Gothic

Starring:Gothic
Studio: Vidtape
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable
Very, very different
The Rose is Red like Blood
Overlooked Connery Hit
INQUISITOR VS HOMICIDAL MANIAC AT A MONASTERY

The Name of the Rose
Starring: Sean Connery , Christian Slater , Helmut Qualtinger , Elya Baskin , and Michael Lonsdale
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001Z37IG
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Amazon.com

Jean-Jacques Annaud's The Name of the Rose is a flawed attempt to adapt Umberto Eco's highly convoluted medieval bestseller for the screen, necessarily excising much of the esoterica that made the book so compelling. Still, what's left is a riveting whodunit set in a grimly and grimily realistic 14th-century Benedictine monastery populated by a parade of grotesque characters, all of whom spend their time lurking in dark places or scuttling, half-unseen, in the omnipresent gloom. A series of mysterious and gruesome deaths are somehow tied up with the unwelcome attention of the Inquisition, sent to root out suspected heretical behavior among the monastic scribes whose lives are dedicated to transcribing ancient manuscripts for their famous library, access to which is prevented by an ingenious maze-like layout.

Enter Sean Connery as investigator-monk William of Baskerville (the Sherlock Holmes connection made explicit in his name) and his naive young assistant Adso (a youthful Christian Slater). The Grand Inquisitor Bernado Gui (F. Murray Abraham) suspects devilry; but William and Adso, using Holmesian forensic techniques, uncover a much more human cause: the secrets of the library are being protected at a terrible cost. A fine international cast and the splendidly evocative location compensate for a screenplay that struggles to present Eco's multifaceted story even partially intact; Annaud's idiosyncratic direction complements the sinister, unsettling aura of the tale ideally. --Mark Walker

Description

"The Name of the Rose" is a gothic medieval mystery thriller set in a 14th-century Italian monastery. Franciscan monk William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) and a young novice (Christian Slater) arrive for a conference to find that several monks have been murdered in mysterious circumstances. To solve the crimes, William must rise up against the Church authority and fight the shadowy conspiracy of monastery monks using only his wit and intelligence.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by Director Jean-Jaques Annaud
Documentary:Vintage making-of documentary - The Abbey of Crime: Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose"
Featurette:All-new Photo Video Journey with Jean-Jacques Annaud
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable.......2007-06-10

This is the only film that I saw after having read the original book that did not disappoint me in its rendering. Though it cannot translate all the intricate levels of reading this book has (no film ever could ) it is a very good telling of the storyline and transports the viewer pretty much into the atmosphere of that medieval convent and the ambiance of the times. All in all a very good way to spend an evening

Very, very different.......2007-04-14

Numerous reviewers have commented on the differences between Eco's intricate, convoluted, compelling, and periphrastic novel and this spiffy little medieval mystery. For maximum enjoyment of the film, it probably is best to forget all about the novel and view it as a thing-in-itself. Far more mature and sophisticated than the Bond movies that made Sean Connery a household name, The Name of the Rose is visually interesting and compelling throughout. So what if Murray Abraham pushes his character over the top and Christian Slater's ingenuousness is a bit precious, this is still excellent entertainment for those who do not require that their thrillers be accompanied by car chases and gunshots.

The Rose is Red like Blood.......2007-03-12

It may seem a bit depressing and dark at first, but the mystery and sets are great. The music is haunting as well and adds to the atmosphere. Sean Connery's and Christian Slater's preformances are absorbing. The supporting cast are well known supporting actors that turn in excellent performances. To me Ron Perlman's performance was as good as Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
The murder of members of an order at a monastery are convaluted and require close scrutiny to solve. Between the politics, postering, and bazaar secrets the monastery has they have their work cut out for them to unravel the true clues of the murders. Any fans of "Cadfael" series or the "Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders" movie should enjoy it. Book fans, if you don't like the movie, please read the book again. Critizing the movie for not being the book insults our intelligence. After all we know no movies equal to the books of the same name.

Sets, music, and direction make this movie stand out as well. All add to the medieval atmosphere that is needed to keep this from being overly dark and makes a wonderful film. Any fans of murder mysteries should enjoy it. Fans of Connery and Slater should definitely catch it. Thank goodness we can buy this on DVD July 6th.

Overlooked Connery Hit.......2007-02-06

A very detailed and clever mystery with Connery as a Priest detective. The visuals and dialog are both A-one. Any Connery fan should have this movie in their library.

INQUISITOR VS HOMICIDAL MANIAC AT A MONASTERY.......2007-01-28

This poindexter is trying to solve crime with no benefit of technology.

A glimpse of what life looked like 500 years ago.

An archive/monastery gives asylum to a renegade.
The monastery hosts a denominational debate.
Bloody murder ensues.
The renegade flees.
The Inquisition arrives.
Accusations, trials, riots.
The ancient, rare, library goes up in flames.
Cover-up.

Adult content.

Sean Connery at his best.
Christian Slater and Ron Perlman (the man of a thousand faces) are always good.

If you like this movie try the book:
Name of the Rose-Nla

If you like this movie try
The Reckoning

Average customer rating:

Oh, Grow Up...
"I aim to cure you of your wickedness"
Hot, Sticky, Slimy, Gooey
The Best Film I've Seen in 2007
Different and Refreshing

Black Snake Moan [HD DVD]
Starring: Jr. John Cothran , Samuel L. Jackson , S. Epatha Merkerson , Christina Ricci , and Kim Richards
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000Q6GUWU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

The lurid scenario--a nymphomaniacal white trash nymphet (Christina Ricci) is held prisoner by a bitter bluesman (Samuel L. Jackson)--gives way to an affecting tale of redemption in Black Snake Moan, writer/director Craig Brewer's follow-up to the acclaimed Hustle & Flow. Lazarus (Jackson, Jungle Fever, Pulp Fiction) finds Rae (Ricci, Monster, The Ice Storm) beaten unconscious on the road in front of his backwoods house. After bringing her inside, he learns of her wanton ways and decides to exorcise his own demons by curing Rae of her sexual compulsion. Black Snake Moan could have been terrible, but Brewer takes his story seriously enough to dig into the genuine emotions of such a situation (though along the way he certainly flirts with sexploitation overtones--several scenes look like they were plucked straight out of a hitherto unknown 1970s trash classic). Ricci, Jackson, and the supporting cast (including pop star Justin Timberlake, giving a surprisingly good performance as Rae's boyfriend) treat the characters with respect, honesty, and humor. The result is off-kilter and maybe a little too fond of its sleazy cinematic forbears to truly hit the emotional notes it's after, but Black Snake Moan has considerably more substance than its marketing would suggest. --Bret Fetzer

Beyond Black Snake Moan

The Soundtrack
More Music Stars on DVD
More DVDs with Samuel L. Jackson

Stills from Black Snake Moan (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Grow Up..........2007-07-04

It's like a bright 12th-grader, having read a little Welty, O'Connor and Faulkner, somehow snagged a budget for a Hollywood film. The images are all there, but there's no feeling for what they really mean, so it's all surfaces, explicaton and cliches. We get Nobody Grows Them Butterbeans Like Ol' Lazarus, Who Don't Play Them Blues No More, and a gaggle of characters wanting to seem deeper than they really are.

