Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Looks Like They Shot This Last Week!!! Awesome!) 『Usually not one of my favorites of Steven Spielberg and don't ask me why. But this remastered Blu-ray looks and sounds fantastic! Also you get all 3 versions of the film to choose from. A must for any Spielberg fan and the quality is all there. One of the best Blu-ray's out there bar none!』
("WE ARE NOT ALONE") 『"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is Steven Spielberg's 1977 blockbuster that examines how a man's life is changed forever when he realizes through a series of unexplained events that other beings exist in the universe. Roy Neary, played by Richard Dreyfuss, is a happy family man when, one night, a spaceship flys over him in his truck. This leads him to investigate the incident, with him ultimately losing everything he has, including his family; his investigation becomes a compulsion that even he can't control. The movie was one of the biggest blockbusters of the 1970's and is the best film that explores aliens and the unknown. This beautiful 2 disc DVD set is loaded with extras including interviews with Dreyfuss and Spielberg, 11 deleted scenes, a making-of documentary, a 1977 featurette called "Watching The Skies", plus much more. Rona Barrett from ABC said the film is "brilliant and nothing short of a masterpiece".』
(This movie is a classic...) 『When this movie was made Steven Spielberg knew exactly what he was doing when he had this movie made it is brilliant and very well done all of the special effects trick photography, as well as the storyline and everything else when everyone sees the UFO's and they are wondering what is going on and so on is also great so of course I say that is movie is very well done and it is definitely indeed a classic and if you watch this movie with your kids cause this is what I reccomend you do so that kids will get an idea of what this movie is about and you can explain it to them cause this movie has a mature rating but the adults can watch this movie with their kids and it will be enjoyed by all who watch. So this move is indeed a great spectacular movie that everyone will enjoy. I highly recommend you buy it and share it will all of the people that you love.』
(A timeless classic !! Very entertaining and interesting to watch !) 『Still a classic movie and fun to watch after all these years. Sure, there are some parts that are a little "goofy", but since we really haven't made first contact yet,(that we know of)we really don't know what to expect. Lets just hope they're as friendly as the ones in the movie !
A big thumbs up from me !!』
(Who contacts who) 『This is another one of Spielberg's gems.See who actually made the contact,those shy aliens.Situations like this keep you guessing.But Spielberg was no fraud when it came to science fiction classic's.Would you have the guts to actually contact the alien,or perhaps get someone to do it for you.We would see then wouldn't we.Who has the answers huh,with all those advances those aliens had,they have nothing to fear.I dont think i would walk onto a spaceship with one,would you? You should look into this,it's actually a great package.』 『Anybody who has written him off because of his string of stinkers--or anybody who's too young to rememberThe Goodbye Girl--may be shocked at the accomplishment and nuance of Richard Dreyfuss's performance inClose Encounters of the Third Kind. Here, he plays a man possessed; contacted by aliens, he (along with other members of the "chosen") is drawn toward the site of the incipient landing: Devil's Tower, in rural Wyoming. As in many Spielberg films, there are no personalized enemies; the struggle is between those who have been called and a scientific establishment that seeks to protect them by keeping them away from the arriving spacecraft. The ship, and the special effects in general, are every bit as jaw-dropping on the small screen as they were in the theater (well, almost). Released in 1977 as a cerebral alternative to the swashbuckling science fiction epics then in vogue,Close Encountersnow seems almost wholesome in its representation of alien contact and interested less in philosophizing about extraterrestrials than it is in examining the nature of the inner "call." Ultimately a motion picture about the obsession of the driven artist or determined visionary,Close Encounterscomes complete with the stock Spielberg wives and girlfriends who seek to tether the dreamy, possessed protagonists to the more mundane concerns of the everyday. So a spectacular, seminal motion picture indeed, but one with gender politics that are all too terrestrial.--Miles Bethany』 『The Collector's Edition (CE) represents Steven Spielberg's third version ofClose Encounters. Created in 1998, this sequence contains most of the judicial edits made for the Special Edition (SE) in 1980, speeding up Roy Neary's first contact with the UFOs and adding a scene of a discovery in the Mongolian desert. The Collector's Edition also reinstates the comical madness of Neary tearing up his own front yard, replaced in the SE by a scene where he breaks down in the shower; both scenes are restored in the CE. The SE's revised ending, featuring an extended scene inside the mothership is deleted.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Be prepared for emotions) 『This movie is plain sad - and, I don't mean the movie in general - this is a {Class A} Godzilla movie, however, the only Godzilla movie that brought me to tears. Yes, I know it is only a movie, and Godzilla is just a man in a rubber suit - but, still... the ending sequence of the movie, where a flock of birds are made to lure poor Godzilla into a volcano, to supposedly die, well, it's just damn heart-wrenching!!! I swear, I cry every time at the end, and of course the ending music's sad as well, just makes it hard not to cry. Yes, I'm a 37 year old woman, and I cry to a dang Godzilla movie - so, I can't help it. The only other movie that makes me cry is at the ending of Dot and the Kangaroo - so, there you go.』
(GODZILLA FANS UNITE - BRING 1985 TO DVD!) 『THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST GODZILLA MOVIES EVER MADE! WHY HAS THIS ONE BEEN LONG OVERLOOKED FOR DVD RELEASE? GET ON THE STICK AND GET THIS DONE!』
("When Mankind Falls Into Conflict With Nature Monsters Are Born.") 『Thirty years later and it's still about radiation and models.
