Ed Wood (Special Edition)
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.94 You Save: $24.05 (80%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.82 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Ed Wood (Special Edition)
Movie Review: A love letter to movies!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ed Wood is a gloriously atmospheric, black and white love letter to cinema. Tim Burton understands that for the devoted cineaste, the best moments in life have often been spent in a darkened movie theatre being enveloped by a film and becoming one with the environment it creates for two hours. Watching a movie is a form of escape from the harsh realities of the real world and Ed Wood argues that making films can also do the same thing. No one understands and appreciates this devotion to cinema more than Burton. From Beetlejuice to Mars Attacks!, his films are lovingly crafted homages to the horror and science fiction B-movies that the director enjoyed in his childhood. With Ed Wood, Burton indulges this obsession completely by telling the story of a man who loved to create and watch movies.
There is a three minute music video directed by Tim Burton that features Howard Shore's atmospheric score with a strange, yet sexy interpretative dance by a Vampira look-alike (Lisa Marie?) mixed with clips from the movie.
"Let's Shoot This F#*%@r!" is a 14-minute featurette introduced by a cheeky Johnny Depp dressed in drag. What follows is a montage of behind-the-scenes footage of certain scenes being filmed and Burton directing his actors.
"The Theremin" is a look at this unique musical instrument whose signature sound was used in countless science fiction and horror films over the years.
"Making Bela" examines how Rick Baker transformed Martin Landau into Bela Lugosi. The actor talks about his take on Lugosi while Baker speaks about how he got the gig and his approach to Landau's make-up.
Production designer Tom Duffield examines the challenges of making a black and white film in "Pie Plates Over Hollywood." He also talks about how he achieved the retro `50s look and his goal of aping the flat look of Wood's movies.
There is also a theatrical trailer.
The best and most substantial extra on the disc is an audio commentary with Tim Burton, Martin Landau, the film's screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, director of photography Stefan Czapsky and costume designer Colleen Atwood. Landau introduces the commentary and all of its participants affecting Bela Lugosi's accent and voice, which is a nice touch and gets one in the spirit of the movie. This is an excellent commentary with a lot of detail and insights. This is a must-listen for any fan of the movie.
Finally, there are five deleted scenes that include an insightful bit where Ed has dinner with Tor and his family. Best of all is Bill Murray singing "Que Sera Sera" with a mariachi band.
Ed Wood has endured. It went on to win two Academy Awards (one for Landau's performance and one for Rick Baker's make-up) and a slew of critics' awards. The movie has also become a favourite of film buffs everywhere, which is rather fitting considering that this is exactly its target audience. Sadly, Burton went on to make Planet of the Apes, a paint-by-numbers action film with expensive computer effects that lacked any of Burton's distinctive personality-the complete antithesis to Ed Wood. Hopefully, he has not become completely absorbed by the Hollywood system and that there is still some of the spirit of Ed Wood left in him.
Movie Review: "Somebody Forgot The Octopus Motor"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite films of all time, and the DVD was certainly worth the wait. I have been an Ed Wood fan since reading "The Golden Turkey Awards" by Harry and Michael Medved many years ago. In the Medved book, Ed Wood not only was named the "Worst Director of All Time," but his masterwork, "Plan Nine From Outer Space" won "Worst Movie of All Time." That is high praise indeed, but I think the reason Ed won was because of his naive commitment to his work. A lot of directors have made a lot of worse movies than Ed did (many with astronomically larger budgets), but the devoted earnestness of Wood's films truly set them apart.
In this film, shot in perfectly suited black and white, Johnny Depp plays Ed Wood in the greatest performance of his career. Depp shines as the eccentric director, and truly brings the character to life in a way that genuinely makes the audience like and appreciate Ed. The other towering figure in the movie is that of Martin Landau (who deservedly won an Oscar for this performance) as Ed's friend Bela Lugosi, the great man of gothic horror films. Landau is mesmerizing as Lugosi, and people familiar with Wood's films will be amazed by the uncanny accuracy of his performance. Through the relationship of these two men, the audience really comes to appreciate Wood's fundamental humanity. I can't say enough about Landau's performance. Rarely has there ever been another biopic performance as accurate or powerful.
