Reviews (40)

Roughriders- true to form, accurate and inspiring!
Of all of the recent genre of movies depicting vignettes of American history, Roughriders goes the extra mile to capture the essence, mood and feeling of Victorian America as it flexed it's international muscles for the first time! Berenger and the supporting cast are outstanding, and the battle scenes are among the most accurate ever made. This is a must see!

Cowboys become Military Legends
This excellent mini-series (directed by John Milius) details the training and employment in battle of one of the most legendary units in American military history: the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, better known as the "Rough Riders".
Raised by then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt, a New York aristocrat-turned Dakota Territory rancher, the Rough Riders were perhaps the most unusual of all the volunteer regiments to be raised to fight in Cuba in 1898.
Comprised predominately of cowpunchers and lawmen (with a small sprinkling of outlaws), as well as a few Park Avenue socialites, the Rough Riders went on to be employed as (next to the 10th US Regular Cavalry, one of the regiments of "Buffalo Soldiers") some of the most effective troops in the War. The taking of the Spanish strong point in the San Juan Heights was pivotal to the defeat of the Spanish in Cuba.
Milius gives us a story which is equal parts western, period piece and war movie. The casting is especially masterful. Western stalwart Sam Elliott plays the commader of "G" Troop, Captain "Bucky" O'Neil, an Arizona Territory sheriff who ultimately falls victim to the bullet of a Spanish Mauser rifle in front of the San Juan Heights.
Tom Berenger portrays Theodore Roosevelt, and we see Roosevelt go from enthusiastic amateur soldier to hardened warrior. We also see the genuine affection Roosevelt felt for his regiment of cowboys. Gary Busey is thoroughly enjoyable as Maj. Gen. "Fightin' Joe" Wheeler. Wheeler was a Democrat Congressman from Alabama who led the Cavalry Corps of the US expeditionary force in Cuba. More significantly, he was a West Point graduate...and had served as a CONFEDERATE cavalry general in the Civil War. His command in Cuba was seen as being a significant step in the reunification of the US following the Civil War.
The battle scenes are well choreographed and the acting is superb throughout. Elmer and Peter Bernstein's score reinforce the "western" flavor of this film. My only regret (and it's a small one) is that the uniforms worn by the actors were not more accurate in detail. They retained a bit of "Hollywood" in watching the budget, and this shows in some of the small things (such as the hats worn by the actors portraying soldiers). Other than that, I have no complaints with this movie. It's fun, inspiring....and makes me proud to be an American, but above all else, proud to be a Westerner!
Gotta like it when cowboys save the day....and they did historically in 1898 at a hill in Cuba....

Great war movie, great cast, great future president
This movie deserves to be better known. It's primary subliminal lesson is that the Spanish-American war was not the kind of cakewalk that folks who use John Hay's oft-quoted phrase, "A splendid little war," make it out to seem. Quite to the contrary, it was deadly beyond imagining.

And it brought forth some great heroes, too, some of whom you will meet in this movie. The most famous, of course, is TR himself, Teddy, the "cowboy" who became our 26th president -- portrayed in the film delightfully human (as when he flirts with his wife) and courageous by Tom Berenger. Another familiar face (Gary Busey of "The Buddy Holly Story") portrays General Joe Wheeler, the only Confederate general to wear blue in the war of 1898. And Sam Elliott is cast in the role of another one of the Rough Rider heroes.

This film is a magnificent tribute to the men who fought the war that finally re-united a nation in an act of bloodshedding that was all but routine. "Rough Riders" makes clear just how far from splendid this "little war" really was, as well as just how heroic were the men who fought in it.

Please put this classic on DVD!!!!
There's not much to say here that hasn't been said by others.
This is one great film, historically accurate, and fun too,
while it gets all of this across. Why this is not yet on DVD,
when a great number of lesser films are, is anybody's guess.
I'll add my plea here too: PLEASE get this great film onto a
DVD format!

Outstanding!
John Milius did an absolutely amazing job of putting together a film that depicts the establishment and deployment of the 1st U.S. Vounteer Cavalry. Milius has done wonderful justice to his longtime hero, Theodore Roosevelt, who he once said was the embodiment of everything great about America.

As Americans, we take so much of our heritage for granted. In this day and age of our all-volunteer armed forces, high technology and limited warfare, any discussion of our heritage and sacrifice in the blood our ancestors made is neatly compartmentalized for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. This is a shame.

Sometimes, the people who are supposed to be leading us aren't much help, either. Our elected and appointed officials often flounder in the face of bad press without explanation. The end result is that no one can understand how our government can ask people to fight and die in places far away, for causes that sometimes seem to have more to do with whether or not we can maintain our standard of living than anything else. The wars we fight now seem to be fleeting events that come and go. Tragically, the dead are gone, and life goes on without them.

In his various career incarnations as Governor of New York, the Secretary of the Navy, and as President, Roosevelt was always one to inspire controversy. As a Lieutenant Colonel assigned to the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, he was no different. To Roosevelt, war was not the drudgery of hell on earth, but an enobling excercise, one which all Americans should aspire to. Amusingly, after one visit with Roosevelt, author Mark Twain remarked that it was easy to see the Roosevelt was "cleary insane."

Whether you agree or disagree, Tom Berringer is the perfect Roosevelt. He portrays TR as a man of vision and backbone, as the sort of man who would one day forge the United States into the awsome power that it is today. Berringer's performance in "The Rough Riders" is possibly the best of his career.

In 1898, the American nation was, in many ways, still rebuilding from the civil war. For the people of America, this was the dawn of an industrialized nation, and for the first time, American industry was forging the tools that would take our Naval Forces into the twentieth century. Yet it would be twenty years before the new technology of the tank and airplane would be implemented in land warfare. The Spanish-American war is unique in that in many respects, both politically, strategically and tactically, it was a prelude to World War One.

Without going into a plot synopsis (I'm not going to explain something you can see for yourself), I will say that the story unfolds perfectly and the direction is impeccable. All of the supporting actors, Brad Johnson, R. Lee Ermy, Dale Dye, Brian Keith, Sam Elliott, Gary Busey and George Hamilton are superb in their roles.

Yes - this is a film that should have been a theatrical release. Yes - this is a film that ought to be put on a two-dvd set with lots of extras. Yes - this is a great film.

The "Rough Riders" was made for presentation as a made for TV film for Turner Broadcasting. It was first broadcast in 1998, roughly 100 years after the Spanish American war. I'll give Ted Turner credit; I don't agree with him on very much, but I will say that Turner Broadcasting performed a great service in broadcasting "The Rough Riders".

