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DVD Reviews => The "Marathon" reviews => Topic started by: Tom on November 28, 2010, 09:55:31 PM

Title: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on November 28, 2010, 09:55:31 PM
It is time for our annual December (Christmas) marathon.
You are not bound by a specific marathon type. You can choose any type you feel comfortable with. Here are a few suggestions from last year's thread:

Choice A
Full Christmas Marathon (A)...
Watch 31 films or tv episodes linked either directly, or loosely, with Christmas.
Film examples - santa clause, miracle on 34th street
TV episode examples - tour of duty s3: green christmas, jonathan creek christmas special
Loosely linked examples - Die Hard (set in xmas holiday), 25th hour (25th is xmas), Crash (stars HOLLY Hunter)


Choice B
Full December Marathon (B)...
Watch 31 films or tv episodes beginning, or ending, with the following letters;
D V D C O L L E C T O R S O N L I N E X M A S M A R A T H O N


Choice C
12 DVDS of Christmas (C)...
Watch 12 films or TV episodes linked directly to Christmas

Please post your lists in the dedicated list thread (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6904.0.html).
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Critter on November 28, 2010, 10:39:00 PM
I won't be doing this marathon but this made me laugh  :laugh:.

Crash (stars HOLLY Hunter)
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Rogmeister on November 28, 2010, 11:31:34 PM
I had forgotten about this marathon!  I will try to take part but I rarely manage to see them through.  I don't have that many Christmas-themed movies anyway so I will take choice C.  I should be able to manage 12 movies and/or TV episodes.  if I don't have 12 Christmas movies, I know I can fill in the rest with TV episodes.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: addicted2dvd on November 29, 2010, 12:24:33 AM
As I already set up... I will be doing my annual 25 Days of Christmas marathon. :)
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 01, 2010, 11:18:45 PM
I thought I'd start with the letter which is always the most difficult to fill in this marathon: X
I have rewatched "Hors de Prix", which I have reviewed before (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg87568.html#msg87568).
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Achim on December 03, 2010, 07:26:13 PM
Choice C
12 DVDS of Christmas (C)...
Watch 12 films or TV episodes linked directly to Christmas
This might be something I can try. I might have to go flexible on the link to Christmas, but 12 seems doable, especially if I mix in a few TV episodes :D
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 04, 2010, 03:33:36 PM
If I am going at this rate, I will not be able to finish this marathon  :laugh:
Already the fourth day and I only watched one movie so far. And I didn't even watch anything from my unwatched TV pile, but instead rewatched the first season of the live-action version (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg78069.html#msg78069) of Gokusen. And now I am in the mood to rewatch the anime version (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg74617.html#msg74617). And after that I am thinking about rewatching the live-action version (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg81312.html#msg81312) of GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka.  :bag:
Maybe I will get through a few movies when my brother visits me this evening.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 05, 2010, 12:19:33 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/50/5051429100166.4f.jpg)      The Dish (2000/Australia)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205873/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dish)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Icon Home Entertainment (United Kingdom)
Director:Rob Sitch
Writing:Santo Cilauro (Writer), Tom Gleisner (Writer), Jane Kennedy (Writer), Rob Sitch (Writer)
Length:97 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 1
Subtitles:English

Stars:
Sam Neill as Cliff
Billy Mitchell as Cameron
Roz Hammond as Miss Nolan
Christopher-Robin Street as Damien
Luke Keltie as Graeme

Plot:
July 1969. Apollo 11's astronauts will walk on the moon - and a huge satellite dish outside a sheep-farming Australian town has been chosen to beam the live footage globally.

The whole world is depending on scientist Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill - 'Jurassic Park'), who must steer the eccentric crew who man the telescope through a sea of mishaps and disasters that threatens to spoil the small town's finest hour. Watching over them is a by-the-book NASA representative who can't quite understand their quirky working methods. A comical culture clash erupts in this effortlessly funny tale of how history's biggest televised event was almost cancelled.