"Godzilla 1985" is a slightly updated version of the classic Godzilla movie: it's still a guy in a big rubber suit stomping around detailed models, and he's still embroiled in a plot with heavy-handed doses of the Japanese skepticism of radiation. (Given their history, I don't blame them.)
Here Godzilla once again emerges from the sea, and poses a peril to mankind. The Soviets defy the wishes of the Japanese government and launch a nuclear weapon at Godzilla despite the fact that he happens to be in Tokyo at the time. Collateral damage, anyone? The US military fortunately dispatches the Soviet missile with a missile of their own, while consulting with Raymond Burr who is reprising his role as Steve Martin. Burr advises that firepower is not the answer, and that a deeper understanding of Godzilla's motives are key to defeating him. With that in mind they immediately plan to lure Godzilla into a volcano.
Along the way we get to see some special effect typical of the genre. My personal favorite is the "Super-X" secret levitating craft, although Godzilla's encounters with the model boats, helicopters, planes, and buildings are still fun to watch. The best laugh of the movie comes from the drunk guy running from Godzilla after mistaking him for a restaurant waiter repeatedly. (I'm not making that up.) There is another customary device in this movie, namely, everyone in Japan seems to know everybody else. True to form, plot contrivances abound here.
The movie ends with Godzilla in the volcano, although we aren't totally sure whether or not lava can destroy him, as there is always another sequel right around the corner. Please note the sanctimonious voiceover work from Burr during the volcano-luring: it really wants to be deep, but it just doesn't work given the ridiculous onscreen image.
This is a great resurrection of the Godzilla franchise after a decade-long break. It is enjoyable if you like the giant-monster-attacks-models genre, which I do. For those fans I recommend the film wholeheartedly.』
(The legend completed) 『OMG, you have to get to the last scene and the closing theme. Man, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. This is, clearly, not so much the legend reborn reinventing of the Godzilla myth that we'll see in the later series so much is it is the final say in the Godzilla we'd known and loved through the 60's and 70's; this film owes far more to the Kaiju of "Mosura" or "Smog Monster" than to the later epics. For one thing, this is probably the last time when SCIENCE is the hero, triumphing over beasts of men and monsters despite the lack of government funding ;)
True, the special effects in this film are a departure from the 70's fare, but that's what makes this film so special in the Godzilla cannon: It has the FEEL of a modern film but it has the ETHOS of the classical era. It is at once very modern and also quite at home with even the Godzilla's Revenge entries. I waited a long time to see this one (20 years!) and I was not disappointed. This film is, in many respects, "the missing link".
But that last bit, as soon as the techobeat started, I knew it was 1985 all over again, and when the lyrics hit? ... I'm still giggling. First class Godzilla, five thumbs up if I had them.』
(Ouch) 『There's not a lot to say about this movie except that the music is bad, the Godzilla costume is sad, his roar is terrible, and the story stinks.』 『In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the originalGodzillafilm, the lizard king returned to the big screen after a decade of inactivity for this 16th Godzilla feature. Originally released in Japan in 1984 asThe Return of Godzilla, this modern sequel sweeps away decades of sequels and even recaptures the awe and grandeur of the original film, while adding modern technology and increased military firepower. But let's not get too carried away: this is ultimately a classic Japanese monster movie, and the best moments are the Big G's rampages through Tokyo, knocking over buildings and crushing cars and trains underfoot. It's still a guy in a suit stomping through lovingly detailed miniatures, and by American standards it'll always have that delightfully cheesy camp element, but this painstakingly crafted affair is one of the easier such efforts to take seriously. And fear not, you can't keep Godzilla down for long: he returns inGodzilla vs. Biollante. American distributor New World Pictures dubbed and trimmed the Japanese version while adding new American scenes featuring Raymond Burr, who reprises his role as reporter Steven Martin from the originalGodzilla.The videotape also features Marv Newland's goofy animated short spoofBambi Meets Godzilla.--Sean Axmaker』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Marooned-in my theater) 『Marooned was a poor movie at best having a minimal story, weak acting and dialogue, poor special effects, and no musical score to speak of. Rocky Jones Space Ranger, the TV space opera of the 50's for kids, had far better special effects. The drawn out ending was actually painful to sit through and watching the three astronauts go bouncing off the walls was not an interesting or credible story.
