DVD Collectors Online

Brewster's Millions, a review by addicted2dvd

Brewster's Millions


My Thoughts:
I really don't know what it is about this movie... but it has been a long time favorite of mine. I just have always found this movie wildly entertaining with a lot of laughs. I couldn't imagine spending $30million in 30 days and not have anything to show for it... but he really comes up with some wild ideas. I think my favorite idea of his has to be him buying.... and then mailing that rare stamp. That was just fantastic. I do think this movie ended just a little short for my taste... I would have liked to have seen his friend's reaction to the reason he spent all that money the way he did. But other then that this is a good... fun movie. Unfortunately the DVD had no extras what so ever... not even the trailer!

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Comedies on November 30th, 2007)

12 Angry Men, a review by Danae Cassandra

12 Angry Men
Year of Release: 1957
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, Jack Warden
Genre: Drama

Overview:
12 Angry Men, directed by Sidney Lumet, may be the most radical courtroom drama in cinema history. A behind-closed-doors look at the American legal system that is as riveting as it is spare, this iconic adaptation of Reginald Rose's teleplay stars Henry Fonda as the dissenting member on a jury of white men ready to pass judgment on a Puerto Rican teenager charged with murdering his father. The result is a saga of epic proportions that plays out over a tense afternoon in one sweltering room. Lumet's electrifying snapshot of 1950s America on the verge of change is one of the great feature film debuts.

My Thoughts:
This is a powerful film and essential viewing.  Nearly sixty years have passed, and this film has lost none of its strength or relevance.  Listening to Juror #10 opining about how he knows "those people" and how dangerous they are, all I'm hearing in the back of my head are similar voices today, given audience in political campaign.

There's a lot that makes this film great:  excellent cinematography that keeps up with the mounting tensions in the room, a great script, great direction, and of course, spectacular acting, not just by Henry Fonda, but by every man in that room. 


Everyone should see this film.  Absolutely everyone.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on November 23rd, 2015)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season marathon, a review by goodguy

2x11 Self Made Man
Synopsis: Cameron never sleeps, so what does she do at night? Chase a T-888 that's been lost in time.
My Rating:

Toni Graphia is one of the finest writers on this show and here she is responsible for another gem. The seasonal story arc is pretty much abandoned in what seems to be a stand-alone episode, but is it really? Sure, on the surface it's about a T-888 lost in the '20s. It's also a night in the life of Cameron. But the really beautiful thing is how the episode picks up not so much the plot, but the themes developed in the series so far.

Why does Cameron go to the library? It's not so much information she seeks, but knowledge. That's why she befriends Eric, the night librarian (excellent, Billy Lush), that's why she reads Shakespeare. She wants to understand humans. She wants to understand John. They don't make sense to her.

Upon the photograph of the T-888 she stumbles by accident. At first, he doesn't make sense to her either. But he is a machine. Machines are predictable, easy to figure out. And that, Achim, is exactly why it takes her only a night to piece together the clues.

But humans? They turn over turtles, so she did turn over Ellison. But when Eric falls out of his chair, he obviously doesn't want her help. And Cameron observes him, curious, confused. But not attached. For her, everything works out fine: the robbery, Othello, Eric being replaced by another night guard (what a great ending).

There are so many little things in this episode to marvel at. They are what creates the rich texture of the show, what makes it special. Like the question about suicide in the bathroom, calling back that girl in S1 who killed herself. Like the bomb comment, linking back to her talk about Sarah's cancer. Like the three dots that suddenly appear as star positions in a flashback, making them part of the T-888 investigation that essentially is just a McGuffin.

I also really liked John and Riley. Again very little happens, but the beauty is in the details and how it is all connected. Like John beating up the guy at the party and Sarah beating up Akagi. Like Riley playing little games with John at the party and a big game to further Jesse's agenda. Like John's "I shouldn't be around people" echoes what Jesse said about Future John. Like Riley's "you're a weirdo, you might get me" complements the story of Cameron and Eric. And, and, and.

I'm very glad the show doesn't speed up and move along, as Achim said. It wouldn't be the show I've come to admire.


(From Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season marathon on February 13th, 2010)