Lilith

Starring:Warren Beatty, Jean Seberg, Peter Fonda, Kim Hunter, Anne Meacham, Jessica Walter, Gene Hackman, James Patterson, Robert Reilly, Marie-Antoinette, Harvey Jason, Tracee Towers, Eadie Renaud, Ceil Ray, Lucy Smith (II), Tony Lombardo, Gwen Van Dam, Tony Gray, Dina Paisner, Gunnar Peters
Director: Robert Rossen
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

If you assumed that this video of Lilith Fair, the gathering of female rockers, folkies, and everything in between, was for women only, well, you wouldn't be far wrong. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The 80-minute video mixes interview clips and backstage footage with concert performances by such performers as Sarah McLachlan (Lilith Fair's founder), the Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Meredith Brooks, and Shawn Colvin. Individually and together, they talk about the industry pressures on women in popular music and the sense of community that developed between the performers, as they shared the collective experience of Lilith Fair. And if you guessed that this is a lengthy collection of gently lilting folk songs, guess again. While there is plenty of ultra-sensitive warbling, these women can also rock, including the Indigo Girls (on "Shame on You") and Meredith Brooks (on "Bitch"). --Marshall Fine

Description

Lilith Fair made rock and roll history in the summer of 1997 as the first all-female music tour. These sold-out concert performances could only be described as magical, boasting many once-in-a-lifetime collaborations. That magic is captured here in Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music, which also includes never-before-seen backstage jams, intimate interviews and behind-the-scenes documentary footage of the artists. Songs: Building a Mystery (Sarah McLachlan), Water is Wide (Indigo Girls/Jewel/Sarah McLachlan), Bitch (Meredith Brooks), Tried to Be True (Indigo Girls/Sheryl Crow), Sunny Came Home (Shawn Colvin), Strong Enough (Sheryl Crow), Near You Always (Jewel), Shame on You (Indigo Girls), Ice Cream (Sarah McLachlan), Closer to Fine (Indigo Girls/Meredith Brooks/Jewel/Sarah McLachlan), I Need (Meredith Brooks), Wichita Skyline (Shawn Colvin), Angel (Sarah McLachlan), I Shall Believe (Sheryl Crow), Morning Song (Jewel), Big Yellow Taxi (All Artists).

Customer Reviews:

Great performance - mediocre sound.......2007-04-20

I loved the performances but what a huge disappointment the sound is. I had trouble understanding what the words were for most songs. It's a shame such a landmark concert was produced by hacks. Can the original sound be that bad? Did they only record to videotape. I can forgive the mediocre video for that era, but there is no excuse for bad mastering. Hacks!

heyyy laadiess.......2005-05-13

i got this dvd and i think it is great. sound and video excellent. wouldve liked it to be longer with one more solo performance each from jewel and meredith brooks. especially meredith brooks. and where is lisa loeb? really where is she?
shes in the artist clips between songs. yeah, also nice artist clips between songs. the girls look great in this dvd. so far next to my david gilmour dvd this is at the top. 2 from lisa and one more from meredith thats all i ask.

Women at Work!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-04-27

Im so glad i own this amazing piece of documentary, Lilith fair emerged from the genoius of lovely singer/composer Sarah Mclachlan one of the best inspired female songwriters i have ever meet in my whole life and that changed my perception of women in music, with a little help from her friends such as Meredith Brooks, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin and a large list of great performers Lilith fair was one of the most sucessfull tours at the time, the concept is very original, appealing, and the type of audience was one of the coolest, music industry needed some fresh air such as lilith fair, the audience was one of the biggest and tickets were everywere sold out, i hope a new edition of Lilith fair hit the road soon again that would be just great
HM

Sense of being there.......2005-02-17

This was the 1st DVD we bought for our player. What a nice treat. I thought the sound quality was very good. I was a bit unfamiliar with most of the artists, or just knew alittle of them. But after watching this I wondered where I was during this tour. I certainly missed a great opportunity. I couldn't understand why people were walking around during some of the performances. Its hard not to watch this whole thing once you start it(except for maybe the interveiws once you've seen them a couple times, which are between performance tracks). I love this dvd. I wished I'd been more aware of the tour, or had been offered, or forced to go, or knew enough of the artists then, to have wanted to go. These woman look great & their performances are wonderful. I wished they recorded more of it. A good stereo or surround system helps while viewing gives you a sense of being there.
Hptrdsgent

Sound problems.......2004-07-23

I totally agree with Gregory Sargent's review. The 5.1 surround sound mix is terrible, I thought my left speaker blew when I first watched it but it turned out to be the DVD. The 2 channel stereo has the best sound.
The DVD is awesome, and I totally loved "The Water is Wide" performance. simple beautiful.
Totally recommend it.
PS. Don't you think that Jewel seemed to be pissed with Sarah M during the song? Did you notice the body language? And they did not give each other hugs after.

