DVD Collectors Online

Charade, a review by Danae Cassandra

Charade
Year of Release: 1963
Directed By: Stanley Donen
Starring: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy
Genre: Suspense/Thriller, Comedy, Romance

Overview:
A trio of crooks relentlessly pursues a young American (Audrey Hepburn) through Paris for the fortune her dead husband stole from them. The only person she can trust is a suave, mysterious stranger (Cary Grant). A deliciously dark comedic thriller, Stanley Donen's Charade dazzles with style and macabre wit to spare. The Criterion Collection is proud to re-release this '60s spy classic in a gorgeous new anamorphic transfer.

My Thoughts:
Oh, I loved this film! It's a perfect mix of romance, comedy and suspense to keep anyone interested, wonderful performances by Grant and Hepburn, a strong script, and a great score by Mancini. It's a stylish movie, sexy, elegant and witty. Highly recommended.

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall:  4.5/5

(From Charade on January 2nd, 2014)

The Ant Bully, a review by KinkyCyborg

The Ant Bully




Title:The Ant Bully
Year: 2006
Director: John A. Davis
Rating: PG
Length: 89 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Julia Roberts
Nicolas Cage (1964)
Meryl Streep
Paul Giamatti
Zach Tyler Eisen

Plot:
When you're as small as an ant, the world is big - and adventure is bigger! That's what young Lucas learns after he aims his water pistol at some hapless ants. They retaliate with a secret potion the shrinks "the Destroyer" to their size...and turns an anthill into a mountain of thrills, action and laughs! 'Julia Roberts', 'Nicolas Cage', 'Meryl Streep' and 'Paul Giamotti' head the voice cast of this rollicking, warm-hearted family treat.

Extras:
Scene Access
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Closed Captioned
Seven Animated Shorts


Amusing story of a young boy, forever tormented with wedgies and noogies from the neighborhood kids, turns his frustration on an anthill in his front yard. He soon learns humility as he finds himself shrunk down to ant size and sees things from the insect's point of view.

Highly entertaining, plenty of adult humor and some equally hilarious and disgusting moments. Eating the 'honeydew' drops, aka, worm poop, got a loud chuckle out of me, a groan out of my wife and a bevy of giggles from my daughter. 

Always fun to pick out the voice talent and truly a star studded cast in this one. Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Paul Giamatti were all easy to pick out. I surprised myself by guessing Regina King's voice. Bruce Campbell was an easy spot too and his Fugax character was a scene stealer, easily the funniest in the film. I also picked out Larry Miller and Ricardo Montalban who have distinctive voices but I did miss Lily Tomlin as Mooma, the crazy grandmother.

Plenty of good messages for kids in this one. How not to lash out when you are frustrated, being thoughtful towards others and a sense of community and sharing. I don't know that these messages got through to my 5 year old daughter as after the movie was over she snatched the dvd out of my hand and declared it was now 'hers'.  Fortunately, with the help of the Tickle Monster, I was able to retrieve the movie.

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2011 on March 22nd, 2011)

Life on Mars Marathon (US Version), a review by addicted2dvd

5. Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead


Guest Stars:
Lisa Bonet as Maya Daniels
Chris Bauer as Father Tim
Edi Gathegi as Young Fletcher Bellow
Clarke Peters as Captain Fletcher Bellow

My Thoughts:
An excellent episode! This one has so much. It has a very bad and sad situation that could evolve into a riot. It gives Sam the chance to work with a younger version of his mentor. It even has a special (uncredited) guest appearance of Whoopie Goldberg. This is a very powerful story... definitely one of my favorites of the series.

My Rating:

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6. Tuesday's Dead
After a wild birthday party for Ray at the precinct, Sam receives a wild phone call that states he has until two o'clock to pull out of his coma before the doctor will pull the plug, just as his watch commander walks in with a hostage situation at a local hospital where the terrorists demands a dangerous operation be performed on the guy's brother.

Guest Stars:
Lisa Bonet as Maya Daniels
Brad William Henke as Michael H
Bill Irwin as Dr. Schwahn
Carmen Goodine as Erica

My Thoughts:
This is another great episode of this short lived series. The hostage situation at the hospital was well done. And they also hint at a relationship between Sam and Annie... the only female cop at the precienct.

My Rating:

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7. The Man Who Sold the World
While investigating a child's kidnapping, Sam discovers some disturbing information about his father, as well as the real reason he disappeared for good on the day of Sam's fourth birthday party.

Guest Stars:
Jennifer Ferrin as Rose Tyler
Lee Tergesen as Lee Crocker
Dean Winters as Vic Tyler
Teddy Coluca as Uncle Butchie

My Thoughts:
This is another episode I have to give the highest rating. This is an excellent episode. Sam learns about the kind of man his father really was. Annie finds herself in trouble in the woods. And the episode has a great ending!

My Rating:

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8. The Dark Side of the Mook
A mysterious phone call from a tipster leads Det. Sam Tyler to a headless body. A severed head is delivered to the precinct at the same time, thus leading to the discovery of a series of gruesome decapitations that might involve Det. Carling's brother, Eddie. The detectives are interviewed by someone tied to Aries Project.

Guest Stars:
Eric Balfour as Eddie Carling
Kevin Conway as Donovan Stamp
John Bedford Lloyd as Interrogator
Joel Marsh Garland as Seven Fifty

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode... though not quite as good as the previous few. I got to admit... I didn't like the lieutenant when I first started this series. I thought they made him too much of a hard ass. But you know... he really grows on you. You get to enjoy his tough cop style. I definitely got a laugh out of his International Cover-up drinking game in this episode. Ray's brother in this episode looked very familiar then I look at the credits to see that it is Eric Balfour. He played Milo on 24.

My Rating:

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9. Take a Look at the Lawmen
A long standing competition between Lt. Hunt and the 125 and Anthony Nunzio and the 144 heats up as both investigate a bank robbery by the Russian mob. Meanwhile, Sam has a liaison in the file room, unaware of the woman's true identity.

Guest Stars:
Michael Aronov as Yuri Demidov
Vincent Curatola as Lt. Anthony Nunzio
Olek Krupa as Vasilli Lukin
Maggie Siff as Maria Belanger

My Thoughts:
This one is a good fun episode. Of course with the time being in the '70s there was no love for the Russians. And I must admit I loved where the cops put down their guns and fought them to take them in. It just added to the fun. Now Sam adds to his problems by (unknowingly) sleeping with the lieutenant's daughter. This man just can't get his crap straight! 

My Rating:

(From Life on Mars Marathon (US Version) on January 4th, 2010)