CHRISTINE - Special Edition (us dvd)
john carpenter

"She was born in Detroit ... on an automibile assembly line. But she is no ordinary automobile. Deep within her chassis lives an unholy presence. She is CHRISTINE - a red and white 1957 Plymouth Fury whose unique standard equipment includes an evil, indestructible vengeance that will dstroy anyone in her way. She seduces 17-year-old Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon), who becomes consumed with passion for her sleek, rounded chrome body. She demands his complete and unquestiuoned devotion and when outsiders seek to interfere, they become the victims of Christine's horrifying wrath."

[DVD Cover blurb]

"For the first time in my life, I've found something uglier than me.
And I know I can fix her up"

dvd review

John Carpenter made his name in the late 70s with Halloween, starting the slasher film genre in earnest. When he came to this adaptation of the Stephen King novel, he was suffering the negative reception amongst critics and public alike, to The Thing.

Bearing the criticisms of the protracted violence in that feature, Christine is bereft of real vicious blood-letting and gore, but still manages to pack a punch through its carefully contructed roller-coaster of emotions. A film about an evil car should be earmarked as B-movie territory, but King was the most popular American writer of the period, and Carpenter's appeal was still high from Halloween.

Technically a brilliant film, with excellent phorography, and superb special effects. Carpenter builds up a real sense of menace with the car from its birth on the 1957 production line at the start of the film - its bonnet eating into a man's hands, and killing a supervisor. The sinister image of the green back-lit radio, that comments on events, stirring into action with some rock 'n' roll number just before enacting its revenge.

The first half of the film centres around nerdy Arnie (Keith Gordon), and his much more studly friend Dennis (John Stockwell). After being attacked in school, and oppressed by his parents, Arnie buys Christine in a run-down state, takes her to a private garage and begins to fix the car up. As he does so, he falls for the car and it takes over. His image becomes much slicker - though curiously with echoes of 1950s youth. He gets a girlfriend in Leigh (Alexandra Paul), until even she threatens to come between him and his car.

In time, we and he learn the car is alive. And then the killings start. Is it Chistine or Arnie?

Tension is built up nicely to the climax. Events get out of hand, and the killings are more brutal. Arnie himself becomes a pathetic figure. Whilst most will associate with the early Arnie, geeky and a little bullied, as he grows in confidence he becomes arrogant. He turns into the very people who are oppressing him - almost god-like in his judgements.

Arnie's story could be seen as a cynical commentary on America's love affair with the car - and its destructive capabilities as a machine.

transfer
A fine high-definition transfer in anamophically enhanced scope ratio (2.35:1). Colour levels and contrast are good. Sound is presented in an acceptable 2 channel stereo. There's also Portuguese and Spanish versions.

extras
This special edition is complemented with a healthy selection of extras. Lacking a trailer for this feature (which is suprising), but otherwise good.

Commentary: A fine commentary track with director John Carpenter, and star-turned-director Keith Gordon. Carpenter is always very easy to listen to, respecting his audience with intellegence and sense. Gordon to is likeable, and they engage in an enlightening discussion. The commentary has excellent breadth, covering the making of the film, cast, locations, changes, as well as a running discussion of film-making generally. Gordon is now a director himself (most recently of The Singing Detective), and the two men are able to compare notes on their ways of working.

Deleted and Alternate Scenes: 20 scenes of varying length. Runs to around 26 minutes and presented in the aspect ratio of the main feature. Having been sourced from a work print, they suffer from scratching and colour variations, but lend an interesting additional slant on the film. In particular, the relationship between Leigh and Dennis is expounded upon - giving extra dimension to Arnie's increasing insanity.

Featurettes: There are three of these featurettes, but judging from the closing credits on Finishline, they are part of one documentary, that would have been better served, presented as one, with chapter breaks. The documentary features a small amount of behind-the-scenes footage, that I would have loved to see more of. There are interviews with most of the principals: John Carpenter, screenwriter Bill Phillips, stars Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, the producer, stunt co-ordinator.

Christine: Ignition 11 mins 52 secs. The inception of the project - the modification from Stephen King's novel, and casting decisions.

Christine: Fast and Furious 28 mins 53 secs. The largest section of the documentary covers the actual production period of the film, and assorted stories of filming, practical jokes etc.

Christine: Finishline 7 mins 17 secs. On distribution and marketing, and the reception to the film. Carpenter himself makes a few intersting comments on his own perceived arrogance - his disgust at seeing his name so many times in the credits on billboards.

Filmographies: Oh, how I hate filmographies. Not exactly a 'special' special feature for me. Filmographies for the main players.

Previews: Assorted theatrical trailers for other Columbia Tristar releases:
Asylum of the Damned : 1 min 11 sec. Fullscreen, 2 channel stereo.
Hellboy: 2 min 32 sec. 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Dolby 5.1
Secret Window: 2 min 14 sec. 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Dolby 5.1
Stephen King Presents Kingdom Hospital: 1 min 07 sec. Fullscreen. 2 channel stereo.

RJES

PURCHASE R1 DVD

DISC:
Release Date: 28 September 2004 (US)

Feature length: 110 mins
Year of 1st release: 1983
Rating: R
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 non-anamorphic widescreen
Audio: English 2.0 Surround, French (Dolby Surround), Portuguese, Spanish
No of Discs: 1
Region code: 1
Catalogue no: 03160
Distributor: Columbia Pictures / Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment
Price: $19.94
Cast: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky, Harvey Dean Stanton
Director: John Carpenter

SPECIAL FEATURES:
* Subtitles : English, French, Potuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Thai
* Commentary with John Carpenter, and star Keith Gordon
* 20 Deleted and Alternate Scenes
* Filmographies
* 3 Exclusive new featurettes
* Previews

see left for full details