Serenity (Collector's Edition)

Studio description

Serenity, the action-packed event that delivers thrilling non-stop adventure, incredible battles in dangerous worlds and spectacular visual effects, is now available in a Special 2-Disc Collector's Edition containing all-new bonus content and never-seen-before footage! With over 30 minutes of all-new special features and special collectible packaging, the Serenity - Collector's Edition is a must own for all true Sci-Fi and Joss Whedon fans! All-new 2-disc edition will include 6 completely new bonus elements including cast & filmmaker commentary. Will also include all bonus features from previous release.

All New Bonus Features:
-Extended Scenes (6:45)
-Take A Walk on Serenity (4:00) Cast and Crew take us on a special tour of the Serenity space ship
-A Filmmaker's Journey (19:49) Take A Journey with Joss Whedon from script to the big screen
-The Green Clan (3:03) An expose on Cinematographer Jack Green and his team
-Sci-Fi Inside: Serenity (21:41) Hosted by Adam Baldwin, an in-depth look at the film that was resurrected from a cancelled television show, as well as its supportive culture.
-Session 416 (7:52) These internet pieces document a portion of River's participation in a psychological study and her interactions with her therapist.
-Feature Commentary with Director Joss Whedon and Cast Members Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, and Ron Glass

Customer Reviews:

Basically a good review, but with some caveats.......2007-09-16

A friend had given me the plain edition of Serenity knowing I loved all things Whedon, so I didn't mind paying for the souped up edition. However, I shouldn't have bothered. Not that the extras aren't fine, but they aren't worth a second purchase if you already have the original. Nonetheless, it's still a remarkable pleasure to watch any version of this film.

Serenity Collector Edition.......2007-09-15

So many things good here:

One of the TRULY great films and hardly anyone even knows about it. My highest recommendation for this edition or the original. For this edition:

1) A package so much better than the original release.

2) Bonus material above and beyond the original release.

Still worth getting if you have the original release - I have MULTIPLE copies of BOTH.

Great new edition of one of the best movies ever........2007-09-14

Anyone who hasn't seen Serenity and Firefly, the TV show that preceeded it, doesn't know what they are missing. Really well developed characters, great dialogue, great story, great acting. Joss Whedon writes some of the best female characters around. No idiodic portrayals of a woman dying of a broken heart and leaving her twin babies motherless like someone in a more famous sci-fi movie. These people could be real and they are all characters that are flawed, but have a lot to be admired for too.

One of the best Sci-fi movies to come out in years!!!.......2007-09-14

Whether you have seen Firefly or not, I think there is something anyone can enjoy about Serenity. I actually saw this movie before watching the Firefly series. I was so intrigued by the story I wanted to see more and believe me, I was not disappointed. Firefly is now one of my favorite TV shows of all time with Serenity being on of my favorite movies.

If you have seen Firefly, there probably won't be any need to tell you how good this movie is. I'm sure you will buy it anyway. But if you are a hardcore fan, there are more extras in this collector's edition that I'm sure you won't want to miss.

For those of you who are just looking for a decent science-fiction film, look no further. This movie has great action, humor, and special affects and it truly cares about its characters. Please please please see this movie!!!

Now for the sequel...........2007-09-14

I loved the show and the movie so now watching the deleted scenes and getting the background information (which were amazing, BTW) I just have to say this: "Joss push for a sequel!" I know that this will never happen, but I can dream. Or I can really genie it and hope that the SciFi channel will come to its senses and re-up this show. Ah yes, back to Firefly.

Anyone who even liked the show has to get this version of the movie! It is a must have for any DVD collection. And don't forget to watch it with the commentaries on.

Average customer rating:

A Great Sci-Fi Horror Film to Watch with Friends!
Excellent DVD transfer!
Finally on DVD!! One of Stuart Gordon's Best!
Finally
Creepy,imaginative take on Lovecraft's outline...

From Beyond (Unrated Director's Cut)
Starring: Jeffrey Combs , Barbara Crampton , Ken Foree , Ted Sorel , and Carolyn Purdy-Gordon
Director: Stuart Gordon
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000RPCK2O
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Customer Reviews:

A Great Sci-Fi Horror Film to Watch with Friends!.......2007-09-17

I first saw this on cable TV years ago with friends. We howled with laughter at its campiness-- and that was coming in on the last hour. I eventually saw the full film and fell in love with both its strangeness and subversiveness. It is an absurd tale of excess gone awry that is completely relevant to the human condition.

I greatly enjoyed watching the extended-cut DVD with friends. The added footage gave it extra punch from the toned-down version that I had seen on cable. And, it is a film that allows for comments or gasps to be exchanged during it without losing the thread of events. It's a fun horror film. There is lots of latex and some funny commentaries on s/m. It may not be for the faint of heart, but I would not call it particularly grizzly either. Enjoy!

Also, the extras are great. The interviews with the director are charming. And the section where you can see the story board images alongside the filmed sequences is ultra-cool. The director seems quite proud of his ability to draw detailed story board images and for good reason. Definitely check out the extras, even if you do not normally do so. You won't be disappointed!

Excellent DVD transfer!.......2007-09-15

Holy cow, this is one awesome release. I agree wholeheartedly with the other 5 star reviewers that this is an excellent movie, and thank the studio for it's release. The DVD transfer looks extremely clean and sharp. A+ on the video and sound. I don't see how it could get any better for DVD.

Finally on DVD!! One of Stuart Gordon's Best!.......2007-09-15

Having just got my DVD copy of From Beyond on Thursday, I'm very happy to finally have this on DVD. Now I can get rid of my old worn out videotape copy.

Finally, the film has been released uncut, with Stuart Gordon commentary with Brian Yuzna, Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton-Yay!!.

The a couple of featurettes with Gordon, a interview with composer Richard Band, and a storyboard to film comparison.

This is a must for any Gordon fan, and horror fans.

( Plus if your a fan of Stuart Gordon, on the Return of The Living Dead: Collectors Edition, there is a featurette called The Decade of Darkness, with is about some 80's horror movies. It has Stuart Gordon, Joe Dante, John Landis, Dee Wallace, Tom Holland, Catherine Hicks etc).

I definitely recommend this interesting and at times strange film, but very enjoyable.

Finally.......2007-09-12

After years of waiting, Stuart Gordon's From Beyond is finally out on DVD, and be thankful that it is. Undoubtedly one of Gordon's (Re-Animator) best films and one of the best H.P. Lovecraft adaptations ever filmed, From Beyond revolves around survivor Crawford (the great Jeffrey Combs) of an experiment gone hideously awry. A psychiatrist (Barbara Crampton) however wants to continue the experiment, and returns to the house where everything went wrong, along with Crawford and a cop named Bubba (Dawn of the Dead's Ken Foree). Naturally, things don't go very well, but in Gordon's hands, the otherwise predictable story and events are frequently gross, and frequently entertaining. There's plenty of gorey, slimy moments to be had, as From Beyond is finally restored in all it's uncut glory after years of only being able to see it as a butchered, MPAA approved version that floated around on VHS. The DVD itself has some great special features as well, including an insightful commentary from Gordon, and a couple featurettes as well which detail the making of the film as well as it's re-editing for DVD. All in all, it's so great to finally have From Beyond in all it's uncut glory on DVD; and it's needless to say that if you're a real horror fan, this DVD belongs on your shelf.

