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The Devil Bat, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Devil Bat
Year of Release: 1941
Directed By: Jean Yarbrough
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien
Genre: Horror

Overview:
One of the most infamous and enjoyable of all the Bela Lugosi "Poverty Row" productions, The Devil Bat stands as an over-the-top horror tale.  Lugosi is the embittered Doctor Paul Carruthers who seeks vengeance on his employers by creating monstrous killer bats.  He begins to systematically murder his victims by offering them a sample of a specially concocted shaving lotion that attracts the flying "devil bat" with predictably lethal results.

Filmed with sly tongue-in-cheek humor and a most exciting music score provided by David Chudnow, The Devil Bat ranks among Bela Lugosi's fondly remembered and best low budget fright films of the '40s.

My Thoughts:
This was a cheap, cheesy, fun little film.  Cheap because this is a  Poverty Row film from PRC.  The lack of budget is completely obvious not only in the effects, but also the sets, the average direction, and the lack of any name actors except Lugosi.  Cheesy because what else can you call a film about a mad perfume maker who raises bats that he enlarges with electricity?  And fun, because Bela Lugosi is a superb actor who gives it his all.  He's the reason to watch the film.  His fellow actors are adequate enough, but none of them has even a quarter of Lugosi's presence or talent.  It's really a crime that his talent wasn't recognized by major studios in his own day.  Recommended for fans of ultra-low-budget monster movies or fans of Lugosi.  I had a lot of fun watching it.  Anyone else may find this little film a bit too shabby for their taste.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 2.5/5

(From Danae's 2013 Horror Marathon on October 1st, 2013)

Iron Man, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Iron Man: Ultimate 2-Disc Edition
Year: 2008
Director: Jon Favreau
Rating: PG-13
Length: 126 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Robert Downey, Jr.
Terrence Howard
Jeff Bridges
Gwyneth Paltrow
Leslie Bibb
Shaun Toub

Plot:
Lift off with high-speed, high-flying action in this Ultimate 2-disc Edition that takes you inside the suit of Marvel's invincible superhero for the ultimate Iron Man experience!

After surviving an unexpected attack in enemy territory, jet-setting industrialist Tony Stark builds a high-tech suit of armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. Straight from the pages of the legendary comic book, Iron Man is a hero who is built - not born - to be unlike any other!

Extras:
Scene Access
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Gallery
Robert Downey Jr screentest

My Thoughts:
Iron Man was always one of my favorites growing up. I used to watch the cartoons all the time. But until this movie I never really seen an origin story for him.  And I must say I enjoyed every minute of it! This is my second time watching the movie since I got the DVD. And I loved it just as much this time as I did the first. I will admit I was concerned when I first heard that Robert Downey, Jr. got the roll of Tony Stark/Iron Man.... since even though he is a decent enough actor... he never really impressed me all that much. But I must admit... I really liked him in this movie. He seemed to nail the role for me. Sure there was some things that was really unbelievable in the storyline... like being able to create the suit he did in captivity... without the captors being any the wiser about it. But you know... I really didn't mind it. It worked for me. For anyone watching the movie for the first time... or may have missed it when you did watch the movie. Look for a final scene after the end credits role... very cool!



(From Marvel Movie Marathon on June 27th, 2010)

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

17. Eternity (2000-04-04)
Writer: Tracey Stern (Writer)
Director: Regis B. Kimble, David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Tamara Gorski (Rebecca Lowell), Michael Mantell (Oliver Simon), Robin Meyers (Masseuse)

Nice to Angelus again. Although I felt his performance a little weak here.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on July 4th, 2009)