Customer Reviews:
Paul Blaisdell Tribute.......2007-08-30
In all honesty I don't believe there is any such thing as a five star American International Picture. These two are certainly no exception. These movies are true "creature features" and the creatures are the only reason to watch them. Were it not for the brilliant work of Paul Blaisdell these two turkeys would be nearly unwatchable.
The Day the World Ended is a well worn plot of survival after a nuclear holocaust filled with stock characters in stock cicumstances acting(?) in a stock manner. These were great drive-in movies because you really didn't miss anything by not watching until the end of the movie when the ceature finally makes his appearance and by then it was time to come up for air anyway. Unfortunatly this was not one of Blaisdell's best creations.
However, The She Creature is one of Blaidell's best and makes it worthwhile to endure the rest of the movie. The plot is best described as Bridey Murphy meets the Creature from the Black Lagoon and indeed the She Creatures design is often compared to that of the gill man. This comparison holds up well in still photographs, but when the two are shown moving, the paucity of Blaisdell's budget becomes all too apparent. One can only wonder what Blaisdell could have done had he had a decent budget to work with. The She Creature along with the big headed invaders from Invasion of the Saucer Men are two iconic creations of Blaisdell that he did on virtually no budget. We all owe Paul a debt of gratitude for making these low budget stinkers a lot more watchable.
So, pop up some popcorn, get a soft drink, turn out the lights, pretend like the couch is your bad ride from your youth, cue up this disc, grab your main squeeze and pretend like it's a night at the drive-in. It'll be a blast!
What happened to this series?.......2007-08-15
Great start on this series (despite the apect ratio problems), but Lion's Gate seems to have given up on this line, which is unfortunate, as there are a number of Arkoff titles that haven't yet seen the light of day on DVD. While I'm not 100% sure if Lion's Gate owns the rights to the films I list below, I would venture to guess they do. So how about a pairing of I Was a Teenage Frankenstein/I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Invasion of the Saucer Men/Attack of the Crab Monsters, Voodoo Woman/The Undead, Not of This Earth/It Conquered the World (two of the best AIP titles), and The Amazing Colossal Man (whose sequel, War of the Colossal Beast, is part of this line).
Terrific Double-Bill, Worthy for Many Reasons.......2007-05-28
"Day the World Ended" was the very first film officially released by American-International Pictures in 1956. Directed by Roger Corman, it's been copied ad nauseum, but here is the original! It's very well done, by B-movie standards, and the cast is first-rate. I won't re-hash what previous reviewers have said, but Paul Birch was later used in Corman's BEST film, "Not of This Earth", which is, pitiably, not available on DVD or VHS. It is a thought-provoking film, so typical of the paranoia regarding the bomb back in he 50's, but the script by Lou Rusoff will not insult your intelligence. It's a film all sci-fi aficianados should have in their collection. "Day the World Ended" is paired with "The She-Creature", which is a typical 50's horror exploitation film, but isn't all that bad. Certainly, production values are low, but there's Lance Fuller (the bad Brack from "This Island Earth") looking handsome and concerned, as well as newcomer Marla English (gorgeous) and the reliable Tom Conway and Cathy Downs. Perhaps a trend-setter, a reliable old actor of the past, Chester Morris, plays the oily hypnotist. Directed by horror schlock veteran Edward L. Cahn, it's worth a look. One thing that was silly is that the cover art & posters showed the monster with huge breasts, rather daring for 50's sensibilities, but no such breasts appear in the film. I'm regularly amused by such exploitation. Good package of films, especially the Corman.
Rainy Saturdays and horror movies.......2007-04-17
This set is one more attempt on my part to chase down the movies that I loved as a child. On rainy Saturdays I would post up in front of the T.V. and turn to the Saturday afternoon "Horror fest" on our local UHF station.(before cable and VCR's UHF stations were the only other way to see these old classic horror movies)
"Day The World Ended" is a Roger Corman movie and the reason I bought this release. After a nuclear war, One man has set up a house in the "valley" so that the fallout can't get to him and he and his daughter are set to ride out the end. Well others find their way to this oasis and sure enough the start fighting amongst themselves. To make matters worse someone or something is in the woods around the house and it wants a "date",NOW!!! It's all great fun with Corman once again proving that a little money and a lot of imagination can go a long way. Super Fun
"She Creature" was one that I had not seen before for some reason and even though it's not a Corman movie it has that same American International Films feel too it. After being hypnotized a woman reverts back to the monster she was in a former past life. Nothing great but loads of fun.
