DVD Collectors Online

The Black Pirate, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Black Pirate
Year of Release: 1926
Directed By: Albert Parker
Starring: Douglas Fairbanks, Bille Dove, Donald Crisp, Sam De Grasse
Genre: Adventure, Action

Overview:
Riding the crest of popularity after his hit films The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Three Musketeers, the silent cinema's greatest adventure hero crowned his accomplishments with the spectacular Technicolor epic THE BLACK PIRATE.

The sole survivor of a ship pillaged by buccaneers, Michel (Fairbanks) poses as the mysterious Black Pirate and infiltrates a nest of bandits. He mounts an elaborate ploy to earn their trust, reclaim the ship and rescue a kidnapped princess (Billie Dove). Like a Robert Louis Stevenson adventure come to life, THE BLACK PIRATE ripples with customary intrigue and a rapid succession of brilliantly inventive stunts.

Mastered from a 35mm negative, this special Kino edition carefully recreates the authentic palette of two-strip Technicolor (comprised of varying blends of green and orange), so that modern viewers can savor the photography The New York Times praised as, "mindful of the paintings of the old masters."

My Thoughts:
This is a fun swashbuckling adventure. It has great action and stunts (mostly courtesy of Fairbanks), a dashing hero, a treacherous villain, and a fair maiden in distress. It's everything you want in a pirate movie - sword fights, treasure, robbery, murder, kidnapping, romance, a scene with our hero forced to walk the plank.  

Don't try to judge this against modern films.  You simply aren't going to have the kind of film you see now.  In its day, this was a lavish production with expensive, and experimental, two-color Technicolor film.  One of the earliest full-length color films!  It's a dynamic, entertaining yarn I'd recommend to anyone who likes a good pirate film or a good silent film.  Lots and lots of fun.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Off Day Alphabet Marathon on August 9th, 2014)

Coco, a review by addicted2dvd

Coco: Multi-Screen Edition (2017/United States) Buena Vista Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Lee Unkrich Writing: Lee Unkrich (Story By), Jason Katz (Story By), Matthew Aldrich (Story By), Adrian Molina (Story By), Adrian Molina (Screenwriter), Matthew Aldrich (Screenwriter) Length: 105 min. Video: Widescreen 2.39:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, English: DTS-HD High Resolution: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:Plot:
Despite his familys baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael Garca Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Digital Copy

Going by the trailer of this one I had the feeling I would enjoy it. And the film did not let me down. I liked how they portrayed all the dead as skeletons. I also like how they portrayed both worlds. And I definately got a kick out of Donte the dog. Time really flew while watching this one as it was over before I knew it. This one definitely gets a recommendation from me.



(From Month Long Marathon: Best Animated Feature Film on May 7th, 2018)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

21. Power Play
Original Air Date: 5/12/2004
Angel's strange behavior convinces the gang that he's joined an elite group of evildoers called the Circle of the Black Thorn - a group he could have only joined by killing one of his own.

Guest Stars:
Christian Kane
Dennis Christopher
Alec Newman
Jenny Mollen
Adam Baldwin

My Thoughts:
Starting to get really good again. This is basically the first part of the series finale. The team thinks Angel went bad... but that is what he needed them to think.

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 25th, 2010)