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A Room for Romeo Brass, a review by Jon

A Room for Romeo Brass **** Year: 1999 Director: Shane Meadows Rating: 15 Length: 87 Min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo

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12 year olds Romeo (Andrew Shim) and Gavin (Ben Marshall) live next door to each other. They're the best of mates with a shared sense of humour that helps them survive in a landscape of comic losers and broken dreams. But their friendship is put to the test by a chance encounter. After a stranger saves them from being beaten up, the boys are only too happy to help their new hero and pal in his quest to date Romeo's sister. Little do they realise they are being drawn into a world of dangerous obsession, violence and desperation; a world that threatens to tear the two friends apart. From acclaimed director Shane Meadows 'A Room For Romeo Brass' is a contemporary coming-of-age story that is as funny as it is frightening.

A Room For Romeo Brass, Shane Meadows’ second film, is a charming story of growing up that features several themes that can be seen throughout the directors career.

It’s a simple plot about two friends, Romeo and Gavin. One day they get involved in a typical scrap with some kids who picked on Gavin and they are rescued by Morell (Paddy Considine) who breaks up the fight. Morell is out of work and clearly a loner, but takes to the two boys. They spend a lot of time together, especially as Morell fancies Romeo’s older sister, Ladine, and they try to help him charm her, seeing as she probably wouldn’t look at him twice otherwise! Romeo is especially enamoured with him, because he doesn’t get on with his dad, who is trying to mend bridges with his family following what is implied to be a violent past. The story takes a sombre turn when Romeo starts ignoring Gavin in favour of the stranger.

The brilliance of 24-7 carries through to this film as the naturalistic cast have a wonderful, real banter with one another, which while being very funny with great dialogue, also feels genuine. That supports the story as it takes a more serious turn, then an even darker one, without ever losing its charm or the viewer’s confidence. Romeo and Gavin are very much the central characters and drive the narrative, even when things are happening to them, rather than them forcing it. That’s so important because what I mean is, this is just their life and it’s vitally important to them, not just some farcical caper they’re getting into; and they don’t even have Stand By Me’s built-in sense of nostalgia, which focuses on the idea that the kids will grow up… have grown up, even.
 
I can’t find a real fault with the film, except maybe I would have liked to have seen more of the storyline with Romeo’s dad, played by Frank Harper, especially in the scenes with his daughter, Ladine (Vicky McClure who along with Andrew Shim crops up in more of Meadows’ work). Harper was superb in this. You probably know him as Dog in Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, plus he was in 24-7 as a rather similar character. Therefore I was surprised to see what a layered, delicate performance he gave here as a man trying to come to terms with his past and prove to his family he had changed. It gives the cathartic ending an edge of irony too and I really enjoyed that angle. Oh, and a note for Bob Hoskins. The man is a genius. He gets a couple of very brief moments, as one of Gavin’s teachers who visits him at home, and they amount to mere seconds, but he is wonderful in them.

Filmed in the East Midlands, near my area, the best compliment I can give this film is that I know these people and I know where they come from and I never questioned that, once. It never feels sensational or romanticised, which more well-known working class British comedies like The Full Monty rely on.

That does however mean that it doesn’t pander to any particular audience, so sadly it can easily fall through a crack between genres, never to be seen again! Kids would identify with Romeo and Gavin and get a lot more from this story than they would from most stuff aimed at them, but it does take a very violent and terrifying turn. I would implore you to see it and treat it as nostalgia for yourself if not the characters, like Meadows clearly does.

(From "Fancy the pictures, me Duck?": The British Film Marathon on March 15th, 2011)

Lethal Weapon 4, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Lethal Weapon 4
Year: 1998
Director: Richard Donner
Rating: R
Length: 127 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs
Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh
Joe Pesci as Leo Getz
Rene Russo as Lorna Cole
Chris Rock as Lee Butters

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Production Notes
Interviews
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
Well... what did you expect to see next? Come on... there is no way I could watch the first 3 and not watch the final one! This time they added Chris Rock to the gang. Which is a good thing... I like him. But I do wish they would have made his character a little different I don't know... but he seemed a little too similar to Joe Pesci's character. I did however really liked the running gag where Murtaugh didn't know why he was always being extra nice to him and all. That one got more then one laugh out of me. We also get to see Jet Li in this one. This is the first thing I ever seen him in. And I enjoyed him in it. He is definitely a bad-ass! But I am embarrassed to say they only things in my collection with him in it is this and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. This was a good strong finish to the franchise. And one I am actually sorry to see come. I could watch another one or two Lethal Weapon movies!



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: 2/19 - 2/21 on February 21st, 2010)

Twilight Zone, a review by addicted2dvd

NOTE: A while ago I bought the complete series of The Twilight Zone. When I bought it I had only seen a handful of episodes before. (which I saw on volume releases I was collecting before the series set came out) Since then on other sites I been giving my thoughts on all the episodes. Not really a marathon viewing as I only watch the episodes as I can and then post a disc worth at a time... but thought I should do the same here (I started this just before this site became to be) but thought if I start posting my thoughts here as well I should post all my previous posts here as well... so...



