Reviews (68)

DVD's are supposed to contain MORE....
I adore this movie in a completely irrational, fan girl way. I know it's corny, I know that some people will hate it, and think it's stooopid. It fits the comic book style of punchy, fast action. Lori Petty quite effectively becomes the punk-girl she ought to be.

But like other reviewers, I am quite, quite disappointed in the DVD version of this film. From the trenches you hear grumblings that there was a lot of edited stuff that COULD HAVE been put on the DVD. Why don't DVD makers do more than reprint what we already have on video for us to (silly consumers we sometimes are) just rush out to buy anyway? The picture quality of the DVD is not significantly higher than that of the video-- the only real bonus is that you can do still pauses and get some cool screen shots for that conference paper presentation you're doing... There is nothing more than the video on this DVD. Not even any nifty "Making of Tank Girl" footage, or sketches of other rejected cartoon scenes, or whatever! Even an oldie/goodie Cherry 2000 has more than this one, and surely the DVD makers could have done better.

I'll just hope that Men In Black is correct, and someday, when we get the next alien form of media (I guess I'll have to buy the White album again) the next makers of whatever futuristic thing we'll all have to rush out and buy will heed this advice-- put more on your big media! There's no real reason for me to excercise my insane consumerism if you don't fill up my big old plate!

Great Movie NO extras
The movie itself is a 5 star, the "no extras" brings the rating down for the dvd. It is fact that they taped at least another half hour to an hour of footage that is not going to make the dvd, which is sad. (they even messed up and put pictures from these scenes in the trading card set) If you can get passed that Get the DVD!

Even if you are not familiar with the comic book, this is a female empowerment, "riot grrrl" movie. Tankie Fears NOTHING! If you like movies with female strong leads and a wacky sence of humor this is it! No tears for this one. This is like Boys on the side and Beaches for a younger minded audience without all that pesky death to veil your judgment.

When I went to the movies I did not think Lori Petty could pull off Tank Girl, but it was a nice surprise to watch her. Petty Captured Tank Girl by the Bullocks! Naomi Watts as Jet Girl and Malcolm McDowell as Kesslee were great in it as well. Don't let the critics feed you a line of bull on this one. INSTANT cult classic Just because there is no HUGE life lesson in this, it should not take away from this lighthearted movie. Sometimes all you want to do is press play and enjoy, not rattle your brain. If you have the mentality to like the bands on the soundtrack (Bjork, Hole, Joan Jett, L7, Portishead, Stomp, etc.) you will LOVE this movie..... stop reading and go get it!

PA-PA-PA-POW!

How Did I Miss Seeing This Before?
Ok, it's not "The Godfather" or anything. Nothing much went into the acting or such things. It's just another crappy mid-90's action movie. Or is it?

Not even close. "Tank Girl" is not about quality, it's about attitude, and Lori Petty has attitude to boot. Her constant puns and jokes could come off as annoying, like they do in the Batman movies, which have ended up aging about as well as milk, but Petty really pulls it off, with her Gwen Stefani style, dirty mouth, and a seemingly endless stream of energy.

Plot (not like it matters) is as follows: 2033, there's nothing but endless sand. There's even a shortage of water! All that's left is in the hands of a huge, evil corporation. So, as it has been and always will be, wherever there's power, there's protest. Tank girl and her friends are out to bring down the company, but a surprise attack forces Tank Girl alone to go up against all of her oppressors.

The style never ends. From the awesome soundtrack (including 2 Bjork songs, and Portishead's "Roads") to a very cool animated sequence, "Tank Girl" is sure to dazzle viewers who enjoy funny, campy, avant garde films. GO TANK GIRL!

this movie sucks how come yu people are giving it props!?
Tank Girl... see it. You wanna know why? Because this movie is so bad you'll laugh your ass off! It's about goat/kangaroo/retards trying to save something. A scene that will forever live in my mind is when they're done eating dinner they just start dancing in a circle for no damn reason. But watch this movie because after it you'll want to kill the director and pull you're eyes out.

ultimate cult flick
how do I do this justice? Only in my Fellini days did I watch films more than once. I've watched this one 5 times and I'm still laughing, still relishing the humor. It unfolds easily... but it keeps unfolding each time I watch it and hasn't grown stale. I just watched it again and it drove me here to urge you - this is the best stuff! No cliche goes unexploited. social mockery? don't even start. ... just a comic book really.
sure. Try it. Totally fun. ... Read more

