Misery - Collector's Edition [Blu-ray]

In my opinion The Shining is the greatest of all Stephen King adaptations and then Misery. There are actually a lot of similarities between Misery and The Shining. There both about writers, in secluded locations, who are deserted at some point due to a snow storm. They both have characters that aren't all there mentally and we are witness to their descent into madness and loss of reality. Both Bates and Nicholson have a way with tools, whether it be an axe or a sledge hammer, and with these tools they have cut and hobbled their way into our memories and into film history.Kathy Bates is the star of this film and deserves her Oscar win as the at times lovable Annie Wilkes, the obsessed fan of author Paul Sheldon played by James Caan. Annie goes from saving Paul to keeping him hostage for her own agenda. The "shining" beacon of this film is without a doubt Kathy Bates who for me is one of the most memorable and witty villains of modern horror film up there with Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. With that said Caan is there like a dance partner for Bates every step of the way, he is like John Stockton to her Karl Malone always ready to assist her in enhancing the dark comedy throughout with his reactions by facial expression or perfect delivery of his lines. Caan's non verbal reactions to Annie's tirades are priceless and only enhance her dialouge. Pay attention to Caan's facial expressions during the scene when Annie explains about "chapter plays" and don't call them cliffhangers.So getting back to the king and queen of horror, I had an idea, what if Bate's character Annie Wilkes had rescued/kidnapped Jack Nicholson's character Jack Torrance and what would that dialouge be like. I think it would go something like this:JACK: "Annie, let me explain something to you. Whenever you come in here and interrupt me, you're breaking my concentration. You're distracting me. And it will then take me time to get back to where I was. You understand?"ANNIE: "Understand? UNDERSTAND? I will tell you "what I understand!" I go out of my way for you! I do everything to try and make you happy. I feed you, I clean you, I dress you, and what thanks do I get? "Oh, you bought the wrong paper, Annie, I can't write on this paper, Annie!" Well, I'll get your stupid paper but you just better start showing me a little appreciation around here, Mr. MAN!"JACK: "Now, we're going to make a new rule. When you come in here and you hear me typing[types]or whether you DON'T hear me typing, or whatever the F you hear me doing; when I'm in here, it means that I am working, THAT means don't come in. Now, do you think you can handle that?"ANNIE: "I thought you were good Jack... but you're not good. You're just another lying ol' dirty birdy."Just a thought, forgive me for prattling away and making everything all oogy, here's the dvd features.COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD FEATURES:(A reviewer listed them above but in case they got lost in the review shuffle here they are again)First if your like me and like a nice pristine transfer and good sound the dvd is a definite and worthwhile upgrade. The picture quality far surpassed the older version on dvd and I own both. Also on the sound there was no Dolby Digital 5.1 on the old version and on the Collector's edition there is.SPECIAL FEATURES:Audio Commnt by Rob Reiner and screenwriter William GoldmanMisery loves company featurette, Marc Shaiman's musical Misery tour featuretteDiagnosing Annie Wilkes featurette, Advice for stalked feature, profile of a stalker feature, celebrity stalker feature and anti stalking laws feature.This is a must for any horror fan to add to their collection. It is already a classic and is the type of horror that gives you that warm, glad to be inside, tucked into bed feeling if you can avoid getting hobbled.A great watch for Halloween. Enjoy!

Great old movies. Perfect to watch in a blizzard.

This movie tells the story of author Paul Sheldon after a car crash has shattered his legs and a retired nurse named Annie Wilkes takes him to her home to recover. Unfortunately, for Paul, the esteemed Miss Wilkes is crazy as a loon and it becomes obvious pretty quickly that he's a prisoner, not a patient or a guest. I don't want to give away much of the plot, but she coerces him into writing a new novel just for her. One that will resurrect a character that Annie loves but that Paul had killed in his latest book. Paul's struggles with Annie to survive, write the book, keep his sanity, and escape are what form the core of the story.There have been so many mediocre to poor adaptations of Stephen King books that one tends to expect that any movie based on his work will be a waste of time. Misery is the rare exception that proves the rule because this is a taut, suspenseful movie. Kathy Bates won an Oscar for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes and she deserved it. Annie is truly insane and Bates nailed the transitions from the sweet and caring Annie to the psycho screamer with a hair trigger in a way that seemed so natural it's unlikely many actresses could have matched it. James Caan is equally good as the tortured Paul Sheldon even if his part is less compelling. Richard Farnsworth also has a nice supporting role in the movie as the town sheriff even if it is an addition to the book.Misery is a riveting movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you squirm at the same time. As sadistic as this version of Annie is, the violence has actually been toned down from the book, but it's extremely intense all the same. This is not a gore splashed slasher film, but the tension between Annie and Paul is sky high and there is one scene, in particular, that is tough to watch. I don't recommend this for the faint of heart, but anyone else should dive in and enjoy one of the very best adaptations of the modern master of horror.

The Misery Special Edition arrived more or less on time, and the DVD was in perfect condition. A treat (albeit a scary treat) to watch. I imagine there really are avid fans of everything and everybody out there that are just this mentally ill. Kathy Bates does an excellent job portraying Annie Wilkes. James Caan was a surprising choice, but he fits the part perfectly. The local sheriff and his wife add a funny, sassy lightness to the story, breaking up the tension. It was great to see the late Lauren Bacall on the big screen again, even though her role was small. She's elegant as always, and really believable as Caan's big city book agent. Overall, a wonderful, frightening watch for us psychological horror fans. Plus, the story is a Stephen King creation. What more could you want?

Kathy bates, gives a chilling performance as Annie Wilkes. She, as true Psychopaths do, becomes more and more aggressive as time goes by. She starts out acting very kind, helpful, and caring and goes to the opposite end of the spectrum, by the end of the movie. James Caan portrays a helpless Paul Sheldon that is in a very difficult situation, to say the least. This movie is well worth watching, with one proviso: there is quite a difference between the book that Stephen King wrote, and the movie. It doesn't really change how I feel about the movie. I do recommend reading the book after watching the movie.

I purchased it so I can watch when I want, I have several times!

Misery is a chilling, brilliantly acted thriller that grips you from start to finish. Kathy Bates delivers a legendary performance that’s both terrifying and unforgettable, while James Caan perfectly captures the desperation of a man trapped in a nightmare. Tense, smart, and deeply unsettling — a must-watch for any fan of psychological horror.