Little Shop of Horrors

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Hilarious, cheapie black comedy from 1960 that may be the best film by B-picture master Roger Corman, other than Bucket of Blood, made about the same time with the same writer, Charles Griffith. Seymour (Jonathan Haze) is an assistant in a skid-row flower shop who's on the point of losing his job when the unusual plant he's developed turns the store into a major attraction. The only problem is that the plant needs human blood to live, all the while crying, "Feed me! FEED ME!" Luckily, Seymour causes a series of inadvertent deaths that more than make up for the food shortage. Jack Nicholson provides a comic sidebar as a nutjob masochist visiting a dentist's office. Giggling and wild-eyed from the same impulse that might lead others to read scandal sheets, he can be seen in the dentist's waiting room reading aloud from Pain magazine. Famous for having the shortest shooting schedule on record (two days and a night), The Little Shop of Horrors spawned an off-Broadway musical that was in turn made into a successful film in 1986, starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. It was in just this quick-shoot atmosphere that Corman nurtured the careers of many of America's most celebrated film directors; this little shop of honors included Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, and Jonathan Demme. The DVD has optional Japanese subtitles, very generous bios of the stars and filmmakers, and a clean, crisp transfer. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

If You Love Musicals..........2007-08-26

Then this movie is definitely for you. It's been one of my all time favorites since I was a child. I've seen it countless times over the last 15 years and each time is just as funny and entertaining as the first time.

The fun of rock 'n roll horror.......2007-08-23

While lots of people have enjoyed the film-and-live experience of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," my candidate for a good time would be "Little Shop of Horrors." This remake of a classic bad-horror film shows that the core idea was perfect for a rock 'n roll musical. Everyone is sublimely cast, right down to the doo-wop girl singers who form the Greek chorus.

Rick Moranis may start out a downtrodden, mistreated nebbish, but a passionate heart beats under that nerdy exterior. If his "Suddenly, Seymour" duet with the incredible Ellen Greene doesn't make your romantic heart go pitter-patter, head for the cemetery, honey, because you're officially dead.

Part of me regrets that the film had a sort-of happy ending, but there's enough of an "uh-oh" tag at the end to give it an edge. Anyway, who cares about such quibbles? Just sing along with Steve Martin's sadistic dentist, and have yourself a real fun evil time.

very good.......2007-06-28

i love this movie it is fun and funny it has comedy and action and murder a evil plant what more could you ask for

Like the movie...not the singing.......2007-05-18

This is a pretty good movie, except for all the singing....I know it's that type of movie, but I don't care for it. But I love the plot!

The second best musical of all times.......2007-05-15

I first saw this when I was about 12. I hated it at first because I wasn't mature enough to watch it with out having nightmares. Luckely after occasionaly watching it over a period of about two years I final was able to to watch the whole movie from beginiing to end without stopping except for bathroom breaks. If you saw the original black and white version of this made in the sixties and the off brodway play which ran four about four years in New York. I also thought I would inform you that the whole alternate first ending is not include on this dvd. The al;ternate nding was only avilable for about the first three days the dvd was avilable for sale on line and in stores when it first came out. Unfortunately Mr. Griffen had not given approval to have the alternate ending included on the dvd so only fragments of it remain on the second release of it. When young rick morransis discovers a mystery planet trouble some comes up. Can rick tame this blood thirst monster will he is forced to murder to feed it;s growing hunger. I also thought I'd inform you that two of the members of this cast are currently decased. John Candy died from a heart prtoblem I belive it was shorly after his role as Barf in spaceballs the famous spoof of the starwars triology that came out after this. In addition shortly before the dvd release vincent Garden also passed away. Can seymor control this monster of nature and what fate lies in store for the human race. Find out in thrilling action packed hillarious finally. This movie should be fine for kids 13 and up due to mild gory images mild rude humor mild violence in a couple of parts, intensity and occasional inapropriate language at the begining, middle and the end of the movie.

Average customer rating:

ALIEN VS. AMERICAN SCIENTISTS
THE THINGS ARE AMONG US!!
Class from Carpenter
"I know I'm human and some of you are human or you'd all jump me right now" McReady(Kurt Russell)
Grotesque, violent, and repulsive horror at its best.