Description

Based on the characters and story from the best-selling book by Stephen King, The Dead Zone is unique psychological thriller that combines a rich mix of action, the paranormal and a continuing quest for justice. Johnny Smith’s life is interrupted by a near fatal car crash that leaves him in a deep comma for six years. When he regains consciousness he discovers that he now possesses amazing psychic powers - powers that allow him to see into the life of anyone he touches. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Compelling, Riveting...Yes!
I had, recently, seen brief bits of the DEAD ZONE television show and I had garnered an observation that the production, acting, special effects, and script were of a superior kind...and my main purpose/motivation for renting the DVD television premiere.

What I viewed was everything I expected and much more. The storyline/script is smartly written, with each scene vital and drawing the viewer in (i.e. you or me). The exploration of this man's coma/accident-induced powers...the untapped realm of the brain known as the "dead zone"...is explored with great imagination and emotional impact.

There was one scene that placed me in awe of the production values of this film. It involves the dead zone guy's Vietnamese doctor who, through his patient's powers, discovers that his mother is alive, not dead as the doctor had thought. In the reunion scene...a scene that will make you reach for the tissues, I have not seen in a long time a film that displayed such raw and genuine emotion (with special mention going to the actors in this scene). Just thinking about that scene makes me savor film and the power/art of film-making at its best. The exhileration of the reunion, with no dialogue whatsoever, was truly astounding. Once you see that scene, you'll know what I'm talking about (get the tissues in advance)...

I, too, cannot wait for the rest of the season to come out on DVD. And though I rented this movie, I plan to also buy it shortly.

I believe the reason this film was so effective as a pilot for the rest of the show is the directoral prowess of Michael Pillar whose ability in film production is most evident in the latter years of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Whether or not you like that latter television series, those shows, especially the 5th-7th seasons, were critically praised. Pillar's influence in the DEAD ZONE is visibly apparent. I do not know whether the rest of the series has held to the same production values, however, I have viewed several episodes that were quality-made.

This film deserves a 4.5 rating...

Great TV pilot on a DVD packed with extras for the fans
This TV series pilot movie (actually first 2 episodes of the series) is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. It is an excellent adaptation of the novel for an on-going TV series. Anthony Michael Hall shines in the role of Johnny Smith and brings a real sense of sympathy to the role. It's hard to believe you are watching a grown up "Rusty Griswold" from the "Vacation" movies.

I was happily surprised when I watched this movie and at the end it successfully makes you want more - and as a hook for a TV series its up there with pilots like that of "The Invisible Man (2000)".

This disc also has a host of extras such as commentary by the cast over the feature. They come out with a lot of interesting remarks on how long it took to film, cast changes and story changes and network interference in the plot and character outlines. There is also a look behind the scenes in a mini-documentary, TV ad spots etc.

If you enjoyed the series, or simply have heard good things about it, pick up this DVD for a superior adaptation of a Stephen King book. A very addictive primer for a great TV show.

Dead Zone Fans Beware
Warning -- If you are looking for the unaired original Dead Zone pilot episode that was offered for a short time as a bonus to those who purchased the First Season Set, do not buy this DVD.

Although this is a great DVD, it is the same first episode that is included in the First Season Set.

I purchased the first season set after the deadline for taking advantage of the offer for the bonus DVD. I really wanted to see the original unaired pilot episode and I mistakenly thought that this was it. To my dismay found that it was the 2 hour series premier that I already had on the First Season Set.
I guess this one will find its way to a friend or end up in the used bin at the video store.

If you are unfamiliar with The Dead Zone and don't want to lay out the bucks for the complete First Season Set, this DVD is an outstanding intro to the series. However, if you love the series, go for the gusto and get the set. I'm on my second viewing of the set and can't wait for the release of the Second Season Set.

Very good for a TV show
The pilot is included with the first-season DVD, so now I have two of them. The production is very good, as are the special effects, especially the scenes in Vietnam where debris is frozen in mid-air while the lead character walks through the dustry street.

The story is tight, and the writing is good. I'd like to have seen Rev. Purdy's character better explained, but I think that will make itself known in the first season, which I'm now watching.

Overall, it's a really good story and makes you think about the possibilities.

I'm glad it's a cable show, because the cable shows these days seem to do a better job at developing characters and offering something fresh and unique. That is: They aren't afraid to take chances.

