DVD Collectors Online

Singin' in the Rain, a review by Danae Cassandra

Singin' in the Rain
Year of Release: 1952
Directed By: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagan, Millard Mitchell
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Musical

Overview:Singin' in the Rain, in dazzling, restored high definition, featuring an all-new documentary special feature that salutes not just this all-time favorite but also the musical legacy of its producer, songwriter Arthur Freed.

My Thoughts:
This is a near perfect film.  It has a great story, great performances, a lot of chemistry between its characters, memorable songs and beautiful choreography.  It's also a lot of fun to watch.  There's nothing particularly serious here; it's light, romantic and amusing.  O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" is great, and Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain" is classic Hollywood. 

An absolute must-see for fans of musicals, or American film; this is one of the best examples of a big-budget, classic Hollywood musical.  Highly recommended.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4.5/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 3rd, 2016)

The Pit and the Pendulum, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Pit and the Pendulum
Year of Release: 1961
Directed By: Roger Corman
Starring: Vincent Price, John Kerr, Barbara Steele, Luana Anders, Antony Carbone
Genre: Horror, Suspense

Overview:
Happily-ever-after goes under the knife in this "eerie [and] excellent" (The Hollywood Reporter) saga of murder, madness  and forbidden desire. Starring Hollywood horror great Vincent Price, this "spine-tingling thriller" (Redbook Magazine) is a  "lush, elegant and bloody" (CueMy Thoughts:
Roger Corman certainly knows how to make a movie.  You don't need a big budget and lots of state-of-the-art effects.  What you need are good actors, suspense, and a lot of atmosphere.  Vincent Price, of course, is superb.  Some people consider his style a bit "hammy" but, honestly, I think they're just jealous because they'll never be as awesome as Vincent Price.  The rest of the cast is pretty solid, though John Kerr's character comes off as very one-note for most of the film, and isn't as interesting as either of the others.  Of course, this is really Price's show as far as the actors go.  The rest is down to great art direction, a pretty interesting script that keeps the viewer guessing, and wonderful, creepy, gothic atmosphere.  Recommended for anyone who likes older horror films. 

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.75/5

(From Danae's 2013 Horror Marathon on October 7th, 2013)

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

Synopsis: Jadzia undergoes the zhian'tara, a Trill ritual where the memories of her former hosts are removed and transfered into another person so that she can learn where certain aspects of her come from and so that she can talk to the former host from face to face. Every of her friends is willing to be a host for one of Dax's former host with Kira being Lela, Dax's first host to Odo who gets the memories of the "old man", Curzon. But the merge of Curzon and Odo has an unexpected result.

My Opinion: Although the fact that all species basically look alike (head, two arms, two legs) has been explained once in TNG (The Chase) I still find it sometimes unbelievable how compatible everything in Star Trek is. It's rather the exception that something is not compatible, e.g. Betazoids cannot read the minds of Ferengi. And in this episode you can even join the memories of a Trill host with the mind (that is placed where exactly?) of a non-humanoid jelly being. Yes I know, I am nitpicking, but once again it's a Dax episode and once again it wasn't that interesting.

Synopsis: Sisko has just been promoted to Captain when there's trouble at the Tzenkethi border and the Defiant goes there to investigate. But suddenly they lose control over the ship and it cloaks and readies the weapons for an attack on a Tzenkethi settlement.

My Opinion: Life at DS9 must be really dull when it is possible that the entire command stuff of that station - including the chief of security - can simply depart for a few days. While Odo was needed for the story, it could have been arranged that Kira stays behind, she isn't even a Starfleet officer. But the plot that the changeling/Founder was scheming was really clever (from a Dominion's POV) and it was a nice hide-and-seek episode.

The Season - My Opinion: The show has definitively picked up speed and especially the three two-parters were interesting. The Defiant was a very good addition to the show in much the same way as the White Star was a very good addition to Babylon 5. The characters are not "trapped" on the station anymore or have to use the small runabouts. I also think that it was a good idea that it wasn't an exploration ship like the Enterprise because that would have ended in pretty much the same stories as TNG has shown us. Diversity is a good thing, trust me.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on November 1st, 2008)