DVD Collectors Online

The Polar Express, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Polar Express
Year of Release: 2004
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari
Genre: Fantasy, Animation

Overview:My Thoughts:
A personal favorite, and just about my favorite modern (post 1980) Yuletide film (the other being Tokyo Godfathers). This is a film that really puts me in the Yuletide spirit.

The animation falls into two categories: absolutely stunning visuals and somewhat off-looking people. I expect the people problem is because of the limits of early mocap, and I find that each year I watch the film I notice less and less that the people don't move right. The environment, however, is brilliantly realized and absolutely magnificent. When we saw this at the IMAX in 3D, the sequences where the train goes downhill on the tracks are fabulous.  The use of movement in the film always strikes me, even watching this in 2D.  I'd love to see it up on the big screen again.

I also really enjoy the characters, especially the girl in the group. She's refreshingly different from most female characters in American animation, breaking stereotypes and being the leader of the group that she is. But all of the main child characters are portrayed rather realistically, which I like.

A modern holiday classic - recommended without reservation.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3.75/5

(From Christmas 2016 on December 22nd, 2016)

Vigilante, a review by Jimmy

Title: Vigilante (1983)

Genre: Action
Director: William Lustig
Rating: Unrated (originally rated R)
Length: 1h29
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English, French, Italian and German
Subtitles: CC and Spanish

Stars:
Robert Forster
Fred Williamson
Richard Bright
Rutanya Alda
Don Blakely

Plot:What we have here is to tell it simply the best movie directed by Lustig (don't forget that he is responsible for Maniac, Maniac Cop and The Violation of Claudia). This movie had probably one of the best opening of the cinema history (some will certainly said that I exaggerates as usual) with a great speach by Fred Williamson. The characters even if they are establish fastly aren't caricature and you care and root for them. Great acting from Robert Forster, his performance is just incredible and feels real. Fred Williamson is as good as usual and you get a small cameo by the always appreciated Joe Spinell. The instrumental theme song is powerfull and awesome (when you hear the first note later it doesn't take you long to understand that Eddie Marino is in revenge mode). Well written script that doesn't give you a chance to take your breath. Frankly one of the best american revenge movie ever made...

Great eighties movie that you must watch if you want to see the greatness of the American independant cinema before it was put to death by the disapearance of the independant movie theatre and the drive in.



Rating :

(From The little known movie review depot on September 9th, 2009)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

The King of Queens: Season One (1998/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 562 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

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Plot:
The man. The myth. The driver. Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) is THE KING OF QUEENS, but his wife Carrie (Leah Remini) really rules the roost. Doug is the ultimate guy's guy, but he loves Carrie so much he's willing to sacrifice his tricked-out rec room (plus his 70-inch TV) so that her father Arthur (Jerry Stiller) can move in, a decision he's regretted ever since. Doug's free time is split between quality time with his wife and play time with his buds. A parade of crazy neighbors and oddball citizens of New York's middle-class borough help make this show the reigning comedy champ. THE KING OF QUEENS proves you don't have to have a huge castle to live like royalty.


The King of Queens
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Michael J. Weithorn (Writer), David Litt (Writer)
Director: Pamela Fryman
Cast: Kevin James (Doug), Leah Remini (Carrie), Lisa Rieffel (Sara), Patton Oswalt (Spence), Larry Romano (Richie), Victor Williams (Deacon), Jerry Stiller (Arthur)

This series is often fun to watch. The pilot though is nothing special. It sets up the premise, but wasn't really funny.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 4th, 2012)