DVD Collectors Online

1918, a review by Antares

1918 (1985) 2.5/5 - I can't for the life of me, understand how this film found the financing needed to be put into production. It's screenplay by Horton Foote is a hodgepodge of melodrama and unnecessary filler that at times reminded me of third rate Tennessee Williams. I know that Horton Foote was a hot commodity back in the mid-eighties with hits such as Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, but it seems as though he didn't quite know what to do with this story. Granted, the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 is probably not something that lends itself to nail-biting tension or deep rooted drama, but if you're going to use this theme, then keep it coherent. The screenplay moves too quickly for you to feel any compassion for its inhabitants, and leaves you feeling in the end, like they wheeled in a beautiful looking wedding cake that was made of 100% marzipan.

(From Antares' Short Summations on January 1st, 2011)

Howl's Moving Castle, a review by dfmorgan

Howl's Moving Castle (2004/Japan) Studio Canal (United Kingdom) Director: Hayao Miyazaki Writing: Diana Wynne Jones (Original Material By) Length: 119 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Chieko Baisho as Sophie
Takya Kimura as Howl
Akihiro Miwa as Witch of the Waste
Tatsuya Gashuin as Calcifer
Ryunosuke Kamiki as Markl

Plot:Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Interviews
• Storyboard Comparisons

My original review of the R1 DVD is here.

Even more wonderful and gorgeous now in high definition. The whole film popped for me with colour depth and brilliance and with the sound seeming to have an extra dimension even though it was only down mixed DTS from my PS3.

Rating: Still a 5 from me


I must look into upgrading my audio setup sooner rather than later



edited for a typo

(From Ghibli Blu's on July 8th, 2012)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

4.11 Hunting Season (1999-03-11)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Julie Lacey (Writer)
Director: Francis Damberger
Cast
Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on January 5th, 2011)