Home :: DVD :: Mystery & Suspense :: Series & Sequels  

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem
British Mystery Theater
Classics
Crime
Detectives
Film Noir
General
Mystery
Mystery & Suspense Masters
Neo-Noir
Series & Sequels

Suspense
Thrillers
Twin Peaks - Fire Walk with Me

Twin Peaks - Fire Walk with Me

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $15.98
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 .. 16 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Watch at your own risk!!!
Review: I'm sure a lot of people have asked what went wrong with "Twin Peaks: Fire Walks with Me." It adds nothing new to the brilliance of the series and it's purpose seems to be to show the audience what kind of person Laura Palmer was, which we already pick up from the series. Story and characters are sacrificed for the puropse of shocking people with Laura Palmer's actions, but it just doesn't work. Things are vulgar, annoying, and often hard to take. Plus, since we already know who killed Laura Palmer (from the TV series), there is nothing new to be said.

The film is too long for its own good, with the entire 20 odd minutes a pointless addition to the rest of the story, it just slows things down and becomes boring. While entertaining at times, especially when Laura Palmer comes into the picture (after the excruciating start), this was extremely disappointing. It seems the whole concept of Twin Peaks has went to David Lynch's head a little bit. This being the movie, David Lynch decided to turn up the sexual antics and the bizarre plot.

Aside from that, the setting is breathtaking and bizarre all at once, and Sherly Lee is just superb as Laura Palmer. However, this just doesn't do any justice whatsoever to the TV series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great movie : still waiting the DVD zone 2. Help !
Review: I'm taking advantage of Amazon.com as I use Amazon.fr because i'm French.
In France we are still waiting for the release of the DVD since we are in a region DVD Zone 2. You are so lucky Region 1 to have it available !
If ""Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me" was not so great with it's unique strong, overwhelm atmosphere, i would not tell how angry i am with the French owner of the rights on the movie, "Mk2" who shares the rights with "New Line". A legal matter that delays the release.

I hope this post might force the release in France.

Thank you, my dear friends of the United States,

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I know who BOB is.
Review: Sheryl Lee is both breathtaking and heartbreaking as the doomed Laura Palmer whose life is spinning out of control. The imagery and imaginative direction is fascinating and memorable. The film is beautiful to behold, but also runs the risk of piling on too much excess and collapsing in on itself - but then again, this is David Lynch, so really what do you expect? Even if you don't take the time to watch the entire "Twin Peaks" series (which I do recommend) at least see the original two hour premiere pilot which David Lynch helmed. It will haunt you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't take the ring, Laura...
Review: If this is your first encounter with "TPFWWM", it is most likely a result of being exposed to Lynch from another of his movies. As far as I am concerned, Lynch doesn't get any better than this. I first saw this movie in 1993 in a big single screen theatre from the late 40's, and I had never seen an episode of "Twin Peaks" on TV at that point. The effect of seeing this movie (without any expectations) on a huge screen and hearing the score on a theater sound system was the strongest single movie experience I have ever had...it stayed with me for days, and made me watch the video more than any other one I owned. "TPFWWM" delves deeply into the world of darkness and shadows within our own minds while still believing in the concepts of love, family, God, friendship, and small town values. Admittedly, it is bizarre, but most Lynch movies are. Admittedly, it is different from much of the "Twin Peaks" TV show (which I watched every episode of AFTER I saw this movie), but that is what you would expect from Lynch on going from TV to cinema, where he didn't have to censor his excesses and lighten his mood. Admittedly, the DVD doesn't have almost any "extras", but this is typical of Lynch and, therefore, renders attempts to compare it to other DVD's with numerous "extras" irrelevent. The greatness of this DVD is the movie itself. You will feel like you are in an alternate universe seeing this movie (a world of blue?), and then think it could happen right down the street. "TPFWWM" majorly influenced what Lynch eventually did with "Mulholland Drive", and it is no greater stretch than much of "The X-Files". Aside from all of its oddities though, "TPFWWM" has some of the most affecting moments that have ever been filmed: the opening credits rolling with the bleakly beautific theme song in the background (which again set the stage for "Mulholland Drive"), the chilling autopsy of Teresa Banks, the bizarre appearance of Agent Jeffries, the believable scene of Laura sniffing coke in the school bathroom, the haunting look on her face and sound of her voice when she talks to Donna about falling in space, the creepiness of the Palmer's empty house, the almost insane look in her father's eyes at the dinner table...I could go on and on and give a lot of the plot away. All I will say at this point is that if you appreciate Lynch's ability to make a moment in a movie resonate with unique poigniancy or if you can appreciate surrealism, this movie is a must see. The DVD is a great picture transfer, so it is worth having even if it did turn down the soundtrack a bit (and drop the subtitles in the Pink Room scene), so it is worth replacing the video with. Lynch may not release any version but this, and, if he does, it may be a LONG time from now (knowing him), so enjoy this now for what it is...a combination of unparalleled surrealism and romantic idealism that is on a clear DVD picture. Just don't take the ring...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nowhere near as good as the series, but still darn good...
Review: FIRE WALK WITH ME is an odd little movie. Of course, since it's part of the TWIN PEAKS canon, that kinda goes without saying, now doesn't it?

First off, let me say that I am a HUGE fan of the series. I own the 1st season DVD and I have every episode on cassette. I've watched the series all the way through about 3 times now... So, when I bought this flick, I had big expectations, and, for the most part, I was happy. However, it has it's flaws, and I think they can be summed up like this: Ladies and folks, this is a big, long, R-Rated Lifetime Movie with a paranormal twist.

But, since it does have the Man from Another Place and David Bowie...

How can you go wrong?

Aside from the obvious "Why is Chris Isaak in this anyway?" complaint...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 5 stars for the first part of the film, 2 for the second
Review: Twin Peaks the series, to me, was more about creating mysteries than revealing their causes. The first portion of this movie is consistent with what I have come to expect from the series. I feel that Lynch could have made this setting the focus of the entire film. Sadly, he did not.

The latter portion, dealing with Laura Palmer, mostly just put into pictures what had been revealed through conversation in the series. I feel this was a mistake: it didn't contribute much that was new, and defined scenes that should have been left to the imagination.

That being said, if they re-release this with the 2 hours of extra footage (with some scenes from the first part of the film) I would buy the FWWM dvd.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: See it if you haven't already.
Review: This film is just simply amazing. Nothing else to say really. But what the hell, I do have a few words to say about Mr. Lynch. The guy makes films like no other. Let me use an example from FWWM. Lynch has actors that create an impressive level of character developement in both Keifer Sutherland, and Chris Issak for the little amount of time they were given. I found their case situation intriguing, and the beginning of the film is draws you right in. You also get a sense of what kind of agents they are, and their personalities. Issak is more laid back, but cunning at the same time. He also knows some level of classified information on the darkside that the job can bring. Such happens with this new "Blue Rose" case. Sutherland seems more gullible, and naive, yet very organized, and perceptive. A lot of people complain that Lynch films are too complicated, and while they are complex, if you have an active brain, it's not hard to break the films down, and retrive the information you need to grasp it all. Having said that, people also claim that Lynch is insane, and to some extent I agree. You do have to approach Lynch films knowing that the irrational = rational in his world. I mean who the hell thinks like Lynch does? Who else really could have made this wonderful series, and prequel film? Only him. In his films, like FWWM, Lost Highway, and Eraserhead, he gives you just enough information he feels the viewers should get. You just have to be able to sort through the clues, and pieces of the puzzle soon fall into place. He isn't going to lay everything out on a silver platter with the typical Hollywood cliches'. He's going to mess with your mind instead. That's what's great about watching a film like FWWM. You get more out of it each time you watch it. Now FWWM is much more intense, and graphic as opposed to the quirky TV series with bizarre twists. Nonetheless if you've seen the series, or not, you must see FWWM. If Puzzle plots, and surrealism in film doesn't interest you, keep away. You wouldn't want to hurt that brain of yours now would you?

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Fire Wake Me When It's Over
Review: It was a very Merry Christmas this year, as I received what I asked for..."Twin Peaks-The First Season" on DVD. Not having seen it since it originally aired on ABC, wow wow wow was I bowled over by the timelessness of this fantastic show!

I also received something I did NOT ask for, "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me". Being one of those original fans who never missed an episode that first year only to be disenfranchised the following with the move to Saturday nights and the noticeable dip in quality, I, like so many, never bothered to catch 'Fire' when it was released. The reviews were so hideous I felt it best to hold on to the admission fee for a more noteworthy expense, say a piece of pie and a hot cup of coffee.

After watching the pilot and the entirety of season one, with great expectations I loaded the 'Fire' disc. As it whirled to life, I reclined backwards, settling in for more Lynchian delight!

Liver and onions, specifically liver, has always been one of the least favorite things to put in my mouth. As a kid, my mom made it for dad infrequently, he being the only one in the household to tolerate it. Everytime it sizzled in the pan alongside the company of onions, I betrayed my memory and yearned to have some, it smelled that good. But everytime was the same: it blew.

"Fire Walk With Me" is liver and onions. Built upon the promise of everything that had gone before it, I couldn't help expecting a tasty dish to sate my art house appetite. Instead, liver and onions.

This prequel, despite the opinions of a dozen hardcore fans, is a nonsensical mess missing entirely the tightness, intelligence, and lushness of the "Twin Peaks" I came to love. After a promising first half hour, the film goes into a steep, unrecoverable dive of craziness that is not edgy or interesting, just silly.

Whereas the original featured a fuller cast with tantalizing, cameo-like camera time, Sheryl Lee, fine as a stiff or in a minor supporting role, is called upon to carry this film and breaks under the weight of it. Stunningly, her character, as well as the rest of the cast, is not crafted well enough to hold your attention and her performance is alternately wooden and over animated and ultimately unbelievable.