Creepy,imaginative take on Lovecraft's outline..........2007-09-11

Based on essentially a sketch of a story outline by H.P. Lovecraft, the tale is of a police psychiatrist Katheryn Mc Michaels(Barbara Crampton) who is put onto a case involving a man who seems to be getting strange visions in his head,after working on an "Resonator" experiment with Dr Pretorious... so he is locked up in a mental hospital run by a rivalous and sadistic female head doctor and her brutish orderlies. Mc Michaels is more understanding however, and wants to get to the bottom of what happened by taking the patient back to the lab, to re-create the experiment. What follows is a descent into the netherworld of Lovecraft-the theory that insane people, thanks to their malfunctioning brains and a strange gland, are really seeing visions of creatures from another dimension, trying to get in, a theme Lovecraft explored well in his other stories. What makes the film remembered so well are the in-camera and on-stage make-up FX work, all done on a low budget and before the overused CGI of today. Also Barbara Crampton(Mc Michaels)in an S&M outfit is worth the ticket alone. Later, as things get out of control,and the mutating patient is re-committed to the hospital, it is now Dr Mc Michaels who no one believes-dressed in her S&M garb- and she herself is involuntarily made a patient-happily so,by her rival doctor- restrained,gagged and scheduled for electro-shock treatment to "quiet her down". Thanks to a power outage by her mutating subject who throws an orderly into a fuse box, that doesn't happen. She brains an orderly(who deserves it) and escapes back to the lab, where the ongoing "experiment" reaches it's explosive and drippy conclusion....

Average customer rating:

I watched a different movie than most reviewers
hostile movie masquerading as a heartwarming movie
How do we know we're loved? 4 1/2 stars
Georgia May Rule...But This Movie Sure Doesn't
Uneasy blend of comedy and drama

Georgia Rule (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jane Fonda , Lindsay Lohan , Felicity Huffman , Dermot Mulroney , and Cary Elwes
Director: Garry Marshall
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000T988I8
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Customer Reviews:

I watched a different movie than most reviewers.......2007-09-16

I truly enjoyed this movie. I've always been a Fonda fan. Felicity has never disappointed. And Lindsay shows she is a quality actress, right up there with the other two. In the scene in the boat where she's seducing the guy and they show a close up of just her face, you can see every emotion that crosses her mind.

My biggest difference, however with the reviewers is that they harp on how odd it is to have humor in a film on such a serious topic as sexual abuse. I found this movie to be rather on target with its light hearted moments mixed in with the pain. And then these usually male reviewers go on about was she abused, wasn't she, why doesn't she make up her mind. To me, it seems obvious these fellows have never experienced such abuse personally, nor have they observed, with any care, someone who has. There's no straight line to recovery.

I loved this movie for its story and the acting. Nothing rang false in my book.

hostile movie masquerading as a heartwarming movie.......2007-09-13

This is a movie about a ridiculously dysfunctional family composed of morbidly dysfunctional women. There are people who actually like movies about this type of person (for whatever reason). If you are one such, fine; but if you are not, avoid this film at any price.

After 100 minutes of watching them tear each other apart and blame each other for everything, abruptly in the last five minutes, all their deep psychological problems disappear without therapy or any other cause, and everybody is going to live happily ever after. Right. This cheap shot of an ending was obviously tacked on to save this movie from being a total economic disaster.

Even if you're a fan of Jane Fonda or of Lindsay Lohan or both, you won't like them in this movie (unless, as I said, you like this type of movie).

Bottom line: you have a better chance with almost any other movie.

How do we know we're loved? 4 1/2 stars.......2007-09-11

Though I don't recall this movie getting great reviews from the critics, I expected at least a decent movie considering the three main stars. I got more than expected. The three lead actresses were well chosen. Jane Fonda, looking exceptionally well at age 70, is outstanding as the grandmother, Georgia, who lives her life by certain 'rules,' hence the title, and who has a history with her daughter, Lilly, (Felicity Huffman), that seems lacking in emotion. 'Seems' is the operative word. While we aren't exactly privy to what has caused this rift between mother and daughter, we glean from one particular scene that Georgia's parents never told HER that they loved her. We gather that Georgia's apparent inability to say the three words, "I love you" to her daughter may simply be because she was not told what she needed to hear from her parents. In one touching scene between Georgia and Lilly, when Lilly asks her mother if she ever loved her, Georgia replies, 'How could I not love you?' She still is not able to say those three magic words to her daughter though she has no trouble saying them to her granddaughter, Rachel, (Lindsay Lohan). Dermont Mulroney is wonderfully cast as the kindly veterinarian whom Rachel works for and Cary Elwes well cast in a somewhat chilling performance as Rachel's stepfather.

Rachel lies, manipulates, has a history of drug abuse and all manner of teen problems. There is, of course, a reason for her behaviour and underneath it all, we see many glimpses of a tender heart.

This is Ms. Lohan's best performance since she made her wonderful debut as identical twins in 'The Parent Trap' at the age of eleven. Despite the two other big name stars, Lindsay Lohan is THE star of this movie. We can only hope that this gifted young lady is able to heal herself before a very promising career is ruined.

Georgia May Rule...But This Movie Sure Doesn't.......2007-09-10

I am uncertain what to make of this misshapen 2007 dramedy. Attempting to be a new millennium cross-hybrid between On Golden Pond and The Prince of Tides, this film ends up being an erratic mess shifting so mercurially between comedy and melodrama that the emotional pitch always seems off. The main problem seems to be the irreconcilable difference between Garry Marshall's sentimental direction and Mark Andrus' dark, rather confusing screenplay. The story focuses on the unraveling relationship between mother Lilly and daughter Rachel, who have driven all the way from San Francisco to small-town Hull, Idaho where grandmother Georgia lives. The idea is for Lilly to leave Rachel for the summer under Georgia's taskmaster jurisdiction replete with her draconian rules since the young 17-year old has become an incorrigible hellion.

The set-up is clear enough, but the characters are made to shift quickly and often inexplicably between sympathetic and shrill to fit the contrived contours of the storyline. It veers haphazardly through issues of alcoholism, child molestation and dysfunctional families until it settles into its pat resolution. The three actresses at the center redeem some of the dramatic convolutions but to varying degrees. Probably due to her off-screen reputation and her scratchy smoker's voice, Lindsay Lohan makes Rachel's promiscuity and manipulative tactics palpable, although she becomes less credible as her character reveals the psychological wounds that give a reason for her hedonistic behavior. Felicity Huffman is forced to play Lilly on two strident notes - as a petulant, resentful daughter to a mother who never got close to her and as an angry, alcoholic mother who starts to recognize her own accountability in her daughter's state of mind. She does what she can with the role on both fronts, but her efforts never add up to a flesh-and-blood human being.

