DVD Collectors Online

Alone in the Dark, a review by Jimmy

Title : Alone in the Dark (1982)

OverviewMy Impression
Damn nuclear power goes and the lunatics had taken over the asylum again, but this time they had taken the city also. This one is a pleasant memory, since I've seen it at the theater (ours was not strict at all, if it was ok with our parents no problem to enter). This one is probably one of the most frightening movie of the eighties (as you already know for me the movie that can happen for real are the scarier) who make you jump almost continuously till the end. Of course the acting is top level... which isn't surprising when you had the great Jack Palance and Martin Landau (who had surprised me at the times since I was knowing him only for Space 1999 and Mission Impossible). The supporting cast is great also with Erland van Lidth (who looks innocent but is really frightening) and Phillip Clark (who had a big surprise for you). Really this one is a strong recommandation if you have never seen it.

Surprisingly the next movie of Jack Sholder after this great "Night of the Living Dead feels like films" will be the weak Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2. Finally I love the punk music played by the Sick Fucks (God the eighties music was awesome)
 
Rating :

(From Jimmy's 2009 Horror Marathon on October 10th, 2009)

Labyrinth, a review by Danae Cassandra

Labyrinth
Year of Release: 1986
Directed By: Jim Henson
Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud, Brian Henson, Ron Mueck, David Shaughnessy
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Overview:
Journey into the fantastical world of Labyrinth, starring David Bowie and a cast of incredible creatures created by Jim Henson. Frustrated with babysitting on yet another weekend night, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager with an active imagination, summons the Goblins from her favorite book, "Labyrinth", to take her baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah must follow him into the world of the fairy tale to rescue him from the wicked Goblin King (Bowie)! Guarding his castle is the labyrinth itself, a twisted maze of deception, populated with outrageous characters and unknown dangers. To get through it in time to save Toby, Sarah will have to outwit the King by befriending the very Goblins who protect him, in hopes that their loyalty isn't just another illusion in a place where nothing is as it seems!

My Thoughts:
This is an old childhood favorite.  Of course, unlike some friends of mine, I was never rooting for Sarah.  I am Jareth's fan all the way.

I had such a massive crush on him when I was younger.

There's a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in this film for me.  It was such a favorite of mine as a child, and it takes me back to the good parts of my childhood.  And nostalgia always lets you view things through glasses tinted rose.

I don't know that I would love it so much if I came to it first today.  It's a lot of fun, sure, and the puppetry is fantastic.  David Bowie is a sexy and elegant as ever.  But I've never liked Sarah's character, and I still don't.  I also didn't particularly like Connelly's portrayal, which is something I wouldn't have consciously thought about back then.  

At the same time, I still think it's a lovely fantasy story, a lovely adventure, and a fun film ... even if I would like to see more of Jareth and less of Sarah.  A good time, recommended for kids 6 and up (there are a few parts that could be a bit dark for the wee set), or anyone with a taste for fantasy or 80's nostalgia.  

With regard to medium, while the colors are very clear on the blu, a couple of scenes were super obvious for being effects based and green-screened - most especially and most glaringly the scene with the red creatures that take off their heads.  Whatever process they did to clean this up for blu made that scene look very artificial in a way that I don't remember it looking before.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on January 29th, 2015)

The IT Crowd: Version 3.0 - (mini) marathon, a review by Achim

3. Tramps Like Us
Trying to say something shouldn't be in the way of the comedy. Too much time was spent with too little meaning (the Roy thread) and the rest was pretty much all over the place (from a few good laughs all the way to cringe-worthy). It's still funny, just not as funny as it should be.



(From The IT Crowd: Version 3.0 - (mini) marathon on July 31st, 2009)