DVD Collectors Online

The Masque of the Red Death, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Masque of the Red Death

Year of Release:  1964
Directed By:  Roger Corman
Starring:  Vincent Price, Hazel Court, Jane Asher, David Weston, Nigel Green, Patrick Magee
Rating:  Not Rated

Overview:danse macabre!

My Thoughts:
Vincent Price is also one of my favorite actors, and I have loved every one of the movies he and Roger Corman did based on Edgar Allan Poe, so naturally I wanted to get one of these in this year.  Like the others, Masque did not disappoint me.  Price was a wonderfully sinister, cultured, cruel Prospero, and Corman's direction is solid and unobtrusive.  The supporting cast is darn good as well, which can't always be said of a film with Price, but here it can be.  The sets and costuming were colorful and lavish, especially for a Corman film (but in the interview extra he relates how he got sets from either Becket or A Man for All Seasons so it makes sense) and with Nicholas Roeg as cinematographer there is a great use of light and dark in the film.  This is a great film for any fan of Price, Corman, classic horror or Poe (for even if the script is padded, the masquerade stays true to Poe's story).  Highly recommended.

Bechdel Test:  Pass, but barely  (one conversation between Juliana & Francesca about Hell, Satan and losing one's soul)

Overall: 4/5

(From Danae's 2012 Horror on October 14th, 2012)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a review by Dragonfire

I enjoyed Transformers for the most part when it came out, though I did think it had some issues.  I've been wanting to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.  I wasn't expecting it to be anything more than an entertaining action movie.  It makes a decent mindless action movie but it has some issues.

Some of the Autobots, including Optimus Prime, have been working with a secret organization that was formed to deal with the Decepticons that are still on Earth.  The Decepticons have a new plan that involves them tracking down Megatron and bringing him back.

Sam is getting ready to go to college without his girlfriend Mikaela and Bumblee, his Autobot protector.  Sam ends up with information that the Decepticons need to implement their plan, so he becomes a target again.  That wrecks his plans for trying to have a normal life.

The movie is long, but the plot is really simple, with much of what is shared just being there to serve as filler between the action scenes.  A few things are introduced, like Mikaela's father being back, that ultimately add nothing to the movie.  The plot really is rather thin, which makes the movie weaker.  I do think it was a bit too long.  There is nothing serious about the movie.  There are several things added for humor and while they were funny, many of them were a bit crude or silly.

The action scenes are entertaining and mostly well done, though there are so many action scenes that they get a bit overbearing.  The special effects lose some of their impact and coolness because of that.  Michael Bay isn't one of my favorite directors and his style hasn't changed.  He still uses tons of quick cuts which makes it very difficult to tell what is going on at times.  The camera work is shaky in several scenes, something else that bugs me.  There are so many quick cuts in a some sequences, that some things just pass in a blur.  I really hate that.

The acting is fine, though nothing really great.  There is basically no development to the characters, so they are just sort of there.  Many of the robots blend together and I can't tell some of them apart.  Sam is a decent character and he has a little bit of development related to him heading off to college. 

I was not impressed with Megan Fox - though I know that male viewers will probably feel differently, especially since she shows up in some very skimpy outfits and even does a bit of a strip tease at one point. 

Overall, it is an entertaining mindless action movie, though it could have been better with a stronger story and better camera work.  Fans of the first movie will probably find something to like.  Some people may just be happy to sit and drool over Megan Fox.



I did get a review posted on Epinions if anyone wants to take a look.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

(From Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on June 25th, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Gilligan's Island
A three-hour tour? No way! Not when you have all 36 Season-One episodes of 'Gilligan's Island' plus a cargo of DVD extras that include the originally unaired pilot.

The S.S. Minnow first sailed into living rooms on September 26, 1964, and from there steered into legend. Certainly much credit for the show's three-year run and amazing afterlife goes to the remarkable cast whose characters managed to endure life on the island while never losing their comic timing. Bravo to Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jim Backus, Natalie Schaefer, Tina Louise, Russel Johnson and Dawn Wells. It's a joy to be stranded with them time and again - here on Gilligan's Isle.

Two on a Raft
The shipwrecked castaways awaken to find themselves marooned on an uncharted island, so Gilligan and Skipper set out on a flimsy raft to find civilization.

My Thoughts:
A silly but fun show. That one short sentence pretty much describes it. Sure some of it is ridiculous. I have to admit... I enjoyed it more when I was a kid then I do now. But I still get in the mood to watch it sometimes. And Brittany really enjoyed it as well. I kinda like how the pilot episode introduces you to all the characters... with the news on the radio listing them and what they do where they talk about them being lost at sea. And the shark attack was pretty fun as well. The first season (of 3) is the only season that is in Black and White. I own the first two seasons... and I do plan on eventually getting season 3 if for no other reason to complete the series... but I would like to see the episodes again anyway... as I am sure would Britt.

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on January 26th, 2010)