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Child's Play

Child's Play

List Price: $14.95
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DOES THE KILLER DOLL SCHTICK WORK??
Review: Well, I've always thought that certain dolls looked creepy, and Tom Holland and Don Mancini have certainly taken advantage of that minor phobia and created a film called Child's Play. In order to come up with a "convincing" reason to why this doll has sprang into animation and gone on a killing spree, it deals with the subject of voodoo. Charles Lee Ray, better known as Chucky, was a serial killer imbibed in the arts of voodoo and black magic. Maybe that characteristic about him was intended to augment the intensity, but you might overlook it except during the times when he's murmuring that foreign vocabulary. Anyway, during an attempted escape from a detective, Chucky is shot and pretty soon dying. He needs to transfer his soul into another body in order to preserve his life. It turns out the only available body is that of an ugly, My Buddy rip-off doll, known as Good Guys. You can figure out what happens from there. The Good Guy dolls are apparently the Pokemons and Tickle Me Elmos in the movie, and a distinctive young child named Andy Barclay wants one. His mother, a jewelry shop worker, buys a doll from a peddler... and then the weird stuff starts happening. After a series of murders, young Andy is believed to be mentally disturbed when he stays firm in the belief that Chucky can walk and talk like any normal person can. The detective who shot down Chucky, soon becomes the protector and advocate of the Barclay family.

Okay, it's a cheesy premise. The fact that Chucky is a killer doll might intrigue some, might make most laugh. But, really, if you watch it, you'll see that it's a very stylish horror film. I always believe that its strong point was how it obscured Chucky for a good enough portion of the film, revealing him in full motion at the height of intensity. Now that is what I call masterful directing on behalf of a horror film. Holland, as horror fans know, directed Fright Night and wrote Psycho 2. If it weren't for the directing and maybe even the writing, this movie would have been a complete disaster. The acting is nothing to brag about. I also think this movie is quite good because it overcomes a great obstacle: how does a tiny doll kill all these people? Well, it all has to do with Chucky's obscurity. He hides around, messes around with people's heads, and then springs out at them when they least expect it. Chucky is not given a lot of strength in this film- he is just clever and diabolic.

Keep in mind that I am not rating this film with three stars because I think it is a worthwhile movie for mass audiences. I am simply rating it so high because I have a favoritism to horror flicks. Child's Play is nowhere near the best horror film, but hey, it's great for sleepovers and is never truly boring.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Wanna play hide the soul?"
Review: Everyone has that one horror movie that freaked them out as a child. For me, Child's Play is that one movie. Of course, it didn't help that I shared the same name and age as the main character when I first saw this movie. I spent my entire childhood avoiding anything "Chucky" related (even his beach-house appearance on MTV to promote Child's Play 3 was too much for me) because he simply freaked me out. But today, it is one of my favorite films and I enjoy it to the fullest everytime I watch it. The story revolves around a 6 year old boy named Andy (Alex Vincent), who wants a Good Guy doll for his birthday (Good Guy dolls talk and "react" to humans to a certain extent). The problem is, his mother Karen (Catherine Hicks) is strapped for cash and can't afford one of these dolls. When she finds a peddler in an alley willing to let one of the Good Guys go for thirty bucks, she gladly takes home little Chucky, not knowing what she really paid for. The minute Chucky comes home, strange things start to happen, TV's turn on, footsteps are heard often and people go through windows. Andy insists to everyone that the reason for these occurences is that his doll is harboring the soul of the famous Lakeshore Strangler, Charles Lee Ray (a.k.a. Chucky). So naturally, like every horror movie, nobody believes him. Yes, the movie is a bit dated. The midget in the costume gag was a little too obvious at times, but the movie still sends chills down the spine. It also has a lighter side, with a little bit of black humor being tossed around, you'll find yourself laughing at really horrible things. It is also the beginning of another horror franchise with many sequels, in the tradition of Halloween, Friday the 13th and the likes. I still love this movie all these years later. The DVD isn't really a big deal. It's in full screen format (which I actually prefer) and has a theatrical trailer included. I recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't already seen it. It really is necessary viewing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: More Jack Colvin = 5 star movie!
Review: You must buy this DVD for one reason and one reason alone. Jack Colvin! Jack gives a fantastic performance starring as Dr. Ardmore, little Andy's Psych Doctor. Although Jack Colvin (one of the greatest character actors from the 19670-1980's)is only in the movie for about 5 minutes he makes this movie great rather than good. See Ch. 29 "Electrified Exit" and you'll see what I mean (warning - very graphic scene where Dr. Armore "checks out early" ouch!). Jack Colvin is one of only a handful of actors that could pull that scene off. Great stuff! Should have been nominated for an Academy Award! For more Jack Colvin genius, reference any "Incredible Hulk" episode from the 1980's (starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferigno)

