Oshima’s ‘Realm of the Senses’ Out Now

THIS WEEK’S MOVIES

“WARNING: This unrated feature film presents graphic sexual scenes and is intended for mature adults only (18 or over).”

Now that we’ve got your attention, we’ll explain that this is how the label reads on one of this week’s video releases. “In the Realm of the Senses” (Fox/ Lorber, 1976, $89.95, unrated) is the uncut, 104-minute version of the controversial and erotic Japanese film about an intense (we ain’t kiddin’) relationship between a geisha and her boss. Directed by Nagisa Oshima (who has since made “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”), the drama ends with a particularly shocking scene that’s the main cause of the adults-only warning.

This week’s other movies are a little milder, but each has something going for it:

“House Party” (RCA/Columbia, 1990, $89.95, R) is a surprisingly likable hip-hop comedy especially enlivened by one of the most lighthearted rap duos around, Kid ‘n’ Play. The uneven but often fresh film about a wild night in the lives of some suburban black teens also stars Full Force and Tisha Campbell.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (HBO, 1990, $89.99, R) is an overly somber but thought-provoking adaptation of Canadian writer Margaret Atwood’s novel about the suppression of women in the not-so-distant future. The impressive cast includes Natasha Richardson, Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth McGovern and Aidan Quinn. Volker Schlondorff directed.

“Time of the Gypsies” (RCA/Columbia, 1989, $79.95, R) stars Davor Dujmovic as a Gypsy youth who must chose between the integrity of the grandmother who brought him up and the amorality of other people in his life. The subtitled drama won a best-director award at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival for Emir Kusturica (“When Father Was Away on Business”).

“Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt” (HBO, 1989, $25), Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s 79-minute film, about the making of the 14-acre quilt honoring victims of AIDS, won last year’s Academy Award for best feature documentary.

VINTAGE VIDEO: Due to space limitations, not all of the MGM/UA classic films were listed last week. Here are the others ($19.98 each):

“The Teahouse of the August Moon” (1956), a military comedy with style--and Marlon Brando as a wise-guy Okinawan.

“Destination Tokyo” (1943), a nifty submarine drama with Cary Grant, but be prepared for some pretty nasty anti-Japanese slurs.

“A Patch of Blue” (1965), which stars Elizabeth Hartman and Sidney Poitier in a sensitive drama about a blind white woman in love with a black man.

“The Scalphunters” (1968), an uneven, eccentric Western comedy with Burt Lancaster.

“Torpedo Run” (1958), a sub-”Destination Tokyo” sub movie.

And last and least, two sluggish Charles Bronson Westerns: “Chato’s Land” (1972) and “The White Buffalo” (1977).

OTHER NEW VIDEOS

Also because of a last-minute trim, we were able last Friday only to mention the release of the Mary Martin “Peter Pan,” which got the jump on Disney’s upcoming cartoon version (due Sept. 21). Now for some details: The Martin-starring version (Goodtimes, $24.99) is a 104-minute live-action delight that was first shown as a 1960 television special. It’s highly recommended, especially if you missed the 1988 network re-showing.

You can belatedly celebrate Earth Day with “Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special” (Warner, $9.95), a 95-minute, bargain-priced video of the April 22 TV special featuring Robin Williams, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand and other stars.