Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit And The Pendulum (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)A dominatrix hypnotist, lesbians making out, a mad scientist who is an abusive father, classical music (Chopin I think), buff boys wrestling in their underwear, hundreds of ticking clocks and cactuses (excuse me JB - CACTI) lots and lots of cacti. These are the main ingredients in David Decoteau's THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, one of the most fascinating, beautiful and peculiar films it has ever been my pleasure to see. This one is really Decoteau at his absolute best, certainly one of the finest films of his career, ranking right up there with the original BROTHERHOOD and LEATHER JACKET LOVE STORY. This one wont be to everyones taste but if you are adventurous and love truly original film making this one is a genuine must see. The film has a great script and some really fine performances. How great to see Michael King back in a Decoteau film. He made quite an impression in WITCHES OF THE CARRIBEAN and he truly outdoes himself in this film (particularly in the aforementioned wrestling sequence). The music score is very good with selections from many different genres. Howard Wexler is once again the director of photography and the results he gets are astounding. This is a beautiful looking film, in fact I would dare say it is the most beautiful film Dave has made to this point (although BLONDE HEAVEN aka MORGANA is a close second). The shots of the lethal pendulum in action are breathtaking. / The mood of the film ranges from incredibly (almost hilariously) erotic to genuine suspense to high camp and under the skilled direction of Decoteau it all comes together quite nicely. I suppose viewers should be advised that this bares no genuine resemblance to the Poe story (although there is a pit of sorts and most definitely some impressive pendulums) It's obvious I'm a real fanboy of Decoteau but anyone who appreciates well made independent erotic horror films should love this one. The DVD provides a flawless anamorphic transfer and 5.1 Dolby soundtrack. Also included is a trailer for BROTHERHOOD 5 and the trailer for PIT. An hour of behind the scenes footage is included and it is the real stuff, not some cleaned up series of self-congratulatory interviews but a genuine look at Decoteau and his crew and cast at work. You will get a true feeling for how his films are made from watching it. Only minor complaint is that Dave's name is spelled incorrectly on the back of the box. This is an outstanding DVD release of an outstanding film. Don't miss it, don't miss it, don't miss it. It's amazing.

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Locked Up Review

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(More customer reviews)Erotic content good (requisite shower/rape scenes with ample full frontal footage). Dramatic content NOT very good or believable. Do German prisons really allow inmates to choose their cellmates and to set up housekeeping as lovers? Attractive actors. The "special features" interview with the 2 lead actors is very "honest" and worth listening to to hear their views on porn. Apparently the sex scenes are "hardcore" according to the actors, although the scenes appear to have been edited--perhaps for the US release?

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Priest (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)At its core, "Priest" is a thoughtful examination of faith, conscience, and feeling and how those concepts can sometimes conflict with dogma, ideology, and tradition ... more simply put, spirituality versus religion. As a long-term associate of an Interfaith agency (and someone who deals with persons from many different faith communities), I found the characters and plot realistic, and was gratified that the script offered no easy answers to the dilemmas it presented. Real life is often messy; the film demonstrates that there are times when an ideal moral choice is neither clear nor even possible, and that a religious calling does not exempt one from the temptations and foibles of being human. These same tensions have been approached (usually as subplots) in many films over the years, including "The Song of Bernadette" (1943), "The Keys of the Kingdom" (1945), and "The Left Hand of God" (1955); "Priest" pushes the envelope by exploring these themes in the context of sexual situations within the Church.
The DVD transfer is beautiful, offering clear and crisp video and sound. The film features a superb performance by Linus Roache, and some very artful editing (with the exception of a couple of spots in which it's obvious that scenes have been snipped by the censors' scissors). I would have liked a few extras on the DVD, like an interview with the director and/or screenwriter, and perhaps some balanced coverage of the controversy the film has generated since its release. A theatrical trailer would also have been welcome. (How was this volatile film marketed, both in the USA and abroad?)
These missing features aside, this movie (to date) is not frequently screened on US cable or broadcast television, and I welcomed the opportunity to see it, and to be moved by it.

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Critics everywhere declared PRIEST to be one of the best films of the year! The deeply held religious convictions of an idealistic young priest are challenged when he must face extraordinary events within his own congregation. Soon, he is forced to make the impossible choice between keeping the faith and exposing the truth! A gripping and powerful story -- see this unforgettable big-screen hit for yourself!

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