Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Collector's Edition)

Description

When filmy spores fall from space and take root in San Francisco, the city is beautifully transformed by spectacular and exotic flowers. But these lovely extraterrestrial blossoms have gruesome plansfor their earthly admirers: to slowly clone their bodiesand then dispose of the originals! "A first-rate suspense thriller" (Newsday), this sci-fi adventure is a "chilling" (Leonard Maltin), "dazzling" (The New York Times) and "stunning" (Cosmopolitan) thrill ride that will send your pulse rate soaring! From a brilliant screenplay by Academy AwardÂ(r) nominee* W.D. Richter, filmmaker Philip Kaufman directs an all-star cast that includes Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Brooke Adams and Leonard Nimoy. With its mesmerizing style and awe-inspiring special effects, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is "a classic of the genre" (New York Post) a terrifying tale that "literally chills the blood" (The Hollywood Reporter)!

Customer Reviews:

A very good remake; collector's edition is sweet.......2007-08-27

As other reviewers have noted, this is an excellent remake of the 1956 original, with superb casting, great performances, excellent direction and cinematography. Veronica Cartwright and Jeff Goldblum (and Spock - Leonard Nimoy!) are very good in supporting roles. Cartwright in particular is just excellent (see her also in "Alien"). And Sutherland and Adams give believable, sympathetic performances in the leads. The scene towards the end when "Amazing Grace" starts playing on bagpipes along the waterfront... well, suffice to say it's tremendously effective and emotional. This film speaks volumes about the evils of social pressure and conformity, while managing to scare the be-jeezus out of most viewers. Definitely worth having in your collection of sci/fi DVDs! I'll leave you with one final line from the film: "It eez a caper!" "No, it's a rat turd!" :-)

GREAT COLLECTOR'S EDITION OF THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS!.......2007-08-22

i have recently saw the new movie THE INVASION starring nicole kidman and daniel craig a third remake of the invasion of the body snatchers.i wont spoil this third entry on my thoughts for now for those who havent seen it yet,so lets move on to the 1978 invasion of the body snatchers,directed by philip kaufman and starring donald sutherland,brooke adams,jeff goldblum,veronica cartwright,leonard nimoy.with special appearances of don seigel,kevin mccarthy and robert duvall.an intense remake of the 1956 classic of the same name based on jack finney's novel.while the 1956 version is far more superior the 1978 version runs close behind with added different twists to the story.the new 2007 collector's edition gives this 1978 small gem the red carpet treatment with better sound and crystal clean print better than its previous release in the late 1990's,with added bonuses on the making of the 1978 film.the question is..is it worth the upgrade?........ the answer is yes!everything you want to know about the 1978 version is right here in this worthwhile package 2 disc set.a great addition to any collections of sci fi.now back to the 2007 INVASION film,the third remake is a (im sorry im falling asleep(yawning)let me get some sleep and ill finish this review another time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Great New Special Edition of Classis 70's Paranoia .......2007-08-16

I loved this Film from teh first time I viewed it about 5 years ago. Everything is perfect the cast the pace the atmosphere. The New Special Edition is very nice with some small little documentaries on the makings of the film. And just to point out that french title on the cover art on the amazon listing is NOT on the package for some odd reason they got a image of the french/multi lingual release not the US release. I can't tell if the new DVD is better looking than the older release but it is a dual layer disc where as the older release was a flipper WS on one side Pan/Scan on the other, so it should be a bit better in the picture dept enhanced for 16:9 displays. SIDE NOTE:This title is currently under distribution from FOX who for some odd reason doesn't distribute their MGM titles very well. Ever since they were releasing the MGM titles such as Fiddler on the Roof and even the more recent S.E. of Showgirls the titles were very hard to find at first even on any store shelves. In fact FOX couldn't even get online sellers to give the correct street date for the Release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers some are still saying it isn't to be release until Spet 11th. FOX is about to release a bunch of MGM Midnite Movies titles coming in the next month or so. Hopefully these titles will not be hard to find and that someone at FOX will get these titles in stores at a faster pace.

Get INVADED all over again...........2007-08-13

People keep asking me, is this movie worth the double dip?? My reply is YES!!!! I have been waiting for months to receive my copy of this rerelease Collectors Edition and it was worth the wait.

