6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun creature feature, April 4, 2006
This review is from: Alligator (DVD)
If you like giant-creature-on-the-loose movies, check this flick out. It's better than the usual Z-grade garbage you often get from this genre, because it has a taut, witty script by esteemed screenwriter John Sayles and snappy, fast-paced direction by Lewis Teague ("Jewel of the Nile"). It's currently available on DVD only as an NTSC Korean release, but a word of warning: I have this DVD and it appears to have been authored incorrectly. The cover says it's 4:3 full frame, but when I played it on my 4:3 TV, the picture looked thin and squished, as though the original source video was actually anamorphic 16:9. I think there was also an Anchor Bay DVD release a few years ago but I have a feeling it's out of print.
NOVEMBER 2007 UPDATE: This movie is now available as a Region 1 NTSC release with some special features.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harry Lime Lives!, November 7, 2005
This review is from: Alligator (DVD)
'Alligator' is an excellent monster-on-the-loose movie.
Written by John Sayles, it is almost a re-working of his script for the earlier 'Piranha' (1978, Dir. Joe Dante).
The special effects are WAY above average mixing a real alligator in model sets with a really cool looking full size 'animatronic' alligator which looks great with a full size Henry Silva sliding down it's throat. The acting is consistently good from all the leads and supporting cast (VERY unusual)and many younger viewers may recognise Robert Forster from 'Jackie Brown' in which his male pattern baldness is STILL an issue.
Direction and photography are equally as good with very atmospheric sewer scenes and really well dressed sets.
Very reminiscant of 50's B's of the same ilk(especially 'THEM!)
and much better than the recent 'Lake Placid' or the 'Crapodile' series, if you enjoyed 'Jaws','Piranha'or any monster movies, you'll love this.
Watch out for all the crocodile/alligator references and bizarrely 'The Third Man' references.
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