Michael-Bay Movie Reviews

This movie was one I had seen sometime when I was a kid, and now that I'm older, it's pretty interesting! I'm a kid born in the 80's who wished it would never end, and this has the perfect chemistry. The fact of Johnathan making a Mannequin who assumes the form of Emmy, an Egyptian Princess when he's alone is awesome. The story takes something that I've loved and found in japanese animation and stories: an unlucky in love guy through some form of magic or surreal circumstances finds the girl of his dreams. Of course, we have our bad guys who try to break them up. In this one, Emmy is kidnapped and as if she were the damsel in distress, Jonathan comes to her rescue with the aid of Hollywood, probably the coolest homosexual actor on screen: the major comic relief. The soundtrack is awesome, and now I'm trying to find it. As well, Kim Cattrell is great, and her acting with Andrew McCArthy is believable, that you don't think of them as actors. The crew they must have found to make mannequins resembling Cattrell is great, and makes good use of low-tech effects. If you go to a store or need something to rent that is pretty good, here's your answer. P.S. Do not see Mannequin 2. As far as I'm concerned, that one doesn't exist.

I don't know if I'll lose my membership card in the "He-Man Tough Guy" club for reviewing "Mannequin" but, hey, I'm a risk-taker ... 8)

This is a fun movie. Kim Cattrall is a lot of fun as the Egyptian princess-turned-mannequin that comes to life. Andrew McCarthy is pretty good as the mannequin designer shocked to see his creation come to life. Estelle Getty (Golden Girls) steals every scene she's in, as the struggling department store owner.

Some of the especially fun scenes are the mannequin taking a hang-glider for a flight *inside* the multistoried department store. The mannequin and McCarthy's characters created fresh, animated mannequin displays which create a buzz among passersby. And they do a few take-offs, from "Ike and Tina Turner" and "Phantom of the Opera", among others. A young James Spader is almost unrecognizable as the mean store supervisor.

Of course, Starship's ubiquitious "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" is all over the credits. But it's still a good song. In one memorable scene, a bulldog suffers a nervous breakdown after seeing the mannequin come to life. There's a bit of innuendo and mild language, so you'll have to decide if it's OK for your kids to watch.

Ladies, this is your kinda flick. Men, don't admit you enjoy it, just tell people your girlfriend or wife "made" you watch the film. Then, nobody need ever know! LOL!

The 1987 movie "Mannequin" was a great movie to see over agian after not seeing it for a long time. Andrew McCarthy is a very funny actor. It would also be nice if added to the "Product information" was the music info played in the movie.

I am proud to say I took part in an Anchor Bay poll that led to them picking up the rights to this movie. They did a splendid job. The digital transfer is beautiful... almost too beautiful. And the widescreen picture allows you to see everything as the director intended (in this Director's Cut!)...

Some might argue that this film is a slap in the face to the digital medium. Maybe. But this film represents to me the tongue-in-cheeck bad horror movies of yesterday.

If you're a fan of C.H.U.D., the commentary alone is worth the purchase price. Just picture John Heard, Daniel Stern, and director Douglas Cheek arguing back and forth about who ruined which scene. They didn't even realize it was the director's cut they were watching until about halfway through!

And if you own the DVD, there is an Easter Egg worth checking out. From the Special Featurs menu, press the up arrow on your remote and the C.H.U.D.'s eyes should light up. Hit enter and it will take you to that oh-so wonderful shower scene, only this time uncut. I wonder if the actress knows they re-instered her breasts into this DVD?

Yeah, this is what DVDs are all about.

Im a child of the 80's. I love just about everything the 80's had to offer. The toys were better, the cartoon's were better and the horror movies were better. Sure, the special effects might seem a little crude to the crowd of today. But I think its more the idea's and story lines that make them alot better than horror movies of today. "Scream" and "I know what you did last Summer" just don't cut it as good horror movies. Its just a bunch of pop teen idols getting slashed up by the "who done it" killer. *yawn* BORING! 80's horror movies had interesting plots, creepy idea's, dark and brooding camera work, scary bad guys. The list could go on and on. C.H.U.D is one of the 80's classics and one of my own personal favorites. Its about homeless people who live under the steets of New York. Soon the hobo's and city people come up missing. As it turns out, the city has been storing toxic waste drums beneath the streets and the hobo's are turning into horrible, mutant undead monsters! Most people pass off the monsters as "corny" looking, but I would rather see make-up special effects than CGI special effects. Don't get me wrong, I like CGI special effects. Im a fan of the Jurassic Park movies because the CGI is so sweet! But you can't beat all the hard work and morbid detail that went into movies like C.H.U.D, Hellraiser and Friday the 13th. Anyways, the rest of the movie is a cat and mouse chase beneath the city streets to escape before its too late. I don't want to get into too much detail about the movie, you'll just have to see it for yourself. Take my word for it, C.H.U.D is what horror movies are all about.

f@#$!!??** hilarious film and commentary.

this dvd rocks. the film sucks. . .and is genius.