It is amazing that this film received any awards for special effects as the screen effects in Marooned featured suspended plastic models against simple and often very out of scale backgrounds. The crude models were not even airbrushed and reflected light off their specular points in the unrealistic lighting. How this effort warranted an academy award when compared to 2001 is criminal. In Hollywood anything is possible as great work can be totally ignored and mediocre work praised.
I first saw this film in 1969 with a close friend at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York. I went to see it in high hopes of a good film experience with fresh memories of 2001 and knowledge of what can be done with good sci-fi film. This was not to be. I think we both agreed that this film was pretty bad.』
(Gusto almost.) 『Another good idea for a movie. Mostly good acting with some almost. You know you are caught up when you catch yourself yelling, "stupid, look out for the..."』
(TOP NOTCH) 『Marooned is a very well written movie with an all star cast, excellent story line, and a must have for your movie collection. A Sci-Fi about our space program, and the risks involved with space flight. It touches on achievements, team effort, and tragic developments. If you haven't seen it, you're missing a really great film.
Thomas』
(brings back memories) 『This is one of the first movies I ever saw, and while the special effects are definitely 60s, the story is great. A little like Apollo 13.』
(A Human Drama at the Outset of the Space Age) 『This may indeed be though of as a "space movie" because much of it takes place in space but to do so is to miss the point. It is a human drama.
An Apollo capsule has been in space for a while and the crew are tired and worn out. They are finally returning to earth but something goes wrong. Houston, we have a problem. At first, it is treated as just a temporary glitch but the glitch defies resolution. It becomes apparent that the astronauts run a real risk of running out of air.
Gregory Peck plays the NASA director. He is a tough man motivated by the best interests of the program. He does not see a real way to rescue the marooned astronauts. It is pointed out to him, however, that failure to even try will spell the doom of the program. Once he gets on board, he does so with every resource he can muster. Unfortunately, there is a hurricane heading for the cape. That makes launching a rescue even more problematical.
Meanwhile, on the stranded ship, the astronauts have their own problems. They realize they are on borrowed time and there is not a thing that they can do to help themselves. Saying goodbye to their families exhausts their capabilities.
It is a sad tale extremely well done. It does not focus on the machinery, instead it focuses on the people. 』
price：$2.99
Lions Gate
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (cool, but not as much as when I was 6) 『I used to wait for this to be broadcast on tv every year with my older sister. We loved it, and it was a staple of the season. One year it never came back and we were bummed. Now I know why. It's not a great movie. Great stop motion only as Rankin Bass could do back in the day, and even has some decent writing for the music, but the story just moves too slowly to be of any interest to today's kids (including me :) ). I fell asleep in the middle of the day watching it and still don't recall how it ends... I am glad I bought it, as it was a childhood memory that I wanted to give my kids, who did watch and enjoy it some. Not their favorite movie, but if we watch it each year, maybe they will have fond memories of it and the other holiday classics that are from the era. It has some additional things I have not yet explored which I am sure are very cool to watch. Maybe soon, when the weather is too cold to be outside, I will revisit. Not a horrible purchase, just a small disappointment. If you have the other Christmas classics, this is a must. I thought it was lost forever.』
(Should have been more) 『I completely agree with Joe brando's review. This is a disappointing release, most especially for the lack of even a mention of Gail Garnett, but also because the featurettes appear as rushed and shoddy things. You have to wonder why they even bothered. If you still own the previous DVD -- keep it. There was a nice booklet with the original release that really makes it overall better than this one. But both versions don't properly offer an anamorphic 16X9 transfer, which they should, and it would be nice if the soundtrack were "stereo-ized."』
(Great Movie - Somewhat Disapointing "Special Edition") 『Please note that this review is for the "Special Edition" DVD of Mad Monster Party, and not the actual movie, which is an easy 5-star animation classic.
The bonus material consists of 3 featurettes - a "Making Of"; a "Music Of"; and a "Secrets Of Animagic". While it was enjoyable to see Arthur Rankin talking about the history of the film, I found it almost unforgivable that the two surviving stars (Phylis Diller and Gale Garnett) were not interviewed for this. Especially when footage of Phylis speaking about MMP already exists and only had to be purchased and tacked on. What's even worse is that Gale Garnett's name was not even mentioned, I kid you not! Every other person involved with the making of this movie was talked about except for the voice behind two songs in the film, and the most memorable character, Francesca. Apparently it was a legal issue, but one that should most definitely have been resolved.
