S.S. Experiment

Starring:S.S. Experiment
Studio: Jef Films
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

Are you afraid to die? Kiefer Sutherland isn't. He's an ambitious, charismatic medical student who persuades classmates Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon to take part in a reckless experiment. To see if there is life after death, they will kill themselves: temporarily shut down ("flatline") their heartand brain functions to briefly experience clinical death. After Sutherland survives the first experiment, the others flatline for increasingly longer intervals. But their horror begins when they realize that although they've come back alive... they haven't come back alone. Flatliners is a chilling suspense thriller of obsession, fear and redemption that will take you across the line to a place where terror lives forever.

Average customer rating:

SAD TRUTH
black guinea pigs
boys who became men's
Interesting if not historically accurate
Miss Evers' Boys review

Miss Evers' Boys
Starring: Alfre Woodard , Laurence Fishburne , Craig Sheffer , Joe Morton , and Obba Babatundé
Director: Joseph Sargent
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Tuskegee Airmen
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ASIN: B00005RDAN
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Amazon.com essential video

Laurence Fishburne helped shepherd this Emmy Award-winning exposé from American medical history books to the small screen. Anchored in the 1973 Senate inquiry into the infamous Tuskegee Study, the film uses a flashback structure to take us back 40 years as Nurse Eunice Evers (played with honest conviction by Alfre Woodard, who also earned an acting Emmy for her powerful performance) describes how a program designed to treat syphilis among blacks in the South was twisted into an inhuman study. Evers's conscience is torn between leaving her position on principle or remaining to give the dying men what comfort she can while they are systematically refused life-saving medicine at every turn. Fishburne costars as Caleb, a easygoing but ambitious young fieldhand who discovers the cold reality of the study while courting Miss Evers. Adapted by Walter Bernstein from a play by David Feldshuh, the film rises above the TV Movie of the Week mold with a complex moral structure that eschews (if you'll pardon the expression) black and white polarities for shades of gray as the doctors' initial compromises become a lifetime of lies. Ultimately that tone becomes the most disturbing facet of the drama: doctors and nurses so enmeshed in what is tantamount to a conspiracy they can find no way out, and a government that searches for scapegoats for its own cold-blooded research. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Based on the shocking true story, Miss Evers' Boys exposes a 40-year government backed medical research effort on humans which led to tragic consequences. It is 1932 when loyal, devoted Nurse Eunice Evers (Alfre Woodard) is invited to work with Dr. Brodus (Joe Morton) and Dr. Douglas (Craig Sheffer) on a federally funded program to treat syphilis patients in Alabama. Free treatment is offered to those who test positive for the disease included Caleb Humphries (Laurence Fishburne) and Willie Johnson (Obba Babatunde). But when the government withdraws its funding, money is offered for what will become known as "The Tuskegee Experiment", a study of the effects of syphilis on patients who don't receive treatment. Now the men must be led to believe they are being cared for, when in fact they are being denied the medicine that could cure them. Miss Evers is faced with a terrible dilemma-to abandon the experiment and tell her patients, or to remain silent and offer only comfort. IT is a life or death decision that will dictate the course of not only her life, but the lives of all of Miss Evers' Boys.

Customer Reviews:

SAD TRUTH.......2007-05-10

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TRUTH AND CAN STAND IT WHEN YOU SEE AND HEAR IT, HERE IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO WATCH. MASTERFULLY DONE....

black guinea pigs.......2007-05-07

i think all people of african descent should see this movie. this movie gives the true yet tragic story of how the u.s. government treats its african-american citizens. how dare the government feel that it has the right to use live human-beings in a experiment to study the effects of a disease. the very thought of giving a deadly disease to an innocent,unsuspecting group of people. this movie lets you know just how far the government of the u.s. will go to get what it wants.

boys who became men's.......2007-04-12

all young adult men and women need to watch this movie. it was a Great Movie.about things that happen in life.that is not your fault.

Interesting if not historically accurate.......2007-03-17

I enjoyed this movie, and watched it several times. It's an interesting story, but it doesn't really ring true to me. There were too many "Happy Coon" moments in the film for me to be able to believe it. Having said that, however, it was an interesting thought exercise to consider this tragedy from the perspective of people trying to do the best they could with what they had as relatively impotent members of an unjust social system.

Miss Evers' Boys review.......2007-01-11

The movie was an assignment for school. I still found it very interesting and well done. It's a great example of the importance of laws governing the use of human subjects in research. Good information on an ugly piece of US history. Hopefully the lessons reach further than dealings in our own country.

Average customer rating:

Zoiks! and Jinkies!
Some movies are just born bad...
An awesome movie!!
Things go "DUD" in the night
PERFECT!

The Haunting
Starring: Lili Taylor , Liam Neeson , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Owen Wilson , and Bruce Dern
Director: Jan de Bont
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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House on Haunted Hill
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ASIN: 0783237413
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Amazon.com

Suffering from the extreme bad luck of being released at the same time as the low-budget The Blair Witch Project, this adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House attempts to update Shirley Jackson's psychologically terrifying ghost story to the era of big-budget, computerized special effects. Does it work? Well, let's just say that showing isn't exactly the same as telling. A prime example of bloated studio filmmaking, The Haunting telegraphs all its frights so blatantly that it forsakes any of Jackson's subtle horrors for the remedial scares of a clunky carnival ride. The story remains basically the same, with four people called to an old mansion for experiments in the supernatural, but instead of getting inside the heads of its main characters (as the 1963 adaptation by Robert Wise did so well), Jan DeBont's film deserts character development for the huge, glorious set design provided by Eugenio Zanetti (Restoration). Thus, instead of a well-drawn story you get... a well-drawn house, one that four very talented and underutilized actors--Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, and Owen Wilson--wander around in endlessly (as Zeta-Jones puts it, the house is "sort of Charles Foster Kane meets the Munsters"). Taylor, as the hypersensitive Nell, is the unknowing lynchpin in the battle between good and bad ghosts and gets saddled with most of the expository dialogue of the mansion's gothic backstory. Zeta-Jones (showing some spark) and Neeson (showing none) are sadly reduced to providing reactionary shots of the film's disastrous climax, which mixes hapless new-age affirmations with computer-generated effects of ghosts and exploding windows, walls, doors, etc. For this haunted-house story, take a quick tour of the breathtaking rooms, but definitely don't stay the night. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

