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Superman II , a review by Tom

Superman II (1980/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United Kingdom) Director: Richard Lester Writing: Jerry Siegel (Original Characters By), Joe Shuster (Original Characters By), Mario Puzo (Story By), Mario Puzo (Screenwriter), David Newman (Screenwriter), Leslie Newman (Screenwriter) Length: 127 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 1, German: Dolby Digital 1, Italian: Dolby Digital 1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital 1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

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Stars:
Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor
Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent
Ned Beatty as Otis
Jackie Cooper as Perry White
Sarah Douglas as Ursa

Plot:
Unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment, three super-powered Planet Krypton criminals (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) plan to enslave Earth - just when Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to show a more romantic side to Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Gene Hackman (as Lex Luthor) also returns from the first film and with a top supporting cast, witty Richard Lester direction and visuals that astound and delight, Superman II saves the day any day you watch it.

Awards:
Won:

Saturn (1981)

Best Science Fiction Film

Nominated:

AFI (1980)		100 Years... 100 Passions (2002)
AFI (1980)		100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001)
Saturn (1981)		Best Actor (Christopher Reeve)
Saturn (1981)		Best Actress (Margot Kidder)
Saturn (1981)		Best Music (Ken Thorne)

Extras:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Scene Access
• Trailers

Chances that I would revisit the theatrical cut of Superman II were slim since I saw the superior Donner Cut, but since I just double-dipped on the Blu-ray set, I planned to watch all movies therein.
The theatrical cut isn't as bad as I remembered, and I could enjoy it again as I did in the past before knowing anything about the Donner/Lester controversy. Still some stuff are obviously unfitting. Especially since they chose not to use any Marlon Brando scenes, which results Jor-El missing in the flashbacks to the first movie (launch of Superman's ship and the imprisonment of General Zod). And also the need to use Superman's mother in the Fortress of Solitude scenes.
But I have to say, that there is only one moment, which I miss from the theatrical cut in the Donner Cut. And that is Clark's resignation of keeping up the charade and admitting to Lois that he is Superman. There is something similar in the Donner cut, but because it is a scene never originally shot and taken from screen test footage, it is not as effective (Christopher Reeve not yet the perfect Superman. Acting-wise and body-wise).

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on August 14th, 2011)

Surviving the Game, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Surviving the Game
Year: 1994
Director: Ernest Dickerson
Rating: R
Length: 96 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Ice-T [Ice T]
Rutger Hauer
Charles S. Dutton
Gary Busey
F. Murray Abraham

Plot:
Explosive special effects and high-caliber weapons make for the ultimate manhunt in this hard-hitting action adventure starring Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Charles S. Dutton, Gary Busey and F. Murray Abraham.

Ice-T is Mason, a homeless man recruited by a band of wealthy hunters to lead an expedition into the Pacific Northwest. But on the first day of the hunt, he discovers a lethal surprise...He's the prey.

It's gut-wrenching action from start to finish as the game begins and the hunters learn a deadly lesson: Never underestimate a man who's got nothing to lose.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Production Notes
Closed Captioned


Surviving The Game... a decent action flick with a great cast highlighted by Rutger Hauer.

Ultra rich hunters go on a safari with humans as the prey, more specifically, Ice-T. I've seen other movies of similar ilk but I like this one as Ice-T didn't turn out to be some former Navy Seal or something... he was just a homeless guy who uses his street smarts to survive.

Gary Busey plays his usual psychotic weirdo but makes an early exit in this one. John C. McGinley was good as well as another crazy who's flipped his lid. Great fun!

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on August 15th, 2010)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Apophis - who has many enemies - is very weakened in his position as System Lord. When he is hunted by Sokar, he seeks sanctuary on Earth. In exchange for a new host he offers the secrets of the Goa'ulds. But Sokar wants him badly.

My Opinion: I liked this episode because we see more than usual of Peter Williams (Apophis) and we hear his real/unchanged voice. Even the age mask looked good. That he wouldn't get a new host was a given, but I could imagine that some people in Washington acutally considered it.

Synopsis: SG-1 comes to a planet where only an old man lives but there are also some strange machines. But when they return from there, Daniel doesn't seem to be himself anymore.

My Opinion: As I said, everytime they go to a planet with just one inhabitant...
According to IMDb, this episode and the previous one were aired the other way around.* It doesn't matter. Actually it does. Both episodes are centered around the same topic, only this time a "good guy" occupies an already inhabited body. To grant Apophis now new body is one thing, but Machello? The other way around would be consistent, if even Machello wouldn't get a new one then Apophis wouldn't get one for sure.
The funniest part was without question the body switch of Jack and Teal'c, because both actors could fall out of their role.
I couldn'r recognize Michael Shanks (Daniel) as Machello visually but I recognized his voice immediately. But I can't recognize his voice when Shanks is speaking Thor.
I liked this episode a lot.

*Wikipedia: British Sky One aired "Serpent's Song" on January 6, 1999, and "Holiday" one week after on January 13, 1999. US Showtime however aired "Holiday" on February 5, 1999, and "Serpent's Song" one week after on February 12, 1999. The British order is also the episode order on the DVDs.

Synopsis: The UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) has crashed on a planet and has to be retrieved. In close proximity to the crash site SG-1 encounters a humanoid race. Shortly after some of the aliens get sick and it's spreading.

My Opinion: A very quiet episode (literally and figuratively) which I liked because of the discussion and decision about morale and responsibility. I also liked the argument between Jack and Daniel.

Synopsis: A small boy comes through the Stargate because the Iris didn't close. He warns them about a rebel group within the Re'tu race. These rebels want to destroy all possible hosts for the Goa'uld after the Goa'uld tried to exterminate the Re'tu. Unfortunately these aliens are out of phase and invisible for the human eye. And one of them is already in the base.

My Opinion: Peter DeLuise (21 Jump Street, SeaQuest) has his first cameo appearance. Since Serpent's Song he has been on the series as director, creative consultant, supervising producer and writer.
The episode itself was ok, but not extraordinary.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on March 14th, 2008)