Off The Record...
Hanoi Rocks
Decadent Dangerous Delicious
Finland's Hanoi Rocks were the real deal, wrote amazing songs, had the looks that kill, and completely stood the test of time. If you like old Alice Cooper, the Dolls, Iggy and all that good stuff, try this as an introduction to a great, under appreciated band. From the dark, San Yaffa-bass driven Tragedy, to the forgotten boy anthem Back To Mystery City, these songs hold up unbelievably well. They rocked, they rolled, they swaggered, and they looked damn good doing it too. Their spirit lives on and so does their music. This double disc is a must have for the true rock collector.

At The Movies...
The In Crowd
Adrien Williams enters the In Crowd when she is befriended by Brittany Foster, the charismatic leader of a clique of wealthy college students who are home for the summer. Brittany takes Adrien under her wing, and introduces her to other members of her inner circle, including the object of Brittany's affection, tennis pro Matt Curtis. When Matt shows an interest in Adrien, Brittany begins to reveal her dark side and Adrien slowly starts to learn that Brittany and her pack of friends will do anything to protect their circle and the dark secrets they harbor. Slick, sexy and ever so evil.
 

On Video...
Magnolia
Director Paul Thomas Anderson followed his epic Boogie Nights with this three-hour ensemble exploration of one day and night in the interlocking lives of a dozen people in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, examining their gloomy lives and dreams, complete with an ominous ending. Audiences either loved or hated this massive epic, seeing it as a masterpiece or as a failed and boring study of askew personalities. Definitely for the patient.

The Buzz...

Lego, the Danish toymaker, has snatched up the exclusive worldwide rights to produce toys based on the film version of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The toys should be in stores in time for the movie's 2001 release.

X-Files creator/executive producer Chris Carter apparently has a short list of candidates to serve as Agent Scully's partner in the upcoming season. Bruce Campbell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Hart Bochner, and Robert Patrick tested with Fox to fill the role opposite series star Gillian Anderson.

Andy Richter, who recently left his sidekick post on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, will be starring with David Cross (Mr. Show) in the comedy Pootie Tang.

Almost 30 minutes of footage was removed from the X-Men during the film's final cut. Fox executives apparently wanted to tighten the pace of the movie.

Snake Plissken, the eye-patched hero portrayed by Kurt Russell in Escape From New York and Escape From L.A., will soon be invading our TV screens. Although Russell will be executive producing the series with Debra Hill and director John Carpenter, he probably will let another actor portray Plissken on the small screen as he's too busy to act in the series.

Universal has signed Jonathan Hales to write the screenplay for the second sequel to the studio's surprise hit The Mummy. Hales is currently working on the script for Star Wars: Episode II.

Warner Bros. is planning a Sept. 22 release for The Exorcist, the Version You've Never Seen. The digitally remastered and remixed version of the classic horror flick contains 11 minutes of never-before-seen footage.

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Estella Warren is in final talks to appear in Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes as Mark Wahlberg's love interest. The 21-year-old Warren was a nationally ranked Canadian synchronized swimmer.

Two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest has been tapped to replace outgoing Law & Order star Steven Hill. Hill, whose crusty D.A., Adam Schiff, was the only original cast member of the long-running NBC drama, has decided to leave the show after 10 years.

Now that Jennie Garth’s decade-long run on Fox soap Beverly Hills, 90210 is over, the blond actress is shifting her focus to family. Garth, 28, will marry actor Peter Facinelli in January.

Jimmy Smits has been confirmed for a role in Star Wars: Episode II, which already includes Phantom Menace players Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Samuel L. Jackson. Smits will fill the role of Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, the foster father of Princess Leia. Leia Organa is the daughter of Queen Amidala (Portman) and was, of course, portrayed by Carrie Fisher in the original Star Wars.

Dr. Dre made good on his threats, filing suit against the city of Detroit for more than $25 million. The rapper claimed that his First Amendment rights were violated when police stopped him from showing part of the video presentation of his Up in Smoke road show when it hit the Motor City July 6.

Artisan Entertainment has finished making the half-hour mock documentary The Burkittsville 7 to help promote Showtime's exclusive showing of The Blair Witch Project and to generate interest in the upcoming theatrical release of Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.

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