DVD Collectors Online

Barnyard, a review by Rich

Barnyard



What really happens on the farm when the farmer isn't looking? In director Steve Oedekerk's (KUNG POW: ENTER THE FIST, ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS) computer-generated animation feature, the farm animals can do everything humans do. They talk, walk upright, buy human contraband from a 'grey market' run by the gophers, and even turn the barn into a nightclub. Of course, they do all of this in secret. The biggest party animal is Otis (voiced by Kevin James), a happy-go-lucky cow who's always up for a crazy stunt or practical joke (bizarrely, the movie is full of male cows with udders). But Otis' carefree attitude doesn't sit too well with his father, Ben (Sam Neill), the barnyard patriarch and protector. While he loves his slacker son, Ben thinks that Otis needs to learn some responsibility if he is to continue his legacy. When the dangerous coyote season arrives and Ben is no longer able to serve as barnyard security, mayhem ensues and the farm starts to resemble an amusement park. Alas, Otis is still too immature to take the lead, preferring instead to woo bovine beauty Daisy (Courtney Cox) and party with his friends. But when push comes to shove, will Otis stand up to the coyotes and protect the barnyard, or will he turn the udder cheek? This coming-of-age tale is bolstered by the human antics of the animals and genuine laugh-out-loud moments for all ages. Wanda Sykes voices Bessy, Daisy's cynical cow friend, and Danny Glover voices Miles the Mule, a sage elder on the farm. Songs by Tom Petty and Peter Gabriel, as well as other artists, elevate the soundtrack above typical children's fare.

Certainly not the best animated film of this ilk, but by no means the worst. Many of the characters were very amusing, but the storyline would be banal even for a small child watching this. The number of laugh out loud moments are too few, and there is nothing groundbreaking in the animation or technique.
Just couldn't work out why the male cows had udders - is it a special breed??? Courteney Cox charater is unremarkable and pretty boring, the best was definately Freddy the Ferret (voiced by Cam Clarke).
 

** Courteney Cox mini-marathon


(From Riches Random Reviews on August 3rd, 2009)

Cinderella (2015), a review by Tom

Cinderella (2015/United States/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (Germany) Director: Kenneth Branagh Writing: Chris Weitz (Screenwriter) Length: 105 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, German: DTS-HD High Resolution 7.1, Greek: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: DTS 5.1, Turkish: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English, German, Italian, Greek, Turkish

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Stars:
Cate Blanchett as Stepmother
Lily James as Cinderella
Richard Madden as Prince
Helena Bonham Carter as Fairy Godmother
Nonso Anozie as Captain

Plot:
When her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her scheming stepsisters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.

Awards:
Nominated:

Academy Award (2015)

Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Bonus Trailers

I saw this one at the cinema at the time. A friend of mine had won multiple free tickets. When I recently rewatched the live-action remake of Aladdin, I got in the mood to rewatch that one. So I have added it to my collection.
It is a straight forward adaption of the story. No real surprises here. But I enjoyed it. But not a must-see.

Rating:

(From Tom's Cinderella/Snow White/Sleeping Beauty Movie Marathon on July 10th, 2023)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Scooby Doo, Where Are You!



What's the show about?
Four teenagers - Velma, Daphne, Fred & Shaggy - and their dog, Scooby Doo, solve mysteries of spooky castles, ghosts and monsters that never are what they appear to be.

"What a Night for a Knight"
When the moon is full the "Black Knight" becomes alive again in a museum and the scooby gang investigates the disapearence of an english professor in such a night.

My Opinion
Loved the show (and all its successors) when I was a kid, especially Shaggy and Scooby. That was also the reason why I bought both movies.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on January 4th, 2008)