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Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo, a review by Jimmy

Title: Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (1981)

Genre: Drama
Director: Uli Edel       
Rating: Unrated
Length: 2h05
Video: Widescreen
Audio: German
Subtitles: English

Stars:Plot:
This movie portrays the drug scene in Berlin in the 70s, following tape recordings of Christiane F. 14 years old Christiane lives with her mother and little sister in a typical multi-storey apartment building in Berlin. She's fascinated by the 'Sound', a new disco with most modern equipment. Although she's legally too young, she asks a friend to take her. There she meets Detlef, who's in a clique where everybody's on drugs. Step by step she gets drawn deeper into the scene.

If you have seen my top ten in an other topic, you already know that this film is on my all time best list. What I like in this movie is the fact that the drug use is not glorified and they don't use a preaching bulshit speech. Like many others I was a drug user in my younger years (ok not so young since I've stop taken it 5 and a half years ago). I was never an addict and I've never hide the fact that I was an user when I was one (never seen that as a big deal at all). But because of this film that I've watched with my parent at 13 years old the lesson was strongly print in my mind : never use heroine. Enough with my life story 

What is the most surprising in this film is the teenagers performance, they are all good. Natja Brunckhorst in the title role does a wonderfull job and for a 15 years old who is in her first movie she is 100% credible. I'm very surprise that she didn't have a bigger career. We have the feeling throughout the film of how was the life in the neighborhood where she live (I hope that it had change now) and the feeling of emptiness and despair they confronted everyday. Some scene are particularly striking : the withdrawal attempt after an overdose, the first time that Christiane sell her sexual favour for drug money and the overdose of her 14 years old friend. The soundtrack by David Bowie is great too, but I'm already a fan.

Not the most feelgood movie, but sometimes it is necessary to watch a film like this to understand the facts of life. A strong recommandation and a film that must be seen by every young teenagers.   

Rating :

(From The little known movie review depot on September 27th, 2008)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a review by Dragonfire

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Uncover the intimate details of the search to cast Harry Potter and his friends. See Daniel, Rupert and Emma's never-before-seen screen tests. Be there with stars and filmmakers walking onto the set of the exciting first day of shooting. Learn about Chris Columbus' critical, step-by-step decisions behind the creation of Harry Potter's world on screen. Look back on an amazing decade's worth of movies with Daniel, Rupert and Emma in new and vintage interviews never seen before. My Thoughts I think I've mentioned before that I really love the Harry Potter books and movies.  So once I got a Blu-ray player, it wasn't long before I picked up this version of the first movie.  I first saw this one in the theater and I don't know how many times I've seen it since.  The movie has held up really well and is definitely worth watching.  It does stay fairly close to the book, though a few things are changed or left out.  I have heard some people complain that the movie follows the book too closely.  I don't feel that way at all.  The first book especially is full of all kinds of foundation that will play a part in the later books/movies, and I think it was important to include that stuff in the movie for things to be set up properly. The plot is very entertaining and not at all boring, even on repeat viewings.  I love all the magical things and how they are used in the movie.  I think there is a decent amount of mystery to what is going on that helps to keep things interesting.  Things progress at a fairly fast pace, though I never felt like it things were rushed.  The sets are amazing and really help to bring the story to life.  This was the first time I had watched this movie in a while, and I had forgotten how different some parts of Hogwarts look compared to how they look in the later movies.  The basic looks is the same, but certain things here and there are a bit different.  I did notice more details in general this time to the castle, but I was looking more closely for things too.  I finally saw the house hourglass things in this movie.  They are really just in the background, but they are there.  The special effects look good and I think they have held up well overall. The cast is wonderful and absolutely perfect.  Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson look like how I imagined the characters when I read the book.  Their acting has a few issues at times, but it isn't horrible..and it gets better with every movie.  I adore Alan Rickman as Snape.  He is perfect in the part.  He puts so much menace into just a look.  Watching this one again made me really miss Richard Harris as Dumbledore.  Michael Gambon has been good overall in the part, though his Dumbledore has felt a tad off to me.  Richard Harris is just better in the part...I think he better fits the character from the book.  He has a bit of a mischievousness to him that Gambon has never attained. This version has a new extra focused on the making of the movie.  Each Ultimate edition of the movies will have a different featurette focused on a different part of making the movie.  The casting is covered and there are interviews with various cast members, some from during the filming and some from during the filming of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  There is some clips of Daniel, Rupert, and Emma from that time early time immediately followed by the newer footage, which really makes it stand out how much they have grown up and changed during the process of making these movies.  There is a lot of focus on the development of the sets and different locations used as well.  The featurette is highly entertaining and I really enjoyed it.  The book that comes with it has lots of pictures, including a few that have to be tied to the last movies.  It makes this version of the DVD/Blu-ray definitely worth picking up. I love this movie and this version of it is wonderful.  I'm so glad I decided to double dip on this one. I did post a review on Epinions back in 2001 after seeing the movie in the theater.  This was only a matter of months after I started posting reviews there.  I am thinking I'm going to update it at some point.  I just haven't taken the time yet. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

(From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on June 21st, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Step by Step (1991/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 138 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: French, Spanish

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Plot:
When Frank met Carol, sparks flew. And when J.T., Al and Brendan (Frank's kids) met Dana, Karen and Mark (Carol's kids), more sparks flew - the kind that could send Frank and Carol's romance up in smoke. Can two parents who love each other and six kids who don't ever become one big, happy family?

Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Somers star in the sprightly, big-hearted comedy that proves there's only one way to make a blended family work: take it Step by Step. Enjoy six memorable episodes, including the pilot (nothin' says lovin' like a food fight), two holiday-perfect Christmas shows and lots of wacky mischief as the kids grow up...and family bonds grow strong.

Step by Step
1.01 Pilot

I never really followed this series, but I watched it from time to time when I happened to catch it on TV. I especially enjoyed the building romance between Dana and her step-brother's best friend (I don't remember his name now), which happened towards the end of the series.
I enjoyed the pilot. It is a good introduction to the series.

Rating:


(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on July 26th, 2012)