5 comments about Alkaline Trio - Halloween at the Metro.

1. I can't understand all of the reviews for this item that say the sound is poor. It isn't incredible DTS sound like the Cure's Trilogy DVD or anything, but it is still really good, especially for it being one of the very cheap "show must go off," DVDs. The song selection is good, the energy of the band is good, and the sound is good. Overall, this DVD is really a great deal for any fan of the band, particularly of their material from before they gained mainstream popularity.



2. This is an item whose purchase I highly recommend for any fan. True, Matt's singing on that night wasn't the greatest because he was sick, but I think that rough, strained quality adds to the performance. Dan's songs are especially good, although I don't think Matt's backing vocals did very much to improve the songs. For someone who has not had the oppourtunity to see the Trio in concert very often, this is an excellent DVD to pop in between times.
   The commentary is at some times funny ('Barnburner') and at some times boring ( the long silent parts), and I think it would have been improved if Matt Skiba had contributed. Still, It was nice to hear from Dan and Derek for a change.
   The extras (photo gallery, different camera views...) were alright, nothing to get too excited about, but then the real star of the show should be the concert anyway. One thing to note is that during the photo gallery, the song 'Halloween' (originally by the Misfits but here covered by Alkaline Trio) is playing and it's brilliant. Not owning the 7" it's onmyself, I find myself popping this in quite often just to here that song.
   The tracklist of the show is quite good; although heavy on material from the recently released album 'From Here to Infirmary', it also includes many older tracks and should keep all fans happy. The little played 'Queen of Pain' is one of the best on here, as is the fitting opening 'Hell Yes'. During '97', Matt sings different words and appears to mess them up a bit, but it's still worthwhile.



3. This DVD is not the bvest sound quality, it doesnt have much on the way of extra's, and the camera angles leave something to be desired. So you ask, why would i rate it 4 stars? Because i am a huge, huge fan. This DVD is not for the casual listener, or for someone new to the band. It is more for those who want something else to add to their already overwhelming collection of all things Trio.



4. being a survivor of four suicide attempts ALKALINE TRIO is something very special and dear to my heart.... I relate totally to the lyrics.. which is odd being that there are two key song writers and both of them sum up my life perfectly.. It's like we live in parrallel dimensions without even knowing it.. this shows up greatly in my own music.
   
   the last suicide attempt I went through I woke up to the song TROUBLE BREATHING, already being a major fan I now have more reason to love them.
   
   This DVD is a beautiful thing.. I can relive my concert experience with them as many times as I want in my own home.
   
   I have only seen them live once but when I met them Matt kissed me on the head and told me that he was so happy I'm still alive and is proud to have met me.. and it was hard to get him to let me go.. He hugged me so tight and so close that I was brought to tears..
   
   not to mention he loved my Alkaline Trio Tattoo which is the black heart and skull above a graveyard full of jack-o-lanterns and the chinese symbols for SCARRED. when I showed him the scars running up and down my arm he hugged me again..
   
   It was a moment in time that I'll cherish forever.. and with this DVD I can pretend it's all happenign again.. on a daily basis.
   
   Though this is no substitute for actually seeing the band live it's pretty damn good..
   
   not to mention they're all dressed as priests.. gotta love that..
   
   I love this band..
   
   and I hope you do to!



5. The vocals for Matt were cut later and thus...NOT live. The production flaunts it too. They can't even edit around it. I love Alkaline Trio but this DVD is pretty much unwatchable. It's more fake music industry crap. If it's a live DVD let's hear what you sounded like. I am bummed out. Punk and Rock are supposed to be REAL and this DVD is far from it. I just saw them live and it was awesome...I hope that was real.

No comments about Halloween...The Happy Haunting of America 2-Disc Anniversary Collector's Edition.

3 comments about Halloween [UMD for PSP].

1. Halloween, the original slasher film holds up today and still out-scares every movie hollywood puts out.



2. This is the worst movie of all time. I rented it once, and let me tell you, I almost tossed my PSP at the wall. It was just way to scary. It was scary+100. My sister almost peed her pants when she saw it. If you have any mind at all, don't buy(that is, of course, you're still wearing diapers).



3. I gotta write a five star review to eliminate that dumb review at the bottom, I meen even for the PSP this has got to be the best horror film of all time.

