DVD Collectors Online

Pacific Rim, a review by Tom

Pacific Rim (2013/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (Germany) Director: Guillermo Del Toro Writing: Travis Beacham (Screenwriter), Guillermo Del Toro (Screenwriter), Travis Beacham (Story By) Length: 131 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, German: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1, Other: Dolby Digital 5.1, Other: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, German

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Stars:
Charlie Hunnam as Raleigh Becket
Diego Klattenhoff as Yancy Becket
Idris Elba as Stacker Pentecost
Rinko Kikuchi as Mako Mori
Charlie Day as Dr. Newton Geibzler

Plot:
As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Digital Copy
• Notizbuch des Regisseurs

Growing up, one of my favorite TV series was "Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs". Other "giant robot" series I have watched and enjoyed in recent years was Full Metal Panic! and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
When I first heard about this movie, I got curious. I thought that with the current special effects technology the time is right to get a good live-action giant robot fighting monsters movie. And I was right. I really enjoyed this movie. It is very noticeable that "Neon Genesis Evangelion" was a huge influence on this movie. Especially the need for the pilots to have emotional attachment to the robot (or more to co-pilot in this case). Also I think the German terminology for the robots I think it a nod to the Japanese series, which has a lot of German names for the organization which runs the robot program.
For the most part of the movie, although I knew that I was watching a CGI fest, it didn't feel like it. It looked really great. Only towards the end it was very noticeable, that it was all CGI, but that came because of the location. It didn't take place anymore near human constructions.

(From Tom's Random Reviews on December 7th, 2013)

12 Monkeys, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: 12 Monkeys: Special Edition
Year: 1995
Director: Terry Gilliam
Rating: R
Length: 129 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Joseph Melito
Bruce Willis
Jon Seda
Michael Chance
Vernon Campbell
H. Michael Walls

Plot:
In this science fiction masterpiece, Cole (Bruce Willis) is sent back in time to save the human race from a deadly virus that has forced mankind into dank underground communities in the future. Along his travels, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stowe) and a mental patient, brilliantly portrayed by Brad Pitt, who may hold the key to the mysterious rogue group, The Army of the 12 Monkeys, thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease. Believing he can obtain a pure virus sample in order to find a cure in the future, he is met with one riddle after another that puts him in a race for time.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Production Notes

My Thoughts:
When I bought this movie... it was a complete blind buy. Never even seeing the trailer before buying it. Some decent stars in this movie. I like Bruce Willis... I am not too familiar with Madeline Stowe, but everything I have seen her in to date I have enjoyed. Brad Pitt has always been hit and miss in my eyes. I always thought him to be a somewhat over-rated actor. Though he can be good at times. I did like him in Fight Club, Interview with a Vampire and Se7en. And I have to admit... he was right good in this one as well. When I first saw the trailer I was a little concerned this movie would be a bit on the confusing side. But it really wasn't. It is really an interesting, enjoyable movie. Maybe it was a little on the slow side in some parts. But not terribly so. Over-all I am glad I added it to my collection.



(From My Alphabet Marathon Reviews on July 2nd, 2010)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

Disc 1:

1. Still Charmed & Kicking
Presumed dead, the Charmed sisters start a demon-free existence with new identities, but Paige can't escape her Whitelighter instincts and answers the call of a young witch named Billie.

My Thoughts:
A decent season opener. Even though I know why they had to do it the way the did... I didn't care much for the whole "disguise" phase at the beginning of this season. We get our first look at the new witch in town, Billie. Even though she is left as a mystery in this episode. Finally we get extras on a season of Charmed. And this particular episode has a commentary track with Kaley Cuoco who plays Billie... the newest addition to the Charmed family.

2. Malice in Wonderland
The Charmed Ones come to Billie's rescue when she tries to stop Haas, a young demon who wants to lure the sisters out of hiding and take over the Underworld.

My Thoughts:
Another decent episode. In this one Billie joins up with the Charmed Ones.

3. Run, Piper, Run
When Piper's adopted appearance as a woman wanted for murder gets her arrested, the sisters and Billie set out to clear the woman's name.

My Thoughts:
This was a good episode. First time in my memory that the main storyline didn't involve demons. They are actually trying to right a human wrong.

4. Desperate Housewitches
Piper's son, Wyatt, is kidnapped by Mandi, a demon in disguise who wants to use the boy's powers to bring back The Source and create the perfect demon family.

My Thoughts:
This was a good episode. Probably my favorite episode on this disc. In this episode The Charmed Ones finds out that Magic School has been taken over by demons. And they need to once again deal with The Source. At least this time it was settled in only one episode.

(From Charmed Marathon on July 15th, 2008)