Sailor Moon: A Moon Star Is Born [VHS]
High-pitched, relentlessly fast-paced, and filmed in eye-gouging, gumball color, this video series collects dubbed episodes of an animated Japanese series about a group of schoolgirl superheroes. In Japan, it's a lighthearted, kiddy variation on a popular sub-genre--stories of alienated, but supernaturally gifted adolescents granted paranormal powers and enlisted in apocalyptic struggles between the dimensions. Imported to the United States in an attempt to create aPower Rangers-style mega-hit for girls,Sailor Moonhasn't become a mainstream phenomenon on that scale, although it has passionate, even obsessive fans, many of whom are much older than the intended demographic. (ASailor MoonWeb search can be a truly surreal experience.) The chirpy, giggly tone may be off-putting for some, but the level of visual imagination (and the self-sufficient courage of the young heroines) is exhilarating, especially when kids and parents watch together. This first video volume includes the "origin" episode, "A Moon Star is Born," in which young Serena is transformed into Sailor Moon by the occult power of a locket provided by Luna, the talking cat. (Serena is still a solo act at this stage; she collects additional Sailor Scout comrades as the series progresses.) In the second episode, "Talk Radio," a phantom radio program is somehow connected with the door-to-door delivery of flowers that put people to sleep. (Running time: 44 minutes)--David Chute