Grandparents Day Movie Reviews

WWF Judgement Day 2001 contains a series of good stipulation matches that should keep you quite entertained pretty much threw out the show. Below is a review of all the matches, the overall extra features and the overall DVD, hopefully it will help you decide if you should buy this DVD or not. The review will not directly give away who wins any of the matches but the winner may seem pretty obvious by my explanations of the matches. Let me also warn you that the mystery partner for the Tag Team Turmoil Match will be revealed.

( Match Reviews )

--- Rikishi Vs William Regal ---

All though the pace during this match was good the action seemed pretty lame, I believe this match to be the opener just so the crowd could warm up by cheering for the stink face. Bad finish for an overall bad opener. (3/10)

--- Two-Out-of-Three Falls Medal Match - Chris Benoit Vs Kurt Angle ---

The action in the match picked up almost instantly as the first fall came and went very quickly, the second fall contained some good counter wrestling at a good pace but nothing compared to there many other battles. The third fall contained nothing innovative or crazy when you compare it to other ladder matches however it was still good and quite exciting at times. Still almost the entire match was very entertaining and went on at a pretty good pace, the ending is very bad to a otherwise very good match. (7.5/10)

--- Triple-Threat Hardcore Title Match - Rhyno Vs Big Show Vs Test ---

This was an slightly above average hardcore match that went around the arena and fortunately did not have any interference's. The match was not very hardcore and contained nothing breathtaking, but it was solid and contained some close pin falls. (6.5/10)

--- WWF Women's Championship Match - Chyna Vs Lita ---

This was hard-hitting for a women's match, Chyna's boob almost slipped a few times which interfered with the way she wrestled, the close boob slip will also distract most if not all viewers from the actual match. I believe the wrong person won but still it was good for a WWE women's match. (6/10)

--- WWF Intercontinental Title Chain Match - Triple H Vs Kane ---

This was a very good match with some hard hitting action and a very good use of the chain, the crowd was well into the end of this match as it was very exciting to watch. Kane did not duck Austin's Interference chair shot yet Austin still hit Triple which made no sense, Its all right though, this match gave me and will probably give you more then you expect. (7/10)

--- Tag Team Turmoil Match to Determine the #1 Contenders for The Tag Team Titles - A.P.A Vs Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit Vs The Dudley Boyz Vs Edge and Christian Vs The Hardy Boyz Vs The Radicalz Vs X-Factor ---

The length was good for a match containing 7 tag-teams however some teams came and went to quickly, the first few falls mostly contained power moves so that the beginning matches could go at a shorter length. There where not many double team moves however there where some cool ones. I believe that to many teams won by interference's, the end to the Jericho and Benoit Vs X-Factor part of match is great. This match could've been quite a bit better not to say it was awful at all, Chris Benoit and Jericho came out of this match looking pretty well together. (6.5/10)

--- No-Holds-Barred Match for the WWF Championship - Stone Cold Steve Austin Vs The Undertaker ---

This match was more hardcore then the actual hardcore match before it, it contained tons of hard chair shots and the announce table, as well as a few other dirty tricks. The pace during the middle of this match seemed to go rather slowly but I guess for these two main event wrestlers its ok. The Interference's went well with this match however I think Kane should've helped his brother a bit at the end. Again Austin had to look stupid missing a chair shot, this time because Undertaker did not duck when he should have. Overall a pretty good main event and possibly the best encounter between these two wrestlers. (6/10)

( Extra Features )

The extras on this DVD are lacking, it contains 5 Extra Interviews from Sunday Night Heat, match histories which are already in the pay per view anyway and the Kurt Angle medal ceremony from Raw the night after this judgement day. The medal ceremony is easily the best extra feature as it is pretty funny and contains a awesome angle slam, however it does not save the extras from being anything more then lacking. (3.5/10)

( Overall DVD )

This event is not worth picking up for its extra features however the event does contain some good matches that are worth watching at least once. I believe this DVD is especially good for Chris Benoit fans as he shines in this pay per view. The DVD is average and may be worth picking up for some fans, however if you do not buy many WWE DVD's then I would recommend looking into other events, still you should make your own decision on whether you would like to see the above matches or not.

match 1-rikishi vs. regal- what can you really expect from these two? 2/5

match2-benoit vs. angle- great match. the only reason it didn't get five is because it was too obvious who was going to win 4/5

match 3- big show vs. rhyno vs. test-hardcore title match- better than I expected. 4/5

match 4-chyna vs. lita- womens title- match sucked. chyna kicks the crap out of lita. what do you expect, she could kick my ass.

