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A Christmas Carol, a review by Danae Cassandra

A Christmas Carol
Year of Release: 1999
Directed By: David Jones
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Joel Grey, Ian McNeice
Genre: Drama

Overview:
Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: The Next Generation) stars as Scrooge, the mean-spirited miser who gets his terrifying comeuppance when he imagines he's visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, and taken on a life-altering journey. Spellbinding special effects, a star-studded cast, and a timeless holiday story make this brilliant presentation of Dickens' classic the most heartwarming, compelling and powerful adaptation ever filmed.

My Thoughts:
This is as fine an adaptation of A Christmas Carol as any in this old world. If I still prefer the 1951 Alaister Sim version, this is my second favorite. Patrick Stewart is an excellent Scrooge, and I actually prefer the Cratchets here over the '51. The ghosts are very well done, and the story adapts closely. I'd have liked to see more of Scrooge's relationship with Fran, since her death is so crucial in his story. Still such a good retelling of this familiar tale, very much worth the time put in to watch it.

This was a wonderful breath of fresh air after the exceedingly mediocre Magoo Christmas Carol we watched earlier in the month.  Still falls a bit shy next to Sim's.  It might be the nostalgia of Sim's version, since that was the one we used to watch on TV when I was a kid.  I really need to watch them both back to back.  I also really wish I had this on blu-ray.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Christmas 2016 on December 26th, 2016)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a review by addicted2dvd

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: 2-Disc Widescreen Edition (2004/United Kingdom) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Warner Home Video Director: Writing: Steve Kloves (Screenwriter), J. K. Rowling [J.K. Rowling] (Original Material By) Length: 142 min. Rating: Rated PG : Frightening Moments, Creature Violence and Mild Language Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon
Pam Ferris as Aunt Marge
Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia
Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley
Adrian Rawlins as James Potter

Plot:
It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts, but a shadow hangs over Hogwart's. A dangerous mass murderer, Sirius Black, has escaped the Azkaban Fortress - the Wizards' Prison. While learning to cope with the Dementors sent to protect Hogwart's, Harry learns the disturbing story of Sirius Black and yet more of his own history.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Interactive Games
• Closed Captioned

Now I am up to the films I never seen before. The storyline continues to be good and keep my attention. I don't think this one is quite as good as the first two... but it is close to them. Not much worse. Another long film... I expect that they all are... but still worth the time put in to watch them.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on August 3rd, 2013)

Tom's Random Reviews, a review by Tom

The Office: Season Seven (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Writing: Length: 586 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

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Stars:


Plot:VarietyGone Baby Gone), a cameo from Ricky Gervais (The Invention of Lying) and an unforgettable hour-long season finale with Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), James Spader (Boston Legal) and Catherine Tate (Doctor Who), all vying for Michael Scott's old post. Plus, see hours of bonus features, including extended episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers, webisodes and more, in this must-own five-disc collection.

Awards:
Won:

Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series ("Stress Relief": Jeffrey Blitz)

Nominated:

Golden Globe (2009)		Actor - Television Comedy or Musical Series (Steve Carell)
Golden Globe (2010)		Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical (Steve Carell)
Golden Globe (2009)		Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)		Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Awards (2010)		Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Steve Carell)
Primetime Emmy Awards (2010)		Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series ("The Cover Up": Steve Carell)
Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Rainn Wilson)
Primetime Emmy Awards (2010)		Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series ("Niagara": Greg Daniels, Mindy Kaling)
Teen Choice Awards (2009)		Choice TV Actor - Comedy (Steve Carell)
Teen Choice Awards (2009)		Choice TV Actress - Comedy (Jenna Fisher)
Teen Choice Awards (2009)		Choice TV Show: Comedy

Extras:

• Bonus Trailers
• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Webisodes

This season had a slow start, but it turned out great again. This is the season where Steve Carell left the show towards the end. The storyline they have given him to write him out of the show was the right way to go.
Also Ricky Gervais finally made two cameo appearances this season as David Brent. In the first he ran across Michael Scott and was joking with him.
The second was a Video CV where he applies for the manager job after Michael Scott left. I would have liked him interacting with the complete Office cast though.
Will Ferrell had a few episodes where he had taken over from Michael. He did a good job.
Sadly Pam and Jim didn't get a good storyline this season. I always liked their scenes together.

#	Episode	Rating
01	Nepotism
02	Counseling
03	Andy's Play
04	Sex Ed
05	The Sting
06	Costume Contest
07	Christening
08	Viewing Party
09	WUPHF.com
10	China
11	Classy Christmas
12	Ultimatum
13	The Seminar
14	The Search
15	PDA
16	Threat Level Midnight
17	Todd Packer
18	Garage Sale
19	Training Day
20	Michael's Last Dundies
21	Goodbye Michael
22	The Inner Circle
23	Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
24	Search Committee

(From Tom's Random Reviews on September 3rd, 2011)