Rated: Suitable for 12 years and over
Staring: Richard Crenna, Mare Winningham, Susan Blakely, Daphne Ashbrook, Alan Autry
Director: Dan Curtis

Budd Hopkins' pioneering work brought to life in DVD to good result, 2010-04-02

Having studied the abduction phenomenon in some depth and being acquainted with all the published work of Budd Hopkins, Ray Fowler, John Mack and David Jacobs over 30 years, I had low expectations of a dramatized movie doing justice to this enormous and detailed subject.

But wow, what a surprise. The movie really is good. It could be watched by a viewer very familiar with the subject, or one to whom the subject matter might be new and unknown, and both would find it absorbing and compulsive viewing. The screenplay is very strong, the plot line thoughtful in its development and the direction and editing really first class. The actors are all excellent, and the slow conversion of the psychiatrist character to acceptance of the phenomenon as real in the face of the mounting evidence is convincing and well developed.

Although based loosely on the Copley Woods case, from which the title "Intruders" is derived, the movie is not not a dramatization of Hopkins' account of that case. The characters and settings are changed, but the essential chronology of events retained. The role played by Richard Crenna shares some of the characteristics of both John Mack (Professor of Psychiatry, initially skeptical, comes round to taking the phenomenon seriously when he examines the evidence) and Budd Hopkins, and Hopkins' real-life persona is in turn split between the Crenna and Steven Berkoff characters.

The essential aspects of the abduction phenomenon are revealed and explained in the drama: the common biopsy scoop-marks usually on the lower leg which many abductees suffer as children and which become lifelong visible scars, the nasal implants and resulting nose bleeds, the 'missing' pregnancies, the circular landing traces left by the intruders' craft (on which often nothing grows for many seasons) and the purposeful, repeated and intergenerational nature of the phenomenon.

The most chilling part for me (apart from the introduction of the 4-year old hybrid child to its natural mother...) was the private and revealing conversation between the Air Force General and the psychiatrist (the Richard Crenna character) near the conclusion of the film. This of course linked back to the first scene in the military bunker, and the scene with the crashed spacecraft in the NM desert, in explaining the policy of denial and why it is continued. This was a really interesting scene to include, not part of the original 'Copley Woods' case but nevertheless thoughtfully places the phenomenon in its global political perspective where it is taken very seriously (Above Top Secret and all that...) whilst public indifference and ridicule of abductees and witnesses remains the order of the day in the MSM, who collude in the deception.

Disclosure about this issue will have to come one day. But when?

See the movie. You'll like it.

Rated: Parental Guidance
Staring: Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Marius Goring, Valentina Cortese
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Golden Oldie, 2010-08-22
This is a film that is so enjoyable to watch from beginning to end. Brilliant acting as always from Humprey Bogart, Ava Gardener is just a joy to watch as ever and the story of this beautiful dancer from a poor background who finds overnight fame and fortune does not follow the usual pathway that one would expect, a very different story from what I expected in the way it is told, buy this and you will not be disappointed. A really excellent film from the golden age of Hollywood.

Staring: Lana Turner, John Forsythe, Ricardo Montalban, Anthony Quinn, Burgess Meredith
Director: David Lowell Rich, Michael Gordon

DVD HEAVEN, 2009-11-12
I have been searching for a copy of Madame X for a number of years, thankfully you all at Amazon have come to my rescue with the added benifits of a speedy delivery and excellent customer service. I have planned an afternoon in front of the television watching the wonderful Lana Turner so thank you you have made me very very happy.

Rated: Universal, suitable for all
Staring: Audie Murphy, Joan Evans, Charles Drake, Virginia Grey, Warren Stevens
Director: Jack Arnold

NO NAME ON THE BULLET--A CLASSIC WESTERN., 2009-09-05
NO NAME ON THE BULLET-was filmed in colour during 1958,released in cinemas 1959. This is a great action-packed western. AUDIE'S fine list of co-stars include-CHARLES DRAKE,[also in some of his other films],VIRGINIA GREY,WARREN STEVENS[he was also in Audie's 1965 western-GUNPOINT]and JOAN EVANS[she was also in Audie's 1952 cavalry western-COLUMN SOUTH].
AUDIE plays John Gant a hired killer,who strolls into town-his reputation as a deadly fast gun-slinger is well known amongst the towns inhabitants,his arrival in any place means he's been hired to kill someone-and the towns people wonder who he has been hired to kill. A great western,brilliantly acted by entire cast and Audie's cool no-nonsense performance as John Gant the hired killing fast gunslinger is just brilliant.
Regards,Bill.