In a day and age where films depicting shoddy characters with even shoddier values are routinely churned out and targeted for specific demographic groups, "The Rough Riders" is an anomoly. It is an inspired film. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a viewer from Detroit
excellent movie! ... i also had first seen "naked obsession" on cable many years ago and for some reason it stuck with me. i have tried to locate it for the past five years, only to fall on disappontment. it was out of print! thankfully Amazon.com came to the rescue... And if your a fan of William Katt, (Greatest American Hero, The House), it's a side of him you don't see very often.

great all-around movie!
I saw this movie many years ago, and never forgot it. When I saw it on cable, it was called sunset strip. It is much better than most movies of this type. I have been looking for it under that name for many years. I just stumbled on it while looking for the actress in perfect fit (Maria Ford). Not just another sexplotation b-movie. Movie has a good story to tell, good acting (the actor that played Sam Silver was great). Never gets boring, just waiting for the DVD

Great all-around movie.
I saw this movie many years ago, and never forgot it. When I saw it on cable, it was called sunset strip. It is much better than most movies of this type. I have been looking for it under that name for many years. I just stumbled on it while looking for the actress in perfect fit (Maria Ford). Not just another sexplotation b-movie. Movie has a good story to tell, good acting (the actor that played Sam Silver was great). Never gets boring, just waiting for the DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Five Stars out of Five - One of 1999's Best!
"Twin Falls Idaho" is a dream-haunter of a film! Lovingly and meticulously directed by Michael Polish and written with quiet brilliance by Mark Polish (with help from twin brother Michael), this gentle, soft-spoken film is one of the three best films of 1999. The imagery in the film is sometimes warm and dreamlike, but more often gritty and stark, pointing out subtext to the audience without utilizing masks or shadows. It's a wonderful story about the nature of relationships: about love and marriage and "divorce"; and about the lives of those unfortunates society labels as "different", and the realization that they are not so different as society may have initially supposed. The acting is superb; the Polish brothers are completely believable as the conjoined twins Blake and Francis Falls, performing feats like deftly buttoning up each other's shirts or playing the guitar together (Blake strums while Francis manages the fret for chord changes) as if they had, indeed, done it all their lives. As the film rolled on, I found myself loving these two guys as unique and colorful individuals, and empathizing with their unique plight. And the often-utilized "Hooker with a Heart" character Penny is given new light and life by Mark Polish's careful crafting of the character and by Michelle Hicks edgy yet warm performance. If you're like me, "Twin Falls Idaho" will leave you awake nights, thinking long and long. I look forward to seeing what the Polish brothers will do next, either collaboratively or on their own.

Bizarre love triangle
This is the first feature from the Polish brothers, but it surely won't be their last. It's a sombre, introspective, low-key film about conjoined twin brothers and their relationship with Penny, a small-town hooker with, alas, the proverbial heart of gold. In accordance with a movie convention dating back at least to Pretty Woman, model-turned-actress Michelle Hicks plays a prostitute who somehow barely earns enough money to rent a one-room apartment.

The film adheres to convention in several other ways, but succeeds nonetheless, and manages eloquently to convey universal themes through characters born into the most unique circumstances. The scene of the brothers singing a duet for Penny, with cooperative guitar accompaniment, is almost magical.

Twin Falls Idaho
From the restrained colors, music, pacing, acting - every element of this movie was perfectly thought out and perfectly connected.

Including the Polish Brothers in their role as conjoined twins. They allow a peek inside what it is like to be a twin in the first place - but taking it to the most extreme example of two twin brothers that love and hate one another. And live with the knowlege that the weaker of the two has very little time left to live.

And they delicately touch on all the little things that two attached people face daily - from their sleeping routines, to time in the bathroom, being a spectacle in public, their tender love for one another, and the one twin falling in love.

I picked up the movie on a whim, thinking it would be comedic freakshow material. It turned out to be so much better than my expectations.

Quiet and Beautiful
Since watching this movie almost a week ago, I can think of little else. I am spellbound by it. I watched it a second time the next day. If you are considering watching or purchasing this DVD, here's what you need to know:

The movie is beautifully artisitic, without being inaccesible. The acting is superb, the dialogue enchanting, and the humor in this serious movie is gentle.

The pace is slow, dreamlike, exploratory. There is no big to-do to cheapen the end. Instead there is a feeling of "this is just a piece of life, it began before you started watching, and it will keep going after you get off your couch" Its like watching someone very intriguing in the airport, overhearing a whispered argument or a whispered profession of love, and having your flight called before you can hear how it ends.

If you like action and tidy endings, this is not your film. But if you like dreamy glimpses at the way others might live, this movie will keep you awake for a week thinking of nothing else.

Shamelessly cool
While in some ways an interesting look at a subject that has not been explored much (at all?) in film, this is one of the worst movies I have seen in a while.

The script, direction, acting and cinematography are self-conscious to the point of being over-the-top. There are numerous scenes where you could say "ah I see that's supposed to symbolise THAT" - there is nothing subtle about Twin Falls Idaho, regardless of its slow pace. Everything is delivered to us with a film-school handbook about metaphors and mood lighting.

People have compared the Polish brothers to David Lynch and other directors of his style. Unlike David Lynch's films, this one leaves NOTHING to the imagination. It just looks like it does. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Tweed and Katt Sizzle in a hot thriller
Last Call Colour 1990 Erotic - Thriller Shannon Tweed, William Katt Rated : Unrated Version Reviwed This steamy thriller has plenty of love scenes to keep you satisfied and entertained. When a deal goes sour the real fun begins as the lovers play a twisted game of revenge. Review : *** Out Of 5 ... Read more

Book Description

The true story of Gert Behanna shows how the Gospel reached a rich and miserable society woman. A hopeless alcoholic with a third wrenching divorce and a son who disowned her, she came to the end, but through the Gospel, found it just the beginning. This is a film that speaks sensitively and realistically to those torn by alcoholism and marital strife. Stars Anne Baxter and Jack Albertson. Parental discretion advised. 90 minutes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Milius charts a decade of social change as three surfing buddies use the sport as a personal touchstone for their lives while growing up in the turbulent 1960s. Irresponsible hot-dogging legend Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent), serious and stable Jack (William Katt), and mad misfit Leroy, a.k.a. "Masochist" (Gary Busey), are teenage surf bums in 1963, living at the beach in a perpetual summer under the sway of surfboard-maker Bear (Sam Melville), guru, mentor, and keeper of the lore. But the times they are a changin' and boys grow up in the shadow of Vietnam while adulthood pushes them into hard decisions. John Milius mixes the nostalgia of American Graffiti with the reverence of a John Ford cavalry drama. Surfing becomes a kind of spiritual quest spoken of in awed mythic tones and photographed with the epic grandeur of a rite of passage. Milius's heavy-handed direction and reverent attitude slows the films and will turn off some viewers, but Milius fans will appreciate his macho stylings and philosophical musings, and surfing fans will love the spectacular surfing footage, including the dazzling stylings of world champion Gerry Lopez (who Milius later cast in Conan the Barbarian). Lee Purcell costars as Matt's supportive wife, with Patti D'Arbanville, Barbara Hale, and Robert Englund in supporting roles. Look for Ford stock player Hank Worden in a small role and Milius himself in a cameo selling marijuana in Tijuana. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (43)