Zoiks! and Jinkies!.......2007-06-08

On the surface, this movie has everything it needs to place it in the horror section of any video store, and admittedly, it is not scary at all. But something made me wonder if it was really meant to be scary or was it just a story with a few classic horror elements included to support the storyline. This had all the feel of an old Scooby Doo cartoon, and I love it for that. It never even really felt like the intent was to scare us. This is just a fun movie. I loved all the characters, least of which (although I liked her somewhat) was Theo. A little too bouncy and bubbly for her age, but she is CZJ, so she is forgiven. A few jump scares and they even managed to formulate a PG-13 decap. The CGI was a bit (a bit???) over the top. But I loved the story. Enough to forgive a little too much CGI and a few cheesey lines. It won't make you piss yourself, but if you are a fan of the actors - and I am - it's a great movie to own.

Some movies are just born bad..........2007-05-17

To say I was disappointed in this movie would be an understatement. To classify this as a horror film would be just plain wrong. While it achieves its goal to tell a good story, the chills and thrills just aren't there. I cannot recommend this movie to anyone with a serious yen to be scared out of their wits. If you want a real frightening tale, I recomend Rose Red. That's how a haunted house story should be told.

An awesome movie!!.......2007-05-13

This was an awesome movie! The cg graphics was excellent and the story was cool!! This has made a super movie for the halloween holiday!!

Things go "DUD" in the night.......2007-05-08

Once again a remake takes a "Classic" film "The Haunting"(the best haunted house movie ever) and retooled it as an effects driven mess. Did they even watch the original or read the wonderful novel? Surely not if this is what they came up with. All the subtler aspects of the first are thrown out in favor of the mind numbing CGI effects. The result is one big dud of a "thriller". The cast is good but wasted as the makers seem more intent on showing us what they can do with CGI rather than giving us a true "chiller" like the better than ever original was.
All in all, not even a nice try!!!

PERFECT!.......2007-04-02

THIS IS A PERFECT MOVIE TO SEE IF YOU'RE INTO THE SUPERNATURAL OR SPIRITUAL!DEFINITELY GET THIS!YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!I WATCH THIS OFTEN.THIS IS A VERY TOUCHING STORY.THE CHILDRENS SPIRIT NEEDS TO BE RELEASED.THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN HELP THEM IS A FAMILY NOW ALIVE FROM A LONG LINE OF DESCENT.THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY!SPIRITS OF THE DEAD CONTACTING A LIVING PERSON OF IMPORTANCE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS PERSON CAN HELP THEM.THIS STORY REALLY TOUCHED ME.I REALLY BELIEVE THAT CAN HAPPEN.THE MANSION'S BEAUTIFUL!THIS MOVIE REALLY MAKES YOU WANT TO BE THERE,AND TO HELP THOSE CHILDREN.

The Fly II (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Awesome movies!
SON OF THE FLY!
The first was good,but the sequel was a stinker.
Dire
"It's no secret ambition bites the nails of success."

The Fly II (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Eric Stoltz , Daphne Zuniga , Lee Richardson , John Getz , and Frank C. Turner
Director: Chris Walas
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009X76XC
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Amazon.com

Chris Walas, the effects whiz who turned Jeff Goldblum into the gooey, grotesque Brundle-Fly in David Cronenberg's The Fly makes his directorial debut in this equally icky sequel. Eric Stoltz is Brundle's genetically diseased offspring, a boy genius brought up in an experimental laboratory by a nefarious foster father eager to see what his inevitable metamorphosis will bring. No surprise here: like father, like son. Daphne Zuniga is his sweet young girlfriend, and John Getz reprises his role from the first film as a bitter alcoholic with a very bad fake beard. This cut-rate "Son of the Fly" knockoff pales next to Cronenberg's classic, degenerating into a gory revenge flick. Walas strains under a limited budget, and many of the more elaborate creatures (a monstrously mutated dog, the skeletal fly monster leaping about the warehouse-like lab) are rather shabby. The makeup is suitably gooey, slathered in ooze and pus, and the mayhem-filled finale is a nasty but impressive over-the-top frenzy of blood and gore climaxing in the nastiest piece of poetic justice since Freaks. The opening birth scene (with a look-alike subbing for mom Geena Davis) is an homage to Larry Cohen's It's Alive. --Sean Axmaker

Description

After Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) was "debugged", his son, Martin Brundle (Eric Stoltz), born of the human fly, is adopted by his father's place of employment (Bartok Inc.) while the employees simply wait for his mutant chromosones to come out of their dormant state. And thus "THE FLY" is reborn!!

Customer Reviews:

Awesome movies!.......2007-02-21

These movies were just great, and brought back warm memories of my childhood. I was actually surprised to learn that I seemed to enjoy Fly 2 more than the first, even though it didn't even star Jeff Goldblum! Regardless, this is the movie you need to buy if you love sci-fi thrillers. The plot definitely is not disappointing!

