DVD Collectors Online

The Polar Express, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Polar Express

When a young boy doubts the existence of Santa Claus, a train arrives at his house to take him on a magical journey to the North Pole, to show him the true meaning of the season, and that believing is seeing.

A personal favorite, and just about my favorite modern (post 1980) Yuletide film (the other being Tokyo Godfathers). This is a film that really puts me in the Yuletide spirit. 

The animation falls into two categories: absolutely stunning visuals and somewhat off-looking people.  I expect the people problem is because of the limits of early mocap, and I find that each year I watch the film I notice less and less that the people don't move right.  The environment, however, is brilliantly realized and absolutely magnificent.  When we saw this at the IMAX in 3D, the sequences where the train goes downhill on the tracks are fabulous.

I also really enjoy the characters, especially the girl in the group.  She's refreshingly different from most female characters in American animation, breaking stereotypes and being the leader of the group that she is.  But all of the main child characters are portrayed rather realistically, which I like. 

While there's probably too much music for Pete, I can't think of anyone else I couldn't recommend this film to. 

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Yuletide 2011 on December 24th, 2011)

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, a review by Tom

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
A Golden Moment from the Golden Age of Television

In 1957, Broadway's reigning songwriters and Broadway's brightest new star joined forces to create a new musical version of CINDERELLA; it's one-night-only broadcast on CBS-TV was viewed by more than 115 million people - one of the largest audiences in television history - and an instant legend was born.

Julie Andrews, the toast of Broadway for her performance in My Fair Lady, played the title role, joined by a stellar cast of Broadway all-stars. Providing a new take on the timeless tale as well and a bounty of beautiful ballads, comedy numbers and waltzes were the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, already at the top of their game, thanks to such musicals as Oklahoma!, South Pacific and The King and I.

Though Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA has gone through several TV remakes and hundreds of stage productions, the original, magical version vanished after its initial broadcast, never to be seen again...until now.

So take a journey back in time to a special moment in television history, and see it as it happened - live. Many fans thought they would never get the chance but, as the Fairy Godmother says, "Impossible things are happening every day!"

My thoughts:
Interesting to see as this was a live broadcast from the 50s and was thought to be lost. Fortunatly the B&W video for broadcasting this on the west coast had survived. The video and audio quality is therefore not that great.
In this musical we see a very young Julie Andrews. And Man-at-arms as the prince 

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Cinderella Stories on January 18th, 2008)

NCIS Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. ABOUT FACE
A mysterious killer is after the only man who can recognize him, Ducky's assistant Jimmy Palmer.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this episode. I liked that it showcases one of the minor cast members.

My Rating:

18. JUDGMENT DAY (PARTS 1 & 2)
An NCIS team member is murdered. Now, Gibbs leads the others In a thrilling search for the killer.

My Thoughts:
This season ends on a high note. A double length episode... that has a very good story and with a surprise ending. I enjoyed every minute of it!

My Rating:

(From NCIS Marathon on December 30th, 2009)