DVD Collectors Online

The Gate, a review by Achim

Title: The Gate
Year: 1987
Director: Tibor Takacs
Rating: PG-13
Length: 86 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Stephen Dorff
Christa Denton
Louis Tripp
Kelly Rowan
Jennifer Irwin

Plot:
After an old tree is removed from the ground, three young children accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from the hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Gallery
Interviews
Closed Captioned

This film came recommended by a few here on the forum and I must say the film exceeded my expectations. A little Canadian effort into the teen horror genre of the 80s (e.g. Monster Squad of the same year, which this film owns easily) it has excellent special effects (especially the minions kept amazing me) and decent acting from the child actors who after all have to carry the film. Stephen Dorff, who is not yet recognizable comapred to how we know him now, is at a very early career stage here and obviously still had to learn a lot.

The film takes its time to set up the characters and explore their relationships. Nothing feels overly contrived when each plot point is made to move the story towards the inevitable opening of The Gate. It almost feels like a teen comedy for a while, but a good one at that. Good writing, with some hood jokes, keeps our attention up. We are about half way into the movie when all hell breaks loose and the kids have to go against the demon and his minions. The ending is ultimately rather typical for its time and would be considered lazy screen writing today.

I thought that the PG-13 was well stretched in a few spots

Best insult: "Suck my face until my head caves in!"



(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 2nd, 2009)

Loving Annabelle, a review by Tom

Loving Annabelle (2006/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Pro-Fun Media (Germany) Director: Katherine Brooks Writing: Katherine Brooks (Writer) Length: 77 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: German

---

Stars:
Erin Kelly as Annabelle
Diane Gaidry as Simone
Laura Breckenridge as Colins
Michelle Horn as Kristen
Gustine Fudickar as Cat

Plot:
Annabelle is the wise-beyond-her-years newcomer to an exclusive Catholic girls school. Having been expelled from her first two schools she's bound to stir some trouble. Sparks fly though when sexual chemistry appears between her and the Head of her dorm and English teacher, Simone Bradley. Annabelle pursues her relentlessly and until the end the older woman manages to avoid the law.

Extras:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Interviews
• Outtakes
• Photo Gallery
• Scene Access
• Trailers

Based on the German movie "Mädchen in Uniform" from 1931. The movie was okay. Nothing special though. I was entertained during the short runtime. But I found the emotions in this movie forced and not all that natural.

Rating:

(From Lesbian Movie Marathon on December 12th, 2010)

The 2013 Pilot Review, a review by DJ Doena

The Goldbergs

The Goldbergs @ IMDb
The Goldbergs @ Wikipedia

Synopsis: A retro comedy that reflects the "best" and worst of the 80s. The story is shown through the home-video camera of son Adam who is a reflection of the real Adam Goldberg, creator of the show.

My Opinion: I suppose this is the 80s counterpart to That 70's Show but it just doesn't work for me and I am about the same age as the creator! If I want to remember the 80s America, I remember MacGyver and Mr. T and Michael Knight, not some suburban kid with a video camera.

(From The 2013 Pilot Review on October 10th, 2013)