SON OF THE FLY!.......2006-11-15

Okay, so David Cronenberg wasn't the director behind the sequal. Knowing that, one might not have high expectations twords any of his sequals. Cronenberg is a Horror master who has made some of the best movies to ever come from the scene. SCANNERS, VIDEODROME, Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE, THE BROOD and A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE are just to name a few. His movies have a dark and evil quality to them, something that sticks with you for many days after watching one of his films. Like I was saying before, knowing that Cronenberg didn't direct the sequal to his classic remake of THE FLY might make people jump to conclusions. With all due respect to David Cronenberg, I'm willing to put my expectations aside and watch the sequal for what it is. THE FLY II is nothing more than a big budget, over the top, 1980's Horror movie sequal. The movie came out in the late 80's (1989 if I'm not mistaken), a time where Horror movie sequals were expected no matter what. Instead of Cronenberg directing the sequal, we have the special effects artist of the first remake stepping up to the plate. Personally I think this was a wise choice considering it makes the two movies look and feel the same. It's a small detail that really helps this sequal flow well from the Cronenberg classic. I always thought the special effects of the first movie were beyond horrifying. It's safe to say the sequal follows in the same foot steps in terms of nasty gore. THE FLY II starts out with a rather nice Horror birth scene (another actor playing the role of Geena Davis, I guess they couldn't get her back for the sequal) that sets up the brooding atmosphere of the entire movie. After the opening credits, the movie moves smoothly through the rather slim plot details and never once becomes boring. It's the perfect sequal to the original remake that dosn't try to become better than the first. THE FLY II seems to know it's place (being a close second to the first) and gives the Horror fans what they want to see. Horrible death scenes, nasty mutations, buckets of blood and lets not forget a healthy dose of revenge for the kicker! It's a sequal with "bite" and if you understand all the movie changes compared to the first one (different directors, different actors), it becomes a very enjoyable experiance. When it comes down to Horror movie sequals, I believe there are two kinds that can be made. The first kind is a well intended, big budget, carefully crafted sequal. I personally feel that THE FLY II was handled with care and respect when looking back to the first classic remake by Cronenberg. The other type of Horror movie sequals are cheap, thrown together, rushed, unexpected movies that don't respect the fans or the original. Thankfully, THE FLY II dosn't fall into that catagory and actually is a good Horror film. Gore hounds will be pleased to see tons of nasty gore and wicked special effects! The ending of the movie is a perfect example of how the 1980's Horror movie scene was done. Tons of latex, tons of blood and a nice little revenge twist to boot! Give THE FLY II a chance and expect nothing when watching it. Fans of movies such as THE THING and THE BLOB (1980's remake) have much to enjoy here! Incase your one of those "stuck up" viewers, I'll give you some advice before you watch this movie. Put aside your cocky opinion, stop thinking about the first movie, kick back, enjoy the gore and have fun! Who knows, you might actually enjoy yourself for once!

The first was good,but the sequel was a stinker........2006-08-19

I love The Fly.It happens to be one of my favorite science-fiction films of all time.The film is about an eager scientist named Seth Brundle,who has built a teleportation device,although he can't really transport living things yet.When he lets Veronica,a reporter,in on his secret,she begins an affair with him.Soon,Seth is tired of failing at the telepods and tranports himself through it.But there is one small mistake:A fly was transported with him,so the two are now spliced together.Slowly,Seth begins to change,in both features and behaviour.Soon,Veronica knows that something is wrong when Seth's hair and body parts begin to fall off.Soon,Seth realizes the terrible truth:That he is turning into a fly.Soon,he is able to crawl along walls,regurgitate on his food,and spit acid just like a real fly.At the end,when he fully transforms,he decides to use the telporters to blend him and Veronica together when he learns that Veronica is pregnant with his baby.In the end,Veronica blows his head off with a shotgun.The Fly II,however,stunk beyond belief.The film covers the birth of Seth's son,Martin,who grows exceptionally fast and is kept at a medical building called Bartok Industries,where he learns that an evil boss has stolen his father's transporters and is trying to find out how to use them.Soon,Martin is all grown up and is given a room of his own,away from prying eyes.He immediatly sets to work trying to get his father's machine to work,and soon succeeds.But there is hitch.He has inherited his father's gift of transformation,and soon,he begins to mutate.He then breaks out of Bartok industries with a collegue friend and seeks shelter as the transformation gets worse.Soon,he returns to Bartok in a coccoon,where he is studied and analyzed.Soon,he breaks free and wreaks havoc in Bartok,killing all of it's employees and finally,giving Bartok the punishment he deserves.The film was a definite bomb compared to the first.You'll love this DVD,though.

Dire.......2006-07-31

As I write this, 'The Fly' has a 2-disc collector's edition within the public's reach. Basically, that makes this purchase downright wrong.

'The Fly 2', despite clearly having energy invested in it, is a disgrace. Everything shamefully pales in comparison to the original; direction, cinematography, set design, acting (of course), score. Basically every element that makes a film is downgraded about, say, eighteen levels with this sequel. There are a few scenes that work on their own (a horribly mutated dog painfully crawling to a bowl of mush moved me a good deal, surprisingly, and wasn't ineptly conceived like most the other scenes in the running time, also providing a parallel to a pretty great final scene (again out of the blue). Overall, though, this movie is a terrible mistake.

'The Fly', to me, is a masterpiece of modern cinema (though flawed, like most), and '2' should have never been greenlit. Nothing original comes about in the storyline or subtext, so it's essentially like watching a butchered, amateur version of a classic. That is, before the film succumbs to a pathetic attempt at a B-grade monster flick. I'm talking made-for-TV quality... and mediocre TV quality at that... You'd think, given the director of this sequel was the mad genius behind the special effects in Cronenberg's film, we'd at least bare witness to some impressive (if superficial) aesthetics. But, what I've learned so much in comparing these two films -- and what's truly a learning experience that, the more I think about it, the more important a realization it really is -- lighting and the creation of appropriate ambience is just as critical as anything in any given film. Seriously -- and I mean this -- the few moments where Goldblum, with his ever-growing bug eyes, gives his 'Insect Politics' speech and stares into the gleeming blue sky with a horrifying sense of wonder, are worth infinitely more than the near two hour runtime of this dead on arrival monster. In that particular scene -- despite Goldblum's mesmerizing performance and an unforgettable monologue -- the stunning fly transformation effects, combined with particular shades of breathtakingly dramatic color selections and a pulsating, melancholy twilight bring out of its audience powerful emotions few films can grasp. You can have the most talented, brilliant special effects crew in the world, but without the elements I mentioned, they just come across as cheap and, quite frankly -- in the case of 'The Fly 2' -- ghastfully bad.

