Forbidden Planet (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon.com

This 1956 pop adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest is one of the best, most influential science fiction movies ever made. Its space explorers are the models for the crew of Star Trek's Enterprise, and the film's robot is clearly the prototype for Robby in Lost in Space. Walter Pidgeon is the Prospero figure, presiding over a paradisiacal world with his lovely young daughter and their servile droid. When the crew of a spaceship lands on the planet, they become aware of a sinister invisible force that threatens to destroy them. Great special effects and a bizarre electronic score help make this movie as fresh, imaginative, and fun as it was when first released. --Amazon.com

On the DVDs
The colorfully designed 2-disc 50th Anniversary Edition of Forbidden Planet (also available in a collector's box) comes in a slip-covered fold-out case accompanied by a pocket of 17 miniature lobby card reproductions (eight for Forbidden Planet, nine for the 1957 companion movie The Invisible Boy). On Disc 1, Forbidden Planet is presented with a new digital transfer from restored picture and audio elements, with soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, offering considerable improvement over the film's previous DVD release. A selection of deleted scenes were taken from a faded and scratchy 16-millimeter "work print" that had originally been viewed by composers Louis and Bebe Barron as they were creating the film's unique electronic score; they consist of full or partial scenes cut from the final film-- mostly for good reason, but collectors (and those who first saw this rare material on the original Criterion Collection laserdisc) will welcome their inclusion here. The "lost footage" is crude special-effects test footage, primarily of interest to sci-fi historians and aficionados. Given the fact that the original "Robby the Robot" cost over $100,000 to build in 1955, it's easy to see why MGM wanted to get their money's worth: An excerpt from the 1950s TV series "MGM Parade" shows Forbidden Planet star Walter Pigeon appearing briefly with Robby, and the popular robot gets even more attention as a guest star in "The Robot Client," an episode of the Thin Man TV series (starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk) that originally aired on Feb. 28, 1958. Disc 1 also includes a gallery of seven science-fiction movie trailers dating from 1953 (The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms) to 1960's The Time Machine.

Disc 2 begins with 1957's The Invisible Boy, a still-enjoyable B-movie that served as Robby's post-Forbidden Planet showcase. Here, filmdom's favorite automaton plays sidekick to a young boy (Richard Eyer) who turns invisible when he gets caught up in a super-computer's scheme of global domination. Also included are three documentaries, ranging from very good to excellent: In addition to reuniting the surviving cast members of the '56 classic (including Leslie Nielsen, Anne Francis, Richard Anderson, Warren Stevens, and Earl Holliman), "Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet" is an appreciative tribute to Forbidden Planet with some of Hollywood's foremost sci-fi fans including special effects masters Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett, SF movie expert Bill Warren, and others. "Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon" is a featurette about the robot's design, creation and pop-cultural history, featuring original "Robby" designer Robert Kinoshita, Bill Malone (current owner of the original Robby), and Fred "The Robot Man" Barton, a lifelong robot fanatic who now sells fully authorized, full-scale replicas of Robby for sci-fi fans with deep pockets. Closing out disc 2 is "Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us," a 2005 documentary from Turner Classic Movies, written and directed by Time magazine critic Richard Schickel. It's a thoroughly comprehensive survey of '50s sci-fi and its influence on the next generation of film directors, including engaging interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Ridley Scott and James Cameron. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A dutiful robot named Robby speaks 188 languages. An underground lair offers evidence of an advanced civilization. But among Altair-4's many wonders, none is greater or more deadly than the human mind. Forbidden Planet is the granddaddy of tomorrow, a pioneering work whose ideas and style would be reverse-engineered into many cinematic space voyages to come. Leslie Nielsen plays the commander who brings his spacecruiser crew to the green-skied world that's home to Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter (Anne Francis)...and to a mysterious terror. Featuring sets of extraordinary scale and the first all-electronic musical soundscape in film history, Forbidden Planet is in a movie orbit all its own.

Customer Reviews:

What can I say? Words just do not do HD DVD justice; the picture is stunning and brilliant........2007-09-14

What can I say? Words just do not do HD DVD justice; the picture is stunning and brilliant. Just like the name says the look and sound of perfect. I am impressed.

Very Cool .......2007-08-23

Was an awesome purchase. I love the movie and the extras make it worth buying. It would have been better if it was $10 cheaper.

A Fifties Sci-Fi Classic.......2007-08-11

I love it: great cast, great sets, great colour, cod-Shakespeare story spin-off (the Tempest), invisible monsters, flying saucers, robots, unique soundtrack. This really is a must in any sci-fi collection. It's not erudite, or genre making, but just a great piece of entertainment and escapism.

When I bought mine, there was no European version (region 2) available, but the region 1 disc is nice (if you have a multi-region player) as it is double-sided with widescreen (16:9) on one side and academy ratio (TV 4:3) on the other.

A true Classic.......2007-07-30

I got this dc set for my husband's birthady as it is his favorite movie of all time. He loves having it in CD now and especially likes the special 2 disc edition.

Classic Pulp Sci-Fi.......2007-07-30

Forbidden planet is an old science fiction film about a spaceship crew with orders to investigate the disappearence of settlers from one of the colonies. Once on planet they meet a sinister genius who, along with his beautiful daughter is the sole survivor of the previous expedition.

This was an okay film with a fairly predictable plotline and an ending I found annoying. Fans of classic sci-fi will enjoy the old-fashioned special effects. I liked the cook character and the robot Robbie but found the captain to be a bit of a boor and Alta to be kinda creepy. She was just WAY too naive for my comfort level.

