DVD Collectors Online

Grumpier Old Men , a review by Dragonfire

Grumpier Old Men

My Thoughts

This movie is really entertaining, though it isn't as good as the first one.  The returning characters are still entertaining and likable overall, though a few of them aren't in as much of this movie.

I'm not sure how much time is supposed to have passed since the end of the first movie.  John and Arial are settled into marriage, Melanie and Jacob are planning a wedding with interference from their fathers and John and Max are actually getting along fairly well.  They still sort of bicker, but it isn't as bad as it was.  They are both horrified at the idea of the bait shop being turned into a restaurant, so they work together to sabotage things.  Max and Maria really don't seem to like each other much at all, but they end up starting to date.  More problems crop up, including one that causes the men to return to their feud.  The plot is entertaining even though it isn't that complicated.  Much of what happens is predictable, but that doesn't keep things from being entertaining.

The movie is very funny, especially with some of the things that John and Max do once they start feuding again.  Some of what happens with Maria is also funny.  I do think the humor works well in the movie, though I think the first movie was funnier.  There is more fishing in the movie, though since this one is set in warmer weather, it at least isn't ice fishing.  Only a few of the characters are actually seen fishing, unlike in the first movie when a lot of characters were at least shown where the ice fishing was going on.  There is a minor subplot going on dealing with a huge fish that John and Max have been trying to catch for years.

The relationships are important again.  John and Max's friendship becomes strained again, as do a few other relationships.  There is a developing relationship between Max and Maria that is entertaining.  Melanie and Jacob also have some relationship issues to deal with.  That does cause a bit of complication to what is going on. 

The characters are still very entertaining and likable.  John and Max are wonderfully entertaining.  The cast is really good.  I haven't seen a lot of movies with Sophia Loren, but I think this is pretty much the only comedy I've seen her in. I think she does well with the humor. 

There really aren't any extras on the DVD, which is a bit disappointing.  I really like this one and think it is definitely worth watching even though it isn't as good as the first movie.



I did get a review posted on Epinions.

Grumpier Old Men

(From Grumpier Old men on September 19th, 2010)

Arizona Bound, a review by Rogmeister

Arizona Bound (First movie in The Rough Riders series)
Cast: Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, Raymond Hatton, Luana Walters, Tris Coffin
Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet

This movie is what they used to call a "B" western...a low-budget movie shot quickly (often in as little as a week) and which usually only ran about an hour in length though some (such as the Hopalong Cassidy movies) would be afforded a slightly longer running time. As movies entered the late 30's, studios tried to give kids more for their pennies and one idea that came up was to give them 3 stars in each picture...the first "buddy" movies in a sense. The most popular such series was probably The Three Mesquiteers (John Wayne was a member of that group for about 2 years just before he became a true star). This series was The Rough Riders and it co-starred two cowboy actors who had enjoyed many successful years as solo stars, Buck Jones and Tim McCoy. Raymond Hatton, who had a humorous bent as a cowboy sidekick, joined them as the third member of the group.

This was the first film of the series (there would be 8 official films of the group...a 9th film is not considered an official Rough Riders film since McCoy was unable to appear in it and Jones died shortly after filming was completed). They took advantage in the plot that this was the first as it appears the three leads don't really know each other but in time we find they do and are acting to throw off the criminal element, led by a popular bad guy actor Tris Coffin. There's lots of action in it's 1-hour running time before the conclusion though. In the end, they ride off in separate directions but there is the promise of future adventures. I like both Buck and Tim but Buck is probably my favorite of the trio...he's a hard-nosed kind of guy who could've been another John Wayne if he'd gotten the right breaks. I remember Bill Cosby doing a comedy routine about Buck and he mentiioned that you knew Buck was getting mad because he'd then pull out and start chewing gum...that's actually alluded to in this film. When he actually goes for his gum, the bad guy (who knows about the gum) is actually unnerved.

These old short films are in the public domain and you'll often find a couple of versions put out by different companies. I bought three DVD titles from Critics Choice and each is a triple play so I have all 9 films. Despite the fact the front is labelled "Digitally Restored", don't believe it. Like most PD releases, quality is fair at best. It's watchable, though. Just don't expect to confuse it with a Criterion Collection disc...

(From Roger's Ongoing Westerns Marathon on June 27th, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

JAG


Pilot
Lt. Harmon "Harm" Rabb, a JAG lawyer who investigates and litigates crimes committed by Navy and Marine personnel, looks into the mysterious death of a female pilot aboard an aircraft carrier. Harm is convinced the female pilot who fell overboard didn't commit suicide, but was actually pushed, with all the suspects still aboard the aircraft carrier.

My Thoughts:
This is another of my favorite shows... unfortunately I have fell way behind on collecting this series... as I only have the first 5 seasons (of 10) so far. While this is a good pilot episode... I did enjoy every minute of it. I definitely prefer seasons 2 on. I like the character of Mac much better then any of his other partners. Gotta love Catherine Bell!  The storyline for this episode is very good. It really keeps your attention!

My Thoughts:

(From Pete's Pilots on February 22nd, 2010)