Avoid it entirely. It's not even worth it as an act of sheer curiosity. Then again, the knowledge I personally derived described above is pretty invaluable -- though, granted, this is a guy who has only taken the most trivial of film classes. But, if there's 'any' reason to bring it into your home, that's gotta be it.

"It's no secret ambition bites the nails of success.".......2006-06-08

"A man will rise,
A man will fall,
From the sheer face of love,
Like a fly from a wall.
It's no secret at all."-The Fly, U2

There were three men who wanted to prove they each were the best swordsman in the land. The three were gathered in front of a large crowd to showcase their skill. On the first swordsman's turn, he saw a fly, took one swipe, and cut the fly in half. The second swordsman got up, saw another fly, made two swipes, and cut the fly in four quarters. The third swordsman got up, saw another fly, took one swipe, and the fly flew away leaving the third swordsman with a big smile on his face. Everyone said, "Why are you smiling? The fly is still alive." The swordsman said, "Yes, but he'll never be able to have children."

I wish somebody had stopped the first fly from having any children, then none of us would have been subjected to this movie's sequel.

It's not bad, which is why I gave it three stars, but it's just inferior, like 98% of most sequels.

Here was Eric Stoltz before every role he played in was sleazy in some way (Murder of Crows, The Butterfly Effect, The Honeymooners). I'm not too crazy about him or Daphne Zuniga. I didn't even like her in Melrose Place...but anyway.

Okay for a late night thrill, I guess.

Average customer rating:

What is the Law?
"There is a beast in man that should be exercised, not exorcised."
When the result is even major than the sum of its parts!
Use in the Classroom
Island of the Damned

The Island of Dr. Moreau
Starring: Burt Lancaster , Michael York , Nigel Davenport , Barbara Carrera , and Richard Basehart
Director: Don Taylor
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005K3OB
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com

The Island of Doctor Moreau is a remake of 1932's Island of Lost Souls and, of course, an adaptation of H.G. Wells's classic tale of the dangers of playing God. Shipwreck victim Andrew (Michael York) washes up on a tropical island and is taken in by Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster), who lords over a compound staffed by some distinctly odd-looking servants. Also along for the ride are the mysteriously beautiful Maria, menacing shadows in the jungle, and lots and lots of cages in the House of Pain. While not as eerily creepy as its predecessor, The Island of Doctor Moreau has some fun makeup tricks and a good tiger fight or two, not to mention a thorough discussion of legal nuance by the island's "natives" ("What is the law?" "Not to walk on all fours!"). Definitely a fine afternoon's entertainment. Remade in 1996 with Marlon Brando. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews:

What is the Law?.......2007-01-15

After the 1933 horror Classic "Island of Lost Souls" starring Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau & Bela Lugosi as Sayer of the Law yet another movie adaption of H.G. Wells (The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man" twisted horror novel starring the legendary Burt Lancaster as the half human half animal beast creator, Dr. Moreau & Michael York as Andrew Braddock, the shipwrecked man who is in terror on the island & beautiful Barbara Carrera as Braddocks's love interest Maria, It's a thrill ride!

"There is a beast in man that should be exercised, not exorcised.".......2006-08-26

An Englishman named 'Montgomery' is stranded with a lost companion on a deserted tropical island where he is rescued by Dr. Moreau, a genius in genetics, pursuing altruistic medical miracles to alleviate mankind from incurable maladies, although his methods are questioned, but it is maintained that the ends justify the means. He continues to make strides to this effect until perfidiously antagonistic organisms deem to thwart his noble efforts, who eventually become subjects themselves for his experiments, thus contributing far more to his vision rather than merely complaining about it.

Down in the jungle outside of his compound reside some of his genetic creations, man-beasts, veritable 'humanimals' of various species, from a bearman, boarman, to hyenaman, lionman, tigerman, bullman, and a monkeyman who is "The Sayer of The Law"* {small portion follows}:

"Not to go on all fours: this is the law. Are we not men?"

"Not to show our fangs in anger. Are we not men?"

"Not to snarl or roar. That is the Law. Are we not men?"

"What Is The Law? Not to shed the blood of another man. That is the law."

An obvious treatise on civility to temper impulsive feral proclivities. Those beastmen who violate this law are taken to "The House of Pain" for 'correction'... for Moreau elucidates that if this discipline is not enforced, the beastmen would run wild and surely kill their human counterparts. Much like the lion who must not be allowed to overtake the master even in jest, lest he begin to dominate the trainer.

What this film demonstrates is the necessary realization and connection to one's natural animalistic state, lest imbalance tranform the denier into a broken creature. Dr. LaVey's infamous quote comes to mind:

"There is a beast in man that should be exercised, not exorcised."

One particularly notable scene depicts the stubbornly independant bullman fighting for his mental freedom, as he denies 'the law' and questions what is so wrong with realizing that one is an animal? Out in the bush, he vanquishes tiger with the obvious shedding of blood, and thereby becomes subject to the punishments of The House of Pain, but would rather run free and even die than suffer that indignity. Sadly for him, the consequence is lethal at the gunpoint of Montgomery, which then begins to raise other questions in the minds of the beastmen, as they slowly begin to realize the double-standards and hypocrisies enacted by the humans, in a likened "do as I say, not as I do" scenario, which does not sit well with them at all, and they begin to revolt. Revolution is the first step to evolution.

Beautiful resident orphan Maria {the gorgeous brunette Barbara Carrera} who was also rescued by Moreau as a child falls in lust with Montgomery, and remains with him through his transformation into manimal at the hands of Moreau, after he displays inclinations towards betrayal, and becomes an experiment, as his senses and instincts sharpen, excellerated pilose generation, legs to haunches, with an incessant desire to kill prey for food, but he remains in control of his civility nonetheless. She helps him escape the cage, the natives from thereon become restless as the mutiny scene develops, the ingrates set the compound aflame, with their maker placed in a suspended supine crucifixion.