5 comments about Saturday Night Live - Halloween.

1. There are so many great SNL skits over the years, I'm surprised they barely filled an hour. A great one with Gilda and Martin Sheen isn't on here, and strangely, the "Goth" kids are advertised on the cover and intro but aren't actually on this DVD. Regardless, some really funny skits are on here, and it's a great addition to any collection. It will easily become a "must watch" for each halloween.



2. Forget decorating your neighbor's house with toilet paper or throwing eggs at passing cars. For a good laugh on Halloween, try picking up "Saturday Night Live - Halloween", a collection of some of the show's best Halloween - themed sketches, featuring classic charatcers and huge stars.
   
   Usually, the "Saturday Night Live" dvds focus on the best work of a certain cast member (eg. Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Jimmy Fallon etc.). But since "Halloween" features random castmembers in random sketches, my review will be structured differently than most of my "SNL" reviews. Here is an analysis of each sketch.
   
   Land Shark - Chevy Chase's "Jaws" parody, in which an unlucky victim (Gilda Radner) falls victim to the shark's doorbell trickery. Great way to start things off. 10/10
   
   Wayne's World - Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) give a brief introduction for the dvd and give a list of the sexiest Halloween costumes, including a cat and a nurse. This sketch is quite possibly the greatest and most popular "SNL" sketch ever (it appeared 18 times), and this is one of the funniest editions. 10/10
   
   Gay Dracula - Two road - weary travellers (Kevin Nealon and Jeaneane Garrofollo) decide to spend the night at the home of the famous vampire (host John Travolta in surprisingly his only appearance on the show). They analyze some of the Count's traits (his clothes, his accent) and comes to the false conclusion that he's gay. He tries to convince them that he's not, a plan jeopardized by houseguest Renfield (Chris Elliot) and the Wolfman (Michael McKean), both of whom are gay. I loved this sketch when I first saw it, but now it doens't seem as funny. I still like it, though. 8/10
   
   Martha Stewart Living - Martha (Ana Gasteyer) gives us several tips to put some spice into "all hallow's eve", including creative ways of toilet papering someone's house and leaving a flaming bag of poo out on your neighbor's doorsteps. Very funny. Laughed the whole way through. 10/10
   
   Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker - The destrcutive self help specialist (Chris Farley) tries to helps a trio of rebellious teens (Christian Slater, Melanie Hutsell and David Spade) who wreak havoc on the neighborhood on Halloween, but winds up destroying most of the house and ranting about "living in a van down by the river". Hysterical, just another eason why we miss Chris Farley. 10/10
   
   Spartan Cheerleaders - Craig (Will Ferrell) and Arianna (Cheri Oteri) crash her cousin Sydney's (Neve Campbell) Halloween party, much to the annoyance of her friends, who are bothered by their constant cheers. Eventually, Sydney sticks up for them by scaring her guests away with a "Scream" costume and joining Arianna and Craig in the perfect cheer. 10/10
   
   Vampire Dating - Ugh. Awful. Dracula (played by convincingly by James Wood) is looking for clean blood in three lovely potential victims (Jan Hooks, Victoria Jackson, Nora Dunn) but is beaten by the sunlight. Terrible, but I'll give it points for the hilarious Keith Richards joke. 3/10
   
   The Richmeister - Ah, my favorite sketch. Our favorite office pest Richard Laymer (Rob Schneider) annoys his coworkers (Chris Rock, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman, David Spade and Catherine O'Hara) only to get a visit from the Grim Reaper. Richard's cause of death: radiation, from the copy machine. Just when it looks like the end for good ol' Rich, he annoys Death away with his creative comments on his name. I laughed so hard I had stomach pains. 10/10
   
   Twilight Zone - In this editin, Rod Serling (Norm MacDonald) narrates the story of a woman (Pamela Anderson) who undergoes plastic surgery to look hot. The surgery is a success, much to the joy of the male doctors, all of whom have pig faces. When the female pig - faced surgeoun (Molly Shannon) tries to convince the men that Anderson will be branded a freak because everyone in the world has a pig face, they tell her they don't care because she's hot. Very funny if a little absurd. 10/10
   
