DVD Collectors Online

Stagecoach, a review by Rich

Stagecoach



ONe of the all-time classic Westerns - considered by many to be the movie that propelled John Wayne to stardom in 1939. The film is set against the impressive backdrop of Monument Valley in Utah and tells the story of a mixed group of travellers who are making their way across the country to Arizona. They are endangered by an Indian War Party and this, along with their personal histories, results in difficulties. The film pays particular attention to the character studies of the group and is a taut psychological piece which earned an Oscar for Thomas Mitchell's performance as the drunken doctor. The music also won an Oscar and John Ford and Bert Flennon were nominated for best picture. A true classic American western.

A true cinema classic, still very enjoyable to watch some 70 years later, amazing stunts that at times are jaw-dropping (falling under moving horses and stagecoach etc) a film often copied but IMO not bettered.
The action has not aged and for such an old film is so impressive, and the time spent on building the characters so worthwhile and testament to Fords direction. I am not a great John Wayne fan, but in this he was perfect as The Ringo Kid, but the show stealer for me will always be Thomas Mitchell playing Doc Boone.
This is a must-see for all cinema fans 

(From Riches Random Reviews on January 20th, 2009)

Blue Steel, a review by addicted2dvd

Blue Steel
When Sheriff Jake sees a man at the safe and then finds the payroll gone, he trails him. Just as he is about to arrest him, the man saves his life. Still suspicious, he joins up with the man and later they learn that Melgrove, the towns leading citizen, is trying to take over the area's ranches by having his gang stop all incoming supply wagons. With the ranchers about to sell to Melgrove, the two newcomers say they will bring in provisions.

My Thoughts:
Another from the 20 Great Westerns boxset I got from the Walmart Bargain Bin. This movie stars John Wayne in one of his earlier roles. Also in this one is George Hayes and Eleanor Hunt. Though I am not familiar with them. While I enjoyed the other John Wayne movie I watched (Winds of the Wasteland) quite a bit... this one not so much. It just wasn't nearly as entertaining for me. The quality wasn't up there either. Some scenes the audio and video was very good... but in other scenes there was a lot of dust and scratches... and there as a low hissing in the audio.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Western Round-Up on July 12th, 2009)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Kira is informed that someone has found wreckage parts of a ships she has been looking for. It disappeared six years ago during the occupation. On that ship was a former member of her resistance cell. But when she departs for her search she has an unexpected companion: Dukat.

My Opinion: Once again it has been shown that Dukat isn't a one-dimensional character but he's also never been portrayed as a "good guy". I liked the introduction of Dukat's "half-breed" daughter Tora Ziyal because she brought out another aspect of Dukat's character, a side we will see again. I also liked the general idea to put Kira and Dukat on a joined mission without any other character interfering.

Synopsis: Dr. Lenara Kahn comes to the station and she wants to create an artificial wormhole. The problem is: Lenara Kahn was once Nilani Kahn and Nilani was married to Torias Dax two lifetimes ago. In the Trill society it's strictly forbidden to romantically "re-associate" with a former lover.

My Opinion: Interestingly many people saw this episode as a statement about homosexuality which it was not. I found it very interesting because one had to try to imagine what it would be like to live several hundred years always merge with a new host and thus creating a different personality yet not forgetting the feelings for past loves. It's even harder to imagine than with the Tok'ra (Stargate SG-1) because there the consciousnesses of host and symbiont were still a bit separated.

Synopsis: Quark wants to bring Nog to Earth personally and he takes his new shuttle "Quark's Treasure". But he is smuggling Kemocite at the same time and due to sabotage the ship has an accident and travels through time. And when Quark, Rom and Nog wake up they find themselves in a military facility near a town called Roswell in the year 1947.

My Opinion: This was a funny episode. It was great to see how Quark imagined to make business with these kinds of humans who are nothing like the Federation humans of his time. But even he was appalled about some aspects of human society (smoking, atom bomb tests, ...). I enjoyed this episode very much.

Synopsis: Business with the Karemma isn't going so well because it can only be conducted through the Ferengi (The Karemma wouldn't dare to oppose the Dominion). When Sisko tries to negotiate with them they are attacked by Jem'Hadar fighters and have to hide in a gas giant. From there things get worse.

My Opinion: It was an OK episode. It was interesting to see how Worf had the interact with the engineering crew because that was new territory to him. We mustn't forget that he has been a command crew officer only for a few months. But I was surprised when O'Brien mentioned that most the engineering crew hasn't been to Starfleet academy. It seems logical but until now I always thought that everyone who wore the uniform had been to the academy. I think that falls into the same category as we've never seen enlisted personnel in TNG - even O'Brien wore the insignia of a Lieutenant.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on November 8th, 2008)