Customer Reviews:
dvd quality it aint.......2008-03-05
i too feel a bit disappointed with the quality of the live after death footage the sound makes up for the vhs like footage but after watching thin lizzy live and dangerous dvd i expected great things from maiden ,still there is enough extras on it to make up for it though and its an essential dvd if you are a irons fan
Not as good as the hype suggests.......2008-02-07
Live After Death was the first Maiden album I bought, way back in 1986. Not only that, it was the first metal album I bought, and it has influenced my taste to this day. I never saw the original VHS of this concert, but the photos in the sleeve notes of the cassette looked fantastic, so when the DVD was announced, I bought it and prepared to wallow in nostalgia for an evening.
Unfortunately, the overall experience was something of a disappointment. It was great to see Maiden at what was arguably the height of their career - the band are rushing about the stage like lunatics, are clearly having a great time and the musicianship cannot be faulted. But that said, for a tour that is fondly recalled as being spectacular, the actual staging left a little to be desired - a few backdrops with pyramids, some rather uninspired lighting and a couple of bits of pyro. I'd always fondly imagined that the visuals on this tour would have been out of this world, but, twenty years later, the overall feeling is one of "so what?"
Worse than that, however, is the production quality. The sound mix is fine, but the 5.1 version seems to do very little with the rear channels - I checked that I was definitely listening to the multi-channel version, but it didn't sound any more interesting than the stereo mix. But the real disappointment is the picture quality. As others have said, the quality is really no better than on VHS - there is an overall washed-out tone to a lot of the concert - it is lacking in contrast, presumably due to there not being sufficient light for the cameras. Images are a little fuzzy as well - for anyone used to today's HD footage, this very much looks like a product of its time. If the video has been tidied up for the DVD release, they didn't do much to it, and it really doesn't look great. Finally, the direction leaves something to be desired - no shot seems to last more than about a second, and the jumpy effect just gets irritating after a while.
To be honest, if you ignore the nostalgia, you are much better off getting a copy of Rock In Rio - sound and picture are a lot better, and the overall spectacle is more worthy of DVD. Live After Death was (and still is) a truly legendary live album, but the pictures just disappoint. Just buy the remastered CD, play it loud, shut your eyes and imagine what it must have looked like...
Missed Opportunity.......2008-02-07
I think i must have expected too much from this DVD.
Recent releases by Queen and Led Zepp have set high standards for music dvds and this one doesn't match up.
The sound has been re-mixed, but the picture quality is no better that my original VHS copy. The documentary is good, but too short and why only concentrate on this one album? The gig from Rio is great and in my opinion much better that the feature gig, much more raw and live.
3 out of 5 for a missed opportunity. There is no excuse for releasing below standard dvds in this day and age.
Great maiden concert, flawed package.......2008-02-07
In my teenage years the 'Live After Death' album was, as far as I was concerned, the greatest metal album ever. My (probably distorted) memories make it seem like the album was on constant play for something like two whole years! I knew every Bruce comment word for word, and in particular gladly re-enacted the whole of the 'Running Free' audience participation part with anyone who was game (I must admit that this seems a little sad now!). However, for whatever reason, I never got to see the associated 'Live After Death' video prior to this release of the DVD so the nostalgic side of me was really quite excited when the DVD arrived.
Overall, I am pleased to say that I was still largely wowed by the performance of the band, and the sound quality is not too bad when you consider that most of the technical advances in sound recording we take for granted today have developed since the recording was made (although I understand enhancements were made to the original recordings using the latest technology, I never saw the original and cannot therefore compare the two).
However, there are two dissappointments with this DVD for me. The first is that the version of 'Running Free', the segment that for me was such a key element to the 'Live After Death' album, differs from the album version. I know the performance of the song is very similar, but the banter with the crowd is just not as good as far as I am concerned! Now, this is a very picky complaint related to my peronal nostalgia, so did not affect my score of the DVD.
The second dissapointment, however, relates to something I thought I would never accuse Maiden of. I feel a tiny bit short changed. That may seem harsh, considering that the whole DVD is over three hours long and contains one of their classic mid-eighties performances. But, the reason i was looking forward to this release more than any other was to catch the second installment of 'The History Of Iron Maiden' documentary. The second part is duly included, but only covers the 'Powerslave' album and tour in an unnecessarily drawn out way, rather than perhaps taking the story up to Adrian's and Bruce's departure. So, I would have much preferred this DVD to have been in the same format as the 'Early Years' DVD - with the World Slavery Tour live performance included, but also some later live footage as well, and a much extended history documentary, taking the whole story up to around the end of 1993.
So, in summary, a great performance with some interesting extras, but I just felt for the first time as a Maiden fan that they were draggng things out to maximise revenue rather than giving me what I want as a fan.
Nostalgia Destroying Classic.......2008-02-07
I'd been waiting for this for a long, long time. I was completely blown away by LAD upon its release; there was simply nothing to compare it with at the time. This video/album was my religion for a long time. My old Betamax copy was on constant rotation for at least 2 years but, prior to last Monday (5/2/08), I probably hadn't seen it for at least 15 years. The problem with memories is that they are usually better than the reality. So in 2008, 20+ Maiden gigs later, I found myself completely under whelmed. It WAS the best live video/album ever, but (apparently) only at that time. The performance and music are first rate (as always), but in this post-Spinal Tap world, it all seems a little cheesy. Although I do feel somewhat sacrilegious for saying that. It's still a great show, but it is definitely dated. Rock In Rio (2002) shines much brighter these days (and it doesn't contain the awful Flight of Icarus, which always make me cringe). Most of the extras are worthwhile, "Behind the Iron Curtain" (another Betamax relic) seems longer than I remember and is quite insightful of the times. But the second part of the history story is a big disappointment, when compared to the Early Days documentary (which was first rate). I was expecting a bit more than a few anecdotes from the Powerslave album and tour. What about the other albums that are going to be included in the 2008 tour? So 2 stars for the DVD, 1 star for the nostalgia and Maiden are one band that certainly don't need to trade on nostalgia. Perhaps I'll dig it out in 2032 and feel differently. Is that the lynch mob knocking at my front door?
Customer Reviews:
Classic 80's comedy at a bargain price.......2007-12-15
Over the years I had bought a couple of the Police Academy films on video cassette; having decided to purchase the DVD box set of all seven films I have not been disappointed. In addition to the seven easy watching and amusing movies, there is an interesting, if short, interview with a number of the main characters in the special features section of each disk (filmed in 2004). Also, the picture and sound quality for all films are good considering six of the seven were made in the 1980's.