   Consumer Probe - A vintage sketch from 1976. Joan Face (Jane Curtain) interviews cheapskate Irwin Mainway (Dan Akroyd), a toymaker who makes unsafe costumes for kids such as Invisble Pedestrian and Johnny Human Torch. The show at its satirical best. 10/10
   
   Adam Sandler's Costume Suggestions - An annual Halloween treat on the show would be when Adam Sandler would come on "Weekend Update" and give cheap homemade costume suggestions. The tradition is kept alive and well with this one, especially when the great Sandu unleashes crazy pickle arm. 10/10
   
   Return Of The Coneheads - Our favorite fake France natives (Dan Akroyd, Larraine Newman, Jane Curtain) anger neighbors (Gilda Radner, Bill Murray) with their politically incorrect goodies. Once again, the classics shine through. 10/10
   
   Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley - The effeminite therapist (Al Franken) gives us a spooky Halloween story and a lecture in making ourselves feel good on Halloween. Great sketch, and sadly probably the only edition to be released on dvd (yeah, like they'll release "The Best Of Al Franken"). 10/10
   
   Wayne's World Top 5 Worst Treats - Wayne and Garth close out the special with a list of the worst surprises to get in your goody bags, with the number one choice being mung. Like Wayne and Garth, I don't know what it is, but it sure sounds frightening. 10/10
   
   This dvd isn't funny. I would have loved the Halloween edition of Hans and Franz for one, and although it's pictured on the back cover, there is no "Goth Talk" sketch. Still, what's here is hilarious (except for "Vampire Dating") and is worth the view.



3. I'd prefer to have this tape custome, if possible. But since that's a pipe dream, you have to take what they dish out, and this DVD isn't something I'd want to buy if I had known it was so lame. I didn't appreciate or find amusing the Wayne and Garth commentary, and I can't believe they left out Richard Pryor's classic skit in which he spoofs The Exorcist, with Loraine Newman as the possessed girl. Classic SNL from its first seaon, and it was completely left out. Bogus, man!



4. I thought this Saturday Night Halloween was great. The best was Chris Farley as Matt Foley trying to convince the kids about Mischief Night. It was classic he was so funny and it reminded me as a kid going out on Mishchief Nite. The Gay Vampire was great with John Travolta and My son and his friends thought that Rich the Copy Guy was historical. We have watched it over and over again. It was done really well. People are going to really enjoy it.



5. I think I could do without "The Spartans" and the "Adam Sandler Costume Ideas" sketches. They're just annoying. But the Gay Dracula, Matt Foley and the Vampire Dating sketches make the DVD worth buying

5 comments about Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktakular.

1. I bought this movie for my son and he LOVES it! He watches it at least three times a week if not more. I even like it myself. :)



2. This is a such a creative and different take on the idea of Halloween. You have your typical bully with a witch, skeleton, monster, vampires, and a werewolf to help set the mood. That is where the normal idea of Halloween ends because then this delightful story twists any sort of typical Halloween ideal and sends it off in a whole new fun direction. Jimmy is the older cousin who doesn't feel like being saddled with is younger cousin Hannah on Halloween. With three friends he decides to send his younger cousin screaming home by sending her into the Spook House. Before the night is over Hannah learns that monsters aren't necessarily the ones who look like them. Jimmy will learn a lesson as well and all of this is picked up in the second movie. The whole thing is fun romp that should be enjoyable for people of all ages. Anyone familiar with Jill Thompson's work is going to love this!



3. My 4 year old son LOVED this movie. I think it's easily the most creative kid's film I've seen. It's lots of fun and I highly reccomend it. It's even got some fun little touches for adults such as a wolf in sheep's clothing and a skeleton in the closet. ;)



4. I went on a search for this movie as well as its sequal after my 3 yr old daughter watched them last year during the ABC family 13 days of Halloween. I originally DVR or TiVo the movies. I ended up watching those movies over and over again until I had to erase them in December to make room for the christmas theme movies. The movie is a cute halloween movie that can be enjoyed as a family. There is a cute plot in which the movie can be used as a learning lesson for children. It was a relief to find a movie that is kid friendly and my children can watch.



