DVD Collectors Online

In the Electric Mist, a review by dfmorgan

In the Electric Mist

Year: 2009
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, John Goodman, Peter Sarsgaard, Mary Steenburgen
Overview: New Iberia, Louisiana. Detective Dave Robicheaux (Tommy Lee Jones) is on the hunt for a serial killer who preys on young women. Driving home from another gruesome crime scene, Dave meets charismatic Hollywood star Elrod Sykes (Peter Sarsgaard). Sykes is in town shooting his new movie, with backing from local crime kingpin Baby Feet Balboni (John Goodman). He tells Dave he saw a body lying in a swamp - the decomposed corpse of a black man in chains. The discovery brings memories hurtling out of Dave's past... he senses the two cases are linked.

But as Dave gets closer to the murderer, the murderer gets closer to Dave and his family...

Watched: 11th Feb 2010
My Thoughts: A very interesting film, not a typical detective film. Tommy Lee Jones plays a recovering alcoholic, Detective Dave Robicheaux, who is looking for a serial killer. Whilst this investigation is ongoing memories are stirred with the discovery of a corpse in the swamp. Overall I enjoyed this film and have committed to memory a new favourite line from a film, Mary Steenburgen to Tommy Lee Jones: "Drink your milk and get to bed... I'm horny". It was a pity though that in that scene Ms. Steenburgen was slightly out of focus. As to the role played by Mr. Jones it reminds me somewhat of his role in "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada".

I wasn't aware that this film was based on a book but for reference it is "In The Electric Mist With Confederate Dead" written by James Lee Burke. This the 6th book in a series, currently there are 17, featuring Det. Dave Robicheaux.

By the way this is a bare-bones release - just the film, some trailers, a choice of DD2.0 or DD5.1 sound, no subtitles.

Further Musings: There were some idiosyncrasies within the film (1: no apparent resolution to his being shot at in the bar and 2: his appearance in a photograph) which made me look up further information on this film in the IMdB. There I found that Messr Tavernier, the director, had problems with the US film editor and disagreed with what he had done so he went back to France and employed a French film editor to edit the film the way that he wanted. This means that there are 2 versions of the film available a 102min US/International cut and a 117min French Director's Cut. The Director's Cut may be available in other territories but is definitely available in France. I have ordered the Director's Cut from France and look forward to comparing them.

My Rating: Very interesting and overall enjoyable so 4

Dave


(From Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews on February 13th, 2010)

Dracula - Spanish Version (1931), a review by addicted2dvd

Dracula - Spanish Version (1931)
At midnight on Walpurgis Night, an English clerk, Renfield, arrives at Count Dracula's castle in the Carpathian Mountains. After signing papers to take over a ruined abbey near London, Dracula drives Renfield mad and commands obedience. Renfield escorts the boxed count on a death ship to London. From there, the Count is introduced into the society of his neighbor, Dr. Seward, who runs an asylum. Dracula makes short work of family friend, Lucia Weston, then begins his assault on Eva Seward, the doctor's daughter. A visiting expert in the occult, Van Helsing, recognizes Dracula for who he is, and there begins a battle for Eva's body and soul.

My Thoughts:
This Spanish-language version was filmed on the same sets and at the same time as the English-language, Bela Lugosi version. The English-language version was filmed during the day, and the Spanish-language version was filmed at night. In this version the role of Count Dracula was played by Carlos Villar. I liked him as Dracula... he did a good job... giving the same feel as Bela Lugosi did. This version is also quite a bit longer then the English version. I did have little trouble keeping up with the subtitles (I am a slow reader)... but I was able to manage enough for it to keep my interest. The quality was a little lower then the English version... but not enough to take away from the enjoyment of the movie.

(From Classic Monster Movie Marathon on May 15th, 2008)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

18. Dead End
Original Air Date: 4/24/2001
Angel crosses paths with Lindsey while searching for a man in Cordelia's vision, who stabbed himself in the eye.

Guest Stars:
Christian Kane
Stephanie Romanov
Gerry Becker
Michael Dempsey

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode. It was fun to watch Angel and Lindsey trying to work together. I enjoyed the storyline. And if I remember right... it is the last we will see of Lindsey for a while. Which is a good thing to me since he never was a character I liked very much.

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 9th, 2010)