Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Earth vs.The Flying Saucers) 『This is one of the few really good 1950s science fiction movies. Very good special effects for the time. Great theme and plot. Excellent emphisis on, and explaination of scientific theory on atomic and gravity propulsion systems; some becomming a reality today. This movie hits hard because many of us do believe that there is a real possibility of an alien invasion from outer space, or creatures from another dimension. Also see the first "flat screen" T.V on board the alien spacecraft. Check out this vintage flick. you will enjoy it.』
(Conforms to expectation in every regard...) 『 EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS
(USA - 1956 - black and white)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Theatrical soundtrack: Mono
A scientist (Hugh Marlowe) struggles to convince authorities of an imminent alien invasion after he's contacted by sinister beings who threaten the entire planet.
Typical 1950's B-movie fodder, with stock characters and a predictable narrative arc, directed with humdrum efficiency by Fred F. Sears (THE GIANT CLAW). Best remembered for Ray Harryhausen's animated flying saucers, though the effects are compromised by an obvious low budget. Routine stuff.
』
(Jejune Offering) 『Earth vs the Flying Saucers happens to be one of my all time favorite films. It follows a great deal of the UFO-ology of that era to great effect and the references to Project Blue Book are appropriate. Descriptions of the film have been well prsented by other posters and I praise them. I refuse to buy this product. Colorizing black and white films is childish. Refusing to watch a film because it is in black and white is even more childish and reveals intellectual laziness. There is no excuse to be upset with a fim made in black and white, as most films should be, save for infantilism. I will not have a colorized disc floating around my house.』
(Saucer movie they all wish they were) 『I received this movie from my wife for a Fathers day gift .It is from my childhood. This is far and away the best stop action U.F.O movie of the 50's and still holds up today with C.G.I and other forms. BUY this if you are a scifi fan alien or U.F.O buff』
(The Brawl Of The Century!!) 『The term "B Film" covers a lot of ground considering it includes practically all genres and has varying degrees of quality(there should honestly be different letter grades of film). In the realm of 50s sci-fi/horror, there are endless amounts of B films. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers has always been considered one of the best of those, even enjoyed by critics and people who wouldn't watch a film like, say, The Crawling Eye. The title pretty much describes the plot to a "T"-Saucers are circling the Earth, and in the tradition of 50s films, the army simply open fires on them, no questions asked. The aliens attempt to make contact in order to engage in a friendly takeover of Earth(in most films, the aliens don't try to be civil about their takeovers in the beginning. These guys have a bit more class). When they realize that Earth isn't gonna simply roll over for them, the gloves come off. Earth gets it's tail kicked by evil alien saucer technology until the Earth people gradually learn more about their technology and through brainiac Hugh Marlowe, begin to develop weapons that can be effective against the invaders. This is indeed a very fun movie. The Ray Harryhausen saucers look great. This was probably the Independence Day of the 50s in terms of visuals. The story, while simple, is above average, the acting is also good. What's also interesting is that the science and science babble isn't as corny and unbelievable as it tends to be with other films of this type from this time period. The aliens themselves are cool, sporting very smooth, bland, faceless and stiff looking metallic suits. Not to mention the sinister death ray! This new DVD edition is a good value as well. The picture is nice and clear, and you get a Ray Harryhausen interview conducted by fanboy, Tim Burton. This is one of those Sony discs that has that "ChromaChoice" option of watching the film in it's original Black and White, or in a new colorized version(It Came From Beneath The Sea and 20 Million Miles To Earth are the other two so far). Personally, the only thing I hate more than remakes are colorizations. Though I would never watch this colorization more than once out of curiosity, it is probably the best colorization I've seen. So, the (Chroma)choice is yours! For fans of 50s sci-fi, this is a must must must see. For fans of the film, this DVD is a very worthwhile purchase.』 『A textbook example of '50s-era science fiction,Earth vs. the Flying Saucersboasts not only a solid script and competent performances, but some genuinely impressive stop-motion effects courtesy of one of the industry's uncontested masters, Ray Harryhausen. Scientist Hugh Marlowe (who faced a more benevolent invader from space five years earlier inThe Day the Earth Stood Still) discovers that UFOs are responsible for the destruction of a series of exploratory space rockets launched by his space exploration project. The saucers' helmeted pilots land on Earth and deliver an ultimatum to humanity via Marlowe: fealty or complete annihilation.
Harryhausen's painstakingly intricate saucers and the destruction they wreak (particularly during an assault on Washington, D.C.) are the film's unquestionable highlights, but Marlowe and Joan Taylor (as his wife/partner) are capable leads, and veteran B director Fred F. Sears doesn't let the dialogue and expositional scenes fall apart in between the barrage of effects.Earth vs. the Flying Saucersis a fun and effective slice of sci-fi that should please younger audiences as well as nostalgic return viewers. Sears later reused some of the effects footage for his jaw-droppingly awful 1957 effort,The Giant Claw.--Paul Gaita』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Seeing Is Believing in this Claude Rains' Debut!) 『The Universal Pictures horror film that put Universal Pictures back in black during the worse years of the Great Depression.
The comedy was fun without being slapstick silly (as in later sequels); the characters actors were great in conveying mood; and the megalomaniac vocal abilities of Claude Rains was fantastic. I picked up the Classic Monster Collection (1990) and it kept much of the original film's dusty, poppy stuff that you usually see in old Black&White films.
The DVD goes over the whole effects process of making a man invisible, expertly done by James Fulton.
James Whale, the man who directed Frankenstein and Dracula, took the H.G. Wells novel and its adaptation was near perfect, even approved by Wells himself.
The opening scene at the bar, the mad scientist who has achieved invisibility needs to find a place of quiet, working on an antidote. And as he works on it, he gets the idea that the chemicals have cleared his brain to where he can cause panic in the streets, kill a few people, great or small, cause a train wreck or so, and have the world grovel at his feet. Ya Ha Ha Ha Ha!! Oops!
As in Frankenstein, Whale has the worried fiance, the secluded mad scientist, the "other guy" who wants the fiance for himself and a desire to be famous.
After much police hyjinx, a bit of it slapstick and silly, the burning of a barn and a well-placed bullet puts an end to the mad scientist's invisibility and his formula.
John Carradine makes a brief appearance talking to police on a telephone. Henry Travers as the father of the fiance, who was later seen as Clarence the Angel in Its' a Wonderful Life. Gloria Stuart is the well-made-up fiance, Flora. Interestingly she gave up acting only to pick it up again in the 1980s. She was the old woman who was the last survivor in Cameron's Titanic.
So many facts and figures, great "making of" and a bit of a drawn-out commentary track by film historian Rudy Behlmer.
