Collection ID 754
Director: Freddie Francis
Starring: Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Zia Mohyeddin, Bernard Kay, Michael Gough
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Studio: Amicus Productions   Release date: 1967   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: Astronomers investigate a mysterious meteorite shower in a rural English farm field, - exceptional because the space rocks all fell in a V formation. Dr. Richard Arden, preeminent in the field of extraterrestrial study, is not permitted to accompany his colleagues, including his girlfriend Lee Mason, because he is still recovering from the effects of a recent motor accident. The scientists are summarily taken over by some alien force, and others in the area are dying from a mysterious "crimson plague," which covers their bodies with drops of blood. Temple seems the only person immune to both maladies, so if he can discover the reason for this immunity, he may yet foil the alien plan to take earthlings back to the moon for their own sinister purposes.
My Rating:
My Review: It's a cheesy 50s sci-fi story without any fancy special effects. Just some sound effects and camera angles and film treatment. A flying "V" formation of meteorites crashes into a farmers field and the scientists are called up to investigate. When they get there they quickly conclude that the only way to learn anything about these meteorites is to have a crack at them in the middle of the field. One of the scientists pulls out a hammer and chisel. As soon as the chisel strikes the rock… Blammo! Queue the sound effects, anguished looks, odd camera angles, psychedelic music. Close up now, look anguished, look confused, look calm, look collected, look calculating. You're an alien now. Speak, speak as if the mysterious moon men are controlling your body. Speak as if you are a superior life form! Let the invasion begin. The movie is a bit of fun, but there's really nothing new to see here. Costumes, some make up, a few hokey sets, flash lights for alien weapons, and a corny script. The acting was abysmal, but it matched the writing, so I can't fault the actors too much. It's made for T.V. quality, and British T.V. programming in the 50s wasn't all that hot. I give it a 2 out of 5. Part of a 15 film horror compilation called "Night of Horror - Do not watch alone"

Collection ID 1440
Director: Freddie Francis
Starring: Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Zia Mohyeddin, Bernard Kay, Michael Gough
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Studio: Amicus Productions   Release date: 1967   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: Astronomers investigate a mysterious meteorite shower in a rural English farm field, - exceptional because the space rocks all fell in a V formation. Dr. Richard Arden, preeminent in the field of extraterrestrial study, is not permitted to accompany his colleagues, including his girlfriend Lee Mason, because he is still recovering from the effects of a recent motor accident. The scientists are summarily taken over by some alien force, and others in the area are dying from a mysterious "crimson plague," which covers their bodies with drops of blood. Temple seems the only person immune to both maladies, so if he can discover the reason for this immunity, he may yet foil the alien plan to take earthlings back to the moon for their own sinister purposes.
My Rating:
My Review: It's a cheesy 50s sci-fi story without any fancy special effects. Just some sound effects and camera angles and film treatment. A flying "V" formation of meteorites crashes into a farmers field and the scientists are called up to investigate. When they get there they quickly conclude that the only way to learn anything about these meteorites is to have a crack at them in the middle of the field. One of the scientists pulls out a hammer and chisel. As soon as the chisel strikes the rock… Blammo! Queue the sound effects, anguished looks, odd camera angles, psychedelic music. Close up now, look anguished, look confused, look calm, look collected, look calculating. You're an alien now. Speak, speak as if the mysterious moon men are controlling your body. Speak as if you are a superior life form! Let the invasion begin. The movie is a bit of fun, but there's really nothing new to see here. Costumes, some make up, a few hokey sets, flash lights for alien weapons, and a corny script. The acting was abysmal, but it matched the writing, so I can't fault the actors too much. It's made for T.V. quality, and British T.V. programming in the 50s wasn't all that hot. I give it a 2 out of 5. Part of a 15 film horror compilation called "Night of Horror - Do not watch alone"

Collection ID 526
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower, Peter Jason
Genre: Sci-Fi
Studio: Alive Films   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Nada, a down-on-his-luck construction worker, discovers a pair of special sunglasses. Wearing them, he is able to see the world as it really is: people being bombarded by media and government with messages like "Stay Asleep", "No Imagination", "Submit to Authority". Even scarier is that he is able to see that some usually normal-looking people are in fact ugly aliens in charge of the massive campaign to keep humans subdued.
My Rating:
My Review: A ridiculous sci-fi movie. Starring Roddy Piper (of Wrestling fame), and Keith David, another 'b' actor. This movie has very little going for it in terms of plot. Piper's character stumbles upon a sinister intergalactic alien conspiracy, and some special sunglasses. At one point there's this fantastic fight scene in an alley where Roddy Piper tryies to get Keith David to put on a pair of the sunglasses. 15 minutes later, they're both bloody, bruised, and covered in filth. One of my favorites.

Collection ID 1231
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower, Peter Jason
Genre: Sci-Fi
Studio: Alive Films   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Nada, a down-on-his-luck construction worker, discovers a pair of special sunglasses. Wearing them, he is able to see the world as it really is: people being bombarded by media and government with messages like "Stay Asleep", "No Imagination", "Submit to Authority". Even scarier is that he is able to see that some usually normal-looking people are in fact ugly aliens in charge of the massive campaign to keep humans subdued.
My Rating:
My Review: A ridiculous sci-fi movie. Starring Roddy Piper (of Wrestling fame), and Keith David, another 'b' actor. This movie has very little going for it in terms of plot. Piper's character stumbles upon a sinister intergalactic alien conspiracy, and some special sunglasses. At one point there's this fantastic fight scene in an alley where Roddy Piper tryies to get Keith David to put on a pair of the sunglasses. 15 minutes later, they're both bloody, bruised, and covered in filth. One of my favorites.

Collection ID 398
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David
Genre: Action
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1982   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
My Rating:
My Review: The Thing - 1982 (Horror, drama, suspense, thriller, sci-fi) One of my favorite movies. Directed by the master of Horror - John Carpenter. Starring Kurt Russel (as R.J. McReady), Wilford Brimley (as Dr. Blair), T.K. Carter (as Nauls), Donald Moffat (as Garry) and others as the crew of an American Antarctic research facility. A mix of scientists and rugged outdoorsmen inhabit the remote and isolated Outpost #31. As the group of Americans are getting ready for a long Antarctic winter their solace is interrupted by the sudden appearance of visitors. Norwegians in an animated state are hunting a lone dog as it attempts to reach the relative safety of the American camp. When the Norwegians bring out the big guns to kill this dog thing get quite interesting. Why would these scientists be so passionate about the destruction of a seemingly innocent dog? As the movie’s title attests, this movie is about a ‘Thing’; a monster trapped in the ice of Antarctica unthawed by the unwitting scientists is now loosed upon an unsuspecting world. Without spoiling the movie too much, you should know that this horror movie is a nail-bitting thriller filled with dramatic acting and chilling horror. Filled with suspense and tension, the human characters are vexed, tested and twisted by the alien creature which stalks the frozen landscape of their remote outpost. The real (not cgi) effects, gore, frenetic music, and monster mayhem in this movie make it very believable, allowing one to suspend disbelief when it comes to the horror that is revealed as the movie starts thrashing your sense of calm in this otherwise boring research setting. The acting was outstanding and this may well be Kurt Russell’s best performance. One of the best parts of this movie are the characters. Here we have a tightly integrated cast of scientists (not teenage kids with no common sense) who must use their intellect to overcome an murderous alien life-form. The movie’s setting, the music, the highly confined spaces surrounded by an inhospitable environment, everything works together to make for a haunting and thrilling horror movie. The ending is absolutely brilliant, I can’t imagine of a better way to end it. A terrifying tale of suspense and alien terror in the frozen landscape of Antarctica. I give this movie (which I own) a high 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1117
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David
Genre: Action
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1982   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
My Rating:
My Review: The Thing - 1982 (Horror, drama, suspense, thriller, sci-fi) One of my favorite movies. Directed by the master of Horror - John Carpenter. Starring Kurt Russel (as R.J. McReady), Wilford Brimley (as Dr. Blair), T.K. Carter (as Nauls), Donald Moffat (as Garry) and others as the crew of an American Antarctic research facility. A mix of scientists and rugged outdoorsmen inhabit the remote and isolated Outpost #31. As the group of Americans are getting ready for a long Antarctic winter their solace is interrupted by the sudden appearance of visitors. Norwegians in an animated state are hunting a lone dog as it attempts to reach the relative safety of the American camp. When the Norwegians bring out the big guns to kill this dog thing get quite interesting. Why would these scientists be so passionate about the destruction of a seemingly innocent dog? As the movie’s title attests, this movie is about a ‘Thing’; a monster trapped in the ice of Antarctica unthawed by the unwitting scientists is now loosed upon an unsuspecting world. Without spoiling the movie too much, you should know that this horror movie is a nail-bitting thriller filled with dramatic acting and chilling horror. Filled with suspense and tension, the human characters are vexed, tested and twisted by the alien creature which stalks the frozen landscape of their remote outpost. The real (not cgi) effects, gore, frenetic music, and monster mayhem in this movie make it very believable, allowing one to suspend disbelief when it comes to the horror that is revealed as the movie starts thrashing your sense of calm in this otherwise boring research setting. The acting was outstanding and this may well be Kurt Russell’s best performance. One of the best parts of this movie are the characters. Here we have a tightly integrated cast of scientists (not teenage kids with no common sense) who must use their intellect to overcome an murderous alien life-form. The movie’s setting, the music, the highly confined spaces surrounded by an inhospitable environment, everything works together to make for a haunting and thrilling horror movie. The ending is absolutely brilliant, I can’t imagine of a better way to end it. A terrifying tale of suspense and alien terror in the frozen landscape of Antarctica. I give this movie (which I own) a high 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 82
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David
Genre: Action
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1982   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
My Rating:
My Review: The Thing - 1982 (Horror, drama, suspense, thriller, sci-fi) One of my favorite movies. Directed by the master of Horror - John Carpenter. Starring Kurt Russel (as R.J. McReady), Wilford Brimley (as Dr. Blair), T.K. Carter (as Nauls), Donald Moffat (as Garry) and others as the crew of an American Antarctic research facility. A mix of scientists and rugged outdoorsmen inhabit the remote and isolated Outpost #31. As the group of Americans are getting ready for a long Antarctic winter their solace is interrupted by the sudden appearance of visitors. Norwegians in an animated state are hunting a lone dog as it attempts to reach the relative safety of the American camp. When the Norwegians bring out the big guns to kill this dog thing get quite interesting. Why would these scientists be so passionate about the destruction of a seemingly innocent dog? As the movie’s title attests, this movie is about a ‘Thing’; a monster trapped in the ice of Antarctica unthawed by the unwitting scientists is now loosed upon an unsuspecting world. Without spoiling the movie too much, you should know that this horror movie is a nail-bitting thriller filled with dramatic acting and chilling horror. Filled with suspense and tension, the human characters are vexed, tested and twisted by the alien creature which stalks the frozen landscape of their remote outpost. The real (not cgi) effects, gore, frenetic music, and monster mayhem in this movie make it very believable, allowing one to suspend disbelief when it comes to the horror that is revealed as the movie starts thrashing your sense of calm in this otherwise boring research setting. The acting was outstanding and this may well be Kurt Russell’s best performance. One of the best parts of this movie are the characters. Here we have a tightly integrated cast of scientists (not teenage kids with no common sense) who must use their intellect to overcome an murderous alien life-form. The movie’s setting, the music, the highly confined spaces surrounded by an inhospitable environment, everything works together to make for a haunting and thrilling horror movie. The ending is absolutely brilliant, I can’t imagine of a better way to end it. A terrifying tale of suspense and alien terror in the frozen landscape of Antarctica. I give this movie (which I own) a high 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 510
Director: Roger Donaldson
Starring: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Dylan Baker, Michael Fairman
Genre: Drama
Studio: New Line Cinema   Release date: 2000   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: The film is set during the two-week Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962, and it centers on how President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and others handled the explosive situation.
My Rating:
My Review: A very taught drama about the Cuban missile crisis. Some excellent acting, and a very well paced story. Even though you know the outcome, this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat. The DVD is packed with additional features.