3 stars, worth a watch but nothing to shout about.

Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)

Average customer rating:

STILL HOLDS IT'S OWN! KARLOFF IS AMAZING!
Still impressive
Can a 75 Year Old Black And White Film Still Entertain? Yes!!!!
Warning Against Weird Science
Frankenstein (1931)

Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Colin Clive , Mae Clarke , John Boles , Boris Karloff , and Edward Van Sloan
Director: James Whale
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000GPIPT2
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com essential video

"It's alive! Alive!" shouts Colin Clive's triumphant Dr. Frankenstein as electricity buzzes over the hulking body of a revived corpse. "In the name of God now I know what it's like to be God!" For years unheard, this line has been restored, along with the legendary scene of the childlike monster tossing a little girl into a lake, in James Whale's Frankenstein, one of the most famous and influential horror movies ever made. Coming off the tremendous success of Dracula, Universal assigned sophomore director Whale to helm an adaptation of Mary Shelley's famous novel with Bela Lugosi as the monster. When Lugosi declined the role, Whale cast the largely unknown character actor Boris Karloff and together with makeup designer Jack Pierce they created the most memorable monster in movie history: a towering, lumbering creature with sunken eyes, a flat head, and a jagged scar running down his forehead. Whale and Karloff made this mute, misunderstood brute, who has the brain of a madman (the most obvious of the many liberties taken with Shelley's story), the most pitiable freak of nature to stumble across the screen. Clive's Dr. Frankenstein is intense and twitchy and Dwight Frye set the standard for mad-scientist sidekicks as the wild-eyed hunchback assistant. Whale's later films, notably the spooky spoof The Old Dark House and the deliriously stylized sequel The Bride of Frankenstein, display a surer cinematic hand than seen here and add a subversive twist of black comedy, but given the restraints of early sound films, Whale breaks the film free from static stillness and adorns it with striking design and expressionist flourishes. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

STILL HOLDS IT'S OWN! KARLOFF IS AMAZING!.......2007-08-17

One of the greatest horror movies ever made! I know Dracula came out first, but that is a much more subtle horror film than the "maniac monster on the loose" of "Frankenstein"! This film gives us the definitive Mad Doctor,Evil Assistant and Monster! Clive,Frye and Sloan give brilliant performances, but it is Karloff's genius performance that has kept this movie in the top 100 all time greatest films for eternity! Playing his part of the misunderstood undead being with pathos added so much to this picture, that can not be summed up in words. It is just a marvelous performance! I love the sequel "The Bride Of Frankenstein" but this one is better IMHO. I wanted my 500th review to be special and this film changed my life! I was a monster kid from the first time I saw this movie. The film has been released on DVD 3 times and this review is for the 75th anniversay edition. The DVD transfer is excellent, but not perfect. I didn't think the audio was anything special, but what can you expect for a film celebrating 75 years! If you don't own any versions, buy the 75th anniversary edition, Otherwise wait for HD! Unless you a monster nut like me and buy it 4 times! once on VHS and 3 times on DVD!

Still impressive.......2007-08-08

James Whale's film, based on Mary Shelley's classic novel "Frankenstein," was produced at Universal in 1931 as a follow-up to the immensely successful "Dracula." Even more than the Bela Lugosi shocker, Frankenstein created a sensation in its day, terrifying audiences in ways that no film had done before. Now, of course, "Frankenstein" is so tame it could even be recommended viewing for children, a group that would have been warned to avoid the film in its original release, although the scene (once deleted, but now restored) in which the Monster throws a little girl into a pond, may give them a nightmare or two.

"Frankenstein" is no longer frightening, but it remains impressive, and its story of a scientist who dared to imitate God is as timely as ever. Even now, in this age of computer generated special effects, Jack Pierce's stunning makeup has never been equaled or duplicated. When Boris Karloff makes his first entrance as the Monster, he still inspires awe rather than snickers. Kenneth Strickfaden's striking laboratory sets are still a sight to behold, and were used again in Mel Brooks' send-up, "Young Frankenstein," 43 years later.

But it is the performances that really transcend time. Colin Clive as the nerve frayed doctor is outstanding, as is Dwight Frye as his hunchbacked assistant Fritz (often mistakenly referred to as Ygor, the role played by Lugosi in the second sequel, 1939's "Son of Frankenstein"). Best of all is Karloff in his star-making portrayal of the Monster. It would have been easy to play the role as a lumbering idiot, but Karloff's humanity comes through to make this soulless creature an object of sympathy instead of horror.

One of the most important and influential films in cinema history, "Frankenstein" is essential viewing.

Brian W. Fairbanks

Can a 75 Year Old Black And White Film Still Entertain? Yes!!!!.......2007-07-26

Though the original FRANKENSTEIN is not particularly scary to a modern viewer and is more inspired by Mary Shelley's groundbreaking gothic novel than true to it this classic film is still very worth seeing. Boris Karloff has no dialogue beyond a growl as the monster yet with marvelous makeup and expressive eyes we actually find sympathy with Frankenstein's poor addled creation. Karloff's portrayal and its clones are the monster we envision when we hear the word Frankenstein. The scene with Maria (the little girl playing with the daisies) is restored to what director Whale originally intended and in this context we see the incident as a pathetic accident rather than just a mindless killing. I kept waiting for the scene with the monster and the blind man but that occurs in the also worthy sequel BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. This is a short film of a little more than an hour and a must see for anyone interested in the history of film or the horror genre.