The Thing (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Wilford Brimley , T.K. Carter , David Clennon , Keith David , and Richard A. Dysart
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CHK1S
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Amazon.com

Director John Carpenter and special makeup effects master Rob Bottin teamed up for this 1982 remake of the 1951 science fiction classic The Thing from Another World, and the result is a mixed blessing. It's got moments of highly effective terror and spine-tingling suspense, but it's mostly a showcase for some of the goriest and most horrifically grotesque makeup effects ever created for a movie. With such highlights as a dog that splits open and blossoms into something indescribably gruesome, this is the kind of movie for die-hard horror fans and anyone who slows down to stare at fatal traffic accidents. On those terms, however, it's hard not to be impressed by the movie's wild and wacky freak show. It all begins when scientists at an arctic research station discover an alien spacecraft under the thick ice, and thaw out the alien body found aboard. What they don't know is that the alien can assume any human form, and before long the scientists can't tell who's real and who's a deadly alien threat. Kurt Russell leads the battle against the terrifying intruder, and the supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, and Wilford Brimley. They're all playing standard characters who are neglected by the mechanistic screenplay (based on the classic sci-fi story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell), but Carpenter's emphasis is clearly on the gross-out effects and escalating tension. If you've got the stomach for it (and let's face it, there's a big audience for eerie gore), this is a thrill ride you won't want to miss. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

ALIEN VS. AMERICAN SCIENTISTS.......2007-09-14

I have watched this movie numerous of times and I find that I love it more each time. Yesterday I let my eleven year old son watch it. When I told him what year that it came out he said, "Ahhh, come on, I hate it when you make me watch those old, stupid movies!" Within ten minutes he was engrossed. When the movie was over he told me that The Thing is now his favorite horror movie and that he was going to have nightmares. My point is that The Thing is such an incredible movie that every person, no matter what generation, is going to love it.

THE THINGS ARE AMONG US!!.......2007-09-01

they sure didn't give this movie the credit it deserved. i'm telling you john carpenter did it again. man, this movie was extra good. the actors did a phenomenal job, the whole idea was brilliant, and the setting...what better place. who's who. the aliens really do exist among us, but as humans. this one was just plain evil. for it's time the effects were great, personally one of the best. total isolation, the thing, paranoia sets in, distrust, and nowhere to go. all you have is to fight back, whether you're the last man standing. the ending was good, he leaves it all up to you. if they don't kill each other the weather surely will. i do recommend this mind blowing classic.

Class from Carpenter.......2007-09-01

I saw this at the Cinema in 1982 and on occasions had to watch through my fingers!

This film and Aliens were the last two great Sci-fi/horror films that did not have digital special effects. The effects in this film are astounding. For the younger people reading this (those born after the late 60's) you have to realise that what you see on the screen was actually created in the studio and not on a computer. They still look good compared with todays CGI and remain the pinnacle of animatronic special effects. Full credit to Rob Bottin the special effects wizard on The Thing.

The film itself is a claustraphobic affair once The Thing is loose in the camp, and you continally have doubts about which character is still human. The suspense is helped immensely by a intense music soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, who had obviously listened to some of Carpenters own soundtrack music.

Kurt Russell in the leading role does a great job as MacReady, and the supporting cast which includes Keith David (Platoon, Pitch Black) and Richard Dysart all give good performances.

This film was a high point for John Carpenters career, since whilst he has made some good films since (They Live for example) most of them have been very poor in comparison compared with this film.

The DVD has digital 5.1 sound.

"I know I'm human and some of you are human or you'd all jump me right now" McReady(Kurt Russell).......2007-08-30

I saw this one when it came out and have this one on my top 10 list of favorite horror movie. While it is true the effects are stunning and have yet to be matched, it is with repeat viewing that the better parts of the movie rise to the top.
This is a more accurate telling of the short story classic"Who Goes There?" which was the used to make the original "Thing". In that one we had a monster from outer space that was described as a "Carrot", while here we go back to the idea that the alien can assume the shape of anything it touches. This is where the movie gets it's scariest scenes from, you never know who is on your side or who is an alien.
The cast is great and once again Kurt Russell shows that he is a very fine actor and carry's this film. This is one that stays with you long after the movie is over.

Grotesque, violent, and repulsive horror at its best........2007-08-25

Years ago I saw this movie on television and I did not understand why this movie was considered a horror classic. On television most everything exciting was edited out and the plot was butchered due to the tv editing.

So I eventually watched it on DVD after a friend suggested I watch it again. I was very impressed. The Thing is not only a grotesque and ultra violent movie, especially for 1982, but it has a steady build up of suspence and twists and turns within the plot. Now, just because I said the movie was super gross especially for 1982 doesn't mean that The Thing doesn't stand strong against modern horror films. In fact The Thing creature is the sickest and most freaky alien I've ever seen in a movie. It would be awesome to see a sequel by the title of Alien VS. The Thing. I wonder who would win and what sort of mutants would form out of their battles.

This movie is highly recommended if you like horror, sci-fi and gore.

