DVD Collectors Online

The International, a review by Rich

The International



Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) is determined to expose an arms dealing ring responsible for facilitating acts of terrorism around the globe. But as his investigation leads Salinger and his partner, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts), deeper into the secret world of greed, corruption and murder, they become targets of a deadly conspiracy so vast, they soon find the only people left to trust are each other. This pulse-pounding thriller plays a high-stakes game of suspense, intrigue and explosive action.

Despite reading bad reviews on this movie, personally I found it an above average adventure thriller, reasonably cast, and generally well plotted through the film. Pretty good escapist stuff for adults, with the storyline centering around high finance, arms dealing and dodgy banks.
The locations are variously spread around Europe and the US, and were interesting in there originality and architectural impact.
A particular high point in the action was the shoot-out at the Guggenheim which was spectacular, very well directed and tensely shot.
This is no show stopper, but well worth the money.
 


(From Riches Random Reviews on July 30th, 2009)

Zodiac, a review by Antares

Zodiac (2007) 4/5 - From its beginning to its end, I was gripped by this story and how well Fincher weaved the narrative. The murders which are shown, primarily in the first 1/3 of the film, are done with a harsh realism that unnerves, but doesn't come across as gratuitous. This is something that a few directors out there today, could take a lesson from, most notably a certain director named Tarantino. In the end, you have to believe that Graysmith, Toschi and Armstrong were all correct in their belief that Arthur Leigh Allen was the Zodiac killer. How much of this story is embellishment on either Fincher or Graysmith's part, is cause for debate, but when all is said and done, this is a first class film making effort.

(From Antares' Short Summations on December 31st, 2010)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Harsesis has come to Abydos to learn more about his mother. But Oma Desala has made him forget the knowledge of the Goa'ulds. SG-1 tries anyway to access that knowlegde in the hope that Oma can make him forget again. Finally Daniel gets a glimpse of what it means to possess the entire knowledge of the Goa'uld.

My Opinion: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Strangely it's always the humble Daniel who falls for the power and loses the empathy for his friends - just like it happened in Need. As a warning shot I liked this episode very much.

Synopsis: After the suicide of a SG member and Daniel's try to do the same, SG-1 visits the planet where they suspect the cause of this. There they find an addicting source of light and now they're stuck there.

My Opinion: Average episode, not much to say about it.

Synopsis: Carter is holding a lecture about wormhole physics at the US Air Force Academy while Jack and Teal'c babysit some scientists on a remote moon. A female cadet at the academy seems to be very gifted but she is also rebelious and faces expulsion. Carter shows her where she could go if she manages to finish the academy.

My Opinion: I really liked it when Cadet Hailey and Sam argued (scientifically) but one really sees that she has much to learn, especially about the responsibilites that come with having a command.
When she suggests to use the Zat'n'tkels again she refers to them as "Phaser things".

Synopsis: When the M.A.L.P. (Mobile Analytic Laboratory Probe) scans a remote planet to analyse of whether it's safe to go there it is drawn away from the Gate and into the air. Simultaneously a data stream reaches Earth that manifests itself as a program within the computers of the SGC.

My Opinion: For the second time an alien lifeform has taken over Major Carter's body and for the second time the lifeform has to sacrifice itself for a higher purpose and has to give the control back to Carter. The scene I liked the most was when Amanda Tapping only could speak through an audio synthesizer and could only work with her facial expressions. I also liked the opposite approaches of the warriors Jack and Teal'c and the scientists Sam and Daniel.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on March 29th, 2008)