A good addition to the collection of any 80's comedy film fan - 4 stars!
Mahomo.......2007-10-12
Police Academy is without a doubt the best 80s movie out there. The sequels were okay (up to about 3), but this collection is well worth shelling out for "Mahomo!"
MAAAAHOOOOONEY.......2005-08-14
God I love these films. They cheer me up whenever I feel down. Mahoney is the real star, though he stops after number 4. Harris and Mauser are excellently cast too. Just that fed up look on Harris's face, and Guttenburg/Mahoney's grin are enough to crack me up.
Lieutenant Thaddeus Harris: Remember Mahoney, nobody screws with me.
Carey Mahoney: Well, maybe you'll meet the right girl and all of that will change.
At Last The Collection Is Complete!.......2005-08-02
At last all 7 Police Academy films are together in one collection:
Police Academy (1984) - It was 2o years ago that the first film was released in what would be a very popular series. The entire film is here with a behind the scenes "Where are they now" extra added to the disk (boy have some of them aged a bit!!!).
If you have never seen this film then you must watch it. Posibly one of the funniest films of the 80's bar none. Join Mahoney, Jones, Tackleberry, Hightower in a laugh a minute movie.
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) - The recruits are let loose on the streets of America with hilarious results as they try to stop a gang led by Zed from causing havoc. We are also introduced to Mowser and Proctor, two who play pivital parts in the series. The disc also includes a behinds the scenes making over section.
Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) - Commandant Lassard's academy is under threat from Mowser's when it is declared only one academy can remain open. This means action is needed. Lasard calls on mahoney, Jones, Hightower and co to help keep the academy open by training recruits like Zed, who was the baddy in the last film. The results are hilarious. Again this includes a behind the scenes guide.
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) - Lasard's plan is to start a C.O.P plan (Citizens on Patrol). To do this he enrols Mahoney and the gang to train the recruits whilst Harris and Proctor try their hardest to stop the scheme going ahead. Again this includes a behind the scenes guide.
Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988) - Commandant Lassard has passed the retirement age and therefore must retire. In his honour it is decided that he will be honoured at a policeman's ball in Miami. Lassard takes his favourite staff, plus Harris & Proctor with him. However, things are not made easy as a Diamond thief gang also go to the same resort and a bag swap leads to loads of laughs. Again this includes a behind the scenes guide.
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989) - A gang are running wild on the streets and seem to be avoiding capture. Everytime the police get near the gang seem to know what is going on. Is there a mole? It is upto our favourite police officer's to solve the crime and stop the gang. Again this includes a behind the scenes guide.
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994) - Lassard takes a crew of officers to Russia. This is the start of the laughs as Lassard is "Kidnapped" by the Russian Mafia (well he get's the wrong taxi and ends up in a Russian Families house!). Although not as good as the originals this will still have you in stitches. Again this includes a behind the scenes guide.
If you have ever seen the Police Academy series then you know that this is a must. If not then buy it as I think you will be pleasantly suprised.
What Can I Say?? Awesome!!.......2005-03-23
If you are an avid fan of police academy, like meself, have seen a few of the films on tv, then this is a must!! Every film has great scene's and comic moments that should not be missed!! Great family entertainment, something everyone can enjoy!! Number 1,4,and 5 are the best out of the 7, but every film is enjoyable!! A must for comedy fan's, or just fan's of 80's America!!
Amazon.co.uk Review
Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis wrote the script, but Bill Murray gets all the best lines and moments in this 1984 comedy directed by Ivan Reitman (Meatballs). The three comics, plus Ernie Hudson, play the New York City-based team that provides supernatural pest control, and Sigourney Weaver is the love interest possessed by an ancient demon. Reitman and company are full of original ideas about hobgoblins--who knew they could "slime" people with green plasma goo?--but hovering above the plot is Murray's patented ironic view of all the action. Still a lot of fun, and an obvious model for sci-fi comedies such as Men in Black. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
HAS DATED BADLY.......2008-01-15
Ghostbusters has not stood the test of time. The special effects look pretty ropey now but you could live with that if the script was better. Twenty odd years on and the weakness of the script is clear, it just isn't very funny and some of the acting is dire. Some people are easily amused if they think this is good.
ghostly goings on tingle and amuse somewhat.......2007-07-24
A hearty little yarn of a film with plenty of activity to keep the viewer sustained sufficiently for the duration.
I have to admit, as a firm non-believer in ghosts I went to see this movie somewhat reluctantly. Ghostbusters hype was gripping the country and some cinema goers were going dressed in official ghostbusters t-shirts. A few brave ones went as characters from the film. One man turned up as Stay Puft The Marshmallow man which I found bemusing.
I was not quite so bold, I attended the screening in normal attire, but I did write the words 'who you gonna call' across my chest to show my support.
I was particularly pleased to see the film starred one of my favourite actors, Harold Ramis, who I had followed for many years on and off screen.
The other ghostbusters are played by Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Michael Winslow. But it is Ramis who turns in the best performance and certainly the one which generates all the laughs.
There is a surprise cameo from Sigourney Weaver (pronounced Sin-Your-Ree Wevver) and she is a pleasure to watch. I particularly enjoyed the scene where she flys on the ghost through the streets of Manhattan.
My only criticism would be that the film doesn't know which genre it falls into. One minute it's a sci-fi, the next a western and at times I felt uncomforable as it seemed to be veering towards erotic thriller.
Nonetheless, I stayed watching the film until the very last credit came up and applauded loudly when it ended.
Since the film's release I have had a renewed interest in ghosts and the news that Ghostbusters 3 is on the cards keeps me excited for many a day.
WHO ARE YOU GONNA CALL?.......2007-07-04
The first thing that needs to be said is that Ghostbusters (1984) is possibly the funniest film ever. That's quite the bold statement to make but with good cause. This film holds up probably more than any other comedy in existence. You know how there are those movies that you see that are hysterical the first few times you see them? This one just keeps on coming. I remember when I was a kid, I wore our copy of Ghostbusters out. At the time, I watched it constantly never realizing what it truly was. I hadn't yet caught on to a lot of the humor. I noticed that I hadn't seen the film for forever and a day so I bought it and last night I put it in my DVD player and oh my God...I just about died with laughter.
