DVD Collectors Online

Les diaboliques, a review by Antares

Les diaboliques (1955) 4.5/5 - Wow!!! If all the films in this dictation are going to be this good, I'm going to blow right through my list of shame. At first, I thought Vera Clouzot was a little wooden, but as the film progressed, I realized that she was so supposed to appear detached after living with such a bastard of a husband. Simone Signoret and Paul Meurisse were both excellent in their roles, but the one character who made this film for me was Charles Vanel as Fichet, the retired police inspector. I can now see where they got the inspiration for the Columbo character. Every moment he is on screen, he is just annoying enough that I felt that the two women were going to find away to do away with him also. Great acting, a screenplay with enough twists to make a bag of pretzels and one of the best scenes of horror I've ever witnessed in a film. They say that this was the scariest film before Psycho was released in 1960, and while that film has two very scary scenes, both of the frightening moments are manipulated through the use of music to add to the fear and tension. For me, less is more, and the climactic horror scene in this film works better than the two in Psycho, because of the lack of music. It's pure imagery which forces you to feel the fear that Christina is experiencing in that moment. This is definitely going into my top twenty of all time.

(From Antares' Short Summations on April 6th, 2011)

Sleepless in Seattle, a review by Rich

Title: Sleepless in Seattle

Runtime:101
Certificate:PG
Year:1993
Genres:Comedy, Romance

Plot:Christmas is a magical time when anything can happen. And for Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), a down-to-earth newspaper reporter, it's just about to.
Whilst driving to her fiancé's house on Christmas Eve, she hears a radio broadcast that will change her life.
Eight-year-old Jonah is worried about his recently widowed father, and calls a radio station agony aunt. Persuaded onto the phone, Jonah's dad Sam (Tom Hanks) tells of his love for his dead wife and how their time together was pure magic.
Annie is so touched by his heartfelt sentiment that she becomes determined to meet him. But there are a few problems: Sam's in Seattle, Annie's in Baltimore...and Sam doesn't even know that Annie exists!

My Review:
Note to self - hide remote controls when girlfriend visiting
Forced Chose to watch this sloppy romance again, on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon. It delivers exactly what it says on the tin, lots of romance, weepy moments, lumps in throat musical inserts, top cast list and a few make you smile moments.
Not much more I can say about such a well known film, except if I am being honest it is pretty watchable, and it is enjoyable for all viewers without engaging the brain too much.


(From Riches Random Reviews on November 29th, 2009)

Firefly Marathon, a review by Tom

07. Jaynestown
Writer: Ben Edlund (Writer)
Director: Marita Grabiak
Cast: Nathan Fillion (Mal), Gina Torres (Zoe), Alan Tudyk (Wash), Morena Baccarin (Inara), Adam Baldwin (Jayne), Jewel Staite (Kaylee), Sean Maher (Simon), Summer Glau (River), Ron Glass (Shepherd Book), Gregory Itzin (Magistrate Higgins), Daniel Bess (Mudder), Kevin Gage (Stitch Hessian), Zachary Kranzier (Fess Higgins), Jordan Lund (Foreman), Bob McCracken (Well-Dressed Man), Ronald Craig Williams (Busker), John Jabaley (Bartender), Laura Niemi (Woman), Simon Brooke (Prod), Clement E. Blake (Mudder Elder)

A lot of great moments. I love the scenes between River and Book. How River is trying to fix the bible
And all that hair!
And I also like the Jayne storyline, where a town is celebrating him as a hero. Really funny is the scene where the crew learn about this while listening to the Jayne-Song.

Rating:

(From Firefly Marathon on February 28th, 2010)