DVD Roger Corman Retrospective Vol 01
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Review(s): DVD Roger Corman Retrospective Vol 01 | |
| Attack of the Technophobia |  |
European corman-o-buffs beware. This dangerously attractive and bargainpriced set of drive-in jams is recorded in the EP mode (Extended Play), which is used mainly on US VCRs. Even if you have a NTSC compatible machine (as I do), this tape will not be reproduced correctly due to a higher processing speed - which is somewhere between SP and LP mode. My advice is simple: get a DVD version.And comments regarding the three goodies? A must have for any fan of tasty low-budget flicks. Also highly recommended as a background videowall if you are throwing a family reunion party.
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| ONE FOR THE PLEASURE | |
If you have the chance to find and buy this DVD, you won't regret it. A volume 02 of this Roger Corman retrospective has already been announced, so let's just hope that Slingshot and the American National Film Museum will continue to release those little Corman goodies. Unlike Herschell Gordon Lewis who directed exploitation movies at the same period, Roger Corman had, and still has, a tremendous talent. His actors were credible and his movies had rythm.So I spent three wonderful nights watching those little pearls. ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES, directed by Bernard L. Kowalski and produced by Roger Corman, is absolutely hilarious with those poor guys hidden under plastic trying to look like leeches and sucking the blood of Yvette Vickers in a Lolita role. BUCKET OF BLOOD, a satire of the beatnik circles of the late fifties, is, in my opinion, a collection piece. The first three minutes of the movie, with Julian Burton improvising poetry while a saxophone plays a solo, is unforgettable. THE WASP WOMAN, released in 1960, concludes brilliantly this DVD presentation with the one woman show of Susan Cabot, in the role of an elixir of youth addict yearning for syringes filled with the royal jelly of a wasp queen. What a screenplay ! The copies presented here are rather good but unfortunately there are no bonus features with this DVD I will put with an immense pride on the shelves of my library. A DVD zone connoisseur.
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| You probably won't be stung if you're careful... |
I should preface this review by stating I was very leary of this DVD after I read all of the reviews. I debated over buying it, for fear of what I would find on the technical level. I ordered it, received it, watched it and I can honestly say I am glad I bought it.The material here with the exception of BUCKET OF BLOOD is not avaialable on any other DVD at the time of this writing. BUCKET is presented, I'm sure, much better on the MGM DVD. My reason for even ordering this DVD is primarily to watch my favorite THE WASP WOMAN. When I got the disc, I knew full well that this movie would have the most technical problems and I was proven correct. The shoddy print presented here looks to be an old television 16mm print to these eyes. It has many splices and unusual fadeouts. The print identifies itself as ALLIED ARTISTS TELEVISION DIST. at the opening credits, obviously added for television viewing. The picture does have a yellowish tint and the images are very soft and indistinct, rather like watching an old television program. At the beginning of the movie, there are some really annoying video noises that distort the picture horizontally. Luckily, these are brief. For the most part, this movie's image is very watchable, rahter like watching late night television (where I discovered this little classic over 20 years ago). As for the other 2 films on this DVD, they are by leaps much better in image quality, with the best being ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES and following with BUCKET OF BLOOD. The soundtracks on these films all have their distorted flaws, but are certainly distinguishable. Another wonderful attribute of this collection are its clear menus. Each film has a detailed menu that far surpasses my expectation. The DVD itself is very attractively packaged in a heavy clear platic jewel case. Do I recommend this to others? I would suggest reading the other reviews as well. I bought this DVD knowing what I was getting myself into and came out satisfied, for the most part. The mediocre quality was what I expected, but the wonderful value this DVD offers makes it worth the price. At almost 6 bucks a movie, you can't go wrong. You have to sacrifice quality image here. Sure the films have their technical problems, but I think you will find that this will suffice for now. I'll certainly be waiting for another, better quality presentation of THE WASP WOMAN in the future. Are you listening, MGM DVD?
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