DVD Collectors Online

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (remake), a review by Rich

Title: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Movie Count:20 
TV Ep. Count:14 

Runtime:98
Certificate:R
Year:2003
Genres:Horror

Plot:Prepare yourself for a level of fear like you've never experienced before...
A group of friends takes a detour while traveling through the back roads of Texas and encounter a chainsaw-wielding maniac. What happens next is beyond anyone's darkest imagination and will leave you speechless and horrified.
From filmmaker Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II) and starring Jessica Biel ("7th Heaven") comes this year's most hardcore and terrifying film.
You've been warned.

My Review:
Questionable remake of a classic horror, no ground-breaking additions to the original save Jessica Biel in skimpy attire. There are certainly improvements (just) on the originals wooden acting of teenage bait, and Ermey is spot on as twisted sherriff Hoyt. The effects are more realistic and dramatic, with a couple of gorefest moments and old leatherface really going to town with his chainsaw. However the 'shock' value of the original, even with its many flaws when compared to modern day filmmaking etc, cannot be matched.
Too far away from the original for my taste, and the improvements have been at the expense of plot, so I would recommend passing this by.




(From Rich's October Horror Fest on October 19th, 2009)

Anomalisa, a review by Danae Cassandra

Film #4 of Scavenger Hunt #22
Task #27: Watch a film set in Ohio (the 17th US state)



Anomalisa
Year of Release: 2015
Directed By: Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson
Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan

Overview:Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich comes a riveting new "MASTERPIECE." Michael Stone - husband, father and noted author - travels to Cincinnati to speak at a customer service conference. But once he's separated from the routine of his daily life, a chance encounter helps him to realize just what, and whom, he's been missing. Love, laughter and loneliness align in a "STAGGERINGLY INVENTIVE" stop-motion work of art from directors Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson.

My Thoughts:
Anomalisa is the story of a man's single night stay in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is worn down by depression, which makes all of the mundane parts of life excruciating. Everyone speaks with the same voice and he subconsciously views himself as a robot. He is going through the motions of life. He yearns for something special, some connection, some spark to bring life to his existence. Yet when he finds it, once the novelty wears off he begins to cycle back down.

This is a really well done piece of stop-motion, unusual in its adult subjects and audience, unusual in its unlikeable main character. Michael isn't a good person, and though we're invited to know his feelings we're never given an understanding of what has brought him to where he is, so we're never invited to truly empathize with him. Yet it's still an interesting study of how people relate to one another, and how connections form and die.

This is a good film, and I enjoyed it, but I'd recommend it only to fans of art films, however, since I'm not sure how much mainstream film fans would enjoy this.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Scavenger Hunt #22 on January 7th, 2017)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

01. Welcome to the Hellmouth (1997-03-10)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Mark Metcalf (The Master), Brian Thompson (Luke), David Boreanaz (Angel), Ken Lerner (Principal Flutie), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Julie Benz (Darla), J. Patrick Lawlor (Thomas), Eric Balfour (Jesse), Natalie Strauss (Teacher), Carmine D. Giovinazzo (Boy), Amy Chance (Girl #1), Tupelo Jereme (Girl #2), Persia White (Girl #3)

It's been some years that I have last watched Buffy. This is a good introduction to the series and its humor. I forgot a lot of funny stuff, like the scene with the principal. Also I had almost forgot about Jesse.
But where the heck is Dawn? Wasn't she always there ?



02. The Harvest (1997-03-10)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: John T. Kretchmer
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Mark Metcalf (The Master), Brian Thompson (Luke), David Boreanaz (Angel), Ken Lerner (Principal Flutie), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Julie Benz (Darla), Eric Balfour (Jesse), Mercedes McNab (Harmony), Jeffrey Steven Smith (Guy in Comp. Class), Teddy Lane, Jr. (Bouncer), Deborah Brown (Girl)

A good showdown to the pilot episodes. I always liked how Buffy defeated Luke.
I always thought that Buffy looked best in Season 1. She got thinner and thinner with each season until she was just a stick. But in season 1 she was just right
I like the make-up job on the Master. Sadly he will be just a whiny vampire when the season gets on.

On the down-side, this episode had some obvious blunders. Like why is the bouncer counting money, when Cordelia said earlier, that there is no cover charge this evening?

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on November 22nd, 2008)