DVD Collectors Online

Isle of the Dead, a review by Jon

Isle of the Dead
3 out of 5

Greece, 1912. A general (Boris Karloff) and a war correspondent (Marc Cramer) are on an island primarily used as a cemetery. They are trapped with a typically mixed group of people by a plague. Worse, an old woman is convinced a girl in their party is a vorvolaka, a type of vampire.

Isle of the Dead? Vampires? I thought I'd be in for a treat with this one. Sadly it's quite pedestrian, directed by Mark Robson, who seems responsible for all the weaker entries. Even then, like Seventh Victim and Ghost Ship, it does have it's good points and they are very good indeed. For the most part it's rather bogged down in a predictable group of characters trapped in quarantine. The old lady who owns the house is convinced one of them, a girl, is a vampiric creature, feeding on her sickly mistress. Most of the others think she is just superstitious, especially Karloff's no nonsense general. He's a great character, appearing cruel, nostalgic or sensibly efficient at any given moment.

The point of the story is watching the general cave in to madness and plague, leading him to believe the old woman. Therefore he becomes the danger, yet still the faithful "Watchdog", being cruel to the few to protect the many. It's very clever, but because we can see he's being misled, there is little for us to be scared of really. That is until the last act when one of the number is buried alive! The lead up to this is wonderful and worthy of a Hitchcock twist. Then there is tense scene in a crypt which ends with a cracking shot that sends a shiver down your spine. 1945! Who needs cgi? Just very clever photography.

Overall it's about faith versus science and how both can blind or enlighten, given the right situation. It's just a shame there wasn't more tension for the first 40 minutes or so.

(From Val Lewton Horror Marathon on October 7th, 2008)

Freaky Friday (1976), a review by addicted2dvd

Freaky Friday (1976/United States) Buena Vista Home Entertainment Director: Gary Nelson Writing: Mary Rodgers (Screenwriter), Mary Rodgers (Original Material By) Length: 98 min. Rating: G Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Stars:
Barbara Harris as Mrs. Andrews
Jodie Foster as Annabel
John Astin as Mr. Andrews
Patsy Kelly as Mrs. Schmauss
Dick Van Patten as Harold Jennings
Vicki Schreck as Virginia

Plot:
Now experience all the laughs of the original comedy classic that inspired Disney's hilarious hit remake. Trading places was never so funny, and it could only happen on Friday the 13th! that's when the tomboyish and free-spirited Annabel (Jodie Foster) switches bodies with her straitlaced mother, Ellen (Barbara Harris), and suddenly finds herself responsible for running the entire household. In turn Ellen, now in her daughter's body, faces the daunting challenges of school, including a typing test, field hockey competition, and much more!

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Interactive Games
• Closed Captioned

This movie is just plain fun! I got several chuckles out of it. I really enjoyed the field Hockey game I got a few laughs out of those scenes. The Baseball game in the park was pretty fun as well. Then there was the last scene of the movie... and once again I couldn't help but to laugh at it. There were a few familiar faces in this one... other then what I listed above there was the guy that played Arnold in Happy Days... as well as Marvin Kaplan who I have seen in several TV Series of the time. and then there is Sorrell Brooke as the principle... who was of course Boss Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard. I am the first to admit that I enjoyed the remake of Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan... but I have to say... I prefer this one!

The DVD itself isn't bad... but it could have been much better. Both the audio and video are just fine... but when it comes to extras it leaves a bit to be desired. There is one game you can play... which is a match game. Very simple and very boring once you play it once or twice. But the "Look Back" with Jodie Foster was pretty cool. She don't only look back on Freaky Friday... but all the movies she did for Disney. I did enjoy watching it. And that is all the movie related extras you get. The only other thing on the disc is the "also from Disney" trailers.





(From TV Stars in the Movies: On-Going Mega Marathon on September 5th, 2011)

Hearts Afire: The Complete Third Season, a review by addicted2dvd

Hearts Afire: The Complete Third Season (1994/United States) The hilarious combination of John Ritter, Night Court's Markie Post and Billy Bob Thornton fuels this warm and witty television series about the ups and downs of small-town life! From the creator of Designing Women, John and Georgie Anne Hartman (Ritter and Post) keep the sparks burning at home and at work as they run the local newspaper with the help of John's best friend, Billy Bob, cynical advice columnist Madeline (Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men) and neurotic printer Lonnie (Leslie Jordan, Will & Grace). Don't miss the final season with 14 episodes of memorable misadventures, including one unaired episode! Episodes: 1. Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby 2. The Virgin Lonnie 3. It's My Party 4. The Sock-Her Boys 5. Birth of a Donation 6. Fat Like Me 7. Born to Dance 8. Pros and Condoms 9. The Perfect Christmas 10. Help Wanted 11. Mrs. Hartman, Mrs. Hartman 12. Group Therapy 13. John and Georgie's Not-So-Excellent Adventure 14. The Outsider

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Stars:
John Ritter as John Hartman
Markie Post as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman
Billy Bob Thornton as Billy Bob Davis
Leslie Jordan as Lonnie Garr
Conchata Ferrell as Madeline Stoessinger

Extras:

• Scene Access
• insert

I just finished the 3rd (Final) season of this series. While I still enjoyed it... it has lost a little something. So I really am not that surprised that the series was canceled at this point.I am glad they added the one unaired episode to this set though. Always nice to have an episode you never seen before.




(From Addicted2dvd's Random TV Series Watched on November 20th, 2011)