I wanted to love this film. I expected to wholeheartedly. But you cannot, in my humble opinion, substitute loveable quirkiness with flat out weirdness and call it good, David Lynch or not. "Fire Walk With Me" has to go down as one of the major film disappointments of all time, a very bad film easily earning its place on All Time Top Ten Worst lists world wide. Embedded thumbs down.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Holds up ten years hence
Review: Let me ramble a bit.

It's a good film, yes. Has some maddening quirks, but mind you I almost slugged a guy in LA who yelled at me that TPFWWM: ....

The unconventional, even at times seemingly lackodasical, editing manages to achieve its own logic after a couple of viewings, especially for those who grew up with the foreign cinema of the 50s and 60s and haven't been sucked into thinking Tarantino is actually original or smart.

Lynch's deconstructivist slant on the 50s sensibility continues. Yes, he likes his Milkshake Dreams, I think, but he's artist enough to know they are still notions and dreams. It's always nice to ponder the beauty of Sheryl Lee, and Chris Isaak is no slouch as eye candy, either.

Beneath it all is a story of child abuse, of America eating its young, of small towns turning on their own progeny. ....

Maybe.

Brilliant moments of staging and mood abound. A Few "Silencio" status scenes dot the film: Laura in the Black Lodge, Chris Isaak and Sherriff Cable, Chris in the Coffee Shop, David Bowie materializing in and out of this dimension for a few moments and screaming, and a very terrifying death scene. The best however is a little trans-dimensional trip Laura takes into the Black Lodge Bob World where the Dancing Dwarf is up to no good as usual.

Angelo mixes a good score of neo-jazz, but my big qualm with the film is Bobby doing that dance-jig backwards in the school yard, or is that Laura tweaking out on coke and imagining Bobby walking backwards? Lynch will never tell.

...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: In A World Of Cherry Pies, Picket Fences, and Fresh Air..
Review: ...is cocaine, incest, and mania. And too many darknesses to mention here.

First off, I never attempted to watch any of the television series "Twin Peaks". It just wasn't my cuppa Good Mornin' America: I do however dig David Lynch and his surreal looks in the psyche of America. Often these images are lighthearted and fun, albeit bizarre, like TP the series, or "The Straight Story" (which is uncharacteristically--for Lynch--pro-family), or these images are just dark and disturbing. Like "Blue Velvet", "Mullholland Drive", "The Lost Highway"...and this.

In my opinion, Lynch has to explore the darkest of the dark side of humanity so he can come up with the stories that show humanity at it's best, like "The Striaght Story" and "The Elephant Man"...that's one of the real messages, if anything that comes outta the man's grey matter.

I have nothing else to add to the TP Mythos or the adding of important clues to make this a coherent story--those which

help close the book on the Laura/Dale/Bob/Leland/Black Lodge/White Lodge mystery, but I have this to offer.

*There are sides to a story which we will never know about that make up the one we do end up seeing and accepting. I think the cryptic first half hour is more attuned to what I'm saying. I mean, three majors just disappear from the story line? It must have been a budget thing. 'Cause we get the feel that these new special agents, who seemed more adept than Dale Cooper could ever be, was gonna solve both murders. They were perhaps cut out because they were asking too much...?

*There will be folks trying to deciper all of Lynch's work, especially this one. And, unfortunately, somehow down the line there will be attempts to tie up the loose ends of the TP Mythos, like a novel or a mini series that dudn't have anything to do with the Lynchian vision. This should be avoided at all costs. While I enjoyed the Star Trek originals and a few of the spin off moovys, I have balked at some of the spin off spinoffs...this cannot and should not happen with TPs--Peakers, notwithstanding. FWWM is perfect cinema, perfect art and despite it's rather sordid and dark subject matter, it should close the book on the TP Mythos. Don't mess with it. And don't try to interpret it to death.

*Having said that, look at how color is used. What does the Blue Rose mean? If you don't sense it from the visuals, then Lynch wasn't doing his job.

*Wasn't there a Michael Jackson teaser (for Dangerous) that had him in the Red Room? Or was I imagining things? Or was it Bob?

*There is nothing more frightening than to be in the woods in the dark. I think even though Lynch became an Eagle Scout, and quite the camper, maybe, that's one of the reasons this film works so well. Them creepy mountains, the fog covered lakes and the snap of twigs and leaves when you know there's no person around for miles...? Scary stuff.

*Small, one horse towns are underground meccas. And I mean that you always are one step from falling into one, without being fully aware of it. How do I know? Ride the transcontintental bus from one large city to another, sit near the back and you'll be bound to find someone who has some outlandish story that deals with drugs, sex and rock n roll....and they always get out in some gawd who knows nook and they always try to get someone to get to go with them....what does that mean?

*Laura's story without the dream notions, drug miasmas and mental cul-de-sacs is disturbing enuff. Don't ever forget that.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 .. 16 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates