Everyone is entitled to William Shatner’s opinion, especially about sci-fi films. According to Joshua Silberstein, this legendary Star Trek icon loves being a movie critic. He also enjoys the thrill of the hunt. “That’s because Bill isn’t just watching movies and writing reviews, he’s looking for the best underground sci-fi movies he can find,” Silberstein points out in his press release of May 2, 2006. Evidently, every time the actor finds an undiscovered gem, he adds it to his William Shatner Sci-Fi DVD-of-the-Month Club (www.ShatnerDvdClub.com). The purpose of this club is to showcase the best sci-fi movies that never made it to our multiplexes or neighborhood theaters.    

Here are three of Shatner’s recent picks: 

Immortel (ad Vitem).  It’s the year 2095, and ancient Egyptian gods have returned to earth to pass judgment on Horus. This falcon-headed god has only a week to preserve his immortality. What must he do to achieve his goal? Find a human host and a willing mate -- and in New York to boot. “Immortel is a breathtakingly beautiful film, yet beneath the stunning and imaginative visuals is a genuinely captivating story,” Shatner says.  “This film took home two awards from the 2004 European Film Festival, but is still widely unknown in the U.S.”

Virus (aka Fukkatsu no hi). An actor named Ford plays the President of the United States here -- but it's the wonderful Glenn Ford, not the equally presidential-looking Harrison. Others in the cast include Chuck Connors, George Kennedy, Edward James Olmos, Henry Silva and Olivia Hussey. The great Sonny Chiba also appears in a small role. “This little known classic was the most expensive Japanese film production of the early ‘80s, and one of the finest disaster movies ever made,” Shatner declares. “Virus is massive in scale, with an epic, end-of-the-world plot. This DVD can be tough to find.” 

Close Your Eyes. This thriller tells the story of a telepathic hypno-therapist and a mute young girl who escaped from a serial killer. Scotland Yard recruits the therapist’s help in finding out what the girl knows about the killer, a man who thinks he’s discovered the key to immortality. Shatner calls Close Your Eyes “a taut and suspenseful thriller, twisting and turning effectively between the supernatural and the engaging mystery that drives the plot.” Impressed by the acting, Shatner reports that ER veteran Goran Visnjic delivers “a stunning and surprising portrayal of the dark and complex protagonist; a must-see for genre fans.”

To read about additional Shatner sci-fi selections, visit www.shatnerdvdclub.com. Silberstein also states that if you know a movie you think Shatner should screen, write him at WilliamShatner@Fullturnmedia.com.