» DVD Reviews http://www.atomicpopcorn.net Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:53:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 In Memorium Review http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/in-memorium-review/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/in-memorium-review/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:59:13 +0000 John Cooper http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=8038 In Memorium 0004Is it possible to hold a film like Amanda Gusack’s In Memorium in a truly objective, critical light after seeing Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity? I would have to say probably not, considering that’s the first question I asked myself when sitting down to write this.

But here’s the thing: In Memorium, a haunting film that spans only a little over an hour, shot on a minuscule budget and released in 2005 to only a few film festivals and audiences, contains many of the elements that Paranormal Activity hinges upon. In fact, the main arc of the narrative is exactly the same: couple moves into house, sets up cameras to record paranormal activities, proceed to be haunted and scared to death. It begs the question of whether Peli was seated at one of those festivals, watching the show go on.

That said, In Memorium certainly has a leg up on Paranormal Activity in several areas. First and foremost, the narrative here is much more sophisticated. Dennis Wade has been diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, and has moved into a house with his girlfriend (Johanna Watts) in order to document his final days while avoiding chemotherapy and letting the disease take its course. I don’t think it’s spoiling anything to say that his stay isn’t entirely peaceful.

What’s interesting is how much more on the nose In Memorium is than the most recent haunting film — this is a ghost with an agenda, and the plot unravels in order to determine a solution to the haunting (rather than just sit around and be scared to death of it, as in Peli’s film). This is certainly helped by the performance of Erik McDowell as Wade, who’s simply a much more relatable and interesting protagonist than Micah is in Activity. The pain Wade goes through is palpable and sad, and the haunting tone of the film echoes his grieving preparation for death.

In Memorium is a little too explicit in exposition, and often struggles to find sufficient ways of burying it in the action. This is obviously hard in a 70-minute film shot from the perspective of what are essentially security cameras, but it certainly makes the front end of the film drag a little bit. However, once the film passes the thirty minute mark, this becomes less of an issue. When the scares start, they’re truly effectively scary, and I’m not one who’s prone to jumping at films like this.

It’s pretty incredible how densely packed this film is — really, it hits on every beat of Paranormal Activity and then some in half the time — while also relying on the same slight of hand and camera trickery used to freak audiences out in that film. Had the chips fallen just right for Gusack’s little movie in 2005 the way they had for Activity this year, she might have had a hit on her hands. Hopefully, in light of the success of that film, she can get some sort of home media distribution deal.

In summary, In Memorium is an effectively creepy horror film with great jump scares, standing toe-to-toe with Paranormal Activity and knocking that film flat on its face in a variety of ways.

]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/in-memorium-review/feed/ 3 DVD Review – Trick ‘R Treat http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/dvd-review-trick-r-treat/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/dvd-review-trick-r-treat/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:01:30 +0000 John Cooper http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=7531 Every so often, good word of mouth can save a film from oblivion — which was undoubtedly the direction Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘R Treat was headed, pushed into distribution limbo for two entire years. The downside of this tactic is that a hype machine can be built that quickly grows out of control.

2009-09-11-trick_r_treatPeople have called Trick ‘R Treat the best Halloween film since, well, Halloween. Did it live up to the hype for me?

Yes, it absolutely did.

Not for the reasons I expected, either, which was part of the surprise of the film — this is a film about constant surprises, and rabbits being pulled out of hats at every corner.

When I heard the praise, I immediately thought the film would be scary. And while it does have some good scares strewn about, it’s much more fun than scary. Dougherty celebrates the holiday in a way that is truer to Halloween than any other film. It’s gleeful and disgusting and morbid and magical. If you go in expecting that, you’ll be much more pleased with the outcome.

The highest praise I can give the film is that it felt like an old episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? — that old, forgotten Nickelodeon show from my youth — but reverse engineered via Romero’s Creepshow for an adult audience. The whole movie, which is spun through four interweaving segments involving a cute, deadly little beast named Sam, bears this aesthetic of being told a ghost story.

Expect surprises from Trick ‘R Treat, more than a share of gore (although you won’t be disappointed in that regard, either). It’s perfectly suited to this season, and will undoubtedly make the yearly rotation of films the way that It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story have for the holidays. Dougherty has waited a long time for the release of this film, but it’s been worth it: he’s injected the horror genre with a film more in love with its subject material than any released in recent memory.

