David Ambrose Movies

Banking on the release of the 2005 remake comes The Amityville Horror DVD Collection from MGM Home Entertainment. The first three movies are included, plus a bonus disc that features an inside look at the new film, along with two History Channel documentaries on the actual Amityville case. Of the film discs, only the first one comes complete with bells and whistles. With a new high-definition anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, the first movie looks vibrant and sharp, full of atmospheric sound design made to make the hairs on the back of your neck spring to life. Extras include an exclusive audio commentary by Dr. Hanz Holzer, the author of the original Murder in Amityville book on which the movie was based. The good doctor does a nice job of laying out his side of the story, while also taking the occasional jab at Hollywood. The disc also contains the well-made "For God's Sake, Get Out!" documentary, which includes new interviews with both James Brolin and Margot Kidder. The two let loose stories of their clashes on the set and obvious moments of over-acting on both of their parts, bringing a candidness to the piece that is quite refreshing compared to many studio-created fluff pieces often found on DVDs. Seven fantastic radio spots are included on the disc as well, plus the original theatrical trailer. Amityville II and 3-D have been given the 1.85:1 anamorphic treatment, with added full-screen options on the flip side of each dual-sided disc. Sound options include a 5.1 Dolby Digital track for the third entry, while the second one got shafted with a measly mono signal. Trailers have been included for each film, but don't look for much else on either DVD. MGM definitely put some work into the set, and it shows. This is a perfect box set for anyone who's looking to bone up on his or her Amityville knowledge before the Ryan Reynolds remake comes out. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Drawing from Othello and Un ballo in maschera, Italian filmmaker (Claudia Florio) directs this English language thriller. Actress Michela (Claudia Gerini) receives the cryptic offer to assume the identity of another. When she passes, her English roommate Corinna (Susan Lynch) signs up and begins meeting with an older man (Jonathan Pryce), playing the part of a married woman being seduced by an art-forger. Though she finds herself attracted to her mysterious patron, she realizes that she is part of some great dastardly plot. She -- along with her jealous boyfriend (Enrico Silvestrio) -- sets out to discover his true motivations. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

In this thriller, American novelist David Raybourne (Andrew McCarthy) accidentally becomes entangled in the Red Brigade's terrorist plan to kidnap Italian Premier Aldo Moro during a research trip to Rome. As the terrorists attempt to kill David, he and his photojournalist friend (Sharon Stone) must struggle to stay alive. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

This melodrama is set in Ireland and follows bill collector and karate master Taffin as he and other try to keep a soccer field from being destroyed by developers. Soon he finds himself involved in a sticky web of blackmail, political corruption and murder all precipitated by the avarice of a major chemical company. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The third installment in the haunted-house saga discards any pretense of being based on actual events in order to provide the requisite cheap thrills sought by audiences during the short-lived 3-D revival of the early '80s. When a skeptical reporter (Tony Roberts) with a penchant for debunking phony psychic hoaxes moves into the Long Island house to disprove its nightmarish legend, he and his family are set upon by all manner of supernatural beasties. Many such manifestations leap wildly out at the screen to fully exploit the 3-D effect, making the cheap gags all too obvious in the "flattened" video and cable prints (often released under the title Amityville 3: The Demon). Remarkably violent for a PG-rated film (those with an intense fear of fire might want to fast-forward through Candy Clark's death scene), Amityville 3-D has a certain cheesy appeal for anyone who likes touring Halloween spook-houses. Look closely to spot a young Meg Ryan in a small doomed-teen role. This 3-D version was followed by even more sequels, including Amityville: The Evil Escapes, Amityville 1992: It's About Time, The Amityville Curse, and Amityville: A New Generation. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

The USS Nimitz, a modern-day nuclear-powered aircraft carrier captained by Kirk Douglas, passes through a time warp and finds itself at Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941. Douglas is all for preventing the infamous Japanese attack by unleashing the 1980s technology at his disposal. But wait--if history is inviolate, what will happen to future events if the attack doesn't come off? For nearly two hours, pros and cons are volleyed back and forth by Douglas, by ambitious senator Charles Durning, and by concerned observer Martin Sheen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It's Airplane on the rails in the made-for-TV Disaster on the Coastliner. A crazed engineer holds his employers responsible for the deaths of his wife and daughter. He gets even by setting two passenger trains on an irrevocable collision course. Salvation comes from a most unexpected corner in this otherwise thoroughly predictable disaster flick. The requisite all-star cast includes Mike Connors, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Fuller, Pat Hingle, E. G. Marshall, Yvette Mimieux and William Shatner. Disaster on the Coastliner premiered October 28, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi