DVD Collectors Online

Avatar, a review by Antares

Avatar (2009) 2/5 - In my youth, my favorite band was Yes. Not only did I love their music, but I was completely enthralled with their album covers, which were created by graphic artist Roger Dean. I used to think that it would be so great to have a film based on his atmospheric and fantasy landscapes. Well, 35 years later, James Cameron did it. If I were to rate this film on the technological achievements alone, I would probably rate it 4/5. While it is amazingly beautiful, at times I also found it a bit too much. Kind of like turning a kid loose in a candy store, and eating himself sick. I think that if Cameron could have, for once, set his enormous ego aside, and let someone who knows how to write a good screenplay, take over that part of the film, then this could have been a masterpiece. I can't tell you how many times I cringed listening to the cliched dialog in this worn out story. I can understand the hype, but when all is said and done, it's all just eye candy, that in about another five years, will be forgettable when the next level of graphic CGI emerges. That's the double edge of the special effects sword...eventually, it will look as antiquated as King Kong does today.

(From Antares' Short Summations on November 14th, 2011)

Never on Sunday, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Greece
wikipedia

What We Watched:


Pote tin Kyriaki (Never on Sunday)
Year of Release: 1960
Directed By: Jules Dassin
Starring: Melina Mercouri, Jules Dassin, George Foundas, Titos Vandis
Genre: Romance, Comedy

Overview:
Glasses are smashing.  Fingers are snapping.  Everybody is dancing to the sultry music of the Bouzoukies.  It is just another glorious moment in the carefree world of Illia, Greece's most radiant lady of the night.  Sensuous Illia adores her life and every man in her seaport paradise adores her.  But when Homer, a stuffy American intellectual, sails into town and tries to reform her, Illia shows him who is one free spirit who is happy with her wild life and not about to be tamed...

My Thoughts:
This was a beautiful, earthy movie with a lust for life.  Ilya is an independent woman, a woman who loves her life and her freedom, who grasps the pleasures of life and friends with both hands.  Melina Mercouri is a joy to watch as Ilya, her effortless charisma winning you over instantly.  I had no sympathy for the male lead, Homer, or for what the Captain tells Homer before he leaves, because Ilya does not need to be saved.  She is just fine the way she is, and those who cannot accept her do not truly love her.  This is a gem of a film that will make you feel good and leave a smile on your face.  Recommended.

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3.75/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on March 6th, 2014)

Twilight Zone, a review by addicted2dvd

98. The Dummy (5/4/62)
A ventriloquist (Cliff Robertson) is convinced that his dummy, Willie, is alive and evil. He makes plans for a new act with a new dummy. Plans that Willie does not support!

My Thoughts:
This is another one of the many episodes I never seen before. And I liked this one a lot. Sure... I seen many of "living dummy" shows... but this one came before all of those. And it was well done. Attached to the end of this episode is a public service announcement with Smokey the Bear about preventing forest fires. The extras included for this episode is an audio commentary with Cliff Robertson, an isolated score and The Twilight Zone Radio Drama with Bruno Kirby.

99. Young Man's Fancy  (5/11/62)
When a newlywed couple briefly return to the groom's childhood home, the ties of the past prove too strong to resist.

My Thoughts:
And once again... one I never seen before. Unfortunately this one didn't impress me all that much. It is an ok story... but just not that interesting. Attached to the end of this episodes is a TV Spot for the series Gunsmoke. The only extra for this episode is an isolated score.

100. I Sing the Body Electric   (5/18/62)
Anne (Veronica Cartwright) must learn to understand and accept that her new grandmother can be tender, loving, thoughtful and caring. Even if she is a robot.

My Thoughts:
Wow.... towards the end of season 3.... and we are already at 100 episodes! Now a day you usually don't get to the 100th episode till the fifth season! This is one I have seen (and enjoyed) before.We see a familiar face in this one with David White... who played Larry Tate on Bewitched. It is more of a lighthearted, sweet story... but a good one. Attached to the end of this episode is a public service announcement asking for help for the colleges. Extras attached to this episode includes a Marc Zicree interview with Buck Houghton and an isolated score.

