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The Wolf Man, a review by addicted2dvd

The Wolf Man (1941)
The original horror classic that introduced one of the screen's most infamous monsters! Lon Chaney, Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, who returns to his father's (Claude Rains) castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman (Evelyn Ankers). One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where Jenny's fate is revealed by a mysterious gypsy fortune teller. The dreamlike atmospheres and elaborate settings combined with a chilling musical score make 'The Wolf Man' a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time!

My Thoughts:
I couldn't have this classics marathon without watching The Wolf Man... my favorite of the classic Universal monster movies. I have watched this movie countless times since I got the boxset years ago. The boxset with The Wolf Man, Dracula, Frankenstein, The invisible Man, The Mummy. Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon & Phantom of the Opera. This movie definitely has some classic horror greats with Claude Rains, Bela Legosi and Lon Chaney, Jr. I still can't believe they are making a remake of this movie... but I will try to remain open minded for it.

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Oldies but Goodies on March 29th, 2008)

The 7th Victim, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: The 7th Victim
Year: 1943
Director: Mark Robson
Rating: NR
Length: 71 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Tom Conway
Jean Brooks
Isabel Jewell
Kim Hunter

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Featurettes

My Thoughts:
This movie came in the Val Lewton Horror Collection. Though not what you would consider a horror now a day. It felt more like a mystery/thriller to me. But it is definitely an enjoyable movie. Granted the movie is only 71min long... but it seemed to go by so fast because I was glued to the TV screen... engrossed in this movie. I have to wonder if this movie is where Hitchcock got his idea for the shower scene in Psycho... as there was a somewhat eerie (though only a stern warning no murder) shower scene in this movie. I really liked Kim Hunter in this movie. I will have to see what else I may have with her in my collection. This movie also has Hugh Beaumont of the classic sitcom Leave it to Beaver. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone that likes classic movies.



(From Addicted2DVD's November Alphabet Marathon on November 7th, 2009)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Jack trains a group of young recruits (among them Hailey and Lt. Elliot). He prepares them to become members of SG teams., But then a "foothold" situation arises in the SGC and Jack has to use them to repel the alien attack.

My Opinion: A very nice training scenario, especially the last part. It was a bit unfortunate that they revealed to the audience so early that the situation in the SGC is fake. When I watched it for the first time, I didn't recognize Grace Park (Sharon Valerii in Battlestar Galactica) but back then I didn't even know her.

Synopsis: After Teal'c has killed Tanith, his Al'kesh crashes into the Stargate and the wormhole is disrupted. But this traps the fleeing Teal'c inside the Stargate's buffer and he isn't being re-integrated. Sam tries to get him out of there, Daniel negotiates with the Russians about the second Stargate and Jack is looking for "alternate sources of information".

My Opinion: In principle this episode reminds me of a "typical" transporter incident in Star Trek. But that doesn't mean that they've re-used a script, the characters behave as they should be and the other story elements would prevent that this script could be used in Star Trek. I really liked the negotiations with the Russians and the "That didn't happen in the simulations." after the borrowed DHD blew up (of course only after Teal'c's rescue). I also liked the first appearance of Dr. McKay who behaved exactly like he will do when he becomes a main character in Stargate Atlantis.

Synopsis: Daniel infiltrates a summit of the System Lords in disguise of a human slave. Among others, Yu, Ba'al, Bastet and Kali attend this meeting. The plan was that Daniel releases a new and deadly Tok'ra virus that would kill them all. But then Osiris arrives and claims to speak in the name of Anubis who wishes to return to this council. In the meantime, Lord Zipacna attacks the Tok'ra base and he, too, acts under orders from Anubis.

My Opinion: The thrilling element of this episode was to wait for the moment Daniel and Osiris run into each other. It was cool that it only happened in the last minute and that it would turn out to be a two-parter. Fortunately the titles don't give that info away.

Synopsis: The Tok'ra base is under heavy fire and many have been killed. Martoufs former symbiote Lantash had no choice but to enter Lt. Elliot. Jack, Sam, Teal'c and Elliot/Lantash have to find a way to the Stargate. Daniel has managed to deceive Osiris with the help of the same drug he used to slip into Yu's entourage. But he had to give up the plan to kill them all because that would bring Anubis into a very powerful position. And Anubis has already threatened to ignore the Asgard treaty and to attack Earth.

My Opinion: The mind can paint the worst pictures. They didn't show how SG-1 "successfully" returned home and it wasn't necessary. One can imagine how the surroundings of the Stargate had to look like, after Elliot/Lantash sacrificed himself and killed thousands of Jaffa with the help of the virus. I am torn when it comes to the Jaffa. In most cases they are simply the attacker who have to be shot in self-defence. On the other hand they are presented as slaves who have no other choice but to fight for their "god" and that makes their death deplorable. There was a similar dilemma in The Matrix, where all the inhabitants were potential enemies even though they were the persons to be freed.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on April 5th, 2008)