Off The Record...
Sevendust
Home
Coming back hard two years after the release of their self-titled debut is the pride of Southern-bred US metal, Sevendust. Their new album, Home, was written after an incredible 21 straight months on the road. There's no missing the killer riffs or Lajon Witherspoon's ability to conjure a multitude of voices, from evocative croon to lung detonation. Overall, this disc shows the Atlanta-based quintet stretching out musically. Hats off to the Dust for keeping it swaying. A strong album top to bottom.

Toy Box...
Austin Powers Film Figures
Series 2 of Austin Powers figures are out, and this time they actually include figures from the first movie International Man of Mystery. This second lot are even better and manage to keep the batteries alive on their base stand by having you pull out a tab after you've opened the packaging. Austin Powers is captured in this series in his striped blue suit and in a very Mike Myers-esque slanted position. You know you've made the big time when an action figure is created from your likeness, and Seth Green is finally immortalized as his character Scott Evil. The female figures are proving to be the most revealing and most sought after of both series. Look for the rare dirty versions only available at specialty shops.

On DVD...
Leprechaun In The Hood
This film is part 5 in the beloved Leprechaun series, the continuing story of an evil Irish troll (Warwick Davis) who wreaks bloody havoc on anyone who steals his lucky charms (i.e., loot) while uttering Freddy Kruger-like one-liners in a thick Irish brogue. If you find that idea hilarious, run out right now and rent Leprechaun 1 through 4. There must be something empowering for Warwick Davis in playing the malevolent Leprechaun after playing everything from Ewoks to Willow. It is without doubt the finest movie about an evil leprechaun ever to be set in Compton.

The Buzz...

Bowing to pressure from fans, George Lucas is finally releasing The Phantom Menace on DVD. An article in an online edition of Wired says that three fan sites were instrumental in getting the Jedi Master to reconsider his earlier anti-DVD stance.

The Federal Communications Commission ruled that Time Warner Inc. violated agency rules when it dropped ABC's local signals from its cable systems.

New York-based distributor BKS announced that the action series in development, Doublecross, has been cancelled. The syndicated series was expected to debut this fall with Baywatch's David Hasselhoff in the lead role as a convicted art forger who helps out a shadowy government group.

It's official. Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced that they had signed an exclusive multimillion-dollar deal to create 30 new episodes of South Park for Comedy Central. Their new deal will also see them developing a new live-action series that will debut next year.

The Wachowski brothers, creators of The Matrix, are said to be creating an anime style cartoon prequel to the hit movie.

Superstar Jackie Chan will strike a pose for Madame Tussaud's new Hong Kong wax museum. Chan is the first Chinese entertainer to be invited for a sitting. 

The Walt Disney Co. and producer Ricardo Mestres have hired Carter Blanchard to write the script for Marian and Robin. The feature film will offer an alternate interpretation of the popular legend, in which Maid Marian is revealed as the mastermind behind the Merry Men.

Christopher Plummer has agreed to appear in Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000. The actor, who received critical acclaim for playing newsman Mike Wallace in The Insider, will star as Abraham Van Helsing, a London antiques dealer.

McDonalds will introduce Happy Meals that feature toys from Fox Kids Network/Saban's Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. All told, the promotion will feature eleven Power Ranger toys ,five Pullback Burster vehicles and six Power Burster figures.

Joining the likes of Spider-Man, Superman, the Hulk, Batman and messy drinkers everywhere, the Pokemon Pikachu will become the latest fiction celebrity to ask if kids "Got Milk?"

Village Voice writer Jimmy McDonough filed a $1.8 million suit against Neil Young, alleging Young has refused to allow the publication of a biography written by McDonough that the singer/songwriter originally authorized.

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