Average customer rating:

so realistic it's scary
"He's more the quiet type."
Powerful and Darkly Comic Early Fassbinder
Exquisite Fassbinder demands repeat viewings
mesmerizing

Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?
Starring: Lilith Ungerer , Kurt Raab , Lilo Pempeit , Franz Maron , and Harry Baer
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder , and Michael Fengler
Manufacturer: Fantoma
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ASIN: B0002VEVDO
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Amazon.com

Rainer Werner Fassbinder turned to color for his fourth film, a bleak portrait of middle-class banality. Kurt Raab, the plump, baby-faced art director usually cast as the director's most pathetic characters, stars as Herr R., a seemingly successful middle-class professional and happily married family man who stumbles through life like a grinning zombie. As one might guess from the title, Herr R. (an appropriately vague, undistinguished character that Fassbinder leaves unnamed to better stand in for a German everyman) is about to go over the edge, and the film shows us why in relentless, numbing detail. At work he's an insignificant figure of ridicule; at home he escapes into endless hours of TV when not killing time with empty small talk (largely improvised by the cast), and he soon slips into a listless depression compounded by constant headaches. Fassbinder and codirector Michael Fengler don't make the experience easy for us. The film is as purposely banal as the chatty droning of the soundtrack, shot in a hypernaturalistic approach with a palette of muddy, dull colors that give the picture the quality of a faded Polaroid. There's a genius to the gesture, and the film marches inexorably to a harrowing climax, but it's not for all tastes. Even Fassbinder fans admit that this is a tough film to get through. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

so realistic it's scary.......2007-03-09

why does herr r run amok is not a typical fassbinder movie - and it stands out stylistically from the other 50 or so movies he made... It is shot almost like a documentary.. improvised scenes that bring so much realism to the screen.. it is an interesting look at the german middle class of the time period.. and what it takes to drive a man insane... it is the realism that is so consistently presented throughout the film which makes the climax so unnerving.. it is like real life in the moment.. there is no escaping the images on the screen.. in most movies we are shielded by a sound track (which tells us how to react) or by visual cues like cutting back and forth or zooming.. there is nothing of that here no visual safety net.. This is a young and talented cast and director.. one of the early antitheatre films which would eventually evolve into a more cinematic melodramatic style.. but it are these early groundbreaking works that would set the framework for an inspired and all too brief career..

"He's more the quiet type.".......2005-06-18

What makes a mild mannered, introverted man suddenly go berserk one day and bludgeon three people to death? German director, Rainer Fassbinder asks that question in his film "Why Does Herr R Run Amok?" The film records the mundane existence of Herr Raab (Kurt Raab) through a series of scenes. These scenes include Raab's tedious mind-numbingly boring job, a social visit with Raab's elderly parents, and a meeting with Raab's son's teacher.

In each scene, Raab appears trapped, alienated and disaffected. While Raab's beautiful and engaging wife (Lilith Ungerer) attempts to entertain and charm her in-laws, Raab sits immobile amidst the superficial exchanges. He's not participating, and he doesn't even seem to be listening. He's under a great deal of pressure--there's talk of a promotion at work, and there are hints of financial constraints. Through it all, Raab acts like a zombie--with little display of emotion or interest in his surroundings. But he does suffer from headaches and is told by his doctor to take a holiday.

Fassbinder goes to incredibly intricate lengths to establish the sheer boredom and triviality of Raab's bourgeois life. While this is achieved, the viewer must, by necessity experience the details of Raab's life second hand. Raab's boredom and frustration becomes our boredom and frustration. Fassbinder's skill as a director is admirable, and the awful essence of Raab's mediocre life is transmitted through the screen, but this does not create an enjoyable viewing experience. After watching Raab's visit with his parents, I was ready to start smashing some furniture.

Fassbinder is a fascinating director--always provocative and controversial. His greatest films include "The Marriage of Maria Braun" "The Stationmaster's Wife" & "Veronica Voss". If you are new to Fassbinder, start with one of those three films. "Why Does Herr R Run Amok?" is recommended for hardcore Fassbinder fans. In German with English subtitles--displacedhuman

Powerful and Darkly Comic Early Fassbinder.......2004-09-21

This is one of those movies that you'll either love or hate I imagine. I loved it but I am a HUGE Fassbinder fan so I am a more than a bit biased. Kurt Raab's performance in this is nothing short of revelatory it also contains some witty dialogue and two of the greatest scenes in a film I have ever seen (i.e. scene w/ raab in record store and the shocking ending). The cinematography is cinema verite in style and gives hints of what was to come (i.e. dogme 95, the digital indie movement). In a weird way you might call this the granddaddy of those films. I am very much looking forward to the release of this film on dvd.

Exquisite Fassbinder demands repeat viewings.......2004-06-05

This film requires concentration and repeat viewings. Fassbinder employs exceedingly long takes and a relatively still camera to portray a man slowly being led to the end of his tether.

Herr R (Kurt Raab, a Fassbinder regular) is everyman. Indeed, each scene conveys the sheer drabness of his daily routine. Work, wife, in-laws. None of it registers. Despite the perfect middle class life--emotionally, he's stone. It has been said that he is invisible in this film. Certainly, he is not seen as something particularly dynamic or magnetic. He doesn't attract people, none of his co-workers seem interested in him personally. Likewise, he doesn't seem interested in them.

But he does feel. He's passionate about music, sings a gorgeous, heartbreaking ballad that causes him to sigh slightly and look even more wan and dejected than usual. His wife bores him, her friends irritate him. Work is a release of sorts, but he's not making any progress there. He tries to impress the right people but he ends up making a total ass of himself.

