DVD Collectors Online

Becoming Jane, a review by Tom

Title: Becoming Jane
Year: 2007
Director: Julian Jarrold
Rating: PG
Length: 121 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: DTS HD HR
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Anne Hathaway
James McAvoy
James Cromwell
Maggie Smith
Anna Maxwell Martin

Plot:
Jane Austen (ANNE HATHAWAY) believes in love. Her parents (JULIE WALTERS and JAMES CROMWELL) want her to marry for money and in 1795 England that was the way of the world for a young woman. But when the 20-year-old meets the dashing young Irishman, Tom Lefroy (JAMES MCAVOY), his intellect and arrogance ignite Jane's curiosity and her world spins head-over-heels. Can Jane afford to spurn the offer of Lady Gresham's (MAGGIE SMITH) nephew, defy the authority of her parents and fly in the face of social convention? In BECOMING JANE, a young lady on the first rung of literary greatness risks a romance that was to shape her life and her work.

Awards:

British Independent Film Awards

2007

Nominated

Best Performance by a Actress in a British Independent Film

Ann Hathaway

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interviews
Outtakes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

This movie was rather boring to me. It's not the fault of any of the actors (they did a good job). It's more the fault of the screenplay. It was hard for me to stay focused during the two-hour runtime.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on July 27th, 2009)

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, a review by Dragonfire

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Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Sign up for more manic misadventure with the buffoons in blue, this time featuring rising stars Sharon Stone as a reporter who strikes sparks with Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) and David Spade as a loopy skateboarder. Cmdt. Lassard (George Gaynes) decides to toughen up neighborhood watch groups by training them to be Citizens on Patrol, or COPs. And guess who the instructors are? The same grads who thought the Fs on their own report card meant "Fantastic." When rival officer Lt. Harris (G.W. Bailey) sees the blue leading the beleaguered, he decides the time is ripe to discredit the Academy. But leave it to our hapless heroes to save the day - bumblingly - by taking to the skies on biplanes and balloons for a frantic finale. All aboard!

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Yes I know this is hugely silly...and far from the best of the movies.  However, I still enjoy it.  The plot is ridiculous and rather weak.  This is my least favorite of the movies...of the ones I've seen.  I haven't seen the one where they go to Moscow.  This is the last one that Steve Guttenburg was in.  It is also the last time Bobcat Goldwaith is in one of the movies too.  He is really annoying and his character really gets on my nerves.  The comedy is very silly, and even stupid at times.  The characters are pretty much the same as they have been for the returning characters and the new characters are flat and not that developed.  Sharon Stone's character just sort of shows up and doesn't do much.  It is clear she is supposed to be a love interest for Mahoney, but that really doesn't go anywhere.

Despite all the issues, I still manage to enjoy this one overall. 

I would have gone with 2.5 stars at Epinions if I had the option.  Since I didn't, I decided to round up to 3.

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on August 26th, 2011)

Tom's Random Reviews, a review by Tom

Title: Welcome to the N.H.K.!: Collection Part Two
Year: 2006
Director:
Rating: NR
Length: 300 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:


Plot:
Sato really thought he could do it... Ever since he figured out that his miserable excuse for a life was actually the fault of a ruthless television network set on reprogramming its viewers, Sato's been trying his hardest to create a real life for himself. Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems with evil programs is that they keep getting rerun over and over! Now, with his romantic relationships in a state of disaster, his game demo flopping and his economic situation hitting a new all-time low, a part time job selling products inside the virtual world of an online game may be Sato's only salvation. But can virtual success lead to real world happiness, or will even simulated social intercourse prove to be too much for Sato to handle? Life gets messy as the terms "tuning in" and "turning on" take on whole new meanings in the second and final collection of Welcome to the N-H-K!!

Awards:
Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers

I also really enjoyed the second half of this series. I can really recommend this series. Although I have read the manga in the past (and also the novel), for some reason I didn't enjoy them very much. Because of this I do not remember much of them. On the one hand the storylines did feel really familiar, but on the other hand, it felt like watching something new. Maybe the material is better suited as an anime (as I thought when buying these DVD sets), or I just didn't like the style of the manga, but I really enjoyed watching this series and makes me want to give the manga another chance. So I probably will re-read it soon.

#	Episode	Rating
13	Welcome to Paradise!
14	Welcome to Reality!
15	Welcome to the Fantasy!
16	Welcome to Game Over!
17	Welcome to Happiness!
18	Welcome to No Future!
19	Welcome to the Blue Bird!
20	Welcome to Winter Days!
21	Welcome to the Reset!
22	Welcome to God!
23	Welcome to Misaki!
24	Welcome to the N.H.K.!

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 17th, 2010)