DVD Collectors Online

Baraka, a review by Danae Cassandra

Baraka
Year of Release: 1992
Directed By: Ron Fricke
Starring: Humanity
Genre: Documentary

Overview:
In the ancient Sufi language, it is a word that translates to 'the thread that weaves life together.' In the pantheon of modern cinema, it remains one of the most unique and acclaimed motion picture events of our time. Shot in breathtaking 70mm in 24 countries on six continents, BARAKA is a transcendent global tour that explores the sights and sounds of the human condition like nothing you've ever seen or felt before. These are the wonders of a world without words, viewed through man and nature's own prisms of symmetry, savagery, chaos and harmony.

My Thoughts:
If ever a movie should be called poetic, this is that movie.  This is most a work of art, a creation of tone, image, and theme.  It is also stunningly, magnificently beautiful.

Humanity reaches for, longs for, a spiritual connection.  Perhaps it is found in religion, perhaps in community, perhaps in nature.  But our commodified civilization, and humanity's cruelty (to each other, to other creatures, to nature) drive us away from each other and further from true spiritual connection. 

A film everyone ought to see, yet a film that is not for everyone.  A moving, powerful composition, meditative, forceful, simple and profound.

Bechdel Test: Not Applicable

Overall: 5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on March 8th, 2015)

Samurai Commando: Mission 1549, a review by Tom

Title: Samurai Commando: Mission 1549
Year: 2005
Director: Masaaki Tezuka
Writing: Ryo Hanmura (Original Material By), Harutoshi Fukui (Screenwriter), Yasushi Matsuura (Screenwriter), Kiyoto Takeuchi (Screenwriter)
Rating: 15
Length: 87 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: DTS 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:Plot:
460 years in the past, modern-day soldiers have to stop both the greatest warlord in Japanese history and his special-attack unit.

What would happen if a modern-day self-defence force unit slipped back in time and faced a large army under one of history's greatest generals? Modern soldiers with the latest in weaponry unite with a medieval army in this giant spectacle of action entertainment.

Starring Kazuki Kitamura from the Japanese epic 'Azumi', Samurai Commando: Mission 1549 is Asia's latest action hit. Based on Ryo Hamnura's original story TIMESLIP, Samurai Commando brings the story into the 21st Century.

Awards:
Extras:
Featurettes
Interviews
Scene Access
Trailers

You have to take a lot of things at face value, but then it is an enjoyable little movie. Also a lot of familiar faces for me (e.g. from the Death Note movies, Great Teacher Onizuka live-action series, Cyborg She and Ichi).

Rating:

(From Tom's Time-Travel Movie Reviews on August 11th, 2010)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

5. Run
After Jonathan's wallet is stolen, Clark super-speeds after the thief but is stunned when he cannot catch him. The thief, Bart, a.k.a. The Flash, later shows up at the farm and tries to talk Clark into leaving Smallville for a life on the road together, flexing their super powers.

My Thoughts:
Definitely one of my favorites... the first other DC Comics superhero shows up in Smallville... The Flash! Was a fun episode... seeing him start out as a thief was a little weird to me... but that is cool... I think the storyline worked out great.

6. Transference
Clark hears a painful ringing sound in his ears and is drawn to the prison where Lionel is being held. When he sees Lionel attempt to stab Lex with a strange glowing stone, Clark grabs for the stone causing the two men to switch bodies.

My Thoughts:
I actually enjoyed this one more then I expected to. I thought they did a good job on the story. but I wouldn't say it is a favorite of mine... just a good basic episode that brings the main arc further along.

7. Jinx
Chloe is drawn into an underground gambling ring at school run by foreign exchange student Mikail Mxyzptlk and loses her savings on a football game after Mxyzptlk uses his powers to control all the players - including Clark.

My Thoughts:
This one didn't impress me all that much... I mean it was ok... but I was left feeling disappointed... mainly because they changed the character Mxyzptlk too much. He was supposed to be a prankster being from another dimension... not some exchange student with a hidden ability.

8. Spell
After Lana reads from a spell book written in the 1600s, she, Lois and Chloe become possessed by witches that had been burned at the stake. The three witches have come back seek revenge and search for the powerful Kryptonian crystals, wreaking havoc on the town in the process.

My Thoughts:
This is an episode that I know most people didn't like... but I enjoyed every minute of it.I thought the story-line was a fun one... and the fact that all 3 of the girls looked absolutely HOT while being possessed by the witches didn't hurt matters either!

(From Smallville Marathon on August 8th, 2007)