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V/H/S, a review by addicted2dvd

V/H/S (2012/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Magnolia Home Entertainment, Magnet Director: David Brucker, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Adam Wingard, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg, Radio Silence, Tyler Gillett, Justin Martinez, Chad Villella Writing: Simon Barrett (Writer), David Brucker (Writer), Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Writer), Nicholas Tecosky (Writer), Ti West (Writer), Glenn McQuaid (Writer), Tyler Gillett (Writer), Justin Martinez (Writer), Chad Villella (Writer), Radio Silence (Writer) Length: 116 min. Rating: Rated R : Bloody Violence, Strong Sexuality, Graphic Nudity, Pervasive Language and Some Drug Use Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Calvin Reeder as Gary
Lane Hughes as Zak
Kentucker Audley as Rox
Adan Wingard as Brad
Frank Stack as Old Man

Plot:
V/H/S is a point of view, found-footage horror film from the perspective of America's top genre filmmakers. In V/H/S, a group of misfits are hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house in the countryside to acquire a rare tape. Upon searching the house, the guys are confronted with a dead body, a hub of old televisions and an endless supply of cryptic footage, each video stranger and more inexplicably terrifying than the last...

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Gallery
• Interviews

I grabbed this one because it sounded interesting to me. It is a mixture of a "Found Footage" film and an Anthology... and I enjoy both these types of films. Over-all I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I found I enjoyed most all the stories. I especially liked the one where the guy and girl was video chatting over the computer. going by reviews I read it seems like basically half the people enjoy it and half the people hate it. But I think if you like Anthologies and found Footage films... this one is definitely worth checking out. I am now looking forward to seeing part 2 when it comes out.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on August 16th, 2013)

This Christmas, a review by Danae Cassandra

This Christmas
Year of Release: 2007
Directed By: Preston A. Whitmore
Starring: Delroy Lindo, Idris Alba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown
Genre: Drama, Comedy

Overview:
This Christmas there's no place like family. For the first time in years, all the Whitfield kids have come home to spend the holiday with Ma'Dere (Loretta Devine) and her boyfriend Joe (Delroy Lindo). And each has brought plenty of baggage along with them. As the lights are hung and the tree is trimmed, secrets are revealed and ties are tested. But as their lives converge again, they join together to rediscover and celebrate the wonderful gift of family.

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty typical Christmas movie - a family who haven't all been together for quite some time comes together for the holiday.  Each of them have their own problems, and maybe their relationships with the rest of the family are kinda dysfunctional.  After all, nobody knows how to push your buttons like your family.  But in the end, family is what really matters and family are the folks that have your back.  Whatever the problems are, they can be worked out.

Yes, that's pretty cliche, but this is a bit more realistic a family.  I don't come from a big family (opposite of it, in fact), but I could still relate to these people.  The children, and their mother, and even the bookies pursuing the eldest son and the smarmy cheating spouse, all have good points and bad points.  Yes, some of them have more good points and some more bad points.  Yes, there is a happy ending, but this is a Christmas movie about a family coming together.  There wasn't not going to be a happy ending.  

I think anyone looking for a family drama (with touches of comedy) would enjoy this film.  I think anyone would relate to it.  I think it's a shame that a lot of folks won't look at this film, and will simply relegate it to being a "black film" rather than simply a "film."  I would recommend this to anyone - unless you're looking for something to watch with little kids.  Teens, sure, no problem, but little kids will be bored pretty quick.

Bechdel Test: Pass*

Overall: 3.5/5

*barely, there's one conversation between the women about food, but that's it - all the other conversations are about men or their relationships with men

(From Yuletide 2013 on December 9th, 2013)

Tom's TV Finales marathon, a review by Tom

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Ai Yori Aoshi: Volume 5 "With All My Heart" (2001/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Pioneer Entertainment (United States) Length: 100 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:



Ai Yori Aoshi
Season 1.24 Aoi
Writer: Kou Fumizuki (Original Material By), Kenichi Kanemaki (Writer)
Director: Katsuichi Nakayama
Cast: Soichiro Hoshi (Kaoru Hanabishi), Ayako Kawasumi (Aoi Sakuraba), Akiko Hiramatsu (Miyabi Kagurazaki), Satsuki Yukino (Tina Foster), Kaori Mizuhashi (Taeko Minazuki), Sayaka Narita (Mayu Miyuki), Haruko Momoi (Chika Minazuki), Kenyu Horiuchi (Saionji), Kazuya Nakai (Suzuki), Makoto Higo (Sato), Yuka Inoguchi (Uzume), Masara Takashima (Aoi's Mother), Narumi Hikada (Young Kaoru), Kenji Utsumi (Aoi's Father), , Barbara Goodson, Dave Wittenberg, Doug Stone, Kay Jensen, Kirsty Pape, Walter Lang, Lia Sargent, Michelle Ruff, Ron Allen, Sue Beth Arden, Wendee Lee

A good conclusion to the first series (especially considering the manga still ran at the time and the story wasn't concluded yet), but not as good as I remembered it.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Finales marathon on January 26th, 2013)