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The Blackening, a review by addicted2dvd

The Blackening (2023/United States) Lionsgate (United States) Director: Writing: Length: 96 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39:1 Audio: English: Dolby Atmos: 3D Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Stars:


Plot:


Extras:

• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Digital Copy

A bit of a comedy-horror. Not too bad for what it is, it has a few laughs in it. Another one I got from the library. Sure, some of it I saw coming a mile away, but that is true with a lot of the comedy horror I see. I would probably pick this one up for my own collection if I found a copy cheap enough.



(From Horror/Halloween Marathon 2023 on September 20th, 2023)

Bound, a review by RossRoy

Original Title: Bound Year: 1996 Country: United States Director: The Wachowski Brothers Rating: NR Length: 108 Min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Mono Subtitles: English, Spanish

What they say
A mobster, his mistress and a tough female ex-con are caught in a dangerous plot with over $2 million of the mob's money at stake in this new, ultra-hip film by the Wachowski Brothers. Starring Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Tilly ('Liar Liar'), Gina Gershon ('Face/Off') and Joe Pantoliano ('The Fugitive').

My Thoughts
I must say, I had apprehensions going into this movie. The whole LGBT angle was a bit scary for me, not that I have anything against it, I mean, what you do in your own bedroom is your business, but a movie around that? Turns out it is basically a MacGuffin, a way to get the girls together and start the story. After that, it is a mob movie, and a very good one at that.

I didn't know what to expect going into this. I'd barely heard of Gina Gershon (only on Tripping the Rift, and it's only a voice part), and not much more of Jennifer Tilly (basically only the Chuky movies), I was happy though to know that Joe Pantoliano (Cypher in The Matrix) was in there too. All three actors give great performances. You don't really know what anyone's motive really is. And isn't it the whole point of a mob movie? The mystery surrounding everyone's personality and the tested loyalties, betrayals and manipulations?

The imagery is also great in this movie. It's gritty and ugly when it needs to be, yet maintains a visual beauty throughout, especially in the final showdown. There's even a scene where you can sort of see the precursor to The Matrix's famous bullet-time effect (not that The Matrix was the first incarnation of it, but I'd say it was the first time it was used to such an effect).

One negative point though: the DVD I have is the unrated version (which is good!) but it was not enhanced for widescreen! Big let down on that front. Good thing PowerDVD handles that well with a smart stretch.



(From RossRoy's Random Viewings on April 7th, 2008)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. Forgiving
Original Air Date: 4/15/2002
As Fred, Gunn and Lorne try to figure out why Wesley would steal Connor, Angel tries to find a way to follow Holtz into the Quor-toth dimension and bring his son back home.

Guest Stars:
John Rubinstein
Laurel Holloman
Stephanie Romanov
Jack Conley

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one as well. Wesley has a long road ahead of him to get Angel to forgive him and trust him again. At this point the only thing Angel wants is to see Wesley dead. I can understand it too... why didn't Wesley go to the team... a team he considered family... with the information he had and try to figure things out that way? It would have saved a whole lot of grief.

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 14th, 2010)