DVD Collectors Online

What a Wonderful World, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Morocco
wikipedia



What a Wonderful World
Year of Release: 2006
Starring: Nezha Rahile, Faouzi Bensaidi, El Mehdi Elaaroubi, Fatima Attif
Directed By: Faouzi Bensaidi
Genre: Thriller, Romance

Overview:My Thoughts:
What a beautiful film!  Bensaidi's set pieces, choreography and cinematography create a beautiful, stylish art film.  This truly is film as art.  The scenes with Kenza on the roundabout, with the cars moving around her, are really spectacular pieces of art.  It's a very modern piece, with a mashup of genres and influences from both east and west.  With all that's good about it, the film is very disconnected from the viewer.  Perhaps this is because it is film as art rather than film as story.  The plot definitely takes a backseat to the cinematography.  You are always aware you are watching a movie.  There is never a time in which you are immersed in the film.  The characters, stylish and beautiful as they are, are also very superficial.  There is no connection between them and the viewer.  You don't really care about them.  But it's still a worthwhile film to see, for it's beautiful artistry.  It's easy on the eyes.  Just don't expect depth.

Recommended for art film lovers only.  I was reminded, in some ways, of Breathless, so if you like Godard, you should give this film a look.

Bechdel Test: Pass, but barely

Overall: 3/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on March 31st, 2013)

The Secret of the Sword, a review by Tom

The Secret of the Sword (1985/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia BCI Eclipse, Entertainment Rights (United States) Director: Ed Friedman, Lou Kachivas, Marsh Lamore, Bill Reed, Gwen Wetzler Writing: Larry Ditillio (Writer), Bob Forward (Writer) Length: 87 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Stars:
John Erwin as He-Man
Melendy Britt as She-Ra
Alan Oppenheimer as Skeletor
Linda Gary as Teela
George DiCenzo as Hordak

Plot:
For the honor of Grayskull! Experience the thrill, fantasy and excitement in the enchanted world of Etheria where She-Ra and her friends of The Great Rebellion battle the terrible Evil Horde to reclaim their once beautiful land from the hands of destruction!

This two-disc deluxe set comprises The Secret of the SwordExtras:

• Commentary
• Featurettes
• Scene Access
• Trailers

I was in the mood to watch something related to the He-Man franchise, so I decided to watch this theatrical movie send-off to the She-Ra series. Essentially this movie, even though it was released in theatres before the series aired, was cut together from the first five episodes of the He-Man spin-off series. In a campy sort of way I still enjoy watching it to this day. I am not ashamed to admit that I loved watching the He-Man and She-Ra series when I was young and that I still enjoy watching it.
This "pilot" is a good introduction to She-Ra and we also get to see a lot of the character from the He-Man series again. Too bad that the new He-Man series didn't survive long enough to have She-Ra appearing. I really would have like to see her updated look and origin story.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on June 3rd, 2011)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Now the Shadows use a Planet Killer of their own and they attack planets that supported the Vorlons. Meanwhile Londo tries to assassinate emperor Carthagia. And Sheridan plans to lure the Vorlons and the Shadows into the same solar system to confront them.

My opinion: It's a decision I'd never would want to make. To command people to go into battle where they might die is one thing. But to order a mission where the soldiers have to die in order to accomplish the mission it is totally differnt thing.


Synopsis: Parts of the White Star fleet are attacking Vorlon outposts to delay the arrival of the Vorlon fleet at Coriana 6. Meanwhile Londo tries to get rid of the Shadow vessels on his planet and he learns about the truth of how Lady Adira (see "Interludes and Examinations") actually die. And then the greatest battle of our time begins...

My opinion: The Shadow war may be over. But the story isn't over yet. It's quite intersting to see that races like the Vorlons and the Shadows, both millions of years old, are still frightened of the unknown, of what lays ahead. And even they feel more secure if they are accompanied by someone who is even older than they are. But now the younger races have this galaxy for themselves. Let's see what they make of it.


Synopsis: Bester arrives at the station and tells the crew of the new sanctions that Earth president Clark has put into place. But his informations come - as usually - at a price. Meanwhile Mr. Garibaldi quits his job as chief of security.

My opinion: Something's going on with Garibaldi, that's for sure. It was aain a good Bester episode but in the great picture it's one of the transition episodes between the Shadow war and the liberation of Earth.

Quote of the episode:
Bester: "The corps is mother. The corps is father". Lyta: "In that case, Mr. Bester, I'm an orphan."


Synopsis: A team of reports from ISN tries to sneak on the station but they are caught. Nonetheless they get permission to make a report about the stations and its crew. The "documentation" is shown at the end of the episode.

My opninion: It's the second time a TV show is aboard Babylon 5. And it is perfectly shown what power lies in the hand of the media. If they want to they can twist every fact into its exact opposite. In the eastern bloc there was a joke: Russians and americans do a race. The americans win. But when it comes to the news it goes like this: "In a race today the russian team achieved a very good second place. The americans however were only the last but one."

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on November 11th, 2007)