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Never Say Never Again, a review by Rich

Never Say Never Again



In this remake and updated version of the 1965 THUNDERBALL, James Bond (Sean Connery), who has been primarily teaching for the last few years, is quite happily yanked out of semiretirement to deal with the deadly SPECTRE organization's newest plan for the destruction of the planet. (The Bond story line mimics Connery's semiretirement from the role, which he had last played in 1971's DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.) Agent Number 2, also known as Maximilian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), has managed to steal two cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads, and Agent Number 1, Blofeld (Max von Sydow), has threatened to explode them in areas with large populations if a huge, and almost impossible, ransom demand from the NATO countries is not met. The film features an excellent gaming battle between Largo and Bond, as well as stunning turns by Barbara Carrera and Kim Basinger. Technically not an offical Bond movie, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN was released around the same time as OCTOPUSSY, starring Roger Moore.

Looks like a Bond, smells like a Bond, sounds like a Bond, but it isn't a Bond!
Despite the ingredients being similar, they could not quite replicate the winning formula that is 007. Connery does his best to pull the film through, Bassinger was a convincing Bond girl, and the sexy Barbara Carrera raised temperatures especially when dressed as a nurse with long leather boots. There were exotic locations, plenty of action and fights, and I am sure a fairly hefty budget.
But now the negatives and why it cannot be considered in the same breath as the 007 series. The theme tune is weak, the opening titles (minus the sexist girls) are run of the mill, M is a disaster with Edward Fox, Q is basically absent, lack of flirting with Moneypenny, 007's glib remarks lack the typical punch and cheesiness, the action is below par, the effects disappointed several times (notably the missile scenes), distinct lack of gadgets, and a different and inferior feel to the whole production compared to the mainstream Bonds.
Close - but no cigar
 


(From Riches Random Reviews on April 30th, 2009)

Whip It, a review by Tom

Whip It (2009/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Lions Gate Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Drew Barrymore Writing: Shauna Cross (Screenwriter), Shauna Cross (Original Material By) Length: 111 min. Video: Widescreen 2.40 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar
Marcia Gay Harden
Juliette Lewis
Kristen Wiig
Alia Shawkat

Plot:
WHIP IT, the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, stars Ellen Page (Juno, Inception) as Bliss, a rebellious Texas teen who throws in her small town beauty pageant crown for the rowdy world of roller derby. Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River, Pollock) plays Bliss' dissaproving mother, while Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) and Juliette Lewis (Old School) play roller-derby stars.

Also starring Eve, Jimmy Fallon, and Daniel Stern.

Extras:

• Deleted Scenes
• Interviews
• Scene Access

Ellen Page stars as a teenager who goes against her parents wishes and instead of going to a beauty peagant she enters the brutal sport of roller derby.
I had fun watching this movie. This is Drew Barrymore's directorial debut and I think she did a good job.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on October 30th, 2011)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: BC-303 (BC stands for Battle Cruiser) was finally salvaged after they transfered the hyperlight engine from an Al'kesh to it. But on the way home the Prometheus is attacked and when Sam re-awakens, she is alone on the ship.

My Opinion: Although they've used the known plot element that different characters portray different aspects of a person's personality, I liked this episode. Especially because the character traits of Sam were well presented.

Synopsis: As it turns out, the Naqahdriah on Jonas's home planet is also not of natural origin. It was transformed out of normal Naquadah. By detonating the Naqahdriah bomb they've started the transformation of Naquadah into Naqahdriah in a very deep vein. If they can't stop it the Naqahdriah will explode and destroy the planet.

My Opinion: Unfortunately this is the only reunion with Jonas Quinn. And while I did not watch The Core, the plots sound similar. The relation between Jonas and Kianna was interesting, especially because - as Kianna pointed out - Jonas actually never met the host, only the Goa'uld.

Synopsis: Daniel has been dreaming of the time he met Sarah (Osiris's host) for a couple of nights now. Sarah shows him a tablet of the Ancients and with this he might be able to find the Lost City. It is possible that his subconscious recalls knowledge from the time where he was ascended.

My Opinion: Regarding love relationships none of the four members of SG-1 had much luck. This time they made it look like another of these short romances. But luckily Pete did survive and with David DeLuise the third of the DeLuise brothers and the fourth DeLuise in total (Dom and his sons Peter, Michel and David) has made a guest appearance on the show.
It was a bit hard to believe that Sam actually told Pete what she was doing when she hasn't even told this to her father until he became a Tok'ra. But that's no reason to not to like the episode.

Synopsis: The Alpha Site has been attacked by a Kull warrior and was nearly completely destroyed. Somehow the information about this place and the weapon they've developed there have gotten into Anubis's hands. The Kull warrior is in pursuit of Sam to destroy the weapon that poses a threat to him. In the meantime General Hammond tries to find out how Anubis could have known about the secret base.

My Opinion: "The Fellowship of the Ring has broken" - whoops, wrong universe. I noticed in this episode that they seem to have problems to find film locations. After the Alpha Site has become a huge crater the place looks exactly like the place where the Stargate on Chulak resides - just from another angle.
Apart from that I had the feeling that the break-up is more a disservice to the Tok'ra and the Jaffa than to the Humans, but they tried to keep it together. It was a bit sad.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on April 19th, 2008)