For extras on the disc, we get a little animated short film that Dougherty created in 1996 that served as the basis for the character of Sam. I think it’s a perfect thing to watch either immediately before or after the film, because it feels like a twisted Charlie Brown cartoon.

 ★★★★☆ 

]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/dvd-review-trick-r-treat/feed/ 2 Blu-ray Review – Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/blu-ray-review-snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-diamond-edition/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/blu-ray-review-snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-diamond-edition/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:18:34 +0000 Philip Barrett http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=7496 Snow-WhiteHow do you review a landmark film? I don’t mean ‘classic’ like, say, Army of Darkness or Bullitt. No, I’m referring to films that pioneered cinema and have had dozens upon dozens of great things already chronicled about them. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs carried impact when it first debuted in 1937, namely because it was the first animated feature film and it didn’t topple over like many nay-sayers predicted. Instead, like all films that stand with the weight of the critical world against them, Walt Disney’s first animated feature made a huge splash that forever changed the landscape of cinema. It’s a safe bet that without this picture, we would not be enjoying any Pixar films and would be left without the prospect of future Disney classics.

But again the question for one comes back to, what can be said that hasn’t already been boasted about this film? There’s nothing here that’s not to love, and this adaptation of fairy tale(s) to the silver screen has become the basis of what Disney is all about. There’s a reason The Queen earned her reputation as one of the most evil characters around. In fact it is socially relevant that her reasons for killing Snow White are no different than the evil popular girl wanting to rub out the new girl for being sweet, innocent, and everything she’s not. Of course it’s tough to find a high school teenage queen who has as stockpile of poison apples at her disposal. She might not be the best one, but she’s the villain all Disney villains for all time will be compared to.

Then we have the lovely Dwarfs who in some aspects have become more popular than Snow White herself. They too have cemented their place as some of the ultimate sidekicks in cinema history. They may be limited individually, and yet we’re still able to find an emotional connection to each one. True, Dopey, Grumpy, and Doc are more prominent, but one feels just as strongly about them as they would Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, and Sneezy. Maybe it’s how their drawn, or how lovable all of them are, or maybe it’s because there’s some expert characterization going on with each of the seven. Whatever it is, it’s tough not to fall in love with these guys.

All this and we’ve yet to mention the main character of this story, Snow White herself. To be fair, she is a little bland but the intent might be for the audience to project themselves onto her. No doubt Disney would better characterize his leads in future films, but Snow White, much like Superman (albiet not as complex) represents pure goodness in the world. Prince Charming represents what every woman wants in her life, and he gets the least amount of characterization, and that shows.

I’ve tried, but I don’t think I’ve really added anything to this film’s already phenomenal reputation. The stellar animation stills holds up to this day and as simple as the story might be, it has and will continue to survive for future generations to come. Maybe it’s not a flawless film, but it’s nearly a perfect one and it belongs in any collection, be it Disney, animation or otherwise.

 ★★★★★ 

The Video

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is presented in it’s original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and without question looks the best it has ever looked, and likely better than when it was first released. All of the colors come in very vibrantly and sharpness was never an issue. The details are all there, and quite honestly it appears as if Walt and his team animated this puppy yesterday. While the super-format might show off animation inconsistencies, who honestly cares when the film itself is the best it’s ever been?

 ★★★★★ 

The Audio

Snow White gets it’s original mono track in tact as well as a DTS-HA 7.1 track that sounds just as stellar as the animation. It’s not without its problems, but the audio is fine and remains centered throughout the film. Granted, we’re dealing with 72-year old audio so I’m more than willing to forgive flat effects and music as well as edginess in the dialogue. But again, the film sounds fine, especially when you kick up the mono track. Personally, I prefer mono to DTS here only because that’s how the film was originally released and it’s the best it’s ever sounded.

 ★★★★☆ 

Packaging and Extras

Interestingly enough, Disney has done something with DVD release of this film. It’s marketed and released in a DVD case, but it has both Blu-ray discs as well as a bonus DVD disc with some special features – but no exclusive content.

