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Mulan, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Mulan
Year: 1998
Director: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
Rating: G
Length: 88 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Miguel Ferrer
Harvey Fierstein
Freda Foh Shen
June Foray
James Hong

Plot:
Honored with legions of critical acclaim, Disney's 36th animated masterpiece magically transforms an ancient Chinese legend into unparalleled fun and adventure that comes along but once every dynasty!

Embraced for her lovable, spirited nature, Mulan is a young girl who doesn't quite fit into her tradition-bound society. When the invading Hun army comes charging over China's Great Wall, Mulan's aging father is ordered to battle! To spare him from harm, Mulan disguises herself as a soldier with a comical, ragtag troop, led by the courageous Captain Shang. Never far away are Mulan's hilarious guardian dragon, Mushu, and lucky cricket, Cri-Kee. But Mulan will need more than razor-sharp wit to defeat the ruthless Hun leader, Shan-Yu. Only by staying true to herself will she bring victory to her country and honor to her family!

Triumphant across all fronts, including unforgettable, chart-topping music and rich Disney animation featuring a spectacular fireworks display, Mulan is in the finest tradition "a total delight!" (Time)

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Music Videos
Closed Captioned
THX


Another movie my daughter sat and watched with me although I looked over at her with about 20 minutes to go in the movie and she was sound asleep.

Has there ever been a bad Disney animated film? Such great story telling and excellent historical depiction. It's meant for kids but most adults who sit down and watch a Disney movie find themselves completely engrossed in the film. Rather surprising to see that war was the central theme in this Disney outing but it was done with children in mind and does not cross any lines. The hilarity factor is provided by Mushu the pip-squeak dragon, aka Eddie Murphy. He keeps things light and fun.

All in all another well rounded success for Disney.

Loved it!

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on July 18th, 2010)

Come See The Paradise, a review by KinkyCyborg

Come See The Paradise



Title:Come See the Paradise
Year: 1990
Director: Alan Parker
Rating: G
Length: 133 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Dennis Quaid
Tamlyn Tomita
Sab Shimono
Shizuko Hoshi
Stan Egi

Plot:
From Oscar nominee Alan Parker comes this "powerful, controversial, masterful achievement" (Susan Granger, American Movie Classics), a romance set against one of the darkest periods in U.S. history. Dennis Quaid is "terrific [and] turns in his best screen work, bar none" (The Hollywood Reporter) in this stirring drama that has become "one of the truly great motion pictures of our time!" (PBS Cinema Showcase)
In California, 1936, intermarriage is illegal. Jack McGurn (Quaid) and Lily Kawamura (Tamlyn Tomita) must elope to Seattle, where they soon have a daughter. But when Pearl Harbor is attacked, Lily, her family and thousands of other Japanese-Americans are "relocated" to internment camps. As Jack tries desperately to keep his family together, the grim specter of war threatens to tear them apart!

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Closed Captioned


Story of an American man who marries a Japanese woman a few short years before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then struggles to keep his family together as his wife, daughter and other family members are sent to internment camps.

I watched this movie with great interest as I always felt that the confinement of the Japanese, many of whom were US citizens, was one of the greatest travesties in US history. Completely unconstitutional, for many of them the only way out was to renounce their country of origin, join the army, and go fight their former countrymen on Japanese soil.

Dennis Quaid played the American who fought the system all his life and made whatever sacrifices were necessary to be with his family. He was good, but Tamlyn Tomita was fantastic as his beautiful wife who was outcast by her father for being with an American. Her performance was strong, dignified and she is angelic in appearance. I noticed from her IMDB resume that she is mostly a TV actor which is a pity as I'd love to see more films with her.

Great storytelling of an event the government would like to forget ever happened.

KC


Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on October 18th, 2010)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The war spreadens and even on the station fightings are breaking out and Centauri get killed. Sheridan has no choice but to give up Babylon 5's neutrality and order the White Star fleet to fight in the war. He also has to send Delenn back to Minbar to discuss a matter of great importance back there. Meanwhile Lyta and Dr. Franklin discover a secret about the attacking Centauri ships and Londo finds himself in a very uncomfortable position.

My opinion: I liked this episode because it set a storyline in motion that will be contibued in the "Legion of Fire" book trilogy which I liked to read.


Synopsis: The regent has sent all ships away from Centauri Prime and has deactivated the planetary defense systems. When the Drazi and Narn fleet arrives they find the door wide open and they use it to bring destruction upon Centauri Prime. After the regent has died, Londo becomes emperor and surrenders immediately. But this defeat comes at a high price.

My opinion: The Drakh really want to punish the Centauri for what Londo did in the Shadow war. Londo's regency and torment will last 16 years and only with his death his people will become free again. He always wanted the best for his people and he brought the worst to them. He is the tragic figure of this play and for this he is to be pitied.


Synopsis: It finally comes out in the open that Michael is drinking again and he gets consequentially suspended. G'Kar returns from Centauri Prime and is revered as never before and his only wish is to get away. He offers to help Lyta who in turn sits in a prison cell because she financed terrorist attacks on Psi Corps facilities.

My opinion: Did I say I didn't like teeps? Only those around Byron. Lyte I always liked a lot and I think that she didn't get the thanks that she deserved for what she has done over the years. And that woman can kick ass!


Synopsis: Someone tries to kill Michael because they fear that he could dig out stuff at Edgar Industries they don't want to be found. And because he has decided to marry Lise and don't to return to his job as Chief of Covert Intelligence the former head of the Mars resistance, Number One, gets the job. Together they bring down those who hired the assassin.

My opninion: Now they are leaving. Londo gone. Michael and Lise gone. G'Kar and Lyta gone. Soon Sheridan and Delenn and Stephen will follow. I said I didn't like the fifth season that much, but that's because of the first half. Now I am really into it again and have to realize that it will soon be over.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on February 2nd, 2008)