I think we've all had enough reality on television that "The Dead Zone" is a welcome chance to walk on the other side.

Stephen King's novel is turned into a pretty good TV series
"The Dead Zone" is one of my favorite Stephen King novels and I have taught it a couple of times in class because of the way in which the series of events persuade Johnny Smith to do what he does at the end. It is also one of the best Stephen King books to recommend to people who do not like Stephen King books (i.e., monsters and scary things). The 1983 movie version of "The Dead Zone" was one of my least favorite Stephen King movies, mainly because I thought the casting of Christopher Walken as Johnny was a mistake; Johnny has to be more of an ordinary guy in extraordinary circumstances, and nobody can ever mistake Walken for ordinary. Anyhow, the idea of turning "The Dead Zone" into a television series instantly appealed to me, because the premise of the character and the episodic nature of the novel, both lent themselves to such an adaptation.

The premise is fairly simple. Johnny Smith (Anthony Michael Hall) is a high school teacher who has some minor psychic abilities as a result of a childhood accident. One night, after a fun date with his fiancé, Sarah (Nicole de Boer), Johnny is in a car accident. He wakes up six years later to find his perfect life is gone and that now, when he touches someone, he gets intense psychic images that serve as warnings of back things happening. With great power comes great responsibility and Johnny tries to use his gift to help.

There are some problems with this movie that serves as the pilot for "The Dead Zone" television series, but creators Michael and Shawn Piller come up with several significant changes from the novel that serve as a solid foundation for the first season and beyond. This television pilot is actually the first two episodes thrown together (for distribution as a movie if the series was not sold), with the first hour devoted to establishing Johnny's new situation and the second to the serial killer story from the novel. The main problem is that there are several instances where things get a bit rushed: Johnny wakes up in the hospital and Dr. Tran (Rick Tae) IMMEDIATELY tells him that he has been in a coma for six years. Dr. Tran wants to wait to tell Johnny that his mother died and his fiancé got married during those six years, but the whole six years of your life gone in an instance he hits this guy with right away. Similarly, in terms of everything that Sarah has to tell him he picks up on in flash when he touches her and even the wall that exists between Johnny and Sarah's husband Walt Bannerman (Chris Bruno) does not last long in the second hour of the show. Also, if you want to have fun nitpicking, Johnny would have known about O.J. Fortunately, while the serial killer plot gets resolved in the second hour, as dictated by the USA network, the series did go on to take its time with Greg Stillson.

What outweighs these problems are some of the changes the brothers Piller made in the elements of the novel. First, on their fun date Johnny and Sarah produced a child, which gives the characters an unavoidable link and another aspect to the new love triangle. Second, related to that, is the idea to back Sarah's husband Sheriff Bannerman (this raises a question: will Johnny warn Walt about Cujo?), which adds another layer of complexity to the love triangle because Walt the husband and Bannerman the sheriff have different relationships with Johnny under different circumstances. Third, Johnny's parents are now out of the picture and in their place is the Reverend Gene Purdy (David Ogden Stiers), the beneficiary of Vera Smith's money and a powerful figure with a continuing interest in Johnny, an interest that exists on multiple levels and cannot really be pinned down. Fourth, Johnny Smith now has a sidekick, Bruce Lewis (John L. Adams), his physical therapist, and the first true believer. This allows the writers to give Johnny someone to talk to instead of finding ways to get Johnny to think out loud all of the time.

Fifth, picking up from the theatrical version, when Johnny has his visions we see him there, in the setting. An extension of this, taken from the novel, is that Johnny unconsciously mimics the person he is seeing, talking their language. This works very well with the subplot involving Dr. Tran, who is the updated version of Dr. Weizak (a nice move, both in terms of the updating and in terms of the new resolution to the question of Tran's mother). This also provides the director to come up with some stunning set pieces as everyone freezes and Johnny walks through the moment paying attention to the details (it looks like he is walking through a Matrix-like CGI shot, but it is simply done for the most part). But there are some equally impressive effects created during Johnny's visions by cutting back and forth between now and then, or by doing reverse shots from two different locations. Consequently, "The Dead Zone" has a visual style that makes for some nice examples of creativity in filming a television show.

