price:$14.94
Sony Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (GERMAN GHOSTS AT AN OUTPOST) 『I enjoyed this one! Some mercs are hired by a scientist type guy who supposedly is checking out some real estate that is around a war torn area somewhere in Europe. The mercs are hired to ensure his safety supposedly. However, this scientist type guy is really looking for a machine that the Germans used during WWII to create super soldiers who cannot die. He reveals this to the leader of the mercs after some of them die of course! During the course of the movie, the mercs die one by one as the German ghost soldiers can apparently appear at any time anywhere. So once again, military personnel die because they are put in a situation whereas they are lied to usually by their superiors or an employer of some kind that is harboring the truth as to why they were really hired...remember Predator?』
(The Punisher Vs Nazi Zom-Ghosts! Hell Yeah!) 『Bad-ass mercs fend off a siege from even badder-assed nazi zom-ghosts. Splashy kills, effective scares, solid performances, tension and spectacularly eerie atmosphere. Ignore the ho-hum DVD cover apparently designed to ensure consumer avoidance and grab this underrated shocker now.』
(What a surprise of a good horror military movie...) 『Yeah, I read the previous reviews and said, why not give it a try to see if they are correct or not? This is a very good movie using creepy sets and Nazi zombies going after the military style unit that went there in the first place. The acting is superb and the photography is right on here. I still cannot believe how low budget this was made, it is very good no matter what it cost to make it. The sequel is comming out next and I will be sure to pick it up. Warning, this movie will creep you out and keep you on the edge for sure.』
(movie) 『this was a fair military horror movie allthough i think military horror movies have been done to death. but it was still ok..』
(Bought on a whim.) 『I purchased this movie on a whim at Big Lots for three dollars. Little did I know then that those three dollars would be as well spent as they were. This movie is close to being among the greatest films I have ever watched. The acting was superb, especially Ray Stevenson (who has an uncanny resemblance to Mr. Connery). the effects were well done, the science was accurate for the most part, the plot was clever and appropriately original, the setting was perfectly grim and murky. Almost everything was extremely well done for the budget used. The only problem was the ending. It up until the time when there was about 10 minutes left in the film, the film was a tour-de-force of suspenseful upwelling. I was expecting an appropriate climax as well. But to my dismay, it never came. It seemed as though the film never peaked rather it plateaued and then dropped off. The concept behind the ending was good however, with the series of events seemingly going in repetition but I would have given anything to see either Stevenson or the religious scot being among the undead army (they were hit by the machines rays/waves and thus would likely have been affected just as the nazis were). The movie was quite scary nonetheless. The scene when the religious fellow was in the room with the moving corpses was particularly frightening.』 『Set in war-torn Eastern Europe, a band of battle-worn mercenaries undertake a dangerous mission into a no-man's land at the behest of a mysterious businessman. When they locate and secure a disused military bunker, they also discover a terrifying secret that has laid buried for half a century--and which they'll have to fight to survive.』
price:$6.49
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Undead Gore Rocks the Casbah in this Hardcore Zombie Flick) 『One day, they rose. The next, the world fell. Now, humanity barely survives. And the undead have gotten smarter.
Zombies abound in this recent blockbuster by George A. Romero and, as always, the man who invented the zombie genre shows us he still has what it takes to turn out a good flick.
Simon Baker does a great job playing the hard-edged yet soft-hearted hero, while John Leguizamo steals the show as a kind of crooked hero-turned-bad guy.
What I enjoyed about this flick was the idea of a walled-in society, a city-turned-world of its own, with its own hierarchy, running down from rich to poor. I suppose that even if the dead walked the earth, we'd still have the same problems we have today with the rich getting richer and the poor poorer.
Blood and guts fill the screen of this feature: graphic, wet and sloppy. There's no shortage of stomach-turning moments here.
I liked the idea of some of the zombies getting smarter instead of just roaming around looking for folks to eat, and the idea of them trying to regain their former humanity was well done. However, the "human-hearted" zombies also made the creatures feel a bit too human, for my taste and the undead lost their edge as a result.
The story was simple, but fun.
Not a bad effort, this one.
Language warning: Cursing and blasphemy
A.P. Fuchs Canister X』
(Romero...Legacy Lives on!!!!) 『When it comes zombie horror flicks....All hail george romero...one thing he does and does well is the exploitation of blood and gore...and thats a good thing..although "Land of the Dead" falls short of a believable story...its all made up to you with the excessive brutally and havoc that Romero knows all to well how to put together.
PRO: More than Enuff Zombies, Blood and Gore, excessive brutality...and more stuff to make your stomach quench.
CONS: The movie is fairly short with a Run time of about Hour and a half.
