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Ordeal in the Arctic, a review by Danae Cassandra

Ordeal in the Arctic
Year of Release: 1993
Directed By: Mark Sobel
Starring: Richard Chamberlain, Catherine Mary Stewart, Melanie Mayron, Scott Hylands, Page Fletcher
Genre: Drama, Disaster

Overview:
October 30th, 1991, a Canadian Airforce CC-130 Herc, Box Top 22 tail number 322, left Edmondton, via Greenland, on its way to Alert a top-secret military listening post on Ellesmere Island. The captain John Couch, could see the lights of the airstrip at Alert, so he decided to go by his eyes instead of his instruments. Eighteen passengers and only 5 were killed by the crash. Roland Pitre was the first to hit the ground, he was the loadmaster. Although they were only a few miles from the base of Alert, a blizzard and the terrain, made it impossible for help to be sent at once, although every effort was made to get to them.

My Thoughts:
The story is harrowing to think about, being trapped at the site of the crash in the Arctic for 32 hours, slowly freezing to death, and you can really feel that bitter cold just sitting on the couch, watching this film.  There is a lot of attention to keeping the film as realistic as possible, and to keep to the truth of the events.  For all its obvious low budget, I found the film to be quite well done.  Richard Chamberlain has long been a favorite of mine, and he does not disappoint me here.  His portrayal of the guilt-ridden pilot is the finest in the cast, though I thought they all did a good job.  Recommended if you like disaster films and/or true stories.

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on March 28th, 2015)

The Lone Ranger, a review by addicted2dvd

The Lone Ranger (2013/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Buena Vista Home Entertainment Director: Gore Verbinski Writing: Justin Haythe (Screenwriter), Ted Elliott (Screenwriter), Terry Rossio (Screenwriter), Ted Elliott (Story By), Terry Rossio (Story By), Justin Haythe (Story By) Length: 149 min. Rating: Rated PG-13 : Sequences of Intense Action and Violence, and Some Suggestive Material Video: Widescreen 2.40:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 7.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Stars:
Johnny Depp as Tonto
Armie Hammer as John Reid (Lone Ranger)
William Fichtner as Butch Cavendish
Tom Wilkinson as Cole
Ruth Wilson as Rebecca Reid
Helena Bonham Carter as Red Harrington

Plot:
Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer star in The Lone Ranger, from Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Director Gore Verbinski. It's a wild ride of high-velocity action, explosions and gunfights that brings the famed masked legend to life through brand-new eyes. The Lone Ranger (Hammer), the last of his kind, teams with Tonto (Depp), a dark and mysterious vigilante, to seek vengeance after justice has failed them, it's a runaway train of epic surprises, as these two unlikely heroes must learn to work together before the ultimate showdown between good and evil explodes.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes/Bloopers
• Digital Copy

I decided to watch this one in honor of my good friend Roger who recently passed away. He was a huge fan of westerns... especially of John Wayne. Unfortunately all my John Wayne films are still in storage so made do with this one.

I remember when I first heard about this film coming out I was surprised that Johnny Depp took the role of Tonto instead of the Lone Ranger himself. After watching this film I see why. The movie is different then I was expecting... but I still enjoyed every moment of it. I thought everyone that was involved did a good job... and the storyline, while on the long side, easily kept my interest. The film has some good Western action and adventure... but also comes through with a few laughs. Recommended.



(From Unwatched DVDs/Blu-rays on May 5th, 2014)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

22. Becoming Pt. 2 (1998-05-19)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Max Perlich (Whistler), Seth Green (Oz), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Robia LaMorte (Jenny Calendar), James G. MacDonald (Detective Stein), James Marsters (Spike), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Armin Shimerman (Principal Snyder), Susan Leslie (First Cop), Thomas G. Waites (Second Cop)

Probably my favorite Buffy season finale. I remember first seeing it, when it was first aired in Germany and had to wait months for the new season.
As a matter of fact I think I had it taped, because I was vacationing in the US at the time. There I got to see some episodes from the third season. My first chance to see Buffy in English. At the time it was something special to have the chance to see the original language version. No DVDs and still on dial-up internet connection. I remember that the third season finale was supposed to air, but got postponed. My first taste of English language Buffy were some re-runs (Homecoming, Band Candy, and I think Doppelgangland as replacement for Graduation Day Part II).

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on February 15th, 2009)