Great DVD, though I'm sure the newest Universal Legacy edition recently out is much better.』
(Invisible Man Classic Monsters Collection) 『The Invisible Man is an excellent movie with great speical effects. Do not buy The Classic Monsters Collection version rather spring an extra few bucks for The Universal Legacy Collection. Why? I just bought a big screen tv and this dvd looks horrible on it. Alot of crackles and lines going down the film. The Universal Legacy collection is cleaned up and has an extra 5 movies dealing with Invisible theme.
You get a neat little card in these Classic Monsters Collection card with these dvds as well, at least I did. Your have to go to a website and hold the card up and you may win some cool prizes. However, in very very tiny print at the very bottom of the card says the card expired almost ten years ago! I dont know why they still have them in there.』
(the invisible man) 『this was one of my favorite horror movies as a kid. it still holds up well. it is a great addition to any classic horror collection. the performance by Claude Rains is chilling and there is great humor in the movie. for its time, the special effects are amazing. nice quality on DVD too.』
(3 stars out of 4) 『The Bottom Line:
The best Universal horror picture, for my money, after Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man benefits from special effects whose seams still aren't showing, a wickedly sinister performance by Rains in the lead (even if we hardly ever see him) and an intelligence to the screenplay missing in many contemporary horror films; you'll probably like it even if this type of film usually isn't your cup of tea.』
(Being Invisible Has Driven Him Completely Mad!) 『This movie is a great way of having a monster good time. Claude Rains is spectacular in his first big movie role and it is his voice we hear most often. He doesn't appear until the end. Great clever special effects and one really good one of an invisible man sitting in a rocking chair, smoking a cigarette. James Whale is the great director and has done a good job with this one. Have fun!』 『Claude Rains practically owns his film debut inThe Invisible Man, despite the fact that his face (let alone his body) is seen only for seconds in the final moments. As the brilliant scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility, Rains steps into the film wrapped up like a mummy behind a layer of bandages and blanketed in heavy clothes. When he removes his garments, there's nothing underneath, a simple but effective bit of 1930s movie magic that, apart from a few glitches, works as well today as it did in 1933. LikeFrankenstein, another cautionary tale of science gone horribly wrong, the consequences of the doctor's experiments are dire: the chemicals drive him insane. Director James Whale infuses the film with plenty of humor, much of it arising from the quaint quirks of the local villagers, but it turns to black comedy as the doctor transforms from an impish prankster upsetting bicycles and taunting tavern patrons to a megalomaniac bent on world domination. It's slow going even at 71 minutes, but full of delightful touches and boasts a terrific performance by the all but unseen Rains, whose rich, cultured voice envelopes the picture in a kind of omnipresent fog. Vincent Price took up the role in the sequel,The Invisible Man Returns.--Sean Axmaker』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review ("Would sixty gallons be sufficient?") 『If you're a sci-fi fan, it's hard to have not already seen this at some point in your life (and it could well be the REASON you're a sci-fi fan), and it would be even harder not to love it.
This movie isn't called a classic for no reason; it's clear upon watching the vast influence it has had on virtually every science fiction film made since. Especially telling is the "Star Trek" inspiration: from the attitudes and behaviors of the crew (more akin to the original "The Cage" pilot) to the viewscreen and use of communicators, one can feel what young Gene Roddenberry must have taken with him from this movie. Also, the special effects were AMAZING for the early fifties; and yes, the "monster" is animated (although for the purposes of the story, it's VERY fitting that it would be)...but if you gotta have an animated monster, you couldn't ask for a better one than one done by a Disney animator.
All the conventions of sci-fi are represented, and the storyline is a very cerebral and provocative one...and seeing a very young Leslie Nielsen in a heroic and romantic role is great...and Anne Francis is very easy on the eyes as well, made all the better by being a strong and intelligent foil, not just there for the scenery...something else ahead of it's time and a template for the Ripleys and the Uhuras that were to follow.
All of this depth and thoughtful story, and Robby the Robot too! The great-grandaddy of R2-D2 and C-3P0 (George Lucas had to have had this guy in mind) adds cerebral value, some amount of menace, and even comedic relief to this overall staple of the genre.
All in all, if you're an old school sci-fi fan like me, or someone new to the genre wanting to see where a great deal of it all began, you cannot go wrong with this absolute classic.
Highly, highly recommended.』
(Forbidden Planet - The Id of Your Life) 『The 1950's was the golden age of science fiction, many great films were made, that even now influence our lives and thoughts today. One such film is Forbidden Planet, and for me. It is still one of the best films-and perhaps the only film that has a unique sound track which can not be beaten. Not only that but it introduced one of the best great robots of all time - Robby, this robot is so iconic, it-or he is instantly recognisable.
Before I go on, I just have to say that the music for the film was and still is ahead of its time, and if you watch the credits it comes under `Electronic Tonalities' by Louis and Bebe Barron, this inspiring couple used no musical instruments to compose the weird and wonderful music of Forbidden Planet; and if you look at the theatrical posters of the time, this couple's names are not mentioned - the Academy didn't even recognised the film score as music-how ignorant is that? Because no actual musical instruments were used, Louis and Bebe used tape and electronics to compose the now unforgettable haunting sound for the film. In my mind both Louise and Bebe Barron should receive honorary Oscars for original film score-its well overdue.
Now as for the acting skills of the performers, Walter Pidgeon is perfectly cast as Dr. Edward Morbius, you did know wether to love him or pity him in his struggle with his Id, and over developed intellect. Then there's the lovely Anne Francis as Altaira, Morbius' daughter, beautiful, naïve, and bright. Leslie Nielsen as Commander J. J. Adams, strong and heroic. Warren Stevens as Dr. Ostrow-unusual name, wise, intelligent, a close friend of the commander. It seems there are shades of the Kirk and McCoy between these two men, as the characters/actors work well together. Jack Kellyas Lt. Jerry Farman, another friend of Adams, a likeable easy going guy, obviously a ladies man. Plus two other recognisable actors early in their careers are Richard Anderson (Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman), as Chief Quinn, and Earl Holliman (Police Woman), as Cook, giving a light comedic touch to the film. A well balanced cast in my opinion.
Okay, let's look at this 50th Anniversary Edition of Forbidden Planet, first when it states that it is the Ultimate Collector's Edition, you must never use the word `Ultimate' because it implies it contains everything and anything-well this edition-doesn't-of course thus you'll end up scrutinising it no end-and yes you guess it, I'm going to do just that; let's have a look at what you get anyway:
1] Forbidden Planet (Widescreen) 2] The Invisible Boy (Widescreen-bonus movie feathering Robby) 3] 17 Lobby Cards (reproductions 5A size-approx of both films) 4] Forbidden Planet - Deleted Scenes and Lost Footage 5] Excerpts from `The MGM Parade' TV series with Walter Pidgeon 6] `Client' episode with Robby from the TV series `The Thin Man' 7] 3 Documentaries: `Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet', `Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon', and `TCM Original Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us' 8] Science-Fiction Movie Trailer Gallery 9] 3.5" figure of Robby the Robot
All the above is presented to you in a tin case-which is itself worth getting.