』
(Zombies get smarter...) 『Keeping up with the zombie story line since Night of the living dead and Day of the dead etc. The zoms are getting smarter and looking for their place in the world. One for the shelf.』
(very good and fun horror pic) 『while not quite on a par with NIGHT and DAWN , "LAND OF THE DEAD" is smart and fun . a solid cast and typically good writing and direction by ROMERO make this outing pretty much comperable to the very good DAY . don't know why this one devides folks so ? (the zombies can reason ?) . it's a "talkie" for goodness sakes . get over it .』
(As A Zombie O.K. But Also With Some Loopholes As Well) 『This was one of the standard George Romero zombie movies with the usual shambling somewhat slow zombies that in the movie would eat living humans in very gory and bloody ways to satisfy any longtime zombie fan but some of the storyplot is pretty weak as well. The one part I felt was a little weird was when you had the group of disgruntled scouts who when one of them is denied a position in the upper echelon of the cities important class decides to steal the armor vehicle and try and blackmail the leader of the isolated city into giving him money was somewhat idiotic, yes for an isolated city surrounded by the walking undead there has to be some way to maintain a sense of trade an commerce between the living people in the city for certain possessions but come on. I mean even if the people trying extort the money get away where are they going to go and spend the money on in a world almost completely taken over by the undead? The acting from the main characters is very decent though and Dennis Hopper as always gives a great show in his movies but at the end it's pretty much what anyone who looks at the cover knows, and that is it's a flesh-eating zombie movie for anyone who wants to see the blood and gore of people been eaten an the like but don't expect to much more from the movie itself such as a great storyline or the like...』 『Packed with more heart-pounding and blood-curdling thrills than any theater could show, this special Unrated Director's Cut unleashes the ultimate vision of George A. Romero's latest living-dead shock-fest! Starring Simon Baker, Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo, Land of the Dead finds humanity's last remnants battling to survive the unspeakable truth: The ravenous zombie hordes besieging their fortified city…are evolving!』 『Bolstered by the success of28 Days Later,Shaun of the Dead, theResident Evilmovies and the hit remake of his ownDawn of the Dead, George A. Romero returns to the horror subgenre he invented withLand of the Dead. The fourth installment in Romero's zombie cycle (and the first since 1985'sDay of the Dead) presents a logical progression of events since 1968's horror classicNight of the Living Dead: Zombies(also known as "stenches" for their rotting odor) are the dominant population, and they've begun to show signs of undead intelligence and gathering power. The wealthiest survivors live comfortably in a luxury high-rise within a barricaded safe zone, ignoring the horrors of the outside world while armed scavengers stage raids in the zombie-zone to gather much-needed food and supplies. Simon Baker and John Leguizamo play mercenaries-for-hire; Dennis Hopper is their nefarious boss; and horror favorite Asia Argento (daughter ofSuspiriadirector Dario Argento) plays a former hooker recruited into Baker's scavenger squad. While none of this seems particularly fresh or inspired,Land of the Deadbenefits from hints of the social satire that made Romero's earlier zombie films so memorable. Not so much funny as gruesomely peculiar, Romero's plot isn't as inventive as it could've been, but as a big-scale B-movie,Land of the Deaddelivers a handful of shocks and horror-celebrity cameos (including gore-masters Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero) that should keep horror buffs happy until the next zombie opus comes along. --Jeff Shannon』
price:$2.49
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Gimme some sugar baby!) 『Wow. Memories! The screwhead edition offers some special features that were not availbile in previous releases. Same great movie, new polished look.』
(Bruce Campbell, a boomstick and a chainsaw.... Need I say more?) 『By most standards this final entry into the Evil Dead Triology is the lowest. But you can't overlook the films hilarious moments. Come on, who doesn't love Bruce Campbell's Slapstick mayhem, even if Sam Raimi is filming his torment for our pleasure.
I love this film as campy as it is, even if some of the versions of the film aren't their best looking. The plot may not make sense and the slapstick mayhem may wear on people's nerves, but it's the final battle sequence that makes the film for me. Chock full of Sam Raimi's inventive camerawork, the gadget-building montages will make any gearhead sit up in wonder. I especially love that steam-powered truck near the end, with the big propeller blade on the front mowing through an army of rubber skeletons. Yeah, it's on my wishlist for next Christmas along with the Dead Reckoning, lol.
Even when Bruce Campbell is fighting against his evil-possesed self, the one-liners like "I'll spoil those good looks" since evil version is ugly as sin and "Backstabber!" when the Evil Ash tears the sword from his back keep coming.
The special effects are relatively tame and dated compared to today's CG blockbusters. Fans of classics like "Clash of the Titans" and "Jason and Argonauts" (this one included:))will enjoy the stop-motion skeleton battle a la Ray Harryhausen. Even so the newly-budding KNB (Kurtzman, Nicotero, and Berger) effects group, responsible for the masterful effects of "Chronicles of Narnia"," The Mist" and the zombies of "Land of the Dead" among many other films, shows their incredible standard of cartoony yet horrifically real monsters.
In all, I recommend this film for any fan of Evil Dead or Bruce Campbell. It's definitely worth it.』
(A tribute to the Sinbad movies) 『4 of 5 stars for the ah ah sci-fi? action? fantasy movie Army of Darkness. I first looked at the cover art and read the liner notes and thought "here we go with a real-B movie, sigh". I started watching and it was funny and interesting. Watching the Blu-Ray I was really impressed with the image quality--super sharp and clear, it looked almost like video rather than film. So early-on, I'm thinking this is a spoof movie, but no, it was a straight fantasy/comedy movie. Then it hit me! This is a tribute to the Ray Harryhousen movie (Sinbad). Then I noticed this movie has everything from stop-action creatures, alot of rubber suits and alot of real models of creatures. Yeah, some CG, but not much. It really has the look and feel of the old Sinbad movies.
The plot is of a "S-mart" sales guy getting transported to the 1300's to fight against Deadites and recover an artifact book. Bruce Campbell did an outstanding job in the lead role. This movie was a pleasure to watch. Stupid comedy in places, old-style effects, silly quest and it is all fun fun fun! This is on my watch-it-again list.』
(army of darkness best quality) 『this dvd was in immaculate condition. no scratches,dirt or tears..it looked liked i bought it from the store brand new. thank you.』
(A Good Quality Transfer... But Lacking Special Features (HD/DVD Combo)) 『Halloween got me in the mood for Army of Darkness, so shortly after I bought this one off Amazon.
I don't own a HD DVD player, so this is a review of the DVD side. In fact, this combo format version was cheaper than the regular DVD version (go figure).
Under "Customer Images" on this page, there are some images that compare the DVD side of this release to the Anchor Bay release (Army of Darkness)
The images supplied are helpful because they address 2 things:
1) The video on the Universal release (HD/DVD Combo) does have more in frame on the left/right sides of the screen, but a little bit is cropped on the top and bottom (in comparison to the Anchor Bay release)
2) As the images show, the colors on the Universal release are a bit brighter. On the Anchor Bay DVD, the colors are much cooler. The comparison pictures are a little exaggerated in my opinion though, I think Universal did a very good job with it. The daylight scenes are crisp and vibrant, and the night shots capture the original "cool" colors very well too.