The story needs no recap, everyone in the world should know the story by now. However the special effects are awesome (that man/dog hybrid still works today and the space flowers at the beginning look very organic and real) and the acting is top notch. My favorite performance in the movie is Veronica Cartwright as Nancy. The movie also is still very scary and intense once the action gets going.

The picture on the DVD is a lot cleaner and sharper than the old disc. The widescreen framing appears to be correct, the old version seemed more zoomed in and the credits were slightly cropped off on the sides of the screen.

The sound also has more boom and clarity to it. Those pods hatching sound as creepy today as they did in the theater in 1978.

The extras while not excellent, are pretty good. Wish they would find more stuff for the Blu-Ray version, if they ever release one.

As for the Blu-Ray DVD, Yes I would definitely triple dip for that one if the picture is outstanding and true Hi-Def.

DON'T FALL ASLEEP WATCHING THIS MOVIE!!!.......2007-08-13

The 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a perennial classic that absolutely terrified me as a child and still holds up after nearly 30 years and is one of the best and rare examples where a remake actually surpasses the original ala John Carpenter's The Thing. Director Philip Kaufman crafts a suspenseful science-fiction masterpiece about the dehumanization of humanity by investing in the personalities of very emotional human characters that break the mold of two-dimensional cookie-cutter stereotypes. Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams have a genuine chemistry with great supporting roles by Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright. Adding to the eerie atmosphere we also get a very creepy and surreal performance by Leonard Nimoy as a pseudo-intellectual psychologist that will completely alter your perception of Mr. Spock forever.

I had the pleasure of watching this film again late at night after an exhausting day of work which is the perfect state of mind to be in. Struggling to keep myself from nodding off I could relate even better to the characters and their conflict by forcing myself to stay awake, not because the film is dull or boring, heavens no, but because as a child I believed, however irrational it may seem, that if I fell asleep watching this film that I too would be transformed and replaced by a pod. Funny how the innocent superstitions of childhood can resonate in our subconscious after so many years.

The new 2-disc collectors edition DVD is definitely worth replacing the old one if you own it, which seems almost like an analogy of the film itself which is finally presented in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby digital sound and director commentary by Philip Kaufman if you really want to test your insomnia. The second disc contains some nice featurettes like "Re-visitors From Outer Space, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod" featuring new interviews with Donald Sutherland, Veronica Cartwright, Phillip Kaufman and screenwriter W.D. Richter who reflect on the lasting appeal of the film and provide some interesting anecdotes about making the film. "Practical Magic: The Special Effects Pod" goes into the the organic photography of the alien spores and "The Man Behind the Scream: The Sound Effects of the Pod" features Lucasfilm's sound guru Ben Burtt who designed and mixed the sound effects after completing Star Wars to create the film's unforgettable and disturbing sound design. "The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematography of the Pod" also goes into the production design and chiaroscuro lighting used to compose the forboding look and mood through light and shadow to invoke dramatic Hitchcockian suspense, and lastly the original theatrical trailer is included as well. There's more than enough material here to keep you awake for hours but should you find yourself feeling a bit tired just remember one thing; no matter what happens... DON'T FALL ASLEEP!

Average customer rating:

Not as scary.
The Best Of 50' Sci-Fi !
classic!
A Story About One Man`s Resistance To Collectivism
A great Cold War classic

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Starring: Kevin McCarthy , Dana Wynter , Larry Gates , King Donovan , and Carolyn Jones
Director: Don Siegel
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0782009980
Release Date: 1998-07-01

Amazon.com

Something's wrong in the town of Santa Mira, California. At first, Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is unconcerned when the townsfolk accuse their loved ones of acting like emotionless imposters. But soon the evidence is overwhelming--Santa Mira has been invaded by alien "pods" that are capable of replicating humans and taking possession of their identities. It's up to McCarthy to spread the word of warning, battling the alien invasion at the risk of his own life. Considered one of the best science fiction films of the 1950s and '60s, this classic paranoid thriller was widely interpreted as a criticism of the McCarthy era (that's Senator Joseph, not actor Kevin), which was characterized by anticommunist witch-hunts and fear of the dreaded blacklist. Some hailed it as an attack on the oppressive power of government as Big Brother. However viewers interpret it, this original 1956 version of Invaders of the Body Snatchers (based on Jack Finney's serialized novel The Body Snatchers) remains a milestone movie in its genre, directed by Don Siegel with an inventive intensity that continues to pack an entertaining wallop. Look closely and you'll find future director Sam Peckinpah (an uncredited cowriter of this film) making a cameo appearance as a meter reader! The DVD release includes an interview with Kevin McCarthy, and for the first time on home video the film is presented in its original 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Not as scary........2007-09-09

