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Unstoppable, a review by Dragonfire

Unstoppable

I went to go see Unstoppable a few weeks ago.  The story is inspired by real events.  I read about the real events after seeing the movie, and some things have been changed for the movie.  The setting is changed from Ohio to Pennsylvania, and it seems like things have been exaggerated to add tension and drama to what is going on.  Most of the movie is focused on the attempts to deal with the runaway train. 

Things get off to a slightly slower start as the characters are introduced and the situation with the train is set up.  It is just a fluke that allows the train to leave the rail yard.  It does take them a while to figure out that the train has picked up speed instead of just coasting.  Another train, with Will and Frank on board, barely misses a collision with the runaway train.  After other attempts to stop the train fail, Will and Frank put their own plan into dealing with it in motion.

Most of the movie has a fairly fast pace as things tied to the runaway train are dealt with.  There is a little action in a few scenes that is done well.  Jerky camera work does turn up in a few scenes,  usually when some kind of action is happening.  I find that really annoying since it makes it harder for me to be able to tell what is going on. 

The characters are interesting, though they aren't that developed.  Denzil Washington and Chris Pine do really well with their parts.

Overall I really enjoyed Unstoppable and think it is worth checking out.

I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.

Unstoppable 

(From Unstoppable on December 3rd, 2010)

Detroit Rock City, a review by samuelrichardscott

Detroit Rock City (1999) R2 United Kingdom

Overview:
Known as the greatest band in the land, KISS rocked the world during the 70's with their outrageous lyrics and eccentric style. Paying tribute to the legendary rock band that gave new meaning to the term 'Rock Superstar', DETROIT ROCK CITY is an hilarious coming-of-age comedy about four teenagers who embark on a wild pilgrimage to attend a KISS concert in Detroit. Driven by their passion to see their favourite rock group live, the teens will stop at nothing to scam their way into the sold out concert.

My Thoughts:
Before I start, I suppose I should say that I don't really care for KISS or their music but I do enjoy comedies about having to get something or somewhere (like Newcastle season tickets in Purely Belter). I actually picked this up because of actress Melanie Lynskey who doesn't get as much recognition as she deserves and she is unfortunately underused here, albeit in a nice little sideplot. There is a great cameo from Shannon Tweed (who is married to Gene Simmons) and as a whole the cast are OK for the movie with Edward Furlong and Lin Shaye putting in the better performances. As far as the story goes, it's what you expect. Everything goes wrong and then everything goes right. The only real problem with this movie is the lack of laugh out loud moments. There are one or two but I expect more from this type of comedy. Still, it's worth picking up. 3/5

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on June 21st, 2010)

Twilight Zone, a review by addicted2dvd

37. King Nine Will Not Return (9/20/60)
WWII Captain James Embry (Robert Cummings) finds himself next to a crashed plane in a vast desert. Where is his crew? And why are futuristic jet planes flying overhead?

My Thoughts:
This is an episode I have seen before. Not sure if I saw it during a Sci-Fi Marathon or if it was on one of the volume dvds I used to have. It is a right good episode.. I really did enjoy it. At least the add on the tail end of this one was finally something different! The add attached to this one was for The Andy Griffith Show! I was starting to get tired of seeing the same couple over and over again. Extras attached to this episode include an Isolated Music Score and an interview with Buzz Kulik. Neither of which I checked out.

38 The Man in the Bottle (10/7/60)
A discontented curio shop owner thinks he's finally found happiness when a genie he discovers in an old bottle grants him four wishes. But be careful what you wish for.

My Thoughts:
This is an episode I never seen before... but one I really liked a lot! On the tail end of this episode was an advertisement for a show I never heard of before... some show called My Sister Ilene. And was just a very short clip so I wasn't able to get a feel for it. The only extra attached to this episode is an isolated music score... which of course I didn't bother with.

39. Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room (10/14/60)
Ordered to commit a murder he doesn't want to perform, a small-time hood nervously looks in the mirror and sees the man he might have been - confident, strong...and determined to get out.

My Thoughts:
This is an episode I know I have seen before because I remember bits and pieces of it... but it must have been a very long time ago because I didn't remember the most of it... was a pretty good episode... but I have seen better. Extras attached to this one is an isolated music score, Interview with Doug Heyes and a Twilight Zone Radio Drama starring Adam Baldwin.

40. A Thing About Machines (10/28/60)
Mr. Bartlett Finchley (Richard Haydn) despises any sort of machine, and he'll experience a new kind of terror when he learns the feeling is mutual.

My Thoughts:
And here is another episode I never seen before... was a pretty good episode... I enjoyed it... though I wouldn't classify it as one of my favorites. The clip attached at the tail end of this episode was for giving donations to your favorite political party.No real extras attached to this episode... just that Isolated Music Score thing.

41. The Howling Man (11/4/60)
During a walking trip of central Europe following WWII, Ellington loses his way. Exhausted, he comes upon a monastery where an insane monk claims he's captured the Devil himself! Atmospheric music by Bernard Herrmann gives strength to this devilish tale.

My Thoughts:
This is yet another one I have never seen before now. It is a bit different but enjoyable. The clip attached to the tail end of this one if another clip of that show My Sister Ilene. The only extra for this episode is an interview with Douglas Heyes.

42. The Eye of the Beholder  (11/11/60)
Janet's hideous face has made her an outcast all her life. As she awaits the results of her last-chance surgery, she ponders the consequences of failure - to be banished forever to a village of freaks!

My Thoughts:
Now this one... this is one I have seen multiple times... and is one of my favorite episodes! It seems like every time there is a Twilight Zone marathon on TV this is one of the episodes they must show... and is a very good episode. There is a nice amount of extras attached to this episode... you get an Audio Commentary with Donna Douglas, Interview with Maxine Stuart and Douglas Heyes, Isolated Music Score, Rare Color Photos, and Alternate Ending Titles. A great setup for what is in my opinion one of the best episodes!


Episodes I seen for the First time on this set include:

   1. Judgment Night (Episode 10)
   2. And When The Sky Was Opened (Episode 11)
   3. What You Need (Episode 12)
   4. I Shot an Arrow into the Air (Episode 15)
   5. The Hitch-Hiker (Episode 16)
   6. The Purple Testiment (Episode 19)
   7. Elegy (Episode 20)
   8. Mirror Image (Episode 21)
   9. A World of Difference (Episode 23)
  10. Long Live Walter Jameson (Episode 24)
  11. People Are Alike All Over (Episode 25)
  12. Execution (Episode 26)
  13. The Big Tall Wish (Episode 27)
  14. A Nice Place to Visit (Episode 28)
  15. Nightmare as a Child (Episode 29)
  16. The Chaser (Episode 31)
  17. Mr. Bevis (Episode 33)
  18. The Mighty Casey (Episode 35)
  19. A World of his Own (Episode 36)
  20. The Man in the Bottle (Episode 38)
  21. A Thing About Machines (Episode 40)
  22. The Howling Man (Episode 41)

(From Twilight Zone on February 5th, 2008)