Now in regards the Robby the Robot figure, which was one of the main reasons I got this DVD Edition. I am really disappointed because there is a little false advertising involved, if one looks at the back of the box, the figure of Robby is about 21cm tall, compared to the other merchandize shown, but in reality it is about 9cm (3.5" inches tall), even though it states in small print that the figure is 3.5" Actual Size. (Even on the Amazon website picture shows what I mean) It is obvious that the Marketing Department wanted to sucker us in-well it worked with me, and looking at the metal box it came in, you can easily fit a 6" inch Robby figure. So the point is don't be fooled-seeing is not believing.
So is this really the Ultimate Edition-well no, because there's no such thing, I mean if we are featuring Robby as a bonus in what he has done over the years, then two more acting skills should have been included in this 50th Anniversary Edition: 1] the Lost in Space episode, "The War of the Robots" and 2] the Ark II episode, "The Robot", (this episode showed Robby with a different look than what we are used too) and there are more, of course like than appearance in Wonder Woman for example.
Plus there are two other things I would like with this edition, a booklet, describing the movie, some production notes, cast&crew listing, and any trivia, as well as a CD of the original Film/Music sound track. Why is it that special, anniversary or collector editions don't have CD sound tracks, I'm sure the collector would like to hear the musical score-wouldn't you?
All in all this 50th Anniversary Edition of Forbidden Planet is cool, and the film is my third all-time favourite sci-fi film, and it's easy to see why. You can get just the double DVD without the Robby figure, but if you go that far-go the extra, you won't be disappointed.
One final point, Forbidden Planet is pure science fiction at it's best for the era, and it still hold up today, this is science fiction as it was meant to be, this film set standards for future films to follow. Today's science fiction is dead-film wise, there is no imagination left-ok-ok, what about Star Wars? What about it? Its in a different league of science fiction and it and it successors are really merchandize driven, (today's generation are of a different mind-set) as with all other sci-fi/fantasy films.
Thanks to www.imdb.com for additional information on the cast. 』
(Forbidden Planet Movie Review) 『This science fiction movie is one of the top five made in the 1950's and is even superior to the original "War of the Worlds" made in the 1950's. The story is truly a superior work as the events portrayed are possible in theory.』
(Very pleased with purchase) 『Got what I wanted, at a price lower than anywhere else. Item was received within a couple days.』
(A Classic Seen With New Eyes) 『I've been a fan of Forbidden Planet since I was a kid in the 60s. But while I've seen it hundreds of times, I've NEVER seen it as crisp, clean and beautifully displayed as in this HD-DVD version. That includes the special edition anniversary version on DVD, which was remastered from original material just for that edition. High definition really lends itself to this sort of visually oriented film, and it's just wonderfully done on this disc. Bravo!』 『This 1956 pop adaptation of Shakespeare'sThe Tempestis one of the best, most influential science fiction movies ever made. Its space explorers are the models for the crew ofStar Trek'sEnterprise, and the film's robot is clearly the prototype for Robby inLost 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.』
price：$5.49
Lions Gate
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Hard Candy, Great Movie!) 『My girlfriend enjoyed this movie together after it arrived in great condition and in a short amount of time. Great movie and great seller.』
(Something wicked this way comes) 『I've seen this movie twice so far and it's even better the second time around. There's lots of foreshadowing in the beginning of the movie that was fun to notice again -- the "missing child" poster at the cafe, the playful questioning each other if faces can lie, and the toast where they announce they're going to "take it all".
There's definitely a creepiness factor in this movie. The movie starts out with a close-up of a computer screen and you see two people sending very sexy instant messages to each other. You get the feeling that one person is a young teenager while the other is a much older adult. When the two decide to meet at a cafe, your worst fears are confirmed. A 30 something male is meeting a 14 year old girl. ICK.
Ellen Page was perfectly cast for this role because she has such a baby face and small physique. As an audience member, you feel protective of her as she flirts lolita-style with him at the cafe. Other details that highlight how small she is add to the creepiness of what this man is doing -- like when he buys her a shirt in size small or when she puts on his very large jacket.
There are two main themes I noticed in this movie. One theme is innocence. An obvious example is that she's young, but there's also the innocence of guilt. Throughout the film, the man, no matter what he does, keeps insisting to himself that he is a decent, good man. The story he tells in the kitchen also pulls at your heartstrings a bit. This movie definitely messes with you!
Another theme has to do with deception. As mentioned before, there was the deception of faces lying, but there's also the deception of the internet. When you go on the internet, you can transform into anyone you want to be...but how honest is that image? Also revealed are the deceptive means pedophiles use to lure their victims as well as the deceptive means victims use to free themselves from their captors.
I was impressed with the imagery in this film. I just like little details here and there, like the way the window blinds moved, kind of like the shutter of a camera. A real good scene was when he stabbed the photo of a young woman he photographed...but most telling was WHERE on the picture he stabbed her. I also like the scene that's the first turning point in the film. He's sitting on the couch, the scene goes a little blurry and you see something you're not quite sure if you saw right...and then the plot twist comes and you're taken on an edge-of-your-seat roller coaster ride.
The audience will need to practice some suspension of disbelief to enjoy this movie and if they can do that, this movie won't disappoint. The performances are fair on Ellen Page's part (she tends to overact in some parts) and excellent on the male lead's part. I was extremely impressed with his performance. Overall, loved this diabolical, clever and twistedly funny movie.』
(Paint a picture, take a portrait (contains spoilers)) 『Only in your heart do you believe everything that is true is real.
For others, they don't believe a single thing you know.
You know why?
Because THEY know.
In a world where technology and the internet seem to be able to hide everything we do, people think they can cover their traps by destroying their hard drive or burning their film. To a degree, it can be true--a hard drive full of pictures explodes and it's highly unlikely you'll ever get back; burn the film and it's gone forever, dust particles in the air as the last remnants of a dirty secret slowly turns to nothing.
In HARD CANDY, we learn one man's deadly secret... and one girl's desire to uproot it.
Hailey Stark is your average fourteen-your-old girl. She's cute, innocent, smart, and as charming as she can be. But when she meets thirty-year-old photographer Jeff Kohlver over the internet, she's got more planned than just a 'simple meeting.' After Jeff takes her to his home for an impromptu photoshoot, things steadily start to turn around as Jeff starts slurring his words. As Hailey continuously begs Jeff to 'shoot her,' his world slowly begins to blur...
