Authors: Hans-Ake Lilja
As a last treat the
Quicksilver Highway
DVD also has the movie’s script on the disc. You have to read it on a computer though, but it’s worth it. It’s so nice to get to read the script. It gives you another dimension of the movie. You get one step closer to the filmmaker’s vision.
Lilja’s final words about
Quicksilver Highway (DVD)
This is a really neat little collection that I definitely urge you to get on DVD. It’s not as scary as it is funny, and I say that as a good thing. It seems like the filmmakers, cast and crew enjoyed making this one, and I’m sure you will enjoy watching it. I know it’s not all King, but I still urge you to go out and get it tomorrow when it’s released.
****
Children of the Corn / Creepshow 2 (DVD)
Posted: May 22, 2005
In September of last year Anchor Bay released DiviMax editions of King’s
Children of the Corn
and
Creepshow 2
. DiviMax means that it has been mastered with a high definition (HD) film transfer process that provides state-of-the-art picture quality.
This week I got a copy of each from Anchor Bay and here I’ll review both of them in the same review. I’m assuming that all of you have seen these movies since they are from the 1980s and will therefore concentrate on the extra material from the DVDs in this review.
Even so, after seeing them I made some reflections.
Children of the Corn
is a lot better than it gets credit for. Personally, I believe it’s because of all the sequels that have followed. The original is an OK movie though.
Creepshow 2
was done a long time ago, way back in 1987, and this becomes very clear in the documentary
Nightmares in Foam Rubber
. This is a really nice documentary that shows how the special effects for the movie were done, and let me tell you, it’s
not
the same technique as they used on
The
Lord of the Rings
movies. The documentary is about thirty minutes and in it Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero talk about how they did the different special effects. I really liked this one and, as I said, it shows that
Creepshow 2
wasn’t done yesterday. This doesn’t mean it’s not interesting though. It’s the opposite; very interesting to hear how they did what they did with a fraction of the knowledge they have today.
Other features on the
Creepshow 2
DVD consist of two different trailers, a still gallery that has behind-the-scenes photos and storyboards. These storyboards are really interesting. They are like small art in itself. Some of them I would put on my own wall in a heartbeat. You can also read the screenplay and listen to commentaries from the director Michael Gornick and the DVD producer Perry Martin.
The
Children of the Corn
DVD also has some extra material. There is a new documentary called
Harvesting Horror: Children of the Corn
about how the movie was done. We get to see how some of the special effects were done as well as hear stories from John Franklin (Isaac) and Courtney Gains (Malachai).
There are also commentaries from director Fritz Kiersch, producer Terrence Kirby and actors John Franklin and Courtney Gains. And, as I have said in other DVD reviews, you should really take the time to listen to the commentaries on DVDs. They give you a totally new perspective of the film.
There is also a still gallery with posters, stills, original title sequence art and storyboards. And, as with
Creepshow 2
, the script is also included. The one really bad thing with the
Children of the Corn
DVD is the trailer. It’s probably one of the worst trailers I have ever seen. I know it’s from 1984, but still…
Lilja’s final words about
Children of the Corn / Creepshow 2 (DVD)
I definitely think that you should get these DVDs. The really neat thing about them is that they’re two of the older King movies, but they still have a lot of extra material. Many older movies have a trailer in the best case scenario and that’s it. Here you get a lot of interesting stuff and some of it was recorded when the DVD was released in 2004, which gives the perspective of time on the movie. They will fill their places in your collection well.
****
Desperation (DVD)
Posted: September 18, 2006
The DVD edition of
Desperation
is out. You can read what I think of the movie itself in my review from when it aired on TV. Here I’ll focus on the extra material that’s on the DVD.
Unfortunately, there isn’t that much extra material on it. What’s here is very interesting though, but I would like to get more. Earlier there were talks about a behind the-scenes-view, but it seems Lionsgate dropped that one.
The main item here is something called “Postcards from Bangor, ME.” This is made up of short interviews with King and Garris in which they talk about the movie, different aspects of the movie versus the book and how they transformed the book to the screen. These clips are very good and could easily have been three times as long without getting boring…probably even longer.
We also get a commentary track with Garris, Ron Perlman (who plays Collie Entragian in the movie) and producer Mark Sennet. The commentaries are very entertaining and the chemistry between Garris and Perlman is superb. They joke with each other and seem to have a lot fun doing this commentary. It was also the first time Perlman saw the entire movie and that gave the commentary a nice touch.
Besides that there is also a trailer for
Desperation,
but that’s it. Hopefully Lionsgate will release a special edition of the movie down the line with the behind-the-scenes feature and even more interviews. This is a good movie and it deserves more extra material.
