DVD Collectors Online

Porco Rosso, a review by dfmorgan

Title: Porco Rosso
Original Title: Kurenai no buta
Year: 1992
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Length: 93 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:Plot:
Take flight with "Porco Rosso," a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry.

When "Porco" - whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell - infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to "get rid" of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it is in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious?

Featuring extrordinary voice talents, this 2-Disc Set is a thrilling ride you'll never forget!

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Production Notes
Closed Captioned
THX


The third film that in the late 1990's Sky's The Movie Channel showed in a short season of Studio Ghibli films, the other two were Totoro and Kiki, and thus the third film I saw from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. To be honest this is my least favourite Miyazaki film. There is nothing wrong with it and it has the usual Miyazaki trademarks but it just doesn't grab me like his other titles. Set in a period between the two world wars and in and around the Adriatic Sea Porco Rosso tells the story of a man cursed into the form of a Crimson Pig. He flies a seaplane and helps to fight the local sky pirates. All hostilities are put aside though at the Hotel Adriano, run by his close friend Gina. The pirates employ the services of an American pilot, Curtis, to try to remove Porco. Curtis attacks Porco and damages his plane such that it needs major repairs. Porco takes it to Milan to be repaired by an old friend. There he meets Fio, Porco's friend's granddaughter, who redesigns and updates Porco's plane and returns to the Adriatic with him. The fight between Porco and Curtis recommences and now involves both Gina and Fio. There are lovely touches in this film like when we and Fio see the man behind the pig and then again towards the end when Curtis gets to see the man.

Still an excellent film though and a worthy 4

Dave

(From dfmorgan's Studio Ghibli Marathon on July 5th, 2010)

O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a review by Rogmeister

O Brother, Where Art Thou? 
Produced, Written and Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Cast: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Charles Dunning, John Goodman, Holly Hunter

Disenchanted with the daily drudge of crushing rocks on a prison farm in Mississippi, the dapper, silver-tongued Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) busts loose.  Except he's still shackled to his two chain-mates from the chain gang...bad-tempered Pete (John Turturro) and sweet, dimwitted Delman (Tim Blake Nelson).  With nothing to lose, and buried loot to regain...before it's lost forever in a flood...the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime...

I'm not sure, but I think O Brother, Where Art Thou? may have been the first film by the Coen Brothers that I saw in an actual theater...yeah, I can't believe I missed Fargo on the big screen, either.  This was a good first Coen film for me to see in a theater, though, because I thought it was quite hilarious at the time.  I'm not sure I find it quite as funny now, but it's still entertaining.  During their adventures, the chain-gang trio become popular singers so music (of a bluegrass style) is an important part of the picture, though I think you can still enjoy the movie without being a bluegrass fan.  I like bluegrass so that may have helped my enjoyment but I think most people will enjoy this film...it's just too wacky not to get at least a little bit of a kick out of it.  I also like the cast, especially George Clooney and Holly Hunter (who I never get tired of seeing). 

Extras on the DVD include the theatrical trailer, music video for "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow", behind-the-scenes featurette and a look at the film's unique look titled "Painting With Pixels".

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 22nd, 2009)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

8. Habeas Corpses
Original Air Date: 1/15/2003
When Angel realizes that there may be some connection between Connor and the Beast, he learns that Connor is trapped within Wolfram & Hart where the building is under lock-down and the Beast is on a brutal killing spree. Angel, Wesley, Gunn and Fred break into the building, only to be encountered by zombies of dead lawyers.

Guest Stars:
Stephanie Romanov
Daniel Dae Kim
Vladimir Kulich

My Thoughts:
This one I liked a whole lot! And I must say I got a good laugh out of Connor comparing angel to the Zombies... A slow, dimwitted undead thing that craves human flesh!  That just could have been the best laugh I had so far in this series. Obviously Angel is not very happy with Cordelia right now for sleeping with Connor. But that is ok... Pretty soon we will have "Shiny Happy People"

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 16th, 2010)