1. Where is Everybody? (10/2/59)
Earl Holliman stars as a man on the edge of hysteria in an oddly deserted town. Despite the emptiness, he has the strangest feeling that he's being watched.

My Thoughts:
This episode I have seen before... though I didn't remember it right away... not till the end twist. I really enjoyed the episode... was a good start to what seems to be a great series! This set even kept the commercial bumpers as well as a commercial for The United Way at the end.

As I type this I am watching this episode for the second time... this time with the commentary on. The commentary is done with the star of the episode... Earl Holliman. First off I was surprised that they would be able to have a commentary with a star that was an adult in 1959 when the episode aired. But even more so I was surprised at his memory about when he made the episode.He talked about such things as how he was sick when they taped this episode... that the town he was alone in for almost the entire episode was later used in the well known movie Back to the Future... and how when this episode originally aired he had a series he was the star of that aired later that night on the same channel. It was really interesting watching the episode again with the commentary on.

2. One of the Angels (10/9/59)
A salesman (Ed Wynn) cleverly eludes Death. But if he lives, a little girl must die in his place. Only the salesman's greatest pitch can save her!

My Thoughts:
Going into this one I couldn't remember if I seen this episode or not. But once I got into it I remember I did actually see it. This was a really good episode. The extra for this episode was a radio episode with Ed Begley, Jr. But I decided not to listen to it at this time. At the end of this episode it showed Rod Serling talk about the next episode and then a TV Spot for the series Wanted Dead or Alive.

3. Mr. Denton on Doomsday (10/16/59)
A has-been drunk of a gunslinger (Dan Duryea) finds that his fast-draw abilities can actually be restored by drinking a magic potion! Also features Martin Landau.

My Thoughts:
This one I know I have seen before... as I watching it only a few months back on one of the volume dvds.This is a very good episode.. I enjoyed every minute of it. At the end of the episode it showed a TV Spot for The Danny Thomas Show. This episode has a commentary track with Martin Landau... which I am listening to as I type this. This commentary seems like it is going to be really good too. really informative and interesting.

4. The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (10/23/59)
An aging, former movie star (Ida Lupino) lives and dreams in the past. Despite the efforts of her agent (Martin Balsam) she refuses to leave her screening room - until she disappears!

My Thoughts:
This is another one that I seen months ago on one of the volume dvds I had. This one was never one of my favorite episodes... I mean it was a pretty good episode... but not compared to the others I have seen. The extra listed with this episode... and I am not even sure it is what I would consider an extra... but they have an isolated score for the episode... which is basically turning off the dialog and sound effects and using a music only score. I didn't bother watching this for more then a moment to see exactly what it was.

5. Walking Distance (10/30/59)
Martin Sloan (Gig Young) is a frazzled executive who learns that you can't go home again after he steps back in time and meets his mom, his dad - and himself!

My Thoughts:
This is a very good episode... another one I seen on one of the volume releases I had. In this episode you will see a very young (about 4?) Ron Howard. The extras for this episode are An isolated music score which again I didn't bother with. And A lecture with Rod Serling on the episode. This I did check out. Was interesting you heard a talk between Rod Serling and a small group of people talking about the episode while watching the episode... almost like an audio Commentary... but not scene specific... in other words they are not talking about each scene as it is shown on the screen. Towards the end of the lecture they did branch out and talk about some of the other episodes a little too... but mostly about this episode. This is a very interesting idea for an extra. I really enjoyed it. Rod Serling even goes through how even though he thought this episode worked beautifully originally.... since seeing the episode he felt the episode really didn't work. Very interesting.

6. Escape Clause (11/6/59)
A hypochondriac (David Wayne) exchanges his soul for immortality and indestructability. When life soon becomes very boring, his unsuccessful attempts to find new thrills bring unexpected results.

My Thoughts:
This is one that I originally saw on one of the Sci-Fi Channel marathons that they have of the show all the time. This one is a very good episode. One of my favorites so far. This is the first episode on the set not to have any extra what so ever accompanying it. Unless you want to consider the old commercial tacked on the end as an extra in which case on this episode was a public service announcement about worshiping together.

7. The Lonely (11/13/59)
A convicted murderer (Jack Warden) incarcerated on a distant asteroid is dying of lonelines. Then a supply ship captain leaves him a female robot - and a dilemma!

My Thoughts:
And once again... this is one that I have seen before... I can't remember for sure but thinking it is one that was on one of the volume discs I had. Another good episode. I definitely enjoyed it. The only extra for this episode was the Isolated Music Score... unless you count the classic commercial attached to the end... which in this case was a TV Spot for The Danny Thomas Show.

Over-all I am really pleased with this set at this point. The quality of the picture and sound is unbelievable... especially considering that these episodes are almost 50 years old! You can tell they put a lot of love and care into making the episodes look the best they possibly could... and the extras they have with the first disc alone... wow! I haven't been this impressed with a set since I started to buy The Dick Van Dyke Show. The only drawback I see with this set so far is the awful packaging... which is a real shame considering how much this set costs... you really shouldn't have to put up with shoddy packaging... at least in the long run I do realize that the packaging really is the least important thing about the set. But it is still a shame.

(From Twilight Zone on February 5th, 2008)