DVD Collectors Online

The Quiet Man, a review by Rogmeister

The Quiet Man
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Year: 1952
Length: 129 Min.
Stars:
John Wayne
Maureen O'Hara
Barry Fitzgerald
Ward Bond
Victor McLaglen
Extras:
- Commentary by Maureen O'Hara
- "The Joy of Ireland" Documentary with Maureen O'Hara
- "Remembering The Quiet Man" Montage
-2 Audio Versions (Including special enhanced restored version)
-"The Making of the Quiet Man" hosted by Leonard Maltin
- Trailers
Plot:
Sean Thornton (John Wayne) is an American who swears off boxing after accidentally killing an opponent. Returning to the Irish town of his birth, he finds happiness when he falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara). Though he is sorely tempted to fight her brother, the town bully (Victor McLaglen), Sean is determined not to raise his fists. Mary Kate and Sean wed but her brother refuses to pay the dowry. Sean would rather walk away than accept this challenge. Even when his new wife accuses him of cowardice, Sean stands firm. But when she boards a train to leave, he is finally ready to take matters into his own hands. The resulting fist fight erupts into the longest brawl ever filmed, followed by one of the most memorable reconciliations in motion picture history.

DVD Info:

Video: Full Frame (as it was originally shot)
Audio: Dolby Mono
Subtitles: None

My Thoughts:
A truly great movie, nominated for Best Picture and one that many people feel should have won. The film was shot in Ireland and has gorgeous cinematography. It's got drama, humor and, finally, action. I personally just love to hear the Irish accents this people talk with Ward Bond's style of speech a particular favorite. It has gentle moments to go along with the comedy and is definitely one of my all-time favorites. My one reservation in this edition is that the picture quality could be better. The focus is a bit soft and not nearly as sharp as you expect from a DVD. Of course, the movie is 57 years old now and perhaps this is as good as it can be...but perhaps not. If a new version (keeping Miss O'Hara's commentary) comes out with improved picture quality, I'll definitely add it to my list. I'd rate this a 10 but will have to take a point off due to the picture quality.  I think I did hear a rumor a few years back that a restoration of this film was in the offing so I hope that is true.

My Rating:
9 out of 10

(From Roger's Random Reviews on July 23rd, 2009)

Benny & Joon, a review by addicted2dvd

Benny & Joon (1993/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | MGM Home Entertainment Director: Jeremiah Chechik Writing: Barry Berman (Screenwriter), Barry Berman (Story By), Leslie McNeil (Story By) Length: 98 min. Rating: Rated PG : Theme, a Scene of Mild Sensuality and One Use of Harsh Language Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: French, Spanish

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Stars:
Johnny Depp as Sam
Mary Stuart Masterson as Joon
Aidan Quinn as Benny
Julianne Moore as Ruthie
Oliver Platt as Eric
CCH Pounder as Dr. Garvey

Plot:
Johnny Depp (Sleepy Hollow), Mary Stuart Masterson (Bed of Roses) and Aidan Quinn (Practical Magic) star in this wonderfully unique and delightfully offbeat romantic comedy.

Joon (Masterson) is a little unbalanced. Sometimes, without warning, her sweet nature gives way to odd behavior - including a penchant for setting fires! She lives with her older brother Benny (Quinn), who has spent his life taking care of her since their parents died. One night, while playing a poker game with unusual stakes, Joon loses her hand...and wins Sam (Depp), a whimsical misfit who soon charms his way into Joon's heart. Now if they can only find the perfect mate for her overprotective brother...

With charm, humor and an outstanding supporting cast that includes Oliver Platt (A Time to Kill) and Julianne Moore (Hannibal), Benny & Joon is the perfect movie for everyone.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Music Videos
• Closed Captioned

I got this one used cheap. It is one I have seen before... but it has been so many years ago... it is like seeing it again for the first time. But going into it I did remember enjoying it the first time I seen it... which is about the only thing I remembered about it. The main reason I picked this one up is because I have been a Johnny Depp fan since his days on the TV series 21 Jump Street. I must say... this film lived up to my memory. I enjoyed every moment. In my opinion Johnny Depp stole the film. His character was a lot of fun. I would so get along with a person like his character. Some may say he is strange... but to me he just looks like a lot of fun. But this is more then just a funny film. It is also a very sweet love story. If you haven't had the chance to see this one yet I definitely recommend it.



(From What Movies I Been Watching on February 4th, 2014)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Black Adder III (1987/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 220 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

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Plot:
England 1768-1815. A golden age of wealth, power and discovery though not for Edmund Blackadder Esq. In a situation that can rightly be seen as something of a slump in the fortunes of the previously aristocratic Blackadder family, Edmund is now butler and gentleman's gentleman to the "mini-brained" Prince Regent.

Black Adder
3.01 Dish and Dishonesty
Writer: Richard Curtis (Writer), Ben Elton (Writer)
Director: Mandie Fletcher
Cast: Rowan Atkinson (Edmund Blackadder, butler to the Prince), Tony Robinson (Baldrick, a dogsbody), Hugh Laurie (The Prince Regent, their master), Helen Atkinson-Wood (Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeper), Vincent Hanna (Mr. Vincent Hanna, his own great great g), Denis Lill (Sir Talbot Buxomly, a member of Parliame), Simon Osborne (Pitt the Younger, the Prime Minister), Geoff McGivern (Ivor Biggun, a candidate), Dominic Martelli (Pitt the even Younger, a tiny whig)

The third series is also great. Though not judging by the first episode. That one was just okay. Hugh Laurie is great as the Prince Regent.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on March 29th, 2011)