match 5-kane vs. HHH- ic title- one of the best matches I've seen in a while. 5/5

match 6-apa vs. hardyz vs. dudleyz vs. edge& chrstian vs.radicalz vs. Jericho and Benoit- tag team turmoil-pretty good. could have been better. 3/5

match 7-steve austin vs. undertaker-wwf title- really good match as was expected. 5/5

Rikishi vrs. William Regal
The match was good. At the end Regal got his face rubbed by Rikishi's behind.***2/5

2-out-of-3 Medals match
Chris Benoit vrs. Kurt Angle
Oh man what a match. The ladders part was painful. Benoit and Angle both fell off the ladders. Angle got his metals back thanks to Edge and Christain.***3/5

Triple Threat Hardcore Title Match
Test vrs. Big Show vrs. Rhyno(champion)
This match was better than I thought it was. At the end Big Show was holding a garbage can and Rhyno gave a Gore at Big Show through the garbage can and pinned him.***4/5

Womens Championship Match
Chyna(champion) vrs. Lita
The match was good. Althogh Lita got her butt wupped. Chyna pinned Lita at the end.***2/5

Intercontinental Title Chain Match
Kane vrs. Triple H(champion)
Wow! Triple H and Kane put up one heck of a fight. Triple H was bleeding very badly. Kane pinned Triple H with a accident on Triple H by Steve Austin with a steel chair.***5/5

Tag Team Turmoil Match

A.P.A.,Radicalz,Dudley Boyz,X-Factor,Hardy Boyz,Chris Jerico and Chris Benoit,Edge and Christain
The match was good. At the end Jerico and Benoit won the match and would face Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin for the Tag Team Titles.***3/5

No-Holds-Barred for the WWF Championship
The Undertaker vrs. Stone Cold Steve Austin(champion)
Oh my god! This match was awsome. Both guys were badly hurt. Triple H came in at the end and hit Undertaker with a sludge hammer. Then Kane came in, but was to late. Because Austin
pinned Undertaker.***5/5

This movie was not at all what I thought it would be. It along with BLT Goes to Mars was given to me by my mother as a gift to my children. After previewing the film with my husband we were not impressed. Many scenes, characters, and situations were disturbing even to us! It was creepy and weird. I own most of the other disney classics and normally have no complaints but this series is a whole other story. I even hesitated donating it to the goodwill for fear that it would scare some other child. If you own this movie watch it with the eyes of a child and perhaps you will understand. Some parts are cute and sweet but there are too many questionable things like an angry air conditioner that yells and then blows itself up?!? My advice would be to stick to the basics. You can't go wrong with Cinderella.

I saw The Brave Little Toaster on HBO and I liked it, it's unusual compared to most animated childrens movies and a bit quirky but I think the quirky charm is one of the reasons it was such a big hit with children and adults who wanted something a little different. It is nice to know that this movie is now on DVD, I looked this up one other time on Amazon and it was only available on video at that time so perhaps I will buy the DVD and it's nice to learn that SNL's Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz provided voices in the movie, I actually didn't know that when I watched this.

This has to be one of the MOST fasinating childrens films ever made! I've read other reviews made by other "dis-satisfied" customers and shake my head in disbelief. To turn every day appliances into warm cuddly objects of affection is truly magical. After viewing this movie you'll want to give your toaster a hug and pull out your ratty "blanky" that you once loved as a child. I HIGHLY recommend this movie for people of ALL ages.

The pajama factory setting is a little awkward and it doesn't really jive with the spirited song and dance numbers, which are constatly splendid. When the whole factory goes on a company picnic, you know this Broadway musical longs to be as big as "Oklahoma!", but is constrained by the very little framework of a labor dispute in a clothing factory. Still, you may be surprised to find the host of wonderful recognizable songs that originated from this musical, the cast is exceptional, and if you like Doris Day, well, you may find yourself in 'que-sera-sera' heaven.

