DVD Collectors Online

Mamma Mia!: The Movie, a review by Danae Cassandra

Mamma Mia!
Year of Release: 2008
Directed By: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Musical

Overview:
Sophie has just one wish to make her wedding perfect: to have her father walk her down the aisle. Now she just has to find out who he is. Join the music, laughter and fun of the irresistibly charming Mamma Mia! The MovieMy Thoughts:
This is sweet, frothy fun.  It's a bit campy and goofy, but it makes it work.  I'm still not convinced Amanda Seyfried can act, but the ensemble cast masks that.  Christine Baranski's character is basically the chick she played in Cybil.  Some of the singing is not that great; a number of these actors sound like regular people singing.  But it's no worse than some other musicals I can think of.  The setting is gorgeous and the film moves quickly from one number to the next quickly.  It doesn't seem like a two-hour film to me.  Not great cinema by any stretch, but a really enjoyable film.  

Unlike some other folks I don't need the resolution to some questions, as I'm happy with the decision that having the answer doesn't matter.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 7th, 2016)

The Ghost Goes West, a review by Antares

The Ghost Goes West (1935) 3/5 - I'm a huge fan of Robert Donat, and I've yet to see him put in a less than stellar performance in any film. As usual, he makes it look effortless playing a modern day Scottish clan leader named Donald Glourie and his deceased ancestor Murdoch, who happens to haunt the castle Donald resides in. But that being said, the rest of the film is very lightweight fluff, with a pretty threadbare premise to its story. Eugene Pallette, another of my favorites, has very little to do, except look befuddled, which is a waste of his talents. One bright spot is Jean Parker, a cute, waifish slice of adorable who I couldn't take my eyes off of whenever she was onscreen. After I finished the film, I went straight to IMDB to see what kind of career she had, and unfortunately, this was her high water mark. The story meanders it way through very lightweight comedy and the resolution to the plot is predictable early on. If it came on TCM, I'd watch it again, just to catch another glimpse of Parker, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

(From Antares' Short Summations on January 23rd, 2012)

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

05. Rm w/a Vu (1999-11-02)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Greenwalt (Created By), David Greenwalt (Writer), Jane Espenson (Writer)
Director: Scott McGinnis
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Beth Grant (Maude Pearson), Marcus Redmond (Griff), Denney Pierce (Vic), Greg Collins (Keith), Corey Klemow (Young Man), Lara McGrath (Manager), B.J. Porter (Dennis)

A good episode. I like how Cordelia refuses to give up the apartment even if it has an evil ghost. And I always liked the idea of Phantom Dennis.
In this episode it became quite obvious though, that we still have a very small ensemble cast. Only three people. In later seasons Angel is known for having a very big set of regular characters.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on March 28th, 2009)