Frogs

Rating:
Summary: Juicy, Fun Camp Classic!
Review: Okay, so having "frogs" as the major killing machine in a movie isn't all that terrifying. But in this very well-made B-movie, the film makers have added all kinds of dangers created by nature. Each of the main characters are destroyed by an avenging Mother Nature. A group of relatives and visitors gather at the isolated plantation estate of Pappy Ray Milland, a sourpuss and snarling SOB if ever there was one. It's great fun trying to predict how each of the shallow characters, except the hunky Sam Elliott will perish. By far the best death sequence is that with Lynn Borden, the older woman who likes to hunt for butterflies. Dressed in a beautiful pink and white summer frock, she's finally done in by snakes, quicksand, vines. She's shown in wonderfully bloody make-up, her hair all mussed, dying in the swamp. Black actress, Judy Pace, is also a hoot, in very 70s mod fashions. Sam Elliott gets to strip off his shirt in several scenes, giving us worshippers of male beauty a cheap thrill. The DVD edition doesn't have any extras but the picture quality is terrific, with all the moist, gleaming greenery of the swamp, dripping with danger, caught beautifully. Milland hams it up but you sense he really wasn't acting. Probably thinking of that Academy Award he received in the 40s for his performance in "the Lost Weekend"--and now performing in a low-budget American-International classic. Cheer up, Ray! "Frogs" is still being watched and enjoyed while "The Lost Weekend" is forgotten, except by old movie buffs and nostalgia addicts.

Rating:
Summary: False advertising!
Review: One night, my friend and I were looking in the video store for a "so bad its good" cheesy horror movie and when we came across "Frogs," we thought this was our ticket. What could possibly be better then man-eating frogs? Well, the title of the film is a bit misleading. You see the frogs really do nothing in the movie. You just see close-ups on them croaking. The snakes and leeches and other reptiles do the dirty work. Perhaps the frogs are the leaders and the other animals their army? The film is just terrible and there is nothing funny about it. "Frogs" looks like it will be a fun movie to watch and mock but it's just rancid and awful.

Rating:
Summary: Man versus nature
Review: One of the two 1972 American International films that Ray Milland appeared in (the other being Lee Frost's 'The Thing with Two Heads'), 'Frogs' is less immediately appealing than its counterpart - its basic concept certainly isn't as outlandish - but ultimately it is decently satisfying. Milland plays Jason Crockett, a crotchety millionaire who is used to celebrate his birthday every year with his family at his costly island estate; most of the rich family's members are concerned with image a lot more than with anything else (no tentative is made to downplay their obnoxiousness). Senior Crockett's disdain for nature is revealed gradually, via generally understated touches, and as a whole the film is quite enigmatic, since minimal exposition is provided about Crockett's estate and the various characters. Although it could have been better exploited, the wide theme of 'man versus nature' is more important in this film than the perfunctory subplots, most of which involve Sam Elliott's character; an uneasy atmosphere pervades the movie, and the dense soundtrack - one of this DVD's main highlights - complements it effectively.

Rating:
Summary: Jeans so tight you'll get a yeast infection!
Review: Perfect example of a 1970's eco-disaster flick. The setting is very southern-gothic and upper class white trash. A good movie all in all. A very bare bones DVD though. The best part? A young Sam Elliot in tight jeans --zoom your DVD in and take a peek. You'll understand...and smile! Well worth the price!!!

Rating:
Summary: It's not easy being GREEN...
Review: Set in a southern bayou location, the movie stars Ray Milland with a young Sam Elliot, Joan Van Ark and a cast of minor players who find themselves in a "day of the animals" scenario - this time the animals being mainly of the cold-blooded kind. Most of the attacks are carried out by snakes, lizards, and crocodiles - the Frogs apparently summoning and controlling the rest of the swamp critters by means of their incessant croaking (the Frogs, themselves, don't actually attack until the finale). The DVD quality is very high, complete with choice of Wide or Full Screen, and the movie is nicely filmed - the actors playing it straight the whole way through, where one might expect such a ludicrous plot to be carried out in a highly campy style - not so with Frogs. This adds to the appeal of the film, making it a worthy B movie entry that won't disappoint DVD enthusiasts who also look for things like high-quality transfers. More "ribbet-ing" than riveting, but fun nonetheless. Add a star if you like Ray Milland. (Tip: Buy "X-The Man with X-Ray Eyes" starring Milland.)

