DVD Collectors Online

Fire On The Amazon, a review by Rich

Fire On The Amazon



Deep in the hot and steamy Amazon jungle, activist Alyssa Rothman (SANDRA BULLOCK) helps a brash photojournalist (CRAIG SHEFFER) investigate the assassination of a famous enviromentalist, at the risk of their own lives.

Disappointing low budget film, this fails for me in so many areas I found myself willing it to end.
It is so badly dated, feels like an early 70's film, with probably the worst audio I've witnessed on a dvd. It seems this is just a straight copy from VHS with no improvements made, the picture was poor and the production/menus cheap and nasty.
As for the film, the message is contrived and politically blatant, with the execution amateurish and direction levels non-existent. It is hard to believe this is Sandra Bullock, as her acting is weak. At best you may describe this as a docu-drama, at worst a school media studies exercise.
The only upside would be if you wanted to see Sandra naked, but in truth you don't see much and it is fleetingly uninteresting.
A real stinker to avoid.
 

**Sandra Bullock mini-marathon


(From Riches Random Reviews on August 22nd, 2009)

White Lightning, a review by Jon

WHITE LIGHTNING (1973)
3 out of 5



Burt Reynolds plays Gator McClusky, imprisoned for running Moonshine. He hears his brother has been killed and suspects the corrupt sheriff (Reynolds regular Ned Beatty) is to blame. He cuts a deal enabling him to get back into running liquour so he can get close to exposing the corruption and getting his revenge.

There was a time Burt Reynolds was as big a star as Clint Eastwood. Hard to believe now, but they were neck and neck until they both had a rough run in the 1980s culminating in the horrible City Heat. Eastwood came out on top (turning out to be the best American director around probably helped), while Reynolds spent a little too long as the Bandit and bankruptcy beckoned. I loved Smokey and the Bandit and the style is similar though not played for laughs (Hal Needham was stunt director here). But I prefer the serious Reynolds. He made several films like this and he was as solid an action star as they come.

The story is straightforward action-thriller, mean dialogue and great supporting characters. The sheriff is a first class villain. I'm only guessing, but this has to be a big inspiration to The Dukes of Hazzard, with such a familiar setup, just made fun. I've heard this takes its cues from Robert Mitchum's Thunder Road, but there's something about the 70s that gives this movie it's almost grindhouse feel.

Great movie anyway, but the driving is first class. Reynolds has several chases as he 'blocks' for the moonshine runner. Several stand out stunts, including one Tarantino talked about on the Death Proof DVD. Reynolds put his complete trust in the driver to pull off a truly iconic image at the films close.

The DVD is as barebones as they come!

The Car's the star: Ford Custom 500


Trailer

Pop quiz... name the film that uses the White Lightning theme, that can be heard at the start of the trailer...


(From Car Movie Marathon on August 15th, 2008)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

22. To Shanshu in L.A.
Original Air Date: 5/23/2000
Angel turns to Gunn for help when Cordelia and Wesley are attacked by a demon - although this is just the first creature Wolfram & Hart plans to send against Angel.

Guest Stars:
Elisabeth Rohm
Christian Kane
Stephanie Romanov
J. August Richards

My Thoughts:
And this brings us to the end of season one. This is a very good story... I enjoyed every minute of it. Had action and excitement from what happen to both Cordelia and Wesley... to a nice surprise ending to give us something to look forward to for season 2. A very good conclusion to the season!

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on February 28th, 2010)