Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights

Amazon.com

The sinuous world of 1950s Cuban dance halls provides the setting for Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, a "reimagining" that shares with the original movie a deep love of sexy young people pressed tightly together on the dance floor. Fresh from New England, bookish and lovely Katey (Romola Garai, adorable in the charming but little-seen I Capture the Castle) meets a fiery young busboy named Javier (Diego Luna, Y Tu Mama Tambien) at a snooty hotel. Before you can say Tito Puente, the two have found a common language in the sensual swaying of their limbs, despite the resistance of Katey's mother (Sela Ward). It's all ridiculous, of course--the dialogue is atrocious, the characters tortilla-thin, and the politics embarrassing--but that's hardly the point. Luna is dreamy, there's lots of sweaty dancing, and Patrick Swayze makes an appearance--what more can you ask from a movie called Dirty Dancing? --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Nice movie with a little history lesson.......2007-06-10

Pretty predictable if you watched the first Dirty Dancing. Still some good dancing in this one and it was good for a movie with next to no know actors in it. I found the activities going on during this period in Havana more interesting then the story of the main characters. Good to watch, not good to own.

Videos.......2007-02-27

This was a present for my 17-year-old daughter, who loves to dance. She likes Havana Nights for its spicyness and Spanish flvor. It is a teen-age thing.

Que tonta.......2006-11-27

I understand that Dirty Dancing movies aren't going to be exactly like Citizen Kain. But when you think about the premise, the culture and classist clash of American vs. Cuban dancing, sexuality, and budding romance set during the backdrop of the Revolution, the movie sounds quite promising. I mean, when I heard the premise I thought "This movie was MADE for me," because it has Cuban history and politics, awesome dancing (or so I assumed it would, due to its predecessor,) and, come on, the main character has the same name as me. But I should have realized then that a good premise does not necessarily lead to a good, or even adequate, execution.

I won't summarize the movie as so many others do; if you want a synopsis, look to their reviews. I WILL point out what exactly I found so lacking about it, and why I do not feel it was that good of a movie, even when one considers that it's ultimately just a dance movie. But again one must remember that it was their decision to involve politics in the movie, and in doing so they made themselves fair game--I do not believe in just using a deep political situation just to make a story line seem a little deeper; if it is not handled properly, it is insulting.

First off, the romance. Diego Luna and Romola Garai had definite chemistry, and it is so disappointing when you realize that the movie did not capitalize upon this, and all you're going to see in addition to some very sexually charged dancing is a few hurried onscreen kisses and an implied sex scene. Given their chemistry and the buildup of their relationship, their first kiss could have been so much better, instead of just snuck in during a dance routine--it was so quick I spent many minutes wondering if I had really seen it or not. However, to me chemistry is not the only thing required in an on-screen relationship, and I have no idea to this minute why Javier and Katey fell in love with each other. Katey's personality was developed in the movie sense (she likes classic literature, is a bookworm and rather progressive for her time) and Javier was clearly the "will do anything for his family and feels that Cuba is in need of a change" but I don't really know how those two fit together. Aside from the sexual attraction component, I have no idea what exactly they saw in each other to make their relationship anything more than "He was hot, she was pretty, and she felt sorry for him." Some might argue that Katey was merely attracted to the intensity and freedom of the Cuban lifestyle embodied by Javier, but I ask you: the movie was founded upon the idea of a romance, and what the heck kind of relationship is that?

I would also like to add that the Spanish conversations WITHOUT subtitles were incredibly rude to the audience. I do speak Spanish, but I could not make much sense of the slurred words and to this day I am wondering what exactly Javier and his brother said to each other after the Revolution broke out. Maybe they figured that the audience would not care (pfft, what are politics compared to SALSA DANCING,) but I cared.

And now, the historical components. I will not get into the anachronisms--such as Katey's parents' attitude towards her staying nights with a boy they don't know, and that even Cuba in the 50's could not have been that unrestrained--as there are many who could do that better justice than I (apparently the style of dancing in the movie was unlike what was popular in Cuba at the time.) After all, it is only a dance movie. I can ignore that stuff. But when the movie brings the history to ME I cannot ignore it, and I further dislike it when movie directors assume that their audience is completely ignorant of certain aspects of history and will just assume that "Man, that Batista guy was a jerk; he didn't allow dancing. Hopefully life will be better under this new regime! Who'd they say it was, some guy by the name of Fidel Something-or-Another?" (I am exaggerating; at least I hope that no one is that ignorant.)