First up is an audio commentary introduced by Disney Vice Chairman Roy E. Disney and features animation historian John Canemaker as well as audio recordings from Walt Disney himself. It’s not screen-specific; while Disney covers the origins of the project and the resentment he held toward the picture, Canemaker goes over the problems with animating the Mirror and more mundane things like naming the Dwarfs. It’s well handled piece and definitely worth a listen as it manages to engage and entertain.

Next up to bat is a feature called “Disney View” which gives the option of putting red curtains or a forest background in the black bar sections as the film plays. While this is nice for kids, I can’t see the thing catching on for adults. Still, at least the red curtains can be appreciated as a nice throwback to times of yesteryear.

Disney has also included the first eight minutes of their upcoming The Princess and the Frog and is designed to get the little ones, and hopefully adults, hyped for the release. In all honesty, it does this job well and is worth a look.

“Snow White Returns” runs roughly eight minutes and features unfinished storyboards narrated by producer Don Hahn and also allows us to see concept for an abandoned sequel to Snow White.

We also get two deleted scenes called “Soup Eating Sequence” and “Bed Building Sequence”. Neither is completed as they feature unfinished animation. Still, they’re nice to admire and look at.

We’re followed with a music video for “Someday My Prince Will Come” by Disney star Tiffany Thornton. Next.

Under “Family Play”, four mini-games are given and they are “Mirror, Mirror On the Wall”, “Jewel Jumble”, “What Do You See?”, and “Scene Stealer.” They’re all fun to play through, and should definitely keep the kids entertained.

An interactive game called “Dopey’s Wild Ride” has you travel through the mine and answer questions about Snow White. Interesting and fun, it’s worth a try.

Next is a whole section dedicated to Disney’s former Hyperion Studios. It’s broken into a number of sub-menus and is recommended for through-viewing from the index rather than through the very pretty hi-def menus. It’s informative and amazing, featuring audio clips, featurettes, and images with various studio personalities and film historians.

“Disney Through the Decades” features prominent Disney faces like Jodi Benson and Roy E. Disney and gives a brief rundown of the history of the company. Even if superficial, it features some nice material.

“Animation Voice Talent” takes us through footage of the animators working with the voice actors, namely Adrianna Caselotti working with animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson. It provides us with info on how the actors got their parts and learn bits of their careers. Worth a look at least.

“Karakoe Sing-Along” is more tuned for the kids as it features the classic “Heigh-Ho” and this can be viewed in the original version or with no singing. The lyrics do appear at the bottom of the screen and bounce along.

“The One That Started It All” takes a look at Disney’s attraction to Snow White and why he chose that story, the film’s success and challenges it faced for getting made. Overall, it’s a nice celebration of the film.

Now I know the Platinum Edition is already out there with some stellar extras (and I also feel that’s why the DVD version skimped on extras) but for my money this is the version to own (obviously) as it does indeed present the best all-around view of the film.

 ★★★★★ 

Overall

For the film, there’s not much left to say other than it’s a landmark piece in the Disney library and pioneered animation features that we still enjoy to this day. While maybe not Disney’s best (Lion King or Pinocchio probably holds that distinction,) it’s still arguably their most important work. The Blu-ray has now landed with jaw-dropping visual presentation, good audio, and informative, entertaining extras. Even if you already own the Platinum Edition, this is a must-have in every sense of the word.

 ★★★★★ 

]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/blu-ray-review-snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-diamond-edition/feed/ 1 Anaconda (Blu-Ray Review) http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/anaconda-blu-ray-review/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/anaconda-blu-ray-review/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:46:24 +0000 Tigervamp http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=6970

Anacona on Blu-Ray

Anacona on Blu-Ray

Main Feature (1H 29M 20S)

Question: Is this one of the worst films ever made?

Answer: Quite possibly. Then again, this is possibly also one of the worst films featuring a giant snake.

I am truly amazed at this film. I am very rarely left open-jawed and at a loss for words, but this is one of those moments. Since I’m finding it a struggle to communicate I will partially dissect this disaster step by step.

