The Firelight Shocks DVD Review Section

Anaconda Distributor: Columbia/ Tristar Region: 2 Ratio: 2:35:1 (anamorphically enhanced) Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo

Despite impressive box office, many critics lambasted Anaconda and this really pissed me off. Yup, you read that right: IT PISSED ME OFF. Why? Simply because this film is one of the most enjoyable monster movies of recent times and a hell of a lot of fun. I knew I was gonna love this when I initially saw the trailer for it, and I was not disappointed. On my first viewing of Anaconda I just sat with my jaw wide open (kinda like a big kid) as a witnessed a great big fucking snake eating people... brilliant or what? I just can't believe they never thought to make a movie about a psycho anaconda before! Funnily enough, the one person who agrees with me about the merits of this film is Firelight Shocks' own Phil Stoneman (What?! - Phil). In fact, Phil has several cease and desist letters from the Edinburgh Filmhouse because every month he sends them threatening and abusive notes in order to try and persuade them to show this classic on the big screen. Hell, I'm with the guy on this one (well, until they arrest him, there was something about the last letter insinuating terrorist action that didn't sit too well with some people). Anyway, getting back to Anaconda. The film tells of a group of documentary filmmakers who sail out into the Amazon jungle in order to try and capture a lost primitive tribe on camera (sound familiar?). Thankfully, however, they don't hack up a few animals and then all get eaten alive at the end. Uh-uh, instead this jungle adventure features the film crew coming across none other than Jon Voight who has apparently forgotten how to act in the years since Midnight Cowboy and Deliverance. Voight camps it up fantastically and he is really compelling to watch as the tried and tested snake poacher in search of a 40-foot anaconda. It's not long before Voight has manipulated the filmmakers into sailing into a dangerous part of the jungle... and an area that is home to two huge snakes. These are two reptiles that move at lightning speed and seemingly can't get enough to eat (a bit weird seeing as how anacondas spend ages digesting their latest kill, but there you go). Well, what else can I say? It's a monster movie about a big snake and it's wicked. Jennifer Lopez is actually bearable in this film too, and as an added bonus you get to see her (and Ice Cube) covered in monkey blood and chased around by the massive title critter (sadly, in light of her pissy 'music career' you do not get to see her eaten). I'm all for this film, maybe not quite as much as Phil who reckons it's better than Jaws, deserved more Oscars than One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and told me that he found it more suspenseful than anything Hitchcock ever made... but it's a cool film all the same. (What I actually said was "it's a bit shit really, isn't it?" - Phil) Seriously, this is an excellent popcorn movie and I make no apologies for enjoying it (or for watching it) as many times as I did. Phil's watched it thirty seven times so far, and (to the despair of many) he's even memorised the entire script and tends to recite it, from beginning to end, whilst drunk! (Okay, I do occasionally come out with the classic "can you hear it? The silence…" - Phil) Anaconda looks great on DVD - save for a thin line of grain present on some scenes. The digital format gives the picture more sharpness, and the special effects look especially clear and colourful. Even the CGI (which is occasionally a tad ropey) looks good. The mechanical snake is great, surprisingly similar to the real thing (if you've never seen a programme detailing real anacondas then cease comment now). The scenes that are shot from the snakes eye view are especially inventive and the shot from inside the giant reptile's throat is truly inspired!

EXTRAS: Well, the letterboxed print is enhanced for your widescreen telly. Whilst the fullscreen video version of this film seemed to frame the movie perfectly (Anaconda was shot on Super 35), it's still nice to see it with the black bars present. Apart from that, you've got bugger all else to get excited about. Even the superb teaser trailer would have been nice.