And here we get to the backdrop of the story, Revolutionary Cuba. First off, Batista's regime wasn't really shown to be that bad; aside from the story involving Javier's father, it might as well have been that town in Footloose (perhaps a little more violent.) It was like Dictatorship Lite. After Havana falls to Castro and co., the Cubans act happy (which is understandable) but things are otherwise pretty calm, which one cannot imagine is really likely in such a situation.

And then we get to the ending. Katey asks Javier to come to America with her. In a move which my sister has deemed the "stupidest decision in a movie ever," Javier refuses, saying that he has to stay because of the Revolution, which he believes (or wants to believe, anyway) will improve life for him and his people, Batista killed his free-thinking father, viva la Revolución, yadda yadda yadda. I understand that movies don't always have happy endings, but I think that there is a middle ground between "boy and girl live happily ever after" to "girl lives happily ever after and boy gets sent to the gulag after he finds out that Castro isn't exactly the nice guy he claims to be and wow, Batista was a cakewalk compared to this, and has to spend his years in a drawer cell where he would kick himself for his earlier decision if, you know, he could actually kick himself, but drawer cells don't allow that." I truly think that the filmmakers did not anticipate their audience to think this much, which is understandable, but come on--everyone knows that communist Cuba is no picnic, and when Katey says something along the lines of "I know that we'll meet again," I couldn't help but thinking that the only way THAT would happen would be if Javier braves the Gulf and takes up Florida's wet feet dry feet policy. In fact, when I told my friend about the ending he said, "that boy is going to have to stop dancing and learn to convert his '57 Chevy into a boat."

I understand that people at first thought that Castro was fantastic and he didn't reveal his true intentions until later, but the fact remains that Cuba was politically instable and to choose to stay there instead of going to America was still pretty questionable. And then Katey's optimistic "We'll see each other again someday!" was just waaaay too much for me.

So, in short, if you're like me and you can't turn off your brain while watching a movie, this one's going to give you a lot of issues. If you CAN turn off your brain and just enjoy it for what it is--a dance movie--you'll probably like it, though find some things (like the romance) lacking.

Better than the others.......2006-10-24

I bought this movie last year on a hum bug. This movie really surprised me. I really enjoyed it. My daughters love it as well. We watch it constantly and the soundtrack is awesome too.

For the Love of Dancing, Great Lessons! Romantic Story!.......2006-10-16

Choreographed to utter perfection, the love story between two inspiring young characters from different worlds grows through a masterpiece of dancing blended from steps in their special journey together. Beautiful Katey(Romola Garai) finds all the ingredients: to be special, important, wanted and needed in a guy who completes her in the passion for dancing, and wins in a national dance competition that spectacularly surprises her parents and old friends. Her dedication to help Javier yields a bitter-sweet reward as they both get more than they expected in freedom, intimacy, and royalty in the world of great music and rhythm that make their last dance the dance of a lifetime. This movie is truly delightful to watch over and over. The captivating music, creative dance, and wonderful love story all come together in a symbolic journey through life!

Average customer rating:

Slow Moving Psycho Thriller
Quietly Sinister
Miscast
Sleepy Time
Good acting but could have been written a little better

The Night Listener
Starring: Robin Williams , Toni Collette , Joe Morton , Bobby Cannavale , and Rory Culkin
Director: Patrick Stettner
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000J3FBDO
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Amazon.com