Montgomery and Maria finally boat off to modern civilization.

_________

* Also used as a large part of the litany comprising Dr. Anton LaVey's lycanthropic rite "Das Tierdrama" from 'The Satanic Rituals' book. The Island of Dr. Moreau is a LaVeyan recommendation.

When the result is even major than the sum of its parts!.......2006-07-04

Burt Lancaster gave a terrific performance as the ambitious Dr.Moreau who pretends to create anew race; the "humanimals" , half beats, half man and the inexpressive Michael Yoprk as the good guy who will intend by all his means to avoid the prolongation of this horrid nightmare.

Effective sci fi movie that, despite to count with minor technologic resources, it got its aim and surmounted by far the infamous remake of 1996.

Use in the Classroom.......2005-01-13

I teach 9th grade English, and after reading Wells's "The Island of Dr. Moreau" in my English I class, I chose to have my students watch the 1996 remake rather than this version. Although both movies greatly deviate from Wells's story, the 1977 version would have bored my students to tears. If you intend to show a movie version of this novel, then I would choose the 1996 version since it is faster-paced and more dramatic. Plus, Val Kilmer plays a very convincing Montgomery. The redeeming quality of this 1977 version is the cave scene during which the Beast People teach Braddock "The Law," though your students will probably be asleep by the time that scene occurs.

Island of the Damned.......2004-12-15

If you saw this as a kid, you always thought it was a classic. Although it doesn't hold up when one is an adult so much, it is still a decent flick to watch if you sprained your ankle and can't get out of the house. The plot concerns a stranded engineer (York) of a freighter that lands on a remote island that is inhabited by strange creatures. Lancaster is superb as the ingenious Dr Monreau who is a gifted geneticist and biologist who wants to merge animals with man to get the perfect creation that only science can manufacture. He is obviously a disciple of Nietzsche and Spencer. There is a creepiness about the island that the film manages to sustain throughout. The make-up is excellent and the beast men are rather frightening (not recommended for children under 7). Basheart plays the sayer of the law, who as an aged and wisdom filled creature whom attempts to dissuade complete anarchy amongst the beast men. Not a bad production.

Average customer rating:

Clonus - Just Rent "The Island" Instead.
"Cult" film worth looking into
CLONUS is THE ISLAND
Put aside your prejudices and watch the movie!
dumb clones

Clonus
Starring: Tim Donnelly , Paulette Breen , Dick Sargent , Keenan Wynn , and David Hooks
Director: Robert S. Fiveson
Manufacturer: Mondo Macabre
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Island
Demon Seed
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Lifespan
The Devil's Sword

ASIN: B0007NMHOM
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Description

Somewhere in California is a secret industrial complex. Apparently well know to certain priveleged members of the inner circles of government, this factory has only one product: human clones!

These clones are identical replicas of members of the top 500 of politics and big business. Raised to adulthood, they are then frozen and cryogenically stored so that their body parts can be used to give more or less eternal life to the chosen elite.

The plan is to keep these clones in a state of almost childlike innocence and deny them any knowledge of the real world outside. They are brainwashed with dreams of a mythical place called "America" where (so they are told) they will go if they are lucky enougb to be selected.

A series of unplanned accidents leads to one of the clones finding out too much and becoming curious. One day he escapes from the clone farm and comes looking for answers in the "real" America... EXTRAS:
A 40 minute in depth interview with film's director, discussing his career to date and the making of CLONUS

The film's theatrical trailer

A feature length audio commentary with the film's director

Newly remastered from original negative in hi def anamorphic

Customer Reviews:

Clonus - Just Rent "The Island" Instead........2006-04-06

I bought this movie, as I realized after watching The Island that it was a remake, and I wanted to see the orginial one more time. It took me some time to find the movie as I had almost forgotten the title which I had seen on TV way back when. So I bought it so that I could see the whole movie now that i am older. The movie was just fair, and is kind of corney of course. This has all the makings of a low-budget flick. The story is interesting, but not enough to warrant buying this DVD. Buy The Island instead, the effects and storyline are better. The makers of the Island did Clonus a favor by remaking it. It is a great storyline, but skip buying this one.

"Cult" film worth looking into.......2005-10-07

As I watched Michael Bay's "The Island," a movie whose American reviews in the mainstream media were far too dour, a feeling came over me I had seen this movie before. Lo and behold "The Island" is indeed a remake of Clonus. I eagerly await the DVD release of Michael Bay's latest for I plan to have a winter rainy-day event at my home - back to back viewings of the movies to entertain friends. News reports say the makers of "The Island" failed to buy the rights to Clonus and this piece of Hollywood intrigue adds topical interest.

On its own the best part of Clonus is its great premise, clones raised for spare body parts for the rich and politicians. Made in 1979 the movie is prescient and intriguing. Having said that, it's not a great movie. It's cheesy. But overlong scenes such as the searching of the office are balanced with some of the scariest scenes I've seen in a long while. For example the scene where we first see doctors terminate a clone. The doctors act with such practice and ease you think the actors did this for their day jobs.

I give it four stars because of its great premise, appearances by familiar medium level television personages, social relevance and the fact that I have to give a break to a first time director working on a $250,000 budget. Fiveson, the director, gives an interesting interview on another track of the DVD, and I think people interested in film-making might be find the DVD package worthwhile even if not particularly interested in Sci-Fi. For those not interested in what I've stated, I give the movie a fun two stars, not something to put at the top of your list, but if you have some extra cash and want to buy something different for your library, especially if you are interested in 1970s low budget movies.

CLONUS is THE ISLAND.......2005-07-06

Absolutely, the movie that Michael Bay has remade and not discussed the matter with the media!
See it first!

Put aside your prejudices and watch the movie!.......2005-06-26

First up - this is a great sci-fi conspiracy movie. Way ahead of its time in its critique of science gone mad, the class system and the american dream - proved undisputedly by the new hollywood blockbuster from Micheal "Armageddon" Bay, being a virtual remake! (Uncredited of course!)