'The Dish' is a warm-hearted and quick-witted comedy based on a true story of what we didn't see.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
I enjoyed it. Though I have to admit, that I enjoyed watching the NASA archive footage (over an hour of it is available in the special features section) more :D
I thought that Patrick Warburton was a strange choice for his role here. I enjoyed watching him, but he comes across as one of his usual dimwitted characters even though his character here is actually rather smart. This contrast was quite funny.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 05, 2010, 12:24:17 PM
I also watched "The Jacket". You can find the review in my Time-travel movie marathon thread (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,646.msg132858.html#msg132858).
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 05, 2010, 12:28:58 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/50/5035822302938.4f.jpg)      So Close (2002/Hong Kong)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300620/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Close)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (United Kingdom)
Director:Cory Yuen
Writing:Jeff Lau (Writer)
Length:106 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Cantonese: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:Dutch, English, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Stars:
Shu Qi as Lynn
Zhao Wei as Sue
Karen Mok as Kong Yat-hung
Song Seung Hun as Yen
Michael Wai as Ma Siu Ma

Plot:
GET READY FOR ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC, ACTION-PACKED FILMS OF THE YEAR!

Directed by famed action choreographer Cory Yuen (The Transporter, Jet Li's The Enforcer) SO CLOSE is a thrill-a-minute shootout, with lightning-quick action sequences and great performances by Qi Shu (The Transporter), Zhao Wei (Shaolin Soccer) and Karen Mok (Black Mask).

A crooked businessman brings in a pair of high-tech assassin sisters to murder his elder brother so he can take over the family's business empire. When a determined policewoman starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together, the businessman realizes that he must destroy all evidence... including the assassins and the cop! The three women are left to fight for their lives, while helping each other along the way.

With some of the best action scenes to appear on film this year, SO CLOSE is a high-octane blockbuster hit!

Awards:
Nominated:
Love Hong Kong Film Awards (2002)  Best Action

Extras:


My Thoughts:
A fun movie. Great fight choreograpy and a story which is not as silly as I have expected. This movie also put much effort on cinematogrophy. The one thing which would have made it more enjoyable would have been, if they would have talked in the more pleasing (to my ears) Korean or Japanese instead of Cantonese :laugh:.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Kathy on December 05, 2010, 12:42:49 PM

I enjoyed it. Though I have to admit, that I enjoyed watching the NASA archive footage (over an hour of it is available in the special features section) more :D


My father was a scientist and played a small role for NASA. He was responsible for the chemical analysis of the material that was brought from the moon. Two things stand out in my mind from his work.

My favorite was the time that he brought home some moon rocks - I still remember holding them in my hands staring at them in wonder.  My dad teased me about keeping one - but who would ever believe that a rock in my collection actually came from the moon?

The other memory I have is of a package accidentally being delivered to my father. The box contained all the secret plans and schematics for what would eventually be the machine that traversed the surface of Mars.

The amazing thing is it was delivered parcel post so we had no idea what was inside. My brother and I opened it and had all these top secret documents spread all over the floor.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 05, 2010, 02:39:51 PM
Usually I try to avoid including TV series in this kind of marathons, but I will make an exception this time around. I have now spend a lot of time rewatching the first live-action series and the anime series of Gokusen. So I decided to use an entry each for those. I will probably also rewatch the GTO live-action series this month. Another 9.5 hours which I intend to warrant one entry in the list.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 05, 2010, 11:17:50 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/40/4013549871563.5f.jpg)      Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004/India)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418362/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mujhse_Shaadi_Karogi)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Splendid Film (Germany)
Director:David Dhawan
Writing:Anees Bazmee (Writer), Rumi Jaffery (Screenwriter)
Length:164 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio:German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:German

Stars:
Salman Khan
Akshay Kumar
Priyanka Chopra
Amrish Puri
Kader Khan

Plot:
Sameer is a hot-headed youngsters with a knack of getting into brawls. When his girlfriend dumps him, he is heartbroken and relocates to Goa to work as a lifeguard. He falls for his next-door neighbour Rani, but Rani dislikes him because Sameer had slapped her father by mistake. On top of it, Sameer's new roommate Sunny is a lecherous playboy who has the hots for Rani. This results into a zany battle of wits between Sameer and Sunny over who will win Rani's heart.

