DVD Collectors Online

Whispering Corridors, a review by Danae Cassandra

Whispering Corridors (Yeogo goedam)
Year of Release: 1998
Directed By: Ki-Hyung Park
Starring: Kang-hee Choi, Gyu-ri Kim, Min-jung Kim, Mi-yeon Lee, Jin-hie Park, Ji-hye Yun
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Life is what you'd expect for young teenagers in this seemingly normal private all-girls school, until a past alumni returns as a teacher. She strikes up a friendship with two very different students and a horrific course of events ensues. A teacher is found dead, apparently having committed suicide, and circumstances that inextricably link both the past and the present are unveiled. As the body count rises, the memories of the deaths unleash the echoes of ghosts down the corridors.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good piece of horror. That some of the most horrific scenes are carried out by the living in no way diminishes the power of the ghost story. The ghost is a powerful supernatural being. And she does bring a brutal retribution down. But the true horror is a school culture that not only condones bullying but has teachers actively participating in it, pitting student against student, berating and belittling them for low scores in front of all their peers.

The film creates a great oppressive atmosphere in the school, and the actors all do a good job. Some things are a bit confusing, but with a bit of patient thought can be worked out. Recommended for fans of Asian horror.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Scavenger Hunt 19, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 25/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 13th, 2016)

Duck, You Sucker, a review by Antares

Duck, You Sucker (1971) 70/100 - After finishing the documentary I reviewed earlier, I decided to do a re-watch of the one Leone film I've only viewed once. After watching it initially I couldn't understand why a lot of people thought it was a lesser effort from Leone. But now after a second viewing, the problems do stand out more clearly. The main problem with it is Rod Steiger. With Leone not speaking any English, he mustn't have been able to realize how awful Steiger's Mexican accent sounds. I really wish Eli Wallach would have been given the role, I do believe he could have made the role more grounded and believable. Another problem is the pacing after the initial ninety minutes, when the film does an about face and focuses completely on the revolutionary aspect of the story. Switching from an action style western to a political sermon throws the mood of the film into reverse. It's still better than almost all other film westerns by Italian directors, but after this second viewing, it will probably be a long time before I watch it again. I wound up dropping its score 10 points. Who knows how much further it can go if I watch it again?

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 July 11th, 2020)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season marathon, a review by Achim

12. Alpine Fields
Sarah and Cameron work to save a family on the list with a connection to Derek and Jesse in the future.

My comments:
I did not connect with this episode at all. I don't like "constructed" plots and this one seemed to be just that. I mean, we have been following Sarah for quite a while now and suddenly they say "oh, yes, well, 6 months ago this happened", so they create a past event to explain the proceedings of the current episode. The episode also seemed entirely on it's own and I get the feeling that except the scene that was only talked before, when Derek and Jesse met, nothing really relates to the main plot. Another thing that bugged me is that first they to spoil the suspense by giving certain information "accidentally" too early (who is the terminator after...?) just to give us an entire different solution later; it felt cheap.

No John, no Ellison, little of Cameron and Sarah. Mainly Derek just doesn't seem the right thing for this series


(my lowest rating yet)

(From Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season marathon on February 12th, 2010)