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Awakenings, a review by addicted2dvd

Awakenings


TV Star:
Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy)

My Thoughts:
Even though this is a genre I don't normally enjoy... this is a very good drama. This is the first non-comedy I ever seen Robin Williams in. And I must admit he surprised me at the time. He proved he is more then a stand-up... he really can act as well. Even with that said.. I personally still prefer his zany style of comedy over him in a drama. Robert De Niro was excellent in this as always. What makes this more interesting to me then most pure dramas is the fact that it is based on a true story. Only downside to this DVD release is there is no extras what so ever.


Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURflBxeTyI

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: TV Stars in the Movies on March 29th, 2009)

Banlieue 13, a review by Tom

Title: Banlieue 13
Year: 2004
Director: Pierre Morel
Rating: 15
Length: 85 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35
Audio: French: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Cyril Raffaelli
David Belle
Tony D'Amario
Larbi Naceri
Dany Verissimo

Plot:
DISTRICT 13

In the year 2010 a wall is built around a Paris suburb that contains the city's most criminal elements. Kingpin Taha rules all that is inside, but makes the mistake of kidnapping the sister of a local imprisoned hero, Leito. With nothing to lose, Leito teams up with an undercover cop to take Taha down.

Written and produced by Luc Besson and featuring stunts from the team behind The Transporter, District 13 has to be seen to be believed. No wires, no special effects, no limits. Just an explosive mix of jaw-dropping free running and spectacular action.

Extras:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Outtakes
Scene Access
Trailers

I have seen the sequel to this movie first at this year's FantasyFilmFest. I really enjoyed it, so I have bought the double-feature package on Blu-ray. As expected, this movie is very similar to the sequel. Although I have the feeling, that the sequel had more martial arts action in it. Also it was more light-hearted and fun. But I will see if I remember that correctly, when I will rewatch the sequel.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on November 14th, 2009)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: It has been four years since Sisko's wife had been killed at the Wolf 359 massacre. But now Sisko meets a fascinating woman by the name of Fenna. But she keeps disappearing and Sisko has a hard time finding her again. Meanwhile the foremost expert on terra-forming has come to the station and he is about to complete his greatest project: the re-ignition of a dead sun.

My Opinion: This was an OK episode, not great though. The terraformer was a self-involved, arrogant man and thus I didn't care for his death at all. He may have done it for a noble reason and although the one conversation he had with Sisko before his death gave him a more human face, it didn't help in the end. But I liked the idea that might not end up alone 'til the end of days.

Synopsis: A ship full of refugees comes through "the great eye of the universe" and they are searching for their new home world, Kentanna. According to their legends, Bajor is Kentanna and they want to settle there - all three million Skrreeans. But Bajor has already enough problems of its own...

My Opinion: Another episode I didn't care for much, because I didn't care much for the Skrreeans. But I found the end interesting, because they didn't make it into a happy end, which (not a happy end) will happen more often in DS9 than it did in TNG.
BTW: Here we've learned that the Dominion is a conquering force or at least a waring force in the GQ.

Synopsis: An El-Aurian con man comes to the station but isn't that successful until he gets his hands on an unknown gambling device. From now on, luck is on his side and he establishes a second casino on the Promenade. But soon very unlikely events begin to occur on a regular basis and the odds for chance and probability have shifted.

My Opinion: This episode I enjoyed a lot. The only other El-Aurian we've ever met was Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) aboard the Enterprise. And while their main characteristic is maintained (they are good listeners), I liked it that they - as every other people - have dubious guys in their midst. I also liked the matches between Bashir and O'Brien.

Synopsis: Dr. Mora Pol is a scientist who worked with Odo from the beginning, long before anyone knew that Odo was sentient life form. Now he believes, that he may have discovered others of Odo's kind on a planet in the GQ, He, Odo and Dax fly there to discover something that could be a distant relative to Odo. But after their return the being escapes and threatens the station.

My Opinion: This was another good episode. It gave us an insight about Odo's early years and especially his relation to Mora. On the surface he doesn't like him that much but we can also see that he cares for even even though he wouldn't admit it. And Mora obviously cares for him. It was good to see that there's something beneath that cynical surface of Odo's.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on October 11th, 2008)