DVD Collectors Online

Pagan Love Song, a review by Danae Cassandra

Pagan Love Song
Year of Release: 1950
Directed By: Robert Alton
Starring: Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Minna Gombell, Charles Mauu, Rita Moreno
Genre: Romance, Musical

Overview:
Island girl Esther plans to leave Tahiti, but maybe she'll have a reason to stay when Howard Keel arrives. Gorgeous, frothy fun with pristine Hawaiian locations filling in for Tahiti.

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty average Esther Williams vehicle.  The singing - which is almost all on the part of Howard Keel - isn't bad, and the chorus of "The House of Singing Bamboo" is actually kinda catchy.  The plot is very standard - boy meets girl, boy makes assumptions about girl, girl makes fool of boy, boy and girl fall in love.  The highlight is the water ballet dream sequence, which is trippy but delightful.  

If the plot and characters are nothing special, the painful part of the film is the condensation with which the native characters are treated.  Yes, I know this is from 1950, and I do try to make allowances for that, but it's still painful to watch in this day and age.  

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.5/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 27th, 2016)

My Blue Heaven, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: My Blue Heaven
Year: 1990
Director: Herbert Ross
Rating: PG-13
Length: 95 Min.
Video: Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Surround, French: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: N/A

Stars:
Steve Martin as Vinnie
Rick Moranis as Barney
Joan Cusack as Hannah
Melanie Mayron as Crystal
William Irwin as Kirby

Plot:
The zaniness continues in My Blue Heaven, which asks Can an urban hood be happy with suburbanhood? Martin is a mob informant tucked away in a Witness Protection Program. Backup includes comedy reliables Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, screenwriter Nora Ephron and director Herbert Ross. Laugh 'til you're blue!

Extras:
Scene Access
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I went into this one not sure what to expect since Steve Martin in his early career was rather silly and over acted. And this one is no exception. But it does have a pretty good storyline. Nothing really laugh out loud funny... but more smile on your face fun. There was also one of those familiar faces that I have seen a lot... but never knew who the guy was. A skinny older guy with a very memorable voice. I looked him up on the credits... his name is  William Hickey. Anyone recognize him by his name here? Unfortunately the DVD itself leaves a lot to be desired. Part of a Comedy Double Feature with another old Steve Martin movie The Man with Two Brains... there is no extras what so ever for this movie...and it is in Pan and Scan. Which is something I wish I noticed before I bought the release. At least it was cheap at only $3.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Anything Goes on February 26th, 2010)

Doctor Who Marathon, a review by Tom

Doctor Who
Series 1.08 Father's Day
Writer: Paul Cornell (Writer)
Director: Joe Ahearne
Cast: Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler), Shaun Dingwall (Pete Tyler), Robert Barton (Registrar), Julia Joyce (Young Rose), Christopher Llewellyn (Stuart), Frank Rozelaar-Green (Sonny), Natalie Jones (Sarah), Eirlys Bellin (Bev), Rhian James (Suzie), Casey Dyer (Young Mickey)

This episode deals with what happens if the doctor (or in this case Rose) tries to change something in their personal history). I liked the scenes with Rose and her Dad. I didn't care so much about the creatures which appear to destroy them because of the changed history. It reminded me a little of the "The Langoliers" TV movie. Though the CGI is better than in that movie.




(From Doctor Who Marathon on February 8th, 2014)