SURF MOVIE OF THE CENTURY!
This movie is regarded as a surf classic and rightly so. Slickly produced, consisting of a series of vignettes over 13 years it gives a non-surfing person a revealing insight into the surf culture. The still-thorny issue of the Vietnam War is dealt with and the transition from the swinging sixties into the seventies is handled very well (a technique John Milius perfected in his 1983 classic Uncommon Valor which incidentally pre-dated the much hyped Rambo First Blood II by nearly two years). The climax of the film is the surf footage at the end depicting the legendary day of a lifetime, Big Wednesday. The only negative is the thought that the two stars, Jan Michael Vincent and Gary Busey threw away their lives after this movie due to drug addiction (Busey almost died from an overdose in 1994). Another negative is that some of the surfing terminology in the book didn't make it to the film. In the book, the car is referred to as "The Makeshift" - it isn't in the film. Still, if you cast these things out of your mind for 100 minutes you will experience something truly special. You won't be disappointed.

Early acting at its best...
This film is phenomenal in that it brings not only William Katt, Gary Busey and Jan Michael Vincent together but also introduces many new faces to 80's film and television such as Robert England (aka Freddie Krueger) and Steve Kanaly (aka Dallas). The film, although originally thought of as a surfing movie is far from that. It is a film totally encompassing the late 60's and early 70's around the vietnam era and the pressures of the strained relationships of three friends. A film worth seeing for anyone who grew up during that time.

Yes
If you're interested in surfing at all, you need this one.

Surfing Movie
This one is not just a documentary about surfing. It is actually a good life/friendship movie... And let's not forget about the waves! I enjoy watching this movie.

Cover misleading - needs better cover
BIG WEDNESDAY is, as many have stated, so much more than just a surfie movie. It explores the friendship of three friends over a 10 year period who just happen to all have a surfing passion. A film overlooked by many, yet has a great story to tell with excellent performances by Katt, Busey and Vicent. The surfing aspect is a small part of the overall storyline.

I think the marketing people should have released this DVD title with a different cover as it is misleading and cheapens the movie to a great degree. It is so much more deserving than that. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

From the back cover - just the facts (plotline) -
Sam Paxton (Ernest Borgnine) is devastated when he returns home to his ranch to find his only son murdered and his daughter apparently kidnapped by Army deserters. On a mission of revenge, Sam gathers a small posse and seeks the help of an old friend, a tracker, to locate his daughter. Zeke Smith (Sammy Davis Jr.) an experienced frontier scout with a will of his own, shows up instead of Sam's friend. Sam questions enlisting Zeke, fearing that they will disagree on how to find his daughter but, despite Sam's reluctance, Zeke joins the posse. Soon the posse deserts Sam after learning that the kidnappers are not Army deserters but renegade Indians. Sam is left to depend solely on Zeke to help him retrieve his daughter. Produced by Sammy Davis Jr. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Hey, that cheese in intentional!
If you're looking for something truly scary, look elsewhere. Same if you're looking for something visually stunning, laden with brilliant acting, or intelligently funny. The humor and the horror in this flick are both stupid - but that's the whole point. Here's some math: take a Jason (Friday the 13th) movie, add a Naked Gun movie, divide the humor by 1.5, the horror by 2, and the budget by 3, and you've got House. It's hilarious, unpredictable, bizarre beyond belief, maybe a little bit scary at times, and weirdest of all in a movie like this, the main character is actually pretty believable! The film takes any 'rules' for haunted houses and throws them out the window: an unkillable monster that looks like the main character's wife for a few minutes comes in from outside, some really weird looking thing emerges from a closet and tries to grab people, and the bathroom mirror is a portal to somewhere that both is and isn't a beach in the Vietnam War. If you have an open mind and can laugh at the bizarre and unpredictable, I highly recommend this movie.

Ding Dong!
Perhaps one of the quintessential 1980s horror films, House makes its explosion onto the DVD format in this (relatively unadvertised) Anchor Bay Special/Limited Edition disc. The digital gurus at Anchor Bay's studios have given us another finely restored film, and the first 20,000 DVDs produced are actual limited editions with a bonus DVD that contains a restored House II: The Second Story. Fans, be speedy: these two-disc sets aren't going to last long, and this is House II's ONLY anticipated Region 1 release on DVD, ever. Once it's gone, it's gone.

But, is the 2 disc set even worth getting? House tells the story of Vietnam vet and writer Roger Cobb (William Katt) who, looking for solitude and a break from his ex-wife (Kay Lenz), decides to move into his aunt's old house after she commits suicide. Coincidentally, this is the same house where Cobb's son disappeared a couple of years ago - apparently one of the deciding factors in the divorce, and Cobb's current writing slump. After he checks in, all manner of strange things happen, from Vietnam flashbacks to ghostly goings-on.

As a horror film, House certainly holds its own against more serious slasher-fare. Like Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, House doesn't take itself as seriously as other movies in the genre, and the result is an oftentimes humorous piece of work (unintentionally or not). The horror elements are strong: you are never completely sure if the house is actually causing the events, or if the main character is slowly going insane. Unfortunately, the story is so disjointed that the main creep value is lost when baddies are revealed too early, and the final sequence turns into an action movie instead of a horror film. While farces aren't intended to be subtle, the subtle, layered effect created in the first 20 minutes is utterly ruined as soon as we see the monster, and from there on out everything either becomes more stereotypical 80s horror fare, or the comic version of the same. This problem doesn't render House unwatchable, but it certainly detracts, as if the director couldn't quite make up his mind about what way he wanted the movie to go.

