DVD Collectors Online

The Devil's Rain, a review by Jimmy

The Devil's Rain



Years : 1975

Director : Robert Fuest

Stars :

Ernest Borgnine
Eddie Albert
William Shatner
Tom Skerritt

Synopsis :

The Preston family owns a book that originally belonged to Corbis, who is a priest of the Satan Church, 300 years ago. He will do everything in his power to recover this book of great importance for him and his cult.

Viewing experience:

There was a period in the 70's when everybody wanted to make a film about the devil (The Exorcist, The Antichrist, The Omen, Abby, etc.) with varying results. This film is in the medium budget category, so don't expect The Exorcist or The Omen. However this doesn't mean it is bad movie.

The film is quite short (86 minute). The story is fairly simple to follow and the concept of the quest of a priest of a satanic cult who wants to recover his stolen property is interesting. He is not necessarily the bad guy in my point of view and this is surprising. This film is a good discovery for someone who like this kind of movie genre (seventies drive in movie). A good blind buy that I've made because of the DVD release company and William Shatner. I don't regret it one minute.

Postive points :

Ernest Borgnine is perfectly cast in the role of Corbis.
William Shatner overact as usual (That's why I like him).
The melting effect are greatly done.
The ending is surprising

Negative points :

Eddie Albert casting as an occult expert (I think of Green Acres everytime he is on screen).
The Satan Priest Make-up of Corbis is really bad.

Rating : 3,5/5
Movie trailer link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCcf_GYnyqs

P.S : This is my first try so if you have some sugestion for amelioration don't hesitate

(From DVD Profiler random marathon on December 11th, 2007)

The Castle of Fu Manchu , a review by samuelrichardscott

The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969) R0 USA DVD

Overview:
Christopher Lee returns as the diabolical super-villain who along with his sadistic daughter Lin Tang (Tsai Chin of THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU and THE JOY LUCK CLUB) creates a fiendish new chemical weapon that will turn the seas into a giant block of ice. But when his Archenemy Nayland Smith (Richard Greene of TALES FROM THE CRYPT) tracks the madman's trail of kidnapping, murder and massive global destruction, he himself becomes trapped in Fu's impenetrable lair of cruelty. Can any of the world's top secret agents (including a wild performance by Director Jess Franco) now stop the cold-blooded terror that lives in the CASTLE OF FU MANCHU?

Maria Perschy (99 WOMEN) and Rosalba Neri (JUSTINE) co-star in this notorious sequel to THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU directed by Jess Franco (THE BLOODY JUDGE, VAMPYROS LESBOS) that marked Christopher Lee's final performance as the infamous Chinese madman. This definitive edition of THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU has been newly restored from it's original print and packed with exclusive new Extras for a disc full of Fu Manchu mayhem!

Thoughts:
My second foray into the world of Fu Manchu is the second Franco/Lee collaboration in which Lee's Fu Manchu creates a weapon to freeze the sea. Like "The Blood of Fu Manchu", it is shot in the typical Jess Franco style, using many minutes of stock footage to keep costs down on what is already a noticeably low budget sequel. Unfortunately, this film fails at most levels, from the acting to the story and there is little to keep even the most ardent Fu Manchu fan interested. Reading various sites before buying this, I had heard that the two Franco films are easily the worst so I think I need to check out some of the early films based on this character Christopher Lee played six times. I can't recommend this to anyone although I will say Tsai Chin is the highlight in a barrel of crap. 1.5/5

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on July 6th, 2011)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

VOY 3.14 Alter Ego
Writer: Joe Menosky (Writer)
Director: Robert Picardo
Cast: Kate Mulgrew (Captain Kathryn Janeway), Robert Beltran (Commander Chakotay), Roxann Dawson (Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres), Jennifer Lien (Kes), Robert Duncan McNeill (Lieutenant Tom Paris), Ethan Phillips (Neelix), Robert Picardo (The Doctor), Tim Russ (Lieutenant Tuvok), Garrett Wang (Ensign Harry Kim), Sandra Nelson (Marayna), Alexander Enberg (Ensign Vorik), Shay Todd (Holowoman), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice (voice))

I am skipping the episode "Macrocosm" even though I remember it had a nice P/T scene in it. But that episode is so stupid (Macro-viruses flying around and Rambo-Janeway going after them), that I do not want to watch it now.

The episode "Alter Ego" is about an alien who takes over a holodeck character, Harry Kim and Tuvok both fall for. As you can probably guess, this amounts to a stupid episode. Although I did like the conclusion to this episode.

P/T moments:
Tom complimenting B'Elanna on her dress and him getting competition from the vulcan Vorik.




Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on September 27th, 2009)