DVD Collectors Online

Poltergeist III, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Poltergeist III Year: 1988 Director: Gary Sherman Rating: PG-13 Length: 97 Min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Tom Skerritt
Nancy Allen
Heather O'Rourke
Zelda Rubinstein
Lara Flynn Boyle
Kip Wentz

Plot:
They're back...again! And they're still looking for Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) in this riveting and climactic finale to the Poltergeist trilogy. Sent by her parents to live in a Chicago high rise with her aunt (Nancy Allen), uncle (Tom Skerritt) and cousin (Lara Flynn Boyle), Carol Anne must face demons more frightening than ever before, as they move from invading homes to taking over an entire skyscraper! "Ingenious and cleverly executed" (Los Angeles Times) special effects highlight this haunting chiller that takes terror to new heights!

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
While not as good as the first one... I still enjoyed this one. I would say it is about on par with part 2. Maybe even a little better. Though it is a shame what happened to Heather O'Rourke... what was it shortly after or during making this movie. Passing at such a young age. Still only a child. I keep going back and forth whether I like the new setting of the apartment building. But over all I think it works.




Count:
Movie Count: 51
TV Ep. Count: 17
Other Count: 3

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon: 2010 on October 14th, 2010)

James and the Giant Peach, a review by Danae Cassandra

James and the Giant Peach
Year of Release: 1996
Directed By: Henry Selick
Starring: Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves, Susan Sarandon, Paul Terry
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Animation

Overview:
In an all-new digitally restored special edition from Tim Burton, the acclaimed director of Alice In Wonderland, comes the astounding film that captured the hearts of fans and critics all across the world. Inspired by Roald Dahl's beloved children's book, Burton, Denise Di Novi and Director Henry Selick combine a fascinating mix of live-action, stop-motion animation and computer-generated special effects to create a world beyond your imagination.

After the daring rescue of a spider, a young boy named James gains possession of some magic crocodile tongues. When James spills them in the garden, out sprouts an enormous peach! Climbing inside, he meets an astonishing cast of characters and embarks on a magical odyssey full of thrills and adventure. Voiced by an all-star cast, including legendary actors Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow and Jane Leeves, and featuring the celebrated music of Randy Newman, this classic story is delicious entertainment for the whole family!

My Thoughts:
This is a whimsical, fantastical adventure, more than a bit absurd and bizarre, but if you put aside a need for it to conform to the real world, it's a fun story. 

I almost think that the over-exaggeration of things in the film reflects a child's mindset.  James is like 7, and the movie is taking you into the world as he sees it, where things are bigger, scarier, more colorful than they actually are. 

The animation and character designs are really outstanding.   The color, the designs, and the care put into the puppets is simply wonderful.  If you love stop motion the film is worth seeing simply for that.

There are also several good messages for kids:  Family are the people who love you.  The smallest acts of kindness, even to the smallest of creatures, may have consequences and benefits you cannot see.  Stand up for yourself and stand up to your fears - that which has power over you only has the power you give it. 

Recommended for animation lovers, folks who like the works of Tim Burton (he's a producer here), and older kids who won't mind things being a bit creepy or scary. 

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on February 10th, 2015)

Birds of Prey Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

12. Feat of Clay
A villain's touch turns people to clay. Helena discovers a shocking truth. Wade learns Oracle's secret.

13. Devil's Eyes
Trouble rules the roost. Quinn has a hypnotic grip on the city and controls the Birds' command tower, too.

My Thoughts:
For some reason these 2 episodes are put together as 1 double-length episode. I could be wrong... but I don't remember it originally airing that way.  But either way... I enjoyed every minute of it. Would have made for a really good season finale... but unfortunately the studio decided to make it a series finale instead. In the first half we meet Clayface and his son. As well as find out who it was that killed Helena's mother. The second half is finally the showdown between Helena and Harley Quinn.

1. Unaired Pilot (Disc 4)
A new crimefighting force with links to Batman fills the void left by the caped one's mysterious departure.

My Thoughts:
The Unaired Pilot has another actress playing Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn)... and a couple other minor changes. In this one Harley Quinn is played by Sherilyn Fenn instead of Mia Sara. An unaired pilot is an extra that is just cool to have. Even though you pretty much know what is going on... it is fun to see their first take on the story. That is when there is more differences then a cast change... as there is some here. Definitely worth checking out.

2. Gotham Girls: The Complete Series (Discs 1-3)
All 30 episodes of the Animated Web-Based Series featuring the female heroes and rogues from Gotham City.

My Thoughts:
After watching the first group of shorts on disc 1 I found these to be cute... but no big deal. And I was kinda hoping it would grow on me more within the ones on the next disc or so. And they did grow on me some... I especially like the 3rd season episodes (on disc 3) they were more fun as they were a continuous story. Every episode taking over where the last one left off. But this is an extra that was fun while watching for the first time... I don't see myself watching them much again... if again at all. But on the other hand... I do see my daughter, Brittany enjoying these shorts a lot. I can see her borrowing this set just to watch these.



(From Birds of Prey Marathon on July 19th, 2008)