... and thus, the game is turned upside down.
HARD CANDY is a movie unlike any I have seen in recent history. This psychological thriller could be compared to the grotesque, often-suspenseful SAW franchise, as well as several others in recent history. What's different about HARD CANDY, you ask?
For starts, it deals with a heavy subject--child pornography, a taboo subject you can rarely begin to whisper about without causing some kind of uproar. We've all heard and seen what it's all about, men and women who find themselves carnally attracted to innocent, often prepubescent children. But what do we NOT know about them? Their schemes, their lies, their 'she asked for it' excuses--they're all a ploy on their behalf, an excuse to get out of something they believe they didn't do wrong.
In the end, everyone knows what's wrong.
So does Hailey.
As the movie slowly begins to drag on, we begin to learn that Hailey knows a lot more than is expected. For one, she knows about Donna, the girl who's missing; and for two, she knows about Janelle, the girl Jeff obsesses over to the point of keeping letters, pictures, and even more incriminating evidence. What's originally thought of as a 'casual, albeit disturbing' meeting quickly turns into a torture session involving one little girl and the man she knows who did something wrong.
HARD CANDY is definitely an entertaining movie--I'll say that before I even begin to cut into the pros and cons of the film. It's suspenseful, psychological, entertaining; it's all these things and more, yet the true impact behind the movie is what's buried within the roots. While the film broadcasts itself as a 'psychological thriller,' I see HARD CANDY as a thinking person's movie, as well as a film with an amazing cast.
PROS:
-- The main actors. Both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson do an amazing job feeding off one another from the moment the film begins to the moment it ends. As someone who has only seen Page in one previous movie, I was surprised how easily (and how successfully) she could transition from being a cute, innocent girl to something more than that. Wilson plays a perfect terrified victim. I think the best part about the movie is the cast. Although small (limited to only five characters,) each and every actor pulled their rolls off greatly.
-- The suspense. There wasn't a moment where I WASN'T on the edge of my seat during this movie.
-- The dialogue and interaction. As I mentioned with the main actors, the way Page and Wilson work off one another is amazing to watch. An innocent victim, a psychological nutcase--this is how I'd see a scenario like this playing out.
Sadly, though, there are a few things I picked up on when watching HARD CANDY.
CONS:
-- The castration scene. It didn't necessarily bother me in the sense that I felt it was unnecessary (because in a plot and story like this is, it was completely necessary,) but in the sense of how it was executed. When Hailey begins the castration process, we notice Jeff is in pain, but not expressing his pain in a way the viewer would expect. Up until that point, he was screaming over mundane (if still extreme) details, but when he's being castrated, he simply lays there, grits his teeth, and sweats. I can contribute this to shock, but it surprised me to hear that Jeff wasn't screaming even a little bit.
-- The 'clean up.' There were several points during the movie when Hailey is cleaning herself up that she completely ignores the obvious things that could get her caught (mainly the point in which she walks through the house soaking-wet.) I can only assume that she had wet shoes after she dragged Jeff into the shower. Maybe it's just me (or maybe it helps contribute to Hailey's selfless want to destroy someone she hates,) but regardless, it's one part of Hailey's character that can be questioned to the point of redundancy.
Despite its extremely-minor flaws, HARD CANDY is an amazing movie. Wilson and Page are superb, the story (though slightly underdeveloped) is captivating, and the suspense keeps you on the end of your seat until the movie's finally over. A definite watch for any horror/suspense fan.』
(Edge of your seat...) 『A terrific movie with equally terrific actors. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Ellen Page was perfect for this role before her sweet role in Juno.』
(Interesting and dark movie) 『I thought the plot of the movie was weird, but the performances were amazing. I also enjoyed the look of the movie and the way it was directed; very interesting and suspenseful. I would say it is perhaps better as a rental than one to own because I doubt I'll ever be compelled to watch it again, but it was worth watching once since Ellen Page is excellent in it.』 『The supercharged possibilities of a single set and two amped-up actors are explored inHard Candy, a twisted cocktail with a poison kicker. After a flirtatious encounter in an online chat room, two people agree to meet for coffee: a 32-year-old man (Patrick Wilson) and a 14-year-old girl (Ellen Page). They quickly advance to his house, and just as quickly, the apparent pedophilic seduction morphs into something else entirely. After the tables turn,Hard Candybecomes a tale of revenge and torture that might have tempted a filmmaker like Park Chanwook. Here, first-time feature director David Slade opts for a slick look that stays close to the actors, and you can't really blame him--this movie is like a conceptual, more-than-slightly unbelievable off-Broadway play, a showcase for actors and "controversial" ideas. Those actors are strong: Patrick Wilson (Angels in America,Phantom of the Opera) is every bit as creepy as he needs to be, and Ellen Page has nothing short of a triumph. The Canadian actress was around 18 when she shot the film, but looks like an adolescent, which makes her authoritative wrath all the more shocking to witness. The provocations ofHard Candysometimes seem arbitrary or forced, but Page's electrifying performance can't be denied, or dismissed.--Robert Horton』 『HARD CANDY (DVD MOVIE)』
price：$1.49
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Karloff Classic!) 『For good old-fashioned Universal horror, get yourself wrapped up in Karl Freund's directoral debut with The Mummy (1932). Filmed in delicious black&white, ever so proper British archeologists are complaining all they found was this mummy (Imhotep) who reclined relaxedly (and dead) in the background.
When the inevitable assistant opens the little box with a curse on it, all sand breaks loose!
Ten years later, we learn that Imhotep has acclimated to Cairo society and is still searching for his timeless love, Princess Anck-es-en-Amon of the 18th Dynasty (there's a quiz after this review, OK??).
Lots of similarities to Dracula, Universal's earlier horror film, mainly because the scriptwriter who collaborated on Dracula also did the same with The Mummy: talismans (cross&amulets), hypnotic power (vampires and mummies can do both) and other such supernatural thrillers. And the actor who played Van Helsing in Dracula also appears as an Egyptian occult expert, Dr. Muller, in this film (Edward Van Sloan).
This rented disc is part of the incredible Universal collection and I highly recommend you pick this up. The disc I had included "Mummy Dearest", an excellent portrayal of the Mummy pictures over the years, the incredibly poor sequels and the inevitable fate of all Universal monsters: a meeting with Abbott&Costello!
The flashback sequence was very well-made: the mists of time part as we stare into the pool that transcends time and space. It played like a silent film, haunting music and suspense. Incredible music!
We learn that the film originally had many other scenes of our leading lady being reincarnated at different historical periods: Vikings, Crusades, and so on. But they cut all that out to make the picture go at a quicker pace: smart move in my opinion.
I pray to Osiris that you pick this DVD up soon!
Others to Pick Up Today!
Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life The Boris Karloff Collection (Tower of London / The Black Castle / The Climax / The Strange Door / Night Key) The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)』
(Uncanny?....Hell yes!!!) 『Karloff the Uncanny lives up to his name with this bone chilling portrayal. He is absolutely superb, and the wonderful supporting cast makes this gem a must-see. The modern remake can't compare. Buy it!!!!』
("No man ever suffered as I did for you"--Imhotep to Princess Ankh-es-en-amon) 『I liked the Universal Legacy edition of "Dracula" so much, I got the same issue of "The Mummy" as well. The packaging on my copy is slightly improved with the DVD content info printed on the back cover rather than on a sheet glued to the cover. Although I am still impressed by all the extras on this edition, the extras are not as good as the ones on "Dracula," so I am dropping a star. The two films are actually quite similar. From the identical opening music to the almost parallel storyline. Edward Van Sloan and David Manners are in both films and play the same type of roles (Manners playing the romantic love interest who falls for the woman who is under the spell of the "monster" and Van Sloan as the professor who observes and understands what is going on and confronts the "monster"). One difference in "The Mummy" is that, though Dracula is evil on all accounts, Imhotep is a rather sentimental figure. He is a murderer, but his brutality is a means to reuniting with the woman for whom he sacrificed his life 1,000s of years earlier. He was just a mummy in love (Karloff, in his scenes with Zita Johann, definitely plays the role as such).
I will focus on the extras offered on this 2-DVD set, as most people who are interested in this release have already seen the film. Like with the "Dracula" issue, You can watch "The Mummy" with two different commentaries. The first commentary includes Rick Baker (makeup man), Scott Essman (horror film researcher), Steve Haberman (screenwriter, film historian), Bob Burns (film buff), and Brent Armstrong (sculptor). Baker speaks by himself in a separate commentary during the famous mummy awakening scene. He finds a lot of inconsistencies in the film and admits to not liking it much, although he is a fan of the makeup techniques used. The others talk together in a more conversational style. This group does not always follow the scenes. They talk about other films and heap praise on the players. I find it the most interesting when they discuss scenes and the film itself. Armstrong points out Imhotep's wrinkled face and theorizes that the intent was to show that the bandages had replaced his skin. Another thing I would not have noticed was the rear projection used in the cab scene. I thought the Universal horror films as a metaphor for the Great Depression idea was a bit stretching it, though. At the end of the commentary, they go off praising this and that. I found this commentary interesting but, with all the people involved, it could have been better.
The second commentary is by film historian Paul M. Jensen. Like Steve Haberman's commentary for "Dracula," Jensen reads through prepared notes. Sometimes he's describing scenes and other times he is giving backgrounds of the players and crew. At one point, he describes Putnam's Cagliostro. He gives intriguing information on the discarded scenes. While I liked this commentary, neither ones on this set are as good as David Skal's on "Dracula."
Also on the first disc are a collection of lobby cards and stills (including some from discarded scenes) and a trailer gallery of the many Mummy sequels. "Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed" is a documentary on the making of the film. I like the photos of Karloff having his makeup applied. There is a lot of info on Zita Johann, who clashed with director Karl Freund, and her occultist beliefs. It compares the film to "Dracula" and talks about the other mummy films. It runs 30 minutes.
On the second disc are three documentaries. The first is "He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce." This documentary discusses Pierce's work on the films "Frakenstein," "The Mummy," "The Black Cat," "Bride of Frakenstein," "Son of Frakenstein," and "The Wolf Man." I found it very interesting how Frakenstein evolved through the films and the revelation on how one side of his face caved in. I wished they discussed Pierce's techniques for "The Man Who Laughs." I've wondered how they kept Conrad Veidt's mouth curled up. It looks very painful. The documentary concludes with the sad way Pierce was let go from Universal, how he lived the rest of his life in relative obscurity, and his legacy. It is 25 minutes long. "Unraveling the Legacy of the Mummy" is a bunch of action scenes from the Brendan Fraser films with interview clips from the cast and crew (8 minutes). "Universal Horror" is the same documentary that was on the "Dracula" DVD set (probably on "Frakenstein," too). It is excellent, though. The rather lengthy documentary covers many of the scary films put out by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s and includes freaky scenes from such films as "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Man Who Laughs," "The Black Cat," etc. I liked the inclusion of scenes from early silents. It also reveals secrets to special effects found in "King Kong," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "The Invisible Man." Film historians who were kids back in the day talk about what these films meant to them and the reactions of audiences at the time. Bela Lugosi Jr. talks about his famous father in several clips in this documentary. I've seen it three times and will probably watch it again.』
(Long Live the Walking Dead) 『The Mummy is one hour and thirteen minutes long and was released on December 22, 1932. The Boris Karloff's mummy is seen only on screen for about eight minutes and only about a minute of him coming alive and stealing the sacred scroll. The rest of the movie he is Ardath Bey; Imhotep brought back to life. Imhotep\Ardath Bey helps some archaeologists find the burial site of Princess Ankh-es-en-amon. His real intentions are to bring the Princess Ankh-es-en-amon back to life so they can be together forever. Princess Ankh-es-en-amon has taken the soul of Helen Grosvenor. So throughout the movie he is trying to bring Helen Grosvenor to the museum and change her into his Princess Ankh-es-en-amon. The movie flows along well into you get to about five minutes to the end and turns almost south. They could have done a better ending. The Mummy relies on suspense since the horror is minimal at best. Still this deserves an A-.』
(A rousing good tale told in creepy style) 『Ah, "The Mummy" on Halloween night! What could be better? My brother and I, now aging boomers, were allowed as children the special treat to stay up on Friday nights to watch Horror Theater (or whatever it was called) and scare ourselves silly. This was in the late '50's. "The Mummy" was a favorite, so when I found this VHS tape in the library, I took it home for Halloween.
After a couple of hours of Trick or Treating, the three children were ready to go home. We put on the movie, expecting magic to revisit. Their grandfather (my brother) and I expected to pass on a tradition. We really thought the nine-year-old boy would delight in the movie. He loves things like this. However, it was too slow for him--he fell asleep soon into the movie, as did the other two children.
That left my brother and me to stroll down Memory Lane with the Mummmy! It wasn't the same story we both remembered. We had the notion of lots of wrappings with the mummy walking all over the place with arms outstretched and killing people. Another reviewer said this wasn't "The Mummy" he saw either. Probably a sequel.
Let's return to the reality of the story. We discovered how faulty our memories are. However, the film did surprise us with what was there.