All of these factors lead him on a particular course. Hence, the title of the film. The key to answering it is careful, patient viewing. This is a brilliant example of building up evidence to support myriad theses about the motivations of a fundamental character. Just be focusing on Herr Raab's face provides essential clues as to the forces that drive him towards his destiny. Great film.

mesmerizing.......2001-06-11

This is a film that should not be too thouroughly explained prior to watching. Mostly it is a series of the every day happenings in the life of Herr R, a reticent underachiever. He is the child of a certain spiritless bourgeois existence. We watch him at his job, not quite making points with the boss, not quite winning the favour of his coworkers. We watch him try to teach his average, but slightly dreamy, son to pronounce properly. We watch his wife hosting the self-absord and catty neighbors to tea. In short, we watch an unextraordinary bit of an unextraordinary life, which is somehow familiar and for some reason completely entrancing. As one watches it can't helped but be asked why wouldn't Herr R run amok?

Average customer rating:

touch

The Touch
Starring: Kevin Costner , Eve Lilith , Andra Millian , Michael J. Reynolds , and John Coinman
Director: Jim Wilson , and James Wilson
Manufacturer: Legacy Entertainment
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ASIN: B00077BOQA
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Customer Reviews:

touch.......2005-09-04

For the seller I am giving an overall 5 stars. The movie is one of Costners earlier works formerly titled "Stacey's Knight". I have it on video and it was a crappy copy from another seller on Amazon. The DVD of "Touch" is in excellent condition and it came well packaged. Thanks

Average customer rating:

This DVD could have been great if it had an audio commentary
For Fans of 60 Icons Beatty, Seberg, and Fonda
crime and passion
A Faithful Adaptation; Beatty Stiff As A Board
Very risque of its time!

Lilith
Starring: Warren Beatty , Jean Seberg , Peter Fonda , Kim Hunter , and Anne Meacham
Director: Robert Rossen
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B0002GTWQ0
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

Few actresses are adored by the camera as much as Jean Seberg is in the brooding, 1964 psychodrama Lilith. The legendary American and European star (Godard's Breathless), playing Lilith Arthur, fixes one's attention on her every nuance in Robert Rossen's tale of a beautiful, sexual omnivore and psychotic patient at a New England mental hospital. Withdrawn into her small world of dolls and fantasies, Lilith responds to the attention of a laconic, Korean War veteran, Vincent Bruce (Warren Beatty), who is trying to find himself by working as an occupational therapist. Burdened by a murky, guilt-ridden past (involving his mentally ill mother), Vincent gradually falls into an unnervingly passionate affair with Lilith--much less a romance than a shared journey toward mutual implosion. Rossen's severe, sincere, stark black-and-white drama is sometimes lost in a muddle of undefined character motivations, but it's quite a ride toward the film's last-minute epiphany. Watch for Gene Hackman in a small role. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

This DVD could have been great if it had an audio commentary.......2006-10-21

The movie is 5 star; the DVD is only 3 star.

I first saw this movie 14 years ago and to this day it has left its mark. The music is so eerie and the way it was filmed so strongly enhanced the emotional and psychological feel of the film.

This DVD could have been just amazing, but it is completely bare, not a single extra to be had. If only it had an audio commentary or a good retrospective documentary on the making of the film.

Seems like a missed opportunity to me since this DVD was just put out in 2004. Such a shame.

For Fans of 60 Icons Beatty, Seberg, and Fonda.......2004-08-31

LILITH was made by the American director Robert Rossen after a period of having been blacklisted, or graylisted at any rate, and a tremendous comeback with THE HUSTLER starring Jackie Gleason. I remember thinking, well, LILITH might not be the ticket for a permanent comeback for Rossen and indeed this turned out to be the case. It's a failure, but an ambitious one and the kind of movie that makes you long for it to be just a little bit better.

Its stars are incandescent. In LILITH Warren Beatty shows for the first time that he's more than just a pretty face. He plays a troubled vet who takes a job as a "counsellor" at a swanky sanitarium, He's almost as messed up as his patients. I wonder if they called him "Vincent Bruce" to sound like "Vincent Price" because he exhibits all the signs of erotic obsession we associate with Price's AIP Poe films, though Beatty isn't as over the top. And playing the "Barbara Steele part" is Lilith herself, Jean Seberg, looking utterly beautiful and enchanting and evil. Peter Fonda is also in it, almost too young to believe, looking good and acting his ass off as another mental patient who falls for Lilith's wicked ways. And then, for fans of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT on TV, you can spot Jessica Walter, the mother of the clan, here playing Laura, the former girlfriend of Vincent Bruce. He goes back to visit her, even though she married Gene Hackman, in a scene that seems very reminiscent of the end of SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS, where Beatty also had to confront the fact that his girlfriend is hitched up with someone else.

And KIM HUNTER is in the movie too, like Rossen also a victim of HUAC and blacklisting. Here she is a kindly older psychiatrist with a little bit of a thing for Beatty. Well, who wouldn't! Kim Hunter played one of the apes in Planet of the Apes and a memorable "final girl" part in THE SEVENTH VICTIM by Val Lewton and Mark Robson. She's wonderful to watch.

crime and passion.......2002-04-19

This is a slow, delicate film. There are no car crashes, and no muscle bound hero to save the earth from some impending doom. What you will see is a brilliant study in how the weakness of one man, Warren Beatty, can cause so much harm. His misdirected passion causes the mental collapse of one, Jean Seberg, and the death of another, Peter Fonda. All cast members give excellent performances. This is a haunting film that has stayed in my memory for many, many years.