Also included is the theatrical trailer which was present on the previous release but the TV spots and photo stills gallery which were on the original DVD were omitted from this one. This "Special Edition" has a better cover but the first DVD has much more attractive menus. If you are a Rankin/Bass fan, you will probably still want to pick up this new release (even if you already have the other one) but I do feel that more effort could have been put out to make this "Special Edition" more special.』
(3 GREAT SPARKHILL documentaries on this NEW DELUXE EDITION!) 『Just watched the rough cuts and REALLY like what SPARKHILL did! GREAT editing and it makes you want to watch the film all over again! SCREEN NOVELTIES (Seamus and Mark) explain ANIMAGIC perfectly! MAURY LAWS gives some insight to his scoring in a seperate documentary about the soundtrack. Loved seeing ARTHUR RANKIN and DON DUGA talk about their parts and hearing ALLEN SWIFT do the voices again! You will not want to miss this 2009 edition!』 『Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 09/08/2009 Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Nr』
price：$2.48
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review ("Paging Beelzebub, Paging a Mister Beelzebub") 『I thought George Reeves was dead. Besides, didn't he play Superman, not the Devil? And -- What's that? George Reeves isn't in the movie? It's *Keanu* Reeves?
... Oh.
Okay, but what's with Charlize Theron, the Devil doesn't chat her up? The Devil doesn't ask her to stand on a mirror? The Devil doesn't order out and ask her to play hide the salami? What kind of a loser of a Devil is this?
What? There's nothing in Aristotle's theory of dramatics that says Charlize Theron has to get hit on by the Devil?
... Oh, okay.
But, but -- but what about Al Pacino, what's his part in this story? Oh, *he's* the devil! What, because he was in The Godfather? Because he's Italian? (Prejudice! Prejudice!) And I suppose Charlize Theron never dated Italians, is that it?!
What's this fellow "Keanu" supposed to be anyway, Hawaiian? What was he Actor of the Year in Oahu? Send him back to his little grass shack. I bet he never met Don Ho. Did he ever say Hi-ho to Don Ho? Do they let Italians into Hawaii? What's the Devil's position on that? And why wasn't Charlize Theron wearing a hula skirt in this flicker? I'm not clear.
Anyway, the Devil's not such a bad guy. He was a pretty popular dude up to the 14th century. That's when he made a big mistake and hired a really awful publicist -- Gina Bellapartes. A dead ringer for Charlize Theron. Italian, a great body, but she couldn't type a lick. Which, the licking part, the Devil got to later on.
That woman sent Beelezebub's career into a tailspin. Hey! Maybe that's why they got Al Pacion to play the Devil! *His* career is in a tailspin, no? -- He's never been to Hawaii. -- George Reeves is still dead. -- And God is in his heaven.
By gosh, by golly, it all makes sense now!
』
(MUST SEE!!!!) 『One of my favorite films!!! Al Pacino at his best!!! If you're a fan of Al, you are definitely going to like him in this flick.
This movie is basically about the struggle between good and evil played out in the legal world amongst attorneys. Who wins.... Watch it to find out!!!:)
GREAT MOVIE!!!!』
(One of my fav...) 『I always found this movie to be one of the best by Al and Keanu...It epitomises the never ending battle between good and evil and the Devil's never ending quest to fulfil the desires of this flesh ;)』
(A superb performance by Keanu Reeves; an interesting flick) 『Even though I disagree with the "moral of the story" contained in this film, this is an interesting legal thriller that keeps the viewer's interest despite a few tedious moments here and there. Keanu Reeves plays the role of a red-hot up-and-coming defense attorney living in Florida, who is recruited by a huge New York law firm. Reeves has never lost a case, and his new firm's clients have a propensity for getting into criminal trouble. Al Pacino plays the managing partner of the law firm who recruits Reeves into the firm. You guessed it: the firm is not what it seems.
This is a supernatural thriller despite a superficial plot that is reminiscent of Grisham's "The Firm." There are enough surprises to keep the viewer guessing, and this is a snappy, stylish flick. Reeves is superb, and Pacino turns in his customary excellent performance.
I said that I disagree with the film's moral message, and I do. An attorney has a duty to do his or her best, and defense attorneys cannot always defend innocent clients. In fact, criminal defense attorneys rarely defend innocent, let alone blameless, clients. What are they supposed to do, lose on purpose? Are guilty clients to be judged in advance by the bar and be denied counsel? Of course not. I won't give anything away, but if you see the film you will see where I am going with this.
