DVD Collectors Online

Stagecoach, a review by Rogmeister

Stagecoach: The Criterion Edition
Directed by John Ford  (1939)  96 minutes
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell, Louise Platt, George Bancroft, Donald Meek, Berton Churchill, Tim Holt, Tom Tyler

I think most people know about Stagecoach...it is a classic western, released in 1939, and usually makes the list when people are compiling lists of the top ten westerns ever made...heck, it's usually in the top five.  It deals with the people crowded into a stagecoach that is passing through Indian territory as Geronimo is on the warpath.  The passengers (in a film that, at the time of its release, was billed as a sort of Grand Hotel on wheels) include an escaped outlaw (John Wayne), a hooker with a heart of gold (Claire Trevor, though back then they never came right out and said that's what she was), a drunken doctor (Thomas Mitchell in an Oscar-winning performance), a dapper southern gambler (John Carradine) and a whiskey drummer (Donald Meek).   Of course, just when it looks like they're home free...but that would be telling.  This film deserves its legendary status and needs to be seen by everyone who can enjoy a good western adventure.

I've enjoyed Stagecoach in a number of formats.  My first copy was in the days before home video...I had a complete copy on Super 8 Sound film.  Since then I think I've had it on VHS and one or two other formats.  This is the second or third version I've gotten on DVD.  I also have a 2-disc special edition from Warner Brothers so it seems odd The Criterion Collection felt the need to also release their own versiion.   The picture quality looks to be on a par with the WB version...but it doesn't really look superior to it by my eye.  However, both the Criterion and WB versions each have their own special features (including two different audio commentaries) and I will likely keep both copies.  Extras on the Criterion edition includes an interview with John Ford, a silent Ford western titled Bucking Broadway, and other features.

Stagecoach, by the way, was remade in the 1960s...which is an edition to avoid, as is the one made in the 1980s featuring country music legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings.  But for the 1939 original, I give it my heartiest recommendation.   

(From DCO fourth Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on July 8th, 2010)

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, a review by addicted2dvd

The Twilight Saga: New Moon: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition (2009/United States) Trailer |IMDb |Wikipedia | Summit Entertainment Director: Chris Weitz Writing: Melissa Rosenberg (Screenwriter), Stephenie Meyer (Original Material By) Length: 131 min. Rating: Rated PG-13 : Some Violence and Action Video: Widescreen 2.40:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Stars:
Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan
Christina Jastrzembska as Gran/Bella
Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen
Billy Burke as Charlie Swan
Anna Kendrick as Jessica
Michael Welch as Mike

Plot:
In the second chapter of Stephanie Meyer's best-selling Twilight series, the romance between mortal Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) grows more intense as ancient secrets threaten to destroy them. When Edward leaves in an effort to keep Bella safe, she tests fate in increasingly reckless ways in order to glimpse her love once more. But when she's saved from the brink by her friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Loutner), Bella will uncover mysteries of the supernatural world that will put her in more peril than ever before.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Music Videos
• Interviews
• Storyboard Comparisons
• Picture-in-picture

OK... even though I really wasn't in the mood to watch this one today... I promised the person that gave it to me a review.... so decided to go ahead and get it done. I originally thought I never seen this film before... but too many parts seemed really familiar to me. So I am thinking I must have caught it before at some point... just forgot it. This one focuses more on the werewolves then the vampires for the first half of the movie... creating a love triangle for Bella. I tell you one thing.. watching this one movie... I seen enough shirtless guys to last a lifetime... had to wonder if some of those guys even owned a shirt. I say turnabout is fair play... how about one with almost constant shirtless girls! LOL.

I must say... and I am not surprised... but I didn't care too much for this one either. I actually prefer the first one to this one. But that could be because I like vampires so much. I found myself struggling to finish this one. Though it did have some decent scenes. I do like the continuation of the bad vampires still after Bella. And of course I did like the vampires vs. Werewolves scenes. Just wish there was more of them.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on September 14th, 2013)

"Big Bang Theory" Marathon, a review by Tom

03. The Fuzzy Boots Corollary (2007-10-08)
Writer: Bill Prady, Steven Molaro, Chuck Lorre
Director: Mark Cendrowski
Cast: Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter), Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Howard Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Rajesh Koothrappali), Sara Gilbert (Leslie Winkle), Allen Nabors (Doug), Treisa Gary (Waitress), Sherry Weston (Instructor)

So far the least funny episode. But it was good to see Sara Gilbert. Sadly she was only in one scene.



04. The Luminous Fish Effect (2007-10-15)
Writer: David Litt, Lee Aronsohn, Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady
Director: Mark Cendrowski
Cast: Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter), Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Howard Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Rajesh Koothrappali), Laurie Metcalf (Mary), Mark Harelik (Dr. Gablehauser), Sierra Edwards (Summer)

An improvement to the previous episode. Next Roseanne cast member visiting.

(From "Big Bang Theory" Marathon on September 24th, 2008)