‘Avalon’s’ Late Release Just in Time

THIS WEEK’S MOVIES

There aren’t many new videocassettes, so maybe it’s a good thing that RCA/Columbia rescheduled “Avalon” for release now.

Barry Levinson’s critically acclaimed, semi-autobiographical story of an immigrant family’s experiences in a Baltimore neighborhood called Avalon stars Joan Plowright, Aidan Quinn, Elizabeth Perkins and Armin Mueller-Stalh. The tape carries no list price and is rated PG.

What’s left of the new movies-on-tape is pretty scary. And not just because of the poor selection:

“Predator 2” (CBS/Fox, $92.98, R) has neither the original’s high-power star (Arnold Schwarzenegger) nor skillful director (John McTiernan), but it does have Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Ruben Blades and the same menace from outer space who sets down in the urban jungle rather than the rain forest this time.

“The Chair” (Imperial, $89.95, R) isn’t a comfy one. It’s a 1988 prison-set horror film starring, of all people, the late James Coco.

“Curse III: Blood Sacrifice” (RCA/Columbia, $59.95, R) stars Christopher Lee in one of those horror sequels that seem to get made for no particular reason other than to fill out a slow week at the video store.

NON-MOVIE CASSETTES

There may not be many movies to choose from this weekend, but you can just laugh it off by watching “I Love Lucy” all weekend.

CBS/Fox just released four new volumes (9 through 12) containing two episodes each ($14.98) of the classic ‘50s TV series starring Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz. Two of the wilder shows: Lucy gets a loving cup stuck on her head (Vol. 9); Lucy and Ethel pull a weird publicity stunt atop the Empire State Building (Vol. 12).

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Next week: “The Rookie,” “Mermaids,” “Jacob’s Ladder.”

Future features: “The Grifters” and “Reversal of Fortune” (June 5), “Kindergarten Cop” (June 6), “Green Card” and “White Fang” (June 12), “Postcards From the Edge” (June 15), “Goodfellas” (June 19), “Edward Scissorhands” (June 27), “Misery” and “Once Around” (July 11), “The Russia House” (July 17), “L.A. Story” (July 18), “Home Alone” (Aug. 22). And the TV miniseries “Lonesome Dove” will be out on video Aug. 8.