DVD Collectors Online

Vacancy (2007), a review by Jimmy

Title: Vacancy (2007)

Genre: Horror
Director:Rating: R
Length: 1h25
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English / French
Subtitles: English / French

Stars:
Kate Beckinsale
Luke Wilson
Frank Whaley
Ethan Embry
Scott G. Anderson

Plot:
When David (Luke Wilson) and Amy Fox's (Kate Beckinsale) car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they are forced to spend the night at the only motel around, with only the TV to entertain them - until they discover that the low-budget slasher videos they find in their room were all filmed in the very room in which they're sitting. With hidden cameras now aimed at them - trapping them in rooms, crawlspaces, underground tunnels - and filming their every move, David and Amy must struggle to get out alive before they end up the next victims on tape.

Let me start by saying this one had a lot of potential, just check how the trailer make it looks great. Sadly it doesn't go further than this...

Boring by the book script that feels like it was done by a computer using keywords to create a 100 pages script. Acting not convincing at all by two not so great actors to begin with. A complete lack of scary mood (yes, it's the kind of film full of sound to tell you when you are supposed to be scare). A dead kid add to the mix for no reason, maybe to make the viewer care for the protagonist (if it is indeed the case it doesn't work, developing the character is usually the way to do it). Even worse, we don't see any killing on the video as they all happen off-screen. Wich bring the rating non-sense, there is no reason for this movie to be rated "R" in fact here it's a 14+.

Also did you know that when the electricity is cut a VCR resumes the reading of a tape where it did stop when the electricity return...  

OK I know I usually have a negative bias against the new film but seriously this one is not recommanded at all...


 
Rating :

(From Jimmy's - 2011 Ooctober Horror Marathon on October 2nd, 2011)

The Human Contract, a review by KinkyCyborg

The Human Contract



Title:The Human Contract
Year: 2008
Director: Jada Pinkett Smith
Rating: R
Length: 107 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jason Clarke
Paz Vega
Idris Elba
Steven Brand

Plot:
Corporate player Julian Wright (Jason Clarke) stands on the verge of the deal of his career. But his life just crossed paths with a woman (Paz Vega) who will turn his world upside down, triggering emotions Julian never knew he had. As he pursues her in a dangerous game of seduction, he is forced to confront his past. Ultimately, Julian must face the dark family secrets that continue to haunt him and his troubled sister (Jada Pinkett Smith). Jada Pinkett Smith makes her directorial debut with this sophisticated, stylish and suspenseful film.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Featurettes


Directorial debut of Jada Pinkett Smith which was much better than I was expecting. The ending left a boatload of unanswered questions but it was compelling to watch throughout.  

An arrogant, hotshot corporate prick named Julian, played by an ugly Jason Clarke (he's the spitting image of Quentin Tarantino) after meeting up with a beautiful free spirit named Michael, played by Paz Vega, has his wall of defenses, born of a troubled childhood, slowly begin to disintegrate.

Very slow pace to this film but not in a bad way as the time is used to deftly develop the interesting characters. Some intensely erotic scenes make things interesting as well.

Jason Clarke, despite a face that only a mother could love, is a very intense, good young actor whom I'd like to see more from. Paz Vega is a gorgeous woman but it's unfortunate she has to speak. I've always found her rapid, clipped dialogue rather exasperating and difficult to understand at times although here she does manage to convey a lot of emotion.

Good supporting roles from Idris Elba, Jada Pinkett Smith and Ted Danson along with an excellent musical score make this a surprising good pick up of a movie that I knew little to nothing about. I'd recommend this for a watch.

KC



Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2011 on June 10th, 2011)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

What's the show about?
Michael Westen used to be a spy. But one day he got "burned" and was dumped in Miami. Ever since he tries to find out why he was burned and by whom. In the meantime he helps people the normal police can't or won't help. He has help, though: A trigger-happy ex-girlfriend, who used to rob banks for the IRA; another retired spy who has settled down in Miami and makes his "special lady friends" happy; and his mother!

"Pilot"
Michael Westen was about to finalize a deal with a local crime lord to protect a certain piece of land in Africa, but when he tries to get the money wired he's informed that the deal is off because he got burned. Although they beat the crap out of him he manages to escape. The next time he regains full consciousness, he's in Miami and his "emergency contact" (his ex-girlfriend) Fiona is sitting by his bed. He tries to find out why he got burned and how his mother had fount out that he was in town. Since his credit cards won't work anymore he takes a small job to find out who stole a number of paintings from a rich man's house.

My Opinion
In the beginning it was just OK, but it got better with every episode, especially when the "burn notice" arc fully kicked in. The characters are all great, especially when Michael's mother Madeline becomes more and more involved in Michael's cases and he has to deal with her and Fi at the same time. The show is very humorous but it's still an action show and people get killed all the time - but usually not by any of the good guys: Michael is a master "chess player", he usually manages to make the bad boys kill each other, thus solving the problem.


So, that's all folks, no more pilots in the pipeline...

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on September 28th, 2009)