The DVD, on the other hand, is fantastic. The sound, while in mono, is clear and crisp, and the video transfer is remarkable (although anything less from Anchor Bay would be a crime). The commentary track is loads of fun, and a 12-minute featurette on The Making of House provides a little historical context and amusement, too. Luckily, Anchor Bay didn't spare the bonus House II disc any of their normal bells and whistles, and again the sound (mono as well) is great along with the near-flawless video. The bonus disc also contains a full-length commentary which isn't nearly as entertaining as the other, but hey, neither is the movie. Fans of House (and House II, if anyone is willing to admit to it) will definitely want to get the Limited Edition as soon as possible, because House II is going to be gone for good once it sells out. Otherwise, if you liked House, and know what to expect from Anchor Bay, you know what to do - and at this price, it's hard not to.

Two Stories in one
This was a great movie in that it told you to beware that everything is not as it seems. Roger Cobb went to the house to write a book and wound up conquering his inner demons and freeing his son. The Bonus is that even though the details on this dvd don't actually say it you get two movies for the price of one. House 2 the Second story is included as well. So watch and enjoy they don't make good horror movies anymore not like this one.

Good Movie
I liked this movie, the second one is better by far. I remember watching House 2 as a kid. I loved being able to see it all over again. By the way, it states that House includes 2 discs, I ordered House and House 2. The second disc in the House 1 dvd is House 2. If your are looking to buy both, just buy this one. Both are included.

Great Example of a fun Horror.
I have always loved House 1 and 2. Fun and creepy at the same time. I finally bought both on DVD and the sound is amazing. The picture is so clear that it makes it even creepier. VHS did it no justice. Get the DVD! The acting is good and the timing is perfect. There are some funny moments that calms the creepiness a bit. Its not sexual or gory in any way. great for the whole family. Dont wait.....get it today! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ONE part in this movie is at least OKAY, if not good!
I think this was an okay movie (maybe this is because I never saw the first one or the second one). I thought it was really, really stupid, but my friend and I liked the pizza singing part--we kept cracking up every few seconds. The movie had very cheesy effects, bad actors, and at some parts you are just disgusted by how bad a movie can be. Since I'm not the type of person that would walk away from a bad movie (I stuck through half of "Leatherface" before escaping that stupid movie by doing homework) I stuck through the end, and there are two good parts (one is the pizza). The second is very touching, when the wife remembers her husband with the projector thingy that was spilling memories out to her. That part was good too, but the rest of the movie just was plain boring, bad, and awful. Make sure that if you DO get this movie you throw it away after watching the pizza singing part because the rest is crap and will spoil your appetite if your hungry (for other reasons besides the pizza).

ONE OF THE WORST MOVIES EVER MADE...AWFUL!!!
"House" was a great film. I have liked it ever since I saw it on HBO in 1987. I did not like the second one as much, but it was okay, not great. But THIS, oh my god, I could not believe it...absolutely NOTHING makes sense in this movie. It was supposed to be a continuation of the original, yet those who have seen the original will be so confused, William Katt is back, but what happened to his wife Sandy and his son Jimmy he was so desperate to find? Why isn't there anything about his horror novelist career? And why is this a beat up house in an abadoned desert like area, when in the original it was a victorian mansion, looking very rich and high class both on the outside and the inside? Acting is horrible, the script is one of the worst ever written, and one stupid scene after another make this completely unbearable to watch. After the scene with the singing pizza, it was no doubt this was one of the worst films of all time. Someone would have to pay me a lot to watch this again. Stay away AT ALL COSTS-- even Jan De Bont's lame "The Haunting" was better than this garbage.

Fair!
This movie I would have to say is AOK. I still am a very big fan of the origanal. The 2nd one I would say didn't make that much cence. Although I still loved the 2nd. Some of you might wonder what happend to House 3. Well I hears from Joe Bob Riggs on monstervision, that directors thought the movie (which was called house 3 in Europe i think)is called The Horror Show in the United States. Check it put I think you would really enjoy it.

not that bad
this is not that bad of a film, it could use a little more orginallity or add something new that would not stray from the original movie. but still is enjoyable to watch ... Read more

Reviews (12)

GREAT MOVIE
THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE BEST ADVENTURE MOVIE I HAVE SEEN. MUCH BETTER THEN JURRASIC PARK OR THE LOST WORLD WHICH ARE JUST BORING TO WATCH. IT SHOULD HOWEVER HAVE A PG-13 RATING BECAUSE THERE IS VIOLENCE AND A STABBING. ITS A GOOD MOVIE FOR DINOSAUR BUFFS AND FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES A GOOD ADVENTURE MOVIE.

So 80's it's cool!!!
This movie is great. I haven't seen it in like ten years but I can't wait to watch it again! I used to rent it every time I went to the video store, this and the Last Unicorn, and I just loved it! Sure, the Brontosaurus really never existed and more correctly is called the Apatasoarus b/c there was a dino race in the early 1900's and they found the complete body of an apatasaurus but no head, so they incorrectly put the head of a Brachiousaurus on the apatastaurus and called it a brontosaurus - but that's okay- it's still good!!! And to those who have negative feelings towards this movie that have already reviewed shouldn't place bad memories of their long lost childhood to fault this movie b/c it's really great!!!

Jurasick park this movie made it possible
I grew up watching this movie and just recently found it on dvd I was so excited. For the time this was incredible and any one who says jurassic park is the best dino movie ever is obesly to young to fully get this movie. at the time it was cutting edge I feel sorry for you. I have all the jurrasic park movies and I would watch this one 40 times more then those. This movie paved the way for those movies. I wish they would do a remake

THE GAME IS OVER
I don't know how anyone could not laugh at this movie. Right off the bat, the cover says it's "a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T."...right, only in the dreams of the producers. Truth be told, the dinosaurs don't look THAT bad for the time, but Baby running near the end of the movie always puts me into fits of laughter. Same goes for any time a dinosaur gets shot. I can't believe this is on DVD, I was thrilled to learn that it has been digitally preserved forever. As far as I'm concerned even the DVD menu is hilarious, just look at the dinosaur's face - it has eyebrows.