Average customer rating:

The best Alien movie ever
EXCELLENT FOLLOW-UP - GREAT CHARACTERS
Magnificent Dvds of "Aliens" movie
Extended Edition/Director's Cut Superior To Original
Aliens

Aliens (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Carrie Henn , Michael Biehn , Lance Henriksen , and Paul Reiser
Director: James Cameron
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00012FXAE
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Description

In this action-packed sequel to Alien, Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, the only survivor from mankind's first encounter with the monstrous Alien. Her account of the Alien and the fate of her crew are received with skepticism - until the mysterious disappearance of colonists on LV-426 leads her to join a team of high-tech colonial marines sent in to investigate.

Personally supervised by director James Cameron, this special edition includes scenes eliminated prior to the film's 1986 release which broaden the narrative scope and enrich the emotional impact of the film.

Customer Reviews:

The best Alien movie ever.......2007-09-16

This is a sequel that delivers what the first installment did not - plenty of action.

The extended James Cameron version is the best of them all. I originally saw this version as a child and was unable to find it again until this release.

This is a thriller that has lost none of its sheen. It will continue to shock and horrify new vewiers for decades to come.

EXCELLENT FOLLOW-UP - GREAT CHARACTERS.......2007-09-13

For the most part I have liked most Sci-Fi movies.
Aliens [the trilogy]not having seen the fourth, is fast becoming a classic.

Ridley, in her bvd's must have tickled many a guy's imagination. And I sure could understand her dread of returning to the infected planet.
What is strange is that the idiots who press her into joining the return discount her tale of distruction. Of course it is the Company that drives the mission into the "rescue" of the settlers.

Until Ridley finds out that the Company still wants a live capture of an Alien. Bishop is a much improved counterpart to Ash in the first movie, he cannot harm a human. Lance made Bishop come alive.

The little girl became a counter-drive of the movie - a definite reason to escape the Aliens or destroy them. The poor Marines [elite force] were led to the slaughter. But even they held out nicely.

The little girl's mannerism were endearing - and what expressions.
I was hoping that the last remaining characters were going to come out of the escape alive. Bummer.

Great characters - fast action - lovely Aliens? - nasty Company men - will be watching it again in the future.

Don't care for all the technical jargon of the movies short-comings or as a review - who cares? the movie is for entertainment.

DEFINITELY RECOMMEND - AGAIN not for those prone to nightmares.

Magnificent Dvds of "Aliens" movie.......2007-09-11

"Aliens" is in my 10 Top all time favorite Science Fiction movies. So I wanted to get it on DVD. Glad I did! This set is Magnificent. Not only do you get Lots of extra deleted scenes from original movie showing, but you get an extra disc with Super Great interviews with actors such a Sigourney Weaver and Michael Biehn not only while working on the original movie but from recently looking back. I recommend this dvd set highly to anyone who likes James Cameron movies too. As he is the consumate Producer/Director as you can see from his other fine movies, Titanic and other sci fi movies.

Extended Edition/Director's Cut Superior To Original.......2007-07-31

Cameron's excellent film is now made even better by adding fundamental elements that make more of an emotional connection to Ripley. With the added material we get essential information on just WHY she connected to Newt so strongly. Seeing Newt with her parents and brother on the planet adds a wonderful new dimension to an already outstanding film. As Cameron says in the introduction (at least there's one on my quadrilogy set) "this is the ride we intended you to take" and what a far more richer ride it is.

Aliens.......2007-07-06

James Cameron's big-budget, special-effects-driven sequel to Ridley Scott's "Alien" might lack the carefully orchestrated tension of its predecessor, but its unrelenting pace and Weaver's smart, tough performance carry the film into its own nightmare orbit. Essentially an action film pitting a squad of scared, trigger-happy grunts against a teeming nest of truly frightening monsters, "Aliens" benefits from its superb small cast--including Lance Henriksen and comic Paul Reiser playing against type as a devious corporate slime-ball--as well as director Cameron's breathless pacing and air-tight direction. Just wait til Mother arrives!

Average customer rating:

One of the 'Best of the Best'.
something about the thing
It just kept mewing like a cat!
Even Better In The Winter!
Great product quality and great shipping service.

The Thing from Another World
Starring: Margaret Sheridan , Kenneth Tobey , Robert Cornthwaite , Douglas Spencer , and James R. Young
Director: Howard Hawks , and Christian Nyby
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009NHC0
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

With its modest special effects, lean plot, and small cast of lesser stars, this 1951 thriller remains a sturdy blueprint for fusing horror and science fiction. The formula has been employed countless times since, fleshed out with more extensive and elaborate production values, and manned by higher profiled marquee names, but the results have yet to improve on The Thing from Another World, Howard Hawks's lone foray into sci-fi.