Awards:
Won:
IIFA Awards (2005)  Best Background Score (Salim Suleman)
IIFA Awards (2005)  Best Choreography (Farah Khan)
IIFA Awards (2005)  Best Comedian (Akshay Kumar)
IIFA Awards (2005)  Best Costume Designer (Vikram Phadnis)
Nominated:
Filmfare Awards (2005)  Best Comedian Award (Akshay Kumar)
Filmfare Awards (2005)  Best Female Playback Award ("Lal Dupatta": Alka Yagnik)
Filmfare Awards (2005)  Best Supporting Actor Award (Akshay Kumar)

Extras:


My Thoughts:
A boring run-of-the-mill movie with a lot of stereotypes. Priyanka Chopra is again the love interest without substance, where the main character falls in love with her on first sight. An attraction which obviously can only be based on her looks. I found it strange at first, that the characters played by Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are reversed to what I would expect both of them to play. But I must admit it worked here. Amrish Puri is typecast as the strict father of the love interest. But it is a role he plays well.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Achim on December 06, 2010, 06:16:41 AM
Choice C
12 DVDS of Christmas (C)...
Watch 12 films or TV episodes linked directly to Christmas
This might be something I can try. I might have to go flexible on the link to Christmas, but 12 seems doable, especially if I mix in a few TV episodes :D
:slaphead:

I tried putting together a list of things I could watch for this and ended up with mainly a list of TV episodes, 80% of which were for South Park. I am therefore canceling this "marathon" for me and will only watch A Christmas Story and A Nightmaree Before Christmas during the holiday weekend.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: RossRoy on December 06, 2010, 07:02:13 AM
Added reviews for Jonah Hex & Watchmen
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 08, 2010, 09:58:26 PM
I have finished rewatching the GTO (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg81312.html#msg81312) series.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 09, 2010, 12:49:54 AM
I have watched Girl of Time (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,646.msg133196.html#msg133196) today.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 09, 2010, 11:42:01 PM
I have watched 2009: Lost Memories (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,646.msg133246.html#msg133246) now.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 10, 2010, 11:20:18 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/50/5060148530222.4f.jpg)      Instant Swamp (2009/Japan)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1414827/)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)FusionMediaSales, Third Window Films (United Kingdom)
Director:Satoshi Miki
Writing:Satoshi Miki (Writer)
Length:120 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Subtitles:English

Stars:
Kumiko Asô
Morio Kazama
Ryô Kase
Shôko Aida
Takashi Sasano

Plot:
Miki Satoshi's follow-up to film festival hit the 'Adrift in Tokyo' stars the beautiful Kumiko Aso a Haname, a lively young journalist blessed with an exceedingly vivid imaginative working for a woman's magazine on the brink of bankruptcy. Her daily diet of gloopy health drinks aren't enough to shield her from what she perceives as a particularly severe run of bad luck, which all began on her eighth birthday when her father stormed out of the house, not only abandoning her, but flinging all her toys into a nearby swamp, including a cat talisman which she thinks must have been cursed. Haname sets out to retrieve her lost possesions, a quest which reacquaints her with her father, now a hippie working a junk shop who goes under the name 'Light Bulb', and brings her into contact with a punk named Gus.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
As expected, a quirky comedy. Nothing laugh out loud funny, but these characters are amusing to watch.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 11, 2010, 06:31:55 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/50/5060148530123.4f.jpg)      Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers (2005/Japan)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455577/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_Are_Surprisingly_Fast_Swimmers)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)FusionMediaSales, Third Window Films (United Kingdom)
Director:Miki Satoshi
Writing:Miki Satoshi (Writer)
Length:90 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Subtitles:English

Stars:
Ueno Juri
Aoi Yu
Iwamatsu Ryo
Fuse Eri
Matsushige Yutaka

Plot:
Suzume Katakura is an ordinary housewife. Her husband has been sent overseas on business, and although he phones her regularly, he is more concerned with the health and welfare of his pet turtle. The days pass monotonously, it is as though no one pays her any attention, not even her husband.

