DVD Collectors Online

Felon, a review by Rich

10/11

Felon



A loving family man with a promising future, Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) suddenly loses everything when he accidentally kills the burgler who broke into his home. Convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Wade is sentenced to spend the next three years inside a maximum security facility where the rules of society no longer apply. Forced to share a cell with a notorious mass murderer (Val Kilmer) and subjected to brutal beatings orchestrated by the sadistic head prison guard (Harold Perrineau), Wade soon realizes he's in for the fight of his life and must become the toughest FELON of them all if he's to survive the block. For what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. And in state prison, only the strongest will survive.

Uninspiring and over-done storyline, innocent guy protects family, ends up in rough tough jail, meets mad killer who turns out to be great guy etc etc.
However, they have done it very well here and turned out a respectable movie. 2 of my least favourite actors shine here, Dorff is excellent as the average Joe suddenly finding himself banged up, and Kilmer in particular is very convincing as the sadistic killer that other inmates fear.
The violence portrayed is harsh and graphic, it suits the films content but may not be to everyones taste.
As an aside, is it just me or has the violent content in many American films lately turned up a notch and is more sadistic and unpleasant to view? Perhaps it may just be me getting older 

I would happily recommend this film with an 

(From November Alphabet Marathon - Discussion/Review Thread on November 11th, 2008)

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a review by Jon

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
3 out of 5

Lawrence (Michael Caine) is a sophisticated and successful conman, with a long established and lucrative spot on the Riviera, preying on rich single women. Freddy (Steve Martin) muscles in and Lawrence tries to get rid of him, thinking he's small fry, but Freddy has substantial skills and reluctantly Lawrence is forced to help him so he can be sure he's rid of him. Not all goes to plan and they resort to a bet: Janet (Glenne Headly).

This is a classy 80s comedy with just about the right amount of all ingredients to work very well without offending anyone. It isn't full of bellylaughs, but it's fun, working like an old Hollywood farce with a modern twist. Michael Caine is wonderful as Lawrence and the partnership with Steve Martin works beautifully. If you aren't keen on Martin's madder characters, be assured this isn't one of his full on lunatic roles, but he does have a couple of gems, like Ruprecht the Monkey Boy ("why does his fork have a cork?")! Even in this moments, Caine's mere presence keeps it all in check.



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

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

16. Storyteller
Andrew films the Scoobies for a documentary on Buffy, while Sunnydale High is rocked by a sudden outbreak of student violence.

My Thoughts:
This one I didn't care much for at all. You can see where they tried to lighten things up a little... and yes that was needed about now... so that is a good thing. But some of this episode was just little too silly for my taste.

17. Lies My Parents Told Me
When the Scoobies fail to nullify the First's hold on Spike, Principal Wood and Giles team up to kill him. Meanwhile, Spike relives the day he became a vampire.

My Thoughts:
This one was a fun and interesting episode. One I enjoyed quite a bit...I like how it goes into Spike's past... and the fight between Spike and Wood was a great one.

18. Dirty Girls
Faith returns to Sunnydale just in time to meet the First's evil agent, Caleb.

My Thoughts:
Faith returns... how could I not like that?...  and top that off with Caleb showing up... talk about a really good episode! I thought Caleb was one of the best bad guys in the series... and he was only in a small handful of episodes. Of course Caleb was played by Nathan Fillion... star of Firefly.

19. Empty Places
Buffy takes another beating from Caleb, then tries to lead the troops back to the wine cellar. Instead, she gets kicked out of her house as the gang decides Faith would make a better leader.

My Thoughts:
This was a good... but kind of slow episode for my taste. Kinda like a calm before the storm type thing.


20. Touched
A depressed Buffy gets comfort from Spike. Meanwhile, the Scoobies capture and interrogate Bringer, and Faith leads an attack on the Bringers' arsenal.

My Thoughts:
And this is where the real action going into the end of the series begins. This episode perks you right up (after the last episode slowing you down)... and primes you for the rest of the series.

21. End of Days
Faith and some of the Potentials are injured by a bomb. Buffy retrieves a mystic scythe and uses it against Caleb; Angel turns up to give her a hand.

My Thoughts:
Lots more fun and action in this one... First I loved the fight between Buffy and Caleb... it is one of those fights that when you think it is over you get plenty more. And I have to admit I couldn't help myself but to literally laugh out load over Angel's reaction to Buffy telling him that Spike has a soul now. It was so fun.

22. Chosen
Buffy comes up with a plan: The gang makes an attack on the First's army, aided by Willow, who performs a powerful spell to imbue all of the Potentials with Slayer powers.

My Thoughts:
Talk about going out with a bang!.... The final episode ever of Buffy! I really loved every minute of it... there is lots of action and lots of destruction. I have to admit... the first time I saw this episode (when it originally aired) I was a bit surprised with some of the ones that survived... as well as some of the ones that did not. This episode remains one of my favorite endings to a series.



(From Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon on November 28th, 2007)