DVD Collectors Online

Hi-De-Ho, a review by Danae Cassandra

Hi-De-Ho
Year of Release: 1947
Directed By: Josh Binney
Starring: Cab Calloway, Ida James, Jeni Le Gon
Genre: Musical

Overview:
Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late?

My Thoughts:
The plot is really thin and none of the performers can act.  Seriously, they are all about as good as the cast of a high school play.  Fortunately that plot only takes up half the film, interspersed with music.  The second half is all music, and the music is the reason to watch this.  What Calloway lacks in acting chops he makes up for in fabulous jive. 

If this was just the music I'd rate the film higher, but the plot parts really drag.  Recommended only for the music - and hit fast-forward when those aren't on.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.5/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 20th, 2016)

Paranormal Activity, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Paranormal Activity
Year: 2009
Director: Oren Peli
Rating: NR
Length: 86 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Katie Featherston as Katie
Micah Sloat as Micah
Mark Fredrichs as Psychic
Amber Armstrong as Amber
Ashley Palmer as Girl on Internet

Plot:
YOU DEMANDED IT and now the surprise hit critics call "one of the scariest movies of all time"* can be experienced in the most terrifying place of all...your home.

After a young, middle-class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially while they sleep.

Paranormal Activity builds suspense night after night all the way to the shocking ending. Roger Ebert calls it "truly scary."** Go ahead, WE DARE YOU TO WATCH IT AT HOME...at least you can leave the lights on.


*bloody-disgusting.com
**Roger Ebert, rogerebert.com, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
Before I bought this movie all I heard about it is how scary it is. So I figured I would set myself up right going into it. I closed all the blinds... turned off the lights getting it nice and dark in the room and then started the movie. I really wasn't sure if I should go with the theatrical version of the unrated version with the alternate ending. Since the alternate ending was available separately as well I decided to go with the Theatrical version and then afterward I would watch the alternate ending.

After watching the movie I will say I liked it... quite a bit in fact. Scary? Not surprisingly it didn't scare me at all. Maybe a slight chill in one or 2 scenes... possibly 1 or 2 jump scenes... but actual scares... not at all. But as I have said before... I haven't been scared by a horror movie in many... MANY years. But even so... I enjoyed the movie.  After watching both endings... I can't decide which ending I prefer. Both versions had their good points. Any time I watch this  again I will have trouble deciding which version I will want to watch.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Anything Goes on February 26th, 2010)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

22. Not Fade Away
Original Air Date: 5/19/2004
The gang prepares to attack the true powers of evil by attempting to take down the Circle of the Black Thorn - a battle none of them expect to survive.

Guest Stars:
Vincent Kartheiser
Christian Kane
Sarah Thompson
Adam Baldwin

My Thoughts:
And this is it... the end of the series. I must admit... I loved the fight between Angel and Hamilton. While it made for a hell of an ending... I so wanted more... so wanted to see what happened next. I always wished for a reunion movie or something to continue the story... but that just wasn't meant to be. But this series definitely ended for a hell of a bang!

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 25th, 2010)