DVD Collectors Online

Jesse James, a review by Rogmeister

Jesse James  (1939)   105m
Directed by Henry King
Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck
Cast: Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Randolph Scott, Nancy Kelly, Henry Hull, Brian Donlevy, Donald Meek, John Carradine

This is one of the earlier film treatments (possibly the first?) on the life of famed outlaw Jesse James and his brother Frank.  Jesse is played here by Tyrone Power with his brother Frank played by Henry Fonda.  Randolph Scott plays a lawman sympathetic to Jesse named Will Wright (I imagine this character is a fictional one).  In this version, the darstardly no-good villains that are the railroad turn Jesse into an outlaw by taking his land and killing his mother by tossing a bomb into his home, planning on getting him but killing his mother instead, the only one inside at the time (Jesse's mom is played by Jane Darwell).  This is a typical Hollywood romanticized version of the James saga with not a lot of credibility to it but it is entertaining.  The film is shot in Technicolor but the close-ups of Jesse and Frank make them look soft and angelic, not quite the image you expect of noted killers and robbers.  For that matter, we don't really see that many of the James' gang's robberies...we basically see one train robbery and one failed bank job though we do get a collage of scenes at one point that do give you the idea there was a lot more to it.  This film proved to be immensely popular and a sequel was released about a year later.  Of course, Jesse couldn't return to life so it was about his brother...Henry Fonda starred in The Return of Frank. James.

 

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 23rd, 2009)

Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope, a review by DJ Doena

September, 29th


Mark Hamill   ...    Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford   ...    Han Solo
Carrie Fisher   ...    Princess Leia Organa
Peter Cushing   ...    Grand Moff Tarkin
Alec Guinness   ...    Obi-Wan Kenobi
Anthony Daniels   ...    C-3PO
Kenny Baker   ...    R2-D2
Peter Mayhew   ...    Chewbacca
David Prowse   ...    Darth Vader
James Earl Jones   ...    Darth Vader (voice)

Synopsis: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ... c'mon, really? A synopsis for Star Wars?!?

My Opinion: Ever since I got them on DVD, I only watched the original theatrical cut. Han shoots first as it should be. I would have taken the digital remastered version from 1995 where George only cleared up the picture and made some small corrections (it was available on VHS), but the 1997 version was already too much, if you ask me. And since there's either the original or the 2006 DVD edition, I stay true to the original.
And I made a habit out of standing up when Luke, Han & Chewie start to walk towards Leia and snap into ten-hut when the soldiers turn. It must look ridiculous from the outside - I don't care, it's my form of paying tribute.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on September 29th, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

How I Met Your Mother
A love story in reverse: How I Met Your Mother is a fresh new comedy about Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he fell in love. When Ted's best friends Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lilly (Alyson Hannigan) decide to tie the knot, it sparks the search for his own Miss Right. Helping him in his quest is his bar-hopping "wing-man" Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), a confirmed bachelor with plenty of wild schemes for picking up women. Ted's sights are set on the charming and independent Robin (Cobie Smulders), but destiny may have something different in mind. Told through a series of flashbacks, Ted recalls his single days, the highs and lows of dating and the search for true love.

Pilot
In 2029, Ted tells his children the story of how he met their mother, beginning back in 2005 with Marshall and Lily's engagement. Ted, eager to find his soul mate, meets Robin, and sets his sights on marrying her.

My Thoughts:
A fun series. It has a lot of laughs... and I liked seeing Allyson Hannigan in another series. Unfortunately so far I only have the first season of this show.

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on February 10th, 2010)