DVD Collectors Online

Private Buckaroo, a review by Danae Cassandra

Private Buckaroo
Year of Release: 1942
Directed By: Edward F. Cline
Starring: The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Shemp Howard, Harry James & His Music Makers, The Jivin Jacks and Jills
Genre: Comedy, War, Musical

Overview:
The barest of plots has Harry James being drafted. Naturally, his whole orchestra signs up, too, including Lon Prentice (Dick Foran), his singer who has an attitude adjustment problem. We see the high-jinks of training, a romantic encounter that will serve to straighten Prentice out, and a big show just before the boys ship overseas. All this is just a clothesline to pin on at least 13 musical numbers, and The Andrews Sisters and Harry James do most of them.

My Thoughts:
This is a quick little WWII propaganda musical featuring the Andrews Sisters, whose singing I enjoy a lot but I know isn't for everyone, and Harry James playing some great trumpet. Sure, there's some plot in there too about Harry and his band joining the army and one guy having to learn that he's nothing special, but that's not the point of the film. The point is to recruit. Shemp Howard and Mary Wickes are a lot of fun too, especially Wickes. Recommended if you like these sorts of films.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.75/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 21st, 2016)

Collateral, a review by KinkyCyborg

Collateral



Title:Collateral
Year: 2004
Director: Michael Mann
Rating: R
Length: 120 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: DTS: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Tom Cruise
Jamie Foxx
Jada Pinkett [Jada Pinkett Smith]
Mark Ruffalo
Peter Berg

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Production Notes
Closed Captioned


Even though I had seen this before I put it on late in the evening and ended up watching the whole thing keeping me up until past 1 am.  

Great movie and I think one of Cruise's better performances. As thrilling as the action was, just as fascinating were the discussions in the cab between Vincent and Max as they psychoanalyzed each other while passing the time, traveling from one hit to the next. The third kill, was totally unexpected the first time I watched it and a very memorable scene for me.

Michael Mann is masterful at telling stories of men who have been pushed to their limits and finally push back which Jamie Foxx's character does here and like James Caan did in Thief.

Loved how it ended, with Vincent which was the very event he spoke about with such derision not long after getting into Max's cab.

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2011 on February 28th, 2011)

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

8. The Green, Green Glow of Home (11/14/93)
Lois and Clark investigate a suspicious EPA story in Smallville. But it isn't man-made toxins the feds are after - but a chunk of Kryptonite, the substance that can rob Superman of his powers or even his life.

My Thoughts:
This is an excellent episode. It is the first time we get to see Kryptonite in the series... and the second (and final) appearance of Trask... the government agent that was obsessed with killing Superman. Not only is it a great action-packed story... it is also a fun one what with Lois out of her element and in Smallville with Clark. I got a kick out of when she told Clark to look at that man (unknowingly pointing to his father) and saying he is probably a cross dresser.



(From Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Marathon on July 16th, 2009)