After seeing that another remake of this story was being filmed I had to get my own copy of the original. I had seen this film when it first came out many, many years ago. At that time I was terrified. This time around I found it not as scary as I remembered. The story line is the same as the remake with Donald Sutherland. It is fun viewing these older films and seeing the way film making has changed over the years.

The Best Of 50' Sci-Fi !.......2007-08-28

When I first watched this movie I was a teenager. I knew nothing about the Mcarthey era. I didn't live through the early post cold war paranoia. There were no outside influences aside from my love of movies.

I have seen the film over 2 dozen times and believe it to be the best of the 50's generation, and one of the top 3 or 4 science fiction films of all time. With or without the prologue and epilogue.

All things are not what they seem. What if you woke up from a nightmare to find that you are still in it, and can't get out. The message is clear. A home, a car, and a career are all great to strive for in one's life. But love, compassion and emotion are the true gifts to keep living in the first place. Imagine a home without love or any emotion what so ever. None. Good or bad.

One by one, Kevin Mcarthy and Dana Wynter are confronted by the loss of neighbors, associates, and friends. The horror of the loss of everything they new. Early on, when a boy thinks his mother isn't his mother, and a friend doubt's her uncle is who he says he is. Doctor Miles is confused and doesn't know what to believe. So he goes with common sense. His eyes see there is no problem. But The evidence piles slowly and precisely. Soon it is not only what to believe, but who to trust.

Kevin Mcarthy is outstanding. Dana Wynter is absolutely gorgeous and the chemistry between the two seems real. The film will keep you glued from beginning 'til end. Simply one of the best!

classic!.......2007-08-17

You can't get much better if you like SciFi. The remake wasn't very good. Kevin was at his best. Loved the ending. There must always be hope or it is depressing.No matter how bad it gets there is hope.

A Story About One Man`s Resistance To Collectivism.......2007-06-16

The original version of The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers is an absolutely wonderful tale of how one man first tries to save his community from falling into a collectivist society. When this fails he tries save the individual identity of himself and the woman that he loves. Then when she joins the collectivist community he is left with no other alternative but to escape from this community and try to warn those living in other communities.

This is a terrific story that very much captures the political and social environment of the time that this movie was made. I highly recommend The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. Also if you enjoy this movie you might want to considering reading 1984 by George Orwell.

A great Cold War classic.......2007-05-16

I bought this DVD intending to teach it in a community college film class, but they didn't have the funds so the class didn't get approved. However, I'm pleased as punch at the chance to own this gem of 50's SF film. To watch this film is to fully understand Cold War paranoia, and the mood of the US during that time. Also, it's one of the few 50's SF films that don't descend into VERY silly "special" effects. Worth watching repeatedly.

Average customer rating:

it came it saw & it still conquers
Cheesy but Fun
how about some good 3-D films
Super Sci-Fi
I love 1950's & early 60's alien movies

It Came From Outer Space
Starring: Richard Carlson , Barbara Rush , Charles Drake , Joe Sawyer , and Russell Johnson
Director: Jack Arnold
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000063UR0
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Customer Reviews:

it came it saw & it still conquers.......2007-09-10

A movie unique for its genre. Where the aliens are not the deadly threat, but the earthlings themselves. Lots of ideas are thrown up, as well as thrills and spectacle. I was lucky enough to see it in 3-D in the black & white days, but the makers were smart enough to ensure that it could still be appreciated in 2-D. Richard Carlson is as earnest as ever, Barbara Rush as beautiful as ever (how could she hook up with him?) and a host of well known supports do what they have to.watch and enjoy a classic of its kind.

Cheesy but Fun.......2007-08-08

This is classic 1950s science fiction/horror fare from the B reels. By today's standards, it is completely laughable but it was not too bad a movie in its time. It's not all that bad now, as long as you're not expecting modern effects and other such complexities as 2 dimensional plots and such.