In this day of tepid gore soaked remakes these old Drive-In classics shine with their wit,imagination,charm, and style. Well worth a look no matter what your age.
Day the World Ended/She Creature.......2006-08-02
Love these old movies. If you purchase, get out the popcorn and sodas on a dark spooky night and gather around the family, you can all watch. Not bad, even better on a stormy night.
Have lots of fun and enjoy
Average customer rating:
- Too much swearing and blaspheming
- "Just remember, we're not from around here."
- The Day the World Ended 1956
- SMALL TOWN CHARM?
- Doesn't live up to potential
|
The Day the World Ended
Starring:
Nastassja Kinski ,
Randy Quaid ,
Bobby Edner ,
Harry Groener , and
Lee de Broux
Director:
Terence Gross
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 General
| Horror
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Broux, Lee De
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Christofferson, Debra
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Groener, Harry
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Kinski, Nastassja
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Quaid, Randy
| ( Q )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tobolowsky, Stephen
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Sony Pictures Titles
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| Studio Specials
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DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
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( D )
| Titles
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| DVD
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Similar Items:
-
She Creature
-
Earth vs. the Spider
-
How to Make a Monster
-
Teenage Caveman
-
Fielder's Choice
ASIN: B00006BS7M
Release Date: 2002-08-20 |
Customer Reviews:
Too much swearing and blaspheming.......2007-03-14
The actors were very good. Randy Quaid did excellent performance and so did Nastassja Kinski. She really played a convincing role. However, I did not care for the vulgar sex act and the swearing and usage of blaspheme. Is not a movie to watch in mix company. I am sorry I purchased it. I wish I known ahead of time about the language and the sex I would have passed on it.
"Just remember, we're not from around here.".......2006-05-22
I have yet to see the original The Day the World Ended, directed by Roger Corman and released in 1955 by American International Pictures (AIP), but I did get a chance to see this 2001 feature of the same title...I wouldn't necessarily call it a remake as in reading the synopsis of the original movie apparently it dealt with survivors living in a post apocalyptic holocaust, forced to fend for themselves against a fleshy headed mutant...this updated, made for cable version features none of that...directed by Terence Gross (Hotel Splendide), the film stars Nastassja Kinski (Cat People, Unfaithfully Yours) and Randy `Cousin Eddie' Quaid (Vacation, Kingpin). Also appearing is Bobby Edner (Haunted Lighthouse, Welcome to Paradise), Harry Groener (Road to Perdition), Lee de Broux (Pumpkinhead), Debra Christofferson (Mousehunt), Neil Vipond (Phobia), and Stephen `Ned the Head' Tobolowsky (Basic Instinct, Sneakers, Groundhog Day).
Kinski plays Dr. Jennifer Stillman, a therapist and native New Yorker who's recently taken a position working for a school district in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in a small town called Sierra Vista. Upon arrival she finds she has her work cut out for her as she meets Ben McCann (Edner), the adoptive son of the town's doctor Michael McCann (Quaid). Seems most of the residents of the town, especially the children, regard Ben as some kind of freak (they're not too far off as it turns out Ben does possess some spooky, freaky deaky mind powers). Ben's mother, before she died, claimed Ben's father was from outer space, and Ben believes someday he'll return and take Ben away (I sort of suspect mom was pretty promiscuous, and told her son this only because she probably couldn't say for sure who his real father was...). As Stillman begins rooting around in Ben's past, the townspeople get edgy (seems certain individuals have something to hide), and soon we see the arrival of an entity from space, something large, squishy, and covered with hurty tentacles which it uses to rip peoples faces off, quite deftly, I might add. As the townspeople mobilize into an armed posse to scour the wooded areas for the killer (the body count is on the rise), Stillman continue her prying ways, and Ben's repressed memories start coming forth, indicating perhaps those recently slaughtered may have all been a apart of something that happened not too long ago involving the death of Ben's mother. Eventually various truths are revealed, along with a few more individuals de-brained (aliens sure seem to like them juicy noggins), as the good (and not so good) folks of Sierra Vista learn the hard way the past, while buried, isn't necessarily gone.