No zeros allowed? Aw, shucks.
They showed "Baby" to us every year when I was in summer day camp (Packer Collegiate in Brooklyn for those in the know) and to this day I recall it as the worst movie I've ever seen. I think you would have to do a "Clockwork Orange" and mechanically maintain my alertness in order to make me watch this again: you would not, however, have to inject me with evil drugs in order to get me to collapse writhing upon mention of it. ... Read more

Description

An off-kilter depiction of the members of a romantic triangle's roadside life and their entanglement with murder and money laundering. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

IT's actually PRetty GoOD
THe movie didn't start off that interesting but after about fifteen minutes I began to get interested. Although the movie is a bit cheesy, I enjoy a bit of cheese now and then. It's just another I love my family I hate my family type of movie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Mother Teresa movie!!!
A Hallmark/Family Channel production. You will totally enjoy all 93 minutes of this movie! This is Mother Teresa's story of helping the poor in Calcutta India. The acting is fantasic! It looks like it is filmed on location. This is a must buy for your collection! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Pippin
Bob Fosse's masterpiece Pippin is the tony award-winning Broadway musical starring the incomparable Ben Vereen. The show was written by Stephen Schwartz, the Academy-award winning composer of Godspell and The Prince of Egypt. Also stars William Katt as Pippin, Benjamin Rayson, Martha Raye, and Chita Rivera as Pippin's relatives. The video has amazing dancing and singing, as well as some hysterical comedic moments. Anyone who enjoys the theatre will love this video.

Video to remember Ben Vereen on Broadway
In 1973, I was able to see the almost orginal cast(missing Irene Ryan, our dear Granny, who passed away while production was on Broadway.) Ben Vereen was unbelievable as was John Rubenstein. Now, we can't go back to 1973 and we can't all fit in a live theatre. This video records a live performace, so that we can remember how Ben Vereen was in the show, with all his energy, wit and power of dance. Having seen other videoed shows, however, the values are not as good on this one. It serves as a record of what was. Perhaps, Pippin will live on Broadway again. Otherwise, here is a taste, from Canada, of what the show was like, with Bill Katt as Pippin and Ben Vereen as the Leading Player. All the songs are here, including the smashing finale, but some of the more intimate moments (a severed head in conversation) is missing. This is a Bob Fosse show, so the dancing is definately Fosse. The sound is good, though upstage sounds are not as good as could have been recorded. If you're looking for a sense of what Pippin was, this is it!

The cast is better than the CD
That's right! I said it! John Rubinstein's voice is not strong enough to play Pippin. He sounds like Henry Gibson singing...anyone? Henry Gibson? "Laugh-In"? He was the voice of Wilbur in "Charlotte's Web?" No one? Okay, moving on...William Katt however not only sings "Corner of the Sky" he relishes it. He savors every note, and that's the way it must be sung. You wouldn't sing "Do You Hear the People Sing" unless you can handle it and you shouldn't sing "Corner" without some serious chops....or props...or snaps, or whatever the hell else it is that means "talent, abilities." I also think that Ben Vereen does better live than in the studio. That's right, I think Ben Vereen gave a better performance than Ben Vereen! Not even Ben Vereen could've matched Ben Vereen as a...no, this is silly. Look, the CD's fine, but the movie's better. The arrangements, the performances, and the fact that they cut my least favorite song "I Guess I'll Miss the Man."

Despite the quality a MUST have
I have been reading the many good and bad reviews and thought I should add something. I am an expert on Bob Fosse and his work. This particular production was pulled together by Kathryn Doby (Bobby's assistant for years). It was rather hasty in putting together as it was meant for a television broadcast. In the process of setting the time format for television many cuts were made to the original script, which unfortunetly are now not available. What is important about this version is it allows the closest view of Bobby's original work that we may ever have. Bob worked on this show while at great odds of the composer (Schwartz), to the point of having him barred from rehersals. It is amazing the show ever made it to where it got. The fact that we can still see the original art that was the choreography of Bobby, is the ONLY reason that this video should be in your collection. He won the Tony award for his work on this show (he also won the oscar for Cabaret and the Emmy for Liza with a Z this same year, the ONLY director to EVER do that) Enjoy!

Good record of 1981 made for television performance...
I had never seen Pippin before, so I don't have a stage comparison. Most of the complaints are about the video quality and the sound. First, this was filmed as a television production, not for screen or home video. Some of the reviewers have forgot that fact when complaining about the video and sound. VHS was just beginning to take off and very few cinemas had multi-channel sound. I have a VHS tape of a concert film made at that time, "The Last Waltz" and the sound from those live performances aren't too good either. If they ever release the video TV special "Liza with a Z", it will probably be of this quality too. But, it's the performances that are worth watching. Just seeing Ben Vereen's dancing in "Glory" makes this DVD worthwhile. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This terrifying adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling horror novel was directed by shock maestro Brian De Palma for maximum, no-holds-barred effect. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie White, the beleaguered daughter of a religious kook (Piper Laurie) and a social outcast tormented by her cruel, insensitive classmates. When her rage turns into telekinetic powers, however, school's out in every sense of the word. De Palma's horrific climax in a school gym lingers forever in the memory, though the film is also built upon Spacek's remarkable performance and Piper Laurie's outlandishly creepy one. John Travolta has a small part as a thug, De Palma's future wife, Nancy Allen, is his girlfriend, and Amy Irving makes her screen debut as one of the girls giving Carrie a hard time. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (211)

Unique blend of horror and sentiment.
There's one thing I specifically like about certain horror films, and that is those that contain the horror elements, yet have a story that allows you to feel a great deal of emotion for a main or secondary character, depending on the focus of the plot. When Stephen King wrote his first novel, Carrie, it was shocking as well as emotionally heart-stopping. Brian de Palma's film, following soon after, is groundbreaking and intense, and captures the horror of the character's actions as well as the horror of her secluded and alienated school and home life.

Carrie White has never been popular in school, and the verbal and physical abuse has apparently gotten worse with each year. One day, she gets her first period in the showers of the girls locker room, and frantically running to everyone for help, she is bombarded by shouts of banter and flying tampons. After it is learned that she was never told by anyone about this process of life, we soon learn the reason why: her mother is a Bible-thumping embodiment of a true maniac, who believes that every action committed by man is a sin in the eyes of God. Her treatment of her daughter is extremely harsh, but only until Carrie learns that she possesses a special gift, the ability to move objects with her mind. Meanwhile, Sue Snell, one of the girls involved in the malicious locker room incident, feels guilt over her actions and asks her boyfriend Tommy to take Carrie to the prom. Carrie accepts, and attends the event despite her mother's warnings of doom and sin. But something much worse will happen, something more terrifying than Mrs. White could ever imagine.

"Carrie" is one of the most well-known horror films of all time, and has set the standard for many later films of the genre. The entire premise for the movie is quite original, and the execution of the material is even more powerful and emotional than the novel itself. What makes it so emotional is the fact that there is a human story that happens everyday around the world. Carrie is constantly bantered and teased about every aspect of her life: her home, her mother, her apparel, and her demeanor, and it is done in such a manner that you cannot help but feel a great deal of sorrow for her when she commits the ultimate act in the finale of the film.

