DVD Collectors Online

How to Train Your Dragon, a review by Silence_of_Lambs

Summary:
Long ago up North on the Island of Berk, the young Viking, Hiccup (voice: Jay Baruchel), wants to join his town's fight against the dragons that continually raid their town. However, his macho father and village leader, Stoik the Vast (voice: Gerard Butler), will not allow his small, clumsy, but inventive son to do so. Regardless, Hiccup ventures out into battle and downs a mysterious Night Fury dragon with his invention, but can't bring himself to kill it. Instead, Hiccup and the dragon, whom he dubs Toothless, begin a friendship that would open up both their worlds as the observant boy learns that his people have misjudged the species. But even as the two each take flight in their own way, they find that they must fight the destructive ignorance plaguing their world.

My Thoughts:
This movie came with a lot of praise in advance, so I was somewhat skeptic if it could keep up with my expectations.
To cut a long story short: It could do this easily.
I wish I was more eloquent to describe this little masterpiece of modern animation.
The story is kept simple, but every time you feel inclined to say it's predictable, it adds a little surprising turn. Not too much to distract from the mainplot, but always enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
BTW: "Glued to the screen", the programming is simply breathtaking, in the flying scenes enjoy the clouds, it's the first time they are not coming around as cotton candy in the sky. Even though the programmers did a great job this movie does not drown in beauty, it's always and only there to support the plot. Other than for example "Ratatouille" where after the umptienth headshaking even the dumbest should have understood that they are now able to trace hair.

The characters are simply gorgeous, you have to love them all.
The sound is ... let's say it this way: Great!

DreamWorks did it all correct again and once more set up a hallmark for other animated films to measure up against.
If you haven't done so already: Watch it, you will not regret it.


My rating: (out of possible 5)

(From Michael's random reviews on October 23rd, 2010)

Scarecrow, a review by addicted2dvd

Scarecrow
Pushed to the edge, lonely teenager Lester finally makes a friend in the Sheriff's daughter Judy. But when he sees her kiss another boy that's the last straw. He pick's a fight with his mom's boyfriend, and Lester is brutally slain and left hanging from a tree.

One year later, Judy discovers that Lester's spirit, trapped in the cornfield's Scarecrow, is wreaking vengeance on the town. Haunting the cornfields, the Scarecrow slices a path of blood thru his former tormentors. As the bodies pile up, Judy fights tooth and nail to destroy the sinister creature before he makes her his next kill.

My Thoughts:
Naturally going into this one I was expecting much of nothing. After all... it is definitely low-budget cheesy horror. The acting leaves a lot to be desired... and I think they may have tried a little hard making it more then what it is. Even though it is not what I would call a really good movie... it did have it's moments. Some decent kills... and they really gave the Scarecrow some character (gave me the impression of a want-to-be Freddy). So I do think this movie series has some potential Just that this first one did not quite live up to that potential. It has 2 sequels... one of which is on this double feature dvd. The other I do not have. So I think I will give the second one (Scarecrow Slayer) a try... and see if there is still enough potential to warrant a purchase of part 3 (Scarecrow Gone Wild).

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVD Collection on April 20th, 2008)

Birds of Prey Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

12. Feat of Clay
A villain's touch turns people to clay. Helena discovers a shocking truth. Wade learns Oracle's secret.

13. Devil's Eyes
Trouble rules the roost. Quinn has a hypnotic grip on the city and controls the Birds' command tower, too.

My Thoughts:
For some reason these 2 episodes are put together as 1 double-length episode. I could be wrong... but I don't remember it originally airing that way.  But either way... I enjoyed every minute of it. Would have made for a really good season finale... but unfortunately the studio decided to make it a series finale instead. In the first half we meet Clayface and his son. As well as find out who it was that killed Helena's mother. The second half is finally the showdown between Helena and Harley Quinn.

1. Unaired Pilot (Disc 4)
A new crimefighting force with links to Batman fills the void left by the caped one's mysterious departure.

My Thoughts:
The Unaired Pilot has another actress playing Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn)... and a couple other minor changes. In this one Harley Quinn is played by Sherilyn Fenn instead of Mia Sara. An unaired pilot is an extra that is just cool to have. Even though you pretty much know what is going on... it is fun to see their first take on the story. That is when there is more differences then a cast change... as there is some here. Definitely worth checking out.

2. Gotham Girls: The Complete Series (Discs 1-3)
All 30 episodes of the Animated Web-Based Series featuring the female heroes and rogues from Gotham City.

My Thoughts:
After watching the first group of shorts on disc 1 I found these to be cute... but no big deal. And I was kinda hoping it would grow on me more within the ones on the next disc or so. And they did grow on me some... I especially like the 3rd season episodes (on disc 3) they were more fun as they were a continuous story. Every episode taking over where the last one left off. But this is an extra that was fun while watching for the first time... I don't see myself watching them much again... if again at all. But on the other hand... I do see my daughter, Brittany enjoying these shorts a lot. I can see her borrowing this set just to watch these.



(From Birds of Prey Marathon on July 19th, 2008)