Psycho

Rating:
Summary: Van Sant meant well, but NO cigar...
Review: For fans of the original Psycho (1960), one already knows that it alone started horror films into what they are today. Alfred Hitchcock's unbeatable direction and boldness broke virtually almost every censorship issue of the time.
The sequels, thankfully starring Tony Perkins (who else, people?!), were of somewhat lesser success, but nonetheless greatly appreciated by 'Psycho' cult followers like myself.

Unfortunately, Gus Van Sant's 1998 remake, next to a monster box office profit, fell flat on it's face. Remakes and sequels nowadays are intensely difficult to get above a two-star rating, and 'Psycho' did try hard. Van Sant was even quoted in People magazine that his intentions were to make "a shot-by-shot, picture-perfect remake." True the camera angles and pans did replicate that of the original classic, but who care's today?

Bernard Hermann's legendary score (definitely Oscar material) was redone by his modern incarnation, Danny Elfman. Although freshly remastered and restylized, a good number of cuts in the film were removed, spoiling one of 'Psycho's' leading elements.

As far as the shock, suspense, and even dramatic intrigue--it simply isn't there; audiences today have seen much worse. A bit more gore has been added, though, and a spider even crawls out of "Mrs. Bates'" nose in the last scene, so modernization isn't the issue.

On the whole, there's no goofs that weren't intentional, and the acting is FAIR, but what's missing is the caliber. The value of the plot--cross-dressing, Oedipus-complex homicidal--has been overdone so that 75% of us know it, even if they haven't already seen 'Psycho.'

Sorry Mr. Van Sant, this simply wasn't your cup of blood--I mean tea.

Saw it, cringed, put it back in the shelf,
--GIGI

Rating:
Summary: Not bad at all
Review: I thought this movie would be bad because everyone said so. But,the truth is, it is very good. Just as scary as the original. I didn't think Anne Heche was very good at playing Marion Crane, Janet Leigh was better. Great movie.