DVD Collectors Online

Seven Samurai, a review by Antares

Shichinin no samurai





Year: 1954
Film Studio: Toho Company
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Length: 207 Min.

Director
Akira Kurosawa (1910)

Writing
Akira Kurosawa (1910)...Screenwriter
Shinobu Hashimoto (1918)...Screenwriter
Hideo Oguni (1904)...Screenwriter

ProducerCinematographer
Asakazu Nakai (1901)

Music
Fumio Hayasaka (1914)...Composer

StarsReview
       Throughout the course of mankind's history, certain artistic endeavors have met with such critical acclaim that they stand as crowning achievements in their respected fields of culture. Michelangelo's Pieta, DaVinci's Mona Lisa, Beethoven's 9th Symphony and Tolstoy's War and PeaceCitizen KaneShichinin no samuraiCitizen KaneSeven SamuraiAmadeus. When he recounts the genius of Mozart's composing, Antonio Salieri states; "Displace one note and there would be diminishment, displace one phrase, and the structure would fall". Devoid of the sub-plots and character development, the film becomes just an action picture that begins to take on the resemblance of the American remake, The Magnificent SevenShichinin no samurai, Mifune's star would rise to a level in Japan, equivalent to that of John Wayne in the United States. In that same year he would be cast in Hiroshi Inagaki's Miyamoto Musashi, the first part of a trilogy based upon the popular novel that has been described as the Japanese Gone with the WindKagemusha in 1980. He would pass away in 1982 leaving behind a trio of memorable performances in the early Kurosawa masterpieces. His versatility as an actor would forever be immortalized on screen as the woodchopper in , Watanabe in Ikiru, and as Kambei (the samurai leader) in Shichinin no samuraiRatings Criterion
5 Stars - The pinnacle of film perfection and excellence.

(From Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai) (1954) on March 15th, 2010)

D.E.B.S., a review by RossRoy

Original Title: D.E.B.S. Year: 2005 Country: United States Director: Rating: G Length: 91 Min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1, Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital Surround Subtitles: English, French

What they say
Sultry crime boss Lucy Diamond (Jordana Brewster, The Fast And The Furious) is back in the states and the D.E.B.S. - an elite team of paramilitary college co-ed super spies - are hot on her trail. But when their top agent, gorgeous Amy Bradshaw (Sara Foster, The Big Bounce), mysteriously disappears after coming face to face with the attractive young villainess, the D.E.B.S. begin a full-scale search for Lucy's secret lair, never suspecting that Amy may not want to be rescued after all, in this smart and sexy spy spoof. 

My Thoughts
Okay. Not at ALL what I expected when I bought that. Granted, didn't know a single thing about it when I bought it. Even after reading the back of the case, it never struck me. I thought I was getting a spoof of spy movies with five hot ladies in all the major roles. So some laughs and action, but with sexy ladies doing the moves. What did I get? This is basically a romantic comedy with a coating of spy parody! Talk about being taken completely off guard. I'm not sure what to think of it all. I mean, it did keep my interest, but it's not something I'm eager to view again. As a spy spoof, it's pretty weak. Not too many laughs, those that are there seem forced. As a romantic comedy, well it sort of works. There's good chemistry between the two actresses. And I like how the movie portrayed the lesbian relationship as being totally normal and casual. It's shown as just two people falling in love. The movie doesn't take itself seriously, and it's better for it. Each little part of it is not fully realized, and unfortunately for the movie, as a whole, it's not much better. It's the kind of movie where you get a bottle of Pepsi Cola, a big bowl of pop corn, turn your brain off, and enjoy.

I'll say one thing though: the girls look great! Especially Janet (Jill Ritchie - left most girl on the cover), and of course Lucy Diamond (Jordana Brewster - not shown on the cover).



(From RossRoy's Random Viewings on November 24th, 2008)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

18. Killed by Death (1998-03-03)
Writer: Rob Des Hotel (Writer), Dean Batali (Writer)
Director: Deran Sarafian
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Richard Herd (Dr. Stanley Backer), Willie Garson (Guard), Andrew Ducote (Ryan), Juanita Jennings (Dr. Wilkinson), Robert Munic (Intern), Mimi Paley (Little Buffy), Denise Johnson (Celia), James Jude Courtney (Kindestod)

I always found this episode rather boring. Freddy Krueger look-a-like is killing children at the hospital in a monster-of-the-week show.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on February 15th, 2009)