DVD Collectors Online

The Lost Valentine, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: The Lost Valentine
Year: 2011
Director: Darnell Martin


Stars:
Jennifer Love Hewit
Sean Faris
Betty White
Billy Magnussen
Gil Gerard

Plot:
Based on the novel, The Last Valentine, by James Michael Pratt. A young and cynical female journalist learns love may transcend trials and time as she discovers a story that will change her life forever. When war separates lovers on their wedding anniversary Feb. 14, 1944 at LA Union Train Station, Navy pilot Neil Thomas makes a promise he isn't sure he can keep - to return to the train station safe by their next anniversary.

My Thoughts:
This is a movie I recorded off TV about a week ago or so. It is a pretty good movie. I did enjoy it. I liked seeing both Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt in this one. It is a sweet and touching story. But it did seem a bit slow at times.



(From 14 Days of Romance Marathon on February 8th, 2011)

Come and See, a review by Rich

across mother Russia...



Elem Klimov's stunning COME AND SEE is a relentlessly brutal condemnation of war hidden in the guise of a surrealistic coming-of-age nightmare. A physically and emotionally draining viewing experience, the film follows Florya (played brilliantly by Alexei Kravchenko), a 12-year-old boy living in 1943 Byelorussia. When he digs up an abandoned gun, Florya gleefully signs up with the Russian Army, looking forward to life as a soldier. But that fantasy rapidly deteriorates when the reality of the situation confronts him head-on. Abandoned by his fellow comrades, he stumbles across the weeping Glasha (Olga Mironova), a pretty teenager who has also been left behind. Together, the pair returns to Florya's village only to discover that everyone has been slaughtered Florya's mother and younger sisters included. The journey continues as Florya embarks on a mission to find food for the stranded inhabitants of a neighbouring village. He eventually lands in the middle of another German massacre, where the animalistic Nazis stuff the Russians into a barn and torch it, obliterating Florya's innocence completely.

This Soviet film pulls no punches and portrays war in it's most gruesome light. Deep felt hatred for the Nazis floods out of this film, and the camera style reminded me of a horror film as opposed to a typical war film. This wasn't entertainment, it was more endurance. If you are hardened and want to watch a war film that goes beyond the typical glossy hollywood fare, then try this on for size. 5/10

(From Around the World in 80 DVD's on February 12th, 2008)

Tom's TV Finales marathon, a review by Tom

[tom]883929012954f.jpg[/tom]

Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (2002/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 542 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English

---

Plot:
Who will stand up to villains now that a heartbroken Dark Knight has mysteriously vanished? Never fear, New Gothamites, a trio of champions is ready to take wing - and Helena, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, is among them. She calls herself Huntress and crime is her prey. Teenaged Dinah is the youngest of the group, learning as she goes and gifted in clairvoyance. And overseeing the awesome threesome's high-tech nerve center is Batgirl. Left wheelchair-bound by The Joker, she has reinvented herself as OracleBirds of Prey. Fighting together. Living together. And soaring into adventure together in 13 breathtaking live-action episodes.


Birds of Prey
Season 1.12 Feat of Clay & Devil's Eyes
Writer: Adm Armus (Writer), Kay Foster (Writer), Hans Tobeason (Screenwriter), Adam Armus (Story By), Melissa Rosenberg (Story By)
Director: Joe Napolitano, Robert J. Wilson
Cast: Ashley Scott (Helena Kyle/Huntress), Dina Meyer (Barbara Gordon/Oracle), Rachel Skarsten (Dinah Lance), Shemar Moore (Det. Jesse Reese), Ian Abercrombie (Alfred Pennyworth), Mia Sara (Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn), Shawn Christian (Wade Brixton), Robert Patrick Benedict (Gibson Kafka), Ian Reed Kesler (Chris Cassius), Kirk Baltz (Clayface), Patrick Fischler (Dr. Will Kroner), Steve Hytner (Dr. Franklin Rominic), Brad Blaisdell (Guard #1), Ted Underwood (Guard #2)

This is another series which was cancelled early. But here they at least got a chance to a last two-parter to conclude the main storylines of this season. Which is a luxury not a lot of series get to do in similar circumstances.
So they had to put a lot of stuff into these episodes, which makes the conclusion of these storylines a little rushed. But at least we get a resolution for them. Like the two love interests for the two main characters. One of them finally get together after a season of teasing. The other gets to find out about the crime fighting and all (thanks to Alfred where he pulls the same stunt he did in the first Batman movie with Vicky Vale). Another thing which comes out of nowhere: The resolution of whom killed the mother of Huntress.
The music replacements in this DVD release is something which really bothered me. One thing I mentioned before is the removal of the great theme song. The other big replacement is the final showdown. In the original aired version, they played T.a.t.u.'s "All the Things She Said", which worked really well. Also it was the first time I had ever heard the song. Although I have to admit, you would not notice these replacements, if you haven't seen the original version.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Finales marathon on January 28th, 2013)