Review: Dressed To Kill
08-19-01 | 03:50 PM
#1
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From: Olympia, WA
Dressed To Kill.....
Picked up a copy of this today at a B&M store with the initials BB for $14.99!
Though they could have cleaned up the transfer a little more, and the image is a little soft at times, this is the is best that this film has ever looked in a home theatre format, with an anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer and a remastered 5.1 soundtrack which is solid.
The real reasons, however, to buy this disc are that it presents Dressed to Kill in its original uncut unrated director's version. If you thought that Sharon Stone's leg(un)crossing shots were risque in Basic Instinct, wait until you see the "shots" of Angie Dickinson's double in the opening shower scene, which Dickenson herself refers to as "beaver shots" in the disc's documentary. Her shower scene makes Stone's BI scene seem like a scene from a Barney episode, or Mr. Roger's neighborhood.
The other reason to buy this film are the extras. A 45 minute documentary about the making of the film, made by the same guy who has made the documentaries for the Hitchcock films. (and speaking of Hitchcock, whom obviously has influenced De Palma, and to which he readily admits, look at another genre, Italian Gialli, when watching DTK. I think the influence of early 70s gialli, especially Argento, is obvious on revisiting this film, and I'm sure that De Palma with his Italian roots, traveling, living in NYC, etc., had seen many Italian slasher/thrillers before making this film.
(Verhoeven, if my memory serves me rightly, has refered to BI as his giallo, and i think if he was pressed, De Palma might say the same thing about DTK.)
There are also three featurettes, one comparing the unrated, R rated, and Network versions of the film. (shower scenes, violence, and language are all addressed). Also a 12 minute short about the release of the film including: the controversy surronding the release with the MPAA , and the cuts/language changes they were forced to make to get an R rating; feminists bashing De Palma for being a misogynist; and (some) film critics bashing De Palma for his Hitchcock influences/ripoffs. Filmaker/actor Keith gordon also disects some scenes from DTK, and shows that there is much more going on below the "surface" of film than one can catch on a single viewing.
These three featurettes are very good, especially if you are interested in film censorship or why a director picks the images he picks to tell his story, and to move it forward.
Finally there is six minutes of photo stills from the set backed by Pino Donaggio's score; advertising stills of posters, lobby cards, etc.; and the film's trailer.
For S19.95 MSRP, this disc is well worth its price, chock full of extras!
cheers, Tony Block
Though they could have cleaned up the transfer a little more, and the image is a little soft at times, this is the is best that this film has ever looked in a home theatre format, with an anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer and a remastered 5.1 soundtrack which is solid.
The real reasons, however, to buy this disc are that it presents Dressed to Kill in its original uncut unrated director's version. If you thought that Sharon Stone's leg(un)crossing shots were risque in Basic Instinct, wait until you see the "shots" of Angie Dickinson's double in the opening shower scene, which Dickenson herself refers to as "beaver shots" in the disc's documentary. Her shower scene makes Stone's BI scene seem like a scene from a Barney episode, or Mr. Roger's neighborhood.
The other reason to buy this film are the extras. A 45 minute documentary about the making of the film, made by the same guy who has made the documentaries for the Hitchcock films. (and speaking of Hitchcock, whom obviously has influenced De Palma, and to which he readily admits, look at another genre, Italian Gialli, when watching DTK. I think the influence of early 70s gialli, especially Argento, is obvious on revisiting this film, and I'm sure that De Palma with his Italian roots, traveling, living in NYC, etc., had seen many Italian slasher/thrillers before making this film.
(Verhoeven, if my memory serves me rightly, has refered to BI as his giallo, and i think if he was pressed, De Palma might say the same thing about DTK.)
There are also three featurettes, one comparing the unrated, R rated, and Network versions of the film. (shower scenes, violence, and language are all addressed). Also a 12 minute short about the release of the film including: the controversy surronding the release with the MPAA , and the cuts/language changes they were forced to make to get an R rating; feminists bashing De Palma for being a misogynist; and (some) film critics bashing De Palma for his Hitchcock influences/ripoffs. Filmaker/actor Keith gordon also disects some scenes from DTK, and shows that there is much more going on below the "surface" of film than one can catch on a single viewing.
These three featurettes are very good, especially if you are interested in film censorship or why a director picks the images he picks to tell his story, and to move it forward.
Finally there is six minutes of photo stills from the set backed by Pino Donaggio's score; advertising stills of posters, lobby cards, etc.; and the film's trailer.
For S19.95 MSRP, this disc is well worth its price, chock full of extras!
cheers, Tony Block
08-19-01 | 08:46 PM
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From: Olympia, WA
Originally posted by JDF5244
Thanks for that killer review, Tony.
I pre-ordered this from DDD, so I'm basically waiting.
After reading your review, I'm on the edge of my seat.
Thanks!
Thanks for that killer review, Tony.
I pre-ordered this from DDD, so I'm basically waiting.
After reading your review, I'm on the edge of my seat.
Thanks!
I also picked up Scanners at the B&M BB, which doesn't street until 8/28 either.
cheers, Tony Block
09-02-01 | 05:09 PM
#4
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I hadn't ever watched Dressed to Kill before and enjoyed it, especially the unrated version. Within the first minutes of the feature, I was announcing to my wife (who was preparing dinner) "We have bush,... we have bush". I have to echo the sentiments of someone else that I was definitely a bit let down when I found out that there was a stand-in for Angie in the shower scene. A.D. looked fine in that movie.
09-04-01 | 08:35 AM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
What I found amazing about this film (which I like a lot) is the total aura of sensuality that exists in the extended museum sequence- all achieved with no dialogue, no nudity, no overt gestures - simply great acting and incredible camera work.
09-16-01 | 10:42 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Picked up a copy at Sam's Club today for $12.99!
Definitely worth it. The extras are quite nice. The only thing missing was a commentary by de Palma which would have been interesting.
Unbelievable "beaver shots." I must say that it was probably one was the most explicit shots I have ever seen for a "mainstream" movie. (even though they did not make the theatrical cut)
The story borrowed a bit too much from Psycho & Carrie but it was still a decent flick.
Definitely worth it. The extras are quite nice. The only thing missing was a commentary by de Palma which would have been interesting.
Unbelievable "beaver shots." I must say that it was probably one was the most explicit shots I have ever seen for a "mainstream" movie. (even though they did not make the theatrical cut)
The story borrowed a bit too much from Psycho & Carrie but it was still a decent flick.
