DVD Collectors Online

No Reservations, a review by DJ Doena

September, 1st


Catherine Zeta-Jones    ...    Kate
Aaron Eckhart   ...    Nick
Abigail Breslin   ...    Zoe
Patricia Clarkson   ...    Paula
Jenny Wade   ...    Leah
Bob Balaban   ...    Therapist

Synopsis: Kate's life is the kitchen. She's the head chef of a famous restaurant and she's the best. But then her sister dies in a car crash and suddenly she has to take care of her niece. And to make matters worse, her boss hires an additional chef, Nick, whose specialty is italian food. And from where Kate is standing, it looks like he's taken over her kitchen!

My Opinion: I really liked this after the disappointment that was Alex & Emma, especially since it has this melodramatic element of her adopting her niece and the difficulty to adjust to this new situation that both of them have. What I also liked was that the basically mandatory bump in their relationship wasn't caused by him this time, but by her. And I loved it when she threw a raw steak onto a customer's table because the previous two weren't rare enough for him.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on September 1st, 2009)

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)

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

5.05 No Place Like Home
Writer: Douglas Petrie (Writer)
Director: David Solomon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya Jenkins), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers), James Marsters (Spike), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Clare Kramer (Glory), Charlie Weber (Ben), Ravil Isyanov (Monk), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), James Wellington (Nightwatchman), Paul Hayes (Older Nightwatchman), Staci Lawrence (Customer), John Sarkisian (Old Monk)

In this episode Buffy learns about Dawn's true nature. I enjoyed this episode. I also like that Giles and Buffy are growing closer again and he is a confidante for Buffy. I never really liked his storyline in season four where he is pushed out of the group and he felt useless.

Rating:



5.06 Family
Writer: Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya Jenkins), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers), James Marsters (Spike), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Mercedes McNab (Harmony Kendall), Clare Kramer (Glory), Charlie Weber (Ben), Amy Adams (Beth Maclay), Steve Rankin (Mr. Maclay), Amber Benson (Tara), Ezra Buzzington (Bartender), Peggy Goss (Crazy Person), Torry Pendergrass (Damon), Megan Gray (Sandy), Brian Tee (Intern), Kevin Rankin (Donny)

A nice Tara episode. Amy Adams has a small role as Tara's cousin. I love how they welcome Tara in their little Scooby family at the end.

Rating:



5.07 Fool For Love
Writer: Douglas Petrie (Writer)
Director: Nick Marck
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya Jenkins), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers), James Marsters (Spike), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), David Boreanaz (Angel), Mercedes McNab (Harmony Kendall), Julie Benz (Darla), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Kali Rocha (Cecily Adams), Edward Fletcher (Male Partygoer), Katharine Leonard (Female Partygoer), Matthew Lang (2nd Male Partygoer), Chris Daniels (Stabbing Vampire), Kenneth Feinberg (Chaos Demon), Steve Heinze (Vampire #1), Ming Liu (Chinese Slayer), April Wheedon-Washington (Subway Slayer)

A great episode. I always love flashback episodes. It's funny to see Spike before he was turned into a vampire.
And also the end is one of the most touching scenes in the series.

Rating:



5.08 Shadow
Writer: David Fury (Writer)
Director: Daniel Attias
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya Jenkins), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers), James Marsters (Spike), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Clare Kramer (Glory), Charlie Weber (Ben), Kevin Weisman (Dreg), William Forward (Doctor), Amber Benson (Tara), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Megan Gray (Sandy)

An average episode. Nothing special.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on May 22nd, 2010)