This movie has something for everyone. Director Ivan Reitman said that he found a comedic formula for films...it works as follows: There's the brain, the heart, and the mouth. Ghostbusters scored with all of them. As the brain of the bunch, Egon Spengler's (Harold Ramis also co-wrote it) use of witty humor is hilarious. If you have the right mind set, almost everything Spengler says is laugh out loud funny. At the heart of the Ghostbusters is Dan Aykroyd's (Who created the idea for the film) lovable fool, Ray Stantz. Ray has a tenacity for saying simple minded things and using very little logic and yet somehow the man got a P.H.D. (Probably through studying habits, despite ignorance.) There's a line that he says involving a smell in the beginning of the movie that I am chuckling at just thinking about it. This of course leaves Bill Murray (He was nominated for a Gloden Globe) as the sarcastic Peter Venkman (The mouth of the beast.) Peter is likely the one that gets the most laughs because he, being the mouth that he is, never stops making fun of everything. It's like Rodney Dangerfield in the party scene in Caddyshack but a whole lot funnier and continues the rest of the movie. The film also produces some laughter out of the minor characters as well. The scatological humor toward the end of the film between Rick Moranis (In a role intended for John Candy) and Sigourney Weaver is quite laughter inducing. Ernie Hudson in one of his first big roles has a few good lines as the other Ghostbuster, Winston Zeddmore (The only one who's not a doctor) and William Atherton of Die Hard fame plays the ultimate annoyance as Walter Peck. Not to be forgotten in the mix is Annie Potts as Janine who has some rather memorable humorous lines, for instance the one I've written to summarize the movie. Numerous other well known faces are seen on screen too, which includes John Belushi (Or rather his continuation of the character Bluto, from Animal House) as the principal image used for the now famous 'Disgusting Blob,' Slimer. Like any good comic will tell you, good comedy is generally about setting up the other guys around you. Well, it just so happens that the characters all work well with each other to set the great comedic moments staged in this film.
Not to be forgotten however in all the funny one liners and set ups is the overall film. Ghostbusters was nominated for numerous awards including Oscars for best song (Courtesy of Ray Parker Jr.) and special effects, which are now slightly dated but possibly work even better with the wacky style being consistent with the rest of the movie. Along with Parker, there are numerous other great songs including a song by The Bus Boys that climbed charts and a rather creepy seeming song (But works well) by Mick Smiley. Another thing that should not be forgotten is the horror elements of the film. Though purposely outrageous, the effects do serve as some potential scare moments. Among the most frightening involve stop motion animated puppets called Terror Dogs. Though the scares are few, they do work fairly well (They had me convinced as a youngster) bringing enough threat to the ghosts that haunt New York City. The story itself is interesting as well, involving some intriguing mythology of Sommeria among other countries.
Where some films tend to only work a few times, Ghostbusters is consistent. Although, I've found movies such as CLUE, Dr. Strangelove or Airplane to be funnier at different times in my life, this one still makes me laugh even after seeing it hundreds of times. From the opening scares to the ending credits, it will almost surely reel you in. I've laughed harder at some moments in other films but it's rare that I find one that's funnier throughout. Even those films lose their edge after you see them a few times...this one just doesn't. If you haven't seen it, do so. You will almost certainly be glad you did. If you have seen it and didn't like it, try watching it again in a few years. It's almost sure to grow on you eventually. I dare anyone to sit through this movie and not laugh once, no matter how many times they've seen it. If you don't laugh, you're either trying really hard to hold back, have a very odd sense of humour or are dead! It's just that funny.I would easily rate this one a five out of five, placed among the classics. Believe it or not, I think that it belongs alongside Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia. It also spawned an entertaining sequel in 1989. Enjoy!
"Tell him about the Twinkie...".......2007-05-23
Ghostbusters - a seminal, feel good film from the eighties which a chart topping theme song, memorable characters and sets and deadpan humour.
I was only four when this film came out, and when I was little the theme song was one of my favaroites to dance to (I was four, so forgive me!) and didn't get round to seeing the movie until I was about thirteen, though I had watched the cartoons which were spawned as a result of this fantastic film.
I have to say that this film is a classic. It is a great saturday night, night in movie, with brilliant performances all round. Venkman (Bill Murray) is perfectly cast as the womanising Dr. whose mind is on dating the women, rather than conducting his experiments properly. Certainly, he has designs on "studying" them - just not in the scientific sense. (The early scene with the negative reinforcement on ESP ability and the cards is a classic) Venkman's preoccupation with chasing every woman he meets, apparently makes him a poor scientist, so he gets himself and his chums booted off campus. (Alas for Venkman he never gets his date with that hot blonde he was eyeballing at the start of the film!)
Eagon (Harold Ramis) and Stanz (Akroyd) are also typecast wonderfully. Ramis' is an exact opposite to Venkman, in the fact that he does not find women in the least bit interesting. Janelle is obviously flattered with Ramis' good looks, and flirts with him, but Eagon's deadplan reply to the question of "do you have any hobbies?" is "I collect spores, moulds and fungus." I laughed out loud! Akroyd is inspiring too as the sort of child like Ray, whose fascination with the pole at the firestation is his sole reason for wanting to buy the place (well, he did have three morgages on his house) and his gentle manner make him my favaroite character.
The film is also supported by brilliant actors like Signourney Weaver and Rick Moranis.
The story - in case you don't know is three scientists go into business for themselves, trapping ghosts. Their first job at an illustrious hotel is a success, and they emerge victorious and full of enthusiasm.
Then things get strange, and they get busy. Very busy. There's dogs in refrigerators and ghosts on every corner, and our heroes are becomming so busy that sleep is becoming an all to distant memory and they're hiring a fourth member. The EPA, Walter Peck - played here by a slimy as ever William Atherton (who also played an abnoxious reporter in Die Hard) decide the Ghostbusters must be put out of business and the containment unit shut down. Once the unit is shut down, literatly all hell breaks loose, and its up to the Ghostbusters to save the day - and the lives of millions of registered voters.
The special effects, though obviously dated now still look very good, especially the scene Stay Puft Marshmellow man. This film is vastly superior to its sequal, and is worth owning for its fuzzy, feel good eighties factor. Everyone on this film was obviously having a ball, and though their sequal wouldn't be the best, it was still nice to see those Ghostbusters back.
So, own a piece of eighties nostalgia, settle down, and remember if you hear strange noises in the middle of the night...who you going to call?
No, not the A-Team - GHOSTBUSTERS!!
a gem.......2007-03-14
ghostbusters is another example of a 1980s movie that hasnt faded as the years scraped the 80s of alot of its dignity,ghostbusters is a classic with a great sense of humour and a great sense of action,thrills and spills all delivered together to deliver what is essentially a family film with the odd moment of adult humour thrown in.