If you're looking for a good DVD version of AOD, this is one of the best. If you want special features however, this is not the right DVD for you.』 『All primitive screwheads, listen up! Cult superstar Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead) reunites with director Sam Raimi (Drag Me to Hell, Spider-Man) to battle the deadly forces of evil in Army of Darkness - the outrageous, effects-fueled action epic that will make you scream with fear and laughter. Forced to lead a makeshift Dark Ages army against the demonic Deadites, who possess all the deadly magic of hell, the shotgun-toting, chainsaw-armed, reluctant 20th century time traveler Ash (Campbell) must save the living from the dead, rescue his medieval girlfriend and get back to his own time. One of the most popular horror comedies of all time, now digitally remastered and loaded with bonus features, Army of Darkness Screwhead Edition is drop-dead fun!』 『A movie that only true horror buffs could love,Army of Darknessis officially part 3 in the wild and wackyEvil Deadtrilogy masterminded by the perversely inventive director Sam Raimi, who would later serve as executive producer of the popular syndicated TV seriesHercules: The Legendary Journeys. Raimi's favorite actor, Bruce Campbell, returns as Ash (hero of the first twoEvil Deadflicks), a hardware-store clerk who is magically transported--along with his beat-up Oldsmobile and a chainsaw attachment for his severed left forearm--to the brutal battlefields of the 14th century. He quickly assumes power (who else in the Middle Ages packs a shotgun and a chainsaw?), and unites his band of medieval knights against the dreaded Army of the Dead. Raimi gleefully subverts almost every horror-movie cliché as he serves up a nonstop parade of blood, gore, and vicious sword-bearing skeletons--an affectionate homage to animator Ray Harryhausen's classicJason and the Argonauts. The frantic action is fun while it lasts, but even at 80 minutesArmy of Darknessnearly wears out its welcome. You know that Raimi can maintain the mayhem for only so long before it grows tiresome, and fortunately this madcap movie quits while it's ahead.--Jeff Shannon』
price:$4.99
Mpi Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Barnabas Unchained) 『Released from his coffin after nearly two centuries, Barnabas Collins arrives at Collinwood claiming to be a distant relative from Europe. After meeting the family, Barnabas asks Elizabeth's permission to renovate and live in the Old House.
Soon after, Barnabas meets Maggie Evans and is immediately smitten by her resemblance to his long lost love Josette. After meeting Barnabas, Maggie begins having nightmares and suffering from strange physical symptoms for which nobody can determine a cause; until her physician, Dr. Woodard, discovers that she is suffering from a mysterious loss of blood. When Sam Evans discovers that his daughter is missing, a search is initiated and Maggie is discovered wandering at Eagle Hill cemetary. Upon being discovered, Maggie is confined to her bedroom and given a blood transfusion but her behavior only becomes more bizarre. Finally, Dr. Woodard put Maggie in the hospital from which she then mysteriously disappears.
The relationship between Barnabas and Maggie will be familiar to anyone who has seen one of the many film versions of Dracula. In these versions a young, innocent girl is preyed upon by Dracula while a group made up of her friends and family rally to save her usually led by someone who has figured out what they are up against. Dark Shadows puts its own twist on this by having Barnabas kidnap Maggie and hold her in the Old House while he tries to convince her she is Josette.
Barnabas's plans, however, meet with frustration as Maggie stubborly refuses to become Josette and clings to her own identity. Maggie escapes from the Old House only to be recaptured by Barnabas, at which point she changes tactics and pretends to be Josette. When Barnabas is convinced that she is finally accepting her fate he prepares to make her his bride.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth is having her own problems with her daughter Carolyn's growing rebellion against the presence of Jason McGuire. Carolyn has become convinced that the locked room in the basement hold the key to Jason's hold over her mother and she finaly prevails upon Elizabeth to open the room. When the room is opened and nothing is discovered, everyone is quite surprised and apologetic to Elizabeth. The family is further surprised when Elizabeth announces that she and Jason are to be married.
Collection 1 also contains interviews with Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and John Karlen.』
(Shakespeare Meets Val Lewton) 『Along the Maine seashore, in nights dark and stormy, a tale unfolds:
"Full fathom five thy father lies, Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes, Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange."
-Shakespeare, "The Tempest." Ariel's Song, Act I.2.
Something rich and strange, a delicious sea-change, is the theater of "Dark Shadows." Enjoy!
』
(Nice introduction to series) 『For those who aren't familiar with the series, this collection is a great way to become acquainted with it. The DVD begins with a 10-15 minute introduction on the early episodes before picking up where Barnabus Collins is introduced. The rest, as they say, is history. Nice DVD!』
(none) 『not bad for a early vampire series price a little high, liked the character develpment at the start was nice!』
(Enter Barnabas Collins, Stage Left) 『What's best about this first collection is the 20-minute introduction, giving us a quick rundown on the 200 episodes leading up to the arrival of "cousin Barnabas from London," making it even more clear that the series never hit upon the right combination until Jonathan Frid joined the cast. Apres him, the bloody deluge! Great campy B&W fun.』 『Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2003 Run time: 960 minutes Rating: Nr』
price:$3.46
Rhino Theatrical
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Classic camp movie) 『Cheesy, yes. Silly, yes. Funny, DEFINITELY. This movie is the epitome, for its time, of all the classic horror movies made in the 70s. Where do you think the ideas for all the recent horror movie parodies came from? It could be from nowhere else than "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes."』
(The Best Terrible movie ever!) 『This was made to be a very bad movie; there's a reason that it's a cult classic. You have to appreciate bad B movies to get this; if you do, you'll love it.』
(Attack of the Killer Tomatoes - 25th Anniversary Edition (Purchased on 08/17/2009)) 『It was hilarious. Even better than I expected. When the tomatoes started throwing themselves at the the "humans" I wanted to throw a few myself. It got a little slow at times and super fakey all over the place... but this is what I was looking for. Not as moving as the Blob.... but I'll be watching it again....once I can get it back from my friends who had never heard of this movie... So.. roll on little guys.. we'll see you soon I'm sure!!』
(When Ketchup Bites Back!) 『Attack of the Killer Tomatoes has to one of the oddest films to ever grace cable TV. I remember watching this cheese-flick on Monster Vision with Joe Bob Briggs and kind of freaking out that my favorite snack was attacking people. The whole plot is ridiculous and extremely corny in a funny way. Basically it's like GRINDHOUSE, except this one spoofs those horrible Sci-fi 50's films like "Earth vs. The Spider".
The whole point of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is to be funny, which the 50's Scifi plots are trying to be so serious it was ridiculous decades later, but were laughed at years later. This cheesy film was popular enough that it spawned an animated series based on the film(s), which I watched almost religious as the Ghostbusters cartoon.
