DVD Collectors Online

Yellow Submarine, a review by Danae Cassandra

Yellow Submarine
Year of Release: 1968
Directed By: George Dunning
Starring: Paul Angelis, John Clive, Dick Emery, Geoff Hughes, Lance Percival
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Musical, Animation

Overview:
Join the greatest band of all time for a mind-blowing voyage you won't soon forget.  Heralded as "a cartoon landmark" (San Francisco Examiner), this visually stunning odyssey turned animation upside-down with its irreverent style and innovative techniques.

Once upon a time...or maybe twice, the unearthly paradise of Pepperland was taken over by the evil Blue Meanies.  All looked hopeless...until the Fab Four sailed in to save the day with humor, music and, of course, their yellow submarine.

Now restored with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and featuring classic Beatles tunes including the never-before-seen animated sequence "Hey Bulldog," this visionary masterpiece is "a funny, fascinating, whiz-bang tour de force" (Los Angeles Times)!

My Thoughts:
This is ridiculously fun, despite (or is it because..) being one of the trippiest movies ever made.  Vibrant colors, surreal beasts, and a complete disregard for the laws of physics make this an exploration into psychedelia.  Certainly one of the most unique animated films ever made.  I didn't remember The Beatles being quite as catty as they get at some points (calling the monster that gets in the sub 'ugly,' making fun of Ringo, and the "Nowhere Man" sequence come to mind here).  Still highly recommended if you like The Beatles, the 60's, or surrealism/psychedelia. 

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 9th, 2016)

Twelve Monkeys, a review by Antares

Twelve Monkeys (1995) 4/5 - I'm ashamed to say that I haven't seen too many of Terry Gilliam's films, even though I'm a huge Monty Python fan. I think my problem lies with the fact that I know I'm going to have to invest myself completely with the storyline because of Gilliam's cerebral screenplays and his attention to detail. Last night there was nothing on television and I couldn't think of a DVD in my collection that piqued my interest, so I started surfing the channels and fell upon this film. I started to get that uneasy feeling that I usually get when I'm undecided about sinking my teeth into a complex film, as I felt I wasn't in the right frame of mind, but after about 15 minutes, I was hooked. Usually films about time travel don't sit well with me because you can usually find holes in the screenplay to make the time travel aspect inconceivable as written. But Gilliam's storyline is completely plausible and has enough twists to keep it compelling throughout. Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe are both excellent in their roles, but Brad Pitt steals the show every time he's on screen. I read on IMDB that Gilliam took away Pitt's cigarettes to get a more manic delivery from him, and this obviously worked to a tee. I think now that I'm finally going to seek out Gilliam's other films, if they're half as good as this was, I'll be happy.

(From Antares' Short Summations on January 9th, 2012)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: "I wished Buffy had never come to Sunnydale!" - After being humiliated by Mercedes and her gang about her break-up with Xander, Cordelia tracks down the source of her misery: Buffy's arrival. Unfortunately she makes that wish in front of the vengeance demon Anyanka. And she grants her wish. Suddenly Cordy finds herself in a Sunnydale that has never seen the Slayer and is ruled by the Master and his two most vicious Vampires: Willow and Xander.

My Opinion: Alternate timelines, universes, realities. I always like them on my plate. This was no exception, especially with Vamp-Xander and Vamp-Willow who were really great and I can't wait to see Vamp-Willow again in a few episodes. I also liked that Larry had become a member of the "White Hats", a role he will reprise in the season finale.

Synopsis: It's nearly Christmas in Sunnydale and it's unbearable hot. Angel is getting nightmares from victims that he has killed (among them: Jenny Calendar) and somehow Buffy is sucked into these nightmares. The First (Evil) reveals to him that it brought him back into this dimension for a reason and that Angel will become again who he was born to be: Angelus.

My Opinion: With the exception of Whistler's cryptic statements there haven't been much hints towards the fact that Angel might play a bigger role in the ultimate fight good vs. evil. But now it has become evident. The First Evil has released him from the hell dimension and The Powers That Be have saved him from becoming a pile of ash. I really liked that. I also really liked that Xander offered his help to help Angel.

Synopsis: Joyce accompanies her daughter on one of her nightly patrols to bond with her but it is she who finds two small children that were slaughtered on a playground. Enraged my this merciless murder that was most likely done by a cult and not a demon she forms a group: MOO - Mothers Opposed to the Occult. They fight against those who have taken over the town: monsters, witches and Slayers.

My Opinion:

(From "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon on July 18th, 2009)