DVD Collectors Online

Groundhog Day, a review by Jon

Groundhog Day
5 out of 5

Bill Murray is Phil, a cynical weatherman forced to report on Groundhog Day with his cheery producer (Andie McDowell). They're unable to return home because of a blizzard, but the next morning, Phil has bigger problems. He's not only trapped in the town, he's trapped in the same day.

February 2nd? What the hell, I thought! This is a fantastic film that is strong enough to be counted alongside It's A Wonderful Life. It's sold as a romantic comedy, but delivers so much more. But importantly, it works as well as any modern rom-com, with Bill Murray possibly at his best; he delivers all the one-liners and convinces in the many emotions Phil encounters on his years in the town. Probably years anyway. It's never explained or detailed, an important trait shared with Capra's fantasy. The reason and the conclusion are the important things, not the how. Certainly the character seems tailor made for him while Andie MacDowell is effortless in the role, which is amazing as she's done very little else.

It's a brilliant premise that allows all sorts of interpretations, from comic to romantic, via depression and suicide! And Bill is right there in every one, pitch perfect. Apparently the original script started in the middle, with Phil already underway in his nightmare, but here Hollywood convention and starting at the... well, start, is the far better idea. Gorgeous film.

(From Jon's Random Reviews on February 3rd, 2009)

The Awakening, a review by addicted2dvd

The Awakening (2011/United Kingdom) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Universal Studios Home Entertainment Director: Nick Murphy Writing: Stephen Volk (Screenwriter), Nick Murphy (Screenwriter) Length: 108 min. Rating: Rated R : Some Violence and Sexuality/Nudity Video: Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Stars:
Rebecca Hall (1982) as Florence Cathcart
Dominic West as Robert Mallory
Imelda Staunton as Maud Hill
Isaac Hempstead Wright [Isaac Hempstead-Wright] as Tom Hill
Shaun Dooley as Malcolm McNair
Joseph Mawle as Edward Judd

Plot:
They say, the boy was scared to death. When the death of a child at a boarding school is blamed on a ghost, hoax exposer Florence Cathcart is certain that science and reason can explain it. But the truth she discovers is more terrifying than she could ever imagine, and soon the ghost hunter becomes the hunted. Starring Rebecca Hall (The Town), Dominic West (John Carter) and Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter films), The Awakening is a terrifying mystery filled with haunting twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes

This is one we watched the other day and I forgot to write the review for till now. I found this one to be an entertaining... even if confusing film. It is a good story and has some good atmosphere. And you do leave the film still with some unanswered questions.  Though I do wonder if a second viewing wouldn't help with that at least some.



Scorecard:
TV Eps: 27
Movies: 27

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon on October 28th, 2014)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Ellen: Season One (1994/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia A&E Television Networks, Newvideo (United States) Length: 301 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Plot:
With her good-natured smile and fast-talking wit, Ellen DeGeneres lights up audiences from coast to coast. The happy-go-luckiest woman in showbiz today, DeGeneres has graduated from the stand-up comedy circuit to become one of the Top Ten Comedians as named by Enertainment WeeklyThese Friends of Mine, this rarely-seen debut season of ELLEN stars DeGeneres as mildly neurotic Los Angeles bookseller Ellen Morgan, whose nervous motor-mouthing often gets her in trouble, especially with her best friends Adam (Arye Gross), Anita (Maggie Wheeler), and Holly (Holly Fulger).


Ellen
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Neal Marlens (Writer), Carol Black (Writer), David Rosenthal (Writer)
Director: Neal Marlens
Cast: Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen Morgan), Holly Fulger (Holly), Maggie Wheeler (Anita), Arye Gross (Adam), William Bumiller (Roger), Matt Landers (Photographer), Giovanni Ribisi (Cashier), Duke Moosekian (Man in Line), Lois Viscoli (Depressed Woman)

An enjoyable episode of a rather average sitcom. One that got retooled after the first season. Wouldn't have been for Ellen's coming out during the series, I think it would have been mostly forgotten.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on April 10th, 2011)