Just for starters, Samuel L. Jackson is a foot taller than Christina Ricci. One of his button-down shirts would cover her up, but that doesn't happen for more than an hour, because this is a film, landscapes only go so far, and there needs to be some eye candy to set against all that preachin' and standin' around. Okay, fine, it's a fable--I mean, after all, that chain is over the top, and it would never, ever happen that way--but then in the extras, Craig Brewer, the writer/director, asserts that the radiator is a metaphor for basic values that ground us.

Um, no. Mixing fable with dirty realism isn't new, but it doesn't work here, because Brewer hops lazily between the two genres rather than fusing them together. Brewer might have wanted more, but to the viewer, the radiator is just the radiator, and for all the staging, the attempt at a story of love and redemption really doesn't lift beyond a fairly creepy madonna/whore redemption fantasy. For better examples of what Brewer was trying to do, take another look at two Jim Mangold films: Walk The Line, which merged fable and biopic, and Heavy, which essentially takes Black Snake Moan north to New York state, and packs a bigger punch.

Lots of aspirations in Black Snake Moan, some good acting, and very good cinematography, but immature writing kills the film.

"I aim to cure you of your wickedness".......2007-07-04

Read it an weep, and with that one line of absolution spoken by Sam Jackson, Black Snake Moan takes you on a journey of faith, salvation and redemption of the two main characters Lazarus and Rona, two people who have suffered and endured hard times throughout their lives. Lazarus is trying to come to terms with his wife of 12 years leaving him for his younger brother. Rona is a woman who has suffered unmentionable sexual abuse since her childhood and therefore acts out the part for others to prey upon her. One night after a night of hard, careless partying she is beaten and left for dead on the road near Lazarus's house. Not knowing what to do but help her, Lazarus takes it upon himself to bring Rona back to health, only to discover that she has far deeper scars and problems than the physical ones left on her face. He is then determined to make her well, and through faith and the belief that "God saw fit to have us cross paths" he does so the only way he knows how. The two ultimately develop a friendship under unusual circumstances, and through music which Lazarus has sworn off for so long, the two heal one another unknowingly. The cords struck by Sam Jackson playing "Black Snake Moan" will resonate through you and send chills down your spine, which also turns out to be the turning point between the two characters in the film. This was a fantastic film I thoroughly enjoyed with Sam Jackson and Christina Ricci. My only disappointment was that Justin Timberlake was cast in this film, but fortunately with his roughly 10 minutes of screen time I can tolerate it. The soundtrack is phenomenal, and if you are as big a blues fan as I am, both the soundtrack and DVD are well worth purchasing. Black Snake Moan delivers superb acting by Jackson and Ricci, a fantastic and originally written story with a soundtrack to carry it every step of the way. I highly recommend this film, seeing is believing.

Hot, Sticky, Slimy, Gooey.......2007-07-04

"Black Snake Moan" is a sticky, gooey, sizzlingly hot erotic mess that doesn't make a lot of sense, but its raw sexuality is so rare in movies that it's damned welcome. This is a movie that brings new meaning to the expression "Chain her to the kitchen".
Samuel L. Jackson has to fight the temptation to guzzle demon whiskey and play even more demonic slide guitar, Christina Ricci has to fight the temptation to bang anything in pants and Justin Timberlake has to fight the temptation to act badly.
I enjoyed the silly Jim Thompson-styled pulpy vibe of the film and loved the dirty electric slide guitar playing in the bar scene. Jackson isn't a bad blues singer, not bad, he's alright. I thought this was one of the best films with blues taking center stage. Excellent!

The Best Film I've Seen in 2007.......2007-07-03

From the writer/director of "Hustle & Flow" comes "Black Snake Moan," the best film I've seen in 2007. It's a unique film that features two terrific performances by Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci, both delivering their best performances in years. It also features another star-making performance by Justin Timberlake (who recently impressed me in "Alpha Dog"). The film stars Ricci as Rae, that girl that lives in every city in America and is usually referred to as "the town slut." After her boyfriend Ronnie (Timberlake) leaves her for a stint in the Army, she begins getting more and more destructive; eventually, she is almost raped, beaten, and tossed out in the road. Lazarus (Jackson) has recently been left by his wife for his brother and when he finds the young girl lying in the road he takes responsibility for curing the "sickness" she has.
So, naturally, he chains her to his radiator. When she finally wakes up, she's shocked at first but eventually grows to love Lazarus...And soon, they realize that Lazarus is not just helping her but they're helping each other. This is a great film and, as a result, it's been hailed around the world as such...But it hasn't quite garnered commercial attention and this is sad. It may not sound like the kind of movie that will appeal to a massive audience, but it's a movie that I think people will find themselves enjoying. It's a fable about love, redemption, and sex...The story could've gone in many different directions, but writer/director Craig Brewer keeps it all together and takes what could've been a completely meaningless story and makes it almost life-affirming. Jackson is an actor who never fails to impress, but he's an actor who has made more bad movies than good ones. Here, I'm not going out on a limb by saying it could be his best performance (and maybe even his best film) since "Pulp Fiction." Ricci has always been an actress that's impressed me, but she hasn't done much worth noting over the past 5 years. That makes her comeback here all the more impressive. She combines all the right notes of vulnerability and sexual animosity to make this performance incredibly believable. As for Timberlake, he didn't impress me as much here as he did in "Alpha Dog" but he definitely leaves me asking where he got his acting chops? If he chokes a pretzel and ruins his vocal cords or something, acting could definitely be a fall back for him. Brewer is quickly joining the ranks of great writer/directors and his 2nd film is even stronger than his first.

