Exorcism (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)EXORCISM is a good but not great film. Like so many of Franco's films EXORCISM is at once brilliant and amatuerish. Franco stars as a kinky priest who serves GOD by ridding the world of sinners with his "Sword of the Lord." Crimes of Passion anyone? His best moments are shared with his lover/partner Lina Romay. It's always interesting to watch the couple interact together especially during sadistic scenes. Towards the end of the commentary track Producer Kevin Collins asks Franco how many times he has been killed on film? A more interesting question is how many times has Jess Franco killed Lina Romay on film?
Despite it's strong scenes of violence EXORCISM is not a gory film. The bloodiest scenes involve the beheading of a pigeon and the removal of a woman's entrails. Franco claims (on the commentary track) that the pigeon is a special effect. I seriously doubt that what Franco says is true. The film budget was much too small to afford such a fine effect and the disembowelment is further proof of Franco's meager budget. When the murdered woman is found by police her body (which should be mutilated) is smeared with thin blood. Not a single puncture wound to be found. Now, it is true that the excessive gore was added after Franco completed the film but a smear of blood on the body of a woman who has just been repeatedly stabbed to death is not quality special effects. You do the math.
The presentation of the film is not the best but it is superior and much clearer than its various video incarnations. EXORCISM is marred with bad edits (one abrupt edit even startled Franco), faded color, and unsteady frames. The commentary track by Jess Franco and his current producer Kevin Collins is a mixed blessing. Franco's English is a bit rough and the director is getting on in age. There are many moments when he gets on a roll but because of his low voice and difficulty with the language it is hard to understand him. During Franco's clearer moments he provides an insightful and often amusing commentary. The DVD also comes with an alternate clothed sequence which contrasts sharply with the nudity filled beginning, a trailer, and production photos. The keepcase is attractive and versatile. One side of the cover is the Synapse artwork for EXORCISM and the other contains the airbrushed art from the old Wizard Video case.

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All Ladies Do It (Special Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have seen the Italian version. This version simply stinks: too many scenes have been removed. Who ever did this should be arrested. This is a great film; so why not leave it alone? And dubbing it in English takes away the very charm that Italian brings to it. The folks who did this obviously have no appreciation for art.
...Now, for the Italian version, it is worth learning Italian.

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H.I.M.: Born Again Romantic Review

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(More customer reviews)Although this DVD is very good, it is the exact same one as Poison Arrow, just a different cover and title. If you don't have either, then I would recommend this.

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Ash Wednesday (1973) Review

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(More customer reviews)For anyone who admires glamorous films that have style and class and a bit of an old fashioned feel about them then "Ash Wednesday" is a viewing experience to cherish. It is without a doubt my favourite of Elizabeth Taylor's later day performances and while not a huge blockbuster upon its release in 1973 it certainly contains a great performance by this legendary actress and a rare opportunity to admire her breathtaking beauty in magnificent settings.
"Ash Wednesday" tells the rather sad story of Barbara Sawyer (Elizabeth Taylor) a wealthy woman from Detroit who is entering that difficult period of her life when her visual charms are fading and her equally ageing husband (Henry Fonda)is experiencing his own late midlife crisis and looking elsewhere to help make him feel young again. Driven by a desire to please her husband and save her marriage she travels to Italy and undergoes extensive plastic surgery in the vain hope that all their marital problems will evaporate. What she realises is that time has moved on and both of them have changed over time and now have different needs and directions to go off in. "Ash Wednesday" contains a beautifully restrained performance from Elizabeth. She is in turn afraid of the consequences of the surgery, joyful at the superb results, apprehensive about her husband's feelings towards her and developing a growing confidence in her ability to once again be an interesting and attractive woman in her own right. Often accused of allowing herself to become locked into variations of her Oscar winning performance as Martha in "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf" here Elizabeth takes on a whole different type of character and one which suits her perfectly. Barbara is no shrieking harridan, just a woman rediscovering herself and learning a bit about life and how it works in the process.
One of the main attractions of this film is having a unique opportunity to view the last real appearance by Elizabeth Taylor in a glamorous role . For those of you like myself that haved loved Elizabeth Taylor for years and like to see her in roles where she is at her most beautiful then "Ash Wednesday" is the film for you. Never in her 1970's roles has she looked so beautiful as here, exquisitely gowned by Valentino and the legendary Edith Head to perfection. The film was shot largely on location in the famed Italian Ski Resort of Cortina and the vista's depicted in the film are stunning and really contribute to the overall splendid look of the film. Indeed "Ash Wednesday" is a literal feast for the eyes in so many ways. Elizabeth's teaming with Henry Fonda is an interesting one and came about just as the famed Taylor/Burton collaborations on screen where coming to an end and each was pursuing projects individually. Fonda has only a small role in the last half of the film and his character while world weary and intelligent is a bit of a disappointment considering the lengths that Barbara has gone to try and please him. One standout in the supporting cast is Keith Baxter as David the much facelifted high fashion photographer who befriends Barbara in the hospital and eventually gives her the courage to face up to a new life. He is at times funny, caring and a hive of energy and his work contrasts very nicely with Elizabeth's beautiful underplaying of her role. Also effective is Helmut Berger as Barbara's admirer at the ski resort. Judged the most beautiful man in films around this time Berger had the right combination of good looks and style to be totally at home in the role of the eternal playboy who has no real purpose to his life.
Most controversial of all in regard to "Ash Wednesday" were the very explicit surgery scenes that were incorporated into the film. Supposedly showing Barbara going under the knife for a total face and body lift they in actual fact were real surgery scenes of an operation taking place. They certainly are not for the faint hearted and for the parts that Elizabeth Taylor had to appear in an insurance policy of next to a million dollars was taken out on her face.
"Ash Wednesday" is an old fashioned romantic story lovingly put together. Up against the fad for disaster movies then in vogue this film really couldn't compete at the box office but I have real affection for it and enjoy it time and again. The sight of Elizabeth Taylor in all her old style movie queen splendour is a sight to behold and indeed it points back to the days of old Hollywood when actresses were made to resemble goddesses. Enjoy "Ash Wednesday" for a trip down memory lane to film making as it used to be.