The story begins as military airmen are dispatched to a remote Arctic research station where scientists have detected the crash of a spacecraft. An effort to retrieve the saucer-shaped vehicle fails, but the team returns to the station with the frozen body of its sole occupant. When the extraterrestrial pilot is accidentally thawed, the crew, headed by a tough-talking pilot (Kenneth Tobey), grapples with a massive, chlorophyll-based humanoid (James Arness) thirsty for blood and in no mood for galactic diplomacy.

Hawks takes only a production credit for this low-budget exercise, but his filmmaking style transcends Christian Nyby's nominal direction: rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue, an ensemble of comrades whose professionalism is tempered by wisecracks, and unsentimental female characters (embodied by feisty romantic interest Margaret Sheridan) recall Hawks's signature works, while propelling the plot over any potential gaps in credibility. It's hardly surprising, then, that The Thing from Another World remains among the most influential science fiction movies ever shot, or that it remains exciting entertainment a half century later. --Sam Sutherland

Description

Members of an Antarctic research team are killed off by a frozen alien they uncover.

Customer Reviews:

One of the 'Best of the Best'........2007-09-12

'The Thing' (from another world) will always be considered one of the finest sci-fi flicks ever produced. It's just too bad that it was not made in color, but black & white. But, then again, the 'purest' will always use that medium, as variations in 'contrast' and 'tone' are more readily apparent. The story line is 'plausible', the acting pretty good, the special effects VERY good, and the 'message' to the world...? The only question I would have with this film is: If the 'Thing' was so intelligent, why did 'it' regard another 'alien' life-form (humans) so inferior? I know that if I ever met a 'walking carrot or cabbage', I'd certainly would want to know more about it, and not just think of it as a part of my evening's meal salad! But, considering the era it was produced, it certainly is, and will remain, a classic motion picture. And of course, two of the actors 'continued' their careers, one BIG TIME; James Arness of 'Gunsmoke' fame. The other actor who 'popped up' a year or two later was 'Scotty', the newsman who appeared as 'The Monitor' in the Sci-fi classic 'This Island Earth'.

something about the thing.......2007-09-10

Most movie buffs nowadays argue about who really directed this movie. Who cares? He did a marvellous job, creating the first great alien invasion movie. Right from the famous opening with the radioactive titles, the sudden appearance of a figure lurching in the snow, the music,everything. The tight writing, close interaction of the cast (they never seem to be merely acting" and great black & white photography combine. Yes, the aircrew are too flip in the face of a monster invader, but it has allready been made clear that they have faced death many times before in air raids over Germany. Keneth Tobey is entirely believable as the captain responsible for his crews and everyone elses survival. And yes, I would fly to the north pole to meet Margaret Sheridan. Her character is allmost unique in sf, she doesn't screm once, and even assists the men in their fight. The only - is that there are no special features on the dvd, and there must be fantastic material out there to make one!

It just kept mewing like a cat!.......2007-09-08

The Thing is one of the all-time great sci fi films. It's also one of the greatest horror films! Watch in awe of the fast-paced, overlapped dialogue that Howard Hawks made famous and that Steven Spielberg emulates. This is how real people talk--butting in, talking over each other, lots of people talking at the same time--not fake "movie talk" where everyone politely waits their turn to deliver an obviously memorized line. Though The Thing has Howard Hawks' fingerprints all over it, it is not actually directed by Howard Hawks, contrary to what many believe (he was the producer). The look and feel of this film is amazing. It's uncanny how well the film holds up, as well as how creepy it still is. I love the sounds the "Thing" makes: "I was shooting it and it just kept mewing like a cat!" Famous scenes from this film appear in both John Carpenter's Halloween (characters are watching it on TV) and in Rob Zombie's (horrendous) remake. Carpenter of course later remade The Thing, providing one of the best horror remakes in history (though the original is still much better). In this original the scene where they try to burn the "Thing" is one of the most effective in movie history. Carpenter tried to match it with his famous "blood testing" scene, which is also very creepy stuff. Incidentally, Carpenter's is a more faithful adaptation of the story the movie is based on (called "Who Goes There?"), which was also used in Horror Express starring horror greats Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee as well as in an X Files episode. This film is a masterpiece all around and is as good as it gets folks. The characters are great and the banter and humor are flawless. Think Stalag 17 as horror/sci fi and you'll have an idea as to what the amazing quality of this production is. Watch and enjoy! This belongs in any self-respecting sci fi fan's collection right next to The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet.

