DVD Collectors Online

Torn Curtain, a review by Rich

Title: Torn Curtain
Year: 1966
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: PG
Length: 128 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono, French: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Paul Newman
Julie Andrews
Lila Kedrova
Hansjoerg Felmy
Tamara Toumanova

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes
Scenes scored by Bernard Herrmann

For me, another case of back cover blurb exaggeration. The heart pounding action does not start as early as they make us believe... there is two problems with this film and the overly long setting up of characters and the situation is one of them. It takes entirely 70 min with only one exciting bit to explain everything. Another problem is that the action that then started at the 70min popint grinds to a halt half way through (Polish lady). The third is.... So there is three problems with this film, with the third being that we are asked to believe for a while that Paul Newman is a bad guy (well, not exactly bad, but a traitor still, which in 1056 must have been extremely bad).

But there is enough good things to save the film from being a failure. For starters, kudos for the attempt to have everyone speak in their mother tongue. I say attempt, because there is a few non-native speakers which have trouble saying their German lines or, going by the names, few German immigrants who have not spoken their mother tongue in too long. Why stop short at filling a few key roles with German actors? Then there is of course the escape sequence, which unfortunately gets interrupted and the suspense takes a back seat for a while, and the grand finale which I should have seen coming but still didn't. Also the famous scene where Armstrong struggles to kill the German security officer, even with the help of the farm-woman, must be mentioned; Hitchcock wanted to show that killing someone is a messy affair; I found the cutting to be very successful here. And as had been mentioned in Jon's review I also found the scene where Armstrong has to trick the German professor starngely exciting; two professors matching their wits with chalk and a blackboard is not what you expect to get your blood pumping.

In overall this film could have profited from a serious trimming, maybe 20 or so, or even better from some tighter scripting in the opening section. However, the second half is very entertaining and the suspense had me on the edge of the seat several times (well, not literally, but still). The acting good, but not outstanding





(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on March 15th, 2010)

Beverly Hills Cop II , a review by Dragonfire

Beverly Hills Cop II

My Thoughts

I've probably seen this one as much as I've seen the first movie.  I do think the movie works very well.  The plot is interesting, and things are set up in a way that makes for Axel to go back to Beverly Hills.  It is established within the first few minutes that Axel has remained in touch with Bogomil, Rosewood and Taggart.  There isn't a lot of mystery, though it is still interesting and entertaining.  The plot is somewhat simple, though there are still a few minor surprises.

There is a decent amount of humor like there was in the first one.  Again, much of it is provided by Axel and the things he says and does.  Axel is a very entertaining character and I do like him.  Rosewood shows a bit of a different side with a few violent tendencies coming out in interesting ways.  Some of what happens is a bit silly, but it works for what is going on.  There are shootings and chases and even an explosion or two.  The action does help to keep things interesting.  The violence isn't that graphic for the most part, though one or two things are slightly more graphic.  There is a lot of swearing again.

The characters are likable overall and I like the cast in the parts. 
There are some extras on the DVD, but I haven't checked them out yet.

The movie is wonderfully entertaining.  I do think it is one of the better sequels made and it is definitely worth watching.



I did get a review posted on Epinions.

Beverly Hills Cop II

(From Beverly Hills Cop II on September 13th, 2010)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: "I wished Buffy had never come to Sunnydale!" - After being humiliated by Mercedes and her gang about her break-up with Xander, Cordelia tracks down the source of her misery: Buffy's arrival. Unfortunately she makes that wish in front of the vengeance demon Anyanka. And she grants her wish. Suddenly Cordy finds herself in a Sunnydale that has never seen the Slayer and is ruled by the Master and his two most vicious Vampires: Willow and Xander.

My Opinion: Alternate timelines, universes, realities. I always like them on my plate. This was no exception, especially with Vamp-Xander and Vamp-Willow who were really great and I can't wait to see Vamp-Willow again in a few episodes. I also liked that Larry had become a member of the "White Hats", a role he will reprise in the season finale.

Synopsis: It's nearly Christmas in Sunnydale and it's unbearable hot. Angel is getting nightmares from victims that he has killed (among them: Jenny Calendar) and somehow Buffy is sucked into these nightmares. The First (Evil) reveals to him that it brought him back into this dimension for a reason and that Angel will become again who he was born to be: Angelus.

My Opinion: With the exception of Whistler's cryptic statements there haven't been much hints towards the fact that Angel might play a bigger role in the ultimate fight good vs. evil. But now it has become evident. The First Evil has released him from the hell dimension and The Powers That Be have saved him from becoming a pile of ash. I really liked that. I also really liked that Xander offered his help to help Angel.

Synopsis: Joyce accompanies her daughter on one of her nightly patrols to bond with her but it is she who finds two small children that were slaughtered on a playground. Enraged my this merciless murder that was most likely done by a cult and not a demon she forms a group: MOO - Mothers Opposed to the Occult. They fight against those who have taken over the town: monsters, witches and Slayers.

My Opinion:

(From "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon on July 18th, 2009)