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Dracula, a review by Hal

Title: Dracula: Classic Monster Collection
Year: 1931
Director: Tod Browning
Rating: NR
Length: 75 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono, Music Only: Dolby Digital: 5.0, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Bela Lugosi
Helen Chandler
David Manners
Dwight Frye
Edward Van Sloan

Plot:
This DVD edition contains three special versions of Dracula!

Dracula (The Restored Version)
Although there have been numerous screen versions of Bram Stoker's classic tale, none is more enduring than the 1931 original. The ominous portrayal of Count Dracula by Bela Lugosi, combined with horror specialist director Tod Browning, help to create the film's eerie mood. Dracula remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.

Dracula (Featuring New Music By Philip Glass)
The original version of Dracula starring Bela Lugosi has been remastered to feature a specially composed musical score by world-renowned composer Philip Glass and performed by the Kronos Quartet. Glass' music lends greater depth to an already timeless classic!

Dracula (Original Spanish Version)
Filmed simultaneously with the English language version, the Spanish version of Dracula is a completely different, yet equally ominous vision of the horror classic. Utilizing the same sets and identical script, cinematographer George Robinson and a vibrant cast including Carlos Villarias and Lupita Tovar deliver this chilling and evocative tale.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes
DVD-ROM Content
New Isolated Music Score

Although there are some good scenes in this film, overall, I think this was overacted and way too melodramatic.  Legosi's handling of this role (even though it is the one he is best known for) is just too much for me and unrealistic to the point of being laughable.  The mood and setting of the film was good, but I think the "effect" of brightening the eyes of the vampires was overdone.  It is interesting how some of the mythos of Dracula was all established in this early film; e.g., fear of garlic, wolfbane, sunlight, crosses; lack of reflection in mirrors, death by wooden stake through the heart, changing into bats and/or wolves, having to rest in soil of the "homeland", sleeping in coffins during the day.  Some of these have endured the test of time; others have not.
I suppose given the age of this film it has many merits, but I cannot rate it any higher than a 3.

Rating:

(From Hal's 2010 Horror Marathon Reviews on October 16th, 2010)

The Invincible Iron Man, a review by addicted2comics

Title: The Invincible Iron Man
Year: 2007
Director: Frank Paur
Rating: PG-13
Length: 83 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles:

Stars:
Marc Worden
Gwendoline Yeo
Rodney Saulsberry
Elisa Gabrielli
John McCook
James Sie

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Gallery
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

This, like every other movie, has its faults. This is my third counted telling of Iron Man's origin, and the worst in my opinion, and that's including the one where they're all teenagers!!

Tony's father isn't dead, but arguing with him on how to run the company. Isn't Tony's dedication to letting his father's work live his very motivation for wearing the armor?? And after he built the armor when he was being held captive, he had an entire line of them waiting at his company's building??

Despite this, the Mandarin Ring plot was entertaining as usual, though I myself am not a fan of it. As mentioned in my previous review of Hulk vs. Thor, this type of movie, being mainly based among myths and ancient legends, a person who is interested in this topic, I would highly recommend this to. Don't let my rating fool you, I would recommend it! Just not my taste.



(From Doing the ABC's Movie Style!! on July 19th, 2010)

Birthday Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 2
Surprise & Innocence
Drusilla reassembles the Judge, an unstoppable demon; Buffy and Angel consummate their relationship.

My Thoughts:
The first Birthday episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a 2-part episode. And I think it is safe to say my favorite of the Buffy's Birthday episodes. What with it happening in season 2 (one of my favorite seasons of the series)... at the very beginning of what is probably my favorite Buffy storyline (Evil Angel). Naturally since it is a 2-part episode... there was no way I could only watch the first half.



(From Birthday Marathon on May 26th, 2009)