De Palma's camera angles and cinematography add an immense amount to the overall effect. Many of his shots usually center on someone in the foreground, while Carrie is somewhere within the near background, making her appear minute and small among everyone else. His use of the two-window effect for the prom sequence helps us to see more of the destruction and the reactions people have to events going on around them. One more notable sequence is opening scene, in the girls locker room, where we see the rest of the girls having fun and making merry while Carrie is alone and singled out in the shower stall. Throughout the movie, De Palma does a spectacular job in making Carrie seem insignificant when put with a group of people.

Sissy Spacek was brought to the project to play the title character, and does a top-notch job. She is the perfect "ugly-duckling" type for the role, and she is able to play out all of the emotion and terror that Carrie experiences throughout the novel. Amy Irving is does a credible job as Sue Snell, and her performance makes us believe that Sue really does feel sorry for what she has done to Carrie. The rest of the ensemble makes the movie believable, and never is there a moment where you will question the authenticity of a performance.

Certain to remain a hallmark of moviemaking, "Carrie" will shock, scare, and incite emotion for years to come. It is a movie that operates on many different levels, each beginning at separate times of the film, yet converging in the end to sweep us up in horror and sorrow.

Here's to the Devil with false modesty...;)
Released in 1976, "Carrie" is a disturbing horror film that's generously fueled by psychological tension and religious iconography. Unlike the decade's other two occult works, "The Exorcist" and "The Omen," this is not a tale about the Devil's chicanery. Although it overlaps ominous images of Christ with the raging feminine hormones of teenagers, the film actually decrys the tragic reality of school bullying; as an underrated form of child abuse, this so-called "rite of passage" involves a youth culture so cruel and thoughtless that it drives its victims to suicide or murder.
Actress Sissy Spacek portrays Carrie White, a shy and lonely misfit who is constantly harrassed by her classmates. After another strenuous game of vollyball, she begins to mensturate in the girls' shower. Terrified at seeing the blood running down her fingers, Carrie hysterically cries to the other students for help. But instead, all of the girls corner her in the locker room, jeering and tossing tampons at her. From that moment on, viewers are introduced to the appalling ignorance of the high school staff; not only do the teachers refuse to take Carrie's word seriously, but even Principal Morton (Stefan Gierasch) can't seem to remember her first and last name. The only official to pity her is gym teacher Miss Collins (Betty Buckley), who realizes that she was never taught how to deal with PMS. Fiercely determined to protect Carrie's well-being, Miss Collins punishes the class with a week's worth of brutal, boot camp athletics; anyone who refused to attend detention was excluded from the senior prom.
Meanwhile, behind closed doors, Carrie is tortured and chastised by her Mother (Piper Laurie), a straitlaced Christian fanatic who corrupts every passage in the Bible, blatantly accusing her daughter of being sinful. After hearing about her first period, Margaret White assumes that Carrie is inflicted with the curse of blood, and that she's tempted by the Antichrist's lust. Forcing her to pray for strength, Margaret drags her helpless daughter into a tiny closet, where a gaunt effigy of Jesus stares into a dark void of nothingness. It seems that all hope is lost for this little girl, but that mood eventually changes. Through library research, Carrie discovers she possesses telekinetic powers; whenever she gets angry or afraid, she can flip an ashtray off a desk, shatter a mirror, or make doors open and close unaided. Eventually, this is the weapon she uses to fight back against her Mother's assault.
Seeking revenge, one of Carrie's most hateful bullies, a spoiled and nasty girl named Chris (Nancy Allen), cajoles her drunk boyfriend Billy (John Travolta) to play a sadistic prank on her. On prom night, after Carrie and poet Tommy Ross (William Katt) are crowned King and Queen, Chris dumps a bucket of pig's blood on her head. Drenched and degraded, she is surrounded by a kaleidoscope of laughing spectators. In an act of murderous rage, Carrie unleashes her telekinetic anger upon the crowd. With her cold and blank stare, she showers water from a firehose, electrocutes the microphone, and engulfs the entire school in flames. In perhaps the most shocking split-screen sequence in history, this unforgettable night of terror is shot through multiple perspectives, while glowing a grisly, hellish red.
If you are seeking a horror classic for your DVD collection, I strongly recommend this film, as well as "The Exorcist," "Evil Dead," and "Nightmare on Elm Street."

Classical
Carrie White is a bit strange. She is friendless, her mother is obsessed with worshipping god, and sin, everybody at school harrases her, and to top it all off, she gets asked to the prom by the "hottest" guy in school, which also happens to be the guy Carrie has "special feelings" for.

Now, when you mix all those things together, do you come to the conclusion that Carrie might be under a lot of pressure? Well sure you do, cause she is. And to her horror, when she and Billy or whoever it is, i forget his name, starts to dance to the school song, a huge bucket of pigs blood is poured on her.

Blood, guts, gore...not really, but during the last half hour or so, the violence is pretty strong, not too graphic, but there are some graphic scenes of violence. When a girl gets crushed by a basketball hoop thingy, and when Carries mom gets killed by knifes being stabbed in her. I am sure there are some other ones, but those are the most graphic that i Can remeber right now.

Not too sexual, but there are definatly some sexual scenes, after all, this IS stephen king we are talking about, read this book and that will be enough dose of sexuality for you for one day, guarenteed.

Chilling ever time I see it
This movie is a very rare type of teen horror moive. It perfectly balences our fears and teen angst with phenominal acting at the same time. I think the reason why Carrie is still so fresh even today is because we all have a little bit of Carrie in all of us. All of us at one point in our lives have been teased, beaten up, or felt like you didn't belong at some point in our lives. We all know exactly how Carrie feels when all the girls laugh at her at the prom, or the excitment she felt when the most popular guy in schol askes her to the prom. We have all experienced these feeling throught out our teen years. Pino Donaggio did a superb job with the sountrack. Its so simple yet so effective. The music playing just before the blood is dumped still gets me everytime. It sounds almost like a clock ticking. Almost as if itsticking away the time that the kids have left to live. Even though I know whats gonna happen that scene never fails to scare me to death. This movie is a must see. Even todays teens will love this movie.