An engaging flick that is worth seeing. RJB.』
(The chuckle/grin on Pachinos face...) 『...as the young lady goes exploring under the restaraunt table is worth the price of the disc alone...』 『Too old for Hamlet and too young for Lear--what's an ambitious actor to do? Play the Devil, of course. Jack Nicholson did it inThe Witches of Eastwick; Robert De Niro did it inAngel Heart(as Louis Cyphre--get it?). InThe Devil's AdvocateAl Pacino takes his turn as the great Satan, and clearly relishes his chance to raise hell. He's a New York lawyer, of course, by the name of John Milton, who recruits a hotshot young Florida attorney (Keanu Reeves) to his firm and seduces him with tempting offers of power, sex, and money. Think of the story as a twist on John Grisham'sThe Firm, with the corporate evil made even more explicit. Reeves is wooden, and therefore doesn't seem to have much of a soul to lose, but he's really just our excuse to meet the devil. Pacino's the main attraction, gleefully showing off his--and the Antichrist's--chops at perpetrating menace and mayhem. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford (Against All Odds,Dolores Claiborne), who provides alternate-track commentary for the movie itself, plus a dozen deleted scenes. Also note: due to a settlement with artist Frederick Hart over the movie's use of a sculpture resembling hisEx Nihiloin Washington's National Cathedral, future releases of the film will be altered.--Jim Emerson』 『Hotshot attorney accepts tempting offer from an elite New York law firm only to find himself fighting for his soul. Genre:Suspense Rating:R Release Date:7-SEP-2004 Media Type:DVD』
price：$2.49
Lions Gate
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Not as bad as everyone said) 『This is the first Saw movie that I purchased on Blu-ray and it was also the first Saw movie that I did not go to the theater to see first. After all the negative reviews I read from critics and fans alike, I was hesitant to purchase it. But I now have a Blu-ray player and I wanted to keep my Saw DVD collection up to date so I decided to shell out the extra bucks for the Blu-ray. Although it's not up-to-snuff with the previous films (especially 1 and 2), I don't think it is nearly as bad as everyone said. Maybe it wasn't worth the extra bucks for the Blu-ray but overall I found the film interesting, full of good Jigsaw traps, and I found it fun to watch. I heard the "Saw 6" is much better but I most likely won't see it until the Saw 6 Blu-ray comes out next year. Bottom line: maybe just purchase the regular DVD of "Saw 6".』
(The curse continues...) 『There is a curse throughout horror movie franchises (or franchises in general) condemning the fifth episode to mediocrity at best, or unfocused, mundane nonsense at worst. The fifth episodes of the following franchises: Friday the 13th pt. 5 (the "Jason imposter" episode), Halloween 5 (that corny man in black gimmick), Star Trek 5 (the lame Shatner directed ep), Leprechaun (okay, that series sucked to begin with), Hellraiser 5 (Craig Scheffer as a debauched cop, while Pinhead is over on the sideline), Return of the Living Dead, Nightmare on Elm Street... the list goes on and on.
Saw V is no exception to this rule. After a cool opening involving an fbi agent ingeniously beating a jigsaw trap, we get scene after scene of Scott Patterson walking around with an angry look on his face, Costas Mandalor in an exceptionally stoic offering as Jigsaw's apparent heir, flashbacks that make no sense (the chronology of the Jigsaw/ Hoffman link is especially convoluted), drab photography that lacks the flair of the Wan/ Bousman directed offerings, and an ending that is telegraphed from pretty much the opening scene.
Even the relevance of the "game" is not explained until Kevin Greutert's superb Saw VI. As it stands, the subplot comes completely out of left field. People looking for ingenious traps better stick to the other sequels as Saw V hasn't a single interesting gadget throughout its running time. And if you're a Saw fan the plot developments are not so germane that subsequent films would be confusing if you haven't seen this one.
Saw V is about the only entry in the franchise I don't like, and further proof that the number "5" should be omitted from the franchise index.』
(Emtombing the ones you Loathe.) 『The games have just begun - that was the credo that empowered the Jigsaw killer and it is also the truth that keeps onkeeping on. Even after what happened to Jigsaw during the last test he gave to a former employee (or partner, or whatever you want to call her), Jigsaw still has a voice and hands to do his dirty deeds. He also has a thing about police officers that has been explained to us in vivid detail, and we find out why this is - if we haven't already pieced that together. There is another game being played as well, one that talks about working together and one that the team of people placed inside this horror don't seem to get, and that is the lovely part about so many of these things. People are such bad listeners - just play the tape and take the game seriously, because this is their lives. The traps here are nasty little things, too, and they are loveingly deceptive because they al;low people to see what they should do but give them the freedom to choose. It is perhaps there, in that freedom of choice, that people mmake their worse mistakes. As Jigsaw would say, let the games begin.
I've taken to the movies well because I thought they were all done really well, overcoming things like budgetary confines by utilizing Tobin Bell and the saw puppet as things that make the flesh quiver. They also have traps that have duality stamped into their very being, and this duality allows the games to become things that seem to be one thing when they are, in fact, tests that measure other items. I always liked that, enjoying the fact that people are challenged to see the world in different ways, and that some people really do have the means to their liberation. And the ones that do not seem fair, almost unfairly doing things to people with no way out, we see exactly how that happens. And the answers to that are brutal, and unfair on so many levels. Combine with that the acting prowess of some of the individuals involved (I think it takes a lot to become a victim and sell it to an audience), the impact of lighting and music and tools like flashbacks, and the underlying terror that has to be there when you find yourself listening to a tape recorder or a doll that holds the keys to your survival and you have a game unlike anything I would ever want to play. and seeing the places where all of these games have taken place and the extent to which planning goes into everything and it is impressive. Even the first kill, one that happens because someone really doesn't listen, is good stuff. And i love it - i love it a lot.
