DVD Collectors Online

The Help, a review by Antares

The Help (2011) 3.5/5 - Great acting, but the screenplay was more or less a whitewashed Civil Rights Era fantasy. There were many moments that rang so hollow, you would have to wonder if people actually believe that this is what it was like in Mississippi back in the early to mid-sixties. Here's a news flash...it wasn't. The bit with the pie was a cute comical moment of revenge, but does anyone who watches this believe that they would have ever found that maid alive again? Also, towards the end when the all black congregation stands up and applauds the main character, I cringed. Believe me, after participating in writing a book like that, they would have shunned her like the Amish do their outcasts. And finally, this has to have one of the more manipulative soundtracks I have ever heard. As I said earlier, this is a feel good fantasy, and to that end, you really can't take it seriously. But I will say this, I haven't seen Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady, but I can't see her being better than Viola Davis was in this film. Viola was robbed...surprise, another Oscar blunder.

(From Antares' Short Summations on February 29th, 2012)

Ghost Rider, a review by addicted2dvd

Ghost Rider: Widescreen Edition (2007/United States) IMDb |Trailer |Wikipedia | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Director: Mark Steven Johnson Writing: Mark Steven Johnson (Writer) Length: 110 min. Rating: Rated PG-13 : Horror Violence and Disturbing Images Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: DTS: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:
Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze
Matt Long as Young Johnny Blaze
Raquel Alessi as Young Roxanne Simpson
Brett Cullen as Barton Blaze
Peter Fonda as Mephistopheles
Donal Logue as Mack

Plot:
Johnny Blaze (Nicholas Cage) was only a teenage stunt biker when he sold his soul to the devil(Peter Fonda). Years later, Johnny is a world-renowned daredevil by day, but at night, he becomes the Ghost Rider of Marvel Comics legend. The devil's bounty hunter, he is charged with finding evil souls on earth and bringing them to hell. But when a twist of fate brings Johnny's long-lost love (Eva Mendes) back into his life, Johnny relizes he just might have a second chance at happiness--if he can beat the devil and win back his soul. To do so he'll have to defeat Blackheart (Wes Bentley), the devil's nemesis and wayward son, whose plot to take over his father's realm will bring hell on earth -- unless Ghost Rider can stop him.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

I felt like watching the sequel... but before doing so I wanted to re-watch the original film as it has been a good 3 or 4 years since I seen it last and really didn't remember too much about it. Only really remembered that I enjoyed it. Sure... this movie wasn't perfect... but what it was... it was a whole lot of fun and it looked awesome! And I think that is what I liked the most about this movie. While I did like the story... the effects were just great and a whole lot of fun to watch. It is funny... when it comes to Nicholas Cage... I either like him in something or I just hate him. I don't know why. When I first heard he was doing this I thought well there goes any chance of this movie being any good. But I was really wrong... I found I liked him a lot in this role. I also really enjoyed Sam Elliot in his role.




(From What Movies I Been Watching on August 24th, 2012)

Twilight Zone, a review by addicted2dvd

8. Time Enough at Last (11/20/59)
A bookworm (Burgess Meredith) yearns for more time to read - then a nuclear holocaust leaves him alone in the world with lots of time, plenty to read and one ironic twist!

My Thoughts:
This is another of my favorite episodes... so yes I have seen this one before as well... in this case I seen it a few times before. It was a wonderful episode and I think Burgess Meredith did a fantastic job. Like with all the episodes so far, at the end you see a clip of Rod Serling talking about the next episode then a classic commercial after the credits. This time they showed a TV Spot for Wanted Dead or Alive. The extras attached to this episode are a couple great ones... first was a clip of The Drew Carey Show where he spoofed this episode with him in a bomb shelter with a huge stack of Playboy Magazines in front of him. The other extra is an interview with Burgess Meredith from 1978 which is a 20some minute interview that is placed onto the episode itself so that the interview is a Commentary track of sorts. This is done just like the lecture with Rod Serling on Disc 1. Very creative and interesting extra.