A Faithful Adaptation; Beatty Stiff As A Board.......2001-11-22

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Salamanca's novel of the same name, I had very little hope that the film would catch the unsettling nature of the novel. I was wrong.

Rossen captures Lilith's spirit even in the opening credits, as an abstract drawing reveals what appears to be a spider breaking away from its web. Is this symbolic of Lilith leaving the mental home? Or of Vince, the main character, leaving his ideals of himself? Whatever it might mean, the "dreamy" music and the stark black and white film convey the mood of the book quite well, and borders on what one might perceive as a "horror" film. And viewed in this light, the grounds of the mental home (where most of the story takes place) are both comforting and disturbing.

Lilith, played with absolute conviction by the wonderful and beautiful (sans god-awful wig) Jean Seberg, really made the film enjoyable for me. Just witnessing Seberg's performance was inspiring. Hackman has a small character role (in what was his first) as a "hack" husband to Vincent's teen-romance girlfriend. And Peter Fonda is here too, in an almost unrecognizable role as an overly sensitive man at the hospital, competing with Vincent for Lilith's love.

Let's say all is good, almost great, with this film, excepting Beatty's cardboard performance. I can't imagine why Beatty, given a very defined and complex character like Vincent to portray, couldn't be less stiff than he is here! He didn't ruin the picture for me, but his inability to convey ANY emotion, and just stare numbly out into nothing in most of his scenes, simply frustrates. His performance makes you want to kick him in the pants and say, "C'mon, man! Get it together!" through most of what is otherwise, as I've cited earlier, a successful film.

Kudos to Rossen for not shying away from the somewhat controversial subject matter found in the book, and for capturing the elusive quality of Salamanca's story. Congratulations to Seberg for an amazing performance, and a visibly furrowed brow to Beatty for his sleepwalking.

Very risque of its time!.......2001-06-28

Warren Beatty's first flick is a disturbing little bugger! Beatty begins working for an "mental asylum" but falls for the wrong girl patient (Seberg). Scary & devilish! You can see where "Pretty Poison" came from! A must for the collector!

Malefic/Raising Hell: B-Movie Theatre Drive-In Double Feature

Average customer rating:

Malefic Ouija Board
Fine Art
cult horror cult crap
malefic and raising hell
It's 1985....

Malefic/Raising Hell: B-Movie Theatre Drive-In Double Feature
Starring: Jonathan Watts Bell , Dawn DuVurger , Lucien Eisenach , Sequoia Rose Fuller , and Jeff Dylan Graham
Manufacturer: Sub Rosa Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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Customer Reviews:

Malefic Ouija Board.......2005-04-06

If your a fan of B horror Malefic is worth it! The other is crap.
I wish I could find out who did that Ouija / WeeGee board the website on the DVD doesn't work. I want one!

Fine Art.......2004-05-03

above review ...
re: review is this "fine film" anything like "fine art"
"fine wine" or is this film just served with CHEESE

cult horror cult crap.......2003-12-26

malfic _ raising hell ,an effort for beginners , but dont drop your day job

malefic and raising hell.......2003-11-29

If your a fan of "B" movies you've got yourself a winner. Raising hell embraces the epiotome of "BAD"

It's 1985...........2003-11-19

great film...great film. it's no "dead puppies" but you know. my favorite part? that would be when the detective is on the phone with the officer at the crime scene and they are talking to each other. my other favorite scene? the one when the senator confronts the heroine in the newly constructed home...great use of natural lighting and there is something about the acting in that scene...the rawness of emotion and the depth...it's stirring. soul stirring. buy this movie you fools! the fate of the free world rides on this purchase! it is your duty as an american! they are only giving me 1000 words to work with here...how can i begin to describe the grandeur.. the beauty.. the perfection that is "raising hell" in only so many words? i love you, i always have. trust me. would i lie to someone i love? buy two copies. yours forever,
-jamboy

Average customer rating:

Visually stunning, dramatically understated film noir

Gods of the Plague
Starring: Harry Baer , Ingrid Caven , Micha Cochina , Carla Egerer , and Jan George
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
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ASIN: B00008V2UC
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com

The short-lived skyrocket named Rainer Werner Fassbinder began his prolific directing career with a burst of rule-breaking movies in 1969-70. Gods of the Plague, from that early eruption, is a kind of homage-deconstruction of the American crime movie, in the same vein as RWF's Love Is Colder Than Death and The American Soldier. An ex-con (zonked-out Harry Baer in an ankle-length leather jacket) wanders through grungy Munich, on an eventual collision course with a botched supermarket robbery. The film has virtually no narrative momentum, and carries the cheeky attitude of experimental theater--the movie stops cold as the hero listens to a German nonsense song in its entirety. Yet from the first five minutes you can sense the eye of a great filmmaker behind the exquisitely poised camera (clearly influenced in this one by the anything-goes spirit of early Godard). Fassbinder regulars Hanna Schygulla and Gunther Kaufmann are especially good here. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Visually stunning, dramatically understated film noir.......2003-08-22