A great popcorn movie and still great for laughs at the ulimate cheese factor. Also check out the Animated series which expands upon the plot point of a mad scientist mutating tomatos into people to take over the world. Great for laughs and beware of the catchy theme song as well, you'll be singing about Killer Tomatoes for quite sometime.
Attack of the killer tomatoes... ATTACK of the Killer Tomatoes... I forget the rest, lol.』
(Vine-Ripened And Ready To Roll (Oh Yes, There Will Be Ketchup)!...) 『They roll! They swim! They even fly! Most disturbingly, these crimson marauders kill without mercy or remorse! There is no safety or escape, once they've marked you for termination! Yes, the KILLER TOMATOES are here! It's been 30 years since I first watched this accursed film, and it has lost none of it's power to transfix and / or assault the senses! I fear there's no going back now, as the flashbacks, nightmares, and heeby-jeebies have only increased over the years! Fool that I am, I figured I could face down and overcome my terror, so I bought the ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES: SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION! This was a gargantuan miscalculation on my part! This wretched collection is jam-packed w/ featurettes, 8mm footage, trailers, lobbycards, a putrid poster, the hideous soundtrack disc, and other not-so-gentle reminders of this malignant movie! Buy it ONLY if you can handle life-long trauma in its most intense form! As for me, I shall continue to strive for a somewhat normal existence. Pray for me...』 『Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 09/23/2003』 『Movies with "wacky" titles are almost never any good, andAttack of the Killer Tomatoes!was intentionally made to be an instant golden turkey. Despite that, and the grade-Z production values, this is a regularly funny film. You need to be a fan of the kind of low-budget horror movie it's spoofing, and you need to be very forgiving of the technical ineptness and frequent clunkers, but it works. The story? Well, tomatoes attack, basically. Jack Riley and the San Diego Chicken are in it, and that genuinely alarming helicopter crash you see in an early scene was a real accident. Seen now, the whole ratty affair brings back agreeable memories of the circa-1978 college-movie/midnight-cinema era, when seeing this film was virtually unavoidable. The sequel,Return of the Killer Tomatoes!(with a young George Clooney), is actually an even funnier film. Director John De Bello would continue to squeeze theTomatoesfranchise for years to come.--Robert Horton』
price:$2.45
Sony Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (50s horror done 80s style) 『The 50s was rife with ultra cheap, ultra nasty B-movie horrors. It was half a century ago but similar garbage is still abundant in cinemas today in the form of drek like Hostel - The Director's Cut [Blu-ray], Sorority Row [Blu-ray] and The Final Destination [Blu-ray]. I guess the older horrors could be forgiven as it was a more innocent time. All B-movies from day one have been mere potboilers. Is Night of the Creeps an exception?
It's hard to review Night of the Creeps. There are many hits and misses. You could let the film off on all counts by claiming that all the goofiness is intentional, even when it's not. But the endless references to classic horror films becomes a bit too heavy. I'm not a fan of in-jokes, especially when their none-too-subtle. They're all over the place in horror films these days so maybe back in 1986 it was regarded as new and clever.
The plot is torn right out of a 1950s sci-fi comic. Aliens lose "an experiment" while cruising through space and it comes to earth in a cannister where it crash lands in the woods of a quiet little town in 1959. A wholesome teen couple in the middle of making-out go to investigate. The boyfriend is infected with something and the girl is slaughtered by an axe-murderer.
Flash forward to 1986 and we have a couple of dorks trying desperately to get into a fraternity at their college in order to impress a hot chick. During their hijinks they accidentally thaw the cryogenically frozen body of the wholesome boyfriend who comes back to life. Parasites are controlling his body and an plague of alien slugs slowly spreads across the town.
This biggest miss of NOTC is the fact that nothing really becomes of either plotline. The resurrection of the axe-murderer goes nowhere and is over as soon as it begins. The slug invasion doesn't add up to much action either. I saw the Director's Cut of the film which has a more conclusive ending and I can't imagine how weak this film would have been in cinemas with the original anti-climatic end.
It does has a lot of spirit, however. Fred Dekker crams loads of enthusiasm and affection into the 90 minute run-time and the cast seem to be caught up in the high. I've never really liked Jason Lively. His acting abilities are slight and outside of NOTC I've only seen him in National Lampoon's European Vacation and Ghost Chase. He's merely okay in NOTC and his tall stature and gangly limbs fit his character. But his co-star Steve Marshall acts him off the screen. A friend of Robert Downey Jnr, Marshall came to Hollywood at his pal's insistence and within six weeks had a role in this movie. Despite the promising beginning he never made another theatrically-released film and has less than ten entries on his filmography. I can't imagine why.
Apart from Tom Atkins as a bitter detective you're unlikely to recognise anyone else in this movie. Though David Paymer has a cameo as an unfortunate scientist and Dick Miller appears for a small scene with the same name as the character he played in Roger Corman's A Bucket of Blood. Even Fred Dekker himself never prospered as a director. After NOTC he went on to helm The Monster Squad (20th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] and the exceptionally poor Robocop 3. NOTC seems to stand out as the defining movie moment for many of those involved.
The film itself has been homaged/copied in recent years with James Gunn's Slither (Widescreen Edition), which I have never seen. But the tacky 80s edge of NOTC has no modern day equivalent. Barry De Vorzon's score seems a little dated in some places but is otherwise adequate enough. Even De Vorzon's career pretty much ended with this film. He went on to score The Exorcist 3 in 1990 and has done nothing since.
Considering the film's cult status and adoration among horror fans it's strange that it effectively killed/harmed the careers of everyone involved.
As a cheap 80s horror with gory make-up effects and a silly story you're unlikely to find anything better than NOTC. It knows it's dumb and has no delusions of grandeur. If only it had been pushed further it might have ended up being the classic such as those it paid homage to.
The Blu Ray has a great 1080p picture in the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The sound isn't all that great but the source materials were limited at the time of production. There are plenty of good extra features too, that are worth checking out. The cover, however, is just awful. The DVD features a slightly better cover but when the theatrical artwork was so good why ruin it with generic, photoshop crap?』
(Great fun, great chills, great DVD!) 『Much has been said of the film and the DVD in LONG reviews above. Here it is, in a nutshell:
If you haven't seen NOTC, and you are a fan of horror, good and/or bad, this is a terrific film, an homage to many genres and other horror films from beginning to end.
