DVD Collectors Online

Whispering Corridors, a review by Danae Cassandra

Whispering Corridors (Yeogo goedam)
Year of Release: 1998
Directed By: Ki-Hyung Park
Starring: Kang-hee Choi, Gyu-ri Kim, Min-jung Kim, Mi-yeon Lee, Jin-hie Park, Ji-hye Yun
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Life is what you'd expect for young teenagers in this seemingly normal private all-girls school, until a past alumni returns as a teacher. She strikes up a friendship with two very different students and a horrific course of events ensues. A teacher is found dead, apparently having committed suicide, and circumstances that inextricably link both the past and the present are unveiled. As the body count rises, the memories of the deaths unleash the echoes of ghosts down the corridors.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good piece of horror. That some of the most horrific scenes are carried out by the living in no way diminishes the power of the ghost story. The ghost is a powerful supernatural being. And she does bring a brutal retribution down. But the true horror is a school culture that not only condones bullying but has teachers actively participating in it, pitting student against student, berating and belittling them for low scores in front of all their peers.

The film creates a great oppressive atmosphere in the school, and the actors all do a good job. Some things are a bit confusing, but with a bit of patient thought can be worked out. Recommended for fans of Asian horror.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Scavenger Hunt 19, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 25/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 13th, 2016)

Kwaidan, a review by Danae Cassandra

Kwaidan
Year of Release: 1965
Directed By: Masaki Kobayashi
Starring: Michiyo Aratama, Rentaro Mikuni, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Kishi, Katsuo Nakamura
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, KwaidanKwaidan in a new ravishing color transfer.

My Thoughts:
This is a lyrical, poetic piece of horror, if you want to call it horror. It's horror only in the sense of it being stories of ghosts and spirits. The stories are actually tragedies, especially the first two which deal with the loss of love. It's a haunting film, but not a scary one.

It's a film of deep, rich color, in places almost more like a painting than a film. This is an artistic film, a film of elegiac beauty. Yet it is not just an art-house film, it's a film that would appeal to anyone who enjoyed old style horror. I think if you like Vincent Price's horror films you'd enjoy Kwaidan. The only thing I didn't like about the film was the framing story of "In a Cup of Tea."  I wish they had simply removed the section about the writer and gone forward with telling the story of the tea spirit.  Aside from that, excellent film. Highly recommended.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on December 8th, 2015)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The episode of departure. Stephen takes his job on Earthdome, Ta'lon becomes the new Narn ambassador and Sheridan and Delenn leave for Minbar, where they surprisingly meet Londo who has a gift for their unborn child.

My opinion: A quiet episode which brings the immideate story to an and. But as Londo would say "Their story isn't over yet."


Synopsis: 2281. 19 years after the fith season. Sheridan is going to die and he invites the old friends who are still alive: General Ivanova, Garibaldi,Dr.  Franklin, Emperor Cotto and Zack Allen. Then he goes to Babylon 5 which is about to be decommissioned (read: to be blown up). After that he goes to Corriana 6, the place from where the Vorlons and the Shadows have left the galaxy. And Lorien awaits him there.

My opinion: A very emotional episode. To be honest, I cry every time when I see it. And that doesn't happen very often, after all I know it's just a TV show. But I can't help it with this one.

BTW: The service technician that shuts down the lights on B5 just before it is blown up, is JMS himself.

Season analysis: In the big picture it's one of the weaker seasons of that show but in the second half it's very good and the ending is magnificent.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on February 2nd, 2008)