5. Our daughter is not scared of anything, and she just loves these Scary Godmother movies. We bought both of them, because she wanted to watch them everyday and I accidentally deleted one from out DVR!!! Oh NO! She likes that the kids get over being scared of the "monsters" because they are fun and friendly monsters. Just like Monsters Inc. it helps kids realize that things aren't always as they seem! The CG images are terrific and the storyline is cute and nothing a mom should worry about. There aren't a lot of kid-friendly Halloween shows, but this one is okay for even the little ones. The mean kid in the end learns his lesson!

5 comments about Halloween : Extended Edition.

1. Ya know, they splash across the screen right away about "Presenting them in 1080 high definition!!!". Well, not a few minutes into the film and i have to face what we once called in 3D gaming "THE JAGGIES".
   
   Yeah, it is an "OK" transfer - BUT if you did not notice that ALL the cars in the drive ways had jagged edges running up and down them especially on the chrome, then you are totally blind.
   
   I do not know much about older movies with their ability to transfer well to high def, nor do i own any previous Halloween DVD's to compare quality. I do know that this is the first Blu-ray i have had this terrible problem with and i can say that a DIVIMAX version may not actually be any worse.
   
   My judgement may be harsh, but i went Blu-ray to escape those jagged edges; so to see them pop-up so early in the film just makes me glad it was only $12 when i bought it.



2. Just my opinion here, but the night scenes still have plenty of blue in them -- and I do not think that this edition warrants a 1 1/2 out of 5 stars for video quality as some sites would have you believe. I am familiar with the Criterion laserdisc of this film (one of the best sets in its day) and there are certainly some differences...but honestly, like a lot of other people I always kind of felt like the night scenes had a tendency to look too "gelled" and either Cundey overdid the atmospherics a bit back in 1978 or folks started to get a little too nostalgic over at the THX mastering suites. I have a feeling it was a bit of both as the original widescreen video release of this classic was heralded as a total revelation of it's inherent style and I can see them pulling out all the stops to emphasize the visuals.
   
   These day scenes do look a tad more green, and I would have preferred them to have more of the original autumn tint. But, any gripe about this is almost totally nullified by the gorgeous resolution the Blu-ray offers that is the best gift Cundey's cinematography could ever hope for.



3. This movie was a purdy good one, suspenseful, check. Cool, check. Scary, ehhhm, hmm, uhh... check! Not a great movie, but the best, I'd say, as far as slashers go. If you liked Psycho, you're gonna LOVE this!



4. This by far is the single most important film of it's kind ! Everything works.This is by far the best movie of it's kind ! The movie is a complete masterpiece with it's music and camerawork. Nothing will ever compare to this film nor will John Carpenters work to follow . The Rob Zombie film should be passed on as the rest of the halloween films. H20 showed some promise however. The 1978 Original Halloween is a classic and a great lesson how horror films should be made start to finish.



5. The shape, the scream queen, the atmosphere.....it's all here.
   The single greatest horror movie of all time, period.
   The big three slasher movies?
   Halloween
   Friday the 13th part 2.
   And the original Nightmare on Elm Street.
   These three are the masterpieces of the genre.
   Halloween?
   My favorite holiday and my favorite horror movie.
   This movie has inspired and horrified sooooooo many people, and still does after all these years.
   A masterpiece in every way, the simple but effective story line, the music, the acting, everything about this movie is timeless and classic.
   A must have, a must see.
   I can't give this movie any more praise than I already have.
   If you haven't seen this, and I have a hard time believing anyone hasn't.
   RENT IT!!!!!!!!
   BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
   LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Halloween Haunts.

1. I recently acquired this tape and was dismayed to see a very bad musical number preceeding the cartoons. The tape is worth owning, but I would have preferred it if the musical number had been listed as being on the tape instead of waiting like a bad Halloween trick.



2. There are three great cartoons on this video. First, In "Pluto's Judgement day", Pluto is on trial in the "court of cats", and proven guilty by the Jury. In the end, it turns out to be a dream. Next in "Lonesome Ghosts" (Which is one of my favorites), Mickey, Donald and Goofy play ghost exterminators who must go to a haunted house, and exterminate some fun-loving ghosts. They have many misadventures, but they finally get them out of the house when they get covered in molasses and flour, and the ghosts become scared of them. Finally, in "Trick Or Treat", Huey, Dewey and Louie come to Donald's house in their halloween costumes. He plays tricks on them until Witch Hazel joins up with them, and with her magical powers, she teaches Donald a lesson.



