Do I need a change of glasses, or a new tv set?
Rick Henry | Wichita, KS | 03/23/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Some of these films are really surprising treats -- that I missed long ago, and was glad to get to view. I was particularly impressed with "The Last Man on Earth," "Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride," "Circus of Fear," and "Horror Express." ("Circus" and "The Bat" probably being the most grounded in a more realistic reality, whereas the others do roil in the horror genre with both feet.) I particularly enjoyed Christopher Lee in his varied roles; he appears to have been a much better actor than ever previously noted. Vincent Price has his place, too... but for my money, he gets a bit tedious when overlong, and overdone.
The problem here, however, is neither the actors or the film genres. It is the company which packaged them -- which should be penalized for presenting such a poorly "digitally re-mastered" product; which thus makes one wonder if perhaps their dvd player is losing its touch, or possibly a trip to the eye doctor may be necessary for a change of glasses. It is a tragedy to have come across such a rather nice selection of films, that are too much on the bleary/blurry side to fully enjoy. And only the most determined of fans will be willing to wade through to the bitter end. For the price, one could say, what do you expect? But for my ethics, no one should be in business to give you an inferior product, regardless of the price tag. If you are selling Rolex's for five cents, they should be as good as the ones selling for five thousand. If it isn't worth the buying, it isn't worth the selling. But then, there are rip-offs, and there are rip-offs. If the company likes their reputation in the gutter, that's their business. They put it there. And I'm not able to clean it up...."
Excellent Value For A Low Price
J Astin | Washington State | 10/12/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, I'll quickly address the movie quality. For a couple of the movies, it's a bit patchy, but for the price, it's not bad.
The movies:
House On Haunted Hill - An excellent old Vincent Price movie. By itself it would be worth the price. It's a bit cheesy, but it has wonderful dialogue and interesting effects.
Last Man On Earth - Everyone on earth, except for Vincent Price (hence the title) has been infected with a vampire virus. A darker film, with flashbacks between the current, vampire infested time, and back to when it was all going downhill. Definately worth watching, but if you're looking for a happy ending (in a Vincent Price film? You're mad!), you're out of luck.
The Bat - A mystery writer stays in a house that is plagued by appearances of The Bat, a serial killer. Vincent Price is in a supporting role in this interesting film, which will keep you guessing The Bat's identity til the end. A great movie.
Horror Express - Christopher Lee stars in this film as an anthropologist who makes a creepy discovery, which of course comes to life and causes the deaths of many people. The film quality is low, but the movie is fairly interesting, though nothing special.
Count Dracula And His Vampire Bride - I watched this before under the title of The Satanic Rites Of Dracula, so was surprised to find that the name was changed. A rated R movie with Christopher Lee as Dracula and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing; not the best work that the two have done together, but if you like their other Dracula movies, this one should hold some entertainment as well.
Circus Of Fear - A robbery leads to the investigation of a circus, where several people end up murdered. Christopher Lee is one of the stars, though his face is not revealed until near the end. A fairly amusing movie, though it leaves some questions unanswered."