The ordinariness of he life is interrupted one day when she spots a flyer in a stairway advertising for spies. Intrigued, Suzume phones the number. Three days later she is instructed to go to a run down apartment. she is greeted by a man and woman, he is unemployed; she is a shopping mall announcer. They claim to be working for a foreign state, and just like Suzume they are ordinary people who lead ordinary lives. The couple persuade Suzume to become a secret agent too. They virtually force 5 million Yen on to Suzume, and so begins her life as a spy.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
Similar to Instant Swamp, this movie lives from fun character moments instead of a overall story.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 11, 2010, 11:46:44 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/50/5060023170468.4f.jpg)      Don (1978/India)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077451/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_(1978_film))

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Spark Video (United Kingdom)
Director:Chandra Barot
Writing:Salim Javed (Story By), Salim Javed (Screenwriter)
Length:166 min.
Video:Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio:Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:Dutch, English, French

Stars:
Amitabh Bachchan as Don
Zeenat Aman
Pran
Ifrikhar
Om Shivpuri

Plot:
When ruthless Don (Amitabh Bachchan) is killed by the police, the DSP (Iftekhar) is afraid that another "Don" will take over when the rest of the gang come of know of his death, so he, unbeknown to the rest of the police force, recruits Don's lookalike Vijay (also Amitabh Bachchan) to become the real Don. Vijay is, at first reluctant, but when promised that two children he is caring for, will be looked after and educated, he agrees. He is successfully re-located back with his gang by feigning injuries, and loss of memory. He soon recuperates. Then fate takes an unexpected turn when the DSP is killed and Vinay becomes the suspect: his role as the Don ends, as his gang comes to know he is a fraud: Vijay must run for his life - both from the police and Don's gang - for his life, and the life of the two children.

Awards:
Won:
Filmfare Awards (1979)  Best Actor Award (Amitabh Bachchan)
Filmfare Awards (1979)  Best Female Playback Award ("Ye Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana": Asha Bhosle)
Filmfare Awards (1979)  Best Male Playback Award ("Khaike Paan Banaraswala": Kishore Kumar)
Nominated:
Filmfare Awards (1979)  Best Lyricist Award ("Khaike Paan": Anjaan)
Filmfare Awards (1979)  Best Music Director Award (Kalyanji Anandji)

Extras:


My Thoughts:
Last year in this place I have reviewed "Don: The Chase Begins Again". So I thought I would review the original "Don" this year. So far this is my oldest Bollywood movie in my collection. It stars Amitabh Bachchan ("Black") in his prime. He was his generation's Shah Rukh Khan. He reminded me a lot of his son Abhishek Bachchan.
I enjoyed this movie. Especially in the beginning it reminded me of early Bond movies, if Bond were the bad guy. Don's simple self-introduction "Don" had more impact than Bond's "Bond. James Bond", in my opinion. There are a lot of simularities to its remake, of course. Although the remake put in more twists. I was surprised that the main twist of the remake wasn't part of the original.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 12, 2010, 10:32:04 PM
I have watched Loving Annabelle (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,5261.msg133436.html#msg133436) now.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 14, 2010, 11:29:41 PM
I have rewatched Taare Zameen Par (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg93590.html#msg93590) now.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 17, 2010, 11:44:42 PM
I have rewatched Chak De! India (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg113427.html#msg113427).
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 19, 2010, 07:57:17 PM
I have rewatched Battle Royale (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg73203.html#msg73203) (though this time around the Blu-ray version) and Clerks II (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg89957.html#msg89957).
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Achim on December 20, 2010, 05:18:18 AM
I have rewatched Battle Royale (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg73203.html#msg73203) (though this time around the Blu-ray version)
So what did you think of the picture quality? I haven't had a chance to check mine yet...
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 20, 2010, 07:12:40 AM
It was okay. But nothing to write home about. A little on the soft side. But definately a big improvement over my DVD version.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Achim on December 20, 2010, 08:22:46 AM
It was okay. But nothing to write home about. A little on the soft side. But definately a big improvement over my DVD version.
Yes, that's what most reviews seem to say. On it's own merits not a very good transfer, but much better than previous DVDs... I had the UK release from Tartan, which was the "Director's Cut". Well, it is not a mass market movie, so I guess they didn't want to risk spending too much on the transfer.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 24, 2010, 12:05:39 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/48/4897005034811.21f.jpg)      Gokusen: The Movie (2009/Japan)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392158/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gokusen)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Panasia Films (Hong Kong)
Director:Toya Sato
Writing:Kozueko Morimoto (Original Material By), Michiru Egashira (Screenwriter), Yuko Matsuda (Screenwriter)
Length:118 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio:Japanese: Dolby Digital EX 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Japanese: DTS ES 6.1 (Discrete), Cantonese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Yukie Nakama
Kazuya Kamenashi
Katsuhisa Namase
Yuya Takaki
Haruma Miura

Plot:
Wearing jerseys, glasses, and pigtails, passionate high school teacher Kumiko Yamaguchi (Yukie Nakama), a.k.a. Yankumi, has now been a teacher for seven years. In the spring, Yamato Ogata (Yuya Takaki), Ren Kazama (Haruma Miura), Kengo Honjo (Hideo Ishiguro), Rikiya Ichimura (Junta Nakama), Satoru Kuraki (Akito Kiriyama), and Shunsuke Kamiya (Shohei Miura) have graduated from Akado High School, where Kumiko has been teaching for a year. She is now overseeing the new students of Class 3D, who still have not opened up to her and are giving her a hard time.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
This movie concludes (so far) the live-action adaption of Gokusen. After three seasons and two specials spanning seven years, this theatrical movie acts as a final farewell to the fans. I can only recommend it to fans, as this movie is mostly here for getting as much of the cast and running gags back as possible. Yankumi has a new class here with the class of the third season just having graduated. Both classes play a rather big role here, but we also see a lot of the characters from the first two seasons in cameos (with one notable absence)

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 24, 2010, 03:04:54 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/48/4895067304132.21f.jpg)      My Boss, My Hero (2001/South Korea)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301214/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Boss,_My_Hero)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Winson Entertainment (Hong Kong)
Director:Yun Je-gyun
Writing:Ha Won-jun (Writer), Kim Yun-hi (Writer), Yun Je-gyun (Writer)
Length:98 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Korean: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1, Cantonese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Jeong Jun-ho as Kye Doo-sik
Jeong Ung-in as Kim Sang-doo
Jeong Un-taeck as Dae Gah-ri
Park Jun-gyu as Jo Bong-pal
Oh Seung-eun as Lee Yoon-joo

Plot:
Kye Doo-sik (Jeong Jun-Ho), is a gang vice leader, after dropping out from high school. But Doo-sik's stunted education makes him the laughing stick of the gang, and he's commanded to return to his studies by his boss. Disguised as a 19 year old, Doo-sik has a hard time at school: he's whipped, blackmailed and bullied by both teachers and students ten years his junior. But before long, Doo-sik begins to notice violent corruption in the school. The school foundation director is funded by a gang organisation, and demands that teachers give rich students good marks so that they can get into top colleges. The loathsome director sexually harasses female teachers and defends a student's mother who beat a teacher. When a student Doo-sik knows is beaten to a pulp then expelled, Doo-sik rallies his henchmen and fellow students and sets out for revenge.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
After recently watching Gokusen and GTO again, I stumbled across this movie which sounded like a similar premise. Instead of a tough teacher (with gangster background in the case of Gokusen), a student with gangster background comes to school. I expected more of a comedy, but this movie is more serious with him dealing with a corrupt school.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 24, 2010, 03:06:49 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/04/043396072619f.jpg)      Wish Upon a Star (1996/United States)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118178/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wish_Upon_a_Star)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Columbia TriStar Home Video (United States)
Director:Blair Treu, Blair Treu
Writing:Jessica Barondes (Writer)
Length:90 min.
Video:Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio:English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:English, Spanish