If you watch Saw, watch them in order. They stack together well, and the plot that expands through-out the series is one to keep track of. Seeing how the helpers become involved, seeing the different type of handywork, and seeing why tests are given oftentime build over time. Even some of the people who fail are added into newer tests, so you count anything out. I personally like all of that, and i like how Jigsaw has some of the greatest lines in this new realm of horror movies. Even the 5th installment, which would normally be bad in any other series, is great here. I love them all.』
(I No Longer "Want To Play A Game") 『In 2004, the original "Saw" film breathed new life into the horror movie genre. Though enticing viewers with some of the most graphic horror scenes in cinematic history, the real "hook" of the film was its morality-play plotline. Using a tact rarely taken in the annals of horror movies, Saw actually created doubt in the viewers' minds as to whether the "victims" were exactly that. Though perverse, the demented Jigsaw killer was doling out justice in a seminal way that everyone can relate to (even if it horrifies their "good side").
With each subsequent film, however, that magic has been lost, little by little. While Saw II just fed off the hype of the original and didn't mess with the formula and Saw III was interesting for the "dying Jigsaw" plotline, the two most recent installments have failed to recapture that spark of the "original trilogy". Saw IV was just outright confusing, while this film suffers from two major maladies:
First, the departure from the tried-and-true formula of regular citizens being tested in their weakest area. Like I said, the strength of the first few Saw movies was the writers' abilities to make audiences think about the morality of what was reality transpiring. This film, however, doesn't really take that tact and instead just focuses on clearing up all the loose ends from the fourth release. Though perhaps a noble cause for hard-core Saw fans, this line of storytelling only served to irritate me, as Saw IV was where I saw the series begin going downhill and thus didn't want to go in that direction again.
The other notable departure is a moving away from the Jigsaw character. To me, Jigsaw is at the very heart of what the Saw franchise is all about, and the series really isn't active unless he is in it. The flashbacks in IV were interesting, but Jigsaw's presence in V just seemed to be an excuse to bring back Tobin Bell, not to advance the plot in any meaningful way.
Thus, I see the Saw franchise as being at a paradox right now. One direction would be to continue on with the "Jigsaw lineage" and further dilute the original material (the likely path in order to please the die-hard scrutinizers), while the other, more inventive approach would be to come up with something new. Perhaps someone subjecting one of these psychopaths to their own devices?! At any rate, Saw VI will likely be the measuring stone of the "Saw future" considering the failure of this installment.』 『Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 01/20/2009 Run time: 84 minutes Rating: R』 『How do you keep a horror franchise going when your villain has been unquestionably and irrevocably killed off? That's a conundrum any number of genre series have tackled--to varying degrees of success--and the problem facing the sadisticSawfilms in its latest entry,Saw V. The filmmakers' answer--faithful henchmen--is at first blush a savvy idea, as it allows the mayhem of original bad guy Jigsaw to continue unabated, despite the fact that he was dissected on a morgue slab in the previous film.Saw Vextends the premise by having disgraced detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor from the previous two films) don the pig mask to unleash horrific tortures on another group of seemingly unconnected strangers. Scott Patterson (Aliens in America) also returns as Hoffman's Javert, a dogged fellow agent who escapes death in the fourth film and an ugly fate in this entry to continue his pursuit. All the elements that have made the Saw series popular with horror fans--the elaborate killing machines, the trompe l'oeil plotting, and the sociopathic judgments handed down by Jigsaw--are intact inSaw V, which is a positive for its most faithful followers, but a negative for just about everyone else.Saw Vcovers no new ground, expands no part of the mythology of the series and seems perfectly content to present a lifeless retread ofSaw IIIandIV. It also suffers from the absence of Tobin Bell as Jigsaw, who despite his top billing, is glimpsed only in brief flashbacks. Bell, who could be unsettling even in the stillest moments, gave the series a gravity that kept its least plausible moments in check, and Mandylor, though game, simply cannot provide the same. What's left is dreary and relentlessly downbeat, and to make matters worse, ends on an open note that clearly indicates that a sixth film is in the works, no matter how obvious that the diabolical ingenuity of the originalSawhas been worn to the bone by its sequels. Only diehardSawfans need to sign up for this round of Jigsaw's games.-- Paul Gaita
price：$23.95
Roc Hardcover
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Leesil's past unfolds) 『The little group makes it into the Elven Territories were they learn more about the people there. They also learn a bit about Leesil but more about Magiere and her purpose. Chap also learns more about his purpose and why he took flesh.』
(Politics, assassinations and plenty of intrigue, my favourite novel in the Noble Dead series.) 『This is the fifth book in the amazing Noble Dead series and the first one i've given five stars, an amazing read, here's a little bit of the story.
