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Summary: Hitch's most gruesome masterpiece.
Review: In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock decided to produce an inexpensive, black-and-white horror thriller based on a pulp fiction novel by Robert Bloch. With this inauspicious beginning, he created one of the landmarks of cinema: "Psycho." Today, 40 years later, this film's stark depiction of madness still gives chills, still is a marvel of direction, acting, cinematography, and story. Hitchcock takes nearly an hour to allow the audience to come to know Marion Crane (Janet Leigh). How utterly astounded and horrified audiences were when he killed off this thoughtful, complex, fallible woman in what would become the most notorious murder scene ever. Hitch's mastery of audience manipulation is in full effect here. Although some critics have slammed its psycho-babble climax, it serves its purpose as the key to Norman Bates' mind. And look carefully, oh so very carefully, at the very last close-up of Norman Bates' face--I won't tell you what's there, but you have to see it. That Hitch, what a sense of humor! All of Hitchcock's themes are here: the icy blonde, the impotent voyeur, the obsession with crime and innocence, secrets and guilt, and humor blacker than he'd shown before. "A son is a poor substitute for a lover," Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) tells Marion, and for those who knew Norman's secret, a repulsive shudder creeps through us even as we chuckle. This is one of my very favorite Hitchcock films. I love its madness, its stylized violence, the shrieking, brilliant score by Bernard Herrmann. This is a perfect movie for viewing at 1 a. m. with a dear loved one. "Oh, Mother, the blood! The blood!" Oh yes, the blood indeed....
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Summary: Twelve Cabins, Twelve Vacancies!
Review: Sure, most people have seen this movie at least once on Video or television, but to experience it on DVD is the trip of a lifetime. This DVD should be viewed with the volume turned up as high as possible, with as many speaker hookups as you can muster. Bernard Hermann's score has never sounded this good. No need to review the storyline here, but this is one classic movie that never needed a modern re-make. From the opening credits (remember, play it loud) to the final shot of the swamp, every second of this film is perfect. No matter how many times you have seen it, there is always something you missed. There are plenty of bonus materials as well, including the film "The Making of Psycho". This runs for an hour and a half and is quite informative on the details concerning many different scenes and the technical ingredients that were used. It has extensive commentaries by Janet Leigh, screenwriter Joseph Stefano, and others, including a short commentary by Clive Barker. Other features include The original Theatrical Trailer relase which involoves Hitchcock giving a tour of the house and motel...hilarious. Also check out the massive newsreel footage about the advanced marketing hype of this film in 1960. It is completely over the top and absolutely brilliant. There is also a special segment showing the shower scene with and without the music. It's more disturbing without the music. There is much more as well....just ACQUIRE THIS WIDESCREEN DVD AT ANY COST. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED! PLAY IT LOUD!
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Summary: It will change your perspective on cinema...
Review: Nothing I can say can prepare you for this Masterpiece. Buy it and watch it at least ten times. Or forget about movies all together...
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Summary: Hitchcock at his absolute best
Review: This is the movie that set the standard for horror films and makes most of them pale in comparison. Hitchcock set out to make his audience scream and succeeded beyond his wildest expectations; I saw "Psycho" when it was first released and the screams almost lifted the roof off the theater. Filming the movie in black and white was a stroke of genius; the spooky impact would have been much diminished if it had been shot in color. And Lord, that music... Bernard Herrmann's score helped make "Psycho" the total horror ride it is, screechy violins and all. The cast is excellent throughout. Anthony Perkins is, and always will be, Norman Bates. Janet Leigh is terrific as Marian Crane, John Gavin and Vera Miles give great performances as her boyfriend and her sister, and Martin Balsam is wonderful as the cynical private eye Arbogast, who makes one trip too many to the Bates Motel. Hitchcock knows how to frame his shots; the scene of Vera Miles descending the cellar stairs and finding Mrs. Bates is a heart-stopper no matter how many times you watch it. With Norman Bates, Hitchcock added an unforgettable figure to the horror pantheon, and this movie will surely live as one of the great horror classics of all time. They just don't make 'em like this any more.