Steven King at his best
Probably the best translation of a Steven King novel into a movie. You can't miss this one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

THE SEVENTH FLOOR
It's always good to see beautiful Brooke Shields in action and in an excellent thriller too.
The DVD has a bare bones menu of the type I have seen with soft core films

For Steven Bauer fans only
This is the original Simitar DVD release of "Stranger By Night." The picture and sound quality is excellent, though there are no extra features, just the chapter index, which is nice.I don't have the new "collector's edition" on DVD, hopefully someone will review this and let us know if its worth getting.William Katt gives an excellent performance, but the picture belongs to Steven Bauer, who is always great to watch. Fans will be happy to know there's another steamy Bauer nude scene of his along with Jennifer Rubin.

Great Value! 1 Great Movie! All Bad Quality :-(
Stranger By Night - Awful Movie/Good KATT!STRANGER BY NIGHT is an illogical endeavor by all counts, yet it has a spectacular supporting performance by -- of all people -- actor William Katt (who was the title character in the TV series THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO). Playing a libidinous, extroverted detective, Katt gives his scenes some feral kick, and he actually gives the illusion that you're watching a real movie. (It's sort of the effect Mickey Rourke elicited in his brief role in 1981's monotonous BODY HEAT.) However, this movie should be titles "Movie of the week", and be airing weekly on TNT's Dinner and a Movie.

Seventh Floor - This film is very well acted (yes, even the notoriously bad Brooke Shields pulls off an almost flawless performance), well written, and has amazingly well done special effects. The whole movie is centered around Kate (brooke), who recently has become widowed, and is left with the pain of her loss, and the bills. She does own 1/3 of an advertising firm, where the other 2/3 pays her out and forces her to leave. She finds the love of her life, who rents an apartment in the building she was left stuck with. Well....everything turns upside down....THis movie is a must see.

**These 2 DVDs were produced when DVD technology first became available a few years back. The quality of the DVDs is bairly better than VHS tapes, however, if you are interested in seeing the Seventh Floor, you might as well pick up this set for 1.00 more than that film is on its own. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ONE part in this movie is at least OKAY, if not good!
I think this was an okay movie (maybe this is because I never saw the first one or the second one). I thought it was really, really stupid, but my friend and I liked the pizza singing part--we kept cracking up every few seconds. The movie had very cheesy effects, bad actors, and at some parts you are just disgusted by how bad a movie can be. Since I'm not the type of person that would walk away from a bad movie (I stuck through half of "Leatherface" before escaping that stupid movie by doing homework) I stuck through the end, and there are two good parts (one is the pizza). The second is very touching, when the wife remembers her husband with the projector thingy that was spilling memories out to her. That part was good too, but the rest of the movie just was plain boring, bad, and awful. Make sure that if you DO get this movie you throw it away after watching the pizza singing part because the rest is crap and will spoil your appetite if your hungry (for other reasons besides the pizza).

ONE OF THE WORST MOVIES EVER MADE...AWFUL!!!
"House" was a great film. I have liked it ever since I saw it on HBO in 1987. I did not like the second one as much, but it was okay, not great. But THIS, oh my god, I could not believe it...absolutely NOTHING makes sense in this movie. It was supposed to be a continuation of the original, yet those who have seen the original will be so confused, William Katt is back, but what happened to his wife Sandy and his son Jimmy he was so desperate to find? Why isn't there anything about his horror novelist career? And why is this a beat up house in an abadoned desert like area, when in the original it was a victorian mansion, looking very rich and high class both on the outside and the inside? Acting is horrible, the script is one of the worst ever written, and one stupid scene after another make this completely unbearable to watch. After the scene with the singing pizza, it was no doubt this was one of the worst films of all time. Someone would have to pay me a lot to watch this again. Stay away AT ALL COSTS-- even Jan De Bont's lame "The Haunting" was better than this garbage.

Fair!
This movie I would have to say is AOK. I still am a very big fan of the origanal. The 2nd one I would say didn't make that much cence. Although I still loved the 2nd. Some of you might wonder what happend to House 3. Well I hears from Joe Bob Riggs on monstervision, that directors thought the movie (which was called house 3 in Europe i think)is called The Horror Show in the United States. Check it put I think you would really enjoy it.

not that bad
this is not that bad of a film, it could use a little more orginallity or add something new that would not stray from the original movie. but still is enjoyable to watch ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first film to actually bill itself as a "prequel," this Richard Lester effort certainly didn't measure up to the Robert Redford-Paul Newman original, but it's better than you'd think. That's because of Lester's terrific sense of slapstick and his ability to deflate legends. He gets Newman and Redford lookalikes Tom Berenger and William Katt and puts them through a series of screwups and miscues, as the two would-be outlaws find that breaking the law is no easy business. Writer Allan Burns's script isn't long on story, but it offers both plausible and entertaining explanations of how these two came to be partners. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun Western Prequel!
I am dating myself, but I remember seeing this film in the theatres. (Of course, I was 6. Yeah, that's right...six years old. OK, we'll go with that...)

I enjoyed it in my callow youth, and I find that now that I am a little more (ahem) mature, I still enjoy it. It's a cute little film with lots of future stars, a nice pace and altogether an entertaining movie.

But, as I have noted in other reviews of this film, it doesn't really have a plot. Just a series of adventures these two get into. But that's OK, just know what to expect. No plot, just fun little sketches as our heroes go from one predicament to the next.

Both stars (Tom Berenger doing Butch Cassidy, William Katt as Sundance Kid) do a fine job. If you are familiar with the movie that inspired this one ("Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford) you'll see some similarities in these stars. Katt (who later went on to be in "The Greatest American Hero" and "Perry Mason" in the '80s) has a certain look around the eyes and mouth that is Redford-esque (when the lighting is right). Berenger (Oscar nominated for "Platoon" a few years later) bears some resemblance to Newman at certain angles, and especially when he wears a particular funky hat that Newman also wore. Interesting and ingenious casting choices, in my opinion. (And as an aside, I am still amazed at how slender and trim Berenger was in this movie!)

Other future stars include Peter Weller ("Buckaroo Banzai" and "Robocop") as the guy who is doggedly determined to track our pair down. Jill Eikenberry ("L.A. Law") plays Butch's wife, Christopher Lloyd ("Back to the Future", "Taxi") plays a partner in crime, and so on.

An excellent score by Patrick Williams should not be overlooked. It is one of the more outstanding parts of this film. Beautiful scenery, a cute script and a likeable cast make this a worthwhile film to watch. Just don't expect too much of a plot.

Underrated, and underappreciated because of comparison
I love this film, just as much as the 69 Newman/Redford film. This prequel is often compared to its predecessor and is deemed worse because of its lack of a star cast. But these 'unknowns' as they were then, portrayed the young outlaws better than any other actors I can think of.