In this story we see Leesil, Margiere and their friend Wynn with the help of their canine helper Chap travel to the Elven lands to try to free Leesil's mother from the imprisonment of the twisted Most Aged Father, on there travels they face old and new enemies alike, they meet new friends and allies while all time having to pass Elven tests and watching their backs against Elven assassins.
This book is great, action packed and filled with Elven politics and intrigue, by far my favourite novel in the Noble Dead series.』
(vampire lover) 『I have read almost the whole series and I found it to be very entertaining. It left me on the edge of my seat.』
(Rebel Fay) 『I came to this series later than others. It was only after I ran out of books by Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs and Robert Jordan that I started The Noble Dead series. I read the first five in less than a month. I must say that so far this is my favorite. The first two books were kind of boring to me. The next two were ok. But this one really sealed the deal. First of all, I love elves. I am an elf freak, but they have been done to death by so many other authors. The Hendees have turned them into something new and different. They are not unlike, Robert Jordan's Aiel. Rebel Fay not only gives us elven history, but also that of the Fay, Chap, the Enemy and vampires. It adds depth to the whole series. I am certain I will devour the final book in a week or so and will wait in frenzied anticapation for the second series set in this original world.』
(A very good entry in the Noble Dead series) 『If you've gotten far enough in the Noble Dead series to get to this, the fifth book, then it's likely that you don't need too much convincing to read on. In many ways, this was the best yet. Our vampire friends Welstiel and Chane, while pivotal to the arc of the series, were becoming a bit tiresome and repetitive in their obsessions, so I'm glad that Rebel Fay doesn't center on them. Instead, the action moves into new territory, literally and figuratively, as our protagonists journey into the Elven Territories. Humans are not welcome there, nor are the undead, which means that Magiere is risking much to help Leesil find and free his mother from imprisonment.
I enjoyed the new elven characters, and found the pacing a little more brisk than in some of the previous Noble Dead books. Well-written action; well-drawn characters.
If I had to come up with a criticism, it would be that a lot of time was spent on Chap (as the book's title implies). Chap discovers much about himself and the Fay, and spends a lot of time with other majay-hì. I found these scenes less compelling than those involving the other characters. Somehow, as Chap becomes more communicative, and as we spend more time in his head, he has lost his some of his "voice" as a distinct personality. Only a minor quibble.
If you've been asking yourself whether you should go on with the Noble Dead series, my answer for Rebel Fay is a definite "yes."』 『Desperate to free his mother from a caste of ruthless elven assassins, Leesil joins his beloved Magiere, the sage Wynn, and their canine protector, Chap, on a difficult journey through mountains and harsh winter. Should they survive the hardships of wilderness, they still face the perils of the mysterious Elven Territories.
Unbeknownst to them, they've been united at the command of Chap's Fay kin to forge an alliance against the forces of dark magic. But now Chap must guard his companions from enemies and allies-not always certain which is which. And as they uncover the truth, they discover just how close the enemy has always been.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Much better than I expected) 『I came across L.J. Smith's name on one of the Twilight forums. Her books were regarded very highly, so I decided to give one of her series a try. My first available book happened to be The Hunter, first in The Forbidden Game trilogy.
In a few words, this is a story about Jenny, an ordinary good girl, and Julian, a "Dark Prince" who is in love with her. To lure Jenny in his world, Julian tricks her and 6 of her friends to play The Game, where all of them have to face their most horrific nightmares. If they win, they are free to go. If they lose, Jenny has to stay with Julian forever.
This is a very well written book, characters are very real and relatable. Like many other reviewers, I found Julian extremely attractive in a dangerous way.
