Videodrome

Rating:
Summary: Videodrome - It's Watching you!!!
Review: David Cronenberg is obsessed with technology and body modification - especially how all of this equates to sex and death. How do things CHANGE us? VIDEODROME is probably one of his most blatant statements about television, and the dangers of being more than a voyeur. There is a danger lurking in every scene of this movie, and even the sex scenes take on a disturbing horror vibe. Graphic and disturbing? Yes. But also very thought-provoking, and well-done. The DVD lets you see the movie in its widescreen unedited gory glory. Also included is a very disorienting trailer that was produced on a COMMODORE 64! The performances are outstanding including James Woods at his most likeable, and Debbie Harry as a distant emotionally cold woman who is turned on by the atrocity that is VIDEODROME. The plot centers on Woods as a slimey cable producer looking for hardcore programming to launch his cable channel. He stumbles across a show called VIDEODROME that is pure sex and torture to the point of death. Is it real? Where is it coming from? And why does everyone who watches it become a part of it? EXIStENZ is VIDEODROME's bookend - the gaming side of this theme.

Rating:
Summary: If You Are Even Slightly Geeky, Check This One Out
Review: Three references came to mind when watching this film.
The first was the philosophy of David Hume, particularly his idea that one can have no knowledge of ultimate reality. This film, with its hallucinations within hallucinations, asks the question "What would a man do if he couldn't trust his own basic perceptions?". Also, in accordance with Hume's teachings, we (the viewers) are never granted the "reality" of the story.
The second reference was a popular criticism of Brian Eno. Lydia Lunch said of his music; "...all it is is just something that flows and weaves, flows and weaves...It means nothing." This has been a popular criticism of Cronenberg's as well (in this movie and others), since Cronenberg often avoids conventional plot structure. That his work in this film means nothing, though, is a criticism I dispute. This film is interesting, it is thrilling (Woods' performance is electric). Yes, this film is often visually disturbing, and rarely coherent. But these feelings are the result of seeing events through the eyes of Woods' character, who is just as confused and even more disturbed than we are. I couldn't take my eyes off of this movie.
The final reference that came to mind was a much more recent film by this film's director called "Existenz". Both films were written by Cronenberg, and he appears to be making all the same points in both. "Videodrome" is the better of the two. It is rawer, cheesier, more visceral. It goes for the throat in a way that Existenz does not.
And again, Woods is terrific. The nervous energy that is seen in all of his work suits this material perfectly.
A plot synopsis is unnecessary for this film. The people who are going to like it would have their experience diminished by any attempt at summary. This film is labeled as "science-fiction". But there are things in this film that defy genre. Deborah Harry's sultry performance is one. It stands entirely on its own. And really, your inner-geek has to be in a coma for you to not get a thrill out of lines like "Death to Videodrome! Long Live the New Flesh!!"

Rating:
Summary: DO NOT SEE THIS FILM...
Review: Do not see this film if you tend to gravitate towards cliched, shallow, "dumb" movies. David Cronenberg had set a standard for creativity and will continue to spark inspiration for future filmmakers, years to come.

Rating:
Summary: O'Blivion
Review: High-tech horror and lurid effects. The story begings well, but soon becomes frantic and concludes in a barrage of gore. If for nothing else check it out for some interesting imagery and a turn by Deborah Harry as a bizarre radio talk-show guru.

Rating:
Summary: Long live the new flesh!
Review: From the twisted mind of David Cronenberg presents this bizarre 1983 Sci-fi horror thriller about a TV network boss named " Max" ( Played by James Woods) who owns a Sleaze and violence cable network, he receieved a pirated video tape in the mail called " Videodrome" which is a real torture ... show that induces hallucinations into the viewers turning them into hallucinating flesh-beings.

An exciting if weird effort from Cronenberg that successfully mixes sci-fi and horror with slimy make-up effects by Rick Baker and good performances by Debroah Harry and James Woods.

Also recommended: Scanners, Re-Animator, The Fly ( 1986), Dead Ringers, The Matrix, ExistenZ, Demons, The Ring, Demons 2, Ringu, Return of the Living Dead 3, The Dead Zone, Creepshow, Total Recall, City of the Living Dead ( a.k.a. The Gates of Hell) and The Beyond.

Rating:
Summary: Long live the New-- Cthulhu ftagn!
Review: I happened to think about H. P Lovecraft the last time I saw "Videodrome", and now I think I know why. If you're familiar with HPL's work, you know that he invented the "Necronomicon", an ancient book of forbidden lore, which always seems to bring a curse upon its owner. He also invented a book called "Ghorl Nigral", which kills its readers and may be more germane here.

