DVD Collectors Online

Baron Blood, a review by Jimmy

Title: Baron Blood (1972)

Genre: Horror
Director: Mario Bava
Rating: Unrated
Length: 1h38
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Joseph Cotten
Elke Sommer
Antonio Cantafora
Massimo Girotti
Rada Rassimov

Plot:
An American student's family curse, an ancient Austrian castle of torture and a demonic incantation that resurrects the infamous 16th Century sadist known as 'Baron Blood'. Director Mario Bava returns to his gothic roots -- albeit with a modern day Technicolor twist -- in this indelibly atmospheric thriller that pays tribute to the sumptuous horror classics of the '30s and '40s while delivering the black humor and grisly shocks of the drive-in '70s. Joseph Cotton, Elke Sommer and Massimo Girotti star in one of the most visually haunting films of Bava's later career, now presented in its uncut European Version featuring footage not seen in the original American release.

First thing to say is that this film is a festival of accent and a subtitle track would have been much appreciated. Like the precedent gothic horror film directed by Mario Bava this one is well done. The cinematography is very good (the night scenes are a perfect exemple of it), but it isn't a surprise since the cinematographer is the maestro himself. The story is interesting, but I've found the two protoganists (Elke Sommer & Antonio Cantafora) incredibly stupid to go on with the ceremony two times. We can say congratulation to our two heros for the dead of many innocent because they are two idiots... I agree that Elke Sommer is really annoying (to be generous) when she act frightened. The rest of the cast is ok and even if Joseph Cotten is first billed don't expect to see him on screen a long time (maybe 15 minutes), but he plays quite an important role. Another surprise for me the doctor little girl is played by an uncredited Nicoletta Elmi who is probably one of the best child actor I've seen (I recommand Deep Red if you really want to see her in a much important role).

Another good film even if the end looks a little bit rushed...

Rating :

(From Mario Bava marathon on July 19th, 2009)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a review by DJ Doena

October, 4th


Sean Astin   ...    Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee
Sean Bean   ...    Boromir
Cate Blanchett   ...    Galadriel
Orlando Bloom   ...    Legolas Greenleaf
Billy Boyd   ...    Peregrin 'Pippin' Took
Ian Holm   ...    Bilbo Baggins
Christopher Lee   ...    Saruman
Andy Serkis   ...    Gollum / Voice of The Witchking
Ian McKellen   ...    Gandalf the Grey
Dominic Monaghan   ...    Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck
Viggo Mortensen   ...    Aragorn
Craig Parker   ...    Haldir
John Rhys-Davies   ...    Gimli
Liv Tyler   ...    Arwen
Hugo Weaving   ...    Elrond
Elijah Wood   ...    Frodo Baggins

Synopsis:My Opinion: I love this trilogy, maybe even a bit more than Star Wars but I am still undecided on that. I've read the books both in German and English but I have to say I like the films better. Most of the actors are really great, especially when they deliver speeches. The only somewhat problematic actor is Elijah Wood, especially in the later movies when Frodo becomes more and more influenced by the Ring. One gets the feeling he has only one facial expression left.
But still: Great story, awesome New Zealand Middle-Earth nature shots and superb special effects (even when they sometimes forgot to put a CGI arrow in Legolas's bow ).
I also don't mind the deviation from the books, e.g. no Tom Bombadil. It doesn't really have an effect on the story at all; the only thing I really noticed was that they didn't explain the origin of Merry's sword which is important in the Battle on the Pelennor Fields.


(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on October 4th, 2009)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Next to all the science fiction I need a bit of fantasy in the mix. I have ignored Buffy for many years and only in 2007 I watched the pilot for the first time on TV. And I have to say, it intrigued me. I ordered the first season, watched it, wanted to know how it would continue and ordered the entire show.

But there was a movie first:


Kristy Swanson    ...    Buffy
Donald Sutherland   ...    Merrick
Paul Reubens   ...    Amilyn
Rutger Hauer   ...    Lothos
Luke Perry   ...    Pike
Michele Abrams   ...    Jennifer
Hilary Swank   ...    Kimberly
Paris Vaughan   ...    Nicole
David Arquette   ...    Benny
Stephen Root    ...    Gary Murray
Thomas Jane    ...    Zeph

Synopsis: Buffy is a normal high school freshman and member of the cheerleading squad. But then she meets Merrick and he shows her what she really is: The Chosen One, a Vampire Slayer. Born with the strength and skill to fight the Vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. But she wants to stay a normal girl and wants nothing to do with such rubbish.

My Opinion: This movie may not be what Joss Whedon had intended or will do on the TV show. But it definitively falls into the category of "guilty pleasure" and is a lot of fun if you're willing to accept its cheesiness. And the dialogue is unmistakably Whedon. Also, Lothos used a Samurai Katana, that's a plus in the book.


And then there was the show.



(From "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Marathon on March 14th, 2009)