DVD Collectors Online

Singin' in the Rain, a review by Danae Cassandra

Singin' in the Rain
Year of Release: 1952
Directed By: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagan, Millard Mitchell
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Musical

Overview:Singin' in the Rain, in dazzling, restored high definition, featuring an all-new documentary special feature that salutes not just this all-time favorite but also the musical legacy of its producer, songwriter Arthur Freed.

My Thoughts:
This is a near perfect film.  It has a great story, great performances, a lot of chemistry between its characters, memorable songs and beautiful choreography.  It's also a lot of fun to watch.  There's nothing particularly serious here; it's light, romantic and amusing.  O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" is great, and Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain" is classic Hollywood. 

An absolute must-see for fans of musicals, or American film; this is one of the best examples of a big-budget, classic Hollywood musical.  Highly recommended.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4.5/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 3rd, 2016)

A Streetcar Named Desire, a review by Rich

Title: A Streetcar Named Desire

Runtime:125
Certificate:PG
Year:1951
Genres:Drama, Classic

Plot:My Review:
Melodramatic and grim, despite some outstanding performances I was not enthralled or hooked by this 'classic', which at 2+ hours long became quite tiresome. Brando was a pretty impressive macho guy at the time, and Vivien Leigh is at times wonderful in her role as Blanche, but in some scenes incredibly wooden and soulless, surprised she won an oscar for the part. The dark, dirty and humid New Orleans is captured brilliantly, as the apartment walls start closing in on Blanche, you truly get a sense of being there, shadowy and moody accompanied by a heady score, the cinematography is exceptional.
In its day I imagine it was dramatic and original, but without being able to put an actual finger on why, I didn't really enjoy this movie.


(From December Marathons - DISCUSSION AND REVIEW THREAD on December 8th, 2009)

Grey's Anatomy Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

Main Cast:
Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey
Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang
Katherine Heigl as Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens
Justin Chambers as Dr. Alex Karev
T. R. Knight as Dr. George O'Malley
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
James Pickens, Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber
Isaiah Washington as Dr. Preston Burke
Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd

---

1. A Hard Day's Night
Meredith Grey reports for her first day as an intern at Seattle Grace Hospital, only to find that her new boss is Dr. Derek Shepherd, the man she had a one-night stand with the previous evening. As they meet the hospital staff and patients, Meredith and her fellow interns slowly begin to realize exactly what they are up against. They may have been students yesterday, but today they are doctors facing a world where on the job training can be a matter of life and death.

My Thoughts:
This is a good opening to the series. It introduces all the characters nicely. Most all the interns (well except one) is really likable. And what a way to meet your boss! On a plus side... This is a good way to curb my craving to see horror... without watching anything in the horror genre! There is a decent amount of blood in a medical drama. 

My Rating:

2. The First Cut Is The Deepest
The surgical staff tries to be optimistic as a young woman clings to life after a brutal attack. Meredith puts her career on the line to save a newborn baby in the hospital nursery. New assignments teach the interns that it takes more than just medical knowledge to be good at their jobs.

My Thoughts:
This is a great episode! I enjoyed this one more then I did the pilot episode! The main case in this episode really makes you feel for that rape victim while at the same time cheer for her for how she got back at him!

My Rating:

3. Winning A Battle, Losing The War
A no-holds-barred bicycle race brings an assortment of injuries into the hospital, causing the interns to compete for the most severe cases. A flirtatious patient sends George into a panic, and the competition heats up between Derek and Burke over the chief of surgery position.

My Thoughts:
Another episode I enjoyed a lot. That bicycle race was nuts! Though I wouldn't be surprised if such races really do occur as people are nuts! The on main racer that was a patient looked so familiar to me but just couldn't place him. Checking the credits after the episode it turns out it was Callum Blue (Mason on Dead Like Me). And I must admit that I got a kick out of George's reaction to a VIP patient (a gay man) hitting on him.

My Rating:

4. No Man's Land
Cristina's encounter with a former nurse, now a patient at Seattle Grace, becomes an unexpected learning experience. Derek and Meredith treat a construction worker who has miraculously survived an injury but is now faced with tough decisions about his future. A patient recognizes Izzie from a lingerie ad, which makes her the subject of hospital gossip.

My Thoughts:
Another very enjoyable episode. George has a bit of a problem adjusting to having 2 women as a roommate (they walk around in their underwear... come in the bathroom while he is showering... is expected to pick up tampons from the store)... seems like minor inconvenience to me! And how in the world is the first one a problem at all?!?!?!? The main patient in this episode was amazing... a construction worked falls down the stairs with a nail gun and ends up with 7 nails in his skull... and not only is he still alive when he arrives at the hospital... but he is talking and seems to be in good humor. In this episode we get to see Izzie (Katherine Heigl) in her underwear in more then one occasion. I definitely am enjoying this series! 

My Rating:

5. Shake Your Groove Thing
An exhausted Meredith thinks she may have made a mistake during surgery, which could jeopardize her career. Izzie's plan to throw a party for her new boyfriend goes completely awry, and Alex deals with a patient who is addicted to painkillers.

My Thoughts:
A decent episode... though not quite as good as the previous ones. This episode show a lot on the trials and tribulations of being a doctor. It covers everything from the fear of making a mistake to the fact that the interns has no life of their own outside the hospital. The episode has interesting cases... and longer story lines are advanced... just that the episode seem slightly on the blah side.

My Rating:

(From Grey's Anatomy Marathon on September 2nd, 2009)