Stars:
Katherine Heigl as Alexia Wheaton
Danielle Harris as Hayley Wheaton
Don Jeffcoat as Kyle Hardling
Scott Wilkinson as Ben Wheaton
Mary Parker Williams as Nan Wheaton

Plot:
Seventeen-year-old Alexia hasn't been herself lately. Neither has fifteen-year-old Hayley. But it's not puberty that's causing the commotion. It's something a bit more complicated.
Hayley (Danielle Harris, Urban Legend) is an average teenager, a grungy braniac with no fashion sense. The only thing average about her sister Alexia (Katherine Heigl of TV's "Roswell") is her grades. But there's nothing average about the sibling rivalry that explodes when a wish makes them switch places. Hayley is ecstatic: the car keys, the guys, the cool friends - suddenly they're all hers. And Alexia gets... well, Alexia gets as mad as you'd expect for a pretty and popular teenage girl in this situation. After all, life among the clueless Hayleys of the world is no life for someone blessed with a gift for accessorizing. But after a couple of days in each other's shoes. Hayley and Alexia begin to understand each other - and themselves - better. Now their biggest problem is finding a way to reverse the wish!

Extras:


My Thoughts:
Your regular body-swap movie. Nothing special but enjoyable.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 24, 2010, 03:10:28 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/73/7321923221192.5f.jpg)     The Majestic (2002/United States)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268995/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Majestic_(film))

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Warner Home Video (Germany)
Director:Frank Darabont
Writing:Michael Sloane (Writer)
Length:146 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Stars:
Jim Carrey as Pete / Luke
Martin Landau as Harry Trimble
Laurie Holden as Adele Stanton
David Odgen Stiers as Doc Stanton
James Whitmore as Stan Keller

Plot:
Set in 1951, a blacklisted Hollywood writer gets into a car accident, loses his memory and settles down in a small town where he is mistaken for a long-lost son.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
As Pete still hasn't watched this, I thought I would finally rewatch it again after all these years. Like then I did enjoy it, but I still feel it is a movie I cannot watch often. This is one of those movies where Jim Carrey tried to get away from his comic roles. He was good, but he did not make a lasting impression like he did with Truman Show or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 24, 2010, 10:57:11 PM
I have watched Veer-Zaara (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,626.msg91302.html#msg91302) today for the forth time.
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 26, 2010, 11:03:10 AM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/48/4895067308956.21f.jpg)      He Was Cool (2004/South Korea)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415819/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Was_Cool)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Winson Entertainment (Hong Kong)
Director:Lee Hwan-Gyeong
Writing:Lee Hwan-Gyeong (Screenwriter), Gwiyeoni (Screenwriter)
Length:115 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1, Cantonese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Song Seung-heon as Ji Eun-seong
Jeong Da-bin as Han Ye-won
Lee Ki-woo as Kim Han-seong
Ahn Hae-su as Lee Kyeong-won
Kim Yeong-hun as Kim Hyeon-seong

Plot:
Having replied to a wicked post on her school website, Ye-won keeps getting a threatening call from a boy named Ji Eun-sung. Having heard about him from her friend, she keeps running away from him. But they kissed accidentally when Ye-won was trying to escape from him. Having his lips stolen by Ye-won, Eun-sung threatens her to marry him, adding that no other girl has ever kissed him before. The only thing Ye-won can do is to obey for whatever Eun-sung said. At first, Ye-won just hate him the most for his self-righteousness and unreasonableness. But she gradually finds herself is starting to fall for him...

