Rating: 
Summary: Don't be a chump, buy it while you can...
Review: With this film's history, especially the struggle to gain realistic distribution and to restore something of the original content, you simply cannot afford to let this superb 2 disc set slip by. It has taken many years to get this much together, and if it were to become unavailable... I strongly urge you to get it while you can.Whether we will ever see a more complete version is a total unknown, but this exquisitely packaged set offers the fullest version yet seen, primarily consisting of the scenes on the Scottish mainland which set the background to Howie and the mystery letter mentioning the disappearance of Rowan Morrison. This is unquestionably an Art movie, in the same sense that Jacob's Ladder and Don't Look Now (a Wicker Man stablemate) were. Yet it manages to entertain on many levels, being both visually and aurally compelling. The soundtrack by the sadly late Paul Giovanni is simply stunning and the recently-released soundtrack album, which includes the haunting Gently Johnny, is another must for the serious fan. The Wicker Man soundtrack has always been the Unholy Grail of soundtrack albums, so again, I wouldn't let it slip away. There have been so many superb reviews that I won't go into plot details here, but I would like to attest to the excellent job the creators of this wonderful 2 disc set have done, right down to the ingenious wooden case. The Extras are superb, especially the lengthy interview/documentary footage with Hardy and Shaffer and the excellent Ingrid Pitt, Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward. While through no fault of her own, Ingrid's role is barely more than a cameo, Woodward and Lee give some of the best performances of their impressive careers. While I would not consider the movie to be a Horror movie as such, the suspense builds majestically, and the only violence is entirely in context. Similarly, the nudity is tasteful and entirely valid within the context of a movie set in a pagan community. Britt shines in Willow's temptress dance and Ingrid Pitt delivers a masterfully understated and all-too-brief wordless performance in the search scene where Howie enters her cottage unannounced, to find her in the bath. If you're a total Ingrid Pitt fan, as I always have been, the Step and Slow keys will enable you to savor this vampish delivery. This is one of those rare movies in which the sets, the music, the casting, the locations, the production and direction and screenplay simply cannot be faulted. Having bought the superb making-of book Inside The Wicker Man from Amazon UK, this double DVD is just the icing on the cake, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: I've never seen a horror film quite like this...
Review: Okay, so, I lied... It's sort of like Rosemary's Baby. Sort of. As much as I like Rosemary's Baby, I think The Wicker Man goes a step further... a mile long step further. It's difficult to review this movie without giving too much away... I mean it started out really, well, bland. (I mean I almost stopped watching, but I'm glad I didn't.) However, there comes a subtle turning point where the movie delicately draws you in to its madness... I say this isn't you typical horror film because it doesn't really have any of the cliche elements that make a horror film. But don't let that fool you... This movie is so very disturbing. Give it a chance! You won't regret it...
(...or maybe you will, because it's just so damn creepy.)
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Chilling
Review: "The Wicker Man" was always a bit of a disappointment to me because long before I got a chance to watch the movie, I accidentally learned how it ended. Therefore, the final devastating moments of this Christopher Lee/Edward Woodward horror-drama lacked the punch it probably has for most viewers who go into "The Wicker Man" totally unaware. Try to avoid learning a lot about this movie before you watch it because I assure you that you will be much happier with the results. Imagine a film about paganism and the philosophical implications of a modern day Christian encountering such a primitive religion, with all of its attendant rituals and colorful ceremonies, alive and well on a Scottish isle and you have the basic premise of this haunting movie. "The Wicker Man" is considered by many to be one of the greatest cult horror films ever made, and while I don't think this claim is necessarily true, I still found much to like here. Police Sergeant Neil Howie arrives on a small island off the coast of Scotland on a mission to follow up an anonymous tip he received about a missing girl. We learn right from the start that the police sergeant is a devout, no nonsense Christian, but even he isn't prepared for the weirdness running rampant through the byways of this community. Right from the start, things on Summerisle seem downright weird. The locals drinking in the pub where Howie procures lodgings are extremely strange folk, as is Willow, the daughter of the inn owner. That very night the police sergeant has an erotic encounter with Willow that is sure to test the faith of the most ardent Christian. Further eeriness rears its head when Howie sees strange goings on at the local school, some of the bizarre customs practiced on the island, and finally meets with the wild haired eccentric Lord Summerisle. It turns out that most people don't seem all that concerned about the missing girl Howie is looking for. Howie rapidly goes from a state of perplexity to one of utter repugnance as he gradually learns the true secrets of the this island: the people here, led by the zealous Lord Summerisle, are practicing pagans who emphatically reject the Christianity so adored by Howie. But as much as the police sergeant thinks he knows, he is in for a very rude awakening as the movie twists and turns to its grim conclusion. "The Wicker Man" is a very colorful movie, with plenty of dancing, singing, and great costumes. The music is quite unique, at least for me, and plays a big part throughout the picture. What I liked best about this film was the cast. Britt Ekland turns up in the small role of Willow, the pagan temptress who tries to seduce Howie with a rather sultry dance in the beginning of the film. Christopher Lee is a bit of a question mark here. In an interview included on the disc, he claims that "The Wicker Man" was the best role he ever had in a movie. Moreover, he loved the film so much that he personally called film critics in order to help get the film some much needed publicity. Most of what Lee says about his part in this production is a bit of surprise because his character really doesn't appear in many scenes of the film, and when he does show up, he doesn't really do much. Apparently, some missing footage contained several lengthy scenes of Lee as Lord Summerisle, so perhaps this helps explain his limited screen time. The real prize in the film is Edward Woodward in the role of Neil Howie. Like most people, the only exposure I have had with this actor was his stint in the American television series "The Equalizer" a few years ago. In "The Wicker Man," Woodward shines