DVD Collectors Online

Whisper of the Heart, a review by dfmorgan

Title: Whisper of the Heart
Original Title: Mimi wo Sumaseba
Year: 1995
Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
Rating: G
Length: 111 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Youko Honna
Kazuo Takahashi
Takashi Tachibana
Shigeru Muroi

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Storyboard Comparisons
Closed Captioned


I had forgotten what a gloriously gentle romance this film was until I rewatched it this afternoon. Whilst Hayao Miyazaki produced and wrote the screenplay for this there are aspects that show that he didn't have a hand in the drawing, the main one being the wind and its effects. In this film the wind does ripple the characters clothing and hair but only on few occasions did it cause ripples in the background trees, grasses, flowers or waters. However that does not detract from the fact that I think this is a wonderful film. The film starts with Olive Neutron Bomb Olivia Newton-John singing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" which Shizuku, a junior/high school teenager, is translating for her best friend Yuko. Shizuku likes to read books and is intrigued when she notices that all the books she has recently read were also borrowed by the same person Seiji Amasawa. On a journey to the library she notices a cat on the train and so starts an adventure as she follows the cat to an old shop. Part of this adventure involves Shizuku finding herself and another part is for these young teens finding love. I said it in my first sentence and I'll say it again here, a glorious film with a gentle romance.

A wonderful 5 from me


(From dfmorgan's Studio Ghibli Marathon on July 21st, 2010)

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Beginning, a review by Tom

Title: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Beginning
Year: 2002
Director: Gary Hartle
Rating: NR
Length: 76 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles:

Stars:
Cam Clarke
Kathleen Barr
Lisa Ann Beley
Garry Chalk
Brian Dobson

Plot:
Years ago, two leaders battled for Eternia, a fatastical land where compassion struggles against greed. Where one became the good King Randor, the other grew into the monster Skeletor who plans to rise once again and take Eternia. To protect the kingdom, the mystical powers of Castle Greyskull chose a hero - Randor's lazy, impulsive teenaged son Adam. Although a little relucant to take on a new secret idenity, Adam may not mind the name He-man if it can help his father.


After watching the 80s motion picture, I wanted to rewatch a decent He-Man movie. These are the first three episodes of the series, which originally aired as one pilot movie.
This movie tells the origin story of He-Man, something we never got in the original Filmation series. It is a great introduction to all the characters. And you already see, that the makers know their stuff.
One thing is needing to get used to when you know the original series: Seems that gravity on Eternia is different, as everybody seems to be able to jump real high.

This lead to a fun video clip I found once, where they put He-Man footage to the Gummibears theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nR6GRrXuNc

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on June 11th, 2009)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. Underneath
Original Air Date: 4/14/2004
Angel takes Gunn and Spike with his on a mission to rescue Lindsay from the hell dimension created by the Senior Partners, totally unaware that Gunn has his own hidden agenda.

Guest Stars:
Christian Kane
Sarah Thompson
Adam Baldwin

My Thoughts:
And here I was thinking we saw the last of Lindsey. It is a good episode. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I liked how they did the hell dimension that the Senior Partners sent Lindsey to.

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 24th, 2010)