Of course its a very low budget movie so there are inevitable shortcomings but clear out all the MST3K prejudices and you're left with an unsung entry in the genre - even the New York Times placed the movie in the same hallowed company as Dawn of the Dead" (1978), Larry Cohen's "It's Alive!" (1974) and Tobe Hooper's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974), among many others, all drawing on the trauma of Vietnam and the rising fear of consumerist conformism to spin their dark fables of American life.

Now I can't think of a better recommendation than that!

dumb clones.......2005-04-20

Let's face it, clones are rock stupid and this movie proves it. A half-witted clone escapes from a facility that breeds and raises clones so their parts can be harvested if their counter part ever needs them. In a stroke of unbelievable coincidence he runs into the the man who he was cloned from who did not know he had been cloned. So this man tries to help his clone escape his equally micro-minded clone girlfriend who ends up getting a labotomy which doesn't do much to aid the situation. Well, it's all a rather stupid mess and the memories of it I've brought up thus far have made me ill enough. In short, about all this movie is good for is a few laughs but it is a terrible piece of work.

Average customer rating:

Love Camp Here We Go!!!

S.S. Experiment Love Camp
Director: Sergio Garrone
Manufacturer: Exploitation Digital
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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SS Hell Camp
SS Girls (Widescreen Edition)
Caligula Reincarnated as Hitler/White Slave Double Feature DVD
Images in a Convent
Salon Kitty

ASIN: B0009G3BOM
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Description

Seems the white race just isn't superior enough for those nasty Nazis. In a secret SS love camp, ghastly experiments are being conducted to create a super race. Amidst the torture and rape, a sweet-n-tender Nazi named Helmut falls in love with one of the lovely test subjects. But it doesn't end there, of course. Word gets out about Helmut's virility, driving the impotent Colonel "nuts" with jealously. With his manhood now missing, Helmut and his female inmate allies exact a little revenge.

Customer Reviews:

Love Camp Here We Go!!!.......2005-11-08

This is the single most important movie ever made. It changed my life as this film made me ask the question Who is god? What is the meaning of life? and most importantly why are germans so weird? So go buy this movie because if your like me and like movies about sexy lesbos at concentration camps you will go "nuts" for this movie

Average customer rating:

Zoiks! and Jinkies!
Some movies are just born bad...
An awesome movie!!
Things go "DUD" in the night
PERFECT!

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House on Haunted Hill
Ghost Ship (Widescreen Edition)
Thirteen Ghosts
What Lies Beneath
The Legend of Hell House

ASIN: 0783246692
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Zoiks! and Jinkies!.......2007-06-08

Some movies are just born bad..........2007-05-17

An awesome movie!!.......2007-05-13

This was an awesome movie! The cg graphics was excellent and the story was cool!! This has made a super movie for the halloween holiday!!

Things go "DUD" in the night.......2007-05-08

PERFECT!.......2007-04-02

Average customer rating:

U.S. Military AREA 51 Uses Alien Genetic Technology & Backfires!
Either 1 or 5 stars
worst sci-fi flick ever!
Just Say No!
Painful

Alien 51
Starring: Heidi Fleiss , Phoebe Falconer , Damián Delgado , Sean Galuszka , and Chase Hoyt
Director: Brennon Jones , and Paul Wynne
Manufacturer: York Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Aquanoids
Scarecrow Gone Wild
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ASIN: B0001US8A8
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Customer Reviews:

U.S. Military AREA 51 Uses Alien Genetic Technology & Backfires! .......2007-03-10

SCIENCE FICTION / HORROR & SUSPENSE-A killing machine created using alien technology escapes the infamous Area 51 (Secret U.S. Military Air Force Base). "Man In Black" Lambert recruits the monster's creator Dr. Cleo Browning, to find the creature. As people in the small desert town die in brutal ways, Cleo along with the town sheriff Sam Cash, chase the alien. Circus sideshow owner Billy & his wife Evelda work against Cleo to find the creature first, hoping to revitalize their careers by including the monster in their show. Cleo follows the trail where creator meets creation for a final & bloody showdown! STARS: Heid Fleiss ( A.K.A. The Beverly Hills Madam),Damian Delgado, Phoebe Falconer, Sean Galuszka, Chase Hoyt, Mia Riverton. BONUS: Trailers, Behind The Scenes, AUDIO: English Dolby 5.1, Subtitles: Espanol.

Either 1 or 5 stars.......2007-01-03

Yes, this is probably the worst movie of all time...just about everything is wrong with it: Directing, acting, "special effects," and more. It fails as a movie in every way possible. But it's possibly the funniest movie I've ever seen, buy this and watch it, but don't expect anything, it's no fun unless you make fun of it.

worst sci-fi flick ever!.......2005-12-29

i've seen scarecrow gone wild,I had no problem wid it.but this is the fakest most stupidest,dummest,clummsiest piece of filth eva!its about an alien parasite/specimen it brakes loose kills its captors and goes out on a killing spree...on teens?! you have gots to be kiddin me!it dices and slices the director must have been an alien/teen movie slpiced together kinda wannabe.get it its half teen/slasher half alien flick,stupid!its more of a slasher flick than a sci-fi flick!plus the actress is ugly,ugliest i've eva seen bro!

Just Say No!.......2005-08-11

Obviously, the producers of this movie could not get a "real" star, so they decided to hire a "celebrity" who has long outlived her 15 minutes of fame to draw attention to this flick instead. Enter ex prostitution ringleader Heidi Fleiss. Her role in this film is (fortunately) very limited. To put it nicely, she simply can't act. She looks like she is about a hundred years old and spaced out on who knows what kinds of drugs. The film even features her "shooting up" with some kind of mystery drug, and her circus-freak assistant smoking crack while on a break.

The leading actress in this movie is decent looking, but nothing to get excited about. I'm guessing that it took a truckload of hydrogen peroxide in order to keep her hair that color throughout the movie, not to mention a truckload of bright red lipstick. She can barely act, as is true of most of the cast.