Celebrity and psychosis collide to truly creepy effect in The Night Listener. Radio personality Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams) is asked to read an advance copy of a memoir by a boy who was horribly abused by his parents. Struck by the boy's story, Noone starts talking to him over the phone, gradually taking an almost parental interest in him--until someone suggests that the boy may not be exactly who he seems. Troubled, Noone flies to Wisconsin, where he meets the boy's social worker (Toni Collette, The Sixth Sense, In Her Shoes) and uncovers some alarming secrets. Don't let the vague, faux-literary title The Night Listener lead you astray; this is a horror movie and a very good one. There are no supernatural monsters or relentless axe-murderers, only a damaged, manipulative mind, which proves to be creepier than any serial killer. Williams gives an excellent, quirk-free performance, but it's Collette who gets under your skin and crawls around. She's vividly eerie, the sort of performance that can stick with you for days. Stealthy, surprising, and wonderfully acted all around--the movie also features Joe Morton (The Brother from Another Planet), Bobby Cannavale (The Station Agent), and Sandra Oh (Sideways)--The Night Listener is an unexpected gem. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Academy Award(R) winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, GOOD WILL HUNTING, 1997; ONE HOUR PHOTO, INSOMNIA) is unforgettable in a riveting, critically acclaimed psychological thriller based on true events! Gabriel Noone (Williams), a celebrated writer and late-night talk show host, becomes captivated by the harrowing story of a young listener and his adoptive mother (Toni Collette - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, IN HER SHOES). When troubling questions arise about the boy's identity, however, Noone finds himself drawn into a widening mystery that hides a deadly secret! Also starring Sandra Oh (SIDEWAYS, TV's GREY'S ANATOMY) and based on the best-selling novel by Armistead Maupin, THE NIGHT LISTENER delivers unpredictable twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Customer Reviews:

Slow Moving Psycho Thriller.......2007-09-01

Gabriel Noonan is a writer and radio talk show host who is investigating the truth claims of a Wisconsin teenage boy who claims to have had a life of sexual abuse. He is now being cared for by his adoptive mother (Toni Collette).

Although the mom is not ready for Gabriel to meet the boy, he seems obsessed with finding him, anyway. He breaks into the home and into private hospital rooms and gets himself arrested.

For the rest of the film, you are left to wonder, "Who is the nutjob? Is it Gabriel? Is it the mom? Is it Gabriel's book keeper?"

The movie starts out slow, but once it gets going, it will hold your interest. 3 stars.

Quietly Sinister.......2007-08-24

There have been many criticisms of this unusual film - some warranted, others not so - though it is adeptly written, well thought-through, perfect atmosphere, excellent acting from the entire crew, including Mr. Williams as the broken hearted radio story teller and Toni Collette in the role as a social worker for a sick little boy. This is not a horror story with all the clichéd trimmings, but a true to form thriller including that required eeriness to pull off this kind of strange psychological tale.

As the film unfolds there began a cold tingle at the back of my neck which instinctively told me there was something terribly sinister hovering just under the surface. In fact, the word sinister adequately describes the entire film.

The plot itself is bizarre enough: publisher receives manuscript, a well-written manuscript from a 14 year old boy, and asks Noone (Williams) if he will take a look at it. At first reluctant, he reads the manuscript and becomes obsessed about the young author. Evidently the boy had been a victim of pornographic abuse, paedophilia and now is dying. A relationship ensues between Noone and the boy by way of the telephone. Something is wrong, however, because Noone becomes obsessed about meeting the child but whenever the opportunity arises, it always falls through.

Something else hints through as the story unfolds: oddly the little boy's voice and his carer's are somewhat similar in tone and intonation - the begging question presents itself, Are the "carer" and the dying little boy the same person?

Gabriel Noone's obsession moves into hyper drive, thus he travels across country to prove this little boy's existence.

The film picks up pace from here, of course, though it is surely Toni Collette's sinister, and very creepy performance that for me, stole the show.

Please do not let the negative reviews put you off seeing this film...if you like creepy thrillers, see it.

Miscast.......2007-08-19

Robin Williams is horribly miscast in this film, and there are a number of actors who could have done the role and the film a lot of good. All of his strengths are under wraps, his weaknesses as an actor (he's just grim in serious drama, which is boring) up front. The big subtext in the story is not dealt with in either his performance or the film (is his fascination with a young teenager sexual?), leaving you with the impression it is (you get the feeling the producers felt no one would associate Williams with pedophilia so they just ignored it). This has to be the last thing they intended. There will hopefully be a drama that uses Williams in a way that releases his comic energies some day. The rest of the cast - particularly Toni Collette - is wonderful but mostly underused. This is a prime example of A List miscasting, almost up there with Whoopi Goldberg in "Fatal Beauty". It could have been interesting.