Bill murray and dan akyroyds rapport in this movie is great,one can just tell that they are great friends off the set and all the best lines fall to murray which is no surprise as dan co-wrote the movie,murray is an over zealous slacker scientist who causes problems for the city and also is wise cracking,akyroyd plays the more thought orientated scientist and usually the pawn to murrays exploits and harry ramis who was also co writer is the most scientific of them all,hell bent on bringing ghosts to a demise as easily as possible,sigourney weaver and rick moranis co star and all add to the films undisputed charm.The film also brought us iconic figures like the woman in the library,slimer and the excellent stay puft marshmallow man,its safe to say that the next generation will take to this film like bread to a ducks beak,but for the time being this is another 80s classic.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Once Upon a Time in America has a chequered history, having been chopped from its original 229-minute director's cut to 139 minutes for its theatrical release. The longer edition presented here benefits from having the complete story (the short version has huge gaps) about turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrants in America finding their way into lives of crime, as told in flashback by an ageing Jewish gangster named Noodles (Robert De Niro). On the other hand, it's almost four hours long, and this sometimes-indulgent Sergio Leone film is no Godfather. Still, it is notable for the contrast between Leone's elegiac take on the gangster film and his occasional explosive action, as well as for the mix of the stoic, inexpressive De Niro and the hyperactive James Woods as his lifelong friend and rival. --Marshall Fine
Customer Reviews:
what a directionless piece of crap.......2008-02-05
This film starts strong but quickly loses its way, especially in the last hour. The plot completely unravels, the annoying music track repeats constantly, and much of the acting is weak. Don't waste more than three hours of you life on this, it is one of the worst films I have seen in a long time. Don't be fooled by the cast!
Over long, uninvolving, confusing - but visually fabulous!.......2008-01-09
Firstly, this is a long movie, around 3 and a half hours. Jeeez! My rule for 3 hours plus, is that you better have a lot of story. This one just about pulls it off, but there were times when my mind wandered.
Performances are all pretty excellent. Even the child actors are of abnormally high-quality. It's all pretty entertaining, but each scene tended to fizzle out and become over indulgent, and for me, made it less potent. In terms of narrative drive and purpose, I couldn't really see the point, and it got needlessly confusing in places. In my opinion, it sort of collapsed under its own ambition as an epic mafia saga.
Although, what makes this movie pretty damn good as opposed to just reasonable is the scale and visual attention to detail. Each shot is so well photographed, and the frequency of detail is pretty awe-inspiring. Someone researched this movie very well, and the cinematography is Oscar worphy, with some brilliant dark, moody and nostalgic images.
I think this movie is flawed. I don't think it's a masterpiece. But one can only feel admiration for the ambition of the storytelling.
Oh dear..........2007-12-03
After eagerly anticipating seeing this film, major let down is an understatement.
Apart from the length which was to be honest ridiculous I personally thought there were glaring holes in the alleged "plot"
We were led to believe Max was dead and he wasn't but how did a well known gangster manage to reinvent himself as a politician?
The woman who Noodles rapes doesnt age in 35 years
What exactly happens to Max in the end?
Who exactly were the gangsters after Noodles at the start?
if anyone could answer please do!
De Niro + Leone + Morricone = Masterpiece !.......2007-11-28
A combination of De Niro, Sergio Leone, and Ennio Morricone combine for an ultimate masterpiece. If it's on DVD, Buy it now !!! This is 4 hours Value for Money, and the performances are top notch. The ending is hotly disputed but I feel it to be justified in such circumstances.
A great film !!!
De Niro at his wonderful best........2007-11-25
When I first decided to watch this film, it was basically because Robert De Niro was the star. After five minutes, I realised that this was much more than a one-man show.
The basic premise is simple; Noodles (DeNiro) returns to New York after thirty years after being driven out of town by a rival group of gangsters. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. After a group of flashbacks (including one involving Noodles' crew as children, which is probably the best acted child story in movie history) the overall meaning of the film seems to continually shift, the implications of each new puzzle-piece of Noodles' life changing the meaning of a briefcase that the film revolves around.
It's Leone's direction, above all else, that pushes this film into cinematic history. It's easy to get great actors to put on great performances, but actors who I feel are mediocre and sometimes overrated, like Elizabeth McGovern and Tuesday Weld, put in career turns, extending their talents far above their usual average limits.
The only disapointment in this masterpiece is Joe Pesci. Not because of his performance, which is perfectly acceptable as Frankie Minaldi who finds work for DeNiro's crew and backstabs his brother, but because it should be so much more. After seeing Pesci in Goodfellas and Raging Bull - and to a lesser extent Casino - this role seems tame and below par. You feel let down by the editing, as Pesci's role was cut down from one of the leads. You yearn for what could have been from Pesci's Frankie had he kept his part as one of the focal points rather than this cameo. But this film is already nearly four hours long, and you feel sympathy for the guys that made that tough decision.
Yet, despite DeNiro putting in something close to a career best (alongside Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Heat), the show is stolen by the excellent James Woods as Noodles' best friend and partner in crime Max. It's not as if this film isn't bursting at the seems with excellent turns, but Woods still sticks in the mind. It's the quiet deceitfulness excellently blended with the downright psychotic that keeps you guessing with Max. You never know when this guy is going to snap, and when it finally does happen you feel sorry for both Woods and DeNiro. But, underneath his brimming rage, you can tell that Max has a searing ambition to reach the top of his field, and it's this attribute that really differentiates him from DeNiro's Noodles.
Despite its massive length, you never get bored or even slightly impatient with the wonderful picture. It really feels like many films with many stories rolled into one, and each one of them could be a good to great film. Sergio Leone's final picture was also arguably his best, and his attention to detail combined with his excellent vision, that makes this picture simply unmissable.
Amazon.co.uk Review
A Passage to India, David Lean's adaptation of EM Forster's mysterious tale of racism in colonial India, turned out to be the master director's final film. Subtle and grand at the same time, Lean's adaptation is faithful to the book, rendering its blend of the mystical and the all-too human with exquisite precision. Judy Davis plays a young British woman travelling in India with her fiancé's mother. While visiting a tourist attraction, she has a frightening moment in a cave--one that she eventually spins from an instant of mental meltdown into a tale of a physical attack that ruins several lives. Lean captures Forster's sense of awe at the kind of ageless wisdom and inexplicable phenomena to be encountered in India, as well as the British tendency to dismiss it all as savage, rather than simply different. --Marshall Fine
Customer Reviews:
What is not seen is as important as what is seen........2005-11-24
I've enjoyed this film from the first time I saw it. But as important as it is to note the culture-clash evident in the film (and likely in Forster's novel), it's important to note the absence of another culture-clash. In modern-day India, there is a lot of angst between the Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh religious populations ... angst that was likely subdued during the Raj period of British colonial domination. And, if David Lean's production was an accurate portrayal of Forster's novel, it's interesting to note that this inter-sect rivalry never came up ... as if to signify a unity among the Indian people against a common colonial adversary from which they'd eventually liberate themselves.
