DVD Collectors Online

The Polar Express, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Polar Express

When a young boy doubts the existence of Santa Claus, a train arrives at his house to take him on a magical journey to the North Pole, to show him the true meaning of the season, and that believing is seeing.

A personal favorite, and just about my favorite modern (post 1980) Yuletide film (the other being Tokyo Godfathers). This is a film that really puts me in the Yuletide spirit. 

The animation falls into two categories: absolutely stunning visuals and somewhat off-looking people.  I expect the people problem is because of the limits of early mocap, and I find that each year I watch the film I notice less and less that the people don't move right.  The environment, however, is brilliantly realized and absolutely magnificent.  When we saw this at the IMAX in 3D, the sequences where the train goes downhill on the tracks are fabulous.

I also really enjoy the characters, especially the girl in the group.  She's refreshingly different from most female characters in American animation, breaking stereotypes and being the leader of the group that she is.  But all of the main child characters are portrayed rather realistically, which I like. 

While there's probably too much music for Pete, I can't think of anyone else I couldn't recommend this film to. 

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Yuletide 2011 on December 24th, 2011)

The Heartbreak Kid, a review by Rich

The Heartbreak Kid



Ben Stiller stars as Eddie, the 40-year-old confirmed bachelor who finally says "I do" to the beautiful and sexy Lila (Malin Akerman). But during their honeymoon in Mexico, the woman of his dreams turns out to be a total nightmare, and the guy who could never pull the trigger realizes he's jumped the gun. Take home the Farrelly Brothers' hysterical twist on boy-meets-girl, The Heartbreak Kid, and prepare to have a blast!

Fluff movie but with several gut wrenchingly laugh out loud moments to keep it above the politically incorrect humour gutter. Stiller is typecast yet again by the Farrelly brothers as the bumbling unlucky in love male lead, and the chemistry between the leads was never too convincing. It is overly long and the storyline struggled to fill the gaps, but the grossness and cringeworthy scenes manage to keep a smile often enough on ones face to enjoy it.
Not a masterpiece but about what I expected.
 



(From Riches Random Reviews on May 18th, 2009)

Grey's Anatomy Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

6. Into You Like a Train
A catastrophic train wreck floods Seattle Grace with victims while Izzie is forced to choose between friendship and career advancement. Alex questions his choice of profession as the outcome of Derek and Meredith's relationship is revealed.

My Thoughts:
This is an excellent episode. Extremely powerful and emotional. The ER was flooded with casulties from the train wreak... including 2 people that was skewered together when a pole shot through them. Definitely one of my favorite episodes of the first 2 seasons... and wouldn't be surprised if it made it into my favorites for the entire series once I do get caught up.

My Rating:

7. Something to Talk About


My Thoughts:
A good... but somewhat standard episode. I mean it was entertaining enough... but just not as exciting as I thought it could have been. The pregnant male thing while entertaining just could have been done a lot better.

My Rating:

8. Let it Be
George tries to figure out why a fall survivor isn't happy about living after plunging five stories and an elderly man makes a heartbreaking decision. Derek and Addison spar over the visit of longtime friends seeking a radical surgery.

My Thoughts:
This one is really just another standard episode that not much exciting happens. While it is worth watching... don't expect too much from it.

My Rating:

9. Thanks for the Memories
Thanksgiving arrives at Seattle Grace, as George endures another year of O'Malley family tradition while Meredith tends to a coma patient awake after 16 years.

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode. It is of course Thanksgiving so it is definitely a bit different then what you normally expect. Not surprisingly most the interns ends back at the hospital... but for me the most entertaining reason is George. He is out hunting turkey with his father and two brothers... and his brother accidentally shoots their father in the ass.

My Rating:

10. Much too Much
A one-night stand comes back to haunt Meredith when the man shows up needing odd medical help; Izzie is frustrated by Alex's faults and a women bearing quintuplets is confused by the chaos surrounding her high-risk pregnancy.

My Thoughts:
This episode was really good... I liked the whole quintuplets storyline... which if I remember correctly continues on into the next 1 or 2 episodes. Alex really messed up with Izzie... which I am ok with since I didn't like them two together anyway.

My Rating:

(From Grey's Anatomy Marathon on September 7th, 2009)