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The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Single Disc Edition)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Single Disc Edition)

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.24
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: All the thrills and chills of the orginal and more
Review: First time viewers beware! This is an audience participation movie. To sit quietly in a room and watch it as you would a normal DVD is to do little justice to a movie that had midnight audiences dancing in the aisles throughout the 80's. But, if you are looking for a strange and mischievous theme for a party then there is nothing better than to have your friends dress the parts and dance to the Time Warp again!

Shades of Warhol and other B-movie horrors of the past abound, as Rocky Horror draws from everything and anything to bring you into its realm. It flopped in its first cinema release, but thankfully was revived as a midnight movie classic and now verges on its 30th anniversary. Hard to believe. Susan Sarandon never looked so good. Neither did Tim Curry. This DVD is handsomely packaged and destined to be a collector's item. It not only contains the original movie but numerous out-takes, sing-alongs and other clips to give you an even fuller Rocky Horror experience. It is sexy, outrageous and so cornball that unless you are as nerdy as Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick never looked so good) you can't helped but be carried along by its feel-good spirit. Even Brad submits to the charm of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the end.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DVD = Perfect format to truly experience "Rocky" at home
Review: I loved going to "Rocky Horror" when I was in college, but watching on home video just wasn't the same. I'm probably committing heresy but there's a reason why this sci-fi, horror, B-movie satire, rock musical didn't really make it big until theaters started showing it as a midnight movie and fans started attending in costume and talking back to the screen. The 25th anniversary DVD, with several audience participation options, really is the next best thing to being there.

For the uninitiated, "Rocky Horror" tells the story of two clean-cut American youths, uptight Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick of "Spin City") and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon of "Dead Man Walking") whose car breaks down on a dark, deserted road in the middle of a storm--the classic beginning to many horror movies--and who seek help at a nearby castle. Castles, as Rocky fans know, don't have phones! What this castle has instead is a cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry, in perhaps his finest performance), two very creepy servants, Riff-Raff (Richard O'Brien, who wrote the musical) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and various other hangers-on, including lovers Columbia (Little Nell) and biker Eddie (Meat Loaf). Brad and Janet walk in on a party celebrating the creation of Frank-N-Furter's muscle-bound boy-toy "Rocky." Bed-hopping chaos soon ensues, until the servants reveal their true identities and take control.

Punctuating this wacky plot are some of the wildest rock-musical songs ever written. In addition to the classic "Time Warp," there's O'Brien's salute to cult-classic B-movies, "Science Fiction Double Feature," Meat Loaf's "Hot Patootie," and Sarandon ode to sexual self-discovery, "Toucha Toucha Touch Me!"

So much for the "Rocky virgin" portion of the review... What makes the DVD so exceptional is the chance to experience "Rocky Horror" at home nearly like you would in the theater. The DVD has the option of turning on the audience screen comments as well as another option for viewing members of the Rocky Horror Fan Club performing select scenes before returning to the main movie. For those less familiar with audience participation, the DVD can prompt when to throw toast, toilet paper, rice, etc., light a match, put your newspaper on your head, etc.

The second disc contains fascinating interviews with cast members, where fans can find out about their reaction to starring in this cult classic. Meat Loaf's description of not realizing what "Rocky Horror" was going to be about and running out of the theater when Tim Curry entered wearing fishnet stockings, spiked heels, a merry widow, and a leather jacket and singing "Sweet Transvestite" is hysterical. Patricia Quinn talks about how her fondness for the opening song, "Science Fiction Double Feature" made her want to take the role even though she hadn't read the rest of the script. What? Don't remember Quinn singing that number? In the stage versions she did, but the song got reassigned in the film version--and Quinn makes her feelings about that QUITE clear. Sarandon makes the interesting observation that "Rocky Horror" probably kept a lot of art house theaters in business over the years, since they could count on good revenue from the midnight movie, even if the latest regular-hours offering flopped. In Bostwick's interview, however, the actor sounds a bit like William Shatner giving his anti-Trekkie diatribe on "Saturday Night Live."