The film traces Ed's film career from his personal statement about angora in "Glen or Glenda," through the "Bride of the Monster" debacle (the scene of Bela flailng with the unmotorized octopus alone is worth the price of the DVD), and finally to his opus, the film for which he will always be remembered, "Plan Nine From Outer Space." The sets throughout the film are absolutely perfect, and the interesting thing is how Director Tim Burton made the "Wood" sets look perfectly shoddy, without making them into a parody. The lighting and makeup are also perfect (Rick Baker also won an Oscar for makeup) and greatly enhance the period feel of the film.
Tim Burton will always have a special place in my heart for thoughtfully casting original Wood regulars Paul Marco, Conrad Brooks and Gregory Walcott in small roles. That was a greatly appreciated and gentlemanly touch.
The DVD was definitely worth the wait. There are several "making of" features (one featuring Johnny Depp in drag in a meat packing plant), the original trailer, commentary from several principals of the film, and a delightful (and extremely strange) music video, directed by, of all people, Toni Basil.
This is a great movie, and from what I have read about Wood, is generally quite accurate. The entire supporting cast is fabulous (particularly Bill Murray), and they truly manage to capture the essence of the Ed Wood experience. This is suitable for all audiences except young children. There are some language issues, and some issues of confused sexuality (crossdressing; angora fetish) that are not suitable for pre-teens.
Ed Wood finally got the recognition he deserved; I only wish he were around to enjoy it. He died in poverty in 1978. I recommend this film without any reservations. Thank you, Tim Burton.
Movie Review: Past unorthodoxies...
Summary: 5 Stars
Arising from Hollywood Babylon, from the depths of evocative cinematic arcana, here we remember Edward D. Wood Jr., one of the most underrated actors, producers, directors of all time. Driven by an insatiable passion for pictures, he brought his imaginative visions unto the silver screen with all the resources he had available, using wile and guile, remaining the nucleus of his own creations no matter what obstacles beset him. Wood {here portrayed by Johnny Depp} struggles for recognition and gathers around him a cadre of misfits from the crew to the actors themselves:
Bela Lugosi: He meets with the legendary Bela Lugosi upon a fortuitous outing near a coffin shoppe, they quickly become friends, and remains Wood's primary star. Herein, he is portrayed as a pathos-inducing, flawed character surrounded in precious memories and the treasures of his career. Wood spends time with him watching Horror films and is regailed with tales of his experience.
Vampira {Maila Nurmi; here nicely portrayed by Lisa Marie}: Meets her at a shindig literally begging her to appear in a movie, but is coldly denied. Until later when she is fired from her career as the nocturnal hostess of a horror movie show, finally agreeing to appear in a mute role for "Plan 9 From Outer Space". Lugosi actually took quite a liking to her, even remarking on her ample cleavage.
Tor Johnson {played by George "The Animal" Steele}: A brutish wrestler whom many will recognize as a bald zombie character immortalized in Halloween mask form.
Lugosi {Martin Landau} became addicted to morphine which plagued him during this time, yet his love of films bade him on until he reaches a point of mandatory recuperation at a detox center, experiencing the horror of withdrawal, and where Wood meets his next wife after knitting Lugosi some black booties to "match his cape" - it was instant love after that. He eventually confesses his penchant at the local spookhouse for dressing in women's clothing, opting to get that out of the way before progressing with the relationship, and she accepts him nonetheless. His first wife became an ingrate and opted for a so-called "normal life".
Prompted by a brief though motivating chat with Orson Welles, his most memorable accomplishment occurs after this departure, funded, by all things, two Christian ministers whom he convinced would in turn fund several religious films. Wood and crew actually become 'baptized' to ensure this cooperation. One of the most humorous lines in the film consists of his friend 'Bunny Breckinridge' {Bill Murray} who said "How do you do it? How do you get all your friends to get baptized just so you can make a monster movie?"
The black and white format really manages to place one in Noir Hollywood, enhancng the overall storyline in certain classic style. Ed Wood essentially became the forefather of the B-Movie, whose comic science-fiction and horror presentations became an archetypal model for many similar creations to come.
Movie Review: No Knock On Wood Required!
Summary: 5 Stars
When Hollywood opts to make a movie about your life, man you have arrived, at least in that zip code you have..That's just how it is!..Fame is its own metric..Understand, the odds of getting any movie on any given subject green-lighted, is about as likely as winning a 5 state powerball lottery!..So, despite Ed Wood's well publicised reputation as the very worst film-maker in the no-talent B movie genre, but more specifically, in overall Hollywood film history, some studio executive decided portions of Ed's life were worth reexamination..The moral, if you're going to live, by all means live extravagantly!..What was it then about Ed Wood that set him apart from the laundry list of long forgotten low-brow film makers?..Is it even a worthwhile discussion, a fluke, or just more schmaltz?..And why would a talent like Tim Burton, who after all launched the first "Batman", an enormous big budget extravaganza want to take "Ed Wood" the project, on?..Ed Wood, the film-maker, writer, producer, financier? was the irrepressible everyman, that didn't/couldn't fathom personal failure, like he'd had a sensitivity bypass at birth..Didn't understand he had no right to approach a giant, a legend, like Bela Lugosi, and see if he would star in the movie of a producer not only not well known, not well funded, but worse, not welcome!..Despite, Bela had been long forgotten and written off as an incorrigible junkie, which he was, by that same film colony that once embraced his talent, that single-handedly toted the note for a select studio in town, for years..The story of "Ed Wood" is the story of Hollywood, itself..A town built on impossible dreams by impossible dreamers..And Ed Wood's gift in the end was either his fearlessness or his abject ignorance..Sounds like the bio of Jon Peters to me!..The most endearing quality about Ed Wood's was his naivete and his super saleamanship skills, because he was obviously totally bereft of talent or taste..He saw himself as a film-maker and evidently that was what he declared himself to be!..And the only explicable reason he is remembered today, and remains a certifiable Hollywood icon!..Johhny Depp brought Ed Wood to life, and credit to Johnny for seeing the infinite possibilties in the script, and Ed's character..I saw "Ed Wood" with enormous trepidation, how could this movie/concept be of interest, or have a scintilla of entertainment value?..And within minutes was shocked by the genuis of the idea, cast, and crew, and depth of the story..The most redeeming feature of the movie was Johnny Depp's absolute sincerity and respect for his character and for the character of Bela Lugosi..I revist "Ed Wood" every chance I get, and thought parts of "Bowfinger", were in many respects a reincarnation of "Ed Wood", and as equally as charming..See "Ed Wood" soon..You will be reminded that movies are ultimately about people and their stories, not just special effects, though that was above all else, Ed Wood's preferred domain!Movie Review: Ed Wood
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite his best efforts, Ed Wood's name has become synonymous with terrible filmmaking, but now, Tim Burton gives the quirky and ambitious director his moment in the spotlight! ED WOOD is both sad and uplifting, and shows the best and worst sides that Hollywood and stardom have to offer. The comedic tale follows poor Ed as he struggles endlessly to live out his dreams of directing movies that are filled with action and imagination. His biggest failings lead him to chance encounters with genre legends Bela Lugosi and Orson Welles, who continue to inspire him even when all hope seems lost. On top of everything else, his love for angora sweaters and cross-dressing continue to set him back both professionally and personally. If enthusiasm had only equaled talent, Ed Wood may have become the world's greatest director, and Tim Burton is sure to show it throughout this heartwarming tragedy.
Johnny Depp stars as Ed Wood in a stylized but highly entertaining exaggeration of the character. He delivers many subtle nuances to the role that make him pitifully naive and endearing at the same time. Depp is joined by a talented cast, including Sarah Jessica Parker and Patricia Arquette as his two love interests, Jeffrey Jones and Bill Murray as his kooky cohorts, and Martin Landau in an Academy Award-winning performance as the tattered old Bela Lugosi, with whom Wood would share a close friendship throughout his final years. Landau is fully deserving of all critical praise, as he is impeccable in the role and completely indistinguishable from the real-life Lugosi. Wood and Lugosi have many common bonds that draw them together, particularly in that they have strong motivations and inspiration, but that they are each critically flawed in numerous ways.
The characters are drawn together in a colorful story as Wood brainlessly cons investors into supporting his artless productions. Their adventures lead them into unbelievably funny situations where they are run out of studios and left out to film in the dark without sound or working props. Burton capitalizes on the most outrageous moments of Wood's career, but equally balances the silly humor with dramatic lulls to link the film with reality. The uncanny reproductions from films like GLEN OR GLENDA, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER, and (of course) PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE are pulled off flawlessly, as are the casting decisions for side characters like Vampira and Tor Johnson.
ED WOOD is essential viewing for all movie fans whether they are familiar with the character or not. It encapsulates the entrepreneurial spirit of the independent filmmaker and the inherent difficulties in following the golden road to Hollywood with more than a hint of satire. One cannot help but be drawn back to Wood's terrible films after watching this loving tribute!
-Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies