A Scanner Darkly
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Why
  • The next cult movie
  • Highly recommended
  • Awesome animation!
  • Not for everyone
A Scanner Darkly
Starring: Rory Cochrane , Robert Downey Jr. , Mitch Baker , Keanu Reeves , and Sean Allen (II)
Director: Richard Linklater
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JMK6LW
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Amazon.com

How well you respond to Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly depends on how much you know about the life and work of celebrated science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. While it qualifies as a faithful adaptation of Dick's semiautobiographical 1977 novel about the perils of drug abuse, Big Brother-like surveillance and rampant paranoia in a very near future ("seven years from now"), this is still very much a Linklater film, and those two qualities don't always connect effectively. The creepy potency of Dick's premise remains: The drug war's been lost, citizens are kept under rigid surveillance by holographic scanning recorders, and a schizoid addict named Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is facing an identity crisis he's not even aware of: Due to his voluminous intake of the highly addictive psychotropic drug Substance D, Arctor's brain has been split in two, each hemisphere functioning separately. So he doesn't know that he's also Agent Fred, an undercover agent assigned to infiltrate Arctor's circle of friends (played by Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, Rory Cochrane, and Robert Downey, Jr.) to track down the secret source of Substance D. As he wears a "scramble suit" that constantly shifts identities and renders Agent Fred/Arctor into "the ultimate everyman," Dick's drug-addled antihero must come to grips with a society where, as the movie's tag-line makes clear, "everything is not going to be OK."

While it's virtually guaranteed to achieve some kind of cult status, A Scanner Darkly lacks the paranoid intensity of Dick's novel, and Linklater's established penchant for loose and loopy dialogue doesn't always work here, with an emphasis on drug-culture humor instead of the panicked anxiety that Dick's novel conveys. As for the use of "interpolated rotoscoping"--the technique used to apply shifting, highly stylized animation over conventional live-action footage--it's purely a matter of personal preference. The film's look is appropriate to Dick's dark, cautionary story about the high price of addiction, but it also robs performances of nuance and turns the seriousness of Dick's story into... well, a cartoon. Opinions will differ, but A Scanner Darkly is definitely worth a look--or two, if the mind-rattling plot doesn't sink in the first time around. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Set in a not-too-distant future where America has lost its "war" on drugs, Fred, an undercover cop, is one of many people hooked on the popular drug, Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred is obsessed with taking down Bob, a notorious drug dealer, but due to his Substance D addiction, he does not know that he is also Bob. Based on a classic novel by Philip K. Dick. Starring Keanu Reeves ("Constantine," "The Matrix" trilogy), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Winona Ryder ("Girl, Interupted," "Mr. Deeds"), Academy Award and Emmy-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Robert Downey Jr. ("Good Night, And Good Luck" "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"), and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee and Emmy-winner Woody Harrelson ("North Country," "The People vs. Larry Flynt"). Directed by Academy Award-nominee Richard Linklater ("Before Sunset," "Dazed and Confused"). Filmed in live-action, and then animated using the same critically acclaimed process that Linklater used in his previous film, "Waking Life."

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Why.......2007-09-01

Is this movie good? Bad? I don't know. All I can tell you is that it is nearly unwatchable due to the obnoxious "animation" technique. Why style a movie like this? What does it add to the film? Nothing. It's a cheap gimmick that looks corny and is distracting and even nauseating at times. It didn't make Waking Life any better, it doesn't make me want to use Charles Schwab, and it didn't work here either.

5 out of 5 stars The next cult movie.......2007-08-20

The originality of this movie is the fact that it is made as an animation where actors do look like themselves. One can easily "see": Winona Ryder, Robert Downey, Jr., Keanu Reeves, Rory Cochrane, Woody Harrelson. The cast is absolutely fantastic. It is as if every actor that has offended Hollywood by misbehaving by using unhealthy amounts of drugs, is in this movie - which makes it cool. Every actor in this masterpiece is so good, that to a some degree, they appear also play a part of themselves - which makes them courageous. This DVD is a keeper!

5 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.......2007-08-16

The movie: From the brilliant mind of Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly is a strange yet compelling film. Set in the near future, it deals with issues such as drugs, 'big brother' type surveillance and relationships combined with an almost 'slacker' comedy aspect. It is far from a typical Hollywood movie, and its box office earnings reflected that, however it has quite a big cast of stars, all with solid performances.

Presentation: This film is an absolute masterpiece in high definition. It was made by filming live action, then each frame was animated over and the result is spectacular. A definite showpiece for HD image quality.

