DVD Collectors Online

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage, a review by Danae Cassandra

Film #2 of Scavenger Hunt 22
Task #26: Watch an Italian horror movie (because 17 is unlucky in Italy)



The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (L'Uccello dalle piume di cristallo)
Year of Release: 1970
Directed By: Dario Argento
Starring: Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi, Umberto Raho
Genre: Horror, Suspense/Thriller, Giallo

Overview:My Thoughts:
I watched this back in October, and I gave it such a high rating that my mom really wanted to watch it as well, so it seemed like the perfect choice for this task in the scavenger hunt.

As far as the second viewing goes, I still think just as well of the film this time as I did two months ago. Mom really enjoyed the film as well, especially that things don't always go the way you expect them to. While the apartment scene is the most actively horrific, the ending still holds the most horror for me, simply in its implications. I'm also still impressed by how beautiful the film is - the lighting, color palette and cinematography. I would still really highly recommend this film, it is so good.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Scavenger Hunt #22 on December 31st, 2016)

Smile, a review by addicted2dvd

Smile (2022/United States) Paramount Pictures (United States) Director: Parker Finn Writing: Parker Finn (Writer) Length: 115 min. Video: Widescreen 2.00:1 Audio: English: Dolby Atmos: 3D, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: 5.1, German: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish

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Stars:
Sosie Bacon as Rose Cotter
Kyle Gallner as Joel
Jessie T. Usher as Trevor
Robin Weigert as Dr. Madeline Northcott
Caitlin Stasey as Laura Weaver

Plot:
After witnessing a bizzare, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

Extras:

This one I enjoyed quite a bit. They do so much with a simple creepy smile. The cast did a great job. This is one of several I found at the library I hope to add to my collection before too long, recommended.



(From Horror/Halloween Marathon 2023 on September 20th, 2023)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Connor has found a way back into this world but now he is a teenager under the name of Steven, a name Holtz gave him. Now he tries to find his way through this new world.

My Opinion: They screwed up with the fighting logic in this one and I simply can't let go of something like this. First Connor/Steven fights against Angel, Groo and Gunn and he doesn't look overburdened. Then he jumps off a bridge, 20, maybe 30 meters into the deep. But shortly after that he has a problem to handle four muggers from the streets. Such a thing rankles me over an entire episode.

Synopsis: Holtz has also returned into our dimension and Steven regards him as his real father. But Holtz sends Steven to Angel, to learn from him.

My Opinion: Even in dying Holtz is still perfidious. In any case, father and son fight very well together - yet I fail to understand why they've change the camera work (e.g. bullet-time) in the middle of the series.

Synopsis: Steven has only ostensibly returned to his father because he assumes that Angel has killed Holtz. Lorne doesn't trus Connor/Steven and has also taken a job in another city. Groo leaves Cordelia because he sees that she loves Angel. And Cordelia and Angel want to admit to each other that they love one another.

My Opinion: Wow. This group has fallen apart. Not only are they scatterd into all horizontal directions but also into heaven and hell. Cordelia's ascension into another plane of existence strongly reminded me of Daniel Jackson in Stargate SG-1's fifth (sixth?) season. If they are remotely similar then we won't have seen the last of her.

The Season - My Opinion: This season was like a roller coaster. Darla returns pregnant. Holtz hunts them. Connor is "born". Connor is lost in a hell dimension and returns. And in the middle of it is always Wolfram & Hart. Yes, that was exciting.

(From Angel Marathon on February 22nd, 2008)