DVD Collectors Online

Searching for Sugar Man, a review by Antares

Searching for Sugar Man (2012) 81/100 - Before films became my main hobby, music was my one love. I grew up as a child in the sixties and basked in the creative outputs of the greatest musical generation. So it irked me that I had never heard of this performer or his music. I had heard the urban myth about the performer who created suicide on stage, but that's what it was, just a myth. Listening to the clips that are played in this documentary makes one wonder why he never had a successful career. He had a voice that was harmonic and rich, yet eerily similar to Bob Dylan. His lyrics were poetic, and laced with a societal substance that few songwriters every attain. Maybe it was his ethnic background that created the ceiling he couldn't punch through or maybe it was a case of the right songs at the wrong time. All the while I was watching this, I felt a connection between Rodriguez and another performer who was never truly understood, Laura Nyro. She too, was a gifted songwriter with a distinct flair, but only achieved marginal success. The documentary itself, is pretty manipulative. I say that because after I finished it, I jumped on the web to do some research on the man chronicled. That's when I found out that the underlying theme of the film, that Rodriguez never knew success and had just disappeared, wasn't exactly true. Six years after his second, and final album was released, he did achieve a small level of success in Australia. Which is never mentioned in the film. And that's where I have a problem with the film. After learning about what transpired in Australia in 1979 and the subsequent release of a live album not mentioned, I felt that I had been slightly duped by the director and writers of this film. You can't take poetic license when you are trying to make an historical documentary, which this film is. Sure, the story as shown, is heartwarming and intriguing, but in the end, it kind of rings hollow, if you do just a little bit of research on your own. So while I enjoyed learning about this performer and will definitely seek out his two albums, I can't give this a higher rating, because it is just manipulative mythologizing for the sake of entertainment.

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 January 24th, 2013)

Black Christmas, a review by Rich

Title: Black Christmas (1974)

Runtime:98
Certificate:R
Year:1974
Genres:Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Plot:Black Christmas is a stark and stylish horror/thriller that turns everyone's favorite time of the year inside out. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder star among an ill-fated houseful of sorority sisters celebrating the holiday season. Festivities turn fatal when obscene phone calls break the serenity and it becomes clear that a psychopath is stalking the house.

My Review:
Atmospheric and genuinely scary in parts, this 70's horror classic really delivers an alternative yuletide punch.
Stylishly produced and obviously gave ideas to the later produced Halloween, the inventive slaughter techniques, plot twists, and surprisingly good performances from the majority of cast hold this above other similar holiday horrors.
The sick prank phone calls are very graphic, the build up to each death convincing, and the light humour welcome.
Genuinely chilling without the need for gore, miles better than the remake, I personally find these older horrors much creepier and more convincing.


(From December Marathons - DISCUSSION AND REVIEW THREAD on December 15th, 2009)

Tom's Glee Marathon, a review by Tom

Glee
Season 2.02 Britney/Brittany
Writer: Ryan Murphy (Created By), Brad Falchuk (Created By), Ian Brennan (Created By), Ryan Murphy (Writer)
Director: Ryan Murphy
Cast: Dianna Agron (Quinn Fabray), Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel), Jessalyn Gilsig (Terri Schuester), Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester), Jayma Mays (Emma Pillsbury), Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams), Lea Michele (Rachel Berry), Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson), Heather Morris (Brittany Pierce), Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester), Mike O'Malley (Burt Hummel), Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones), Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez), Mark Salling (Noah "Puck" Puckerman), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang), John Stamos (Dr. Carl Howell), Britney Spears (Herself), Iqbal Theba (Principal Figgins), Dot Jones (Shannon Beiste), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike Chang), Josh Sussman (Jacob Ben Israel), Max Adler (Karofsky), James Earl (Azimio), Ashley Fink (Lauren Zizes), Lauren Potter (Becky Jackson)

Most of the music performed in this episode happen during halucinations. I am not sure I like that. For one thing they have a chance to copy the style of the original music video of those Britney Spears songs. On the other hand it doesn't really fit into what Glee has established so far.
We have a new regular guest star for the early part of the second season: John Stamos as the new love interest for Emma. He does a good job.

Brittana:
The "Me Against the Music" cover, of course. Brittany plays Britney's part. Santana Madonna's part.

Notable music:
This episode is a Britney Spears tribute, so most of the songs here are hers.

I'm a Slave to You:
This is the first solo by Brittany. As it is a dream sequence, the actress can really show of her dancing skills.
Video

Me Against the Music:
The Brittana song in this episode. Even though I am not a fan of this music, I like this rendition.
Video

Baby One More Time:
Of course this song has to be in a Britney tribute episode. Sung here by Rachel. For some reason it just doesn't offer much.
Video

Stronger:
Artie's performance is a nice take on it.
Video

Toxic:
My favorite song in this episode and one of the few which isn't a fantasy.
Video


Rating:

(From Tom's Glee Marathon on October 27th, 2012)