Warning Against Weird Science.......2007-06-26

This 'Revised Version' film begins with a burial. The grave is filled in. Two men dig up the coffin in the now empty graveyard. Then they cut down a hanged man; but this body is useless. A medical school compares the brains of an intelligent man to a foul criminal. Will the servant pick the right brain for Dr. Henry Frankenstein? Is he testing the boundaries of science and sanity? Frankenstein's fiancee worries about Henry. His teacher Dr. Waldman explains the problem with Henry - he wants to experiment on humans! Is this excessive optimism of megalomania? [There is no explanation why a new brain is needed for a body. Unless its for dramatic purposes.] The visitors arrive unexpectedly. "Crazy am I? We'll see tonight." Frankenstein discovered a new ray that gives life! The storm will generate enough electricity to power the experiment. "Its alive!"

Herr Vogel the Burgomeister visits Baron Frankenstein to ask about the scheduled marriage. Why is Henry waiting? The teacher warns Henry about what can happen. The monster makes a dramatic entrance. [They used short sleeves to suggest extra long arms.] The monster has a fear of flames. Fritz teases the monster one time too many. The plan to kill the monster fails. Dr. Waldman's plan to terminate the monster fails. So now the monster runs loose! Meanwhile the preparations for the marriage creates happiness in the village. Young Maria meets the monster, things go terribly wrong! Henry's bride has a premonition that something will go wrong. The monster is near. Maria's father asks for justice. The villagers go out to search for the monster. [They are not armed! How will they stop the monster?] Herr Frankenstein finds the monster. Will the villagers get there in time? The monster seeks refuge in an old windmill. The villagers add lighting. [The unnamed actor give life to the monster's death.] There seems like a happy ending for the Frankensteins.

The story of a man-made monster terrorizing the country must have resonated with people during the Great Depression. A number of sequels were filmed with other monsters: vampires, and wolfmen. Then they ended by 1945. Future horror films would use other creatures.

Frankenstein (1931).......2007-06-20

One of the greatest horror films of all time, James Whale's "Frankenstein" veers broadly from Mary Shelley's original story while retaining its specifically tragic aspect. The ghoul-faced Karloff, without a word of dialogue here, gives a lumbering performance that is both creepy and achingly sympathetic--especially in the famous scene with a young girl (Marilyn Harris) picking a flower for him. Herman Rosse's fabulous sets and Whale's meticulous handling of atmosphere and the monster's appearance elevate this eerie study of alienation and scientific hubris far above the campier creature features that followed. Juice up your neck bolts for "Frankenstein." Universal's reissue of this monster classic brings horror fans more background information on the making of the movie, and rare interviews with its cast. The new documentary "Karloff: The Gentle Monster" pays tribute to the actor whose forty year screen career was made by this monster. A must-see for serious Frankenphiles, and a title worthy of revisiting.

Average customer rating:

A tongue-in-cheek classic
Great transfer quality
A Total Waste
heart stopping action and fun!
A classical monster reunion

Van Helsing [HD DVD]
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Kate Beckinsale , Richard Roxburgh , David Wenham , and Shuler Hensley
Director: Stephen Sommers
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000E1ZK50
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Customer Reviews:

A tongue-in-cheek classic.......2007-09-05

Ignore the naysayers here and watch this movie on a big screen, with a good surround sound system cranked up nice and loud. This is a full-on modern cinematic rollercoaster ride, made purely for fun, and it delivers in spades.
Essentially a melange of Dracula, Frankenstein, and James Bond, with occasional soupcons of various and sundry genre touches, Van Helsing is a feast for the eyes and ears, and damn funny to boot. I came in expecting nothing, and was well and truly blown away. The effects are flawless, the story quite hilarious, and the overall tone suggests Raiders of the Lost Ark of Transylvania. Jackman and Beckinsale are tailor-made and work well together. Roxburgh gives one of the most hilarious villain performances in screen history, perfectly over the top; his moments alone are worth seeing the film for. I rarely watch recent movies more than once; I've seen this four times in a year and it keeps getting more impressive with each viewing.
This is a superb piece of craftsmanship that never takes itself too seriously, and delivers massive doses of fun and many thrilling moments. A better flick for a cold and snowy Saturday's eve would be hard to find.
Give it some time; Van Helsing will be a cult classic yet.

Great transfer quality.......2007-08-09

I really enjoyed this movie when I saw it in the theater, so I looked forward to the DVD release. The DVD transfer was a big disappointment since the dark scenes came out grayish and pixelated. A good portion of this movie takes place at night because of Dracula and the werewolf, but the bad transfer was particularly noticeable in the beginning during the Jekyll & Hyde scene. When I found out that this title is available on HD-DVD, I decided to get it right away, and I was not disappointed. The transfer was way better and you could appreciate the dark scenes the way they were intended. The great thing about high definition movies is that the colors are more vivid and black in particular has more depth, which gives the image on screen more contrast and clarity. It is true as well in this movie. If you enjoyed this movie, the only way to appreciate it on video is through HD-DVD.