Sleepy Time.......2007-07-20

An unsatisfying film version of Armistad Maupin's equally unsatisfying roman a clef, THE NIGHT LISTENER is carefully made, but doesn't add up to much. Like fellow comic Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams in dramatic roles manages to damp down the brilliance of his gift without coming up with a satisfactory replacement for that rapid-fire wit. He works hard here, but it's a safe bet many other actors would have been more successful in this role. On the other hand, the always-impressive Toni Collette adds another indelible portrait to her gallery of screen women; eerie and frightening, she's like some creature hauled, gasping and blinking, from a subterranean lake. An excellent supporting cast and handsome cinematography can't help much, either. This material's simply too inconclusive for its own good.

Good acting but could have been written a little better.......2007-06-27

Overall this was a good psychological thriller. Toni Collette shines as the creepy, mentally ill "Donna." Her character ranges from eccentric to downright scary. Robin Williams also turns in a solid performance...not his best but still quite good. However, I still felt like something was missing. The movie goes by at a quick pace, almost too quick. I think they could have gone more in depth with some of the scenes, themes, and secondary characters. But the movie kept my interest throughout. I was really anxious to see how it ended.

Average customer rating:

Be Careful
In the end, we are what we pretend to be....
Better with each watching.
It Doesn't Suck!
Mother Night Novel vs. Film

Mother Night
Starring: Nick Nolte , Sheryl Lee , Alan Arkin , Bernard Behrens , and Anna Berger
Director: Keith Gordon
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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ASIN: B00004RFAJ
Release Date: 2000-08-22

Amazon.com

The third movie from director Keith Gordon (The Chocolate War, A Midnight Clear). The 35-year-old director who started as an actor (Christine) has turned into one of the more assured directors working today. His films are ambitious in plot and tone. With Mother Night he works with his first major star, Nick Nolte.

In 1961, the fictitious Howard W. Campbell Jr., an American by birth, shares the same deserted prison with Adolph Eichmann. As he prepares to stand trial for war crimes, the former playwright scribes his memoirs. Now this is the same Howard W. Campbell Jr. who was a notorious voice on German radio during the war, tearing into American policy and spreading Nazi propaganda. Was he a willful participant or an American spy? Campbell, who romanticizes at the drop of a hat, tells his story of indifference, morality, and love. His days of notoriety in Berlin give way to anonymity back in the States. He purrs about his true love (Sheryl Lee) and tells truths with his shrewd neighbor in New York (Alan Arkin).

The movie is based on Kurt Vonnegut's 1961 novel of the same name. Gordon and screenwriter Robert E. Weide have an uncommon insight into Vonnegut's material: the mesh of fact and fiction, the sweeping themes, the tragic goofiness. The movie is perfectly suited to Nolte's gruff style with a husky voice that pierces the night. The film is a cherished companion piece to Slaughterhouse Five. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Be Careful.......2007-06-13

An interesting DVD. The movie was good but the extras were even better. The interview with Vonnegut and Nolte was quite interesting, as was an idea for trailer that was eventually modified before being used. It occurred to me that the original trailer (still admired by the producers) violated the warning of the movie by being something that should not even be pretended at.

In the end, we are what we pretend to be...........2006-10-05

As an avid fan of Kurt Vonnegutt, I have been somewhat disappointed in some of the movie adaptations of his work. This, however, is an exceptional film and very true to the novel. It may be Mr. Nolte's best performance in any role. He is believable, frightening, and pitiable at the same time. A moving and enlightening work that reminds us all that we are what we pretend to be in the end.

Better with each watching........2006-04-06

The first time I watched this film I liked it. The second time I loved it. The third time I worshipped it. The characters grow on me more each time - I could spend two hours just watching Alan Arkin and Nick Nolte talking about nothing over a bottle of wine.

I'm a Vonneut fan, and this is the only film to capture not just his wit and plot but the wonderful, wonderful characters he creates.

It Doesn't Suck!.......2006-03-11

I was skeptical about this movie. Movies based on novels are almost always severely lacking or they mess up the whole theme making it suitable for hollywood. Mother Night is not one of those movies. It follows the book pretty closely and uses the medium of film to take it a step further. I'd still recommend reading the book by Kurt Vonnegut, but this movie won't disappoint.

