The Arrangement, Ep. 2 "Episode 2" Review

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"The Arrangement" is HGTV Design Star on camped-out steroids. The competitors are... floral arrangers. Nancy O'Dell is a guest judge, and the hostess is Gigi Grazer, whose face moves strangely because she's had another kind of arrangement. Since this show is high camp, the first competition is putting sushi and flowers on nude models. Of course, the girly guy is kinda freaked out when he sees another kind of shrubbery. There's the manly Russ, who wants to show that macho men can work with flowers, and there's the equally butch Henley, a woman who'd be at home in a punk band. Guillermo brings European sophistication, and Jen whose youthful energy wins the elimination challenge of making floral models for a Los Angeles mall.

"The Arrangement" is cheesy fun. It's on the same level as "Fantasy Hair Battle Spectacular" when it comes to reaching the dizzying heights of campiness. Imagine Lady GaGa as your FTD florist. It's that kind of show, and everything is coming up roses.

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"The Arrangement" has been a reality series of dazzling, awe-inspiring cheesiness. From the nude sushi models of the first episode to the drag queens of the sixth, they've been ready to pull out all the stops. But not this one. In this episode, the floral designers make their own flower logo, explain it to True Religion's Kym Gold, make arrangements based on tattoos, then design the sides of cars. It's disappointing all around--surprising, since the designers are supposed to "brand" themselves. It's about as exciting as a board meeting, without the relief of coffee and doughnuts.

This episode was a shocking clunker for the series (other than its awful theme song) It's a step above Going Down In Flames with the A-List: New York (think of an all-male Real Housewives), ANY episode of Roasting in Hell's Kitchen: Temper Tantrums, F Words, and the Pursuit of Perfection which consist of people cooking the same dishes&Gordon cussing, and "Survivor" (people complaining in the wilderness) or "Big Brother" (people complaining in an enclosed space)

This episode was literally a sleeper, as effective as kava kava, valerian and chamomile. Combined. This episode is best composted.

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"The Arrangement" is the campiest show on TV. It's outdoing Iman's Career in Fashion with the wife of Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane, The Big Show [HD] "Work of Art" with its competing artists, and Melting Pot "Top Chef" with the glamorous Padma Lakshmi. Really. It makes the competing chefs on "Just Desserts" look staid, and the cussing chefs on Hell's Kitchen: Season 1 Raw & Uncensored (3pc) look prim and proper.

In this episode, the competing florists do photo shoots with drag queens, and are judged by RuPaul herself (himself?) The florists wonder whether their models will be male or female... they end up with a baffling combination of both. Morgan McMichaels, Raven, Jujubee, and Tammy Brown are delicate femininity blended with masculine strength. It's a paradox. One of the designers squanders his extra 10 minutes.... and like a bridal bouquet, it's up for grabs!

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"The Arrangement" is over-the-top campy fun. In this episode, the competitors design flowers (a bouquet and a mask) for a superhero, then a bouquet for the Jigsaw Killer of The Saw Complete Collection I-V series. The man who "inspires" them is a theremin-playing,leather-clad, gender-bending performance artist named Armin Raw. The competitors get to go to a Halloween/horror supply store. The manly Russ uses real goat eyes,and the others use fake limbs. The bouquets are appropriately disgusting. It's all coming up in bloody roses...

Reviews of Puss in Boots (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2011)

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I just got back from watching this movie in the theater and let me tell you that it was utterly fantastic from start to finish. The sheer genius of the people who put this story together is deserving of all the accolades that could be bestowed upon them. The story was utterly impeccable and the combination of the the old fairy tales, the Shrek films, and most importantly the behaviors of all our beloved pet cats are interwoven seamlessly into this story. I couldn't believe all the ways that they found to make this movie so memorably funny and endearing to the audience (and especially us cat lovers) that it was a really fun movie to see.

Now if you are familiar with your childhood fairy-tales, the basic premise of the movie is that Puss (in Boots) along with Humpty Alexander Dumpty, and Ms. Kitty South-Paws start an adventurous trek to obtain some magic beans in order to provide access to the goose that lays the golden eggs. And yes, there just may be a beanstalk involved.

I really can't tell you any details about this movie without risking spoiling a scene or two, but I will let you know that Humpty Alexander Dumpty, voiced by The Hangover star Zach Galifianakis, is a pivotal character in this movie along with Jack and Jill. Although I think you may find yourself quite surprised by the movie version of these two compared to their pail of water exploits from the fairy tales. Another new character is Ms. Kitty Soft-Paws voiced by the beautiful Salma Hayek, who by the way does an outstanding job as Puss' love interest/nemesis.

Now I am not going to post any spoilers, but I will tell you that I found one particular scene so funny that it is my most cherished moment in the movie and it involves a shot-glass full of milk in the first bar scene. And that is all I am going to say about that, but be sure and look for it. Perhaps you will even think it was as funny as I did.

This is a totally awesome movie for kids of all ages, including us bigger kids. Definitely take the kids to see this movie and make sure they stay quiet as you won't want to miss any of the great lines.

Shawn Kovacich

100% Cat Lover

Creator of numerous books and DVDs.

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I'm a dog person. No if's, and's or but's about it. Not even a dog person, I only like huge dogs (German Shepherds, Labs, Collies, etc.) that cats hate. But Puss in Boots is quite possibly the cutest cat ever (in film) and temporarily made me think, "Maybe I should give cats a chance." Not only is the cat cute; this film is adorable.

Initially I wondered whether I'd actually go see the film considering I liked Shrek but wasn't sure if Puss in Boots could pull off a film all by himself. However, I saw a behind-the-scenes interview with RedEye featuring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek talking about the film. I'm a HUGE Antonio Banderas fan so I like to see/hear him in anything. (He's almost as hot as Puss in Boots. Well, maybe it's a tie.) The more they talked about the film and the more reviews I read, the more I decided to give the film a try.

The summary: Puss in Boots meets up with his friend-turned-rival Humpty Dumpty and they plot out how to get magic beans. Humpty Dumpty is obsessed with these beans so much that he's been stealing them forever and gotten Puss in Boots in a lot of trouble. But with a little persuading from a very sexy, charismatic Kitty Soft Paws and remembering how great his brotherhood used to be with Humpty Dumpty, Puss in Boots gives in.

There are a few cute dance performances, some music that would make steppers jealous, plenty of memorable one-liners, consistent funny parts and a whole lot of G-rated sexiness that adults and kids can love alike. I highly recommend this film. The cast and the creators did a superb job. I left the movie theater dancing around like Puss in Boots, beating on tables trying to re-create the beats and embarrassing the person I was with but I don't care. I'm all about Puss in Boots!