GRADE: A

Different and Refreshing.......2007-07-03

Black Snake Moan sure has a weird hook. Setting: Deep South. An older black man who plays the blues keeps a white nymphomaniac on a chain to cure her of her horniness. About half-way through, my husband turned to me and said "And why exactly did you think I would like this movie?" I winced and said I thought it would have blues as more of a central theme. But guess what, he stayed around and pronounced it a good movie after all! His summary is the best: "everyone has their struggles, and you are never really free of them."

The performances are exceedingly strong, the setting of Tennessee bucolic and beautiful. You really feel as if you are in this small, rural town where everyone knows each other.

Black Snake Moan is bold, and really gives you a sense of empathy for the different characters. Most importantly, it provides hope that if you have your own struggles, someone will be out there for you as well, not to judge you or cure you, but to love you.

Average customer rating:

Great Movie
Immpressive!

Black Snake Moan [Blu-ray]
Starring: Jr. John Cothran , Samuel L. Jackson , S. Epatha Merkerson , Christina Ricci , and Kim Richards
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000Q6GURU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Beyond Black Snake Moan

The Soundtrack
More Music Stars on DVD
More DVDs with Samuel L. Jackson

Stills from Black Snake Moan (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie.......2007-07-02

If you love Samuel L Jackson you'll love this.
The music is fantastic & the whole cast even Justin Timberlake surprised me. The Blu Ray format gives a fantastic picture & the extras are worth watching too.
What you waitin for BUY IT !!!

Immpressive!.......2007-06-30

Black Snake Moan is not just a great movie but it looks fantastic on blue-ray. Anyone who owns a blue-ray player or ps3 should buy this film!

Average customer rating:

La la la loved this movie
Gothic Romance at It's Best
Now that's a lady!
Romance for the Soul
Best Jane Eyre film version

Jane Eyre
Starring: Orson Welles , and Joan Fontaine
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MGBLHS
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

Made two years after Citizen Kane, this 1943 version of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre sure looks like star Orson Welles muscled his way behind the camera much of the time. (In fact, costar Joan Fontaine--who plays the title character--has maintained that Welles methodically did just that every day on the set.) Not that the film's official director was a hack: Robert Stevenson, who later had a busy career at Disney making numerous live-action hits for the studio, such as Mary Poppins, gets the credit. But there's no mistaking Welles's masterful hand in the film's bold and creative look, and there's no getting away from his enigmatic charisma as Rochester, the widower who takes in Jane as a governess to his daughter. An engrossing, gorgeous film, there's even a small role for Elizabeth Taylor at the beginning as Jane's unlucky, doomed friend at a cruel boarding school. --Tom Keogh

Description

Jane Eyre secures a job as governess to the child (Margaret O'Brien) of the troubled Edward Rochester, sire of Thornfield, a mysterious English manor. When she hears strange cries and noises from a distant wing, her inquiries are rebuffed. As time goes on, Jane and her master fall in love and decide to marry. But their halted when a visitor suddenly reveals the shocking secret that Rochester has kept for years.

Customer Reviews:

La la la loved this movie.......2007-07-04

I am a big orson welles fan and i absolutely love this movie. i could watch it all day everyday and i pretty much have.

Gothic Romance at It's Best.......2007-06-13

I love this version of Jane Eyre. Orsen Wells with his deep, husky voice is great as Rochester. The mousy Jane. They are wonderful together. This is a must have classic to add to your collection.

Now that's a lady!.......2007-06-13

Where have the Joan Fontaine's of the world gone? That gentle and queit character; unassumming, demure, beautiful but nonetheless powerful. I honestly can't recall any other movie that made me feel myself the love that was growing between two other people.

Romance for the Soul.......2007-06-12

Jane Eyre is timeless and I now own every version made. The Orson Welles is so classical and how could anyone resist the chemistry between Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine!!

Best Jane Eyre film version.......2007-06-08

Really enjoyed the movie, love the book. It's Orson Welles so what can you say?Great film.

Average customer rating:

A true classic!!!
I <3 Lestat! I <3 this movie!
The Movie That Introduced The World to the Modern Vampire
A Masterpiece
An erotic vampire tale!

Interview with the Vampire
Starring: Tom Cruise , Brad Pitt , Kirsten Dunst , Stephen Rea , and Antonio Banderas
Director: Neil Jordan
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004RFFS
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Amazon.com essential video

When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicized objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she saw Cruise's excellent performance, which perceptively addresses the pain and chronic melancholy that plagues anyone cursed with immortal bloodlust. Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst are equally good at maintaining the dark and brooding tone of Rice's novel. And in this rare mainstream project for a major studio, director Neil Jordan compensates for a lumbering plot by honoring the literate, Romantic qualities of Rice's screenplay. Considered a disappointment while being embraced by Rice's loyal followers, the movie is too slow to be a satisfying thriller, but it is definitely one of the most lavish, intelligent horror films ever made. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A true classic!!!.......2007-06-04

I just want to go on record and say, this is my favorite movie of all time! (Based on movies I have seen.) I saw this movie when it was first released back in 1994, and being as young as I was, I didn't understand it.

Flash foward to now. After buying and reading all of the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, I was instantly heel-bent on getting my hands on a copy of this movie! I was able to watch it again, and I must say I believe this movie is a true work of art, and an instant classic.

The adaptation from the novel to the on-screen story is changed ever so slightly (omitting some parts as most book-to-movies often do) but keeps the whole thing flowing seemlessly together, while also maintaining the substance the viewer needs to fully appreciate the film.

The acting is beyond amazing. Many people called into question Tom Cruise playing the character of Lestat (I am not a huge Tom Cruise fan either) but I can honestly say he did an amazing job with such an important role. Having Brad Pitt play alongside Cruise as the character of Louie only caused Cruise to step his game up as well. Pitt was still fairly young in this movie and he shows a dark energy about him that gelled naturally with the movie.

Who can forget the young Kirsten Dunst, as the loveable and innocent Claudia! A break-out role for the (at the time) young star that propelled her to future A-list status. (What if Leelee Sobieski had gotten the part?) Dunst plays her role so well, you do actually forget that she is just a child in the movie! Add the incredible acting by Antonio Banderas, and you do have a young all-star cast!