The only disappointments on the DVD are that the outtakes really aren't that interesting and actor bios aren't provided. I would have liked to see what else the "minor" cast members did after Rocky, but that information is limited to a few lines in the companion booklet. Also, some of the audience-participation comments are nearly impossible to understand because fans are talking over each other. But then that's part of the modern-day theater experience. Even Sarandon noted in her interview that talking back to the screen has gone from the more unison catechism approach to a loud free-for-all.

What seemed so risqué and shocking a few decades ago seems much more innocent today, but it was great when it all began and it's still great! If you've never ventured into the theater to experience "Rocky Horror," this is the best way to experience it at home.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Those Gold Shorts!
Review: Ahhhhh...Rocky had such a lovely outline showing in his gold lame shorts.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: See What's On The Slab
Review: The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the biggest cult movie in history. A major part of the movie's appeal is the audience participation from dressing up like movie characters, singing along, using props and responding with lines. While you can never recreate this experience at home, this excellent 25th Anniversary disk does all it can to try and come close. You can choose a mode that has all the audience commentary, it gives you cues as to what to do in a particular scene and lyrics. The DVD also has the original UK version with the full "Super Heroes" scene. The film is better known for its audience antics, but the actors give gleefully campy and funny performances. Tim Curry is marvelous as the sweet transvestite, Dr. Frank N Furter. He camps around the screen with mock superiority. Barry Bostwick deliberately overacts as the rigid Brad Majors and Susan Sarandon plays the doe-eyed innocent Janet Weiss. Rocky Horror creator Richard O'Brian plays the handyman Riff Raff in a stiff and monotonic manner reminiscent of Lurch from the Addams Family. The movie is just plain fun.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The original is still the best!
Review: Don't bother with the play, or the music from the play. The original is still the best. Nobody can fill the shoes of Sarandon, Curry, etc. They originated the roles and have been associated with them for far too long for anyone else to come in try to change them so many years later and attempt to redo them. Stay with the best.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pleasure, Joy and no Limits
Review: This is great entertainment. First of all it is a good musical in the rock style with good songs and at times funny lyrics. Second it is a good visual show where gags and tricks are constantly bombarding us with great creativity. I particularly liked the RKO Radio Pictures' Eiffel Tower falling down into some swimming pool. Third it is absolutely delirious and crazy as for the « adventure » the young couple lives in this castle. They both manage to taste the forbidden fruit, the girl with both the host and his male creature Rocky, and the boy with the host himself. Ambiguity and absolute freedom are the two rules of this perverse universe of transexual Transylvanians from outer space. That sure is a joy ride for those two newly engaged young people who got trapped during a rainstorm on a dead end road with a flat tyre and no spare tyre to repair the flat. Next time remember that you must always have a spare in your trunk, but don't think that such an adventure is going to happen to you just because you're going to forget to put a spare in your trunk. It would be too easy. Nightmares of fear and pleasure only happen when you do not expect them at all.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A wild and an untamed thing...
Review: This video is far more deserving than any other review the rocky horror picture show could get. I like to think of this version as perfect for halloween kareoke. The video has interviews with cos players at the theater about their performance mimicking the movie. After the movie is over, we are shown just how much fans love the time warp at the theater performance. Also, the words are silenced at "Oh brad" (as in when they also say janet), "Creature of the night" (all the characters except rocky at the end) Riff Raff's dazzling "it's all over" song thingy, and the music at the beginning of the floor show (as frank is prepping the performers) is lowered significantly.

