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Near Dark, a review by Danae Cassandra

Near Dark
Year of Release: 1987
Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein
Genre: Horror, Western, Crime

Overview:My Thoughts:
This is a stylish hybrid film, bridging horror, western and crime genres together to create a uniquely modern look at the vampire.  Perhaps one shouldn't use the term here, they certainly don't in the film, but it is still definitely a vampire film.  All of the actors do an excellent job, and the pull Caleb finds himself in between his two contrasting families creates quite a bit of excellent tension as you wonder whether he will accept his new family and new life, or continue to cling to his humanity.  Jenny Wright's portrayal of Mae is also just about the best portrayal of Stockholm Syndrome I've ever seen.  There is a bit of gore here, but nothing too bad and all necessary to the story.  Well worth a watch.

Bechdel Test: Fail (I think)

Overall: 4/5

(From Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon on October 9th, 2014)

Robin Hood (2010), a review by Dragonfire

So I decided to go see the new Robin Hood a few days ago.  It is definitely a different version of the story.  I expected it to be different - I've seen a few interviews with Russell Crowe and he talks about that  in all of them...and how King Richard dies kind of early in the movie.  Even expecting things to be different, it is still more different than I had expected.  It definitely seems to be setting up at least one sequel, possible even a new franchise. 

Some of the other movies about Robin Hood that I've seen have at least mentioned his time fighting in the Crusades.  There is a bit more about that dealt with in this movie and it does take him and his men a while to make it back to England.  Once he is there, he doesn't jump right into robbing from the rich to give to the poor.  There is more build up to him becoming an outlaw, so more of his motivations for what he does are shown.  I do think that makes the movie interesting, though some people aren't going to be happy with the changes.  Some of them are downright weird, like Robin fighting in what is basically the biggest battle of the movie with something that looks like a hammer.  He's riding around on his horse, bashing the French with that hammer thing, and it is just weird that it isn't using a bow or a sword.  The action scenes work fine, though there is nothing that special about them.  The violence is slightly graphic in a few scenes, but it really isn't explicit. 

This Robin is a bit ....conflicted about things at times, but he is determined to do what he thinks is right.  Russell Crowe is fine in the part.  I don't know how accurate his accent is since I never have been good at identifying most accents.  Marion is independent and very able to take care of herself.  I did like Cate Blanchett in the part.  The Sheriff of Nottingham basically does nothing, though by the end of the movie, there is a hint of him becoming more corrupt.  Sir Godfrey, someone who is a friend of King John but also plotting with the French King, is the main villain.  Godfrey is brutal in his methods and makes a good villain.  Mark Strong is wonderful in the part.  He is really good at playing bad guys.  King John seems a bit like a kid having a tantrum at times and it isn't always clear why he does things.  Most of the other characters are just sort of around without doing much to stand out.  There is very little in the way of character development for them.

Even though the movie has issues, I do think Robin Hood works as an entertaining movie.  It isn't going to appeal to some people though.



I did get a review posted at Epinions if anyone would like to take a look.

Robin Hood 2010

(From Robin Hood 2010 on June 4th, 2010)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. Hulkus Pocus
When Billie is infected by a government-created virus that causes magical beings to "hulk out," Piper and Leo race against time to find an antidote to save her life.

My Thoughts:
This is another episode that I found a lot of fun. This time we have all 4 of the girls turning into something. This time it is a virus running rampant in the magical community that makes magical creatures (including The Charmed Ones) to become hulk like creatures shortly after the change the infected creatures die. 

10. Vaya Con Leos
Piper turns to The Elders and The Avatars to save Leo from The Angel of Death, while Phoebe and Billie hunt for Billie's sister and meet Burke, a demonic bounty hunter who freezes his victims into trophies.

My Thoughts:
Another really good episode. And time to say goodbye to Leo for several episodes.  For some reason Brian Krause (Leo) was not signed for the entire season like he was for the previous seasons. So this season we only got him for half the episodes. They handled it pretty well they made it be emotional... but kept the possibility of him returning.

11. Mr. & Mrs. Witch
When Billie discovers the power of projection, she inadvertently transforms her parents into cold-blooded assassins who are then hired to kill the CEO of a powerful company.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... but not great. Really was just a standard episode. Though it does go a little further into the Billie/Chrissy storyline.

12. Payback's a Witch
Paige tries to help Henry's parolee, Nick, get a loan at a bank, but when the loan is denied, Nick crashes his car into the bank and holds everyone hostage.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... but not great. Billie is still on a warpath trying to find her sister. And Paige discovers her powers as a whitelighter is increasing when she heals Henry.

(From Charmed Marathon on July 15th, 2008)