Overall: Although the movie itself may not be for everyone, the image quality makes it an absolute must see in HD.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome animation!.......2007-08-10

I watched this movie at first because I am a fan of Keanu Reeves. His diverse range of projects and abilities has never failed to entertain me. Right from the first scene, I was crawling in my seat. It was realistically creepy... and if you watch the movie, you'll understand in which context I use that word. That drew me in.

It seems like the movie was shot in live action, but was animated over that to give it a very surreal (and futuristic?) feel. I can't imagine the amount of work that went into such a project, but I can tell you that it was effective for the story.

There are times in the movie where you're not sure where things are going and maybe feel like the story isn't going to go anywhere good, but what you are seeing is the effect that D is having on Arctur (our protagonist). It all comes together in the end and you find a new respect for what he was doing and what he went through.

I'm giving this movie 5 stars, because of the awesome animation, acting and scripting... yes, I liked it all. I will say, however if you are uncomfortable with movies that include a drug lifestyle that spirals out of control, this wouldn't be for you. This movie is a drama not an action film and the sci-fi aspect is of a world in the not too distant future, which means it's not much different than our own world, so don't expect aliens or flying cars. This is a character story and I think it's beautifully done.

4 out of 5 stars Not for everyone.......2007-08-04

In typical Philip K. Dick style, this movie explores a dark and not so unlikely future where drug usage reaches overwhelming proportions. The story itself is quite different in pace and tone from the usual hollywood production. Visually, this is a very striking feature that more than deserves an hd-dvd release.
A Scanner Darkly [Blu-ray]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Awsome movie.
  • Worthless drivel. Don't even watch it for free!
  • Awsome
  • What is a great movie?
  • Boring Boring Boring
A Scanner Darkly [Blu-ray]
Starring: Rory Cochrane , Jr. Robert Downey , Woody Harrelson , Marco Perella , and Turk Pipkin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000NOKJF4
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Description

Set in a not-too-distant future where America has lost its "war" on drugs, Fred, an undercover cop, is one of many people hooked on the popular drug, Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred is obsessed with taking down Bob, a notorious drug dealer, but due to his Substance D addiction, he does not know that he is also Bob. Based on a classic novel by Philip K. Dick. Starring Keanu Reeves ("Constantine," "The Matrix" trilogy), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Winona Ryder ("Girl, Interupted," "Mr. Deeds"), Academy Award and Emmy-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Robert Downey Jr. ("Good Night, And Good Luck" "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"), and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee and Emmy-winner Woody Harrelson ("North Country," "The People vs. Larry Flynt"). Directed by Academy Award-nominee Richard Linklater ("Before Sunset," "Dazed and Confused"). Filmed in live-action, and then animated using the same critically acclaimed process that Linklater used in his previous film, "Waking Life."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Awsome movie........2007-06-28

Loved the way the movie was done.
Went into it not expecting much out of it.
I loved the characters and how each fit into the story. And the animation added the perfect touch to it. The movie couldn't have been made any other way.

1 out of 5 stars Worthless drivel. Don't even watch it for free!.......2007-05-20

I thought this movie would be interesting, but instead I was sideswiped by boredom and disappointment. I can't remember that much about the film, because I've been trying to forget how awful it actually was, so if I'm off about the plot I apologize, but I don't really care that much about the details of this cinematic junk. The cell shading look (I think that's what it is referred as) was really cool, like those financial planner commercials, but the different look of the animation didn't make the movie any better...whatsoever. From what I remember, the movie is about paranoid druggies (some seemingly unemployed, some not) that hallucinate periodically and one has a double life-jekyll/hyde cop/druggie thing going on. Oh yes, they are also being surveilled, which latently adds to their already crippling paranoia. I'm sure the picture quality is worthy of viewing, but just watch it for a few minutes and then burn the disc in its case. Even if it's a rental, every penny is wasted money that you'll never see again.

5 out of 5 stars Awsome.......2007-05-13

Show off you 1080p TV with this trippy animated movie. super cool, a must own bu-ray

5 out of 5 stars What is a great movie?.......2007-04-18

Something which continues and builds upon what we have alread see? No my friends; great filmaking is something entirly original. What we have here, is a completly original movie complete with a star-studded cast. The plot isn't that insane-anyone can watch this movie and really walk away with more than with what they took in.

Oh, and this is one of the most gorgious Blu-ray titles I have yet seen! Honestly, the transfer will blow you away! Total eye-candy.