I enjoy the film so much that I'm giving it to myself as a Christmas present this year. But, since I have a region-free DVD player that converts PAL to NTSC on the fly, I'm buying it from Amazon.co.uk - because, even with shipping, it's over $10 (US) cheaper than the same DVD sold by Amazon.com. Go figure.
Weird, but compelling.......2005-04-09
A one-sided view of the British Raj at its worst, exploring the ralationships between the Indians and the British. It's emotionall and highly charged in a slightly strange and obsessive, but typically Forster way.
"India forces one to come face to face with oneself.".......2004-11-13
In David Lean's last film, his adaptation of the 1924 novel by E. M. Forster, he abandons Forster's strong moral and political stand on the damaging effects of colonialism in India, in favor of a wider ranging, panoramic love story. Although the novel centers on the friendship between the charming and sociable Dr. Aziz (Victor Banerjee) and Briton Richard Fielding (James Fox), one of the few British functionaries who appreciates the Indians as people, Lean focuses instead on Adela Quested's search for adventure, and maybe, love.
Adela (Judy Davis) has come to Chandrapore with Mrs. Moore (Dame Peggy Ashcroft), the mother of her soon-to-be fiancé, Ronny Heaslop (Nigel Havers), the City Magistrate. When Mrs. Moore and Adela accept an invitation to visit the Marabar Caves, Adela, suffers a breakdown of sorts, and leads people to believe that Aziz has made advances. The trial of Aziz exacerbates the deteriorating relations with the local population and initiates a crisis.
Though the film is lushly photographed in many exotic locations, Lean's changes to the novel's plot and themes leave the film without an emotional center. Adela (Davis) is too hysterical and repressed to generate much sympathy, and her desire for adventure stems more from boredom and naivete than from wanting to know the country or its local population. Mrs. Moore (Ashcroft), is a sweet, kind woman, but she is not strong enough to stand up to her son or the British officials who dominate the culture, and when she leaves India, the moral focus of the film vanishes. Aziz, enthusiastically played by Banerjee, makes a major personality change almost overnight, thereby removing himself as the most sympathetic character in the film. Fielding, representing the "nice" British functionary, plays only a peripheral role in the film, and Sir Alec Guiness, in the role of Godbole, an Indian mystic, is a caricature.
More than an hour elapses before the main action begins in this 163-minute film, and there is not enough character development to illustrate Forster's strong political stand. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Actress (Davis), Cinematography (Ernest Day), Direction (Lean), and Best Picture, this pretty film secured only two Oscars--Best Supporting Actress for Dame Peggy Ashcroft, as Mrs. Moore, and Best Original Score by Maurice Jarre. Mary Whipple
WHEN EAST AND WEST COLLIDE..........2003-02-22
This is a magnificent and exquisitely wrought film, well nuanced and faithful in its adaptation of E.M. Forster's classic novel of the same name. Director David Lean, who had previously directed such cinematic triumphs as "Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Lawrence of Arabia", outdid himself with this film, which was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and for which Peggy Ashcroft won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as did Maurice Jarre for Best Score.
Set in 1928 colonial India, it is a story about racism and love. A headstrong and adventurous Englishwoman, Adela Quested (Judy Davis) travels to India to meet her fiance. She is accompanied on her journey by her fiance's elderly mother, Mrs. Moore (Peggy Ashcroft), a lovely and kindly woman who, upon reaching India, is appalled at the treatment of the native Indian populace by her own countrymen. She eventually makes the acquaintance of a very nice Indian man, Dr. Aziz (Victor Banerjee), who is surprised at being treated as a sentient human being by this Englishwoman. During a social occasion, in which the usual class boundaries were set aside, he again meets the delightful Mrs. Moore and is introduced to Adela Quested. Enthused by being treated as an equal, he gets carried away and invites them to be his guests on an excursion he can ill afford to a well known, but remote tourist spot, the Marabar caves.
It is a hot day and a long journey to these mysterious caves, and Dr. Aziz and Ms. Quested are thrown together more than they ordinarily would have been, setting the stage for a fateful and strange turn of events, one that would have great personal, as well as political, impact on the parties concerned. It is a collision of East and West and makes for a definitive statement about the nature of the relationship between the native Indian population and the British colonialists. It is a relationship that makes itself most manifest during the telling courtroom scenes, making it a film to be remembered.
This is a very well acted and compelling film, a sterling tribute to David Lean's directorial talents. In this, his last cinematic triumph, Lean leaves a legacy to be remembered, having exacted wonderful performances from the star studded cast, including James Fox, Alec Guinness, and Nigel Havers. Victor Banerjee is especially compelling as the put upon, well meaning Dr. Aziz, while Peggy Ashcroft gives a sensitive and well nuanced performance as the humane and soft hearted Mrs. Moore. Judy Davis is excellent as the conflicted Ms. Quested.
The DVD itself is first rate, offering crystal clear visuals that do justice to the breathtaking cinematography. Coupled with crisp sound, this DVD ensures one's viewing pleasure. It is one well worth having in one's collection.
WHEN EAST AND WEST COLLIDE..........2002-11-05
This is a magnificent and exquisitely wrought film, well nuanced and faithful in its adaptation of E.M. Forster's classic novel of the same name. Director David Lean, who had previously directed such cinematic triumphs as "Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Lawrence of Arabia", outdid himself with this film, which was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and for which Peggy Ashcroft won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as did Maurice Jarre for Best Score.
Set in 1928 colonial India, it is a story about racism and love. A headstrong and adventurous Englishwoman, Adela Quested (Judy Davis) travels to India to meet her fiance. She is accompanied on her journey by her fiance's elderly mother, Mrs. Moore (Peggy Ashcroft), a lovely and kindly woman who, upon reaching India, is appalled at the treatment of the native Indian populace by her own countrymen. She eventually makes the acquaintance of a very nice Indian man, Dr. Aziz (Victor Banerjee), who is surprised at being treated as a sentient human being by this Englishwoman. During a social occasion, in which the usual class boundaries were set aside, he again meets the delightful Mrs. Moore and is introduced to Adela Quested. Enthused by being treated as an equal, he gets carried away and invites them to be his guests on an excursion he can ill afford to a well known, but remote tourist spot, the Marabar caves.