Even Better In The Winter!.......2007-09-03

The only times I will watch this great flick is in Winter. And I try to pick a bitter cold day (or night), open a window or two, and keep the coffee flowing ("...anyone for some coffee?"). This plus the realistic,
overlapping dialogue that Mr Hawks is known for, only adds to the great viewing of this excellent film.

Great product quality and great shipping service........2007-08-27

The DVD is of superb quality. An original theme at the time it was made, just a few years after the Roswell espisode, it's a great sci-fi horror movie. A truely historical post-war time piece that paved the way for many UFO and alien movies to come.

Forbidden Planet (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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 (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Walter Pidgeon , Anne Francis , Leslie Nielsen , Warren Stevens , and Jack Kelly
Director: Fred M. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000HEWEDK
Release Date: 2006-11-14

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.

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

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.

Average customer rating:

ALWAYS ENTERTAINING - NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES SEEN
Astonishingly good!
One of the Best
Great Sci-Fi
A CLASSIC THAT LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER!

Alien (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Tom Skerritt , Sigourney Weaver , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , and John Hurt
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00011V8IQ
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Description

The terror begins when the crew of a spaceship investigates a transmission from a desolate planet, and discovers a life form that is perfectly evolved to annihilate mankind. One by one, each crew member is slain until only Ripley is left, leading to an explosive conclusion that sets the stage for its stunning sequel, "Aliens."

Customer Reviews:

ALWAYS ENTERTAINING - NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES SEEN.......2007-09-12

I have always enjoyed futuristic Sci-Fi - Do not really remember if it appeared in comic form.

Have yet to look at disc 2 -- have thoroughly enjoyed the actors concept of their characters - it is very hard to describe the feelings invocked upon seeing that ugly old Alien Queen - the nasty Company that wanted the Alien alive - no matter who has to die in the meantime.

Oh Yeah! those guys were in for the fight of their lives. And the danger even came from one of their own. A Company man. And a synthetic person.

Has become a classic and well worth adding to your collection - for pure entertainment. This is one to get without believing anyone's comments, good or bad. It is a matter of taste.
Great characters - great action - Nasty determined enemy - dark and dangerous - great cat.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- Not good for anyone prone to nightmares.

Astonishingly good!.......2007-09-04

Somehow, despite my intense interest in movies, and despite having seen the other three 1/2 films in this series, I had never, until today, seen the first movie.

It is good.

Watching this film I was really taken aback by how well it's aged. You know how sometimes you can watch a movie, and it doesn't matter when it takes place, you can still peg roughly when it was made? that's not the case here. This is a movie that's only slightly younger than I am, and yet it looks and feels as fresh as something that could've been made in the last few years by die-hards who have no interest in CGI.

The only thing that to me seemed at all out of place was the smoking. Otherwise, it looked like something recent, rather than something from 1979. It's certainly aged far better than Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition) or even the first Star Wars movie.

I'm not sure what to attribute this to. Clearly the excellent performances, exceptional writing and incredible directing are a part of it. The sets seem very modern without slipping over into "ultra-modern" and that helps.

Also in watching this I became ever more depressed by what the franchise has become. This was a thoughtful, intelligent horror movie. Aliens (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) was a thoughtful, intelligent action movie. Alien 3 (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) and "Alien: Resurection" were... well, movies. The less said about AVP - Alien Vs. Predator (Widescreen Edition) the better.

This first film, however, was as flawless of a science fiction film as any you'll ever see. Heck, it even makes me want to go back and watch "Blade Runner" again, which I did not care for when I saw it the first time.

Roger Ebert has included this movie in his collection of "Great Movies" essays. He puts it into the same areas of greatness as films like Citizen Kane, Rashomon - Criterion Collection and All About Eve, a judgement I entirely agree with.

In short, don't do what I did. Don't watch the other films in the series and miss out on this one. If you haven't watched it, do so. If you have, then go back and see it again. It's worth your time.

One of the Best.......2007-08-30

Alien is a beautiful film and is the greatest sci-fi/horror film ever. All of the sets used are magnificent, from the interior and exterior of the Nostromo to the very organic alien setting. The different stages of the alien are done perfectly and are surprisingly realistic and very believable. The creature itself is extremely original and hasn't aged with time.

The film works kind of slow (in a good way) and manages to build a lot tension. They really gave it a feeling of emptiness that complements the space element. All of the actors are perfect and to this day it has one of the most shocking scenes in movie history.

This is one of my favorite movies and is a must own for fans of all genres.

