DVD Collectors Online

The City of the Dead, a review by Danae Cassandra

City of the Dead
Year of Release: 1960
Directed By: John Moxey
Starring: Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee, Patricia Jessel, Tom Naylor, Betta St. John
Genre: Horror

Overview:My Thoughts:
This was a great piece of 60's British horror. Really gothic and creepy, with fantastic atmosphere. Yes, you can tell it's made on a soundstage, but the blackness around the town and the thick fog make Whitewood seem like it exists in another realm. Christopher Lee is in his usual form - charismatic with an aura of menace beneath a classy exterior. The script is good too, especially since you think you know where the film is going and then it hits you with an unexpected twist in the middle. Highly recommended if you enjoy older horror films, or are a fan of Lee's. He's not here as much as I'd like, but he's superb in his scenes.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 4/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 5/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 5th, 2016)

7th Heaven, a review by Antares

7th Heaven (1927) 83/100 - Bette Davis... Joan Crawford... Greta Garbo... Norma Shearer... Katharine Hepburn, y'all got nothing on Janet Gaynor. Every film I watch with this amazing actress is a revelation. It's sad too, because she was one of the lucky ones who made the transition from silent to sound and maintained a following and great acting work, yet chose to walk away from it all. But it's really her silent work where her chameleon like talents are truly showcased. There are an abundance of scenes in this film where she runs the gamut of emotions in only a few short frames and she just radiates. The only fault I can find with the film itself, has to lie with the abrupt introduction of France's entry into World War I. It comes out of nowhere, and it kind of throws a monkey wrench into what was, up to that point, a hauntingly beautiful, romance film. From that point, Borzage lays on the melodrama rather thickly, like he's laying tar across a large roof. I wish he had just stuck with the story in the apartment and Chico and Diane's awakening love for each other. It's in those moments where the film really sings out. Chico... Diane... HEAVEN!!!!!

What the color coding means...

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 March 20th, 2013)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Being Erica: Season One (2009/Canada) IMDb | Wikipedia Channel 4 DVD (United Kingdom) Length: 551 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:Being Erica
1.01 Dr. Tom
Writer: Jana Sinyor (Created By), Jana Sinyor (Writer), Jana Sinyor (Original Material By), David Fortier (Original Material By), Ivan Schneeberg (Original Material By)
Director: Holly Dale
Cast: Erin Karpluk (Erica Strange), Mark Hildreth (Mr. Leeds), Vinessa Antoine (Judith Winters), Paula Brancati (Jenny Zalen), John Boylan (Gary Strange), Kathleen Laskey (Barbara Strange), Joanna Douglas (Samantha Strange), Adam MacDonald (Josh McIntosh), Devon Bostick (Leo Strange), Sarah Gadon (Katie Atkins), Michael Riley (Dr. Tom), Chris Gallinger (Noah), Jayme Krane (Young Samantha), John McGill (Young Josh), Janelle Hutchison (Aunt Roberta), Philip Williams (Uncle Joe), James A. Woods (Trevor Markowitz), Martin Doyle (Boss Albert), Anna Kostan (Dr. Tom's Receptionist), Andrew Prashad (Barista), Ellora Patnaik (Nurse), Roz Bell (Street Musician), Craig Stickland (Make Out Boy #1), Jordan Gatto (Make Out Boy #2), Daniel Victor (Band Singer)

Given the opportunity to relive past regrets gives her the chance to act differently. Through these "time-travels" she doesn't change the past but will be learning some life leasons.
Going by the first episode it seems like a series I could really enjoy. In this episode Erica gets the chance to prevent an incident at a high school dance which had resulted her being ridiculed for a while. But ends up making it even worse, but she learns the lesson not to care too much about what others think of her.
I just read that there is a UK and a US remake planned of this Canadian series.

Rating:


(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on August 27th, 2011)