A Total Waste .......2007-08-03

I have several older movies I sometimes plug into at night as a sleep aid , but this film won't even make it into my snoozer stash. It's too loud and intrusive to fall asleep on. An absolute waste. The one star is for Kate Beckinsale , she had the only fake accent that didn't grate on my last nerve. The special features promise a movie that must have been sent to an alternate universe. Why do I have a copy ? I got it for Christmas. I'm glad it tanked at the box office , a sequel is just too horrid to consider.

heart stopping action and fun!.......2007-07-17

many movie critics and movie goers really trashed this movie, but i went openi anng weekend and saw it for my birthday,and loved it!. stephen sommers always makes great action and special effects movies and this one was no different. everyone talked about how dumb it was,excuse me! its a special effects/fantasy/adventure summer movie not a serious dramatic film did people forget that?. it was fun,period!. the effects were great,from the sexy,scary crazy brides of dracula,to the seen of anna valerious descending up to heaven. looooved dracula, richard roxburgh played him as sexy arrogant over the top dracula, personally the best dracula yet!. the brides were great too,rather than stand around looking beautiful and wait for leftovers from drac they got out there and caused some trouble themselves!. the masquerade ball scenes were incredible!, buy the dvd and watch the making of this elaborate scene. draculas castle and the secret mirror entrance was cool, the werewolf was pretty cool,,more realistic and scarrier than most i have seen.the action scenes were a bit intense in that it never ends,yes i even thibk stephen s. could have cut back on some of it!, and some of it really,really was unrealistic,but it was an action movie and you do get you moneys worth here!. i would have preffered alittle less action and more dialog and that he delved deeper into van helsings past and his connection with dracula. all in all it is fun and a much better movie than everyone was saying about it. so buy it, get the popcorn ,turn off the lights, and get ready for some heartpounding relentless action! and enjoy!!!.

A classical monster reunion.......2007-06-25

All the greats, Dracula, Frankenstein, Werewolve, even Jecke & Hyde make an appearance in this film. The movie is dark and sometimes the plot seems a little thing, or the director introduced something but never returned to it. The movie is good basic entertainment, if you are looking for a high-grade movie or classic, you should probably look elsewhere. This was great for entertainment, but I didn't add it to my library.

Average customer rating:

What can I say? Words just do not do HD DVD justice; the picture is stunning and brilliant.
Very Cool
A Fifties Sci-Fi Classic
A true Classic
Classic Pulp Sci-Fi

Forbidden Planet [HD DVD]
Starring: Walter Pidgeon , Anne Francis , Leslie Nielsen , Warren Stevens , and Jack Kelly
Director: Fred M. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000I2J2W2
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com essential video

Description

A dutiful robot named Robby speaks 188 languages. An underground lair provides astonishing evidence of a populace a million years more advanced than Earthlings. There are many wonders on Altair-4, but none is greater or more deadly than the human mind. Forbidden Planet is the granddaddy of tomorrow, a pioneering work whose ideas and style would be reverse-engineered into many cinematic space voyages to come. Leslie Nielsen portrays the commander who brings his spacecruiser crew to the green-skied Altair-4 world that's home to Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter (Anne Francis), the remarkable Robby...and to a mysterious terror. Featuring sets of extraordinary scale and the first all-electronic musical soundscape in film history, Forbidden Planet is in a movie orbit all its own.

Customer Reviews:

What can I say? Words just do not do HD DVD justice; the picture is stunning and brilliant........2007-09-14

What can I say? Words just do not do HD DVD justice; the picture is stunning and brilliant. Just like the name says the look and sound of perfect. I am impressed.

Very Cool .......2007-08-23

Was an awesome purchase. I love the movie and the extras make it worth buying. It would have been better if it was $10 cheaper.

A Fifties Sci-Fi Classic.......2007-08-11

A true Classic.......2007-07-30

I got this dc set for my husband's birthady as it is his favorite movie of all time. He loves having it in CD now and especially likes the special 2 disc edition.

Classic Pulp Sci-Fi.......2007-07-30

Average customer rating:

Best of Abbott and Costello
Recommend to any fan of original Frankenstein/Dracula movies.
Fun with kids...
THE BEST HORROR COMEDY EVER!
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
Starring: Bud Abbott , Lou Costello , Lon Chaney Jr. , Bela Lugosi , and Glenn Strange
Director: Charles Barton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783233582
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Amazon.com

Universal Pictures made a great deal of money from its monster movies in the 1930s. In the early '40s, the burlesque team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello kept the studio's coffers full. When the two franchises were combined in 1948, the result was another windfall--despite the apparent oil-and-water mix of subject matter. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was the first of these summit meetings, although the title is a misnomer. Actually, Bud and Lou bump into most of the Universal heavy-hitters, including Count Dracula (played by Béla Lugosi himself), the Wolfman (Lon Chaney Jr.), and the Frankenstein monster (veteran monster Glenn Strange). There's even a token appearance by the Invisible Man, whose disembodied voice is recognizable as that of Vincent Price. Sure enough, the film is funny, especially since it gives the portly Costello multiple opportunities to do his wide-eyed, quivering scaredy-cat routine. Audiences ate it up, and in future installments Bud and Lou would run into Boris Karloff, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man, and the Mummy. But the first was the best. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Best of Abbott and Costello.......2007-09-04

This is the best Abbott and Costello movie there is. The loose plot and the appearance of Bela Lugosi as Dracula only highlight the talents of these two comedians.

Recommend to any fan of original Frankenstein/Dracula movies........2007-08-23

My 8 year old thinks this video is great. He's a big fan of the old Frankenstein/Dracula/Invisible Man/Mummy collection movies. He loves the comedy on Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.

Fun with kids..........2007-07-09

I bought these to introduce my daughter to slapstick comedy. No one does it better than Abbott & Costello. These movies were always on in my grandmother's house, and they still crack me up. The first time we watched them, my daughter was a little frightened until I explained that they were just people dressed up and pretending to be scary and now she loves them! I plan to start a new Halloween tradition to watch them each year (with popcorn of course) with our family after trick or treating :)

THE BEST HORROR COMEDY EVER! .......2007-06-29

It's funny how most of the Abbott & Costello horror comedies are not very good,yet this one works so well! This is a classic that I watch on Halloween just to prime me up for some great horror films.