The second hour does a nice job of establishing the rules of the game here in terms of how Johnny gets flashes of the future, but that it is a future that can be changed: you taken one moment out of the string of life and everything changes. This becomes a very workable premise for a television series, with the story of a real life superhero, on to which we throw all the interpersonal angst of Johnny's relationships. It would have been nice to have seen what this show would have done if they had been allowed to take their time with these initial story threads, but being rushed by the network seems a small price to pay if it means getting the series on the air. As a TV pilot this 2002 version of "The Dead Zone" is not perfect, but it does a very good job of establishing a solid foundation for a pretty good television series.

Final Note: If you pick up the first season of "The Dead Zone" on DVD you get the TV pilot as the first two episodes, but you do not get the commentary (which is split in half) that appears on this particular DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (98)

"Every town has an Elm Street..." (4.5 stars)
I think most would agree that this particular Freddy movie is the goofiest of them all. It isn't even very scary, but still manages to be creepy. Even though it's the most goofy Freddy movie, does that mean it's not entertaining? Of course not! In fact, I think this is the most entertaining one in the series; not the best, but the most fun to watch. Freddy's back and is unleashing a bloody trail of dead teens in "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare."

A child psychologist is trying to help a group of troubled teens. But things get out of control when a John Doe enters her life, who turns out to be the last survivor of Elm Street. She finds out that the two of them have something in common; nightmares. John learns that the reason why Freddy has kept him alive so long is because he has a kid and is trying to get to him/her (there's even a possibility that John himself is Freddy's son). Whoever his child may be, the child is the key for Freddy to explore a new playground, enabling him to unleash his murderous wishes all over again.

Like I said, this isn't a very scary Freddy movie. It even resembles a comedy most of the time. But I still think it's a great flick. It's the most enjoyable of the series, but it isn't the best. Robert Englund still has it down as being Freddy Krueger. No way in heck would anybody else be able to tackle down the role as he has. And it's neat to see him have more lines in this one. As mean as he is, he can be pretty funny.

As enjoyable as the movie is, it does have a tendency to get overly goofy. I think they could've made it a little more scarier. The other ones before might've been funny, but they were also scary, too. That's the only real flaw of the movie, as it's one you shouldn't take very seriously. It's a fun and enjoyable flick and nothing more. It's not trying to be the "Great American Movie."

The DVD isn't loaded with a lot of extras. You can watch it in Dolby Digital or in the original stereo mix. The picture looks really good; a big improvement over the VHS version, of course. There's cast and crew biographies that you can explore as well. I don't know if this is included in the single DVD version of "Freddy's Dead," but if you pick up the complete set there are 3-D glasses included that allows you to watch the end sequence in 3-D. Pretty cool extra, if you ask me.

All in all, "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare," while not the scariest one in the series, proves to be quite an enjoyable movie. That is, if you don't take it too seriously. It's a great one to see, especially if you've seen the rest. Although it's the most criticized in the series, I still think it's the most enjoyable one. And make sure you watch the end credits, to see the life of Freddy Krueger. A great time, if you ask me.

It ain't over 'til it's over
If ever there was an indicator that the 'Nightmare' franchise had run outta steam, 'Freddy's Dead' was it. The storyline was a bit too surreal and muddled, and wasn't always easy to follow. Freddy's array of "witty" one-liners were so corny and dated (e.g. references to those "Your brain on drugs" commercials and the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System), I found myself groaning at every other word that came outta his mouth. The Freddy-kills here were so over-the-top and cartoonish, I was half-expecting the Acme Co. to be prominently shown in the closing credits (sadly, Freddy couldn't find it within himself to kill off the characters played by Roseanne and Tom Arnold). And don't even get me started on the 3-D sequence (shown in 2-D on this platter, (un)fortunately), which featured visual effects that would've looked high-tech and halfway decent, had this movie been made about a decade earlier. And, like all the other 'Nightmare' flicks before this, 'Freddy's Dead' wasn't all that scary to me. I laughed, I cried, I kissed four bucks of DVD rental money goodbye. But fear and fright were nowhere to be found...

On the upside: despite the silliness of Freddy's kills, I found them rather entertaining, and the main reason why I decided to give this a view. I also liked checking out Freddy's back story, even though the parts of his past that they show are rather brief. Now if the screenwriters only had him take out Roseanne and Tom Arnold's characters in a really gruesome fashion, this bad-boy woulda' earned an extra star from me...

Special features on this disc include a theatrical trailer and English subtitles. The subtitles don't include every single line each character says, but they don't omit too much, either.

