DVD Collectors Online

Three Steps to the Gallows, a review by GSyren

Title	Three Steps to the Gallows (US: White Fire)
Year	1953
Director	John Gilling
Stars	Scott Brady, Mary Castle, John Blythe, Gabrielle Brune, Colin Tapley
Overview
My thoughts	What's Rita Hayworth and the major from Faulty Towers doing in a an old British crime drama from 1953? Oh, wait, it isn't Rita Hayworth. It's Mary Castle. But by George, she looks incredibly like Rita Hayworth. And as for the major, well it is Ballard Berkeley, but a lot younger, of course. Still, quite recognizeable. It's a case of "who can you trust", and pretty much from the start there is one person where I wondered if he was really trustworth, but there's another that I didn't see coming. There is nothing special about this film, really, but I like these old black-and-white thrillers. And I have always loved London, so it's always fun to see films that are shot in real London locations. Good old Ferdy Mayne is in there, too, but ever since I say "The Fearless Vampire Killers" I always expect to see fangs. The film is supposed to be digitally restored and remastered. And I suppose it is. For the most parts it looks very good, but in some places (probably the reel endings) it is rather worn. But not enough that it should stop you from getting a copy if you are interested in this type of film. I quite liked it (or possibly I was just in the right mood). It kept me from spending the entire afternoon watching the hunt for the Boston Marathon killers on CNN...
Rating

(From Reviews and ramblings by Gunnar on April 19th, 2013)

Independence Day, a review by Tom

Title: Independence Day
Year: 1996
Director: Roland Emmerich
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 147 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 3, Commentary: Dolby Digital 3
Subtitles: Commentary, English, German

Stars:
Will Smith
Bill Pullman
Jeff Goldblum
Mary McDonnell
Judd Hirsch

Plot:
July, 2nd. Some aliens come in a huge ship. They place their UFOs all over the world and blow everything apart. July, 3rd. We try to strike back and fail miserably. July, 4th. We give them a cold and blow them apart.

Awards:

Academy Award	1996	Nominated	Best Sound	Chris Carpenter, Bill W. Benton, Bob Beemer, Jeff Wexler
Academy Award	1996	Won	Best Visual Effects	Volker Engel, Douglas Hans Smith, Clay Pinney, Joe Viskocil
AFI	1996	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001)
Amanda-prisen	1997	Won	Beste utenlandske spillefilm	Roland Emmerich
BAFTA	1996	Nominated	Achievement In Special Visual Effects	Tricia Ashford, Volker Engel, Clay Pinney, Douglas Hans Smith, Joe Viskocil
BAFTA	1996	Nominated	Sound	Bob Beemer, Bill W. Benton, Chris Carpenter, Sandy Gendler, Val Kuklowsky, Jeff Wexler
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	1997	Won	BMI Film Music Award	David A. Arnold
Cinema Audio Society Awards	1997	Nominated	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film	Chris Carpenter, Bob Beemer, Bill W. Benton, Jeff Wexler
Golden Raspberry Awards	1996	Nominated	Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million	Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich
Grammy Awards	1997	Won	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television	David A. Arnold (For "Independence Day")
Hugo Award	1997	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Action Sequence
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Breakthrough Performance	Vivica A. Fox
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Won	Best Kiss	Will Smith and Vivica A. Fox
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Male Performance	Will Smith
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Movie
Satellite Awards	1997	Won	Best Film Editing	David Brenner
Satellite Awards	1997	Won	Best Visual Effects	Volker Engel, Douglas Hans Smith
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Actor	Jeff Goldblum
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Actor	Will Smith
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Costumes	Joseph Porro
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Director	Roland Emmerich
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Music	David A. Arnold
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Special Effects	Volker Engel, Clay Pinney, Douglas Hans Smith, Joe Viskocil
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor	Brent Spiner
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress	Vivica Fox
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Writing	Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Younger Actor	James Duval
Young Artist Awards	1997	Nominated		Ross Bagley

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Kinofassung (139 min)
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers



(From Tom's Random Reviews on May 8th, 2010)

NCIS Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

21. BLOODBATH
Abby (Pauley Perrette) is almost killed by key evidence in her lab. Gibbs and the NCIS team quickly find that someone from her past wants her dead.

My Thoughts:
This is another of my favorites. An excellent episode. Of course I love the episodes about the adorable goth Abbey. This one is really disturbing... her stalker ex-boyfriend is in a league of his own. I enjoyed this episode so much that I had to watch it immediately again so I could watch it with the Commentary on (Cast Commentary with Pauley Perrettte [Abbey] and Michael Weatherly [DiNozzo]).

My Rating:

22. JEOPARDY
A suspect dies while iN Ziva's custody. The suspect's brother kidnaps Jenny and demands the release of his brother, whom he doesn't know is dead.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode. I always like the ones where the main cast is in trouble. And this time not one... but two of the newest cast members in trouble. In this episode they did a good job of combining two storylines into one good one.

My Rating:

23. HIATUS (PART 1)
Gibbs is seriously injured in an explosion. While in the hospital he recalls his painful past. Tony is left in charge, which causes resentment among the NCIS team.

My Thoughts:
The start of a very good 2-part season finale. Though I have found while it is a very good story... I tend to drift away from the story after watching it multiple times.

My Rating:

24. HIATUS (PART 2)
Following the bomb explosion, Gibbs struggles to piece, together his memories of the past 15 years. Meanwhile, the NCIS team tries to prevent a terrorist group from carrying out another 9/11-magnitude bombing.

My Thoughts:
A good conclusion to the last episode. And it has an unexpected ending. A good way to end a season... but not really my favorite season finale.

My Rating:

(From NCIS Marathon on December 17th, 2009)