DVD Collectors Online

War of the Worlds, a review by DJ Doena

Tom Cruise    ...    Ray Ferrier
Dakota Fanning   ...    Rachel Ferrier
Miranda Otto   ...    Mary Ann
Justin Chatwin   ...    Robbie
Tim Robbins   ...    Harlan Ogilvy
David Alan Basche   ...    Tim

Synopsis: There are some weird storms and some lightning hits the ground. Shortly after machines come out of the ground, machines that have been there since before the first houses were built there. And these machines, these tripods, destroy everything in their path and kill any human being. Ray, who has both his childs over for the weekend, does anything that's necessary to protect his family and the first thing on that list is: running like hell.

My Opinion: The story War of the Worlds is well known - especially how it ends. And I liked it that they didn't make a hero movie out of it. I think it was a great idea that Ray was neither hero nor anti-hero but just a regular guy who doesn't know what to do just like the rest of mankind. Dakota's character was a bit too annoying for my taste.
This was the first time I watched the DVD after I had seen the movie in the theatre and I enjoyed it again. But what someone else said is also true: If the Ferriers would have had a dog, the dog would have made it to Boston, too.


So that's it. I did watch WotW yesterday evening and as you can see in my signature strip I totally changed genre this morning.

(From The "What I watch when I don't watch TV shows" thread on December 14th, 2008)

The Wool Cap, a review by KinkyCyborg

The Wool Cap



Title:The Wool Cap
Year: 2004
Director: Steven Schachter
Rating: PG-13
Length: 91 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English

Stars:
William H. Macy
Don Rickles
Ned Beatty
Keke Palmer
Catherine O'Hara

Plot:
William H. Macy ('Focus') stars in this inspiring family drama based upon the original story "Gigot" written by legendary entertainer Jackie Gleason. Broken water pipes and busted doors are all part of a day's work for Gigot (Macy) the gruff, mute superintendent of a crumbling urban apartment building. But in the space of one fateful year, he'll discover there are some things that can't be fixed with duct tape and power tools: things and people that can only be made whole again with the power of love and forgiveness. Also starring Ned Beatty ('Network'), Catherine O'Hara ('Orange County') and Don Rickles. 'The Wool Cap' introduces the remarkable Keke Palmer as an abandoned youngster who steals - and helps mend - Gigot's heart!

Extras:
Scene Access
Closed Captioned


Heartfelt story about a mute superintendent who gets saddled with a young black girl and becomes her unwilling guardian. As time passes and he learns that the young girl's mother died of an overdose, he becomes more attached to the girl and looks to at worst, foster her and at best adopt her.

William H. Macy was superb as the mute... given that he never uttered a word of dialogue throughout the movie makes it that much more a special performance. His character, battling his own demons, alcohol and mistakes from his past, looks at this young girl as a chance at redemption.

Keke Palmer, from Akeelah & The Bee fame shines as the young girl, full of smarts and even more attitude. What seems like an unlikely match at first has you rooting for them as they overcome many obstacles in their quest to become a family.

I really enjoyed this as I suspected I would being a sucker for the feel good movies. With equal moments of despair and triumph, more than a few times I found myself with a lump in my throat.

Highly recommended for the whole family.

I shall be revealing a surprise with my next review....

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on November 3rd, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad: The Complete Series (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 635 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Plot:
Music is Life
Koyuki Tanaka was feeling the rut, though he's only a teenager. Between the sheltered and stifling grind of school and the girls that spend their time not noticing him... Every day was just another day of being a total nobody. Enter Ryusuke: a local rock n' roller haunted by a shady reputation. Together they form Beck, a dynamic band that just might be the salvation of the stagnant music scene. Sure, it's going to take hard work and obsession to make it, but there's something special in the sound. If the guys can stay true to their vision, the world awaits. Music can change their life, sometimes against your will. Just remember... When it's live, anything can happen.

Beck
1.01 The View at Fourteen

Beck is a good coming-of-age story about a boy who joins a rock band which dreams to become big in America. This first episode is slow but fitting introduction into the series.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on March 27th, 2011)