At close to seventy, Jane Fonda looks great, even as weather-beaten as she is here, and has the star presence to get away with the cartoon-like dimensions of the flinty Georgia. The problem I have with Fonda's casting is that the legendary actress deserves far more than a series of one-liners and maternal stares. Between this and 2005's execrable Monster-in-Law, it does make one wonder if her best work is behind her. It should come as no surprise that the actresses' male counterparts are completely overshadowed. Garrett Hedlund looks a little too surfer-dude as the naïve Harlan, a devout Mormon whose sudden love for Rachel could delay his two-year missionary stint. Cary Elwes plays on a familiar suspicious note as Lilly's husband, an unfortunate case where predictable casting appears to telegraph the movie's ending.

There is also the omnipresent Dermot Mulroney in the morose triple-play role of the wounded widower, Lilly's former flame and Rachel's new boss as town veterinarian Dr. Simon Ward. Laurie Metcalf has a barely-there role as Simon's sister Paula, while Marshall regular Hector Elizondo and songsmith Paul Williams show up in cameos. Some of Andrus' dialogue is plain awful and the wavering seriocomic tone never settles on anything that feels right. There are several small extras with the 2007 DVD, none all too exciting. Marshall provides a commentary track that has plenty of his trademark laconic humor. There are several deleted scenes, including three variations on the ending, and a gag reel. A seven-minute making-of featurette is included, as well as the original theatrical trailer, a six-minute short spotlighting the three actresses and a five-minute tribute to Marshall.

Uneasy blend of comedy and drama.......2007-09-10

In an industry that increasingly misrepresents its products via preview trailers, this is the most appalling example I've ever seen. Have you seen the trailer? Are you expecting a mostly lighthearted "troubled girl puts her life on track with guidance from her sassy grandmother" movie? Think again.

I'm spoiling a plot development from about 20 minutes in so don't read farther if you don't want to know.

*Georgia Rule* is actually a heavy-handed molestation tale, with Lohan playing a dangerous and unpleasant "am I telling the truth or lying?" game by accusing (then recanting, then accusing, then recanting) her stepfather of abusing her when she was 12-14, three years ago.

Such stories have a place, and some probably open doors of communication in troubled families. However, this one strikes an extremely uneven balance between comedy and drama thanks to director Garry Marshall's mistaken vision. A mother's alcoholism, a daughter's abuse and subsequent slide into drug use and sexual promiscuity can't be juxtaposed with Fourth of July pie-eating contests (naturally featuring cameos by Marshall's never-ending supply of relatives) and wacky hijinx down at the local vet's.

The acting is good, but the script and direction are very, very, very bad. The script kicked around Hollywood for a decade; it should still be gathering dust on a forgotten bookcase.

Robocop (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Region 4 "Definitive Edition" dont bother if you have the Special Edition
Bad Transfer
Another hit as featurettes drive this new release, A must for any true RoboFan
Great.. but where is Peter Weller
Murphy's Law

Robocop (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
Starring: Peter Weller , Nancy Allen , Dan O'Herlihy , Ronny Cox , and Kurtwood Smith
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QQH4YS
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Amazon.com

When it arrived on the big screen in 1987, Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop was like a high-voltage jolt of electricity, blending satire, thrills, and abundant violence with such energized gusto that audiences couldn't help feeling stunned and amazed. The movie was a huge hit, and has since earned enduring cult status as one of the seminal science fiction films of the 1980s. Followed by two sequels, a TV series, and countless novels and comic books, this original RoboCop is still the best by far, largely due to the audacity and unbridled bloodlust of director Verhoeven. However, the reasons many enjoyed the film are also the reasons some will surely wish to avoid it. Critic Pauline Kael called the movie a dubious example of "gallows pulp," and there's no denying that its view of mankind is bleak, depraved, and graphically violent. In the Detroit of the near future, a policeman (Peter Weller) is brutally gunned down by drug-dealing thugs and left for dead, but he survives (half of him, at least) and is integrated with state-of-the-art technology to become a half-robotic cop of the future, designed to revolutionize law enforcement. As RoboCop holds tight to his last remaining shred of humanity, he relentlessly pursues the criminals who "killed" him. All the while, Verhoeven (from a script by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner) injects this high-intensity tale with wickedly pointed humor and satire aimed at the men and media who cover a city out of control. --Jeff Shannon

Description

There's a new law enforcer in town and he's half man, half machine! From the director of Total Recall and Basic Instinct comes a "sci-fi fantasy with sleek, high-powered drive" (Time) about an indestructible high-tech policeman who dishes out justice at every turn! When a good cop (Peter Weller) gets blown away by some ruthless criminals, innovative scientists and doctors are able to piece him back together as an unstoppable crime-fighting cyborg called "Robocop." Impervious to bullets and bombs, and equipped with high-tech weaponry, Robocop quickly makes a name for himself by cleaning up the crime-ridden streets of violence-ravaged Detroit.

Customer Reviews:

Region 4 "Definitive Edition" dont bother if you have the Special Edition.......2007-09-15

This version of Robocop on DVD for region 4 (Australia) is titled Robocop: Definitive Edition. So, if you do not have this version, there is not much point to reading this review.

I wont review the movie, I have already done that for another DVD release version.

What I do wan't to point out is that if you do have the previous Special Edition (region 4 release) then don't bother with this release of Robocop, as it only has about 3 or 4 things on it in the bonus features that where not included in the original release here.

This edition is great for those in region 1 (USA/Canada) because the bonus features where not included in the original Robocop DVD release, where as here in Australia we had the special edition that was filled with extras and the directors cut on the SAME SINGLE DISC!!!!

This version they have sliced the DVD in half and put it onto 2 discs, with one disc having the original theatrical movie, and the second showing the extended cut. So, if you have the original special edition that had both versions of the movie on the one disc, and are not obsessed enough with the film to want 5 minutes of bonus features you might not have seen before, then don't think you are missing out on anything, the special edition is the better of the two.

It is cheaper for MGM to make two discs then use a slightly more expensive disc and pack it all onto the one disc. So don't think a two disc edition sounds better and has more features, cause it does not have very much else on it at all. They are just a few interviews with the actors who played villains in the film and they talk about a few things that might interest you if you really want to know... other wise, like i said, keep the Special Edition.

Bad Transfer.......2007-09-12

Washed out colors and an overall softness of the image had me scratching my head. Did previous editions look like this? And sure enough, the "Robocop Trilogy" boxset from a couple of years ago looks significantly better, even if there is a little edge enhancement visible in some scenes. Buyer beware.

