DVD Collectors Online

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity, a review by Antares

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959) 84/100 - At the time this film was made, only 14 years had elapsed since the end of WWII. This second film in the series, and most definitely the final film must have opened a lot of old wounds and pissed off a lot of the old guard, samurai warrior class in Japan. Kobayashi trashes every facet of the militaristic and bushido doctrine, painting the military hierarchy as lecherous, thieving, maniacal marionettes. In some ways, I thought of this second film as Kobayashi's Full Metal Jacket. The first half is spent in basic training, while the second half is spent in the front lines in Manchuria. But, where I liked only the first half of the Kubrick film, the whole of this film enthralled me, because it showed what it was like to be a front line soldier in the Japanese army. And it's pretty clear that Kobayashi places all of the blame for Japan's loss in the war, to the tunnel vision mentality of the Samurai warrior descendents who made up the officer corp, looking for a bit of the glory to honor their ancestry.

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 February 26th, 2014)

The Body Snatcher, a review by addicted2dvd

The Body Snatcher (1945/United States) Warner Home Video, Turner Entertainment Director: Robert Wise Writing: Robert Louis Stevenson (Original Material By), Philip MacDonald (Screenwriter), Val Lewton [Carlos Keith] (Screenwriter) Length: 77 min. Rating: NR Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:
Boris Karloff as Cabman John Gray
Bela Lugosi as Joseph
Henry Daniell as Dr. Wolfe "Toddy"McFarlane
Edith Atwater as Meg Camden

Plot:
 Boris Karloff plays the title role in the Lewton adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Body Snatcher, directed with subtle calculation by versatile Robert Wise. A doctor (Henry Daniell) needs cadavers for medical studies and Karloff is willing to provide them - one way or another. Don't miss his scene with fellow horror icon Bela Lugosi.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Closed Captioned

This is my favorite film in the "Val Lewton Horror Collection" box set. It is a film I enjoyed every second of. The thing about this horror film is it is something that can and probably did really happen. This is a true classic with an amazing cast. If you never seen this one before... it is one I highly recommend. A must see.



Scorecard:
TV Eps: 4
Movies: 2

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon on October 2nd, 2014)

Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

1. Sins of the Past
Xena vows to change her evil ways - then must face off against a warlord who's determined to keep her on the wrong side of the law.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed watching this pilot episode again. It is a good introduction to most the characters. But while it touched on it... not so much for Xena herself. You wouldn't be lost if you never saw her in Hercules... but it definitely would help.

My Rating:

2. Chariots of Fire
After being befriended by a homesteader named Darius, Xena takes on a bloodthirsty warlord and his son, who have mercilessly pillaged Darius's community in an effort to drive the settlers off their land.

My Thoughts:
Another episode I enjoyed. In this one both Xena and Gabrielle found someone they probably could be happy spending the rest of their lives with. But they felt the need to continue their journey and in Xena's case continue to make up for her past and right wrongs wherever she could find them.

My Rating:

3. Dreamworker
Xena enters a mystical realm known as the Dreamscape to save Gabrielle, who has been taken there and forced to complete a series of tasks that will make her worthy of becoming the bride of the dream god, Morpheus.

My Thoughts:
This episode is definitely different then the previous two... but is a fin episode. I like it that Gabrielle is interested in learning to fight as well. As I said... I like strong women. But I also like that Xena doesn't want to teach her to fight. It goes along with the character. She knows how fighting and killing effected her life... and she don't want that for her friend.

My Rating:

4. Cradle of Hope
Xena and Gabrielle set out to find the parents of an abandoned baby, and discover that the infant's been marked for death due to a prophecy declaring him a future threat to a local king.

My Thoughts:
This show really has been consistantly very good. Of course it is still early into the series yet with only four episodes down. While the story about the baby was good... in this episode I enjoyed the side episode a little more. The side story dealing with the loss and attempts to get back Pandora's Box.

My Rating:

(From Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon on November 19th, 2009)