In the 1920's when the discovery of the Tutankhamun tomb was the rage, three other English archaeologists were certain to make a find. Indeed, they did--an ancient sarcophagus with a box attached: Do not open this coffin upon threat of death. Two are wise enough to discuss it. The third cannot control his eagerness and opens it. In a few minutes the mummy is mysteriously wrought to life, and sidles out the door. The archaeologist witnesses this and goes stark raving insane. A chilling scene. The viewer sees only a piece of wrapping sliding out of sight--the only view we get of a newly awakened corpse. Then the hysterical laughing. Everything is always just out of sight. A suggestion of evil. A suggestion of terror. A scream.
The mummy comes back as an Egyptian attached somehow to the museum. It's Boris Karlof in a dark role. Why no one was not creeped out by his persona is beyond me. Bring in the the son of one of the original three archaeologists and the daughter of the museum director and you have a triangle about to happen. Karlof's mummy/man believes she is the reincarnation of his beloved temple virgin from back in the day. He is determined to take her back and almost succeeds.
Today's filming shows all and then some. Old films like this tell the story with suggestion, little nuances, creating creepy atmosphere and mood. As I watched, I slipped in and out of sleep. In one dream sequence I was in the movie, going down one of the underground passages. Only in my dream I rounded the bend to see what veiwers could hear. Black-clad, wispy creatures were stirring around a walking, stalking mummy. I fell on the rocks, they turned toward me. Of course, I awoke, further creeped out.
A successful movie-- "The Mummy"--even now!』 『After being uncovered by archaeologists on a dig in egypt a 3700 year old mummy comes to life&attempts to revive his lost love. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 07/08/2008 Starring: Boris Karloff David Manners Run time: 74 minutes Rating: Nr』 『You have to hand it to the walking dead. What they lack in speed and agility, they more than make up for in sheer single-minded determination. Im-Ho-Tep is a case in point. He's an ancient Egyptian priest, cursed for his terrible crimes against the gods. A team of British archaeologists digs up his sarcophagus, along with a box inscribed with a warning that opening it will unleash death and destruction. You'll never guess what they do. Once freed, Im-Ho-Tep takes on the appropriately evil alias Ardath Bey and gets to the task of resurrecting his ancient lover--which will, of course, require a living human surrogate. While the premise may sound formulaic,The Mummyin fact turns out to be bracingly weird, relying on atmospheric creepiness rather than on jump-out-and-scare-you effects. Boris Karloff gives a terrific performance as Im-Ho-Tep. He has all the malevolence the film requires, but also manages subtler touches; the expression in his eyes as he is wrapped in preparation for being buried alive is absolutely chilling. Instead of forcing him to do all the tedious shambling around that so many mummies resort to, the filmmakers have wisely given Im-Ho-Tep/Ardath Bey a nearly living appearance once he's cleaned up and has a few psychic powers to boot, making him a potent adversary. Stock up on ace bandages and prepare for a good spooky evening.--Ali Davis』
price：$4.49
DVD)
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Tony Manero realizes spilling gravy on his shirt isn't his worst fear) 『Here we are with Octoberfest horror film review number 11. As we've been consistently trying to switch it up between great horror, average horror, awful b, slashers, creatures, and classics we landed on Carrie which is well loved in the horror community. Surprisingly the old boy Sid and his many years of watching flicks has never seen Carrie. Really no reason behind it, guess it's just one of those that never made it on the priority list despite it's popularity. When it appeared on a movie channel the other night we figured we are due for a classic and might as well give Carrie a run.
Carrie had a star studded cast lead by Mr. Saturday Night Fever himself John Travolta, Sissy Spacek, and P.J Soles (the "see anything you like?" chick from Halloween)who was just as annoying/hot in this one too. Since it's so popular here goes the standard brief Sid description; Carry White is the shy quiet girl in high school that nobody talks to. After getting her um..time of the month issue in the shower at school she's teased non-stop by the usual high school goons and hot chicks. The kids wind up getting in trouble and decide to take things out on Carrie when she goes to the Prom with jock Tommy Ross. Only problem is Carrie is a real mixer, a king mixer! She winds up getting some hardcore revenge with her telepathic powers.
For Sid Carrie was a really solid flick, but not one that would offer anything more then the one time watch. Yes it was good, and yes it's a classic, but it just wasn't something we could do again and again like Halloween. It was nice to finally get it under our belt though since it comes with the utmost regard. Plus it's always nice to mix the horror genre up with all different decades and the 70's is one of the best. It does have that great gritty 70's feel that's a Sid favorite. Certainly one we would recommend to check out if you haven't already and probably one we would've liked back in the glory days. We sure Santa probably loves it.
』
(Carrie) 『Carrie (Speical Edition)
The movie is considered a classic. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't call it one of my all-time favorite horror movies. I did notice a few problems with the speical edition dvd, I dont know if other people have the same problem with this dvd
When the woman tells the gym teacher to shove it up her...and that's it. This is the first time viewing the film and do not know if it's like that in the original version or this is a screw up. I think it is because the gym teacher got really mad hahahaha.
When the three guys are picking out tuxedo's, it quickly goes into Alvin and The Chipmunk mode for a brief few seconds. That has to be a dvd error and not apart of the original film.
That's the two problems I had with the movie but other then that, it was enjoyable.』
(horror classic) 『i was very happy with my purchase. i received this item very fast and no problems. i am very satisfied.』
("Sissy Spacek Is Unforgettable!") 『Sissy Spacek won a well deserved Oscar nomination as Best Actress for her portrayal as a shy teenager with powers of telekinesis who is harrassed by her classmates in "Carrie". This nomination is unheard of as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rarely acknowledges performances in horror films. "Carrie" is based on the splendid Stephen King novel and also stars John Travolta in one of his first films. Piper Laurie gives a blood chilling performance as Carrie's mother, a Bible -thumping woman who demands her daughter live a celibate and isolated life. The DVD is beautiful and comes with a collectible booklet featuring info on the film. Also included is a featurette featuring interviews with Spacek and others, an animated photo gallery, theatrical trailer, and an interview with director Brian DePalma. French and english subtitles are included with a running time of 1 hour and 38 minutes. "Carrie" spawned a sequel in 1999 called "Carrie 2" and a remake of the film was adapted for television on NBC in 2002.』
(Essential Viewing) 『In league with 'The Shining', 'Cujo', and so on. A 70s masterpiece in the horror genre. It is relentless in scary psychological undertones that play on the emotions, sympathy as much as terror and wonder. Sissy Spacek is dynomite. The filming is dynomite as well with touches of the 70s that you make you wonder how you survived this era. Truly creepy but a very interesting drama as well. Beauty and terror ride high in this feat by Brian DePalma - and the mind of Stephen King.』 『This terrifying adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling horror novel was directed by shock maestro Brian De Palma for maximum, no-holds-barred effect. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie White, the beleaguered daughter of a religious kook (Piper Laurie) and a social outcast tormented by her cruel, insensitive classmates. When her rage turns into telekinetic powers, however, school's out in every sense of the word. De Palma's horrific climax in a school gym lingers forever in the memory, though the film is also built upon Spacek's remarkable performance and Piper Laurie's outlandishly creepy one. John Travolta has a small part as a thug, De Palma's future wife, Nancy Allen, is his girlfriend, and Amy Irving makes her screen debut as one of the girls giving Carrie a hard time.--Tom Keogh』 『Movie DVD』
price：$2.20
St. Martin's Griffin
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Not Free SF Reader) 『This volume is considerably better than the year before, upping the average to 3.39.
