and wind up, through indulgence in drugs and kinky sex, zonked-out and freaked-out by horrific hallucinations. This is a sophisticated gross-out movie. Russell’s films, normally an orgy of excesses, are usually worth seeing because they invariably include moments of brilliance. Some of his attempts to shock really are scary but most are more funny than frightening. Critics didn’t like this movie and audiences didn’t flock to see it either.

New World’s “Death Before Dishonor” is a John-Wayne-type war movie with Fred Dryer playing the Wayne role. Of course, Dryer is no Wayne, so the movie lacks a powerful, heroic presence. This is a routine, violent action/drama, populated with slightly developed characters. Dryer plays an indestructible, hard-as-nails Marine sergeant who is turned loose against vicious Arab terrorists looking to take over a Middle Eastern country. When an American colonel (Brian Keith) is kidnaped by the terrorists, the sergeant teams with Israli commandos to rescue him. There are many plot holes but, with all the well-orchestrated action sequences, action fans won’t even notice. Because of all the grisly scenes--like one in which the colonel’s hand is punctured by a drill--this one is not for the squeamish.

Lightning Video’s “The Wraith” is a strange blend of teen comedy, ghost story and a Mad-Max-type adventure. It almost works but too many slow, overacted sequences spoil the eerie atmosphere and take the edge off the spectacular action sequences. The premise is intriguing--a stranger in a Robocop outfit who drives a super car shows up in a small town on a mysterious mission of vengeance. His target is a small town bully (Nick Cassevetes) and his slovenly gang. A macho loner (Charlie Sheen) shows up in town at the same time. Are the two newcomers the same person? You don’t find out, of course, until the end.

MCA’s “The Allnighter” is a showcase for the Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs, who doesn’t have the charisma to carry a movie. Centered around an all-night beach party, Hoffs plays a coed at a California college who’s in the market for romance. The plot is mundane and the characters are dull, college-comedy stereotypes. Some of these beach-party comedies are steaming with soft-core sex but this one doesn’t even offer any of that.

OLD MOVIES: Back in the late ‘60s, “Yellow Submarine” (1968, MGM/UA, $29.95) was considered one of the all-time great “head” films--those supposedly best appreciated while on drugs. But you don’t have to be stoned to savor the pleasures of this feature-length cartoon, which features caricatures of the Beatles as well as some of their best songs--including “When I’m 64” and “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” Done in flat, pop-art animation that’s enhanced by dazzling colors and loaded with nifty little jokes, it’s like a hip “Wizard of Oz,” with the Beatles’ trekking to Pepperland to save it from the ravages of the Blue Meanies. The movie’s message is found in one of the closing numbers--”All You Need is Love.” As they say, it’s for kids of all ages.

“She Done Him Wrong” (1933, MCA, $29.95) probably Mae West’s best film, seems very dated. Today West seems like a tame sexual caricature, but back in those days she was regarded as scandalous--the movies’ ground-breaking sexpot. There was no one else like this buxom bad girl, who was constantly tossing out sexy one-liners. Set in the gay ‘90s, this is a light-hearted, thinly plotted drama about a sassy saloon singer (West) who’s the object of everyone’s lust. The main question is which of the men who are throwing themselves at her she will finally catch. One of the candidates is a very young Cary Grant--before he became debonair. West teases him with the famous line, “Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?” Warning: West’s scenes with her black maid (Louise Beavers), while in keeping with the attitudes of the ‘30s, seem racist now and may offend some viewers.

CHARTS (Complied by Billboard magazine) TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, RENTALS

1--”Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (Paramount).

2--”Mannequin” (Media).

3--”Hoosiers” (HBO).

4--”Angel Heart” (IVE).

5--”Blind Date” (RCA/Columbia).

6--”Burglar” (Warner Video).

7--”An American Tail” (MCA).

8--”Crocodile Dundee” (Paramount). TOP VIDEOCASETTES, SALES

1--”Star Trek IV: the Voyage Home” (Paramount).

2--”An American Tail” (MCA).

3--”Lady and the Tramp” (Disney).

4--”Crocodile Dundee” (Paramount).

5--”Callantics” (MCA).

6--”Jane Fonda’s Low Impact Aerobic Workout” (Lorimar).

7--”Top Gun” (Paramount).

8--”Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (Paramount).