DVD Collectors Online

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, a review by DJ Doena

May, 1st


William Shatner    ...    Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy   ...    Captain Spock
DeForest Kelley   ...    Dr. McCoy
James Doohan   ...    Scotty
Walter Koenig   ...    Pavel Chekov
George Takei   ...    Hikaru Sulu
Nichelle Nichols   ...    Cmdr. Uhura
Bibi Besch   ...    Dr. Carol Marcus
Merritt Butrick   ...    Dr. David Marcus
Kirstie Alley    ...    Lt. Saavik
Ricardo Montalban   ...    Khan
Judson Earney Scott    ...    Joachim Weiss

Synopsis: The Enterprise has become a teaching ship and Captain Spock is in command. When Admiral Kirk is on inspection and takes the ship for "a tour around the block" they get a disturbing call from Dr. Marcus. Someone is trying to get his hands on the "Genesis" project, a secret research project to create life on lifeless planets. But this Genesis device could also be used as a terrible weapon. And Kirk's enemy is no other than the genetically enhanced Khan. He tried to kill Kirk and take his ship fifteen years ago.

My Opinion: Still a great movie. I really liked how they used the fact that space is three-dimensional, a fact that even especially Sci-Fi shows forget too often. I also liked how Khan used quotes from Moby Dick, but replaced some of the places with astronomical locations. Technically he couldn't have this knowledge, he was in stasis and shortly after his defrosting he was banned to Zeti Alpha 5. He also couldn't know that the Klingons have a proverb: "Revenge is a dish best served cold". But I am willing to overlook that because Montalban was awesome when he said it.
And I loved those close combat scenes, it reminded me of the old battles between sailing ships.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on May 1st, 2009)

Paranormal Activity, a review by Rich

Title: Paranormal Activity

Runtime:86
Certificate:R
Year:2009
Genres:Horror

Plot:YOU DEMANDED IT and now the surprise hit critics call "one of the scariest movies of all time"* can be experienced in the most terrifying place of all...your home.
After a young, middle-class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially while they sleep.
Paranormal Activity builds suspense night after night all the way to the shocking ending. Roger Ebert calls it "truly scary."** Go ahead, WE DARE YOU TO WATCH IT AT HOME...at least you can leave the lights on.
My Review:
Yes, it is scary! Done in the style of a real-life amateur documentary, the slow build-up and understated initial activities create tension, fear and trepidation until the final climax.
Some parts are chilling, and will remain memorable. Where the girl stands rocking by the bed for hours - still makes the hair on back of my neck stand-up, perhaps its that primal fear of what happens when we sleep? You need your imagination to fully enjoy and get unsettled by this, if you liked Blair Witch then this will really cook your goose.
How much of this is based on the true story and video recovered by the police? I like to stay a bit naive and believe a lot so this film remains with me as very impactive and haunting.


(From Riches Random Reviews on January 6th, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Family Matters: Season One (1989/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 484 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, French

---

Plot:
"HI, EVERYBODY!" Fans of '90s sitcoms know these words mean Steve Urkel has come to call, bringing lots of geeky, goofy fun with him. A spinoff of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters began as the at-home adventures of elevator operator Harriette Winslow and her multigenerational family. But midway through the first season, Jaleel White made a one-shot appearance as neighborhood nerd Urkel. With oversized glasses, undersized body, screechy voice and indomitable self-confidence, Urkel proved irresistibly funny, turning White into an overnight sensation and a new star of the show. Join Urkel and the Winslows for the 22-episode debut season of the hit series that proclaims love matters, laughing matters, Family Matters!


Family Matters
1.01 The Mama Who Came to Dinner
Writer: William Bickley (Created By), Michael Warren (Created By), William Bickley (Writer), Michael Warren (Writer)
Director: Joel Zwick
Cast: Reginald VelJohnson (Carl Winslow), JoMarie Payton-France (Harriette Winslow), Rosetta LeNoire (Estelle "Mother" Winslow), Darius McCrary (Eddie Winslow), Kellie Shanygne Williams (Laura Winslow), Valerie Jones (Judy Winslow), Joseph Julius Wright (Richie Crawford), Telma Hopkins (Rachel)

This series was a spin-off from another series that I have never seen (I am not sure if it even aired in Germany). Steve Urkel was not yet part of the cast at this point but only came in later during the first season (initially only a on-off character). I don't think this series would have lasted long if it hadn't been for Steve and would probably have been long forgotten by now.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on May 22nd, 2011)