Gods of the Plague (released in 1970) is a powerful, visually stunning, yet dramatically understated film noir - and pure Fassbinder; Wellspring's DVD transfer is detailed and crisp. Fassbinder himself ranked this film fifth on the list he made, shortly before he died, of "The Top 10 of My Own Films." Not only does he pay homage to some of the masterpieces of this genre which he loved (from Kubrick's The Killing and Aldrich's Kiss Me Deadly to Godard's Breathless and Band of Outsiders), he brings his unique perspective, including his incisive sense of humor. This film is the centerpiece in a loose trilogy - of which each picture has a distinct dramatic and visual style (all shot in black and white by his frequent cinematographer, Dietrich Lohmann) - beginning with his debut feature, Love is Colder Than Death (1969), and concluding with The American Soldier (1970). (In 1970 alone Fassbinder made five feature films and directed three major stage productions!) Characters recur throughout the series; and they often use the same names as the actors playing them. The pivotal role is two-bit Munich hood Franz Walsch, played by Fassbinder himself in the first and third films, but (perhaps confusingly) by Harry Baer here (although Fassbinder, wearing the same black leather jacket from the first film, has a droll cameo as a different character). Baer brings some intriguing new qualities to the role, most notably a sleek, feral, yet passive, sexiness. It is also worth noting that "Franz Walsch" was Fassbinder's frequent pseudonym; he used it in the credits for the many films which he edited.

Fassbinder uses this trilogy - of which I believe Gods of the Plague is the best chapter - to explore many of the hidden aspects of the crime film, including its not infrequent homoerotic subtext, even as he expands its scope both psychologically and visually. This film alone should silence any criticism that Fassbinder is "not a visual director;" he was immensely flexible in creating the style best suited for each picture, ranging from the stark minimalism of Katzelmacher to the baroque extravagance of Chinese Roulette. Even at this early point in his career, he is a master at combining image and drama - carefully balanced between realism and stylization - to create an effect far greater than the sum of its parts. Fully as expressive as the visual design is the enormous depth of his characters. But that is revealed not so much through dialogue as furtive eye movements, the smallest of gestures, and the many riveting silences which punctuate this film. Comparing the menage a trois here (Franz, Margarethe, and "Gorilla," the affable hit man who killed Franz's brother - "It was only business" - but whom Franz loves anyway) with the one in Love is Colder Than Death (not to mention Truffaut's Jules and Jim) is fascinating. I give Gods of the Plague my highest recommendation, but if possible see it in the context of the films which precede and follow it.

Average customer rating:

Better Than Expected

cremains

CREMAINS

A mixed bag

Cremains (2001) d: Sessions, Steve

CREMAINS
Starring: Kimberly L. Cole , Lilith Stabs , Jeff Dylan Graham , Wanda Plimmer , and Christopher David Williams
Director: Kimberly L. Cole , and Steve Sessions
Manufacturer: E.I. Independent
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ASIN: B00005NVWY
Release Date: 2001-08-03

Customer Reviews:

Better Than Expected.......2002-07-18

Cremains is a low-budget but better-than-expected anthology-style horror program. In the first episode, a woman travels to the haunted town of Wyndham, Mississippi (evidently the Arkham of the Deep South), to become the sacrificial victim of a sinister force that emerges only once in a blue moon--literally. The second episode is non-supernatural, with a serial kiler stalking and murdering teen-age boys. The third episode features everyone's fave horror theme, lesbian vampires. And the fourth episode involves an experiment in necromancy that goes horribly wrong (and also provides the basis for the framing sequence through which the four stories are told).

There are some technical lapses, as noted in the other reviews, mostly with the sound, but I give this movie credit for attempting something more than the usual rehashed EC-style horror tales.

cremains.......2002-07-05

... no actually it's not to terribly bad. i was expecting a lot worse but it wasn't to bad of a movie. had 4 short stories like such movies as creep show, nightmares, terror tract and so on. two of the short stories were pretty good and one was just an excuse for a ridiculous amount of nudity. but all in all it's worth checking out, decent flick for an independent film.

CREMAINS.......2001-12-04

If you like the coziness of those old time B-movies, this is it. There is a certain romantic charm to independently made movies. This particular gem touts 4 different mini horror stories rolled into one--& it's on DVD with all the fixin's: behind the scenes, trailer/advertisements, etc. Must have.

A mixed bag.......2001-10-20

I bought this DVD based solely on the creepiness of the female vampire featured on the cover. I honestly didn't know what to expect. Here's what I got...

The "film" quality was horrid. The movie seemed to be filmed with a home camcorder, including terrible lighting and poor sound quality. Some of the dialogue sounded like it was recorded on a tape deck with a hand held microphone jammed into the actors mouths.

Acting was sub par all around. At times the cast overacted (the interrogated man) or passively drone out their lines (the haunted blonde).

Now, before you begin to think I have nothing nice to say about the film, let me assure you that it does have some redeeming points. The brunette vampire was very good and seemed to enjoy her part. The efx, while hampered by an obviously low budget, were convincing. The blood was a very, very realistic color. It may seem like a small thing, but believe me, off-color blood can ruin a scene's believability quicker than bad acting.

As some other reviewers mentioned, the stories were pretty original. I especially liked the one about the lady in the car and the vampire tale. It is unfortunate that Steve Sessions used black and white for the vampire scene, thereby losing the effect of those great red contact lenses.