Great Sci-Fi.......2007-08-26

All the gadgets on the ship, landing the ship I thought was the best part of the movie.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

A CLASSIC THAT LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER!.......2007-07-29

I saw this film at the theater when first released and I have seen it numerous times on TV, but this was the first time I watched the 2 disc special edition(actually the 9 disc box set)in my home theater and I must say I was very impressed! The Transfer is exceptional and the movie has never looked better. There are a few good scares in this well made Sci- Fi story. This is really a remake of "It The Terror From Beyond Space" The Box set is incredible and a worthy purchase. If you are not a fan of the entire series then buy the two disc set of the first two.

Average customer rating:

THE APEX OF THE ALIEN FILMS
They come mostly at night ... mostly.
Overall good, but boring at times
A classic science fiction movie with Sigourney Weaver at her best
A brilliant sequel

Aliens (Special Edition)
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Carrie Henn , Michael Biehn , Lance Henriksen , and Paul Reiser
Director: James Cameron
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000ILDE
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Description

Customer Reviews:

THE APEX OF THE ALIEN FILMS.......2007-08-31

This is by far and away the best of the Alien films: it is frankly one of the best sci fi movies of all time, it is simply perfect. The creature is the coolest ever created in the sci fi genre and Weaver rocks are the protagonist anti hero, Ripley. This will have you on the edge of your seat: not for the weak at heart. Highly recommend; if i could give it ten stars i would.

They come mostly at night ... mostly........2007-08-26

One of my all time favorites that I first saw in a theater and have watched on VCR and DVD many times since. Glad to see the restored intro scene where Newt's family rediscovers the aliens (the hard way), because I always enjoy Carrie Henn's scenes. (I know Newt irritates the hell out of some people, but I like the character.) She got her share of quotable (cliched? no, quotable) dialogue, too: "I guess we're not leaving, right?" (as alien infested shuttle crashes and burns) "Why do they tell little kids that?" (that there are no real monsters) "Can I dream?" (closing lines) "Aiiieeeeee!" (whenever confronted by aliens)

Overall good, but boring at times.......2007-08-21

Most people personally choose this as their favorite in the "Alien" series. It does a great job of expanding on the Ridley Scott original, but I think the movie is extremely slow and boring at times.

However, you can't deny how this movie does have the most props. The APC, guns everywhere, flame throwers, movement sensor guns, and of course lots of focus on the movement detectors. These really help build the movie and add a lot to the setting.

But seriously. What is with Bill Paxton whining like a baby. I can't stop thinking of him when he played "Chet" in the movie "Weird Science". Especially during the part where he is crying "GAMEOVER MAN". He's a SPACE MARINE. Sigourney Weaver is more of a man than Bill Paxton in this movie.

Paul Riser is especially hard to watch, probably because when I see him I think about his later performance on the sitcom "Mad About You". I think a better actor could have easily been picked for his part. He almost has a lovable look instead of someone I want to hate.

Much of the dialogue is pretty bad in my opinion. The way the movie is shot makes small scenes explode on the screen, which is awesome. But the smaller scenes tend to drag on.

Overall, this movie is a must see. Do yourself a favor and see the original "Alien" movie before seeing this. If you enjoy both, try "Alien 3" and "Resurrection". I personally prefer those to this movie by far (visually and in terms of dialogue / characters).

A classic science fiction movie with Sigourney Weaver at her best.......2007-05-17

It is very rare that we have the chance to see a science fiction movie where part two of the movie was better than part one. This is that kind of movie. If you are a fan of science fiction movies then you must add this one to your collection. Although this one was better than the first (Alien 1979), you'll still want to add the first one to your collection as another science fiction classic.

A brilliant sequel.......2007-04-19

James Cameron directed one of the most exciting and fascinating SF action adventure films ever made in Aliens. Not only does the story flow seamlessly from the first film of the series, Alien, but the characters, special effects and directorial pacing cause the film to pound like a sledge hammer from start to finish. The action is nearly non-stop once it begins and the character of Ripley as all protagonists should be, is driven further and further up that tree of absolute peril until you are just sure she'll be torn limb from limb. The grisly antagonists drive the action with such relentless power that the screen seems to come alive with their swarming malice. No surprise there though, since these monsters were dreamt up by Dan O'Bannon and Ron Shusett and brought to organic, ghastly life by the artist and sculptor H.R. Giger. If you haven't seen it, see it. If you've seen it already, see it again and tune into the finer cinematic touches that make the danger so palpable, especially the sound.

