DVD Collectors Online

Initial D, a review by Jon

INITIAL D (2005)
2 out of 5

Movie based on the Manga/Anime about the drifting sub-culture in Japan... why am I even including this? Look, just read the bloody book. And I bet the animated version is far better. This is bollocks. Some cool driving scenes and using an older car against the flashy modern machines was great, but not enough to get in a lather about. The film is hamstrung by terrible MTV style editing that continually distracts. The kid looks good lazy and laid back while driving, but doesn't change when he gets out the car. His mate is a stupid character who really annoys me and the nail in the coffin was a completely daft subplot about his girlfriend

Special mention for Anthony Wong who is a great actor. Here he plays the drunk dad who, in an unusually subtle part of the story, could be as good a driver as his son. He and the drifting kept me watching. As a pure car film, it's better than The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift, but that film was more enjoyable overall. It just scrapes in for two stars because of Wong and some of the drift scenes. The other drivers are decent mysterious characters too, but I repeat, try the book or the series first.

The Car's the star: Toyota Sprinter Trueno


Trailer

(From Car Movie Marathon on August 15th, 2008)

La sagrada familia, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Chile
wikipedia

What We Watched:


La sagrada familia (The Sacred Family)Overview:
A dinner guest turns a family's Easter weekend upside down in this sophisticated comedy drama from Chile. On Good Friday, college freshman Marco brings his beautiful new girlfriend Sofia to meet his parents at their house on the beach. Sofia quickly charms everyone, but her impulsiveness and honesty hint at her disruptive nature. When mother is unexpectedly called away and the trio are joined by another three of Marco's friends, Sofia's flirtatious, manipulative ways soon expose latent frictions, sexual tensions, and the unspoken rules that tie the family together.

My Thoughts:
Hand-held camera, improvised dialogue, three day shoot; this is a film that shows its low budget and revels in it, using it to achieve a look that is like watching a home movie.  It works well for this film, as it wouldn't for others.  The cast all do their work very well, each inhabiting their character believably.  Nonetheless, there's a distance between them and the viewer that makes it hard to care about them.  The film is sort of raw and real, but also rough and in parts a little poorly finished.  Transition in one scene in particular is very poor and jumpy, leaving the viewer confused as to how and what exactly happened.  The ending is the same, while Marco comes of age and finds his truth at the end of the film, and there is some closure, his actions before that don't make a lot of sense either way one interprets them.  Interesting film, however, but only recommended if you're a fan of art films.

Bechtel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on September 10th, 2012)

"Friends" Marathon, a review by Rogmeister

Friends, The Complete Second Season Continues...

The One Where Ross Finds Out--While on a date (and somewhat inebriated), Rachel calls Ross on the phone and leaves him a message revealing her feelings for him.   Ross gets the message the next day while with Rachel.  Meanwhile, an out-of-work Monica helps work Chandler out so he can drop a few pounds.  One nice thing about the "Friends" DVDs is they add in some footage that wasn't there in original airings so, not only do you get footage cut for cable or syndicated airings but you get footage you never saw to begin with.  Seeing this episode, for instance, we see Ross and Julia at a pet store about to buy a cat...I can't recall if this scene was in the original airings or is one of those bonus bits thrown in for the DVDs. 

The One With The List--Ross can't seem to choose between Julie and Rachel, so Chandler urges him to make a list (on Chandler's computer) listing the pros and cons of both.  When Rachel discovers this, naturally all hell breaks loose.  Monica, still looking for work, agrees to a test with a firm, making dessert treats with a new chocolate substitute called Mockalate.  "This is what evil must taste like!", exclaims Phoebe after trying one of her treats.

The One With Phoebe's Dad--During the Christmas season, Phoebe learns where her dad (who abandoned her mother and her years ago) now lives and takes off for there in her grandmother's taxi, accompanied by Joey and Chandler.  Special bonus in this episode...Gunther speaks for the first time!  Okay, he only says about a word and a half but I'm confident he'll be speaking full sentences by the end of the season!  Meanwhile, Monica and Rachel host a Christmas party, despite the fact that Ross has broken off the knob on their radiator and now it can't be shut off, making the room about 90 degrees...



(From "Friends" Marathon on July 24th, 2009)