Nosferatu - The First Vampire

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it thoroughly
Review: I found this DVD to be wonderful *because* of the music. I always wanted to see the Nosferatu movie, but once I heard the original music when I finally caught the movie on TV, I couldn't stomach watching because the music was so distracting. On a lark, I got this DVD because the soundtrack was new, and lo-n-behold, I loved it. The music was a wonderful, delightful enhancement that (as far as I am concerned) made the movie more than just watch-able, but thoroughly enjoyable.
The music was set to the mood of the scenes, making emotion tangible and helping draw you into the plot of this wonderful classic.

All in all, it's one of my favorite DVD's now and I watch it periodically just for the joy of it.
If you have any doubts, rent it first, then buy it if you like it. I wouldn't want my collection to be without it. :)

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it thoroughly
Review: I found this DVD to be wonderful *because* of the music. I always wanted to see the Nosferatu movie, but once I heard the original music when I finally caught the movie on TV, I couldn't stomach watching because the music was so distracting. On a lark, I got this DVD because the soundtrack was new, and lo-n-behold, I loved it. The music was a wonderful, delightful enhancement that (as far as I am concerned) made the movie more than just watch-able, but thoroughly enjoyable.
The music was set to the mood of the scenes, making emotion tangible and helping draw you into the plot of this wonderful classic.

All in all, it's one of my favorite DVD's now and I watch it periodically just for the joy of it.
If you have any doubts, rent it first, then buy it if you like it. I wouldn't want my collection to be without it. :)

Rating:
Summary: WHY OH WHY?
Review: I was quite excited to finally purchase this movie. When I saw it had a new soundtrack, I said what the hey! So I bought it expecting it to have the original version and then the new version with the new soundtrack. When I found that it only had the new soundtrack option I felt like I wasted 15 bucks! The box was quite confusing as to whether it would have both versions. The soundtrack itself is good if you are on an acid trip, but other than that, it stinks!

Rating:
Summary: WHY OH WHY?
Review: I was quite excited to finally purchase this movie. When I saw it had a new soundtrack, I said what the hey! So I bought it expecting it to have the original version and then the new version with the new soundtrack. When I found that it only had the new soundtrack option I felt like I wasted 15 bucks! The box was quite confusing as to whether it would have both versions. The soundtrack itself is good if you are on an acid trip, but other than that, it stinks!

Rating:
Summary: I'm no "purist" but . . .
Review: Okay, my third try, here's the censored version: This was a terrible idea. I didn't realize what i was buying so i guess i'm an idiot for wasting my money. Placing Type O Negative over the soundtrack to a 1930's black and white silent film is like trying to watch "Dawn of the Dead" overdubbed with "The Monster Mash". Utterly awful. These bogus made-up "Goths" have spoiled the vampire mystique for everyone. Even if i liked this sorry-ass band (which i don't),i'd still think this was a horrible, LAME idea.

Rating:
Summary: A Gothic Symphony
Review: The music of Type O Negative did some justice to this film by enhancing it with a new flair of romanticism. Listening to David Carradine's introduction is odd, adding more darkness to the film. Carradine looks somewhat cyanotic perhaps bitten by Dracula himself, make one wonder if that's why he nervously plays with that cane. The opening tune Der Untermensch is awesome and sends shivers down your spine and then begins the completely hypnotic trance throughout the film. The other songs like Love You To Death, Die With Me, Prelude To Agony, Bloody Kisses, and Unsuccessfully Coping With The Natural Beauty Of Infidelity just to mention a few put the icing (or blood) on the cake on F.W. Murnau's Symphony Of Horror. I found this DVD to be an eclectic harmonizing mixture of the old and the new. A must buy for all TON people.

Rating:
Summary: Goth Fans Rejoice, Silent Film Purists Avoid
Review: This classic 1922 German thriller is one of my favorite silent films. Based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, Vampire Count Orlok is interested in finding a new residence away from his run-down castle. Real estate agent Hutter is at first excited about the opportunity and scoffs at the vampire stories but eventually realizes the warnings of danger are true. Orlok becomes captivated by a photo of Hutter's wife (in particular, her "lovely throat") and sets off in his traveling coffin to be with her, bringing the plague with him. Only Hutter's wife, a woman "pure of heart," can save her neighbors from the black death that surrounds them. Orlok (Nosferatu, or the "undead") looks truly hideous and the settings, such as the spooky castle, make this film a horror delight even by today's standards.