Each Rocky Horror video has it's own charm, everything in a certain place. The 25th anniversary, for example, has the two songs that were cut. As for the dvd's, the basic grey covered one I've noticed is exactly the same as disc one of the two disc set, so as far as dvd's go, the two disc set is the way to go (although the dvd version of the movie sucks because the audio tracks are different, it just doesnt seem right, but the extras are great) If you're a newcomer to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and you need other people to tell you just how great it is, this video is for you (it does include the movie by the way).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Freaky Flesh-Fest Is No Family Friendly Film, But It Is Fun!
Review: Way back in the summer of 1978 I talked a bunch of my friends into going with me to a midnight showing of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. We were dumb teenagers, hiding beer in our clothes, sitting in the balcony of the theater. When those huge red lips hit the screen, we were hooked! I remember going every friday and saturday night for months after that. TRHPS became our religion and weekend entertainment in one! We threw the rice etc. Looking back, the alcohol was responsible for much of our fervor, as I see Rocky Horror as being about half of a good movie. Don't get me wrong, I'll always have a warm place in my heart for it, but sober, it's a completely different movie! The first half hour is priceless. It starts with those aforementioned lips, crooning the "Science Fiction Double Feature" track, much to the glee of my B-movie addicted heart. Next are Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Saranden) singing "Dammit Janet" after the wedding ceremony. This is followed by the classic "Over At The Frankenstein Place" accentuated by the eerie warblings of Riff Raff (Richard O'Brien) as he watches out a castle window. When Brad and Janet arrive at the manor, they are greeted by Riff Raff and are soon joined by Magenta (Patricia Quinn) to the building tune of "The Time Warp". The doors are thrown open on a ballroom full of transylvanian weirdos, including Columbia (Little Nell), the tap dancing girlfriend of Eddie (Meatloaf). If this isn't glorious enough, the entrance of Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry) singing "Sweet Transvestite" is the show-stopper! Alas, for me it's all downhill from there. There are some great numbers, like Eddie singing "Hot Patootie" or Frank N. Furter's sorrowful "I'm Going Home", but a lot of it sort of drags on aimlessly at many points. When no one's singing, it can get a little dull. I still recommend seeing Rocky Horror at least once. I also recommend getting the soundtrack. It helps if you're a schlocky / cheesey film fanatic like myself...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Review: If you want to see this film, see it first in a theater where audience participation is a must. Then buy the movie! The gothic nature of the film creates a comical balance with the all-american-sweethearts (played by Susan Sarandon and Barry Boswick), when a predictable flat tire brings together the characters of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. During the course of one night innocence is lost, sensuality runs amuck, and the dark humor never ends. From the moment Tim Curry appears in the movie, I knew I would be a fan for life. Meatloaf also has his brief moment to shine in this dark comedy. There is a narrator, so no viewers can loose site of the plot, and some lively costume undressing. There is a sci-fi undertone, several sloppy choreographed scenes (which play terribly well in this gothic toned movie), and even a dance you are sure to learn and use at your next theater viewing to impress friends that are virgins to the knowledge of this film.
On my second visit to a theater showing, I was fortunate enough to win a collectors item poster of the film. Though this was the icing on the cake, I later found that my enthusiasm for the Rocky Horror Picture Show was shared with many, making this movie a cult classic.
If you like this film, I reccommend Velvet Goldmine, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Trainspotting.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: DO NOT see the DVD! See it LIVE First!!
Review: I rated this movie 3 stars because it really depends upon when and where you see it.

If you have never seen it, and decide to watch the DVD in the privacy of your own home - I can almost guarantee you to hate it, hence the reason why many have given it a 1-star rating. It is a total B-Movie, and failed in 7 of the 8 theaters it premiered.

HOWEVER if you open your mind to some good fun, find out where the midnight movies play in your neighborhood and check out the RHPS as it is meant... You are guaranteed a good time and would rate this movie 5 STARS!!

I really don't know how to explain it any clearer. It is a combination of film, live theater, audience participation and dancing in the aisles all in one! You can't get ANY of this from the DVD, and you wouldn't understand it from the DVD if you didn't see it in the theater. No need to be so intimidated when you see everyone dressed as his or her favorite character - I've never attended dressed up. Remember this movie has been popular for 30 years... I saw it with my uncle, and can't wait to take my own kids when they are old enough (rated R).

As for the stars, yes there is Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, MeatLoaf, and Charles Gray. Yes they were all relatively unknown at the time this was released, and yes many of them have tried to distance themselves from the project since its release. You would too... unless you fell under the spell of this cult-classic!

Enjoy!

NOW...

Let there be LIPS!


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