The basic story is that an astronomer and his girlfriend see a meteor crash in the Arizona desert...except that it is not a meteor. It is an alien spaceship. Nobody will believe the young astronomer until some strange things start happening. People disappear and then the other do believe. They believe and they are frightened. It is up to the astronomer to sort out the various motives involved and keep a tragedy from taking place.

how about some good 3-D films.......2007-07-16

I saw this film in its orginal 3D effect as well as the creature from the black lagoon also in 3D at a college theatre on a saturday afternoon matinee. Eventhough these films were done over fifty years ago, to audiences at that theatre, the experience was first rate. Please try to get hold of these films in the orginal format, the experience in 3D is worth the price of admission or of DVD.

Super Sci-Fi.......2007-07-12

When it comes to Super "B" Sci-Fi you can't get better! We got pretty hokie in the 50's and 60's and now they've "Come back to haunt us. Keep those cards and letters coming folks!

I love 1950's & early 60's alien movies .......2007-03-14

It Came From Outer Space is a good movie to watch. I like the story and the scenes in the desert. Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush and Charles Drake did an excellent job. I liked the story.

Average customer rating:

When you fall alseep
Get Yer Tendrils Outta My Nose!...
The Body Snatchers
Great re-make
3rd

Body Snatchers
Starring: Gabrielle Anwar , Terry Kinney , Billy Wirth , Christine Elise , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: Abel Ferrara
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790742462
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Description

The pod people are back! Aliens take over human bodies and souls in this hard-hitting remake of the classic tale starring Meg Tilly, Gabrielle Anwar and Forest Whitaker. Year: 1993 Director: Abel Ferrara Starring: Gabrielle Anwar, Meg Tilly, Forest Whitaker

Customer Reviews:

When you fall alseep.......2007-07-17

Your body changes from its old body, to a new body with no feelings or no emosions or pain.

Get Yer Tendrils Outta My Nose!..........2007-06-24

I loved both the '56 and '78 versions of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. The paranoia factor is high in both movies, adding to the ultimate dread of such an alien invasion. In BODY SNATCHERS, the alien conspiracy takes place on an army base, where it can barely be noticed. After all, lack of emotion, group-think, and "following the leader" are pretty much standard military protocol. Marti (Gabrielle Anwar) is a typical bored teenager, brought along by her EPA scientist dad to investigate toxic waste at the base. As things grow increasingly bizarre around her, Marti must fight to keep her sanity, her identity, and her life. Meg Tilly (Psycho 2) is at first goofy, then blankly evil as Carol, Marti's replicated stepmum. Forest Whitaker (Species) is overrought in his role as the army captain who tries to stay awake long enough to defeat the invaders. R. Lee Ermey (The Frighteners) is General Pratt, the head of more than just an army installation! BODY SNATCHERS is fittingly eerie, with that atmosphere of certain doom that I like so much! This should send folks hurrying to check under their beds for those pesky pods...

The Body Snatchers.......2007-05-06

Well done scary movie which was a modern remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Great re-make.......2007-03-23

Though the older version 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' will always have a special place in my movie going memory, this re-make was awesome! Hollywood has come a long way with special effects, so the new horror film has an added realism that's delightful (and a great diet aide). They went a lot further this time in raising my blood pressure and increasing heart palpatations. I must also say that Meg Tilly played her part to the hilt! If they give some sort of Oscar for horror flicks, she has my vote. Just excellent! For younger horror buffs who don't know what 'Pod People' are, this is a must see (or they can visit my town, we have a few). For the older folks who dearly loved the original, don't despair. This is a wonderful new version that can stand on its own and doesn't sully the spark of the former 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' we dearly loved.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

3rd.......2007-03-19

The second remake of the original black and white classic is a miss for me. It is well made, but it doesn't really do anything new with the idea. I enjoyed the original movie and the update in the 70's. This one was less about the paranoid aspect and more about horror. I have heard that another remake is on the horizon, so maybe that one will bring something a little more unique to the table. This movie is okay, it pales though when compared to the first two movies. If you want a decent alien takeover movie from around the same time period, I would grab "The Pupper Masters" with Donald Sutherland.

Average customer rating:

cursed teens vs spaced out teachers
Good time fun!!
"I'm allergic!"; "Yeah, and I'm Portuguese."
got my attention
Cut From A Familiar Mold, But Better Than Most.

The Faculty
Starring: Jordana Brewster , Clea DuVall , Laura Harris (II) , Josh Hartnett , and Shawn Hatosy
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305428220
Release Date: 1999-06-22

Amazon.com

Okay, you knew everyone in high school was just a little different: everyone looked at you strangely, the teachers were freaky, and you never could find the right groove to fit into. What if it turned out that it was all because your school was inhabited by creepy aliens from outer space? That's the enjoyably cheesy B-premise for this fun and scary flick from the pen of Scream's Kevin Williamson, the master of the post-modern teen horror film. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi), it's The Breakfast Club meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as six disparate students from Herrington High School band together when they discover that an alien life form is invading both the student and faculty bodies, with plans to take over the world.

Each of the heroes represents a different high school type: popular babe (Jordana Brewster), picked-on geek (Elijah Wood), goth girl (Clea DuVall), sensitive jock (Shawn Hatosy), new kid in town (Laura Harris), and bad-boy rebel (Josh Hartnett). The plot isn't much--a basic kill-or-be-killed premise spiked with a healthy shot of paranoia--but Willliamson and Rodriguez do a great job of building the tension slowly but surely. The suspense set pieces are genuinely frightening, and the film pokes fun at itself without deflating its scares; Williamson is a master at shifting gears from comedy to horror quickly and adroitly. The young cast doesn't have a weak link among them (with special kudos to Wood, DuVall and heartthrob-in-the-making Hartnett), and Rodriguez gets maximum mileage from the titular faculty, which includes Jon Stewart, Piper Laurie, Salma Hayek, Bebe Neuwirth, and Robert Patrick of Terminator 2. Go to the head of the class, Mr. Williamson. --Mark Englehart

Description

This hip and edgy thriller from the director of FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and the writer of SCREAM and SCREAM 2 sizzles with a hot young cast including Elijah Wood (THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy), Josh Hartnett (PEARL HARBOR), and R&B superstar Usher Raymond! When some very creepy things start happening around school, the kids at Herrington High make a chilling discovery that confirms their worst suspicions: their teachers really are from another planet! As mind-controlling parasites rapidly begin spreading from the faculty to the students' bodies, it's ultimately up to the few who are left -- an unlikely collection of loners, leaders, nerds, and jocks -- to save the world from alien domination! Also starring Robert Patrick (TERMINATOR 2), Famke Janssen (X-MEN), and Jon Stewart (TV's THE DAILY SHOW) in a great cast -- don't miss the unstoppable excitement of this unpredictably smart and scary hit!

Customer Reviews:

cursed teens vs spaced out teachers.......2007-08-05

Nothing like then sitting down and watching a school actually deteriorate inside out. hip teens realize their teachers are not from this side of the border. are the students doomed to repeat history. or are the teachers are gone where no one has gone before. only one way to find out.

Good time fun!!.......2007-06-23

I had forgotten about this movie and recently rewatched it. It brought back so many memories! It is everything rolled into one without ever taking itself too seriously. If your looking for a movie for pure entertainment this is the movie for you.

"I'm allergic!"; "Yeah, and I'm Portuguese.".......2007-05-30

If you're looking for a good thriller/whodoneit type movie, this is it.

What's this movie about? Basically, a group of kids are trapped when their entire school has been overcome by "aliens". These kids are different in many ways (you have the jock, the preppy girl, the geek, the goth, the stoner, the new girl) yet, as in so many "scary" movies, they must put their differences aside and attempt to fight off these aliens, starting with the faculty.

First, let me say that this movie isn't a sci-fi type movie. It's more of a "let's guess who did it" movie (or, in this case, "let's figure out who has been overtaken by the aliens and who is the queen alien"). Why am I rating this a 4 out of 5? Because if you've seen any scary movie, this movie is nothing new. However, it stands on its own and if you like typical scary movies, I'd give this one a chance.

got my attention.......2007-03-11

This movie got my attention and I watched it on teevee, it had good elements of Body Snatchers, The Thing, and a little Alien and a little Terminator. The acting was very good, action was very good, I enjoyed it overall. But the happy ending of everybody coming back alive and the world being good again betrayed the viscerable horror concepts that gave birth to this movie. This was fun to watch, but the axed Pollyanna ending was very disappointing.

Cut From A Familiar Mold, But Better Than Most........2007-01-11

When "The Faculty" arrived at theaters in late 1998, the world had already seen it's share of over-hyped, over-dramatic and sarcastic teen horror from the mind of Kevin Williamson. Not only did we already have a "Scream," but there was a "Scream 2," as well as a corny "I Know What You Did Last Summer," followed by a corny sequel with an even cornier title. To add insult to injury, he tainted what could have been an amazing comeback movie, "Halloween H20" with his own embarassing self-referential "touch-ups" on the script. Most horror fans, including me, placed blame on Williamson for watering down the horror genre, and forcing us to suffer through a five year period of bland horror that was finally put to rest with the flop, "Valentine." However, working in Williamson's favor are two things. First, you can't blame him for "Disturbing Behavior" or "Urban Legend," as he had nothing to do with them, and second, he did deliver this little underrated gem. Together with director Robert Rodriguez, "The Faculty" was brought to the screen in a style that set it aside from it's peers and with a story that, despite lacking in the originality department, didn't feel quite as stale.

Six teenage stereotypes -- a jock, a brain, a pretty girl, a frumpy girl, a burnout, and a naive new kid -- band together when they discover that their school, and eventually their town, are being infested with an alien life-form. The teachers are more cruel and strict than before, and their parents and the police force aren't of much help either. Taking a cue from "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers," the parasites in this movie use their human counterparts as a host, taking away what made them human and using their bodies to feed their needs. It's not too long into the film that the kids wise up to this fact. When Josh Hartnett, laying it on a little to thick as the burnout character, stabs his science teacher (played by John Stewart) in the eyeball with a homemade cocaine inside a pen, a plan to hunt down the Queen, which will theoretically save everyone (aside from the few they already wasted) is devised. The movie turns into a whodunnit of sorts, but without resorting to "Scream"-esque cliches. Rest assured, there are no long-winded explanations as to what their motivations are and how they pulled it off.

One of the biggest flaws in this film would be the last fifteen or so minutes, which really degrades itself to some sort of b-movie monster flick. Needless to say, when the Queen reveals herself, it's a bit embarassing to watch. However, the movie on the whole is thoroughly entertaining. Even when it reaches into moments of cheese, it is still fun, thanks mostly to Rodriguez's expertise. One has to wonder how this guy got stuck directing a teen-horror flick in the first place. A fresh faced Elijah Wood, Jordana Brewster and Clea DuVall are fun to watch in the film, but it is really the Faculty themselves who take center stage. Rodriguez alumni Robert Patrick and Selma Hayek, along with Jon Stewart and Famke Janssen, threaten to steal the show. Their portrayals of overworked, underpaid and underappreciated teachers are spot-on and couldn't be closer to reality. I swear, I've had these people as teachers growing up.

Overall, "The Faculty" is an entertaining little sci-fi/horror that you'll probably want to watch more than once. Sure, it's become a bit dated eight years later, but of all the movies of it's kind popping up at the time, I'd have to say this is the best. The DVD is horribly disappointing, however, with no special features really to speak of. Hopefully one day they'll put out a special edition, with some commentary and some insight into the making of the film.

Average customer rating:

AAHHH!!
No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic
Good Effort
The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows.
Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Starring: Brooke Adams , Maurice Argent , Veronica Cartwright , Sam Conti , and Tom Dahlgren
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792838416
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com

Jack Finney's classic science fiction novel has been the basis of three big-screen adaptations, beginning with the 1956 chiller Invasion of the Body Snatchers and most recently as 1994's underrated Body Snatchers. This acclaimed 1978 version from director Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff) is every bit as creepy as the '56 original, and it fits perfectly into the cycle of paranoid thrillers that thrived in American movies of the 1970s. Kaufman stylishly directs from an intelligent screenplay by W.D. Richter, while Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams lead a distinguished cast (including Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy, and Veronica Cartwright) and must fight for survival as the population of San Francisco is systematically cloned by alien "pods" from a distant, dying planet. The atmosphere of dread and paranoia grows increasingly intense as the complexity of the alien invasion is gradually revealed, until nobody can be trusted to be who they appear. Finely tuned performances enhance the film's eerie atmosphere, highlighted by moments that will lurk in your memory long after the movie's over. MGM's DVD release includes a full-length audio commentary by Kaufman, a "pod culture" retrospective, Body Snatchers trivia, production notes, and the original theatrical trailer. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Customer Reviews:

AAHHH!!.......2007-09-17

I just saw this for the first time and I loved it. A man and a woman who work for the health department find out that something is seriously wrong in their town. Everybody is changing. Everybody keeps saying that their spouse is not their real husband or wife. They were yesterday, but today they have been replaced by a replica. No one is buying their stories, but for some reason all these people seem crazy one day, and then the next day they are fine and say that nothing is wrong. Well something is wrong!

