DVD Collectors Online

The Fall of the House of Usher, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Fall of the House of Usher
Year of Release: 1960
Directed By: Roger Corman
Starring: Vincent Price, Mark Damon, Myrna Fahey, Harry Ellerbe
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Legendary scare-master Vincent Price serves up a diabolical nightmare dripping with "brooding evil and sinister suspense" (Film DailyMy Thoughts:
I love Vincent Price. Love, love, love him. He's, like, one of my all-time favorites. This, also, has to be in my top 5 movies of his. He's a wonderful actor, and he does a wonderful job here as the melancholy, mad Roderick Usher. His supporting players do a fine job as well. Yes, it's a slow moving film, but once it gets started it only builds to crescendo.

Corman's staff all do a great job here too. The sets and costumes look terrific, and Price's makeup lends him an entirely different look than one is used to seeing for him. The house has a truly eerie feel, and is really the fifth character of the film. If I would have one criticism, it's that I would have liked more of a focus on Price's doomed Roderick, and less on Mark Damon's hero. That could just be my Price fangirl talking.

Watched For: Scavenger Hunt 19, Hoop-tober 3.0, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 8/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 6th, 2016)

Licence to Kill, a review by Tom

Title: Licence to Kill
Year: 1989
Director: John Glen
Rating: FSK-16
Length: 127 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.45
Audio: German: Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital Surround, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, German, Spanish

Stars:
Timothy Dalton
Carey Lowell
Robert Davi
Talisa Soto
Anthony Zerbe

Extras:
Commentary
Featurettes
Music Videos
Photo Gallery
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailers

In my opinion, this movie takes itself too serious for a James Bond movie. Almost no light-hearted moment in it (except when Q is on-screen). It is a non-stop action movie without much witty banter.
Plus side: We have two hot Bond girls in it.

Rating:

(From James Bond Marathon on May 16th, 2009)

Smallville Marathon #2, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: During a charity event someone steals a very expensive necklace from Martha. Lionel borrowed it to her for that event and Clark wants to prevent that his family ows him anything. Thus he goes on the hunt for this mysterious thief who was dubbed "Green Arrow Bandit" by Lois. But this Green Arrow is no ordinary thief.

My Opinion: I really liked that episode and I find it always funny when someone gets the impression that Clark and Lois might be an item. I also liked the gadgets that the Oliver possesses. He should team up with Bruce Wayne. But I also liked to see that even Clark admits that the world isn't black/white or right/wrong at all times.

Synopsis: As it turns out, Lex and Oliver have been together at the same boarding school and Oliver was bullying Lex who in turn had only one friend. Now ten years later they meet there again as alumni. But then a freak accident happens and kills one of Oliver's old friends. And then the next one dies. And then Lex nearly gets killed. It seems that someone wants to settle a score.

My Opinion: It's interesting to see how such a terrible event change a person's personality - or how it didn't. I am asking myself: How much truth was in Lex's words when he said he wanted to found a company with Duncan, when he would betray him the moment would get the chance. Back then Lex decided to switch his allegiance away from his friend towards power. From that perspective I don't understand why he ever wanted to be friends with Clark's.

Synopsis: A Phantom Zone being (a "Zoner") is on its way to Smallville, to kill Kal-El. But for this he needs to feed on radioactive energy - or the energy core Zod has used and which is now in Lex's possession. But Clark doesn't have to face this enemy alone. Raya is there to help him. But Raya can do even more. She can tell him about his father and his father's goals and about the Fortress - unless both get killed by the Zoner.

My Opinion: Once again Clark has lost a female friend who knew of his secret. It seems that it isn't meant to be. Somehow I like it that Lana questions each and every visit of Clark's. It sharpens her senses and she will need them for Lex. And it also keeps them both apart. This way Clark can focus more on the important issues.

(From Smallville Marathon #2 on June 15th, 2008)