DVD Collectors Online

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival, a review by Antares

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970) 74/100, who seems to be in the story, just to give Ichi a final showdown at the end. He kind of sleepwalks his way through the role, and I felt his presence halted the screenplay when he appeared. There's also a weird action scene in a bathhouse where Ichi defends himself against a dozen naked yakuza. And while the use of water buckets is quite well placed, the scene seems to be just there for shock and giggles. It's definitely a middle of the road offering in the series, but Toho is starting to get it right. Hopefully, the last four films will progress more towards the better Daiei renderings.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on November 8th, 2014)

Libeled Lady, a review by Antares

Libeled Lady (1936) 79/100 - I avoided this film for years because I've never much cared for the acting "talents" of Jean Harlow. Plus, I made the mistake of thinking this was a drama, not a comedy. When it was about to start on TCM, Robert Osborne mentioned that it was considered a screwball classic, so I decided to give it a shot. Turned out to be a well scripted farce with great performances from Myrna Loy, William Powell and Walter Connolly. Harlow and Tracy's performances both felt a bit forced. I know that Tracy is considered one of the all time greats, but just like his mistress, Katharine Hepburn, the early performances tend to show an indulgence in over exuberance in delivery of lines. I don't think he really got it right until he made Captain's Courageous two years later. Getting back to the film, I'm surprised that this hasn't been remade because its premise is timeless, especially in a society today where even the slightest misfire by someone is grounds for litigation.

What the color coding means...

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on October 9th, 2013)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: SG-1 is still searching for the "Lost City" or - as Jonas translates it now - "City of the Lost", a city of the Ancients that wasn't fully completed. They try to find the city with the help of the Gate addresses Jack entered into the computer when he had the knowledge of the Ancients. But they find something different - someone, to be precise.

My Opinion: The attack on Anubis's ship was a nice homage to the battle above Yavin in Star Wars IV, including Jack's comment that his F-302 (it's obviously not eXperimental anymore) should have the call sign "Red Leader". Michael Shanks has re-joined the main cast and returns to his role as Dr. Daniel Jackson. And while I liked Jonas, Daniel is somehow better. Jack and Daniel know each other for over seven years and even in the end Jonas was still "the new guy". The chemistry between Jack and Daniel worked instantaneously again in terms of: they like each other but are totally different.

Synopsis: Daniel and Jonas are still aboard Anubis's ship which hovers now over the capitol of Kelowna. Anubis wants to have the Naqahdriah and the knowledge of how to create a stable reaction.

My Opinion: On one hand it's understandable that Jonas returns home. Daniel is back and all three countries on his home planet know about the Stargate now. It's a bit sad, though. But since Daniel and he had basically the same role within SG-1 it would be hard to acknowledge this fact in future scripts.

Synopsis: When Jack awakes one morning, he is a teenanger of fifteen years. No one believes that he is Colonel Jack O'Neill. After his DNA has been confirmed they try to find out what happened and how to reverse it.

My Opinion: This time I even looked on the clock. The first appearance of RDA was in the 31st minute of this 42 minute episode. On the other hand one has to get used to it since his screen time will drop considerably from the 8th season on.
But it was good to see that not all Asgard are good and perfect, that even they have black sheeps.

Synopsis: After T'ealc has been wounded on a mission, he begins to doubt himself. Since he has lost "Junior" and has begun to inject Tretonin he doesn't feel as a full-fledged Jaffa anymore. But then there's a new crisis arising, Bra'tac and Rya'c are prisoners in a work camp that one only leaves dead.

My Opinion: A very good episode to show that something has changed for Teal'c. A symbiote has been part of his body for about 90 years (Teal'c is approximately 104 years old at this time) and now this part is missing. I can imagine that this is hard to get used to. I also liked the scene where his son helped im through the crisis by letting Teal'c kill the other Jaffa with his bare hands.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on April 13th, 2008)