Another hit as featurettes drive this new release, A must for any true RoboFan.......2007-09-05

I've owned the Criterion edition of "Robocop" for years now so I bought this 20th anniversary DVD strictly for the featurettes. The Commentary with Director Paul Verhoeven, Writer Ed Neumeier and Executive Producer Jon Davison (A+) is still great and worth the price of admission right there. I would rank the best featurettes in this order (No spoilers): Villains Of Old Detroit Featurette(A+) , Special Effects: Then And Now Featurette(A), Robocop: Creating A Legend Featurette(A), (all three recent productions) Flesh And Steel: The Making Of Robocop Featurette(A), Shooting Robocop Featurette(B) & Making Robocop Featurette(B) (Older productions).
Since we've all seen the movie, I would recommend that if this movie is in your top ten all time, buy this 20th anniversary edition, those first three featurettes plus the commentary are worth the purchase price alone. I was disappointed by the deleted scenes. I had read about their content but they ended up adding nothing to the experience but no matter, still nice to see them.
If you are debating on purchasing the Robo-trilogy instead to save money, don't even considering buying the 20th anniversary edition. IMHO, the 20th anniversary edition is strictly for the Robo-connoisseurs, those who truly love and "get" the movie with all it's extreme violence, innuendoes and political satire. "I'd buy that for a dollar!"
The movie is the movie, we've all seen it. It's Verhoeven best work. The violence and intensity pull you in and pound you senselessly. The humanity and humor make it roller coaster ride with an ending that is as satisfying as it is unexpected. Easily one of the best Sci-Fi or action movies of all time.
Two versions here, the theatrical version and I believe the director's original "X-rated" version. I have to defer to others as to the exact cut of this version vs. what appears on the Criterion disk, no frame by frame analysis here.
Peter Weller does appear in some of the featurettes as well. If you are wondering what he's been up to outside of the entertainment industry, Weller holds a Masters Degree in Roman and Renaissance Art, and is an occasional lecturer at Syracuse University on the subject of Hollywood and the Roman Empire. Wow, how cool is that? "Good business is where you find it." Go Robo!

Great.. but where is Peter Weller.......2007-08-30

I love this film. It's one of my favorites and I've bought it several times. I even own the criterion version of this film and I bought this one, hoping that it would finally be the proper ultimate edition and include commentary from Peter Weller. Weller has done great commentary tracks for other films of his, like "Naked Lunch" and "OF Unknown Origin" and Robocop needs a Weller commentary. The DVD gets only 4 stars for again missing the oportunity to make this the final word of the film.

Murphy's Law.......2007-08-28

On the cusp of HD, RoboCop gets re-released in a 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition DVD that portends quick obsolescence but you shouldn't let that dissuade you from purchasing this standard def DVD to tide you over until the HD format war has ended. However, it appears that there is a "glitch" more severe than a malfunctioning ED-209 present on both US and Canadian versions of disc 2. The Canadian release has a duplication of disc 1 onto disc 2 and the US release has an authoring glitch that will not allow you to select the DTS, commentary or French language dub audio tracks, you can only play the Dolby 5.1 audio on the Extended Cut on disc 2. I can already hear the Old Man at MGM yelling "You call this a glitch!?" Hopefully MGM Home Video will rectify this and issue replacement discs for those of us who have already purchased the defective copies. If you own the legendary Criterion release featuring the "Extended Cut" you will be pleased to know that the upgrade is well worth getting, though you will probably want to hold on to your original Criterion disc for some of the extras that didn't make the migration over to the new 20th Anniversary disc.

Disc 1 features the original theatrical cut in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1 and DTS sound but the real treat on this disc is the excellent documentary "Flesh & Steel: The Making of RoboCop" featuring interviews with Paul Verhoeven, Jon Davison, Ed Neumeier, Basil Poledouris, and Peter Weller. There's also a couple of 8-minute 1987 featurettes: "Shooting RoboCop" featuring Miguel Ferrer in character as Bob Morton introducing RoboCop like an OCP publicity gimmick and "Making RoboCop" with a behind-the-scenes look at the production and interviews from back in the day. "The Boardroom" is a storyboard-to-film comparison of ED-209 accompanied with Phil Tippet commentary, 4 deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer with music from, appropriately enough, "The Terminator," another cyborg sci-fi smash from Orion Pictures.

Disc 2 features the "Extended Cut" in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1 sound. Unfortunately I cannot play the DTS mix on this disc because of an authoring "glitch" that does not allow you to select the other audio streams. I have tried this in numerous DVD players and interestingly enough when I play it on my computer it shows that the DTS stream is encoded on the second track and the commentary is on track 3 and the French dub on track 4 but you can only play the Dolby 5.1 mix on track 1. Has anybody else noticed this? Looks like I'll be giving MGM Home Video a call because I prefer the more graphically violent cut running a mere :23 seconds longer over the edited theatrical version but the 5.1 mix is still phenomenal compared to the stereo surround mix from the old Criterion release. The edited footage has been seamlessly restored back into the film. On the Criterion release you could see where the cuts were made and the old, unrestored footage had been inserted back in with changes in film density and unmixed sound. Why they couldn't just make this a seamless-branching feature on the same disc as the theatrical version and put all of the bonus features on the second disc is puzzling though. Disc 2 also features another outstanding featurette: "Villains of Old Detroit" with new interviews with Kurtwood Smith, Ronny Cox, Miguel Ferrer, and Ray Wise and is a terrific follow up after watching the film. "Special Effects: Then and Now" talks about the advances in digital compositing versus the in-camera matte shots and stop-motion animation employed on creating ED-209. "RoboCop: Creating a Legend" features interviews with Peter Weller, Paul Verhoeven, Rob Botin, et al. about designing and engineering the suit and took between 10-11 hours each day to fit Peter Weller into before shooting.

Unfortunately I ended up having to return this to the store I purchased it from. I told the department manager and we tested this on another disc in the store and it had the same issue with not being able to select the alternate audio tracks on the second disc. They subsequently pulled all of them from the new release shelf to send back because of it. Until MGM Home Video acknowledges this glitch and issues replacement discs, I am DVD-less. It probably will be corrected on the upcoming Blu-Ray disc though but too bad it won't be a hybrid disc. I'd buy that for a dollar.

Average customer rating:

Clearly a Gem
"Courageous"...But Not Particularly Good
All Surface and No Depth

Georgia Rule (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Jane Fonda , Lindsay Lohan , Felicity Huffman , Dermot Mulroney , and Cary Elwes
Director: Garry Marshall
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000T988II
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Customer Reviews:

Clearly a Gem.......2007-09-11

I viewed this film without any prior knowledge as to what it was or what it was about.
It gets five bright and shining stars from me.

The plot was strong for a number of reasons. It's life. Plain and simple. Real life doesn't segregate families into those who live only dramatic experiences and those who live only comedic experiences. This movie dances with comedy as well as tragedy with a timely encore of hope and willingness for healing.

