Plot: What’s it about?
A film with a history as varied as this deserves to have even more controversy when it finally hits DVD…again. Let’s start with it’s original history first. The one and only Roger Corman shot this in two days on a left-over set back in 1960. It featured Jack Nicholson in his first movie as a masochistic dental patient (a role which Bill Murray reprised in the newer film version). Corman, known for opening the door to a number of major Hollywood stars that include Nicholson, Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Costner to name a few had a cult hit on his hands (which most of his movies are). Producer David Geffen saw the film and thought it might make an interesting Broadway play, and so it was adapted for the stage from the screen…only to be adapted to the screen again when Director Frank Oz took the reigns in 1986.
The story centers around a corner florist shop that has an owner and two employees, Seymour (Rick Moranis) and Audrey (Ellen Greene, who reprises her role from the stage). Seymour is smitten with Audrey, but has to keep it under control as she is already dating someone. Business is bad, bad enough where Mushnik decides to lay off his employees because he doesn’t have enough money to pay their salaries. But, as fate would have it, Seymour has a “special plant” that he thinks would attract new customers if it were to be placed in the front window. Figuring he has nothing to lose, Mushnik agrees and no sooner than the plant is in the window do customers beat the door down and buy every flower in sight! With their new found “fame”, Mushnik’s flower store is all of the sudden the place to be. With more orders than they can fill, business couldn’t be better and Seymour finds himself somewhat of a minor celebrity all at the hands of this mysterious plant, Audrey II. Mysterious is right, Audrey II isn’t like any other plant. Audrey II is a cannibal, initially feeding on Seymour’s blood, then moving to, uh…bigger things. Audrey II is also the only plant that can belt out a showtune in the midst of a human feeding!!!
That’s part of the delight of “Little Shop of Horrors” as well, not only is it very entertaining, but being adapted from a Broadway play, it is a musical. From the title “Little Shop of Horrors” song to others like “Suddenly Seymour” and “Feed me Seymour” this movie entertains not only to kids but to adults as well. While not overly violent, there are a few words that might keep the kids from enjoying it, oddly enough it’s the plant that swears, not the people. Frank Oz directs with a great cast that also has a lot of unsuspected cameo appearances. With James Belushi, Chistopher Guest, John Candy, Steve Martin and Bill Murray (in one of his funniest roles since “Carl Spackler” of Caddyshack) there’s a suprise around every corner. Little Shop of Horrors may not be everyone’s thing, but if you take it with a grain of salt, you will enjoy it.
Video: How does it look?
This version of Little Shop of Horrors is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors are bright and vivid and literally jump out at you. The way this movie is shot makes it seem sort of surreal, with the set for the “Skid Row” block being about the only drab colors in the movie. Audrey II with her (his?) bright green leaves and bright red/purple tongue look great and the picture is just short of being perfect. No compression errors, no artifacts, a few times when the picture has some shimmering, but nothing to get all worked up about. Overall, this is a really great transfer, I was impressed.
Audio: How does it sound?
What’s more impressive than the picture is the way it sounds. From beginning to end, there is something going on in all the channels. Songs sound great and the channel seperation with all the piano and jazzy soundtrack instruments is very noticeable and sounds positively outstanding. There are even a number of sub woofer effects as well, one example that comes to mind is when Audrey II falls flat on the ground. It shook the room. Enough said. This is one great sounding movie.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This version of Little Shop of Horrors contains a feature-length commentary with Director Frank Oz. Oz is both an acclaimed Director and actor (you may remember him from The Blues Brothers and Trading Places). In addition to the commentary, is an isolated soundtrack that sounds just as good as the original soundtrack. Turn the TV off and save yourself the money that you would have used by buying the soundtrack! Also included are deleted scenes, but oddly enough the original ending (that was the controversy on the first run of the disc) isn’t included, or if it was I couldn’t find it. Production notes, cast bios and a trailer are also included and there is an interesting documentary that tells how the story came to be. Overall, this is a great disc with a good look to it and an oustanding soundtrack, I just have to wonder why it took Warner two years to replace their defective disc…oh well, it was worth the wait.
