DVD Patrol: Today In Movie History...
Published: June 20th, 2014
By: Todd Campbell

We're looking back this week, Patrollers. The DVD Patrol decided to take a look back at a few movies that have some anniversaries this summer celebrating 30 year and 20 year milestones. The Toddster couldn't resist looking at some old favorites and we hope that they're yours too.

30 Year Anniversary

Ghostbusters – “You ain't afraid of no ghost." "Who you gonna call?" A couple of familiar sayings from one of the most iconic movies from the 1980s. We meet Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), three scientists who study the paranormal and are sent packing when they're thought to be a joke. Everything changes when they meet Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) who has a nasty encounter with a demon. Then, the guys become "Ghostbusters" and they start to get more business than they can handle when the team is joined Winston Zedamore (Ernie Hudson). Other problems plague the guys with the EPA breathing down their necks and a ghostly threat from another dimension. Will the guys be able to handle the chaos? This is still one of my favorites and a third movie has been said to be in the works. With the loss of Harold Ramis and Bill Murray said to not be associated with the project. It's hard to say where the state of the project is right now. Stay Tuned!

Gremlins – Having a pet is a very grown-up responsibility to have, and you have to do everything you can to take care of it. If there are rules to follow, it's a good idea to follow them. Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) was given a big job after his father's trip to Chinatown turns up a rather unique item. He decides to buy a pet called a "maguai." His previous owner tells him that he must follow three simple rules fore care. Keep him away from bright light, don't get him wet, and the last most important rule to not feed him after midnight. They name him Gizmo and at first everything seems to be fine. Then, in one night, if anything can go wrong, it does. Billy manages to break all of the rules and evil versions of Gizmo are born. The little critters manage to overrun the town causing all kinds of trouble. Can Billy and his friends find a way to stop them? The fun continues in "Gramlins 2: The New Batch" available on DVD shelves now. A fun adventure in itself.

20 Year Anniversary

True Lies – Director James Cameron (Avatar) teams with Arnold Schwarzenegger to bring us a new adventure. Harry Tasker (Schwarzenegger) always told his family he was a computer salesman who traveled a lot. Oh, he traveled a lot... but not to sell computers. It turns out that Harry was one of the top secret agents in the world trying to keep us all safe and was trying to find out how a terrorist network was getting their money. To make matters worse, he thinks his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) is having an affair with a car salesman (Bill Paxton). Harry decides to put his agency resources with his partner Gib (Tom Arnold) to use. They decide to give Helen a thrill by having her pose as a courier and then Harry would tell her everything. Things start to get real when the terrorists Harry has been tracking catch up with him and take him and Helen hostage. She finds out what Harry really foes for a living and she's less than thrilled. Can Harry fix things with Helen and save the world at the same time?

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There was supposed to be a sequel to this but unfortunately it never happened. Cameron went on to other projects and he's currently working on three new "Avatar" sequels coming to theaters.

Speed – Sometimes you have to ride the bus to get to where you have to go. However, a time comes when alternate transportation might be a better idea. Case in point, Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) was one of Los Angeles's top cops and he goes on a call with his partner Harry (Jeff Daniels). An elevator is stuck in a high rise with people trapped. They soon find out that a terrorist (Dennis Hopper) has rigged the elevator to blow if anyone tampers with it. Jack and Harry find a way to save the people and the bomber makes it appear he's dead. Some time later, Jack goes about his day and the bomber he thought was dead is actually alive and decides to play a game with Jack. He's rigged a bus to blow and after it reaches 50 miles per hour, and it has to stay at that speed or it will explode. Now Jack has to find a way to get on the bus and save them without blowing himself up in the process. With the aid of bus passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock), will Jack be able to save them?

Daniels teams with Jim Carrey once again for "Dumb and Dumber 2" in theaters in November.

Everything profiled here can be found on DVD on store shelves now. More DVDs back here next week. We have more Toddster takes coming soon. By the way, the Toddster will be right here next time.




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