Each character was believable and convincing (kudos to the actors as well as the writing and directing). That includes even the brief roles played as the townsfolk, neighbors, and the teen girls living in the neighborhood.

Dialogue and delivery by and for all of the actors was superb and authentic. You quickly forget that you are watching actors and are drawn into their lives because you start to care.

There are several scenes which just keep adding layer upon layer of polish to this incredible gem of a movie.

If you are a person who knows and understands that a person can genuinely laugh and hear their own echoes of falling tears at the same time, this is THE movie for you.

I do not own this film, but I can promise you that I will soon.

"Courageous"...But Not Particularly Good.......2007-09-07

Viewing GEORGIA RULE recently I flashed back on a passage from Salinger's FRANNY AND ZOOEY (which I had recently re-read). There is a passage in that book in which a young television actor, speaks disparagingly of scripts that are "courageous," without their necessarily being particularly good. What he's talking about, of course, is the kind of drama that is supposed to be risky and challenging, a bit off beat maybe. "Edgy" might be the current word. That's precisely the kind of dramatic work GEORGIA RULE tries to be. You can just imagine the filmmakers patting themselves (and each other) on the back, congratulating themselves on their frankness and daring.

This is a movie that wants to say SO MUCH--to bravely go where no screenwriter (or director OR producer) would have dared to go before (except that they HAVE, in point of fact). You've got your intergenerational conflict, your intergenerational substance abuse, you've got promiscuous teens--and apparently incestuous step-dads. You've got salty grandmas, agonized moms and troubled, but spunky teens. Now even if you haven't seen all these ingredients mixed up before, it's hard not to find GEORGIA RULE a bit contrived and quite desperate. It nearly breaks under the strain.

The reviews for this film have not been kind, and it seems likely that whatever notoriety it may have garnered may have more to do with Lindsay Lohan's reported bad behavior on the set than with the film's inherent quality. As it turns out, she probably could have just pleaded "Method" and claimed that she was just staying in character off-camera. Her Rachel is a bit of a wastrel. With a heart of gold, of course.

This is a film that virtually invites reviewers to say something cranky about a stellar cast adrift in a lame production. Well, it IS a pretty solid cast, and all the actors have their moments. Felicity Huffman and Lindsay Lohan have some very strong scenes--and others where the script or their director (or their own best instincts) let them down. Jane Fonda is probably the most consistent of the three starring actresses, but that may have much to do with her character's flinty, discipline-for-discipline's sake nature. She can coast a bit on her character's quirks. Huffman and Lohan are required to take more risks. Sometimes they take off, and sometimes they fall flat (quite literally in Huffman's case).

GEORGIA RULE, while not especially good, could prove instructive to aspiring actors. It's true you get to see good actors at work (and I mean, HARD at work). What you don't get is a good, solid story. In 2007, simply presenting viewers with intergenerational dysfunctionality doesn't cut it anymore--if it ever did. Yes, we know that happy families are all alike, and that unhappy families are unhappy in uniquely different ways. If that's true, however, you shouldn't have to struggle so much to show those differences. GEORGIA RULE #1 should probably have been: Don't try so hard!

All Surface and No Depth.......2007-09-05

Garry Marshall is highly regarded for his style in pulling of sophisticated comedies ('Pretty Woman', 'The Other Sister', 'Beaches', 'Frankie and Johnny' etc) and for this film he selected a script by an equally respected writer, Mark Andrus ('As Good as it Gets', Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood', 'Life as a House'). To add to this assured formula he managed to cast some fine actors, and so the audience is left wondering 'What happened?'

Most people would judge the cover of this DVD to represent a full-blooded comedy. But that is the first blunder. What happens in this film is the examination of a severely dysfunctional family of women: Rachel (Lindsay Lohan) is an oversexed 17 year old tyrant whose alcoholic mother Lilly (Felicity Huffman) can no longer tolerate and ships her miscreant daughter off to the 'hell world' of Lilly's distant controlling mother Georgia (Jane Fonda) to shape Rachel up for college. Georgia of the many rules and rigid lifestyle lives in Idaho and Rachel arrives and immediately plies her bad personality on the folks of the little town, including seducing a soon-to-be Mormon evangelist Harlan (Garrett Hedlund) and shocking the little boys who are cared for by Georgia. Georgia gets Rachel a job as an office girl for Dr. Ward (Dermot Mulroney) who is an ex-lover of Lilly but a role model for the town since his wife and son's accidental death. Rachel decides to get back at her mother and her stepfather Arnold (Cary Elwes) by explaining her misbehavior to Simon: her stepfather sexually abused her from age 12 to 14. In an attempt to help Rachel's family heal, Simon informs Georgia who informs Lilly about the abuse and Lilly responds by leaving Arnold to return to Idaho, cut her hair, and give in to drinking wholeheartedly. Was Lilly's confession true or fabricated? This question serves as the climax that brings about changes in everyone. The point is dulled by the fact that we never really care about any of these involved characters, so shallow is the writing that could have salvaged a story by fleshing out potentially interesting characters.

The cast is so good that they give it their all to try to save this sinking ship of a film. We want to praise Fonda and Huffman but their roles simply don't allow the actors to go very far. Marshall has worked with many of these actors before (even Hector Elizondo is given a very tiny part!) but this time the cake doesn't rise. Worth viewing for the opportunity to see some very good actors given a few moments of valid screen time. Grady Harp, September 07

Average customer rating:

Couldn't Get Into This One
Thank you Joss Whedon! SPOILER ALERT
Serenity extension of Firefly
Best Movie I've Seen Lately
Love the series, love the movie...

Serenity (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Nathan Fillion , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Raphael Feldman , Yan Feldman , and Ron Glass
Director: Joss Whedon
Manufacturer: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BW7QWW
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Amazon.com

Serenity offers perfect proof that Firefly deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the Firefly backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Whedon goes a talented step further here, blessing his established ensemble cast with a more fully-developed dynamic of endearing relationships. Serenity's cast is led with well-balanced depth and humor by Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, whose maverick spirit is matched by his devotion to crewmates Wash (Alan Tudyk), Zoe (Gina Torres), fun-loving fighter Jayne (Adam Baldwin), engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), doctor Simon (Sean Maher), and Mal's former flame Inara (Morena Baccarin), who plays a pivotal role in Whedon's briskly-paced plot. As many critics agreed, Serenity offered all the fun and breezy excitement that was missing from George Lucas's latter-day Star Wars epics, and Whedon leaves an opening for a continuing franchise that never feels cheap or commercially opportunistic. With the mega-corporate mysteries of Blue Sun yet to be explored, it's a safe bet we haven't seen the last of the good ship Serenity. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship. From the mind of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) comes a new edge-of-your-seat adventure loaded with explosive battles, gripping special effects and fantastic new worlds.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't Get Into This One.......2007-09-09

Not having ever watched the TV series, I walked into this one with no preconceived notions. As an HD DVD, the picture and sound was phenomenal. But...I stopped watching about half way through it because it was boring. There was a brief glimpse of action when River morphed into a Trinity-inspired kung-fu master (Matrix reference). Other than that, I found this to be a Star Trek inspired knock-off. My understanding is that the TV series was cancelled. I now know why.

