DVD Collectors Online

Ritana (Returner), a review by Tom

Title: Ritana (Returner)
Year: 2002
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Rating: FSK-16
Length: 112 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1 , Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1 , English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, German, Turkish

Stars:
Takeshi Kaneshiro
Ann Suzuki
Kirin Kiki
Goro Kishitani
Yukiko Okamoto

Plot:
A young woman from the future forces a local gunman to help her stop an impending alien invasion which will wipe out the human race.

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers

An interesting mix of other well-known movies. This movie has similarities with Matrix, Termintor, IndependenceDay, E.T. and others. It reminded me of the German saying "Besser gut geklaut, als schlecht selbst gemacht", which in this context roughly translates to "It is better to rip off well than do it yourself badly".
I especially liked the ending, which tied up the story and time-travel elements nicely.

Rating:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v4pWshsQ1U

(From Tom's Time-Travel Movie Reviews on November 20th, 2008)

Time Travelers, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Time Travelers
Year: 1976
Director: Alexander Singer
Rating: NR
Length: 73 Min.
Video: Full Framed 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Sam Groom as Dr. Clint Earnshaw
Tom Hallick as Jeff Adams
Francine York as Dr. Helen Sanders
Booth Colman as Dr. Amos Cummings
Richard Basehart as Dr. Jushua P. Henderson

Plot:
In 1976, there's an outbreak of a disease that no one has seen before. All what they know is that rsembles a disease that existed at around 1871, and that a Dr. Henderson was able to save most of his patients but the Chicago Fire destroyed his records. Dr. Earnshaw the doctor looking for a cure was approached by a man, Jeffrey Adams, who believes that he could help him. It seems that a Dr. Amos Cummings has prefected the art of time travel, and the plan is for Earnshaw and Adams to go back to 1871 and learn how Henderson cured his patients. But a glitch in the machines computers sends them the day before the fire not four days as intended.

Extras:
Scene Access
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
This is a TV movie that I forgot I had... not even in the list at the start of this thread. I forgot it because it is a Bonus Feature on the DVD Release of Time Tunnel: Vol. 2. I liked the idea of this movie... the storyline could have been good. But unfortunately the end product leaves a lot to be desired. I just found the movie slow moving and a bit on the boring side. Through-out the movie I found myself looking up at the counter on my player to see how far into the movie I was... and how long before it would be over. While I think the cast did a good job with what they were given...  they couldn't save this one. I can't recommend this movie. At least it was free in a TV Series set for a show I like.



(From Movies of the '70s Marathon on March 26th, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Once and Again: Season One (1999/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Canada) Length: 990 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:Once And Again explored brave new territory with the compelling story of two families blending at the seams. The second marriage of Lily Manning (Ward) to Rick Sammler (Campbell) pushes both to the limit as they try for domestic normalcy while navigating divorce, parenting, financial hardship and many other life lessons.

From the creators of thirtysomething and My So-Called Life comes the complete first season DVD Collection. Enjoy all the moving moments and memorable performances of a brilliant supporting cast, including Shane West (A Walk To Remember) and Evan Rachel Wood (Practical Magic) once and again.


Once & Again
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Marshall Herskovitz (Story By), Edward Zwick (Story By)
Director: Marshall Herskovitz
Cast: Sela Ward (Lily Manning), Billy Campbell (Rick Sammler), Jeffrey Nordling (Jake Manning), Susanna Thompson (Karen Sammler), Shane West (Eli Sammler), Julia Whelan (Grace Manning), Evan Rachel Wood (Jessie Sammler), Meredith Deane (Zoe Manning), Todd Field (David Cassilli), Marin Hinkle (Judy Brooks), Kelly Coffield (Naomi), Kimberly McCullough (Jennifer), LaTanya Richardson (Counselor), Vanessa Lee Chester (Friend #1), Julie Marie Berman (Friend #2), Anna Mathias (Secretary), Suzanne Lanza (Assistant), Nicola Theodoropoulos (Soccer Coach), Jourdan Fremin (Laughing Mom)

I am still waiting for the third and last season of this great series to be released on DVD. The pilot is really good. I like how the two families are coming together and I think it is handled rather realistically. The two failed marriages are not necessarily one person's fault. Also the reaction of the children about this new relationship is handled well. I like all the actors here. All did a great job. Especially the child actors. Even the youngest (Meredith Deane) does a great job.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 17th, 2012)