20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

Deluxe treatment of a beloved Harryhausen classic
Another Harryhausen Gem!
Quick fix for the technical problem
great movie
20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition)

20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: William Hopper , Joan Taylor , Frank Puglia , John Zaremba , and Thomas Browne Henry
Director: Nathan Juran
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QGEB1W
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Amazon.com

Special-effects legend Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion talents and "Dynamation" (rear-projection) process are the highlights of the '50s-era creature feature 20 Million Miles to Earth. An American spaceship returns to Earth after a mission to Venus and crashes into the sea near Sicily. A sole survivor (William Hopper) is rescued, along with a specimen that quickly grows into a reptilian biped called the Ymir. The being eventually grows to 20 feet high and escapes its confines, whereupon it rampages through Rome before a showdown with the military. Despite lacking much of a personality, the Ymir is a marvelous showcase for Harryhausen's skills. Unfortunately, the rest of the film does not match his level of excellence; direction by Nathan Juran is perfunctory (his later collaborations with Harryhausen, including The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, are more lively), and performances and scripting are flat. Still, Harryhausen fans should enjoy this opportunity to see this phase of his career before he created his most enduring works. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Special effects genius Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans)brings you one of his earliest groundbreaking films, now available for the first time in vibrant color! When an American spaceship crash-lands off the coast of Sicily, a rescue team discovers that the crew has brought back a gelatinous mass that soon hatches and evolves into a strange bi-ped creature which increases in size rapidly. Soon 20-feet tall, the creature rampages through Rome before being destroyed as it seeks refuge in the Colosseum.

Customer Reviews:

Deluxe treatment of a beloved Harryhausen classic.......2007-09-15

Although not as impressive as his later, more popular films, Ray Harryhausen's work on 20 Million Miles to Earth is still marvelous entertainment. And now, here comes a super-deluxe package of not only the film, but a wealth of supplemental material for fans to enjoy.

But first, let's get this "colorization" business out of the way. I've never understood some people's disdain for black & white movies. And I think 20 Million looked just fine in its original form. Having said that, it's important to realize that Harryhausen himself participated in the process, so it has his full approval. In fact, in the 20-minute documentary on Disc 2, Harryhausen states he would have made ALL his Columbia pictures of the fifties in color if he'd been given the budget. So, even though I'm a purist at heart, it doesn't really bother me that the film has been colorized. As for the result, the color looks no better or worse than other films of the same era that were filmed in color. And the disc gives you the options of viewing the film in its original black & white.

The master himself comes off sharp as a tack in the various interview segments. It's amazing that this man, well into his eighties, has such vivid recollections of films he made over 50 years ago. Director Tim Burton sits down with Harryhausen and shows how much of a fan he (Burton) himself is, asking questions we all would ask if we had the same opportunity. Other filmmakers such as Terry Gilliam and Rick Baker offer their experiences with Ray's films as well. Burton and Gilliam, directors known for their visual styles, point out that the films' still-impressive special effects often overshadowed the limited acting abilities of their stars. Actress Joan Taylor (who starred in 20 Million and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers) also has fond memories of the films, and looks great for a woman in her seventies.

Rounding out the extra features are a gallery of ad artwork, one of Harryhausen's original sketches, a comic book teaser "20 Million Miles More," and featurettes on the film's music and the colorization process. Curiously, the original theatrical trailer (which was included on Columbia's previous single-disc release) is omitted. In its place are trailer for "Labyrinth" and "The Dark Crystal."

I suspect die-hard fans will still be put-off by the colorization idea. However, this 2-disc set has so much more to offer, plus the aforementioned ability to view the film in its original form. It's definitely worth picking up.

Another Harryhausen Gem!.......2007-09-14

With very few exceptions, movies are considered the "property" of either
the director or the leading actor/actoress. Ray Harryhausen is one of
those few exceptions.

His master craftsmanship in the use of stop-motion photopgraphy as a special-effect propells Mr. Harryhausen far above anything produced
at a computer work-station, in as much as that he wasn't striving
for "realism" in his efforts; Mr. Harryhausen was just giving form to the
viewers' imagination while extending their 'suspension of disbelief'. The
Oscar he received for his work on "Jason and the Argonauts" was both well
earned and well deserved.

"20 Million Miles To Earth", as well as Mr. Harryhausen's earlier works,
doesn't have much of a plot, but quite frankly, it doesn't need one. His
special-effects are more than adequate to please the pallate of this genre's collector. To emphasise my point, when Mr.Harryhausen put as
much effort into the plot, as well as the special-effects, he earned his
*first* Oscar, for "Jason and the Argonauts".

"20 Million Miles To Earth" is another gem in the collective works of
Ray Harryhausen and a definite "must-have/get" for this genre's collector.

Quick fix for the technical problem.......2007-09-05

Several customers have complained that the angle toggle icon remains on screen for the duration of the movie. This is not a feature of the disc itself. It's a feature of your DVD player, and it can be disabled. Normally you do this by accessing the Setup menu of your player, then switching the "Angle Icon" function to the "Off" setting. (Consult your DVD player's manual for details.) Incidentally, even with the icon no longer visible, you can still toggle between the B&W and color versions of the film by pressing the Angle button on your remote.

