DVD Collectors Online

El Dorado, a review by Antares

El Dorado (1966) 78/100 - Sometimes a film can be just like an old coat that you've worn for years and brings such warmth that you always feel comfortable when your wearing it. The Shootist is my favorite John Wayne movie, but El Dorado is the film that I return to at least three or four times a year. It's jut like that comfortable old coat, in that it always entertains me and never lets me down. But just as you spot little tears and loose seams in that coat over the course of time, with repeated viewings, you start to notice flaws you never saw before in cherished films. This time, I seemed like certain musical passages in the soundtrack sounded eerily like music I'd heard in Batman episodes on TV. And lo and behold, Nelson Riddle, who scored this film, also scored an episode of that program and the music for the Batman film made in 1966. There were a couple of moments when I was waiting for William Dozier to break in to the action with, "Meanwhile, back at the Penguin's secret hideout"... Something else I noticed this time too, is that Ed Asner is horribly miscast as Bart Jason, the money man behind the guns in the range war. Every time he was onscreen, he reminded me of George Costanza from Seinfeld. Another goof is having Bull say that he'll play Marchin' through Georgia on his bugle to warn Cole and J.P. about the three gunman their trying to apprehend at the mission. Bull is obviously from the deep South with his thick Arkansas accent, so he definitely would have fought for the Confederacy. And no southern rebel would be caught dead playing a Union song on a bugle. But even with these little ticks and tremors, I still love this film. I know that I'll return to it every few months or so, probably until the day I die. It's what a western should be. Good storytelling, mixed with just the right amount of action and of course, some great looking sixties eye candy, Michele Carey and Charlene Holt...Meow!!!

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on March 14th, 2015)

The Broken, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: The Broken: After Dark Horrorfest III
Year: 2008
Director: Sean Ellis
Rating: R
Length: 88 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Lena Headey
Daren Elliott Holmes
Howard Ward
Damian O'Hare
Melvil Poupaud

Plot:
A successful radiologist (Lena Headey) watches her life spiral out of control after she sees the spitting image of herself driving down a London street. Attempting to discover the identity of her double, she stumbles onto a terrifying mystery that involves her family and closest friends, leaving her with no one to trust.

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers
Closed Captioned
Miss Horrorfest Webisodes

My Thoughts:
The Broken is one of the movies I blind bought back in October. It is one that I knew absolutely nothing about. But it was recommended to me by a few different people. And I like that Lena Headey (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) stars in it. After watching the trailer for it I became a little concerned. I mean it definitely looked like it had potential of being good.. but at the same time what the story is about I could see them messing it up and it becoming slow and tedious to watch.

What I found in this psychological horror is that it was good enough to entertain... but I was hoping for a bit more. The movie itself felt slower then it needed to be for the most part. At least until the last 15 to 20 minutes where it ties everything together. But then it went from slow to a bit on the confusing side. I watched the last several minutes 2 or 3 times and I am still not sure I got this movie completely. Though I did get enough of it to understand the answer to the main plot. And it was interesting enough to get some enjoyment of it. And there was a couple pretty cool kill scenes as well. So I am glad I got it in my collection... and I am hoping on the next viewing I will get some more of the subtle points in the movie.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Horror on December 26th, 2009)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

"Witch Trial"
Original Airdate: September 30, 1999
When a demon steals the Book of Shadows, the Ha!liwell sisters have just one chance to recapture it or they will lose their powers forever.

My Thoughts:
A nice strong episode for the season premiere. We even get to see some of the demons they vanquished in the first season... as the demon undo the spells that The Charmed Ones casted in the first season. I also liked how they showed repercussions from the end of the first season... and showed Pru freezing up when she faced the first demon since what happen at the end of season 1.

"Morality Bites"
Original Airdate: October 7, 1999
Phoebe has a horrifying premonition of her own execution, so the sisters cast a one-time spell that catapults them into the future to try and change her fate.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode... one that shows there can be serious repercussions even with minor acts of revenge and personal gain. And I liked how they showed the future if they were ever exposed. Makes you wonder if that is what it would be like if we never smartened up from the days of the Salem Witch Trials.

"The Painted World"
Original Airdate: October 14, 1999
The sisters are trapped in a painting by a warlock who plans to torch it and destroy them unless Phoebe can reverse their impending doom.

My Thoughts:
This is a basic filler episode... and nothing really all that special about it. But it was enjoyable.

"The Devil's Music"
Original Airdate: October 21, 1999
Leo returns to help the sisters save their young neighbor when the manager of a band scheduled to play Piper's nightclub makes a demonic deal.

My thoughts:
A music heavy episode... and you all know how I feel about music. But it was still enjoyable. In this one some band called Dishwalla comes to play at Piper's new club... that she finally gets open in this episode. As I said it was still an enjoyable episode... and I was able to basically tone out/ignore the music.   

(From Charmed Marathon on February 28th, 2008)