2 out of 5 stars Boring Boring Boring.......2007-04-16

What else can I say...I thought this movie would have a point. Couldn't wait for it to end. Would not even rent this flick.
A Scanner Darkly [HD DVD]
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Why
  • The next cult movie
  • Highly recommended
  • Awesome animation!
  • Not for everyone
A Scanner Darkly [HD DVD]
Starring: Rory Cochrane , Robert Downey Jr. , Mitch Baker , Keanu Reeves , and Sean Allen (II)
Director: Richard Linklater
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NOKJFO
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Amazon.com

How well you respond to Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly depends on how much you know about the life and work of celebrated science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. While it qualifies as a faithful adaptation of Dick's semiautobiographical 1977 novel about the perils of drug abuse, Big Brother-like surveillance and rampant paranoia in a very near future ("seven years from now"), this is still very much a Linklater film, and those two qualities don't always connect effectively. The creepy potency of Dick's premise remains: The drug war's been lost, citizens are kept under rigid surveillance by holographic scanning recorders, and a schizoid addict named Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is facing an identity crisis he's not even aware of: Due to his voluminous intake of the highly addictive psychotropic drug Substance D, Arctor's brain has been split in two, each hemisphere functioning separately. So he doesn't know that he's also Agent Fred, an undercover agent assigned to infiltrate Arctor's circle of friends (played by Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, Rory Cochrane, and Robert Downey, Jr.) to track down the secret source of Substance D. As he wears a "scramble suit" that constantly shifts identities and renders Agent Fred/Arctor into "the ultimate everyman," Dick's drug-addled antihero must come to grips with a society where, as the movie's tag-line makes clear, "everything is not going to be OK."

While it's virtually guaranteed to achieve some kind of cult status, A Scanner Darkly lacks the paranoid intensity of Dick's novel, and Linklater's established penchant for loose and loopy dialogue doesn't always work here, with an emphasis on drug-culture humor instead of the panicked anxiety that Dick's novel conveys. As for the use of "interpolated rotoscoping"--the technique used to apply shifting, highly stylized animation over conventional live-action footage--it's purely a matter of personal preference. The film's look is appropriate to Dick's dark, cautionary story about the high price of addiction, but it also robs performances of nuance and turns the seriousness of Dick's story into... well, a cartoon. Opinions will differ, but A Scanner Darkly is definitely worth a look--or two, if the mind-rattling plot doesn't sink in the first time around. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Set in a not-too-distant future where America has lost its "war" on drugs, Fred, an undercover cop, is one of many people hooked on the popular drug, Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred is obsessed with taking down Bob, a notorious drug dealer, but due to his Substance D addiction, he does not know that he is also Bob. Based on a classic novel by Philip K. Dick. Starring Keanu Reeves ("Constantine," "The Matrix" trilogy), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Winona Ryder ("Girl, Interupted," "Mr. Deeds"), Academy Award and Emmy-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Robert Downey Jr. ("Good Night, And Good Luck" "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"), and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee and Emmy-winner Woody Harrelson ("North Country," "The People vs. Larry Flynt"). Directed by Academy Award-nominee Richard Linklater ("Before Sunset," "Dazed and Confused"). Filmed in live-action, and then animated using the same critically acclaimed process that Linklater used in his previous film, "Waking Life."

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Why.......2007-09-01

Is this movie good? Bad? I don't know. All I can tell you is that it is nearly unwatchable due to the obnoxious "animation" technique. Why style a movie like this? What does it add to the film? Nothing. It's a cheap gimmick that looks corny and is distracting and even nauseating at times. It didn't make Waking Life any better, it doesn't make me want to use Charles Schwab, and it didn't work here either.

5 out of 5 stars The next cult movie.......2007-08-20

The originality of this movie is the fact that it is made as an animation where actors do look like themselves. One can easily "see": Winona Ryder, Robert Downey, Jr., Keanu Reeves, Rory Cochrane, Woody Harrelson. The cast is absolutely fantastic. It is as if every actor that has offended Hollywood by misbehaving by using unhealthy amounts of drugs, is in this movie - which makes it cool. Every actor in this masterpiece is so good, that to a some degree, they appear also play a part of themselves - which makes them courageous. This DVD is a keeper!

5 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.......2007-08-16

The movie: From the brilliant mind of Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly is a strange yet compelling film. Set in the near future, it deals with issues such as drugs, 'big brother' type surveillance and relationships combined with an almost 'slacker' comedy aspect. It is far from a typical Hollywood movie, and its box office earnings reflected that, however it has quite a big cast of stars, all with solid performances.

Presentation: This film is an absolute masterpiece in high definition. It was made by filming live action, then each frame was animated over and the result is spectacular. A definite showpiece for HD image quality.

Overall: Although the movie itself may not be for everyone, the image quality makes it an absolute must see in HD.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome animation!.......2007-08-10

I watched this movie at first because I am a fan of Keanu Reeves. His diverse range of projects and abilities has never failed to entertain me. Right from the first scene, I was crawling in my seat. It was realistically creepy... and if you watch the movie, you'll understand in which context I use that word. That drew me in.

