DVD Collectors Online

Psycho , a review by Dragonfire

Psycho



Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of the macabre stars Anthony Perkins as the troubled Norman Bates, whose "old dark house" and adjoining motel are not the place to spend a quiet evening. No one knows that better than Janet Leigh, the film's ill-fated heroine who is victimized in the now-notorious "shower scene." Vera Miles, Martin Balsam, John Gavin and John McIntire co-star in Hitchcock's most compelling and terrifying film. Screenplay by Joseph Stefano.

My Thoughts

I had heard a bit about this one before I finally saw it, but I had managed to avoid finding out about the ending.  I'm very glad..I would have been irked if the ending had been spoiled.  I was really shocked the first time I saw the movie - it wasn't that long ago really...sometime within the last 10 years, though I can't remember for sure.  Even knowing the ending, I still enjoy this one when I watch it and it still has the power to creep me out in a few scenes.  The music is a big reason why I think.  It works wonderfully well with what is going on and helps add to the creepy atmosphere.

Things are a little slow at first while the set up happens.  At first it seems like the movie is just going to be about Marion and what she did in an attempt to help her boyfriend Sam.  That was interesting, but things really get going once Marion ends up at the Bates Motel.  That setting is suitably creepy with the imposing house sitting on the hill over looking the hotel.  The setting really helps add to the creepy feeling of the movie.  The movie being in black and white helps the creepy factor as well.  There is a good amount of suspense and tension to what is going on.  The shower scene is very well done - it is such an iconic scene that it has been recreated many times.  The version of the scene in High Anxiety is done really well, though it is twisted a bit.  Anyway, the plot is shocking, especially considering when the movie was made.  I think it has held up well and is still worth seeing.

The characters of Marion and Norman are interesting and help to make the movie more entertaining.  Norman is a wonderfully complicated, messed up character and he is extremely interesting.  He is a very memorable character and Anthony Perkins is great in the part. 

I still really enjoy this movie.  It holds up really well and is still worth watching.



I did post a review on Epinions a few years ago.

Psycho



(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on August 1st, 2010)

Galaxy Quest , a review by Dragonfire

Galaxy Quest My Thoughts I love this movie and was in the mood to see it again.  I have seen some of the Star Trek tv shows and movies, so I know a little about the characters, but I don't know everything.  I have heard of the conventions that fans have.  I thought that aspect of the movie, with how ...obsessed some of the fans were, is very realistic.  It is clear to me, even with my limited Trek knowledge, that Galaxy Quest is intended to be a show like Star Trek, except the show never got turned into a series of movies.  The cast is all stuck being associated with these roles and some of them, like Alexander, hate that.  The plot is like Three Amigos with the aliens believing that the episodes of the tv show are historical documents and the actors are a real crew of a space ship that has deal with all sort of bad aliens.  Even though the plot is similar to the earlier movie, there is enough different for the movie to be really fun and entertaining.  The story is developed enough to be interesting and entertaining.  So much that happens in really funny.   The characters really make the movie and the acting is wonderful.  I love Alan Rickman in his part of a classically trained actor who feels trapped by being associated with this role.  Tony Shalhoub is really good as Fred.  He is so calm when the others are freaking out, like after they have been transported onto the ship or after their first encounter with Seris when they are fleeing and the ship is in such bad shape..there's Fred all calm telling Jason that the ship can't take it.  There is just so much that I enjoy about this movie. I loved this one when I first saw it and I still feel the same way.  It is really fun and entertaining and the cast is great in their roles. I did post a review on Epinions a few years ago. Galaxy Quest

(From Dragonfire88's Alphabet Marathon on July 20th, 2010)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

Enterprise
Season 3.24 Zero Hour
Writer: Rick Berman (Writer), Brannon Braga (Writer)
Director: Allan Kroeker
Cast: Scott Bakula (Jonathan Archer), John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox), Jolene Blalock (T'Pol), Dominic Keating (Malcom Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Travis Mayweather), Linda Park (Hoshi Sato), Connor Trinneer (Charles "Trip" Tucker III), Scott MacDonald (Reptilian Commander), Rick Worthy (Xindi-Arboreal), Tucker Smallwood (Xindi-Humanoid), Josette Di Carlo (Sphere-Builder Woman), Bruce Thomas (Reptilian Soldier), Andrew Borba (Reptilian Lieutenant), Matt Winston (Daniels), Mary Mara (Sphere-Builder Presage), Ruth Williamson (Sphere-Builder Primary), Jeffrey Combs (Shran), Gunter Ziegler (Doctor), J. Paul Boehmer (Officer), Zachary Krebs (Andorian N.D.)

I found this episode rather boring and it didn't really keep my attention. It has a nice season cliffhanger though, with the characters ending up in a twisted World War II past.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on October 17th, 2013)