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Zoombies, a review by addicted2dvd

Zoombies (2016/) IMDb |Trailer | (United States) Director: Glenn R. Miller Writing: Scotty Mullen (Screenwriter) Length: 87 min. Video: Widescreen Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: None

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Stars:
Ione Butler as Lizzy
Andrew Asper as Gage
Lala Nestor as Thea
Kim Nielsen as Dr. Ellen Rogers
Marcus Anderson as Rex

Plot:
When a strange virus quickly spreads through a safari park and turns all the zoo animals undead, those left in the park must stop the creatures before they escape and zombify the whole city.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes/Bloopers

When I saw this one I seen listed in Redbox I didn't think there would be much to it. I thought more or less a bad movie to laugh at. But I must say... it was better then I thought it would be! It is definitely not what I would call a great movie Maybe it is because I wasn't expecting much going in... but I would say it is worth the time put in to watch it. I found the story to be interesting... but at the same time the effects and look of the infected animals to be lacking. I may add this one to my collection if I found it cheap enough.



(From May Marathon - Animals on May 11th, 2016)

Snow Cake, a review by Jon

Snow Cake
4 out of 5

Directed by Marc Evans and written by Angela Pell, this is the story of Alex (Alan Rickman) who picks up a hitch-hiker, Vivienne. Unfortunately they are soon involved in an horrific accident and Vivienne is killed. Despite it being clear he is not at fault, Alex is wracked by guilt and seeks out the girls mother, Linda (Sigourney Weaver). However the meeting doesn't go as smoothly as Alex hoped because Linda is autistic. He ends up staying for a few days, organising the funeral and starting a relationship with Linda's neighbour, Maggie (Carrie Ann-Moss).

This is a simple, gently comic film (the overview above is pretty much it!), given substance by it's great cast and affecting story. It could very easily have been a typical TV-movie, but its central theme of autism is handled very well and acts as an anchor to stop things going too sentimental. In fact, that's rather the point. After the accident, Alex can't help but feel responsible and is quickly heading for pious self-pity, but Linda's stark acceptance of the situation is like a slap in the face to both him and the viewer.

Sigourney gives a superb performance as Linda, although it takes a little getting used to. Really roles like these work better when played by someone you don't recognise so well, especially when she is normally synonymous with tough focused women in films like Aliens, Working Girl or her previous, very different collaboration with Alan Rickman, Galaxy Quest. Like Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry, I'm sure repeat viewings will be rewarding. Actually this film has the advantage because Linda isn't the central character.

That job is for Alan Rickman as Alex. Typically, he is very good indeed, especially as the films weakest point is possibly the rather whimsical nature of Alex. Where he has been and where he is going is very important to the story, but trying to build suspense into the reasons for his dark past seemed at odds with the rest of the film. Also his relationship with Carrie Ann-Moss' Maggie almost feels forced, though she is excellent and there are some funny and touching moments. The best moments though are those between Alex and Linda. The Scrabble game is hilarious and that's the way I'll play it from now on! There's also a wonderful moment involving a trampoline, as a bewildered Alex is forced to enjoy himself with the child-like joy of Linda sweeping all other concerns to one-side.

I believe the best depiction of grief is still the fifth season Buffy episode called The Body and part of that was down to the brilliant use of Anya, a demon-turned-human. Despite being a mere fantasy character, her inability to comprehend what happened was a perfect depiction of the absurd feelings we have to deal with. Linda is a similar character (especially when she has to ID Vivienne) because she accepts it too readily and continues her routine. While her high-functioning autism seems cold, it challenges Alex and forces him to look at himself very closely. An easy pitfall for the film would be making it too one-sided, in that Alex is affected by Linda, but not vice-versa. While it's quite clear that Linda's autism will not allow her routine or perception to be altered by Alex, there are a couple of nice touches where he does make a difference.

Aesthetically, the film is probably closest to the snow-bound vistas of Fargo or Insomnia, but it shares neither of those films flair for visuals. There are a couple of key scenes that stand-out, notably the accident, the funeral and an abstract, but joyfully uplifting moment when Linda tries to block-out the mass of unwanted visitors to her home. Otherwise the environment is a bit too bleak, but the films story and characters are absolutely wonderful and make this an uplifting, if melancholy, experience. It's simply "Dazlious" (38 points!)... "Dazlious" (38 points!)



(From Snow Cake **** on January 11th, 2009)

Tom's Random Reviews, a review by Tom

Chuck: Season Three (2010/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United Kingdom) Length: 784 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: Dutch, English, Swedish

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Plot:
Chuck is back and he's the Chuck you know: the hapless Nerd Herder hopelessly devoted to sexy super spy Sarah. And he's the Chuck you don't know: a master martial artist whose brain is locked and loaded with the new Intersect 2.0. How the two Chucks clash, bash and (sometimes) cooperate makes this 5-disc, 19-Episode Complete Season 3 total, action packed fun. More new stuff: A dashing rival (Brandon Routh) joins the team, someone from Chucks Buy More life discovers his secret and Chuck learns the spy biz can turn the nicest guy dark and dangerous. "For the last two years, we've protected Chuck from the world" the General notes. "But now we have to protect the world from Chuck"

Extras:

• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Scene Access
• The Jeffster revolution: The definitive mockumentary

"Chuck" is a strange kind of series to me. I am not that driven to watch the next season. I usually wait for the price to drop, and even when I have bought it, it takes awhile before I come around watching it. But when I put the first disc in, I cannot stop watching it. I have watched now the complete third season in three days. For me the quality stayed a constant high.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 8th, 2011)