Customer Reviews

Leprechaun 1 [VHS]

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

First of all, this movie is not for everybody. Easygoing people who get a kick out of watching a comedy/horror movie will like it and find it entertaining. People who are uptight and nitpicky probably won't. This movie was made to be what it is. It's not supposed to be a serious horror flick. Anybody who assumed it would be HAS to be a little slow. Who in their right mind would read the back of this movie and think it is going to be the "ultimate" thriller? LOL. Bottomline: If you're the kind of person who has to watch a perfect horror movie or else it stinks, this movie is not for you. The people who can enjoy this movie without being so picky, myself included, will be just fine without you.

Leprechaun, although classified as a horror movie, is hysterical! It's just so funny due to the fact that it takes itself way too seriously. It's next to impossible to make a little leprechaun scary. And it's also impossible to not laugh at the clever one-liners and rhymes the little green guy dishes out. Jennifer Aniston does a good job playing the heroine too, although her best work to date is definitely Friends. Go buy Leprechaun for good, gory fun!

Yep, I just rented this movie for just 99 cents at my local video store, so I figured that I'd add my own 2 cents here. This is a barely-competent "B" horror/comedy which does have a few cool scenes and a few good laughs. Basically, it is a showcase for 3 things: 1) It gives us Warwick Davis--formerly so cute, genteel, and heroic as the titular WILLOW--as the horrific and murderous titular LEPRECHAUN. The point of this movie is to see how many big people that the diminutive Davis can kill, and in what gory ways possible. 2) The great makeup job on Davis, which in of itself is a character: it makes him look effectively comical, and very creepy. 3) Jennifer Aniston in an early pre-"Friends" role.

Bottom line: this is an effective low-budget horror flick, but make sure that you don't spend too much on the video. Also, make sure to keep your pre-teen kids away from it, as this is a fairly gory movie that is likely to give them nightmares. For kids in the 10-to-12-year-old range that like a good scare, I'd recommend POLTERGEIST, or the 1978 remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS instead.

This is one of the most mesmorizingly awful horror movies I've ever seen! Irritatingly inept and insipid, this slasher has dubious jokes, sharp shocks of gore, ill logic, and mind-numbing predictability to make you wish you had rented something else. The movie is so banal you can play "Mystery Science Theatre" while watching it. Even Halloween 6 would do the job better! While wathcing this movie on T.V. I can remember what my Dad said after commercial breaks:

"Aw, we have to watch the movie? I was hoping we could watch more commercials!"

That statement should tell you something.

We have Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Chucky, and Britney Spears; so why not have a malevolent leprechaun played by the minuscule Warwick Davis of "Willow" fame? Davis's turn as the evil Irish urchin in this film translated into four sequels with another one on the way at the end of this year. In fact, the "Leprechaun" franchise may rank as one of the most rushed series in movie history. The first one came out in 1993, meaning that the powers that be behind this series made six films in ten years. Not bad, I guess, unless you are one of the unfortunate viewers willing to watch all of the "Leprechaun" films as I did recently. While the first picture is watchable and interesting in a purely mindless, harmless way, the rest severely suffer from the dreaded law of diminishing returns. I can't begin to imagine in what odd directions they will take Davis's character with future releases, but if the folks at Trimark decided to make six films we can rest assured that they are planning a few more before the game is up. My recent "Leprechaun" marathon tells me that game should have been up long, long ago.

Nothing beats an original idea, and the first "Leprechaun" film does spark marginal interest about the shenanigans unfolding onscreen. The film opens with a drunken Irishman named Dan O'Grady managing to capture a leprechaun, thereby forcing the little monster to give up his pot of gold. Regrettably for this son of Eire, the evil fairy isn't about to give up his wealth without a fight, tracking down the man who robbed him just in time to open up a big can of hurt on the man's wife and inflicting a massive stroke/heart attack type illness on O'Grady. Before he does so, however, Danny Boy traps the leprechaun in a wooden crate and imprisons him there by placing a four leaf clover on the top of the box. It seems that Irish folk monsters cannot withstand this powerful charm, and it looks as though the leprechaun will be trapped forever in this abandoned house.