P.S. The "oohing" cat reminded me so much of the ad libs Fabolous does during his songs.

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An infamous cat befriends a female, and meets up with an old friend, an egg, sort a Humpty Dumpty. Together, they try to steal a goose who lays golden eggs, for reasons of enrichment, revenge or redemption. The Puss in Boots character is funny and very likeable. This is standard animated fare, but the animation is excellent, and the film is clever, funny and will be fun for the whole family to watch. This one does not rank with the terrific animated movies of recent years, but is certainly one that you should take the kids to see, as everyone will enjoy it.

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Puss in Boots is one of my very favorite movies ever. It is so sweet, with the most lovable hero ever. When I first saw Shrek, I loved Puss and wished for more of him. I definetly got my wish! I also loved Kitty Softpaws and the "Oooooo" kitty. Humpty Dumpty and Jack and Jill and the duck made it weird and Humpty annoyed me, but I still loved it. Great for all ages. I am an 11 year old girl and I really enjoyed this. So cute.

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Puss in Boots is an animated movie that makes me believe that a pussy cat and an egg can be best friends. Antonio Banderas provides the voice of Puss. Zach Galifianakis is the voice of Humpty Dumpty. They are two characters who grew up together in the film. Their bond of friendship is fun to watch develop in the movie. The story of Puss in Boots is actually based on a French fairy tale about a cat with a talent for stealing things. The plot of the movie centers around Puss and Humpty searching for magic beans. These magic beans grow into a bean stalk that leads to a giant's castle. Inside the castle is a goose that lays golden eggs. Nursery rhyme characters Jack and Jill are the villains in the film. Only the movie makers of Dream Works can breathe life and personality into these two characters. I love the creative license of the animators. There are two things about the movie that make it special. The animation and music are excellent. My favorite scene has Puss sword fighting and dancing with a female cat named Kitty Soft Paws. She is voiced by Selma Hayek. This scene in the movie is very funny. I love the simple scenes of the movie. One scene has Puss riding a horse in the back drop of a setting sun. The film is scored by composer Henry Jackman. His music gives the movie a sensual latin flair. There is a track of music in the film entitled "The Puss Suite". This piece of music sounds so uplifting and heroic. Rodrigo Y Gabriela are two latin guitar musicians. They perform a track entitled "Diablo Rojo" in the film. This instrumental is upbeat and beautiful to listen to. Puss In Boots is a very entertaining animated film. I like every aspect of it.

The Amityville Horror Trilogy Reviews

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better than the 2005 MGM Boxset if you have this then try to sell it or throw it out

and buy this new Blu-ray box set of the Amityville Horror film series

incredible box set Definitely worth the money

this box set released by Scream factory which is part of shout factory

contains all 3 Amityville movies on blu-ray each Disc has their own case

and the artwork is excellent plus the Discs have artwork to (Pictured Discs)

if you're a new fan of this film series i'll tell you a bit about the plot of all 3 films

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR released in Theaters 1979 which is based on the novel of the same name is an incredible piece of work

a really Good supernatural chiller, very creepy, along with that is Great Acting by James Brolin and Margot kidder

and also well Directed by Stuart rosenberg

it's about the Lutz family that move into this particular house that happens to be haunted by Evil spirits

and they experience alot of Supernatural events through out the whole film, Unexplained events, Ghosts etc

after the first 30mins the film starts to get very creepy and bizarre at the end of the film the Lutz family were very lucky

not to get possessed by the Evil spirits in the house and the Lutz family fled the House and never returned for their property

if you believe in the supernatural you'll get a real kick out of the film, if you don't then you might not find it scary, you might find it boring

so it depends who's watching it really.

the film is very well Directed and well Actored so i found it scary regardless

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is Widescreen, the picture quality looks excellent, it's beautiful Blu-ray transfer with High Definition Audio

the surround sound quality is pretty Good for an old film like this, scream factory really did make an effort to enhance the picture and audio in Blu-ray quality

Definitely better than the MGM DVD release from 2005

AMITYVILLE II-THE POSSESSION released in Theaters 1982 which is based on the book Murder in Amityville by Hans Holzer who's a supernatural investigator/Ghost hunter

this sequel is actually a prequel set 1 year before the Lutz family moved into the house

this sequel which i think is just as frightening at the original classic has brilliant Directing by Damiano Damiani

Burt young as the controlling father steals the film aswell as Rutanya Alda who plays the mother

the 2 kids get Abused and bullied by their father, the mother gets slapped around alot

the Eldest son gets possessed by the Evil spirit in the house and kills his whole family by Shotgun

and that is basically the plot so it's a prequel to the original

this film holds no punches there's tons of suspense and terror from the first scene til the last scene i found some scenes were difficult to watch

cause the Acting made it look so real, Brilliant Actor Burt young and Rutanya Alda

and there's incest overtones by older brother and sister, no sex scenes just a bit of intimacy which was Disturbing.

this film is also presented in beautiful High Definition Widescreen, the picture and audio quality is amazing much better than the 2005 MGM release

and the last sequel AMITYVILLE 3-D released in Theaters 1983 which is actually a sequel/a continuing story from the first film

similar plot to the original classic i'm not going to explain the whole film, you can look it up on wikipedia

but the film is suppose to be in 2-D and 3-D, you need a 3-D player and TV to watch the film in 3-D and i have neither

so i only watched the film in 2-D so i can't review the 3-D version

the film's plot is still scary but not as frightening as the first 2 films in my opinion

again this 3rd sequel is in Widescreen High definition for the first time ever so the picture and audio quality does look better than DVD for sure

now to the Special features, unlike the 2005 MGM Boxset that had no extras at all for the 2nd and 3rd film, the original had a making of Documentary etc

this new blu-ray boxset is the best for any Amityville horror fan

the first blu-ray still has the Making of Documentary with James brolin and Margo kidder plus the Audio commentary by Hans Holzer

there is a brand new interview with Music composer Lalo Schifrin

plus stills Gallery, Theatrical trailer and TV spots

with Amityville II the special features are incredible,

about 90 mins of interviews if you played them altogether but you can't select that on the Menu so you have to watch them seperatly

Interview with Director Damiano Damiani goes for about 5mins

Interview with Tommy lee wallace who wrote the screenplay about 15mins

Interview with Dianne Franklin who played the Older sister in the film, goes for 15mins