Jon Voight, who (let’s be honest) was the best hope for some decent acting, plays a character named Sarone who speaks as though he is constantly chewing marbles, and affects a ridiculous “Tony Montana” accent. Eric Stoltz is another actor I have a lot of respect for but his character, Dr. Steven Cale, quickly goes from being a strong leader to being just as incompetent as everyone else on this little expedition. And where stereotypes are concerned, it’s also possible that Ice Cube plays the blackest black guy outside of a Spike Lee movie. In fact, early in the movie his character, Danny Rich, is shown to be very protective of his radio which reminded me of Radio Raheem from Spike Lee’s classic, Do the Right Thing. I am grasping for positives here and all I can muster is that Jennifer Lopez and Kari Wuhrer are both gorgeous.

The story here is pretty much Aliens if it were set in an Amazonian river and the aliens were replaced by a really big snake. The lead character is an attractive female who manages to stay strong whilst watching a group of incompetent men fail to take care of the terrifying issue at hand. Human greed is once again shown to be the root of all evil, not to mention being blind to some incredibly obvious dangers. In the Amazon jungle no one can hear you scream. The big question is whether or not anyone would hear a sound if a tree happened to fall in that jungle with no one nearby when that event took place. I apologize if that was too random but I am trying to cheer myself up after watching this monstrosity.

Due to the improved visuals of the Blu-Ray format the landscape really comes to life in this release but the major downside of this improved clarity is that you can now witness how awful the special effects are. In one scene a tiny snake bites the finger of one of the characters and the offending reptile looks like one of those very cheap rubber snakes you might find in a joke shop.

Anyone familiar with the famous shot in Jaws in which the camera simultaneously tracks in and zooms out to emphasise the horrified reaction of Roy Scheider may share my startled reaction when I noticed the exact same shot used on the face of Jennifer Lopez. I wish to point out one thing. I am not complaining about seeing the face of Lopez – she is beautiful. I had a lot of time for Scheider but even if he had appeared on every one of the countless makeover shows on American TV he still wouldn’t come out looking anywhere near as pretty as J-Lo. Such an homage leaves me stunned in a manner which could only be outdone by a Wayans brothers movie featuring a classic shot from Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Avoid this film unless you really love garbage cinema.

Extras

Move along. There is nothing to see here.

Summary

Here is a recipe in how to end up with a rating of one star out of a possible five. Take one pathetic film and add no extras at all.

Rating       *

]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/anaconda-blu-ray-review/feed/ 1 In Cold Blood (Blu-Ray Review) http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/in-cold-blood-blu-ray-review/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/in-cold-blood-blu-ray-review/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:44:53 +0000 Tigervamp http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=6967

In Cold Blood on Blu-Ray

In Cold Blood on Blu-Ray

Main Feature (2H 14M 29S)

This film is based on the Truman Capote novel of the same name. I have not read that novel so for any of you out there who may have read the novel but have yet to see this film, I am unable to provide a comparison. I also believe that the novel was based on real-life events, so this should certainly interest those who enjoy watching true stories.

The editing is fantastic and the film seamlessly cuts from one conversation or action to another. One phone conversation cuts to a very different phone conversation. One man leans over a basin and this cuts to a different man pulling his head back after splashing his face with water. I have rarely witnessed such smart editing and it’s a shame that most contemporary editors and directors appear to have lost – or ignore – the impact an intelligent edit can make.

The wonderful visual editing is accompanied by an unmissable shift in music. The cheerful, pleasant, and homely music of the middle-American happy family is replaced by something more urgent, dark, and sinister when the camera is focused on the main antagonists. The mood shift which is created by jumping back and forth between the two groups lets the audience know that events are building up to something big, and the script does not disappoint.

I noticed a couple of beliefs in this film which seem so out of place in today’s society. The first is that “God-fearing” Americans should somehow be able to avoid any criminal activity. The second is that children raised by single parents have a good chance of growing up to be killers. Another prominent theme is that in order to obtain what rich people have, poor people will do anything at all, up to and including the act of mass murder.

In Cold Blood is a pretty solid example of film noir and I am sure the Coen Brothers took a great deal of inspiration from this. Robert Blake and Scott Wilson are great as the criminal duo and Director Richard Brooks did a fine job, but I believe it is the Editor Peter Zinner who deserves the most praise.

Extras

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! – “Heartache, as no extras were found on Blu-Ray”

Summary

The film starts off wonderfully only to lose itself in the middle. It pulls itself back together in impressive fashion at the end. A great film with a gripping story – but the fact this is without a single extra is the most criminal aspect of this Blu-Ray release.