'Late

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
My word! I'll start off with the story. Basically Freddy has killed all the teenagers of Springwood, so he needs a new stomping ground. We then meet Freddy's previously un-heard of daughter, who works in a home for wayward teenagers. I think you know what happens. He kills some kids and then his daughter kills him. That's it!
Rachel Talalay takes the job of directing this pathetic attempt to kill off one of the biggest horror icons ever. Does she do a good job? Well, I'm sure my star rating say's it all.
The acting is awful. Not by everyone, mind you. The women who plays his daughter does an alright job and Yaphet Kotto, the guy who was in the first Alien film, is the only character who you actually quite like.
Let's talk about Freddy now. Well, what can I say? Mrs. Talalay actually made me not like him... I mean it! Okay, his wise-cracking antics were a bit O.T.T. from number 3 onwards, but this one really got on my nerves. In this one we had Freddy spouting lines like "Great graphics".
Next I'll talk about the deaths. Oh my god! What happened here? After viewing the deaths in this film, I'm not sure whether it was a comedy or what. They were atrocious! Only one was remotely 'Freddyish' (the one with the deaf kid).
Also, from a film that sets out to kill a big name, it does it in rubbish fashion. What an imagination the film makers had. 'Let's kill Freddy off by literally blowing him up!' I could have come up with a better death than that on the toilet! And also the 3-D...it looked absolutely dreadful. No ILM, put it that way.
I'm sorry, but Rachel Talalay should be ashamed of herself, she really should. I honestly do believe that this film is the reason why we had to wait so long to see Freddy back on the big screen in his original form (not including New Nightmare). I think that New Line Cinema were a bit reluctant to use him again, after this film bombed.
So, you have been warned. If it were up to me, this film wouldn't be a part of the Freddy story, but it is. And because I'm so loyal, I own it on video and DVD. But really, though, this film is diabolical.

"It's Horrid! Truly Laughable!"
Plot: A boy is having dreams of Freddy and is learning dark secrets of his past. And he begins to wander 'Am I Freddy's child?' We soon find the answer to that when Freddy drops him a hundred feet from the air onto a bed of spikes saying 'Bring me my daughter!'

Review: I want to give this movie Zero stars! It Sucked! As all my friends know I am the biggest Freddy fan in school, but oh my god! I was reading the reviews for this movie before I watched it, and almost everyone said it sucked, and I was like 'Oh come on, it cant be that bad! (...) Needless no say they were right. Me and my friends watched this and we were laughing our butts off! The only reason me and my friends laughed is one: We have dark senses of humor (we enjoy stick death) and two: It Horrid! Truly Laughable! The death scenes where stupid (blood spraying out of a TV? Please...) And there is no gore! I know a movie can be scary without gore, and I honestly prefer it that way, but some could have saved this maybe even if it was just an inch. And they never even showed how Freddy came back to life (I know none of the others did, beside the 4th one but still...) And as I said before me and my friends were laughing the whole time. I'm sure I lot of people would think this is great (And I love comedy) but how the hell can you rank this under horror? The only thing scary was how bad it was! Now, I love the first one. Best horror movie ever. Plain and simple. But this could possibly be the worst horror movie ever. Know why? I'll tell you: IT IS NOT HORROR! I know I have said this a lot but my god, a two year old would be laughing at this! How can this be rated R you ask? I don't know, honestly. There are only two things I like about this movie: 1 How it flashed back to show Freddy's past. Cool. And two: Carlos's death. I know I said that I didn't like this movie being comedy, but this scene was just SO funny! He pops the guys head!

Anyway those are the two good things about the movie. I don't think I have anything else to say but I am glad Wes Craven hated this movie and come back, create Freddy, and kill him the way it was meant to be done: HUMORLESS

Whatever. The only reason I am keeping this movie is so I can tell people at school "Yeah, I have all the Freddy movies"

PS you can hit that No on the "Did you find this review helpful, but I am just warning those who like the true Frederick.

AWESOME!!!
This one is awesome!!! Definently the best of the series! Way more scary, fun, and entertaining than the last 5. It also has the best death scenes. And also, Freddy looks the scariest in this one. Freddy doesn't die until the end though, and even then he's not really dead, so its not really the final nightmare, cause then there's Freddy Vs. Jason. But this is still the best of the series and it definently worth owning. ... Read more