DVD Collectors Online

The Batman vs Dracula, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: The Batman vs Dracula
Year: 2005
Director: Michael Goguen
Rating: NR
Length: 83 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: N/A

Stars:
Rino Romano
Peter Stormare
Tara Strong
Tom Kenny
Kevin Michael Richardson
Alastair Duncan

Plot:
Gotham City sleeps under the cover of darkness while two legendary bats take flight.

One is turning the city into an army of vampires while the other does everything he can to stop the mayhem. But Dracula isn't just like on of the Batman's usual foes: he's got supernatural powers of strength, speed, and mind control. Even with his arsenal of high-tech gadgets, the Dark Knight is still a mortal man. This is the one face-off that could clip the Batman's wings permanently! Also starring favorite characters like the Joker, Penguin, and Vicki Vale, in her first appearance in the series, this feature-length animated movie is fang-tastic.

Extras:
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Production Notes
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
This animated movie was given to me not too long ago. And was my first taste of this version of Batman (The Batman from Kids WB). I had mixed feelings on how they did the animation for this show... some of the characters I like how they did... others looked a little too different for my taste. I prefer the way Batman looks in The Animated Series... But they did do a good job on both The Joker and Penguin. Speaking of Penguin... he really made the show in this one. He had me literally laugh out loud in more then 1 scene. What I like about this movie is that Batman goes up against real vampires... including of course Dracula. They were a little inconsistent on some of the vampire stuff... like no reflection in the mirror... yet "vampire Joker" had his reflection shown in the test tubes full of blood. But over all... I really enjoyed watching this one.




(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Animated Superhero Movies on March 18th, 2011)

Rock of Ages, a review by Dragonfire

Rock of Ages



I'm going to start by saying that this is not a movie for everyone. Some will hate it - I have a feeling Pet would run clear to Canada to avoid it - but I do think it is a fun, entertaining movie for people who like musicals and 80s rock. 

The plot is fairly simple, telling the story of a small town girl going to Los Angeles with dreams of stardom.  She meets a boy with the same dreams, they fall in love, then things get screwed up and she has to put her life back together. 
A slightly older rock star, so drunk that he doesn't have a clue about anything is performing one last concert with the bad that made him famous at the first club they performed in.  A group of religious fanatics targets the club and the singer, protesting and trying to shut things down.  Several things about the plot are predictable, but the movie is still really fun.  There are a few complications that pop up here and there, but it is fairly clear that things will be fixed.  There are touches of romance and some humor at times.

The music, which is all 80s rock, receives the most attention, with all the characters singing at least a little bit.  I still like 80s rock, and this movie, that is based on the Broadway musical, uses great songs.  I recognized all of them, though it did take me a little longer with a few of them.  I think the songs work well to help move the story forward and don't seem silly even though people break out into song all over the place.  There is a need to suspend disbelief when it comes to that.  The cast all sings well and I admit I was surprised by how well some of them sound.  Maybe some of that is something done in the studio, but however it is achieved, the singing sounds good.  Julianne Hough's voice is nice, but there is something about that..I'm still not sure exactly what is it.  In some songs, her voice doesn't sound strong enough for the song.  Alec Baldwin does really good with his singing and even takes part in a ..ummm...unexpected version of Can't Fight This Feeling.

I really don't consider myself a Tom Cruise fan, but I'll see his movies if I think they look interesting.  I didn't think too much about his casting in the movie, though I did wonder at times about him being cast as Stacee Jaxx, the rock star.  He is really good in the movie.  He becomes the character, stumbling around in a drunken haze, unable to keep a shirt buttoned, but still able to rock it out on stage in a really good version of Pour Some Sugar on Me.  He is completely believable in the part and he can sing.  At least he can sing 80s rock. 

Rock of Ages is a bit predictable, but it is a fun, entertaining movie that I think is worth checking out for people who like this type of movie or who like 80s rock.  I plan to get the movie when it is out and I want the soundtrack.  This movie isn't for everyone though.



I did get a longer review posted at Epinions.

Rock of Ages 

(From Rock of Ages on June 16th, 2012)

Tom's TV Finales marathon, a review by Tom

[tom]883929012954f.jpg[/tom]

Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (2002/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 542 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English

---

Plot:
Who will stand up to villains now that a heartbroken Dark Knight has mysteriously vanished? Never fear, New Gothamites, a trio of champions is ready to take wing - and Helena, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, is among them. She calls herself Huntress and crime is her prey. Teenaged Dinah is the youngest of the group, learning as she goes and gifted in clairvoyance. And overseeing the awesome threesome's high-tech nerve center is Batgirl. Left wheelchair-bound by The Joker, she has reinvented herself as OracleBirds of Prey. Fighting together. Living together. And soaring into adventure together in 13 breathtaking live-action episodes.


Birds of Prey
Season 1.12 Feat of Clay & Devil's Eyes
Writer: Adm Armus (Writer), Kay Foster (Writer), Hans Tobeason (Screenwriter), Adam Armus (Story By), Melissa Rosenberg (Story By)
Director: Joe Napolitano, Robert J. Wilson
Cast: Ashley Scott (Helena Kyle/Huntress), Dina Meyer (Barbara Gordon/Oracle), Rachel Skarsten (Dinah Lance), Shemar Moore (Det. Jesse Reese), Ian Abercrombie (Alfred Pennyworth), Mia Sara (Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn), Shawn Christian (Wade Brixton), Robert Patrick Benedict (Gibson Kafka), Ian Reed Kesler (Chris Cassius), Kirk Baltz (Clayface), Patrick Fischler (Dr. Will Kroner), Steve Hytner (Dr. Franklin Rominic), Brad Blaisdell (Guard #1), Ted Underwood (Guard #2)

This is another series which was cancelled early. But here they at least got a chance to a last two-parter to conclude the main storylines of this season. Which is a luxury not a lot of series get to do in similar circumstances.
So they had to put a lot of stuff into these episodes, which makes the conclusion of these storylines a little rushed. But at least we get a resolution for them. Like the two love interests for the two main characters. One of them finally get together after a season of teasing. The other gets to find out about the crime fighting and all (thanks to Alfred where he pulls the same stunt he did in the first Batman movie with Vicky Vale). Another thing which comes out of nowhere: The resolution of whom killed the mother of Huntress.
The music replacements in this DVD release is something which really bothered me. One thing I mentioned before is the removal of the great theme song. The other big replacement is the final showdown. In the original aired version, they played T.a.t.u.'s "All the Things She Said", which worked really well. Also it was the first time I had ever heard the song. Although I have to admit, you would not notice these replacements, if you haven't seen the original version.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Finales marathon on January 28th, 2013)