DVD Collectors Online

Joe, a review by Antares

Joe (1970) 3.5/5 - If your only conception of Peter Boyle is that of a lovable grandfather, or as a comic Frankenstein, then the indie film Joe will definitely quash that appearance. As the main character in John G. Avildsen's first feature length film, Boyle plays a loudmouth racist who learns of a secret in a chance meeting in his local bar. As Joe is spewing his bigoted bile to the bartender, he quips at the end of his diatribe, "I'd love to kill me a hippie." Seated next to him is a middle aged man who has just entered the bar in a somewhat agitated and disheveled shape. As he listens to Joe's violent request, he lets slip out that he has just killed one himself, his daughter's (Susan Sarandon in her first role) junkie boyfriend.

What follows is a bizarre story about the counter culture and right wing ideology, mixed with an awkward voyeuristic spin on class struggles. The film doesn't really get going until we meet Boyle's character, and sadly, that takes almost a half hour of exposition regarding the daughter and boyfriend's drug induced lifestyle and the aforementioned murder. But once Joe is introduced, his pathological hatred for anything or anyone who leans to the left is riveting to watch. In fact, it is probably the only real reason for watching this very dated film from the golden age of indies. Well, that and the ending kind of takes you by surprise. If you can endure a director who is learning the ropes, and the dated nature of parts of the film, I think you could be pleasantly surprised at this relic of 70's gritty independent film making.

(From Antares' Short Summations on June 27th, 2011)

Men in Black II, a review by addicted2dvd

Men in Black II
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are back in black as the scum-fighting super-agents Kay and Jay - regulators of all things alien on planet Earth. Their latest mission: to save the world from a total intergalactic disaster!

When a renegade Kylothian monster disguised as a lingerie model threatens the survival of the human race, the boys of the MIB get the call to step up and get busy. With their headquarters under siege and time running out, Agents Kay and Jay enlist the help of Frank the Pug and a posse of hard-living worms to help them kick some seriously sexy alien butt!

My Thoughts:
After watching the first one a couple weeks ago... I thought I would give this one another try. This is only my second time ever seeing this movie. This DVD was a given to my by my young daughter for my birthday back in May of '03. Unfortunately the one thing she didn't know at the time is that there is a difference between widescreen and full screen that actually matters. But what is a father to do? It is the first DVD she got me... I have to keep it. Though one day I really should get the widescreen version also to put beside it.

This is a fun movie.... much like the first one... it is really nothing more then pure mindless fun. But I don't think it is quite as good as the first. Almost... but the first one has a little on it I think. Definitely worth the hour and a half you put into it.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: 2/27 - 2/29 on February 27th, 2009)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

THE SHIELD - SEASON ONE - PILOT



Detective Vic Mackey leads an aggressive Anti-Gang unit called the Strike Team. They are ramping up their control in the Farmington district, while Captain David Aceveda is working to eliminate corruption in the precinct. Aceveda and Detective Terry Crowley team-up to bring down the Strike Team. Meanwhile, detectives, Dutch Wagenbach and Claudette Wyms, investigate a murder wherein a young girl was kidnapped by the victim's addict husband.

This episode introduces Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), old-style hardline cop with the most unorthodox crime fighting practices. This pilot illustrates how graphic, violent and gritty the series would probably become.
With the multiple cases happening across the pilot, a snitch on Mackey in his strike team, the murder of a young mother & trading of her missing 8 year-old daughter, drug busts, hookers, barbaric interviews, office politics, and pranks on Dutch, you can't fault this for entertainment.
The ending - superb, shan't spoil it for anyone, but I never saw it coming.
Cast deliver strong performaces, realistic feel, POV camera angles and a powerful script delivers a pilot that will force me to return and watch the full series.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on May 13th, 2008)