Knight at HOME at the Movies
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Halloween 2008 Part Two
The last episodes of the gothic soap opera arrive on DVD and a trio of comedic Halloween themed releases to focus on the lighter
side of Halloween in this edition of DVD Recommendations. Halloween 2007 recommendations HERE, HERE, and HERE.
The last episodes of the gothic soap opera arrive on DVD and a trio of comedic Halloween themed releases to focus on the lighter
side of Halloween in this edition of DVD Recommendations. Halloween 2007 recommendations HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Dark Shadows: The Beginning, Vol. 6. – From MPI Home Video. The pre-Barnabas episodes come to an end with this 4-disc
collection which means that now, at last, ALL the Dark Shadows episodes are here on DVD - very cool for fans of this one of a kind
gothic soap opera that ran on ABC from 1966-1971. MPI has added a batch of very welcome bonus features that includes the first
appearance of Barnabas episode complete with vintage commercials (this was a delight), promos for Dark Shadows related material
by cast members made during the show's re-run on the Sci-Fi channel, interviews with script writers, vintage newsreel footage of Joan
Bennett, and more.
The Munsters: The Complete Series – From Universal Studios. Though this hilarious sitcom lasted only two seasons, nothing
has been able to kill the eternal popularity of Fred, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie, and poor "homely" Marilyn. The Munsters, long on
atmosphere and good will, sometimes a tad short in the script department, and sporting the coolest theme song and the coolest
mode of transportation, are as welcome today as in their heyday back in the mid-60s. The slapstick goings-on at 1313 Mockingbird
Lane never seem to get old and that's due in large part to the crack timing of the three leads, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis and Yvonne
DeCarlo. And here at last - on 12 discs (count 'em) - are virtually everything - including the two made for TV movies - the original
cast members (okay, including both of the Marilyn's) participated in. The special features in this set include a coffin's worth of
making of featurettes and a long lost COLOR episode that's eye popping to see. There's still nothing like the atmospheric, black &
white episodes, though, and at long last, they're all collected together. Spooktacular!
Beetlejuice - 20th Anniversary Edition – From Warner Home Video. Tim Burton's black comedy in which Geena Davis and
Alec Baldwin are killed in an accident and haunt the new owners of their Victorian country mansion is long on charm, laughs, and style
and has long deserved Special Edition treatment. This version, with its spiffy 3-D cover, is not quite that, but it's a step in the right
direction. In addition to a the nice 3-D box the new special features are a tad scant (three episodes of the animated children's
edition are the most prominent) but for those who haven't added this to the collection, this upgrade is obviously the version to get.
Michael Keaton had one of his most memorable parts as the obnoxious, laugh out loud funny title character while Catherine O'Hara,
Winona Ryder (in an early role) and Jeffrey Jones are wonderful as the new residents. Also hilarious is gay actor Glen Shadix as the
pretentious O'Hara's "creative mentor." There's also terrific support from Sylvia Sidney and Danny Elfman's score is terrific. This was
the first of a batch of "gothic comedies" and Burton's signature dark production design is also very much in evidence. The kids will
love this one.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition – From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Five years after
Beetlejuice Tim Burton oversaw this tremendous example of stop motion animation, a direct homage to the classic TV specials like
"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town." This madly inventive film, gorgeous and dark, follows the
exploits of Jack Skellington and the other denizens of Halloweentown when Jack decides to take over Christmas from Santa Claus.