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein.......2007-06-21

Timeless classic blends comedy and monster movie, resulting in something spooky enough to excite kids without causing sleepless nights. The best A&C vehicle by far, its great to have Lugosi and Chaney on hand. A fast, funny scarefest that viewers of all ages should love.

Average customer rating:

A tongue-in-cheek classic
Great transfer quality
A Total Waste
heart stopping action and fun!
A classical monster reunion

Van Helsing (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Kate Beckinsale , Richard Roxburgh , David Wenham , and Shuler Hensley
Director: Stephen Sommers
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002KVUKM
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Customer Reviews:

A tongue-in-cheek classic.......2007-09-05

Great transfer quality.......2007-08-09

A Total Waste .......2007-08-03

heart stopping action and fun!.......2007-07-17

A classical monster reunion.......2007-06-25

Average customer rating:

True to the spirit of the book
Chilling horror
It's Alive! It's Alive!
Not Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Why did they even attach Shelley's name to it?

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Starring: George Asprey , Alfred Bell , Helena Bonham Carter , Richard Briers , and John Cleese
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767811097
Release Date: 1998-07-29

Amazon.com

Let's be honest: this should be titled Wretched Excess' Frankenstein. Swooping, wild, bloody, and energetic, this is bad moviemaking from the best, which makes it all the more lovable. Kenneth Branagh plays Victor Frankenstein, a man so obsessed with conquering death that he decides to create life. What he gets, after a protoplasmic mud wrestle, is a Mean Streets monster (Robert De Niro) that isn't particularly happy to be back from the dead or thrilled about all the stitches. Helena Bonham Carter may, at several points in this film, actually be channeling Ramtha. The supporting cast couldn't be peopled with better performers (Tom Hulce, John Cleese, Ian Holm) but they all look like they're ringside at some Ultimate Fighting competition. A must for any midnight movie collector for the shock factor alone. A hoot. --Keith Simanton

Amazon.com

Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm and John Cleese star in Branagh's acclaimed adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. True to the original, here is the story of a young doctor whose obsession with death leads him to create a life. But his "creature" crafted from the bodies of convicts and the brain of a brilliant scientist, is a hideous mockery of humanity. And when the creature realizes he will never be accepted by men, he seeks revenge on Dr. Frankenstein and his family. An inspired adaptation that's emotionally complex and truly terrifying.

Customer Reviews:

True to the spirit of the book.......2007-09-12

I watched this many times and I love the soundtrack. The movie is much closer to the spirit of the book than any predecessor. I have read (at least much of it) the book but it has been many years.

Chilling horror.......2007-07-29

This is a particularly dark adaptation of the Frankenstein story, with a chillingly gothic sense of atmosphere. Branagh also succeeds in bringing a Shakesperian level of tragedy to the drama, rather than falling into the trap of focusing too exclusively on the macabre. De Niro makes a particularly fine re-animated creature, offering a suitable sense of pathos and frustratation at the lack of acceptance which ultimately provokes furious belligerence. His monster is one to be pitied as much as feared. The performance is far superior to Luke Goss' effort in the more recent adaptation (although it's hardly surprising that a veteran actor has more to offer than a man whose greatest achievement is former-membership of the band 'Bros'). Branagh takes us back to the gritty roots of Mary Shelley's literary classic. His obvious in-depth knowledge of the original story lends a real air of authenticity, with none of the external clichés that are so often attached by those who are blissfully unaware of the original text. His only glaring error comes in the reference to the monster's creator as 'Frankenstein'. As everyone knows, Frankenstein is the monster's name.

It's Alive! It's Alive!.......2007-07-06

I read the book, so when I saw this film, it blew my mind away! Oh, the horror! It was very, very good with several very horrific, very bloody scenes which the book lacked completely. In fact, compared to this version of the story, the book was very mild and very PG.

I'll never forget that scene in the beginning -- so much blood! And the creature had not even been created yet!

As a side note, it is a common misconception that the creature is named Frankenstein. The creature was, in fact, never given a name by young Frankenstein, who loathed and hated him from the moment he brought him into being.

The creature's story was very moving, and no matter how many times we see the creature murder and murder again, we can not help but sympathize with him and loath his creator, the reckless and wretched Dr. Frankestein! The creature himself asks Frankenstein if he ever considered the consequences of his actions. Unlike the raving Frankenstein in the book, the Frankenstein in this movie hangs his head guiltly and askes with emotion, "What can I do?"

Helena Bonham Carter blew me away. Her acting is wonderful on all accounts and she brings a whole new life and character to Elizabeth which wasn't protrayed in the book. Bonham's Elizabeth is corougeous and outspoken, fun, silly, yet mature and independent. She is the perfect match for the man who played Dr. Frankenstein: in the face of his pale agony and madness, she is calm, firm, and assertive, always demanding he tell her what secret he has kept from her until (again unlike in the novel) she finally walks out!

Oh, what a splendid contrast to the delicate and meek Elizabeth of the novel!

I must also comment on the protrayal of Henry Clerval. Henry's character has also been given some booast. Rather than a victim and a "nice guy," a gentleman, as he is protrayed in the book, Henry Clerval is a delicate, funny, scallywag who shouldn't be in medical school and is only there to get women in bed. He's a scallywag alright but one can't help but love him in this film. He's the one person who suspects what Victor has done (AGAIN unlike in the novel but it's great!) and tries to stop him. He is easily shunted aside, however, as Victor climbs the stairs with a bloody Elizabeth in his arms . . .