Despite having most the players from the Tony-winning Broadway musical intact, the reason to watch the movie-version of "The Pajama Game" is Doris Day. With her no-nonsense bob and freckly-sunniness, she lights up this stale plot about trouble within a pajama factory. Bob Fosse helped with the dance numbers, but his distinct talents are in evidence on only one number("Steam Heat", which is great but looks a little out of place in these old-fashioned surroundings). Movie doesn't pop or sizzle, it could use more movement and jazzy interaction, but when it does contain these elements, it feels very fresh and featherweight. And, as always, Doris makes the most of it. B-

I can't understand why this DVD doesn't rate a total 5 stars here! It's one of the best DVDs I have because it looks absolutely dazzling, the songs are great, the plot is silly - but so what?, the love story is great, the chemistry between John Raitt and Doris Day is out of this world, the "extra" on the DVD is superb (an outtake from the film of Doris singing a song that was dropped from the film!)...I can't get enough of this DVD! It should win awards for picture quality! If I wanted to sell someone on DVDs in general, I'd pick this DVD as evidence of their superiority over videos. And whatta FUN film!!

I like Cary Grant's easy charm and attractive features. Yet somehow he fails to create any real warmth between himself and his female co-stars. (Minus some exceptions, I admit). The movie's dialogue, lead actress and co-stars save this film from Cary Grant's overt attitude of "I really didn't feel like filming any scenes today, can you please take out the battery in my back and recharge my durucell?"

The plot of the movie is old-fashioned and sweet. I don't care if it's not realistic to the times. I rather watch sweet and old fashioned romance than the vulgar Charlie's Angels or The Sweetest Thing (aka Raunchiest Thing) that are offered to moviegoers today.

I'll admit the plot of this film is dated and far-fetched. Briefly stated, Doris Day wants to preserve her virginity at all costs, even with the suave, sophisticated and handsome Cary Grant pursuing her and trying to wear down her resistance. One might ask what woman in their right mind would turn down Cary, but that's the sum total of this movie. Cary and Doris are not married in the film and in 1962 "good girls" like Doris didn't bed down for a one-night stand, even when the man happened to be Cary Grant. Despite the somewhat implausible plot, the movie is still a complete delight. Cary, as always, is impeccably cast in the role of the charming millionaire businessman. His comedic timing is unsurpassed. Doris Day more than holds her own and the film's funniest lines are hers. She always brings her own unique brand of charisma to any role and this is one of her best performances. Her drunken scene is hilarious and you will laugh out loud. All of the interplay between she and Grant is the stuff of classics.

Gig Young gives a fine supporting performance in a role initially offered to Tony Randall. Audrey Meadows is also excellent as Doris' spinster roommate. The costumes are sumptuous, the cinematography frequently breataking and the acting is exceptional. This is a fine movie and an example of screen chemistry at its best.

"That Touch of Mink," directed by Delbert Mann, is a delicious 60's sex comedy about the romantic duel between Cathy Timberlake (played by Doris Day), an unemployed working girl with small-town roots, and Philip Shane (Cary Grant), a rich businessman. Along for the ride are Audrey Meadows as Cathy's fiercely protective roommate Connie and Gig Young as Philip's wisecracking employee Roger.

"That Touch" is absolutely hilarious and delightful from start to finish. Day is irresistible--wholesome and innocent, yet feisty. Grant is charming and funny. Meadows and Young get lots of comic mileage out of their marvelous supporting roles.

The film is also a joy to look out. The sets and costumes are marvelous (there's even a fashion show); the screen bursts with color. The script combines witty dialogue, zesty social satire and goofy physical comedy with a cleverly structured plot. There are also some fun cameos by recognizable faces--I won't spoil the fun by revealing them. And it's all nicely complemented by a playful musical score. "That Touch" is one comic battle of the sexes that really holds up after all these years.

A reviewer called this film "tense" and "visceral." I agree with one of those adjectives -- visceral. But the movie just doesn't move fast enough to keep my attention. Overall, good movie to see to remind yourself of the world that was, and still is. But it's not a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

An excellent documentary that demonstrates in crystal-clear fashion the danger that fundamentalist Muslims pose to the civilized world, and how the Palestinians were every bit as cold-blooded, fanatical, and murderous as kidnappers in 1972 as they are today as homicide-bombers. During the 1972 Munich Olympics, eight terrorists waltzed into the Olympic compound right under the nose of German authorities and held 11 Israeli athletes hostage, demanding that Israel release 200 terrorists held as prisoners. Long story short, one hostage was shot in front of the others, one pitched out a window, and the rest were slaughtered at a German airport, in the terrorists' botched attempt to flee the country with the athletes still captive.

