DVD Collectors Online

Begin Again, a review by Danae Cassandra

Begin Again
Year of Release: 2013
Directed By: John Carney
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, Adam Levine
Genre: Drama, Musical

Overview:Begin Again, from writer-director John Carney (Once), is a soul-stirring story about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautful music together.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this film. I picked this up because it has Mark Ruffalo in it, and I enjoy his work. He's done a fine job in everything I've seen him in, and he doesn't disappoint me here. The other reason I picked this up is because it was from the director of Once, which was great. I enjoyed the friendship Greta and Dan developed, and the true love of music they expressed together, the authenticity of their characters. Maybe most of all I enjoyed the unexpected directions the film took and the unconventional choices. This is a feel-good film, recommended if you're looking for a mature tale of pulling oneself out of the dumps and finding friendships along the way.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 4/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 29th, 2016)

The Cincinnati Kid, a review by KinkyCyborg

The Cincinnati Kid



Title:The Cincinnati Kid
Year: 1965
Director: Norman Jewison
Rating: NR
Length: 102 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Steve McQueen (1930)
Edward G. Robinson
Ann-Margret
Karl Malden
Tuesday Weld

Plot:
A few words for anyone who sits at the poker table with the Kid: Read 'em and weep.

Steve McQueen brings his cool fire to the role of the Cincinnati Kid, a small-timer eager to take his chances in high-stakes poker. He gets his chance. Regal, ruthless Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson), the elite gambler called the Man, accepts the Kid's challenge. Norman Jewison (In The Heat Of The Night, Moonstruck) directs this taut exploration of back-room gaming, building suspense with each turn of a card. And Ann-Margaret, Karl Malden, Rip Torn, National Board of Review Best Supporting Actress Award winner Joan Blondell and many more comprise a full house of talent. Grab a chair and ante up.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Closed Captioned


Absolutely loved this movie! Great story that some would perhaps draw comparisons with The Hustler... and chock full of great performances.

Steve McQueen, one of the coolest actors who ever lived was great, confident and exuberant in his quest to become The Man when it comes to stud poker. McQueen mastered the look of annoyance in his facial expressions and he employs it often in The Cincinnati Kid.

Edward G. Robinson is Lancey Howard who holds the current title of 'The Man', aged, wizened and unflappable. He's seen it all. I thought he gave a grand and dignified performance. Karl Malden plays Shooter, the troubled friend of The Kid and card dealer of the ill-fated final game. He was stellar as well.

I was utterly shocked to see an almost indistinguishable Rip Torn, just a young pup, playing the scoundrel Slade, a heavy trying to lean on Shooter to fix the game. Quite an unseemly role when compared to most of his crazed comedic roles he is mostly known for today.

Finally I've never been a huge fan of Ann-Margaret as I find she is only a marginal actress at best but I have to admit that she is stunningly sexy in this movie as Shooter's temptress wife Melba. She used that coy, inviting smile of hers to full advantage here.

While the movie took the turn I was expecting during the huge game I was surprised to see the movie abruptly end afterward. I was fully expecting a huge comeback in the form of a rematch but instead it ended, which while surprising, it was not disappointing. It concluded with a satisfying lesson in humility.

Five stars!!!

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2011 on August 14th, 2011)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Knight Rider: Season One (2008/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Pictures (United Kingdom) Length: 769 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Plot:
An iconic TV classic is back and better than ever in the reinvented, updated and super-charged Knight Rider Season One. From executive producers Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity franchise), David Bartis (The O.C.) and Glen Larson (Battlestar Galactica) comes this action-packed series about the coolest car ever created K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Three Thousand), that's equipped with artificial intelligence capable of hacking into any computer, the weapons system of a jet fighter, and incredible custom body technology that allows it to transform into other vehicles. Relive every Season One episode as an elite team of crime-fighters work with K.I.T.T. (voiced by acting legend Val Kilmer) to track down elusive, hight-tech villains. Presented in uninterrupted Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, you won't want to miss this fast-paced ride to the wild side!


Knight Rider
1.01 Prometheus (Pilot Episode)
Writer: Dave Andron (Writer), Glen A. Larson (Original Characters By)
Director: Steve Shill
Cast: Justin Bruening (Mike), Deanna Russo (Sarah Graiman), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Carrie Rivai), Bruce Davison (Charles Graiman), David Hasselhoff (Michael Knight), Greg Ellis (Welther), Chris Mulkey (Sheriff Ramsey), Wayne Kasserman (Dylan Fass), Jonathan Chase (Kevin), Susan Gibney (Jennifer), Kevin Christy (Belle), Jack Yang (Cross), Kevin Dunigan (Smoke), Jelly Howie (Woman in Bed), Hope Riley (Amber), Leah Fitzpatrick (Sadie), Blake Silver (Dustin Cary), Justin Schaeffers (Stoner Kid), Phil Laak (Poker Pro), Lucas Fleischer (Priest), Matthew J. Cates (Truck Driver), Matt Leonard (Zion), Val Kilmer (K.I.T.T. (voice, uncredited))

I very much enjoyed this pilot episode of the new Knight Rider series. Sadly the rest of the series didn't live up to it. Except towards the end when they retooled the show, it became something I would have liked to see continued.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 4th, 2012)