The story itself remains true to the novel. A tale of lonliness, friendship, immortality, loss, grief, and acceptance. This movie never over-does the story to make it more "Hollywood," they just seem to let the movie take a course of its own and let the characters do the story-telling. This movie will leave you with many questions, as well as a feeling that everything is settled and the end course has been set.

This movie is well worth every penny you spend to rent or buy it. I whole-heartedly recommend this movie for any and all movie fans! A true 5-star classic.

I <3 Lestat! I <3 this movie!.......2007-06-01

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt dont suck in this movie so dont let them scre you off. Stays true to the book and characters. I really love Lestat but Rice is a ***** that sues her fans.

The Movie That Introduced The World to the Modern Vampire.......2007-05-20

Anne Rice created the modern vampire with her novel, and the movie did it justice. Brad Pitt is definitely what makes the movie, he plays the role of the depressed vampire Louis perfectly. This the movie also has the very young Kirsten Dunst playing the role of Claudia, and she is an amazing actress for one her age at the time. The overall film is just perfect, from location to wardrobe, it feels like a trip through time. It's just a shame that the second movie wasn't as good as this movie. The movie "Interview With the Vampire" will go down in movie history as a classic and won't be forgotten any time soon if ever.

A Masterpiece.......2007-04-10

"Interview with the Vampire" is bar none, one of the best vampire films ever made. Based on the first novel in The Vampire Chronicles, by Anne Rice...Interview is directed by Oscar winner Neil Jordan ('The Crying Game') and scripted by Rice herself. I remember the first time I saw this movie, 6 years ago, and immediately reading the first book. Not only is it a great vampire film, but it's also a terrific literary adaptation. Rice only removed things from the novel that weren't completely necessary and, in doing so, created a brilliant, passionate script. The film stars Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas, and Christian Slater. Seeing these names doesn't really shout "masterpiece." Incredibly, every actor is suited very well for their role.
The film opens in modern day New Orleans, where a vampire named Louis (Pitt) has agreed to give a reporter (Slater) an interview. The story then jumps back to the late 1700's, where Louis was a 24-year-old, suicidal plantation owner who had recently lost his wife and child in childbirth. His invitation to death is open to anyone, but it is Lestat (Cruise) who accepts his offer. Lestat kills Louis and, before he dies, offers him the chance to live forever. Louis accepts. This offer means that Louis will live forever and stay eternally youthful, but must stay away from sunlight and must feast on the blood of others. Unable to take the lives of humans (something Lestat does with ease), Louis begins feasting on rats and other animals; When Louis ends up taking the life of a young girl, Lestat turns her into a vampire and she becomes Claudia (Dunst), the daughter/lover of Louis and Lestat. Louis and Claudia become a kind of Romeo & Juliet type, but they remain complete opposites. Claudia is more like Lestat, deadly and cruel...Odd, since she hates Lestat. Jumping ahead a bit, Louis and Claudia eventually end up in Europe where they meet Armand (Banderas), the self-proclaimed "oldest living vampire" and head of a theatre troupe called The Theatre de Vampyre. I don't want to say much more about the plot to avoid spoilers. When Cruise was cast as Lestat, Rice publicly critisized the decision but later recanted her comments when she saw the film. On the DVD, in the bonus features, she rants about how good Cruise was. And he is incredible, this is one of his best performances. I've only read the first book (I'm currently reading "The Vampire Lestat"), but Cruise captures this character so well. He's charismatic, good-looking, but capable of being cruel and evil as well. Pitt delivers one of his best performances too as Louis. Louis is a complex character, who needs to a complex performance to really capture him. Pitt handled that completely; Watch his eyes throughout the film and watch how they go from young and youthful to world weary and sad. Dunst, who was thirteen when she made the film (I think), also delivers a spectacular performance. Since the character begins as a child and, by the end of the film, is still a child but with an adult mind; Dunst showed incredibly maturity in the role. Few child actors could have captured the emotion she did. I can not rave enough about this movie. Vampire/Dracula movies are the most cliched and overly used stories out there, but "Interview with the Vampire" is bursting with originality. It's not a horror film, despite it's subject matter. It's really a drama and much of Louis's story is heartbreaking. The gothic look that Jordan gave the film works very well to set the tone and atmosphere of the film. Even if you're a person who despises horror films or movies about vampires, I highly recommend this movie.

GRADE: A

An erotic vampire tale!.......2007-04-07

This is one of my all-time favorite vampire movies. The cast led by Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat, and Brad Pitt as the vampire Louis does an excellent job of bringing to life Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. The costumes and sets are evocative of the respective eras the vampires live through, and the cinematography is lush and sensual, evoking the decadent lifestyle that Lestat leads...even Kirsten Dunst has a role here as a child vampire, and her famous line "I want some more" has been rendered immortal in movie history. The chemistry between Lestat [Cruise] & Louis [Pitt] is believable and in fact, they give one of their best dramatic performances in this movie. All in all, a cinematic treat.

Average customer rating:

Yuck!!
Suspiria
Fearing Fear Itself
Classic Horror Flick
Interesting But Not Great

Suspiria
Starring: Eva Axén , Joan Bennett , Miguel Bosé , Flavio Bucci , and Stefania Casini
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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Zombi 2 (25th Anniversary Special Edition 2-Disc Set)

ASIN: B00005ASOI
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Amazon.com

Outside of devoted cult audiences, many Americans have yet to discover the extremely stylish, relentlessly terrifying Italian horror genre, or the films of its talented virtuoso, Dario Argento. Suspiria, part one of a still-uncompleted trilogy (the luminously empty Inferno was the second), is considered his masterpiece by Argento devotees but also doubles as a perfect starting point for those unfamiliar with the director or his genre. The convoluted plot follows an American dancer (Jessica Harper) from her arrival at a European ballet school to her discovery that it's actually a witches coven; but, really, don't worry about that too much. Argento makes narrative subservient to technique, preferring instead to assault the senses and nervous system with mood, atmosphere, illusory gore, garish set production, a menacing camera, and perhaps the creepiest score ever created for a movie. It's essentially a series of effectively unsettling set pieces--a raging storm that Harper should have taken for an omen, and a blind man attacked by his own dog are just two examples--strung together on a skeleton structure. But once you've seen it, you'll never forget it. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

Yuck!!.......2007-06-28

Too much blood and guts for me...plus the acting left little to be desired. A waste.