The introduction going over fantasy and horror media is over 100 pages. The bizarre thing is that they shortened the anime/manga section, yet still have space for a music column that talks about world music? If horror, etc., where is all the metal or goth music, etc. It is fine if de Lint likes that stuff, but a complete waste of space and pretty much zero relevance to fantasy and horror fiction interest for most of it. So apart from not being relevant, it isn't even thorough and not relevant, presumably because he doesn't listen to that sort of range. Pretty sure Vinge's column that would talk about written material partly, would certainly be of more interest. It certainly was a high point last year.
In general, the horror content is rather stronger than the fantasy - in some cases it appears that all the editors liked a story, as all their initials are on the story intro. They do mention the breakdowns of horror and fantasy on their own websites - but no mention of urls or indications in tables of contents which they consider which. Is this done to keep people happy to claim one of the other story as a particular genre? Dunno. Odd. Same thing with books that are SF and Fantasy seems to happen, though, so must be some reason.
I'd probably go as far as calling this book a 4.25, perhaps.
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Walpurgis Afternoon - Delia Sherman Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Mushroom Duchess - Deborah Roggie Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : An Incident at Agate Beach - Marly Youmans Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Among the Tombs - Reggie Oliver Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : American Morons - Glen Hirshberg Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Shallaballah - Mark Samuels Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Denial - Bruce Sterling Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Northwest Passage - Barbara Roden Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Proboscis - Laird Barron Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Kronia - Elizabeth Hand Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Follow Me Light - Elizabeth Bear Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Boatman's Holiday - Jeffrey Ford Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Horse of a Different Color (That You Rode in On) - Howard Waldrop Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Where Angels Come In (M.R. James) - Adam L. G. Nevill Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Twilight States - Albert E. Cowdrey Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Last Ten Years in the Life of Hero Kai - Geoff Ryman Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Souls of Drowning Mountain - Jack Cady Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Last One - Robert Coover Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Ball Room - China Mieville and Emma Bircham and Max Schaefer Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Vacation - Daniel Wallace Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Cruel Sistah - Nisi Shawl Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Ding-Dong Bell - Jay Russell Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Case Study of Emergency Room Procedure and Risk Management by Hospital Staff Members in the Urban Facility - Stacey Richter Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Scribble Mind - Jeffrey Ford Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Scarecrow - Tom Brennan Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Going the Jerusalem Mile - Chaz Brenchley Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Boman - Pentti Holappa Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Machine of a Religious Man - Ralph Robert Moore Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Hot Potting - Chuck Palahniuk Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : My Father's Mask - Joe Hill Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Guggenheim Lovers - Isabel Allende Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : A Statement in the Case - Theodora Goss Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : Pavement Artist - Dave Hutchinson Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 19 : The Gypsies in the Wood - Kim Newman
Witchiness good for gardens.
3.5 out of 5
Fungus tea bogeywoman.
3.5 out of 5
Stone dead hubby.
3 out of 5
Potty woman's possession problem.
3.5 out of 5
Dirtwritten yankee sacrifice.
4 out of 5
Celebrity puppet hanger.
4 out of 5
We're dead, stupid.
3.5 out of 5
You don't know Jack about hills having eyes.
4 out of 5
Bounty hunter mound terror.
4 out of 5
Bike bingle backstory breakdown.
3.5 out of 5
Lawyers, and a family that is definitely fishier than they seem.
3 out of 5
Contrary to the advice of the sage Accadacca, Hell Is A Bad Place To Be. Generally. Barring sneaky loopholes.
3.5 out of 5
Vaudeville secrets.
4 out of 5
Trespassing reduction.
2.5 out of 5
Pulp pig punishment.
4 out of 5
Monky magic.
3 out of 5
Mine dead destruction.
3.5 out of 5
Toy blokes.
3 out of 5
A man walked into a bar. He hoped it wasn't full of chicken murdering maniacs.
2.5 out of 5
Mallet head wigs me out.
3 out of 5
Directing depraved relative death.
4 out of 5
Speed Princess.
3.5 out of 5
Birth pattern.
3.5 out of 5
Wrong example.
3 out of 5
Barren maze.
3 out of 5
Training humans is dull, makes you flighty.
3 out of 5
Ice crackup relative death joining moocow assist.
3 out of 5
Boiled people do smell a lot like bacon.
4 out of 5
Just forget your old man, kid.
3.5 out of 5
Museum sneak shagging security surprise.
3 out of 5
Burning the weird beasts.
2.5 out of 5
Stay away from me, cracker.
3.5 out of 5
A Diogenes Club investigation for Charles with Kate's help, into some changeling goings on and disappearances.
4 out of 5 』
(Weak) 『I enjoyed the selections made in the past by Windling and Datlow, they have truly opened my eyes to many writers that I would never have considered reading and even one story that I still gives me nightmares! These compilations were always great for assisting me in locating books written by up and coming authors and their recommendations are generally dead on....however, since the series has added two new editors the quality of stories has dropped dramatically. Gone are the truly scary and wonderous stories of previous additions. I keep buying and hoping that the series improves and I can once again rely on it as a solid anthology.』
(A must-have, must-read anthology) 『THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR 2006: Nineteenth Annual Edition, edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link, and Gavin J. Grant, is a tour de force of writing talent no fan of fantasy should pass-up. The horror is especially horrific, and the fantasy whimsical, albeit there is a fine line drawn here between the two genres. I am admittedly a horror story addict and will hunt down the dark stuff first off, which I did with this anthology; however, it was not long before I realized that much of the fantasy had dark underpinnings too. I found myself jumping all over the book in a mad rush to read this story and that one because they were all so good.