Rating       ****

]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/in-cold-blood-blu-ray-review/feed/ 0 Roxanne (Blu-Ray Review) http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/roxanne-blu-ray-review/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/roxanne-blu-ray-review/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:43:06 +0000 Tigervamp http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=6963

Roxanne on Blu-Ray

Roxanne on Blu-Ray

Main Feature (1H 46M 50S)

This is one of those films from my childhood which I have fond memories of. I must have watched Roxanne a dozen times as a kid and loved it because of all of the slapstick comedy. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing an idiot get hit in the face with a tennis racket. This is from the period in Steve Martin’s career when he was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and the appearance of his name in a film’s credits would guarantee a huge audience. Nowadays, he appears to be on a mission to destroy what remains of a once glittering career, which is a damn shame. This is by no means Steve’s funniest performance, nor does Daryl Hannah look her finest. Having said that, the combination of the funny and the looking great is not to be missed.

This the classic tale of guy meets girl with a slight twist. The guy named Charlie isn’t very attractive mostly due to his enormous nose but he is highly intelligent and cultured. The guys likes the girl named Roxanne a lot but another guy, Chris who is played by Rick Rossovich, appears on the scene who is more attractive though happens to be an idiot. The attractive idiot Chris asks the intelligent large-nosed Charlie to help him win over Roxanne’s heart so he can have sex with her. The intelligent large-nosed Charlie agrees to help the attractive idiot Chris because it’s an opportunity to let Roxanne know his true feelings even if it’s through another’s mouth. Roxanne likes how Chris looks but also, unbeknown to her, likes the intelligence and passion of Charlie. Hilarity ensues as many misunderstandings punctuate the fun and games along the way. I hope I made that clear enough for you.

This is a nice film. The complications surrounding love and sex are dumbed down enough so that it becomes more easily accessible for the average viewer. One thing which also struck me is the lack of evil characters. Charlie is taunted by two morons at the beginning and once more in a bar later in the film but those characters are too dumb to be true villains. This film offers up an equal measure of happiness and silliness. Daryl Hannah is pretty, Steve Martin is pretty funny, Rick Rossovich is pretty vacant, and overall the film is pretty good.

Extras

You won’t find any of that newfangled nonsense here.

Summary

The main feature is enjoyable but I am growing more and more frustrated with Blu-Ray releases of older films not having any extras at all. Pretty much every film in the Eighties and early Nineties had some sort of documentary made on them for publicity reasons and we ought to at least be treated to that.

Rating       ***

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]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/roxanne-blu-ray-review/feed/ 0 The Quick and the Dead (Blu-Ray Review) http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/the-quick-and-the-dead-blu-ray-review/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/the-quick-and-the-dead-blu-ray-review/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:41:46 +0000 Tigervamp http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=6965

The Quick and the Dead on Blu-Ray

The Quick and the Dead on Blu-Ray

Main Feature (1H 47M 46S)

Since the first time I first saw this film I have felt that it’s under-rated, not to mention misunderstood. The Quick and the Dead is directed by none other than Sam Raimi, famous for his wonderful gore-filled yet tongue-in-cheek Evil Dead trilogy, so it should come as no surprise that this, too, brings together a variety of genres.

This is of course a Western film and the core of the film stays true to the more common themes found in that genre. There is no doubt which of the characters are the goodies and which are the baddies and even the reformed bad guy causes no upset because you know he is a good guy at heart. This clear-cut approach comes from the earlier and more common Western films from the likes of John Ford in which everything is black and white. The writer, Simon Moore, could easily have run with this format but he instead throws in a bit of female revenge which is reminiscent of Abel Ferrara’s equally under-rated Ms. 45. The main character, played by the ever stunning Sharon Stone, is known mostly as “the lady” which I see as a nod towards Sergio Leone’s ‘man with no name’ character, made famous by Clint Eastwood. Then we have the graphic violence, which I happen to enjoy watching, such as the big hole in the head, more in keeping with Sam Peckinpah.