My point is that "Videodrome" is an extremely Lovecraftian movie, even though it makes no mention of any of HPL's concepts. Max Renn (James Woods) is a Lovecraftian hero: a regular guy, not too dynamic, who is interested in stuff that isn't good for him. He discovers "Videodrome", a pirate TV show that depicts rape, torture and murder, and which he thinks is all fake. In his attempt to track down its origin (so he can show "Videodrome" on his public-access TV station), he gets caught between the show's producers, a counterforce that wants to destroy Videodrome, and, at the end, Videodrome itself-- which has plans of its own. That's where it becomes especially Lovecraftian. Videodrome is cursed; the show contains an electronic signal that causes brain tumors and hallucinations. Renn is bounced back and forth like a ping-pong ball between warring factions as a programmed assassin and is never quite sure whether he is hallucinating or experiencing reality. Finally, a new factor,"the New Flesh", steps in.

The acting and direction are great; Woods plays a vaguely sleazy but likeable (and ultimately good) guy, Debbie Harry's character is strange but sympathetic, and Leslie Carlson plays a superbly creepy Barry Convex. In fact, everyone gets a star turn-- Harlan, Brian and Bianca O'Blivion, Masha and Bridey are all unforgettable characters. Cronenberg directs with style and detached wit (the way Lovecraft used to write), and Howard Shore provides an eerie organ-like score that reminds me of Olivier Messiaen. Check it out! And check out the Juul Haalmeyer Dancers (not really) in the Spectacular Optics floor show! A little SCTV humor there...

Rating:
Summary: THE FLIP SIDE OF TV.....
Review: I saw this on it's release in 1983 and whew!. Here's another good reason why some movies should not be seen under the influence of anything. I never forgot it and grabbed it on video later and then DVD. It's my personal favorite of Cronenberg's films. TV becomes a living breathing organism on it's own and cable TV pirate Max Wren (an excellent James Woods) experiences this when he tries to follow sexy talk-radio host Debbie Harry into the other world of "Videodrome"---a violent underground cable TV reality show like no other that has a strange hypnotic power. He manages to track down it's source and discovers the ultimate takeover using the "new flesh". Incredible special effects and in one scene "hand gun" takes on an all new meaning. Just watch it and judge for yourself but be aware this is an intense and graphic film. Fascinating viewing and absolutely bizarre....it's a definite cult item. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful but deadly
Review: An adventurous film, one filled with strangely compelling sounds and images - more than worthy of the praise it receives here. I'd like to add that Videdrome's theatrical trailer (included on the dvd) is a masterpiece. It fits like a glove and demonstrates the kind of creative brilliance that exposes today's big-budget, market-tie-in, jump-cut, overloaded, scene-spoiling previews for the trash that they are.

Rating:
Summary: I Am The Video Word Made Flesh
Review: My goodness, how do you sum up a film like this? This is a shocking horror movie that provides satire on the power the media has over humanity. David Cronenberg does an incredible job of melding reality with hallucination. The audience doesn't know any more than James Woods does on what Videodrome is and exactly what they hope to accomplish. The story is very complex and you're left with a lot of unanswered questions. One thing's for sure, once you see this movie, you will never ever forget it.

As for the DVD, well it's just fair. The video could have used more restoration and an anamorphic transfer. The mono sound is really lacking in my opinion and needs to be remixed into 5.1 so the hallucination sequences can be more enveloping. For example, when James Woods puts his head in the tv to kiss Deborah Harry, it would have been nice to hear her breathing panning in and out of all 5 channels. The extras are almost nonexistant, but you do get the trailer for the movie which is strange to say the least. The trailer is mostly underground punk rock animation with no footage from the movie and a punk song in the background about watching tv and how tv watches us. The DVD is good enough though because the movie is so good and so disturbing, you won't pay attention to anything else. Five stars aren't enough for this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT FILM! NOT FOR EVERYONE
Review: ...
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY
5 STARS/ DVD

Summary: Soon, we will all have "special names"

I was just thinking about Brian O'Blivion's first scene in this movie. He explains that "O'Blivion" is not the name he was born with, that it's his "television name," then goes on to predict that "soon, we will all have "special names."

Now, 17 years later, how many of us are now divided into cubicles, staring at a screen, using our "special names"? Of course "Mr Pants" is not my real name, it's my internet name ...

Had Cronenberg been able to forsee the advent of the Web, he could have made some very interesting insights about it with Videodrome. But in some ways I think I appreciate it more without its connections. Its dated aspects only serve to make it seem all the more prophetic.