9. Perchance to Dream (11/27/59)
A man (Richard Conte) is terrified of falling alseep for fear he might die. His pursuer? A mysterious vixen he meets in his dreams! The first non-Serling script of the series.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode...but not one of my favorites. Once again I have seen this one before.... not sure if it was on one of the volume discs I had or if it was on one of the Sci-Fi Marathons. there is an Isolated Music Score to go with this episode. Only other thing you get is Rod Serling talking about next week's episode and a TV Spot for The Danny Thomas Show attached to the end credits.

10. Judgment Night (12/4/59)
In 1942, a German (Nehemiah Persoff) wonders why he's on the deck of a British steamship, with no memory of how he got there and an overwhelming sense of impending doom.

My Thoughts:
Finally!... an episode I haven't seen before. I think it was a really good episode I enjoyed it a lot. I liked how they pulled it all together. Other then the normal showing of Rod Serling talking about the next show and in this case a TV Spot for Wanted Dead or Alive... there was absolutely no extras for this episode.

11. And When the Sky Was Opened (12/11/59)
Col. Clegg Forbes (Rod Taylor) and two fellow astronauts have returned from their first space flight. They soon discover that no one remembers them... as if they never existed.

My Thoughts:
This is another one I haven't seen before! It was a really good... and strange episode. Enjoyed it a lot. Even though I decided against watching any of the extras at this time there is a lot of extras for it. A Rod Serling Lecture... I am sure this one is done like the one on Disc 1 where you watch the episode but hear the lecture on the order of a commentary track. Then there is a commentary track with Rod Taylor..  A Zicree Interview with Douglas Heyes and finaly an isolated music score. Of course after the end credits you get Rod Serling talking about the next episode as well as a TV Spot for The Danny Thomas Show.

12. What You Need (12/25/60)
A two-bit thug thinks he's found the key to a better life in an old sidewalk salesman who has the uncanny ability to tell people what they need the most.

My Thoughts:
This makes three in a row that I have not seen before. This is another really good episode... though I will admit to seeing some of this stuff coming... so it was a little on the predictable side. The only extra on this one was the isolated Music Score... and of course like always had Rod Serling talk about the next episode and a TV Spot for another show on the channel... this time they had one for The Danny Thomas Show once again.

13. The Four of Us Are Dying (1/1/60)
Gifted with the ability to change his face, Arch Hammer devises a plan to elevate himself. The plan works perfectly until he's caught with the wrong face at the wrong time.

My Thoughts:
This one I do remember seeing before... though I am not sure where. It is an alright episode... definitely not one of my favorites. The only extra to go with this episode is an Isolated Music Track.

14. Third from the Sun (1/8/60)
With all-out nuclear war about to ignite, William Sturka (Fritz Weaver) and a friend steal an experimental spaceship, load their families and set out for an unknown planet.

My Thoughts:
This is another I have seen... not sure but think it was on one of the volume DVDs I had.I thought it was a really good episode though I did see the end twist coming a little sooner then I would have liked. There was a couple hints before the twist was actually revealed. This Episode has a couple extras attached to it. It has an interview with Richard L. Bare made like a commentary as well as the Isolated Music Track.

15. I Shot an Arrow into the Air (1/15/60)
The world's first manned space mission goes awry, stranding the crew on an apparent asteroid that is desolate and waterless. One man ruthlessly grasps for survival before a peculiar symbol reveals the group's true location.

My Thoughts:
This is another episode that I never seen before... and another good episode. I knew there would be a plot twist because lets face it... this is The Twilight Zone... but I didn't see it coming this time... and kinda feel stupid for not seeing it coming. I guess I was just a little off my game while watching this episode. This episode has 1 extra attached to it... this time a Twilight Zone Radio Drama starring Chelcie Ross.


Episodes I seen for the First time on this set include:

   1. Judgement Night (Episode 10)
   2. And When The Sky Was Opened (Episode 11)
   3. What You Need (Episode 12)
   4. I Shot an Arrow into the Air (Episode 15)

(From Twilight Zone on February 5th, 2008)