I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in YA fantasy and can't wait to read second part of the trilogy, The Chase.』
(Still my Favorite Series to this day!) 『I read The Forbidden Game series as a teenager and since have read it a dozen times at least. I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this series is. Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith was recently re-released and I must say as good as that series is this one is 10 times better. I really hope it gets released again for a new generation. This story is so unique, based around a girl who buys a game from a strange store. Her and her friends end up opening up a veil that has kept a demon in the shadows who has just happened to have been in love with her for years. He brings her and her friends into the game to relive their worst fears. Even as a teen I fell in love with Julian, the shadow demon. He is absolutely breathtaking and everyone who reads this series will fall in love with this tragic character. Don't just listen to me, read it for yourself. If you like: Vampire Diaries, Twilight, Vampire Academy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tithe, or any other book similar to these you will love this one!』
(Forbidden Game 1) 『Who's this mysterous man, well who ever he is, he can have me any time. Very good book to read and can get addictive in the world of L J Smith.』
(Best book of the Trilogy!) 『This entire Trilogy is just amazing. I was given a present of the first book when I was about 7 (10 years ago), and I immediately wanted the next two! I fell in love with Julian there and then, and was never able to understand why Jenny didn't just choose him! I've read these books over 20 times, and they're all falling apart. Everybody in the entire world should read them, because you're missing out if you don't. I highly recommend them. The last book is a nice finish, but it's incredibly sad. I wish it had ended differently! Anyone who would like to discuss these books, I've set up a Yahoo! group for it called theforbiddengame. Please join, I really like to talk about these books!』
(FORBIDDEN GAME) 『This is the most awesome book in the WORLD!!! It's so sad that it is going out of print! I found this book last year while looking for a scary book to read and I found this! I have re-read and re-read it so many times that it's almost falling apart not to mention the times i have let MANY other people borrow it!!! Everyone LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! Julian is like OH MY GOD HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I totally fell in love with the Prince of Shadows... I recommend it!!! HOpefully you'll get it before it's too late... Almost all L.J. Smith's book are going out of print!! Especially the NIGHT WORLD series that are awesome!!! Tells you of how when someone breaks the rules of the Night World they have to Pay!!!!!! Forbidden Game is a page turner and so romantic, courageous, loyal, evil, good, betrayal and everything!!!!!!!! READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!』 『When Jenny Thorton and her friends open the mysterious white box given to her by Julian, they discover a mysterious game and enter a house of horrors full of their worst nightmares.』
price：$16.95
Cutting Block Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (First Class) 『The first volume from the Horror Library was great as it featured a lot of variety as far as style, theme and atmosphere. Only it was inconsistant as far as quality; some stories being flat out brilliant, while others had no business being published.
This one takes it to the next level. The quality is excellent.
Out of the 29 stories, I found only 3 that I didn't care for, 16 that were good, solid reads and 10 that were fantastic:
The fantastic:
John Rector's "A Season of Sleep," was a beautifully written zombie tale. In its prose it weaved beautifully worded sentences only to create a story that wrenched the gut as well as the heart.
"I am Meat, I am in Daycare," by Cameron Pierce. From the opening sentence, "When Ted Branson called to ask the rate for Susan's daycare, she didn't realize that his son was a hunk of meat." this one never let up. A truly bizarre nightmare of a story that actually seemed to contain some greater meaning (or maybe I read too much into it, but either way, twas an entertaining read)
"Trapped Light Medium" by Sunil Sadanand was the tale of a narcissistic psychic who sees horrific events before they happen and capitalizes on them to make money as a photographer. Depressing and very well written, this one was among the most memorable and satisfying.
Ron McGillvray's "The Garbage Collectors," was probably the scariest of the bunch. A young family moves to a town in which there is not only no escape but in which every couple must decide which of their children will be fed to the Garbage Collectors.
"Bound," by Alan Smale was one of those that I cannot for the life of me figure out why I liked it so much. A man is bound in cloth and tossed in the air on a blanket continuously by a cult-ish group of mysterious people. Does he finally get a chance to see what lurks over the wall?
"Alien Fajitas," by Boyd E. Harris was one I'll have to go back and read again next year. An ambitious restaurant-chain corporate family man gets a chance to save his career by closing a deal to buy a restaurant concept in New Mexico centered around Roswell. Their popular alien fajitas feature chicken with a green marinade. The secret is appalling and the ending oh, so sweet...
"The Trauma Statement" by Stephen Bacon was another winner. A recent widower who reflects on the near dissolve of his marriage months before his wife's death uncovers a horrifying secret that consumes him. This was among the more terrifying stories.
My personal favorite of the bunch was Daniel L Naden's "Drawn." A young couple give birth to a beautiful little girl with super telekinetic powers. The ending will blow your mind.
Paul Walther's "We Fall on each Other," was another one of those subtle tales that crept up on me and left me wanting to know more. The mood created within builds up in creepiness and is expertly written.
"The Show Must Live on," by Matt Hults was probably the sickest of the lot. A clown chained up in a shack within a deserted amusement park is able to fulfill wishes for those willing to pay. This read like Bentley Little at his sickest and weirdest.
Also noteworthy was Clinton Green's "The Horror in the Bookstore," in which he nailed down Lovecraft's prose and created an enjoyable story. "Immortal Remains" by Tom Pendergrass was a twisted humdinger of a military yarn. Ian Rogers' "Charlotte's Frequency" was an original concept well executed as was "Apple," by Marc Paoletti and "H19N1" by M. Louis Dixon.
Most of the stories were shorter than what is typically found in mass market anthologies, but overall the product was sheer quality-- the editing professional, the stories well chosen, the styles varied the wide spectrum of horror fiction and I am sure you will walk away satisfied as this old jaded horror reader was.
I look forward to delving into volume 3!』 『This anthology features thirty powerful stories, collectively representing the array of themes that one would expect to find in a library dedicated to horror. Each story was written by a unique up and coming author. This book has received praise in a number of reviews and has been recommended for an HWA Bram Stoker Award, and winning one is the highest honor one can achieve in the Horror Genre. The authors and editors are waiting patiently for the results.』
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