DVD Collectors Online

The Last of Sheila, a review by Antares

The Last of Sheila (1973) 4/5 - Has anyone been watching TCM the last two weeks? Instead of having some actor, director or film scholar pick films for the evening, they've been having TCM employees in the guest host spot, picking three of their favorite films. This has been so refreshing because they don't pick the atypical films that the more film associated person normally does. The Last of Sheila is one of those forgotten films from a time when murder mysteries were extremely popular. I saw this in its original run back in 1973, but hadn't seen it since probably the early 80's on Cinemax. It takes place on a yacht in the south of France and features seven film industry acquaintances who gather together on the one year anniversary of the yacht owner's wife's death at the hands of a hit and run driver. He has decided to play what he calls a gossip game, but in reality is really a murder mystery, which in the end, will reveal the murderer of his wife, who is among the six guests. What makes it really unique is the way the game is played out. Each of the six guests has a secret in their past, that will be revealed as the game progresses. Before the game can be finished, one of the seven is murdered and through this murder, the original murderer will be revealed. What I loved about this film then and still love about it now, is the many layers of intricacy in the plot concerning not only the murders, but the game itself. This is a very well written screenplay. The only downside to the film, is the horrible acting at times by Dyan Cannon and every thing Raquel Welch does onscreen. She should thank God every day for her natural beauty, because she has to be one of the worst actresses in the history of film. If you haven't seen this, seek it out, I think you'd be surprised at how good a film it is.

(From Antares' Short Summations on April 2nd, 2011)

Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013), a review by addicted2dvd

Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013/United States) Director: Eduardo Rodriguez Writing: Matt Venne Length: 83 min. Rating: R

---

Stars:
Will Payne
Jaime Murray
Sean Power
Sacha Parkinson
Chris Waller
John-Christian Bateman

Plot:
By day Gerri Dandridge is a sexy professor, but by night she transforms into a real-life vampire with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. So when a group of high school students travel abroad to study in Romania, they find themselves ensnared in her chilling web of lust and terror. Charlie and “Evil” Ed must stop Gerri from drinking and bathing in the blood of a “new moon virgin,” which just so happens to be Charlie’s ex-girlfriend, Amy. They enlist help from Peter Vincent, the vampire hunting host of a reality show called "Fright Night," to drive a stake through Gerri’s plan and save Amy from a fate far worse than death.

I just watched this one... I enjoyed it but felt they did it in an odd way. They call this part 2... but yet it is not a remake of the original part two... and is not a continuation of the part 1 remake. This is more of a combination of parts 1 and 2. Which I really thought was pretty cool. And I did like what they did with the Peter Vincent character this time. Oddly when I first finished watching this one I felt I enjoyed it... but wasn't overly impressed. But the longer I sat back thinking about it the more I liked it. I would say this one is worth checking out.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on November 16th, 2013)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Life on Mars
Immerse yourself in the groundbreaking series that captivated fans and critics from coast to coast. With an irresistible soundtrack and one of the most celebrated casts on television, including Jason O'Mara, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol and Harvey Keitel, Life On Mars is smart, suspenseful drama with a finish that will blow you away. "It's one of those endings I believe will make you watch the series again," says Executive Producer Josh Appelbaum.

There's a fine line between delusion and reality. NYPD detective Sam Tyler finds himself walking both sides of that line when he is suddenly hurtled back in time to 1973 after being struck by a car in 2008.

Journey back to the '70s and uncover the secrets of Life On Mars. It's a "strange and exhilarating ride" raves The New York Times. Plus, with unique and exciting bonus features – including an insider's view of where the show's concept began, a six-million dollar moment in which '70s legend Lee Majors steps back into the past with the cast and crew, and much more – Life On Mars is unforgettable on DVD!

Out Here in the Fields
After an accident, NYPD detective Sam Tyler inexplicably finds himself back in 1973, where he must help solve a murder that is eerily similar to a case he was investigating in 2008.

My Thoughts:
I know this series is an American version of a series from the UK... but I never seen the original UK version so I can not compare this one to that. What I can do is tell you about this show as it stands on it's own. This pilot epiosde is a very good introduction to the characters. It has a very good, entertaining story that keeps your intrest throughout the entire episode. I like that his 2008 partner is played by Lisa Bonet (Denise on The Cosby Show)... and they made it clear how important she is to him. I also like how they do not make it clear if he is crazy, in the hospital in a coma dreaming it all or if he really somehow traveled through time. Even though the evidence points in a certain way you don't know for sure. This is the first time I seen this show since it originally aired in 2008... so it is fun watching this again now... as there is so much I forgotten about this show since then!

My Rating:
NOTE: This review was taken from my marathon thread from a while back.

(From Pete's Pilots on February 24th, 2010)