Finally, the only thing I didn't like about this movie was a ten minute scene which contains nothing but the naked creature freshly alive and young Dr. Frankenstein slipping and sliding around in birthwater -- yes, birthwater! It was very frustrating to watch such a ridiculously unnecesessary and silly scene. It was a scene that should have been cut or atleast cut down . . .

With that, it was by majority a great movie and I recogmend it to anyone who's read the novel (which isn't so bad either!)

Not Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.......2007-06-27

This movie is more like the novel than other Frankenstein movies in that it actually portrays the monster as an intelligent being that is able to talk rather than groan; however, that is about where the similarities to the novel end.

I teach Frankenstein in my sophomore level Introduction to Fiction class, and we watch this movie in class for a good laugh and for a break from reading. First, the way the mother dies in the movie is 100% different than her death in the novel, unless you see a similarity in scarlet fever and, say, the scarlet colored blood that covers the mother as she dies in childbirth. In the novel, the monster strangles all of his victims to death, but strangulation is just not as exciting as it used to be. What is exciting is seeing the monster rip Elizabeth's heart out with his bare hands. Someone has been watching too much Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

The movie is littered with these crazy diversions from the novel, and the monster sounds as though he's from Brooklyn, as De Niro's strong accent is easily recognizable. Definitely a funny movie, and it's not even a comedy!

Why did they even attach Shelley's name to it?.......2007-05-25

Say what you want about the novel itself-that isn't up for review here- but this is a terrible film. My largest problem with it is the fact that Mary Shelley's name is attached to it. Upon reading the synopsis, looking at the title and seeing Branaugh's role as star and director, I thought it was going to be pretty good. At the very least, I thought it would be a fair translation of the novel. It is not. It is not even close.

I understand that there will always be some creative liberties taken when a novel is traslated into film. This story is LOOSELY based on the novel. I read the entire novel front to back and this movie does a horrible job of even capturing the spirit of Victor Frankenstein and his irresponsiblity and the tragedy that is the result.

Once the monster meets Elizabeth on the wedding night, the rest of the film is almost comical. Punching the chest to lighting yourself on fire, to the funeral... the whole point of the anti-climactic end of the novel is to de-glorify revenge- not to make it a ceremony.

The most flagrant disregard shown in the novel takes place when Walton (Aidan Quinn) asks the monster to go with them. Then the monster refuses. That's what the monster has been waiting for the entire story, and now when it is offered, he refuses? Uggh...

It doesn't come close to doing the novel justice.

Average customer rating:

Monster Party stands the test of time
BIG BOOBED PUPPET/ SKELETON ROCK BAND/ I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO....
Some Nostalgia Is Best Left In The Past
Great!
very pleased

Mad Monster Party
Starring: Boris Karloff , Allen Swift , Gale Garnett , Phyllis Diller , and Ethel Ennis
Director: Jules Bass
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000A0GPEA
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com

Love the classic monsters Frankenstein, the Mummy, Dr. Jekyll, the Creature, Dracula, the Werewolf, and the Invisible Man? They're all here in this animated, 90-minute video--and so are the vocal talents of Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller. After discovering the secret of destruction, Baron von Frankenstein is retiring as head of the World Wide Organization of Monsters. He's handpicked his mortal nephew Felix to be his successor, and his fellow monsters are less than pleased. Even though Felix politely declines to carry on this family tradition, the monsters band together and double-cross one another in comic attempts to expel Felix from the group.

The "Rankin/Bass Animagic process" of using stop-motion photography with three-dimensional figures makes this video a visual feast for animation buffs, but it is outdated compared to modern animation techniques. Humorous details, like the count looking into a mirror to comb his hair and seeing only his comb reflected, permeate the video and will have viewers chuckling out loud and on alert for potential missed laughs. This video is best for children from about 5 to 12 years old or adults who want to reminisce over a movie viewed in their childhood. --Tami Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Monster Party stands the test of time.......2007-05-13

I remember this movie as a favourite from my childhood. Whenever it appeared on tv - I was always ready to watch it. Even though that was a good few years ago, Mad Monster Party stands the test of time. The story is simple -Monsters gather to party, bad verses badder and yet love wins in the end. The humour is quirky, the songs catchy. The characters are the original group of monsters that we all know and were scared of. When you think that this was made in the 60's the animation is brilliant. You can see at times where Tim Burton may have got some of his ideas. The colour seems to have been inhanced - all for the better. I knew this movie was a favourite and having not see it for many years pleased to say it remains one.

BIG BOOBED PUPPET/ SKELETON ROCK BAND/ I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO...........2007-05-11

Corny as hell, but I still like it. I bought this movie used from Amazon a while back, for my kid. I had no idea what I was getting into. This thing has a bizarre plotline, that leads our protagonist (a geeky-Jimmy Stewart-esque kinda guy) onto an island inhabited by his uncle Boris (rightly voiced by Boris Karloff) and an army of monsters that he created.
Uncle Boris wants to hand the island and all of it's secrets over to his nephew, but the monsters are not to thrilled. Mainly Francesca (quite possibly the sexiest puppet I've ever seen). She believes that she should be the rightful heir of the island, so she seduces Dracula into helping her destroy the nephew.
Dracula screws everything up, so Francesca decides to settle things herself (biggest [...] I've ever seen on a puppet by the way).. only her plan is foiled when nephew smacks her in the face, and somehow causes her to instantly fall madly in love with him (they make out like every five minutes from here on..) Once the monsters discover whats going on with the two, they decide to get even with both.
I won't spoil the ending, but this is a cool little movie to watch with the kids on a rainy day. The best is when a rock band of skeletons pop out of nowhere and play a song called Dance The Mummy.. but the campy, sixties take on a slew of classic monsters, portrayed as puppets is all gravy. Rankin/Bass the guys that brought you Rudolph and all of those other X-mas shows from the sixties masterminded this gem.