Interview with Rutanya Alda goes for 15mins, Andrew prine who played the priest is interviewed for only 5mins

and Alexandra Holzer is interviewed for the longest about 30mins, she talks about her fathers involvement in the Amityville series.

all Great interviews all interesting to watch

Alexandra Holzer does an Audio commentary for this film which i haven't heard it might be interesting commentary or might not.

there's no Behind the scenes featurette/footage unfortunately but there's a still Gallery, Theatrical trailer and TV spots

Amityville 3-D has some special features, it does not say them on the cover art

but there's 2 interviews one with Candy clark who plays Melanie in the film and another interview with another Actor from the film

there's no commentary or Interview with Director Richard Fleisher

which i'm not bothered about cause Amityville 3 is an alright sequel, the first 2 were the best of the series in my opinion

so scrap the old 2005 MGM boxset and definitely get this new Blu-ray boxset by Scream factory definitely worth the money.

the only fault with this blu-ray boxset is the price

amazon have this for $60 which is a bit of a ripoff in my opinion, but if you buy direct from scream factory website you'll only pay $50

and DVDempre has this boxset for $50 aswell so amazon has most expensive price.

but get rid of the MGM boxset and get this Scream factory blu-ray box set, definitely for the fans.

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Scream Factory gives the most famous haunted house in America its due with the release of "The Amityville Horror" Trilogy box set. The collection includes "The Amityville Horror," "Amityville II: The Possession," and "Amityville 3-D." It also marks the first time the two sequels have been available on Blu-ray and in 3-D.

Everybody knows about the legend of the Amityville House at 112 Ocean Avenue in Long Island, New York. A family moves into the house and the older son murders them all in their sleep. When he's apprehended, he tells the authorities a voice told him to do it. Another family moves in a year later and they're plagued with paranormal incidences. Things get so bad, they abandon the house and never return.

Whether or not you believe the stories are true, the "Amityville" films do provide good times for horror fans. Some want to revisit their childhood fears. Others want the opportunity to share the experience with their children for the first time and scare them to death.

Upon watching the first two films again for the first time in over a decade, I realized a couple things. "The Amityville Horror" isn't as hokey as I remembered it. The last time I watched it, I was disappointed by how tame it was. I found it to be a satisfying watch now. Maybe I've come to appreciate its subtleness in the wake of so many graphic gore fests and torture-porn films.

"Amityville II: The Possession" is the best of the first three films. It really taps into a person's fear of losing control and the supernatural. The whole story just feels more fleshed out than the first.

"Amityville 3-D" was truly cashing in on what producers felt could be a franchise by the time it was released. Not only were they attempting to capitalize on the first two films, but they jumped on the 3-D bandwagon being exploited at the time by other horror series like "Friday the 13th," "Jaws," and others. Filmmakers were so desperate to pull more people in that the movie is even rated PG. Here's the perfect example of a movie where barely anything exciting happens except objects poke out of the screen at you.

Religious folks won't be satisfied with "The Amityville Horror" Trilogy if they're easily offended and take things too seriously. Good very rarely wins over evil in these films. Good usually runs at the last second screaming out of evil's house. Sadly, the powers of the priest never seem able to triumph over the demonic forces they come up against.

The Blu-ray transfers of the film look and sound good. They all manage to maintain their 1970s and 1980s "real" film flavors but look cleaner and clearer. "The Amityville Horror" and "Amityville 3-D" are presented in 5.1 surround sound while "Amityville II: The Possession" is only in DTS Master Audio Mono for some reason. It's still safe to say these Blu-ray versions are most likely the best these movies ever sounded.

As usual, Scream Factory provides great special features for each disc. "The Amityville Horror" includes audio commentary by Dr. Hans Holzer, Ph. D in Parapsychology. It also contains a new documentary entitled "For God's Sake, Get Out!" that features interviews with actors James Brolin and Margot Kidder. A theatrical trailer and radio spots can be found as well.

"Amityville II: The Possession" contains the most special features. There's audio commentary provided by author Alexandra Holzer ("Growing Up Haunted-A Ghostly Memoir"). There are interviews with Director Damiano Damiani and actors Andrew Prine, Diane Franklin, and Rutanya Alda. A theatrical trailer is included as well.

"Amityville 3-D" features a theatrical trailer and the 2-D and 3-D versions of the film. It also contains an interview with actor Candy Clark. I guess you could count early appearances by Meg Ryan and Lori Loughlin as special features, too.

"The Amityville Horror" Trilogy box set has Scream Factory and Shout! Factory doing what they do best again. They're reviving and breathing life into forgotten cinema gems of the horror genre. Not everybody is going to like all the films in this collection, but there are definitely enough enthusiasts out there to merit giving these classics the high-definition treatment they deserve.

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Shout's first year of releasing horror titles through their Scream Factory brand has yielded numerous treasures for genre fans, giving even B-tier titles like THE AMITYVILLE HORROR TRILOGY their due on Blu-Ray.

Never regarded as a classic, even of the cult variety, the original 1979 AMITYVILLE HORROR nevertheless became one of the biggest independent hits of all-time. Produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff's American-International Pictures, the pulpy adaptation of Jay Anson's supposedly-"true story" of the infamous haunted house provides plenty of cheap thrills and a few unintentional yucks to go along with it.

James Brolin and Margot Kidder essay George and Kathy Lutz, who move into the quiet Long Island community of Amityville. Unbeknownst to them, their new home was previously occupied by a family that was slain by their teenage son in a series of brutal shootings. Whether or not the teenager was driven mad by the house (or something in it), the Lutzes soon find themselves being barraged by a variety of haunted house cliches: slime flowing out of toilets, glowing eyes in the upstairs bedroom, invisible play pals of their young children telling them secrets, and George being taken over by some kind of entity from another dimension. Even a local priest (Rod Steiger) fails to clean the house of its inherent evil after giving it the old Father Merrin try.

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, "The Amityville Horror" is standard but competent late 70s horror. The performances are solid but the movie has that "plastic" kind of look so many films of its era do. It's like watching an "Eight Is Enough" episode crossed with "The Exorcist." More effective is Lalo Schifrin's score, which unfortunately was copied in so many other genre films (and used in even more trailers) that it's then-unique mix of child chorus and creepy orchestral arrangements also seems well-worn.

