DVD Collectors Online

The Green Man, a review by Antares

The Green Man (1956) 74/100 - I love Alastair Sim, he's one of my favorite English actors and comedians. I bought an R2 DVD set of his films a couple of years ago, and haven't really explored it yet. This was the first film I've watched in the set, and if it's any indication, I'm going to enjoy the others immensely. Sim plays an assassin named Hawkins, famous for his ability to kill anyone, anywhere with his meticulously crafted time bombs. His latest job is the elimination of a member of Parliament, who will be at the the Green Man hotel for a weekend with one of his secretaries. Hawkins knows of his plans because he has been romancing the MP's head secretary, to find out the information he needs to carry out his assignment. But when he finds out the MP's itinerary, he mistakenly writes the info on some typing paper on the secretary's desk, not knowing that a few pieces below is a piece of carbon paper. When the secretary returns to work after Hawkins leaves her office, she finds the paper under the carbon and deduces that Hawkins has been using her for information. She calls Hawkins and demands an explanation, and when he is not forth coming, she heads over to his home to confront him. Hawkins is about to leave for the hotel and has his assistant change the signs on his and the neighbor's newly purchased house, so the secretary will think that he has left. But the assistant isn't quick enough and he has to kill the secretary when she warns of going to the local constabulary. At this moment, a door to door vacuum salesman, who has an appointment with Hawkins' maid, makes the same mistake as the secretary and rings the wrong house. The salesman tries to demonstrate the vacuum for Hawkins' assistant, who is visibly rattled by his predicament, and he finds a way to exit through the back door. The salesman spots blood on the carpet and when the woman who owns the house returns, he explains about his appointment, and asks her about the blood on the carpet. From here on out, the madcap hijinks and dry, dark British humor comes fast and furious as the salesman and the woman, deduce Hawkins plans to assassinate the MP, and set off to warn him. It's a quick, fun little film, and if you're a fan of this kind of British humor, I'm sure you'd enjoy.

What the color coding means...

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on October 12th, 2013)

Up in the Air, a review by Tom

Up in the Air (2009/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Jason Reitman Writing: Walter Kirn (Original Material By), Jason Reitman (Screenwriter), Sheldon Turner (Screenwriter) Length: 109 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Commentary, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

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Stars:
George Clooney as Ryan Bingham
Vera Farmiga as Alex Goran
Anna Kendrick as Natalie Keener
Jason Bateman as Craig Gregory
Amy Morton as Kara Bingham

Plot:
Ryan Bingham (Academy Award® winner* George Clooney) is truly living the high life. Flying all over the world on business, he never stops moving ... until he meets Alex, a fellow passenger, and learns that life isn't about the journey, but the connections we make along the way. Acclaimed by critics and audiences everywhere, "Up In The Air is light and dark, hilarious and tragic, bouncy and brainy, romantic and real". – Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

*Winner: Actor in a Supporting Role, Syriana, 2005.

Awards:
Won:

American Film Institute Awards (2009)		Movies of the Year
BAFTA (2009)		Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Screenplay, Adapted (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)
Golden Globe (2009)		Screenplay - Motion Picture (Jason Reitman)
MTV Movie Awards (2010)		Best Breakout Star (Anna Kendrick)
National Board of Review Awards, USA (2009)		Best Actor (George Clooney)
National Board of Review Awards, USA (2009)		Best Film
National Board of Review Awards, USA (2009)		Best Screenplay – Adapted (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)
National Board of Review Awards, USA (2009)		Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick)

Nominated:

Academy Award (2009)		Best Actor (George Clooney)
Academy Award (2009)		Best Director (Jason Reitman)
Academy Award (2009)		Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick)
Academy Award (2009)		Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga)
Academy Award (2009)		Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)
BAFTA (2009)		Best Film
BAFTA (2009)		Editing (Dana E. Glauberman)
BAFTA (2009)		Leading Actor (George Clooney)
BAFTA (2009)		Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick)
BAFTA (2009)		Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Acting Ensemble
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Actor (George Clooney)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Director (Jason Reitman)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Editing (Dana E. Glauberman)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Picture
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2010)		Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga)
Golden Globe (2009)		Actor in a Leading Role - Drama (George Clooney)
Golden Globe (2009)		Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture (Anna Kendrick)
Golden Globe (2009)		Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture (Vera Farmiga)
Golden Globe (2009)		Director - Motion Picture (Jason Reitman)
Golden Globe (2009)		Picture - Drama
Robert (2011)		Årets amerikanske film (Jason Reitman)

Extras:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Music Videos
• Scene Access
• Storyboard Comparisons
• Trailers

I first saw this movie shortly after a lot of my colleagues have been let go. In a way it hit close to home. But surprisingly I still enjoyed this movie a great deal. Also this time around I enjoyed watching it.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on June 3rd, 2011)

"Big Bang Theory" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The two theoretical physicists Leonard and Sheldon get a new Neighbour: Penny, a waitress in The Cheesecake Factory. And suddenly two galaxies begin to crash into each other.

My Opinion: I liked the series from the beginning, all these cultural references gave me a happy. But I also liked the small details like Howards' belt buckle (this time a Nintendo gamepad --> look out for it, it changes from episode to episode!) and the "table of elements" shower curtain.

Synopsis: After he's seen the chaos that is Penny's appartment, Sheldon cleans it (and Leonard helps him) during the night while Penny's sleeping. Naturally she freaks out when she realizes what they've done.

My Opinion: I think every episode of the first season is funny as hell, so no point repeating it over and over again. The  best scenes of this episode were the discussion about Lois Lane's fall and the re-design of the IKEA media center.

Synopsis: After having no luck with Leslie, Leonard tries to ask Penny out to a date. But she totally misinterprets the invitation, thus not considering it a date.

My Opinion: I recognized Sarah Gilbert (Leslie; Darlene in Roseanne) at once but I needed a friend to really open my eyes. I didn't think I knew Johnny Galecki (Leonard) from anywhere until my friend pointed out that he played Darlene's friend David on Roseanne.

Synopsis: Sheldon gets canned after he's insulted his new boss in his very own - and typical - way. But he uses his time off to invent new things the world was waiting for, e.g. a luminous fish as a night light.

My Opinion: First Sarah and now Laurie Metcalf (Jackie in Roseanne). It's like family reunion. I am wondering where the authors get all these ideas, e.g. to make a physicists weaving his own poncho. It's hilarious. I also find it terribly funny when Sheldons asks things or answers to questions with no regard to the appropriateness.

Synopsis: After they been practicing with their classical instruments, Leonard sleeps with Leslie and is now torn between his fantasy about Penny and the prospect of having a real relatuonship with Leslie.

My Opinion: And again it's Sheldon and his not having a clue about social conventions that makes me laugh the most ("Message received!"). But the entire banana scene was also really great.

Synopsis: Penny invites the four - Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj - over to a Halloween party and Leonard hopes that he can present himself in another light during that party.

My Opinion: Nerds. All the costumes were great and also the commentaries about them (Flashs walk in row; hobbit vs. elf; Robin Hood vs. Peter Pan) and I also really liked the closing scene.

(From "Big Bang Theory" Marathon on September 23rd, 2008)