Some Nostalgia Is Best Left In The Past.......2007-04-02

In theory, MAD MONSTER PARTY has everything required to blast you into your childhood past: the voices of Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller; characters that are riffs on Universal horror classics; and animated by Rankin-Bass, which created such memorable holiday television specials as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. But at ninety minutes, MAD MONSTER PARTY is much, much too long for the very slight story it has to tell.

The story, as such: Dr. Frankenstein, who earlier discovered the secret of life, has now discovered the secret of destruction. He invites all the monsters under his control to his remote island, there to announce his discovery--and his retirement and plans to pass his secrets onto his klutzy and inept nephew. The monsters are not pleased and decide to off said nephew and use the new discovery to suit themselves.

The premise is okay, but the actual result is remarkably tedious. The script is dull, the occasional song atrocious. The pace is very, very slow. The character designs are uninspired. As for the famed Rankin-Bass animation... let us be generous here and say that in this instance it has not dated very well. This is essentially stop-motion animation, the same process so memorably used by Ray Harryhouser in such memorable films as THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD and Tim Burton in THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS--but without the same budgets.

If you are considering a purchase for "family film purposes," you can do a lot better than this. If you yourself recall the movie fondly from your childhood, do yourself a favor and don't return to it, for you will almost certainly be disappointed; some nostalgia really is better left in the past. The only people likely to find the film of interest are hardcore collectors of stop-motion animation--and even then the interest is more likely to be technical than anything else. Such fans excepted, not recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Great!.......2007-03-10

This movie is a KICK IN THE PANTS! Just watching all the old time actors portrayed in claymation is a laugh a minute! If you love all the old claymation movies, you'll love this one too!

very pleased.......2007-03-08

the movie was sent out quickly. The movie was of great quality. I have only good things to say about the service from this company.

Average customer rating:

Still Fascinating & Very Disturbing
Transcendent Sci-Fi Horror
Ode to The Fly
One of the few times a remake tops the original
We've got to do this Seth.C'mon talk to the tape the world what's to know what your thinking?..F%^# is what I'm thinking!

The Fly (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Joy Boushel , Leslie Carlson , George Chuvalo , Michael Copeman , and Geena Davis
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009X768W
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Amazon.com essential video

David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of the science fiction classic about a scientist who accidentally swaps body parts with a fly is both smart and terrifying: an allegory for the awful processes of slow death and a monster movie with a tragic spin. Jeff Goldblum gives a masterful performance as a sweet, nerdy scientist whose romance with a writer (Geena Davis) makes him more fully alive. Next thing you know, a tiny oversight in an experiment causes him to transmogrify, gradually, into something more like an insect than a human. This is Cronenberg (Scanners, Videodrome) country, so expect The Fly to be a gross-out, but in the way that disease corrupts the body and can make a loved one unrecognizable on every level. This is one of Cronenberg's best films, and certainly one of the important movies of the 1980s. --Tom Keogh

Description

Seth Brundle, a brilliant but eccentric scientist attempts to woo investigative journalist Veronica Quaife by offering her a scoop on his latest research in the field of matter transportation, which against all the expectations of the scientific establishment have proved successful. Up to a point. Brundle thinks he has ironed out the last problem when he successfully transports a living creature, but when he attempts to teleport himself a fly enters one of the transmission booths, and Brundle finds he is a changed man.

Customer Reviews:

Still Fascinating & Very Disturbing.......2007-09-08

It's been over 20 years since this movie was made, but the special effects are still amazing and the story is an entertaining - and disgusting - as ever! I watch it about every 5-7 years. It's utterly fascinating, but it is so uncomfortable to watch at times I always wonder, as I am viewing it, why I put myself through this each time! The original movie, with Vincent Price, is "dullsville" compared to this re-make.

Things can get really disgusting as Jeff Goldblum ('Seth Brundle") slowly turns into a huge fly. The transformation is very gross in certain spots, and certainly gut-wrenching to witness. You can just feel his girlfriend's anguish and horror as she witnesses Goldblums' incredible physical and mental change. Geena Davis gives a convincing performance in that roles as "Veronica Quiafe."

The story is not just a dumb horror-creature movie, but an intelligent science fiction tale with both leading actors excellent. I don't Davis ever looked prettier, too. John Getz also is good as her magazine boss, "Stathis Borans." Those three characters dominate the film. I can't even remember anyone else in here.

The ending is stunning, almost leaving the first time viewer in shock. In fact, by the end, this movie will have you emotionally worn out.

Transcendent Sci-Fi Horror.......2007-08-24

Highest praise. I can't think of any other film that combines gross-out horror with a truly affecting romance on essentially one set with 3 characters. It rises above the source material in so many ways, and injects alot of Kafka-esque black humor. EVERYONE in this production is at their best.

Not for the squeamish. A couple of truly repulsive makeup effects, here. The arm-wrestling scene still makes me wince.

