DVD Collectors Online

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a review by Dragonfire

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory What wonders await you in Willy Wonka's factory? Explore fields of soft minty sugar grass in the Chocolate Room...Sail along the Chocolate River in a pink sugar boat...Experiment with Everlasting Gobstoppers in the Inventing Room...Observe talented squirrels in the Nut Room and travel to the Television Room by a glass elevator. You'll find a lot that's funny, a little that's mysterious...and an adventure as sweet as a satisfying as a Wonka Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight bar. This dazzling film adapted from Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore, is your Golden Ticket to a world so inventive, so imaginative, you won't want to miss a delicious moment!

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I was in the mood to watch this one again recently.  I know some people don't care for this version or how Johnny Depp played Willie Wonka, but I really liked it.  I just find the movie fun and entertaining even after seeing it several times.  I only saw the original for the first time after seeing this one.  The versions are a little different.

I really enjoy the movie and think it is very well done.



I am pretty sure I posted about this one here before.  I also posted a longer review on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater originally.  I'll share the link to that review again.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on August 13th, 2011)

Revenge of a Kabuki Actor, a review by Antares

Revenge of a Kabuki Actor (1963) 81/100 - A wonderful performance from Kazuo Hasegawa and a vibrant color scheme go hand in hand in this rather quirky revenge film from Kon Ichikawa. Supposedly, Ichikawa was being punished by Daiei for being a little too self-indulgent in his previous films. So instead of playing by the rules, he pulls out all the stops and makes a visually daring and beautifully crafted vision of Kabuki theater. The story itself, plays a back seat to Ichikawa's indulgence and though it is a good story, it kind of lacks the punch needed to make it a masterpiece. I kept waiting for some kind of payoff, but it never really came. But that's OK, because Hasegawa does a magnificent job with the two roles he's given, and getting any chances to gaze upon Ayako Wakao, is time well spent. I'm pretty sure that my score for this unique film, will increase upon a second viewing. I made the mistake of choosing the 'all subtitles' option on the Anim-Eigo DVD, which not only translated the dialog, but also threw in pop up descriptions of terms and subjects that were being used in the film. Trying to read two sets of subtitles in different portions of the screen became difficult at times and I missed a few things along the way. I don't think I would recommend this to anyone virginal to Japanese cinema, but for anyone who has dabbled and found an appreciation for this kind of film making, it's definitely an interesting, conceptual film.

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 July 18th, 2013)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

1.02 Diefenbaker's Day Off (1994-09-29)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Kathy Slevin (Writer)
Director: Joe Scanlan
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Beau Starr (Lt. Harding Welsh), Daniel Kash (Detective Louis Gardino), Tony Craig (Detective Jack Huey), Catherine Bruhier (Elaine), Madolyn Smith-Osborne (Mackenzie King), Brendan Kelly (Charlie), Azura Bates (Lucy), Tony Cacciotti (Vince), David Eisner (Dr. Howard), Marvin Karon (Warren Knoop), Angela Moore (Head Nurse), Richard Hardacre (Mercedes Driver), Eric Fink (Maitre 'D), William Dunlop (Irishman), Kevin Frank (Animal Control Officer), Rebecca McLaughlin (Dr. Mason)

Another fun episode. It's nice to see that Fraser can count on Ray (aquisition of the "wolf" license).

I never get tired hearing the opening theme song.

Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on June 23rd, 2009)