- Actors: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, William H. Macy
- Directors: Gus Van Sant
- Writers: Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch
- Producers: Gus Van Sant, Brian Grazer, Dany Wolf, James Whitaker
- Format: Special Edition, NTSC
- Number of tapes: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Mca (Universal)
- VHS Release Date: Aug 28 2001
- Run Time: 105 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (184 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 0783243456
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#7,464 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
- #10 in DVD > Horror > Series & Sequels > Psycho
- #20 in Video > Horror > Slasher Flicks
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
Numerous critics had already sharpened their knives even before Gus Van Sant's shot-for-shot color "re-creation" of the 1960 black-and-white Hitchcock classic was released, chiding the Good Will Hunting director for defiling hallowed ground. This intriguing cinematic curiosity, though, is hardly as sacrilegious as critics would lead you to believe. If anything, Van Sant doesn't take enough liberties with his almost slavish devotion to the material, now updated with modern references. At times, you wish Van Sant would cut loose with a little spontaneity, a little energy, a little something. Unfortunately, when he does venture outside Hitchcock's parameters, with inserted shots of storm clouds during the murder sequences, it's to little effect. Granted, he liberally splashes color throughout the film (especially in the case of the infamous shower scene), and this is a great-looking movie, but in his obsession with adding a new physical dimension to the film, there's little insight into these characters that Hitchcock hadn't already provided. Vince Vaughn, a robotic and giggly Norman, doesn't crawl under your skin the way boy-next-door Anthony Perkins did, and Anne Heche is admirable if not very sympathetic in the Janet Leigh role. Van Sant does score a minor coup, though, in his casting of the supporting roles: Julianne Moore provides a welcome shot of energy as Heche's irritable and curious sister, William H. Macy is a perfect small-time detective, Viggo Mortensen is studly enough to make you understand why Heche would want to run away with him, and James LeGros walks away with his one brief scene as a used car salesman. And Danny Elfman's gorgeous rerecording of Bernard Herrmann's score is a potent supporting character unto itself. Students and fans of the original film will get a kick out of the modern revisions, but don't expect anything of Hitchcockian caliber; watch it for the sum of its intriguing parts, but not the whole. --Mark Englehart
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The original is better than the remake,
By
This review is from: Psycho (Collector's Edition - Widescreen) (DVD)
Even I saw the remake version in the theatrers and on VHS tape, this remake is somewhat different fromthe original version. Even Gus Van Saint is no Alfred Hitchcock parody, he cannot be as good as him. Even if some or many people like or dislike the remake, maybe they should settle for the original Alfred Hitchcock version and not the color remake directed by Gus Van Saint.
5.0 out of 5 stars
This isn't a remake. It's a tribute!!!,
By Barnaby Twyman (Staines, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Psycho (Collector's Edition - Widescreen) (DVD)
Loads of people are slating this movie for being made at all considering the original was perfect in so many ways and constantly ask why did they do it?Gus Van Sant isn't remaking Psycho here he's doing what is his version of a tribute. If you go to the film's official website there is a whole section about why they decided to remake the film. Many people said the reason they did this movie was so we'd all have a version of Psycho that is in colour. So why not release the original in coloured format? Well that's because the film works as a black and white piece and turning it into colour would probably ruin it's effect. The classic shots would just end up looking tacky! Gus Van Sant states he isn't trying to make a film which would try and sqaush the original because that just can't be done! He's simply creating a film which would be available to a young audience the way the original Psycho was when it was first released because a group of teenagers would rather see a film with good effects and currently popular stars right! Not watch a black and white film with a cast that is mostly dead now. He wants to keep the memory of Psycho going and by doing that has released this film. A lot of people also criticise Vince Vaughn for not playing Norman Bates the way Anthony Hopkins did. Vince clearly states on the website that when he read the book he realized that Anthony had portrayed the character in a completely different way. A better way! He didn't want to risk trying to do that so portrayed Norman the way he is written in the original book. Also personally I thought Anne Heche was great as Marion! Plus Alfred Hitchcock's daughter worked on this movie a lot and she says that her father would be extremely proud and flattered that somebody is remaking his movie. If you wanna read all these interviews for yourself just go to www.psychomovie.com People set their expectations too high for this film and they only have themselves to blame. Gus Van Sant picked Psycho up from the ground when it was dying to revive it so younger audiences would remember it and it would live on forever and you're putting him down for it! SHAME ON YOU!!! At least this film is better than the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre if you can call it that! It was a completely different story just with the same name! It would've been a lot more fitting being named The Texas Chainsaw Massacre : Part 5!
1.0 out of 5 stars
Psycho,
By mac301 "Mason" (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Psycho (Collector's Edition - Widescreen) (DVD)
I just finished watching the remake of Alfred Hitchcock's classic Psycho.This movie is totally and utterly pointless.Anne Heche is the only thing that makes this film any good.She does a great performance.First of all this film is exactly the same as the original shoot to shoot.The only difference is it is in color and has different actors and acteresses.The director must have been watching the original in the back while directing at the same time.I think that it's nice they tried but you can't remake PSYCHO.They should have at least tried to make it their own version.Thumbs up to the actors but thumbs down to originality.The man playing Norman Bates does a good job but you can't be as good as the original Bates.If there was an award for a film that was a remake and exactly like the original then Psycho(1998) would be a nominee and winner.If you like this movie then you should definetly like the original if you haven't already seen it.Don't waste your time if you've already seen the original.I just wish this one could have made it, but maybe there will be another remake that's better."So much of Van Sant's 'new' version of the classic remains the same that you sit there shaking your head, mumbling, why, oh, why?"
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