Thank you Joss Whedon! SPOILER ALERT.......2007-09-09

Another job well done! I loved this movie but the movie cover stinks. Where in the movie does anything on the front cover happen? I'm glad that the movie came out and it was an awesome movie. It really tied up loose ends! Thank you Joss Whedon!

As for the people mad about the preacher dying and Wash dying, they wanted to be written out of the script in case they brought the show back. It wasn't Joss' call.

Serenity extension of Firefly.......2007-09-07

If you enjoyed the series Firefly, you will LOVE this movie. It is a great extension of the series. I wish there was more for us to view, but this is as good a "wrap" as you could ask for!

Best Movie I've Seen Lately.......2007-09-05

This is a movie that I came upon from the critics on TV (you know, two names of two guys that have a lot to say). Well, I was glad that they did. This movie had me fall in love with all the characters in the story line and then also in the story line too. I enjoyed both the male and female roles and this is usually not the case for me. The name "Serenity" is the name of the spaceship that finds itself home for everyone. The way that the spaceship looked and was laid out was great to look at. The plot lines of the movie was great and I suggest you see the TV shows first (named "Firefly" after the type of spaceship that Serenity is designed as). The TV shows will give you a lot of insight on the characters and how they interact and this makes the movie much more enjoyable. I purchased both the seasons for Firefly and the movie; something I rarely do. I feel that there is so much good stuff out there why would I want to take up the time watching something more that at least twice. But I know that I will watch all of these many more times that two as I have a not so secret crush on the main character, Mal. Hope everyone out there enjoys this movie as much as I do.

Love the series, love the movie..........2007-09-03

I purchased the FIREFLY series awhile before this film came out. Feel sorry for those who went into a theatre (or bought the DVD) to watch SERENITY without such a background; may have been totally incomprehensible, certainly lacking in any emotional commitment. That is why the 3 stars...

Secondhand Lions (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

Excellent & Entertaining
Secondhand Lions
Secondhand Lions Review
If you liked Phenomenon and The Princess Bride, you'll love Second Hand Lions!
A Rare Jewel

Secondhand Lions (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Michael Caine , Robert Duvall , Haley Joel Osment , Kyra Sedgwick , and Nicky Katt
Director: Tim McCanlies
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000YTP02
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

If you can get past its thick layer of syrup and molasses, Secondhand Lions reveals itself as a thoroughly decent family film that anyone can enjoy. It gets a little sappy sometimes, but there's something to be said for a movie in which Michael Caine and Robert Duvall play eccentric old brothers who take the easy approach to fishing: instead of a peaceful rod and reel, they use 12-gauge shotguns. When 14-year-old Walter (Haley Joel Osment, teetering on puberty) spends an eventful summer with his great-uncles on their vast Texas farmland (he's been dumped there by his delinquent mom, played by Kyra Sedgwick), he soon discovers they've lived lives full of adventure, excitement, passion, and mystery. Either that or they're old-time bank robbers with a long criminal record, and writer-director Tim McCanlies (who invested similar warmth into The Iron Giant) does a nice job of concealing the truth until the very end. Full of enriching lessons and homespun humor, Secondhand Lions has more substance than most family films. If you enjoyed Holes, you'll probably enjoy this movie, too. --Jeff Shannon

Description

This comedic and touching family film follows the adventures of a shy young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who is sent to spend the summer with his eccentric uncles (Michael Caine, Robert Duvall). At first shocked by his uncles' unconventional behavior that includes ordering African lions through the mail, the boy soon becomes enthralled with unraveling the mystery that has followed the uncles for years. Hearing tales of their exotic adventures involving kidnapped princesses, Arabian sheiks and lost treasure, not only brings him closer to his uncles but also teaches him what it means to believe in something... whether it's true or not.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Audio Commentary
DVD ROM Features
Deleted Scenes
Documentaries
Easter Eggs
TV Spot
Theatrical Trailer:30 Minutes of Deleted / Alternate Scenes with Optional Filmmaker Commentary Secondhand Lions: One Screenplay's Wild Ride in Hollywood - (documentary) On The Set with "Secondhand Lions" (documentary) Haley Joel Osment: An Actor Comes of Age - (documentary) Filmmaker Commentary with Director Tim McCanlies Visual Effects Comparisons Theatrical Trailer 7 TV Spots

Customer Reviews:

Excellent & Entertaining.......2007-08-28

Two wealthy, eccentric old timers who hate salesmen inherit a boy who changes their lives! Unique concept. Excellent portrayal. Funny and so different you do not know what to expect!

Secondhand Lions.......2007-08-23

I loved this movie. It is great entertainment. Everyone in the family will enjoy it. A must have in your dvd library.

Secondhand Lions Review.......2007-08-08

This film is great for everyone - young and old. It's funny but has a few sad moments, and some action (without the use of lots of special effects). I laughed (everytime) and cried (at least the first time). It's a wonderful film!

If you liked Phenomenon and The Princess Bride, you'll love Second Hand Lions!.......2007-07-25

My title says it all. I can't say much more than what anyone else said, other than anyone who enjoyed PHENOMENON and THE PRINCESS BRIDE will surely enjoy Second Hand Lions. And of course, Robert Duvall in also in PHENOMENON. You either get it or you don't! If you like these, try POWDER too.

A Rare Jewel.......2007-07-24

I loved this movie when I saw an edited version on TV so I had to buy my own copy. I loaned it to my niece at Christmas for her boys (8 and 10) because so few movies out there are suitable anymore. They loved it and still watch it over and over. I am buying myself a new copy so that I can watch it over and over.

Average customer rating:

A classic
Greatest movie ever?
Independent Cinema's Forebear
Top ten favorites
Movie Buff

Harold and Maude
Starring: Harvey Brumfield , Eric Christmas , Bud Cort , Cyril Cusack , and Gordon Devol
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305882592
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Amazon.com essential video

Black comedies don't come much blacker than this cult favorite from 1972, and they don't come much funnier, either. It seemed that director Hal Ashby was the perfect choice to mine a mother lode of eccentricity from the original script by Colin Higgins, about the unlikely romance between a death-obsessed 19-year-old named Harold (Bud Cort) and a life-loving 79-year-old widow named Maude (Ruth Gordon). They meet at a funeral, and Maude finds something oddly appealing about Harold, urging him to "reach out" and grab life by the lapels as opposed to dwelling morbidly on mortality. Harold grows fond of the old gal--she's a lot more fun than the girls his mother desperately matches him up with--and together they make Harold & Maude one of the sweetest and most unconventional love stories ever made. Much of the earlier humor arises from Harold's outrageous suicide fantasies, played out as a kind of twisted parlor game to mortify his mother, who's grown immune to her strange son's antics. Gradually, however, the film's clever humor shifts to a brighter outlook and finally arrives at a point where Harold is truly happy to be alive. Featuring soundtrack songs by Cat Stevens, this comedy certainly won't appeal to all tastes (it was a box-office flop when first released), but if you're on its quirky wavelength, it might just strike you as one of the funniest movies you've ever seen. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A classic.......2007-09-10

Great movie with awesome soundtrack. No violence or nudity. My teenagers loved it too. Very Quirky.

