Dressed to Kill (1980)

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by BluCollector13

One of the most iconic scenes in a De Palma film. If only the score for the scene wasn't lost.

Yeah, I was crushed when the expanded score came out on CD, but was still missing the cue from this scene. Those eerie, pulsing female vocals really enhanced the erotic ominousness of the scene.

[Movie_Matt]

Just picked up the MGM at Best Buy for 7 bucks. I'm not really one that cares all that much for extras so I couldn't justify the extra cost of the Critereon. Even if the MGM transfer isn't as good I like to save a few bucks when I can.

[captainron_howdy]

Originally Posted by Movie_Matt

Just picked up the MGM at Best Buy for 7 bucks. I'm not really one that cares all that much for extras so I couldn't justify the extra cost of the Critereon. Even if the MGM transfer isn't as good I like to save a few bucks when I can.

It's still an amazing film either way.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Movie_Matt

Just picked up the MGM at Best Buy for 7 bucks. I'm not really one that cares all that much for extras so I couldn't justify the extra cost of the Critereon. Even if the MGM transfer isn't as good I like to save a few bucks when I can.

The MGM Blu still looks pretty solid.

[CineSicko]

Originally Posted by Movie_Matt

Just picked up the MGM at Best Buy for 7 bucks. I'm not really one that cares all that much for extras so I couldn't justify the extra cost of the Critereon. Even if the MGM transfer isn't as good I like to save a few bucks when I can.

The MGM is still my favorite release. Not a fan of the Criterion (too green, with slightly odd geometry, but the grain is nicely resolved) and the Arrow looks a bit too bright, with milky blacks. I give it to the MGM, which has natural-looking colors and deep, solid black levels. Gorgeous transfer.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by CineSicko

The MGM is still my favorite release. Not a fan of the Criterion (too green, among other issues) and the Arrow looks a bit too bright, with milky blacks. I give it to the MGM, which has natural-looking colors and deep, solid black levels. Gorgeous transfer, and the file size and bit rate are about twice the size of Criterion's.

Yeah I'll be honest, this is one of those ones were the MGM release is good enough for me. Easily one of their better catalog releases imo.

[CineSicko]

Originally Posted by javy

All of De Niro's scenes are absolutely phenomenal. The rest of the film I tolerate.

For Christ's sake, guy. You "tolerate" THE UNTOUCHABLES, but worship INTERSTELLAR and INCEPTION? It's official: Your taste is in your can.

[javy]

Originally Posted by CineSicko

For Christ's sake, guy. You "tolerate" THE UNTOUCHABLES, but worship INTERSTELLAR and INCEPTION? It's official: Your taste is in your can.

Wow, you really believe yourself to be an authority. You should write a book about your dogmatic viewpoints.

I'm glad I'm free to be myself instead of letting people like you shape my outlook.

[Movie_Matt]

Originally Posted by captainron_howdy

It's still an amazing film either way.

That's what I'm counting on. I'm embaressed to say I've never seen this movie. Looking forward to watching it soon.

[captainron_howdy]

Originally Posted by Movie_Matt

That's what I'm counting on. I'm embaressed to say I've never seen this movie. Looking forward to watching it soon.

It's definitely one of my favs. & possibly my favorite De Palma film. Also, like someone else stated, the MGM bluray is still a great presentation of the film. I'm so obsessed w Dressed to Kill that I have the old MGM DVD signed by Angie Dickinson and an 8X10 photo from the film of Nancy Allen signed by her.

[davidthenikonuser]

Originally Posted by Movie_Matt

Just picked up the MGM at Best Buy for 7 bucks. I'm not really one that cares all that much for extras so I couldn't justify the extra cost of the Critereon. Even if the MGM transfer isn't as good I like to save a few bucks when I can.

The MGM release is a really good release also. You got a great buy.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by captainron_howdy

It's definitely one of my favs. & possibly my favorite De Palma film. Also, like someone else stated, the MGM bluray is still a great presentation of the film. I'm so obsessed w Dressed to Kill that I have the old MGM DVD signed by Angie Dickinson and an 8X10 photo from the film of Nancy Allen signed by her.

“Dressed to Kill” got me hooked on De Palma. I had known him from Carrie, Scarface, and The Untouchables.

[Monterey Jack]

Dressed To Kill is the "definitive" De Palma movie. I don't think it's necessarily his best film (that'd be Carrie, Blow Out or The Untouchables), but it's one-stop stopping when analyzing his usual thematic obsessions and technical tricks (split screens, diopter shows, slow motion, etc.). If you were to show one of his movies to someone to give an overview of the rest of his career, DTK should be the one.

[Hoke Moseley]

Yeah, Dressed to Kill is the quintessential De Palma movie and just oozes everything great about him as a filmmaker. His masterpiece too, imo.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by CineSicko

The MGM is still my favorite release. Not a fan of the Criterion (too green, with slightly odd geometry, but the grain is nicely resolved) and the Arrow looks a bit too bright, with milky blacks. I give it to the MGM, which has natural-looking colors and deep, solid black levels. Gorgeous transfer.

By odd geometry do you mean the error that was fixed by Criterion? It looks normal in that regard if you have the right disc. The remaster does have a greener look to it in some scenes, but it seems natural to me and mostly occurs when there is fluorescent lighting, which is green on film. The remaster has a LOT more detail and natural grain. I highly recommend it to new purchasers.

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

Yeah, Dressed to Kill is the quintessential De Palma movie and just oozes everything great about him as a filmmaker. His masterpiece too, imo.

Body Double is magnum opus De Palma imo

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Body Double is magnum opus De Palma imo

Yeah, that too. I'd say those two along with Raising Cain and Femme Fatale are De Palma in maximum overdrive, but Dressed to Kill is probably the most accessible and most likely to be enjoyed by De Palma beginners/nonbelievers.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Body Double is magnum opus De Palma imo

That was the last of De Palma's "prime period" thrillers I saw, and -- sorry -- but it's not very good. Craig Wasson's AWFUL, charisma-deficient leading performance does it no favors, nor does the fact that it's nothing but reheated leftovers from previous, superior De Palma thrillers...which were already reheated riffs on Hitchcock. It's watchable, I suppose (it looks great, and Melanie Griffith... ), but it's a pale retread of elements from DTK, Blow Out, Obsession, ect.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

That was the last of De Palma's "prime period" thrillers I saw, and -- sorry -- but it's not very good. Craig Wasson's AWFUL, charisma-deficient leading performance does it no favors, nor does the fact that it's nothing but reheated leftovers from previous, superior De Palma thrillers...which were already reheated riffs on Hitchcock. It's watchable, I suppose (it looks great, and Melanie Griffith... ), but it's a pale retread of elements from DTK, Blow Out, Obsession, ect.

No way man, Body Double is great. Objectively, yeah it's "not very good" but it's the intangible things that make fun because it's so outre, its pure 1984, set-in-the-world-of-porn trashiness makes it so much fun to watch. It's the grand-daddy of all of those sexy DTV thrillers that followed in the late 80s-early 90s but it's knee-deep in De Palma's usual zany sense of humour.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

It's the grand-daddy of all of those sexy DTV thrillers that followed in the late 80s-early 90s but it's knee-deep in De Palma's usual zany sense of humour.

I'm just not sure how many of the film's laughs are intentional.

Seriously, the climax has

[Show spoiler]the villain defeated by a DOG JUMPING THROUGH A CAR WINDOW at him.