DVD Collectors Online

Waltz With Bashir, a review by Danae Cassandra

Waltz With Bashir (Vals Im Bashir)
Year of Release: 2008
Directed By: Ari Folman
Starring: Ori Sivan, Ronny Dayag, Shmuel Frenkel
Genre: Documentary

Overview:
Inspired by actual events, Waltz With Bashir chronicles one man's descent into his own half-forgotten past. Filmmaker Ari Folman, an Israeli veteran of the First Lebanon War, encounters an old friend suffering from nightmares of the conflict. Ari begins to wonder why his own memories are full of gaps. In an effort to uncover the truth, he reconnects with old friends and dares to confront the horrors of war. Hailed as innovative and devastating, Waltz with Bashir fuses animation and documentary to create an experience unlike anything you've ever witnessed.

My Thoughts:
What is a man's culpability in the face of the horrific? How does a man stand by while others are slaughtered? And how does a man live with the guilt afterward?

A highly personal film, a recollection of traumatic events and the attempt to reconcile with those events years later, this is one of the best films about the horror of war, for all involved.

If the animation isn't the finest I've ever seen, its lack of fluidity fits the subject matter. It's appropriately realistic, somewhat gritty and ugly. Powerful film, troubling, and illuminated at the same time. Highly recommended, but don't expect a feel-good, happy ending.

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall:  4/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on March 10th, 2016)

Flash Gordon, a review by Tom

Flash Gordon (1980/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia Optimum Releasing (United Kingdom) Director: Mike Hodges Writing: Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (Screenwriter), Michael Allin (Original Material By), Alex Raymond (Original Characters By) Length: 107 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles:

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Stars:
Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon
Melody Anderson as Dale Arden
Max Von Sydow as The Emperor Ming
Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov
Ornella Muti as Princess Aura

Plot:
Ming the Merciless is out to destroy the earth and only one person can stop him!
Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) is zapped from Earth into a sci-fi adventure on planet Mongo with his beautiful companion Dale (Melody Anderson). In an attempt to put an end to Ming the Merciless' plans to destroy the Earth, Flash battles Ming's goons and declines the advances of the luscious Space Princess Aura (Ornella Muti). With the help of Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton) and Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed) Flash Gordon takes the Ming empire by storm...

Awards:
Nominated:

BAFTA (1980)		Costume Design (Danilo Donati)
BAFTA (1980)		Original Film Music (Queen, Howard Blake)
BAFTA (1980)		Production Design (Danilo Donati)
British Society of Cinematographers Awards (1980)		Best Cinematography Award (Gil Taylor)
Golden Raspberry Awards (1980)		Worst Actor (Sam J. Jones)
Hugo Award (1981)		Dramatic Presentation
Saturn (1980)		Best Costumes (Danilo Donato)
Saturn (2007)		Best DVD Classic Film Release
Saturn (1980)		Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn (1980)		Best Supporting Actor (Max von Sydow)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Trailers

Some really campy fun. I only knew Flash Gordon from the "Defenders of the Earth" cartoon and the only thing I knew about this movie was the great title song by Queen. I was surprised to see Timothy Dalton here. This was before his stint as James Bond and then he already was very much like I know him from recent roles like in "Hot Fuzz" and "Looney Tunes: Back in Action".

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on May 22nd, 2011)

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

07. Revelations (1998-11-17)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Douglas Petrie (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Serena Scott Thomas (Gwendolyn Post), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Jason Hall (Devon), Kate Rodger (Paramedic)

A good episode, but never one of my favorites.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on February 28th, 2009)