Thriller & Mystery > H Thriller & Mystery > Hitchcock, Alfred

Torn Curtain - Was It Really Torn?

Advantages: It's Hitchcock
Disadvantages: But not at his best

Torn Curtain is an Alfred Hitchcock produced and directed film released in 1966 which starred Paul Newman and Julie Andrews as Professor Michael Armstrong and his assistant/fiancé Sarah Sherman with support from Wolfgang Kieling, Lila Kedrova, Hansjorg Felmy, Ludwig Donath, Carolyn Conwell, Gisela Fischer and Gunter Strack. Professor Armstrong is engaged to his assistant Sarah Sherman and the films starts off with them on board a ship to Copenhagen ...
...his usual acting prowess in Torn Curtain. I did feel that the plot had some glaring holes in it from start to finish. I didn't understand the significance of Professor Manfred going with Sarah to the bookshop to collect the Professor's book as he doesn't even look at the book or try to. Whilst watching a Hitchcock film, one tries to find hidden meaning in so many scenes and strangely enough there just weren't many hidden meanings in Torn Curtain. ...

anonymili 28.04.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Torn Curtain (DVD)

Early Hitchcock doesn't quite cut it

Advantages: Very entertaining in those days I'm sure...
Disadvantages: but we're in the 21st century now

...films deemed too irrelevant for the common movie-goer. Alas I just can't seem to give this DVD the thumbs up. You see, the thing is -if a black and white film, handicapped with the inevitable restrictions of movie-making in yesteryears, is to be an enjoyable experience for an audience today, it must have certain qualities of timelessness to it. Casablanca, The Seventh Seal and The Lady Vanishes are adored, remastered and distributed widely today ...
...to people still. I watched The Lady Vanishes (Hitchcock's last British film before he moved to America to make such international blockbusters like Vertigo and Psycho) prior to this DVD and found that to be suspenseful enough despite it being made around the same time with this film. However I must say that The Man Who Knew Too Much proved just too boring and sketchy for me despite having such a promising plot and such a decent cast. Vintage Hitchcock ...

habitualdamnation 13.07.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Man Who Knew Too Much (DVD)

A Glitch in Time

Advantages: Stylish and cleverly-plotted, an excellent blend of science-fiction and thriller.
Disadvantages: Minimal.

...the verdant woodland of Cantabria, Timecrimes follows two extraordinary hours in the life of Hector, who has just moved into a new house with his wife, Clara. Taking a break from packing, Hector is reclining in his garden with a pair of binoculars when he spots a distressed young woman undressing in the nearby woods. His curiosity piqued and his wife gone shopping, our protagonist heads off to investigate. Half an hour later, Hector is being pursued ...
...cover) and seeks refuge in a silo attached to a nearby property. So far, so conventionally madman-in-the-woods horror. Here, though, the film takes a turn for the much more intriguing. A scientist working in the silo encourages Hector to hide in a vat where his pursuer 'will never think to look.' Fearing he has little choice but to follow, Hector allows his newfound ally to shut him in. When the vat is reopened moments later, he is disturbed to find ...

Puggers 03.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Timecrimes (DVD)

Ain't a hard time been invented that I can't handle

Advantages: Acting, directing, camera, special effects
Disadvantages: Nothing

...good as Heat and everything was expecting it to be, because, to be honest, Heat is a brilliant film, one that is worth wtatching over and over again. The DVD is available from amazon.co.uk for £4.38. It's a bargain at that price in my opinion. Recommended. ...

pmcds 01.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Heat (DVD)

Dennis Quaid Meets Saw?

Advantages: good acting, a new take on gore
Disadvantages: a little bit 'too hostel' for me if you know what I mean...

Horsemen is 2009's answer to what you get when you combine a little hostel, a little saw and a little biblical reference - which you can probably guess from the title 'Horsemen' - the four horsemen of the apocalypse. This was a film I was actually looking forward to seeing and I wasn't disapointed but I don't rate it as one of my favourites however I do reccomend it to those of you that are a fan of cult films, crime thrillers and gorefests. The ...
...secrets - adds a little depth to the film title and the plot centres around Aiden Breslin (Quaid) some kind of forensic detective that specialises in, well, teeth by the looks of it. Anyway, like most violent focused films the plot is very obvious although it is quite linear and straightforward. No complicated twists here, so great for a night in with the girls/guys. Character Performances Whilst this is far from Quaid's best performance he ...

kayleaf 29.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Horsemen