It seems like the movie was shot in live action, but was animated over that to give it a very surreal (and futuristic?) feel. I can't imagine the amount of work that went into such a project, but I can tell you that it was effective for the story.

There are times in the movie where you're not sure where things are going and maybe feel like the story isn't going to go anywhere good, but what you are seeing is the effect that D is having on Arctur (our protagonist). It all comes together in the end and you find a new respect for what he was doing and what he went through.

I'm giving this movie 5 stars, because of the awesome animation, acting and scripting... yes, I liked it all. I will say, however if you are uncomfortable with movies that include a drug lifestyle that spirals out of control, this wouldn't be for you. This movie is a drama not an action film and the sci-fi aspect is of a world in the not too distant future, which means it's not much different than our own world, so don't expect aliens or flying cars. This is a character story and I think it's beautifully done.

4 out of 5 stars Not for everyone.......2007-08-04

In typical Philip K. Dick style, this movie explores a dark and not so unlikely future where drug usage reaches overwhelming proportions. The story itself is quite different in pace and tone from the usual hollywood production. Visually, this is a very striking feature that more than deserves an hd-dvd release.
Scanners
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Hearing voices
  • You are all wrong
  • Cronenberg's claim to fame
  • Michael Ironside was great.....
  • A Great Cult Classic!
Scanners
Starring: Jennifer O'Neill , Stephen Lack , Patrick McGoohan , Lawrence Dane , and Michael Ironside
Director: David Cronenberg
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005K3NY
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com essential video

David Cronenberg's 1981 horror film is a darkly paranoid story of a homeless man (Stephen Lack) mistakenly believed to be insane, when in fact he can't turn off the sound of other people's thoughts in his telepathic mind. Helped by a doctor (Patrick McGoohan) and enlisted in a program of "scanners"--telepaths who also can will heads to explode--he becomes involved in a battle against nefarious forces. A number of critics consider this to be Cronenberg's first great film, and indeed it has a serious vision of destiny that rivals some of the important German expressionist works from the silent cinema. Lack is very good as the odd hero, and McGoohan is effectively eccentric and chilly as the scientist who saves him from the street, only to thrust him into a terrible struggle. --Tom Keogh

Description

Welcome to the world of the Scannersa race of humans with telekinetic powers that can wreak havoc beyond your most dreaded nightmare. Writer/director David Cronenberg (The Fly, Naked Lunch) brings the terror closer than ever beforehe brings it right into your mind. Cronenberg is a modern-day horror master whose name fits in easily with the likes of King, Craven and Carpenter...and Scanners, with its spectacular and shockingly realistic special effects, is a startling masterpiece of the genre. When a rogue Scanner of unparalleled power (Michael Ironside) wages a bloody war against the normals, young empath Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) is recruited to trackhim down. But Vale is inexperiencedand a battle with another Scanner could mean a grisly death...or worse. Can Vale vanquish his insanely violent, power-mad adversary? Only one thing is certain: Scanners delivers the chills-down-your-spine, heart-in-your-throat, you-can't-watch-but-you-daren't-leave goods (Time)!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Hearing voices.......2007-05-14

I a lot of pain, When a scanner scanes your in a lot of pain, the scanner hear the world.

1 out of 5 stars You are all wrong.......2007-04-06

This movie turned out to be laughable, annoying garbage. Horrible film.

4 out of 5 stars Cronenberg's claim to fame.......2007-03-15

Scanners is the story of a scanner (one who has telekinetic abilities such as blowing others' heads off) by the name of Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) whom doctor Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan) enlists to help him seek out an evil scanner, Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside), who wants to lead his own army of psychotic scanners to world domination.

This was the film that put David Cronenberg on the map. It's one of his best and 25 years later, it still works; it actually fits this millennium like a glove, with all the experiments going on in science these days. As with all of Cronenberg's movies, he explores multiple themes and the film has more depth than it appears to have at first glance. It's a great blend of sci-fi and horror, at times unsettling, and features awesome special effects (the exploding head at the beginning, the final confrontation between Vale and Revok) and leads to a powerful climax. On the downside, the acting is a bit stiff and uninspired by the majority of the cast (save for Ironside who oozes evil in this role as in all his other roles).

If you're a fan of Cronenberg, what are you waiting for? You should have seen this already! If you like horror and/or sci-fi films, this one's a real treat. It's got a great plot, suspense, cool action scenes and Cronenberg's unique vision. See it today before the remake comes out next year!

