DVD Collectors Online

Family Man, a review by Rich

15/12

family man



Nicolas Cage stars as Jack Campbell, a career-driven workaholic who has everything: an exciting job, a Ferarri, a closetful of Zegna suits, and the attention of any woman he wants. His life changes when, after working a full day on Christmas Eve, he intervenes in a convenience store holdup. The apparent criminal, Cash (Don Cheadle), speaks to Jack in epigrams about his satisfaction with life. When Jack wakes up the next day, he's suddenly living in a New Jersey suburb, where he's married to his college sweetheart (Tea Leoni) and is the father of two children. At first he is aghast, but Jack soon warms to his new life even though he knows that it cannot last. Unabashedly sentimental, the film is also a great comedy, as Cage gives a superb performance that makes the most of his character's obvious disgust with his suburban surroundings and even allows for a few moments of hysterics reminiscent of VAMPIRE'S KISS. Filled with great performances (notably Ms. Leoni's role as Jack's wife), inspired comedy, and a premise that suggests a slightly darker version of classics like A CHRISTMAS CAROL and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE FAMILY MAN is an affecting and entertaining holiday film.

I had begun watching this film some time ago, and stopped after 10 minutes or so for some reason I fail to remember. Glad to have now watched it the whole way through as I found it an entertaining story, well acted, and an interesting scenario (what if?) that we probably have all considered at some point in our own lives.
Don't expect fireworks from what is a modern fairy-tale, but it is a feel good movie that works and an ideal xmas viewing 



(From 25 Days of Christmas on December 16th, 2008)

Raumpatrouille Orion - Rücksturz ins Kino, a review by Achim

Title:Year: 2003
Director: Michael Braun, Theo Mezger
Rating: FSK-6
Length: 89 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, German

Stars:Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes
Music Videos
DVD-ROM Content

Because of his escapades the space warrior Commander Cliff Allister McLane and his crew are transferred to Space Patrol. But it gets worse. The Galactic Secret Service puts the blonde Russian Tamara Jagellovsk as watchdog on his side. A highly explosive mixture on board of the Orion. When mean FROGS (hostile space ships without galactic serial number [-> direct translation from the German) are taking course to earth, they not only face panicking defenders but als secret accomplices. Only the Orion has a tiny chance to carry out Plan DX 17 "Save Earth!". But for that, first Mclane and Tamara must pull themselves together...
(sorry for the "wooden" translation)

An iron, pencil sharpeners and water faucets on the dashboard: this is "Spaceship Orion". Made for super-cheap and fairly seriously at the time (1966!), although tongue mostly firmly planted in cheek this TV series is a cult favorite in Germany.

This movie is put together from scenes of the 7 episode strong series and is surprisingly cohesive. Most stuff of this series is involuntarily funny to the "modern eye" and as such the Orion is still going considerably strong today. The inventive set design, the weird dances going on in the background and the strange dialog, all this has almost turned this into a comedy over the years. The acting is adequate and adds to the feeling. heck, at times I was not even sure if they meant to make a comedy in the first place, almost 40 years ago.

The movie DVD comes with an English subtitle track; the TV series unfortunately not.

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 16th, 2009)

[Rerun Marathon] Spaced, a review by Tom

9/10

Brian's mother thinking he is a lawyer was fun. Also the messenger friend standing in the middle of the street because of the traffic light for the blind

(From [Rerun Marathon] Spaced on December 25th, 2007)