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Coraline, a review by Danae Cassandra

Coraline
Year of Release:  2009
Directed By: Henry Selick
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher
Genre: Horror, Adventure

Overview:
From the director of The Nightmare Before ChristmasCoraline, exclusively in this 2-Disc Collector's Edition!

Coraline Jones is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door that leads her into a world that's just like her own...but better! But when this fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her "other" Mother tries to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness and bravery to get home. Coraline  is a "visual marvel" (Claudia Puig, USA Today).

My Thoughts:
I last saw this delightful film four years ago, and I don't know why we waited so long to watch it again. 

Of course, when I saw it last time I was under the mistaken impression that this was a Tim Burton film.  Of course, it is not - but I can be forgiven, I think, for the mistake.  It's from collaborators of Burton's and shares a lot of the same visual and atmospheric style as Burton's films. 

This is a wonderful, creepy film with a delightful Gothic atmosphere, beautifully crafted stop-motion animation and very decent voice acting.  It's strong story has its origin in a book by Neil Gaiman, and the visuals are very striking.  Coraline is a strong, resourceful character, and the Other Mother character is creepy from the beginning and only gets creepier as the film progresses from dream to nightmare.  Some of my friends were really creeped out by the button eyes in the film.  I mean they found it really, really creepy.  Much more than the film deserves.

I like this film a lot and recommend it for anyone old enough to handle its spooky nature (so like 8 and up, could go younger for mature kids).

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 4/5

(From Danae's 2013 Horror Marathon on October 12th, 2013)

Outsourced , a review by Tom

Outsourced (2006/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Concorde Home Entertainment, EuroVideo (Germany) Director: John Jeffcoat Writing: George Wing (Writer), John Jeffcoat (Writer) Length: 99 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: DTS 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: German

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Stars:
Josh Hamilton as Todd Anderson
Matt Smith as Dave
Rudolf Rodrigues as Rickshaw Driver
Jai Neeraj Raj Purohit as Man Catching Train
Siddharth Jadhav as Gola Vendor

Plot:
After his entire department is outsourced, an American novelty products salesman (Hamilton) heads to India to train his replacement.

Extras:

• Interviews
• Scene Access
• Trailers

This movie was a lot of fun. It was fun watching the main character being confronted by the Indian culture. I haven't been to India but as far as I can tell it looks being as faithful to the actual India as possible.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on February 16th, 2011)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Adventures of Superman: Season One (1952/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 662 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Plot:
The first superhero created for comic books, SUPERMAN leaped from radio to television when Adventures of Superman debuted in 1952. Produced by Robert J. Maxwell (who also produced the radio version) and Bernard Luber (a veteran of Hollywood serials), each First Season Episode screens like a classic crime movie, where danger and death lurk in the shadows. Working with some of the industry's best character actors, George Reeves plays the MAN OF STEEL with a genuineness that captivates viewers of all ages. Now, enjoy this legendary series as never before, digitally mastered from original film elements, in a soaring DELUXE 5-DISC SET WITH EXCITING EXTRAS.
- Allan Asherman, DC Comics Historian

The Adventures of Superman
1.01 Superman on Earth
Writer: Richard Fielding (Screenwriter)
Director: Tommy Carr
Cast: George Reeves (Superman/Clark Kent), Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane), Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen), John Hamilton (Perry White), Ross Elliott), Herbert Rawlinson), Stuart Randall), Aline Towne), Frances Morris), Dani Nolan)

A good first episode considering the age of the series. Strange is the beginning. Jor-El is introduced by the council elder to be a highly regarded scientist who was given the task to look into the seismic activity, but then was ridiculed when he presented his findings, which could easily been verified. And this shortly after the introduction of Krypton having an highly advanced race.
I didn't remember that the origin story was rather elaborate on this. We see Jor-El and the council on Krypton. Him and his wife putting the baby in the rocket. The Kents finding the rocket. And even scenes with Clark at age 12 and 25.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on March 25th, 2011)