Ode to The Fly.......2007-07-22

I, like many of the other reviewers, am not a fan of remakes. I mean, how many different ways can you tell a story without eventually corrupting its original intrigue? All too often, the remade product is a watered-down version of the original, barely resembling the initial plot and hardly worth the ridiculous ticket prices or the two hours of viewing time. Then we have the exceptions to the rules, which The Fly (1986) certainly is. This movie is a complete remake in the sense that Cronenberg's screenplay did not attempt to copy any of the elements created by Neumann and Clavell in their 1958 thriller of the same name. Instead, he incorporated 80s era scientific subject matter--DNA recombining, high-tech computers--with a touch of romance and changed the tone of the story but without abandoning the "don't-try-to-play-God" theme that made the original worth its salt. Of course, he did have his moment when he included the most famous line from the `58 version--"help me"--into his movie but who could blame him? I said that line for weeks after seeing the original!

The stars of The Fly (1986) help move the plot along at a steady pace and keep you wanting new information. Though the chemistry between the leads is unmistakable, Jeff Goldblum carried this film above and beyond what it should have been and placed it in a category all its own. Just watching him morph into the fly was so intense! His physical contortions, his ticks, his dry sense of humor and his understated demeanor truly outshined the other cast mates.

This flick is one of my favorites, as is the original, or should I say the first version, since The Fly (1986) is a new story all its' own. You'll find nothing water-downed about this film and nothing lacking. Well, almost nothing. I could have used another scene or two with Goldblum's shirt off but hey, that is an entirely different topic!

Enjoy this movie.

One of the few times a remake tops the original.......2007-07-05

David Cronenberg's remake of The Fly is one of the incredibly few times a remake tops the original in every way, shape, or form; and remains one of the absolute best films of Cronenberg's career. Jeff Goldblum stars as a brilliant scientist whose experiment goes awfully awry, and soon enough he is transforming into a an insect-like creature; much to the horror of an investigative journalist (Geena Davis) who he has been romancing, and who is also carrying his child. Like many of Cronenberg's other films, The Fly is a grisly allegory disguised as a horror film that's hard not to forget. Goldblum gives what very well may be the best performance of his entire career, and David is excellent as well. The makeup effects are brilliantly realized as well, with plenty of skin crawling and horiffic moments peppered throughout the film. This Two-Disc Special Edition features an excellent commentary from Cronenberg, as well as various production diaries as well that are quite insightful. All in all, The Fly remains one of the best films Cronenberg has ever crafted, and one of the most visionary films to come from the genre as well as one of the few times a remake tops the original in every way, shape, or form.

We've got to do this Seth.C'mon talk to the tape the world what's to know what your thinking?..F%^# is what I'm thinking!.......2007-06-24

I have always stated that I hate remakes of classic's.
Well that really is not the case,I should say I hate
a remake of a movie that was already perfect! John
(HALLOWEEN-THE THING)Carpenter said it best."IF YOU DID
IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME,WHY FIX SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BROKE!"
And believe me Amazon viewers when I first heard him say
that I have not let it leave me since.Now for 2000-2007
we are in a big time SLUMP for movies.Yes there are those
rare exceptions that we get gold,but again for 2000-2007
it is so far and inbetween,which leads me to this JEWEL!!
I was looking at my MASS HORROR coll.And saw THE FLY! I
said hhhmmm.Have not seen this one in awhile so slapped
it on.This is a remake that is so far supior to the ORIG.
I wont even go there for I will be lynched by every
die hard 50's sci/fi fanatic,which is a good point
is The Fly sci/fi or horror? HORRROR BABY,PURE HORROR
Jeff Goldblum gives his best performance(he was so good
and ment for the part,like Sir Perkins in the immortal
PSYCHO)in this as Seth Brundle who in ways is like a
male version of CARRIE WHITE.He wears diff.suits but
all the same style,he does not go out with friends?
he does not have any friends all he has is his keen
mind and he has a sickness to his stomach on travelling
Hence why he has build the TELEPORTER!David Cronenberg
who scared the bejesus out of me in 76 with SHIVERS
directs(in my opinion)his MASTERPIECE of the macabe!
His directing in this is awsome for we watch a man
fall in love,build a machine that will rival or even
surpass MICROSOFT,and we see his FALL!You really
feel for Jeff especially when he is deteriorating
slowly,his acting was topnotch him breathing heavy
and muttering the words"NO!..no" when he ask Geena
Davis to leave him and than really realizes what he
had just asked for really hits down deep!The look
of dispair in his face was brilliant and it's ashame
the Oscars did not take notice of his performance
for it was at least worthy of nomination.The Fly
believe it or not I compare to the Brilliant CARRIE
(76)For in both films we are given two characters
that are so pure in heart and shine in thier own
ways,we get to see them smile and love all to have
it blown to bits in the end.This is a fantastic
HORROR film and anyone who loves SCARY movies and
does not own this...Well I feel sorry for ya! I
recommend for HALLOWEEN instead of watching SAW SNORE
I-I MEAN FOUR,why not save the $$ and watch this instead!
You will have a far better movie..Believe me! BUY THE FLY!
NOTE:TOTALLY RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS WITH CARRIE(76)
FOR A DOUBLE (trick or) TREAT OF HORROR...just be sure
you bring kleenex for when you watch the lives of
Seth Brundle and Carrie White it's Hipawaya falls coming
down!

Hulk (Widescreen 2-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Fabulous HD DVD material
Perfect !
A prime cut from the comic cow.
He's green, he's mean...but seldom seen
Can HD DVD picture quality get any better than this?

Hulk (Widescreen 2-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Eric Bana , Jennifer Connelly , Sam Elliott , Josh Lucas , and Nick Nolte
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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