DVD Collectors Online

The Birds, a review by Tom

Title: The Birds
Year: 1963
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: 15
Length: 115 Min.
Video: Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono, German: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish

Stars:
Rod Taylor
Jessica Tandy
Suzanne Pleshette
'Tippi' Hedren
Veronica Cartwright

Plot:
Nothing equals The Birds for sheer terror when Alfred Hitchcock unleashes his foul friends in one of his most shocking and memorable masterpieces. As beautiful blonde Melanie Daniels ('Tippi' Hedren) rolls into Bodega Bay in pursuit of eligible bachelor Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), she is inexplicably attacked by a seagull. Suddenly thousands of birds are flocking into town, preying on school-children and residents in a terrifying series of attacks. Soon Mitch and Melanie are fighting for their lives against a deadly force that can't be explained and can't be stopped in one of Hollywood's most horrific films of nature gone berserk.

Awards:

Academy Award	1963	Nominated	Best Special Effects	Ub Iwerks
AFI	1963	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Movies (1998)
AFI	1963	Won	100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001)
Golden Globe	1963	Won	New Star of the Year - Female	Tippi Hedren

Extras:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Storyboard Comparisons
Tippi Hedren's Screen Test
Trailers
Universal News Reels

I am not very much of a horror film fan. I know these bird attacks should be creepy and all, but it just isn't doing it for me. Also the bird sounds were just annoying. For me it sounded like cats cries.

Also I feel that the first half of the movie is disconnected with the second half of the movie. I know most people find it okay that there is no reason given why the birds attack. Usually I would agree, but having no reason given just makes it seem like Mel arriving on the island and playing her prank and then the bird attacks are two movie storylines just thrown together for the fun of it. I had expected that her bringing the two love birds is the cause that the other birds were going crazy.

Rating:

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on February 14th, 2010)

Clerks II, a review by DJ Doena

Clerks II



Brian O'Halloran    ...    Dante Hicks
Jeff Anderson   ...    Randal Graves
Jason Mewes   ...    Jay
Kevin Smith   ...    Silent Bob
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith    ...    Emma Bunting
Ben Affleck    ...    Gawking Guy
Rosario Dawson    ...    Rebbecca Scott
Jason Lee    ...    Lance Dowds

10 years have gone since Clerks, the Quick Stop has burnt down, but other than that nothing has changed. OK, Dante's going to marry and moving to Florida, but other than that nothing has changed.

My Opinion:
Not as good as the first part, but it's still a good continuation.

(From "View Askewniverse"-Mini-Marathon on February 3rd, 2008)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Buffy has decided to run for Homecoming Queen in order to prove that "she's still got it". But she runs against Cordy and it won't be easy since both Willow and Xander are helping Cordy out of a feeling of guilt for kissing one another. But Mr. Trick has also something planned: He creates "SlayerFest '98", a hunt where both Humans and demons are the hunters and the Slayers are the hunted.

My Opinion: I liked the assortment of hunters because everyone hunted in his own way (but naturally they all lost), especially the mix of the types "Daniel Boone" and the german high-tech hunters. And I loved it when the "second Slayer" (Cordy) scared the Vampire off just by threatening him. It's a talent she will use in Angel again.

Synopsis: Principal Snyder forces everyone to sell candy bars to finance new uniforms for the school band. But suddenly all the adults start to behave like teenagers and don't acknowledge their proper age. As it turns out, Ethan Rayne is the producer of the bars - but he's only a subcontractor for Mr. Trick who works for the mayor now.

My Opinion: Ethan is back and the episode is fun. Snyder reminded me a lot of Quark when he tried to chase after the women and couldn't be discouraged in any way. And Giles and Joyce were also great in reliving their youth. What we've learned so far about the mayor also explains some of the put-it-under-the-rug events of the second season.

Synopsis: Faith has gotten a new Watcher, a stiff english woman who expects nothing less than the best. And Buffy is still hiding the fact that Angel has returned. And a new demon is in town and he wants the Glove of Myhnegon, a very powerful artefact. In the end, all their paths will cross in Angel's hideout place. And Xander and Willow have a hard time denying their feelings or refrain from showing affection to each other.

My Opinion: Xander has never really liked Angel, even before he knew that he was a Vampire. But in episodes like this he shows pure hatred towards the guy and except for the Angel-Buffy thing I never understood why his emotions towards Angel are that strong. But it was great to once again see a real Slayer vs. Slayer fight. They both kicked ass!

Synopsis: Spike is back in town, but he's a wreck. Dru has left him for a chaos demon and he wants her back. Buy chance he runs into Willow who is just buying ingredients for an anti-love spell for Xander and her and he considers the general idea of a love spell a good one. So he kidnaps her and Xander and forces her to make one for him and Dru. Meanwhile the rest of the Scooby gang is looking for them.

My Opinion: Spike - Phase II has just begun. First he was the villain, now he will be the comic relief for quite some time. But in the end, he will take his rightful place as one of the heroes. Too bad this will be his only appearance in this season. And from a retrospective POV I liked Xander's and Willow's little affair. First of all because it didn't feel forced, there have been hints towards this since the pilot. And second of all it ultimately leads to the introduction of Anyanka in the next episode. I also liked how Spike could look right through Angel's and Buffy's we-are-only-friends charade.

(From "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon on June 27th, 2009)