DVD Collectors Online

ParaNorman, a review by Danae Cassandra

ParaNorman
Year of Release:  2012
Starring:  Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck
Directed By:  Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Genre:  Adventure, Comedy, Horror

Overview:
From the makers of Coraline comes the story of Norman, a boy who must use his ability to see and speak with the dead to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

In addition to spooky zombies, he'll also have to take on mysterious ghosts, wily witches and, worst of all, clueless grown-ups. But this young ghoul whisperer will soon find his paranormal abilities pushed to their otherworldly limits. Featuring the voice talents of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman, it's a frightfully funny and magically thrilling adventure for the whole family in eye-popping stop-motion.

My Thoughts:
This was a fun film to watch over at our friend Katrina's house.  I must say one of the things Hollywood is doing right these days is animated films.  There have really been a lot of great ones in recent years.  ParaNorman is no exception.  It as very well-done on every level:  good animation, clever dialogue, plenty of humor  and scares, a genuinely creepy atmosphere, a couple of twists in the plot that you don't see coming, and great underlying message.

Lots and lots of fun - recommended for everyone except very small children.  Might be a bit dark for them.  Safe for a movie night for a group where people have drastically different tastes in films.

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall:  3.75/5

(From ParaNorman on June 3rd, 2013)

The Passion of the Christ, a review by Rich

The Passion of the Christ



From Academy Award®-Winning director Mel Gibson comes a profound story of courage and sacrifice depicting the final twelve hours in the life of Jesus Christ.
Featuring stunning cinematography and an inspired performance by Jim Caviezel, The Passion of the Christ is a triumphant and uncompromising filmmaking achievement.

Brutal, graphic, relentless and compelling. It is beautifully shot, but the level of violence is so extreme you become numbed by it, and I had a bad taste in my mouth after watching this. The Aramaic and Latin dialogue is not distracting if you are happy with subtitles, and the acting from the whole cast is top drawer. It is certainly moving in it's depiction of a man being tortured and killed in such an extreme nature, however Gibson perhaps lingers too much on this graphic display of suffering.
Not sure why there was such controversy over this film, perhaps the depiction of jews as evil antagonists, the Romans (aside from Pilate and his wife) as brutal drunkard sadists, or the 'historical accuracy'? The flashbacks of Jesus of Nazareths early life are far too infrequent reliefs from the violence, too short, and haphazard. When the cruxifixion finally takes place you are so used to the brutality that it has less shock appeal than I would have thought, and the ending could not come quick enough.
I am glad I have watched this, I can't say it was a pleasure, more of an experience.
 


**Monica Bellucci mini-marathon



(From Riches Random Reviews on August 25th, 2009)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

21. Blind Date (2000-05-16)
Writer: Jeannine Renshaw (Writer)
Director: Thomas J. Wright
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald), Thomas Burr (Lee Mercer), Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan), Sam Anderson (Holland Manners), J. August Richards (Charles Gunn), Jennifer Badger Martin (Vanessa Weeks), Keilana Smith (Mind Reader #1), Dawn Suggs (Mind Reader #2), Charles Constant (Security Center Guard), Scott Berman (Vendor), Derek Anthony (Dying Black Man), Rishi Kumar (Blind Child #1), Karen Lu (Blind Child #2), Alex Buck (Blind Child #3)

Angel meets female Daredevil. An okay episode but nothing really exciting. And why is it so easy for Angel to break into Wolfram & Hart from the sewers? They stretch the fact so much in the show, that Angel is essentially able to get anywhere he likes by going through the sewers.

Rating:



22. To Shanshu in LA (2000-05-23)
Writer: David Greenwalt (Writer)
Director: David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald), Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan), Sam Anderson (Holland Manners), Todd Stashwick (Vocah), Carey Cannon (Female Oracle), Randall Slavin (Male Oracle), David Herman (David Nabbit), J. August Richards (Charles Gunn), Julie Benz (Darla), Louise Claps (Homeless Woman), Daren Rice (Uniform #1), Jon Ecklund (Uniform #2), Lia Johnson (Vendor), Robyn Cohen (Nurse), Susan Savage (Doctor), John Eddins (Monk #1), Gerard O'Donnell (Monk #2), Brahman Turner (Young Tough Guy)

An okay episode, but as a season finale too boring. Nice to see Darla again.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on July 23rd, 2009)