I am proud to say I took part in an Anchor Bay poll that led to them picking up the rights to this movie. They did a splendid job. The digital transfer is beautiful... almost too beautiful. And the widescreen picture allows you to see everything as the director intended (in this Director's Cut!)...

Some might argue that this film is a slap in the face to the digital medium. Maybe. But this film represents to me the tongue-in-cheeck bad horror movies of yesterday.

If you're a fan of C.H.U.D., the commentary alone is worth the purchase price. Just picture John Heard, Daniel Stern, and director Douglas Cheek arguing back and forth about who ruined which scene. They didn't even realize it was the director's cut they were watching until about halfway through!

And if you own the DVD, there is an Easter Egg worth checking out. From the Special Featurs menu, press the up arrow on your remote and the C.H.U.D.'s eyes should light up. Hit enter and it will take you to that oh-so wonderful shower scene, only this time uncut. I wonder if the actress knows they re-instered her breasts into this DVD?

Yeah, this is what DVDs are all about.

Im a child of the 80's. I love just about everything the 80's had to offer. The toys were better, the cartoon's were better and the horror movies were better. Sure, the special effects might seem a little crude to the crowd of today. But I think its more the idea's and story lines that make them alot better than horror movies of today. "Scream" and "I know what you did last Summer" just don't cut it as good horror movies. Its just a bunch of pop teen idols getting slashed up by the "who done it" killer. *yawn* BORING! 80's horror movies had interesting plots, creepy idea's, dark and brooding camera work, scary bad guys. The list could go on and on. C.H.U.D is one of the 80's classics and one of my own personal favorites. Its about homeless people who live under the steets of New York. Soon the hobo's and city people come up missing. As it turns out, the city has been storing toxic waste drums beneath the streets and the hobo's are turning into horrible, mutant undead monsters! Most people pass off the monsters as "corny" looking, but I would rather see make-up special effects than CGI special effects. Don't get me wrong, I like CGI special effects. Im a fan of the Jurassic Park movies because the CGI is so sweet! But you can't beat all the hard work and morbid detail that went into movies like C.H.U.D, Hellraiser and Friday the 13th. Anyways, the rest of the movie is a cat and mouse chase beneath the city streets to escape before its too late. I don't want to get into too much detail about the movie, you'll just have to see it for yourself. Take my word for it, C.H.U.D is what horror movies are all about.

f@#$!!??** hilarious film and commentary.

this dvd rocks. the film sucks. . .and is genius.

I am proud to say I took part in an Anchor Bay poll that led to them picking up the rights to this movie. They did a splendid job. The digital transfer is beautiful... almost too beautiful. And the widescreen picture allows you to see everything as the director intended (in this Director's Cut!)...

Some might argue that this film is a slap in the face to the digital medium. Maybe. But this film represents to me the tongue-in-cheeck bad horror movies of yesterday.

If you're a fan of C.H.U.D., the commentary alone is worth the purchase price. Just picture John Heard, Daniel Stern, and director Douglas Cheek arguing back and forth about who ruined which scene. They didn't even realize it was the director's cut they were watching until about halfway through!

And if you own the DVD, there is an Easter Egg worth checking out. From the Special Featurs menu, press the up arrow on your remote and the C.H.U.D.'s eyes should light up. Hit enter and it will take you to that oh-so wonderful shower scene, only this time uncut. I wonder if the actress knows they re-instered her breasts into this DVD?

Yeah, this is what DVDs are all about.

