DVD Collectors Online

Zatoichi's Revenge, a review by Antares

Zatoichi's Revenge (1965) 74/100 - This is either the third or fourth film in this series, where the theme music could have been written by Ennio Morricone, as it's reminiscent of his style of work. It makes me wonder how much of an influence this series had on Italian directors of Spaghetti Westerns. If you think about it, Ichi is no different than a roving gunslinger, with a conscience, eerily similar to The Man with No Name. For this tenth film in the franchise, Ichi happens upon a village, where the sensei who taught him his masseuse skills, lives. He decides to pay his old master a visit, but is aghast when he finds out the old man has been murdered and his young daughter is being forced into prostitution by the local yakuza boss. Well, you know that Ichi is going to find a way to right the wrongs, all the while dispatching scores of yakuza thugs. What separates this film from the other nine that proceeded it, is that this is the first time that Ichi goes against his code of honor. Up until now, Ichi only killed in self defense, but I guess the anger in his heart at the death of his sensei is too much for him this time around. It shocked me that Daiei allowed this change in his character to happen, because they were taking a chance that audiences would reject this trait in their beloved blind swordsman, and the golden goose would be cooked. But I guess maybe they were right, as another fifteen films would follow this one and it doesn't seem to have besmirched his character or popularity.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on April 9th, 2014)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a review by Dragonfire

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Discover the intriguing inside stories of why so many of Britain's most celebrated stars took roles in the series. See the newly unveiled screen test between Daniel Radcliffe and Evanna Lynch (selected to play Luna out of 15,000 hopefuls!) Go on the set to see firsthand how each of the directors brought unique strengths to the series. Witness the amazing transformations as Daniel, Rupert and Emma grow with their characters over a decade of unprecedented filmmaking.

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Things start to get a little darker in this one, and a little more complicated for Harry.  The story is really entertaining and again, the adaptation stays fairly close to the book.  I could have done without the snakes and the basalisk.  That think is freaky.  Daniel, Emma, and Rupert are already doing a bit better with their acting.  Rupert especially looks older than in the last movie. 

The main extra in this one from the Ultimate Edition is focused on how they created the looks for the different locations and created the magical effects.  The extra is really interesting and definitely worth checking out.  There is footage that was shot while the movie was filming, and some that was tied to the later movies..like when a new location was introduced.  Some things from the sixth movie are included - I believe they were filming it when they started working on the Ultimate Edition stuff.  Nothing from the seventh movie is included.  Now that I've seen both parts of Deathly Hallows, it would have been nice to have those new locations and things included in the featurette.  The movie, just like the first, looks wonderful on Blu-ray.

I still love this movie even though I've seen it numerous times now.



I think I posted about it here before and shared the link to my review at Epinions.  I'll share the link again just in case I didn't share it before.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on August 8th, 2011)

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)