Maverick director Walter Hill, who had a big hit with 48 Hrs., indulges his customary yen for violent and disturbing scenes in this overlooked action film, which was also released under the name Looters. Set in the economically-depressed town of East St. Louis, IL, the film's release was delayed several months because its riot scenes were too similar to those that actually took place in the summer of 1992 in L.A. Bill Paxton plays Vince and Bill Sadler plays Don. They are a couple of good-old-boy firefighters who are tipped off that some stolen gold treasures have been hidden in an old warehouse. They find and enter the building but witness a brutal murder. The gangland killing is part of a turf battle between two rival drug lords. When one of them finds out that the firemen have seen the execution, he orders the witnesses murdered. But they have found the treasure and have kidnapped one gang leader's brother. An elaborate and violent series of skirmishes and chases ensue. Rapper-actors Ice-T and Ice Cube have roles as leading gang members.

Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins. A 12-year-old boy makes a wish at a carnival and awakens to find himself a 30-year-old man in this funny, sensitive story of childhood vs. Adulthood. Directed by Penny Marshall. 1988/color/102 min/PG/widescreen.

Darkman [DVD]

Paul Neaman returns to a role that made him famous in director Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money. Sadly, this 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is presented non-anamorphic, and as such suffers from a lack of true definition and crispness. While the colors are all fairly solid and bright, overall it's a disappointment to see an Oscar winning film given such shoddy treatment by Buena Vista. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 4.1 in English and French and plays above average. While the directional effects are kept to a minimum, this is still an apt mix that includes nary an once of hiss or distortion in the dialogue, music or effects. The extra features on this disc are floating at the bottom of the barrel -- all that's included are some paltry recommendation from the distributor.