After having Santa kidnapped, he goes about having the townsfolk create a batch of hideous, monstrous toys that he endeavors to
deliver to the children of the world on Christmas Eve. The film is voiced by a cast that includes Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara,
Paul Reubens, and others and the songs were composed by Elfman (he also sings the majority of them). This last is probably the
film's only drawback for me as Elfman the songwriter is decidedly less memorable than Elfman the film composer. Nevertheless, this
is still a MUST WATCH each Halloween if only for the eye popping visuals. This special 2-disc version includes a remastered edition
of the film (it looks much better than the previous release), a digital copy, and an entire disc's worth of behind the scenes
featurettes and games for the kiddies. The early Burton shorts - Frankenweenie (uncut) and Vincent, his tribute to Vincent Price, are
also included. And there's also a nifty plastic bust of Jack Skellington packaged in the box.
collection which means that now, at last, ALL the Dark Shadows episodes are here on DVD - very cool for fans of this one of a kind
gothic soap opera that ran on ABC from 1966-1971. MPI has added a batch of very welcome bonus features that includes the first
appearance of Barnabas episode complete with vintage commercials (this was a delight), promos for Dark Shadows related material
by cast members made during the show's re-run on the Sci-Fi channel, interviews with script writers, vintage newsreel footage of Joan
Bennett, and more.
The Munsters: The Complete Series – From Universal Studios. Though this hilarious sitcom lasted only two seasons, nothing
has been able to kill the eternal popularity of Fred, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie, and poor "homely" Marilyn. The Munsters, long on
atmosphere and good will, sometimes a tad short in the script department, and sporting the coolest theme song and the coolest
mode of transportation, are as welcome today as in their heyday back in the mid-60s. The slapstick goings-on at 1313 Mockingbird
Lane never seem to get old and that's due in large part to the crack timing of the three leads, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis and Yvonne
DeCarlo. And here at last - on 12 discs (count 'em) - are virtually everything - including the two made for TV movies - the original
cast members (okay, including both of the Marilyn's) participated in. The special features in this set include a coffin's worth of
making of featurettes and a long lost COLOR episode that's eye popping to see. There's still nothing like the atmospheric, black &
white episodes, though, and at long last, they're all collected together. Spooktacular!
Beetlejuice - 20th Anniversary Edition – From Warner Home Video. Tim Burton's black comedy in which Geena Davis and
Alec Baldwin are killed in an accident and haunt the new owners of their Victorian country mansion is long on charm, laughs, and style
and has long deserved Special Edition treatment. This version, with its spiffy 3-D cover, is not quite that, but it's a step in the right
direction. In addition to a the nice 3-D box the new special features are a tad scant (three episodes of the animated children's
edition are the most prominent) but for those who haven't added this to the collection, this upgrade is obviously the version to get.
Michael Keaton had one of his most memorable parts as the obnoxious, laugh out loud funny title character while Catherine O'Hara,
Winona Ryder (in an early role) and Jeffrey Jones are wonderful as the new residents. Also hilarious is gay actor Glen Shadix as the
pretentious O'Hara's "creative mentor." There's also terrific support from Sylvia Sidney and Danny Elfman's score is terrific. This was
the first of a batch of "gothic comedies" and Burton's signature dark production design is also very much in evidence. The kids will
love this one.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition – From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Five years after
Beetlejuice Tim Burton oversaw this tremendous example of stop motion animation, a direct homage to the classic TV specials like
"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town." This madly inventive film, gorgeous and dark, follows the
exploits of Jack Skellington and the other denizens of Halloweentown when Jack decides to take over Christmas from Santa Claus.
After having Santa kidnapped, he goes about having the townsfolk create a batch of hideous, monstrous toys that he endeavors to
deliver to the children of the world on Christmas Eve. The film is voiced by a cast that includes Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara,
Paul Reubens, and others and the songs were composed by Elfman (he also sings the majority of them). This last is probably the
film's only drawback for me as Elfman the songwriter is decidedly less memorable than Elfman the film composer. Nevertheless, this
is still a MUST WATCH each Halloween if only for the eye popping visuals. This special 2-disc version includes a remastered edition
of the film (it looks much better than the previous release), a digital copy, and an entire disc's worth of behind the scenes
featurettes and games for the kiddies. The early Burton shorts - Frankenweenie (uncut) and Vincent, his tribute to Vincent Price, are
also included. And there's also a nifty plastic bust of Jack Skellington packaged in the box.
