DVD Collectors Online

The Da Vinci Code, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Da Vinci Code
Year of Release: 2006
Directed By: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany
Genre: Suspense/Thriller, Drama, Action

Overview:Philadelphia, and 1994 Best Actor, Forrest GumpMy Thoughts:
I enjoy this film and find it entertaining, filled with twisty conspiracy theories and enough action to keep the viewer interested.  The pacing is pretty good there, because there are parts that are extremely talky but just when it gets to be too much something happens to distract our heroes from their chat.  Having never read the book, I can't comment on its faithfulness or lack thereof, but I enjoy the story and think it's complete.  I certainly haven't felt the need to read the book.  My biggest complaint would be that the best performances and most interesting characters are not the leads.  Hanks' Robert Langdon is surprisingly passive and unemotional, despite his pretty desperate situation he never seems fully engaged, and while Tatou's Sophie is charming she's also one-dimensional.  McKellen's Teabing is a much more interesting character, and steals every scene he's in.  Bettany's Silas is menacing and fanatical, but the extended cut here makes him more understandable and sympathetic.  

I definitely enjoyed the extended cut more than the theatrical, continuing a pattern there, and unlike the extended cuts of some other films, I don't know what I would cut here.  It does make this a nearly 3 hour film, though, so I wouldn't recommend it if you can't sit still that long.  I also wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a movie to watch with a religious fanatic in the family.  Other than that, recommended.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on August 14th, 2015)

Prom Night (remake), a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Prom Night: Unrated Version
Year: 2008
Director: Nelson McCormick
Rating: NR
Length: 89 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Brittany Snow
Scott Porter
Jessica Stroup
Dana Davis
Collins Pennie

Plot:
Three years ago, Donna (Brittany Snow, John Tucker Must Die) watched in horror as an obsessed predator (Johnathon Schaech, That Thing You Do!) murdered her family. Tonight is her senior prom and although she's anxious about the past, she's excited to celebrate her future with her friends. What Donna doesn't know is that the deranged psychopath has escaped from the asylum. He's returned to hunt her down, intent on killing anyone who gets in his way. As the night races towards its heart-pounding conclusion, the question becomes not who will be prom queen, but who will survive the killer's rampage.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Gallery
Outtakes/Bloopers
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
You know... if it wasn't for the fact that I found this DVD for only $3 at Big Lots it would have never made it to my collection. Especially considering I found the original to be mediocre. And I wasn't expecting much better what with the fact that I don't like music. When I got this home I read all over the net how much this movie sucked... so that brought down my expectations even more. But I figured I got to at least give this movie a chance after I bought it. Not that I am surprised... but this one didn't impress me. I mean it isn't as terrible as I was expecting. And that may be thanks to the fact that I went into it with very low expectations. It really is no more then an OK movie.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Horror on December 26th, 2009)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Arthur Pendragon, King of the Britons has arrived at the station to return Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. Meanwhile Sheridan tries to set up a defense treaty of Babylon 5 with the League of Non-Alligned Worlds.

My opinion: Loved the speculation whether or not he could be King Arthur, especially with the experience that the Vorlons have indeed taken people from Earth. Michael York played this role very well. I also liked the episode because I think that a sword is the most fair weapon on a battle field - if something like a "fair weapon" exist. I always liked what I call "sword movies" (e.g. all kinds of "3 Musketeers" movies, Highlander, "Last Samurai" and so on). "Sword movies" are one of the few movies I'd watch even if they were made before the 80s.

Quote of the episode:
Garibaldi: "What are you so nervous about? We went up against the entire Earth Alliance and two carrier groups." Security guard: "Yeah, but this is the post office. This could get us in real trouble."


Synopsis: Bester comes yet again to the station to ally himself with Sheridan. He fears that alien forces have to much influence on the president and that they are threatening the Pis Corps. And so he acts accordingly to the old rule "the enemy of my enemy ..."

My opinion: Again a very good Bester episode in which we learn a lot about the Shadows and we get the insight that Bester has indeed a heart beating in his chest. And now it makes sense why the Narns were the first victims of this great war. They knew too much about the Shadows and how to beat them.


Synopsis: Sheridan needs a great victory against the Shadows to draw other races into the war against them. And for this victory he needs the support of the Vorlons, the only race capable of winning such a battle. Meanwhile Londo is awaiting Adira Tyree, the exoctic dancer he fell in love with in the first season. But Morden is unhappy, that Londo did cut Morden's connection to Lord Refa.

My opinion: It was great to see that a Vorlon can be made angry and that they have feelings just like the rest of us (fear of death for instance) and it was a very sad moment to see Kosh die. It was also sad to see Londo doing all the wrong things again. He was fooled again by Morden and was too blind to see it.


Synopsis: Ranger One / Entil'Zha Sinclair comes to the station because he got a letter addressed specifically to him, but written over 900 years ago. When he arrives Delenn discloses to him, Sheridan, Marcus and Susan that she knows, where (or better when) Babylon 4 went, after it got lost. It was used in the great war a thousand years ago and it would be their task to steal it and move it back in time.

My opninion: Just like I waited for "Comes the Inquisitor" in the last season I waited for this one in this season. I always liked the fact that Sinclair simply wasn't forgotten after he left Babylon 5. And for this episode he had to be there since we saw a "future Sinclair" in the "Babylon Squared" episode in the first season. Can't wait to see the continuation.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on August 26th, 2007)