Greatest movie ever?.......2007-09-08

I've loved this movie ever since I was first introduced to it in college 15 years ago. It's filled with very funny scenes, terrific acting, and the most PERFECT movie soundtrack. Buy it! Watch it until you have every line and musical note memorized!

Independent Cinema's Forebear.......2007-08-15

What can be said about Harold and Maude? Beautiful love story of two cosmic souls brought together by death. Hilarious black comedy with a heart of gold. I could think of more cliches but I digress.
Harold is a lonely lost young man, he stages suicides for his mother's benefit in a fruitless attempt for her attention. Upon attending a funeral he meets Maude, an elderly jovial woman so full of life she radiates happiness. Their friendship blossoms and Harold leans how to live instead of just existing. It is amazing how just one person could free him from his mental prison and realize that life is worth living.
Maude is really the muse of this film. Her philosophy is so clear and truthful that all the (explitive deleted) of the world just melts away and she is truly free. It is still is a very fun movie not heavy handed, just a pure delight.

Top ten favorites.......2007-07-21

From beginning to end, you will be blown away by this movie. Hilarious yet moving, creative and real, full of imagination. Excellent acting, directing and filming...Would rate it higher then 5 stars if possible.

Movie Buff.......2007-07-19

One of the funniest "off-beat" comedies I have seen. This will be a cult classic for years to come.

Average customer rating:

"The flesh is only an illusion . . ." but these films are the real deal
Classic Double Bill Now On DVD.
Two minor classics finally released!
welcome back, Midnight Movies
A lost classic! And a lost....well, decent b-movie

The Return of Dracula/The Vampire
Starring: Francis Lederer , Norma Eberhardt , Ray Stricklyn , Jimmy Baird , and Greta Granstedt
Director: Paul Landres
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000UDGOBG
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Customer Reviews:

"The flesh is only an illusion . . ." but these films are the real deal.......2007-09-15

RETURN OF DRACULA (usually known as CURSE OF DRACULA in its TV showings, at least when I was a kid) is an extraordinarily well-done updating of the Stoker story. If it seems reminiscent of Hitchcock's SHADOW OF A DOUBT, that's because both were written by the talented and imaginative Pat Fielder.

Francis Lederer shines in a fine cast with his smoothly sardonic, mockingly charming portrayal of the Count. There is always something going on under the surface here, and Lederer lets us know that the Vampire King truly enjoys pulling the wool over the eyes of his mortal victims. The sense of menace lurking under the surface charm has rarely been done more effectively. While a tad old for the teenager part she's cast in, Norma Eberhardt turns in such a fine performance that it's ridiculous to quibble. Her portrait of a repressed small-town girl yearning for wider horizons (and getting them in the person of a vampiric pseudo-cousin) is well-etched, believable and totally sympathetic. The rest of the cast is similarly fine -- there isn't a bad acting job to be seen. Of special note is Virginia Vincent's fine portrayal of the blind vampire girl, Jenny.

What's particularly amazing is how Fielder has transposed and updated the Stoker story almost completely intact while preserving the Middle American tensions of the Cold War era. The family-under-attack-by-the-masquerading-stranger-from-within is a good metaphor for the "A red under every bed" attitude of the '50's. But all political subtext aside, Fielder turns in a taut, well-structured and engrossing story that preserves all the strongest elements of Stoker's novel while translating them into the American milieu.

Some of the finely imaginative touches are the way in which Dracula's victims seem to hear him "calling" them just before he attacks, even though he is completely silent; the creepy metaphysical lines that Fielder uses to great effect (Dracula is given some truly eerie dialogue, which Lederer makes the most of); the blind girl gaining a sort of second sight as the vampire's victim; and the vampires' mist-filled coffins, sometimes filmed in slight slow-motion to good effect. A special mention should be made of Gerald Fried's marvelously menacing score.

I have to note, regretfully, that the low budget shows up in a few spots (the day-for-night shooting is painfully ineffective, and a camera angle on the European cemetery from which Dracula escapes at the film's opening shows up later in the American graveyard where the vampirized Jenny makes her lair), but the film is just so darn good that such quibbling can only be classified as sheer spoilsportism.

THE VAMPIRE is also an excellent little-known film (despite a low-budget makeup job on the title monster). All in all, a great buy and a real treat for fans of the genre.

Classic Double Bill Now On DVD........2007-08-28

I have waited for years to see these titles on DVD and at last they are finally here. Anyone who grew up watching late night horror shows on local TV probably saw these films at one time or another especially THE RETURN OF DRACULA. Both were made by Gramercy Productions a division of Levy-Gardner-Laven an outfit that produced shows for television in the 50's and 60's (most notably THE RIFLEMAN and THE BIG VALLEY). What sets these 2 films apart from other B-movie horrors of the era are the use of once major stars (Francis Lederer, John Beal) who were really good actors, maximum use of their minimum budgets (like Val Lewton in the 40's), and the fact that both screenplays were written by a woman (Pat Fielder) which gives a slightly different perspective to the proceedings where you wind up caring more about the characters most notably John Beal in THE VAMPIRE. Unlike Val Lewton's pictures these are 1950's films and both contain some truly graphic moments which are still effective today. Of the two my personal favorite is THE VAMPIRE although THE RETURN OF DRACULA is overall the better film. Excellent black and white photography and effective background music contribute to the overall atmosphere. While the low budget shows through from time to time and John Beal's make-up is a mixed bag (although THE VAMPIRE is a Jekyll/Hyde story rather than a supernatural one), if you're a fan of low budget 50's horror films than these both deliver the goods. Now if MIDNITE MOVIES (which says MGM but is owned by Fox) would just double up THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD and THE FLAME BARRIER (the other two Gramercy films made at the same time) then that would be a real cause for celebration. You could then compare them with the Richard Gordon English horror/sci-fi films (see my Listmania lists) made at the same time and boy would that be a trip.