3. This is a wonderful little video from Walt Disney Studios. It is a compilation of 3 great classic animated shorts, that fit the theme for Halloween viewing. First up is, "Pluto's Judgment Day", first seen in movie theatres on August 31, 1935. In this cartoon Mickey is mad at his dog Pluto for always chasing cats, this time a poor little kitten, and so Pluto knows he is "in the doghouse". He falls asleep and dreams he is taken to court in an underground cavern for crimes against felines, with cats for prosecutor, judge and jury. It quickly becomes a nightmare as the cats torment Pluto and sentence him. He learns his lesson to say the least. Great imagery and sight gags in this short directed by Dave Hand, the short really showcases the body language personality that an animator can build into an animated character that can't speak. Two of Walt's most famous animators worked on this, Ward Kimball and Fred Moore. There used to be a "Uncle Tom" cat character that has been edited out in recent versions.
   
   Originally released in theatres on Christmas Eve 1937, "Lonesome Ghosts" was directed by Burt Gillett, and Art Babbit was one of the animators. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy run a ghost exterminator shop, but don't have any business. Some tough ghosts in a haunted house decide to have some fun and prank call the ghost-hunters to come get the ghosts out of the house. Excited to finally have some work, the boys race over to battle the spooks. Slapstick comedy abounds as the boys fumble their way through the house and the ghosts constantly get the better of them. The special effects of the ghosts, created with transparent paint invented by the studio are really well done. The backgrounds in the house are very detailed. This classic short has been a favorite of fans for many years, it is a hilarious tale, one of the best cartoons ever made. . It was included as an extra on the DVD's "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad", "Disney Treasure Mickey Mouse is Living Color Vol. 1",and "Mickey's House of Villains". Beware of the Disney PC police editors, in that some DVD versions edit out the scene where Mickey shoots at a ghost with his gun. This is pretty silly since the bullets didn't harm the ghost anyway.
   
   Last is my favorite on this tape, released theatrically on October 10, 1952. This is the only one of the 3 that is actually supposed to portray Halloween. Its Halloween night and Donald Duck's nephews have come to Trick or Treat on his doorstep in their new Halloween costumes. Instead of giving them candy, Uncle Donald plays mean-spirited tricks on them including dumping water on them and then laughs at their misfortune. A real but very nice Witch Hazel (ideally voiced by June Foray) happens to see this and decides to give the boys a hand in punishing Donald while getting the treats for the boys. The story gets hilarious as she uses her powers to straighten Donald out. This one is themed directly on Halloween it's images are everywhere in this short directed by the great Jack Hannah. Bill Justice was an animator on this, and Yale Gracy did the layouts and background. Gracey later became an Imagineer and is renown for his special effects creations at the "Haunted Mansion" in Disneyland. "Trick or Treat" is also the title for the great bouncy song in this cartoon written by Paul Smith. It is sung by the great "Mellomen" which included the voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft. The Mellomen also sang in Lady and the Tramp and other shows from Disney. I promise you will be singing this all day once you hear it. This short was also on "Wonderful World of Disney" TV show in the episode "All About Magic" on January 30, 1957 which used the Magic Mirror from Snow White as the host. It was included as an extra on the DVD's "The Black Cauldron", and "Mickey's House of Villains". One reviewer mistakenly thought that this animated short was based on a comic by the great Carl Barks, but it was the other way around. While the story did appear in Donald Duck #26 (November 1952) as the cover story at 32 pages, it was based on the short cartoon. Barks editors at Western Publishing needed a Halloween themed cover story for the holiday and already knew of the cartoon in production at the studio, so they asked him to create the comic based on the studio storyboards and the original story written by Ralph Wright. Bark's said he had add-lib some more scenes to the story to fill it out to 32 pages, as a comic flows differently than an animated short. This is according to an interview from the Carl Barks Library in 1985.
   
   This tape is not scary, and very fun for kids and adults alike.



4. the first tale in this movie, pluto's judgement day, was always so realistic to me when I was little. I loved these movies and they were really good for any time of the year. Great lessons and great songs in each story. Great for any age child!



