‘Honey, I Blew Up the Kid’ Tops Releases

Buena Vista’s “Honey, I Blew Up the Kid” ($95) is the best of the latest batch of films to hit the home video market. As sequels go, this follow-up to “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” is decent and good family fun. This time the nerdy father (Rick Moranis) uses a sci-fi ray to turn his young son into a colossus.

A rundown of other recent video releases:

“Christopher Columbus: The Discovery” (Warner, $95). A box-office bomb, this lavish, often laughable, agonizingly dull version of the discovery of America features Tom Selleck and Marlon Brando.

“Poison Ivy” (New Line, $93). Remember “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”? This crass, unconvincing thriller tells a similar story, with an evil young temptress (Drew Barrymore) moving in on an unassuming pal (Sara Gilbert).

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (FoxVideo, $95). In this very uneven, mildly funny spoof of both the Valley Girl culture and B horror movies, a high school cheerleader (Kristy Swanson) becomes a designated vampire killer. Co-starring Luke Perry and Paul Reubens.

“Stay Tuned” (Warner, $95). In this satire of TV addicts and bad TV shows, a squabbling couple (John Ritter and Pam Dawber) become prisoners of Satan’s TV network, reluctantly inhabiting shows like “Three’s Company”--which is Ritter’s old sitcom. Clever idea stretched woefully thin.

“Darkest Africa” (1936, Republic, $30). If you can stomach the 1930s stereotypes of blacks, this 15-chapter serial, featuring the wooden acting of animal trainer Clyde Beatty and some of the cheesiest sets imaginable, is great fun.

“Panther Girl of the Kongo” (Republic, 1955, $30). Unintentionally hilarious, lobster-like monsters highlight this 12-chapter serial, co-starring B picture favorites Phyllis Coates and Myron Healey, about a sinister scientist. Black stereotypes again somewhat tarnish the fun.

Upcoming on video: “A Stranger Among Us” and “Where the Day Takes You” (Wednesday); “Man Trouble,” “3 Ninjas” and “Raising Cain” (Jan. 20); “Single White Female” (Jan. 27); “The Water-dance” and “Unlawful Entry” (Feb. 3), “Death Becomes Her” (Feb. 10), “A League of Their Own” (Feb. 17), “Sneakers” and “Honeymoon in Vegas” (Feb. 24).