Im a child of the 80's. I love just about everything the 80's had to offer. The toys were better, the cartoon's were better and the horror movies were better. Sure, the special effects might seem a little crude to the crowd of today. But I think its more the idea's and story lines that make them alot better than horror movies of today. "Scream" and "I know what you did last Summer" just don't cut it as good horror movies. Its just a bunch of pop teen idols getting slashed up by the "who done it" killer. *yawn* BORING! 80's horror movies had interesting plots, creepy idea's, dark and brooding camera work, scary bad guys. The list could go on and on. C.H.U.D is one of the 80's classics and one of my own personal favorites. Its about homeless people who live under the steets of New York. Soon the hobo's and city people come up missing. As it turns out, the city has been storing toxic waste drums beneath the streets and the hobo's are turning into horrible, mutant undead monsters! Most people pass off the monsters as "corny" looking, but I would rather see make-up special effects than CGI special effects. Don't get me wrong, I like CGI special effects. Im a fan of the Jurassic Park movies because the CGI is so sweet! But you can't beat all the hard work and morbid detail that went into movies like C.H.U.D, Hellraiser and Friday the 13th. Anyways, the rest of the movie is a cat and mouse chase beneath the city streets to escape before its too late. I don't want to get into too much detail about the movie, you'll just have to see it for yourself. Take my word for it, C.H.U.D is what horror movies are all about.

f@#$!!??** hilarious film and commentary.

this dvd rocks. the film sucks. . .and is genius.

I am proud to say I took part in an Anchor Bay poll that led to them picking up the rights to this movie. They did a splendid job. The digital transfer is beautiful... almost too beautiful. And the widescreen picture allows you to see everything as the director intended (in this Director's Cut!)...

Some might argue that this film is a slap in the face to the digital medium. Maybe. But this film represents to me the tongue-in-cheeck bad horror movies of yesterday.

If you're a fan of C.H.U.D., the commentary alone is worth the purchase price. Just picture John Heard, Daniel Stern, and director Douglas Cheek arguing back and forth about who ruined which scene. They didn't even realize it was the director's cut they were watching until about halfway through!

And if you own the DVD, there is an Easter Egg worth checking out. From the Special Featurs menu, press the up arrow on your remote and the C.H.U.D.'s eyes should light up. Hit enter and it will take you to that oh-so wonderful shower scene, only this time uncut. I wonder if the actress knows they re-instered her breasts into this DVD?

Yeah, this is what DVDs are all about.

Im a child of the 80's. I love just about everything the 80's had to offer. The toys were better, the cartoon's were better and the horror movies were better. Sure, the special effects might seem a little crude to the crowd of today. But I think its more the idea's and story lines that make them alot better than horror movies of today. "Scream" and "I know what you did last Summer" just don't cut it as good horror movies. Its just a bunch of pop teen idols getting slashed up by the "who done it" killer. *yawn* BORING! 80's horror movies had interesting plots, creepy idea's, dark and brooding camera work, scary bad guys. The list could go on and on. C.H.U.D is one of the 80's classics and one of my own personal favorites. Its about homeless people who live under the steets of New York. Soon the hobo's and city people come up missing. As it turns out, the city has been storing toxic waste drums beneath the streets and the hobo's are turning into horrible, mutant undead monsters! Most people pass off the monsters as "corny" looking, but I would rather see make-up special effects than CGI special effects. Don't get me wrong, I like CGI special effects. Im a fan of the Jurassic Park movies because the CGI is so sweet! But you can't beat all the hard work and morbid detail that went into movies like C.H.U.D, Hellraiser and Friday the 13th. Anyways, the rest of the movie is a cat and mouse chase beneath the city streets to escape before its too late. I don't want to get into too much detail about the movie, you'll just have to see it for yourself. Take my word for it, C.H.U.D is what horror movies are all about.

f@#$!!??** hilarious film and commentary.

this dvd rocks. the film sucks. . .and is genius.

The "Stepford Wives" is every man's fantasy and every feminist's nightmare come to life. Based on the book by Ira Levin, the film is a commentary on the social roles of men and women within society, taken to the extreme.

The film tells the story of Joanna Eberhart (Katherine Ross), a wife and mother, who is being reluctantly uprooted from her home and career as a photographer in New York City, to a quiet little community known as Stepford.....a suburban Garden of Eden, seemingly picture-perfect in every way. Although unhappy, Joanna gamely attempts to make this new life work for the sake of her husband and children. She even plays the dutiful hostess for the local men's club, which her husband, Walter, is joining. It isn't long however, before Joanna begins to suspect that something is not quite right about the town and it's inhabitants, especially the women, who seem to have absolutely no aspirations other than being the perfect housewife and mother.
Fortunately, Joanna finds an ally in the form of Bobbie Marco (Paula Prentiss), also a new arrival in town, who shares Joanna distaste for her surroundings. Together, the two women attempt to bolster the local women toward higher ambitions than that of cooking, cleaning, and beauty tips. All to no avail.
As the film progresses, Joanna and Bobbi become increasingly convinced that something sinister is going on here and are determined to get to the root of the matter. After Bobbi returns from a weekend get-away with her husband, Joanna is horrified to find that Bobbi has become like all the rest of the wives. Only then does Joanna stumble upon the town's terrible secret.

