Rating: Summary: Excellent! Review: My guess is, this great film got bad reviews from the critics. I can't imagine why. THE BLOB is a remake of the original Steve McQueen movie. The plot deals with the town hoodlum, who makes a terrible discovery....a government experiement that started out as a biological warfare virus, but turned into something MUCH more deadlier. For me, this film really works. The government conspiracy themes, the "town in utter chaos" theme and the general gore of it all are ingredients for a fine horror film. Even though THE BLOB has that late-80's horror atmosphere, the plot devices get past all that and make a HIGHLY enjoyable and entertaining movie. Reccomended.
Rating: Summary: Steve McQueen...Eat Your Heart Out! Review: This 1988 remake of the 1956 cult-classic is a shocking, eye-opening wonder from the hands of Chuck ("Eraser", "The Mask") Russell! Of course, the special and mechanical FX surpass those that brought the original, gelatinous monster to life in the 50's. However, Russell's interpretation accomplishes a lot in bringing the classic thriller up-to-date with newly-awaited terrors. I thought it was nice touch this time around having the Blob's twisted creators invade the besieged small-town under the guise of a "friendly" biological containment team that wants to save the town from potential microbial devastation. This action comes after the scientists realize that their little cosmic bacterial experiment has taken an ominous turn for the worst (the Blob is basically an unintended by-product of their work). Some very memorable scenes are portrayed in this version (I was terrified to sleep after my initial viewing of "The Blob"). They include the hospital double-murder of Paul Taylor (Donovan Leitch) and the hapless "Can Man" who first discovers the oozing killer after it crashes to Earth, the kitchen sink tragedy of the cook who unwittingly plunges the Blob up and is sucked down to a grisly demise (probably the most graphic of all the death scenes), Candy Clark's dialing "M" for her own murder when the Blob engulfs & traps her inside a phone booth as another late-nite snack, and the half-devoured movie projectionist scene is quite compelling (one will never look at ventilator shafts the same way again)! Truly the Blob's insatiable appetite for destruction never waivers in bringing new gut-wrenching horrors for young & old alike! Other treats this modern version puts on the table are Tony ("Darkman") Gardner's sickeningly-real makeup FX, outstanding visual FX from the Oscar-winning company Dream Quest Images ("The Abyss", "Total Recall", and the "Nightmare on Elm Street" anthology), and an eerie score from Mike Hoenig. The ending is also great (unlike most horror films) in that it is completely unpredictable for first-time viewers (but I won't disclose and ruin it for everyone (WINK, WINK)). I recently purchased the '88 Blob on a trip to LA after years of renting it and cable viewing, and I will never tire of seeing the exploits of this pernicious, soulless mass of blood-red protoplasm!!! For first-timers, I do recommend seeing the '56 Blob so that you can appreciate these two disparate versions of the same terrifying tale.
Rating: Summary: The Best Horror Movie of All Time! Review: This movie is compellingly gripping with horror and suspense.It gets better and better everytime you watch it.It is one of the gorriest movie's i ever saw in my life.I suggest that anyone who likes sci-fi movies should watch this flick ..As i said Best Horror Movie Yet Thanks.. Mr.Scott Seymour
Rating: Summary: Less special effects, more plot. Review: This remake of the original Blob did not do it justice. Maybe it was the actors or the special effects. The original was a superb story in a era of innocence, which made the story believable in its content. The original held your interest, however the remake was over blown with special effects. Too much of anything is not good. Remake should have stuck to a better plot and less of the special effects that we take for granted today. The remake of the Blob seemed to be centered around the psyche of the teens today in terms of getting them to the movies to see this film. Steve Mcqueen possibly would have save this movie as he did in the original if he were around today. None of the actors in the the remake did!
Rating: Summary: Well-Polished Version of an 80's Horror Classic Review: If you wish to read of my adulation for this grisly, shocking, excellent remake, just scroll down to my March '99 review "Steve Mcqueen, Eat Your Heart Out!" As far as the long-awaited DVD release of "The Blob" is concerned, I must say it is an absolute treat for this here horror/sci-fi buff! Just to see Chuck Russell's masterful film in its digitally remastered 1.85:1 widescreen glory, along with the original trailer feature, really made my collection's day! My only qualm is that Columbia/TriStar was rather remiss towards the sound design (still in 2.0 surround, just like my old VHS copy). "The Blob" is a film that is definitely made for a 5.1 or DTS mix with all of its explosions and the oozing, organic sound effects that helped breathed life into this infamous & reviled movie monster. An awesome flick and a 4.5-star quality DVD...worth every cent.
Rating: Summary: SILLY PUTTY Review: Let's not compare Chuck Russell's "revisiting" of the classic 1958 movie which was one of Steve McQueen's first starring roles. Thirty years of cinematic improvements make a comparison wholly unnecessary and unfair. THE BLOB, as envisioned by Chuck Russell (Eraser), is a scifi gorefest, with some imaginative effects and its own brand of intense mayhem. A meteor crashes to earth near a small ski-resort town. The kindly old "can man" finds the crash site, and plays around with some messy looking stuff oozing from the meteor. This stuff is actually some kind of viral mess that absorbs and spreads like wildfire. One of the main differences in the two movies is that in this version, is the monster from outer space, or...ha, no spoilers. Suffice to say, things are not what they seem. The cast is a mixture of good performers and adequate ones. Good: Jeffrey DeMunn as the sheriff who has the hots for the town's kindly restaurant owner, played with youthful elegance by Candy Clark (American Graffiti). Also good: Art LaFleur as the pharmacist and papa to heroine Shawnee Smith (merely adequate). Kevin Dillon swaggers like a James Dean wannabe but matures as the picture moves on and he becomes a likely and likeable hero. Joe Seneca as the mysterious doctor is surprisingly effective in a villainous role for a change, and Donovan Leitch in his little screen time evokes a rare mature teenager. The scene in the pharmacy where a friend of Leitch's purchases condoms is pretty funny. As for the horror scenes, they're good: the blob in the restaurant wherein the cook goes down the drain; the stampede in the movie theater when the blob takes center stage; and the finale with the snow machine. All well done and effective. Compared to a lot of really bad horror movies currently going straight to DVD, THE BLOB is a cut above the rest, and remember, there's always rooms for jello!!!
