DVD Collectors Online

Blue Steel, a review by addicted2dvd

Blue Steel
When Sheriff Jake sees a man at the safe and then finds the payroll gone, he trails him. Just as he is about to arrest him, the man saves his life. Still suspicious, he joins up with the man and later they learn that Melgrove, the towns leading citizen, is trying to take over the area's ranches by having his gang stop all incoming supply wagons. With the ranchers about to sell to Melgrove, the two newcomers say they will bring in provisions.

My Thoughts:
Another from the 20 Great Westerns boxset I got from the Walmart Bargain Bin. This movie stars John Wayne in one of his earlier roles. Also in this one is George Hayes and Eleanor Hunt. Though I am not familiar with them. While I enjoyed the other John Wayne movie I watched (Winds of the Wasteland) quite a bit... this one not so much. It just wasn't nearly as entertaining for me. The quality wasn't up there either. Some scenes the audio and video was very good... but in other scenes there was a lot of dust and scratches... and there as a low hissing in the audio.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Western Round-Up on July 12th, 2009)

The Last American Hero , a review by samuelrichardscott

The Last American Hero (1973) - R2 UK DVD

Shortened Review:
Films that are loosely based on the true stories of people from underpriviliged backgrounds or of people being general underdogs going on to become successful sporting heroes are two a penny. Usually these films have some relation to Disney and include Coach Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), Glory Road (Josh Lucas), Remember the Titans (Denzel Washington) and Invincible (Mark Wahlberg). Usually these films relate to sports like basketball, american football, football and ice hockey but very rarely do we get a similar film related to motorsport racing. In fact, whilst the more imaginitive racing/car related films have a history of popularity, from The Cannonball Run to Death Race 2000 to The Fast and the Furious, the racing films that strive for seriousness are few. 1966's Grand Prix was one such film I enjoyed focusing on the lives of formula one drivers though this isn't based on a true story. I entered The Last American Hero knowing that I enjoy this particular genre and looked forward to watching it.

The Last American Hero is loosely based on a series of Esquire articles written by Tom Wolfe, telling the true story of Junior Johnson, a moonshine smuggler who became one of NASCAR's first champions and an American sporting hero. After Junior crashes into a police blockade whilst delivering his father's moonshine, the police arrest Junior's dad and he gets a one year prison sentence. To raise some cash to help his family, Junior enters a demolition derby, and then a stock car race. Realising he has a natural talent, he progresses on the stock car circuit until he meets a promoter (played by Ned Beatty) who gives him his break on the NASCAR circuit.

When I first hit play, the first scene put me off slightly. I felt like I had just put on a random episode of The Dukes of Hazzard, except this time Bo and Luke were driving a black car instead of The General Lee. Whilst I enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard TV show, I was looking forward to something different with this film. Thankfully, after the opening scene, I got what I was looking for. Jeff Bridges is excellent as the overly cocky racer who knows he has talent, forcing himself on to the stock car circuit as an independent driver by winning local and regional races. Ned Beatty is great in his role as the promoter and Gary Busey suits his as Junior's brother (even if his screen time is rather limited). Yes the story is sometimes contrived and yes, it is obvious what is going to happen, but this is an enjoyable racing film with spirit and determination with good performances all round and some fun and well shot racing scenes.

Full Review:
http://www.dvdcompare.net/review.php?rid=2501

Released 12th September 2011.

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on August 18th, 2011)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

The Dead Zone: Season One (2002/Canada) IMDb | Wikipedia Lions Gate Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 565 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, Spanish

---

Plot:
Based on the characters and story from the best-selling book by Stephen King, The Dead Zone is a unique psychological thriller that combines a rich mix of action, the paranormal and a continuing quest for justice.


The Dead Zone
1.01 Wheel Of Fortune
Writer: Stephen King (Original Characters By), Michael Piller (Screenwriter), Shawn Piller (Screenwriter)
Director: Robert Lieberman
Cast: Anthony Michael Hall (Johnny Smith), Nicole DeBoer (Sarah Bracknell/Sarah Bannerman), Chris Bruno (Walt Bannerman), John L. Adams (Bruce Lewis), Rick Tae (Dr. Tran), Anna Hagan (Vera Smith), Gina Chiarelli (Nurse Elaine MacGowan), Michael Rogers (Frank Dodd), David Ogden Stiers (Reverend Gene Purdy), Emily Holmes (Allison), John Hainsworth (Barker #1), Campbell Lane (Barker #2), Justin Stillwell (Boy Student), Kenya Jo Kennedy (Child in Bedroom), Nicole La Placa (Girl Student #1), Mercedes de la Zerda (Girl Student #2), Chris Kelly (Hockey Coach), Michael St. John Smith (Mike Kennedy), Liliane Lee (Mother Tran), Diana Ha (Older Mother Tran), Bryce Hodgeson (Player #1), Alvin Sanders (Principal), Dominic Louis (Sarah's Son), Evan Smith (6 Year Old Johnny), Victoria Billingsley (6 Year Old Sarah), Nicholas Lee (3 Year Old Dr. Tran), Donald Fong (Uncle Tran), Ed Chow (Younger Uncle Tran)

This series is a based on a Stephen King book. There was also a movie based on it with Christopher Walken. The source material is very fitting as a premise for a TV series. I always enjoyed watching it. The first episode is a good introduction and has many elements which were also in the movie (I haven't read the book).

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on April 2nd, 2011)