The film's climax is effectively disturbing and doesn't sell-out for the "happily ever after" ending that so many films do. Then again, depending on your viewpoint, maybe it does. A thought provoking film, it raises the questions of how men and women view each other and what it is that they want and expect from the opposite sex as well as what are the "perfect" qualities which make up a mate.
The performances are generally good all around with Paula Prentiss providing the bulk of the comic relief in the movie. Her character is the antithesis of the perfect housewife and is not shy about showing her dislike for all things domestic. A very young Mary Stewart Masterson makes her screen debut here as one of Joanna's two daughters.

The Silver Anniversary Edition DVD is a high quality product and includes a widescreen format, interviews with director Bryan Forbes, Producer Edgar J. Scherick and cast members Katherine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Nanette Newman and Peter Masterson. It also contains the theatrical trailer, radio spots, talent bios, and a language selection.

This film is a great example of how a director could scare the wits out of you and keep you absolutely on the edge of your seat without ever having to resort to some guy with a bad Oedipus complex in a hockey mask, weilding a knife for the umpteenth time. There are certain forms of horror that are so subtle as to be chilling and this movie showcases just such subtlety.

Walter and Joanna move from the big city to the idyllic town of Stepford, Ct. were the air is pure, the water is clean, and the wives have spotless homes, gardens, children, and well, lives. Very quickly you get the idea that something isn't quite right. The women are perfect, too perfect. As the story unfolds you begin to see how the intricate pieces of the plot fit together. You are given clues from time to time, but again they are subtle so you have to pay attention. The husbands in the town are guarding some sort of secret and the newer wives are nervous about it, but a weekend alone with hubby solves everything for each of them. This weekend gives the ladies a newfound love and respect for their spouses, children, homes, and spray starch.

The part of Dale "Diz" Coba played brilliantly by Patrick O'Neal is one of the least developed but most interesting in the movie. There is so much more the director could have done with his part. Tina Louise is also very good as Charmaine Wimperis, showing us a side of her acting talent far removed from "Gilligan's Island."

The last 10 minutes of the movie are so grippingly suspenseful that they are worth the whole of the movie. If you like suspense and twists, you are going to love this movie!

Katherine Ross, husband, and kids move to a little town where everything seems to be perefect. except the wives are just a little too bit perfect. When ross investigates with friend paula prentis.. well all i can say is the ending is a stunner. i really enjoyed this movie. katherine ross is a great actress and paula prentiss did a good job too as her wiseass friend. worth a second viewing.

The "Stepford Wives" is every man's fantasy and every feminist's nightmare come to life. Based on the book by Ira Levin, the film is a commentary on the social roles of men and women within society, taken to the extreme.

The film tells the story of Joanna Eberhart (Katherine Ross), a wife and mother, who is being reluctantly uprooted from her home and career as a photographer in New York City, to a quiet little community known as Stepford.....a suburban Garden of Eden, seemingly picture-perfect in every way. Although unhappy, Joanna gamely attempts to make this new life work for the sake of her husband and children. She even plays the dutiful hostess for the local men's club, which her husband, Walter, is joining. It isn't long however, before Joanna begins to suspect that something is not quite right about the town and it's inhabitants, especially the women, who seem to have absolutely no aspirations other than being the perfect housewife and mother.
Fortunately, Joanna finds an ally in the form of Bobbie Marco (Paula Prentiss), also a new arrival in town, who shares Joanna distaste for her surroundings. Together, the two women attempt to bolster the local women toward higher ambitions than that of cooking, cleaning, and beauty tips. All to no avail.
As the film progresses, Joanna and Bobbi become increasingly convinced that something sinister is going on here and are determined to get to the root of the matter. After Bobbi returns from a weekend get-away with her husband, Joanna is horrified to find that Bobbi has become like all the rest of the wives. Only then does Joanna stumble upon the town's terrible secret.