4 out of 5 stars Michael Ironside was great............2007-02-09

I have not seen every movie Ironside did, but I must say this is a perfect performance by him. I bought this before I ever even saw it. I must say, it wasn't EXACTLY what I expected. It was still quite good though. As great as Ironside did in being a villian, I think he could have easily played the hero in this as well. His final scan with his brother in the movie was pretty intense. Also, his first scan was pretty interesting. His facial gestures were right on for what was going on as was the guy who, well, was supposed to be scanning Ironside. Good suspense for a Sci-Fi flick. The weak side of this movie was the hero, Stephen Lack. His acting was a bit shaky. I suggest this however. I also bought Videodrome, which i haven't seen yet, but looking forward to it. Crossing my fingers.....

5 out of 5 stars A Great Cult Classic!.......2007-01-02

I read somewhere that there is an estimated 12 to 15 per cent of the world's population that have been born with some sort of natural psychic--or "psi"-- abilities. That's a whopping 720 million people at most. However the day to day abilities of most of these people are pretty lame compared to the small number of people in this movie who are super-psychics who have gained extraordinary telepathic and telekinetic abilities as the result of a birth defect due to a badly tested sleeping pill inadvertently given to pregnant mothers before they were born;

Daryl Revoc (played by a young Michael Ironside) tries to lead the scanners against the world, but finds opposition in a pair of scanners, one of which happens to be Revoc's brother. In some ways, Scanners is a bit of a cheesy sci-fi soap opera as Cronenberg unfortunately didn't have a big budget nor much time to write a better screenplay; due to a quirk in the way Canadian films were made, Cronenberg had only two weeks for pre-production and to come up with a script. When Scanners went into production the script wasn't even finished; some may say that it shows, but I disagree. Despite some minor flaws, Scanners is a cult classic with some truly fascinating, and shocking, special effects that makes for a mind blowing ending. This is a great sci-fi film, but the DVD is somewhat lacking in "special features." A commentary by Cronenberg and Michael Ironside would have made the DVD perfect.
Scanners - The Showdown
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • This is an excellent sequel to the original movie Scanners
Scanners - The Showdown
Director: Steve Barnett
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Scanners Scanners
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ASIN: B000OC4KUK

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is an excellent sequel to the original movie Scanners.......2007-08-23

This is an excellent sequel to the original movie Scanners. This is a must have.
Scanners
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Hearing voices
  • You are all wrong
  • Cronenberg's claim to fame
  • Michael Ironside was great.....
  • A Great Cult Classic!
Scanners
Starring: Jennifer O'Neill , Stephen Lack , Patrick McGoohan , Lawrence Dane , and Michael Ironside
Director: David Cronenberg
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Dane, LawrenceDane, Lawrence | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Grande, Louis DelGrande, Louis Del | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Ironside, MichaelIronside, Michael | ( I ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Lack, StephenLack, Stephen | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Mcgoohan, PatrickMcgoohan, Patrick | McAnally to McWilliams | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
O'Neill, JenniferO'Neill, Jennifer | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Cronenberg, DavidCronenberg, David | ( C ) | Directors | VHS | Video
GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | VHS | Video
David CronenbergDavid Cronenberg | Horror Masters | Horror | Genres | VHS | Video
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ASIN: 6304509170
Release Date: 1997-08-26

Amazon.com essential video

David Cronenberg's 1981 horror film is a darkly paranoid story of a homeless man (Stephen Lack) mistakenly believed to be insane, when in fact he can't turn off the sound of other people's thoughts in his telepathic mind. Helped by a doctor (Patrick McGoohan) and enlisted in a program of "scanners"--telepaths who also can will heads to explode--he becomes involved in a battle against nefarious forces. A number of critics consider this to be Cronenberg's first great film, and indeed it has a serious vision of destiny that rivals some of the important German expressionist works from the silent cinema. Lack is very good as the odd hero, and McGoohan is effectively eccentric and chilly as the scientist who saves him from the street, only to thrust him into a terrible struggle. --Tom Keogh

Description

Welcome to the world of the Scannersa race of humans with telekinetic powers that can wreak havoc beyond your most dreaded nightmare. Writer/director David Cronenberg (The Fly, Naked Lunch) brings the terror closer than ever beforehe brings it right into your mind. Cronenberg is a modern-day horror master whose name fits in easily with the likes of King, Craven and Carpenter...and Scanners, with its spectacular and shockingly realistic special effects, is a startling masterpiece of the genre. When a rogue Scanner of unparalleled power (Michael Ironside) wages a bloody war against the normals, young empath Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) is recruited to trackhim down. But Vale is inexperiencedand a battle with another Scanner could mean a grisly death...or worse. Can Vale vanquish his insanely violent, power-mad adversary? Only one thing is certain: Scanners delivers the chills-down-your-spine, heart-in-your-throat, you-can't-watch-but-you-daren't-leave goods (Time)!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Hearing voices.......2007-05-14

I a lot of pain, When a scanner scanes your in a lot of pain, the scanner hear the world.