The film is as visually stimulating as it is informative. The standoff and negotiations between the Palestinians and Germans were captured in their entirety on film, as was the ensuing journey to the airport; interspersed with the live footage were current news reports, including portions of the ABC sports broadcast and commentary about the scene at hand. Anything not captured live on film was photographed, and the film's music was artfully chosen to convey the events' drama and anguish. Amazingly, the sole surviving Palestinian terrorist was interviewed incognito for the film, who said about the initial hostage capture, "I felt very proud that for the first time I was able to confront the Israelis." The shots of the slain athletes (both at the compound and the airport) are a brutal reminder of what the Palestinian idea of "confronting" innocents entails.

One Day in September also shows that the Germans hadn't traveled very far from Nazism by 1972, except that their military ineptitude had grown in leaps and bounds. Not only did the German police and Olympic authorities handle the crisis as effectively as a cross between Gilligan, Mr. Magoo, and Inspector Clousseau, but they were more concerned with continuing the games than they were with saving the lives of the hostages. Furthermore, they held the Mossad at bay and prevented it from getting the job done; the Israeli squad, like so many others, was unfortunately initially fooled by what one called "The Myth of Utter German Ruthless Efficiency."

German cluelessness and cowardice abounded: the police tried to raid the compound from the roof, only to learn just in time that the terrorists could watch their every move on live TV coverage; agents got cold feet and bailed at the last second before descending on the terrorists; at the airport, they didn't even use real snipers, and had their men positioned in one another's lines of fire; one of the Germans accidentally shot a hostage. In the interviews given by the Germans for the documentary (especially that of General Wegener), the tone can best be described as a shrug of the shoulders and a, "Hey, what can you do?" The greatest insult of is that the Germans allowed the three surviving terrorists to escape during their transport, as cowardly means of insurance against future acts of terrorism. The terrorists received a hero's welcome in Libya.

An amazingly sad story, captured as vividly as can be- One Day in September is the essence of what documentaries of historical events should be. The only happy ending is that the Mossad later killed two out of the three terrorists- it's just too bad the remaining one couldn't have been shot in the face as soon as his interview for the project finished.

Without going into the historic details, this DVD is a masterpiece of documentary filming. Severely affecting, it made several members of my family cry throughout the film. By the time the movie ends, you will be deeply disturbed. This DVD is a must-have.

Did I watch the same movie the other reviews watched? The acting was par, direction stunk. Was Woods supposed to be Schizo? The plot had "Drugstore Cowboy" written all over it, in fact, skip this and buy the other! You won't be dissapointed.

Coproduced by James Woods and directed by Larry Clark, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE relates the story of two couples of heroin addicted thieves. Nothing new under the sun even if Larry Clark's camera trembles a lot in order to make us feel the stress of the characters.

Needles are clean, the drug easy to find and the money easy to win. So, what's the point ? I'm too tired to try to discover the hidden intentions of the director so I'm ready to concede that the relation between the middle-aged couple (Woods-Griffiths) and the younger one is highly symbolic. You see, Woods and Griffiths cannot have children so...

ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE is the living proof that you can have great actors, great music and money to spend and nevertheless present an average movie. It's the big problem of the nineties. Great images but no ideas at all.

A DVD which is already forgotten.

I bought this movie yesterday and I wtached it. Dynamite direction from Larry Clark (Kids and Bully). Woods and Griffith enter Karthieser and Wagner into the real world of stealing and killing and druguse. Woods gets an A+ for his performance. Antoher Clark film that really pulls you in and you feel the characters pain and there lives. Lou Diamond Phillips has an interesting cameo as a gay mexican (nice eyemakeup Lou). Karthieser has his moments here and there in this crackling and mesmerizing film. So does Wagner as his miscarrigaing overdosed girlfriend. Griffith is equally good as the rest. They should of had Anotnio Banderas in a cameo instead of Lou Diamond Phillips, it would of made it more interesting. I was hooked threw out the whole ride

I love Marilyn and she was beautiful and charming as ever in this, but that could not save it. This never should have been made. I was asleep within the first fifteen minutes. I painfully forced myself to watch it out of respect for Marilyn. It was a very very painful and probably one of the longest two hours of my life.

Showgirl meets rude Prince. They fall in love? When did this happen? I never saw any indication of this in the film. I also could not for the life of me see why she would want such a rude person!

The movie takes place mainly in one room of the Prince's manor. I will probably have nightmares of that room for the next year!