I give the film 4 stars for story, 2 stars for quality, and 3 stars for acting. A 3-star average. Rent it if you can. Then, if you enjoy it, consider purchasing it. It includes some behind the scenes features including better shots of the vampire girls.

Cremains (2001) d: Sessions, Steve.......2001-10-16

An amazing anthology of horror shorts similar to Creepshow (1982) or Tales of the Crypt (1989). A funeral director accused by unseen investigators of mixing the ashes of cremated bodies, tells them many tales of horror that he has collected while in the death business. The shorts include: A women chosen for sacrifice while driving through a small rural town, and my favorite piece about a killer of depressed teenagers, who have all called the suicide help hotline. Writer / director Steve Sessions should be congratulated for such excellent story ideas. Looking forward to seeing more from him. "...Horrifying stories feature demented serial killers, lesbian vampires, brutal bondage murders, town sacrifices, and a resurrection gone unspeakably wrong."

Average customer rating:

Malefic
Starring: Lilith Stabs , Jeff Dylan Graham , and Cynder Moon
Director: Steve Sessions
Manufacturer: Terror Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Blood Reaper
Terror House
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Satan's Playground
Holy Terror

ASIN: B000F9T75A
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Description

Four corpse-kidnappers attempt to pull off a morbid ransom scheme. But things go wrong when they decide to use an isolated cabin, which belongs to an occult author as their hide-out. Discovered is an ancient spirit board which once belonged to the Hobb's Bluff witch. The result of their discovery soon eclipses their crime.

Average customer rating:

The best of the Bad Movie Police case files
Yolanda Squatpump is Today's Ed Wood!
Oh sweet Jesus. What did I buy?

Bad Movie Police Case #2: Chickboxer
Starring: Tanya Dempsey , Darryl Rue , Ariauna Albright , Lilith Stabs , and Jeff Dylan Graham
Director: John Treacy
Manufacturer: Bad Movie Police (Tempe Video)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Bad Movie Police Case #1: Galaxy of the Dinosaurs
Bad Movie Police Case #3: Humanoids From Atlantis
Girls From Another World: Rollergator/Things/Toad Warrior/Big Sister 2000
Evil Remains
Witchouse 3: Demon Fire (Special Edition)

ASIN: B0000C508S
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Product Description

For anyone who's ever watched a movie so bad you wished acting required a permit or that a 14-day waiting period was mandatory to buy a camera...the Bad Movie Police are here! Follow the adventures of Sgt. Elke Mantooth, Lt. Drucilla Dread and The BMP Task Force as they seek out the worst "cine-terrorists" in movie history and bring their crimes to justice for your entertainment! Shot in late 1991, CHICKBOXER has a long list of crimes it's committed against good cinema. Among them is a cameo by retired scream queen Michelle Bauer (HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS) shot in Los Angeles while the rest of this turkey was lensed in the backwoods of Ohio under the dubious talents of feminist director Yolonda Squatpump. Watch for Bauer's nude sex scene in the flick's finale which was obviously tacked on to an otherwise skinless cheesefest! OUT OF SIGHT and SOLDIER star James Black is also on board for this comedic misstep in cinematic sludge.

Customer Reviews:

The best of the Bad Movie Police case files.......2006-05-28

Producer J. R. Bookwalter has come up with a pretty brilliant way of giving his own atrocious films a second chance to make a few bucks - by ridiculing his very own turkeys, he has turned his old, hopelessly unwatchable films into wickedly cool, hilarious viewing experiences. In Bad Movie Police Case #2: Chickboxer, Sgt. Elke Mantooth (Ariauna Albright) and Lt. Drucilla Dread (Lilith Stabs) are back, taking down the purveyors of bad cinema one at a time and warning us of the dangers these low-budget, low-talent directors pose to all of us. This time, they even get to kick a little butt during the film's introductory segment. After breaking up a cinematic crime in progress and warning us of the dangers of bad movies in general, the girls tell us about director "Yolonda Squatpump," one of the most-wanted cine-terrorists in the world. After detailing this director's top ten crimes against good cinema in the film Chickboxer, they present us with the evidence of the movie itself.

I really shouldn't admit this, but I thought Chickboxer was actually a pretty good movie. I'm probably the only person on Earth who would even think of saying this, as even the cast and crew have nothing good to say about the whole experience, but there it is. I agree that the movie looks like it was filmed on a cheap video camcorder (because it was), had nothing that could properly be termed a budget, boasted some pretty bad acting, suffered from audio problems that made some of the dialogue a little hard to make out, and was just pretty stupid an idea in the first place. That's probably why I like it, and everyone else hates it. And, hey, it throws you a bone in the form of a short soft porn scene with Michelle Bauer at the very end, so you can't say J. R. Bookwalter and crew never gave you anything.

If this film were known at all, it would be best known for its excruciating opening credit sequence (which is, rather sadistically, featured on the end credits as well). As the names roll across the screen and some cheesy heavy metal plays in the background, the viewer is forced to watch a woman completely lace up a pair of shoes - boring to the nth degree, but there is actually a story behind it. Producer J. R. Bookwalter actually filmed the suspenseful shoelace scene twice - the first time with his wife Tina pulling the strings. When it came time to package the movie anew, that footage was gone because Bookwalter had actually copied over some of the master tapes for another film called Ozone (which says a lot about Bookwalter's pride in his work) - the version that BMP viewers are forced to endure actually features Ariauna Albright's hands and pink Converses.

