DVD Collectors Online

Wanted, a review by Tom

Title: Wanted
Year: 2008
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Rating: 18
Length: 110 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35
Audio: Japanese: DTS 5.1, English: DTS HD Master Audio, French: DTS 5.1, Italian: DTS 5.1, German: DTS 5.1, Spanish: DTS 5.1
Subtitles: Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Stars:
James McAvoy
Morgan Freeman
Angelina Jolie
Terence Stamp
Thomas Kretschmann

Plot:
Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is a cube-dwelling hypochondriac, with a boss who humiliates him and a cheating girlfriend. His life is going nowhere.
Wes discovers that his estranged father has been brutally murdered and finds himself thrust into a secret society of assassins, called The Fraternity. During his training, at the hands of a skilled mentor named Fox (Angelina Jolie), this once office-bound wimp develops lightning-fast reflexes and superhuman dexterity.
However, with his first assignment, Wes finds out that the only thing more difficult than ending the lives of others, is summoning the courage to take control of his own.

Extras:
BD Live
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Motion Comics
Scene Access
U-Control

I had seen this movie in the cinema and couldn't wait to watch it again. I think it is one of the only decent attempts of making a Matrix like movie since the first Matrix came out (way better than the two Matrix sequels).
When the Blu-ray arrived, I was surprised, that it had a rating of 18 (both British and German, both ratings are printed on the disc). The cinema I had visited plays movies in their original language and usually do not display the rating. I didn't remember that this movie would warrant such a high age restriction, but seeing it again now, I can understand why. There is a lot of bloody violence in it (but nothing which would endanger an US R-Rating ).
I enjoyed this movie just as much as the first time around. Even though the action reminds a little of Matrix, this movie has an interesing story different from Matrix.
But that Angelina Jolie should eat something. I don't remember her seeing as such a stick-figure in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", the last movie I have seen her in.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 24th, 2009)

The Outlaw, a review by Rogmeister

The Outlaw  (1943)
Produced and Directed by Howard Hughes
Screenwriter:  Jules Furthman
Music by Victor Young
Cast: Jack Beutel, Jane Russell, Thomas Mitchell, Walter Huston

This picture was started by Howard Hawks...who producer Howard Hughes had some difficulties with...so Hawks went off to direct Sergeant York and Hughes took over the directing himself (though screenwriter Jules Furthman often subbed for Hughes so we're not sure how much of the film Hughes actually directed).  It is another of the many films about Billy the Kid with Billy played by Jack Beutel (a virtual unknown save for this picture) with his girlfriend played by Jane Russell.  Thomas Mitchell portrays Pat Garrett and they even throw in Doc Holiday (played here by Walter Huston) and while Doc is indeed a gambler, he shows no signs of sickness for which was a real problem for him...he doesn't cough once in this picture!  The story begins with Doc's arrival in town where he meets up with his old friend Pat Garrett...and then Billy quickly shows up as well and Doc quickly becomes friends with Billy and thus becomes an enemy to lawman Garrett. 

This is not really a great western...Thomas Mitchell doesn't really have the stature to be a western hero and he is not particularly a noble person in this film.  Much of the photography centers on the voluptuous Russell, sometimes to nearly comical effect (at least when viewed in this century).  But the film is lively and never boring.  I liked Beutel's performance so it's disappointing his career never really amounted to much.  The photography is good (even during some obvious process shots) and the plot moves along brisquely.  I have the Roan edition of this...the print is first-rate with very clear sound.  This DVD only has one extra, the movie trailer though the quality of the coming attraction isn't nearly as good-looking as the film itself.  I would say if you're looking for one of the great westerns, this isn't it...but if you just want to watch a fun western, you can do worse than The Outlaw. 

(From Roger's Ongoing Westerns Marathon on March 22nd, 2010)

NCIS Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

13. SHARIF RETURNS
Gibbs and the NCIS team scramble to locate 10 kilograms of highly toxic chemical weapons only to discover that they're in the possession of wanted terrorist Mamoun Sharif.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode. Along with Sharif, Colonel Mann is back. This episode keeps your attention throughout the entire episode. Entertaining from beginning to the end.

My Rating:

14. BLOWBACK
Ducky goes undercover as a buyer of illegal weapons. Jenny appears to have a personal vendetta against the arms dealer known as "La Grenouille."

My Thoughts:
This one is pretty good... but not a favorite. I really found it to be more on the slow side then anything else.

My Rating:

15. FRIENDS & LOVERS
The NCIS team believes that a sailor found in an abandoned building was the victim of a drug overdose until they discover an ominous message written in blood.

My Thoughts:
This is a good... but a pretty standard episode. Pretty much a filler episode. Though I do like how they used McGee's new found fame to help them with a case. And the storyline of Tony's girlfriend moves along further as well.

My Rating:

16. DEAD MAN WALKING
A Navy lieutenant, the victim of radiation poisoning, wants the NCIS team to solve a murder - his own.

My Thoughts:
This episode is very good... Even after seeing this episode 4 times before... I still found myself glued to the TV watching this one. It is one of my favorites. It shows a softer side of Ziva.

My Rating:

(From NCIS Marathon on December 25th, 2009)