Mother Night Novel vs. Film.......2006-02-24

The adaption of Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night from novel to film could not have been any better than this. It's likely the best film from a book ever. Highly recommended to Vonnegut fans and fans of the movies.

Average customer rating:

Survive the Night
Starring: Richard Chevolleau , Louis di Bianco , Jr. Lawrence Gilliard , Ernie Jackson , and Peter MacNeill
Director: Bill Corcoran
Manufacturer: Direct Source Label
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ASIN: B000MMMT8C
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Average customer rating:

Markie Post Rules!! Great Movie!!
Very Well Done

Visitors of the Night
Starring: Markie Post , Stephen McHattie , Candace Cameron Bure , Dale Midkiff , and Pam Hyatt
Director: Jorge Montesi
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005QJJC
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Customer Reviews:

Markie Post Rules!! Great Movie!!.......2003-09-17

The beautiful Markie Post Rules as a mother of a daughter who is repeatedly abducted by aliens.It's a must see movie!!

Very Well Done.......2002-09-03

This is actually a really good movie. It's a made for T.V. movie. I saw it for the first time on Lifetime, which isn't a station I would normally watch. It's a movie based on alien abductions. A mother and daughter are confronted with this. At first, it starts with the daughter's loss of time and memory. Later on in the movie, the mother goes to counceling and finds that she was abducted as well. The plot thickens, but I would really hate to give it away. This would probably be a good movie for anyone interested in aliens. I'd say for the price of the DVD $$$go for it. There aren't any extras on this DVD, but I would assume there would be on the one that will cost you a little more $$$

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this is reality...
A little glimpse of harsh reality
All Night Bodega: trying to make it in a NYC barrio

All Night Bodega
Starring: Jaime Tirelli , Tammy Trull , Blanca Camacho , Romi Dias , and Gabriel Salvador
Director: Felix Olivier
Manufacturer: Xenon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001EQI3I
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Description

Venus Castro (Tammy Trull) is a bright, headstrong 15-year-old girl born to an abusive drug addict, now living in foster care in New York City's Dominican community. Frustrated with school and contemptible of her widowed foster mother for dating undercover policeman Ralph (Jaime Terelli—City of Hope, Carlito's Way, The Preacher's Wife), Venus takes to the streets believing she can make it on her own, only to learn that she is ill-prepared for the life of a runaway. In desperation, she puts on her best tough-girl act to join the gang of drug dealer Juanita, who offers her shelter and protection—as long as Juanita gets what she wants. Venus, unaware of the consequences, soon starts two-timing Juanita with a young undercover cop (Gabriel Salvador) who happens to be Ralph's squad partner. Ralph intervenes in an attempt to return Venus to her home but is thwarted by the girl's misplaced loyalty to Juanita. Only when Venus finds herself involved in a deadly holdup of a bodega does she understand the terrible reality of the life she has chosen

Customer Reviews:

this is reality..........2005-12-16

this story is about venus who is a dominicana just trying to hang in nyc.her mother gets involved with a cop,ralph, who likes her but doesn't want the baggage of dating a single mom. venus does little to encourage him. after a falling out with her mom, she eventually hooks up with juanita who's a gangbanger, and tries to find some sense of family...

i bought this dvd with no advanced knowledge. i was impressed. tammy trull does a wonderful job as venus, the street chick who's not as tough as she looks, who tries to find love, often in all the wrong places. i have been watching a lot of films set in nyc lately and the director really captures the sense of the place. jaime tirelli as ralph gives a good performance as the cop working undercover who is only looking out for venus' best interests. the girl gang scenes with juanita are raw. i nearly winced as i saw venus getting her butt kicked as part of her initiation. but then you have to be tough to live in new york city. it's not a town to be soft in...

