DVD Collectors Online

Taken, a review by Dragonfire

I went to see Taken not long after it came out in February.

Bryan had been a spy for years, putting his work ahead of his wife Lenore and daughter Kim.  The marriage ended and his relationship with Kim suffered.  Bryan finally decided to retire so he could try to rebuild his relationship with her.  He is a bit over protective, which paints him as the bad guy at times while Lenore and her wealthy new husband basically give Kim everything she wants.  Kim wants to go to Paris with her friend Amanda, but she has to have Bryan's permission before she can go.  He really doesn't think it is a good idea, but he ultimately gives in because he wants to make Kim happy.  Right after she and Amanda get to Paris, they are kidnapped while Bryan listens on the phone - he had just happened to call Kim right before the bad guys showed up.  Bryan then uses his former contacts to find Kim and rescue her himself.

Certain things about this movie were a bit convenient, like how Bryan was on the phone with Kim when everything happened and how he was a former spy who had the types of contacts that would allow him to hunting for his daughter.  The movie is rather predictable because of those things, but it is still very entertaining.  There are a few surprises here and there throughout the movie the help to keep things interesting. 

There is a decent amount of action in Taken, most of which involves Bryan beating the crap out of anyone he thinks was somehow involved in Kim being taken.  He ends up leaving a path of destruction through Paris, including many bodies.  He is willing to do anything to get Kim back, including killing people involved.  There was one or two car chases as well that were done well for the most part.  Jerky camera work does pop up in a few scenes, which is highly annoying since I hate that.  There is violence in the movie, though it wasn't as graphic since the movie was rated PG-13.

Liam Neeson did a really good job with the part.  Who knew he could believably play a character going on spree of beating people up and even killing some.  Kim isn't shown in a lot of the movie since it wasn't that far into the movie when she was taken.  She did come across as a bit of a brat before the trip with her basically having a temper tantrum until Bryan gave her what she wanted.  I do think she loved her father, but she didn't have a problem manipulating him to get what she wanted either. 

There isn't anything that complex about Taken and the movie is mostly predictable.  It still manages to be entertaining and is a decent mindless action movie.

 

I did get a review posted on Epinions if anyone wants to take a look.

Taken

(From Taken on April 30th, 2009)

The Young Graduates, a review by Jimmy

Title: The Young Graduates (1971)

Genre: Drive-in
Director: Robert Anderson
Rating: PG
Length: 1h39
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Patricia Wymer
Tom Stewart
Gary Rist
Bruno Kirby
Marly Holiday

Plot:
Reflecting the humor and problems of the "love generation," this is the story of high-school graduates, who, eager to grow up and experience life, find themselves involved in adventures they'd rather live without. Starring Patricia Wymer (The Babysitter), Dennis Christopher (Breaking Away) and Bruno Kirby (City Slickers).

I've decided to watch some of the movies stuck in my unwatch case for quite some time. This film is from the vol #4 of the BCI Drive-in cult classic that I got in february last year and is now OOP since BCI doesn't exist anymore. I can't say it's the best film ever made or the acting is great (but Bruno Kirby for his first film is quite good), but this film had some charm. It's a drive-in free for all... You got the girl just turned 18 who had an adventure with her teacher, the hippies talk (to be honest sometimes I had no idea what they were talking about), the pool fight, the graduation party, the biker gang, a little bit of innocent nudity, a great theme song and it's a cautionnary tales (hitchiking is dangerous).

This film alone worth the price of the set and it's a good news after all the bad one included in the After Dark thriller set. The restoration job is surprisingly good for a budget release, in fact it's more than good since the print had no defect at all...
 
Rating :

(From The little known movie review depot on January 22nd, 2010)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Hunter
He plays by his own rules. He hates the pimps, pushers, creeps and killers that prowl our city streets. And he never fires a warning shot. Fred Dryer stars as the maverick police detective who along with partner Dee Dee 'The Brass Cupcake' McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) brought a tough new attitude to television. Critics may have attacked its wild violence, but millions of fans embraced its extreme action, sly humor and sexual chemistry to make HUNTER one of the most popular cop show hits in TV history.

John Amos co-stars in this explosive debut season that also featured guest stars Dennis Franz, Brian Dennehy, Dennis Farina, Bo Svenson, Joanna Kerns, Ed O'Neill and more. HUNTER: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON features 19 hard-hitting episodes (including the two hour pilot movie), plus all-new interviews and more. As Sgt. Rick Hunter would say, "Works for me!"

Pilot
Former NFL star Fred Dryer is Det. Sgt. Rick Hunter, a mobster's son turned cop, who after testing his superior officer one too many times, winds up with a partner - brassy Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall. Together, they set a trap for a brutal country western murderer.

My Thoughts:
This is a series I blind bought the first 3 seasons on DVD during a buy 1 get 1 free sale. Luckily I found that I enjoy this series. Sure it is not the best cop show I ever seen... but it is definitely worth watching.

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on February 10th, 2010)