DVD Collectors Online

Seven Ways from Sundown, a review by Antares

Seven Ways from Sundown (1960) 65/100 - At first I couldn't figure out what kind of western this was going or wanted to be. There are a few played for laugh moments in the beginning, and I started to wonder if this was going to be worth the investment in my personal time. But once the town is left behind and the pursuit and ambush take place, this turned out to be an enjoyable little movie. Once Barry Sullivan's character is captured, the film then evolves into a quasi buddy picture that at times, reminded me of 3:10 to Yuma, but not as stark or dramatic. It may have starred Audie Murphy, but this is Sullivan's picture. He plays a well known and well liked outlaw who has a price on his head and a lot of friends in a lot of towns that Murphy has to travel through to bring him to justice. By the end of the movie you can understand why everyone likes him, Sullivan's the kind of guy you'd want as a friend. Halfway through the story, I started to get the feeling that Murphy was OK with Sullivan stealing the film from him. Earlier that same year, he had a supporting role in John Huston's bigger budgeted western The Unforgiven, with Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn Charles Bickford & Lillian Gish. The success of that film may have led Murphy to believe that bigger and better things were about to happen with his career and he would only have to make this film as part of his Universal contract.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 11th, 2020)

Down to You , a review by samuelrichardscott

Down to You (2000) R2 UK DVD

Overview:
Freddie Prinze Jr. (She's All That) stars as Al Connelly, a college student aiming for a career as a world class chef whose passions explode when he falls in love with Imogen, Julia Stiles (Save The Last Dance).

Set against the fabulously chaotic backdrop of college life in New York City, their story tells of the conflict between true love and the temptation to wander astray from commitment. When mischievous room mates enter the scene, Al and Imogen are confronted with obstacles that add to the highlights and pitfalls of their love affair.

Thoughts:
Well, when a film is a rom-com starring Freddie Prinze Jr, you shouldn't hold out much hope. Bought solely for Rosario Dawson's small role, this is actually a film of missed opportunities. Instead of being your typical boy (Prinze Jr) meets girl (Julia Stiles) it actually turns into a break-up and a series of 'what ifs?' What if they had stayed together? This results in what started as a rom-com trying to turn into a drama making a mess of the general feel of the film. Freddie Prinze Jr has absolutely zero screen presence, Stiles doesn't so much better. It does have a few good moments, generally involving Dawson or Selma Blair but it's a film that doesn't know which direction it wants to go in and because of that, it falls apart. 2/5

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on July 7th, 2011)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Kingpin

Pilot
As the family leader Tio Jorge deteriorates in exile, the next generation of a powerful drug cartel family strategizes to take over 'La Corporacion', a multi-million dollar business. Stanford-educated Miguel Cadena is poised to take the reigns, but Jorge's son Ernesto presents a challenge that requires the efforts of Miguel as well as his brother Chato and wife Marlene to confront. Meanwhile, DEA agent Delia Flores faces setbacks as she works her contacts within the drug world to close in on the massive cartel.



After the death of his drug lord uncle, Stanford-educated Mexican-American businessman (Yancey Arias) finds himself in the position of the leader of his criminal family. Throughout their dealings, he and his wife (Sheryl Lee) attempt to keep the facts of their business away from their 8-year-old son while they dodge the efforts of relentless U.S. authorities who want to take them down. Originally aired on US television, this six-part mini series, from NYPD BLUE writer/producer David Mills, received critical acclaim.

Overly glitzy, Hollywood glamour taken to mexico gangsters, this felt a bit too unbelievable and the leads were much too clean and perfect.
It was pretty graphic in places, the violence stronger than I anticipated, and the backdrops expensive and locations varied.
Unsure whether this is a stinker or a hit, will need to view a few more of these and see how the finale from the pilot evolves.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 28th, 2009)