If you're already of fan of NOTC, the DVD is amazing. There are two commentary tracks, multiple interviews and shorts about the making of the film, and a great homage to Tom Atkins. It's worth the price.
Great film, great DVD. Buy it!』
("The good news is your dates are here. The bad news is...they're dead.") 『Just why oh why did it take so long for Night of the Creeps to make its way to DVD and Blu-Ray? Whatever the reason, it isn't important now because here it is, the cult classic from Fred Dekker (who also directed another cult classic that took its time coming to DVD, The Monster Squad), and watching it now, all these later, Night of the Creeps ends up being just as enjoyable as it always has been. A delirious mix of homage to 50's sci-fi/horror flicks, slasher films, and zombie flicks; Night of the Creeps is just too fun to properly describe in one paragraph, let alone a full review. The film is presented here in all its uncut glory, and it looks and sounds better than it ever has before as well. Not to mention that there is a boatload of special features included here, which in themselves are worth the price of admission alone, and just like the release of The Monster Squad, Dekker displays the love he has for his work. With all that being said, if you enjoy tongue-in-cheek bloody fun with a bit of a morbid sense of humor, Night of the Creeps is wholeheartedly worth your time.』
("The good news is your dates are here. The bad news is...they're dead.") 『Just why oh why did it take so long for Night of the Creeps to make its way to DVD and Blu-Ray? Whatever the reason, it isn't important now because here it is, the cult classic from Fred Dekker (who also directed another cult classic that took its time coming to DVD, The Monster Squad), and watching it now, all these later, Night of the Creeps ends up being just as enjoyable as it always has been. A delirious mix of homage to 50's sci-fi/horror flicks, slasher films, and zombie flicks; Night of the Creeps is just too fun to properly describe in one paragraph, let alone a full review. The film is presented here in all its uncut glory, and it looks and sounds better than it ever has before as well. Not to mention that there is a boatload of special features included here, which in themselves are worth the price of admission alone, and just like the release of The Monster Squad, Dekker displays the love he has for his work. With all that being said, if you enjoy tongue-in-cheek bloody fun with a bit of a morbid sense of humor, Night of the Creeps is wholeheartedly worth your time.』
(night of the creeps blu ray) 『a real sleeper of a comedy horror watched this when it came out on vhs from cbs fox the blu ray disc is great and is real value if you like this genre highly recommended thrill me』 『In this campy chiller, a college couple, in 1959, see an object plummet to Earth like a meteor. The boy accidentally swallows a space-slug that shoots out. In 1986, two freshmen roam the campus and stumble across the corpse of the boy who swallowed the space-slug. Once thawed out, the corpse comes to life.』 『Night of the Creeps, Fred (The Monster Squad) Dekker's spoof/tribute to '50s-era horror and science fiction, died an unheralded death at the box office back in the slasher-centric '80s, but it developed a passionate cult following in the ensuing decades; aficionados and first-timers alike will be thrilled with this DVD release, which underscores the film's loopy charms with a wealth of fun supplemental features. The premise is prime Creature Feature material--in 1959 an alien experiment containing vile, sluglike organisms that possess their hosts crashes to Earth, where one of the slugs takes over a young Lover's Lane habitué; flash-forward to 1986, when hapless nerds Jason Lively (brother ofGossip Girl's Blake Lively) and Steve Marshall discover the corpse, cryogenically frozen in their college lab, and accidentally free it as part of a prank. The body unleashes its extraterrestrial passenger, which proceeds to infect the student population at a breakneck pace. Dekker juggles his humor and horror with a fair amount of skill, though for every inspired moment, there's a groaner or two (it was the '80s, after all); the presence of genre vet Tom Atkins (The Fog, the 2009My Bloody Valentine) lends a proper degree of grit. Though not perfect,Night of the Creepswas--and remains--a refreshingly quirky alternative to the franchise-heavy studio horror of the decade.
As a reward for the cadre of fans who have been waiting so long forCreepsto reach the DVD market, the director's-cut DVD is bursting at the seams with extras devoted to the film's creation and legacy. Two commentary tracks--one with Dekker, the other with Lively, Marshall, Atkins, and costar Jill Whitlow--provide insight into both the technical and the production sides of the film; the latter is particularly notable for the cast's first viewing of the movie's original, less-gimmicky (and preferable) ending, also included here. Dekker and the cast reunite for an impressive, four-part making-of featurette, which includes interviews with makeup creators David B. Miller, Howard Berger, and Robert Kurtzman and producer Charles Gordon. Atkins also gets his own spotlight extra, which profiles his long and prolific career both in and out of the horror genre; the disc is rounded out with seven deleted scenes, the original trailer, and a text-only trivia track that can be played along with the feature itself.--Paul Gaita
Stills fromNight of the Creeps(Click for larger image)
price:$2.50
Image Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Please help!) 『All of the Twilight Zones are great! But - two of my all time favorite episodes - I can't seem find anywhere. Perhaps I am just overlooking them somehow. Can someone plese tell me where I can find the TZ DVDs that include the episodes "The Masks" and "The Howling Man"? I am very frustrated at not being able to locate these! Thank you so much...』
(Twilight Zone Vol. Two) 『THE TWILIGHT ZONE VOL. 2
This DVD contains four excellent episodes of an exceptional series which has not been matched over the decades, but some series have come close to the quality of the original Twilight Zone. Listed below are my personal reflections on these episodes since I watched them when they originally aired between 1959-1963.
"The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" aired on March 4, 1960. March 4 was a day which saw Lucy filed for divorce from Desi. The first family of television became a broken statistic of society. Down in Havana at 3pm, the French ship - La Coubre' was unloading munitions. As Fidel Castro hovered near by in his helicopter, the ship exploded killing and injuring many. Of course, Castro blamed the CIA and the growing tensions between the two countries were heading for a nuclear showdown.
However, as we watched the program, we felt the fear experienced by the normal people on a common street in an average town in America. There were too many uncertainties in 1960. We had heard that there were spies among us. Since the Roswell episode, looking at the stars at night from the front porch one had to wonder if there were aliens among us as well as the "godless Communists" which we heard about from our teachers and pastors each week. We had some neighbors on our street who were a bit odd. And we wonder if they were who they appear to be-just simple Americans living their lives in 1960 or were they sinister agents of a foreign power either across the sea or from one of those night stars.
