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Couples Retreat, a review by addicted2dvd

Couples Retreat (2009/United States) Trailer |IMDb |Wikipedia | Universal Studios Home Entertainment Director: Peter Billingsley Writing: Jon Favreau (Writer), Vince Vaughn (Writer), Dana Fox (Writer) Length: 114 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:
Vince Vaughn as Dave
Jason Bateman as Jason
Faizon Love as Shane
Jon Favreau as Joey
Malin Akerman as Ronnie
Kristen Bell as Cynthia

Plot:
Vince Vaughn leads an all-star cast in the laugh-out-loud comedy about eight friends whose vacation in paradise is one they'll never forget. Their group-rate vacation comes at a price when they discover that participation in the resort's unconventional couples therapy activities is anything but optional. Co-starring Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Malin Akerman, Couples Retreat is a hilarious party in paradise, loaded with laughter and fun!

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes/Bloopers

I have caught this film before, it was either on cable or we got the disc from Netflix... not sure which. I picked this one to watch because I have become a fan of Kristen Bell since first seeing her series Veronica Mars. On the other hand... it also has Jason Bateman in it as well. And he is one I never been a fan of. I don't know... not saying he is a terrible actor or anything. Just something about him that has always bugged me.

As for the film itself. I would say no more then average. It is good enough to keep my attention through-out. But that is about it. There is no real laughs here. Nothing all that special.

TV Stars in This Film:
Jason Bateman: Arrested Development, The Hogan Family, Silver Spoons
Kristen Bell: Veronica Mars, House of Lies
Kristin Davis: Sex and the City



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: TV Stars in the Movies on April 19th, 2013)

Dracula (1931), a review by addicted2dvd

Dracula (1931)
After a harrowing ride through the Carpathian mountains in eastern Europe, Renfield enters castle Dracula to finalize the transferral of Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula, who is in actuality a vampire. Renfield is drugged by the eerily hypnotic count, and turned into one of his thralls, protecting him during his sea voyage to London. After sucking the blood and turning the young Lucy Weston into a vampire, Dracula turns his attention to her friend Mina Seward, daughter of Dr. Seward who then calls in a specialist, Dr. Van Helsing, to diagnose the sudden deterioration of Mina's health. Van Helsing, realizing that Dracula is indeed a vampire, tries to prepare Mina's fiance, John Harker, and Dr. Seward for what is to come and the measures that will have to be taken to prevent Mina from becoming one of the undead.

My Thoughts:
This is the first movie I ever watched with  Bela Lugosi in it. And one of my favorite versions of Dracula. I think Bela Lugosi does an outstanding job in the title role. What with this movie being over 75 years old... I wasn't expecting much from the audio and video on this release. But I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. Though I did have to turn the volume up on my surround sound a little... the quality was impressing. There was some noticeable dust on the video... but nothing that bad at all. It was a very good presentation... and the DVD gives us a nice collection of extras. though I only watched the Theatrical Trailer so far... I like to watch those before the movie to help me get in the mood for what I am about to watch.

(From Classic Monster Movie Marathon on May 15th, 2008)

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

Synopsis: Kira is informed that someone has found wreckage parts of a ships she has been looking for. It disappeared six years ago during the occupation. On that ship was a former member of her resistance cell. But when she departs for her search she has an unexpected companion: Dukat.

My Opinion: Once again it has been shown that Dukat isn't a one-dimensional character but he's also never been portrayed as a "good guy". I liked the introduction of Dukat's "half-breed" daughter Tora Ziyal because she brought out another aspect of Dukat's character, a side we will see again. I also liked the general idea to put Kira and Dukat on a joined mission without any other character interfering.

Synopsis: Dr. Lenara Kahn comes to the station and she wants to create an artificial wormhole. The problem is: Lenara Kahn was once Nilani Kahn and Nilani was married to Torias Dax two lifetimes ago. In the Trill society it's strictly forbidden to romantically "re-associate" with a former lover.

My Opinion: Interestingly many people saw this episode as a statement about homosexuality which it was not. I found it very interesting because one had to try to imagine what it would be like to live several hundred years always merge with a new host and thus creating a different personality yet not forgetting the feelings for past loves. It's even harder to imagine than with the Tok'ra (Stargate SG-1) because there the consciousnesses of host and symbiont were still a bit separated.

Synopsis: Quark wants to bring Nog to Earth personally and he takes his new shuttle "Quark's Treasure". But he is smuggling Kemocite at the same time and due to sabotage the ship has an accident and travels through time. And when Quark, Rom and Nog wake up they find themselves in a military facility near a town called Roswell in the year 1947.

My Opinion: This was a funny episode. It was great to see how Quark imagined to make business with these kinds of humans who are nothing like the Federation humans of his time. But even he was appalled about some aspects of human society (smoking, atom bomb tests, ...). I enjoyed this episode very much.

Synopsis: Business with the Karemma isn't going so well because it can only be conducted through the Ferengi (The Karemma wouldn't dare to oppose the Dominion). When Sisko tries to negotiate with them they are attacked by Jem'Hadar fighters and have to hide in a gas giant. From there things get worse.

My Opinion: It was an OK episode. It was interesting to see how Worf had the interact with the engineering crew because that was new territory to him. We mustn't forget that he has been a command crew officer only for a few months. But I was surprised when O'Brien mentioned that most the engineering crew hasn't been to Starfleet academy. It seems logical but until now I always thought that everyone who wore the uniform had been to the academy. I think that falls into the same category as we've never seen enlisted personnel in TNG - even O'Brien wore the insignia of a Lieutenant.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on November 8th, 2008)