It is a hot day and a long journey to these mysterious caves, and Dr. Aziz and Ms. Quested are thrown together more than they ordinarily would have been, setting the stage for a fateful and strange turn of events, one that would have great personal, as well as political, impact on the parties concerned. It is a collision of East and West and makes for a definitive statement about the nature of the relationship between the native Indian population and the British colonialists. It is a relationship that makes itself most manifest during the telling courtroom scenes, making it a film to be remembered.
This is a very well acted and compelling film, a sterling tribute to David Lean's directorial talents. In this, his last cinematic triumph, Lean leaves a legacy to be remembered, having exacted wonderful performances from the star studded cast, including James Fox, Alec Guinness, and Nigel Havers. Victor Banerjee is especially compelling as the put upon, well meaning Dr. Aziz, while Peggy Ashcroft gives a sensitive and well nuanced performance as the humane and soft hearted Mrs. Moore. Judy Davis is excellent as the conflicted Ms. Quested.
Customer Reviews:
Vision of an upcoming future ?.......2007-11-07
V for Vendetta had strongly moved me, and the end is ecstatic and full of hope, but 1984 horrified and traumatized me. 1984 is the anti-V for Vendetta, the V which ends badly, where people don't wake up, where humanity is forever crushed, where History is denied. This movie was a shock for me (I haven't read the novel yet). I strongly recommand it. It's unforgettable, terrifiying and very efficient. I must add that the actors are fantastic. Richard Burton is excellent as an essential psychopath, a true monster who has nothing human whatsoever. 1984 touches the darkest abyss, and maybe that's whyt it's stronger than V for Vendetta, coz it really shows the horror of an existence in a 100% fascist regime where the most basic rights are denied. IMO, everybody should see it NOW (along with V for Vendetta, to keep some kind of balance and hope).
Here are a few slogans from the book/movie, which might remind you of the present neo-con propaganda :
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
... and perhaps the most distressing prophecy of the entire novel:
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
Terrible... and terribly prophetic (??)
Excellent Acting, Masterly Direction & an Accurate Storyline.......2007-09-15
The casting for this film is absolutely spot on and refreshingly, the story as depicted on the screen is pretty much faithfull to Orwell's book.
I thoroughly recommend the film to anyone who has an interest in social history and/or social psychology.
Although Orwell set his book in an authoritarian world of people-directed government (no doubt because of his experiences immediately before, during and after the WW2 period) much of what he wrote and which is depicted in the film for citizens of the 20th Century holds good for many employees the 21st Century (Mission Statements, Corporate Culture, Buzz Words, Management-Speak, etc). Merely substitute 'Big Brother' government for 'Big Brother' corporations - and then watch the film.
Scarey stuff...
A grown up version with grown up actors.......2007-08-14
This is a no nonsense version of the novel, very stark and designed to leave you in no doubt about what life would be like in such a state. The atmosphere is one of harshness, oppression and fear. One of the last films with Burton starring and his natural authority and gravitas fits the role perfectly.
Scared me to death - double plusgood.......2007-03-16
Don't get me wrong, this film is not scary in a horror film sort of way it is just that its depiction of Big Brother's world and the lack of personal freedom and brainwashing struck a little too close to home in my opinion.
When the film was released in 1984 I would not have understood it, I think the idea that we might be subject to control by an all powerful, omnipresent, media savvy dictatorship is all too relevant now.
The film is faithful to the book. The casting of the haunted Hurt as Winston Smith and the silken voiced Richard Burton as his nemesis, O Brien was masterful.
The various crowd scenes where the faithful have their two minute hate were utterly convincing.
The incessant propaganda piped through TV screens also began to annoy me.
If I was less well adjusted, the film would have sent me into a deep depression as the whole thing was so convincing. I do think that the terror of room 101 was probably best left unshown because the notion of the terror it expresses is deeply personal.
The eagle eyed amongst you will note that the backdrop of the film was Beckton in east london, the same set used for full metal jacket! That area was redeveloped in the eighties so it made the idea of the film less believable. Watching the film now within the context of ID cards and council tax spies in every house it is all a little bit closer.
I urge you to watch the film and make your own decisions.
Love is hate;peace is war.
a bleak look at the future from george orwell .......2006-11-01
1984 is the filmic adaption of george orwells 1948 novel which is about a totalitarian government called the thought police who forbid any free thought or opinion,history is being rewritten by those within the big brother to fit in with the beliefs of the faction.
However john hurt who plays winston is starting to question his surroundings and along with a free thinking woman called julia fall in love which is a sin and embark on a relationship and they take real coffee and real foods which are outlawed and speak freely of what they believe.
However once arrested mass torture takes place and the sadistic leader played with ease by richard burton explains that 2 plus 2 doesnt equal four if he says it doesnt and in room 101 winston is subjected to his real fears which is a manic and depraved scene to say the least,there is much more to it in a bleak look at a future that has passed us by now of course but george orwells look at the future is frightening as we do live in a world now where all we do is more or less monitored and we are told what to do and think in so many aspects of our lifes,frightening stuff and a very bleak,destructive film.
Amazon.co.uk Review
First released in 1984, Footloose now enjoys the same sort of semi-ironic nostalgic cachet as John Hughes' contemporary schlock-fests about angst-ridden teens with silly hair. This is partly due to the fact that, as breathtakingly predictable kids-against-the-squares romps go, it's really pretty tolerable, but it's mostly because of the soundtrack. The songs that appear in the film--notably Kenny Loggins' infectiously vapid title track, and gale-force screecher Bonnie Tyler's excruciating "Holding Out for a Hero"--are possessed of an awfulness so monolithic that they have transcended their era and become reliable floor-fillers at 80s nostalgia discos all over the western world.
The plot, such as it is, sees the eerily androidal Kevin Bacon playing a hip rock & roll youth from the big city rebelling against the strictures of the conservative small town in which he finds himself living. Inevitably, he falls for the daughter of his nemesis, the local preacher (the latter, it has to be said, is played with some aplomb by John Lithgow, who very nearly wrings depth from a character otherwise straight out of the colour-by-numbers guide to movie-making). Inevitably, there are some dance sequences. Inevitably, the kids win out, and the grown-ups realise that maybe they aren't so bad after all.
On the DVD: Footloose can be watched on disc, should you so desire, dubbed in German, Spanish, French or Italian. There also subtitles available in pretty well every European language, as well as Arabic, Hebrew, Russian and Turkish. Other than that there are no extras. --Andrew Mueller
Customer Reviews:
Timeless Classic.......2007-09-30
An absolutely fantastic fun film. It has stood the test of time and remains near the top of the list along with Grease and Dirty Dancing for a good night in.
