DVD Collectors Online

Revenge of a Kabuki Actor, a review by Antares

Revenge of a Kabuki Actor (1963) 81/100 - A wonderful performance from Kazuo Hasegawa and a vibrant color scheme go hand in hand in this rather quirky revenge film from Kon Ichikawa. Supposedly, Ichikawa was being punished by Daiei for being a little too self-indulgent in his previous films. So instead of playing by the rules, he pulls out all the stops and makes a visually daring and beautifully crafted vision of Kabuki theater. The story itself, plays a back seat to Ichikawa's indulgence and though it is a good story, it kind of lacks the punch needed to make it a masterpiece. I kept waiting for some kind of payoff, but it never really came. But that's OK, because Hasegawa does a magnificent job with the two roles he's given, and getting any chances to gaze upon Ayako Wakao, is time well spent. I'm pretty sure that my score for this unique film, will increase upon a second viewing. I made the mistake of choosing the 'all subtitles' option on the Anim-Eigo DVD, which not only translated the dialog, but also threw in pop up descriptions of terms and subjects that were being used in the film. Trying to read two sets of subtitles in different portions of the screen became difficult at times and I missed a few things along the way. I don't think I would recommend this to anyone virginal to Japanese cinema, but for anyone who has dabbled and found an appreciation for this kind of film making, it's definitely an interesting, conceptual film.

What the color coding means...

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 18th, 2013)

Whisky, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Uruguay
wikipedia

What We Watched:


WhiskyOverview:
The deadpan style of Jim Jarmusch meets Aki Kaurismaki's wry sensibility in this perversely funny story set in Montevideo, Uruguay.  When Jacobo, a lonely sock factory owner, hears about the impending visit of his irritatingly cheerful brother, who he hasn't seen in years, he enlists his faithful assistant Marta to pretend to be his wife.

My Thoughts:
This is another low-budget film.  In fact, Whisky is so minimalist, you could call it a no-budget film.  It is quiet, droll and subtle.  It's a deceptively simple film - a few days in the lives of three people who mostly go through the routines of their days.  But nothing is given to the viewer, who must decide for themselves whether this is comedy or tragedy, where to laugh, where to feel sad, what happens afterward.  This is a fine little film, about real life and real people, but it's for art film fans only.

Bechtel Test:  Pass 

Overall: 4/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on October 1st, 2012)

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

Synopsis: As promised, after an abydosian year Daniel returns there. Unfortunately he returns with empty hands, both Sha're and Skaara are still Goa'ulds. Surprisingly Sha're/Amonet is already there - and advanced in pregnancy. Meanwhile Jack and Sam are about to receive a medal by the president himself in Washington, D.C..

My Opinion: They have found a good way to rejoin Daniel and Sha're without removing the Goa'uld. I also liked the sham they did to Amonet, Apophis and Heru-ur.
But the most emotional moment of the episode was when you see something break in Jack. The moment, when General Hammond points out to Jack, that "It was an accident!" - you simply know, that it isn't true.

Synopsis: On an uninhabited planet - that was once inhabited - Teal'c is stung by a bug that rewrites his DNA. Colonel Maybourne from the NID takes Teal'c to a research institute to have him examined.

My Opinion: I liked this episode, too, especially the interaction between Teal'c and the little girl. The end was cool, when Teal'c runs through that old building, equipped with sun glasses and a water rifle.

Synopsis: After a dream/recollection of Sam's, SG-1 visits a planet where they supsect to find the Tok'ra - enemies of the System Lords - and they indeed find them. The Tok'ra create tunnels and caves with the help of crystals that give them cover and protection. But the Tau'ri (Goa'uld name for the Earth humans) have nothing to offer to the Tok'ra that would benefit them and that would justify an alliance.

My Opinion: The Tok'ra need hosts and Sam's dad Jacob is terminal ill. It is obvious what will happen in the second part. I liked the episode nonetheless and Martouf/Lantash is a very likeable person.

Synopsis: General Jacob Carter is visited by his daughter and General Hammond in the hospital. He finally learns why his daughter refused his proposal to get her into NASA. The host of the Tok'ra Selmak is dying and Jacob is supposed to take her place. But then the Tok'ra planet is attacked by Goa'uld motherships.

My Opinion: The introduction of Jacob/Selmak was a good idea, SG-1 has now a close connection to the Tok'ra. But it happens surprisingly often that the "primitive" Tau'ri have to save the butts of the higher developed races, in this case the Tok'ra. This was a very good two-parter.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on March 6th, 2008)