Shout's "Amityville Horror" Blu-Ray doesn't merely reprise the already-available MGM/Fox Blu release, adding in extras from an older Special Edition DVD that the prior Blu-Ray lacked. "For God's Sake, Get Out!" is a superb look back at the success of the film, sporting interviews with Brolin and Kidder, who isn't ashamed to admit the movie was her "pay day" following "Superman." Radios spots and the original trailer are also on hand, though the most entertaining extra is a full-length commentary from parapsychologist Dr. Hans Holzer. The late Dr. Holzer may be known to some for his occasional appearances on Leonard Nimoy's old series "In Search Of...," particularly in the Amityville episode where he was a lead investigator. Here, Holzer engages in a fascinating, if not completely off-the-wall, discussion of the actual Lutz haunting, noting where the filmmakers went wrong in making the movie and needlessly messing with the "actual" accounts of what happened in the house. It's the kind of talk one wishes you'd hear more often in a DVD commentary. Shout has also shot new extras for this box-set, though the only new supplement on "The Amityville Horror" is a 10-minute conversation with Lalo Schifrin, discussing his oft-imitated score.

Visually, the 1080p AVC encoded transfer is probably as spiffy as the film is going to appear, and both 2.0 and 5.1 DTS MA mixes are included on the audio side.

The set also includes the Blu-Ray debuts of the series' two theatrical sequels: the tasteless AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION and the entertaining, if not generic, AMITYVILLE 3-D. Dino DeLaurentiis produced both sequels, which Orion released to declining box-office receipts, leading the "Amityville" series to head to the small-screen and direct-to-tape productions thereafter.

"Amityville II" purports to be a prequel showing what happened to the family that moved in before the Lutzes. Tommy Lee Wallace's script, which claims to be based on Holzer's "Murder in Amityville" book, is an unholy rehash of "The Exorcist" and numerous other genre films of the period, exploiting the actual murders that occurred in the house and adding doses of sexuality (including incest!) under the direction of Damiano Diamiani.

Shot in New Jersey (exteriors) and Mexico (interiors), "Amityville II" leaves one with a sour taste, mainly due to its attempt to explain the brutal killings by having the teen son responsible for the crimes being possessed by a demon. The movie has an eclectic cast, with James Olson as a priest who attempts to exorcise the teenager of all evils, Burt Young as the doomed father of the Montelli clan, Moses Gunn as an attorney and Diane Franklin (seen also in "The Last American Virgin" during the summer of `82) as the eldest Montelli daughter. The make-up effects are okay in an `80s gross-out kind of way, but the sequences showing the Montelli son running around, gunning down his family, leave an uncomfortable feeling that no amount of subsequent hocus-pocus can eradicate. (For the movie's defenders, ask yourself if most folks today would enjoy watching an exploitation film about the Newtown shootings with the gunman's actions being explained by him being possessed by a gooey-green monster)

A film that's always carried a notorious reputation for that reason, "Amityville II" makes its Blu-Ray debut sporting the most amount of supplements in Shout's box-set: a 10-minute interview with the Italian director (who passed away earlier this year) is on-hand, as are recent conversations with Diane Franklin and co-stars Rutanya Alda and Andrew Prine, plus writer Tommy Lee Wallace, who was about to make his directorial debut on "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" when he took the assignment to pen the sequel/prequel. There's also a lengthy talk with Hans Holzer's daughter, Alexandra, who discusses her father's work and also participates in a limp commentary track filled with long silences. The trailer, a fresh 1080p AVC encoded transfer and 5.1 DTS MA stereo and mono audio round out the release.

With Richard Fleischer at the helm, the following year's AMITYVILLE 3-D offers a superior viewing experience, seemingly more influenced by "Poltergeist" and similar supernatural tales than its predecessors (the movie was even released with a disclaimer that it was unrelated to either of the previous "Amityville" films). Tony Roberts and Tess Harper play the latest fun couple to move into the Amityville house, just to prove writer Roberts' theory that the hauntings are just a hoax. Unfortunately for them and their daughter Lori Laughlin the Baxters find out the hard way that the spectral scares are indeed real.

William Wales' script and Howard Blake's score are both a cut-above the norm, and while nobody will mistake "Amityville 3-D" with a classic of its kind, the movie is a big upgrade on the second film and even offers one or two eerie moments (particularly after Laughlin drowns). The anamorphic frame also gives the movie the most cinematic look of the entire series, and presented here in its proper Arrivison 3-D dimensions, the movie at last restores its most entertaining element: its stereoscopic effects, which (while blurry around the edges an inherent issue with the Arrivision-shot films of the era) are competently executed by Fleischer.

Shout's 3D Blu-Ray of "Amityville 3-D" enables viewers with 2D sets to enjoy the film as well (the disc will default to either 3D or 2D depending on your set-up), though 3D is clearly the way to go if you have the ability to view its original format. The transfer is like looking at a Viewmaster reel in motion a far cry from most of today's tepid 3D offerings. Extras include a brief trailer and a new interview with Candy Clark, who discusses her work in the film, which like "Amityville II" was shot mostly on Mexican soundstages.

The set utilizes the original theatrical one-sheets for its individual Blu-Ray cases, though as of yet, Shout has no intention of releasing the discs individually.

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Great set, that does have a 3D version, if you are into that. Love the set and got a fantastic price of $25.99 on amazon.ca for today's deals. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I found this set a little pricey when it first came out, and perhaps that's why the price of this dropped so drastically now. If you can get a good deal, it's worth it. 5 out of 5

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its great to now have all the first three movie,s and best of the lot in the series now on bluray, scream factory has done a good job with this set, part two come,s with a lot of special features on the disc and the movie is of a good looking picture, and the sound is there too with the dts 5.1 master, i think this movie amityivlle 2 is one of the best horror,s of all time, and with this new disc even more so, part three is 2d and 3d bluray on the same disc, its nice to now see it has it was made for 3d back in the day, and in most parts its got some good pop out, but can be heavy on the eye,s too, as for the first movie it look,s really good and also has some very good features on the disc, all in all its a nice set to now have, so for me it was a good buy.

Cheap House on Haunted Hill 3D (1959)

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The 3D conversion for this DVD sucks. I got as much 3D effects out of the film without the glasses as I did with them on. I believe I wasted my money. Anyone wishing to buy this, beware. You'll be throwing your money away.

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The anaglyphic two-color 3-D is very poor . It hardly shows up on my T.V. screen . Not even worth the disappointment of trying to watch . Don't waste your money !

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I really like this film, but it wasn't filmed in 3d, and this conversion isn't worth owning. It is pretty flat, so why have to wear glasses?