Now, what about the movie itself? I always liked it a lot in its original black and white, and was skeptical about a colorized version. But the colors are really terrific - vivid blues and greens, fairly natural skin tones, and decent texture and detail. Colorization has come a long way. For the most part, you may not even realize that the film is colorized, although there are occasional giveaways if you look hard enough.

I'm surprised to say that I like "20 Million" even better in color than I did in B&W. The turquouise Mediterranean skies and colorful Italian backdrops add variety to the film. The action sequences are more spectacular. (For instance, the scene where the Ymir emerges from the Tiber is far more effective in color, and the battle with the elephant works better too.) The night sequences benefit the least from colorizing, but aren't harmed by it. The fact that Ray Harryhausen gave his imprimatur to this release lends it added credibility.

Overall, I'm very happy with this disc, and I hope other B&W sci-fi/fantasy films from the '50s are given the same high-quality treatment. (If you're still undecided, clips of "20 Million" are available for preview on the Sony website.)

great movie.......2007-08-31

color really came though good . this was a great buy can't wait for the next one to come out-wilbur

20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition).......2007-08-31

What can I say, a classic is a classic is a classic if you like old Sci Fi. Great restoration!

Average customer rating:

Great Fun!
"An Almost Adequate dvd"
Definitely A Film Worth Getting If You Love Godzilla!
not much action
monster round table

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
Starring: Akihiko Hirata , Yuriko Hoshi , Emi Ito , Hisaya Ito , and Yumi Ito
Director: Ishiro Honda
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OCY7IU
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

(Sci-Fi) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster -- A prophetess from Venus foretells cataclysmic disasters! Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan reappear in Japan, wreaking havoc! A giant meteor crashes into the mountains and the three-headed, fire-spitting space dragon King Ghidorah emerges! As the Venusian's prophecies come true, assassins from a tiny Asian kingdom hunt her down, while the Earth monsters must decide whether to settle their petty differences and join forces against the extraterrestrial enemy!

Customer Reviews:

Great Fun!.......2007-09-02

It doesn't get any better than giant monsters fighting each other and tearing up the town. TOHO had the best suit actors on their payroll as well as the best special effects crew of the time. And if you pay attention, you will learn that it's wrong to pollute the Earth and that we caused the mess we're in. You have to love a movie that has wanton destruction and yet delivers a "green" message. Enjoy!

"An Almost Adequate dvd".......2007-08-25

The original Japanese theatrical release is in pristine condition however Classic Media/Toho studios should have also cleaned up and remastered the American English dubbed version. That was annoying as one who would prefer to watch the American version and not have to concentrate on reading subtitles is distracted by the the uncleaned film print presented.

The dvd also offers a couple of extra features which consist of stills of the monsters that star in the film and a biography(forgotten who).
Stills include text and other film appearances of the monsters-with title and year given.

Definitely A Film Worth Getting If You Love Godzilla!.......2007-08-10

Being a life-long Godzilla fan, I was excited when Classic Media said they would release Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster on DVD! Back in 1998, we got a VHS release of the movie for the first time in YEARS. The film was pan and scan and was discolored and grainy. Not the perfect print for such a classic but we really didn't complain much because we finally got a chance to own the film.

Classic Media did a great job in bringing us a widescreen version of the U.S. release and the Toho Scope Japanese version! The coloring is great, the sound is wonderful, and there is considerably much less grain than on the VHS release a handful of years earlier!

There are some nice extras on this DVD including a trailer, a poster slide-show, and film commentary! This film has just enough goodies on it to keep die-hard G-Fans entertained and satisfied! Highly recommended!

not much action.......2007-07-30

Doesn't anyone realize that this movie doesn't have a whole lot of action?
The battle between king ghidorah, rodan, mothra, and godzilla was short but good. The only problem was that in the middle of it it was interupted by the people. I thought that it could have been better but it was good.

monster round table.......2007-07-29

If you are anxious to see a Japanese monster movie about Rodan, Godzilla and Mothra having a round table discussion about whether to unite and save the world from Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, this is your film. Director Ishiro Honda delivers just that.

If, though, you want to see Honda's GREATEST film and one of the most horrifying and unsettling films of the sixties you should skip the above and check out Mantango. There are no monsters here over six feet tall, Tokyo is not threatened, no buildings are crushed, no tin tanks are destroyed, no thousands of people flee in terror, there is no radioactive breath anywhere and the Japanese army is nowhere in sight.

I guess this world is big enough for both.

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

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