On DVD: The Stepford Wives

I was a big fan of the TV movies of The Stepford Wives. Way before big
budget special effects and mega salaries The Stepford Wives managed to
convey a spooky, creepy, futuristic message that played well for the time it
came out. When I went to see this version of the Stepford Wives I was
wondering how the producers would handle the subtle suspense that the TV
movies pulled off. Five minutes into the movie it was apparent that all of
the subtle creepiness was replaced with comedic tone and it worked
well...for the most part.

Nicole Kidman plays a studio executive that created a reality show that
caused one of the contestants to go postal, Kidman is fired, has a nervous
breakdown and moves to Stepford with her husband and kids to start all over.
Of course Kidman deduces that all the wives in Stepford are gorgeous and
obedient and the husbands are mediocre and obnoxious. The Stepford carnival
is being run by Glenn Close and Christopher Walken, two names I never
thought I would mention in the same sentence. Better yet Matthew Broderick
plays Kidman's husband and Better Midler shows up to play a neurotic New
Yorker, typecasting at its best.Stepford Wives was entertaining and even
funny when Kidman, Midler and a gay neighbor were intent on finding out what
the hell was going on in Stepford. This trio produced some genuine laughs
in addition, you couldn’t help but cheer for them as they stumble around Stepford like
amateur sleuths. I only wish the movie would have stayed on that course a
little longer. When the jig is finally up the movie turned into a preachy,
over dramatic "hollywood movie".
I have to admit something here. Nicole Kidman did a great job and showed
that she can do comedy very well. She was over the top and hilarious and
Subdued and sarcastic, her appearance and seemed to change right before you
eyes when the script called for it. I am not a huge fan of hers but she was
pretty good in this movie. Midler was Midler and that's a good thing, Walken
was Walken and that's sometimes a good thing. Glenn Close surprised me most,
she was charmingly disturbing as the hostess of Stepford and she pulled it
off with ease, good to see her back on screen. Stepford as whole was not
bad, didn’t blow me away but it wasn’t bad, the first and second acts were
entertaining but the payoff was lacking. Not saying that it was bad but the
journey was a lot more fun than the destination.

On DVD: SAW

A long time ago, somewhere around 1970, I watched a movie called Black Sabbath with Boris Karloff. During a particularly creepy scene for that time period, I decided to run away from the television as fast as I could. The person I was watching with decided to do the same, I will let her fill you in on her side of the story. At any rate that was the last time I felt truly disturbed by a movie, until two days ago when I watched SAW. SAW is without a doubt one of the most unsettling movie experiences ive had in a long time. Its not a bloodfest but it is truly disturbing...and very good by the way. I highly recommend it for those that enjoy true horror movies and the excitement you get trying to cheer on the hero up against all odds. The movie opens with two men shackled to walls on the opposite side of a pitch black room, between the two men is the dead body of a man that committed suicide in that very room..it only gets worse from there. There is a serial killer on the loose and our two victims are next in line. That is the short version of a very twisted, well done thriller that keeps the pedal to the floor for the whole ride. Danny Glover is the only star of note and he plays a detective investigating the case...thats all I want to say about the story, I dont want to ruin it for anyone. I dont think I will see anything this horrific for a long time...until October 28th,when SAW2 comes out.