"Time Enough at Last" on November 20, 1959 caused my fellow first graders to walk down the block to the Carnegie City Library to see if there was a vault. We knew there were thousands of books to give us something to do, but would it be safe. The librarian reassured us that the basement was certified as a Fallout Shelter, and we would be protected. Now, we know that the Fallout Shelters in public buildings were a psychological ploy to comfort the people. Radiation fallout would not have cared about schools, libraries, etc. Radiation poisoning would not have spared the children across the world.
"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" on October 11, 1963 was an episode that we elementary students could not relate to since none of us had ever flown in a plane. However, the image of the goblin on the wing was an image that haunted us for years to come. We did not quite understand that the real goblins were those men who hid in windows and dark corridors waiting for their moment of infamy. We would see this reality in a few weeks on our black and white screens of a young leader gunned down and the funeral procession as a nation dressed in black mourned. Black and white images were appropriate for our lives in late November, 1963.
"The Odyssey of Flight 33" on February 24, 1961 caused us to imagine what it would be like lost in time on a plane, even though, we had never been on a plane. For that matter, time travel was a theme which we pondered on as much as our young minds could so, especially when our teacher, Mrs. _____ , was in one of her moods and decided to punish one of us for the sheer enjoyment of it. We all hoped that Mrs. ____ would take a plane trip soon.
Anyway, it was an unusual and fearful time for us elementary students growing up in the shadows of the Cold War and the ever lingering prospect of the destruction of our civilization. The Twilight Zone brought us some time to escape these vestibules of life.
In addition, some of these episodes scared us where a glass of hot milk and cookies were no comfort for our nightly repose. A hug or an encouraging word from a parent that there would be a tomorrow always helped us kids get through the school week. Of course, there would be another episode of The Twilight Zone to watch and experience.
Please enjoy these episodes and see what lessons you can gain from these intriguing stories for your life in 2009. 』
(Best Episodes of the Series) 『These are undoubtedly the best episodes of the series. "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" was adapted from the 1951 radio script "The Button Pushers" also scripted by Serling. "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" almost gave director Richard Donner a heart-attack when Edd Byrnes and William Shatner played a practical joke on the director. The name of Henry Bemis' wife, Helen, was an in-joke to Burgess Meredith's real-life ex-wife.
Trivia supplied not from the DVD, but from the book, "The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic" because the 800 plus page book is a P-E-R-F-E-C-T companion to the DVD. Before or after you watch an episode, you can use the book to uncover the in-jokes, bloopers and trivia that make viewing these episodes fun. Both are available on Amazon.』
(Great Volume in a Great Collection) 『So much of what we see on the classic TZ episodes has been redone to death these days. These are some of the ORIGINAL stories from a classic age of sci-fi suspense. This volumes includes four of the best episodes ever. It really is odd that they put such complete quality on one disc. This volume will not disappoint! Highly recommended.』
(A perfect collection of TZ episodes!) 『Ever since the New Years/4th of July Marathons on SciFi channel started, I have been hooked on The Twilight Zone.
This dvd is a great array of representative episodes: Time Enough at Last, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet and The Odyssey of Flight 33 are the episodes featured. Burgess Meredith, William Shatner, over-reacting, mob mentalities, the unexplainable, the ironic, and the human are all here. Everything TZ embodies in every episode and in its overall ideal is here on this dvd.
A good choice for a first time buyer/viewer. This one is sure to please.』 『Episodes: "Time Enough at Last" (Ep. 8, November 20, 1959) - A bookworm (Burgess Meredith) yearns for more time to read--then a nuclear holocaust leaves him alone in the world with lots of time, plenty to read, and one ironic twist! "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" (Ep. 22, March 4, 1960) - Inexplicable events cause the residents of quiet Maple Street to erupt into rioting. The residents suspect an alien invasion has occurred. If so, where are the alien monsters? "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (Ep. 123, October 11, 1963) - A salesman (William Shatner) recovering from a nervous breakdown spots a gremlin on the wing of his plane. When he attempts to alert the others, his nightmare truly begins! "The Odyssey of Flight 33" (Ep. 54, February 24, 1961) - Flight 33 picks up a peculiar tailwind and is blown off course. After apparently correcting the problem, the flight arrives at its destination--a billion years ahead of schedule!』
price:$0.49
New Line Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The Cell) 『A female scientist must travel into the mind of a serial killer in a coma to discover the whereabouts of the girl he kidnapped prior to his recent condition. A movie that is so visually amazing that you sat in your seat, paralyzed by its beauty.』
(Epic, Artistic, Beuatiful and Disturbing) 『This movie is great, and even greater on blu-ray! It is full of many amazing scenes that are both disturbing and artistically beautiful at the same time. I'm not even a J-Lo fan but she is great in this film, and Vincent D'Onofrio plays an excellent psychopathic serial killer. I will say though, that this movie is not for everyone. If you were to actually travel through the mind of a psycho it would probably be something like this. Some scenes are just plain twisted. If you like this film you should also check out "The Fall", also directed by Tarsem Singh.』
(Visually brilliant, but terrible script, muddled plot, and riddled with cliches) 『I think the amazon editorial review is spot on.
Here's the thing - visually the "dream sequences" (I know technically they're in a coma) are some of the most interesting technical things I've seen on film. It's in the ballpark of Metropolis, and many German films of the silent era. Of color films, Bram Stoker's Dracula (Coppola), What Dreams May Come, several of Tim Burton's big budget films (e.g. Batman Returns) and Natural Born Killers are really the only other color films in the same visual ballpark. I honestly have not the slightest clue how some of the special effects were done. It's obvious many of them aren't CG either. I'm assuming camera.
Unfortunately, while the visuals are nothing short of astounding, the plot is cliche serial killer stuff. It seems like they made the dream sequences and then just decided to do some perfunctory bookending. Because of this, the movie is extremely highly recommended for film students. People interested in dream interpretation might get a kick out of it, too. Everyone else can safely avoid this.
