DVD Collectors Online

Predators, a review by Achim

Synopsis:My comments:
Predators was always a film I would see, but once Robert Rodriguez's name was attached to it it became a MUST-SEE. While it didn't quite live up to those expectations (which were huge ones, at that), I liked it.

So where does that film stand? It seems all they considered was the original Predator film, the story of which is actually mentioned. So is Predators to Predator what Aliens was to Alien? in short no. To me that would have meant the appearance of large amounts of predators (as hinted at by the trailer, actually), which does not happen. It is a lot closer to the original, with its jungle setting and trying to create suspense for the most part. While the one scene of the trailer was deliberately confusing and does obviously not appear, I think the rest of the trailer did a good job of setting up the film without giving away too much. I found myself repeatedly surprised by what happened (I am easily surprised like that, though ).

Adrien Brody seems as an odd casting choice in the role of the tough guy, but he grunts himself through creating enough believability. Danny Trejo does his thing. Laurence Fishburne seems to chew the scenery a bit (boy did he get fat; then again, well, so did I , guess it's an age thing). Topher Grace (he is playing the physician) surprised me in his role. The other cast members are much less known (one or two faces seemed familiar, but I didn't know anyone by name).

There is some gore here (quite some, actually), done by the excellent team of KNB. CGI seemed to be either be held at a minimum or was done exceptionally well.

There was no Alien reference placed i the film (at least I didn't see it), like it was at the end of Predator 2, only the music took a cue from Alien soundtracks two or three times, which felt extremely out of place to me. Luckilyu it was early on so it wouldn't distract from the action on screen too much.



(From Predators (2010) on July 10th, 2010)

The Fall, a review by Achim

Title: The Fall
Year: 2006
Director: Tarsem Singh [Tarsem]
Rating: R
Length: 117 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital TrueHD, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Catinca Untaru
Justine Waddell
Lee Pace
Kim Uylenbroek
Aiden Lithgow

Plot:
Filmed over a period of 4 years in 18 different countries, Tarsem's The Fall is an unforgettable movie experience. In 1920s Los Angeles, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), a 5-year-old girl hospitalized from a fall, strikes up an unlikely friendship with Roy (Lee Pace, TV's "Pushing Daisies"), a Hollywood stuntman shattered by a near-fatal movie set accident and his lover's betrayal. To pass the time, he tells Alexandria the epic story of Governor Odious and the 5 remarkable heroes determined to defeat him - a dazzling world of magic and myth. Only when the line between reality and fantasy begins to dissolve does Alexandria realize how much is truly at stake. Presented by David Fincher (Fight Club) and Spike Jonze (Adaptation), The Fall is an awe-inspiring, cinematic tour de force.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Gallery
BD-Live



There isn't really much to say for me about this film. The story is held rather simple to make room for the BEAUTIFUL, jaw-dropping imagery. It is, however, not that simple to become entirely boring. Especially in the later part, when story and reality begin to mix there is some inspired moments.

The director is Tarsem who previously made The Cell, which had a boring story but was also full of beautiful images. Almost none of the actors appetared in any other film of my collection. That is not to say they didn't act well. The little girl reaches her limits quite a few times, but all adult actors do a good job.


I found the film to be inspired by Baraka as several locations can be recognized throughout the film.


(if mainly for its beauty)

(From The Fall on July 19th, 2009)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Rick

Pizzas And Promises

My least favorite episode so far. Not sure why. It just didn't really grab me. I did like the dilemma Fraser got himself into at the beginning with Diefenbaker, telling him to follow the car, then pointing out he will follow it till he catches it or his dies.

Rating

(From "Due South" marathon on July 6th, 2009)