DVD Collectors Online

Grease: Live, a review by addicted2dvd

Grease Live! (2016/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Paramount (United States) Director: Thomas Kail Writing: Allan Carr Length: 132 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo

---

Stars:
Julianne Hough as Sandy
Aaron Tveit as Danny
Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo
Keke Palmer as Marty
Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchy

Plot:
Join the rollicking gang of Rydell High for Grease Live!, an electrifying production of the hugely popular musical "Grease" – performed before a studio audience LIVE! Featuring a cast of today's hottest young stars including Julianne Hough, Aaron Tveit, Vanessa Hudgens, Keke Palmer, and Carly Rae Jepsen. With new music by Jessie J, Boys II Men, and DNCE, Grease Live! will reintroduce the unforgettable moments, classic music, and timeless love story to an entirely new generation.



I watched this one on Netflix. It took me a while to write this review. Mainly because I want to give it a fair review for the show that it was... without comparing it too much to the movie. I know there has to be some comparison while watching but I wanted to review this on it's own merits. Some of the cast choices seemed odd to me. But others was right on. I felt Vanessa Hudgens did a wonderful job as Rizzo and Julianne Hough was good as Sandy... but that is about the best I can say about the cast. On one hand I thought it was a good homage to the film and I liked the live aspect... but on the other hand they made some choices that left me scratching my head. Even watching this version I couldn't help myself from thinking of Dawn. As much as she loved the original film and as many times as she made me sit through it... because of this the entire Grease franchise has a special place in my heart.

My advice on this one... you are better off watching the original film. But if you must see it... there is worse ways to waste just over 2hrs of your time. Would I add this one to my collection? Maybe if I got it super cheap or free. But I don't feel the need to rush adding it.



(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 3rd, 2016)

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, a review by addicted2dvd

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
Remember the good old days when anyone with a camera, a few thousand bucks, and more ambition than talent could schlep up to Bronson Canyon and quickly make a cheap sci-fi/horror movie? Well, they're back! THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA is an affectionate, meticulous re-creation of those notoriously cheesy clunkers, as a gaggle of beloved stereotypes pursue "that rarest of all radioactive elements - atmosphereum." Writer/Director Larry Blamire heads a superb cast - including Fay Masterson (Eyes Wide Shut), Andrew Parks (Donnie Brasco), Brian Howe (Catch Me If You Can) and Jennifer Blaire (The Majestic) - that faced a daunting task: having to be brilliant and terrible at the same time! It's one of the most original, clever, and hilarious comedies to come along in eons of your Earth years!

My Thoughts:
This is one of the many movies our good friend Roger sent me this month. This is an independent movie that I have heard got a lot of praise. It is an homage to the old '50s Sci-Fi movies that was made back in 2001... to the point that they actually made it in black and white. I went into this one really not expecting a lot... but was hopeful. Of course this is a very cheesy film.  But even so... it is very entertaining in an odd way. If you ever seen some of those '50s Sci-Fi films you can't help to laugh at this movie. Though I would admit this is definitely a movie you would have to be in the mood to watch. I couldn't imagine trying to watch a movie this silly and cheesy without being in the mood for it. I doubt I would enjoy it half as much.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on August 2nd, 2009)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

THE SHIELD - SEASON ONE - PILOT



Detective Vic Mackey leads an aggressive Anti-Gang unit called the Strike Team. They are ramping up their control in the Farmington district, while Captain David Aceveda is working to eliminate corruption in the precinct. Aceveda and Detective Terry Crowley team-up to bring down the Strike Team. Meanwhile, detectives, Dutch Wagenbach and Claudette Wyms, investigate a murder wherein a young girl was kidnapped by the victim's addict husband.

This episode introduces Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), old-style hardline cop with the most unorthodox crime fighting practices. This pilot illustrates how graphic, violent and gritty the series would probably become.
With the multiple cases happening across the pilot, a snitch on Mackey in his strike team, the murder of a young mother & trading of her missing 8 year-old daughter, drug busts, hookers, barbaric interviews, office politics, and pranks on Dutch, you can't fault this for entertainment.
The ending - superb, shan't spoil it for anyone, but I never saw it coming.
Cast deliver strong performaces, realistic feel, POV camera angles and a powerful script delivers a pilot that will force me to return and watch the full series.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on May 13th, 2008)