Not so fast. A few years later Tori Reding and her father move into the decrepit house. Tori hates the new digs but rapidly adjusts to her surroundings when she encounters the buff Nathan Murphy, a local fella hired by Dad to paint the house. Along for the ride is the overweight but mentally challenged Ozzie and a smart mouthed kid named Alex, both of who work with Murphy in his paint business. Predictably, it isn't too long before Ozzie inadvertently lets the leprechaun out of his prison. Despite dire warnings from Ozzie about an evil elf on the loose, everyone laughs at such a ludicrous idea and goes about their business. Not for long, though, because all heck breaks loose at incredible speed: Tori's father suffers a serious hand injury requiring medical attention, Ozzie and Alex discover the pot of gold the Irishman left on the property, and the leprechaun emerges out of the shadows for all the world to see. The small demon demands the return of his gold, and if he doesn't get what he wants he will kill everyone he can get his hands on. Lots of moronic stuff happens throughout the film, like the leprechaun riding around on some sort of go cart contraption he just happened to find in a barn and getting pulled over by a local cop, Tori incredibly managing to contact the ailing Irishman at the local old folks home before he dies, and the gang finding a four leaf clover just in the nick of time to stop the creature. If nothing else, "Leprechaun" is worth watching for a few good snorts and chuckles. Look for the shoe shining incident and try not to laugh. I dare you.

Of course, none other than Jennifer Aniston plays the role of Tori Reding. A close viewing of the film reveals many of the mannerisms this actress made famous in her later career, such as scrunching her face up, gasping, and acting flustered. She doesn't have a fancy coif here, though, and that will surely disappoint die hard fans. No, the real joy of seeing Aniston in this movie comes from watching her acting and reacting to Warwick Davis's hammy performance as the leprechaun. In Roman times, when a successful general came home from battle to have his triumph through the streets of Rome, a slave stood next to him on his chariot and whispered in his ear that all glory is fleeting. The same principle should apply to Aniston anytime she has a hit movie, except this time the attendant would remind her that she starred in "Leprechaun." Seriously though, most of the performances in this movie aren't all that bad for a low budget horror film. The thespians in this picture certainly stand head and shoulders above the wretched hacks that appear in the ham handed sequels.

The DVD is a pretty basic number: a trailer for the film and a few other trailers for other Trimark junk adorn the disc. All of the "Leprechaun" DVDs usually have the same sorts of trailers, namely a few "Leprechaun" trailers and perhaps a sneak peak at one or two of the "Warlock" films. As for the transfer, the picture quality is good even though its in full screen. The first film in this series will never win any awards, but it is probably the best entry in the franchise. Not very scary, not too gory, and full of Davis's trademark cackles; that is the best you can hope for from this seminal moment in cinematic history. Luck o' the Irish to ye with this one.

The 80s gave us horror icons that will last forever. We got Jason, Freddy, Pinhead and Chucky. The 90s tried to repeat this process, but it didn't work as well. Sure, there were minor horror icons, but nowhere close to what the 80s gave us. The best the 90s had to offer in terms of boogeymen was The Wishmaster, The Candyman(Tony Todd is fantastic), Jack Frost, Gabriel from The Prophecy, The Gordon Fishstick guy from I Know What You Did Last Summer, and of course, The Leprechaun. I'm sure you've seen Leprechaun or one of the sequels anyway. Alot of people hate them or just write them off as crap, but someone out there likes them coz they're up to six as of this review. It's hard for me to take one star reviews of Leprechaun seriously. People were expecting a real horror film? Did they expect really pulse pounding, hair raising, nonstop edge-of-your-seat terror from Leprechaun? The film is about a killer leprechaun, I feel I'd better just clear that up for you. This film was never meant to be taken seriously and they go to great lengths to prove this over and over again throughout the film. It's a comedy. Sure, you'll find it in the horror section of your local video store, but you'll also find Army Of Darkness there as well. Leprechaun is morbid and relies on a slasher film-type formula, but it's pure camp. How's the movie? Fun, very fun. Warwick Davis is a joy to watch. It's nice to see a short actor get steady work in the film business-especially as the lead actor in the films. Mark Holton(who'll you remember as the rich kid who steals Pee-Wee's bike in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure) is very funny as the mentally slow painter who believes in the leprechaun and tries to get everyone else to believe as well. The kid's rather annoying, as kids tend to be in these kinds of films. Ken Olandt is the male stripper from Summer School("My Aunt Ruth kissed me....with her tongue!") and plays our heroic male here. He's okay considering the material-pretty typical for this kinda thing. Considering Jennifer Aniston usually stars in crap anyway, this is as good a start for her career as any, however it's better than anything else she's been in. I also understand that she gets pissed if you bring this film up to her. If I ever meet her I hope she signs my copy. That's our cast and they play their roles very straight, no camp in them. The camp all belongs to Davis, who's silly rhymes and cool makeup are worth the price of admission alone. Everyone else must have though so as well, coz he's the only character consistant film to film. I'd highly suggest watching Leprechaun and be ready to scream, but with laughter not in horror.

