DVD Collectors Online

Dragonheart, a review by DJ Doena

Dennis Quaid    ...    Bowen
David Thewlis   ...    King Einon
Pete Postlethwaite   ...    Gilbert of Glockenspur
Dina Meyer   ...    Kara
Jason Isaacs   ...    Lord Felton
Brian Thompson   ...    Brok

Synopsis: When the young prince Einon is dying, his mother persuades a dragon to give him half his heart. Although Einon has been taught about the old ways both by his mother and his sword teacher Bowen he becomes as ruthless as his father was. Bowen blames the dragon and becomes a dragon slayer. But then he meets Draco, the last of his kind. Then they take the fight to Einon because Draco has also a score to settle with him.

My Opinion: Sean Connery has done a marvellous job in voicing Draco (although the german voice of Mario Adorf isn't that bad either) and Dennis Quaid is a great knight of the old ways. I enjoyed it very much and often forgot that Draco is "just an animation". Funny thing is, this was the first time I ever saw David Thewlis and when he was cast as Remus Lupin in Harry Potter I was sceptical (because he was a bad guy here) but it worked very well (the fact that I don't like the third Harry Potter movie that much aside).

(From The "What I watch when I don't watch TV shows" thread on June 20th, 2008)

The Bourne Identity, a review by DJ Doena

September, 28th


Matt Damon    ...    Jason Bourne
Franka Potente   ...    Marie
Chris Cooper   ...    Conklin
Clive Owen   ...    The Professor
Brian Cox   ...    Ward Abbott
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje   ...    Wombosi
Gabriel Mann   ...    Zorn
Julia Stiles   ...    Nicolette

Synopsis: When he wakes up on a fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea, he has no idea who he his. He only knows that he had two bullets in his back and the address of a bank in Zurich in his hip. He learns in Zurich that his name is Jason Bourne but the scavenger hunt has just started und suddenly he's not only a hunter but also the hunted. His companion Marie and he drive halfway through Europe to learn the answer to the question: Who is Jason Bourne?

My Opinion: I really like this movie. The story is somewhat plausible, the hand-to-hand combats are awesome and Matt's German is actually understandable. And I love it when Franka Potente curses in German. I haven't seen this movie in a while and I noticed that you can actually follow the fights with your eyes. I never understood why more recent movies like the third part of this trilogy choreographs one hell of a fight but then chooses to not show it by using a "shake cam".

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on September 28th, 2009)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Kingpin

Pilot
As the family leader Tio Jorge deteriorates in exile, the next generation of a powerful drug cartel family strategizes to take over 'La Corporacion', a multi-million dollar business. Stanford-educated Miguel Cadena is poised to take the reigns, but Jorge's son Ernesto presents a challenge that requires the efforts of Miguel as well as his brother Chato and wife Marlene to confront. Meanwhile, DEA agent Delia Flores faces setbacks as she works her contacts within the drug world to close in on the massive cartel.



After the death of his drug lord uncle, Stanford-educated Mexican-American businessman (Yancey Arias) finds himself in the position of the leader of his criminal family. Throughout their dealings, he and his wife (Sheryl Lee) attempt to keep the facts of their business away from their 8-year-old son while they dodge the efforts of relentless U.S. authorities who want to take them down. Originally aired on US television, this six-part mini series, from NYPD BLUE writer/producer David Mills, received critical acclaim.

Overly glitzy, Hollywood glamour taken to mexico gangsters, this felt a bit too unbelievable and the leads were much too clean and perfect.
It was pretty graphic in places, the violence stronger than I anticipated, and the backdrops expensive and locations varied.
Unsure whether this is a stinker or a hit, will need to view a few more of these and see how the finale from the pilot evolves.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 28th, 2009)