DVD Collectors Online

Porco Rosso, a review by dfmorgan

Title: Porco Rosso
Original Title: Kurenai no buta
Year: 1992
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Length: 93 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:Plot:
Take flight with "Porco Rosso," a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry.

When "Porco" - whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell - infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to "get rid" of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it is in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious?

Featuring extrordinary voice talents, this 2-Disc Set is a thrilling ride you'll never forget!

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Production Notes
Closed Captioned
THX


The third film that in the late 1990's Sky's The Movie Channel showed in a short season of Studio Ghibli films, the other two were Totoro and Kiki, and thus the third film I saw from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. To be honest this is my least favourite Miyazaki film. There is nothing wrong with it and it has the usual Miyazaki trademarks but it just doesn't grab me like his other titles. Set in a period between the two world wars and in and around the Adriatic Sea Porco Rosso tells the story of a man cursed into the form of a Crimson Pig. He flies a seaplane and helps to fight the local sky pirates. All hostilities are put aside though at the Hotel Adriano, run by his close friend Gina. The pirates employ the services of an American pilot, Curtis, to try to remove Porco. Curtis attacks Porco and damages his plane such that it needs major repairs. Porco takes it to Milan to be repaired by an old friend. There he meets Fio, Porco's friend's granddaughter, who redesigns and updates Porco's plane and returns to the Adriatic with him. The fight between Porco and Curtis recommences and now involves both Gina and Fio. There are lovely touches in this film like when we and Fio see the man behind the pig and then again towards the end when Curtis gets to see the man.

Still an excellent film though and a worthy 4

Dave

(From dfmorgan's Studio Ghibli Marathon on July 5th, 2010)

Bedlam, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Bedlam
Year: 1946
Director: Mark Robson
Rating: NR
Length: 79 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Boris Karloff
Anna Lee
Billy House
Richard Fraser
Glenn Vernon

Plot:
St. Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum in 1761 London is the setting for Bedlam. Karloff gives an uncanny performance as the doomed overseer who fawns on high-society benefactors while ruling the mentally disturbed inmates with an iron fist.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
I have now watched all the movies in the Val Lewton Horror Collection (except for the 2 documentaries which I am not in much of a hurry to watch). I usually have a bit of a problem with many period pieces. And I must admit the period this movie is set in did set me off a bit. I really had a hard time keeping my attention on this movie. By the time I got half way into the movie I felt that this is the first movie in this collection I really don't care for. Sure it had a decent scene or two but not much more then that. Then I got to about the last 20 to 30 minutes of the movie. Here it picked up some more for me. It somewhat kept my interest at this point. But still this movie turned out to be my least favorite of the set.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Anything Goes on January 3rd, 2010)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. REAPER
Angel of mercy or death? After a Kryptonite-related incident gives a young man the ability to kill via mere touch, he sets out to use his newfound power on people who are gravely ill.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode. enjoyed every minute of it. Though I do feel the ending left some to be desired. I just didn't care for how the Freak of the Week was stopped.

18. DRONE
running on the platform of "truth, justice and... other stuff," Clark vias for class president. But a beekeeping rival contender vows Clark and the other aspirants will feel the sting of her candidacy.

My Thoughts:
Another good episode but nothing really in it that I would call special. Just a good 45min of Smallville entertainment.

19. CRUSH
After a hit-and-run accident that destroys his drawing hand, a cartoonist is left with bitterness, pain... and an unexpected gift of telekinesis that he turns into an instrument of revenge.

My Thoughts:
This is a really good episode that had a lot to do with my favorite character (Chloe). I also liked the effects of the drawing of Chloe with the telekinesis. I remember when this season originally aired I hoped to see Clark and Chloe to get together.. at least for a while.

20. OBSCURA
Lana has eerie visions involving a kidnapping of Chloe. Lex's ongoing inquiry into the mystery surrounding Clark takes an intriguing turn when a crop duster reveals what he saw fall from the sky during the Smallville Meteor shower.

My Thoughts:
Going from Chloe being emotionally hurt to her being physically in trouble. This is an excellent episode... one of my favorites of the season. This is also the first look at the metal octagon that becomes so important in the series.

(From Smallville Marathon on July 31st, 2007)