DVD Collectors Online

Die Another Day, a review by Rich

Die Another Day





An amazing start, complete with spies surfing in to North Korea, an amazing action sequence with hovercrafts, and then a memorable set where Bond is held captive and given up by MI6. However the film slowly drifted away, somewhere it just didn't work. The choice of Berry was poor, as she tried desperately to steal every scene and spewed cringeworthy lines, and the speed she dropped her pants was amazing even by 007 standards - a couple of corny ornithology chatup lines and bish bosh she's bedded.
The invisible car was ridiculous, possibly only overtaken by the VR shots with Moneypenny.
On the plus side I loved the fencing scene, the attractive supporting cast, and the Ice Palace was an impressive backdrop.
 

(From James Bond Marathon on June 23rd, 2009)

The Mummy's Tomb, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Mummy's Tomb
Year of Release: 1942
Directed By: Harold Young
Starring: Dick Foran, John Hubbard, Elyse Knox, George Zucco, Wallace Ford, Turhan Bey, Lon Chaney Jr.
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Screen legend Lon Chaney Jr. stars in a compassionate portrayal of the ancient Egyptian mummy Kharis in this timeless tale of lost love. The high priest Mehemet (Turhan Bey) transports Kharis from Egypt to the United States to wreak vengeance on the family who defiled the sacred tomb of his beloved princess. One by one, members of the expedition die. But Mehemet has fallen in love with the beautiful fiancee (Elyse Knox) of the group's leader (Dick Foran). Now he must convince Kharis to help him acheive his ultimate goal -  before a furious mob destroys them both.

My Thoughts:
This is a fairly standard sequel to The Mummy's Hand. The horror is better here, though the actual film is weaker. I think that puts the two films on about even footing. I like the fact that this is an actual sequel, picking up directly from Hand with a lot of the same characters. There's a thread of decent continuity through the whole rest of the series. The film flounders a bit for a focal point after the first few deaths, and the ending is out-of-place in its quick wrap to happily-ever-after. Still this is worth watching as a classic 40's piece of Universal Horror, even if it's not one of the the best.

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

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.5/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 14/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 8th, 2016)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. The Wish
Wanting to be rid of Xander for good, Cordelia comes to the conclusion that Buffy is the cause of all her problems and makes a wish that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. A demon grants the wish and Cordelia's world suddenly changes.

My Thoughts:
This has always been one of my favorite episodes... I loved getting a peek at the alternate reality of what Sunnydale would have been like if Buffy never made it there. I really liked the vampire version of Willow and Xander. This is just one of those episodes that is just pure fun to watch.

10. Amends
While the gang prepares for their Christmas vacation, Angel is haunted by visions of his violent past. The ghost of Jenny Calendar appears to him and reminds him in great detail of the evil deeds he has performed. At first she almost seems to be taking pity on him, but gradually her counsel grows more sinister.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode... and if I am not mistaken the only Christmas episode in the entire 7 year run of the series. Not to mention our first look at "The First Evil" which would later come back for the final season.

11. Gingerbread
Picking the wrong night for mother-daughter bonding, Joyce discovers the bodies of two children in the park, apparently sacrificed in an occult ritual. Deeply disturbed by what she has seen, Joyce rallies the adults of Sunnydale, convincing them to rid the town of all magical and occult influences. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Buffy, Willow, and Amy are themselves considered a part of the occult threat to Sunnydale.

My Thoughts:
And this makes all 3 episodes on this disc good ones... Another episode I liked a lot. If I am not mistaken this episode also has another first... the first (and possibly only?) time we see Willow's mother. This is also the episode that Amy turns herself into a rat and stays that way for a very long time... till Willow can figure out how to change her back.

(From Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon on November 14th, 2007)