1 out of 5 stars You are all wrong.......2007-04-06

This movie turned out to be laughable, annoying garbage. Horrible film.

4 out of 5 stars Cronenberg's claim to fame.......2007-03-15

Scanners is the story of a scanner (one who has telekinetic abilities such as blowing others' heads off) by the name of Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) whom doctor Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan) enlists to help him seek out an evil scanner, Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside), who wants to lead his own army of psychotic scanners to world domination.

This was the film that put David Cronenberg on the map. It's one of his best and 25 years later, it still works; it actually fits this millennium like a glove, with all the experiments going on in science these days. As with all of Cronenberg's movies, he explores multiple themes and the film has more depth than it appears to have at first glance. It's a great blend of sci-fi and horror, at times unsettling, and features awesome special effects (the exploding head at the beginning, the final confrontation between Vale and Revok) and leads to a powerful climax. On the downside, the acting is a bit stiff and uninspired by the majority of the cast (save for Ironside who oozes evil in this role as in all his other roles).

If you're a fan of Cronenberg, what are you waiting for? You should have seen this already! If you like horror and/or sci-fi films, this one's a real treat. It's got a great plot, suspense, cool action scenes and Cronenberg's unique vision. See it today before the remake comes out next year!

4 out of 5 stars Michael Ironside was great............2007-02-09

I have not seen every movie Ironside did, but I must say this is a perfect performance by him. I bought this before I ever even saw it. I must say, it wasn't EXACTLY what I expected. It was still quite good though. As great as Ironside did in being a villian, I think he could have easily played the hero in this as well. His final scan with his brother in the movie was pretty intense. Also, his first scan was pretty interesting. His facial gestures were right on for what was going on as was the guy who, well, was supposed to be scanning Ironside. Good suspense for a Sci-Fi flick. The weak side of this movie was the hero, Stephen Lack. His acting was a bit shaky. I suggest this however. I also bought Videodrome, which i haven't seen yet, but looking forward to it. Crossing my fingers.....

5 out of 5 stars A Great Cult Classic!.......2007-01-02

I read somewhere that there is an estimated 12 to 15 per cent of the world's population that have been born with some sort of natural psychic--or "psi"-- abilities. That's a whopping 720 million people at most. However the day to day abilities of most of these people are pretty lame compared to the small number of people in this movie who are super-psychics who have gained extraordinary telepathic and telekinetic abilities as the result of a birth defect due to a badly tested sleeping pill inadvertently given to pregnant mothers before they were born;

Daryl Revoc (played by a young Michael Ironside) tries to lead the scanners against the world, but finds opposition in a pair of scanners, one of which happens to be Revoc's brother. In some ways, Scanners is a bit of a cheesy sci-fi soap opera as Cronenberg unfortunately didn't have a big budget nor much time to write a better screenplay; due to a quirk in the way Canadian films were made, Cronenberg had only two weeks for pre-production and to come up with a script. When Scanners went into production the script wasn't even finished; some may say that it shows, but I disagree. Despite some minor flaws, Scanners is a cult classic with some truly fascinating, and shocking, special effects that makes for a mind blowing ending. This is a great sci-fi film, but the DVD is somewhat lacking in "special features." A commentary by Cronenberg and Michael Ironside would have made the DVD perfect.
Digital Photography Made Easy :Learn the Secrets of Digital Photography; Email Photos, Print Quality Photos, Make Photo T-Shirts & Coffee Mugs, Make Photo ... on CD, Learn to use a Scanner & Much More!
Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  • Digital PRINTING made easy!
Digital Photography Made Easy :Learn the Secrets of Digital Photography; Email Photos, Print Quality Photos, Make Photo T-Shirts & Coffee Mugs, Make Photo ... on CD, Learn to use a Scanner & Much More!
Starring: Lenny Magill
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Instructional | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
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Special InterestsSpecial Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video
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  1. Digital Photography: Crafting Images Digital Photography: Crafting Images

ASIN: B00007HIVF
Release Date: 2002-11-15

Description

This informative program shows you how to use your computer to save, print, email, store, and scan digital photographs. You'll save time and money doing it yourself and you'll be more creative and productive. Over 3 hours of one-on-one instruction featuring Lenny Magill, one of America's leading experts on digital phtography. You'll learn to print high-quality photos that are sutible for framing! Plus, how to email photos, make custom photo T-Shirts and coffee mugs, make photo greeting cards and invitations, even how to use a scanner to import existing photos and negatives into your computer! A great value for everyone interested in printing and sharing photos.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Digital PRINTING made easy!.......2006-03-22

