DVD Collectors Online

Mamma Mia!: The Movie, a review by Danae Cassandra

Mamma Mia!
Year of Release: 2008
Directed By: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Musical

Overview:
Sophie has just one wish to make her wedding perfect: to have her father walk her down the aisle. Now she just has to find out who he is. Join the music, laughter and fun of the irresistibly charming Mamma Mia! The MovieMy Thoughts:
This is sweet, frothy fun.  It's a bit campy and goofy, but it makes it work.  I'm still not convinced Amanda Seyfried can act, but the ensemble cast masks that.  Christine Baranski's character is basically the chick she played in Cybil.  Some of the singing is not that great; a number of these actors sound like regular people singing.  But it's no worse than some other musicals I can think of.  The setting is gorgeous and the film moves quickly from one number to the next quickly.  It doesn't seem like a two-hour film to me.  Not great cinema by any stretch, but a really enjoyable film.  

Unlike some other folks I don't need the resolution to some questions, as I'm happy with the decision that having the answer doesn't matter.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 7th, 2016)

One Missed Call, a review by addicted2comics

Title: One Missed Call
Year: 2008
Director: Eric Valette
Rating: PG-13
Length: 87 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1, Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Shannyn Sossamon
Edward Burns
Ana Claudia Talancon
Ray Wise
Azura Skye
Johnny Lewis

Plot:
It happens to one. Then another. And another. College students discover eerie voicemail messages on their cell phones. Each call comes from the near future. Each call has the chilling voice of the student during his or her last moments alive. And each call comes true.

Terror is One Missed Call away in this got-your-number shocker based on the hit Japanese thriller Chakushin ari. Does the viral spree of calls have a single source? Is there something that links the victims? Psych student Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) and detective Jack Andrews (Ed Burns) scramble for answers. And they're working fast. Because Beth just discovered an ominous message.

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers

My Thoughts:

The movie was pretty interesting. When I saw the commercial back when it arrived in theaters, I couldn't wait!! This, surprisingly, was my first time seeing it. My only regret about this movie is..well...I was kinda dissapointed in the deaths. I thought they'd all be murdered when they get the calls! I don't think I'll expose anything by saying most of the deaths seemed like accidents. I can't help but feel they should have been pulled away in a bloody trail, still screaming in their last seconds.........what can I say? It's what I expected. Also, the ending is keeping me wondering.


All in all, it's a good movie, I just it needs a little more help to be on the scary side. At the most, I was only slightly creeped.




(From Doing the ABC's Movie Style!! on July 24th, 2010)

"Due South" Marathon, a review by Tom

Due South (TV movie) (1994-04-26)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Writer)
Director: Fred Gerber
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Wendel Meldrum (Leann Brighton), Charles Shamata (Capt. Walsh), Joseph Ziegler (Insp. Moffatt), Page Fletcher (Frank Drake), Ken Pogue (Gerard), Kaye Ballard (Mrs. Vecchio), Gordon Pinsent (Fraser Sr.), Jim Millington (Underhill), Victor Ertmanis (Supt. Meers), Michael J. Reynolds (Senior Official), Eric Schweig (Inuit Hunter), Kimberly Ange (RCMP Officer 1), Jennifer Parsons (RCMP Officer 2), Johnathon Wittaker (RCMP SGT.), Steve Morel (RCMP Officer 3), Scot Dentor (RCMP Officer 4), Nigel Hamer (RCMP Officer 5), Barry Kennedy (Bert Jenkins), Philip Williams (Herb Lantrell), Keith Dinicol (Coroner), Jack Nicholsen (Airport Hustler), Gene Mack (Chicago Desk Sgt.), Simon Lugassy (Prisoner), Dan Lett (Dr. Weingarten), Paulina Gillis (Maria), Ramona Milano (Francesca), Vito Rezza (Tony), Elizabeth Berman (Mrs. Drake), Sandi Stahlbrand (TV Reporter), Farzad Sadrian (Cabby)

It was really fun to revisit this TV movie again. Great introduction to the two main characters. None of cast which became the regular cast of the series are in this movie though. We have another captain (the one of the series is better). The only two other characters who are well known in the series to appear in this TV movie is Robert Fraser, Benton's father. And Francesca, the beautiful sister of Ray who develops a crush on Benton.
The humor the series is known for is already present in this movie.
The pilot made appetite for the series again.

Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on May 27th, 2009)