Highly recommend watching this film,if not to take it seriously, to have a good laugh.
Good Movie With A Fantastic Soundtrack To Match..........2006-09-22
Having read other reviewers, i cant help but laugh at some of the gormless reviews i cant paste name's all i can say is look for 1 star reviews left by names that contain 'lord in there title lol i read all the reviews and i think this person has an obsession with the 1 star click funcion as all his reviews are the same, i cant tolerate ignorance be gone with u lol now everyone is entitled to there opinions but some people are just stupid lol anyway back to the movie:-
Fundamentalist minister Shaw Moore played by(John Lithgow) has spearheaded a ban on dancing in his community. The local teenagers, including Moore's daughter Ariel who needs to gain a few pounds bless her heart played by (Lori Singer), chafe against the restriction, but there isn't much that they can do about it within city limits. Enter Chicago expatriate Ren (Kevin Bacon), who likes to dance and doesn't like to take orders. On its surface just another kids vs. adults opus, Footloose transcends its artistic limitations, and the result is one of the most exhilarating films of the early 1980s. The mid-film highlight involving two speeding cars and a daredevil Kevin Bacon is Great. Best of all, the "stock" characters are wholly believable: even John Lithgow isn't a double-dyed villain, but a loving family man sincerely concerned about the moral well-being of his flock. ~ all in all this film may be cheesy, but to the 80s fans like myself we like the 80s cheese.. and this is a feel good movie, and if ur thinking about buying this film then i would think about purchasing the fantastic sountrack also..
keeps me dancin with the walsh.......2005-09-16
i think this film is great and since i am called dikie nelson i dance to this film all of the time. it is a feel good film and on rare occasions i sneek over to the walshes house and boogey with danny and his cat oakley to the soundtrack.definately 4 stars.
Brilliant.......2005-03-20
I think this film is brilliant. If you love dancing and 80s music and especially Kevin Bacon then this is the film for you. It is about a boy called Ren McCormick who has moved from the city to a Midwestern town where music, dancing and all youthful joy has been banned. He trys to prove to his town that music can bring out the good in people not the bad.
This is a great film and for people like me who love any dance films and films like Dirty Dancing they will love this.
Footloose.......2005-02-22
I really like this film, because it feels like a nostalgic trip to the eighties, and the acting is great. I think the score is excellent, although the dance sequences could be better.That doesn't make the film any worse though, and I like the fact that the plot is all to do with the urge to dance. Kevin Bacon's particularly good as well. The reason I gave it four stars is because it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Bringing together the trio of adventures featuring Doctor Who's most famous underwater foes, the Beneath The Surface boxset has Sea Devils, Silurians, and adventures from both the Jon Pertwee and Peter Davison eras.
It's perhaps logical to get past the weakest of the three adventures in this set first, and that honour falls to the Peter Davison story, Warriors of the Deep. It's not too bad though, even if it does display some of the silliness and budget constraints that helped define 1980s Doctor Who. It's still fun, however, and worth a spin.
The two Pertwee adventures are terrific, though, and the real highlights of the set. The Silurians finds Jon Pertwee relatively new to the role, and blessed with an adventure that boasts excitement, adventure and a very good script. But our favourite is nonetheless the second story, The Sea Devils, which also brings Roger Delgado's take on The Master into the mix. It's a tense, involving adventure, and one of the finest of the Jon Pertwee area. That's not something to be said lightly, either.
As is the norm with Doctor Who special edition DVDs, the set is then backed up with some terrific archive extras, along with commentary tracks and documentaries that all but justify the asking price alone. That you get two strong adventures and one reasonable one into the mix as well makes this one of the best classic Doctor Who boxsets released to date. Highly recommended. --Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
Plague, The Master and, ah, Monsters.......2008-03-13
A themed box set, 'Beneath the Surface' covers the three adventures featuring the Doctor's encounters with the Silurians and Sea Devils. This covers the Third Doctor's (Jon Pertwee) incarnation and the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison).
All stories have their flaws - The Silurians is far too long even with the addition of the plague element in the story, which was nicely presented on screen.
In the Sea Devils, the Doctor and Jo are visiting the Master when they learn of a series of disappearances out at sea. Teaming up with a local naval base the pair find the sea devils, an underwater version of the silurians. Here the Third Doctor's overbearing attitude to those around him came strongly to the fore. The major downside here was the electronic sound track which was a bit overbearing and screechy in parts.
In Warriors of the Deep, the Fifth Doctor Tegan and Turlough find themselves in a deep sea defence base that finds itself under attack from a combined force of Silurians and sea devils. The realisation of these creatures was actually an improvement on their earlier versions in my opinion (mostly - I'm not sure about the Silurians' flashing eye, though it did prove to be the only way to tell which was talking!). However, the Myrka was a laugh (in the wrong way...) once we got a full view of the thing and some of the acting was... ill considered, shall we say, especially the tactics of the troopers assigned to defend the base.
In all cases there's a 'Making of...' feature which makes useful watching along with a collection of other bits and pieces.
Two out of three ain't bad.......2008-02-19
Another Who boxset so here we go...
The Silurians. Classic Pertwee and possibly one of the darkest stories of that era. The real strength of this story lies in the beautiful parallels between Mankind and the Silurians. The Doctor and the elder Silurian leader have the wisdom & know that the two races can happily co-exist, but unfortunately they are backed up by headstrong idiots who kill first, ask questions later. This is one of Pertwee's finest performances & he is ably backed up by a strong supporting cast, especially the joy that is Fulton MacKay (who of course so nearly became the Doctor himself). The Silurian costumes are a bit clunky but do the job, their presence strengthened by their hyped-uped somewhat demented voices. To top it all off, no-one can say Silurian like Pertwee.
Sea Devils. Amazing. It is right up there with Spearhead for best Pertwee storyline. The most striking aspect is the Sea Devils themselves. Blimey, they could SHIFT. How often has a Who monster been turned into a laughing stock because it drags itself along slower than a one legged tortoise? Not these guys! They are a genuine threat and look fantastic, especially when rising out of the sea & raiding the naval base. The co-operation of the navy and the huge amount of location filming really help add an air of authenticity to the story, whilst the doorless 2CVs & oddly uniformed soldiers just give that bizzarre & uncomfortable slant. Again, the cast is flawless, but Roger Delgado still manages to stand out with a captivating performance. And then there's the soundtrack. Yes, insane power electronics that out-weird half the Warp back catalogue! Just the complete Who package.
