DVD Collectors Online

Poltergeist , a review by Dragonfire

Poltergeist "THEY'RE HERE," playful at first...but not for long. A storm erupts, a tree attacks and little Carol Anne Freeling is whisked into a spectral void. As her family confronts horrors galore, something else is here too: a new benchmark in Hollywood ghost stories. Producers Steven Speilberg and Frank Marshall and director Tobe Hooper head the elite scream team of this classic. Welcome to Home Sweet Haunted Home. My Thoughts I've seen this one several times over the years on television.  I think every one of those times was a version that was edited, though I might be wrong.  I still really enjoy this one even though some things about it creep me out. The plot is interesting and entertaining.  I like how things start off sort of slow while things are set up.  At first, it doesn't seem like anything too bad is going on.  Chairs moving around and that stuff.  Diane is actually enjoying those things and finding it kind of cool.  At least that is how it seems.  Then everything changes after Robbie is attacked by one of the freakiest looking trees in any movie and Carol Anne is taken.  Things get darker at that point, and some of what happens is rather disturbing.  This isn't a family friendly movie even though it is rated PG, though it isn't as bad as some.  Overall, this is a really entertaining movie about a haunted house. I did post about this one on Epinions last year.  I believe I also posted about the movie here too. Poltergeist

(From Dragonfire's 2010 Horror Marathon on October 3rd, 2010)

The Big Chill, a review by Antares

The Big Chill





Year: 1983
Film Studio: Columbia Pictures, Carson Productions Group
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Length: 105 Min.

Director
Lawrence Kasdan

Writing
Lawrence Kasdan...Writer
Barbara Benedek...Writer

Producer
Marcia Nasatir
Lawrence Kasdan
Michael Shamberg

Cinematographer
John Bailey (1942)


Stars
Tom Berenger (1949) as Sam
Glenn Close (1947) as Sarah
Jeff Goldblum (1952) as Michael
William Hurt as Nick
Kevin Kline (1947) as Harold
Mary Kay Place (1947) as Meg
Meg Tilly as Chloe
JoBeth Williams (1948) as Karen

Review had given birth to what historians in the future will dub the . Just two years into the , American society shifted course as the children of the , their spoiled and selfish upbringing would foster a deep desire not to just keep up, but to always outdo the next guy. But we humans have a conscience, and it sometimes beats the drums of reason in our brain. When all was said and done, all of these material acquisitions proved to be hollow trophies which could not sustain a truly well rounded and fulfilling life.

       The first film to explore this growing apathy amongst a generation dubbed , was an independent film by an up and coming director named John Sayles. The Return of the Secaucus 7The Big Chill fuckfest. At no time are there any great revelations made, just a cheap and tawdry way of bringing this mess to a close. As I watched the end credits start to appear, I felt as if I had been invited to one of the most majestic and grand buffet dinners and all they served was cheese doodles. If you really want to see a good treatment on this subject, check out the Sayles film.


Ratings Criterion
- The pinnacle of film perfection and excellence.
- Not quite an immortal film, yet a masterpiece in its own right.
- Historically important film, considered a classic.
- Borderline viewable.
- A gangrenous and festering pustule in the chronicles of celluloid.



(From The Big Chill (1983) on January 30th, 2010)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

1.01 Free Willie (1994-09-22)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Kathy Slevin (Writer), Paul Haggis (Writer)
Director: George Bloomfield
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Beau Starr (Lt. Harding Welsh), Daniel Kash (Detective Louis Gardino), Tony Craig (Detective Jack Huey), Catherine Bruhier (Elaine), Christopher Babers (Willie Lambert), Ed Sahely (Hamlin), Christina Cox (Caroline Morgan), Domenic Cuzzocrea (Landlord), Djanet Sears (Public Defender), Elena Kudaba (Celeste), Todd Schroeder (Charles), Matt Birman (Donald), Michael Donaghue (Hugo)

A great first episode. All the other regular cast members are introduced, including Ray's beloved 1971 Buick Rivieras which will get blown up a few times.
I like the captain, also Elaine who falls for Fraser is fun.
A familiar face to me: One of the guest stars (Chistina Cox) starred in "Better than Chocolate", a movie I reviewed recently.


Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on June 22nd, 2009)