The movie as a whole is boring and to be frank, not very interesting to watch. The characters have no defining characteristics and are the cliche psychologist, cliche detective (complete with chainsmoking, sleeping in the office, etc) and cliche serial killer (who was abused). There is no character development despite two instances where it should have been obvious there could have been some. The plot is muddled and confusing and riddled with Dickensian deus ex machina (the serial killer character has a rare form of schizophrenia, the doctor at a hospital knows about a top secret dream machine, the killer uses a torture machine that works too conveniently for the plot). Also, there's no closure at the end of the movie. There's zero chemistry between Vince Vaughn and J-Lo, too which is a missed opportunity.
If you're really interested in dreams and psychology or just a good movie with them, I'd recommend watching Paprika instead. Similar movie, but vastly better. Or if you want a surreal mystery thriller, rent Blue Velvet.』
(The Cell) 『This is a great film. And it should have took notice when Oscar time came around... It is the story of meetings of minds. only with horror added.One of my favorite movies. That will haunt you mind for some time. By the way part two sucks so dont bother.. A big five stars for this one...』
(The fantasy sequences are worth the price of purchase "...It's not real! It's not real!") 『"The Cell" is a two-fold story; part crime drama and part surreal art film. It tells of a truly twisted murderous piece of work with a growing body count. This is a VERY sick man, physically and mentally. Different from most "Whodunnits," the police catch the criminal fairly early into the story, but he has lapsed into a catatonic state just prior to being taken into custody. There is a victim still missing; she's alive, but sure to die if not found. It becomes a race against time.
Credibility is stretched to the breaking point during the story, as an investigative, experimental method is used to enter someone's mind, and probe their innermost fantasies. Such technology isn't in effect, not yet, anyway, but once you accept this as part of the story, it becomes an incredible viewing experience. The visuals and accompanying soundtrack are among the most vivid and imaginative to date. Filmed almost a decade ago (at this writing), it doesn't look dated in the least, except that it is better than a lot of films that followed it. In the decade that ensued, less and less really good ones have come out. You can discount the story if you like, the cast, and so on, but indisputable, is the film's sensory impact. Despite the ugliness it has in spots, and some terrifying imagery, it has a breathtaking beauty to it. The director set the sky as the limit, and even then, the sky was no limit.
Synchronicity is a major part in the film's last reel, as the surviving victim is found, and the killer's dark side is finally put to rest at the exact same time; water being part of the plight of the abducted victim, and the purging of the schizophrenic's personal demons as well.
Bottom line: "The Cell" is an extreme roller coaster ride for the senses. Watch in a darkened room, when you know you won't be interrupted.
』 『A therapist (Jennifer Lopez, Out Of Sight) uses an experimental treatment to enter the mind of a serial killer (Vincent D'Onofrio, Men In Black) to learn his secrets. An FBI agent (Vince Vaughn, Swingers) must rescue her from the killer's nightmare mind』 『Schizoid serial killer Carl Stargher (Vincent D'Onofrio) has been captured at last, but a neurological seizure has rendered him comatose, and FBI agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughan) has no way to determine the location of Stargher's latest and still-living victim. To probe the secrets contained in Stargher's traumatized psyche, the FBI recruits psychologist Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez), who has mastered a new technology that allows her to enter the mind of another person. What she finds in Stargher's head is a theater of the grotesque, which, as envisioned by first-time director Tarsem Singh, is a smorgasbord of the surreal that borrows liberally from the Brothers Quay, Czech animator Jan Svankmajer, Hieronymous Bosch, Salvador Dali, and a surplus of other cannibalized sources.
This provides one of the wildest, weirdest visual feasts ever committed to film, andThe Cellearns a place among such movie mind-trips as2001: A Space Odyssey,Altered States,What Dreams May Come, andUn Chien Andalou. Is this a good thing? Sure, if all you want is freakazoid eye-candy. If you're looking for emotional depth, substantial plot, and artistic coherence,The Cellis sure to disappoint. The pop-psychology pablum of Mark Protosevich's screenplay would be laughable if it weren't given such somber significance, and Singh's exploitative use of sadomasochistic imagery is repugnant (this movie makesSevenlook tame), so you're better off marveling at the nightmare visions that are realized with astonishing potency.The Cellis too shallow to stay in your head for long, but while it's there, it's one hell of a show.--Jeff Shannon』
price:$14.49
ANCHOR BAY
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (My name is John) 『Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) is packing, as it is time for him to move on. All his friends and co-scientists from the university come to see him off. They have an afternoon and a bottle to kill so John poses a question. Base of a few trinkets found in John is packing possessions. The portcullises what if he were actually a cave man that survived to this day. As his friends are grilling him, he feeds off their input to weave a tail that sucks us in as viewers.
The whole movie takes place in a small room of a simple house. However, it is anything but a simple tale. A little added plus was having `Moonlight Sonata" (Beethoven, 7th Symphony, 2nd Movement) in the background until someone tells John to turn it off.
This was the last work from Screenwriter Jerome Bixby.
I only saw the Blu-ray DVD however it is a very poor transfer it is vary grainy and I am sure it was not for art's sake. 』
(gret concept BUT) 『Wonderful concept but the execution is painful. The acting is mediocre, the directing worse. The actors seem to be reading lines not inhabiting characters. And the MUSIC! Why make a movie that is pure conversation and then bury the conversation behind loud never-ending music? Totally destroys any chance of the viewer feeling they are watching and listening to a real conversation.
As well the great concept is ruined by pushing it to absurd limits. A man who has lived 14000 years - wonderful... That part is great. But this one person who just happened to have this unique whatever that keeps him alive also just happens to also be Jesus. And just happened to hang out with Van Gogh... Etc.
And this man who has lived thousands of years and studied with the Buddha chooses a group of not-so-bright academics to finally tell his story? Guess he didn't learn much in all those years.
