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A Nightmare on Elm Street, a review by addicted2dvd

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984/United States, United Kingdom) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | New Line Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video Director: Wes Craven Writing: Wes Craven (Writer) Length: 91 min. Rating: Rated 18 : Strong Sadistic Horror and Bloody Violence Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono, German: Dolby Digital: Mono, Italian: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Commentary, Trivia

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Stars:
John Saxon as Lt. Thompson
Ronee Blakley as Marge Thompson
Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson
Amanda Wyss as Tina Gray
Jsu Garcia [Nick Corri] as Rod Lane
Johnny Depp as Glen Lantz

Plot:
From modern horror master Wes Craven (Scream, Scream 2) comes a timeless shocker that remains the standard bearer for terror.

Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) is having grisly nightmares. Something monstrous wants to kill her. Meanwhile, her high-school friends, who are having the very same dream, are being slaughtered in their sleep by the hideous fiend of their shared nightmare. When the police ignore her explanation, she herself must confront the killer in his shadowy realm.

Featuring John Saxon (Enter The Dragon) and Johnny Depp in his first starring role and mind-bending special effects, this horror classic gave birth to one of the most infamous undead villains in cinematic history. Reportedly naming Freddy Krueger after a kid who had bullied him in school, writer-director Craven hatches a shock-fest from hell that "goes straight to the heart of terror" (Seattle Times).

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes

After being given this blu-ray set last night... I felt I just had to watch this, one of my favorites of the '80s horror films. This is the film that started it all. The one where Freddy is actually scary instead of the comedian he becomes in the later films. Don't get me wrong... I really enjoy all the films in the franchise... but this one is easily the best. Robert Englund was fantastic in this one. As was Heather Langenkamp. And of course this is the film Johnny Depp got his start in. At this point I would imagine all horror fans have seen this by now.... but if you haven't... it is a must see... highly recommended!

The blu-ray has a nice selection of extras. Multiple commentary tracks... multiple featurettes... multiple alternate endings. Plenty on the disc to keep you busy for quite a while after the film itself.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on February 19th, 2014)

Grand Hotel, a review by Rich

Academy Award Best Picture winner 1932

Grand Hotel



The creme de la creme of MGM's pantheon gathers at the luxurious GRAND HOTEL, where "nothing ever happens." Greta Garbo is at her most radiant and poetic as the melancholy ballerina who finds a reason to dance again after she falls for the down-and-out Baron (John Barrymore) who planned to rob her. In another room a ravishing young secretary (Joan Crawford) succumbs to the advances of an arrogant industrialist (Wallace Beery). In yet another, a fatally ill office clerk (Lionel Barrymore) spends his life savings in a desperate effort to derive some pleasure from this bleak and brief existence. Downstairs at the bar, a disfigured doctor (Lewis Stone) dispenses wry commentary as people come and go. This precedent-setting ensemble piece of frothy, bubbly, tear-jerking super soap cemented the A-list status of its director, Edmund Goulding. It's an oft-imitated, never duplicated spectacle; the old Hollywood star system lighting up the sky with all the wattage at its disposal.

For such an expensive Hollywood epic and an Oscar winner, this was pants. Yawnsville all the way through, 1932 must have been a very lean year for releases if this was the best offering. Even trying to put everything in context regarding when this movie was produced, I could not warm to it at all, neither was it a comedy or a drama.
The plot does not stand modern day examination, I found the storyline stiff, the acting wooden, Garbo wanders around in a trance looking depressed, wanting 'to be alone', and the murder scene laughable even considering the rules regarding showing violence at the time of production. Perhaps the only escapee is Crawford as the stenographer, who shines above the rest.
Most interesting part when watching this film was a phone call I received from a double glazing salesman trying to cold sell me new windows, I wouldn't let him go for fear of having to press play again to watch the rest of movie!


(From Riches Random Reviews on February 4th, 2009)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

1. Lessons
Buffy and Dawn fight off vengeful spirits in the newly rebuilt Sunnydale High.

My Thoughts:
This was a decent start to the new season... not the best of season premieres... but not bad either.

2. Beneath You
A giant worm-like creature begins stalking a young girl. As the gang begin to investigate, they realize it's appearance in Sunnydale may be linked to Anya

My Thoughts:
Once again.... not a great episode... but not bad either. A basic Buffy filler episode.

3. Same Time, Same Place
Buffy, Xander and Dawn are unable to find Willow, who has inadvertently made herself invisible to her friends, and vice versa. Willow's return to Sunnydale is marred further by a demon, Gnarl, who relishes the skin of his victims.

My Thoughts:
This is the first episode of the season I really enjoyed. Willow is back... and once again... magic goes wrong.

4. Help
Novice counselor Buffy begins trying to help the students at Sunnydale High, including Cassie Newton, a girl who predicts her own death.

My Thoughts:
Another good episode... enjoyed it quite a bit. This one had Zachery Ty Bryon (Home Improvement) in it.


5. Selfless
After Anya grants a particularly gruesome wish, Buffy feels that she must kill Anya.

My Thoughts:
Once again... a good episode.

6. Him
Dawn and Buffy fall for the school quarterback, whose jacket is enchanted.

My Thoughts:
A decent episode.... though nothing really special... just another basic filler episode.

7. Conversations with Dead People
Buffy chats with a former classmate and current vampire, Dawn is visited by Joyce, and Willow is visited by an imposter pretending to have a message from Tara.

My Thoughts:
Another one I enjoyed... was a really strong episode. I especially enjoyed the segments with Dawn and Joyce.

8. Sleeper
As Dawn and Willow recover from their chaotic night at the Summers house, Buffy probes a series of grisly murders that may be the work of Spike.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... starting to really set up the season long storyline by now.

(From Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon on November 28th, 2007)