DVD Collectors Online

ParaNorman, a review by Danae Cassandra

ParaNorman
Year of Release:  2012
Starring:  Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck
Directed By:  Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Genre:  Adventure, Comedy, Horror

Overview:
From the makers of Coraline comes the story of Norman, a boy who must use his ability to see and speak with the dead to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

In addition to spooky zombies, he'll also have to take on mysterious ghosts, wily witches and, worst of all, clueless grown-ups. But this young ghoul whisperer will soon find his paranormal abilities pushed to their otherworldly limits. Featuring the voice talents of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman, it's a frightfully funny and magically thrilling adventure for the whole family in eye-popping stop-motion.

My Thoughts:
This was a fun film to watch over at our friend Katrina's house.  I must say one of the things Hollywood is doing right these days is animated films.  There have really been a lot of great ones in recent years.  ParaNorman is no exception.  It as very well-done on every level:  good animation, clever dialogue, plenty of humor  and scares, a genuinely creepy atmosphere, a couple of twists in the plot that you don't see coming, and great underlying message.

Lots and lots of fun - recommended for everyone except very small children.  Might be a bit dark for them.  Safe for a movie night for a group where people have drastically different tastes in films.

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall:  3.75/5

(From ParaNorman on June 3rd, 2013)

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 Random Reviews, a review by Tom

Title: No Heroics: Series One
Year: 2008
Director:
Rating: 15
Length: 132 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English

Plot:
No Heroics is a six-part comedy series about four old friends who just happen to be off-duty superheroes.

The show focuses on their day-to-day lives, which turn out to be pretty much the same as everyone else's. In fact, superheroics seem far from their minds behind relationships, sex lives, and a constant desperation for success and fame.

Instead, this group of B-listers would rather get drunk and commiserate their lack of superiority in their local superheroes-only pub, The Fortress...
No Heroics is an ground-breaking comedy featuring stellar Britcom talent. The show has garnered much critical praise and a nomination for Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2008.

Extras:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interviews
Outtakes
Photo Gallery

A fun comedy series about a bunch of washed-up superheroes hanging around in a superheroes bar. My favorite episode is the one with Mark Heap (Brian from "Spaced") as a crazy jailed supervillain. Also in this episode I loved the storyline with Timebomb having to be a bodyguard to a rich spoiled boy.

If you enjoy this series, I can definetely recommend the movie "The Specials", which is in a very similar style.

#	Episode	Rating
01	Episode 1
02	Episode 2
03	Episode 3
04	Episode 4
05	Episode 5
06	Episode 6

(From Tom's Random Reviews on September 13th, 2009)