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Here is the first and maybe only review for "House on Haunted Hill"--the 3-D version. I am not all that crazy about movies being in 3-D, but I wanted to include another release version of "The House on Haunted Hill" to my collection (B/W, Color, RiffTrax commentaries, as well as the 50th Anniversary Edition). Since this classic horror movie was not shot in 3-D, there really are no scenes that jump out at you...The characters are some-what in-depth. I did enjoy watching Vincent Price at the very end operating the skeleton in 3-D! Figured this would be a fun movie to show if you were having a party yourself! Plus, while your guests are watching in this 3-D, think like William Castle and do your 'Emergo' version by releasing a skeleton above your TV to scare them!!!!!!

Reviews of The Conjuring (Blu-Ray + DVD + UltraViolet Combo Pack) (2013)

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James Wan is a horror director that might have finally peaked with this one. His first SAW film was the best of the bunch and while Insidious had flaws, it also had some great scare moments and visuals. The Conjuring is a near perfect ghost/demonic possession movie. The scares are not cheap and they are 90% effective. A couple felt a little forced, but overall this is one the creepiest movies I have seen in theaters.

Based on a "true story" that takes place in 1971, a family becomes the victim of some evil forces in their new house. Two paranormal investigators are brought in to gather evidence. They are based on the famous couple that also investigated The Amityville Horror years later.

The acting is great all around from the kids and adults. I like how they didn't use any big name actors. Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Ron Livingston are relatively well known, but thankfully no huge star power here to completely take you out of the film.

Very little gore, no foul language or nudity in a horror movie? Believe it or not, this thing earned the R rating for pure scares alone. Now don't get too overhyped or anything. I personally didn't jump in my seat or want to cover my eyes (though many scenes are quite chilling), but plenty of people around me did.

This is the first movie that has made me want to review it in a month. The Lone Ranger (2 and 1/2 out of 5 stars) and Pacific Rim (3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars) didn't surprise me enough to warrant my time reviewing them.

The Conjuring is my favorite film so far this year. Let's leave it at that.

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Gut wrenching, beautifully filmed and perfectly paced, THE CONJURING isn't just one of the best supernatural chillers of recent years it truly deserves a place next to "The Exorcist," "The Innocents" and "Poltergeist" as one of the more memorable cinematic excursions into the paranormal ever produced. That may sound like high praise, but walking out of director James Wan's stunning thriller, I was hard pressed to think of other horror movies that have captivated me from start to end as much as this one did.

Chad and Carey Hayes' screenplay takes the true story of a Rhode Island family's haunting in the early `70s and embellishes it into a film that grips you from its earliest frames, while Wan the director who single-handedly launched a decades worth of gory "torture porn" pictures with the original "Saw" here demonstrates a far greater command of the screen with what many have already called a directorial tour de force. In fact, Wan utilizes a documentary-styled approach that's closer to William Friedkin's 1973 classic than any other supernatural film I can recall, and expertly works with John R. Leonetti's cinematography and a masterful sound design to create one of the more brilliantly directed pictures this genre has seen in years.

The Perron family led by parents Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston move into their home in northern Rhode Island and quickly notice standbys of any film haunting: bumps in the night, unseen forces that cause their dog to bark, and an occasional chill that permeates the air. Their five young daughters, though, are quickly put into the crosshair of a supernatural entity that wants more than to just make its presence known, physically announcing itself by grabbing the girls and causing bruises to Taylor that she believes are just the result of an iron deficiency. Ultimately, the Perrons call in paranormal experts Lorraine and Ed Warren (Vera Fermiga and Patrick Wilson), the earliest "Ghost Hunters," who soon realize the family isn't suffering from a noisy oil burner on its last legs causing a ruckus.

"The Conjuring" carries an R rating but the film's violence is minimal and its profanity nearly non-existent. Wan eschews the gratuitousness of his past works in favor of a less is more approach that's just as scary for what you don't see as what you do (particularly when young Andrea Perron first encounters a ghost, standing in the corner of her room but only visible to her not the audience). At first, it might be easy to resist the movie's familiar structure, but as the story unfolds, it's nearly impossible not to get wrapped up in the family's plight as the supernatural occurrences increase. The effectiveness is all due to Wan's direction and the uniformly believable performances of Taylor, Fermiga and Wilson, not to mention the unaffected young actresses playing the tormented Perron girls. Yet even with all the chilling moments, you come to care about these people, and the emotional catharsis that closes the picture is something few films in this genre have been able to duplicate (kudos to Joseph Bishara for a moody, effective score as well, with Mark Isham contributing a poignant "family theme" that plays a significant role in the film's concluding moments).

"The Conjuring" is at a disadvantage compared to other films in its genre because it's had to follow classic films like "The Exorcist," "The Haunting" and "Poltergeist." For viewers resistant to horror films in general, there's probably little here they haven't seen before, and one could argue the more explicitly visceral elements of the haunting are its weakest asset. Nevertheless, Wan's movie grabs you and doesn't let go until the credits have rolled and even then, you might be checking the rear view mirror, just to make sure nothing's followed you home. That's frightful filmmaking at its finest, and "The Conjuring" is unquestionably the most effective cinematic haunt of this generation.

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Before I get started on this review, I want everyone to ignore that infamous little phrase that gets attached to films like this. You know which one I'm talking about: "Based on a true story." I could go on about the trustworthyness of the Warrens or the lack thereof, but the best thing to do with this film is to ignore all of that. If you go into this with the idea that the Warrens are shameless hucksters, then you'll miss out on enjoying all that this film has to offer. If you go into this thinking that every frame is true or trying to explain to someone how all of this could've happened, you'll suffer the same fate. Just enjoy this for what it is: one of the first mainstream horror films released to the theaters in the summer in a long while.

Now on to the proper review.

I was thoroughly impressed by this movie. Supposedly this did insanely well when they ran this through test screenings and I can see why. The Conjuring had a lot to offer and didn't try to fill its running time by checking off every box on the horror movie cliche checklist. There are some tried and true formats here to be sure, but they're fairly well executed. The movie makes use of a lot of jump scares, so if you're irritated by those I would probably wait until this hits the rental sites. They're all done in good fun and are for the most part genuinely spooky, although I'll say that the jump scares were far more effective in the beginning of the movie.

The acting was excellent in this and whomever thought to hire Lili Taylor should get a huge pat on the back. She's probably the strongest actor in this piece, second only to Vera Farmiga. The ladies genuinely rocked this movie fairly hard. The guys were good as well, but let's not pretend that they were there for anything other than to be played off the women.

