DVD Collectors Online

The Damned United, a review by Rich

Title: The Damned United

Runtime:94
Certificate:15
Year:2009
Genres:Drama, Sports

Plot:THE DAMNED UNITED tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) and his doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football; Leeds United. Taking the job without trusty lieutenant Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall) by his side, and with a changing room full of what in his mind were players loyal to his bitter rival Don Revie (Colm Meaney), would lead to an unheralded examination of Clough's belligerence and brilliance over 44 days. This is that story. The story of The Damned United.

My Review:
Not a great deal of interest to anyone who didn't know or lived through the reign of Brian Clough, but with young Michael Sheen once again proving his versatility and impersonation skills (Blair/Frost), a lot of Uk viewers will find this film an enjoyable look back to 70's football and one of it's leading and most controversial lights.
Not the most impactive storyline, or dramatic, but the characterisations of the lead roles, and there wonderful portrayals, helps this film cut the mustard. The feel of early 70's is convincing, the state of the game at the time and how clubs were run accurate. There was a lot of controversy on this movies release in the UK, Cloughs family refused to be involved in it, and dismissed it as being inaccurate. But as a film it entertains without any glitz or glamour.
The greatest manager England never had.


(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 5th, 2009)

Spider-Man 2, a review by Tom

Title: Spider-Man 2
Year: 2004
Director: Sam Raimi
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 122 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital Surround, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: Commentary, English, German, Trivia, Turkish

Stars:
Tobey Maguire
Kirsten Dunst
James Franco
Alfred Molina
Rosemary Harris

Plot:
Two years have passed, and the mild-mannered Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) faces new challenges as he struggles to balance his life as the elusive superhero Spider-Man. Tormented by his secrets, Peter is in danger of losing all those that he holds dear. His love for MJ (Kirsten Dunst) becomes stronger and his friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is complicated by the young Osborn's bitterness over his father's death. These relationships are now in danger of unravelling when he confronts a new nemesis, the brilliant Otto Octavius, (Alfred Molina) who has been reincarnated as the multi-tentacled 'Doc Ock.'

Awards:

Academy Award	2004	Nominated	Best Sound Editing	Paul Ottosson
Academy Award	2004	Nominated	Best Sound Mixing	Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Joseph Geisinger
Academy Award	2004	Won	Best Visual Effects	John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, John Frazier
AFI	2003	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Cheers (2006)
American Film Institute Awards	2004	Won	Movie of the Year
BAFTA	2004	Nominated	Achievement In Special Visual Effects	John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony La Molinara, John Frazier
BAFTA	2004	Nominated	Sound	Paul Ottosson
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	2005	Won	BMI Film Music Award	Danny Elfman
Cinema Audio Society Awards	2005	Nominated	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures	Joseph Geisinger, Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush
Empire Magazine Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Actor	Tobey Maguire
Empire Magazine Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Actress	Kirsten Dunst
Empire Magazine Awards	2005	Won	Best Director	Sam Raimi
Empire Magazine Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Film
Hugo Award	2005	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Action Sequence
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Movie
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Video Game Based on a Movie
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Villain	Alfred Molina
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated		Alfred Molina
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Cinematography	Bill Pope, Anette Haellmigk
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Film Editing	Bob Murawski
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Original Score	Danny Elfman
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Sound (Editing & Mixing)	Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Joseph Geisinger, Paul Ottosson, Susan Dudeck
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Visual Effects	John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, John Frazier
Saturn	2004	Won	Best Actor	Tobey Maguire
Saturn	2004	Won	Best Director	Sam Raimi
Saturn	2004	Won	Best Fantasy Film
Saturn	2004	Nominated	Best Music	Danny Elfman
Saturn	2004	Won	Best Special Effects	John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, John Frazier
Saturn	2004	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor	Alfred Molina
Saturn	2004	Won	Best Writing	Alvin Sargent
Taurus Award	2005	Won	Best Overall Stunt by a Man	Chris Daniels, Michael Hugghins
Taurus Award	2005	Nominated	Best Specialty Stunt	Tim Storms, Garrett Warren, Susie Park, Patricia M. Peters, Norb Phillips, Lisa Hoyle, Kevin L. Jackson, Clay Donahue Fontenot
Taurus Award	2005	Nominated	Best Work with a Vehicle	Tad Griffith, Richard Burden, Scott Rogers, Darrin Prescott, Mark Norby
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Bad Guy	Alfred Molina
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Won	Choice Movie of the Summer
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Single Visual Effect of the Year	John Dykstra, Lydia Bottegoni, Dan Abrams, John Monos (For the clock tower)
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Won	Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture	Colin Drobnis, Greg Derochie, Blaine Kennison, Ken Lam (For the train sequence)
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Won	Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Act on Motion Picture	Dan Abrams, David Emery, Andrew Nawrot, John Hart (For the NYC street, night)
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Won	Outstanding Performance by an Actor or Actress in a Visual Effects Film	Alfred Molina
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Nominated	Outstanding Special Effects in Service to Visual Effects in a Motion Picture	John Frazier, James D. Schwalm, James Nagle, David Amborn
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Nominated	Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture	John Dykstra, Lydia Bottegoni, Anthony LaMolinara, Scott Stokdyk
World Stunt Awards	2005	Won	Best Overall Stunt by a Man	Chris Daniels, Michael Hugghins
World Stunt Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Specialty Stunt	Tim Storms, Garrett Warren, Susie Park, Patricia M. Peters, Norb Phillips, Lisa Hoyle, Kevin L. Jackson, Clay Donahue Fontenot
World Stunt Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Work with a Vehicle	Tad Griffith, Richard Burden, Scott Rogers, Darrin Prescott, Mark Norby

Extras:
Commentary
DVD-ROM Content
Featurettes
Multi Angle
Music Videos
Outtakes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

One of the best superhero movies. I enjoy it even better than the first one. Also the CGI Spidey is much more convincing in this movie.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 2nd, 2010)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

What's the show about?
The Doctor is an alien, the last of the Time Lords and he travels with his TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) to any point in time and to any planet he wants. The Doctor often travels with a Companion, most of the time a human woman. Wherever he goes, there's a mystery to be solved and sometimes the entire universe is at stake, in this dimension or another.

"Rose"
When Rose tries to close the shop she's working in she's attacked by the window dummies. At first she thinks it's a student prank until she gets rescued by a man who calls himself only The Doctor and the entire building explodes. This entire evening was so weird that she tells nobody what really happened until she gets attacked by a dummy arm again and is again rescued by him. A Nestene Consciousness tries to take over the world and only The Doctor can prevent it.

My Opinion
If one likes weird science-fiction stories (such as I) with way-out ideas thrown in for good measure then one should definitively give it a try. I've seen a few episodes of the old Doctor Who but not enough to make a valid comparison. But I really like the new series on its own, especially since they are not afraid to re-use old enemies without re-designing them. The Daleks look like from a 50s movie but that makes it so charming. Too bad that UK seasons are always so short.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on September 8th, 2009)