A horror movie rarely scares me by just showing monsters ripping bodies apart and such. The story in this movie really creeped me out. The alien invasion that is going on is well thought out. Everything seems fine during the day, but what nobody realizes is that when they go to sleep they get replaced by a clone. After a few nights have passed, the whole town has been replaced. If a small group of humans don't manage to stop them, the aliens will surely take over the world.

The movie starts out kind of slow, but once the ball gets rolling I wasn't able to look away. There are many chilling moments, but the final shot of the movie freaked me out the most.

4.5/5

No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic.......2007-06-01

Director Philip Kaufman cooked up this thoughtful (and thought-provoking) rendition of the original shocker from Jack Finney. Adding post-modern existentialist tones, utilizing the trippy, post-hippy psycho-babble that was rampant in San Francisco after the Summer of Love, the idea of people 'changing' suddenly takes on new resonance. The sound design, and music by avant-garde jazzist Denny Zeitlin, is superb. Note that you hear sirens and hear screams from the get-go, adding to the paranoia. Donald Sutherland gave a perfect pitch performance as the ambivalent, emotionally strapped Matthew Binnell, Brooke Adams as his unavailable love.

I took a star off of this beloved film, as the print isn't anamorphic, and the sound is only Dolby Surround 2.0. The reverb bass that I enjoyed so much in the theater (during the discovery of the body in the bath house, and the "Amazing Grace" scene) really deserves a DD 5.1 mastering. -

Good Effort.......2007-03-30

Though I will always be a huge fan of the original, I did like this remake(the first of 2 with a 3rd coming up). Though it does touch upon some of the same plot points as the original, it does change things up enough to keep it interesting. With Sutherland, Nimoy, Goldblum you certainly have a lot of interesting actors. The new ending is terrific. I found the picture transfer a little dark at times, but overall it seems to be a good print. The film and the scares hold up well after nearly 30 years. A good one to add to your science fiction collection.

The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows........2007-03-04

Every so often a movie comes along where I think, "How the heck have I not seen this before?" Invasion of the Body Snatchers falls into that category. It is, of course, not to be confused with the original 1956 film of the same name.

This version stars Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard "Spock" Nimoy. I originally saw it when I was flipping around the channels on a Sunday afternoon, and ran across the very beginning of the movie on Showtime. I missed the first 15 minutes, but it was pretty easy to pick up what was going on. Normally, I would have kept changing the channels, but the sight of Sutherland and Nimoy talking to each other caused me to halt temporarily. Or so I thought. Instead, I ended up watching the entire movie (and have rewatched it several times since then).

Before I get into how interesting the characters were, the acting quality, how they modified the story, or how it compares to the original movie, I have to stress one major thing: The camera and environmental work in this movie is phenomenal. People don't make movies like this anymore. This was 1978, so there was no CGI. Instead, unique camera angles were used and the visuals just oozed paranoia and bleakness. Shadows, repeated themes, hand-held camera shots, and unsaturated colors set the tone throughout the film.

Allow me to elaborate, without spoiling the movie plot: There's one scene near the end when Donald Sutherland is walking down a long sidewalk. The camera is set low, so you only see him from the waist up. A huge gray edifice is set before him, the sky is gray, a few birds are flying overhead, he's wearing a rumpled trench coat, and as he walks, he is passing by an endless row of barren trees. This shot was composed completely of naturally-occurring elements and without the aid of modern computers. And you know what? It works. The feeling you get while watching it is much more powerful than anything that could be computer generated these days.