Lilja’s final words about
Desperation (DVD)
If you didn’t catch it when it aired on ABC you definitely need to check out the DVD release. And even if you did check it out on TV you will need to get a copy for your collection. It’s definitely worth its place there.
****
1408
Posted: August 24, 2007
1408
is the story of Mike Enslin (John Cusack), the author of many books like
Ten Haunted Lighthouses
and
Ten Haunted Houses
. Enslin travels around the U.S. staying in places that are supposedly haunted and then writes about his experiences, acting as a critic and rating each location on a scare scale.
When we first meet Enslin, he is working on his latest book,
Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms
. So far he has not experienced anything extraordinary during his career, but then again he hasn’t stayed at the Dolphin Hotel—until now.
Against the hotel manager’s (Samuel L. Jackson) admonitions, Enslin checks in to room 1408, and that’s when the nightmare begins.
During his short stay in the room Enslin experiences more supernatural things than he has ever believed possible…and this is a man who makes a living from staying in supposedly haunted locations. Now he finds himself in a battle for his life.
Both Jackson and Cusack portray their characters very well, and since most of the story takes place in a single room (much like in
Misery
) that is very important. We also get to see Mary McCormack as Enslin’s wife, Lily, and Jasmine Jessica Anthony as their daughter, Katie. They, like Cusack and Jackson, give the audience what they can expect and then some…
1408
is brought to the screen by Swedish director Mikael Håfström, and he is really giving it all he’s got. The story has been expanded from King’s novel, but in a nice way that doesn’t really add any surprises or disappointments. It’s more as if Håfström has stretched the story so that what’s already in there only gets a bit more filling. Well done!
Besides all this, there are also a lot of special effects in the movie, and I’m very pleased with how they are done; everything from water coming out of a painting to ghosts jumping out of windows looks very believable. I really enjoyed watching
1408
.
Lilja’s final words about
1408
1408
is one of the best King adaptations in a long time, and my guess is that no one will be disappointed after seeing it. In other words, whatever you do, don’t miss this one!
****
1408 (DVD)
Posted: October 2, 2007
Today the DVD edition of
1408
hits stores in the U.S. The studio is releasing two versions of the DVD: a one-disc edition and a two-disc director’s cut edition. Below is my review on the content of both versions of the DVDs.
The single disc edition contains the theatrical version of the movie,
John Cusack on 1408
,
Inside Room 1408
and the theatrical trailer. The two-disc edition contains both the theatrical version of the movie and the director’s cut of the movie along with a larger special features section. Personally, I like the director’s cut edition a little better. I prefer the ending that the director’s cut provides, which is a little sadder and a little darker. Another good part of the two-disc disc edition is that you can choose which ending you want to see—it’s up to you!
The differences between the director’s cut and the original theatrical version are a few additional scenes and, as I mentioned, a different ending. The additional scenes add more on Mike’s relationship with his father and his family. Some of the scenes that are a bit longer also explain more of the story for the audience.
One scene that I enjoyed in its longer version is the scene where Mike is being haunted by Kevin O’Malley’s ghost in the vent above the room. Here we get to see more of O’Malley, and even though director Håfström admits to be glad that they cut this scene, I prefer the longer version.
All in all, the director’s cut is eight minutes longer, at 112 minutes compared to 104 minutes, than the theatrical version. Personally, I prefer the longer version, but I can also see why some parts were shortened or cut. If you listen to the commentary track you’ll get more background on these reasons from Mikael Håfström, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.
The extra features on the two-disc edition are a couple of webisodes, a trailer for the movie, five deleted scenes and the documentary
The Secrets of 1408 - A Behind-the-Scenes Look
(only the webisodes and trailer are on the single disc). We also get a very interesting commentary track (to the longer version) by director Mikael Håfström and writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. This commentary is interesting because the trio discuss the deeper meaning of what happens on the screen as well as why some scenes were cut from the shorter version.
Lilja’s final words about
1408
(DVD)
If you’re getting this DVD, I strongly urge you to get the two-disc edition. Sure, the price is a little higher, but compared to what you get it’s well-invested money…take my word for it.
****
The Mist
Posted: November 29, 2007
I have just seen what I think is one of the best movies so far this year. It’s called
The Mist
, based on King’s story with the same name and directed by none other than Frank Darabont.
The Mist
is the story of a group of people getting trapped in a grocery store during a strange mist. At first they don’t think much of it, but when a big tentacle grabs a local boy and drags him screaming out into the mist most people start to get scared. Some refuse to believe that there are monsters in the mist though, and that will prove to be their big mistake.
As time passes people start forming different groups in the store. Some follow the religious Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) and some just think she’s crazy. One of the groups that doesn’t really believe that it’s God’s fault that they are trapped in the mist includes the film’s main characters.