as the hard-nosed Howie, a dedicated cop who adequately conveys the sort of outrage concerning the shenanigans on Summerisle one would expect from a deeply religious man. Even though I knew how the film ended, Howie's reactions to his fate still chilled me to the bone. Woodward alone provides the biggest reason you should watch this movie. What a fine actor. The DVD version of the film boasts an impressive array of extras, specifically interviews with principals Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, and some background about director Robin Hardy and screenwriter Anthony Schaffer. You even get some information about the conditions endured by cast and crew alike as they filmed the project (poor, poor Edward Woodward and that scared goat!). The controversy surrounding the distribution of the film, which the studio cut and sloppily marketed, is discussed in some detail. Christopher Lee still looks mad over the missing footage, which he claims is probably in someone's basement or attic waiting to be found. The official explanation is that a mistake made while cleaning out a film vault resulted in parts of this film being thrown in the back of a dump truck. Even if this enigmatic footage never surfaces, the film I saw was still massively entertaining. I cannot say that this is the best picture I have ever seen, but its reputation requires all cinema fans to give it a watch. It's definitely unique enough to stand out in the old memory banks well after the closing credits fade to black. Any film that can accomplish that feat is worthy of a five star rating, wouldn't you say
Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly hilarious ( read this after you've seen the....
Review: movie ) OK I'm sure many people bought this expecting it to be a horror movie because it was made in the 70s and Christopher Lee starred in the movie. This couldn't be further from the truth. It was intelligently written and while it showed it's fair share of nudity - it was enjoyable and had a sense of pastoral quietness that I hadn't seen in movies before. It was funny hearing these pagans breaking into dirty little songs about sex or something related to it. The one problem with reviewing this film today is that people may presume that the policeman is the guy we should be booing. But I would disagree - I think at the time when this film was released people could relate to the policeman because he was a Christian and I think at the time ( although it's this I'm a little unsure of ) people had a lot more respect for people. To watch something like this was of course a little terrifying for them. It does bring up what happens when some people's minds are closed when it comes to different religions. It's something that still happens today so the film is far from dated. We see today in the news about Israel and Palestine and The divide in the North of Ireland with the Unionists and Nationalists. It's not something you'll actually get from watching the movie but you'll notice it after you watch the news As for the movie - enjoy it - have a laugh with the songs and well it's just....just something that seemed out of place in the horror genre Now a 1, and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 - Corn rigs and barley, corn rigs and barrrrlllleeeeeeeeeey
Rating: 
Summary: Humorous, erotic, quasi-horror film
Review: Summary:
Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a police officer with the force that has responsibility for Summerisle Island, is sent to investigate the alleged disappearance of a girl from the island. When he arrives, he immediately begins to find that things are a bit strange on the island. Despite the small number of people, no one claims to recognize the missing girl. As Sergeant Howie digs deeper into the case, he finds a number of contradictions and ultimately concludes that either the townspeople killed her as a sacrifice or are planning too. His suspicions are heightened when he meets the leader of the people living on the island, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), who confirms for him that the people of the island are no longer Christians. They have returned to their pagan roots, as they hold more meaning for the islanders and seem to be more effectual for the harvest. This also helps explain the numerous fertility rites Sergeant Howie has seen around the town, including: naked women jumping over a fire and young boys running around the May Pole. Eventually, Howie's investigation gets the better of him when he knocks out a member of the town in order to wear his costume in the May Day celebration where the townspeople are to present their 'ultimate sacrifice'. In so doing, Howie walks directly into the town's trap and sets himself up to meet 'The Wicker Man'. My Comments:
This is not a traditional horror movie in any sense. As a matter of fact, I thought it was just a fun commentary pointing out the problems with Christianity (it's not effectual and doesn't do a good job of explaining things for the lay person), until the last 10 minutes or so of the movie. It is only in the last 10 minutes that the underlying plot is revealed and you realize just what has happened. And when you do realize it, it's quite shocking. As far as the story goes, of course some liberties have been taken in order to create the horror aspect. However, the liberties aren't so extreme that the movie isn't convincing. Of course it is highly unlikely that something like this would happen today in the British Isles, but the idea is definitely a good one. I couldn't really see any problems with the story, though there are a few erotic scenes that made me wonder if they were essential to the story. In all likelihood, they probably were not essential, but they were adequately connected to the rest of the story to justify their inclusion. The acting is about what you would expect from the early 1970s. What does that mean? It's not superbly refined. I believe the 70s (and late 60s for that matter) are really when the old school of acting of the 40s and 50s was meeting the newer acting styles of the 80s and 90s. So you have something of a mixture between the two. Edward Woodward seems to be more representative of the dashing hero from the pre-1970s school, while Christopher Lee does a good job developing the bailiwick of the post-1970s school. Many of the more peripheral characters were actually townsfolk from the island, so to criticize their portrayal of themselves would be kind of silly. The main female actresses, Ingrid Pitt, Diane Cilento, and Irene Sunters, weren't superb, but neither were they so bad that it took away from the movie. Overall, I believe this is, sadly, a little known work of art. Even though the erotic elements will likely be too much for many people, the unique approach at telling a horror story (within the religious beliefs of pre-Christian pagans) without the cheap thrills and scares, is a must see for all horror fans. I highly recommend this movie for anyone interested in pagan religions (though it does take a certain amount of liberty here), anyone that enjoys horror films, or erotica - as this film combines them all into an engaging story.
