DVD Collectors Online

Sid & Judy, a review by Antares

Sid & Judy (2019) 85/100 - As I started the documentary I figured there wasn't going to be much added to the history of Judy Garland's career. But I have to admit, this was a pretty interesting look at the last two decades of her troubled life. I'll also admit that I have a newfound level of respect for her, she was really a human dynamo. It saddened me to see the self destructive path that the men in her life prodded her along. To die so young and to leave so many songs unsung is a tragedy.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 11th, 2020)

Yankee Doodle Dandy, a review by Danae Cassandra

Yankee Doodle Dandy
Year of Release: 1942
Directed By: Michael Curtiz
Starring: James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, Irene Manning
Genre: Drama, Biography, Musical

Overview:
A musical portrait of composer/singer/dancer George M. Cohan. From his early days as a child-star in his family's vaudeville show up to the time of his comeback at which he received a medal from the president for his special contributions to the US, this is the life- story of George M. Cohan, who produced, directed, wrote and starred in his own musical shows for which he composed his famous songs.

Yankee Doodle Dandy will include "Warner Bros' Night at the Movies 1942" (Casablanca theatrical trailer, a vintage newsreel, the short "Beyond the Line of Duty," and the Looney Tunes short "Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid"). Other extras include a commentary from Behlmer and trailers for seven Cagney films; "James Cagney: Top of the World" biographical tribute hosted by Michael J. Fox; "Let Freedom Sing!: The Story of Yankee Doodle Dandy" making-of documentary; the Looney Tunes shorts "Yankee Doodle Daffy" and "Yankee Doodle Bugs"; the wartime short "You, John Jones" starring Cagney and Greer Garson; audio-only outtakes and rehearsals; the Oct. 19, 1942, Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater Radio Show with the film's cast members; and other material.

My Thoughts
This is very much a film of its time.  The display of patriotism and the classic American dream is absolute vintage WWII; a snapshot of a less cynical era.  That's partly why Yankee Doodle Dandy hasn't aged as well as other films of the era.  Cohen's songs come off as naive; his faith in his country innocent.

Still, Cagney's performance is dynamite, and the film is worth watching just for him.  Douglas Croft, who plays Cohen at a younger age, is also really great in his part.  The song and dance numbers are fine, but the pacing could be better.  As a biography, it makes Cohen a much more wholesome, clean-cut fella than he really was - reality is always complex, and the Cohen here isn't.  

Still, this is an iconic piece of 40's cinema, and worth watching for cinema enthusiasts.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.25/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 5th, 2016)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

What's the show about?
All over the world anomalies are suddenly opening and reveal itself as a door to the past. Sometimes predators come through and have to be brought back and the government tries to keep this a secret. A team of scientists and members of the British Home Office work on these cases and try to find a pattern and a way to close these anomalies again.

"Series 1 Episode 1"
Eight years ago the wife of Professor Cutter disappeared without a trace in the Forest of Dean. Now something weird is going on in there again, it's either a huge animal or a giant prank. The professor has to check it out for himself. In the mean time not far from there: A family calls the local zoo because their son has found a strange lizard that must have been set free by someone.

My Opinion
This was another blind buy and I watched the first season today for the first time. At first I was intrigued by the general idea. Basically Jurassic Park without fences or island. But I was constantly thrown off by how these animals behaved. I am certainly no expert on animals but I've seen animal documentaries since the days of Jacques Cousteau and I also watched the amazing BBC documentaries on prehistoric life (great stuff!). And now this series has all these amazing predators that could cause a lot of havoc just by behaving naturally. But that wasn't enough - they had to behave in an un-animal way just to create tension and suspense with the characters.
The characters were OK, but also not exceptional (more stereotypes than individuals). I don't know if I will watch the second season I already own...

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on September 25th, 2009)