DVD Collectors Online

This Boy's Life, a review by Rich

This Boy's Life



For Toby Wolff and his divorced mom Caroline, 1950s life wasn't all fun and games. These two free spirits and cross-country travellers settle in the Pacific Northwest, where life will be better. They hope.
This Boy's Life, the Wolffs' true story, "is every boy's life," the Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan wrote. The dynamic teaming of Robert De Niro (Analyze This, Meet the Parents), Ellen Barkin (The Big Easy, Sea of Love) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, Gangs of New York) sparks this funny, touching slice-of-life drama that pits rebellious teen Toby (DiCaprio) against his tyrannical new stepfather Dwight (De Niro). Directed by Michael Caton-Jones (Memphis Belle, City by the Sea), This Boy's Life is one to remember.

What a tremendous feeling to discover a film in your collection that you continually overlook, to finally view it, and find it is an absolute corker.
Hats off to DiCaprio as this movie shows his true talent as an actor, he actually outshines DeNiro which one can rarely say.
The film itself is a true story, is very moving and at times totally shocking. DeNiro as Dwight the stepfather who bullied and mentally tortured the boy, mostly away from others eyes and ears, is frighteningly menacing and you thoroughly hate this character by the end of the film. Barkin as the desperate mother looking for a normal man is superb, and you ache for her happiness. All of the supporting cast do a great job, Blechman in particular as Tobys friend is a great character.
A frightening depiction of 'family' life that still goes on today, is raised above the average stakes by DiCaprios amazing and moving performance. The fight scene in the kitchen between stepfather and Toby will stay in my mind for a long time. A gem of a dvd to own.
 


**Carla Gugino mini-marathon


(From Riches Random Reviews on August 6th, 2009)

Le Quattro Volte, a review by Danae Cassandra

Le Quattro Volte
Year of Release: 2010
Directed By: Michelangelo Frammartino
Starring: Giuseppe Fuda
Genre: Director

Overview:
Le Quattro Volte (The Four Times) is an ineffably beautiful meditation on the mysterious cycles of life.  Set in Italy's mountainous region of Calabria, it traces the path of one goat herder's soul, as it passes from human to animal to vegetable to mineral.  Director Michelangelo Frammartino was inspired by Pythagoras' belief in "four-fold transmigration" of souls, but his film is far more physical than philosophical.  In gorgeous long takes, he captures the daily routines of the herder, a baby goat, an imperious tree and a humble charcoal kiln.  Plus there is a scene-stealing cameo from a stubborn sheep dog, who hilariously interrupts an Easter Procession.  Working as both a spiritual investigation and a documentary of Calabrian life, Le Quattro Volte's placid surface hids a complex understanding of humanity.  Everything is connected in Frammartino's sublimely mystical universe in which he finds both humor and pathos in the hypnotic rhythms of everyday life.

My Thoughts:
A meditation on the interconnectedness of life and death; of men, animals, plants, and minerals; of the natural world and the civilized world; of one soul to another. It's as much philosophy and poetry as film, and its questions and message are universal. There is a deep empathy and understanding for all life.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on March 29th, 2016)

Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Xena intervenes in an old feud between two kingdoms that is fuelled by the weapons dealer profiting from it. He kidnapped the princess and blamed it on the other kingdom. Within his ranks Xena finds Marcus, an old friend of hers who still travels the road she's left.

My Opinion: It was an OK episode, but Marcus's sacrifice at the end was a bit unconvincing. Granted they prepared for it in that conversation between him and Xena, but he was just fighting her because he did not want to change his way of living.

Synopsis: Ares, God of War, slaughters some innocent villagers and blames it on Xena. The surviving villagers want to bring her to trial and then execute her. Ares could help her - if she comes back to him. Gabrielle tries to defend her and prove her innocence but is being sabotaged in her efforts.

My Opinion: Even though the episode introduced the cool Kevin Smith (they are both cool, but this is not the fat one! ) as Ares, the episode didn't work for me. Even though she was innocent she surrendered to this trial just because she has a dark past. And it looked like as if she might have let them kill her. That's BS in my eyes.

Synopsis: Gabrielle inadvertently releases three of the Titans when she recites and old chant in a huge cave hall. Amongst them is Hyperion, the Sun Titan, who is not very fond of Humans. At first they follow Gabrielle's command since they believe that only a powerful god could have released them. But Hyperion is impatient...

My Opinion: This episode I liked. It was cool to see Crius (one of the Titans) to follow Gabrielle's every wish and constantly calling her "the virgin goddess" and her getting annoyed by it (especially the "virgin" part ). I also thought they did the handling of the height difference pretty decently. The special effects in the show aren't the best but here they managed it to look pretty convincingly.

Synopsis: Hera, wife of Zeus and mother of the gods, has put Prometheus in chains. This means that mankind will slowly lose all gifts Prometheus has given them. Starting with the ability to heal and the ability to utilize fire. Both Xena & Gabrielle and Hercules & Iolaus try to free him again.

My Opinion: This was a cool episode, seeing the four of them together (I think it's the only time it ever happens). And while it was unlikely (due to the time frame) that Hercules told Xena about Prometheus and his chains I didn't care. I liked how they found "a solution" to free him without the need to sacrifice one of them and I liked how Iolaus and Gabrielle came closer.

(From Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon on December 2nd, 2009)