FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Black Christmas [DVD] [2006]

Black Christmas [DVD] [2006]
enlarge	Director: Glen Morgan Actors: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michelle Trachtenberg, Katie Cassidy, Oliver Hudson, Andrea Martin Studio: Pathe Distribution Category: DVD List Price: ~~£15.99~~ Buy New: £3.11 as of 22/11/2009 23:59 GMT details You Save: £12.88 (81%) New (14) Used (14) from £1.22 Seller: fastdvd2006 Rating: 38 reviews Sales Rank: 8360 Format: PAL Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 79 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5060002835593 ASIN: B000V7ZMIC Theatrical Release Date: 2006 Release Date: November 19, 2007 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Needless and unnecessary are two words that have little meaning in Hollywood, especially when you're talking sequels or remakes. Case in point: iBlack Christmas/i, the revisionist version of the 1974 horror thriller largely thought to be the proto-slasher movie (this was four years before the first iHalloween/i installment). The original, from director Bob Clark, is still considered a masterpiece of tension, understatement, innovative camera perspective, economic efficiency (a polite way of saying "ultra-low budget"), and killing off pretty young girls in grisly ways without any cumbersome exposition regarding the psychopath's motives. This, by the way, from the same Bob Clark who would soon bring us the beloved iPorky's/i franchise as well as iBlack Christmas/i's polar opposite, the sweetly nostalgic classic iA Christmas Story/i. p/pAnyway, as needless and unnecessary as this remake is, it certainly delivers the goods on 21st-century slasher conventions as the sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa are picked off during Christmas break in ever more gruesome fashion. There's nothing wrong with all of this, particularly for fans of impalements, crushed skulls, ripped-out eyeballs, and some good old-fashioned Christmas cookie cannibalism. Writer-director Glen Morgan, who earned his own credibility as co-creator of the iFinal Destination/i series and the interesting 2003 remake of iWillard/i adds a few clever visual homages to the original along with the amped-up extreme gore. Clark's device (was he the first to use it?) of creepy, mouth-breathing phone calls from killer to victim remains intact and creepy. He also resurrects Andrea Martin, one of the then-unknown actor victims who, now famous, plays the prim housemother. Another addition, which may not be so welcome to purists of the genre, is a load of exposition and backstory for the killer. Disturbing as these flashback set pieces are, they're also somewhat distracting to the foreboding tone. But you get what you pay for, and lots of people are going to pay dearly to dream of the shocking frights another iBlack Christmas/i will bring. i--Ted Fry/i

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...8 Next » Underrated - just like the original on its release April 9, 2008 A. W. Scullion (Portstewart, Northern Ireland) 2 out of 3 found this review helpful Both Black Christmases have been underrated on release - the original wasn't really picked up (except in Canada) on release in 1974 and has become a worldwide sleeper "hit" in the years after its release, mostly by word of mouth - mainly aided by being so copied in other films such as "When A Stranger Calls", "He Knows You're Alone", "Halloween" (all films I love) and many others since. br / br /The new version is obviously based on the original so those who deride it for being "just" a `bunch of girls in a house with serial killer' should know that the original Black Christmas invented this sub-genre of horror and the new version was obviously going to be the essentially the same setting otherwise it just wouldn't be "Black Christmas". (The original was also the first film to introduce the now common "twist" and the new version rightly doesn't make too much of this as its also been copied so many times since). br / br /The new film has some differences (as well as death scenes) - after all, there's not much point in a shot-by-shot remake (the awful, pointless shot-by-shot remake of "Psycho" comes to mind). Just as the original broke new ground in camera work (copied to worldwide acclaim in "Halloween") the new version uses camera angles that make you take notice and disturb your senses. The twinkling Christmas lights (and lighting) are also used to great effect to grate at the viewer's senses and introduce a sense of unease in the viewer that is ultimately more disturbing than just gory deaths (which there's plenty of). Just like the original, the Christmas music becomes a haunting backdrop. br / br /Just like the original, and after all real life, not all the characters are `likeable' - which allows for different reactions to deaths and questions afterwards. Also, you don't necessarily have the predictable `last girl alive will be the non-drinking, non-smoking, non-swearing virgin' scenario. br / br /Bob Clark, the original director of the first version, not only visited the set but also gave his personal thumbs up on the new take of the story, both before and after the film was made. It took many years before the original version was given the recognition it deserved, most describe it as a classic and rightly so. Maybe in time the right audience will find the new version of the film and appreciate what it was doing, it's not as perfect as the original, but its not too far off it. br / br /Both versions are definitely worth watching more than once and certainly worth the cheap prices they're now both available at. If you haven't watched the first one (and you should), you can still enjoy the new 2006 version - just take on board that yes, it's a group of girls in a house about to be picked off one-by-one, but its about to be done with style that all too often is lacking in hack and slash films... BLACK CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! October 3, 2007 Horror-lover99 (NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND) 4 out of 11 found this review helpful This is one the best remakes in history, br /this dvd (English) isn't as good as the american one! br /but this one is still fab! br /One of my fave actresses Michelle br /is in this, her death here is so cool, br /ice hockey skates EWWW! br / br /The below review is just a simple br /teen who hated this movie, br /but theve got the wrong idea for! br /A true horror and i will watch it on christmas eve! br / br /A fab Film! br /:):):) br /A great buy, would reccomend! I thought it was great! November 30, 2007 L.J horror, comedy and ani lover! 2 out of 7 found this review helpful br /I really enjoyed the guts and gore. br /the deaths and twists! br /The acting was over average! br /This one is the english version, there is br /an american one to. br /EXCELLENT HORROR! COOL September 23, 2007 100% great 150% horror lover (Europe) 2 out of 8 found this review helpful br /BEST FILM OF 2007 br /WATCH AT ALL COSTY, GORE FACTOR br /HIGH, IF YOU WANT HORROR HERE IT IS! br / br /:):):) br /BEST FILM EVER FAB September 23, 2007 24.04...L (england: Eroupe) 2 out of 9 found this review helpful br /Gory 10.10 br /acting 10.10 br /Story 10.00 br / br /Nothing, br /can beat this br /best film ever made! Showing reviews 1-5 of 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...8 Next »

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