DVD Collectors Online

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)

Coraline, a review by Danae Cassandra

Coraline
Year of Release:  2009
Directed By: Henry Selick
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher
Genre: Horror, Adventure

Overview:
From the director of The Nightmare Before ChristmasCoraline, exclusively in this 2-Disc Collector's Edition!

Coraline Jones is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door that leads her into a world that's just like her own...but better! But when this fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her "other" Mother tries to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness and bravery to get home. Coraline  is a "visual marvel" (Claudia Puig, USA Today).

My Thoughts:
I last saw this delightful film four years ago, and I don't know why we waited so long to watch it again. 

Of course, when I saw it last time I was under the mistaken impression that this was a Tim Burton film.  Of course, it is not - but I can be forgiven, I think, for the mistake.  It's from collaborators of Burton's and shares a lot of the same visual and atmospheric style as Burton's films. 

This is a wonderful, creepy film with a delightful Gothic atmosphere, beautifully crafted stop-motion animation and very decent voice acting.  It's strong story has its origin in a book by Neil Gaiman, and the visuals are very striking.  Coraline is a strong, resourceful character, and the Other Mother character is creepy from the beginning and only gets creepier as the film progresses from dream to nightmare.  Some of my friends were really creeped out by the button eyes in the film.  I mean they found it really, really creepy.  Much more than the film deserves.

I like this film a lot and recommend it for anyone old enough to handle its spooky nature (so like 8 and up, could go younger for mature kids).

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 4/5

(From Danae's 2013 Horror Marathon on October 12th, 2013)

Sliders Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. THE PRINCE OF SLIDES
Remmy is mistaken for the husband of a pregnant princess on a world where a monarchy rules... and where husbands are required to carry babies through gestation.

My Thoughts:
This is a decent episode... though not what I would call a favorite. It was pretty fun seeing a pregnant Remmy though.

My Rating:

10. DEAD MAN SLIDING
Quinn is arrested and tried on a world where justice is meted out not in a courtroom, but on the set of a game show.

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode... and has a couple blasts from the past. It has guest stars from a couple old TV Sitcoms... Don Most (Ralph Mouth on Happy Days) and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Fredyy "Boom Boom" Washington on Welcome Back, Kotter).

My Rating:

11. STATE OF THE A.R.T.
The Sliders find themselves on a world where the only human being is Father, a man who created a race of androids to replace humans in the workforce.

My Thoughts:
This is another decent episode... but not a favorite. I think the whole last person on Earth type thing had to be told in this series. But I think my favorite thing about this show is that it has Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger) as a guest star.

My Rating:

12. SEASON'S GREEDINGS
On a world where some people live in shopping malls, Wade finds a parallel sister and father, just in time for Christmas.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... I really enjoyed it. It shows just how commercialized Christmas has become... in an extreme example of course. It also tries to show what is important when it comes to Christmas... family.

My Rating:

(From Sliders Marathon on August 31st, 2009)