Overall, the movie is one of the better thrillers from the 1980's and is worth watching at least once. Chucky is cool and Brad Dourif brings a freakish edge to the whole movie. Sound is decend for a dolby 2.0 mix. Unfortunately, there is nothing in terms of extras. Hopefully, the studio will release a "special edition" with deleted scenes (More Dr. Ardmore please!)and possibly a "making of" featurette with interviews from the legendary, Jack Colvin.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertainment At It's Finest
Review: For those that haven't seen Child's Play ever before, don't expect a classic like John Carpenter's "Halloween" or anything close, expect a movie that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Sure, a whole lot of this movie doesn't logically make sense...I mean, the movie is about a serial killer trapped in the body of a doll named Chucky, what do you expect? So, throw your common sense out the window and just ENJOY. Everything about this movie from the effects to the cheesy acting strikes me as classic 80's, and I couldn't ask for more. Sure Child's Play is not technically a "great movie", but quite frankly, who cares? Some movies are just fun to watch over and over again and this is one of them. One of my favorite techniques that the movie uses is that the viewer doesn't ACTUALLY hear Chucky talk until pretty late in the movie which is very effective. As for the DVD itself, it's nothing special; they deffinatly could have added a lot more on here for a cult classic like Child's Play. No matter what, if you're a fan of the movie than this is worth getting; and deffinatly a great movie rental for those who are yet to see Chucky and are interested.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dwelling Doll Terror!
Review: Child's Play, the classic of pint-sized terror cinema! A great horror movie from 1988, which featured Chucky, a miniature stalker, who can literally look-up to Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers and others. However, his attitude tells us, he would be mean enough to take them on, how far he'd get is quite predictable, however, the characters in this flick, as played by Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon, are absolutely stunned by his presence and have quite the difficult time with his great hyper-active, fast-moving energy. Chucky is ofcourse played by Brad Dourif, with so much energy, emotion and characteristic diversity... all verbally grappled. Dourif has been seen in many films, though my favorite role of his is as Chucky, wear he only ever showed his face, during the opening moments of this film. As Detective Mike Norris, Chris Sarandon gives the character a typical Detective-type feel, smoking cigarettes, tiring from work, and passionate about tying up loose-ends.

Ofcourse the key character in the story, is Andy Barclay played by Alex Vincent, who is the target of whom Chucky wants to transfer his soul into. The filmmakers obviously knew a killer doll film would go customary with a kid victim. Ofcourse no one would believe him, thinking he has an active imagination, only. Catherine Hicks plays his mother Karen Barclay, who eventually discovers that her son's story is true, during one of the film's breakout moments, when Chucky fouls-off and bites like a baby from hell!

This film has some classicly funny moments which filmmakers would continue with during the sequels. Child's Play definitely has that unique twist in the slasher genre, delivering great chills, laughs and ofcourse some gruesome death scenes

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Scary Movie Without Much Gore.
Review: Most horror movies are filled with gore. For some bizarre reason movie makers seem to think that the bloodier a picture is, the larger the audience will be. However, this really isn't the case. The best horror movies are the ones that don't show much blood and guts; the human imagination can conjure images much more frightening than anything special effects people can come up with. The best horror movies understand this (see the grandmaster of horror and suspense Alfred Hitchcock). CHILD'S PLAY is such a movie.

CHILD'S PLAY revolves around a popular child's toy that becomes possessed by the soul of a convicted murderer and thief. In the film's opening sequence, the killer dies in a toy store after being struck by lightening while chanting voodoo over a toy doll that looks remarkably similar to the popular "My Buddy" dolls of the late 1980's. The doll is bought by a desperate single mother from a bum behind the department store where she works. The mother takes the child home to her son and from there the real terror begins.

The premise of the movie is fairly believable, after all who hasn't been afraid of some doll or other when they were a kid? However, it suspensefully builds upon that premise from one scene to the next. A show of a toy's hand here and a burst of childlike laughter there is all that is needed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

However, not only that, but CHILD'S PLAY is a horror film filled with wit and humor. Long before SCREAM "heralded" a new way to make scary movies, there was CHILD'S PLAY. To begin with, there's the previous mention of the obvious play on the once popular My Buddy dolls. However, the film is filled with pop culture references and a play on the horror formula (they always come back at the end). Sometimes these moments are cheesy. However, even the cheesy moments are done in such a way that they are humorous, rather than corny.

Overall, a clever scary movie worth watching.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Second Worst
Review: This is the second worst horror series ever made. The first one is good but after that they get stupid.. I thought the part at the end of Bribe of Chucky when his girl friends gives birth to a baby was stupid.

Basically move is about Charles ray a wanted murder. At the beginign ray runs from a police cop into a toy store. Where he is shoot as his body is dying. Ray not wanting to rest until the cop and his double cross partner Eddy Copbal is dead. Peforms a vodo ritual which trasnfer his soul into a good guy doll named chucky.

He is sold to a little boy name andy. He goes on a kill spring. No body believes the truth that Chucky is reponsible for the killings. Final the mon and the cop

Chucky than sets of to transfer his soul into Andy body before he becomes human and becomes stuck in the doll for ever.

In the end after chuck is bably burned and his head arms and feet are blasted of his body. By then his body is almost human. The cop agains his gun and shoot Chuckey in the heart killing him instantly.

