DVD Collectors Online

Elvis, a review by Achim

Elvis (1979/United States) Fremantle Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: John Carpenter (1948) Writing: Anthony Lawrence (Writer) Length: 168 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: PCM: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley
Shelley Winters as Gladys Presley
Bing Russell as Vernon Presley
Robert Gray as Red West
Season Hubley as Priscilla Presley

Plot:Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Featurettes
• Gallery

After Halloween John Carpenter went on to make two TV movies, this is the second one (after Someone's Watching Me!). Carpenter puts in a strong effort with this one, mostly letting things unfold by themselves and just having the camera observe what is happening with the characters. The film mostly ignores the business side of things, we merely see a few songs during key performances or events so that the audience gets a frame of reference. Instead we get to know the man that shot to fame rather quickly and how he has to deal with the (at the time) unprecedented popularity. Maybe Carpenter was too much of a fan, maybe the Presley estate had a big hand in avoiding controversial material (this was only two years after Elvis' death and the film was apparently allowed to shoot a few scenes at Graceland), maybe there is actually not much to report, but there are only a few scenes showing Elvis' darker side, when he is struggling with the enormous popularity (he is very rich yet a prisoner in his own home), his artistic integrity (when a producer changes the song without consulting him) and the balance between his entourage and his private life with his wife. The film also puts strong emphasis on his relationship with his mother and how her death influenced his music towards religious themes.

I enjoyed this film very much. The rather interesting success story of Elvis, undoubtedly one of the main forefathers of modern rock music, is supported by a great performance by Kurt Russell and an his supporting cast (Pat Hingle, Charles Cyphers). There is a good selection of songs in this, although not original; Kurt Russell is doing good lip-syncing to Ronnie McDowell's cover versions. May the film be rose-tinted or maybe they cut off at the Las Vegas concert especially to avoid the troubled later years, even at three hours length it was a compelling story and I never found myself bored.

Rating:

(From The Movies from Within My Lifetime on July 24th, 2011)

101 Dalmations, a review by addicted2dvd

101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition (1961/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske [Hamilton S. Luske], Clyde Geronimi Writing: Bill Peet (Story By), Dodie Smith (Original Material By) Length: 79 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, French: DTS-HD High Resolution: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:
Rod Taylor as Pongo
J. Pat O'Malley as Colonel/Jasper Badun
Betty Lou Gerson as Cruella De Vil/Miss Birdwell
Martha Wentworth as Nanny/Queenie/Lucy
Ben Wright as Roger Radcliff

Plot:Extras:

This is a fun classic Disney animated film. One I have not seen since I was a little kid. The style of the animation, while much simpler then what we are used to today, brought flashbacks of my childhood. The story here is fun and keeps your interest with ease. I definitely recommend it... think this is one everyone should see at least once.



(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 24th, 2016)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Although the demon killed hundreds of people he seems more focussed on a certain group. Gwen - the electrically charged thief - watches when he kills a guy and pulls somtehing out of him. As it turns out he - the dead - was one of the five "Ta-Ret" and if he gets something from all of them he can shut down the sun, not metaphorically but literally.

My Opinion: Even if Angel has the answer I don't think he is the traitor of the group. I have the suspicion that it is Cordy who is somehow involved. Since her return she seems to be changed and I won't believe that she slept with Connor in a "End of the World" mood.

Synopsis: Wesley brings someone that can remove Angel's soul. Angelus would re-emerge and they hope he can tell them how to defeat the demon. Unfortunately the demon has anticipated this move and tries to kill Angel(us).

My Opinion: I am so grateful for the end of the episode. If he would have lost his soul because he slept with Cordelia, I would have been frustrated. Angel can't be that stupid to make the same mistake twice. The quest for the sword did indeed remind me of "Indiana Jones", a fact that is also mentioned by Angelus in the next episode.

Synopsis: Angel's soul is put into a glas jar and Angelus is back. To get information Angelus is kept in a cell in the basement until he tells them what he knows about this demon. In the meantime he plays with the feelings of his "guards".

My Opinion: Angelus ist still good at this. What muds the water for me is the fact that his crossing with the demon was rather unimportant to him and very short. Which reason would Angel have to surpress that memory? If they (the writers) needed a reason to let Angelus return they should have come up with something better - if Angelus didn't lie or left something important out. And the stolen soul hardens my suspicions about Cordelia.

(From Angel Marathon on February 23rd, 2008)