Suspiria.......2007-06-28

I must not be a fan of the old Italian thrillers. I read reviews from others about this movie, and thought it was just what I was looking for. Boy was I wrong. You can't hear the characters whispering unless you crank up the volume, then the music comes blaring in. You never see the murderous beast in the first attack, just a hairy arm with long talon-like fingernails, yet when the beast kills the female victim, it repeatedly stabs her with a knife.?? Then there's the scene where the seeing-eye dog attacks it's master. It knocks him down and supposedly tears his throat out, but when you see a close up of the dog ripping at flesh, the flesh is attached to something below the letterbox frame of the film. You never see a body with the live dog. Not to mention the stuffed dog's head that the blind guy is wrestling with on the ground. Too fake for my liking. The girls spend a lot of time staring into nothingness, and listening to haunting sounds that you cannot hear, and you are left staring at them until something else happens. Sometimes for several minutes. They have one bikini scene that's not really worth mentioning. Not sexy, not thrilling, not scary, not horrifying. Someone wrote, "The only thing scarier than the last 17 minutes of this film, are the first 80 minutes". Unless you are really into weak thrillers, and cheesy effects, don't waste your time on this movie.

Fearing Fear Itself.......2007-04-12

"Suspiria" is a well-guarded secret among the intelligentsia of horror fans. If you aren't part of the Algonquin Round Table of literate fright freaks or clued in to the subtle genius of its palette, then you will probably be one of those people who watch it, scratch your head, and then say, "I thought this was supposed to be one of the greatest horror films of all time."

It's not, let's be clear. It exists, now, as a relic of what may once have been frightening (I have the impulse to debate that, but we'll skip it), a fossilized remnant of a time when sheer style and technique were enough to sow, grow, and harvest goosebumps by the bushel. Fans of this film point at the subtle interplays of the editing, the almost painfully raw use of color, the "greatest horror movie score of all time," provided by "Goblin." Although there's a lot of room for interpretation in the term "horrific," it is clear to see the eye of a maestro at work in "Suspiria." The directing, cinematography, and editing are indeed eloquent. The primal color scheme -- while over-the-top -- denotes an eye for craftsmanship, its unrealistic and powerfully savage primacy as tangible in the movie as any character or prop. But there are problems here, too. Lots of them. Not the least of which being the story.

Suzy Bannion (played by Jessica Harper, a woman whose fine features and big, beautiful eyes make her look like a Japanime character) travels to Germany to start her schooling at one of the most celebrated ballet academies in Europe. Before she's even walked in the door, strange things occur, and it is up to Suzy to figure out what is going on ... before it's too late! The elements that are intended to multiply the movie's horror tend (at best) to confuse and (at worst) to bring the pace of the film to a withered crawl. Statues disappear, animals become strangely aggressive, footsteps clack off to rooms unknown, and eyes hover in the dark. Meanwhile, there's stilted dialogue to be endured, and long, trawling shots of people walking...very...slowly.

I consider myself a patient man, especially with things like movies. And the opening murder sequence leads one to expect from the rest of the film a slow, hissing reveal (it also sets the tone for a fever dreamish reality; the building in which it takes place looks like it was designed by a post-mortem Erno Rubik, and all of the blood involved appears to be sherbert-colored poster paint). But by the time maggots and strange bats begin to haunt the school, it was clear that not nearly as much effort had been put into the story as had gone into its well-lit props.

Still, I can appreciate serious stabs at serious art, and I was sorely tempted to give the film a four star pat on the back (a round up from the C+ I feel it deserves), if it weren't for one thing: the score. That's right. In every glowing recommendation I ever read, in every Top Ten Scariest Movies Of All Time list in which "Suspiria" is listed, I heard about this supposedly powerful and unparalleled musical soundtrack to horror. Call me uncultured. Call me short-sighted. But all I heard was an obtrusive, inconsistently employed, and unnecessarily shrill series of screeches and moans. Normally music to movies is like salt to soup. "Suspiria"s soundtrack is so grating and weirdly wielded that it seems like it's trying to be its own story altogether, forget highlighting or intensifying the movie to which its attached. There are moments when it works (the opening driving sequence and the final "battle"), but many more when it doesn't.

Fear is a sticky wicket; there's no accounting for tastes. One thing I do know: if you are a buff of the horror movie genre (or a film student) and you haven't seen "Suspiria," I recommend you watch it, if for no other reason than to see the trippy tricks that are possible when a director gives the screen his undivided attention. But don't expect to be scared or disturbed. And to the rest of you, I'd say steer clear. It's true that there's a lot of visual art to this movie, but much like the art you hang on your wall, this flick goes nowhere.

Classic Horror Flick.......2007-04-04

I hadn't seen this classic horror movie since it was in the theatres in the 70s. Still a classic! "So you think you can kill Elaina Marcos?"

Interesting But Not Great.......2007-03-08

Yes, the lighting and photography are different from other films though I kept imagining the colored lights off camera. The acting and script are pretty good as is the general production design but as a classic horror film, Suspiria rates rather low in my opinion because the blood just doesn't look at all real and if the blood in a horror movie doesn't look real, the film has failed. That's a shame too since I loved the surround soundtrack.

Average customer rating:

Good goth flick
A Classic Tale Reimagined...
One of my favorites
Sleepy Hollow
Tim burtons true masterpiece movie

Sleepy Hollow
Starring: Johnny Depp , Christina Ricci , Miranda Richardson , Michael Gambon , and Casper Van Dien
Director: Tim Burton
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
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ASIN: 0792164903
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Amazon.com

The films of Tim Burton shine through the muck like a jack-o-lantern on a foggy October night. After such successes as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands, it should come as no surprise that Sleepy Hollow is a dazzling film, a delicious reworking of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Dark and moody, the film is a thrilling ride back to the turn of the 19th century. Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, a seemingly hapless constable from New York City who is sent to the small town of Sleepy Hollow to solve the mystery of the decapitations that are plaguing the town. Crane is a bumbling sort, with a tremendous faith in science over mysticism, and he comes up against town secrets, bewitching women, and a number of bodies missing heads. Christina Ricci, as beautiful as ever, is Katrina Van Tassel, the offbeat love interest who alternately charms and frightens Crane.

The film, while occasionally gory (as one should expect from a movie about a headless horseman), is not terribly frightening, although it is suspenseful. Both Depp and Ricci are convincing, and the art direction and production values give the village its harsh feel. Toward the end, once the secrets are revealed, the film does slow down; however, this stylistic horror film provides many tricks and even more treats. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Good goth flick.......2007-06-13

I like this movie. The atmospherics are awesome, the director is awesome, Jonny Depp is in it...