The book kicks-off with Delia Sherman's light-hearted fantasy about witches in "Walpurgis Afternoon," and finishes with Kim Newman's darkly fantastic novelette, "The Gypsies in the Wood." In between these were standouts "Proboscis" by Laird Barron, "An Incident at Agate Beach" by Marley Youmans, "Among the Tombs" by Reggie Oliver, "Northwest Passage" by Barbara Roden, "American Morons" by Glen Hirshberg, "Follow Me Light" by Elizabeth Bear (this story made me think of Dagon), "Scarecrow" by Tom Brennan, "My Father's Mask" by Joe Hill (outstanding!). The table of contents goes on and on with standouts, reflecting masterful storytelling at its best from all. The authors are as follows, with the exception of those already mentioned:
Deborah Roggie Jennifer Chang Mark Samuels Sarah Monette Bruce Sterling Elizabeth Hand Kelly Everding Jeffrey Ford Howard Waldrop Adam L. G. Nevill Albert E. Cowdrey Andrew Bonia Geoff Ryman Jack Cady Robert Coover China Miéville, Emma Bircham, and Max Schäfer Theodora Goss Daniel Wallace Nisi Shawl Jay Russell Stacey Richter Chaz Brenchley Willa Schneberg Pentti Holappa Ralph Robert Moore Chuck Palahniuk Isabel Allende Dave Hutchinson
A line-up of authors whose stories will keep you engaged ... highly recommended reading! 』
(excellent anthology) 『The nineteenth annual fantasy and horror collection of forty tales is as always consists of top selections accompanied by seven essays. In the fantasy summation, Kelly Link and Gavin Grant point out that there were many fewer genre anthologies than normal, but that they still had too many strong entries to choose from. Ellen Datlow, on the other hand, felt that the horror genre had an increase in terms of magazines and anthologies to select from, insisting she could have filled three books this year with quality tales. As always the inclusions (from both genres) run the table in terms of themes and format. Fans receive a taste of what happened in 2005, especially how wide the genres have become. There are also treatises on media ("horror does better during Republican administrations"), graphic novels, anime and manga, music, and obits in a year in which superstars Andre Norton and Will Eisner, etc. passed away. Though this reviewer enjoys the articles that summarize 2005, it is once again the included tales that make this compilation from famous, almost famous and the newbies a sure shot at award nomination time as this is an excellent entry in one of the superior, if not the best, annual collections.
』 『
For nearly two decades, readers have turned toThe Yearâs Best Fantasy and Horrorto find the most rewarding fantastic short stories. Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link, and Gavin Grant continue this critically acclaimed and award-winning tradition with another stunning collection of stories. The fiction and poetry here is culled from an exhaustive survey of the field, nearly four dozen works ranging from fairy tales to gothic horror, from magic realism to dark tales in the Grand Guignol style. Rounding out the volume are the editorsâ invaluable overviews of the year in fantasy and horror, and sections on graphic novels, by Charles Vess; on anime and manga, by Joan D. Vinge; on media, by Ed Bryant; and on music, by Charles de Lint. With a long list of Honorable Mentions, this is an indispensable reference as well as the best reading available in fantasy and horror.
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (good plot, irritating family) 『Melody travels alone to LA to track down her allegedly dead mother, and her disillusionment made for a good realistic read. I was also horrified by the secret revealed about Laura at the end of the book. Good plot, but I found most of the female characters irritating. Dorothy lived in a fantasy world, Haille was unbelievably selfish and irresponsible, and Grandma Olivia had a stone where a heart should have been. Sara was sweet but so wishy-washy. And no matter how kind Holly was, she shouldn't have tried to sway Melody from tradition with her stupid crystals and astrology. But Carey and May were such stable, loveable characters when Melody needed them most, and Melody herself showed real growth.』
(alittle different.....) 『So i just finished this book last night, this book was a little different from the norm. I must admit i had a vc andrews falling out, After i read Dawn and Heaven i was so sick of the characters dying. But i gave Ruby a shot and then Melody, Even though these books were published years ago i still keep to the order. Melody was a good book, not my fav but enough to make me read heart song and unfinished symphony. I was not aware that this was the last book for Melody, The GW wrapped up everything so quickly. Everyone thought in the book that Melody should stop digging in the past and go on with her future, and yet the GW didnt write her one, only a possible direction. Maybe he got alittle bored with her, like i did. I thought the Laura thing was going to be way better, i hoped they would have rescued her from the institution and started a new story, Perhaps its for the best that they didnt. Im not sure if i want to read the next book, i think i know enough about Cary and Laura, but me knowing myself i will because im a sucker. I cant wait to read Olivia though, When i first read Flowers, i hated the grandmother Olivia, but when i read Garden of Shadows i fell in love with her character. Im hoping its almost the same. Although no one can replace the one and only Olivia Foxworth!!!』
(Nice) 『This is a ery good climax to the stroy of Melody Logan. She finally soars off the California to find her actress mother, who apparentlly staged her death. She goes through some strange trials in the Hollywood scene. Like alomost appearing in a stagg film. Near the end of the book, the secret of Laura Logan is revealed.』
(good.....not great) 『Becoming accustomed to V.C. Andrews wonderful works has left me a bit disappointed in this book. Although I did enjoy it I didn't think that this was the best of this authors long time legacy. I was introduced to this author by my Mother and having read nearly every book written by her and her ghostwriter, I must express my disappointment. However I do look forward to reading the other great books to be writted in the future by Andrews.』
(Surprising!) 『Pretty surprising, the father, I didn't even think about him!』 『Melody Logan had only just found a safe harbor when a new storm set her adrift all over again....
Melody had always believed her mother, Haille, and dear stepdaddy had died in tragic accidents -- that's why she'd come to stay with her secretive Logan relatives on Cape Cod. But then a friend recognized Haille's picture in a catalog and kindled Melody's hopes. Maybe her mother hadn't perished in a fire in California after all, but was in some desperate trouble that kept her out of reach....
Melody's dream of finding her mother seemed as flimsy as the scrap of paper that was her only clue. And despite the pampered life Melody was offered as a guest in a Beverly Hills mansion, nothing could soften the blow of the moment she stood face-to-face with her mother and saw her eyes turn dark and cold as stones. Melody knew there must be a reason why her mother pretended at first not to recognize her -- and why she'd even faked her own death. Though Melody's beloved Cary beckoned from Cape Cod, she felt in her heart that her mother needed her now more than ever. And beneath her mother's unkept promises and tattered fantasies, Melody hoped to unearth the truth about her own past, and find her way to a safer, better place...where she could embrace a bright new future of her own.』
price：$28.95
Wildside Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Horror Classic) 『This classic short novel of a female vampire, set in the mid 1700's or early 1800's, is the basis for many horror films, most notably " The Vampire Lovers. A true classic and required reading for anyone into horror. How nice it is to have in a hardback edition. However, the cover of the book is a blank black and not the color cover advertised. At least the one I got was blank. This is a minor criticism though.』 『Carmillais the book that set the text forDracula,that threw the light on our morbid fascination with the vampire legend. This isCarmilla,J. Sheridan LeFanu's classic novel of blood, terror -- and a love that dare not speak its name.』
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>,Hugh Marlowe,Joan Taylor,Donald Curtis,Morris Ankrum,John Zaremba
