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Psycho

Psycho

List Price: $12.98
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A fair remake, but not as good as the origional.
Review: I saw this movie on Stars a few years ago. I thought it was a fair remake with good acting. Anne Heche did a good job as Marian Crane but nothing can compare to Janet Leigh's performance. The dvd features includes a documentary, theatrical trailers, commentary with Anne Heche,Vince Vaughn and Gus Van Sant, production notes, wide screen format and web links. What can you say, they tried. See the origional first and then see the remake. You be the judge on if it is as good as the origional.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I join the consensus
Review: What's the point? This has been asked many times: Why was Psycho redone, scene by scene? I guess someone who did not see the original would find it intriguing and fascinating. And there are some more explicit skin scenes, a la post 1965, which do make it look more real. So it's not a total loss and maybe worth seeing, but probably not owning.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pointless.
Review: Gus Van Sant is a talented director in his own right, as he proved in his stirring and depressing account of the travails and adventures of a latter-day Henry V "My Own Private Idaho." So why, then, did Van Sant feel the need to make this version of "Psycho", which isn't even a 'version', since this movie is a slavish shot-for-shot remake of the original, albeit set in the 1990's.

As I've said on many an occasion, I have no problem with a true remake: a fresh look on an old theme is perfectly fine, so long as it's well done and has something new to say. But given Van Sant's directorial talent, and considering the top tier (albeit underrated) acting talent involved (Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, William H. Macy, and Viggo Mortensen, it's hard to fathom why Van Sant would choose to use his talents on something like this.

It's worth emphasizing to the incredulous that this movie is NOT a remake, but is, indeed, a SHOT-for-SHOT reshoot of the original Hitchcock classic. Except for perhaps two little inexplicable touches, the film uses every camera angle, and every snippet of dialogue, and all of the characters, in the original film: the only departure from the original "Psycho" is that this movie is shot in color. Of the two departures, there isn't much to say: they take the form of brief 'visions' edited MTV-style into the killing sequences, and include a roiling stormy sky, a masked woman in a bikini, and an ewe.

For this we needed a feature film? What's more, while the movie itself is at first intriguing as a curiosity ("hmmm...let's see how Anne Heche plays the shower sequence) quickly begins to resemble bad dinner theater, and the film and actors, by definition, draw comparison to the original. Lamentably, they don't do well in the comparison. Anne Heche is tasty as always as Marion Crane, but she doesn't hold a candle to Janet Leigh's subtle portrayal of a libidinous woman wracked simultaneously by greed and guilt. Viggo Mortensen adds more of a Lil' Abner sensibility to his role than should be decent.

William H. Macy, usually outstanding, is just embarrassing in the role of Detective Arboghast, and Vince Vaughn is completely underwhelming and unbelievable as Norman Bates: watching Vaughn exerting himself on the lines that Anthony Perkins made seem effortless, you begin to realize just how supremely well-suited Perkins was for the role. If anything, watching Van Sant's reshoot of "Psycho" is almost the ultimate homage to Hitchcock's film, if only that you in doing so you realize what a marvel the original was.

Van Sant's reshoot of "Psycho", then, is interesting for about 15 minutes; after that you begin wondering what the point is. Put the original "Psycho" on the hopper instead; you'll be glad you did.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Boring !
Review: Complete waste of time watching, absoultely no comparsion to the orginal .

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Totally awful
Review: The main problem with this movie is that it's basically just a colorized version of the 1960 original, with a different cast. And that's where it really doesn't work. The dialogue has not been updated to the 1990s, and sounds ridiculous. Also, the situation between marion and sam is also way outdated. In 1960, it was feasible that a proper young woman would not bring a man to the home she shares with a conservative sister. Sam lives in his store, so a hotel in the afternoon is their only choice. But in this day and age, do they need to "sneak" around during lunchtime? Give me a break. Also, Sam can't marry her because he can't afford to support her, he's paying alimony, etc. That is also very outdated and totally stupid.

If a real remake had been attempted, complete with an updated dialogue and story changes to suit a more modern era, it might have worked. But to shoot frame for frame of a film that is 40 years old is idiotic. What was the point? Just to say it's been done?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Worth A Second Look.....
Review: This review refers to the Collector's Edition DVD(Universal) of the 1998 remake of "Psycho".....

"COLOR?...Psycho in color?" No Way. I hate it" Those were the first words out of my mouth the first time I put this film on to view a while back. I hadn't even watched it and already I hated it. But I did watch it and still I didn't think much of it. I already had my mind set that no one (except Hitch) should ever remake a Hitch film. And such a classic Hitch at that. Now sometime later, I decided to give it another go.....