A Classic Tale Reimagined..........2007-05-26

1999's "Sleepy Hollow" is Director Tim Burton's excellent reimagining of the classic Washington Irving fairy tale. Johnny Depp steals the movie as Ichabod Crane, in this version a New York City police constable with new-fangled and unwelcome investigative techniques who is exiled to Sleepy Hollow by an unhappy magistrate (Christopher Lee in a spot-on cameo). Crane arrives in Sleepy Hollow (authentically portrayed as a post-American Revolution farming community) to find a string of unsolved murders attributed to the headless but ambulatory corpse of a Hessian soldier.

Crane finds also a town full of intrigues and mysterious goings-on, which he will patiently unravel with the help of Katrina Van Tassel (nicely played by Christina Ricci) who turns out to have secrets of her own. A solid supporting cast helps carry the movie.

Burton lays on an escalating series of horrible murders, each with supernatural overtones, that challenge both the investigative techniques and the rational beliefs of Ichabod Crane. Each such scene is nicely creepy without overindulging the gore. As it turns out, a genuine horror has been unleashed in Sleepy Hollow. The betrayal of the long-deal Hessian is at the heart of his current incarnation as a killer. Ichabod will have to dealt with his own bitter experience with witchcraft in order to identify the guilty and save the innocent.

This movie is highly recommended to those looking for an entertaining and well-executed update of a classic fairly tale, featuring fine direction and excellent if sometimes campy acting.

One of my favorites.......2007-05-19

For me everything works and looks brilliant on this film. Great script, wonderful performance by Depp and a surprising choice with Ricci and, even more surprising, she truely delivers. Most important, Burton nails this whimsical gothic tale and, in my humble opinion, created a film classic. Highly, highly recommended.

Sleepy Hollow.......2007-05-13

I bought this for my granddaughter for Christmas in 2006. We all watched it that day, and it was pretty good. The shipping was very quick.

Tim burtons true masterpiece movie.......2007-03-13

Do you love the old cartoon classic tale of icabod crane and the headless horseman? Then sleepy hollow is your kind of movie. A movie with violence gore and more brutal beheadings from the headless horseman. One of the best movies for a good drinking rollercoster ride.

Average customer rating:

kiddie movie
Best Ghost Story In A Long Time
Eerie and enjoyable
wrong region
The best ghost I've seen.

The Devil's Backbone (Special Edition)
Starring: Marisa Paredes , Eduardo Noriega (II) , Federico Luppi , Fernando Tielve , and Íñigo Garcés
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000274TLW
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Amazon.com

Seething passions, wandering ghosts, and an unexploded bomb fill this beautifully filmed tale of war and suspense. Though The Devil's Backbone was advertised as a horror movie in the States, it's really more of a drama that happens to have ghosts in it. During the Spanish Civil War, young Carlos is abandoned at a completely isolated orphanage. The tensions therein have been building for years, exacerbated by the unexploded bomb resting menacingly in the courtyard. Bullies scheme, tempers flare, and a ghost that visits Carlos's bed seems to be the key to it all. The movie is full of excellent performances, especially by Marisa Paredes as the gruff-but-kind headmistress, Eduardo Noriega as the handyman with secrets to keep, and Federico Luppi as the benevolent professor who likes to keep deformed fetuses in jars. A rich, satisfying drama with some good, spooky fun thrown in. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews:

kiddie movie.......2007-06-26

gave it 5 stars -this is a great movie But for kids between 12-16yrs old.

Best Ghost Story In A Long Time.......2007-06-26

This movie was simply riveting. Beautifully acted and filmed, believable. It was intelligent, touching, and at times truly spooky. I was impressed, and I'm about as jaded as a horror fan can get. Best of all, this was neither creampie fluff like the run of the mill boring torture flicks coming out of Hollywood these days, not was it a pure jump here scream there funhouse ride like most of the current flavor of Japanese Horror. This was a darn fine movie, intelligent, rich, mesmerizing and with a plausible plot, believable characters, and a satisfying ending. Good stuff.

Eerie and enjoyable.......2007-06-12

I truly enjoyed this movie. I think the acting is quite good and the movie is definately worth watching.

wrong region.......2007-06-10

I was not actually able to see this film because the small print on the back of the cassette says it can not be played outside of the USA and Canada and as I live in Great Britain the film was of little use to me.

I was not able to print the returns labels from Amazon at the time the time of logging in and when I tried to re visit the returns page again, Amazon claimed I had nothing valid to return. I am therefore left with a dvd that I cannot use.

Subsequent emails to and from Amazon ensued with the company telling me that they do not recognise me e mail address yet I am sent e mails advertising their store.

What a poor show Amazon.

A disappointed customer.

The best ghost I've seen........2007-06-07

This fantasy/thriller is a companion to Cronos and more popularly Pan's Labyrinth. It shares a common sequence that the director Guillermo Del Toro explains as his rhythm to a movie. As did Hitchcock in his films, creating a rhythm by showing early in the story a deliberate number of memorable scenes and then using those replicated instances in the same exactness for another purpose, therefor setting up a repitition that makes it more meaningful and significant. We see this many times, and he is not limited to only mimicing Hitchcock. All of his movies are filled with homages to cinema greats. A small line from a Terrance Malick film here, and a more obvious homage to John Ford, mirroring his tortured landscapes in The Grapes of Wrath for the outdoors of his ruined Spanish school yard. Del Toro takes the time to guide you through his style in his colorful and insightful commentaries. A favorite feature of mine, because it teaches you about the movie process and of his thought process. And you get to know the man, he has a great sense of humor. Guillermo loves taking a hollywood instrument, such as ghost in the dark, and unbreakable lighting schemes, and to his own enjoyment breaks those unsaid laws, by showing ghosts in broad daylight, and by giving you sharp contrasts in colors. Such as having a metal blue night, yet a warm, sensual withindoors color in sharp contrast. And he does it in such a way as to be genuin, never tinsely. I appreciate his hard work, and his passion has a way of touching others. A splendid Artist who focuses on Spanish history and social politics; and juxtaposing these very serious topics with fantasy, and somehow, it indescribably gives the fantasy world more credibility.