A little glimpse of harsh reality.......2004-05-22

I rented this movie yesterday and am now going to purchase it. As a Latina who was a) a runaway, b) a teen mother and c) part of a street gang, all of what goes on in this movie hit me hard. Venus Castro is a 15 year old girl who is having a bad day...actually, just an extension of what has been a bad life. Taken in at the age of nine by her biological father and stepmom, but also as a foster child, her confusing beginning lends to the dissatisfaction she feels with her life. Her stepmother has been good to her, but seemingly always throwing the fact that she has raised another woman's child in Venus' face. Complicating this already twisted family scenario is that when the movie begins, Venus' dad has died only the week before, and her setpmother is actually relieved. Still not giving up on Venus, the two have to try and figure out what kind of relationship they now have. As we enter the movie, Venus is having a bad day. Enticed by street life but knowing little of the realities of it, Venus is torn by wanting to be close to her stepmom but resenting her just the same. Problems at school are thrown into the mix, and Venus seems depressed and confused. Her stepmother goes out on a date with a cop (less than a month after her dad dies) and the stepmother catches Venus playing with an empty gun her little brother brought home, the same day. After that, she is caught by police and arrested because she just happened to be walking in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her stepmother doesn't believe her innocence, and an argument takes place in which the stepmom voices resentments that have probably been building for a very long time. Venus takes to the streets and is confronted by one situation after another, which she is ill equipped to deal with. She makes one bad choice after another. She is raped, and then further victimized by older people around her who can't see past their own selfish needs. The ending of the movie leaves you wondering what Venus will do next. I found this movie to be a powerful, realistic view of the things that can happen, how one bad decision can snowball into a situation that you can't control. I recommend this to parents with teens. The images are harsh and disturbing at times, but in this day and age sometimes the jolt is the difference in the decisions your kids will make. I also think the movie gives a good inside glimpse into the complicated, difficult, but livable dynamics of inner city Hispanic families. The entire movie appears to have been filmed in New York (I could actually pinpoint where they were on several occasions) and the grittiness of the areas Tourists don't actually want to visit makes the movie all the more realistic. The soundtrack is also great. Highly recommended!

All Night Bodega: trying to make it in a NYC barrio.......2004-04-29

I recently purchased this movie and have to admit, it was quite an interesting movie. This particular movie unfolds with the life of a young Latina Venus Castro played by Tammy Trull. She is frustrated with not making it: at home, in school, in the neighborhood, absent father and mother, and, not making it in foster care.

Venus leaves home due to an incident, she was arrested for being at the wrong place and wrong time. Her foster care mother is fed up with excuses, even legitimate ones, and an explosive argument takes on a new form, in which Venus leaves home.

From her departure, Venus is on her own. She trusts a man to take her in to only be raped by one of the men in the apartment. She gets taken in by a young woman who was also in the same cell as her; this woman is about the street hustle. Venus starts to deal drugs to survive; she gets caught up in a maze of confusion and eventually gets involved in a store hold up.

Description

A chilling horror film about a town stalked by a vampire! When a vampire is released from his long imprisonment in a crypt, the unsuspecting town becomes the target of his unearthly blood lust. One by one, the entire population becomes either vampire or helpless victim. Stars Karen Black (House of 1000 Corpses), Peter DeLuise (TV's "21 Jump Street") and Ami Dolenz (She's Out of Control).

Customer Reviews:

stupid.......2007-01-04

this movie was SOOO stupid! i couldn't even get through all of it because it was that dumb! but i DID watch most of it so you can't say, "oh, you don't know what its like cos you didn't watch it all." so what?! i had had enough! it was supposed to be a horror movie but it wasn't terrifying at all. most of the blood and stuff looked really fake and during many parts i asked myself, "is this horror or comedy??" but maybe you will like it. i don't know. maybe, 1)i'm not one for vampire films, or maybe 2)this really IS a stupid movie. i would have to say the answer is probably 2. but this is only my opinion. and i think this movie is pretty cheesy.

IT'S NOT THAT BAD...REALLY.......2005-01-19

Come now...How can you not like a horror movie which features the talents of Karen Black, Ami Dolenz, Peter DeLuise, and Garret Morris? Well I suppose you can hate it but I actually thought it wasn't that bad and had one very genuinely creepy scene.

Set in a small town called Allburg, two girls Lucy (Dolenz) and Cindy (Maya McLaughlin) visit an old abandoned church. A creepy looking old gothic cathedral. The legend goes that you can actuall swim in an old crypt beneath the church so the girls give it a try. Well, Cindy loses her crucifix as it floats to the bottom of the crypt and awakens a vampire from his sleep and he immediately kills her while Lucy escapes.

