DVD Collectors Online

Black Sunday, a review by Achim

Title: La maschera del demonio
Year: 1960
Director: Mario Bava
Rating: NR
Length: 87 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles:

Stars:
Barbara Steele [Barbara Steel]
John Richardson
Andrea Checchi
Ivo Garrani
Arturo Dominici

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Gallery
Production Notes


The story is a revenge story we have seen in other films before and most certainly after. The witch Asa is burnt on the stake, well, they try only as it starts to rain, and then placed in a tomb with a seal. The seal is broken 200 years later, by events guided by evil and Asa's spirit is now out for revenge. Her target is to eliminate every last descendant of the family who killed her (her own, actually) and eventually take over the body of the young and beautiful daughter Katja. Will the young doctor who saw Katja and instantly felll in love with her be able to save her...?

With obviously a lot of inspiration coming from the Hammer films of the time most parts of this film still hold up very well today. Especially the first half contains lots of eerie cinematography, squeaky doors and shadows that could contain the unspeakable terror. Occasionally a set up goes to waste and could have been exploited more (the girl in the barn) but mostly the stuff works rather well. Unfortunately the films becomes a bit undone in the second half. The acting gets sloppy and is all over the place (good moments followed by terrible overacting); the dubbing might heighten the effect in places. The gore effects are reasonably well done and I am sure were shocking at the time (the film is almost 50 years old!!!).



(From Mario Bava marathon on June 15th, 2009)

A Face in the Crowd, a review by Antares

A Face in the Crowd





Year: 1957
Film Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures, Newtown Productions
Genre: Drama, Classic
Length: 126 Min.

Director
Elia Kazan (1909)

Writing
Budd Schulberg (1914)...Story
Budd Schulberg (1914)...Screenplay

Producer
Elia Kazan (1909)

Cinematographer
Gayne Rescher (1924)
Harry Stradling Sr. (1901)

Music
Tom Glazer (1914)...Composer

Stars
Andy Griffith (1926) as Larry 'Lonesome' Rhodes
Patricia Neal (1926) as Marcia Jeffries
Anthony Franciosa (1928) as Joey DePalma
Walter Matthau (1920) as Mel Miller
Lee Remick (1935) as Betty Lou Fleckum
Percy Waram (1880) as Gen. Haynesworth
Paul McGrath (1904) as Macey
Rod Brasfield (1910) as Beanie

Review
       In 1976, the movie Network shocked audiences with its dark and cynical message about corporations using the mass media to sway and influence the mass population. Critics praised it for being a prophetic statement of the times that we were living in. Forgotten through all this hype, was that a film which had been released almost twenty years earlier, had basically told the same story.

       A Face in the CrowdOn the Waterfront to justify his position before the committee; now in 1957 he took aim at the apparatus, which had stoked the fires of paranoia and fear across the country.
 
       To make the story more believable, he decided to use a newcomer to movies to play his main character. Andy Griffith had been playing on Broadway in the comedy No Time for Sergeants and was known only to a small minority who had heard his comedy record. Lonesome Rhodes would be the character that would prove that Griffith was no country bumpkin, but a talented dramatic actor. Three years later he would shoot to fame and find immortality on TV as Sheriff Andy Taylor from the pastoral hometown of Mayberry.

       If you only know Andy Griffith from this role or from his stint as Ben Matlock, then you need to check out his first foray in the film world. His performance will shock and delight you and hopefully get you to appreciate the underused talent that could have propelled him to fame as a versatile dramatic actor.


Ratings Criterion4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic.

(From A Face in the Crowd (1957) on February 11th, 2010)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: SG-1 meets an unidentified SG team that is under heavy fire by Jaffa. But the moment they want to help them they get shot by the "SG team". As it turns out are both "SG team" and "Jaffa" humans on a training mission under the order of Apophis. No one there knows that Apophis is dead and SG-1 has to explain that their mission is no more.

My Opinion: These soldiers (who are no Jaffa) strongly reminded me of the "Volkssturm", being the last resort of Apophis. I was glad that SG-1 could show them the futility of their mission without causing too many casualties.

Synopsis: Some of the Abydosians - including Daniel's father-in-law - have been captured by Amonet who has also retaken her and Apophis's child. When SG-1 attempts to free the Abydosians, Teal'c is forced to kill Amonet/Sha're who in turn was trying to kill Daniel. But Sha're manages to send one last message to her husband.

My Opinion: This was a very good ending to the Amonet/Sha're storyline. They gave her a worthy exit that remended me positively of Angel's You're Welcome. And now Daniel has a new mission: to find the child of Apophis and Amonet, the child that has all the knowledge of the Goa'ulds.

Synopsis: SG-1 comes to a planet that has neither elders nor children. And all the other people have lost all their memories one year ago. Hints indicate that this could be the work of Linea, the Destroyer of Worlds (Prisoners), who SG-1 has inadvertently freed. It's also not impossible that she is still on the planet.

My Opinion: Another good episode. Can a person have a change of heart? Hasn't Teal'c already proven that it's possible? I liked it.

Synopsis: Jacob/Selmak has been captured. He is held prisoner by Sokar - who imposes the devil instead of a god -  on a moon (Ne'tu) that literally has been turned into hell. Sokar plans a massive assault on the System Lords and Jacob/Selmak has inside knowledge. The problem is: There is only one person who has ever managed to esape from Ne'tu: Jolinar of Malkshur.

My Opinion: These Goa'ulds just don't know when they are supposed to have died. Apophis is back! Actually I like it, Apophis is a worthy opponent and his new mask looks "good". A very thrilling cliffhanger. Can't wait to see the conclusion.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on March 16th, 2008)