Average customer rating:

Lush and decadent!
95% Excellence; 5% Missed Opportunities
extremely good movie with a few minor flaws
Fact, Fiction and My Inspiration!
Come on you bunch of Siskels!

Bram Stoker's Dracula
Starring: Gary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Anthony Hopkins , Keanu Reeves , and Richard E. Grant
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: 0800177177
Release Date: 1997-10-07

Amazon.com

With dizzying cinematic tricks and astonishing performances, Francis Coppola's 1992 version of the oft-filmed Dracula story is one of the most exuberant, extravagant films of the 1990s. Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, as the Count and Mina Murray, are quite a pair of star-crossed lovers. She's betrothed to another man; he can't kick the habit of feeding off the living. Anthony Hopkins plays Van Helsing, the vampire slayer, with tongue firmly in cheek. Tom Waits is great fun as Renfield, the hapless slave of Dracula who craves the blood of insects and cats. Sadie Frost is a sexy Lucy Westenra. And poor Keanu Reeves, as Jonathan Harker, has the misfortune to be seduced by Dracula's three half-naked wives. There's a little bit of everything in this version of Dracula: gore, high-speed horseback chases, passion, and longing.

Customer Reviews:

Lush and decadent!.......2007-06-02

Purists might hate this version of Dracula for the liberties it takes but I loved it. Gary Oldman's performance as Dracula was simply amazing...he brings romance to the role, a dark knight who is depicted more as a victim of fate than a true evil creature, and his love for Mina [whom he feels is the reincarnation of his long-dead wife] is altogether real and credible. Anthony Hopkins brings a certain level of zealousness to the role of Van Helsing, but I can't say Iwas very impressed by Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder's performances. Firstly there was no chemistry between them though they were supposed to be engaged, and similarly Winona's Mina seemed like a cold fish to me, especially in her love scenes with the Count [the actress who played Lucy on the other hand was pretty scintillating].But despite some of the flawed performances, the movie on the whole was beautifully filmed. The cinematography was lush and evoked decadent images, especially the seduction scenes, in particular Keanu's seduction by the three wives of Dracula, and also Lucy's seduction and attack by Dracula. The costumes are sumptuous to look at. The use of the color red throughout the movie [Lucy's dress, the scene where Dracula stalks Mina] is vivid and reminds us of the lust for blood. The score is haunting and serves to keep viewers' at the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. Overall, this is one of the best contemporary adaptations of Dracula, and a classic.

95% Excellence; 5% Missed Opportunities.......2007-05-15

The most grandiose retelling of the legendary story, and one that casts one of the world's most famous tales of horror as a love story (although certainly a very dark love story), this 1992 version of Dracula features Gary Oldman turning in probably the greatest portrayal of the Count ever.

Everything in this huge, haunting tale centers around the love story between Dracula (tied in much closer here than in most depictions to his supposed real-life counterpart, Vlad The Impaler) and Mina, the reincarnation of his centuries-ago love, Elisabeta. Beginning with the origin of Dracula's vampirism following Elisabeta's death, the story then flashes forward to late-1800s Transylvania and Johnathan Harker's famous trip to the Count's ancient castle. Having dwelled in and terrorized Transylvania for centuries now, the Prince Of Darkness comes by chance upon Harker's locket, in which is a small picture of Mina, the exact image of Dracula's deceased wife. The passion reawakened in the lord of the vampires, he journeys to London and confirms that Mina and Elisabeta are one and the same. From there the vampire Dracula preys on inhabitants of the city even as the mortal and emotional side of the beast is reawakened by re-discovery of his true love.

On a technical scale, "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is brilliant, with masterful cinematography, an outstanding dark score by Wojciech Kilar, chilling shadow imagery and extraordinary special effects. The romantic angle is also a total success. Where the movie does run into some trouble is here: despite the intensified focus on Dracula and Mina, the Dracula tale is still very much an ensemble piece, and some of the other characters just aren't captured as well as I wished they had been in a movie that was otherwise so great. It's not the performances per se, it's just that things didn't come together for some of the other characters. Dr. Van Helsing (although very well played by the always impressive Anthony Hopkins) comes off cold, arrogant, and curiously unconcerned for the people he's supposedly trying to protect - a far cry from the compassionate, courageous and emminently likable versions of the doctor seen in movies like "Horror Of Dracula" (with Peter Cushing as Van Helsing). I think that they may have been thinking that in presenting some sympathetic aspects to the otherwise evil Dracula, they had to counterbalance it by 'darkening' Van Helsing a bit. I don't think it really worked. Add to this a somewhat wishy-washy Harker and a Mina who wasn't nearly as developed as her pivotal role would have seemed to dictate, and it detracts a bit from the whole. The 'lesser' players - Lucy, her three suitors, and the insane Renfield, were all better done in my opinion. Dracula himself is done to perfection. In spite of the occasional problems with some of the characters, "Bram Stoker's Dracula" keeps coming on strong all the way through - until, tragically, the last five minutes or so. With a kind of anti-climatic (though far from terrible) ending to what was a vibrant and dramatic movie, plus the difficulties with some of the characters, we're left with a great show but one that fell a bit short of the mark it could have hit.

Still highly recommended; the weaker parts wouldn't have been so noticeable if 95% of the movie wasn't so awesome. A very, very good version of the Dracula tale despite a few chinks in the armor.

extremely good movie with a few minor flaws.......2007-05-15

A good film that for me sums up alot of what was good about early 1990s cinema. Oldman as dracula, Hopkins as van hellsing, Richard E Grant as Dr Seward, Carey Elwes as Arthur Holmwood and country legend Tom Waits as renfield make this film an extremely well acted peice. It is an alternative take on the book, much like the last temptation of christ was a different take on the life of christ. The bones of the story are there but some characters are more realistic and different. Van helsing is a pompus , lecherous alchoholic with a good heart, Seward is addicted to morphine and dracula was actually a victim of life but nevertheless a creature of darkness.
This movies best feature was that it showed vampires in an extremely unique and interesting way, they are not just normal guys with fangs and charisma like in the christopher lee draculas, but are powerfull creatures of the night, capable of flight, shape changing, mind manipulation and telekinesis. all together a fantastic romp.

Fact, Fiction and My Inspiration!.......2007-05-11

1462, Transylvania, Vlad the Impaler leaves his wife to fight the Turks. Out of malice, The Turks send her a letter telling her that her husband is dead. She is so distraught over his death and terrified at being captured that she throws herself from the castle turrets. When Vlad returns, he is told that his wife may not enter the Kingdom of Heaven as she has killed herself, which is a mortal sin. Vlad immediately renounces God and then he himself is condemned.