I saw it a little differently this time. I saw it not just as a remake but as a tribute to "The Master". Is it as good as the original? Well... OOOOOF Course not, don't be ridiculous. Did the director(Gus Van Sant) do a good job in honoring Hitch's work? I thought so. Although it now is modernized, in color and takes place in the 90's which gives just a little different take on it, and there are a few moments that Van Sant adds his on ideas, it was practically scene for scene.As a horror film of the 90's it passes the scary test(I didn't want to take a shower after viewing it). Did the actors not only honor the great ones that came before them but also bring something of themselves to the characters? For the most part I would say yes.
Vince Vaughn(Norman Bates), seemed maybe a little TOO much like Anthony Perkins, but basically was a good "Psycho". Anne Heche made for an intriguing Marion(Originally Janet Leigh)and William H Macey(Arbagast), Julianne Moore(Lila) and Viggo Mortensen(Sam)all added something of themselves to these legendary characters.
Bernard Hermann's original score is used to add to the tenseness of the story and was reworked into the film wonderfully by Danny Elfman.

The DVD is excellent. If you already know that you like this movie and want to know about the DVD. I can tell you it is an outstanding view. It is presented in Anamorphic widescreen(1.85:1) and you won't miss any of the gorey details. The colors are bold and the picture is crystal clear.Sound is excellent and well recieved in the 5.1 Dolby surround. There is commentary by Van Sant which may be viewed during the film if you choose as well as Heche and Vaughn. There are some notes on the cast and crew and a theatrical trailer. You'll also find some weblinks and some screen savers. I also found myself in a help menu(by going through the language set-up) that had an icon for a featurette, but could not figure how to get into it. It comes with a booklet on the making of the film as well and has the theatrical trailer.

The original "Psycho" is a classic that will always have a place in film history. If you're a Hitch or horror fan, it's one that you will never tire of. But this remake is worth a look and a second look after that. It can not be watched without comparing it too Hitch,naturally, but I think you'll have fun doing it.If by some chance you have not seen either, start with the original first and be prepared to be scared out of your wits!

Get the popcorn ready, forget those "Razzie Awards" and have fun....Laurie

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: [BAD]
Review: I'm sorry to say this, but this film is just a piece of garbage!
I don't know what the actors and the filmmakers was thinking of!
See the old classic and REAL "Psycho" with good old Alfred in the director-chair and the perfect actor Antony Perkins! That is a REAL horrorclassic and will allways be!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Destroyes Hitchcock's legacy
Review: The first Psycho directed by Hitchcock is an undoubtable classic. It was followed by many dull sequels, and finally this, this tired drama, comedy, parody, horror, sequel, sci-fi, action, well I don't reaal know what it is. Does it even matter?

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Drama or Parody?
Review: Whether it's a drama or parody almost seems a moot point. More appropriately it can be asked: Why? In all seriousness it looked, sounded and played like a parody. Even beyond that, it seems almost sacrilegious to remake a film from the cinematic portfolio of Alfred Hitchcock. At best, this film is a curiosity piece for the not too curious film enthusiast.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: CLOSER TO 3 1/2 STARS
Review: THE ORIGINAL "PSYCHO" IS A 5 STAR MASTERPIECE, AN UNDENIABLE CLASSIC. SO IN SHORT THIS REMAKE IS ULTIMATLY A WASTE OF TIME FOR MANY. HOWEVER, I FOUND GUS VAN SANT'S VERSION TO BE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO HITCHCOCK'S. THE DIFFERENCES ARE SO MINOR THAT THEY ARE HARDLY WORTH MENTIONING. SURE IT'S IN COLOR AND IT'S MILDLY UPDATED BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S VERY CLOSE. FORGIVE ME FOR SAYING THIS BUT IT'S LIKE THE ORIGINAL IS THE FATHER AND THE REMAKE IS THE SON. REPLACING ANTHONY PERKINS AS NORMAN BATES IS VINCE VAUGHN. I LIKE VAUGHN AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH HIS PORTRAYAL. HE WAS DISTURBINGLY CREEPY JUST AS PERKINS WAS. AS MARION CRANE WE GET LOVABLE LESBO ANNE HECHE. SHE WAS NICE AS THE BRIEF LEADING LADY THAT ENDS UP MOONING THE BATHROOM CEILING. I ENJOYED DANNY ELFMAN'S MUSIC SCORE IT WAS AS CHILLING AS THE ORIGINAL SCORE. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH ELFMAN. SO CHECK IN, RELAX AND DON'T EXPECT THE ORIGINAL. OH AND REMEMBER, LOCK THE BATHROOM DOOR...


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