Two minor classics finally released!.......2007-08-19

I've been waiting for these 2 movies to be released on DVD and finally they will be. RETURN features an excellent portrayal of Dracula by Francis Lederer. No boo-hooing about the lonely life of a bloodsucker for him--his Dracula is pure and (given the way vamps are often portrayed today)refreshingly E-V-I-L. It's amazing that he really didn't want to play this part and not at all evident. VAMPIRE is another favorite, a really tragic tale of a caring doctor who accidentally becomes addicted to some experimental pills that cause him to regress into a vampire like beast. Both are highly recommended, minor classics.

welcome back, Midnight Movies.......2007-08-15

I'm really glad to see that MGM and Fox both have resurrected this excellent DVD series after a long hiatus (here's hoping that Lion's Gate will do the same with their Samuel Z. Arkoff Cult Classics series). This is probably the best of the bunch. As a previous reviewer noted, Return of Dracula is a minor classic and well worth seeing, and The Vampire, though not quite as good, makes for a perfect companion piece. Hopefully both MGM and Fox will keep this series going, as there is I'm sure plenty more in the vaults. Most wished for title: Burn Witch Burn, which came out on VHS only in this series, just prior to the introduction of DVD, so howzabout a DVD reissue?

A lost classic! And a lost....well, decent b-movie.......2007-08-05

Classic horror fans rejoice! Return of Dracula, though previously available on VHS, has been out-of-print for years. If you've never seen it, it's a suprisingly well-done black & white horror film from 1958.

In a plot that, oddly enough, echoes Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt, Count Dracula (a sublime Francis Lederer) relocates to California to live with supposed relatives. And although it's unrelated to the Hammer Films' Dracula films of the same period, it certainly holds its own against those more-polished efforts. The vampire's demise is somewhat graphic for the time.

The Vampire, while arguably the lesser film here, is by no means a waste of time. John Beal generates sympathy as a small-down doctor afflicted with the "disease" of vampirism. Fifties genre favorite Kenneth Tobey is on hand as the local sheriff. While both of these films are basically drive-in stuff, The Vampire's low-budget roots are more obvious, particularly in some laughably-bad make-up work.

If you've been through most or all of the films in the Hammer, AIP or similar catalogs, you're in for a real treat here. Highly recommended for Return of Dracula alone.

Average customer rating:

Guy Pearce Steals the Show as Andy Warhol
Evocative But Frustratingly Elliptical Look at Andy Warhol's Factory and the Sad Party Girl in the Middle
Edie
An enchanting movie, a spirited muse
Now I remember why I don't like Andy Warhol

Factory Girl (Unrated)
Starring: Colleen Camp , Illeana Douglas , Charles Ferrara , Beth Grant , and Edward Herrmann
Director: George Hickenlooper
Manufacturer: The Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QGDXG6
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Amazon.com

The lovely face of Sienna Miller fills in for luminous but tragic 1960s icon Edie Sedgwick, the child of wealth and privilege who found brief delight but eventual destruction in the fabled Factory of Pop artist Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce). Factory Girl begins with Sedgwick as a naive art student who comes to New York City seeking freedom from her troubled family, just as Warhol was surrounding himself with oddballs, sycophants, and drug addicts. The eager girl briefly becomes Warhol's favorite and the center of the city's attention, but when she falls into an affair with 'The Musician' (the only slightly ambiguous depiction of a certain nasal-voiced rock star, played by Hayden Christensen, Shattered Glass), Warhol is stricken with jealousy. Factory Girl wants to paint Warhol as the villain in this story of innocence corrupted, but the casting undercuts the movie's moral. Miller, though pretty and capable, never takes us under Sedgwick's skin, and Christensen's performance is one-note and clumsy. But Pearce's Warhol fascinates; it's a sneaky, stealthy performance, predatory yet passive, hiding a million neuroses beneath a cunningly vapid facade. Whenever Pearce is on-screen, Factory Girl sparkles; when he's not--despite abundant views of Miller's and Christensen's attractive naked flesh in the "uncut unrated" version--the movie loses its fizz. Also featuring Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Jimmy Fallon (Fever Pitch), and Illeana Douglas (Grace of My Heart). --Bret Fetzer

Description

(Drama) "Factory Girl" tells the story of the rise and fall of the original "IT GIRL" Edie Sedgwick. When Edie meets famed artist Andy Warhol, she is thrust into a life of glamour, parties and ultimately…tragedy.

Customer Reviews:

Guy Pearce Steals the Show as Andy Warhol.......2007-09-15

"Factory Girl" is a biopic about Edie Sedgwick, the muse of Andy Warhol...Beautiful, talented, and vulnerable, it's hard for her name not to come up when talking about Warhol. My familiarity with Edie came from a song by The Cult called "Edie (Ciao Baby)" which is a truly beautiful song about (as Ian Astbury put it) an "angel with a broken wing." This film took forever to be released, mostly because it hasn't really received good reception from anybody. It does tread over some familar ground and (in style) even bears some similarities to the recent biopic "The Notorious Life of Bettie Page" (which I did not like); But "Factory Girl" does feature dynamite performances by Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce, despite the mostly weak script. The beautiful Sienna Miller plays Edie Sedgwick, from the innocent and beautiful aspiring artist we see in the beginning to the drug-addicted, poor girl we see at the end and she never misses a beat. Once Edie finds herself in New York, she captures the attention of pop-artist Andy Warhol (Pearce, nearly unrecognizable). Andy begins putting Edie in his films (movies which, essentially, never went anywhere), as Edie grows to start using drugs with other people in Andy's factory. Soon, Edie meets a musician (Hayden Christensen) who seems to be based on Bob Dylan, and falls in love...Their romance is never really developed. It basically plays out in 4 scenes. They meet, the meet again, they have sex, and he pisses her off so they part ways. The movie does do a good job of illustrating Edie's difficult childhood (which, of course, features the sexually abusive father figure), but the whole time I was watching this film I didn't see anything that seemed new to me. If not for Miller and Pearce, the film would nearly fall flat after a fairly strong first half. I like the cinematography and the direction of the film and the first half of the movie DOES work, but it soon enters familar territory and it's all downhill from there. The performances are truly Oscar-worthy, Pearce completely blends into his role and makes you believe he IS Andy Warhol...It's one of the most impressive supporting performances I've seen this year. Miller, who's beautiful and talented but hasn't really done anything to gain her much notice, deserves an Oscar nod for this film...But she won't get one. This isn't a terrible movie and it's worth seeing for the performances alone.

GRADE: B-

Evocative But Frustratingly Elliptical Look at Andy Warhol's Factory and the Sad Party Girl in the Middle .......2007-09-06

For the concerted effort Sienna Miller puts into her searing portrayal of Warhol protégé and underground celebrity Edie Sedgwick, it would have been rewarding to experience a film that matches her unbridled dramatic impact. Unfortunately, director George Hickenlooper, primarily a documentary filmmaker, seems more focused on eye-catching cinematic techniques - a deliberately artsy mix of overtly dramatic images, grainy film stock and slow-motion photography - than honest character development in this highly fictionalized 2007 account of her brief life. The result feels energetic but ultimately rather cursory in the way he depicts the Manhattan party scene in the mid-1960's, in particular, the Factory, where Warhol let his coterie of drug-addicted fame-seekers gather