Extras:


My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this fun little comedy. Some fun visuals with a nice story. Although going after the last few South Korean movies that I watched it seems to be the norm at their high schools to be a lot of big fights between students.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 26, 2010, 07:55:47 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/60/601641653343f.jpg)      Over the Rainbow (2002/South Korea)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313445/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Rainbow_(film))

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Tai Seng Entertainment (United States)
Director:Jin-Woo Ahn
Writing:Jin-Woo Ahn (Writer)
Length:109 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1, Korean: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Cantonese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Jung-Jae Lee as Jin-su Lee
Jin-Young Jang as Yeong-hie Kang
Hyeong-jin Kong as Young-min Kim
Bo-eun Choi
Jae-Won Choi

Plot:
In this pleasant romantic comedy from Korea, Jin-Soo (Lee Jung-Jea from Il Mare) is a TV weatherman who is suffering from partial amnesia after a tragic accident. Now he only has vague memory of someone he loves deeply and vows to find that woman. His search leads him to Yeon-Hee (Chang Jin-Young), his high school friend who is trying to forget her latest ex-boyfriend. With Yeon-Hee's help, Jin-Soo begins to solve the mystery, only to find that he has gradually fallen in love with Yeon-Hee instead. Over The Rainbow is both a charming and romantic mystery and a thoughtful tale about past and present loves.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
A nice romantic comedy about a guy, who has partial amnesia after a car accident, trying to figure out who the girl is of which he has a vague memory of being in love with her. It's a nice feel-good movie.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 26, 2010, 10:09:39 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/48/4895067313806.21f.jpg)      Hello Schoolgirl (2008/South Korea)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210837/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello,_Schoolgirl)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Sky Entertainment (Hong Kong)
Director:Jang-ha Ryu
Writing:Pool Kang (Screenwriter)
Length:113 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Ji-tae Yu as Kwon Yeon-woo
Yeon-hee Lee as Soo-yeong
Jeong-an Chae as Kwon Ha-kyeong
Kang In as Kang Sook
Dong-hyeon Chae

Plot:
KIM Yun-woo works as a civil servant in a district office. Although he's thirty, he's quite inocent in dating girls. After moving to a new apartment, he often runs into HAN Soo-young, a high school girl who lives downstairs. Soo-young is a cheerful and eccentric eighteen-year-old who lives with her mother. Meanwhile, KANG Sook has just started his public service in the district office. He falls head over heels for Ha-kyung because of her beautiful smile after seeing her in the subway station. Ha-kyung is still holding onto an old flame and keeps on looking for traces of that love every day. KANG Sook continues to keep wooing her, irregardless of her living in the past. Can their futures lead to a happy ending?

Extras:


My Thoughts:
This movie manages to make possibly scandalous relationship sweet and innocent. All the actors did a great job.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 27, 2010, 03:52:28 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/48/4895050872044.21f.jpg)      A Moment to Remember (2005/South Korea)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428870/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Moment_to_Remember)

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Asia Video Publishing, Lark Films Distribution (Hong Kong)
Director:John H. Lee
Writing:Yeong-ha Kim (Writer), John H. Lee (Writer)
Length:117 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio:Korean: Dolby Digital EX 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Cantonese: Dolby Digital EX 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1), Korean: DTS ES 5.1 (Matrixed 6.1)
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Woo-sung Jung as Cheol-su
Ye-jin Son as Su-jin
Jong-hak Baek as Seo Yeong-min
Sun-jin Lee as Ahn Na-jeong
Sang-gyu Park as Mr. Kim

Plot:
Su-jin (starring SOHN Ye-jin) has always been a little forgetful. She first met Chul-soo (starring JUNG Woo-sung) at the convenience store and again when Chul-soo was sent over to do some carpenter's work for her company's showroom. A romance develops between the two, but slowly because Su-jin and Chul-soo have both been hurt in the past. Su-jin is recovering from a failed romance with a married amn. Chul-soo was abandoned as a child, and has lived his life alienated and alone ever since. Su-jin is the first to fall in love, and asks Chul-soo to get married. At first, he remains skeptical and resists, having lived too long without love in his life, but eventually, he gives in to his feelings. Su-jin's forgetfulness begins to grow worse. Chul-soo does not take it seriously, but Su-jin goes to the hospital, where she learns that she has a rare form of early-onset dementia. As her memory deteriorates, Su-jin begins to lose her connection to Chul-soo and her loved ones, and Chul-soo learns what it really means to love.