As for this version, I was skeptical because I thought the modern music would be distracting and possibly silly. I thought I'd give it a try. The heavy gothic sound of Type O Negative did not seem to fit well at first but, the more I watched it, the better the music was in terms of following the storyline. The music used during the scene where Count Orlok races Hutter in his horse-drawn carriage to the castle is very appropriate (it is used appropriately again in one of the last scenes of the film which is very cool). From that point on I started getting the correlation between the music of Type O Negative and the film. Even the lyrics (when they can be understood) seem to follow the story, however loosely. An all instrumental soundtrack may have been better. The music is great but the tracks do not flow together very well. Some just fade out and there is a gap before the next track kicks in. Other tracks either start or end very abruptly. This DVD reminds me of those live goth concerts where silent horror films are shown in the background while the band plays.

The DVD also includes the b&w video "Black No. 1" by Type O Negative that uses shadows and lighting to create a truly spooky experience. The introduction by David Carradine was not as informative as I would have liked (what was with the cane?). I also did not like the font used for the subtitles as it is difficult to read ('c's look like 'e's). I found the picture quality to be good. Silent film purists will no doubt dislike this version but, for people who would like a spooky gothic experience in the safety of their own home, I recommend this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious version of the classic film!
Review: This is as terrible as the Phantom of the Opera's version is with the new aged music. Some things here just dont fit, soft rock as the opening song, I mean come on, how dare anyone destory a classics reputation like this, but then again I enjoyed watching it simply because it was hilarious! Don't forget, never cut yourself in front of a vampire. But really folks, if youve seen this movie you must have enjoyed it, if it wasn't Orlok rising from his coffin stiff as a stick it was those strange looking dogs you admired. If you are in this for the seriousness just get the original version, not this one. This is here if you have the first and are a big fan, then and only then should you buy this, but then again, if you want to laugh, then go ahead.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: This is one of my all time favorite movies. Type O Negative is one of my favorite bands. But the way this combo was put together is an absolute train wreck. There was so much potential in putting the music of Type O Negative to this movie, but it was horribly done. It's as if no thought went into the production at all. They just ran the movie and randomly picked out bits and pieces of songs and stuck them in anywhere with no thought whatsoever. Avoid this version and stick with the original.

Rating:
Summary: DVD puts Stake in the Heart of Great Cinema..
Review: This review refers to the Arrow Home Entertainment(Special Collectors Series) DVD of "Nosferatu,The First Vampire....F.W. Murnau's Symphony of Horror"...

First, let me just say that "Nosferatu" is one of my all time favorite bits of cinema.It's a classic silent made by German director F.W. Murnau, who made Hollywood sit up and take notice of him with this first and unauthorized 1922 release of Bram Stoker's "Dracula".In this one, a very horrrifying looking Count Orlock or Nosferatu(Max Schreck) as he's called brings all the terrifying attributes of Dracula to the film.He's a blood sucking vampire who will stop at nothing, to get what he wants, which of course, as always, is a virginal beauty.

Soooo...I'm always looking for a good deal when upgrading my VHS to DVD. This one naturally was at the top of my list. In most cases I usually don't mind giving up the "extras" for a less expensive edition as long as the film itself is given a high quality treament in the transfer. I've had pretty good luck until now. I was more than disappointed at the transfer treatment on this one. The film looked horrible, I could barely watch it.I had previously taped it myself from a Classic TV channel and that recording was 100% better than this.Not only did my recording look much better, but, the time on my recording was 1:25, on this DVD it was 1:05,which included a 5 minute introduction by David Carradine(the best part of this DVD).The TV version had a beautiful score added by the "Silent Orchestra" that was a delightful addition to the restored film. The DVD had music by "Type O Negative" added, which totaly distracted from the story. I had to turn the sound down(lucky it's a silent!).It was an all around let down.

If you are a loyal fan of this film, this is not the DVD you want,you'll feel like someone put a stake in your heart. If you are a new viewer looking to check out this marvelous piece of cinematic history, you won't get the whole story in this chopped up edition.

There are several other editions of this film, I plan on trying another and you should too!...Thanx....Laurie