DVD Collectors Online

5 Dolls for an August Moon, a review by Jimmy

Title: 5 Dolls for an August Moon (1970)

Genre: Murder Mystery
Director: Mario Bava
Rating: Unrated
Length: 1h21
Video: Widescreen
Audio: Italian
Subtitles: English

Stars:Plot:
Bava's ultra-mod 1970 murder mystery remains one of the most critically divisive and little-seen films of his career. Bava imbues the derivative script with a sly streak of black humor and a steady stream of eye-popping visuals, including a va-va-voom performance by giallo goddess Edwige Fenech. Never released theatrically in America, it has since become a favorite of Bava fans worldwide.

Now that's more what I like, a well done sexy Giallo that isn't the most brutal one but certainly complicated. What we have is essentially is murders that happen in a close room (ok it's an island, but this is mostly the same) and we know that the murderer is one of the 10 protagonists. Evidently you will make a lot wrong guess before knowing who is the killer and this is the essence of a good Giallo, a genre where the Italians are the masters. The end was a surprise for me the first time and I've appreciated it and I've seen the hints that explain it (I've seen the movie 3 times it sure help). Great performance from Howard Ross, Maurice Poli (wait to see him in Kidnapped

(From Mario Bava marathon on July 5th, 2009)

XX/XY, a review by Rich

Title: XX/XY

Runtime:91
Certificate:R
Year:2002
Genres:Drama, Romance, Suspense/Thriller

Plot:They gave in to their deepest desires, but can they overcome their biggest fears? Mark Ruffalo (Windtalkers), Kathleen Robertson ("girls club") and Maya Stange (Garage Days) deliver stunning performances in this steamy, highly charged film that explores the passions of youth...and their inevitable price.
When New York animator Coles (Ruffalo) meets Sam (Stange), the attraction is immediate. And when Sam invites her hot friend Thea (Robertson) to bed with them, it's a dream come true...until ugly secrets destroy the carefree threesome. Ten years later, their very different lives converge again and Coles realizes how much he still loves Sam. but can he risk everything to tell her the naked truth?

My Review:
Moody and dull, a film more in love with itself than in entertaining its viewers.
The menage a trois beginning and the associated partying and emotional outbursts this causes creates a good beginning, but the movie slips into a boring dialogue and obvious conclusion for over an hour to follow. It is an appealing and attractive cast, but none of them are stretched and appear pretty limp with such a humourless script. The characters become too alike, there is no point or message conveyed, and the film loses its way.
Tries to be too intelligent, and lost this passenger after 20 minutes.


(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 25th, 2009)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

3rd Rock from the Sun: Season One (1996/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Network (United Kingdom) Length: 433 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Plot:
An alien expedition is boldly going where no aliens have gone before: Earth! Taking on human identities, these visitors are in for culture shock of astronomical proportions as they encounter our planet's bizarre ways. Stranger still are their new physical forms, which constantly amaze them with surprises like puberty and passion, as when the High Commander (John Lithgow) becomes hopelessly infatuated with his Earthling co-worker (Jane Curtin). With sophisticated satire and wild farce, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN offers a hilarious look at our world from an outrageously new point of view.

3rd Rock From the Sun
1.01 Brains and Eggs
Writer: Bonnie Turner (Writer), Terry Turner (Writer)
Director: James Burrows
Cast: John Lithgow (Dick Solomon), Kristen Johnston (Sally Solomon), French Stewart (Harry Solomon), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tommy Solomon), Jane Curtin (Mary Albright), Elmarie Wendel (Mrs. Dubcek), Simbi Khali (Nina), Ian Lithgow (Leon), David DeLuise (Bug), Chris Hogan (Pitman), Danielle Nicolet (Caryn), Jennifer Rhodes (Mrs. Sumner), Marne Patterson (Volleyball Girl), Susan Leslie (Kissing Woman), Dan Gilvezan (Radio DJ)

This continously funny series had already a great start. The characters were already strong and didn't change much later on (except of course for Tommy who did grow-up a little ).


Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on March 24th, 2011)