Collection ID 1215
Director: Roger Donaldson
Starring: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Dylan Baker, Michael Fairman
Genre: Drama
Studio: New Line Cinema   Release date: 2000   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: The film is set during the two-week Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962, and it centers on how President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and others handled the explosive situation.
My Rating:
My Review: A very taught drama about the Cuban missile crisis. Some excellent acting, and a very well paced story. Even though you know the outcome, this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat. The DVD is packed with additional features.

Collection ID 364
Director: Josef Rusnak
Starring: Craig Bierko, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Gretchen Mol, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dennis Haysbert
Genre: Mystery
Studio: Columbia Pictures   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (Germany)
Summary: Computer scientist Hannon Fuller has discovered something extremely important. He's about to tell the discovery to his colleague, Douglas Hall, but knowing someone is after him, the old man leaves a letter in his computer generated parallel world that's just like the 30's with seemingly real people with real emotions. Fuller is murdered in our real world the same night, and his colleague is suspected. Douglas discovers a bloody shirt in his bathroom and he cannot recall what he was doing the night Fuller was murdered. He logs into the system in order to find the letter, but has to confront the unexpected. The truth is harsher than he could ever imagine...
My Rating:
My Review: Released the same year as The Matrix (1999), this movie was completely overshadowed by the much larger budget, advertising campaign and star power of Keanu Reeves. Despite that, the story works as well, if not better. It's often compared to the Matrix, but it's flavor is far different. Here is an intellectual, thought provoking film. An engaging film that keeps asking its viewer to discern reality from fantasy, to continually challenge our preconceived notions and broaden our view. Directed by Josef Rusnak (also co-wrote the screenplay), starring Craig Bierko (as Douglas Hall), Gretchen Mol (as Jane Fuller), Armin Mueller-Stahl (as Hannon Fuller), Vincent D'Onofrio (as Jason Whitney), Dennis Haysbert (as Det. Larry McBain) and others. The direction was a bit stiff, the acting pretty good, and the sets outstanding. The editing was fairly linear and that's a shame. Some additional effort in the editing could have made this movie far more competitive. The story (without spoiling the movie): Corporate manager Douglas Hall is implicated in a murder when a coworker ends up dead under mysterious circumstances. The two were involved with the development of a virtual reality simulation of Los Angeles in the 30s. They were preparing to release there simulation as a breakthrough form of entertainment, if only they could work out the last of the bugs. The film has a film noir detective angle, a sci-fi premise, and a humanistic approach. The characters are well developed and believable. The tension and plot take some time to build, but the pay-off is shocking brilliant. If you enjoy thinking sci-fi with more drama than action, you'll love this twisted sci-fi tale of love, deception, murder and mind-blowing revelations. I give it a 5 out of 5.