Meanwhile a former priest (DeLuise) has heard the legends of the vampires and comes to Allburg to invesigate and runs into Lucy as she is escaping from the vampire. The pair along with the town drunk, (Garret Morris) have to find a way from stopping the vampire from spreading is bite as already dozens of townspeople have been turned into vampires themselves. One of those, played by Karen Black, is imprisoned in the house of another priest who she constantly torments with her taunts and screams.

The acting is nothig to write home about. Black and Morris are both way over the top, but in kind of a fun and b-movie way. The scene in the old gothic church was quite creepy although why ANYONE would ever want to go swim in a mold invested crypt is beyone me. For a change the vampire isn't some sauve, GQ pretty boy but a rather decrepit, pasty faced, demonic looking thing.

Children of the night was no classic but you could do much worse.

Awesomely Bad!.......2004-09-30

A vapire flick that is worth seeing more than once about a small town being overrun by vampires and the humans who are left standing are in the fight of their lives. But in the end good triumphs over evil and the story ends yet doesn't.

BAD DVD.......2004-09-10

I LOVE this film. I am a karen Black Fanatic and had to have it even though the dvd is grainy looking and presented in "fullscreen" ONLY! The story and film itself is creepy and a good dose of old school vampire horror film making but the transfer here is ULTRA sloppy and just plain sad!

Too bad Anchor Bay or Blue Underground didnt get a hold of this good vampire flick! I heap this in the pile with other Great Vamp films like "Lost Boys" and "Near Dark" it has dark humor and good old fashioned creepiness!

I give the film a 4 star rating, the dvd a 2

COOL LIL VAMPIRE COMDEY.......2000-12-31

HEY I DUG THIS MOVIE IT WAS MORE FUNNY THAN SCARRY A UNIQUE TWIST ON VAMPIRE LORE WHERE THE VAMPS SURVIRE UNDER WATER INSTEAD OF A COFFIN THEY SPIT THERE LUNGS OUT AND USE THERE LUNGS AS GILS.....PRETTY COOL, I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF IT. ALSO IT THIS ONE SCENE WHERE KAREN BLACK COCOONS HER SELF IN HER OWN BODY FLUIDS ITS DISGUSTING BUT REALLY COOL. ALSO THEY GUY WHO PLAYED STAN ON THE MARTIN SHOW WAS VERY FUNNY AS THE TOWN DRUNK WHO SEEMS TO KNOW ALOT MORE THAN HE LET ON....ALL IN ALL ITS GOOD LIL MOVIE FOR LAUGH AND IF YOU LIKE VAMPIRE MOVIES YOU'LL LIKE THIS!

Average customer rating:

Run Amok

Late Night Talks With Mother
Starring: Václav Havel , Vera Jirousová , Ester Krumbachová , Marta Kubisová , and Karel Roden
Manufacturer: Facets
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Autumn Spring

ASIN: B0007Z9QVC
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Customer Reviews:

Run Amok.......2005-12-12

Nemec provided me with some of cinema's most sublime 60s cinema, and this in a very fertile period of European product. 'Diamonds of the Night' remains a cherished experience. But then came the Fall and, as we discover in this film, Nemec, when confronted by the Russians with the prospect of internment or enforced exile, opted for the latter, and settled in America. It was a decision that unhinged Nemec, certainly on the evidence submitted on this film. Nemec's courage to tell all in this rambling reconstruction is to be applauded. But only the most devout follower of his work would claim it as much more than this.

Average customer rating:

Held for Murder Aka Her Mad Night
Starring: Mary Carlisle , William B. Davidson , Irene Rich , Conway Tearle , and Ken Thomson
Director: E. Mason Hopper
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0009OL8U8
Release Date: 2005-07-27

Average customer rating:

Be Careful
In the end, we are what we pretend to be....
Better with each watching.
It Doesn't Suck!
Mother Night Novel vs. Film

Mother Night [Region 2]
Starring: Nick Nolte , Sheryl Lee , Alan Arkin , Bernard Behrens , and Anna Berger
Director: Keith Gordon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00024763I

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Be Careful.......2007-06-13

In the end, we are what we pretend to be...........2006-10-05

Better with each watching........2006-04-06

It Doesn't Suck!.......2006-03-11

Mother Night Novel vs. Film.......2006-02-24

DVD:

DVD

DVD