Rating: Summary: Steve McQueen...Eat Your Heart Out! Review: This 1988 remake of the 1956 cult-classic is a shocking, eye-opening wonder from the hands of Chuck ("Eraser", "The Mask") Russell! Of course, the special and mechanical FX surpass those that brought the original, gelatinous monster to life in the 50's. However, Russell's interpretation accomplishes a lot in bringing the classic thriller up-to-date with newly-awaited terrors. I thought it was nice touch this time around having the Blob's twisted creators invade the besieged small-town under the guise of a "friendly" biological containment team that wants to save the town from potential microbial devastation. This action comes after the scientists realize that their little cosmic bacterial experiment has taken an ominous turn for the worst (the Blob is basically an unintended by-product of their work). Some very memorable scenes are portrayed in this version (I was terrified to sleep after my initial viewing of "The Blob"). They include the hospital double-murder of Paul Taylor (Donovan Leitch) and the hapless "Can Man" who first discovers the oozing killer after it crashes to Earth, the kitchen sink tragedy of the cook who unwittingly plunges the Blob up and is sucked down to a grisly demise (probably the most graphic of all the death scenes), Candy Clark's dialing "M" for her own murder when the Blob engulfs & traps her inside a phone booth as another late-nite snack, and the half-devoured movie projectionist scene is quite compelling (one will never look at ventilator shafts the same way again)! Truly the Blob's insatiable appetite for destruction never waivers in bringing new gut-wrenching horrors for young & old alike! Other treats this modern version puts on the table are Tony ("Darkman") Gardner's sickeningly-real makeup FX, outstanding visual FX from the Oscar-winning company Dream Quest Images ("The Abyss", "Total Recall", and the "Nightmare on Elm Street" anthology), and an eerie score from Mike Hoenig. The ending is also great (unlike most horror films) in that it is completely unpredictable for first-time viewers (but I won't disclose and ruin it for everyone (WINK, WINK)). I recently purchased the '88 Blob on a trip to LA after years of renting it and cable viewing, and I will never tire of seeing the exploits of this pernicious, soulless mass of blood-red protoplasm!!! For first-timers, I do recommend seeing the '56 Blob so that you can appreciate these two disparate versions of the same terrifying tale.
Rating: Summary: A smart entertaining remake Review: The Blob was an entertaining, yet eventually campy classic. The limited tools for special effects dampered the original but the story and idea was there. Flash forward nearly 30 years later and the folks in hollywood decide to take another crack at it. The result is an entertaining, frightening horror film that feeds to a certain extent on the strength of special effects, but also claustrophobia as well.
The story is that a meteorite has crashed landed on earth near a small town. An organizm on the metorite gets loose and attaches itself to a bum passing through. As it slowly eats him it begins to grow and as it grows it starts to eat, preferably people. Eventually it comes down to (you'll love this) a cheerleader and a local rebel to stop it.
The reason this movie is great is for numerouse reasons. First the movie realizes that it is campy, and uses it to it's advantage. It also takes pop culture of that time (1980's) and pokes fun at it. Case in point is that Slasher films were big then, so what do they do? They make a scene with a crowded audience watching a really bad slasher film featuring a gardener in a hockey mask using a motorized Hedge Trimmer.
The one other area I like about this is the feeling that no one is safe as is demonstrated when a young boy gets absorbed and dissolved by the blob.
I can't praise this movie enough. Definetly worth checking out if you want a fun campy classic horror film.
Rating: Summary: The Blob returns again! Review: The original 1958 film, "The Blob" (which you should see first) really wasn't that bad. I guarantee you watch it and you will get hooked. That is really what small towns looked like, the way movie theaters used to look like and that is what people wore, and the kind of simple wholesome houses they lived in. people spoke politly then.
The 1958, "The Blob" had young Steve McQueen in his first film ever and with Aneta Corseaut.
A sequel to "The Blob" was made, BEWARE!, THE BLOB (1972) also known as SON OF BLOB (1972), with Larry Hagman, Cindy Williams and other familar faces. Directed by Larry Hagman, he still laughs today at how low-budget it was.
For this generation, we have a new modern version, "The Blob" (1988). Filmed in Abbeville, Louisiana.
Noteable cast is: Shawnee Smith, Ricky Paull Goldin, Candy Clark, Beau Billingslea and Clayton Landey.
Not as good as the original. Why is it rated "R"?
I only watched this film because Mr. Ricky Paull Goldin was in it.
Wait until free tv for this one.
Paramount Pictures announced October 29, 2004 that they will be making a new film of THE BLOB from the 1958 version.
Rating: Summary: Horrifyingly Funny, Fully-Congealed Remake! Review: Despite the B-movie budget, The Blob (1988) is a smartly crafted flick that comprehends the relationship between horror and comedy. With self-effacing in-jokes, clever shocks, and superb effects, it delivers the goods in the form of a genuinely scarey film that's eager to have fun with its silly premise. Sprinkle in some false expectations about characters (to misdirect those who've seen the McQueen version) and you've got a movie with some surprises up its sleeve, a movie that works far better than the original. Today, it puts one in mind of a better X-Files episode. Not to be missed by genre aficionados.
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