Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 3rd, 2003
Synopsis
In a cellar (all that remains of a great mansion) lurks a demonic bed. Anyone who lies on it will be eaten (and being eaten involves being surrounded by yellow foam and dragged down into yellow liquid limbo and dissolved). Trapped behind his own painting is the ghost of artist Aubrey Beardsley. He witnesses the bed's depredations (and his narration explains the plot to us), but there is nothing he can do to stop the evil. That, more or less, is the plot. The 80 minutes meander along, and the...story is padded out with lots of scenes (some quite humorous) of one victim after another being devoured. Made for next-to-nothing, and looking it, Death Bed nonetheless benefits from some interesting camera movement and startling production design (especially of the bed itself). There is almost no direct sound, and with the majority of the story explained to us in voice-over, there is a distinct resemblance to the films of Doris Wishman (see A Night to Dismember). However, the off-kilter fairy tale qualities of the story, and some very striking imagery (especially at the end) raise Death Bed well above Wishman's so-bad-it's-great level. Fans of really obscure horror should check this out.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2003
Adam Sandler and his crazy antics are back… this time, he is animated. I went into the viewing of this film with very low expectations; and although this is not a quality movie, it did turn out to be mildly more entertaining then I expected. This film is over-the-top and childish at time, but Sandler is comical as the voices of the three main characters, and the musical numbers are entertaining in a manner in which only Adam Sandler can provide. This movie will not be for everyone, but die-hard Sandler fans will p...obably be entertained.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 2nd, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 1st, 2003
The Christian rock/rap group dc Talk had gone about as far as it could go by the new millennium, and they found themselves at a crossroads. There was virtually no new ground for them to tread upon as a group, but they didn’t want to shut down the show, either. Instead, the band went on hiatus. Each member subsequently put out a solo record, and started the process of building a fan base all over again.
All of the solo albums are surprisingly good in their own unique way, and all have done fairly well at re...ail. This DVD is the companion piece to tobyMac’s “Momentum” record, the only one with such a support piece. The disc’s main event is a collection of three videos from the album; “Extreme Days”, “Get This Party Started” and “Irene”. The “Extreme Days” piece also comes with a bonus alternate ending, which I happen to prefer to the original.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 30th, 2003
dc Talk is a bit of an anomaly in the growing Christian music scene. While not necessarily a group that crosses over into the mainstream, they have grown into about as big of a Christian music act as they can become. The group is made up of three members, each one unique in their musical style and talents. The rock, rap and pop influences they bring together blend to create something new and unique. Backed by a full band, dc Talk has created a live show that rivals most major mainstream acts.
Welcome to th... FreakShow is a concert video, shot during the support tour for the group’s “Jesus Freak” album. Footage from the show is intercut with backstage footage, interview segments, and scenes from different stops on the European leg of the tour. These bonus segments help to break up the show into something that is more enjoyable for home viewing than just a standard concert performance.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 27th, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 26th, 2003
Revenge is the theme of what many people consider H.G. Clouzot’s finest film, the 1955 thriller “Diabolique”. This is the story of two women who want to kill the same man. One is his kind and gentle wife, and the other is his attractive but hard-hearted mistress. The two work together to end his life, devising a plan that comes to fruition surprisingly early in the film. What initially appears to be a film about the plotting of a murder turns into a film about something else… something more sinister and unexpected. A... the two realize that the man they mean to kill may not be dead after all, their dread and terror escalates, as does the tension on the screen.
Clouzot’s real life spouse, Vera Clouzot, plays the part of the mild mannered wife, and she does so superbly. I really cannot say enough about her performance in this film. She is reason enough to watch the film, but the engaging plot and thrilling finale make it even better. Criterion brings us a true classic of early French cinema, with “Diabolique”.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 25th, 2003
Most sci-fi fans have a very warm place in their heart for Starbuck, Apollo, and the rest of the crew of Battlestar Galactica. At over $1 million per episode, it became the most expensive show in network history. Star Wars master Jedi f/x man John Dykstra utilized many of the techniques he developed for the Lucas enterprise. George Lucas claimed they were so close he was forced into a failed effort to sue the show for copyright infringement. Sci-Fi channel is about to relaunch this revered franchise, but the results appear so far underwhelming. (Starbuck as an airhead blonde chick?) Dressed in an amazing package that resembles a Cylon face, this is the ultimate Galactica. Glen Larson was already a network master with huge successes under his belt, like the famous forensic scientist Quincy, when he wrote and pitched the show. Galactica was a risk he did not have to take. The result was television magic. Like so many masterful shows before it, such as another famous sci-fi “enterprise”, it was never given a fair chance at the time. It was doomed to only be truly appreciated when it was finally gone.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 25th, 2003
Forever Knight was a CBS attempt to provide original drama broadcasting in the late night slot. This was, of course, before Letterman came along. After two seasons it was jettisoned and the USA network picked it up. USA retooled the show and ran it for just one more year for a total of three: Thus the Forever Knight Trilogy. The concept was quite intriguing. Knight would strongly emulate the popular Ann Rice universe of vampires, combining these gothic images and stories with a modern police drama. Each episode had a trademark dual storyline. One story would involve Knight’s seedy vampire past, while the second story would involve the current police case. The stories would blend on some common element like loyalty or Father’s Day. Filmed almost totally at night in Canada, the series had a distinct atmosphere assisted in no small part by the wonderful time-lapse photography and the cello-rich score of Fred Molin
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 24th, 2003
The biggest band in the world did something completely revolutionary on their 2001 tour… they took a step back.
In the eighties and nineties, U2 was a band that became big. Huge. Their shows grew from arenas to stadiums, incorporating massive special effects, a giant lemon-shaped disco ball, and the largest video screen ever. As the productions grew, however, so did the costs, until the band was barely breaking even on the road, despite enormous audiences and absurd ticket prices. After some time off and a...new album, the band returned to the arenas where they first hit it big. This DVD set features the Boston, MA show from the Elevation tour in its entirety. The performance is not only fantastic, but completely honest and real. It is, as the saying goes, all that you can’t leave behind.
![U2 - Elevation Tour 2001 - Live from Boston [Region 2] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/u2-elevation-tour-2001-live-fro-large.jpg)
