DVD Collectors Online

Knives of the Avenger, a review by Achim

Title: I coltelli del vendicatore
Year: 1966
Director: Mario Bava
Rating: NR
Length: 85 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: Italian: Dolby Digital Mono, English: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Cameron Mitchell
Fausto Tozzi [Frank Ross]
Giacomo Rossi-Stuart [Jack Stuart]
Luciano Pollentin [Louis Polle]
Amedeo Trilli [Michael Moore]

Plot:
In their third and final collaboration, 'Cameron Mitchell' stars for 'Mario Bava' as a Viking drifter torn between guilt, vengeance and his love for a peasant woman and her young son. Co-written by Bava (as 'John Hold'), the film delivers robust raping and pillaging yet proffers a uniquely humanistapproach that virtually re-imagines SHANE as a Viking drama. The result transcends its typically chestthumping genre to emerge as one of Bava's most emotionally complex and visually compelling films.

This remastered presentation of KNIVES OF THE AVENGER includes, for the first time on DVD, the original Italian language audio track with optional English subtitles, as well as the dubbed English track.

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Production Notes


The overview talking about vikings I wasn't sure I'd really want to watch this today; vikings sounding more like Sunday-afternoon entertainment. But, this is Bava and all was well

First of all the whole film felt more like a western than a viking movie. Lots of horse riding (did vikings do that....?) and especially the music made one almost forget that this is played in the north and they used swords rather than guns. The complex, but far from confusing story was told skillfully, always keeping me interested about what was coming next; never is the viewer giving too much or too little information.
Two standout moments where Bava expertly tightens the tension screw were the face-off in the inn and the climax. Also interesting (although possibly not on purpose) was how th emovie started out rather colorful, mainly lush greens, and then as the story progressed into the darker sections the colors on screen became muted.

Acting was quite good, but as usual the fact that everything was dubbed (even the Italian track, guess the on-location sound was unusable) made things difficult to judge.



(From Mario Bava marathon on June 29th, 2009)

101 Dalmatians, a review by Dragonfire

101 Dalmatians (1996)

Unleashing every once of Disney magic, 101 Dalmatians thrills audiences of all ages with fast-paced adventure and comedy - featuring a brilliant performance by five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close (including Best Actress, Dangerous Liaisons, 1988) as Cruella De Vil.  Achieving new heights of hilarity, Disney's all time classic puppy tale comes to life as a world-wide box office sensation.  In their small London flat, Dalmatians Pongo and Perdy, and their human "pets" Roger and Anita are overjoyed by the arrival of 15 puppies.  But when the spotted-fur-loving Ms. De Vil and her clumsy cohorts, Jasper and Horace, dognap the litter - along with every other Dalmatian pup in London - Pogo and Perdy must rally the town's animals to their rescue.  The plan hurls them towards a thrilling climax filled with uproarious moments as the puppies attempt to outwit their captors and bring on a final showdown with Cruella. 

My Thoughts

This was the first time in years that I've watched this one.  The movie had the same basic plot, though a few things were changed a bit and other things were added.  Cruella was a fashion designer and Anita worked for her instead of the two of them being old friends.  I thought that addition to the story made sense and provided a way for Cruella to have enough money to get all the fur she craved.  None of the animals were shown talking in some way like has been done in other movies.  Some scenes moved a little slower because of that when only animals were shown.  The animals, especially all the puppies, were adorable.  I think the movie is very entertaining even though the idea of someone being twisted enough to make a coat out of puppies is disturbing.  Glenn Close was perfect as Cruella.  I've thought that Cruella was one of the scariest Disney villains.  Close's version of the character was scarier than the version from the original animated movie.  A few things that happened, mostly with what some of the animals did, were a bit silly, but the movie was still very entertaining. 

  (I think that is the right one..still learning the emotes)

(From My November Alphabet Marathon on November 3rd, 2008)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Starfleet has developed a plan to expose Chancellor Gowron as a changeling. For this Sisko has to borrow Dukat's Bird of Prey and fly deep into the klingon territory. There O'Brien, Odo and he poses as Klingons - or at least Worf tries to teach them how to do that. And of course it's not that easy for a random klingon warrior to get close to his ruler.

My Opinion: It was great to see Brooks, Auberjonois and Meaney in klingon masks and costume, especially Brooks. And it was funny to see how they tred to behave like Klingons. But I have to admit I think it was a dangerous choice to take Odo, given his current state of mind. Even if it wasn't voiced in the episode the reason was obviously to challenge Odo, to show him that he can do his job even as a "solid" but he could as well blown it. But in the end it worked out ok and I liked the twist that it wasn't Gowron at all.

Synopsis: Sisko leads an expidition to a planet in the GQ where they want to determine whether it's suitable for a mining operation. But then a Jem'Hadar warship crashes on that planet - there are no survivors. But while they are inspecting the wreckage yet another Dominion ship arrives and in the following fight Sisko's people get trapped in the wreck. Surprisingly the Vorta offers safe conduct if they'd leave the ship. But now Sisko has become curious about what's so important about a crashed ship (and of course he doesn't trust her to keep her word).

My Opinion: OK, I was tired, but I dozed off during the episode, what does that tell you?

Synopsis: Grillka, Quark's klingon ex-wife, comes to the station because the war had some heavy impacts on her financial situation. And while Quark is happy to see her again, he's not the only one who finds her fascinating. Worf tries to impress her but doesn't succeed due to his dishonoured status within the empire. In the end he agrees to help Quark courting her.

My Opinion: The beginning of a beautiful romance. No, not Quark and Grillka, but Dax and Worf. "par'Mach" is klingon for "love", just a lot tougher than its human counterpart. It was great to see Quark courting Grillka and fighting his challenger while Worf and Dax were secretly helping him to survive. And of course the best part was where the two pairs came into the infirmary at the end of the episode.


Synopsis: Bashir and Jake (who's writing an article about Bashir) return from a medical conference when they receive an emergency call. They change course and land on a planet where a Federation force tries to hold the line against klingon ground troops. And while Dr. Bashir works in the clinic Jakes tries to help and not to stand in someone's way. But he also has to learn about the horrors of war.

My Opinion: I thought this was a really good episode. Once again DS9 has shown Humans much more human and not as perfect as they had been portrayed in TNG. I liked the idea of hearing Jakes notes as voiceover, to hear what he was feeling right now when he meet all these different kind of people. And that he didn't consider himself a hero just because he saved the day by accident even though everyone else does - that was great.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on January 24th, 2009)