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Stars:
Angela Bettis, Patricia Clarkson, Rena Sofer, Kandyse McClure, Emilie de Ravin,
Tobias Mehler, Jesse Cadotte, Meghan Black, Chelan Simmons, Katherine Isabelle,
David Keith, and Laurie Murdoch
Writer:
Bryan Fuller
Based
On The Novel By: Stephen King
Director:
David Carson
Feature
length: 132 minutes
Extras:
Trailers
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 16
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Television Broadcast: 2002/DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
In
the fall of 2002 a new cinematic adaptation of the Stephen King novel
“Carrie” aired on television, as a backdoor pilot for a possible TV series,
which was as far as I know was not picked up. I find that some of the best films
based on or inspired by a Stephen King story or book are the television films or
miniseries if only because the producers have more time to tell their story.
There are exceptions though. The original theatrical feature versions of
“Carrie,” “The Dead Zone,” and “The Shining” were all great feature
films on their own merit. However Brian De Palma’s original film is a classic
of the genre that introduced the world the moviegoers to Stephen King’s work.
Afterwards the amount of feature films, TV movies, and miniseries based on
Stephen King’s ever expanding range of tales has been memorable in both good
and unfortunately bad ways. Some films seem to have little to do with the source
material aside from the title, but others are now genuine classics. This TV
movie remake of “Carrie” is actually more of a drama than a horror film, but
it definitely is darker in tone as compared to the current USA network TV series
inspired by the Stephen King book of the same name, “The Dead Zone.” It is
not easy to take a story as tragic as “Carrie” and turn it into something of
an investigative drama while still remaining true to the frightening elements
from the book. While I have to acknowledge that it is unfair to compare the
feature film version of “Carrie” to this 2002 remake, I also know that
consciously or unconsciously people familiar with the book and the original
movie will draw comparisons in their mind.
As
far a TV movies go, I think this is a pretty good adaptation of “Carrie”
that actually features scenes from the book regarding Carrie’s rage upon the
town that were realized economically through CGI. However much of the CGI looks
barely average for television so one might feel that it really isn’t necessary
at all, but there are a few computer effects well and the matching of practical
effects as well as the pacing and escalating tension for the TV film work quite
well. Angela Bettis does a wonderful job at playing “Carrie White” and
Patricia Clarkson also gives an amiable performance as Carrie’s abusive
religious fanatic mother. In fact I think the casting for the film as a whole is
quite good and the screen direction by David Carson is fluid throughout.
Thankfully the film is nothing like the terrible pseudo sequel to the original
“Carrie” that was released by MGM in the 1990s entitled “The Rage: Carrie
2.”
“Carrie”
is presented in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of (1.33:1) and
the picture quality is a bit soft at times with some video noise visible in
certain parts. Yet much of the film is nicely detailed with a color palette of
green, red, and earth tones. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack
is relies mostly on the left, right, and center channels with the rear surround
channels and subwoofer servicing the effects sequences and music mostly. English
Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and French and Spanish
Language Subtitles are encoded as options.
Unfortunately
there are no extra features besides trailers that are included on the DVD. I
think a commentary and perhaps some behind-the-scenes interviews and whatnot
would have made this a better DVD and the TV movie deserves the extra attention.
The trailer for the 2002 remake of “Carrie” (2:00) and a TV trailer for the
MGM produced Showtime Network TV series “Dead Like Me” (1:01) are included
along with DVD trailers for MGM’s “The Howling: Special Edition” (1:15),
“The Fog: Special Edition”(: 50), “Jeepers Creepers: Special Edition”(:
56), and the “MGM Means Great Movies” promo (1:14) wrap up what is included
as bonus features for this DVD. The main menu is animated while the subsequent
menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate.
“Carrie”
is available on DVD-Video now from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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