DVD Collectors Online

Bless the Beasts & Children, a review by Antares

Bless the Beasts & Children (1971) 3/5 - There are some moments in this film that are a little cringe worthy, especially in the dialog, but the allegory of the buffalo's plight plays well as an anti-Vietnam war statement. Some of the child actors are a little wooden, but Billy Mumy and Miles Chapin both carry themselves well in their roles. As I mentioned earlier, some of the dialog sounds as if it were written by someone who was long since removed from his adolescent years, and being a Stanley Kramer film, you get hit over the head with his preaching at times. I can understand why it is kind of a forgotten film from his canon, but it's not a bad film and is a product of its time. It's a worthwhile venture for anyone trying to understand what kind of environment people lived in at the end of what has proven to be the most turbulent decade of our history, the late sixties.

(From Antares' Short Summations on February 25th, 2012)

Let the Right One In, a review by goodguy

(Sweden 2008, AKA Let the Right One In, AKA So finster die Nacht)

IMDb summary: Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can't stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people's blood to live he's faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Let The Right One In is a story both violent and highly romantic, set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.

In its use of vampirism, LTROI reminded me of Abel Ferrara's flawed masterpiece The Addiction. There is the same messy and grim approach to the actual blooddrinking and the same disregard for the typical vampire lore. There are vampires in both movies, but neither is a vampire movie; they are about something else entirely.

Linking a vampire tale with a coming-of-age story is not that unusal. But LTROI doesn't fall into the traps of a teenage love fantasy. There is tenderness and even a kiss between the two leads, but their bond is decidedly asexual and prepubescent; it is forged from a deep sense of alienation and has a haunted innocence. Both performances are spectacular.

Alfredson finds striking visuals in the most banal and desolate settings, creating a bleak and chilling atmosphere with a strong poetic quality. This is combined with a beautiful score and an ingenious sound design that draws the viewer into the isolation of the protagonists.

Highly recommended and certainly one of last year's best movies.


(From goodguy's Watch Log on May 31st, 2009)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. Legacy
When Jonathan begins to act strangely, Clark believes Jor-El is sending Jonathan messages through the key and is the cause for his father's withdrawal from the family.

My Thoughts:
This one was a really good episode... the return of Virgil Swann (Christopher Reeve)... a fight between Jonathan Kent and Lionel Luthor...  and the continuation of the arc that divulges Clark's origin. What more can you ask?

18. Truth
When Chloe accidentally inhales a mysterious krypto-gas, she discovers it acts as a truth serum to anyone who comes in contact with her and decides to take advantage of her new power by going to the Kents to find out Clark's secret.

My Thoughts:
This is an episode I liked a lot. In this one there is a few long running questions answered.  I think this episode ranks up there with my favorites. Besides... any reason for a Chloe episode makes me happy!

19. Memoria
Believing that key information about his father's past was lost when his memory was erased, Lex decides to join an experimental program with Dr. Garner to regain the information so he can turn his father over to the FBI.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode... but couldn't call it one of my favorites. It does answer the question of what exactly is it that caused Lex and Lionel to be against each other as badly as they are. It was pretty cool to see Clark's earliest memory of his real mother placing him in the ship.

(From Smallville Marathon on August 6th, 2007)