Berenger has got the charming, motormouth, egotistical Butch down to a tee and Katt's brooding Sundance is just as attractive as Redford's was.

The film has also been accused of having an empty plot, but this just may be because it doesn't have a solid event to deal with and build up to like the first (i.e. their deaths!). But this pretty prequel deals with smaller, but no less entertaining incidents in their lives: their meeting and teeming up, being a hero, Sundance's patented "stop the bleeding" method, Butch's family, O.C. Hank's revenge and, of course, LeFors.

The Early Days also has more jokes, more banter and more action, perhaps making up for the unknown cast? But it really is hilarious with loads of tiny little touches that you will still laugh at every time you watch it.

It's a gem, and deserves to sit up there on the shelf next to the 1969 version.

Not good at all...
Tom Barrenger and William katt star as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. Only watched the video once and it sat in my video cabinet collecting dust. Tom barrenger's role as Butch Cassidy was better then the Sundance Kid role played by William Katt. Butch was the one that was trying to show him the ropes of being a GOOD outlaw.. William Katt comes across as a stuffy know it all. At one point in the film he KICKS a guy in the knee! OVERGROWN BABY!!! If you want to see a true western please check out the original Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid... This one is not watchable over time. Once was quite enough for me.

Not a Knock-Off, it stands on its own!
Mention this title and most folks roll their eyes, "Oh, just some lame knock-off of the Newman/Redford classic," but not so. This is a really fun and funny movie! It was made years after the Redford/Newman movie, so it wasn't just a rush to make a fast buck before the popularity wore off. The story is solid, the cinematography beautiful and it's filled with little touches that put it a cut above most westerns.

Directed by Richard Lester, who brought us, among other things, A Hard Day's Night, Help and Superman II, but it also has an all-star cast BEFORE THEY WERE STARS! You can see Tom Berenger, William Katt, Jill Eikenberry, Brian Dennehy, Christopher Lloyd and Peter Weller, all before they became famous. Well worth a look, a pleasant surprise for all those tired of being disappointed by overly hyped crap at the video store. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Hey, that cheese in intentional!
If you're looking for something truly scary, look elsewhere. Same if you're looking for something visually stunning, laden with brilliant acting, or intelligently funny. The humor and the horror in this flick are both stupid - but that's the whole point. Here's some math: take a Jason (Friday the 13th) movie, add a Naked Gun movie, divide the humor by 1.5, the horror by 2, and the budget by 3, and you've got House. It's hilarious, unpredictable, bizarre beyond belief, maybe a little bit scary at times, and weirdest of all in a movie like this, the main character is actually pretty believable! The film takes any 'rules' for haunted houses and throws them out the window: an unkillable monster that looks like the main character's wife for a few minutes comes in from outside, some really weird looking thing emerges from a closet and tries to grab people, and the bathroom mirror is a portal to somewhere that both is and isn't a beach in the Vietnam War. If you have an open mind and can laugh at the bizarre and unpredictable, I highly recommend this movie.

Ding Dong!
Perhaps one of the quintessential 1980s horror films, House makes its explosion onto the DVD format in this (relatively unadvertised) Anchor Bay Special/Limited Edition disc. The digital gurus at Anchor Bay's studios have given us another finely restored film, and the first 20,000 DVDs produced are actual limited editions with a bonus DVD that contains a restored House II: The Second Story. Fans, be speedy: these two-disc sets aren't going to last long, and this is House II's ONLY anticipated Region 1 release on DVD, ever. Once it's gone, it's gone.

But, is the 2 disc set even worth getting? House tells the story of Vietnam vet and writer Roger Cobb (William Katt) who, looking for solitude and a break from his ex-wife (Kay Lenz), decides to move into his aunt's old house after she commits suicide. Coincidentally, this is the same house where Cobb's son disappeared a couple of years ago - apparently one of the deciding factors in the divorce, and Cobb's current writing slump. After he checks in, all manner of strange things happen, from Vietnam flashbacks to ghostly goings-on.

As a horror film, House certainly holds its own against more serious slasher-fare. Like Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, House doesn't take itself as seriously as other movies in the genre, and the result is an oftentimes humorous piece of work (unintentionally or not). The horror elements are strong: you are never completely sure if the house is actually causing the events, or if the main character is slowly going insane. Unfortunately, the story is so disjointed that the main creep value is lost when baddies are revealed too early, and the final sequence turns into an action movie instead of a horror film. While farces aren't intended to be subtle, the subtle, layered effect created in the first 20 minutes is utterly ruined as soon as we see the monster, and from there on out everything either becomes more stereotypical 80s horror fare, or the comic version of the same. This problem doesn't render House unwatchable, but it certainly detracts, as if the director couldn't quite make up his mind about what way he wanted the movie to go.

The DVD, on the other hand, is fantastic. The sound, while in mono, is clear and crisp, and the video transfer is remarkable (although anything less from Anchor Bay would be a crime). The commentary track is loads of fun, and a 12-minute featurette on The Making of House provides a little historical context and amusement, too. Luckily, Anchor Bay didn't spare the bonus House II disc any of their normal bells and whistles, and again the sound (mono as well) is great along with the near-flawless video. The bonus disc also contains a full-length commentary which isn't nearly as entertaining as the other, but hey, neither is the movie. Fans of House (and House II, if anyone is willing to admit to it) will definitely want to get the Limited Edition as soon as possible, because House II is going to be gone for good once it sells out. Otherwise, if you liked House, and know what to expect from Anchor Bay, you know what to do - and at this price, it's hard not to.

Two Stories in one
This was a great movie in that it told you to beware that everything is not as it seems. Roger Cobb went to the house to write a book and wound up conquering his inner demons and freeing his son. The Bonus is that even though the details on this dvd don't actually say it you get two movies for the price of one. House 2 the Second story is included as well. So watch and enjoy they don't make good horror movies anymore not like this one.

Good Movie
I liked this movie, the second one is better by far. I remember watching House 2 as a kid. I loved being able to see it all over again. By the way, it states that House includes 2 discs, I ordered House and House 2. The second disc in the House 1 dvd is House 2. If your are looking to buy both, just buy this one. Both are included.

Great Example of a fun Horror.
I have always loved House 1 and 2. Fun and creepy at the same time. I finally bought both on DVD and the sound is amazing. The picture is so clear that it makes it even creepier. VHS did it no justice. Get the DVD! The acting is good and the timing is perfect. There are some funny moments that calms the creepiness a bit. Its not sexual or gory in any way. great for the whole family. Dont wait.....get it today! ... Read more