DVD Collectors Online

Spirited Away, a review by Danae Cassandra

Spirited Away  (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
Year of Release: 2001
Directed By: Miyazaki Hayao
Starring: Rumi Hiiragi, Mari Natsuki, Miyu Irino, Yumi Tamai
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Anime

Overview:
From one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema comes the most acclaimed film of 2002. Hayao Miyazaki's latest triumph, filled with astonishing animation and epic adventure, is a dazzling masterpiece for the ages. It's a "wonderfully welcoming work of art that's as funny and entertaining as it is brilliant, beautiful and deep" (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal).

Spirited Away is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world.

This deluxe 2-disc set overflows with outstanding bonus features, including the Japanese television special about the making of the film, an inside view into the artistry of Miyazaki, and a storyboard-to-scene comparison. Spirited Away is a spectacular DVD the whole family will want to experience over and over again.

My Thoughts:
This is probably Miyazaki's best known film.  It did after all win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2002.  It's not my favorite of his films - but that's not saying much.  Miyazaki's films are universally excellent.  Every one of them.  If I prefer others over this one, that doesn't make Spirited Away any less a great film.

And it is a great film.  It has a wonderful story, superb animation, and great voice work.  There is so much detail in the film, so much life and imagination and character in evidence in every part of the film, every little thing unique and fantastic. Chihiro is a great heroine, too, who begins in a place of being a pretty ordinary kid, a bit selfish and a bit whiny, but who grows into an independent, strong young woman, who puts others ahead of herself and works hard to help them.

I can't recommend this film highly enough.  And like I said, this isn't even my favorite Miyazaki film, which I think says a lot.  I really recommend the subtitled version, as I think the voice work is better, and I really believe every film should be heard in its original language.  But, the dub isn't bad.  I pretty much hate dubs, but this one isn't terrible and if you really can't take subtitles then that's the way to go.  

Great film for anyone, except very small children, who might get scared of the spirits in the film and wouldn't follow the story anyway.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on January 26th, 2015)

Two Weeks, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Two Weeks
Year: 2006
Director: Steve Stockman
Rating: R
Length: 99 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Sally Field
Ben Chaplin
Lauren Eliman
Julianne Nickolson
Tom Cavanagh

Plot:
Two time Academy Award Winner, Sally Field delivers a "flawless performance" ('TV Guide's Movie Guide') in this bittersweet dramatic comedy about one family's determination to stay together till the very end.
Four grown siblings return home to their terminally ill mother's house for what they think are her final days. When she hangs on, they find themselves stuck under the same roof for two difficult weeks. But as the children come to terms with their grief, they discover laughter in the midst of sorrow, love in the face of anger, and an opportunity to gain new perspectives on their own lives.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Closed Captioned


Story of four siblings that have grown apart who return home to be with their dying mother in her final days.

Touching, funny, and sad... at times difficult to watch as you witness Sally Field brilliantly playing the unfortunate mom who is dealing with the ravages of ovarian cancer with as much dignity as she can. Meaningful to anyone who has had a loved one deal with cancer... but it will stir emotions in anyone as films of this nature often turn ones thoughts to family.

A downer, but a great movie.

KC


Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on July 25th, 2010)

Tom's TV Finales marathon, a review by Tom

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Beck: The Complete Series (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Entertainment (United States) Length: 635 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

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Plot:
Music is Life
Koyuki Tanaka was feeling the rut, though he's only a teenager. Between the sheltered and stifling grind of school and the girls that spend their time not noticing him... Every day was just another day of being a total nobody. Enter Ryusuke: a local rock n' roller haunted by a shady reputation. Together they form Beck, a dynamic band that just might be the salvation of the stagnant music scene. Sure, it's going to take hard work and obsession to make it, but there's something special in the sound. If the guys can stay true to their vision, the world awaits. Music can change their life, sometimes against your will. Just remember... When it's live, anything can happen.


Beck
Season 1.26 America

In this final episode the main characters get to go on a live-tour in America, like they dreamed of the rest of the series. A nice episode.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Finales marathon on January 27th, 2013)