DVD Collectors Online

Bound, a review by RossRoy

Original Title: Bound Year: 1996 Country: United States Director: The Wachowski Brothers Rating: NR Length: 108 Min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Mono Subtitles: English, Spanish

What they say
A mobster, his mistress and a tough female ex-con are caught in a dangerous plot with over $2 million of the mob's money at stake in this new, ultra-hip film by the Wachowski Brothers. Starring Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Tilly ('Liar Liar'), Gina Gershon ('Face/Off') and Joe Pantoliano ('The Fugitive').

My Thoughts
I must say, I had apprehensions going into this movie. The whole LGBT angle was a bit scary for me, not that I have anything against it, I mean, what you do in your own bedroom is your business, but a movie around that? Turns out it is basically a MacGuffin, a way to get the girls together and start the story. After that, it is a mob movie, and a very good one at that.

I didn't know what to expect going into this. I'd barely heard of Gina Gershon (only on Tripping the Rift, and it's only a voice part), and not much more of Jennifer Tilly (basically only the Chuky movies), I was happy though to know that Joe Pantoliano (Cypher in The Matrix) was in there too. All three actors give great performances. You don't really know what anyone's motive really is. And isn't it the whole point of a mob movie? The mystery surrounding everyone's personality and the tested loyalties, betrayals and manipulations?

The imagery is also great in this movie. It's gritty and ugly when it needs to be, yet maintains a visual beauty throughout, especially in the final showdown. There's even a scene where you can sort of see the precursor to The Matrix's famous bullet-time effect (not that The Matrix was the first incarnation of it, but I'd say it was the first time it was used to such an effect).

One negative point though: the DVD I have is the unrated version (which is good!) but it was not enhanced for widescreen! Big let down on that front. Good thing PowerDVD handles that well with a smart stretch.



(From RossRoy's Random Viewings on April 7th, 2008)

Tron, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Tron
Year: 1982
Director: Steven Lisberger
Rating: PG
Length: 96 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.20:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Jeff Bridges
Bruce Boxleitner
David Warner
Cindy Morgan
Barnard Hughes

Plot:
The first film to venture forth inside the previously unexplored three-dimensional realm of computer imagery, "Tron" dazzles with revolutionary visual effects and mind-bending action sequences. Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a computer whiz who invents video games, finds himself at the mercy of the evil human forces who answer to The Master Control Panel - a powerfully corrupt computer presence that has beamed Flynn inside its deadly game grid. There, an electronic civilization thrives, and "Light Cycles" race at heart-stopping speeds. With the aid of his friends, Alan (Bruce Boxleitner) and Lora (Cindy Morgan), Flynn's only hope is to activate Tron, the courageous and trustworthy counter-program, in a heroic battle to save humankind!

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:
This is one I have heard a lot about over the years... but never got to see myself. It is one that our good friend Roger sent me while going through his DVDs. Being a Disney movie I went into this one hoping to enjoy it... but at the same time thinking with the subject matter it had to be dated (after all... this movie is almost 30yrs old now) and was think time probably wasn't good to this movie. And I was right about that... but it really didn't matter. While not what I would call great... this is a good, entertaining movie. I had fun watching it.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on November 13th, 2009)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

I'll watch the rest of the disc tomorrow because it's getting late.

Having said that almost a fortnight has past.

Sorry, I've been quite busy over the last weeks and I also watched my newly acquired first season of "J.A.G." over the last three days.

But here it continues:


Synopsis: After heaving defended Babylon 5 against the Earth cruisers the crew has to "bury" the dead. But there are still followers of Clark's and members of Night Watch on board who intend to retake the station. Meanwhile Delenn plans a Minbari rebirth ceremony which commemorates a great change.

My opinion: It is the "cool down" episode after the heated events happend in the previous episodes. Although it's not really a full cool down. For that matter from now on it won't be really cooled down until after the last but one episode of the fourth season. Sheridan finally admits that he has fallen in love with Delenn and the main staff gets their new uniforms!
A minor remark: Sometimes B5 has the same problem as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The authors can't decide how strong some aliens are. In an episode in season one we see Sinclair and Neroon fight and they both seem equally strong while in this episode Lennier (who has a far less impressive stature than Neroon) lifts Marcus easily with one outstreched(!) arm. We've got the same problem with the Narn and (in Star Trek) with the Klingons and the Cardassians.


Synopsis: Vir Cotto - being Centauri ambassador on Minbar for some time now - visits the station. So does Vir's soon-to-be-wife. And also a blood-thirsty Narn who has sworn a blood-oath to kill Vir because Vir apparently  has sent over 2000 Narns into labour camps - where they all died.

My opninion: One must admit it: Young Centauri women are very, very hot! Even when they are bald. I find it a very good Vir episode and it is unfortunately one of few episodes. I always liked him because he is so different than Londo and most of the Cenaturi. He has seen to much of what Londo has done and he always at least tried to talk him out of it - but now he could actually do something! Too bad, G'Kar never learns of it.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on August 25th, 2007)