The film's climax is effectively disturbing and doesn't sell-out for the "happily ever after" ending that so many films do. Then again, depending on your viewpoint, maybe it does. A thought provoking film, it raises the questions of how men and women view each other and what it is that they want and expect from the opposite sex as well as what are the "perfect" qualities which make up a mate.
The performances are generally good all around with Paula Prentiss providing the bulk of the comic relief in the movie. Her character is the antithesis of the perfect housewife and is not shy about showing her dislike for all things domestic. A very young Mary Stewart Masterson makes her screen debut here as one of Joanna's two daughters.

The Silver Anniversary Edition DVD is a high quality product and includes a widescreen format, interviews with director Bryan Forbes, Producer Edgar J. Scherick and cast members Katherine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Nanette Newman and Peter Masterson. It also contains the theatrical trailer, radio spots, talent bios, and a language selection.

This film is a great example of how a director could scare the wits out of you and keep you absolutely on the edge of your seat without ever having to resort to some guy with a bad Oedipus complex in a hockey mask, weilding a knife for the umpteenth time. There are certain forms of horror that are so subtle as to be chilling and this movie showcases just such subtlety.

Walter and Joanna move from the big city to the idyllic town of Stepford, Ct. were the air is pure, the water is clean, and the wives have spotless homes, gardens, children, and well, lives. Very quickly you get the idea that something isn't quite right. The women are perfect, too perfect. As the story unfolds you begin to see how the intricate pieces of the plot fit together. You are given clues from time to time, but again they are subtle so you have to pay attention. The husbands in the town are guarding some sort of secret and the newer wives are nervous about it, but a weekend alone with hubby solves everything for each of them. This weekend gives the ladies a newfound love and respect for their spouses, children, homes, and spray starch.

The part of Dale "Diz" Coba played brilliantly by Patrick O'Neal is one of the least developed but most interesting in the movie. There is so much more the director could have done with his part. Tina Louise is also very good as Charmaine Wimperis, showing us a side of her acting talent far removed from "Gilligan's Island."

The last 10 minutes of the movie are so grippingly suspenseful that they are worth the whole of the movie. If you like suspense and twists, you are going to love this movie!

Katherine Ross, husband, and kids move to a little town where everything seems to be perefect. except the wives are just a little too bit perfect. When ross investigates with friend paula prentis.. well all i can say is the ending is a stunner. i really enjoyed this movie. katherine ross is a great actress and paula prentiss did a good job too as her wiseass friend. worth a second viewing.

Incredibly strange nasty that the art house crowd will love. Mark (Sam Neill) and Anna (Isabelle Adjani) are a married couple going through a long dark marital breakdown during the political upheaval of 1970s Berlin. The highlight of which includes Anna expressing her tormented stated of mind by cutting into her neck with an electric carving-knife. On the surface the movie seems very simple: Mark figures that he has gotten to the bottom of Anna's unsettling behavior. He assumes that she is having an affair, and hires a detective to find out who it is. In probably the weirdest twist ever committed to celluloid, we find out that Anna has given birth to an octopus creature in a award-winning ten minute bile-spraying miscarriage on the Subway. If that is not enough, we discover that she is committing incest with the tentacle lover. The demented housewife struggles with leaving her family behind for her slimy monster. "...Part art film, part supernatural thriller, and part splatter horror" this movie has finally been put back in the right order and released uncut for the first time in North America, but it still does not make a lot of sense. Deep metaphor's throughout the picture make Possession incomprehensible but fun to try and figure out.

After many years of acquiring a cult status of mythical proportions, Zulawski's "Possession" finally comes to the viewers as it was originally supposed to be seen.

This is not an easy movie to see or to understand -- and I suppose it neither was easy to write or film. The characters are severely neurotic and seem to thrive on their bizarre behaviour (in more ways than one) yet they are somehow all too human. Like the movie ultimately suggests (once you get to see the secret trick the movie plays on the two leads), this story may be like looking into a mirror, though dark and distorted.

Meet Mark (Sam Neill), an overworked man with a mysterious job that takes him "to far away places". Meet his lovely wife, Anna (an overwhelmingly beautiful Isabelle Adjani), a sexually frustrated housewife and former ballet instructor who has much more than meets the eye going on for her.

Between quarrels and reconciliations, these two share a nice apartment in a quiet and well-to-do district of Berlin and have a five year old son, Bob, but they also share a horror that no one could have suspected, and that will make all their fantasies and nightmares come true.

After being brutally butchered by Vestron Video for its original release, "Possession" has been restored to its original lenght and sequence, therefore becoming coherent for the viewers who used to find it mind-numbingly strange.

