FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Apt Pupil [DVD] [1999]

Apt Pupil [DVD] [1999]
enlarge	Director: Bryan Singer Actors: Ian McKellen, Brad Renfro, Joshua Jackson, Mickey Cottrell, Michael Reid MacKay Studio: Uca Category: DVD List Price: ~~£5.99~~ Buy New: £3.36 as of 23/11/2009 03:32 GMT details You Save: £2.63 (44%) New (12) Used (8) Collectible (1) from £1.84 Seller: findprice Rating: 8 reviews Sales Rank: 29556 Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen Languages: Czech (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Hebrew (Subtitled), Hindi (Subtitled), Hungarian (Subtitled), Icelandic (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled), Polish (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), German (Dubbed) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 107 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5035822647534 ASIN: B00004D07Z Theatrical Release Date: October 23, 1998 Release Date: September 5, 2005 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Bryan Singer's follow-up to his post-modern caper-thriller IThe Usual Suspects/I trades in the flamboyant narrative flourish of that film for a moody meditation on the allure of evil. Based on the Stephen King novella (featured in the collection IDifferent Seasons/I), IApt Pupil/I follows the disturbing downward spiral of a bright young schoolboy, Todd (Brad Renfro), who discovers a wanted Nazi war criminal is living in his town and then blackmails him into telling stories ("everything they're afraid to show us in school") of the horrors of the Holocaust. The old man, Dussander (a terrifying performance by Ian McKellen), comes alive while telling his tales and is soon reliving his past glories in a SS Halloween ordered byTodd. It's not long before Dussander's homicidal streak is unleashed and he is pulling Todd along with him. Although set against a backdrop of Holocaust history, the issues raised in the stories are ignored in favour of shocks and suspense and the film ultimately sacrifices the opportunity to be a fascinating psychological thriller about the seductive power of evil for a trip into Stephen King territory. Despite such limitations, Singer delivers a stylish and sometimes unsettling horror picture, which is largely due to McKellen's chilling portrait of a slumbering sadist awakened. I--Sean Axmaker/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 8 1 2 Next » A powerful adaptation of King's most compelling story November 28, 2002 Daniel Jolley (Shelby, North Carolina USA) 16 out of 18 found this review helpful I have always regarded Apt Pupil as one of Stephen King's greatest and most compelling pieces of fiction. The film adaptation was a long time coming; years ago, a version starring Ricky Schroeder as Todd Bowden was stopped just as production began, and rumors and speculations about a possible movie frittered around for years-until 1998. While this movie is not quite as powerful as King's novella and substitutes a brand new conclusion to the story, it is still an incredible exploration of evil. Brad Renfro is effective as the disturbingly curious Todd, but it is Ian McKellen's superlative performance as Dussander/Danker that makes this movie an unforgettable psychological thriller. I also like to pay tribute to animals who contribute their talents to films without even a mention in the credits. There is a cat that appears in one powerful scene of this movie, conveying vivid emotions of curiosity, helplessness, and fear before delivering a truly frenzied, physically impressive, action-packed performance of high caliber indeed.pTodd Bowden is an intelligent, fairly normal teenager whose interest in Nazi Germany mutates into a dangerous obsession when he locates and identifies a Nazi war criminal living in his own neighborhood. Confronting the old man, he convinces him to admit who he is, promising him that he will tell no one his secret as long as Dussander does one thing for him. Todd wants to know everything about the Holocaust, what Dussander did, how he did it, how he felt, etc. A very strange bond develops between this odd couple, each character holding information that could destroy the other's very world, each seeking to gain the upper hand; it is a power struggle between two ruthlessly cunning individuals. As time goes on, both Dussander and Todd begin to change, affected by the evil that is their constant topic of conversation. The tension builds up throughout the film, culminating in a very satisfying conclusion (although I still prefer King's original conclusion).pThis is not a horror movie so much as a movie about horror and, in particular, obsession. There are some disturbing events in the movie, and one has to question which character is more evil than the other. It is difficult to really like either leading character, but one is intensely interested in the final outcome that must inevitably come; true evil can be hidden only so long. When I first learned of this movie's release, I was thrilled to finally see the story brought to life, yet the movie seemed to come and go with little fanfare. This is one of the best Stephen King adaptations out there, and I feel this movie deserves much more attention and acclaim than it has received. The message of Apt Pupil speaks to everyone, not just horror fans, providing a very real warning about the dangers of obsession. Evil can be borne anywhere, even in the heart of Middle America. Excellent view on the exsistence of evil January 9, 2002 5 out of 7 found this review helpful Anyone who didn't believe evil existed would after seeing this . Both acters play there part perfectly with the plot swinging back and forth between who has the advantage which makes for a very interesting film . You don't need huge budgets to produce a good film and this is a prime example . Brilliant Set For Stephen King Fans!!! September 16, 2001 babybumptel@yahoo.co.uk (England) 3 out of 4 found this review helpful These have got to be three of the best film adaptation from Stephen King books. Shawshank is a powerful story of a man sent to prison for a murder he didn't commit, his fate lies in the hands of a corrupt prison warden who is laundering money using the innocent prisoner's law skills. Stand By Me is a coming-of-age story, it is my all time favourite film starring the late River Phoenix. Four boys go on a quest to find the body of a dead boy, learning the painful truth of life. Apt Pupil is a disturbing story of a boy who gets tangled in the horrific world of the Nazi's. A must for all Stephen King fans! You really can't go wrong for this price. June 28, 2002 L. Andrews (Newport, South Wales) Here we have some of the best adaptations of King's novels grouped together in one package, and you really can't go wrong for the bargain price.pSTAND BY ME is a hilarious, horrific, and moving tale of four boys and their adolescence, with them coming to terms with their adulthood and finding out who they really are while on a quest to find a dead body. pAnother masterpiece from Bryan SInger comes in the form of APT PUPIL. While not quite as good as the book, and changing the shocking ending, Singer creates an atmospherically dark film about a boy who discovers that there is a Nazi war criminal living in his neigbourhood.pPerhaps the greates film of all time (and never leaving the top three spot on IMDB), THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is the tale of one man's struggle to survive against all circumstances. The film is quite simply brilliant, and heads a great movie package. Well directed, tense thriller September 5, 2008 Ms. J. Lee (London) br /I have not read the book so cannot compare this to the text; however, as a stand alone film it works very well. Brad Renfro is very convincing as a teenager who is both attracted and repelled by Ian Mckellan's character's past. br / br /What I liked about the film was that it was not delivered as a moral tale; it was more a study on obsession and what evil means. The ending was very unsettling and stayed with me. Also, whilst it talked about the holocaust it did so through the character's conversations and brief photos which made it all the more disturbing without being voyeuristic or fetishistic. br / br /I'm glad I didn't see the US trailer before seeing the film and would recommend avoiding it if it comes on your DVD as it totally gives the whole story away. Showing reviews 1-5 of 8 1 2 Next »

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