DVD Collectors Online

Before Sunset, a review by Antares

Before Sunset (2004) 60/100 - I'm putting on as much body armor as I can, as I await the slings and arrows from those who've proclaimed this a truly great film. For years, I've heard nothing but glowing praise for this sequel, some going as far as to say that it is better than the first film. But everything that was magical, absorbing and beautiful in Before Sunrise, is completely absent in Before Sunset. The first film spoke to me with an accurate portrayal of that special moment we probably all have had at least once, when we meet someone who clicks with us. OK, at times, it could be a bit long winded, but I can remember moments I had like this in my past, and the encounter just seems so right, that you try a bit too hard to impress. But that's OK, because if the other person is responsive, then they too, are laying it on a bit thick. Couple this with the unique spots in Vienna that they pass through and you have a wondrous film that breezes by. But now on the other hand, you move the setting to Paris and instead of having the two sharing moments in other unique spots in the city of romance, you have them in a car, on a boat and finally in her apartment. And what do they do? They whine... and they whine... and they whine some more about how their lives really never became full because they never met six months later, oh so many years ago. And the device used to explain why it never happened was convenient, but really paints Celine as not too quick on her feet. I mean, she was willing to toil around Vienna with a perfect stranger all those years ago, but six months later, because of a death in her family, the intelligent young lass can't be a little creative in getting a message to Jesse at the train station? I know that if it were me and I promised to meet someone at a later date, and the misfortune of losing a loved one occurs the very week of the planned meeting, I would have been a bit more resourceful. She couldn't find a friend and offered to pay for their plane fare, hotel room and a couple of day's worth of meals in Vienna and have that person hold a small sign with Jesse's name on it, and if he showed up, give him a letter explaining what happened? If she really thought he was going to be her true soul mate, I think she just would have found a way to contact him there.

Finally, I'd like to comment on the ending, which, once again, has been purported by many as being great. I know I'm looking at the most extreme examples, but what made the first film so great was how realistic it was in a positive sense, and this second film tries to be real too, but it doesn't care about potential side effects and that's tragic.

What the color coding means...

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on March 19th, 2013)

The Lost Boys, a review by Dragonfire

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The Lost Boys Sam and his older brother Michael are all-American teens with all-American interests. But after they move with their mother to peaceful Santa Carla, California, things mysteriously begin to change. Michael's not himself lately.  And Mom's not going to like what he's turning into. The Lost Boys reshapes vampire tradition, deftly mixing heart-pounding terror, rib-tickling laughs and a body-gyrating rock soundtrack. Under Joel Schumacher's direction, a marvelous cast - Jason Patric, Jami Gertz, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Barnard Hughes and Edward Herrmann - stakes you to gleefully ghoulish entertainment.

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I had heard about this one for many years before I finally watched it and it is one of my favorite vampire movies...about proper, creepy, scary, will rip your throat out vampires...not sparkly, wimpy, whiney vampires.  The plot works well without being too simple or too complicated.  Some of the dialogue is a little cheesy at times, but that doesn't bother me too much.  When I first saw the movie, it was probably one of the first things I saw with younger vampires and had teenagers in danger of becoming vampires.  Things develop a little slower, which works for the movie.  It isn't clear at first what is going on or that David and his gang are vampires.  The story works very well.  The movie isn't too violent overall, though there are a few scenes that are bloodier than others.  The effects are fine and while some things might look a little dated now, I think they and the movie has held up well overall.  The movie is definitely still worth watching.  People that like good vampire movies should check it out.



I did post a longer review at Epinions several years ago.

The Lost Boys


(From Marie's 2013 Halloween/Horror Marathon on October 15th, 2013)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

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Journeyman: The Complete Series (2007/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United Kingdom) Length: 522 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78, Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

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Journeyman
Season 1.01 A Love of a Lifetime

This episode is a good introduction to the series and made me want to watch more.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on July 17th, 2013)