In and of itself this film was pretty decent, with a seemingly good amount of effort from most involved. The main bone I have to pick with the movie is while it shares a title with his predecessor releases some fifty years prior, that's about all it shares. None of the original story, as I understand it, has remained intact, and given the story that was used, it didn't really tie in with the title all that well making me wonder what was the point in even keeping the title? A more appropriate title might have been The Day the World Ended for One Particular Little Boy. The film does pay homage to that which had been released before in one, small way, as at one point Ben and his adoptive father are watching the original Roger Corman feature on television. Thanks for throwing us that meager bone...ah well...the story was kind of fun I suppose, but really, it didn't offer up any surprises because most of it I'd already seen in some format or other (the `twist' element reminded me a lot of story featured in the Twilight Zone movie released in 1983). I thought most of the performers competent and capable enough, but there seemed a lack of strength, particularly because there wasn't a solid lead actor (most of the performers were of the character actor variety, including Quaid). Ms. Kinski did well, but I thought she was slightly miscast in the role, as I just found it hard to buy off on this obviously metropolitan oriented individual taking a job across the country in some bumf**k, backwater mountain community for no, proper reason. Did she lose a bet? Was she doing it for kicks? Maybe she just wanted to see how the other half lived. Despite the issues mentioned (some of them fairly major, from my standpoint), the movie still comes off reasonably well. The creature effects, provided by Stan Winston, were professional as the monster really did look like something from a 1950s science fiction movie, only instead of a guy in a rubber suit, it looked someone had taken that idea and given the technology at hand, created a real, living, breathing monster. I did get a little annoyed with the character of the kid, especially once the killing starts and he never shuts up about the creature being his father and how he was the only one who truly understood it and all. I'll tell you what, if'n I were that kid, once I got a look at the ugly, slavering beast I wouldn't have been as willing to go around telling everyone it was my father. Had it been up to me, I probably would have sent the kid into the woods to be with his `father'...have fun, squirt, and don't forget to send us a postcard from whatever crab nebula you end up in...I did like the `conspiratorial' aspect of the story, and I kept hoping it would result in a bigger payoff, but we got what we got. All in all I thought this not an outstanding feature, but slightly better than average, and worth a look if you enjoy science fiction tinged with horror...just don't expect something along the lines of the original feature (again, which I have yet to see, but given the synopsis I've read, the two have little in common).
The picture, provided in both fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen, looks decent enough, and the audio, available in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround, comes across well. Extras include a `making of' featurette, a fairly large photo gallery, filmographies, a creature effects commentary with Stan Winston and Shane Mahan, subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Chinese, and Korean, and trailers for other DVD releases like Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Night of the Living Dead (1990), and The Blob (1988), the last tentatively scheduled for big screen remake in 2007.
Cookieman108
The Day the World Ended 1956.......2005-01-07
After the Atomic destruction a hand full of people find them selves in a valley that escaped the initial radiation. Naturedly the mix is of innocent and not so innocent women and men. This is not just any valley it was especially picked by a survivalist that expected the big one to be dropped and scoped out a valley with lots of lead around them.
Slowly encroaching on them is a strange mutant that has physic powers. Like the mutated monkeys on the atoll where they tested the bomb, this is probably the new generation of people replacements. Luckily he (it) still has a hankering for blonds in swimsuits.
There is also the possibility of contaminated rain bringing radiation to the valley.
One of the fun scenes in this Rodger Corman movie is when they throw a dummy off the cliff and you are supposed to believe it is a blond.
SMALL TOWN CHARM?.......2004-10-15
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of this well done, High grade B movie is the town itself. Leering people who don't want a newcomer around; and of course, they have a secret they don't want exposed, either. Nastassia Kinski brings a mature warmth to her role as the unwanted school psychologist, and Randy Quaid scores as the gruff Dr. McCann, who is the adopted father of young Bobby Edner, who has some pretty mysterious powers.