I think of it as a very unique piece of craftmanship, part Ingmar Bergman drama, part Polanski suspense thriller, part Dario Argento gore, part Kubrick satire, part Buñuel surrealism and still somehow, very much its own.

The camera angles, the direction, the strange whims and seizures that seem to take over the characters (including one memorable and disturbing scene on a subway station with Adjani pulling all the stops not ontly to her acting abilities but to her physical strength too) are part of a very strange style Zulawski has to tell his story.

If you are accustomed to standard horror fare, then probably you will dismiss this movie as pretentious eurotrash (something it has been labeled off as countless times) but if you're game and follow the sequences and let your imagination be ensnared this will be a convulsive ride to the depths of emotion where you won't emerge as the same person.

And quite possibly, that's what all horror movies are really about at heart.

As a footnote: Isabelle Adjani won a very deserved Gold Palm at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for her dual role in this film that, no matter how much you loved it or hated it, is still unforgettable.

The quality of the DVD in picture and sound is also of note.

I was thrilled to find so many references to Polanski and Cronenberg among the reviews for this film. It does indeed combine the dark suspense and ironic humor of ROSEMARY'S BABY, the biological horror and familial disintegration of THE BROOD, and the unabashed histrionics and directorial flamboyance of Ken Russell's THE DEVILS. With themes of marital strife, familial disintegration, and psychological breakdown harking back to the former two and the in-your-face grotesquerie and visceral drama reminding the viewer of the latter two, little-known but acclaimed Polish filmmaker Andrzej Zulawski tells the story of Anna (Isabelle Adjani, in the performance of a lifetime) and Mark (Sam Neill), she a bored housewife and he an overworked... something (the film never makes clear his occupation). They share an apartment in an empty, run-down Berlin with their young son. After completing an important job of some kind, Mark comes home to his family to find things changed. He drags the truth from Anna that she has been having an affair. She insists she cannot stay with him, and leaves Mark with the child, apparently to shack up with her lover. Mark tracks down the lover, a real weirdo named Heinz (Heinrich Bennent), but after insults and fisticuffs, Heinz insists he has not seen Anna in quite a while. Mark, perplexed, hires a detective to follow her from their apartment after one of her sporadic visits, which always end in chaos. The detective manages to get in and... something really strange happens. I know what that something is, having seen the picture, but on the off-chance you haven't read the other (spoiler-inundated) reviews, I'll keep it secret. Instead I'll talk about the photography, which goes a long way toward mirroring the absolutely unhinged performances, and the set design, which provides a cool counterpoint to the feverish tenor of the film's action and dialogue. It obviously isn't going to be for everybody, and in fact some will doubtless find it repellent. Writing the film was obviously therapeutic for Zulawski (who, like Cronenberg when writing THE BROOD, was going through a nasty divorce). A friend of mine said he was more sickened by the scenes of emotional anguish than by any of the film's often-stomach-churning special effects. Just keep two things in mind: firstly, this isn't your typical "horror flick", therefore the splatterpunk/gorehound set should stay away; and secondly, this one is playing for keeps: though laced with a bitter humor, there are no light moments here AT ALL, and this should not be watched by couples on a first date, or any couple whose relationship is not secure. Also, keep impressionable children away from it. I was very impressed with what I thought would be just another dreary, over-hyped horror film and turned out to be a genuine classic (at least as far as I'm concerned). Watch POSSESSION if you like Polanski's horror films, Cronenberg's more dramatic outings, or any of Ken Russell's stuff. SCENE OF NOTE: Adjani going ABSOLUTELY NUTS and having a miscarriage (or going into labour...?) in a subway station for what seems like an eternity.

I have read all of the reviews on here and being a huge fan of Horror flicks I thought I would give it a shot but I was very disappointed. It was poorly acted (which is common for those films)and boring.. I just could not get into it at all and my husband actually fell asleep.. it was certainly not the worst I have seen but I wouldn't see it again!

I'm not sure what attracted me to this movie, but whatever it was, I'm glad I checked it out. I've always been a fan of slasher flicks (maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was born in 1980, around the time the founding fathers of slasher flicks were releashed -- Halloween and Friday the 13th). The slasher genre is probably my favorite because there are so many films from which to work when reviewing a slasher.

