DVD Collectors Online

Psycho , a review by Dragonfire

Psycho



Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of the macabre stars Anthony Perkins as the troubled Norman Bates, whose "old dark house" and adjoining motel are not the place to spend a quiet evening. No one knows that better than Janet Leigh, the film's ill-fated heroine who is victimized in the now-notorious "shower scene." Vera Miles, Martin Balsam, John Gavin and John McIntire co-star in Hitchcock's most compelling and terrifying film. Screenplay by Joseph Stefano.

My Thoughts

I had heard a bit about this one before I finally saw it, but I had managed to avoid finding out about the ending.  I'm very glad..I would have been irked if the ending had been spoiled.  I was really shocked the first time I saw the movie - it wasn't that long ago really...sometime within the last 10 years, though I can't remember for sure.  Even knowing the ending, I still enjoy this one when I watch it and it still has the power to creep me out in a few scenes.  The music is a big reason why I think.  It works wonderfully well with what is going on and helps add to the creepy atmosphere.

Things are a little slow at first while the set up happens.  At first it seems like the movie is just going to be about Marion and what she did in an attempt to help her boyfriend Sam.  That was interesting, but things really get going once Marion ends up at the Bates Motel.  That setting is suitably creepy with the imposing house sitting on the hill over looking the hotel.  The setting really helps add to the creepy feeling of the movie.  The movie being in black and white helps the creepy factor as well.  There is a good amount of suspense and tension to what is going on.  The shower scene is very well done - it is such an iconic scene that it has been recreated many times.  The version of the scene in High Anxiety is done really well, though it is twisted a bit.  Anyway, the plot is shocking, especially considering when the movie was made.  I think it has held up well and is still worth seeing.

The characters of Marion and Norman are interesting and help to make the movie more entertaining.  Norman is a wonderfully complicated, messed up character and he is extremely interesting.  He is a very memorable character and Anthony Perkins is great in the part. 

I still really enjoy this movie.  It holds up really well and is still worth watching.



I did post a review on Epinions a few years ago.

Psycho



(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on August 1st, 2010)

Saw IV, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Saw IV: Unrated Director's Cut
Movie Count: 46
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 11am
Plot:
When SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend...or face the deadly consequences. 

My Thoughts:
This is the first time I ever watched this movie. One I picked up because I liked all the previous movies in the series... and because I found it cheap on sale (the best way to buy movies!). Going into this one... I admit I had my hopes pretty high which is something I try my hardest not to do.Luckily this time it didn't hurt anything... as I enjoyed this movie a lot.. almost as much... if not as much as the ones before it. Of course I personally go into these movies looking for no more then a gore-fest. But they are more then that... I also find the stories themselves interesting.



(From My Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon: 2008 on October 12th, 2008)

Tom's Random Reviews, a review by Tom

Title: Spin City: Season One
Year: 1996
Director:
Rating: NR
Length: 537 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles:

Stars:


Plot:
Spin City is a smart, sophisticated ABC sitcom about the behind-the-scenes workings of City Hall in the biggest city in America. Workaholic Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winston's (Barry Bostwick, Rocky Horror Picture Show) key strategist and much-needed handler.

Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary (Richard Kind, Mad About You); a sexist, boorish chief of staff (Alan Ruck, Ferris Bueller's Day Off); an impeccably groomed gay activist running minority affairs (Michael Boatman, Arliss); a sharp and efficient, man-crazy accountant (Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights); and an idealistic young speechwriter (Alexander Chaplin). Like Mike, they are all professionally capable but personally challenged.

Spin City was an immediate hit when it debuted in 1996. The series reunited Fox with Family Ties executive producer and creator Gary David Goldberg and proved that the magic of their creative partnership was enduring.

Extras:
Closed Captioned
Commentary
Featurettes
Trailers

I enjoyed watching this first season of Spin City. The actors were seemingly comfortable in their roles fast and developed great group dynamics.

#	Episode	Rating
01	Pilot
02	The Great Pretender
03	The Apartment
04	Pride and Prejudice
05	The Rivals
06	A Star Is Born
07	Grand Illusion
08	The High and the Mighty
09	Meet Tommy Dugan
10	The Competition
11	Dog Day Afternoon
12	Criss Cross
13	Bye Bye Love
14	Starting Over
15	Gabby's Song
16	Kiss Me, Stupid
17	An Affair To Remember
18	Snowbound
19	Striptease
20	Deaf Becomes Her
21	Hot In the City
22	Bone Free
23	The Mayor Who Came To Dinner
24	Mayor Over Miami

(From Tom's Random Reviews on June 14th, 2009)