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Dead Man Walking, a review by KinkyCyborg

Dead Man Walking



Title:Dead Man Walking
Year: 1995
Director: Tim Robbins
Rating: R
Length: 122 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: Spanish

Stars:
Susan Sarandon
Sean Penn
Robert Prosky
Raymond J. Barry
R. Lee Ermey

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Production Notes
Closed Captioned
2-Page Booklet


First time watching this and what an intense, emotionally gripping movie it was. True story about Sister Helen Prejean, who at the request of a death row inmate, becomes his spiritual counselor. Inexperienced in such matters, confused and scared shitless, she knows she can't save his life but tries desperately to save his soul.

Maybe Susan Sarandon's finest performance and certainly worthy of the Oscar she received. You could tell how much of an emotional investment she had in this role as she took direction not only from director/hubby Tim Robbins, but from the actual Sister Prejean who was a consultant on the film. Getting first hand accounts of the last week of this convicted killer's life right up to his execution would help any actor get into their role, least of all a great actress like Sarandon.

Sean Penn also earned himself an Oscar nom for his role as the convicted killer whose pride, hatred and disdain for authority eventually works his way towards accountability, remorse and a small amount of redemption thanks to the kindness shown to him by Sister Prejean. No one can dispute Penn's convincing and powerful performances, particularly in difficult roles and he brought it home again in this one.

I'm not exactly sure what message Tim Robbins was trying to convey with this movie save perhaps simple compassion. Dead Man Walking provides plenty of ammunition for both sides of the capital punishment debate and I found it did little to sway my own opinion on the subject. The pros and cons were pretty much a wash and I'd love to ask Robbins that question if I had the chance. I'm also interested to hear other people's take on this movie who have seen it before. It's for sure one of those movies that can inspire spirited discussion, debate and pondering.

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on November 8th, 2010)

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
Year: 1985
Director: Jerry Paris
Rating: PG-13
Length: 87 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Steve Guttenberg
Bubba Smith
David Graf
Michael Winslow
Bruce Mahler

Plot:
To Protect, Serve...and entertain. The comic crimebusters are back!

An anti-social nut job and his leathered band of pranksters are on the prowl, spray-painting the town red and emptying the pockets of anyone sharing the sidewalk. In the wake of this crime wave, you might wonder where the educational system went wrong. But then again, consider the Police Academy.

For when the newly graduated misfits in blue tangle with these pinheaded punkers in 'Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment,' the result is an open-and-shut case of nonstop hilarity. Steve Guttenberg, George Gaynes and other Police Academy originals return to the roll call, facing the formidable Bobcat Goldthwait in the tailor-made role of the wacked-out gangleader. It's a riot - a laugh-riot - in the streets!

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Featurettes
Closed Captioned


Other than for a few isolated laughs, mostly coming from Bobcat Goldthwait as gang leader Zed, this has few redeeming qualities. Most of the franchise's regulars achieved very little outside of these silly movies.

Performers who let themselves go #1 : Colleen Camp.

She used to be a gorgeous woman... now she is the token livestock in any movie she appears in. 

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on June 8th, 2010)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: First Minister Shakaar is coming to the station to negotiate Bajor's joining of the Federation. But a cardassian terror group wants to assassinate him and Odo and Worf are trying to protect him. But Odo has also to deal with the fact that Kira is falling in love with Shakaar while he's also in love with her.

My Opinion: It's the same old story. He loves her but doesn't tell her and she runs off with another guy. But I liked how Quark could see right through Odo's mask and how he helped him and how Odo thanked him. They both like each other more than they dare to admit (in a total ungayish way ).

Synopsis: After he has brought Ziyal home, Dukat has been demoted to freighter captain and he is to bring Major Kira to a conference in cardassian space. But the conference is attacked by a klingon Bird of Prey and the freighter isn't a match for it. Even when Dukat attacks the BoP doesn't return fire but simply leaves. There isn't a worse thing you could have done to Dukat's pride and he plans to retaliate.

My Opinion: Although I found it a bit unrealistic that the freighter's disrupters couldn't penetrate the BoP's hull even when the shields were down this was a very good episode. I liked it how Kira taught Dukat how to think outside the box and use things in an unconventional way to defeat a superior enemy.

Synopsis: Worf's (younger) brother Kurn comes to the station and asks Worf to kill him so that he may have an honourable death. Due to previous events, Worf has become an outcast and he was stripped of lands and titles. Kurn, who had a seat on the klingon High Council, is also dishonoured. But Dax interferes and Kurn survives and has to adjust to a life outside the klingon society.

My Opinion: And once again human and klingon cultures have clashed. And once again Worf had to decide whether he wants to be a klingon warrior or a Starfleet officer. But it was a bit sad that Kurn had to "die" and that Worf has now lost his brother forever. He's alone again.

Synopsis: Due to the bajoran cleansing ritual, the turnover of the bar is minimal. Quark decides to cut wages by 1/3 but now he's gone to far. Even his brother revolts against him and they found a union. But unions and strikes are strictly forbidden by Ferengi law. Soon after the beginning of the strike Brunt arrives on the station and he makes it clear that the strike has to end or they will make an example of Quark and Rom.

My Opinion: Finally Rom has emancipated himself from his brother. This episode was a nice reminder of why the first unions were founded and what often happened to "union mans".  But one thing a Ferengi said is still true in our society: We don't want to overcome exploitation, we just want to become the exploiters.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on November 9th, 2008)