‘Fourth of July’ Arrives in Stores With a Bang

THIS WEEK’S MOVIES

One of the most praised, successful and controversial films of last year, “Born on the Fourth of July” (MCA/Universal, priced for rental, R), leads off this week’s videocassettes with a bang.

Based on the real-life experiences of Ron Kovic (though with some stretching of the facts), “Born on the Fourth of July” is the dramatic story of a soldier who volunteered to fight in Vietnam but returned paralyzed below his chest. Director Oliver Stone (“Platoon,” “Wall Street”) provides the lengthy but never boring film--winner of two Academy Awards--with his usual gritty view, and Tom Cruise surprised many detractors with his strong performance as Kovic.

Other recent pictures new to video this week:

“Revenge” (RCA/Columbia, $89.95, R) came out earlier this year with a big star (Kevin Costner) and a hot director (Tony Scott of “Top Gun”) but still only managed to gross about $16 million. The passionate-triangle thriller also stars Anthony Quinn, Madeleine Stowe and Sally Kirkland.

“Blue Steel” (MGM/UA, $89.98, R) stars Jamie Lee Curtis as a rookie cop who gets involved with a crazy killer. The most publicized aspect of this 1990 release was that it was directed by a woman (Kathryn Bigelow).

“Coupe de Ville” (MCA/Universal, priced for rental, PG-13)--not to be confused with the Robin Williams movie “Cadillac Man” or the Clint Eastwood vehicle “Pink Cadillac”--stars Alan Arkin, Joseph Bologna and Patrick Dempsey in a comedy about three brothers who try to deliver a classic car to their mom for her birthday.

“Torrents of Spring” (HBO, $89.99, PG-13) is a period drama starring Timothy Hutton and Nastassja Kinski, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski.

“Rockula” (Cannon, $89.95, PG-13) spoofs vampire films and rocks out with Bo Diddley, Thomas Dolby and Toni Basil.

VINTAGE VIDEO: “Elvira’s Midnight Madness” is the umbrella title given to Rhino’s latest batch of schlocky horror films from the late ‘50s: “Frankenstein’s Daughter,” “She Demons” and (directed by bad-movie master Edward Wood, Jr.) “Night of the Ghouls.”