You have been warned! View at your own discretion!

Warner Brothers gives us an outstanding remastered video & sound DVD. The Technicolor Full Feature picture quality and clarity are eye candy to watch.

Marilyns co-star Lord Lawrence Olivier also Directed & Produced this satarical comedy of royalty meets show business.

Summary: The year is 1911 Olivier a touring European Prince meets a showgirl (Monroe) backstage in a London theatre. His immediate attraction to her prompts an immediate invitation for a midnight dinner back at his royal suite. Her beauty & candid wit keeps the prince off guard. A romance begins and the reality of royal service constantly interfere. Will they find happiness ever after?

Marilyn as always is beautiful and her comedy skills are unmatched. The Special Features include; Cast & Crew, Trailer and Announcement Newsreel.

This is a fun movie especially for Monroe fans. Enjoy.

This is not one of Marilyn Monroe's most entertaining pictures; it's not fast-moving and it's not flashy, nor does it contain any extravagant musical production numbers, but it does boast a fine, subtle performance from the actress. During the 1911 coronation of King George V, an American showgirl in England (Monroe) matches wits with the Prince Regent of Carpathia (Laurence Olivier) in what is a charming drawing room comedy. Monroe gives a delightful, sweet, comedic performance against Olivier's austere, gruff prince. The two fall in love throughout the course of the film while at the same time Monroe helps mend the relationship between Olivier and his son (Jeremy Spenser), the future king of Carpathia. Dame Sybil Thorndike also appears in the film as the Queen Dowager and steals every scene she's in! She's an absolute delight. This is also a beautiful film to watch and was stunningly photographed by renowned cinematographer Jack Cardiff. Also be advised that the then modern appearance of the two stars on the cover of the DVD do not reflect how they appear in the movie; this is a period picture that takes place during 1911 and all of the performers are appropriately costumed.

This little treasure lacks clear conflict and struggle between characters, instead elaboration one man's slow and pathetic drowning in life. Beautiful language and symbolism, as well as a look into 1950's New York culture.

"Seize the Day" is a sad little novel about a man, lost in the wilderness of his life, whose struggle "toward the consummation of his heart's ultimate need" can succeed only when he surrenders his composure to his deepest emotions, that secret place in all of us from which we beckon our tears. The one day in which the entire novel takes place completely encapsulates his past, present, and future into the portrait of a man mired in his environment.

The man is 44-year-old Tommy Wilhelm who, like some of Bellow's other fictional protagonists Augie March, Eugene Henderson, and Moses Herzog, is a little piece of the chaos of twentieth-century urban America distilled into a single confused character. Wilhelm is a native New Yorker (although it's obvious his author is not), a failed actor, and an unemployed former sales executive. He is separated from his wife, who is always selfishly demanding from him money that he doesn't have, and his two sons. His only financial support now is from his father, a successful physician who is annoyed by his son's lack of discipline but nevertheless brags about his past accomplishments to anyone who will listen.

Wilhelm has a friend named Dr. Tamkin who professes to be a psychologist, has many various interests but dubious talents, and persuades him to invest his last dollar in lard commodities. Tamkin, a world traveler, has told Wilhelm that he "had attended some of the Egyptian royal family as a psychiatrist," a statement that evokes an image of the biblical Joseph prophesying for the Pharaoh seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine; but Tamkin's optimistic expectation for lard is all profit, no loss. His philosophy is that the future is not worth the worry; live for the "here-and-now": seize the day. He is undoubtedly a charlatan, but in Wilhelm's eyes he means well.

One of the novel's themes is atonement, which is signified by the reference to Yom Kippur. Wilhelm is not very religious and has not planned to attend a synagogue, but he recognizes the importance of saying Yiskor for his dead mother; his sincere but idle threat to the unknown hoodlums who vandalized the bench next to her grave will not suffice to honor her memory. Ironically, the place where he ultimately atones is the funeral of a man who is evidently not Jewish (open casket, presence of flowers) -- and he weeps with the knowledge that death is all we achieve from life. Seize the day, indeed.

Suffering...we've all had it...or it's coming...is Bellow's theme of this work. I've never read an author who described heartbreak and tears so well as Saul Bellow. My face was red and hot and strained by the time I finished the book--he moved me! Suffering--admitting and recognizing that anguish might be your temporary lot in life--has never been so beautifully penned and honestly told. The more I think of the book, the less I like it for the story, but the more I appreciate its truthfulness in describing how problems can stack higher and higher and higher and nobody will help you.

