DVD Collectors Online

Rear Window, a review by Dragonfire

Rear Window None of Hitchcock's films has ever given a clearer view of his genius for suspense than Rear Window. When professional photographer J.B "Jeff" Jeffries (James Stewart) is confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with watching the private dramas of his neighbors play out across the courtyard. When he suspects a salesman may have murdered his nagging wife, Jeffries enlists the help of his glamorous socialite girlfriend (Grace Kelly) to investigate the highly suspicious chain of events...Events that ultimately lead to one of the most memorable and gripping endings in all of film history. My Thoughts I think I have seen this one more than any other Hitchcock movie.  I love this movie.  I think everything about it works very well and it is a highly entertaining movie.  It has held up very well and is definitely worth seeing.  The plot isn't that complicated, but it works.  It makes sense for Jeffries to watch what his various neighbors are up to while he's stuck in the cast.  That is something that most people have done - watched what a neighbor was doing in some situation - and the movie just expands on that.  People can relate to doing that.  I also think it makes sense that Jeffires gets wrapped up in trying to figure out if a murder has happened. This is one of the Hitchcock movies with limited locations.  Jeffries is stuck in his small apartment for the entire movie.  He's confined even more since he is in a wheelchair thanks to his broken leg.  He spends most of his time looking out his windows, watching what the neighbors are doing.  Everyone has their windows open since they are in the middle of a heat wave..this was before air conditioning was that common.  All sorts of things are going on in the other apartments, though usually only parts of situations are seen.  That does help to make the mystery stronger and make the movie more interesting.  Some of what happens does progress slower since a lot of it involves Jeffries watching the neighbors, but there are some very suspenseful scenes in the movie.  When Lisa decides to go investigate, it is very suspenseful, as is another scene later in the movie.  The suspense is done wonderfully well. Lisa and Jeffries have been seeing each other when the movie begins and he is a bit upset because she is hoping for marriage while he claims he isn't ready.  At one point, he is deliberately looking for reasons why a marriage between them wouldn't work.  There's nothing too explicit shared about their relationship, though things are hinted at.  I do think the relationship adds to the movie and Lisa's presence helps to keep things interesting. Many of the characters shown are the neighbors and they aren't developed.  The audience is restricted to seeing only what Jeffries sees, and they only know superficial things about them.  That works perfectly for the plot.  Jeffries is a good main character and likable overall even though he does show a few flaws every so often.  I really like Jimmy Stewart in the part.  Lisa is a beautiful, elegant woman and there is contrast between her and Jeffries.  I do think the relationship works even with the contrast.  I think Grace Kelly is wonderful in the part.  She has some wonderful moments in the movie, including the first moment she is shown.  She is just perfect in the part.  Stella is a nurse who stops in to check on Jeffries each day.  She is very vocal in her opinions about some things and she gets pulled into certain things as well.  Thelma Ritter is wonderful in the part. I didn't watch the extras this time, but I remember them being very interesting.  There is one focused on the restoration of the movie and how the one kiss scene was almost lost because of how bad the original film was.  That scene looks good on the DVD, though there is a difference in the quality.  I do wonder if it could be made to look better on Blu-ray.  Once this is out on Blu - I'm sure it will be eventually - I am almost certain that I will be making another trip to double dip city. This movie is wonderful and I still really enjoy it when I watch it. I did get a review posted on Epinions back in 2008. Rear Window

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on June 30th, 2010)

Planet of the Apes, a review by Rich

Title: Planet of the Apes (blu-ray)

Runtime:112
Certificate:PG
Year:1968
Genres:Science-Fiction, Adventure

Plot:Witness the evolution of a cinematic masterpiece with this 40th Anniversary Edition of the original Planet of the Apes on Blu-ray, loaded with hours of thrilling extras! In this classic action-adventure film that changed the face of sci-fi forever, an astronaut (Charlton Heston) crash-lands on a strange planet ruled by intelligent apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport!

My Review:
HD viewing of another classic. The picture was a stunning improvement, but I was disappointed with the sound upgrade to DTShd, which did not come across as such a vast improvement on original dvd. The crystal clear and dramatic action scenes, being able to define expressions on the humans faces, and the depth of colours, made up for this tenfold. Good extras again, and an interesting commentary.
Please see my film review for my write up on POTA


(From Riches Random Reviews on October 13th, 2009)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
6.24 Time's Orphan
Writer: Bradley Thompson (Screenwriter), David Weddle (Screenwriter), Joe Menosky (Original Material By)
Director: Allan Kroeker
Cast: Avery Brooks (Captain Sisko), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Michael Dorn (Lt. Commander Worf), Terry Farrell (Lt. Commander Dax), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Colm Meaney (Chief O'Brien), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Alexander Siddig (Doctor Bashir), Nana Visitor (Major Kira), Rosalind Chao (Keiko), Michelle Krusiec (Older Molly), Hana Hatae (Molly), Shaun Bieniek (Deputy), Randy James (Security)

O'Brien's daughter Molly falls through a time portal and lands hundreds of years in the past. When they are able to retrieve her, ten years have passed for her, living and surviving alone in the wilderness. Which of course causes her problems adjusting again to her live on DS9.
It is a good episode. Even though the ending is a little cop out.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on November 27th, 2011)