This is a pretty good video on what to do AFTER the pictures are taken! If you want to learn ANY kind of photography skills this IS NOT the video u want! It deals with memory cards, TONS of printing suggestions (This is 90% of the video, all are common sense if you know anything about what you are doing) and cropping.
I was hoping it saying, "digital photography" it might have something to do with PHOTOGRAPHY(even just seeing him take 1 picture)...it should be called digital printing made easy! I am glad i borrowed it instead of buying it.
From Beyond (German Version)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Six stars!
  • The Wait is Over!
  • WTF is holding this up from a proper NTSC release?
  • A True Horror Classic. One of Gordon's Best. YOU MUST SEE THIS!!!
  • One of the best!!!
From Beyond (German Version)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:
  • German Edition: English and German Audio
  • Interview Feature with Brain Yuzna & Stuart Gordon
  • Fullscreen Format
  • All Region Disc & Booklet (German Text)

ASIN: B000G890JS

Product Description

Doctor Pretorius and his colleague, Dr. Tillinghast (Jeffrey Combs), work on a sensational experiment: by means of stimulation if the pineal gland they want to open mind for higher dimensions. When the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible creatures from the inner dimensions. When Pretorius is killed by one of them, Dr. Tillinghast is under suspect and thrown into psychiatry due to his stories. Only the ambitious psychologist Dr. McMichaels (Barbara Crampton) believes him and wants to continue the experiment.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Six stars!.......2007-06-03

I am very happy to see that an affordable DVD of this film is finally going to be released (according to another reviewer, anyway). Actually, the price for the DVD has come down (from over $100) since the last time I looked in these pages.

The VHS version of this was actually my very first online purchase, here at Amazon in 1999 (Suncoast had told me it was out of print and to check back).

At any rate, this is one of my very favorite films. I in fact like it better than _Re-animator_, a very good film in its own right. Why _Re-animator_ got all the kudos while this film has been mostly ignored is a mystery to me!

The movie gets going right from the start, and doesn't let up until the very end. While the plot has little to do with the original Lovecraft story, it's still brilliantly done. I would say that the movie is bookended between two wonderful lines. Very early, we are treated to a full-screen shot of Jeffrey Combs' face as he says, with his inimitable impression of traumatized horror: "It ate his head like a gingerbread man." At the end, an injured Barbara Crampton, thoroughly driven mad, says (or rather shrieks): "It ate him!" In between, it's a tremendous ride.

The plot is not one of the stereotyped horror film plots, the casting is almost perfect, and the script fits the story with jigsaw precision. But for me, the main thing to remember about this film is what I would call its "purity of essence": as far as I can tell, there's really nothing that could be cut from the movie without detracting from it, while adding to it would, I think, only dilute it.

This movie is definitely in my top five list. If the rumored new DVD doesn't come out, I think I'm going cough up for the German one. If I could, I'd actually give this one six stars -- I like it that much!

5 out of 5 stars The Wait is Over!.......2007-05-26

A director's cut will be released, with extras, on September 11. Yeah!

5 out of 5 stars WTF is holding this up from a proper NTSC release?.......2007-04-15

The fans demand it. This is classic Jeffery Combs and hands down one of the best HP Lovecraft movies to hit the screen. It's right up there with Re-Animator if not a better film in some respects because of where it takes you. It's a classic in every sense of the word and it's due a proper DVD release. What's the hold up?

5 out of 5 stars A True Horror Classic. One of Gordon's Best. YOU MUST SEE THIS!!!.......2007-04-05

This is without a doubt one of my favorite horror films. It really is a
shame that there is not a proper Region 1 NTSC release of this
Masterpiece...

'From Beyond' is pure horror delirium from start to finish. It is as
close to a perfect horror film as I have I witnessed so far in my
ceaseless quest to see every freaking horror film ever made...

The plot is dynamic and swift (It is based on one of Lovecraft's better
stories). It has delicious special effects, an excellent score, and
pitch perfect performances from Combs, Crampton, Sorel, and Foree...

'Re-Animator' has been a long time favorite of mine, a true Classic in
the genre. For years I had been literally dying to see the supposedly
amazing follow up- 'From Beyond'. However, it has long been
unavailable.

I finally broke down and purchased a Region Free DVD Player (best toy I
have EVER purchased). The first DVD I obtained to break-in my new
machine was this one. An outstanding PAL DVD of this film from Dragon
(Germany). I popped this film in excitedly and was promptly blown
away...

If you have never had the pleasure of witnessing this far-too-rare
Classic, YOU MUST. In my opinion, it holds up to Re-Animator. It is
really that good. Since acquiring this piece of celluloid perfection 3
months ago, I have watched in about 6 times. Each time I watch it I
love it more and more. It is seriously worth obtaining a Region Free
DVD Player for. Gordon and Yuzna have not even come close to this level
of film making perfection since this and 'Re-Animator'. You need to see
incredibly film now...

