DVD Collectors Online

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a review by Dragonfire

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Discover the intriguing inside stories of why so many of Britain's most celebrated stars took roles in the series. See the newly unveiled screen test between Daniel Radcliffe and Evanna Lynch (selected to play Luna out of 15,000 hopefuls!) Go on the set to see firsthand how each of the directors brought unique strengths to the series. Witness the amazing transformations as Daniel, Rupert and Emma grow with their characters over a decade of unprecedented filmmaking.

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This one is another good adaptation of the book and the important explanations aren't cut out.  I sometimes wonder how some of the other movies would have turned out if Christopher Columbus had directed them.  The story for this one is entertaining, and it starts the trend of the movies getting a little darker with each other as Harry and his friends get older.  I could have done without the snakes and the basalisk that looks like a giant snake to me.  That think still freaks me out a bit.  Hagrid's giant spider doesn't bother me a bit.  Professor Lockhart is an idiot and Kenneth Branagh is great in the part.  

Every time I watch the first two movies, I miss Richard Harris as Dumbledore.  Michael Gambon did fine when he took over, but he wasn't the same and Harris was absolutely perfect for the part.  He looks in these movies the way I imagined Dumbledore when I read the books. 



I did post a longer review at Epinions.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets



(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on July 15th, 2013)

The Wrestler, a review by Rich

The Wrestler



Mickey Rourke gives the performance of a lifetime as pro wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a former superstar now paying the price for twenty years of grueling punishment in and out of the ring. But he's about to risk everything to prove he has one more match left in him: a re-staging of his famous Madison Square Garden bout against "The Ayatollah." Darren Aronofsky directs a powerful cast in this action-packed saga of guts, glory and gritty determination that is "as irresistible as a headlock" (New York Post).

Gritty, enlightening view of the wrestling world away from the glitzy shows you see on television.
Rourke's performance is absolutely incredible, for a written off actor to deliver such an amazing portrayal is astonishing, and his character is so brilliantly portrayed you find it painful to witness his fall from grace and his day to day survival. Tomei also puts in a first class (and sexy) performance as a tired and bitter stripper, her downfall mirroring the Rams.
With a superb soundtrack, moving storyline, frightening insight into the wrestling world and it's drug enhanced performers, dark humour and in-depth character portrayals, this is an absolute must see for everyone. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on May 17th, 2009)

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

JAG



What's the show about?
The JAG ist the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Navy. They are charged with the defense and prosecution of military law as provided in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. We follow the cases of Lt. Harmon Rabb jr., a former fighter pilot and his partner Maj. Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie all around the world.

"Pilot"
The CAG of the aircraft carrier USS Seahawk and his female Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) shoot down two MIGs over the Adriatic Sea. In the night after that the RIO is being thrown overboard and killed. Lt Rabb and Lt. jg. Pike take over the investigation of the missing RIO...

My Opinion
This show had its highs and its lows. Being not an US-american the patriotism was sometimes a bit to much for my taste, especially when it came to the Iraq war. Also that "we are the best of the best of the best"-attitude was an overdose at times. But in the big picture I liked the show.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on January 5th, 2008)