As for the plot, it's all about this girl who dreams of becoming a superhero. Julie Ann Suscinksi plays Kathy, the second-oldest high school student I've ever encountered. She's a frumpy thing who depends on Chickboxer, her very favorite TV show, to get her through each unhappy week. She has the hots for the school's scrawny football star (James L. Edwards) and dreams of being a superhero like her favorite action heroine. Defying her parents, she signs up for a karate class with the world's worst "master" (James Black) - and soon thereafter, for the first time in her life, something actually happens. Her quiet little town is knee-deep in a secret conspiracy involving the mayor, the police chief, and some decidedly unimpressive Mafioso types. This is a job that calls for Chickboxer - but, unfortunately, only Kathy is available. Can she take on the role of her hero and save the day?

Don't expect a lot of gratuitous violence here, as the few moments of chickboxing are hopelessly inept and unintentionally hilarious. Michelle Bauer fans shouldn't get too terribly excited about Chickboxer, either, as she gets only limited screen time (and let me just say that her naughty scene at the end is indeed related to the story, but, since we're talking about a naked Michelle Bauer, who cares if it's related or not, anyway?). Finally, let me just repeat the fact that I am probably the only person on earth who actually liked this movie, but the whole Bad Movie Police concept goes a long way toward making the whole experience entertaining, no matter how horrible you find the feature film.

Yolanda Squatpump is Today's Ed Wood!.......2004-03-13

You have never seen anything like 'Chickboxer.' I have seen many, many very bad movies, and generally revel in movies gone wildly awry, but this is in a class by itself. I am serious, when I say that this is the heir apparent to the Ed Wood catalog.

This is the worst made movie I have ever seen. Shot with a low quality video camera in 1991 on a budget of $5,000, 'Chickboxer' is the story of a frumpy twentysomething girl (who is allegedly seventeen) inspired to fight crime by her favorite television show, 'Chickboxer'. Along the way she takes a karate class (which must be seen to be believed), and gets a date with the limpest football player I have ever seen. There are a couple of plot cul-de-sacs which involve kidnapping and the murder of a waitress which have NOTHING to do with the rest of the movie, and there is a cameo by Michelle Bauer as the real 'Chickboxer', as well as a tacked on bit of bad quality adult film of her that is also completely unrelated to the film at the very end. Another thing to watch out for is the unbearably long 'shoe lacing' title sequence, the most painful in cinema history.

This has been packaged as part of the "Bad Movie Police" series, with several excellent extras, all of which are worth watching. I sincerely hope that the series continues with other movies from the same production team such as 'Maximum Impact', 'Robot Ninja', and 'Zombie Cop', all long out of print. In his commentary, J.R. Bookwalter (the alter ego of editor 'Darryl Squatmpump' [sic]) alleges that 'Zombie Cop' is even worse than 'Chickboxer', but I refuse to believe him until I have seen it myself.

Extras on the DVD are wonderful. In addition to the moderately amusing "Bad Movie Police" introduction, there are two brief documentaries on the making of 'Chickboxer'. I am particularly amused by the interview footage of James Black, who played the karate teacher. There is also a still picture library, and by far best of all, an option to watch the movie with commentary by producer J.R. Bookwalter, who is hilarious to listen to, and tells us many amusing things such as the picture was made after the production company gave them the final video box and synopsis and told them to make a movie around it. How great is that?

This is the pinnacle of bad filmmaking. Some will not be able to sit through it (especially the horrible narration device), but for those hardened by the works of Adamson, Steckler, and Wood, Squatpump will be a breath of foul air!

Oh sweet Jesus. What did I buy?.......2003-11-19

This has got to be the worst excuse for a film in the history of cinema. This is an opinion stated by the director and writer in the 'bonus features'. Many of those who starred in this movie even admitted to not being able to bear watching it, and some refuse to even discuss it.

Our story begins with a homely 20 something female playing a high school student obsessed with the TV show 'Chick Boxer'. Her extremely ugly sidekick friend is dumbfounded by this. This film is very annoying because our 'hero' narrates half the film as she's sitting in a chair in the corner of her house.

To put it gently, a dirty cop wants to become mayor. So he, some pathetic henchman, and a karate instructor devise a scheme to frame the current mayor. Our hero takes karate lessons from the crook because she wants to be a Chick Boxer like her hero. She discovers the plot, and with her boyfriend and his dad, win in the end by rounding up all the bad guys.

And the real 'Chick Boxer'? She becomes a porn star at the end of the film. Her showing off her great rack is the only saving grace of this film. But it's not worth sitting through the 70 something minutes of misery.

This was shot entirely in video with a cheap camcorder. The sound is awful. The actors (half of whom you'll recognize in Bad Movies #1 Galaxy of the Dinosaurs) obviously don't even want to make this film. The lines are mostly done off the cuff. That's not surprising though. The writer of this film explains he wrote it in an afternoon and hated his own script.

Check out the extras in the karate class. What a motley crew of derelicts. The long haired dude with the glasses looks like someone pulled him in off the street right before filming began.