I think you'll find what the main characters "seizes" after a few days of thinking and observing life on your own.

Read it! It's only 120 pages packed with a lot of insight.

Finding an inexpensive copy of this DVD in the Amazon Market Place, I figured 'What the heck?' and picked it up. The movie begins with a familiar theme, a group of college kids on their way to an isolated location (queue foreboding music). Apparently this group was assembled by a common friend to spend the weekend at spacious house on an island whose only access is by ferry, which only runs during the week, so they are basically stuck there until Monday. Through the use of a video camera, we are introduced to the various guests and they seem like your typical group for an 80's horror movie.

After an eventful trip on the Ferry of Death, they arrive on the Island of Death, and are greeted by their Hostess of Death (sorry, I'll cut it out), Muffy St. John, played by Deborah Foreman, probably most recognizable as Julie from the 1983 movie Valley Girl. Muffy leads them to the secluded house, which is more like a mansion, and we find out that this house will be part of her inheritance when she turns 21. After a number of practical jokes, which Muffy set up, every turns in for the night, except for Skip, Muffy's cousin, who is still upset about an unpleasant event that happened on the ferry. Alone and visible drunk, he wanders down by the boathouse, ventures inside, and, as you can guess, the murderin' begins.

The next morning no one really seems to miss Skip (I know I didn't, as I thought he was kind of annoying), and a couple breaks off from the rest of the group and proceeds to go down by the boathouse to screw around. Their horizontal tango is cut short as the girl catches a glimpse of Skip's body floating under the boathouse, which, I guess, killed the mood as the couple goes running back to the house in a panic. Relating what happened, the dead body part, not the sex part, to the rest of the group, they think maybe Skip is pulling a prank, so a few of the guys go off searching for him in the woods around the house. This leads to another murder or two, which spoils the festivities altogehter.

After a few more murders, and a couple of revelations, the movie finally spills its' proverbial guts, and what appeared to be your typical slasher type movie shows itself as something else. Actually, I sort of caught on about halfway through. I'm no mental goliath, no Sherlockian powers of deduction here, but the clues were there, and I didn't have to strain too hard to get in on the 'know'. There were some pretty large plot holes, certain elements that didn't jibe, but it didn't ruin the movie. There was some suspense, but I was never really on the edge of my seat. Overall, a fun movie, but probably wouldn't hold up too well to repeated viewing. Nice wide screen presentation with good audio, but no extras.

Oh yeah, watch for the character of Rob near the end as he gets locked in a pantry closet and nearly starts crying and stuff as his girlfriend is being chased around the house and terrorized. As flimsy as that door was, I could have been out of there in like a minute with a kick or two. Heck, my old granny could have gotten out of there with relative ease. What a nitwit...or is it a witless nit? Whatever...

This movie offers a few chills and some suspense! It had a great twist of an ending! This is just another teen slasher flick wannabe! I just don't think it was the best. But it was good.

This is one of the best horror films of all time. I remember going to watch this at the local theater when I was about 12 or so. It has a wonderful suspense kept secret held till the very end. Would recommend this to all horror film lovers.

I heard a lot of good things about Demons, but I thought the movie was only decent. It's a lot more original than the majority of brainless Italian horror, with the evil movie theater and the events in the film becoming reality. Yeah, there's a few gore scenes but nothing jaw dropping.
I far prefer Fulci's zombie flicks or Cannibal Ferox/Holocaust to Argento's style. Demons is missable, if you are a die hard Italian splatter fan then rent it.

It's easy to see why American horror flicks from the 80s are more popular than the cheap Italian knock offs.

Italian horror maestro Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava joined forces to produce two of the goriest, most merciless, most stylish, and arguably the best zombie films ever made: for my money, Demons and Demons2 are nectar of the Gods for gorehounds and horror movie fanatics.

Plot, character development, and pacing all take a backseat to the most important element of any zombie movie: brain-eating, bone-crunching, viscera-devouring goodness. Both of the Demons movies deliver the goods in spades, and have the additional virtue of gorgeous and crisp cinematography, eerie and stylish lighting, and the highest splatter-to-running-time ratio of any horror movie ever made, with the possible exception of Peter Jackson's Dead/Alive.

