DVD Collectors Online

Terminator 2, a review by Dragonfire

Skynet, the 21st century computer waging a losing war on humans sends a second terminator back in time to destroy the leader of the human resistance while he is still a boy. His mother is the only one who knows of the existence of the Terminators, human-like robots that exist only to kill and are nearly indestructible, and Sarah, the boy's mother is currently in a state mental hospital because of her 'delusions'. A second protector is sent back to the past by the Human resistance to protect John Connor, their future leader, at all costs.

My Thoughts

I saw this one when it was first released in the theater - I actually won tickets to an early screening from a local radio station. Anyway, I enjoyed the movie then and I still like it.  It has been a while since I last saw it, so I had forgotten a few small things.  For a while I was thinking that I had forgotten whole scenes and sequences, then I remembered that my DVD had 16 or 17 extra minutes added back into the movie.  Some of those minutes did help to add some explanations while others didn't seem as...important.  I liked that Arnold's Terminator had been reprogrammed to protect John.  The new Terminator..T-1000 I think was really cool, especially the whole liquid metal shape changing thing.  Of course that made him harder to kill..but it was still cool.  The action scenes were done well and helped to keep things interesting.  I remember being surprised by how...buff Sarah was in this movie.  It was almost like she was trying to give Arnold some competition in the muscle department.  lol

I watched 2 short extras on the making of the movie..the first one had lots of interesting stuff on how the effects were done.  It was talked about how the liquid metal thing built on what had been done in The Abyss.  There are more extras that can only be accessed through the DVD-ROM, which I haven't checked out yet.  I do really like the movie.  It is a very well done action movie.

 

I've started working on a longer review to post at Epinions, but it isn't done yet.

(From Dragonfire: What I've Been Watching on January 15th, 2009)

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, a review by Danae Cassandra

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Year of Release: 1970
Directed By: Jaromil Jires
Starring: Jaroslava Schallerova, Helena Anyzova, Petr Kopriva, Jiri Prymek
Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Overview:
A girl on the verge of womanhood finds herself in a sensual fantasyland of vampires, witchcraft, and other threats in this eerie and mystical movie daydream. Valerie and Her Week of WondersMy Thoughts:
Firstly, let me say this is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. You could take just about any still from this film, toss it in a frame and hang it on the wall of a gallery. The cinematography, costuming, lighting, all of it is simply gorgeous. Valerie is worth seeing simply for it's visual beauty alone.

It's also a somewhat impenetrable surrealist film. The plot, such as it is, features Valerie, a young woman on the cusp of womanhood, threatened by vampires and religious authority, envied by her grandmother for her beauty, and flirting with an erotic relationship with a young man who may be her brother. I'm of the opinion the film is really allegory about Valerie's sexual awakening upon getting her first menstrual period. Recommended for lovers of art films - this is film as art, not as storytelling.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on March 11th, 2016)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

HEX - SERIES ONE - PILOT - THE STORY BEGINS



First aired: 10/17/2004
The shadow of the past is about to wreak havoc on a remote English school. Cassie`s legacy will stay silent no longer. The time has come to face her destiny. The time has come to make a choice: join the forces that claim her as their own, or find a way to fight them.
From the creators of As If comes a thrilling new series. Hex is a spine chilling journey into one girl`s experience of the supernatural. Cassie (Christina Cole, He Knew He Was Right) longs to be popular, but is only truly loved by her best friend, Thelma (Jemima Rooper, As If). But Cassie soon discovers her new powers come at a price: the thrill is too seductive, each hit drawing her deeper into a world beyond her control. And when the man she should fear most finds a way to her heart, it can only end in tragedy.

In Britains answer to Buffy, I found little potential and was left feeling disappointed after viewing the overly long pilot.
Tired old script, poor supporting cast, mediocre pace and a crap soundtrack.
I was bored watching this, and have little enthusiasm in returning to the series at any point.





(From My PILOT Marathon on May 22nd, 2008)