DVD Collectors Online

Mahanagar, a review by Antares

Mahanagar (1963) 95/100 -

"Not to have seen the cinema of Satyajit Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon." - Akira Kurosawa

I guess until today, I've never seen the sun or the moon. This is my first film by Satyajit Ray, and while it's only my first, I have to wonder if my favorite director of all time was right. At around the ten minute mark, there's a scene where Arati, who's in bed with her husband, tells him while he's half sleeping, that she will try to find work to help with the family's financial situation. There's a sense of pride in her eyes, and a new found confidence in her demeanor, that you can't help but want to see her succeed. Then, just a few minutes later, Ray shifts the focus to the other end of the emotional spectrum, to a scene where the son tells the father that his daughter-in-law is getting a job. In the span of a brief few minutes, you see the son's embarrassment when he tells his father the news that Arati has found work, juxtaposing it with the guilt and shame that the father feels for being a burden to the family. What makes this scene so powerful is the subtle way that Ray shoots it. The son is off screen, giving his father the news, all the while admitting to his fault at not being able to provide for the whole family. While the son is talking, the camera stays focused on the father's face as Ray slowly and softly, moves into a close up of the father. As the tears start to trickle down the old man's face, you sense a realization that he and his wife are a burden, and have nothing left to offer this world. The pain is painted across his weathered features and he looks down deflated and defeated. In just a few short scenes, Ray runs the gamut from self-confidence, to guilt, to worthlessness. The film really hits its stride when events transpire that put Arati in the role of sole provider for the family. The anguish that the husband feels, coinciding with a simmering jealousy that's boiling just below his emotional surface. Can his pride survive against the progression of time and its changing social structure? In the end, Arati will make a decision which will show her integrity, but may lead to harder times for the family. A somewhat ambiguous ending, but the whole film is done with such craftsmanship that it's pretty close to a work of art. An amazing film that registers so many emotions, on so many levels. I highly recommend this film.

What the color coding means...

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 April 2nd, 2014)

Mask, a review by KinkyCyborg

Mask



Title:Mask
Year: 1985
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Rating: NR
Length: 127 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: DTS: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: French, Spanish

Stars:
Cher
Sam Elliott
Eric Stoltz
Estelle Getty
Richard Dysart

Plot:
Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich directed this heartwarming and inspirational film based on the real life story of Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz), a terribly disfigured but highly sensitive and intelligent teenager. Motivated by his loving mother, Rusty (Cher), and her boyfriend, Gar (Sam Elliott), Rocky ultimately overcomes pain, loneliness and prejudice to become a role model to his classmates and teachers alike.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Interviews


True story of Rocky Dennis, a young man with a terrible disease that horribly disfigured his face, he lived well beyond his doctors expectations but still died at the young age of 16.

Great movie and truly inspiring. Rocky, played by Eric Stoltz, was ever the optimist despite all the negativity around him, he never let his condition hold him back, always living every day to the fullest.

Seen this a few times now and there are some outstanding performances, particularly Cher as Rocky's wild, drug addicted mother. It was often Rocky taking care of her and not the other way around. Sam Elliott, one of the coolest actors ever is great as Gar, sometimes live-in boyfriend and father figure to Rocky. It's been so long since I've watched this that I totally forgot Laura Dern played the young blind girl Rocky falls in love with and there was Estelle Getty as Rocky's grandmother!

I thought it was cool that during a scene in this movie on the TV screen in their living room was playing another movie that I recently watched, Madigan!

I've never been a big fan of Peter Bogdanovich, as an actor or during his long winded interviews but I have to give credit where credit is due... he directed a fantastic movie that ranks very high with me all time. 

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on January 15th, 2011)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

Enterprise
Season 2.16 Future Tense
Writer: Rick Berman (Created By), Brannon Braga (Created By), Mike Sussman (Writer), Phyllis Strong (Writer)
Director: James Whitmore, Jr.
Cast: Scott Bakula (Captain Jonathan Archer), John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox), Jolene Blalock (Sub-Commander T'Pol), Dominic Keating (Lt. Malcolm Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Ensign Travis Mayweather), Linda Park (Ensign Hoshi Sato), Connor Trinneer (Cmdr. Charles 'Trip' Tucker III), Vaughn Armstrong (Admiral Forrest), Cullen Douglas (Suliban Soldier)

This episode started promising, but I got bored with it about half-way through. Some scenes reminded me of Red Dwarf's great episode "Future Echoes".

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on March 27th, 2013)