Reviews

Another movie I saw as a child that I located on video again as an adult and fully enjoyed. This movie is suspenseful, quite sad at parts, and also EXTREMELY CREEPY...I recall the scene that seemed the most freakish to me as an 11 year old was the cobweb-encrusted child's wheelchair moving on its own... it still freaked me out as an adult, as well as the scene where the ball bounces down the stairs after George C Scott has thrown it over a bridge. This type of "poltergeist" or "haunted house" type of scenario scares me more an any of the "slasher" type horror films, really. George C. Scott's character solving the mystery behind the house is excellent, as well as the ending.

This series is absolutely incredible. For several summers after it came out in '78, PBS would run the entire 13 part series. My sister and I watched it religiously. Then, inexplicably, it seemed to drop off the face of the earth. We were so excited when, years later, A&E ran it, albeit with commercial interruptions and cutting. Even more excited when another local PBS channel aired the complete version of the series. We both have them on tape now and have watched them again, and again... and again. I have read the books by KM Peyton, and although they are very good, this is one instance where the film version surpassed the books. The performances were fantastic. Christine McKenna as the freespirited orphan Christina, Steven Grives is excellent as the naughty, arrogant (but lovable) Mark, and Alan Parnaby as the shy, intelligent William. We watch the characters grow from sheltered teenagers to adults with difficult choices to make. Based on three books, one can almost see the "break" within the series, the first part being Christina's arrival at Flambards, her introduction to horseback riding, her adjustment to living with the crumbly, wheelchair bound Uncle Russell, and the two brothers. Secondly, she falls in love with William and runs off to London with him so that he may pursue his dream of designing airplanes. There they live a relatively carefree existence until World War I approaches and William decides to join the Royal Flying Corps. These characters are so endearing, so lovable; the entire series is beautifully filmed, music and costuming are great, and the "flying machines" are spectacular. What is most astonishing to me is that very few people I've talked to have ever heard of this series, and it is so seldom shown anymore that I doubt if many people will be introduced to it any time soon. Yet, I have actually gotten people ADDICTED to it by watching my videos; in college I would come home from class to find my roommates completely engrossed and watching it for the second, or third time. I do wish that this series would get the recognition it deserves. I believe now that it is available as a video boxed set, which is at least a start, but I believe that PBS should revive this, and other great series from the 70's.

Based on the book by Fred Mustard Steward, this movie is a bit hard to keep track of. Myles (Alan Alda), a frustrated musician and writer, is offered an interview with "the greatest pianist alive" Duncan Eli. Duncan (who, along with his "daughter" Roxanne, happens to be a Satanist) notices that Myles has "wonderful hands"...soon we learn that Duncan's sudden attention to Myles and his family is merely a ploy to switch souls (and bodies) with Myles so that he may continue living eternally, as Duncan, in his present body, is dying of leukemia. If you can grasp who is who, it's not too bad...most of its merit is in the amusement factor...the fluorescent blue oil that seems to be key in the Satanists' rituals...Jacqueline Bissett's dry comments and digs, which are hilarious...Alan Alda looking very young...with his equally humorous transformation into "Duncan." Worth watching, at least once.

When this movie was released in '83, I was enthralled with both it and the book. I must say that it does follow the book very closely, which is always a good point. However, after watching it again as an adult, I found it to be rather simplistic, and the acting was somewhat lame, with the exception of Matt Dillon, who stole every scene he was in. C Thomas Howell and Ralph Macchio, whom I adored as a young teen, seem really phony in retrospect. It is amusing to see Tom Cruise and others when they were just starting out, though. Sadly, I find it hard to sit through this movie now...it's just too much of a bore, although I'm sure it might be appealing to younger teenagers.

Absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time...fabulous retelling of the story. Especially masterful is the addition of the romance between Dracula and Mina...so poignant and heart wrenching. Tom Waits makes a superb Renfield, I can do without Keanu Reeves' stilted performance and lame accent. Oldman's transformation from the gnarled "old" Vlad to the beautiful young Prince is mesmerizing...the score is fantastic as well as the cinematography. Excellent all around!

This movie continues to amuse me although I've seen it countless times. The straitlaced family plunged into a world of "hot rodding" teenagers "looking for kicks"...it can't get much better than this. Particularly fun are the overly dramatic performances of Dana Andrews (Tom) and Jeannie Crain (Peg) as the family sedan is chased by a carload of teenagers (one girl managing to sit up on the back and hang on the whole while). After the family arrives at the hotel that the father has just bought, they are horrified to realize that it's a roadhouse that caters to these same bored teenagers and others like them. Much to her parents' dismay, the daughter becomes infatuated with Duke, one of the hot rodders who earlier that day ran them off the road. The scenes inside the roadhouse are backgrounded with music by "Mickey Rooney Jr. and His Combo" which adds to the cheese factor. Still, you can't help loving it.

Although this film may digress in many ways from the book, it is nonetheless superb. A fine cast, including Leonard Whiting, Nicola Padgett and guest appearances from many others, rounds out the experience. One empathizes with the monster, who begins his new life as a beautiful, sensitive creature only to physically and aesthetically deteriorate as time goes on. An interesting twist is the subplot of Prima, the second creature, created by Dr. Polidori (Victor's nemesis) with the assistance of Victor...I first saw this movie on television when I was about 9 or 10, I seem to remember it being shown in two parts, the second part beginning with Polidori's attempt to bring Prima into elite society, followed with the downfall of Victor, the monster and Polidori. Really one of my favorite re-tellings of the Frankenstein story.

This movie, bad acting and all, is a wonderful gem that I searched for for 17 years, after having seen it at age 11. I finally located a copy, and what joy! The twisted plot so impressed me as an 11 year old....The creepy Dr Prell, the four oblivious students getting picked off one by one. This is a must see for any fan of cheesy 70's horror. There are some memorable moments...Dr Prell using some of the bigfoot victims' body parts as "bait" ("Keith, I want you to listen to me closely...this can never be of any use to Tom anymore.") to the unforgettable ending, when Laughing Crow raises an electric knife and says,"Mr Henshaw...white meat or dark?" Not to mention the toaster in the bathtub scene. Altogether a fantastic cheese-thriller.

This is one of my favorite films of all time. Joan, who seems to be suffering from a midlife crisis, breaks away from her world of therapy, bridge and cocktail parties and becomes involved in witchcraft. We never know if she REALLY has magical powers or not. Her nightmares and fantasies remind one of Roman Polanski's "Repulsion." In the end, Joan seems to finally have it all together. A definite must-see for any true Romero fan.