Of course, this scene wouldn't seem genuine with anyone other than Donald Sutherland. He is a very versatile actor and I get the feeling that his character was custom-tailored for him. He speaks naturally, his mannerisms are perfect, and there are a couple of times where he really nails the emotion of a shot. Whether it's a look of fear, suspicion, or anger, he's 100% there. The other major actors in the film, Nimoy and Goldblum, are equally as good. Leonard Nimoy plays a glove-wearing psychologist (I keep expecting him to say something like, "My calculations show that there cannot possibly be life on Ceti Alpha Six."), while Jeff Goldblum is his usual wacky self. As expected, he fits quite nicely in paranoid Sci-Fi movies. The leading lady, Brooke Adams, was excellent as well. She provided a nice counter-balance to Sutherland's character, while she added her own brand of terrified confusion to the mix.

In my opinion, the 70s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is far better than the original 50s version. While I've always been a fan of the mood-setting that black & white films can provide, I think the color 70's version has it beat, which is extremely rare for me. I almost always prefer B&W over color when it comes to moody stuff like this. Plus, the acting is on a whole other level than the original. After all, the 70s version contains multiple powerhouse actors/actresses during the prime of their careers. How can it possibly go wrong?

Finally, I should note that this version of the movie is not so much of a remake, but a reimagining. Very few aspects of the original are reused here, other than the pod people, and the tone is much more intense. While the original film is often viewed as a commentary on the dangers of communism, this one is more geared more as a warning of rampant consumerism. I think this works better today because of this difference.

If you get a chance to see this movie on TV, or rent it, you should seize the opportunity. Especially if you're a thriller or horror genre fan. You will not be disappointed.

Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic.......2007-02-02

It's not often that I find myself the champion of any of Hollywood's largely misguided attempts in recent decades to remake classic Sci Fi films from its heyday. Often you hear modern filmmakers passing off these remakes as a "tribute", to the original version (why is that needed?), the end product generally only reveals how far many of them nowadays have lost the point as to why these early films built on mood and characterisation where so unforgettable. However one exception in this trend is I believe the 1978 remake of the classic story "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Built on mood and a very distinct eerie build up to its exciting climax this updated version while lacking some of the edge that made the 1956 film of the same title such a stunning thriller, is still a most worthy successor. It benefits I believe from having been made in the late 1970's long before CGI special effects took over as the main ingredient in science fiction movie making at the expense of proper story telling and character development. What we have in this 1978 film is a tightly structured story with great atmosphere and with an overwhelming feeling of fear hovering over the preceedings at every turn. Combined with its great cast headed by Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams and Leonard Nimoy, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", really packs a punch and succeeded in keeping this viewer on the edge of his seat for the film's entire running time.

Average customer rating:

AAHHH!!
No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic
Good Effort
The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows.
Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Starring: Brooke Adams , Maurice Argent , Veronica Cartwright , Sam Conti , and Tom Dahlgren
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Adams, Brooke | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Cartwright, Veronica | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Goldblum, Jeff | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Goldoni, Lelia | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Goodrow, Garry | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Hindle, Art | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Nimoy, Leonard | ( N ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Sutherland, Donald | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

General | Horror | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | VHS | Video

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | VHS | Video

Aliens | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | VHS | Video

Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: 6304509138
Release Date: 1997-08-26

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

AAHHH!!.......2007-09-17

No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic.......2007-06-01

Good Effort.......2007-03-30

The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows........2007-03-04

Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic.......2007-02-02

Invasion of the Body Snatchers [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

AAHHH!!
No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic
Good Effort
The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows.
Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic

Invasion of the Body Snatchers [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004TIY2

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

AAHHH!!.......2007-09-17

No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic.......2007-06-01

Good Effort.......2007-03-30

The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows........2007-03-04

Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic.......2007-02-02

Average customer rating:

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Director: Don Siegel
Manufacturer: Continental
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Includes Trailers

Average customer rating:

Not as scary.
The Best Of 50' Sci-Fi !
classic!
A Story About One Man`s Resistance To Collectivism
A great Cold War classic

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Starring: Kevin McCarthy , Dana Wynter , Larry Gates , King Donovan , and Carolyn Jones
Director: Don Siegel
Manufacturer: Republic Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004TLME
Release Date: 1998-06-26

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Not as scary........2007-09-09

The Best Of 50' Sci-Fi !.......2007-08-28

classic!.......2007-08-17

A Story About One Man`s Resistance To Collectivism.......2007-06-16

A great Cold War classic.......2007-05-16

DVD: