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The Specials, a review by Tom

Title: The Specials
Year: 2000
Director: Craig Mazin
Rating: R
Length: 82 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 , English: Dolby Digital Stereo , Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo , Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles:

Stars:
Jordan Ladd
Rob Lowe
Jamie Kennedy
Mike Schwartz
Thomas Haden Church
Judy Greer

Plot:
They are the sixth (okay, maybe the seventh) greatest superhero team in the entire world. At their modest suburban headquarters, The Strobe ('Sideway's' Thomas Haden Church), The Weevil(Rob Lowe), foul-mouthed Amok ('Son of the Mask's' Jamie Kennedy), Ms. Indestructible (Huff's Paget Brewster), Deadly Girl ('13 Going On 30's' Judy Greer), new member Nightbird ('Cabin Fever's' Jordan Ladd) and the rest all spend their time bickering, having extramarital affairs, and preparing for the grand unveiling of their own action figure line. But when a furious Strobe suddenly disbands the group, who will be there for the oddballs, rebels, outcasts and geeks? Before they save the world, can they save themselves? Meet THE SPECIALS!

Kelly Coffield, Michael Weatherly('Dark Angel'), Chase Masterson ('Deep Space Nine') and Melissa Joan Hart ('Sabrina') co-star in this hilarious cult hit from Craig Mazin (writer of SCARY MOVIE 3) and screenwriter James Gunn (writer of SCOOBY DOO and DAWN OF THE DEAD), now loaded with special edition extras that truly put the 'special' in THE SPECIALS!

Extras:
Closed Captioned
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Trailers


A fun movie. Don't expect an action movie laden with special effects or you will be disappointed. You won't see any action in this movie and no special effects (until a little at the end of the movie). This movie is a take on the private life of some washed-up third-rate super heroes, some of them with ego problems.

Some dialog quotes:
The Weevil: I've had superpowers longer than anyone in the Specials,
  I think - which explains why I'm the only one with a Pez dispenser
  with a little me on it.

Ms. Indestructible: Every morning I look down and I'm wearing boots
  with lightning bolts on them and I think...where did I make the
  wrong turn?

The Strobe: I'm not saying the Great Strobe is better than other
  humans. I am, but that's beside the point. I can shoot laser beams
  out of my arms, that's what sets me apart. Can other humans do
  that? Can they? Can they?


Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on March 19th, 2008)

The Spirit, a review by Rich

The Spirit



Above shadowy, crime-infested streets a masked avenger watches. Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) was once Central City's finest cop until a gangster's bullet ended his life. Now Fate has brought him back from the beyond as The Spirit, a street-hardened hero who faces off against seductive foes like the voluptuous Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) or the alluring Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson) in this graphic action-thriller.

Once you get past the wow factor of stunning cinematography, slick design, delightful backdrops and gorgeous cast, the storyline is very flat and hollow, and overall the film tails away into a forgetful mess.
This lacks the substance of Sin City and 300, and clearly Miller directing alone has cost the movie in lack of characterisation, acting direction, and sadly creates a feeling of blandness.
I'd seriously recommend not buying this disappointing dvd.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on July 29th, 2009)

Miracles Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

2. The Friendly Skies
Paranormal investigators Paul Callan, Alva Keel and Evelyn Santos try to determine why a commercial airplane temporarily disappeared from radar - and why, during those unaccountable moments, the flight's passengers actually experienced their innermost thoughts, fears and fantasies.

Guest Stars:
Ann Cusack
Ashley Edner
Christopher Cousins

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty good episode. But definitely not a favorite. I found it to be a bit on the slow side. Some of the early episodes are a bit hit and miss. This one just happened to be a miss for me.

My Rating:

(From Miracles Marathon on December 22nd, 2009)