The bad acting, cheezy special effects and lousy editing are bad enough, but its the script that doomed this film from the very beginning. At best, the plot simply makes no sense. Supposedly, the government's most top-secret, lethal biological killing machine has just escaped from Area 51. So, who do they send to take care of the problem? A 100 lb blond bimbo with a Rambo knife. Yeah, sure. I wish I could say that the plot was confusing, but that's not the case. It's just plain stupid and unbelievable.

I have to concur with the other reviewer here that the person writing this screenplay may very well have been under the influence of some mind-altering chemical. I suspect that may have been the case with a lot of the people connected to this movie. Exactly why you would throw-in someone smoking crack in the middle of the film for no apparent reason, describing how great it felt, pretty much speaks for itself. You pretty much would have to be using crack in order to think that this movie was any good.

If making bad movies was a crime, the makers of this film deserve a life sentence. "Just say NO" to Alien 51.

Painful.......2005-05-06

First, if you are going to name a film Alien 51, you need to place some emphasis on the creature. Apparently, it was a recycled creature from another film (see the movie El Chupacabra, a film I haven't seen, but have added it to my list) and nothing created from any sort of imagination or originality. That already says a lot about where the quality of this picture is going to come from. If their main character is actually a creature from another film, our filmmakers have already cheated us from any sort of value. Recycling creatures in a non-mocumentary sort of way is an insult and immediately my DVD player should have dispensed the total amount spent on this rental. As if it isn't bad enough that the creature is from another film, it also has as much screen time as Dame Judi Dench did in Shakespeare in Love, actually probably less. Where is the alien during most of this film? I honestly thought that his agent was probably suggesting that he not participate in this production because it could ultimately hurt his career as an extra terrestrial. "Don't expect to hear from Spielberg if you continue with Alien 51." I could hear his agent saying. Nonetheless, he does make a small "cameo" role near the end where tempers flair, emotions rise, and the excitement of the final credits are finally in sight.

Second, if you are making a movie and you cannot get anyone to headline, then I would reconsider using Heidi Fleiss. Now, I am not an actor at all, but I have seen several independent films, and I can say this. She cannot act at all. In fact, there were some special features on this DVD which allowed you to see the director giving instructions to the actors, and I just couldn't help but think that Fleiss' comments were going in one ear and out the other. I am surprised to witness that the director just didn't go "postal" on everyone when they chose to do their own form of acting instead of following the directions presented to them. Perhaps, and this may throw my image of this film completely off, but just maybe that was the director's style of filmmaking. I have never witnessed a director who wanted to be cheap, allow his cast to walk in and out of scenes, and demonstrate that an entire community of women must have had some form of breast implants, but maybe that is what our dual directors, Brennon Jones and Paul Wynne (yep, it took two to butcher these cinematic moments), wanted to ultimately create. If that is the case, then they have done a wonderful job and should be congratulated for their slackish behavior and performances. I would love to know what their budget was on this film because honestly, you could have paid me nothing and I would have found better material. Ok, you have a character named Doctor PsychoBilly. It really cannot get much worse than that.

Finally (while there are many, many, many more, I will stop here), whomever wrote this script I do believe was heavily under the influence of some banned substance, or possibly watched too much Anchorman and decided to act like Brick while writing. Either way, the lines in this film were the most enjoyable to listen to because they were possibly the worst ever written by another human being. I am not afraid to go on the record with that statement. My favorite line in the entire film was when Cleo and the police officer were walking around at night (yet, it was so bright outside from the apparent spotlights) and she throws him on the ground, takes her top off and attempts to show him her scar from an earlier alien encounter. His response to her being on top of him and taking her top off was, "I am supposed to be looking at your scar right". HA. You could hear it in his voice that he was already too excited to have a woman on top of him topless. It literally had me in stitches on the ground. Thank you for writing comedy, this film needed it!

Grade: * out of *****

Average customer rating:

One of the greatest silent films.
The first US horror film
The absolute best looking version, however.....
Wow!
A Weird But Good Movie From The Silent Movie Era!

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Starring: John Barrymore , Charles Lane (III) , Brandon Hurst , Cecil Clovelly , and Nita Naldi
Director: John S. Robertson
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Double Feature (1932/1941)
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ASIN: B00005O5CF
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

It took John Barrymore to bring class to the American horror film, at least in the eyes of the industry. Dignified and virtuous as Dr. Henry Jekyll in this 1920 silent, Barrymore transforms into id incarnate as the lascivious Mr. Hyde. With almost no makeup beyond his gnarled, knobby fingers and greasy hair, Barrymore relies almost solely on a bug-eyed grimace, a spidery body language, and pure theatrical flourish. He tends to be hammy as the leering beast of a thug but brings a tortured struggle to the repressed doctor, horrified at the demon he's unleashed, guilty that he enjoys Hyde's unrestrained life of drinking and whoring, and terrified that he can no longer control the transformations. Martha Mansfield costars as his pure and innocent sweetheart, and Nita Naldi (the vamp of Blood and Sand) has a small but memorable role as the world-weary dance hall darling who first "wakens" Jekyll's "baser nature." --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest silent films........2007-05-13

I wish I could've been around when this movie first came out. For its time it is a truly shocking and horrific movie. As it stands I think it is one of the gems from the silent picture films era. It really tries very hard to delve into the difference between good and evil and the effects of it on a man who learns how to split himself into both. A really excellent film and a fantastic performance by John Barrymore with an excellent supporting cast. It's easy to see why Mr. Barrymore was one of the finest actors of his day. Enjoy!

The first US horror film.......2006-06-17

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has long been hailed as a classic by critics and audiences alike, both the story itself and the classic with John Barrymore. The film was made in 1920 and is truly a silent film as the only noise in the whole film is the theatre organ. It is of course designed as a suspense/horror film and although the scares are mostly psychological, it is definitely a classic in the horror genre. This was one of the very first Jekyll and Hyde films preceded only by the 1911/1912 version starring famed director James Cruz; there was also "Januskopf, Der" also in 1920 but released in the UK and probably without the appropriate rights as was "Nosferatu" by the same director. And of course the third 1920 film with Sheldon Lewis that seems to get few accolades and is normally mentioned so people can get the good version with Mr. Barrymore. This version was directed by John S. Robertson and is definitely the best portrayal of the Robert Louis Stevenson story I have seen thus far.