Now as far as story goes, this was decent. It's actually a fairly simplistic story line when you get down to it. There wasn't a lot of gussying up of the subject matter, although there was somewhat of a side story that surrounded the Warrens' daughter, the demon, and a doll from the beginning of the movie. I do have to admit that I'm not sure what I felt about that part. The doll's acquisition was shown at the beginning of the movie and largely had nothing to do with what the Perrons went through, except for showing up in one scene. The scare surrounding this scene was decent, but I kind of feel that it was one of the two weakest scenes in the film. The other weakest scene? I hate to say it, but it was the showdown in the end. I liked it well enough and it was entertaining, but it also felt slightly anticlimactic. Most viewers won't feel let down by the scene, although my friends and I all agreed that although this was an incredibly strong horror movie, the ending did sort of leave a little to be desired in comparison with the rest of the film.

In the end though, the concerns are all fairly minor quibbles. This will still be an excellent film to go see in the theaters and something that I'd recommend for horror fansespecially those who love the older stuff. The director took great pains to make the opening and ending feel like something you'd have seen in the older days of horror, which I greatly appreciated. I'd say that this film is good enough to where it's something I'd outright own when it releases on DVD and assuming that the sequel will be as well done as this was, I'll be there on the opening weekend for whatever other movie they make.

On a side note, if you can, see this with a more full theater. I was lucky enough that my fellow theater goers were excellent companions to watch a movie with. They reacted at all the right times, which made everything in the movie that much more scary for myself and my friends.

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Based on a true story, the film opens with an incident in which Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren explain the difference between ghosts and demonic possession, both being similar to owning cats. Ed has a room full of artifacts that would make "Riley's Believe it or Not" museum green with envy. Hey don't touch the monkey!

Meanwhile the Perron family has moved into a house in Harrisville, RI, in 1971 BF (before flashlights). They discover their basement door has been boarded over, because God knows spirits can't pass through wood. The Perron family has a pack of screaming daughters, just right for a horror flick.

Needless to say the plot and subplot come together with wonderfully horrific results. Like most films the creepiness builds to a climax. This particular film has some minor religious overtones to it as one would expect with an exorcism type production. Good film to watch in the dark. Take the kids. Zombie soundtrack.

Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. WARNING: Does use the word "groovy" and "The Brady Bunch" is on TV in the background.

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This film is what i would call one of the best films of 2013. Filled with fear,terror, and a new faith in God. I have never been more frightened in my life. A true story that shows a family coming together, through this supernatural horror. Vera Farmiga does an excellent job in her portral of Lorrianne Warren. This movie is a great movie! NOT FOR KIDS!! Dont watch this with anyone under the age of 15! Very scary, yet so good!!

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Immortals is plain and simply a fun take on Greek mythology. After the Gods fail to answer his prayers, King Hyperion searches for the Epirus Bow in order to release the Titans and destroy the human race. It is up to young Theseus to become the leader he was meant to be and stop this mad King. Sure, the story is thin and the dialogue isn't groundbreaking, but man did those fight scenes deliver the goods. It basically combines elements from Clash of the Titans and 300, only with more blood and extended combat scenes where you can actually see the damage being inflicted. Due to popular demand in the comments section, the next sentence is a SPOILER. I absolutely loved the scene where the Gods came down and fought the Titans at the end. What a beautiful display of visually gory bliss. The CGI was mostly used to great effect, which was a shocker. The way Mount Olympus was portrayed was the best version I have seen, with very little cloud coverage.

The acting from Henry Cavill (aka the new Superman) was more solid than expected, but I thought Mickey Rourke stole the show as the evil King Hyperion. He is the most ruthless and intimidating villain I've seen in recent memory. Darth Vader looks like a nice leader in comparison, because if you fail this guy, you will die in a very unpleasant manner guaranteed. At least Vader gave that dude more than one chance. Luke Evans made a very good Zeus as well.

If you want some excellent and violent action scenes, coupled with some good performances, this is worth seeing. 2-D was good enough for me.

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Tarsem Singh is truly a genius when it comes to artistic movie-making, as done before in his film "The Fall," which was one of the best dramas i have ever seen. Mickey Rourke was just incredible as the evil and merciless Hyperion, who just about brutally murdered everyone in his way. Henry Cavill was convincing as Theseus but could have done a bit better. Luke Evans was great as a younger-looking Zeus, and Freida Pinto was just beautiful eye candy as Phaedra, one of Hyperion's virgin oracles. As this film is impossible to not be compared to 300, i have to say, i think this one wins the war; 300 was a very incredible ACTION movie, but not as a whole complete film. It gave us a tiny bit of story in the beginning, little character development, and all action throughout the second and third acts of the film. Immortals on the other hand, mixed the action with story, carefully pacing the awesome visuals and fighting with dialogue and confrontations between characters. The visuals, by the way, were top-notch and i have no idea why it didn't make it onto the list for Best Visual Effects for the Oscars. I have to say though, it was mainly disappointing because of its short run time, but if they release a sequel, i am fully on-board for it, as a sequel is needed to complete this large and expanding story that preserves the classic "Gods needing a mortal hero" story line.

4.5/5 Stars***

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Western literature has been mining Greek mythology ever since the time of the Romans, but the last few years have seen a volume of screen adaptations not seen since Ray Harryhausen was in his prime. The start of the 2000s saw a couple of films set in Ancient Greece but without the gods ("Troy", most notably, then "300", though the latter adopted an oft-copied stylized book that had little to do with reality either), which gave way to myth-based adventures (the "Clash of the Titans" remake, the adaptation of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"; incidentally, though that latter film was bad, I highly recommend the books it was based on). "Immortals" has, based on the trailers, been pegged as a "300" knockoff with the gods present. There are certainly some similarities, but Singh's visual sense is ultimately much different than Zack Snyder's was (there's a lot more beauty and colour in this world, for starters, whereas Snyder's emphasized earth tones and grime. Plot details are discussed hence, so be warned for spoilers.

In Hellenas (Greece), our hero is Theseus (Henry Cavill, the future Superman) actually, to get this out of the way, the film uses a bunch of mythological characters' names (Theseus, Phaedra, Lysander, Hyperion), but the characters in question haven't any real relation to their mythological counterparts the bastard son of a village woman. When the evil Heraclean king, Hyperion (Mickey Rourke, surprisingly not out of place in the ancient setting, though the heavy stylization doubtless facilitates that), sacks his village and kills his mother, Theseus finds himself in the company of Phaedra ("Slumdog Millionaire"'s Freida Pinto, on duty as the love interest for the second time this year; she has more to do here than in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", though that was the superior film), the virgin Oracle, who has prophesied that he will play a crucial role in the war between Hyperion and the gods (he seeks to unleash the Titans and end the reign of the Olympians, in revenge for the deaths of his family). Hyperion, meanwhile, seeks Phaedra, who can reveal to him the location of the Epirus Bow, a fabled weapon of immense power. A quite exceptional amount of violence ensues.