The atmosphere is appropriately spooky, and although we don't see the creature much, you can see Stan Winston's print on it, and there are no CGI effects, sort of an homage to those great B movies of the fifties. The inclusion of the original "Day the World Ended" is clever, and helps us remember this is not really a remake, as much as an homage.
Creepy and crawly, it entertains.
Doesn't live up to potential.......2004-03-02
Unfortunately, this movie doesn't live up to the enormous potential that it is. The story is an intriguing one, and the cast is filled with underrated actors. There are many things never explained. While that is sometimes good to leave the audience guessing, I was left with the impression that it was mainly due to slopping directing.
A lot of the imagery is cool however, and the story does keep the viewer interested. In the end, it isnt a bad movie, and if you are in the mood for a kinda creepy B-movie with awesome effects, then this DVD should suffice.
Also in the "Creature Feature" series are two very well done movies called Earth Vs. The Spider and She-Creature. I definetly recommend those
Customer Reviews:
Paul Blaisdell Tribute.......2007-08-30
In all honesty I don't believe there is any such thing as a five star American International Picture. These two are certainly no exception. These movies are true "creature features" and the creatures are the only reason to watch them. Were it not for the brilliant work of Paul Blaisdell these two turkeys would be nearly unwatchable.
The Day the World Ended is a well worn plot of survival after a nuclear holocaust filled with stock characters in stock cicumstances acting(?) in a stock manner. These were great drive-in movies because you really didn't miss anything by not watching until the end of the movie when the ceature finally makes his appearance and by then it was time to come up for air anyway. Unfortunatly this was not one of Blaisdell's best creations.
However, The She Creature is one of Blaidell's best and makes it worthwhile to endure the rest of the movie. The plot is best described as Bridey Murphy meets the Creature from the Black Lagoon and indeed the She Creatures design is often compared to that of the gill man. This comparison holds up well in still photographs, but when the two are shown moving, the paucity of Blaisdell's budget becomes all too apparent. One can only wonder what Blaisdell could have done had he had a decent budget to work with. The She Creature along with the big headed invaders from Invasion of the Saucer Men are two iconic creations of Blaisdell that he did on virtually no budget. We all owe Paul a debt of gratitude for making these low budget stinkers a lot more watchable.
So, pop up some popcorn, get a soft drink, turn out the lights, pretend like the couch is your bad ride from your youth, cue up this disc, grab your main squeeze and pretend like it's a night at the drive-in. It'll be a blast!
What happened to this series?.......2007-08-15
Great start on this series (despite the apect ratio problems), but Lion's Gate seems to have given up on this line, which is unfortunate, as there are a number of Arkoff titles that haven't yet seen the light of day on DVD. While I'm not 100% sure if Lion's Gate owns the rights to the films I list below, I would venture to guess they do. So how about a pairing of I Was a Teenage Frankenstein/I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Invasion of the Saucer Men/Attack of the Crab Monsters, Voodoo Woman/The Undead, Not of This Earth/It Conquered the World (two of the best AIP titles), and The Amazing Colossal Man (whose sequel, War of the Colossal Beast, is part of this line).
Terrific Double-Bill, Worthy for Many Reasons.......2007-05-28
"Day the World Ended" was the very first film officially released by American-International Pictures in 1956. Directed by Roger Corman, it's been copied ad nauseum, but here is the original! It's very well done, by B-movie standards, and the cast is first-rate. I won't re-hash what previous reviewers have said, but Paul Birch was later used in Corman's BEST film, "Not of This Earth", which is, pitiably, not available on DVD or VHS. It is a thought-provoking film, so typical of the paranoia regarding the bomb back in he 50's, but the script by Lou Rusoff will not insult your intelligence. It's a film all sci-fi aficianados should have in their collection. "Day the World Ended" is paired with "The She-Creature", which is a typical 50's horror exploitation film, but isn't all that bad. Certainly, production values are low, but there's Lance Fuller (the bad Brack from "This Island Earth") looking handsome and concerned, as well as newcomer Marla English (gorgeous) and the reliable Tom Conway and Cathy Downs. Perhaps a trend-setter, a reliable old actor of the past, Chester Morris, plays the oily hypnotist. Directed by horror schlock veteran Edward L. Cahn, it's worth a look. One thing that was silly is that the cover art & posters showed the monster with huge breasts, rather daring for 50's sensibilities, but no such breasts appear in the film. I'm regularly amused by such exploitation. Good package of films, especially the Corman.
