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L: Change the World, a review by Tom

Title: L: Change the World
Year: 2008
Director: Shusuke Kaneko
Rating: Category IIB
Length: 129 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital Surround EX , Japanese: DTS ES (Matrixed) , Cantonese: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: Chinese, English

Stars:
Ken'ichi Matsuyama
Shunji Fujimura
Mayuko Fukuda
Sei Hiraizumi
Renji Ishibashi

Plot:
The film is a spin-off from the Death Note and Presents the "final 23 days of L." The mystery the world wants to know will be revealed. After solving the Kira case in Death Note, another serious one finds L and he only has 23 days left to solve it. A boy and a girl hold the key to solving the case and L faces a crisis of global magnitude to protect the kids. L is without his trusted partner, Watari, and to solve the case all by himself for the very first time.

What will happen to L? What will change? The 23 days are packed with turns of events even L himself cannot predict.

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers

Sadly rather disappointing. I knew that it will not be as great as the Death Note movies, but I still thought that another adventure with L could only be good.
But except for some minor references to the Death Note movies, this movie could be set around any set of characters. Though it is supposed to center around L, I had the feeling, that he had a bigger role in the Death Note movies, than in his own film. Also it feels more like L is just going along with the flow of the events. It doesn't feel like he has any major influence here. His skills of deduction are sadly rather underused. As I said, it could be any other character in the center of this movie. It wouldn't have needed L. It feels a little like they had already a script for another movie and after L was such a fan-favorite character in the Death Note movies, they made little adjustments in the script and used it for an L movie.

Rating:




(From Tom's Random Reviews on July 12th, 2008)

Casino Royale, a review by Rich

Casino Royale



CASINO ROYALE introduces JAMES BOND before he holds his license to kill. But Bond is no less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to "00" status.Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist, MOLLAKA (Sebastien Foucan). Not everything goes to plan and Bond decides to investigate, independently of MI6, in order to track down the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to the Bahamas, he encounters DIMITRIOS (Simon Abkarian) and his girlfriend, SOLANGE (Caterina Murino). He learns that Dimitrios is involved with LE CHIFFRE (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's terrorist organizations.Secret Service intelligence reveals that Le Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro at Le Casino Royale. MI6 assigns 007 to play against him, knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, it will destroy his organization.'M' (Judi Dench) places Bond under the watchful eye of the beguiling VESPER LYND (Eva Green). At first skeptical of what value Vesper can provide, Bond's interest in her deepens as they brave danger together and even torture at the hands of Le Chiffre.In Montenegro, Bond allies himself with MATHIS (Giancarlo Giannini), MI6's local field agent, and FELIX LEITER (Jeffrey Wright), who is representing the interests of the CIA. The marathon game proceeds with dirty tricks and violence, raising the stakes beyond blood money and reaching a terrifying climax.

Brushed off Casino Royale for a 3rd viewing (1st in cinema, 2nd on dvd) in preparation of seeing Quantum of Solace, this time watching on BluRay. I am bias being a true Bond fan, and the high definition viewing with pure sound was awesome. I am in favour of the new 007, from the books I always thought he was a cold character and more ruthless than typically portrayed, and this is perhaps less 'comic-book' than previous adventures. Good to see the scene with the cut-out wicker chair is in this version of the film mirroring the book. The only minor criticisms I have with the new format were too few gadgets, and lack of a memorable theme song.
A good start to a new Bond.
 


(From James Bond Marathon on June 23rd, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)


1. The Beginning: Part I
The exiled warlord Keldor tells his forces that he has created a device that will destroy the "Mystic Wall" that keeps them out of Randor's kingdom. When they get to the Mystic Wall, they trigger the device but all it produces is a mere crack in the wall. Keldor's forces are confused, as they assumed that the device would break the wall completely, but Keldor explains that now they know where to strike. Inside the castle walls, Man-At-Arms receives a telepathic message from the Sorceress that the time has come.

2. The Beginning: Part II
Adam returns to Castle Grayskull upon witnessing the damage inflicted on the royal palace by Keldlor (now calling himself Skeletor due to his horrific appearance) and embraces his new destiny as He-Man, defender of Eternia.

3. The Beginning: Part III
He-Man and Skeletor duke it out for the first time, with many lives hanging in the balance... literally.

My Thoughts:
I bought this series at the suggestion of a friend. Never seeing an episode before. I have seen the original '80s version before... but not this one from 2002. It is pretty much the same storyline as the '80s version. But it has much better graphics. The first 3 episodes makes up the origin story of He-Man.  Now I can't remember if there even was an origin story to the '80s version... but if there was it couldn't have been done as well as this one. Making it 3 episodes it allowed them to really tell the story right. I thought I would have a hard time getting used to the new style of drawing this series... but I really had no problem at all with it. One thing that did bother me a little was everyone taking these over-exaggerated leaps into the air when they were in battle. But before I knew it I had gotten used to it as well. It really did make for more entertaining battle scenes. Over-all I really enjoyed it. Glad I have it added to my collection.

My Rating:

Review taken from another thread when I watched it recently.

(From Pete's Pilots on February 4th, 2010)