DVD Collectors Online

Arcadia of My Youth, a review by Danae Cassandra

Arcadia of My Youth (Waga seishun no Arcadia)
Year of Release: 1982
Directed By: Tomoharu Katsumata
Starring: Makio Inoue, Kei Tomiyama, Reiko Tajima, Reiko Mutoo, Yuriko Yamamoto
Genre: Science-Fiction, Action, Anime

Overview:
Renowned Manga author Matsumoto Leiji's greatest creation, Captain Harlock, comes to the big screen in this magnificent film.

Set against the conquest of Earth by an alien empire, and drawing parallels to the post-WW2 occupation of Japan, Captain Harlock, together with those who will become his lifelong friends, battle against tyranny no matter what the cost.

As they fight the evil Illumidus Empire, the message of the film shines through: that one must stand up for one's beliefs, even when everyone else believes that slavery and suffering are preferable to the sharper pains endured by those who fight for freedom.

My Thoughts:
Old-school classic anime film that's still well worth watching.  Yes, the hand-drawn animation style looks dated, but so does most any animation from the 80's.  Don't be put off by this, there's a good story here and a lot of good things to take a way from this film. 

War is hell, but even an enemy may be a man of honor.  Collaborators, who prefer safe slavery to a fight, shortsightedly refuse to see that what the enemy does to others will come to them as well.  Valor, courage, honor and integrity are worth dying for.  Stand up for your beliefs; stand against tyranny.  Never submit to subjugation.  A life worth living is one you believe in; follow your dream.

This is a pretty rare DVD these days, so good luck getting a copy of this film to watch, but if you like space opera, sci-fi, or anime and ever get the chance, grab on.  You won't regret it.  It's subtitle only, though, so skip if you don't enjoy subs.

I live in freedom under my flag.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on November 7th, 2015)

Dirty Harry, a review by addicted2dvd

Dirty Harry
In a signature role, Clint Eastwood plays a streetwise San Francisco police detective who gets the job done. A rooftop sniper (Andy Robinson) named Scorpio has killed twice. Harry Callahan will nail the perp...one way or the other...no matter what "the system" prescribes. Filming on location, director Don Siegel made the City by the Bay a vital part of one of the best police thrillers ever made.

My Thoughts:
This is one of the movies I have seen before... but it has been many years since. I enjoyed it a lot. Has a good story... as well as some good action. I will say that for me... the movie didn't age well. Well at least I remember it being slightly better then I feel it is today. Clint Eastwood was the man... and is still the man. I do think he has improved as an actor since this movie though. Not that he was bad in this... as I thought he was very good. But I do believe he has grown as an actor and has improved in his movies since this one.

My Rating:

(From Dirty Harry Marathon on September 11th, 2009)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

MacGyver



What's the show about?
MacGyver is a very gifted man. He knows practically everything about mathematics, physics and chemistry. And he knows how to put that knowledge to practical use, he could build a bomb out of a ball-pen and a chewing gum. He is sent out by the Phoenix Foundation to help out where he is needed.

"Pilot"
After reclaiming a targeting device from a crashed plane and the pilot from the hands of the Russians, MacGyver is needed in New Mexico. In an underground science laboratory happened an explosion. A lot of scientists are trapped within, among them two Nobel price candidates. Additionally an acid leaks threatens to contaminate the groundwater of the entire area...

My Opinion
What could I write without repeating myself? Magnificent show, especially with MacGyver's refusal to use guns. I'll rewatch it this year, after I've got all the seven seasons complete.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on January 6th, 2008)