DVD Collectors Online

Blood Work, a review by addicted2dvd

Blood Work
FBI profiler Terry McCaleb almost always gets to the heart of a case. This time, that heart beats inside him. He's a cardiac patient who received a murder victim's heart. And the donor's sister asks him to make good on his second chance by finding the killer. That's just the first of many twists in a smart, gritty suspense thriller that's "vintage Eastwood: swift, surprising and very, very exciting" (Jim Svedja, KNX/CBS Radio).

Clint Eastwood produces, directs and stars in this edgy acclaimed mystery based on Michael Connelly's novel and scripted by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential). With a superb cast brought to a hard boil playing characters to quicken your pulse and hold you spellbound, Blood Work works exceptionally well.

My Thoughts:
I felt like a good suspense/thriller... when I spotted this one in my list I knew it had to be the one to watch since the only thing I remember about it is that I enjoyed it the first time I seen it. I watched it once when I got the DVD back in 2003. It was one of the movies I got for $5.00 when the video store I worked for at the time closed down. I am glad I decided to watch it again. It is a very good movie. I thought Clint Eastwood was great in it.  Jeff Daniels was pretty good as well. But what I really liked about this one is the story itself.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Anything Goes on June 19th, 2009)

Fiend Without a Face, a review by Danae Cassandra

Fiend Without a Face
Year of Release:  1958
Directed By:  Arthur Crabtree
Starring:  Marshall Thompson, Terry Kilburn, Kim Parker, Kynaston Reeves
Rating:  Not Rated

Overview:
A scientist's thoughts materialize as an army of invisible brain-shaped monsters (complete with spinal-cord tails!) who terrorize an American military base in this nightmarish chiller, directed by Arthur Crabtree (Horrors of the Black Museum). This outstanding sci-fi/horror hybrid is a special effects bonanza, and a high-water mark in British genre filmmaking.

My Thoughts:
What a fun little horror film!  So obviously a B-movie, but also so well done for a B film.  I loved their choice to keep the monster invisible for most of the picture.  I think it really added to the terror of them.  The cast was good, the camera work effective, the sound guy obviously having a great time with the fiend's noise.  It's a 50's film set on a military base, so there's naturally a nod to keeping an eye on the Russians.  Also there's the not-subtle-at-all fear of atomic power and science run amok.  But that's what makes a good 50's monster movie!  If you like these sorts of films, this is highly recommended.

Also, who wants to bet Gary Gygax saw this film?  The fiend is so obviously the inspiration for the intellect devourer. 

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall:  3.5/5

(From Danae's 2012 Horror on October 4th, 2012)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: A ships enters the Babylon 5 area which comes from a different time. Sent from earth before jump gates were known it contains two passengers in stasis chambers. On the station is a confused man who announces the return of a dark being,

My opinion: Murdock is back and he is as mad as ever. ;-). Again we are warned that a dark force is gathering its allies and that they have awoken not long ago. While the "ship from the past" is no new concept to sci-fi shows I liked the combination with the main arc.


Synopsis: A business man from earth tries to make a great contract with the Mars provisional government and gets killed by a man who is presumed to be dead.

My opinion: It was ok, not great though. Interesting about it was seing nuclear wastelands on Earth and again the meddling of Psi Corps with humans (even though in this case not with teeps).


Synopsis: The three wives of Mollari - he described them as pestilence, famine and death in an earlier episode - arrive at the station. Also a man who has done the impossible - he left Psi Corps.

My opinion: And yet again we see a walking Psi Corps experiment. It seems they try everything to enhance teeps beyound their natural borders. But the more interesting part of this episode is the Londo arc. As I said, Londo described his wives as pestilence, famine and death - three of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. And that would make Londo the fourth - war. Not even a seer could have described it better. It was one of the last happy episodes for Londo even if there was an attempt for his life.
Although the funniest moment was the struggle between Delenn and her hair.


Synopsis: Bester's back. Renegade teeps are hiding or are being hidden on Babylon 5. And he wants them back - badly. And Talia is re-evaluating her loyalty towards the Psi Corps.

My opninion: Although I said I loved Bester episodes, this is not one of my favourites. It was a simple catch-me-if-yo-can episode. Nothin special.


(From Babylon 5: Marathon on August 7th, 2007)