Extras:


My Thoughts:
This movie inspired "U Me Aur Hum", a Bollywood movie I have reviewed in the past. It is a great romance movie. The first half is a fun romantic comedy which tells how the couple meets and how they fall in love. The second half deals with the tragedy of her developing Alzheimer. Both actors did a great job in both parts.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 27, 2010, 06:41:39 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/48/4895050881626.21f.jpg)      Koizora (2007/Japan)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1194664/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koizora_(2007_film))

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)AVP Asia Video (Hong Kong)
Director:Natsuki Imai
Writing:Mika (Original Material By), Mutsuki Watanabe (Screenwriter)
Length:127 min.
Video:Widescreen 2.35
Audio:Japanese: PCM 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Yui Aragaki as Mika
Haruma Miura as Hiro
Karina as Minako
Ryuji Yamamoto as Hiro's Father
Yumi Aso as Hiro's Mother

Plot:
Mika is in her first year of high school. Her closest friends are absorbed in finding boyfriends, but while Mika likes the idea of being in love, she does not know how to go about it. When she meets Nozomu and Hiro, two flashily dressed boys, she turns and flees.
She begins getting calls from a boy she doesn't know. Suspicious at first, Mika is gradually drawn into conversation. One day, they meet each other, Mika thinks she has been set up and turns to go, but the boy gives her a bouquet of flowers. He shows her his cell phone, with the dawn picture.
Mika rapidly becomes close to Hiro, who has an innocent quality belied by his delinquent appearance. Their days pass happily, but trouble is coming, in the form of Hiro's ex-girlfriend...

Extras:


My Thoughts:
A good teen-drama, though at times a little far-fetched, even though it is said to be based on a true story. At least the novel it was based on supposedly makes that impression, but as far as I know it is not really proven as the author "Mika" is anonymous.

Rating:
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 27, 2010, 06:47:30 PM
With this I have finished my December marathon (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6904.msg132354.html#msg132354), against my own expectation   :yahoo:

I have watched 17 previouly unseen movies, 11 previously seen movies and 3 TV series (with 12-13 episodes each)
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Achim on December 28, 2010, 05:49:18 AM
:thumbup:

Well done!
Title: Re: 2010 December Marathon - Discussion thread
Post by: Tom on December 30, 2010, 09:41:58 PM
(http://www.invelos.com/mpimages/60/601641653343f.jpg)      Over the Rainbow (2002/South Korea)
IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313445/) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Rainbow_(film))

(http://www.invelos.com/images/DVDLogo.png)Tai Seng Entertainment (United States)
Director:Jin-Woo Ahn
Writing:Jin-Woo Ahn (Writer)
Length:109 min.
Video:Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio:Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1, Korean: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Cantonese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:Chinese, English

Stars:
Jung-Jae Lee as Jin-su Lee
Jin-Young Jang as Yeong-hie Kang
Hyeong-jin Kong as Young-min Kim
Bo-eun Choi
Jae-Won Choi

Plot:
In this pleasant romantic comedy from Korea, Jin-Soo (Lee Jung-Jea from Il Mare) is a TV weatherman who is suffering from partial amnesia after a tragic accident. Now he only has vague memory of someone he loves deeply and vows to find that woman. His search leads him to Yeon-Hee (Chang Jin-Young), his high school friend who is trying to forget her latest ex-boyfriend. With Yeon-Hee's help, Jin-Soo begins to solve the mystery, only to find that he has gradually fallen in love with Yeon-Hee instead. Over The Rainbow is both a charming and romantic mystery and a thoughtful tale about past and present loves.

Extras:
  • Scene Access


My Thoughts:
A nice romantic comedy about a guy, who has partial amnesia after a car accident, trying to figure out who the girl is of which he has a vague memory of being in love with her. It's a nice feel-good movie.

Rating:

Looking for some headshots I just stumbled across the fact that the lead actress of this movie died last year at the age of 28 from stomach cancer :(