400 years later, Jonathon Harker leaves London and his fiancée Mina to travel to Transylvania. He has been assigned to help Count Dracula acquire property in England. Jonathon may never return...

This film, despite its flaws, will always hold a place in my heart as it inspired me to write my novel, Vrolok. I have always loved horror movies so when I heard that Francis Ford Coppola was making a new Dracula film, I could not wait to see it. I remember eagerly anticipating the announcement of who was to play Dracula, and when I found out that it was Gary Oldman, I was not happy! The only thing I had seen him in was JFK, and I was not very impressed (I was too young to have appreciated Sid and Nancy). However, I still decided it was worth going to the cinema to see the movie as Keanu Reeves, Cary Elwes and Bill Campbell were also in it. From the moment Gary Oldman appears on screen, he captivates his audience. His performance is camp, overdone, and at times preposterous, yet it is still somehow seductive, mesmerizing, and sublime. (Bram Stoker would have been proud!). He even utters the line "The children of the night. What sweet music they make" with a thick Romanian accent and gets away with it. I saw this film when I was fifteen and was immediately converted into a life long Gary Oldman fan.

As previously stated, and despite Oldman's performance, the film does have its flaws. Keanu Reeves is about as wooden as a stake and the rest of the cast seem to, just like Gary Oldman, overdo the accents and this is a strategy that doesn't quite work for the rest of the cast. In addition, Sadie Frost and Wynona Ryder running around in the rain in see-through outfits is clichéd and slightly annoying (I am sure most boys who see this film love that bit). Apart from Oldman's performance, there is one other thing that has to be commended - the soundtrack - both Wojciech Kilar's score and Annie Lennox's theme are dark, chilling, and poignant.

All in all a great movie - it inspired me to write a book that may or may not make me a million but will always be something that I am proud to have completed.

Come on you bunch of Siskels!.......2007-04-11

Ok you bunch of no taste bums! lol! First, the only word I could have ever associated with Dracula before I watched this movie was TACKY. The big capes, the really bad accents and the bats on a string, were all so overtly horrid, I could never bear to watch those movies. This movie was a dark love story with superb special effects and a truly superior performance by Gary Oldman as Dracula. I swear, I think that man can be anyone! I grant you, Keanu did have a poor grasp of the Brittish accent and Winona struggled a bit in the passion area, but their performances were above adequate and Winona was a perfect straight man to Oldman's lavish Dracula performance. Anyone who could insinuate that Anthony hopkins was even capable of a bad performance, should be strung up in the town square and tickled mercilessly until unconscious! lol!!

All the world is a critic and for my money, as long as I enjoyed a movie, the whys and wherefores aren't really that important. Maybe this kind of movie is not your cup of tea. If not, don't ruin it for the rest of us by your crude and mellow dramatic reviews. Take my advice, buy this movie! If you want to see the real love story behind the Dracula myth, without all the "bluck bluck, I come to bite your neck" stuff, then this movie is for you. If you want "Blade" in the 1800's, this is probably not for you.

Average customer rating:

1983 Jane Eyre
Almost true to the author
Good but a bit long....
bronte film
English novel reader

Jane Eyre (BBC, 1983)
Starring: Timothy Dalton , and Zelah Clarke
Director: Julian Amyes
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
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ASIN: B000784WMW
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Amazon.com

Jane Eyre--the mother of all gothic romances--gets abundant passion in this 11-episode BBC miniseries. Young Sian Pattenden is wonderfully willful and impetuous; viewers will immediately identify with the child Jane as she fights against ill-treatment at the home of her aunt and at boarding school. It's a shame to see her grow up into Zelah Clarke--until Clarke asserts her own quiet yet fierce spirit. The plot really starts rolling when Jane takes a position as governess at Thornfield, a handsome estate owned by the imperious and tortured Mr. Rochester (Timothy Dalton, a few years before he became James Bond). From there, this 1983 adaptation rips through the perilous highs and devastating lows of Charlotte Bronte's powerful novel, in which the courtship of these two prickly personalities gets twists and turns galore. Though the visual style is a bit pedestrian, the well-crafted script and skillful performances grow more gripping with every episode. The necessary feverishness springs from simple yet effective means, like macabre laughter floating down the halls of Thornfield. The scenes between Clarke and Dalton crackle with chemistry; Bronte fans will not be disappointed. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

1983 Jane Eyre.......2007-07-05

If you had to do a book report on Jane Eyre but didn't want to read it, this is the movie to see. Very acurate comparison with the book, but a little lacking in imagination as far as art direction goes. The acting is fair. Die-hard Jane Eyre fans would love this movie. My biggest complaint with it is the fact that, as it is a television series, there is a break every 20 minutes where the credits are given and the chapter displayed which makes it even longer. If you are looking for good cinematography, script and acting, my favorite is the 2006 Masterpiece Theatre version. It doesn't follow the book as closely, but it is a beuatifully done film.

Almost true to the author.......2007-06-27

I expected any film made about Charlotte Bronte's, "Jane Eyre" to corrupt the story missing the flavor of Ms. Bronte's openness. The novel being a wonderfully written page-turner, I was wonderfully surprised to find the BBC version of Jane Eyre to be true to the novel. One glaring possible exception, Timothy Dalton was too good looking to play Mr. Rochester, but I forgive him.

Good but a bit long...........2007-06-13

I know that is exactly what some of the earlier reviewers particularly liked about this Timothy Dalton/Sian Pattenden version but I felt like there were just too many words at times in this adaptation of Jane Eyre. (I even fell asleep at one point.) Even though I am certain that it is more true to the book than the Ruth Wilson/Toby Stephens adaptation, I personally preferred the Toby Stephens one.

bronte film.......2007-05-25

I enjoyed this film, however he format is distracting. The frequent breaks and credits of the masgterpiece theater production break the flow of the film.

English novel reader.......2007-05-25

This particular adaptation of the novel remains my all-time favorite. The screenplay stays very true to the book, the acting is very good, and the portrayal of mid-19th century English society, living conditions, class differences, etc. is very well done.

DVD:

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DVD

French & Saunders - The Ingenue Years

Godzilla Collection

Cocoon [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: The Law and Martial Arts Vol. 3 - by Carl Brown

Fantasia