Coulda been terrific but once you get past the great concept it misses it's opportunity...』
(Low budget,thought provoking, moving) 『This has to be a must see for any fan of sci-fi, drama or anyone with an inkling of who we are or where we come from. The screenplay takes hold from the early moments and grips you through to the well written finale. If there is one criticism it is the $200,000 budget as the cinematography in a few scenes appears fuzzy and the music is more of a distraction other than the well chosen orchestral piece later in the film. See it, buy it !』
(A Sleeper best watched with friends and family) 『It was late at night when I finally got around to watching this. As a newcomer to NetFlix I found this interesting title and had added it to my queue. I don't know why my interest was so peaked from the beginning but it was. This is a thinking person's movie that will leave you asking more questions than it answers. The turn at the end should have been predictable, but it wasn't because the acting was excellent. Take a chance on this movie, there aren't that many good ones out there. It's like a great 'Twilight Zone' episode made into a movie.』
(One of the best movies I've ever seen...No, really.) 『I've never written a review of a movie before, but the excellence of this movie has prompted me to get the word out and get more people to see this amazing movie. Yes, the movie takes place sitting in a man's living room. Yes, the whole movie is a conversation. And yes, it is literally one of the best movies I've ever seen. The writing is so good, I was continually drawn in and felt like I was sitting there on the floor, next to the fire place with the rest of them. The acting was superb and entirely believable. I will be watching this movie many more times in my life, I can guarantee you. There is no crazy car chases or loud explosions. It is not a laugh-riot. It will not make you cry. But it is a brilliant piece of work. Watch it. You will not regret it.』 『On a cold night in a remote cabin, Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith of CSI: MIAMI) gathers his most trusted colleagues for an extraordinary announcement: He is an immortal who has migrated through 140 centuries of evolution and must now move on. Is Oldman truly Cro-Magnon or simply insane? Now one man will force these scientists and scholars to confront their own notions of history, religion and humanity, all leading to a final revelation that may shatter their world forever.
John Billingsley (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE), William Katt (THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO), Ellen Crawford (ER) and Tony Todd (CANDYMAN) co-star in this provocative final work by Jerome Bixby, renowned as one of the greatest science-fiction authors of all time.』 『Based on renowned sci-fi author Jerome Bixby's final 1998 manuscript,Man From Earthis the long-awaited film adaptation in which Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) attempts to convince his fellow faculty members that he is 14,000 years old. Shot almost entirely inside Oldman's cabin as he's about to leave his friends and career, the film's dialogue consists of philosophical chatting about the possibility and ramifications of his alleged birth during the Upper Paleolithic era. As his faculty peers are all anthropology, biology, religion, and philosophy scholars, the conversation levels remain high throughout. Oldman's friend Harry (John Billingsley) is well versed in multiple religions as well as in science, while Gruber (Richard Riehle) is invited to the house mid-story to evaluate Oldman's psychological state. Edith (Ellen Crawford) is the Christian voice, considering the religious repercussions of Oldman's assertion. All the while, Oldman's love interest, Sandy (Annika Peterson), remains quietly contemplative and most capable of believing that he doesn't visually age and has seen epochs and historical eras come and go. Humorous scenes, such as when his friends discover a Van Gogh painting wedged into the back of his pick-up truck, keep the story flowing, though eventually heavy-handed conceptualism does make the film sluggish. Similar to some great episodes ofThe Twilight Zone,Man From Earthdoes pose enough grand questions about life and death that urge viewers to wonder if such a man could plausibly exist, and if so, what his fate would be. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this story is its fusion of spirituality and science by providing viewers a scenario in which proof is impossible, in a world where high value is placed on concrete evidence.–Trinie Dalton』
price:$2.46
The Weinstein Company
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A psycho thriller with surprising plot twists) 『4 of 5 stars for the psycho thriller movie Awake. This movie starts by giving stats on how many patients per year enter a strange awake-state called "anesthetic awareness" during surgery. OK, we can guess that this is the subject of this movie. The lead character, played by young Darth Vader Hayden Christensen is in need of a heart transplant. He marries his sweetheart (the sexy Jessica Alba) the night before the operation. As the surgery begins, lets just say it gets twisted with loads of surprises. A well created movie with a great plot and some real surprises. You should be warned that there are some graphic scenes during the surgery not for the weak stomach; I'd argue, they weren't really needed to advance the story. I do recommend this movie, however, not after a full meal.』
(Very weak storyline) 『You know those movies that look very interesting on the previews but turn out to be such duds? This is one of those.
The problem is not Jessica or Hayden -- who both look great -- itis the very lame premise of the story. Granted that I am willing to give some leeway for dramatic license, and this storyline has some dramatic twists and turns that provide surprise -- but this storyline is TOO much of a stretch in element after element after element.
And except for the beautiful Miss Alba there is nothing else sufficiently redeeming about the movie to justify its existence. Sorry.』
(satisfied customer) 『Thank you so much for such expedient service. The video was great. I will most definitely continue to do business with this merchant. Thanks again.』
(great) 『The product was well packaged, and perfectly sealed! arrived on time with no problems.』
(starts out interesting but the twist is overdone) 『The film starts out interesting: a guy is not anesthetized properly and is alive during his operation. This is the only story the film would have needed, and with three decent actors at their disposal they could have done great things with just that.
But then they add a major cover-up plot mixed in with an out-of-body/ghost-story that completely ruins the film. The story is overdone and gets ridiculous.』 『AWAKE is a sexy, psychological thriller about a common occurrence called "anesthetic awareness" a horrifying phenomenon wherein a patient's failed anesthesia leaves him fully conscious but physically paralyzed during surgery. The patient's charming new wife is forced to struggle with her own demons as a terrifying drama unfolds around the couple.』 『There's a hint of classic noir in the twists and turns that make upAwake, a medical thriller that hinges on an alarming real-life condition known as anesthesia awareness, which keeps surgery patients awake but immobile during surgery. Hayden Christensen is top-billed as the scion of a wealthy banking family in desperate need of a heart transplant. Seconds after the operation commences, he discovers that he is fully conscious, yet unable to move; and what's worse, the entire procedure is slated to fail in order to claim his considerable fortune. Once the scheme is set in motion,Awakemoves into high gear, and the stock characters established in the exposition-heavy opening show their true (and decidedly scurrilous) colors. Unfortunately, the suspense is undone by Christensen undergoing what appears to be a confusing out-of-body experience, and a conclusion that begs for more suspension of disbelief than most audiences will be able to summon up. Christensen and Jessica Alba (as his new bride) are attractive but bland; instead, it's Howard who delivers as the film's conflicted antihero. The supporting players, including Lena Olin as Christensen's overprotective mom, Christopher McDonald, and Arliss Howard also lend considerable credence to the material.-- Paul Gaita』