Stone is ballsy and beautiful in equal measures as “the lady” seeking revenge for an event during her childhood which continues to torment her dreams. Crowe is the preacher with a dark past looking for salvation. Hackman is a no-nonsense tyrant who rules over the people of his town with an iron fist. A young DiCaprio is the cocky yet innocent gunslinger who fights for acceptance. If this cast were assembled today it would be major news, as, while Hackman and Stone were hugely successful at that time the careers of both Crowe and DiCaprio have rocketed more in recent years. The entire cast, even the supporting actors, do a brilliant job – the main testament to this is the fact that at no point did this film seem like a contemporary western. It wouldn’t feel out of place alongside the westerns of the late sixties.

Sharon Stone surprised me in this film and managed to pull of her role as one part of a double act with the veteran Gene Hackman. I have read quite a lot about how Stone was the weakest link in this film and I want to emphatically shoot that idea down, pun intended. Stone played her role as the emotional and frightened little girl trapped in a grown woman’s body to perfection. Comments such as “she looked depressed the whole film” and “she looked scared” when used as negatives come from those who don’t understand the character or the Western genre. This is also one of Raimi’s biggest stylistic successes as Director and he shows he has more than enough flare to breathe new life into an aging genre.

Extras

This town ain’t big enough for the both of us. Apparently, this town also ain’t big enough for any extras.

Summary

I hope that one day critics will agree that this is Raimi’s most under-rated masterpiece and that the intriguing cast-list produced some solid performances. However, the lack of extras on this Blu-Ray release chock full of stars is shocking! I have listened to some great commentary from Raimi in the past and I can’t get my head round the fact that not only does this lack the one feature I hoped for but it fails to offer anything at all.

Rating       ***

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]]> http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/the-quick-and-the-dead-blu-ray-review/feed/ 0 Starman (Blu-Ray Review) http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/starman-blu-ray-review/ http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/starman-blu-ray-review/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:40:14 +0000 Tigervamp http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/?p=6968

Starman on Blu-Ray

Starman on Blu-Ray

Main Feature (1H 54M 58S)

I am a huge fan of John Carpenter and Jeff Bridges and while I was pretty sure I had seen this movie many years ago I was also confident I had forgotten almost everything about it. Carpenter fails to hit the highs he achieved with other films; the same can be said of Bridges and Karen Allen. At the end of the day, in spite of these small disappointments, you’re left with something quite pleasant.

Starman appears to adopt many elements from previous movies in the sci-fi genre. At various points in the movie we are treated to short bursts of music which bear more than a little resemblance to the wonderful score from Vangelis in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Near the beginning of the movie Allen is shown walking around in a top and panties which reminded me of the scene at the end of Alien, another from Scott, in which Sigourney Weaver as Ripley walks around in a similarly revealing outfit. The most glaring example for me is that the story is almost a carbon copy of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. If you replaced Bridges with a rubber alien, Allen with a young boy, and added a cute kid to the mix then you’d pretty much have the script for that much more popular effort from Spielberg. It could of course be said that the script for James Cameron’s Terminator 2, in which a human spends time teaching an outsider (in that case a futuristic robot) basic human slang and customs was influenced by the core theme found in Starman.

This film is a bit of a departure for Carpenter as it lacks the level of cynicism or hopelessness found in some of his better-known work. They Live is effectively Carpenter’s take on Body Snatchers with a touch of satire of the media thrown in for good measure. The Thing, In The Mouth of Madness, and even the comical Dark Star are films which deal with loneliness and the thin line between clarity and insanity. Despite the severity of the chase, with our two protagonists pursued by those who wish to cause the alien harm, any possibility of doom and gloom is warmed by the feeling that everything will turn out okay in the end. Once again think E.T. and you won’t go far wrong in what to expect in this film.

I mentioned at the start of this review that Starman is a pleasant film and that is true. It’s pretty uneventful. It is not that this fails to love up to higher expectations in the action department – because that isn’t what the film is trying to achieve. The problem I have is that everything is so predictable. From the moment the alien takes on the form of Allen’s late husband his character development, each of the secondary characters, their motives and development – everyone just kind of meanders down to the expected ending. There are no twists and turns and the biggest difference between this and carpenter’s other films is that no risks are taken in what amounts to a highly commercial family film.

Extras

None. Zero. Zilch.

Summary

An average film which avoids doing anything bad but unfortunately also avoids doing anything particularly good. The extras are nonexistent and I find that disgraceful on a Blu-Ray considering how much space each disc can hold and the amount of money the consumers are expected to pay for the product.

Rating       **

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