Rating:
Summary: The Wicker Man Is Real....
Review: This is supposed to be a "horror" movie. The "horror" being what we are led to believe. This film depicts this in so many degrees. What is not seen is what is to be believed. Upon arriving in the Scottish Isles, a local Bobby, if you will, is sent to investigate a supposed dissapearance of a local girl. As the film unfolds, she turns out to be the missing harvest queen of such which is diminished the year before. Yeah, shades of Harvest Home abound, but, this film was ahead of that and too original. Not for the kiddies or those who appose Druid or Celtic practices...this is best watched with the light on...
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Curiosity
Review: This is always described as a classic horror movie. But really that's a misclassification, albeit one made natural by the presence in the cast of horror specialists Christopher Lee and Ingrid Pitt. In fact it's not really a horror movie at all, more like an erotic mystery thriller. The ending certainly is horrific but you won't spend any time hiding behind the sofa waiting for something horrible to jump out of the shadows and nothing horrible ever does. Edward Woodward is Sergeant Howie, a policeman in the Scottish Highlands who is sent to investigate the reported disappearance of a child on the fictitious Summer Isle. (In a nice wind-up, the opening credits thank the locals.) This leads to some trouble as Woodward is a stern, conservative and virginal presbyterian while the island, it turns out is an enclave of a rather improbable form of oversexed paganism. And the trouble is not lessened by the almost complete lack of cooperation of the islanders in the in vestigation. At first they deny that the missing girl ever existed and when this is exposed as deception they continue to appear nonchalantly unconcerned. the most interesting thing about the film is perhaps the way our attitude to Sergeant Howie changes as the film proceeds. At the start the Summer Isle seems rather a fun place, all singing and shagging, while Howie is just a dreadful stuffed shirt. However as the film unfolds and the darker aspects of the local religion become apparent and the hunter becomes the hunted, we grow far more disposed to sympathize and identify with him. It's possible to hear quite absurdly inflated claims made about how good this film is. It is hardly a great masterpiece. In fact at many levels it is a pretty silly piece of nonsense. But it's fun well-crafted nonsense, highly idiosyncratic and intriguing with a unique atmosphere much enhanced by the clever and effective use of bawdy folksongs like "Gently Jonny" in a number of the most memorable scenes. And the notorious final scenes are genuinely sinister and disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: A total cult!
Review: Firstly, I knocked off a star for the annoying way we change from old to newer film throughout the movie. I realise this was the best they could do with the magnetic tape that was available but it does annoy me. Edward 'Enforcer' Woodward inspects shady goings on in Christopher Lee's unhinged community off the West coast of Scotland and ends up helping a chicken with its enquiries. Britt Ekland (and boobs), Ingrid Pitt, sketch show musician Peter Brewis and John 'Mallens' Hallam appear.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate... until the end
Review: This movie shows an accurate protrayal of the ancient celtic religion set in modern times, until the very last scene. Of course in the ancient times sacrifice was seen as a holy thing and was practiced (among almost all religions... including Christianity and Paganism), so it would have been acceptable to have a sacrifice if the movie was set in ancient times... but it was not, it is set in the modern times (by modern I mean the 60's). Pagan traditions (like all religious traditions) have changed over the centuries. There are no longer sacrifices (be it human or animal) in the modern day (in civilized society that is) and the movie portrayed it as being something normal and everyday in these times.
Other than the very last scene, the practices and beliefs of the Pagans today were very accurate. I did enjoy this movie very much and would recommend it to anyone interested in Paganism or for those who dont know what Pagans believe (but take the ending with a grain of salt).
Rating:
Summary: Creepy, Scary, Suspenseful and a Classic
Review: Many of the reviews have detailed the plot, so I won't. I haven't even received the DVD yet, however, I often rented this film, until the tape broke and no other rental store had a copy. If you are used to the blood and gore, slice and dice 'em movies, you won't see that here. It is pure suspense, clever twists, subtly erotic, psychologically compelling, and great story-telling. Wicker Man is cagey as it pulls you in, haunting your memory for years to come. Truly a classic.
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