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Edward Scissorhands (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)This wonderful fantasy tale stars Johnny Depp as a not-quite-real teenager who was built by an eccentric inventor. The old man died before he could finish him, so Edward has knife blades where his fingers would be. A well-meaning Avon lady (Diane Wiest) finds him living alone in his crumbling castle, and brings him home to live with her family, which includes daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). Edward is naive and timid, but so sweet and helpful that he soon becomes the darling of the neighborhood. He is smitten with Kim, which angers her bully of a boyfriend (Anthony Michael Hall).
Diane Wiest is perfect as the ditsy and always-cheerful mom. Ryder is convincing as a selfish and spoiled teen. Hall is the villian you love to hate. The star, of course, is Johnny Depp. As Edward, he is painfully shy and lovelorn; his performance is so heart-wrenchingly delicate that you ache for him in every scene. Covered with white make-up and with only a few words of dialogue, Depp proves he is a very talented actor. The wonderful and quite frail Vincent Price, as Edward's loving creator, will surely bring a tear to your eye.
This completely unique film blends comedy, fantasy, and romance to make a sentimental fairy tale that both teens and adults will enjoy. It is a heart-breaker; bring your hankie.
Kona

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Playboy - Mansion Parties Totally Uncensored (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Watching this movie is just like going over to a friends house and watching some of his home movies of stuff that happened when you weren't around.
This movie is simply 45 minutes of half naked or fully naked people dancing, kissing, and frolicing around the Playboy Mansion. Every once in awhile they show a brief glimpse of a playmate, or Hugh Hefner, or a celebrity, but most of the people they show are regular party guests that the majority of viewers probably wouldn't recognize.
If you really want to get a look at the mansion then you should get "Inside the Playboy Mansion" or "Playboy 2000 - The Party Continues". Both of those movies at least have a little bit of a story to go along with all of the party scenes.

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Three Musketeers (1974) Review

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(More customer reviews)Filmed in 1973, the one that began it all. The book was actually split into two movies to fit all the plot! This is the first half of the book. An amazing, star-studded cast, great attention to detail and it's funny to boot!
Let's see. Oliver Reed as Athos, Richard Chamberlain as Aramis, Frank Finlay as Porthos, Michael York as D'Artagnan. Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch, Geraldine Chaplin, Faye Dunaway. Just about every performance is amazing.
This has the REAL plot - not the entirely made-up one Disney foisted on us. D'Artagnan is cheating on his landlord with his landlord's wife. The Queen of France is cheating on her husband, the King, with the Duke of Buckingham. The cardinal is trying to gain power of France. The Musketeers gladly steal food and cheat when necessary. It's a rough world out there!
The attention to detail in the film is simply amazing. From the stunning costumes, to the silver-and-white ball at the end, to the interiors of the buildings, to the food they eat, wine they drink, games they play - it's all fully authentic. You could watch this in a history class and learn quite a bit.
And the swordfighting!! None of this pretentious sword-waving and back-flipping. These guys were professional soldiers. They fought to win. This involved rough-and-tumble brawl tactics at times. I compare Athos' fighting style to Aragorn's in Lord of the Rings. His aim was to stay alive and to keep his comerades alive, not to look pretty when he fought.
Now for the BIG WARNING. I wore out several copies of the video tape before getting this on the first DVD available. Fox Lorber put out the DVD version. I was thrilled to have it on DVD. I was less thrilled when I saw what they did to the movie!! They literally cut off ALL FOUR EDGES of the movie, losing quite a lot of the picture. The special features are completely missing. There is a new DVD version out which is a two-pack of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" that has the special features and has the full version of both movies without missing content. AVOID THE FOX LORBER VERSION and get the other one.

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