Rays soul descend into hell where it remains untils the doll is remade in the squel. If you like this movie I recommend Child Plays 2, 3 and the Bride of Chuckey also. Andy is in every movie in the Child's Play series except bride of Chucky the worst of the four by my opion.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chucky is still the King of killer dolls
Review: Note: does contain spoilers.

Child's Play is an excellent slasher movie that introduced Earth to the world of killer dolls.It also introduced us to Chucky,the king of murderous play things.CP has a lot going for it.The story for it's time was highly original and added a very refreshing twist to the slasher genre.It isn't very original anymore due to countless imatations that have followed (Puppet Master,Small Soldiers,etc).The special F/X,though a bit corny compared to some of the advanced F/X these days,are still great.The Chucky F/X are terrific,and to this day I still wonder how he did all those crazy things (imploding house,returning as a burnt zombie doll,etc).The music is also wonderful.It's very suspensful,and adds an additional element of fear.The acting is brilliant. Brad Dourif is devilishly good as the voice of Chucky.The human actors are very convincing as well.And although many people say CP is very funny,beware.Unlike the three sequels that followed, the original CP has plenty of thrills and chills.The beginning and ending sequences really freaked me out when I first saw this. It still does oftentimes.The photography is also slightly "filthy",adding some more suspense.The three following sequels did not have a "filthy" picture.There are some pretty humorous moments too,but CP relies more on scares than humor.Overall, Child's Play is a brilliant slasher movie that's a very welcome addition to a horror fan's library.It may be a bit childish for some considering that the star of the show is a doll,and gore hounds may be a bit disappointed as the level of gore isn't very high (though some killing scenes are gross,like the voodoo doll sequence and Chucky's demise).Also,Chucky has hardly any one-liners,which in Child's Play 2-4 are absolutely loveable. Still,this is a slasher flick well worth your time and cash. Buy it.

Rated R for some gory slasher violence and language.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A manifestation of rampant Hollywood cocaine abuse.
Review: There are certain things the average Joe should be horrified of: the gas prices, decent paying factory jobs being sent to third world nations, finding out your teenage daughter's prom date is R. Kelly, etc. But seeing a 2 foot doll with the combined annoyance capabiltities of Rob Schneider, Jennifer Lopez, David Spade, Hillary Clinton, Jar Jar Binks, and Ja Rule just doesn't work for me. It is just apalling how horror can denigrate from Poe, Lovecraft, and Hodgson to Chucky in less than a century. Of course no clean, sober mind could conceive such an idea. Only someone drunk on paint thinner chased with rubbing alcohol or stoned out his gourd could create such an intellectual vacuum as the Child's Play franchise. But it got created, and we, humanity as a whole are suffering for it.

This last paragraph is a true story. Back in April, I went to the 18 Cineplex to see Kill Bill Volume 2. But first I had to sit through the previews. One of the previews was for the new Chucky film in which evidently Chucky is going to have a child. It made me wonder why Bush doesn't do more to support family planning. But anywho, after that preview ended. I shouted with furious anger, "NO THANK YOU!!!". I expected to be ejected unceremoniously from the premises. Two ushers appeared out of nowhere and I was met with strange stares from the other theater patrons. So I stood up and awaited whatever fate was presented before me. But instead of recieving a boot to my hindquarters and a court order telling me never to return, I was met with cheers and whistles - even from the ushers. I politely bowed and sat back down, then I preceded to enjoy Kill Bill Volume 2.

Four words, Chucky: "Ribbed for her pleasure."

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hahahahah!! A doll will kill you! aaaaHAHAHAH!!
Review: I was talking to a friend of mine about Lord of the Rings; The Two Towers, and the fantastic new HBO series Deadwood that both have Brad Dourif playing small but very effective, and expertly perfomed supporting roles. My friend mentioned that he also played Charles Lee Ray a.k.a. Chucky, in "Child's Play", and I remembered ditching a day of high school, breaking into the back door of the theater with my friends and watching it. This movie was scary... When I was a teen.

Only to see Brad Doruif, I rented it again and watched it with my fiancée, and warned her that it was scary, but we both ended up cracking up through the whole thing. I felt really stupid telling her how scary it was. It made no sense to me that a plastic doll, the equivalent of a Cabbage Patch Kid, could overpower even a little boy.

The only thing that really saves this movie from being a complete waste of time was Brad Dourif, as Chucky. The little boy was just horrible. The cast, save Dourif, couldn't act their way into or out of a wet paper bag, the mother, the mother's friend, the police man who didn't buy her story about the living killer doll, the doctor who thought the boy was a nut; NONE of them could be considered good actors except for the damn doll! So it was a typical horror movie, minus the horror, but it was damn funny and I can understand all the sequels being made.

But I certainly will never understand how a plastic doll could be such a tough customer to people ten times bigger and stronger. If you see this movie you might notice that Chucky's victims often find excuses to be on their hands and knees, or prostrate on the ground so that Chucky can attack them and not get punted out of the room. This movie is good, but not great and nowhere near scary. You would have to be a teenager or a dummy like Chucky to think it is.


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