DVD Collectors Online

Heart of America, a review by Jimmy

Title: Heart of America (2003)

Genre: Drama
Director: Uwe Boll
Rating: R
Length: 1h27
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:Plot:
It's the last day of high school and the unthinkable is about to occur. Two seniors, with a murder/suicide pact, plan to take weapons to school to exact revenge on their abusers.

This movie is certainly the nearest that Boll had came to make a good movie for most people. The story is clear, make sense and not over the top. The acting isn't too bad, except for some overacting performances (mostly by the bullies). Clint Howard as one the kid father and Will Sanderson as an ex-bully does a pretty good acting job. The thing I appreciate is the fact that the students look like normal people, not like boring and good looking TV serie teenagers. You don't get the usual Boll's trademark of weird and unecessary camera trick, there is one exception but I don't see it as meaningless. The musical score is effective too, particullary the instrumental one they use for the openning and later when the killing start (sorry no idea of who played it).

I don't say that it's a perfect movie it had is defects. First the story follow to many characters, but this is a problem with every movie on the same subject. Secondly the casting of Brendan Fletcher in the role of the bullies leader, I usually like him but he isn't credible at all for the role he just doesn't look like a tough guy (even me I could be able to kick his ass and I ain't scary at all). But the most important problem is the end that is a complete let down after all the build up made before.

At least try a rent for this one, you could be surprise by Uwe Boll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CewIrrzpfvk
Rating :

(From F***** Up Teenagers Marathon on April 19th, 2009)

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, a review by addicted2dvd

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
Remember the good old days when anyone with a camera, a few thousand bucks, and more ambition than talent could schlep up to Bronson Canyon and quickly make a cheap sci-fi/horror movie? Well, they're back! THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA is an affectionate, meticulous re-creation of those notoriously cheesy clunkers, as a gaggle of beloved stereotypes pursue "that rarest of all radioactive elements - atmosphereum." Writer/Director Larry Blamire heads a superb cast - including Fay Masterson (Eyes Wide Shut), Andrew Parks (Donnie Brasco), Brian Howe (Catch Me If You Can) and Jennifer Blaire (The Majestic) - that faced a daunting task: having to be brilliant and terrible at the same time! It's one of the most original, clever, and hilarious comedies to come along in eons of your Earth years!

My Thoughts:
This is one of the many movies our good friend Roger sent me this month. This is an independent movie that I have heard got a lot of praise. It is an homage to the old '50s Sci-Fi movies that was made back in 2001... to the point that they actually made it in black and white. I went into this one really not expecting a lot... but was hopeful. Of course this is a very cheesy film.  But even so... it is very entertaining in an odd way. If you ever seen some of those '50s Sci-Fi films you can't help to laugh at this movie. Though I would admit this is definitely a movie you would have to be in the mood to watch. I couldn't imagine trying to watch a movie this silly and cheesy without being in the mood for it. I doubt I would enjoy it half as much.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on August 2nd, 2009)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

10. Amends (1998-12-15)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Saverio Guerra (Willy), Shane Barach (Daniel), Edward Edwards (Travis), Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy (Margaret), Robia LaMorte (Jenny Calendar), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Mark Kriski (Weatherman), Tom Michael Bailey (Tree Seller Guy)

In the past, I didn't like this episode very much. But this time around, I really enjoyed it. We have flashbacks to Angel's past and Willow and Oz making up. Probably I didn't like the twist at the end in the past. But now it makes total sense. That Power That Be play a more vital role in the Angel series, but here we already learn, that they are responsible for Angel's return and also save him at the end of this episode. I like it, that not Buffy's pep talk saved him, like you would expect. Angel would have really died here, when TPTB would not have intervened.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on March 3rd, 2009)