101. Cavender Is Coming   (5/25/62)
Carol Burnett stars as Agnes Grep in this tale of a klutzy usherette "rescued" from poverty by a guardian angel. This charming episode was considered as a pilot for a new TV show.

My Thoughts:
This is another one I never seen before. It is a fun episode... played more for comedy... but that is to be expected of an episode that stars Carol Burnett.  Attached to the end of this episode is. a TV Spot for Gunsmoke. The only extra with this episode is a clip from "The Gary Moore Show" where Rod Serling does a spoof on his Twilight Zone intros and a short skit of a story also with Carrol Burnett.

102. The Changing of the Guard   (6/1/62)
Donald Pleasance is Professor Ellis Fowler, forced to retire after 51 years of teaching. Feeling his life has been worthless, Fowler is startled by the ghostly appearance of former students.

My Thoughts:
And once again... one I never seen before. While not what I would call a Christmas episode... it is Christmas time that the story takes place. Not the best episode I ever seen... but a good one. I would have never recognized Donald Pleasance  if it was there in the overview.attached to this episode is an add for a Promise of America booklet. The only extra for this episode is an isolated score.

Over-all a good disc. I enjoyed most all the episodes this time. I can't believe I am finally at the end of the 3rd season. On this disc along with the few extras with each episode... we get a selection of extras that is devoted to the season itself.

Other Season 3 Extras:
- The Famous Writers' School Promo
- Sci-Fi Channel Twilight Zone Marathon Promo Spots
- Rod Serling Night Gallery Promo Spots
- Season 3 Billboards
- Season 3 Photo Gallery
- The Twilight Zone Comic Book (in .pdf format)


Episodes I seen for the First time on this set include:

   1. Judgment Night (Episode 10)
   2. And When The Sky Was Opened (Episode 11)
   3. What You Need (Episode 12)
   4. I Shot an Arrow into the Air (Episode 15)
   5. The Hitch-Hiker (Episode 16)
   6. The Purple Testiment (Episode 19)
   7. Elegy (Episode 20)
   8. Mirror Image (Episode 21)
   9. A World of Difference (Episode 23)
  10. Long Live Walter Jameson (Episode 24)
  11. People Are Alike All Over (Episode 25)
  12. Execution (Episode 26)
  13. The Big Tall Wish (Episode 27)
  14. A Nice Place to Visit (Episode 28)
  15. Nightmare as a Child (Episode 29)
  16. The Chaser (Episode 31)
  17. Mr. Bevis (Episode 33)
  18. The Mighty Casey (Episode 35)
  19. A World of his Own (Episode 36)
  20. The Man in the Bottle (Episode 38)
  21. A Thing About Machines (Episode 40)
  22. The Howling Man (Episode 41)
  23. A Most Unusual Camera (Episode 46)
  24. Dust (Episode 48)
  25. Back There (Episode 49)
  26. The Whole Truth (Episode 50)
  27. Twenty-Two (Episode 53)
  28. The Odyssey of Flight 33 (Episode 54)
  29. Static (Episode 56)
  30. The Rip Van Winkle Caper (Episode 60)
  31. The Silence (Episode 61)
  32. Shadow Play (Episode 62)
  33. The Mind and the Matter (Episode 63)
  34. Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up (Episode 64)
  35. The Arrival (Episode 67)
  36. The Mirror (Episode 71)
  37. Still Valley (Episode 76)
  38. The Jungle (Episode 77)
  39. A Quality of Mercy (Episode 80)
  40. Dead Man's Shoes (Episode 83)
  41. The Hunt (Episode 84)
  42. A Piano in the House (Episode 87)
  43. Little Girl Lost (Episode 91)
  44. Person or Persons Unknown (Episode 92)
  45. The Little People (Episode 93)
  46. Four O'Clock (Episode 94)
  47. Hocus-Pocus and Frisby (Episode 95)
  48. The Gift (Episode 97)
  49. The Dummy (Episode 98)
  50. Young Man's Fancy (Episode 99)
  51. Cavender Is Coming (Episode 101)
  52. The Changing of the Guard (Episode 102)

(From Twilight Zone on April 2nd, 2010)