Madman takes place at a camp, complete with kids, teenage camp counselors, and the old guy who's supposed to be making sure the teenagers are watching the kids and not having sex with one another all of the time. The old guy's name is Max (Carl Fredericks) and we start out listening to one of his "campside stories." The story he spins for everybody is that of Madman Marz. A number of years ago, Max tells us, a farmer butchered his entire family and then went to the tavern for a beer. Although the town hanged him for his crimes, Marz escaped into the woods and was never heard from again. Max warns his camp not to say the name Madman Marz above a whisper or else they'll piss Marz off and he'll come to get them. At this point, your classic punk stands up and starts mocking the whole story, screaming out "Madman Marz!"

The Max character is weird because he doesn't act like your typical old guy -- he doesn't mind the teens drinking beer, he doesn't mind scaring the hell out of the little kids, and he always seems to know more than he's letting on. I've wondered whether or not Max was actually Marz. By the end of the movie, I was still not convinced that he wasn't. Max and Marz were played by different actors, but could there be a secret in the storyline that link Max and Marz? There's also a few scenes that place Max too far away from camp to be Marz while all of the killings are taking place. You'll see this weirdness about Max that I'm talking about if you check this film out.

The gory scenes in this movie are quite good. The killer uses an axe as his murder weapon, but we also see one of the teens' heads chopped off under the hood of a pickup truck. Pretty unique, huh? There are obvious similarities beyond the gore to Friday the 13th and Halloween. The music used throughout the film is the most obvious. Others include the "woods" and "camp" themes common in nearly all of the Friday movies. These similarities do not make Madman a "ripoff" -- Madman certainly has qualities that make it standout. For example, in the beginning of the movie, Marz is introduced to us as someone very human -- Max tells us that Marz goes to the tavern and drinks a beer after slaughtering his family. Can you imagine Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees sitting down for a beer after one of their kills ... Exactly!

With all good slasher movies, there's the issue of the killer's face. In the beginning of the film, we see Marz in silhouette, revealing only his wild hair and large body. Eventually we see his face shot from several darkly lit and obscure angles. In fact, his face isn't "clearly" seen until near the end of the movie. And even then, it's shot from a moving camera looking up, a technique that has the tendency to conceal whatever it's filming.

Another commonality in slasher films is the sparing of at least one of the teens. This way, someone gets to tell their story to the cops or whoever ends up coming to rescue the camp when it's all over. My guess was that Betsy (Alexis Dubin) would be spared because of her savior-like role. I won't tell you if my assumption turned out to be true, you'll have to find out for yourself. The actress who portrayed Betsy was credited in this film as Alexis Dubin, but she previously appeared in the horror classic Dawn of the Dead as Gaylen Ross. She does an excellent job portraying the smart one of the bunch, even though she makes a few stupid decisions here and there. If I had to pick a smart one, though, it would definitely be her!

Without reservation I add Madman to my list of favorite 80's slasher movies. The DVD quality is excellent -- I only witnessed one scene in which the scream doesn't match up with the victim's mouth. This little error is forgivable considering the wonderful quality that's been preserved in this DVD. Check this one out, folks! Rating: 4 / 4.

SMITH TALKS: The Future of Movie Reviews ...

This is a very origional movie. It has a great plot! Some of the acting is okay and some is very bad! But thats what you have to expect when you watch a stalker in the woods movie. It starts out around a campfire with 7 camp counselors and about 8 kids telling stories. the oldest counselor Max starts to tell the legend of "Madman Marz". It's about a crazy farmer who murdered his whole family with an axe while they were sleeping and then disappearing into the woods forever. Legend has it that if you say his name over a whisper he will come and hunt you down. Then a cocky teen says his name and the body count begins to rise. One by one the counselors begin to disappear. The best death scene is when madman marz cuts of a counselor's head while they're head is under the hood of the truck! Don't bet on who will live or die because you will be supprised. This is a great buy for those of you who enjoyed the Friday the 13th series.

....I'm not going to. It's been done to death and I'd rather talk about the film's atmospheric cinematography that is vintage Hitchcock. Perhaps more than any other film he directed this one captures the essence of discomfort and suspense so vital to the psychoanalysis theme of the film. Note the lingering low-angle on the shot of Gregory Peck's razor (and the way it is lit) or his psychotic stare at John Emery (shot through a drinking glass, for goodness sakes!), of course making us all fear he's going to be stabbed. Or the important climatic skiing scene which finally explains why Dr. Peck is so nervous around lines, tracks, and slopes. (It's a relatively short flashback that I won't reveal, but a disturbing, horrible sight just the same.) Finally, the scene with Leo Carroll, Ingrid Bergman, and a freakishly large, distorted gun is spellbindi...really impressive. Can you imagine the screams from the original 1945 audience when this gun came on-screen?!! The *two* frames (on video, anyway) of red which integrate with the gunshot is a stunning piece of subliminal cinematography. (BTW, is it just me, or do the gorgeous Ms. Bergman and future Hitchcock alum Grace Kelly bear a striking resemblance to each other?!!)

