DVD Collectors Online

Joe, a review by Antares

Joe (1970) 3.5/5 - If your only conception of Peter Boyle is that of a lovable grandfather, or as a comic Frankenstein, then the indie film Joe will definitely quash that appearance. As the main character in John G. Avildsen's first feature length film, Boyle plays a loudmouth racist who learns of a secret in a chance meeting in his local bar. As Joe is spewing his bigoted bile to the bartender, he quips at the end of his diatribe, "I'd love to kill me a hippie." Seated next to him is a middle aged man who has just entered the bar in a somewhat agitated and disheveled shape. As he listens to Joe's violent request, he lets slip out that he has just killed one himself, his daughter's (Susan Sarandon in her first role) junkie boyfriend.

What follows is a bizarre story about the counter culture and right wing ideology, mixed with an awkward voyeuristic spin on class struggles. The film doesn't really get going until we meet Boyle's character, and sadly, that takes almost a half hour of exposition regarding the daughter and boyfriend's drug induced lifestyle and the aforementioned murder. But once Joe is introduced, his pathological hatred for anything or anyone who leans to the left is riveting to watch. In fact, it is probably the only real reason for watching this very dated film from the golden age of indies. Well, that and the ending kind of takes you by surprise. If you can endure a director who is learning the ropes, and the dated nature of parts of the film, I think you could be pleasantly surprised at this relic of 70's gritty independent film making.

(From Antares' Short Summations on June 27th, 2011)

The Bride of Frankenstein, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Bride of Frankenstein
Year of Release: 1935
Directed By: James Whale
Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger
Genre: Horror

Overview:
In one of the most popular horror classics of all time, Boris Karloff reprises his role as he silver screen's most misunderstood monster, who now longs for a mate (Elsa Lanchester).

My Thoughts:
This was a tragic film in so many respects. The horror isn't the monster - the horror is the treatment of the monster. Indeed, it is the way that people treat him that makes him into a monster. When shown kindness, he responds in kind. Shown fear and anger, he equally responds in kind. He is a lonely, persecuted being, judged on his appearance and origin - and that brings about the deaths among the townsfolk.

We see that he could have a different life, in his brief friendship with the blind hermit. We see he has the capacity to learn, to care, and to enjoy life. So his decision at the end of the film, that he is better off dead, makes this more tragedy than horror.

There was so much that I liked about this film that made the part I disliked so much more pronounced - Una O'Connor's character. That character was so ridiculous, her character overacted and ludicrously hysterical, that she nearly brings the entire tragic atmosphere of the film down. I'd really like to just edit her out of the film, because I enjoyed the rest of it quite a lot.

Her aside, this is a classic piece of cinema that everyone should see at some point. It's a good follow up to Frankenstein, though for me that remains the superior film.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 42/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 29th, 2016)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Ah! My Goddess (2005/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Anime Works (United States) Length: 650 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:
Kosuke Fujishima's unforgettable story of every hapless college boy's dream comes to life! Keiichi Morisato is an engineering student, top driver of his campus racing club, and not very lucky with the ladies. While calling for take-out food one evening, a wrong number puts him in contact with the "Goddess Hotline." One misplaced wish later, Keiichi find himself blessed with Belldandy, the perfect girlfriend and a goddess in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any idea how to act in the human world, and her presence quickly gets Keiichi kicked out of the dorms. Fortunately for Keiichi, his troubles have just begin!

Aa! Megami-sama!
1.01 Kimi wa Megami-sama? (2005-01-06)
Writer: Kosuke Fujishima (Original Material By), Hiroaki Goda (Screenwriter)
Director: Hiroaki Goda
Cast: Japanese Voice Cast), Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy (voice)), Masami Kikuchi (Keiichi Morisato (voice)), Issei Futamata (Ohtaki (voice)), Kiyoyuki Yanada (Tamiya (voice)), Mamiko Noto (Sayoko Mishima (voice)), Kan Tanaka (Professor Kokuta (voice)), Koichi Sakaguchi (Clerk (voice)), Noriko Shitaya (Hijiri (voice)), Wataru Hatano (Male student (voice)), Takafumi Kawakami (Auto Club Member (voice)), Sayaka Narita (Tennis Club Member (voice)), Rie Kanda (Tennis Club Member (voice)), Hikaru Ikeda (TV Narrator (voice)), Yumi Tohma (Narrator (voice)), Aya Hisakawa (Narrator (voice)), English Voice Cast), Eileen Stevens (Belldandy (voice)), Drew Aaron (Keiichi Morisato (voice)), Scottie Ray (Ohtaki (voice)), Marc Thompson (Tamiya (voice)), Karen Nell (Sayoko Mishima (voice)), Dan Green (Professor Kokuta (voice)), Michele Omedlin (Hijiri (voice)), Kevin T. Collins (Auto Club Member (voice))

Compared to the older OVA series, this one takes it rather slow. Which isn't a bad thing, because they have more time to develop the characters. This episode spends all the time to introduce Keiichi. Belldandy's first appearance is in the last scene. The last scene is what the OVA series began with.
I have also reviewed this series here.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on March 25th, 2011)