DVD Collectors Online

Die Another Day, a review by Dragonfire

Die Another Day James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) pulls out all the stops to take you on an unforgettable, adrenaline-pumping ride across the globe in this action-filled adventure! From a dark cell in a North Korean prison to the beautiful beaches of Cuba, 007 is on the trail of a diabolical genius who's hellbent on slicing up the earth...literally. Now, it's up to Bond, with the help from a sultry American agent (Halle Berry), to put the evil mastermind's plan on ice. My Thoughts I first saw this one in the theater when it came out.  I know the movie has gotten a lot of flack, but I enjoy it.  I think it works as a fun, entertaining movie, like most of the Bond movies.  Things are different from fairly early in the movie with James being captured and tortured for 14 months.  Even after he is released, things aren't back to normal with him since it is believed that he gave up secrets while being held.  M is planning to send him off and basically retire him and she even tells him that he's not needed anymore.  Obviously that changes as the movie progresses.  James goes off by himself to try to track down a bad guy.  The plot is interesting, though the main bad guy using a satellite is kind of similar to Goldeneye.  It would have been nice if the plot had been a bit more original.  Lots of action turns up throughout the movie, which I expected.  The action scenes are done fine for the most part, though certain things do go over the top.  The idea of an invisible car is kind of cool, but it ends up being more cheesy.  James has always had a car with a lot of unique features and some weapons, but the weapons are way over the top this time, especially for the car the one bad guy drives later in the movie.  The Bond movies have usually featured some more...cutting edge gadget stuff.  Some virtual reality stuff turns up in a few scenes and that does seem kind of...odd.  The DNA stuff being done at the clinic is Cuba seems really bizarre, though the explanation at least sounds somewhat plausible.  The violence isn't too bad, though some things, like the torture stuff, are a bit more extreme.  The characters are fine, though they really don't stand out as memorable additions to the Bond world for the most part.  Jinx is fine, though she really just seems like a female version of James, jumping into bed at a moment's notice.  She is able to take care of herself in dangerous situations though.  Miranda is an interesting character and Roasmund Pike does well with the part.  John Cleese does ok as the new Q, though I do miss Desmond Llewellyn in the part. The movie does have issues, but it is enjoyable overall and worth seeing at least once. I did post a review on Epinions back in 2002 after seeing the movie in the theater. Die Another Day

(From James Bond Marathon on July 3rd, 2010)

Otis, a review by Eric

Otis




Overview: This dark comedy about a serial killer stalking a typical suburb is a cynical take on both American culture and family dynamics. When a young girl is taken prisoner by a sadistic killer, she uses her wits to escape. But her freedom is just the beginning of the gruesome, and oddly hilarious, downward spiral her family takes when they decide to get even with her abductor. It's a twisted ride that will leave audiences torn between laughing and covering their eyes.

My Thoughts: Sometimes on a thin line between horror and comedy this an enjoyable movie to watch.  Some scenes are a bit more on the real horror side and actually made me feel bad but some other parts are hilarious.  I'm glad I bought it.

My Score: 3.5


(From Eric's DVD watching. on November 14th, 2009)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

VOY 4.23 Living Witness
Writer: Bryan Fuller (Screenwriter), Brannon Braga (Screenwriter), Joe Menosky (Screenwriter), Brannon Braga (Original Material By)
Director: Tim Russ
Cast: Kate Mulgrew (Captain Kathryn Janeway), Robert Beltran (Chakotay), Roxann Dawson (B'Elanna Torres), Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris), Ethan Phillips (Neelix), Robert Picardo (The Doctor), Tim Russ (Tuvok), Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine), Garrett Wang (Harry Kim), Henry Woronicz (Quarren), Rod Arrants (Vaskan Ambassador Daleth), Craig Richard Nelson (Vaskan Arbiter), Marie Chambers (Kyrian Arbiter), Brian Fitzpatrick (Tedran), Morgan H. Margolis (Vaskan Rioter), Mary Anne McGarry (Tabris), Timothy Davis-Reed (Kyrian Spectator)

This episode is set 700 years in the future of a planet Voyager had contact with. Their history doesn't portray Voyager in a favorible light until the doctor gets the chance to set the record straight.
I always liked how this episode plays with the characters similar to the "Mirror" universe episodes of DS9 and TOS. And it shows how the historical facts can be miconstrued when relying on few data. This leads to have the Voyager crew portrayed in total different light (except maybe for Mr. Paris ) by the future society of this planet.
I always enjoyed this episode, even though it is based on a big plot hole: In the entire course of the series, it is always pointed out, that the program of the doctor is so complex, that it cannot be copied. If his program is lost, so is the doctor. But here we suddenly have a backup of the doctor, somehow left back at this planet. And added to that, the backup seems to have been synchronised rather recent before the backup has been lost.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on September 19th, 2009)