As a story with characters, it's pretty minimal, but I imagine anyone going into it expected that. I will, nonetheless, comment on the plot in one aspect: in the past I've encountered films where the hero's only heroism was all about stopping an evil that they had accidentally caused, which often doesn't come across as especially heroic; "Immortals", on the other hand, features a hero who *fails* to stop anything. Theseus would have to be considered the least successful action hero since Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (if Dr. Jones had gone on an extended vacation to Yugoslavia, would the ultimate result have been very different at all?) in fact, you can build a pretty good case that if Theseus had done nothing at all things would have turned out better, since his only meaningful action was finding the Epirus Bow and then losing it so that Hyperion could use it to free the Titans. The gods defeat the Titans, and Theseus' killing of Hyperion is meaningless since the villain would have been killed along with his armies when Zeus collapsed the mountain. Sure, he was brave, but what did he actually accomplish in the grand scheme of things?

Henry Cavill is a credible hero, and has great pecs (certainly, he feels less over-the-top than did Gerard Butler in "300", though I'm not sure whether he actually is). The aforementioned Rourke is a menacing villain, aided by the director letting him do some memorably gory things to make an impression. Freida Pinto, as I said, gets more to do here than in her last blockbuster, and I'd say she does fairly well with the movie's main female part (the movie never pretends that the petite Pinto is an action hero either, which I appreciated after too many movies featuring waifs with the combat skills of a Green Beret), though it's hardly a demanding role. Pinto is also, among the cast, the primary beneficiary of her director's aesthetic skill, as he finds many ways to showcase her beauty (a brief nude scene is not actually her, but there are many stunning images of her in a red dress). The supporting cast includes Stephen Dorff as what I suppose is meant to be a Han Solo figure, Stavros, and Luke Evans, Isabel Lucas, and Kellan Lutz as gods.

Tarsem Singh is the real star of the proceedings, though. He does some remarkable things with his camera, producing quite a few memorable images and setpieces. His use of colour stands out repeatedly, particularly the aforementioned red dress that Pinto wears (which does a great job of staying clean even in the midst of a typhoon of oil that coats everything else). His rendering of Mount Olympus is by far the best I've ever seen on film there's not a trace of the simple fluffy clouds populated by people wearing bedsheets so often seen in older films; pure majesty. For all the inventive fight scenes, though, I don't understand how Zeus (Evans) could go the whole movie without using his thunderbolt even once (though he proves adept with chains).

As a story, this is lacking in numerous respects, but as a visual experience it's quite a marvel. I came away thinking that Singh could perhaps be a great director if would devote as much care to his stories as to the images used to tell them. As it is, we have a visually stunning mediocrity.

Honest reviews on Immortals (2011)

Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, and Luke Evans delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The cinematography in the movie was excellent. Really good character development. The fight scenes were great. Mickey Rourke was casted perfectly to play a psychotic enemy leader. Henry Cavill plays a great warrior and leader. The Gods in the movie gave me goose bumps. Luke Evans plays a great Zeus. This movie is worth seeing in the theatre and a definitely a blu ray purchase.

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"Immortals" is violent and beautiful and an astounding, unique action/myth film. I was so taken with it when I saw it in the theater that I went back two more times. Tarsem Singh creates an alternative reality that balances the sublime and the ridiculous in a totally original way. Don't expect to have orthodox myth delivered with a typical hollywood spin Tarsem Singh is re-imagining everything. This film is expressive through it's visual creativity film is a visual medium and "Immortals" takes that aspect to a new level. I went back to take in all the incredible detail and I also loved the brutal, creative action fight scenes blood, gore and art all blended together. Mickey Rourke was a brilliant choice for King Hyperion hard to imagine anyone more fearsome and ruthless (I would not want to cross this guy or invade his turf) -this is one villian who is not afraid to get his own hands dirty when it comes to executions. Approach this film with an open mind and you might find that you're blown away. Freida Pinto is luminous.

Reviews of A Christmas Carol (1999)

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For years Patrick Stewart has done a one person stage version of "Christmas Carol" playing all the parts. Twice he has taken it to New York where he received rave reviews. Those of us who could not get to New York had to be satisfied with an audio tape version. Then someone had the brilliant idea of doing the video. Naturally it was expanded to have a full cast and sets. Because of his years of doing the stage version Mr. Stewart fits so easily into the role that he is not playing a part, he IS Scrooge. There are other fine versions of the story, notably the wonderful George C. Scott production, but none can compare with Mr. Stewart. The adaptation of the story to film is so true to Dickens, he must have sat on the script writers shoulder as it was written. I taped it from the TV broadcast and now can not wait for the DVD to be released. Anyone who makes "Christmas Carol" part of their holiday or just loves magnificent acting should definitely add this version to their library.

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160 years ago (1843), Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote one of his most beloved short stories, "A Christmas Carol". After the advent of film early in the twentieth century, several different directors have attempted to capture Charles Dickens' story, and various actors have portrayed the story's protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge.

Such was the case in 1999 when director David Hugh Jones directed an updated version of the classic story for television, which stared the venerable Shakespearean-trained actor Patrick Stewart. (Patrick Stewart was also one of the film's executive producers.) Patrick Stewart, who is well known for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the 7-year TV-series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and 4 "Star Trek" feature films (as well as many other roles), has always used his Shakespearean training to create a very realistic performance in most anything that he does, and his portrayal of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge was no different.

Though some viewers have commented that the 1999 version of "A Christmas Carol" is joyless and that they haven't enjoyed it, the reality is that that more closely resembles the environment of Charles Dickens' original story. Hence, Patrick Stewart created a very realistic embodiment of what Charles Dickens envisioned for Ebenezer Scrooge: a joyless miser who has completely forgotten what it means to live and to love. Also, these same viewers neglect the amount of detail present in this rendition of the film that has often been absent in previous big-screen film versions, such as young Ebenezer's (Kenny Doughty) work for his first employer Mr. Albert Fezziwig (Ian McNeice) and the old women (played by Liz Smith and Elizabeth Spriggs) fighting over a deceased man's belongings.