5. This is a Disney tape with three vintage shorts on it but they are all very good and one is a certified classic and perfect for Halloween. The run time is than a 1/2 hour but I still think it's worth it, if you can still find it that is.
   
   Trick Or Treat (1952) This is a certified classic in my mind, and based on a great story by the legendary Carl Barks, I love the spooky, opening shot of the town. Donald would rather play a trick on Huey, Dewey, and Louie than give them a treat on Halloween. Witch Hazel overhears the problem and casts a spell on Donald and boys get their treat after all. Just a great short with gorgeous animation.
   
   Pluto's Judgement Day (1935) an Early Technicolor short. Pluto's cat-chasing days come to a close when he dreams that he's sent to hell and put on trial for killing lots of cats. The jury is composed completely of cats! Not a true Halloween episode but still a spooky atmostphere.
   
   Lonesome Ghosts (1937) This one is great as well. Four green phantoms want some fun, so they invite ghost busters Mickey, Donald, and Goofy over to their haunted home with the aim of driving them crazy. Great early Disney slapstick.
   
   This is still a favorite of mine as the animation is all fantastic.

2 comments about Playboy: Hef's Halloween Spooktacular.

1. Let's see... Elvira hosting Hugh Hefner's annual Halloween Bash. Not exactly what I expect from Elvira, Hugh Hefner or Playboy. The fact is... the DVD is really BETTER than the sum of it's parts. First of all, it's NOT a sex video (although there IS some nudity, of course). It's a genuine documentary that covers - and UNcovers - everything you'd ever want to know about the biggest Playboy party of the year. It seems Hef (as his good friends know to call him) has loved Halloween ever since childhood. It was then that the future publisher from Chicago received a letter from his hero, Boris Karloff, and started a childhood "gang" called the "Shudder Club." Hef even did his own monster comics and horror flicks -- some of which are shown here. Years later, Hef decided to combine his love for Halloween (and beautiful women) and throw the biggest, spookiest Halloween bash EVER. For this he recruited his good friend - and fellow monster flick-enthusiast - Rich Correll (a former "Leave it to Beaver" kid actor who grew up to become a big TV director). With the help of a horror effects company called "Scare Factory", Correll and an army of artists, artisans and underemployed actors build and staff everything from monster mazes and Scarecrow bogs. The visual quality is very impressive, as the footage was actually shot in HD for an earlier broadcast on the ill-fated "Monsters HD" satellite network. Elvira's host-wraps are GORGEOUS, too. (So is she, by the way!) Overall the production, editing and sound are first rate. Fans of the hit reality show will enjoy seeing "The Girls Next Door" (Holly, Bridget and Kendra) in all their "themed" splendor. My only complaint is the overall length (one full hour) and the lack of "bonus extras". (The complete version of Hef's boyhood monster flick would have been fun, etc.) Oh, well... Let's face it. Most of us will never get in to parties like this. At least we can DREAM.



2. This dvd shows not only what you'd expect to see at the Playboy Mansion on Halloween but also how much hard work goes into the planning, putting together and pulling-off of the biggest, best Halloween party in the country. It really is a behind-the-scenes look at one of our most famous icons, his home and his "playground".

No comments about Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula and Mummy's Kiss.

1 comments about Clifford the Big Red Dog: Clifford's Big Halloween.

1. "Clifford's Big Halloween" is a "Clifford the Big Red Dog" DVD release featuring eight stories about our favorite big red dog (R.I.P. John Ritter) and his doggie and human friends. This DVD includes stories from frightful to fun.
   
   The first story on this DVD is "Boo," in which everyone watches a scary movie for Halloween. Jetta claims nothing scared her, but then gets scared when she sees a very large ghost. Now who might that be?
   
   Other stories are "Leaf of Absence," "A New Dog in Town," "Not Now I'm Busy," "Clifford's Carnival," ":Come Back, Mac," "Dino Cliford" and "The Trouble With Kittens." Themes covered include taking responsibility, not giving up, not jumping to conclusions, helping others and much more.
   
   All episodes are close-captioned, though the special features are not. The audio is Dolby Digital and includes a Spanish track. Special features include "Speckle Stories" seen in between stories of the show on TV and a pumpkin-carving game.