LEPRECHAUN

I can't help it but I love this movie and will always even though it is not really technically the greatest movie ever. But how can you not love this popcorn fun with a wee Leprechaun who is on the evil side of things. This movie is just too much fun plus it has Jennifer Aniston in it that is always a plus. We always have fun watching this one and to be honest I have fun with every film in this series. This is the type of movie that you have to accept for what it is, and it is straight B level fun for sure.

The story is easy enough to follow as a man gets home from a trip to Ireland and has a bag full of gold. This is the type of gold you find at the end of a rainbow with a little Leprechaun attached to it. Well as a matter of fact he did have to get this from a wee one and now it is after him. He eventually with the help of a four leaf clover locks the Leprechaun in a crate and there he sits for years. That is until a group of people including Jennifer Aniston end up accidentally letting him out, then the fun really begins. As they try to come to terms with what is after them he starts to pick people off one by one in a lot of fun ways. In fact the scene in which the Leprechaun is pulled over by the police is absolutely classic.

This movie is nothing but popcorn fun and we have writer/director Mark Jones to thank for that. Man I love these 90's horror flicks because most of them were so much fun and did not take themselves seriously. Don't get me wrong I love the serious ones as well but you have to love films that are made for just the pure entertainment factor. The film looks good and has that 90's feel to it, man I miss them days. The deaths are really fun in this film and are over the top greatness, anything with an evil Leprechaun is over the top [lets be honest].

As for the acting in this movie it is great for this type of film plus it is fun to see a young Jen Aniston. But it is with out a doubt Warwick Davis that steals the show as the Leprechaun, man he was absolutely the perfect person for this role. His style, voice, and smile, and of course laugh make the character come to life. Ken Olandt was good in this as was Mark Holton who was great in the film "Gacy". Robert Gorman, Shay Duffin, and every one else were good in this movie, every one fit their role.

I happen to find this movie to be very entertaining but this movie will not be for everybody. I think it is a nice reminder that we need not take every film so serious because we could be missing out on a good time. When this film came out in theaters it made way more than its budget back so it was a success. Is this movie perfect, no, but it is a nice break from reality. Do I recommend this movie, yes indeed, but only if you want to have a good time.

A horrific Leprechaun goes on a rampage after his precious bag of gold coins is stolen. He uses all of his magical destructive powers to trick,terrorize and kill anyone who is unlucky enough to hinder his relentless search. In a frantic attempt to survive the wrath of the Leprechaun, Tori and her friends scramble to find the only weapon known to kill this Irish monster...a four leaf clover. However, until they discover a four leaf clover or return all the gold taken from the rainbow's end, their fairy tale nightmare has only just begun.

THE SPECIAL FEATURES IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION DVD ARE:

.Full Frame Presentation

.2.0 Dolby Surround

.Digitally Mastered

.Interactive Menu

.Scene Acess

.Theatrical Trailer

.Cast Information

.Spanish and French Subtitles

This movie is all right. It's kind of silly, and stupid. It's not really a horror movie, you can say. So don't expect it to be scary. But, there was some scary parts. Like when they couldn't find the Leprechaun in the yard. Don't expect it to be fabulos. But I gave it some credit. And it's a little bit scary. But, it's really not a horror movie.

Yes, it is true. Jennifer Aniston is in this crazy horror movie about a leprechaun and his pot of gold. If you're looking for a movie with deep meaning, or any meaning at all, this is the wrong movie for you. If you are looking for complex characters in complex situations, wrong movie! But if you want to see a hilarious horror movie featuring a mythical Irish small person trying to extract gold from a fat guy's stomach, check this movie out! END