Rainy Saturdays and horror movies.......2007-04-17
This set is one more attempt on my part to chase down the movies that I loved as a child. On rainy Saturdays I would post up in front of the T.V. and turn to the Saturday afternoon "Horror fest" on our local UHF station.(before cable and VCR's UHF stations were the only other way to see these old classic horror movies)
"Day The World Ended" is a Roger Corman movie and the reason I bought this release. After a nuclear war, One man has set up a house in the "valley" so that the fallout can't get to him and he and his daughter are set to ride out the end. Well others find their way to this oasis and sure enough the start fighting amongst themselves. To make matters worse someone or something is in the woods around the house and it wants a "date",NOW!!! It's all great fun with Corman once again proving that a little money and a lot of imagination can go a long way. Super Fun
"She Creature" was one that I had not seen before for some reason and even though it's not a Corman movie it has that same American International Films feel too it. After being hypnotized a woman reverts back to the monster she was in a former past life. Nothing great but loads of fun.
In this day of tepid gore soaked remakes these old Drive-In classics shine with their wit,imagination,charm, and style. Well worth a look no matter what your age.
Day the World Ended/She Creature.......2006-08-02
Love these old movies. If you purchase, get out the popcorn and sodas on a dark spooky night and gather around the family, you can all watch. Not bad, even better on a stormy night.
Have lots of fun and enjoy
![The Day the World Ended [Region 2]](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21VV9VTFP0L.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- Too much swearing and blaspheming
- "Just remember, we're not from around here."
- The Day the World Ended 1956
- SMALL TOWN CHARM?
- Doesn't live up to potential
|
The Day the World Ended [Region 2]
Starring:
Nastassja Kinski ,
Randy Quaid ,
Bobby Edner ,
Harry Groener , and
Lee de Broux
Director:
Terence Gross
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Broux, Lee De
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Christofferson, Debra
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Groener, Harry
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Kinski, Nastassja
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Quaid, Randy
| ( Q )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Tobolowsky, Stephen
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( D )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
She Creature
-
Earth vs. the Spider
-
How to Make a Monster
-
Teenage Caveman
-
Fielder's Choice
ASIN: B00006RJSS |
Customer Reviews:
Too much swearing and blaspheming.......2007-03-14
The actors were very good. Randy Quaid did excellent performance and so did Nastassja Kinski. She really played a convincing role. However, I did not care for the vulgar sex act and the swearing and usage of blaspheme. Is not a movie to watch in mix company. I am sorry I purchased it. I wish I known ahead of time about the language and the sex I would have passed on it.
"Just remember, we're not from around here.".......2006-05-22
I have yet to see the original The Day the World Ended, directed by Roger Corman and released in 1955 by American International Pictures (AIP), but I did get a chance to see this 2001 feature of the same title...I wouldn't necessarily call it a remake as in reading the synopsis of the original movie apparently it dealt with survivors living in a post apocalyptic holocaust, forced to fend for themselves against a fleshy headed mutant...this updated, made for cable version features none of that...directed by Terence Gross (Hotel Splendide), the film stars Nastassja Kinski (Cat People, Unfaithfully Yours) and Randy `Cousin Eddie' Quaid (Vacation, Kingpin). Also appearing is Bobby Edner (Haunted Lighthouse, Welcome to Paradise), Harry Groener (Road to Perdition), Lee de Broux (Pumpkinhead), Debra Christofferson (Mousehunt), Neil Vipond (Phobia), and Stephen `Ned the Head' Tobolowsky (Basic Instinct, Sneakers, Groundhog Day).
