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The Monster Squad, a review by Dragonfire

The Monster Squad



You know who to call when you have ghosts, but who do you call about monsters? Whether it's a bat in your belfry or a mummy in your microwave, THE MONSTER SQUAD ain't afraid of no ghouls!

Count Dracula has until midnight to retrieve an ancient amulet that will give him final control over the delicate balance between good and evil in the world. To help him, the creepy count calls on some old friends: the weird Wolfman, grotesque Gill-Man, mildewed Mummy and freaky Frankenstein. As the ghoulish group gets closer to the amulet, it's up to THE MONSTER SQUAD, headquartered in the local tree house, to pool its questionable resources and stop the monster mayhem!

My Thoughts

I did get a review posted on Epinions last year.

Monster Squad

(From Dragonfire's Halloween/Horror Marathon 2009 on October 14th, 2009)

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, a review by addicted2dvd

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004/United States) Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment Director: Dwight H. Little Writing: Hans Bauer (Screenwriter), Jim Cash (Screenwriter), Jack Epps, Jr. (Screenwriter), Hans Bauer (Original Material By), Jim Cash (Original Material By), Jack Epps, Jr. (Original Material By), John Claflin (Screenwriter), Daniel Zelman (Screenwriter), Michael Miner (Screenwriter), Edward Neumeier (Screenwriter) Length: 97 min. Rating: Rated PG-13 : Action Violence, Scary Images and Some Language Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French

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Stars:
Johnny Messner as Bill Johnson
Kadee Strickland as Sam Rogers
Matthew Marsden as Dr. Jack Byron
Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Ben Douglas
Eugene Byrd as Cole Burris
Karl Yune as Tran

Plot:
The blood orchid - A rare flower that holds the secret of eternal life and a fortune to the pharmaceutical company that finds it. Led by a two-fisted soldier of fortune, a scientific expedition is sent deep into the jungles of Borneo to locate and bring back samples of the legendary plant. Battling their way upriver, the explorers brave poisonous insects, ferocious crocodiles and savage headhunters, unaware they're being stalked by an even greater danger: a nest of giant anacondas, voracious, fifty-foot-long flesh-eaters who'll stop at nothing to protect their breeding ground, the blood orchid's home.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

I really enjoyed Anaconda when I saw it... so was looking forward to this one when I found out a friend was giving me a copy. The first thing I notice is this movie stars Kadee Strickland. I am familiar with her as she is in the main cast of the medical drama Private Practice playing Dr. Charlotte King. I have to say I enjoyed this one over-all. It isn't what I would call a great movie.... but I definitely had fun watching it. I did like the first Anaconda movie better... but this one is also worthy of a place in your collection as well.



(From The Movies from Within My Lifetime: 2012 Edition on April 22nd, 2012)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

The Riches

Pilot
Through a set of unusual circumstances, the Malloy family assumes the identities of a wealthy family, the Riches, only to find that a glamorous life entails more than they expected.



The Riches stars Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as Wayne and Dahlia Malloy, a married couple with a family. Wayne and Dahlia spent their youth pulling cons with a traveling band of modern Irish gypsies roaming about the US. Now years later, Wayne hits a spiritual and midlife crisis and begins to question their lifestyle just as his wife, newly sprung from prison, rejoins the family. They decide to finally settle down in suburbia where they battle to live a normal life while trying to escape their former friends.

Eddie Izzard playing serious roles works for me, but hell his accent was not quite right!
Interesting and original, a series bought blindly but one that promises plenty from an entertaining pilot episode. I can think of several ways this storyline could go, so am keen to watch more already.
Minnie Driver was superb and convincing, and seemed to grow into the role in less than an hour, as good as I have ever seen her acting. The supporting cast all add something to the overall success of this first episode, and the whole feel was positive.
I look forward to diving in to further episodes.
 


(From My PILOT Marathon on September 23rd, 2009)