DVD Collectors Online

A History of Violence, a review by DJ Doena

Viggo Mortensen    ...    Tom Stall
Maria Bello   ...    Edie Stall
Ed Harris   ...    Carl Fogarty
William Hurt   ...    Richie Cusack
Ashton Holmes   ...    Jack Stall

Synopsis: Tom Stall is a simple man. He lives in a small town and owns a small diner. He has two children and his life is quiet. But that changes one day. One day two armed robbers come into his store. He can't know this but they've left a trail of blood and killed a lot of people. Tom is willing to give them all the money but when one of them attempts to rape a women a switch turns in Tom's head and he attacks and kills the robbers. This makes him famous and suddenly he gets visits from mobsters from the east coast who think he is someone else - or are they correct?

My Opinion: This is a very interesting movie that has no hollywood-like moral agenda. It's brutal, it's explicit and it doesn't want to hide anything. The "good guy" isn't a good guy at all, but if they would have left him alone, he would have never bothered them at all. I thought everyone played their role very well, from Viggo who has at first to pretend he doesn't know anything to Maria and Ashton who have to learn that their husband/father is someone totally different. And of course Ed, but I like Ed in most of his roles. I also liked the semi open end where it isn't clear what is going to happen now.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on January 4th, 2009)

Nutcracker : An American Nightmare, a review by Jimmy

Title : Nutcracker : An American Nightmare (2003)

Overview
A prominent psychologist uses advanced brainwave technology that allows him to see into the minds of his patients - but it backfires on him, and he sees his own repressed memory, killing his father, and placing the blame on his brother, who was confined to a mental institution.

My Impression
This one could have been so much better. The problem is that the story doesn't move very fast and you are bore many times since nothing really interesting happen. But David Hess seems to have a lot of fun with a role different than what he is usually typecast in.

Rating :



(From Jimmy's 2009 Horror Marathon on October 7th, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Highway to Heaven
Jonathan Smith isn't your average helpful handyman. He's an angel with a mission from God, or "the Boss" as he likes to call him. Accompanied by ex-cop Mark Gordon, whose troubled life Jonathan once helped turn around, he travels the world, guiding the lost and suffering back toward the HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN.

Whether helping a young boxer pressured to throw a fight or a veteran's Eurasian daughter feel welcome in America, Jonathan finds a way to bring a little grace and love into the lives of those he touches. And when necessary, he helps things along with a little angel power.

Starring Michael Landon and Victor French, all 24 uplifting episodes from the first season of this family favorite are now available on DVD for the first time.

Highway to Heaven (Part 1)
Working as the new handyman at a retirement home, Jonathon brings pep and vigor into the dreary lives of its residents. However, a nurse's brother, Mark Gordon, doesn't trust the newcomer.

Highway to Heaven (Part 2)
With the retirement home on the verge of ruin, Jonathon reveals his true identity to Mark. It will take some heavenly high jinks to save the day.

My Thoughts:
Another show that I used to always enjoy back in the day.  A kind series... and this show is my favorite work of Micheal Landon's. Yes I always preferred this over Little House on the Prairie. The 2 part pilot is a very good introduction to the 2 main characters of the series. Not only is this a warm and touching drama... it also offers some laughs. One of my favorite scenes in the pilot is where Jonathon (the angel) sees Mark (his soon to be friend) getting beat up in the alley behind the bar. When he runs over to help.... he gets a right cross. Of course it don't effect him... he just looks at the guy and smiles. So then he is hit with a left cross. And to this his reaction is to pick the guy up into the air... look him in the face and say "I turned the other cheek"... and then throws him far across the alley.  So yes... this series does have some fun in it as well. Unfortunately I only have the first season at this point... but I would love to get some more season sets of this show.

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on February 5th, 2010)