DVD Collectors Online

Hands of the Ripper, a review by Jimmy

Title: Hands of the Ripper (1971)

Genre: Horror
Director: Peter Sasdy
Rating: NR
Length: 1h25
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Eric Porter
Angharad Rees
Jane Merrow
Keith Bell
Derek Godfrey

Plot:The Hammer Studio was pretty much at the end of its run of success at that time due to the more graphics movies produced by the other studios. So it was in need of a new direction away from the vampire what he did that year with Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, Twins of Evil and this one. I've already reviewed Twins of Evil last year and I've never seen Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (too bad it is OOP and way too costly as it sounds like a cool movie), but this year it's Hands of the Ripper.

This film is certainly the most violent and bloody Hammer's film I've seen, but too be honest Hammer isn't that extreme unless you compare them to the Hollywood studio productions of the time. The Jack the Ripper story is treated with an interesting angle since it's not about him but his daughter. The story countains a good balance between psychology and horror, even if it isn't scary per se. Strangely even if it deals with "demonic possesion" this is almost credible and you feel like it could be real. Evidently like most of the Hammer films you got a very good historical recreation. Angharad Rees in her first principal role give a very good performance in a role who requires a lot of subtility and Eric Porter isn't bad either. Also, and this is something I always like, there is no Hollywood ending for that story.

Strongly recommanded, even more considering the quality of this HD release.


 
Rating :

(From Jimmy's - 2013 Ooctober Horror Marathon on October 2nd, 2013)

The Villain, a review by Rogmeister

The Villain

The cowboy Handsome Stranger (Arnold Schwarzenegger) will escort miss Charming Jones (Ann-Margret) to get a large sum of money from her father, Parody Jones. But the rich Avery Jones wants to lay his hands on the money and hires an old cowboy, Cactus Jack (Kirk Douglas), to rob them when they ride back from her father. However, Cactus Jack is not very good at robbing people.

The DVD:
Video: 1:33.1 Full Screen
Running Time: 89m
Extras: Trailers--Not for this movie but for 3 other films including The Quick & The Dead and Cat Ballou.

My Thoughts:
First off, Kirk Douglas doesn't play a cowboy but is an outlaw from the very start...and his age is never mentioned in the movie.  I really wanted to like this movie but after a nice overhead opening showing off the majestic Monument Valley, it went downhill from there.  It's just painfully unfunny with jokes telegraphed a mile in advance and not carried off very well.  Great stars like Strother Martin, Paul Lynde and Jack Elam are wasted and even Kirk Douglas & Ann-Margret, pros though they may be, couldn't bring this to life.  The director is Hal Needham...best known as a stuntman and director of Smokey and the Bandit.  This movie may explain why you never hear of him anymore.  If you're looking for a funny comedy-western, avoid this turkey and watch Support Your Local Sheriff, McLintock! or Cat Ballou instead.

Adding insult to injury, the movie is presented in pan & scan format. 

(From Roger's Ongoing Westerns Marathon on July 22nd, 2009)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

TNG 7.25 All Good Things...
Writer: Ronald D. Moore (Writer), Brannon Braga (Writer)
Director: Winrich Kolbe
Cast: Patrick Stewart (Capt. Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Cmdr. William T. Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lieutenant Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), John de Lancie (Q), Andreas Katsulas (Tomalak), Clyde Kusatsu (Admiral Nakamura), Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa), Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar), Colm Meaney (O'Brien), Pamela Kosh (Jessel), Tim Kelleher (Lt. Gaines), Alison Brooks (Ensign Chilton), Stephen Matthew Garvin (Ensign), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice (voice))

A great conclusion to the series and to the TNG Q story arc. With showing us three different time periods, we get the chance to see old characters (Tasha, O'Brien) and we get to see a possible future for our characters. And with continuing the trial from the pilot episode, Q wraps up the series nicely.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on October 15th, 2009)