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Summary: DVD edition a great value
Review: I owned the laser disc version, and I'm glad I got the DVD. The Letterbox format is a dramatic improvement, as is the fact that the integrity of the film is maintained because there is no artificial break for side B. In addition, there is a lengthy documentary on the making of the film that includes many of the principals. While the information there is familiar to most film buffs, it still makes for very interesting viewing. Janet Leigh is especially articulate--she reveals herself to be a thoughtful, intelligent actress. If you are a fan of this film, you owe yourself to get the DVD.
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Summary: Personally One of my Favoirts
Review: ... Well not much I can say that hasn't been said. DO NOT see the remake see this! This is by far one of the greatest films in Mystery and Suspence. I love it. and will never put this film down. Hitchcock is my all time favoirt director by the way.
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Summary: One of America's Greatest Movies
Review: This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It was the first slasher film, and has sparked many copycats which don't even come close to Psycho. The performances are great. Anthony Perkins couldn't be better. If you like Hitchcock, I also recommend North by Northwest, Rebecca, Rear Window, and Shadow of a Doubt. Why are you still reading this review? Buy it already!
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Summary: DON'T SEE THE REMAKE
Review: Hitchcock's best, deserves a place on the shelf of anyone who owns a VCR or DVD player. The shock value has worn down considerably since its release in 1960 due to Norman Bates's absorption into American culture (although for all you've heard about the end of the picture, nothing can compare with actually seeing it). To understand how influential the film was, one needs to go back and watch what passed for horror before 1960 (it's reasonable to say that, before then, horror films were rather looked down upon as sensational and cheap). It's also interesting to look in magazines which date back to 1960 and see what reviewers said about the film then, as compared to what is said about it today - most reviewers then thought Hitch had lost all sense of decency and artistic sensiblity, when as it turns out this film is one of his highest artistic achievements (with me it's between this one, "Strangers on a Train," and "Vertigo). Volumes have been written about the sexual tension and neuroses which are evident, the psychological makeup of Norman Bates, and the imagery and allusions which pervade the film (all of which are too numerous to go into in detail in such a short space), but to me what is striking about this film is the way Hitchcock used cinematography, especially in the shower scene, the most famous sequence in all movie history (forget just horror), to create a terrifying "other-world," as it were. Everything and everyone in this film has either a sinister or unsettling presence, from Norman himself to the cop with the dark glasses. If you're a fan of the film, you might also enjoy Janet Leigh's book on the making of Psycho, simply called "Psycho." One more thing - as the title states, STAY AWAY from Gus Van Sant's terrible remake - there isn't a thing about the remake that can hold a candle to the original.
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Summary: Great movie.
Review: Psyco is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. I love the whole idea of the movie. So many movies try to duplicate it, but they all fail. Anthony Perkins is the greatest. Alfred Hitchcock is the greatest. Everything about this movie is great. I also recommend Psyco 2,and 3. Forget 4 and the reamke of Psyco. STUPID!
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars for the Movie
Review: Everybody has run off a review of this well-known flick! I won't be buying a copy of the DVD until it is properly letterboxed. I compared my letterboxed VHS copy with my full screen copy. Yes, there was a little more information on the sides, but tops of head were cut off where they shouldn't have been (anyone who has read the Robert Bloch novel on which it is based might take that as a pun!). The VHS and DVD version are letterboxed at 1:85, while I would be willing to bet that the original movie was 1:66 as is "North by Northwest" so-letterboxed on my laser copy. What's with this "over letterboxing". Is someone trying to fool someone? The same goes for "Silence of the Lambs" and many other films new and old. In any event, no one should be tampering with any movie on video, classic or not. And as for those who say that the knife in the shower scene never touches flesh should watch it in slow motion (preferably frame-by-frame) and you will see the knife contact with that lovely belly!
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