The classic story line is of course known by many. Dr. Jekyll, a kind and decent paragon of society starts experimenting with various potions, and hits upon one that turns himself into a fully realized personification of his dark side. The person Jekyll holds responsible is the father of his beloved Millicent, whose cynical nature opens the door to his baser instincts and his fascination with the dual personality. Despite my familiarity with the story the script was very unpredictable right up to the ending, it was very difficult to tell what was going to happen next which for a silent film is remarkable. This is often considered the first US horror film, and even though the "scare" factor is not necessarily there..... the film is ungodly creepy which is normal of older horror films as they played more on suspense than sheer terror. I think this film ranks up there with the original "house on haunted hill" as one of the best suspense films of all time. The creep factor is very evident especially in some of the later scenes, and John Barrymore does an amazing job of doing Hyde with no facial makeup which in my opinion makes this the best treatment of the story. The basic concept of the story is a split personality so Hyde being a grotesque mockery of Jekyll's appearance versus an entirely different creature as in later films, stays truer to that concept. It also makes one get downright chills after the transformation. The only downside of this film is the soundtrack which seems to have no bearing on the events of the film at all and would best be described as church organ wankery, although even with this the quality of the film was not detracted from too much. Hopefully it will eventually get a new soundtrack such as "Nosferatu" did--but due to the fact the organ is the only sound, if I require sound next time I watch it I will just gather some classical music together. This film is difficult to watch for someone from the generation of talkies--I am quite used to older films, but silent films especially one such as this with very few title cards requires full 100 percent attention as it is very easy to miss things, and I did not realize until watching this film how often I space out for a minute or so. This fact shows how good a film it is, as once resigned to full attention you find yourself wanting to keep that full attention. This story is riveting and is much like reading a book as there are many things left to the imagination as there is much action and dialogue between the characters; but there are not title cards for all the dialogue. I found myself extrapolating and imagining what the actors were saying either based on the visuals or the title cards that have been displayed. Even though it may be difficult for the talkies generation, there are a wealth of silent films and any horror buff needs to see this to understand what the beginning of horror filming was like.

The star of this film is of course John Barrymore, whose acting is a standout among all the other principles in this film, through his grimace and general creepy way of moving as Hyde his is a standout performance above all the rest, and even though it is surprising that he is the only one of his siblings that has never been nominated or won any awards it is not surprising that he is now known as the best actor out of all of them. I will be honest, other than Martha Mansfield's depiction of Millicent, Jekyll's fiancé, none of the other actors were particularly noticeable in their roles. Ms. Mansfield's emotions and acting as she grew more and more concerned about her fiancé were a delight on the screen and as she had very few displayed lines on screen almost everything with her part was done visually. As for the other actors everyone did a decent job at their role but no one really stood out on an acting level.

The photography of this film was very basic, partially due to the time and also I believe the direction. There are many wide shots in the film, that jump to close-ups which make the actions very effective. There were very few heavy close-ups although there were some, it seemed as if they went out of their way to avoid any strong close-ups of Mr. Hyde--in some case the shot would widen out on his transformation, which was also a good illustration of how painful that transformation was. As disturbing as Mr. Hyde's appearance is, I am glad there are not any extreme close ups of his vile countenance. The other main aspect I noticed was the film started out very light, and near the end of the film there were more and more low key scenes, leading up to the finale. And in regards to Millicent; most if not all of the shots that involve her are high key lighting, which further magnifies her character's virtuousness on the audience.

All in all my silent film experience was excellent, and I am glad that I picked one that was completely silent excluding the church organ. It was a very good film, and the comparisons between a silent film and reading a book are many. There is much more room for imagination on films such as these and due to the silent nature you cannot turn around or space a section as you can miss quite a bit. There is a large focus on characterization and acting as a whole--- even though there were few standouts, the actors have to work much harder in a film with no sound and low instances of dialogue to make the film a good watch. The imagination factor comes in on sound effects quite a bit as with this film there are none. Every scream, every hit of the club and every gasp have to be imagined, and for a horror film makes it that much scarier. Just like in older horror films where music is used minimally to focus on the events, having no sound effects at all really puts you in the hot seat as what we imagine is always scarier than what someone else can put on the screen.

The absolute best looking version, however............2006-04-26

This Kino edition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with John Barrymore is the first US horror film. One of his very best. The sets are wonderful and the time period costumes make this a very realistic looking film. This Kino version is by far the best quality print (35mm) and the picture quality is excellent, not dark and sharp and clear. However, this version on Kino seems to be edited. Some scenes seem to stop short before they are finished. Perhaps some of the footage was either missing or was so deteriorated that Kino chose not to include it. I previously owned the Image version of this film, and while the picture quality is no where near the Kino version, I seem to remember that the footage that is missing on the Kino version, is on the Image version. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this. Oh well, considering that this film is over 85 years old, I am happy that a very satisfying version is now available on dvd. Thanks Kino, for a job very well done. I also appreciate the bonus materials at the end of the film. In particular the 1909 audio recording of the transformation of Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. Also the Stan Laurel spoof is nice (but not particularly funny). This is a must dvd for any collection, silent or sound.

Wow!.......2006-03-16

This is an excellent silent film. John Barrymore's performance is outstanding and the film looks great, considering its age. Highly recommended.

A Weird But Good Movie From The Silent Movie Era!.......2005-06-21

This is a great and spooky movie from the 1920's and based on an old classic horror book. John Barrymore (Drews's great grandfather) Stars as Dr. Jekyll and his evil and scary alter ego Mr. Hyde who is the result of some weird experiment he has performed. I recommend this movie!

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