Best of all, the "Demons" movies are utterly merciless: all of the more benevolent horror movie conventions are gleefully abandoned. See dewey-eyed adorable little children get mutated into flesh-devouring demons! See one of the little demon children explode as it gives 'birth' to a yowling, screaming little imp! See a fluffy, loyal family dog growl and bark at a pool of demon blood, only to be transformed into an insane and hungry monster, its snout rolling back up over its eyeballs as a new set of green 'eyes' grow out of its nose! See a blind man get his eyes gouged out even as he begs for the demon to stop!

In short, both movies are sheer horror genius, a 7-course feast (with some nice 1987 Chateau LaTour thrown in) for the discriminating gorehound. It simply doesn't get any better than this, folks, and best of all, you can watch Demons/Demons2 again and again and never get tired of it. Can you honestly say that about "Night of the Living Dead"?

But let's dispense, quickly, with the plot: there is none.

Alright, I'm being a little glib: there is a plot, but don't expect either film to stick to it. Demons takes place in the Metropol, a haunted (but mysteriously refurbished) Berlin movie theater; patrons gather for a free screening of a new horror movie (about teenagers exploring an ancient cathedral who awaken---you guessed it---demons). One of the moviegoers, Rosemary the prostitute, scratches her cheek on a demonic mask in the lobby; the wound becomes infected (oh boy does it ever!) and begins to bubble and ache.

Rosemary excuses herself, and goes to the bathroom to tend to her now throbbing, pulsating cheek wound, and, after a deliciously gory transformation scene (in which gobbets of flesh, buckets of blood, and waterfalls of pus fly everywhere) becomes a demon.

Rosemary gets out and starts clawing and biting other patrons; people turn into demons; things get out of hand; and after a while Berlin has considerably more to worry about than the Soviets. The second movie offers more of the same, this time in a Berlin apartment building. Both films also inexplicably feature a subplot about a carload of ill-tempered punk rockers who spend roughly 75% of the film driving aimlessly around Berlin listening to new wave ditties, but don't worry---they get theirs.

Both movies feature the aforementioned gobs of gore, stunning demon transformation scenes, and hip eighties soundtracks (featuring Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Dead Can Dance and The Cult). You get to see Berlin in all its old Cold War glory. And best of all, you have the sheer delight of two of the most shockingly gory zombie flicks ever put to film on a sleek, gorgeous DVD transfer!

Some have complained the acting in the film is atrocious, but what do you expect from a film which was originally shot in German and Italian, and then dubbed over into English---and not using good, expressive English voices, but folks who sound like their acting skills are sub-porno, at best. Look, you can't have it all---and anyway, you get the winsome Fiore Argento in Demons and the tasty and plummish Asia Argento in Demons2 (Dario's daughters). Something this enjoyable shouldn't be legal, so take advantage of Demons/Demons2 while you can.

I really don't know how someone can criticize these films, what exactly were you expecting? This isn't Citizen Kane here, it's Demons. These are films about monsters running amuck and slicing people into potato salad. Abandon any kind of expectations for these films and go with it. As you know, Demons has people trapped in a movie theater with creepy, taloned, fanged, greenish creatures. There is absolutely no explanation given for this event. You never discover who made this film(the film playing in the theater), who's showing it, why they're showing it, how the entrances get blocked off, how the mask ends up in the lobby, etc. But who cares anyway? There are tons of things that don't make sense-people turn into Demons without actually getting scratched, a mini-Demon hops out of somebody. None of these things make sense, but the movie's fun to watch either way.
Demons 2 is basically a remake, but the setting is now switched to an apartment complex. Everyone seems to be watching this film about the events of the first Demons film. This film seems to be a documentary, then it seems to be an actual movie, then the events seem to actually be taking place in the real world in some other location. There is no camera crew with the people in the "documentary", and Bava films their little adventure as though it's actually happening-But it's supposed to be being viewed by the people in the apartment!! And how does a Demons come through a tv screen for no reason? Personally, I love these weird unexplained moments because it gives the movie(s) more of a nightmare/fantasy element. These films seemed much scarier to me when I was a kid(I didn't understand the concept of bad dubbing, acting, writing, etc. I was just creeped out by the Demons), but I still love them. I've always been intrigued by the Romero-ish situation of being stuck inside a building, fighting for your life against horrible creatures. The difference between these and Romero's films is that the threat isn't waiting outside, it's trapped in there with you! I think that's why I like these so much. So, try giving the Demons films a whirl around midnight or so, it's fun.