DVD Collectors Online

The Haunting, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Haunting
Year of Release: 1963
Directed By: Robert Wise
Starring: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Genre: Horror

Overview:
"It was an evil house from the beginning, a house that was born bad." The place is the 90-year-old mansion called Hill House. No one lives there. Or so it seems. But please do come in. Because even if you don't believe in ghosts, there's no denying the terror of "The Haunting."

Robert Wise returned to psychological horror for this much admired, first screen adaptation of Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House." Four people come to the house to study its supernatural phenomena. Or has the house drawn at least one of them to it? The answer will unnerve you in this "elegantly sinister scare movie. It's good fun" (Pauline Kael, "5001 Nights at the Movies").

My Thoughts:
What a great film!  There's no blood, no gore, no monsters - everything is completely unseen, and you never find out what exactly is going on.  Yet that only makes the events more sinister.  The house is perfectly realized, unsettling from the moment you see it.  The atmosphere is thick, stifling, and genuinely creepy. 

The performances are all quite good - though I never liked Eleanor's character, I thought Julie Harris did a good job with her.  However, what really shines for me is the direction, cinematography and design.  The camera angles, sound, lighting, everything about the way the film is made make it so very, very good.  Highly recommended.

I really want to get this one on blu-ray.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 4.5/5

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon on October 2nd, 2014)

Parental Guidance, a review by addicted2dvd

Parental Guidance (2012/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Andy Fickman Writing: Lisa Addario (Writer), Joe Syracuse (Writer) Length: 105 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Stars:
Billy Crystal as Artie Decker
Bette Midler as Diane Decker
Marisa Tomei as Alice Simmons
Tom Everett Scott as Phil Simmons
Bailee Madison as Harper Simmons

Plot:Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes/Bloopers
• Digital Copy

I never heard of this film till I found a copy cheap at the pawn shop. I decided to get it on the strong cast it has. And I must say... I am happy I did. I had a lot of laughs watching this one. And there is even a few tear jerker moments in it. The entire cast did a wonderful job. They really made you care about the characters. The film tackles the trials and tribulations of being parents in a fun way. If you have not seen this one... I definitely recommend it. Well worth the time put in to watch it.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on September 30th, 2016)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Friends
You can never have enough Friends. With this DELUXE 4-DISC SET OF THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE, you have more: each episode contains NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN MOMENTS every fan of Friends will savor. And for all loyal patrons of Central Perk, we've brewed up a fresh pot brimming with BONUS FEATURES. Revisit that first year in which Rachel (JENNIFER ANISTON), Monica (COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE), Phoebe (LISA KUDROW), Joey (MATT LeBLANC), Chandler (MATTHEW PERRY) and Ross (DAVID SCHWIMMER) first charmed audiences worldwide. You'll be in fabulous company.

The Pilot


My Thoughts:
Friends became one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. It is a series I bought as the seasons were released (or shortly after). This pilot episode is a very good introduction to the cast... and had lots of laughs. I must say I never cared much for the Joey character in the beginning... though he did grow on me. Lets see... favorite characters... Male: Chandler Female: Toss up between Monica and Rachel. If I had to choose... I would probably go with Rachel. This pilot is a great introduction to all the characters. And from the start there is a lot of laughs. Especially half the stuff that comes out of Chandler's mouth! 

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on January 26th, 2010)