Kinski plays Dr. Jennifer Stillman, a therapist and native New Yorker who's recently taken a position working for a school district in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in a small town called Sierra Vista. Upon arrival she finds she has her work cut out for her as she meets Ben McCann (Edner), the adoptive son of the town's doctor Michael McCann (Quaid). Seems most of the residents of the town, especially the children, regard Ben as some kind of freak (they're not too far off as it turns out Ben does possess some spooky, freaky deaky mind powers). Ben's mother, before she died, claimed Ben's father was from outer space, and Ben believes someday he'll return and take Ben away (I sort of suspect mom was pretty promiscuous, and told her son this only because she probably couldn't say for sure who his real father was...). As Stillman begins rooting around in Ben's past, the townspeople get edgy (seems certain individuals have something to hide), and soon we see the arrival of an entity from space, something large, squishy, and covered with hurty tentacles which it uses to rip peoples faces off, quite deftly, I might add. As the townspeople mobilize into an armed posse to scour the wooded areas for the killer (the body count is on the rise), Stillman continue her prying ways, and Ben's repressed memories start coming forth, indicating perhaps those recently slaughtered may have all been a apart of something that happened not too long ago involving the death of Ben's mother. Eventually various truths are revealed, along with a few more individuals de-brained (aliens sure seem to like them juicy noggins), as the good (and not so good) folks of Sierra Vista learn the hard way the past, while buried, isn't necessarily gone.
In and of itself this film was pretty decent, with a seemingly good amount of effort from most involved. The main bone I have to pick with the movie is while it shares a title with his predecessor releases some fifty years prior, that's about all it shares. None of the original story, as I understand it, has remained intact, and given the story that was used, it didn't really tie in with the title all that well making me wonder what was the point in even keeping the title? A more appropriate title might have been The Day the World Ended for One Particular Little Boy. The film does pay homage to that which had been released before in one, small way, as at one point Ben and his adoptive father are watching the original Roger Corman feature on television. Thanks for throwing us that meager bone...ah well...the story was kind of fun I suppose, but really, it didn't offer up any surprises because most of it I'd already seen in some format or other (the `twist' element reminded me a lot of story featured in the Twilight Zone movie released in 1983). I thought most of the performers competent and capable enough, but there seemed a lack of strength, particularly because there wasn't a solid lead actor (most of the performers were of the character actor variety, including Quaid). Ms. Kinski did well, but I thought she was slightly miscast in the role, as I just found it hard to buy off on this obviously metropolitan oriented individual taking a job across the country in some bumf**k, backwater mountain community for no, proper reason. Did she lose a bet? Was she doing it for kicks? Maybe she just wanted to see how the other half lived. Despite the issues mentioned (some of them fairly major, from my standpoint), the movie still comes off reasonably well. The creature effects, provided by Stan Winston, were professional as the monster really did look like something from a 1950s science fiction movie, only instead of a guy in a rubber suit, it looked someone had taken that idea and given the technology at hand, created a real, living, breathing monster. I did get a little annoyed with the character of the kid, especially once the killing starts and he never shuts up about the creature being his father and how he was the only one who truly understood it and all. I'll tell you what, if'n I were that kid, once I got a look at the ugly, slavering beast I wouldn't have been as willing to go around telling everyone it was my father. Had it been up to me, I probably would have sent the kid into the woods to be with his `father'...have fun, squirt, and don't forget to send us a postcard from whatever crab nebula you end up in...I did like the `conspiratorial' aspect of the story, and I kept hoping it would result in a bigger payoff, but we got what we got. All in all I thought this not an outstanding feature, but slightly better than average, and worth a look if you enjoy science fiction tinged with horror...just don't expect something along the lines of the original feature (again, which I have yet to see, but given the synopsis I've read, the two have little in common).
The picture, provided in both fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen, looks decent enough, and the audio, available in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround, comes across well. Extras include a `making of' featurette, a fairly large photo gallery, filmographies, a creature effects commentary with Stan Winston and Shane Mahan, subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Chinese, and Korean, and trailers for other DVD releases like Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Night of the Living Dead (1990), and The Blob (1988), the last tentatively scheduled for big screen remake in 2007.
Cookieman108
The Day the World Ended 1956.......2005-01-07
After the Atomic destruction a hand full of people find them selves in a valley that escaped the initial radiation. Naturedly the mix is of innocent and not so innocent women and men. This is not just any valley it was especially picked by a survivalist that expected the big one to be dropped and scoped out a valley with lots of lead around them.