Warriors of the Deep. Yes, the Davison story lets the side down YET again. Davison himself is fine, but the script is weak & uninspiring and the whole batch of episodes are just, well, BEIGE! There are huge continuity errors for starters. The big offender runs as follows... In the first Pertwee story, the Silurians don't call themselves Silurians, it is merely the name of the period they are believed to orignate from. Indeed, in Sea Devils the Doctor informs Jo that Silurians was probably the wrong name to give them. So why are they waddling around in Warriors declaring themselves Silurians? Ditto the Sea Devils. Again, this is merely the nickname given to them by unsuspecting nautical casualties. The costume update is rubbish, the Seas Devils especially now lumber uninspiringly around the place, and the Silurians are too rubbery. Then there's the "legendary" Myrka. Yes, it really is a pantomime horse manned by the men who were Dobbin in Rentaghost. The cast is pretty uninspired, but as with many Davison stories they've not got the material to work with. Furniture advertising legend Tom Adams does do a solid job as Vorshack, but he's the only one that sticks in the memory past the end titles. BOO!
Extras maintain the usual Who standards, laods of in depth insightful documentaries & little oddities. Well worth investing in for The Silurians, Sea Devils and a free doorstop.
The Good, the Fab and the Ugly.......2008-02-08
I have been waiting for the Silurians & the Sea Devils to come out on DVd for ages so I was looking forward to this.
'The Silurians' is an excellent story, which despite being 7 episodes long, manages to maintain its pace. This is mainly down to the introduction half-way through of the plague thread. The acting is top-notch and it all works very well. The music is a bit odd but not intrusively so.
'The Sea Devils' is also a good story, which manages not to slump in the middle. The use of real Royal Navy personnel & equipment gives it an authentic look. We even get a reversal of the polarity of the neutron flow. The music is also unique - but I like it. As with all the best monster stories, the actors do their jobs with such nightmarish conviction that you overlook any silly bits.
And then we come to 'Warriors of the Deep'. Unfortunately this is not in the same class as the other two stories. The acting is poor, the design is dreadful (it suffers from that old chestnut of bringing back an old enemy and wrongly thinking it a good idea to redesign them), the writing is not great (the method of defeating the baddies is clearly signposted early in episode one) and the direction/editing is sloppy (i.e. we get a close-up of a Silurian and clearly see the actor blink behind the Silurian's eye). The Silurians' pet monster, The Myrka, is unintentionally funny and does a bizarre bit of samba/kung fu with Ingrid Pitt before killing her. The Sea Devils all suffer from neck problems, due to the weight of the pseudo-Samurai helmets, and the Silurians can no longer move their mouths when they speak - their third eye flashes instead. Frankly the whole story is an embarrassment.
However, the DVD set is well worth getting for the two older stories, and the bonus features are also pretty good. I recommend it (and suggest, unusually, that you watch 'Warriors of the Deep' first so that it all gets better as you go along)
skin and scales.......2008-02-03
What a fantastic release this is, two Pertwee classics, and another one - with a silly monster.
The Silurians has long been a favourite of mine; I love the gritty realism of Pertwee's first season. The way this story slowly takes shape is wonderful. Good as today's DW is, you never get build up and character depth developing at this ponderous rate, and it's all to the good. Wonderful suspense development, three episodes pass before a full Silurian is revealed. And these guys are the business, their third eyes are lethal tools, not the limp flashing indicators of their squeaky, cuddly, future incarnations. The UNIT set up shines here, and I have to concede right now, by the end of the story I'm entirely in support of the Brigadier's position. Whatever the morality of the issues involved, the bottom line is the Silurians tried to wipe us out and would gladly do so again... so let them have it.
The Sea Devils again follows the slow, tense build up that multiple episodes permit. I must confess that I missed the UNIT presence in this story back in the seventies, but viewed again I think it works rather well. The Master is at the peak of his powers here and the supporting cast perform well. Again the Sea Devils are first class. They move so naturally compared to their later armoured counterparts who walk with pantomime stiffness. Real tension, believable monsters, a cracking yarn...
What can one say about Warriors Of The Deep? Chubby, squeaky Silurians, stiff Sea Devils (although why they would refer to themselves as 'Sea Devils' is quite beyond me) and did I mention the silly monster?
However, all is not lost. The extras are really well put together and entertaining, as is usual for classic DW DVDs. On this release the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
A Very Mixed Collection.......2008-01-24
This release pretty much has all ends of the spectrum, from the utterly amazing Silurians, the good Sea Devils to the incredibly poor Warriors of the Deep.
The Silurians, is, simply a good story. Like all of Pertwees first series, a strong scientific edge to it and some pretty scary monsters. It makes a good story, gripping and is well worth watching. Spread over 7 episodes, it makes fine use of every single part and succeeds in every way!
The Sea Devils (a deviant form of the Silurians) is not such a good episode, perhaps the subplot of the Master's involvement doesn't really work, but it's still good to see Delgado anyway! But the Sea Devils don't quite work, they lack any real similarity to the Sea Devils and there's not so much of the solving the mystery meaning it's six episode spread is a little too prolonged. Had I been doing it, I think the plot could've been reworked a bit more effectively. However despite the slight plot weakness, it still holds that excitement
Warriors of the Deep? Perhaps a combination of all the negatives of the Davison era. It lacks any form of setting, while it's clear they're in a water-base somewhere and there's some form of future Cold War going on, there's nothing like the great sense of place of the two Pertwees. There's Tegan, a great pain in the neck and the real flaw of the Davisons (Oh if only Tegan had never returned in Arc of Infinity). You have these bizarre first names and never any other form of address. But specific to this episode there are the Silurians and Sea Devils themselves. First the Silurians, who look like chubby teddy bears with permanant smiles on their faces and nothing like the original Silurians (yet one of the Silurians is supposed to have also appeared in The Silurians (at a guess that means the guy is something like 150+ years old), but I don't recognise him!!!) and the Sea Devils, who look like some birds in Imperial Star Wars uniforms... Furthermore the Myrka, they managed much better 14 years previous with the dinosaurs in The Silurians, rather than this pantomime-horse monster. Then the idea that the Silurians and Sea Devils are working together, it strikes me that the bulk of them (the pro-war lot) would quite probably be against the idea of the mutant Sea Devils!
I have gone on about Warriors of the Deep, it is a shame as it is such a thorn in the side of the otherwise brilliant Silurians & Sea Devils!
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