DVD Collectors Online

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a review by Dragonfire

---

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Discover the intriguing inside stories of why so many of Britain's most celebrated stars took roles in the series. See the newly unveiled screen test between Daniel Radcliffe and Evanna Lynch (selected to play Luna out of 15,000 hopefuls!) Go on the set to see firsthand how each of the directors brought unique strengths to the series. Witness the amazing transformations as Daniel, Rupert and Emma grow with their characters over a decade of unprecedented filmmaking.

---

This one is another good adaptation of the book and the important explanations aren't cut out.  I sometimes wonder how some of the other movies would have turned out if Christopher Columbus had directed them.  The story for this one is entertaining, and it starts the trend of the movies getting a little darker with each other as Harry and his friends get older.  I could have done without the snakes and the basalisk that looks like a giant snake to me.  That think still freaks me out a bit.  Hagrid's giant spider doesn't bother me a bit.  Professor Lockhart is an idiot and Kenneth Branagh is great in the part.  

Every time I watch the first two movies, I miss Richard Harris as Dumbledore.  Michael Gambon did fine when he took over, but he wasn't the same and Harris was absolutely perfect for the part.  He looks in these movies the way I imagined Dumbledore when I read the books. 



I did post a longer review at Epinions.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets



(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on July 15th, 2013)

North by Northwest, a review by Achim

Title: North by Northwest
Year: 1959
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: NR
Length: 136 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital TrueHD, French: Dolby Digital Mono, German: Dolby Digital Mono, Italian: Dolby Digital Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono, Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround, Music Only: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Stars:
Cary Grant
Eva Marie Saint
James Mason (1889)
Jessie Royce Landis
Leo G. Carroll

Plot:
Cary Grant is the screen's supreme man-on-the-run in his fourth and final teaming with Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock. He plays a Manhattan adman plunged into a realm of spy (James Mason) and counterspy (Eva Marie Saint) and variously abducted, framed for murder, chased, and in a signature set-piece, crop-dusted. He also hangs for dear life from the facial features of Mount Rushmore's Presidents. Savor one of Hollywood's most enjoyable thrillers ever in this State-of-the-Art Restoration. It's Renewed Picture Vitality will leave you just as breathless as the chase itself.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes

It has been many many years (darn, I just had to put two "many"...) since I last saw this and unfortunately I remembered it faster paced than it presented itself today. This could, of course, be a problem of changed perception due to the film making we are surrounded by today (with it's flash cutting and "MTV sensibilities"). However, even the slower bits were held up by good dialog and some thrown in comedy bits. Yet again, I agree that the film would not be any worse if it had some additional cuts here and there.

The plot is Hitchcock's beloved "wrong man" theme, where an everyday guy is mistaken for someone else and finds himself running from everyone (police and crooks). I think in past viewings I had always missed the point where he is mistaken, was glad to see today how well that was actually handled. Also, seeing the film sees it's 50th anniversary this year, I found it surprising just how much sexual innuendo, to the point where it almost wasn't just innuendo anymore, there was. Hitchcock varies whether to keep us slightly ahead of the film's main character or with the same knowledge for good effect and heightened suspense. There is little less suspense than one might expect though, as much room is given to the love story (almost like in To Catch a Thief, also with Cary Grant; maybe it was him who made the master plot a different course...?)

Cary Grant was a great choice for Roger Thornhill, providing the comedic timing needed for the role. James Mason amazes with his cool display of the bad guy. We also have the reliable Martin Landau as the henchman, the beautiful Eve-Marie Saint as the love interest and Leo G. Carrol.



The Blu-ray comes with a stunning picture, providing marvelous detail and mostly very sharp images. Given that the film is 50 years old I was highly impressed; I have seen terrible transfers on far more recent films. Also on the disc are four documentaries in total length of more than 3 hours and an audio commentary.

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on November 23rd, 2009)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. Hulkus Pocus
When Billie is infected by a government-created virus that causes magical beings to "hulk out," Piper and Leo race against time to find an antidote to save her life.

My Thoughts:
This is another episode that I found a lot of fun. This time we have all 4 of the girls turning into something. This time it is a virus running rampant in the magical community that makes magical creatures (including The Charmed Ones) to become hulk like creatures shortly after the change the infected creatures die. 

10. Vaya Con Leos
Piper turns to The Elders and The Avatars to save Leo from The Angel of Death, while Phoebe and Billie hunt for Billie's sister and meet Burke, a demonic bounty hunter who freezes his victims into trophies.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode. And time to say goodbye to Leo for several episodes.  For some reason Brian Krause (Leo) was not signed for the entire season like he was for the previous seasons. So this season we only got him for half the episodes. They handled it pretty well they made it be emotional... but kept the possibility of him returning.

11. Mr. & Mrs. Witch
When Billie discovers the power of projection, she inadvertently transforms her parents into cold-blooded assassins who are then hired to kill the CEO of a powerful company.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... but not great. Really was just a standard episode. Though it does go a little further into the Billie/Chrissy storyline.

12. Payback's a Witch
Paige tries to help Henry's parolee, Nick, get a loan at a bank, but when the loan is denied, Nick crashes his car into the bank and holds everyone hostage.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... but not great. Billie is still on a warpath trying to find her sister. And Paige discovers her powers as a whitelighter is increasing when she heals Henry.

(From Charmed Marathon on July 15th, 2008)