5 out of 5 stars One of the best!!!.......2007-02-14

I first saw From Beyond when it was first released. It still is a classic today. I love anything by HPL. The acting is first rate. The special effects are fine. If you can, get this DVD in any form available. I bought it (the German version) from Kerrys-Kornucopia in Cincinnati, Ohio. It wasn't cheap, but it has an English audio option, so those who don't understand German can hear it in English.
[re]
Average customer rating: Not rated
    [re]
    Starring: Stephen Vitiello , Benjamin Broening , Mark Applebaum , John Gibson , and Larry Polansky
    Manufacturer: everglade records, inc.
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video
    ( R )( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    ASIN: B000K2VJVW
    Release Date: 2006-11-02

    Description

    [re] includes multichannel DVD-Audio and DVD-Video discs featuring electronic music by thirteen composers with diverse musical aesthetics, interests, and backgrounds. All works were commissioned by the Third Practice Festival of Electroacoustic Music at the University of Richmond.

    Composers were asked to reflect on, reinterpret, comment on, recompose or reconsider past musical compositional techniques, specific works, genres, styles, forms, and practices. The result is a striking assemblage of music that reflects the majesty of our shared musical past while embracing technology to point toward the musical future.

    Featured composers include Stephen Vitiello, Benjamin Broening, Mark Applebaum, John Gibson, Larry Polansky, Mark Wingate, Colby Leider, Scanner, Kristine H. Burns, Matthew McCabe, Ricardo Climent, Mason Bates, and Alessandro Cipriani.
    Scanners: Showdown
    Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    • Steve Barnett's Scanners: The Showdown
    • A Sad Ending to an overall well done series
    Scanners: Showdown
    Starring: Burke , and Mantegna
    Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
    ProductGroup: Video
    Binding: VHS Tape

    GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | VHS | Video
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    ASIN: 6304614411
    Release Date: 1997-10-07

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Steve Barnett's Scanners: The Showdown.......2002-05-24

    This sequel, also known as "Scanner Cop II," marks the end of the series...or does it?

    The rookie cop Staziak is now a plain clothes detective (he must have had one good year). He uses his scanning capabilities to rout criminals and foil evildoers. We also meet an evil scanner (yes, another one) who has escaped from a mental ward and is trying to kill Staziak. It seems he can also suck the "lifeforce" out of other scanners. You see the finale coming as scanner cop and evil scanner do scanner battle.

    In the beginning of the film, the scanner cop fools a kidnapper into thinking he is an accomplice, not the cop. He does this by "scanning." The problem is the director uses the exact same special effect from "Scanner Cop," but in a completely different context. Did FX guru John Carl Buechler get lazy this time around?

    One complaint I have had about the entire series, and I have now seen all five entries, is that the Scanner power is never really explained. We see scanners command others to do their will, we see scanners getting scanned, but what specifically does "scanning" entail? Reading minds? This question has never been adequately explained, especially when you throw in the fact that machines can be scanned as well.

    The good scanner vs. evil scanner plot has been done to death, yet it is still trotted out for this video. This came out a few years ago, without a sequel, but after witnessing the rebirth of movie series like James Bond, Halloween, Friday the 13th, etc., I am not holding my breath. In a complete pageant of unoriginality, every single episode of this film series has had an exploding head, but none of them ever matched the gore of the first film. This showdown is underwhelming, and I cannot recommend it.

    This is rated (R) for strong physical violence, strong gun violence, mild sexual violence, strong gore, and profanity.

    2 out of 5 stars A Sad Ending to an overall well done series.......2000-06-22

    Scanners: The Showdown (Otherwise known as "Scanner Cop 2:Vlrokins Revenge and "Scanners 5: The Showdown") is a sadimpression of a movie. I'm not sure, but I think that this was made for Canadian Cable TV. While there are some good special effects, the story is almost an exact copy of every Scanners film made. The performances are dull, dreary, and unoriginal. If yo're interested in special effects, or are a fan of the series, see this film. All others, stay away.

    DVD:

    1. Andromeda Season 1 Collection 2 (Episode 106-110)
    2. Andromeda - Season 2 - Vol. 4 [2000] [Region 2]
    3. Andromeda Season 3 Collection 2
    4. Andromeda Season 4 Collection 1
    5. Andromeda - Season 4, Collection 2
    6. Arrival/Arrival 2
    7. Baberellas
    8. Battlefield Earth
    9. Beginning of the End (Special Edition)
    10. Best Of The Best 3: No Turning Back/ Best Of The Best 4: Without Warning

    DVD

    DVD