This review refers to the Anchor Bay release of the "Spellbound" DVD....

Anchor Bay has done it again. This 1945 classic directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was beautifully transfered onto this DVD. The black and white images are sharp, crisp, and clear. Barely a sign of this film's age. The sound remastered in Dolby Dig 2.0 is great. If you're a fan of this film, you'll be thrilled at how good it looks.

Haven't seen it yet, but love Hitch, or maybe it's been a while since you have?....Here's a little of this riveting story.....
The beautiful Ingrid Bergman plays the distant psychiatrist Dr. Constance Petersen. She treats a number of troubled patients at the Green Manors Mental Asylum, but her toughest case is yet to come. With Dr. Murchison(Leo G Carroll) being forced into retirement a new chief of staff will be arriving. It is the esteemed Dr Edwards(Gregory Peck)who takes over. It is not long before Edwards and Constance find themselves attracted to one another, and it is not long before Constance figures out that Edwards is not really who he says he is. He displays signs of paranoia and amnesia and it is possible that he murdered the real Dr. Edwards.They are on the run to try to solve the case but as the original theatrical poster says,"Will he Kiss me or Kill me?"(The DVD comes with a mini version of this poster).

You'll be awed Hitch's definitive style of camera angles, shadow and lights, romance and a unique dream sequence designed by Salavdor Dali. Not to mention all the wonderful talent that graces this film. Bergman and Peck make screen magic together, Carroll is a legend and this film shows us why.Also starring is Rhonda Flemming,Michael Chekhov, and Wallace Ford. The music by Miklos Rozsa also adds greatly to the building tension, and romantic scenes in the story.

Looking for Hitch: About :40 minutes in, you may see him if you're quick!

It never ceases to amaze me that we are lucky enough to be able to see these great classics as they were first seen and with the added treat of the origianl theatrical Overture.(I will be adding this one to my listmania of "Old Movies That Look Great on DVD") Now, if you are looking for special features, this DVD does not have any, there is another version by Criterion that offers more in the way of extras,although quite a bit more expensive.(Criterion also does great transfers)Which ever you choose, this a a must have for fans of Hitch, Bergman or Peck.

So don't worry about trying to over anaylze this one....As Hitch himself said "It's just a movie." But a GREAT one! So enjoy!......

Psychoanalysis is the framework of this thriller by the Master of Suspense. At Green Manors psychiatric clinic, Dr. Constance Petersen tries to help a man suffering from amnesia who claims he has killed Dr. Edwardes, the intended new director of the clinic. Petersen is charmed by this handsome man, whose initials might be J.B., and believing his innocence, even follows him to the Empire State Hotel in NY.

This is quite a change from how a colleague, Dr. Fleurot describes her. He says she's brilliant but lifeless, approaching her problems "with an icepack on your head." However, he does have a very astute line on kissing her, "it's rather like kissing a textbook." Indeed, Petersen's initial view on love is cold and clinical, typical of a scientist. She says love is a "response to hair colouring or vocal tones, or mannerisms that remind us of parents." And "people read about love as one thing and experience it as another." Hence they get psychoanalyzed.

Amnesia is described by JB as "a trick of the mind for remaining sane. You remain sane by forgetting something too horrible to remember and put a horrible thing behind a closed door." Indeed, JB becomes agitated at seeing bright white and also rows of straight lines, something repeated throughout the movie.

Apart from Casablanca, this features one of Ingrid Bergman's best performances, and this is the first of two Hitchcock films she did, the other being Notorious. And Gregory Peck gives a standout performance as someone suffering from amnesia, haunted by something traumatic in his childhood, and someone who could be a killer.

Michael Chekov does wonders as Dr. Brulov, a delightful old man and Petersen's mentor, described as someone in a complete dream state, socially. His eyeglasses and goatee make him a stereotypical Freud-like figure.

The dream sequence, based on a design by Salvador Dali, is best seen without me giving it away, and the incidental music adds to the suspense after each discovery.

Along with Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds, and Dial M For Murder, one of my favourite Hitchcock movies.