Hi. I'm Rhys Kingston a 15-year-old student from Northampton.
I am currently studying for my GCS...
Hi. I'm Rhys Kingston a 15-year-old student from Northampton.
I am currently studying for my GCSEs. I am taking Maths, English, English Lit, Triple Sciences, French, Design Technology and Drama. This takes up most of my life and can get very hectic...
Member since:14.07.2000
Reviews:52
Members who trust:9
"Don't dream it. Be it."
What is the Rocky Horror Picture Show? Let’s start at the beginning!
In 1973, Richard O'Brien, a New Zealand-born Londoner (now known for The Crystal Maze amongst other things), named wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This was a play like none other. It opened at London's Royal Court Theatre later that year. It was an immediate success. Then, producer Lou Adler bought the play and moved it to the Roxy in Los Angeles where it also did very well. Based on this success, he decided to produce The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the movie. He hired Jim Sharman to direct it. It took eight weeks to make and cost $1 million. Before it was released however, the play was moved to Broadway where it flopped completely and closed within weeks. Because of this the film was poorly rated and played almost nowhere.
What is Rocky Horror about, anyway? It is actually a very complicated movie. The basic plot centres around geek Brad Majors (played by Barry Bostwick) and his new fiancé Janet
Weiss (played by Susan Sarandon). They're travelling to meet their science professor Dr. Everett Scott when the tyre on their car blows, with no spare. They find a castle and try to get some help. What they actually get is a lot of strange characters, such as a hunch-backed handyman named Riff-Raff. After witnessing a strange dance called the “Time Warp” (as if you didn’t know) they meet the man (???) of the house, Dr. Frank-n-Furter (played by Tim Curry). He is a scientist who also happens to be a transvestite from another planet (the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania). Frank invites them to his lab where he unveils his latest creation, a blond muscleman named Rocky. Then we meet Eddie (Meat Loaf), Rocky's father (Frank has transplanted his brain into Rocky’s), who has escaped from deep freeze and is then killed by Frank. Later on, Frank seduces both Brad and Janet (separately, of course) and then Janet finds Rocky and seduces him. As if matters weren't confusing enough, Dr. Scott shows up! They all sit down to dinner, which later turns out to be Eddie’s remains. Frank then traps Brad, Janet, Dr. Scott, Columbia and Rocky and turns them to stone. He dresses them up in lace and puts them on stage. He changes them back from stone. They perform a little song and dance number (all except Dr. Scott - he's in a wheelchair) after which they all go swimming. Riff-Raff and Magenta enter, and tired of working for Frank, they kill him (as well as Rocky and Columbia) with some weird anti-matter laser beam and take off with the house, leaving a very confused Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott. A guy with no name, who is simply identified as The Criminologist, narrates the entire movie.
This is a great movie with a fantastic soundtrack. It is still as good as it was 25 years ago (or so I am told – being only 15 I have no clue). This movie lead to a huge cult, and became the first fully audience participatory film. But that’s another story and I will save it for a later opinion (or an update)!
This two DVD box set is jam-packed with extra features.
The movie is housed on the first disc, along with an optional commentary by Richard O'Brien & Patricia Quinn. Also on disc one you can view a film of an audience watching the film, with full audience participatory, listen to an audience participatory soundtrack, or view audience participatory subtitles, telling you when to throw what and when to squirt your water pistol! The disc is easy to navigate with interactive talking lips and dancing legs guiding you around nicely!
The second disc is full of extra features! There is a deleted scene – featuring a never-before-heard song, Sing-A-Long style versions of Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me & Sweet Transvestite. There are also eleven minutes worth of outtakes and an alternative credits ending, Excerpts and Outtakes from VH1’s ‘Behind The Music’ and ‘Where Are They Now?’. It has a VH1 Pop-Up video of Hot Patootie and a Rocky Horror Picture Show Documentary! AND there’s more! There are theatrical trailers and a reconstruction of a misprint ending! These themselves make great viewing.
The movie is in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio and a 16:9 widescreen version. The sound is presented in Dolby Surround 5.1. There is only an English soundtrack, but there are 11 subtitle tracks.
I am sure most of you have seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show over the years and if you haven’t I sincerely recommend you buy or rent this DVD. It is a great movie. If it doesn’t sound “your type” of film, then don’t worry. That’s what I first thought, until I saw it! Now I love it!
The RRP for this DVD is £24.99, but can be found cheaper. For a two DVD box set this is FANTASTIC value. It is available from all good stores online, or high street.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
Excellent OP! I can't think of anything to add, so keep up the good work. You should check out Little Shop of Horrors if you like this film :) Thanks Ken
elspeth334 11.03.2001 19:48
An excellent review Cheers Elspeth
marciie 06.03.2001 18:59
Good Work! This is a great opinion - I myself love the film. You have explained the film well - It's tricky isn't it! I doubt I would have been able do it!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an erotic nightmare beyond any measure. Relive Richard ... more
O'Brien's sinfully twisted salute to horror, sci-fi, B-movies and rock music starring Tim Curry (in his classic gender-bending performance), Barry Bostwick and Osca...
Advantages: Sing-a-long ability, sexy outfits, Tim Rice in fishnets Disadvantages: Not always having the rice, newpapers and waterguns on hand for audience participation
Advantages: MeatLoaf, the Time Warp, and as close to being at the theatre as you can be at home Disadvantages: It's Rocky, What disadvantages could there be??
![The Rocky Horror Picture Show (2 Disc Special Edition) [1975] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78241655.jpg "The Rocky Horror Picture Show (2 Disc Special Edition) [1975] [DVD]")
![The Rocky Horror Picture Show [Special Edition]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/103214183.jpg "The Rocky Horror Picture Show [Special Edition]")
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