DVD Collectors Online

James and the Giant Peach, a review by Danae Cassandra

James and the Giant Peach
Year of Release: 1996
Directed By: Henry Selick
Starring: Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves, Susan Sarandon, Paul Terry
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Animation

Overview:
In an all-new digitally restored special edition from Tim Burton, the acclaimed director of Alice In Wonderland, comes the astounding film that captured the hearts of fans and critics all across the world. Inspired by Roald Dahl's beloved children's book, Burton, Denise Di Novi and Director Henry Selick combine a fascinating mix of live-action, stop-motion animation and computer-generated special effects to create a world beyond your imagination.

After the daring rescue of a spider, a young boy named James gains possession of some magic crocodile tongues. When James spills them in the garden, out sprouts an enormous peach! Climbing inside, he meets an astonishing cast of characters and embarks on a magical odyssey full of thrills and adventure. Voiced by an all-star cast, including legendary actors Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow and Jane Leeves, and featuring the celebrated music of Randy Newman, this classic story is delicious entertainment for the whole family!

My Thoughts:
This is a whimsical, fantastical adventure, more than a bit absurd and bizarre, but if you put aside a need for it to conform to the real world, it's a fun story. 

I almost think that the over-exaggeration of things in the film reflects a child's mindset.  James is like 7, and the movie is taking you into the world as he sees it, where things are bigger, scarier, more colorful than they actually are. 

The animation and character designs are really outstanding.   The color, the designs, and the care put into the puppets is simply wonderful.  If you love stop motion the film is worth seeing simply for that.

There are also several good messages for kids:  Family are the people who love you.  The smallest acts of kindness, even to the smallest of creatures, may have consequences and benefits you cannot see.  Stand up for yourself and stand up to your fears - that which has power over you only has the power you give it. 

Recommended for animation lovers, folks who like the works of Tim Burton (he's a producer here), and older kids who won't mind things being a bit creepy or scary. 

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on February 10th, 2015)

The Langoliers, a review by KinkyCyborg

The Langoliers



Title:The Langoliers
Year: 1995
Director: Tom Holland
Rating: PG-13
Length: 180 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles:

Stars:
Tom Holland
Mark Lindsay Chapman
Kate Maberly
Julie Arnold Lisnet
Bronson Pinchot

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Closed Captioned


Read the novella from Four Past Midnight and loved it so I was expecting this made for tv mini-series to fail miserably compared to the book.

Story of a flight the goes through a time rip which causes everyone who wasn't sleeping at the time to disappear. Those who slept through the phenomena are left puzzled and looking for answers. When the truth becomes apparent they must thrust aside their terror in order to find a way to stay alive.

The first two hours of this three hour movie was very good. Suspenseful and thrilling while developing the key characters along the way. Then the 'Langoliers' appear and I was completely disgusted.  The book describes them as rolling black masses that just envelop everything in their path until there is nothing left. The movie portrays them as vicious, thrashing entities with rows of jagged teeth and a hunters instinct. These idiotic computer generated 'things' almost ruined the entire movie for me after a stellar start. I was so thankful when that segment was over.

A decent cast led by David Morse, all in turn tell their stories. Bronson Pinchot was great as the crazed Toomey. It was nice to see him in a different role than the fruits he usually plays. I immediately remembered the robotic ripping of the paper his character did in the book and he absolutely nailed the detachment that was described in King's story.

The movie finished up strong although I was almost expecting a dark turn that deviated from the book, not unlike the way The Mist ended but it didn't happen. Oh and King made his mandatory cameo in this one as well... during a hallucinogenic vision. Seems appropriate. 

KC



Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on January 8th, 2011)

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third Season, a review by addicted2dvd

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third Season (1995/United States) Wedding planning puts a strain on any couple. Lois and Clark aren't just any couple. Besides coping with caterers and orange blossoms, they must battle mad scientists, LEX LUTHOR, revived World War II Nazis and other diabolical foes. Which means Lois and Clark face one tough (and action-packed!) trip to the altar. The Daily Planet's ace reporters team for exciting adventure and winning romance in 22 episodes that blew fans and critics away. "'Lois & Clark' has shown renewed superstrength in its third season...by breaking one of the oldest rules in the SUPERMAN canon: Superman has not merely revealed to LOIS LANE his secret identity as CLARK KENT, but he's also become engaged to her! Messing with the Superman myth is one thing; doing it so well is a shock" (Ken Tucker, 'Entertainment Weekly'). Prepare to be shocked...and thrilled! Episodes: 1. We Have a Lot To Talk About 2. Ordinary People 3. Contact 4. When Irish Eyes Are Killing 5. Just Say Noah 6. Don't Tug On Superman's Cape 7. Ultra Woman 8. Chip Off The Old Clark 9. Super Mann 10. Virtually Destroyed 11. Home Is Where The Hurt Is 12. Never On Sunday 13. The Dad Who Came In From The Cold 14. Tempus, Anyone? 15. I Now Pronounce You... 16. Double Jeopardy 17. Seconds 18. Forget Me Not 19 Oedipus Wrecks 20. It's a Small World After All 21. Through a Glass, Darkly 22. Big Girls Don't Fly

---

Stars:
Dean Cain as Clark Kent/Superman
Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane
Lane Smith as Perry White
Justin Whalin as Jimmy Olsen
Eddie Jones as Jonathan Kent
K Callan as Martha Kent

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Interactive Games
• Closed Captioned

I just finished this season. While I still enjoyed it quite a bit. This is actually my least favorite season of the series. It got a bit tiresome how they kept Lois and Clark apart. And I really didn't care for the whole frogs/clone storyline. That said... it did end on a high note. One that set up the fourth season really nicely. Once again there are many guest stars that I recognized this season. In the third season there was Peter Boyle, Bruce Campbell, Patrick Labyorteaux, Jonathan Frakes, Dave Coulier, James Read, Fred Willard, Brad Garrett, Tony Curtis and Justine Bateman.

When I first started to re-watch this series I was actually only planning on watching the pilot episode... or at the most the first disc of the first set. I got so into this series again that I have now completed the third season... and I still don't feel like I want to stop... so about to start the fourth (and final) season!




(From Addicted2dvd's Random TV Series Watched on August 7th, 2011)