Slowly encroaching on them is a strange mutant that has physic powers. Like the mutated monkeys on the atoll where they tested the bomb, this is probably the new generation of people replacements. Luckily he (it) still has a hankering for blonds in swimsuits.
There is also the possibility of contaminated rain bringing radiation to the valley.
One of the fun scenes in this Rodger Corman movie is when they throw a dummy off the cliff and you are supposed to believe it is a blond.
SMALL TOWN CHARM?.......2004-10-15
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of this well done, High grade B movie is the town itself. Leering people who don't want a newcomer around; and of course, they have a secret they don't want exposed, either. Nastassia Kinski brings a mature warmth to her role as the unwanted school psychologist, and Randy Quaid scores as the gruff Dr. McCann, who is the adopted father of young Bobby Edner, who has some pretty mysterious powers.
The atmosphere is appropriately spooky, and although we don't see the creature much, you can see Stan Winston's print on it, and there are no CGI effects, sort of an homage to those great B movies of the fifties. The inclusion of the original "Day the World Ended" is clever, and helps us remember this is not really a remake, as much as an homage.
Creepy and crawly, it entertains.
Doesn't live up to potential.......2004-03-02
Unfortunately, this movie doesn't live up to the enormous potential that it is. The story is an intriguing one, and the cast is filled with underrated actors. There are many things never explained. While that is sometimes good to leave the audience guessing, I was left with the impression that it was mainly due to slopping directing.
A lot of the imagery is cool however, and the story does keep the viewer interested. In the end, it isnt a bad movie, and if you are in the mood for a kinda creepy B-movie with awesome effects, then this DVD should suffice.
Also in the "Creature Feature" series are two very well done movies called Earth Vs. The Spider and She-Creature. I definetly recommend those
Customer Reviews:
A comment on K-Pax.......2006-10-09
Please note that this review is just on the movie, K Pax, in this set.
K-Pax was one of the better movies of the year when it came out in 2001, and I found I liked it better than I was expecting. Spacey is excellent as usual, and Jeff Bridges as his therapist has a very sympathetic role and also does a great job. Interestingly, this time Bridges plays the earthman instead of the alien visitor, as he did in his 80s movie, Starman, an underrated Bridges flick that deserves to be better known. Spacey almost had me convinced that he really was from another planet, expecially after the great scene where he amazes confounds the assembled astronomers with his knowledge of the distant solar system.
The movie is somewhat schizoid because of the contrast between the first and second halves of the movie, but I really didn't mind that too much. The first half of the movie has a much lighter tone and is the most fun, as we learn about Prot, Spacey's otherworldly (literally) character from the planet K-PAX, and the relationship between Bridges, the psychiatrist, and Spacey, is developed.
But the movie takes on a distinctly dark and sinister tone in the second half, as Dr. Powell becomes convinced that Spacey could turn violent and sets out to discover the true nature of Spacey's past, which leads him to an abandoned farm in New Mexico.
My only complaint is that they could have found a better ending. By the end of the movie, you've come to like and sympathize with the unworldly, eccentric but likable Prot character, but then he basically turns into a vegetable at the end of the film and the movie falls flat. But except for that, overall I enjoyed the movie. Big Bubba says go see it and don't Bogart the popcorn.
DVD:
- Dead Fire
- Devil Girl from Mars
- Dinosaur Planet - Real Big Stories
- Doctor Who - Genesis of the Daleks (Episode 78)
- E P O C H 2000
- Escape Velocity
- Eye of the Killer
- Farscape Season 1, Vol. 5 - DNA Mad Scientist/They've Got a Secret
- Farscape Season 1, Vol. 7 - The Flax/Jeremiah Crichton
- Fiend of Dope Island & Pagan Island (Spec)
DVD
DVD
Cult Classics: Earth vs. the Spider/War of the Colossal Beast
This Island Earth
The Classic Sci-fi Ultimate Collection (Tarantula / The Mole People / The Incredible Shrinking Man / The Monolith Monsters / Monster on the Campus)
Target Earth
Viking Women and the Sea Serpent/Teenage Caveman
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