Stars:
Nicolas Cage, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Jennifer Beals
Writer:
Joseph Minion
Director:
Robert Bierman
Feature
length: 103 minutes
Extras:
Feature Length Audio Commentary With Nicholas Cage and Director Robert Bierman
and the Original Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 24
Sound:
Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1989/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Home
Video Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Vampire’s
Kiss” was independently produced for less than two million dollars and is one
of the most underrated dark comedies ever made with Nicolas Cage giving a
tour-de-force lead performance as a young wealthy publishing executive whose
loneliness manifests itself in the form of an imaginary vampire lover (Jennifer
Beals) who he believes is slowly transforming him into a vampire. At the office
he sadistically tortures his assistant (Maria Conchita Alonso), which escalates
at a frightening rate and leads to tragic results.
I
remember reading about this film, which is probably best known as the film where
Cage literally ate two live cockroaches for the camera. I say two because
Director Robert Bierman asked him to repeat the stunt just to be sure they got
it on film even though in the movie he is seen only eating one, which is enough
for any viewer to see!
Released
theatrically by Twentieth Century Fox, “Vampire’s Kiss” is a part of the
home video catalogue MGM acquired from Hemdale Film Corporation. The DVD
features an excellent anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio presentation
on one side and an excellent full framed (1.33:1) transfer on the other side.
This is one of the best looking DVD-Videos MGM has released this year. The film
looks as if it were made months ago. The results are truly impressive and a
testament to what can be accomplished with obscure independent films when given
the proper love and care. A clear and well rounded English Dolby Surround
Soundtrack is provided along with English Captions and Closed Captions for the
hearing impaired and French and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded on to both
sides of the DVD as options.
Showing
that even after winning an Academy Award® for Best Actor in “Leaving Las
Vegas,” Cage is not above reuniting with filmmakers he worked with along the
way, DVD consumers get treated to a feature length audio commentary track with
Director Robert Bierman and Nicolas Cage that is both screen specific and
retrospective as the two discuss the making of the film and Cage candidly
answers questions regarding the over-the-top performance. The best part of the
commentary is both speakers were actually present together for the commentary
rather than having their comments recorded separately and then mixed together.
The end result makes this DVD a true gem.
A
widescreen (1.85:1) theatrical trailer is also included and the menus are
standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. “Vampire’s
Kiss” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Home Entertainment and I cannot recommend this DVD highly enough. This is a must
see DVD!
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.