DVD Collectors Online

Dead Scared, a review by samuelrichardscott

Dead Scared (2004) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
It's Hell Week on campus, and an old abandoned mansion looks like the perfect hazing place to initiate a group of innocent pledges into the most exclusive fraternity and sorority on campus, but these co-eds have picked the wrong night to take possession of the house. On this night, all the rooms are booked. Something beyond evil has checked in, and is ready to take possession of anyone who dares to enter.

My Thoughts:
Written and directed by Rolfe Kanefsky, Dead Scared looks like your typical low budget horror from the outset. A couple of 'names' like Brad Dourif and Tiffany Shepis star with a bunch of unknowns, and the plot sounds as though it has been used more than Katie Price. Well call me a little surprised then as this was more fun than I expected. The acting is better than your typical low budget horror (but will still be closer to a Razzie than an Oscar), the story, whilst formulaic, has a couple of nice twists and I enjoyed the finale, and the special effects have a very cartoony feel that reminded me a lot of Sam Raimi's horror. Although it adds up to a fairly average movie watching experience, it beat out all my expectations from looking at the cover and reading the overview. 3/5

Note, the original title is The Hazing.

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on June 21st, 2010)

Titanic (1953), a review by Tom

Title: Titanic
Year: 1953
Director: Jean Negulesco
Rating: PG
Length: 94 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Clifton Webb
Barbara Stanwyck
Robert Wagner
Audrey Dalton
Thelma Ritter

Plot:
CLIFTON WEBB, BARBARA STANWYCK and ROBERT WAGNER star in this gripping re-enactment of the tragic 1912 sinking of the Titanic in which over 1,500 people lost their lives.

Supposedly an unsinkable ship, the huge British luxury liner met with disaster on its maiden voyage when its captain ignored numerous warnings of impending danger. Though based on facts culled from eyewitnesses, fictional characters depict the men and women, many of them international celebrities, who courageoulsy faced this unexpected tragedy in the icy, bleak waters of the North Atlantic.

This tremendously moving and extraordinary film continues to captivate audiences around the world.

Extras:
Featurettes
Scene Access
Trailers

In my opinion this effort is inferior to the German movie released 10 years previously. The sets are cheap, scenes set outside even cheaper. Two third of the movie are showing rather uninteresting storylines. Only the last 25 minutes or so are about the disaster. And that is handled very unrealistic. There is hardly any panic involved. Everybody is going in very orderly fashion to the lifeboats. The men are only willing to stay behind. Everybody has time to have a nice undisturbed dramatic little last chat with their squeaze.
Beside those glaringly obvious flaws, this movie is still watchable. The cast is good. You can see a young Robert Wagner in an early role. Wouldn't it have been for his way of talking, I wouldn't have recognized him at all.

Rating:

(From Titanic Marathon on May 31st, 2009)

[Rerun Marathon] Police Squad!, a review by Tom

7/10

A good final episode.
"I got men covering all the exits"


Final remark:
I like the portrayal of Frank Drebin in this series. Essentially a competent and serious police officer not noticing the madness around him.
Whereas in the movie series he is mostly the cause of all the madness.

(From [Rerun Marathon] Police Squad! on November 14th, 2007)