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Firestarter, a review by Rich

Firestarter



Drew Barrymore plays Charlie McGhee, a pre-pubescent girl whose moods of anger and frustration are manifested in the telekinetic creation of raging fires. Her parents participated in dangerous government experiments in the 1960s, and their bodies were altered in ways that affected the physical and mental makeup of their child. Now the CIA wants to harness Charlie's powers and use them as weapons of destruction. They successfully kidnap her, but can they contain her fears and blistering rage

Extremly dated, but a reasonable adaptation sticking fairly close to the book.
Barrymore shows early class, and the support cast inclusive of Scott and Sheen work well together.
The low budget effects and at times splintered dialogue though keeps this movie below average and at times boring.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on June 23rd, 2009)

Rambo, a review by DJ Doena

November, 3rd


Sylvester Stallone    ...    John Rambo
Julie Benz   ...    Sarah
Matthew Marsden   ...    School Boy
Graham McTavish   ...    Lewis
Jake La Botz   ...    Reese
Tim Kang   ...    En-Joo
Paul Schulze   ...    Michael Burnett

Synopsis: In Burma a civil war is causing countless deaths on a daily basis. But John Rambo isn't interested in war anymore. He lives a quiet life in Thailand and doesn't care about the world. But one day christian missionaries want to rent his boat to get into that war zone. And when they don't return he does what he was born to do.

My Opinion: A very bloody movie. Make sure you have a bucket under your TV to catch all the blood that is dripping out of it. But it's also a very honest movie; it does not hide or glorify the truth of battle. After the first, this is the best Rambo movie and it brings the story full circle. I don't think Stallone should make another one. Just like with Rocky he finished the story of the character in a satisfying way and he should leave it at that.

BTW: Check out the body count chart.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on November 5th, 2009)

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

Synopsis: After SG-1 has brought a device to Earth that was presumably build by the Ancients, Jonas starts to see weird insects. At first no one knows what to make of it but then others begin to see them, too. It even spreads among the normal population.

My Opinion: I liked the fact that it wasn't something they brought back but that these creatures have always been here - we just can't perceive them. The gas station guy was also funny and I liked the insects they've invented.

Synopsis: Jack assassinates Senator Kinsey. At least it looks like it. While Jack is in prison, SG-1 tries to find out what really happened and they get help from the NID.

My Opinion: As I previously mentioned, nearly every storyline gets picked up again and is continued in SG-1. This time they re-used the holographic devices from Foothold. I especially liked the way Teal'c interrogated the scientist. I also thought it to be a good thing that they portreyed the NID from a different POV, that they aren't just a heinous gang that stops at nothing.

Synopsis: In exchange for a Stargate address and a device that can open an Ancients weapons locker, Maybourne gets a presidential pardon. He also has another trump card that allows him to accompany SG-1. But he played with marked cards and he transports himself and Jack to a remote place. Unfortunately he doesn't find what he had hoped for.

My Opinion: Finally a decent Jack episode again. I haven't noticed it before but it struck me during this marathon: Richard Dean Anderson had astonishingly few screen time during this season. In one episode he made no appearance at all (Nightwalkers) in others he has very few scenes (especially but not exclusively in the last two episodes).
But Jack and Maybourne were once again fun to watch, both have their way to survive in the wilderness. And once again it's Jack who is seperated from his team and has to survive on a remote planet for several weeks. He has the same talent as Daniel who falls for power.

Synopsis: The russian SG team brings a man to the SGC. He and his people are experimented on by Nirrti. SG-1 feels morally obligated to stop her but they get caught in the experiment.

My Opinion: She got what she deserved. The fact that she has been killed by her own victims bears a certain poetic justice. But I am more interested in what the writers had in mind when they mentioned that Jonas's DNA is different. I can't remember if this has ever been revealed.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on April 12th, 2008)