DVD Collectors Online

Scared to Death, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Scared to Death
Year: 1947
Director: Christy Cabanne
Rating: NR
Length: 65 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles: N/A

Stars:
Bela Lugosi
George Zucco
Molly Lamont
Joyce Compton
Gladys Blake

Plot:
From a slab in the morgue, a dead young woman tells the bizarre tale of how she got there, through a maze of murder involving a hypnotist, a midget and a mysterious figure in a blue mask.

Extras:
N/A

My Thoughts:
This movie is part of a Bela Lugosi double feature disc I have... along with the movie The Devil Bat. I picked this one because I thought the plot sounded interesting... and the trailer for it looked good. And while it was good... I was expecting more from it. Not only did it seem the best parts was all in the trailer (nothing unusual there) but every time the movie cut to the morgue to focus on her dead body to tell her story (hear her thoughts) it seemed short and abruptly cut to and from. Also one of the characters, the midget, just disappeared from the story not to be seen again and not mentioned again. But it was entertaining enough to keep my attention through-out the movie. Though I do feel it should have been better.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on December 20th, 2009)

Ring 2, a review by Jon

Ring 2
2 out of 5

Rachel and her son have survived their first encounter with Samara, but not without a price. She's trying to rebuild her life in a sleepy town when a local boy is found dead, in worryingly familiar circumstances. It soon becomes clear that Samara is now coming for the two of them, but why?

I always judge remakes -especially of foreign films- on how they stand up if the original didn't exist. Remakes are rarely better, but every now and then you drop across one that certainly did nothing wrong and was a watchable version. I thought the American Ring was like that. It was loud, brash and overdone, but the intricate storyline was intact and still powerful. Unfortunately this sequel to the remake is a missed opportunity, especially when directed by Hideo Nakata, director of the first Ringu.

Japanese horror films seem to generate a lot of impact by being made as simple dramas; no unnecessary editing or music and the actors play it straight. Howard Hawks once said, "no action without danger" and it makes a lot of sense. I get the impression Hideo is trying that here, but the score and cast are still being played like there is a ghost around every damn corner. Nothing can be accepted for what it is, it's overflowing with unresolved innuendo and furtive glances. It doesn't help that most of the cast are wooden or half-developed characters.

Naomi Watts is gorgeous as usual and does nothing particularly wrong and David Dorfman still impresses as Aidan coming across much older than his years, although I think he's being stretched in the last act. They're let down though by a murky, unfocused script and poor supporting characters. It tells you something when the most memorable is the ever reliable Gary Cole who is on screen for about 30 seconds. He gives the film a much needed slap in the face, but then goes away again.

Overall I quite liked the premise. Fitted in well with the mythology, as you'd expect. It just needed some... oomph! There's a scene toward the end in Samara's well that was great. It needed lots more of that while letting the drama scenes lighten up and simmer down.

All in all, this is a Asian-American fusion that has failed completely, taking the worst of both sides.

Note: there is an extra on the DVD, a short film acting as a sort of prelude to the first victim, that while being weak nevertheless makes me think it could have been a decent storyline for a sequel on its own. All the Rings start off with kids finding tapes and showing them to each other, scaring themselves shitless. Here they go one typical teen step further by forming a cult that records everything that happens after viewing the tape and seeing how close they can get to the 7 day deadline before showing it to the next person, a pre-appointed "tail". I liked the idea of them trying to play Samara at her own game for thrills.

(From Jon's Random Reviews on February 2nd, 2009)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Fullmetal Alchemist: Season One: Part One (2003/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Productions (United States) Length: 420 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

---

Plot:
What are you willing to sacrifice ?

Under stormy skies, Eward and Alphonse Elric exploited the
clandestine science of Alchemy in attempt of the forbidden - To
resurrect their dearly departed mother. But every art form has its taboos
and every science its laws not to be broken. The tragic failure of
the young brothers unleashed and unholy reaction that ripped their
bodies apart and their innocense asunder.

Four years later, an evil lurks behind the false face of freedom, its
growth unchecked. A lone State Alchemist combs the countryside
in search of a mythological stone. If found, the stone could amplify
natural talents and harness a power equal to the restoration of
things once held precious, now lost. If found, the stone would also
allow the State Military to senselessly obliterate countless more in
the ongoing struggle. The youngest State Alcehmist in history is
soon faced with harsh truth: The power to create is but a breath
away from the power to destroy.


Hagane no Renkinjutsushi
1.01 Taiyo- ni Idomu Mono (2003-10-04)
Writer: Hiromu Arakawa (Original Material By), Sho Aikawa (Screenwriter)
Director: Seiji Mizushima
Cast

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 20th, 2011)