DVD Collectors Online

Koizora , a review by Tom

Koizora (2007/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia AVP Asia Video (Hong Kong) Director: Natsuki Imai Writing: Mika (Original Material By), Mutsuki Watanabe (Screenwriter) Length: 127 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35 Audio: Japanese: PCM 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Chinese, English

---

Stars:
Yui Aragaki as Mika
Haruma Miura as Hiro
Karina as Minako
Ryuji Yamamoto as Hiro's Father
Yumi Aso as Hiro's Mother

Plot:
Mika is in her first year of high school. Her closest friends are absorbed in finding boyfriends, but while Mika likes the idea of being in love, she does not know how to go about it. When she meets Nozomu and Hiro, two flashily dressed boys, she turns and flees.
She begins getting calls from a boy she doesn't know. Suspicious at first, Mika is gradually drawn into conversation. One day, they meet each other, Mika thinks she has been set up and turns to go, but the boy gives her a bouquet of flowers. He shows her his cell phone, with the dawn picture.
Mika rapidly becomes close to Hiro, who has an innocent quality belied by his delinquent appearance. Their days pass happily, but trouble is coming, in the form of Hiro's ex-girlfriend...

Extras:

• Scene Access

A good teen-drama, though at times a little far-fetched, even though it is said to be based on a true story. At least the novel it was based on supposedly makes that impression, but as far as I know it is not really proven as the author "Mika" is anonymous.

Rating:

(From 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread on December 27th, 2010)

Firewall, a review by Hal

Title: Firewall
Year: 2006
Director: Richard Loncraine
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Harrison Ford (1942)
Virginia Madsen
Carly Schroeder
Jimmy Bennett
Gail Ann Lewis

Plot:
It's an ordinary day at Landrock Pacific Bank - ordinary for everyone but I.T. expert Jack Stanfield. His wife and children are held hostage at home. Their kidnappers have one demand: Jack must heist $100 million from the ultra-secure system he designed. And they'll be watching every move he makes.

Showing the Everyman vulnerability, strength and resourcefulness that make him one of film's most appealing heroes, Harrison Ford portrays Stanfield in this cyber-edged race against time. Paul Bettany (The Da Vinci Code) co-stars as an ice-blooded crime mastermind. And Virginia Madsen (Sideways) plays Stanfield's wife, who disregards her own terror to protect her children. The criminals' plan is airtight. They figure they can't lose. But they overlook one thing: the desperation of a man with everything to lose.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Featurettes



(From Firewall on July 3rd, 2010)

2016 TV Pilot Reviews, a review by DJ Doena

Designated Survivor Website
Designated Survivor @ Wikipedia
Designated Survivor @ IMDb

Thomas Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland, 24) is the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and about to be fired since the President has decided to go with someone else for his second term.

Kirkman is also the designated survivor for this year's State of the Union. He's kept safe in an undisclosed location while the President gives his speech.

Then the unthinkable happens. An explosion destroys the Capitol building and with it the President, Vice President, the Speaker of the House and most cabinet, house and senate members.

Fortunately, the unthinkable has been thought of. That's why Kirkman was not in the Capitol. And now he's sworn in as the next President of the United States.

The most urgent questions on everyone's mind are "Who did this?" and "Is the pencil pusher Kirkman really able to lead this country in this time of crisis?".

I've learned the term and the meaning behind the "designated survivor" in the first season of The West Wing. This is not going to be that show.

But it's probably not going to be 24 either. Although with the conspiring already happening, who knows...

I really liked the pilot. Everyone around Kirkman including himself doubts if he can do the job, but he appears to be a fighter. Someone who will tackle every challenge and obstacle that will come his way.

I'm curious how they will design the following years. When will there be re-elections and who will go up against him. How will they tackle the domestic and foreign topics?

This is one show I will definitely watch for the next few years.



(From 2016 TV Pilot Reviews on September 26th, 2016)