DVD Collectors Online

SpaceCamp, a review by Danae Cassandra

SpaceCamp
Year of Release: 1986
Directed By:  Harry Winer
Starring: Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott, Joaquin Phoenix, Tate Donovan, Tom Skerritt
Genre: Adventure, Science-Fiction, Disaster

Overview:
Zero gravity meets zero fear in this cosmic comedy-adventure about a summer camp where regular kids check in...and real astronauts check out! Starring Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott, Leaf Phoenix and Tate Donovan, SpaceCamp is a wild and wonderful thrill-ride packed with "special effects...spectacular moments" (Film Journal) and a "gripping climax" (Time Out Film Guide) that's out of this world!

For five typical teens, NASA's space camp promises to be a fun way to blow off the summer. But when a space shuttle exercise misfires, they find themselves launched into orbit, facing the adventure of a lifetime. Now, the only way back to Earth is to take command of the ship and control of their destinies, before time – and oxygen – runs out!

My Thoughts:
I'd forgotten how enjoyable this film is.  I have fond memories of it from childhood, and it's still an entertaining watch.  I still get a warm fuzzy from "Jinx and Max best friends forever." Part of me cringes at the message being sent with the overachiever girl being wrong about a crucial thing and then freezing in decision making though.  Try to imagine the roles of Kevin & Kathryn gender reversed and you see the problem.  I did like the other girl, though, the one who appears to be a bubblehead but is really super-smart.  That quibble aside, it's still a whole-hearted recommendation from me for a fun, kid-friendly movie.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

(From SpaceCamp on January 10th, 2014)

The Brothers Grimm, a review by Rich

The Brothers Grimm



Matt Damon (The Bourne Supremacy, Ocean's 12) and Heath Ledger (The Patriot, A Knight's Tale) team up to bring you one of the year's most fantastic adventures in this magical tale based on the lives of the legendary storytellers. Will and Jake Grimm (Damon and Ledger) dazzle small towns with their imaginative folklore and elaborate illusions. But when the brothers journey into a real enchanted forest, they encounter many of the fantastic characters and thrilling situations found in their beloved fairy tales! From the award-winning director of Twelve Monkeys, Brazil and Monty Python And The Holy Grail, this fabulous motion picture is sure to leave you living happily ever after!

A true spectacle of a film, amazing effects, effective cast, humour and truly oddball script. However despite a lot of promise it fails to meet the mark, in fact at times it became boring. Terry Gilliam is written all over the production and delivery, some dark moments, with a touch of cheese thrown in. The sets were fairly spectacular, but I found so much was going on at any one time the screen felt cluttered.
Quirky and entertaining at times, this gothic fairy tale is better in principle and concept than receipt.
 

**Monica Bellucci mini-marathon



(From Riches Random Reviews on August 22nd, 2009)

Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

21. Lost Mariner
After a shipwreck, Gabrielle finds herself aboard the cursed vessel of the lost mariner Cycrops. Soon, she and Xena are confronted by pirates and the nasty god Poseidon.

My Thoughts:
I like this one... good story with the cursed ship. And I like seeing Tony Todd in an episode. Someone I know from several horror movies. I had to laugh when Xena showed Gabrielle the pressure point in her wrist to stop sea sickness... and Gabrielle just about beats her wrist all to hell when someone tried to give her some squid to eat.

My Rating:

22. Comedy of Eros
Draco is threatening to sell some temple maidens into slavery and Xena is trying to stop him. Trouble is, she's also falling in love with him. Meanwhile (and just as strange), Gabrielle is falling for Joxer.

My Thoughts:
Not a bad episode... but not really good either. They (obviously) tried for a comedy... but I personally just didn't find it that funny. Silly to a point. But there was nothing here that actually made me laugh.

My Rating:



(From Xena: Warrior Princess Marathon on January 21st, 2010)