Description

Two features for one low price!
Feature #1: VAMPIRE CALL GIRLS - Billy Sims is out on the town and he's lonely. This is the perfect night to call up an escort service. Unfortunately he picks the wrong service. These call girls are not only out for money, they're out for blood and a whole lot of it! Starring Liluth Stabs, Glori-Anne Gilbert and Roxanne Michaels. Directed by Everette Hartsoe. Feature #2: BATTLE OF THE COLOSSAL WOMEN - Suzi's a nerdy scientist with a crush on Todd. But Todd's dating the dominating Liluth and doesn't even know Suzi is alive. So Suzi begins experimenting with a formula that will make her sexy and seductive. It works... too well! Suddenly 30 ft tall, she discovers new strength she never imagined possible. Liluth, jealous that this loser has such power, swallows down the rest of the formula. Soon she is huge and grabs up Todd to find Suzi. She does and they battle. But then they find themselves attracted to each other. And that's when the fun really begins! Approx. 35 mins. Starring Iris, Rachel Krupsky and Robert Briggs. Directed by Marc Elsworth
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE: Two Uncut Features, Sub Rosa Trailers, Interactive Menus, Dolby Digital Sound and more.

Customer Reviews:

When two-for-one is not a bargain.......2003-06-04

This DVD comes with one feature and one short.

Vampire Call Girls is a silly film. It is not surprising that it is an excuse to show topless women, but it makes little sense otherwise.

[...] No consistency.

The nude scenes are just that, with little or no action.

Battle of the Colossal Women makes even less sense.[...]

Both the battle and love scene between the two women are super staged and awkward. Both woman look like they want to look like they are trying to do something without actually touching; almost as if they are afraid of exceeding their contract.

For simple visual pleasure, Vampires is the better piece, but both are worse than much of what you can find on cable and TV.

Misleading.......2003-05-20

The editorial reads "Two features for one low price" Obviously I have a different concept of the word 'feature' as the film "Battle of the Colossal Women" is about 35mins long. Hardly a 'feature'.

And what of the film itself? It's about two women who are increased in size by some scientific experiment, who then push and shove each other for a while (hardly a 'battle'), and then carress each other a little.

Vampire Call Girls was a dud too, but was in fact long enough to be both a 'feature' and an exercise in boredom.

A true masterpiece!.......2002-04-26

Not since watching Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" have I ever been so moved. Everett Hartsoe has truely raised the benchmark with his over-the-top directing style and actors/actresses that express the depths of humanity of which we only see at our most dire hours. This film did not need high budgets or expensive equipment to illuminate its spirit, Everett Hartsoe in all of his wisdom insisted on using clothes from the actors/actresses closets so that they would feel as though they were acting as themselves. His method of selecting actors/actresses to play the characters reflects the depths of his unparalelled talent. "I went to the local strip clubs and got me some dancers ta act in ma' movie." To the layperson this would not seem a sound idea but to a well-read intellectual like myself it shows an insight overlooked by most directors. The strip clubs, like the African Jungle in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" represent an area in which the rest of civilization cannot observe. In places such as these the most evil emotions can take root without society's guidance. Hartsoe reasoned that a career in a strip club would give a young girl the heart of a vampire. As previously stated, Hartsoe needed no state of the art equipment to translate his vision into reality. A simple home-video camera was used to shoot the film. "We din' nee' no 'spensive camra ta make tha' movie" The camera's black and white function and its color filters were more than sufficient to create a subliminally horrifying feel for the film. The most powerful aspect of the movie is Everett Hartsoe's portrayal of the main character."If I'm payin' for the ... movie I'm the one thas doin' the ...!" The film is a rollercaster ride of suspense as the cruelty of the vampire call girls make their profession seemingly harmless and their victims innocent. The birthday party scene displays the essence of males in their brotherhood. They smoke joints in a very unique way; they hold them a full inch away from their lips and only pretend to inhale. ... In conclusion, Vampire Call Girls is a Revolutionary movie and will be remembered as a classic for years to come.

It's kinda corny but has it's good points........2000-12-07

I thought the movie itself was kinda stupid. I thought most of the girls didn't even look like vamps excect Lilith Stabs, which was the only good point of the movie. Sure the other girls looked good but they looked out of place in a vampire movie. After seeing this movie I have to say I would recommend it if you wanted to see T&A and not much storyline cause the girls do look good but they can't act. My favoirte part was where Lilith told the bartender where to go.

I dunno what movie the reviewer below saw..........2000-10-20

My expectations weren't very big for this movie. I mean hell, it's called Vampire Call Girls, ya know it's gonna be cheap. I was hoping that this would be one of those "it's so bad it's good" movies, but nope, it was just bad.

It's Bill Sims birthday, the guys are over celebrating and he's telling them his dream. In the dream he called up the Night Vamps escort service. Well low and behold, she turns out to be a vampire. Bill manages to escape and calls up the service. Wanting his money back, he goes to the Night Vamps headquaters and finds himself with 3 more vamps. Turns out it wasn't a dream though, and he gets turned into a vampire himself.

You get unattractive girls with implants wiggling around naked and a bunch of nasty guys (sorry folks, no sex). The only redeeming quality is Lilith Stabs the 'fetish' model, and believe it or not, she's the only one that doesn't get naked. She plays a wannabe-goth vampire in a Walmart Morticia costume, go-go boots and sunglasses (light sensitive maybe? or going for that oh-so-cool look?).

If you're still curious, rent it. If for some reason you think the above would still turn you on, then go for it. *shrugs*

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