Rating:
Summary: It's not easy being GREEN...
Review: Set in a southern bayou location, the movie stars Ray Milland with a young Sam Elliot, Joan Van Ark and a cast of minor players who find themselves in a "day of the animals" scenario - this time the animals being mainly of the cold-blooded kind. Most of the attacks are carried out by snakes, lizards, and crocodiles - the Frogs apparently summoning and controlling the rest of the swamp critters by means of their incessant croaking (the Frogs, themselves, don't actually attack until the finale). The DVD quality is very high, complete with choice of Wide or Full Screen, and the movie is nicely filmed - the actors playing it straight the whole way through, where one might expect such a ludicrous plot to be carried out in a highly campy style - not so with Frogs. This adds to the appeal of the film, making it a worthy B movie entry that won't disappoint DVD enthusiasts who also look for things like high-quality transfers. More "ribbet-ing" than riveting, but fun nonetheless. Add a star if you like Ray Milland. (Tip: Buy "X-The Man with X-Ray Eyes" starring Milland.)

Rating:
Summary: Dumb? Well, yes... Did you READ the title?
Review: Several reviewers have used many lines of text to explain why this movie is dumb. There is no need. The title of the film is FROGS. It has a frog on the cover, with a hand coming out of it. What did you expect? A GOOD movie? How many movies have you seen? Yes, the film is ridiculous, stupid, and incredibly cheesy. But... it is the most fun you will ever have watching this sort of film. Watch it to laugh! Watch it to make comments! It is a blast with lots of people in the room! I love this film! It is so much fun to watch! So... Get over yourself and just watch some frogs kill... ummm... well, really nobody... Just have fun. It is allowed. And by the way - To expect an oscar worthy movie from a film called Frogs is just... well, dumb.

Rating:
Summary: The animals are revolting! So is this movie!
Review: Somewhere out there is the person responsible for the goofy little cartoon that appears at the end of the closing credits of Frogs. To that person I want to say Thank You, you made sitting through this dorky thing worth it. To all the rest SHAME ON YOU.

Eco-photographer Sam Elliot is blissfully paddling his canoe around a swamp as he shoots pictures of the wildlife and the pollution that is slowly killing it. A drunken doofus, Adam Roarke I do believe, capsizes Eco-Elliot's canoe. Next thing Sam E knows he's in the middle of a big old birthday party for the really cantankerous Ray Milland (hell, if I were in this movie after doing so many great leading roles in classic films I'd be cantankerous too!). Nothing much happens for the next forty-five to fifty minutes (just a lot of talking and stock footage of croaking toads mixed together). When the attacks do finally get around to happening they consisted mostly of shots of people writhing and screaming mixed with shots of the animals lounging around the set. Low budget lameness.

Funny things of note -

The DVD includes the trailer which showcases a particular character sinking in quicksand. Said character gets nowhere near quicksand in the movie itself, 'tis a snakebite that does the individual in. False advertising, nothing new for AIP and New World though.

Also, if I were a woman driving along a deserted road with only my young child to keep me company I would not stop to talk with, much less offer a ride to, some grungy looking guy waving from the side of the road. Also, if said guy then came running up to the car with a shotgun held high I would burn as much eco-damaging rubber off my tires as possible to get away from the freak.

Oh well, it's only a movie.

So it goes.

Rating:
Summary: An Idiotic But Fun "Frogs"!
Review: The 1970's were loaded with forgotten films where nature struck back at man because of his mingling with pollution, poison or sheer carelessness ("Grizzly" - Jaws on Land, "Night of the Lepus" - giant killer rabbits), but "Frogs" stands out because it did not take itself too seriously and the cast which was headed by 50's star Ray Milland seemed to enjoy themselves filming it. Ray Milland heads a large family in the south which is gathering to celebrate his birthday. But for some reason the ole homestead seems to be bombarded with frogs and other bayou wildlife, so Papa Milland attempts to destroy them through whatever means he can including poison. Big mistake, it seems the frogs are not too happy about this and along with their reptile friends, including some nasty alligators, pick off the family members one by one. Although at times more hilarious than thrilling, "Frogs" does have a few chills and if you are looking for one of those good old drive-in movie types, this will do the trick. The cast is mainly a mix of B list actors including the usually wooden Sam Elliot, who seemed to appear in almost every other 70's flick. Judy Pace as a kooky clan member catching butterflies is hilarious. Rarely shown on television, (and then it is edited) pick up this nature versus man flick and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Those amphibians are up to no good again
Review: The animal kingdom revolts, headed by a dark empire of iniquitous frogs. Though the frogs themselves never do so much as hop in a menacing away. They just croak ominously, belligerently, while tarantulas and gila monsters and all kinds of critters that don't belong in the South set upon a decadent familiy of bluebloods. Luckily, you have Sam Elliot there to lay down the law, but is even Sam Elliot enough to topple the evil empire of the Frogs.....