Rated: Parental Guidance
Staring: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens
Director: Fred McLeod Wilcox

This 1956 pop adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest is one of the best, most influential science fiction movies ever made. Its space explorers are the models for the crew of Star Trek's Enterprise, and the film's robot is clearly the prototype for Robby in Lost in Space. Walter Pidgeon is the Prospero figure, presiding over a paradisiacal world with his lovely young daughter and their servile droid. When the crew of a spaceship lands on the planet, they become aware of a sinister invisible force that threatens to destroy them. Great special effects and a bizarre electronic score help make Forbidden Planet as fresh, imaginative and fun as it was when first released.
Syfy fantastic, 2010-08-08
One of the greats from the 50's and early 60's the special effects are by todays standard are like entry level FX but for the time they were the Bee's Knees best story line for its time.

Rated: Parental Guidance
Staring: Warren Beatty, Madonna, Al Pacino, Charlie Korsmo, Michael Donovan O'Donnell
Director: Warren Beatty

A flawed but stylish adaptation of the Chester Gould comic strip by director Warren Beatty, who also stars in the title role. The minimalist plot involves a battalion of baddies who confront the intrepid detective in a series of strung-together vignettes. Al Pacino is a comedic if overblown standout as Big Boy Caprice and Madonna simply smoulders as aggressive blonde bombshell Breathless Mahoney. It matters not that the plot is Spartan, as this dazzling eye candy is much enhanced by Stephen Sondheim's songs, including the Academy Award-winning ditty, "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)". Beatty took his cue from the source material and concentrated on the relationships between these people, whether strained, romantic or hateful. The performances are subtle and more amusing than you would expect from such a visually bold picture. Shot in bright, primary colours, this also won Oscars for Best Art/Set Direction and Makeup (for those inventively hideous criminals). Watch for well-known names, such as Dustin Hoffman and Dick Van Dyke, in cameo appearances and supporting roles. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Best of the comic book films ever made, 2010-01-10
As a child, this was the only comic book movie that was genuinely terrifying, really great.
One word for this film: STYLISH.
Oscar/Academy award wins for Cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and many others, this uses bright primary colours to amazing effect.
Sadly, no other comic book turned movie has even come close since this 1990 classic.

Rated: Suitable for 18 years and over
Staring: Helen Mirren, Danny Dyer, Robert Glenister, Lesley Sharp, James Laurenson
Director: Christopher Menaul, Philip Martin, John Strickland, David Drury, John Madden

The Prime Suspect - Complete Collection box set provides a full retrospective of the hard-hitting detective dramas that introduced us to DCI Jane Tennison.
Superb, 2009-07-01
What a collection. Helen Mirren at her best and the story lines are incredible. 10 out of 10

Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over
Staring: Steven Seagal, Warren Derosa, Troy Gilbert, Angela Gots, Joe Halpin
Director: Alexander Gruszynski

Steven Seagal Fans, 2009-10-18
Yes, I am a fan of Steven Seagal, I have brought most of his films, I have enjoyed watching his films ever now and again, I never get tired of them.

Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over
Staring: Warren Brown, Steven Meo, Leah Macrae, Jordan Murphy
Director: Ben Kellett

Rated: Suitable for 18 years and over
Staring: Helen Mirren, Danny Dyer, Robert Glenister, Lesley Sharp, James Laurenson
Director: Christopher Menaul, Philip Martin, John Strickland, David Drury, John Madden

Brilliant, the best police drama I have ever watched, 2010-08-13
I had heard this was good and bought it on spec. I could not turn it off. The picture quality is pretty good considereing the age and source, the sound and subtitles excellent and the acting of Helen Mirren so lifelike one felt one was watching live drama. The only minor grumble is that each disc has this stupid "do not steal" advert that one cannot skip. These baffle me as the first thing one thinks about doing is copying the discs and putting the originals in the back of the cupboard. I suppose there is no limit to corporate incompetence! Despite this, treat yourself, it is worth every penny and this particular set is so cheap!