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The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, a review by addicted2dvd

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Tim Allen is back in the big red suit for more adventures and laughs in Disney's hilarious family comedy. Get ready for a thrilling sleigh ride as the reluctant Santa Claus faces his most chilling and hysterical challenge yet. As Christmas nears, Scott Calvin invites his in-laws (Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin) to join the festivities. The holidays take a chaotic turn when Scott discovers a way out of his "Santa Clause" and the mischievous Jack Frost (Martin Short) puts the big freeze on Christmas's big cheese! Unless Scott can save the day, it's going to be a very chilly Frostmas at the North Pole and all around the world. Will Scott be able to get his job back in the St. Nick of time? Celebrate the holidays with The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, complete with exclusive bonus materials, including a musical Christmas Carol-oke feature. It's a gift the whole family will treasure.

My Thoughts:
This is another one that I recorded off of cable recently. I don't feel it quite held up to the first 2 parts... but I still enjoyed it a lot. While the storyline with Jack Frost left me a little cold (Sorry... couldn't help myself)... I though Martin Short was a good choice for the role. I also liked the whole family reunion at the North Pole thing. I hope to add this one to my DVD collection before next year.



(From Addicted2DVD's 25 Days of Christmas Marathon: 2010 on December 21st, 2010)

Stigmata, a review by Rich

our fathers in the Vatican...



Title: Stigmata

Runtime:99
Certificate:18
Year:1999
Genres:Drama, Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Plot:A lost soul has received the wounds of Christ...and a shocking message that will alter history. Stunning performances from Patricia Arquette (True Romance), Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) and Jonathan Pryce (Ronin) and a cutting edge score by Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Elia Cmiral make Stigmata a visual and visceral feast.
Frankie Paige (Arquette) has absolutely no faith in God. All of that suddenly changes when she suddenly begins to suffer the Stigmata - the living wounds of the crucified Christ. Frankie's miraculous bleeding comes to the attention of the Vatican's top investigator, Father Kiernan (Byrne). But when Cardinal Houseman (Pryce) discovers that Frankie is actually channelling an extraordinary and provocative message that could destroy the Church, he's convinced that she - and the force possessing her - must be forever silenced. Determined to stop this deadly conspiracy, Kiernan risks his faith - and his life - to save her and the message that will change the destiny of mankind forever.
My Review:
Slated by critics en masse, I must admit this film which I'd seen before is like a guilty pleasure, and enjoyed watching this production again. It's a perfect ensemble of actors and storyline that will satisfy those in the mood to think while they watch. Not great, not scary, not overly challenging - but ok.


(From Around the World in 80 DVD's on January 10th, 2008)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Fred is really dead and Illyria has posessed her body. There's no hope of Fred coming back - at least currently. In Angel's world death isn't as final as it seems to be. But Illyria plans to raise her army again.

My Opinion: Wesley has become very merciless even though he can't even remember some the events of the last year(s). Amy's mask and her accent are quite good - I wouldn't have recognized her. The connection between Fred/Illyria and Wesley doesn't seem to be totally broken, thus hope remains.

Synopsis: Angel, Spike and Gunn try to rescue Lindsey from a hell dimension to get more knowledge about the coming apocalypse. But they have no idea in what kind of hell he is trapped in: he lives in suburbia.

My Opinion: Average episode. Nothing special happend, except for Gunn taking the path of the penitent.

Synopsis: An old prophecy shall become true. Connor is supposed to kill Sahjhan, the demon who sent him and Holtz into the Quor'Toth dimension. But thanks to Angel, Connor doesn't know anything about this past. Unfortunately the sorcerer who took that memory is exactly the same as the one who wants to see Sahjhan dead - and he has the power to give those memories back.

My Opinion: Loose ends get tied up. I've totally forgotten about the prophecy. But I feel sad for Wesley. Now he has not only to carry the grief of Fred's death but also the old knowledge of him kidnapping Angel's son and the new knowledge of having brought back those memories. He is evn more than Angel the tragic figure of this show.

Synopsis: Illyria loses more frequently the control over her body and Angel loses more and more interest in helping the helpless but instead acts more and more like a real Wolfram & Hart employee.

My Opinion: I may be wrong, but I am quite certain that there is a plan behind Angel's actions - especially allowing that young woman to sign the contract. There are only three episodes left and I can't believe that Angel has another crisis of faith - especially since Cordelia has pulled him out of the last one. I wouldn't like that. Unless the show doesn't end with a bad surprise - in the "Buffy" comic "The Long Way Home" none of them is mentioned.

(From Angel Marathon on February 27th, 2008)