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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a review by Critter

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs



Year: 1937

Director(s): David Hand

Run Time: 80 minutes

Plot: Snow White, pursued by a jealous queen, hides with the Dwarfs; the queen feeds her a poison apple, but Prince Charming awakens her with a kiss.

Cast: DVD Extras:My ThoughtsMy Rating



(From Critter's Animated Film/Anime Marathon on January 10th, 2010)

Buried, a review by Jon

Buried
3 out of 5



Paul is a U.S. contractor working in Iraq. After an attack by a group of Iraqis he wakes to find he is buried alive inside a coffin. With only a lighter and a cell phone it's a race against time to escape this claustrophobic death trap.

Buried is a very clever film and brilliantly made. Ryan Reynolds is fantastic, proving what a great actor he truly is. His delivery of the script makes sure there is humour in what is a very bleak premise. Also, to say we are trapped with Reynolds inside the coffin, Rodrigo Cortés inventive direction is never lazy. It is at once a masterclass in film technique and bursting with originality too.

The problem is, it just isn’t scary and the claustrophobia of the story –the very reason it has been made this way- ultimately throttles the potential. I can’t think of anything to compare it with, except the CSI episode directed by Quentin Tarantino (Grave Danger), which in one sense was easier because it employed characters the viewers already knew well, in another sense it was less ambitious because it used all of those characters freely and took the pressure off the victim, but the acid test was the nail-biting suspense. For all its technical endeavour, Buried just didn’t grab me the same way. It does have its moments and there is a truly awesome one before the last act.
 
After the first few panic fuelled minutes, it becomes apparent Buried does have a few tricks up its sleeve and the plot is more open than I expected. To say it can only be effectively driven by Ryan, it really is very inventive. However, it then has to commit to its ideas and it just doesn’t gel. I can honestly say the ending wasn’t predictable, but it was only not predictable because it had no connection with the audience. Ryan as Paul can communicate with various people on a mobile phone and he gathers a handful of names that become essential to the conclusion... but mean nothing to us whatsoever. What was a potential conspiracy comes off as contrived, which is a shame.

I expected to be terrified! After the first act, I thought I’d underestimated it and it had more to say than a simple thriller, with political and moral tones coming to the fore, but by the end it was rather flat. Still worth seeing for the originality and sheer entertainment, just don’t expect too much.

Who the hell am I to say though? The film is getting exceptional reviews, so maybe I just missed something.

(From Jon's Horror-thon 2010 on October 10th, 2010)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The war spreadens and even on the station fightings are breaking out and Centauri get killed. Sheridan has no choice but to give up Babylon 5's neutrality and order the White Star fleet to fight in the war. He also has to send Delenn back to Minbar to discuss a matter of great importance back there. Meanwhile Lyta and Dr. Franklin discover a secret about the attacking Centauri ships and Londo finds himself in a very uncomfortable position.

My opinion: I liked this episode because it set a storyline in motion that will be contibued in the "Legion of Fire" book trilogy which I liked to read.


Synopsis: The regent has sent all ships away from Centauri Prime and has deactivated the planetary defense systems. When the Drazi and Narn fleet arrives they find the door wide open and they use it to bring destruction upon Centauri Prime. After the regent has died, Londo becomes emperor and surrenders immediately. But this defeat comes at a high price.

My opinion: The Drakh really want to punish the Centauri for what Londo did in the Shadow war. Londo's regency and torment will last 16 years and only with his death his people will become free again. He always wanted the best for his people and he brought the worst to them. He is the tragic figure of this play and for this he is to be pitied.


Synopsis: It finally comes out in the open that Michael is drinking again and he gets consequentially suspended. G'Kar returns from Centauri Prime and is revered as never before and his only wish is to get away. He offers to help Lyta who in turn sits in a prison cell because she financed terrorist attacks on Psi Corps facilities.

My opinion: Did I say I didn't like teeps? Only those around Byron. Lyte I always liked a lot and I think that she didn't get the thanks that she deserved for what she has done over the years. And that woman can kick ass!


Synopsis: Someone tries to kill Michael because they fear that he could dig out stuff at Edgar Industries they don't want to be found. And because he has decided to marry Lise and don't to return to his job as Chief of Covert Intelligence the former head of the Mars resistance, Number One, gets the job. Together they bring down those who hired the assassin.

My opninion: Now they are leaving. Londo gone. Michael and Lise gone. G'Kar and Lyta gone. Soon Sheridan and Delenn and Stephen will follow. I said I didn't like the fifth season that much, but that's because of the first half. Now I am really into it again and have to realize that it will soon be over.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on February 2nd, 2008)