Other memorable performances in the film include Jacob Marley (Bernard Lloyd), Bob Cratchit (Richard E. Grant), Mrs. Cratchit (Saskia Reeves), Tiny Tim Cratchit (Ben Tibber), Ebenezer's nephew Fred (Dominic West), Ebenezer's sister Fran (Rosie Wiggins), Mrs. Fezziwig (Annette Badland), the Ghost of Christmas Past (Joel Grey), the Ghost of Christmas Present (Desmond Barrit), The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Tim Potter) and Belle (Laura Fraser). Of the many actors who have portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge over the past century (George C. Scott in 1984, Albert Finney in 1970, Alastair Sim in 1951, and Reginald Owen in 1938 to name a few), I am glad to see Patrick Stewart numbered among them.

Overall, I rate the 1999 version of "A Christmas Carol" with 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it. Sadly, since the film was produced for television, it was not filmed in widescreen format (which is my only complaint about the film), but that does not take away from this film's splendid portrayal of Charles Dickens' classic short story.

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Given the enormous potential for failure, it takes either a lot of guts or a big ego to remake a classic and step into a pair of shoes worn so well by the likes of George C. Scott and Alastair Sim you don't have to have grown up in an English speaking country to take those two names and their portrayal of Dickens's miserly anti-hero for granted as part of your Christmas experience. And I suspect a good part of both guts and ego was at play in this production; but let's face it: after years of bringing Scrooge to the stage in a much-acclaimed one man show and after also having recorded the audio book version of "A Christmas Carol," a movie adaptation starring Patrick Stewart was probably due to come out sooner or later. Yet, while it does sometimes have the feel of another huge star vehicle for Stewart (even without the self-congratulatory trailer and brief "behind the scenes" features included on the DVD), his experience and insight into the character of Scrooge allow him to pull off a remarkable performance, and to make the role his own without letting us forget who originally wrote the tale. From a "humbug" growled out from the very depth of his disdain and his audible desire to boil "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips" with his own pudding and bury them with a stake of holly through their heart, to the "splendid" and "most illustrious ... father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs," coughed up and spit out after years of having been out of practice, this is the Scrooge that Dickens described; and Stewart obviously has the time of his life playing him.

This made-for-TV production is sometimes criticized for its use of special effects; I don't find those overly disturbing, though in fact, they're rather low-key and for the most part used to show nothing more than what Dickens actually described. (This *is* a ghost story, remember?) Scrooge really does see Marley's face in his door knocker; we all know that Marley's ghost does indeed walk through Scrooge's doubly locked door ... and last but not least Dickens himself describes the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come as "shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand." (Granted, no gleaming lights for eyes, though.) The script could have spared a modernism here and there, but again, mostly the lines are exactly those that Dickens himself wrote. Even where the characters don't actually speak them, they are part of their reflections such as Marley being buried and "dead as a door-nail" (which, after all, is the tale's all-important premise) and Scrooge's rather funny musings how the Ghost of Christmas Past might be deterred from taking him for a flight (where citing neither the weather nor the hour nor a head cold nor his inadequate dress would do). Richard E. Grant, known to TV audiences as Sir Percy Blakeney in the recent adaptations of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," moves to the opposite end of the social spectrum in his portrayal of gaunt, downtrodden Bob Cratchit; and he is a very credible caring father and husband, albeit a bit too well-educated unlike the rest of his family, who speak and come across as decidedly more cockney. Joel Grey, whose Master of Ceremonies in "Cabaret" stands out as one of those "one of a kind" performances that are few and far between in film history, is almost perfectly cast as the Ghost of Christmas Past, combining the spirit's wisdom of an old man with his child-like innocence, frail stature and luminous appearance. A great supporting cast and solid cinematographic and directorial work round out an overall very well done production.

Many actors are remembered either for one career-making role or for a certain type they have cast. No doubt Patrick Stewart, who as a teenager had to face an ultimatum between a steady job and the theater and chose the latter, will go into film history as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Treck's "Next Generation." But I would not be surprised if the other major role he will always be remembered for will be that of Ebenezer Scrooge on stage, in audio recordings *and* in this movie adaptation, which successfully brings Dickens's timeless tale of bitterness, sorrow, redemption and the true meaning of Christmas to the 21st century, and which before long, I think, will attain the status of a classic in its own right. I know that I, for one, will be watching it again with renewed pleasure next Christmas.

Also recommended:

A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings (Penguin Classics)

A Christmas Carol (Reissue)

A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color)

Classic Ghost Stories

The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)

The Charles Dickens Collection, Vol. 2 (David Copperfield / The Pickwick Papers / The Old Curiosity Shop / Dombey and Son)

Honest reviews on A Christmas Carol (1999)

This version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is, without a doubt, my favorite. Patrick Stewart spent a good deal of his early post-Picard life performing a one-man rendition of Dickens' holiday classic. All that work pays off big-time in this wonderful movie version (with a full cast) made by the folks at TNT.

Stewart is the star here. His scrooge is a far cry from the usual curmudgeon we've been given by the likes of George C. Scott, Lionel Berrymore, and Albert Finney. Stewart's Scrooge is much more human--and as a result much less wooden.

The four ghosts are excellent as well. Part of this may well be advances in special effects. Yet bearing even that in mind, the first three ghosts (especially Joel Grey as the ghost of Christmas Past) turn in spectacular performances; while not saying much (as usual) the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come broods nicely.

Interwoven throughout the movie is the outstanding job done by the various actors who play the Cratchit family. Richard Grant is the best Bob Cratchit I have ever seen. The rest of the family is just as remarkable.

More than anything else however, this TNT version gets more to the meaning of Christmas than most earlier versions. We have so much more here than empty, fuzzy-warm sentiment. When the redeemed Scrooge takes action, he also runs to sing songs of joy and worship to the God that has made it all possible.

Everything about this movie version is spot-on. The pacing is superb, each phase of Scrooge's journey is given enough time to truly blossom--nothing gets shortchanged. This makes for the best ending sequence to the piece ever filmed.

I cannot express my enthusiasm for this film enough. This is the best movie of A Christmas Carol yet made (my previous Scrooge of choice was Bill Murray's Scrooged, which I still greatly appreciate). I give this movie my highest recommendation.

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If you're interested, this is one of the better renditions of A Christmas Carol. Patrick Stewart, known for his shakespearian resonance embodies just the right overtones to play Ebenezer Scrooge and was perfectly cast. We may be used to seeing him in a different light, but he fills Scrooge's shoes and walks a mile! You will definately be surprised by a faux frightened Patrick -erScrooge when encountered by the ghosts, and even amused when he visits Christmas past and dances a little jig when he encounters his younger self. Definately worth viewing!You will be absolutely surprised and I think you will enjoy Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. Take a little trip back to the time of Tiny Tim and let Scrooge be your tour guide. He will make sure the ride is far from boring!